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Vol. 101, No. 04
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A OPINIONS . . . . . . . . . . 3&4A SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1B COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . 2B FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B LIFESTYLE. . . . . . . . . . . . 4B
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ASI welcomes Lt. Col. Rooney
In this issue TPUSA HU Chapter, 2A
SIDNEY DAVIES beat reporter Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney, the first American Studies Institute Distinguished Lecture series speaker of the semester, spoke at Harding University on Tuesday, Sept. 23. He spoke about his experience as a father of five daughters; as an F-16 Fighter pilot; as CEO and founder of the nonprofit company, Folds of Honor; and of other unique experiences that have shaped who he is today. He connected with his listeners by sharing personal stories, describing difficult moments where he discovered God, the inspiration behind starting his company and the experiences that shaped his personal code of living. “Jesus taught in parables,” Rooney said. “People lean in when it’s a story, and that’s what lives in hearts and minds. My big hope is that after 45 minutes people will take at least one thing with them that has an impact for the rest of their lives.” The story of his non-profit has touched not only listeners but also thousands of military and first responder families. Since its founding in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded 74,000 scholarships, totaling $330 million, to students across the nation. “It says 87 times in the Bible to take care of widows and orphans,” Rooney said. “I’m just a vessel here to do God’s work and help these extraordinary military and
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first responder families get the gift of an education.” ASI speaker events offer meaningful experiences for the Harding community. Members enjoy exclusive opportunities to take part in a classroom session and dinner before the main event, which is open to all students. Junior Kennedy Picker, an ASI officer, has been a part of ASI since her freshman year. “I truly enjoy the opportunities that ASI gives me to hear from wonderful speakers like Lt. Col. Dan Rooney,” Picker said. “He did a great job speaking and was very inspiring.” Dr. John Richard Duke, the executive director of the ASI program and chair of the history department, shared his own opinion on why students should attend these events. “I think there’s real value in hearing from people that have lived these experiences and are experts in their fields,” Duke said. “You never know what might challenge you and get you to think in ways you haven’t thought about, and you can always take something from any speaker who comes to campus.” It was easy to be inspired by all that Rooney has done, but even more powerful was the fact that his faith is at the heart of everything he spoke about and everything he does. “I always say the same little prayer before I go up and speak,” Rooney said. “I say, ‘Jesus, use me as a vessel and breathe something through me bigger than myself when I’m out there.’”
Photo by KENZIE JAMES
Lt. Col. Dan Rooney delivers a speech on the stage of the Benson Auditorium Sept. 23. Rooney was the first speaker the American Studies Institute Distingushied Lecture Seriesinvited to campus this school year.
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Student Life holds first mandatory antihazing meeting for social clubs NATALIA LAGO beat reporter
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Students gathered Thursday to discuss the dangers of hazing as Student Life hosted a campus-wide meeting to raise awareness about new developments in the hazing requirements. As Harding already has a strict no-hazing rule, the meeting was an update on how hazing is to be reported from now on. On Dec. 23, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law with the initiative to stop campus hazing. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, all higher education institutions were required to begin compiling statistics and writing anti-hazing policies. The Clery Act, an existing nationwide law that requires universities to collect and report inf or mation about crime on campus, works in tandem with the new law. With the new law and the Clery Act, the Clery report will now also include hazing statistics. The report will consist of all reported hazing claims, containing the details of the incident, the club involved, the date of the incident and the date it was reported. To help students understand the changes and ensure the responsibilit y doesn’t fall solely on club presidents and vice presidents, Jane Chandler, head of Campus Life, explained the purpose of the meeting. “The meeting is letting everyone know this is what’s happening, because I don’t think it’s fair to put all of that
on the presidents and vice presidents to take, absorb, retain and then properly communicate that,” Chandler said. Dean Zach Neal, vice president for student life, explained the changes to how hazing reports are going to be handled, as well as Campus Life’s intentions for Club Week. Every attending student was required to swipe in to the meeting, ensuring that, in the event of a hazing incident later on, Campus Life could reference the meeting. While the attendance requirement may seem intimidating, Neal expressed his intentions. “New members already feel a level of vulnerability coming into a new group; it is the role of upperclassmen to
make them feel welcome and encouraged,” Neal said. “I want the week to continue to be a whole lot of fun. Everything we do on earth is for the glory of God.” The meeting was required for everyone planning to be involved in Club Week, though pledging members will attend a separate meeting later. Club Week starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, and the pledges’ meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Reed Wilson, president of women’s social club Delta Gamma Rho, explained that as a president, her responsibilities throughout this busy time consist of encouraging her fellow members. She works to ensure everyone involved feels comfortable and has fun. “Everything that we do is rooted in helping the girls get to know each other, in their pledge class, get to know the club and the previous members in the club,” Wilson said. “And just strengthen their faith also. Because it’s a long week.” The new hazing requirements do not change scheduled club events, only the methods in which reports are handled. Campus Life held the meeting so that everyone involved would understand the se ver it y of hazing and its consequences.
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