April 24, 2026 Vol. 101, No. 16
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A OPINIONS . . . . . . . . . . 3&4A SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1B COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . 2B FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B LIFESTYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . 4B
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Harding connections reach
ARTEMIS II
KENZIE JAMES news editor Harding students and alumni often joke about how far the “Harding connection” goes – and with the recent Artemis II mission, that connection now goes to the moon. Logan Light, dean of spiritual life and chapel programs, walked onto the Benson stage on the morning of April 1 and led students and faculty in a prayer over the NASA launch that evening. Light said in his announcements that Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, Jr., has a connection to the Harding community. Alumnus Tommy Bush, who submitted the prayer request for Glover and the mission, first learned of the astronaut in 2015. They later met when Bush visited the Southeast Church of Christ in Friendswood, Texas. Bush said he wanted to bring Glover to Harding’s campus as a Lectureship speaker. “I told him what I wanted to do, and he said ‘Put me down, let’s see where it goes,’” Bush said. “I was so impressed by him that I’ve kept up with him on a regular basis.” Other members of the Harding community also have connections to Glover and to NASA. Senior Luke Martin grew up outside of Houston, just a few minutes from NASA, and also attended the Southeast congregation. “Everyone just kind of has a connection to NASA,” Martin said. “That’s a big part of the education down there.” Associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry Jaime Murphy also has a distant
In this issue
connection with mission specialist Christina Koch. Murphy used to live in American Samoa, where Koch was formerly the chief of the American Samoa observatory. “A lot of our f riends overlap, and so it’s been kind of cool to hear through our friendship pipeline,” Murphy said. “Some of our friends from Samoa went down to
watch the launch. It’s kind of cool to have two degrees of separation.” Murphy and other Harding professors are conducting space-related research for NASA through the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium. Murphy said she is researching antioxidants and radiative damage astronauts get while in space. Other professors focused
Graphic by GRACE BROWN
on growing plants in Martian soil and microplastics in recycled water. “Some of the things we have learned about the body – how the body is going to respond to gravity, learning about the increase in radiation and what effects that could have – are incredibly interesting,” Murphy said. “You can only do those experiments in space itself. I think that’s usually what draws me in.” Despite researching the science of space, Murphy said she thought the media and live broadcasts for this mission were “remarkable.” “Constantly knowing what’s going on with mission control is incredibly interesting, from a science to general public standpoint,” Murphy said. “You just don’t usually get that live feedback information of what’s happening.” Glover, Koch and other members of the mission launched on April 1 and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. The Artemis II traveled 252,756 miles away from Earth to the far side of the moon, the farthest distance humans have traveled in space. “I think it’s a cool initiative just to really inspire younger people to follow that stuff,” Martin said. “I think it’s important. It’s encouraging for others to be interested in science and engineering.” The Artemis II mission was preparation for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the moon again, according to NASA. Their website said the Artemis III mission is currently set to launch in 2027.
Steve Forbes speaks at YAF event
Yearbook signing, 2A & 4B
Olen Hendrix flood, 2A Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, speaks at an event titled, “An Evening with Steve Forbes,” hosted by the Young Americans for Freedom chapter April 14. The event included a lecture, question-and-answer session, and dinner. ETHAN FARMER guest writer
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Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media and former presidential candidate, visited Harding University for a campus event hosted by the Young Americans for Freedom chapter. Forbes is a longtime voice in economic and political commentary and is known for his advocacy of open market policies. He has been a frequent speaker on college campuses across the country. His visit to Harding brought those perspectives directly to students in a more intimate setting. The event, titled “An Evening with Steve Forbes,” took place Tuesday, April 14, in the cafeteria, according to a promotional flyer shared by the Young Americans for Freedom organization. The evening included a lecture, question-and-answer session, and dinner with attendees. In a recent interview with iHeartRadio, Forbes referenced his time in Searcy, noting that he had been speaking at Harding University, providing direct
correlation to the campus visit. “I’m speaking at Harding University with the Young Americans for Freedom, a great group, a conservative thinking group,” Forbes said. “It’s nice to be in the company of enlightened people.” An Instagram post from Harding’s YAF chapter described the event as an incredible opportunity for students, highlighting the chance to hear from a nationally recognized business leader and media figure. “We had the honor of bringing Steve Forbes to speak at Harding University this past week,” the post shared. “Around 300 people came to hear him speak, and many had the opportunity to ask questions afterwards.” The organization thanked the University for approving and encouraging such events. “It was a valuable time and we are so thankful for YAF, our chapter team, and the Harding school of Business for making this event possible.” A flyer posted around campus promoted the event, and outlined its purpose to students. The event was advertised as “an evening with
Steve Forbes,” as the flyer shared, featuring a “free lecture, Q&A, and dinner with the businessman and former presidential candidate.” The visit reflects a broader trend of student organizations at Harding hosting speakers who represent a range of political and economic viewpoints. Groups like Young Americans for Freedom often invite highprofile figures to campus to engage students in discussions about public policy, economics and current events. Although not part of a larger universitywide lecture series, Forbes’ appearance provided students with access to a speaker whose influence spans business, media and politics. Opportunities to hear directly from figures of that status can offer valuable perspective outside the traditional classroom setting. Forbes has visited Harding University in the past, often through speaker programs such as the American Studies Institute. His return to campus reflects a continued relationship with the university, where nationally recognized figures are often invited to engage students on economics, leadership and public policy.