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 A BOND UNBROKEN by Cecelia Wilson The community of White County and Harding University share a common goal: to foster a healthy, stable community that enhances lives through the opportunities provided within their shared borders. To that end, both the community and Harding compliment each other and bring their own distinctive strengths to the table to achieve that goal. That has not gone by unnoticed. Ben Stein, lawyer/economist/writer/actor, recently appeared as a speaker for Harding's nationally renowned American Studies Institutes Lecture Series. Dr. David Burks, Harding's President, proudly pointed out that Stein was "quoted on a news broadcast just a few weeks ago saying that he loved Searcy and thought it might be the best small town in America." There can be no doubt that White County is a conservative area with morals and standards set high. A community is defined and molded by many different influences within its boundaries, and White Co. has absorbed a great variety of influences over its history, allowing it to emerge stronger for it with a unique, personal standing in this one small corner of the world. Molded by its high concentration of churches, has provided a religious foundation for values that attract both like-minded citizens and businesses. In 1932, the appeal was such that Harding College left its home in Morrilton to relocate to Searcy. This educational institution, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, is devoted to "taking a leadership role with its students and community to demonstrate the importance of good character," and, as such, dovetailed nicely with the community whose already developed character beckoned the school to its center. I don't feel like an outcast. I feel like I can fit in." - Joseph Falconberry Harding Student That mutually shared moral compass has created a unique identity that encourages strong families and involvement in its society. Harding University is more than eager to encourage that involvement from its students in an eager community. University students are encouraged to organize projects for needy families within their reach. Projects that not only build the type of student the University can be proud of, but projects that make life better for those citizens that are touched by the outreach they receive from those students. Dr. Burks describes the Bisons for Christ project's day of service. Instituted six years ago, the most recent service day was comprised of approximately 2,000 students. "A lot of effort had gone into planning these projects," Burks relates. "Projects were all over Searcy and all over White County. Whether it involved working with school children, or work in a nursing home or whether it was simply cleaning up a house or painting a house. This would be a concentrated effort in one day, but we've done this each year for the last five or six years. There are also service projects that go on every week, because every social club and every football team and every basketball team all have certain projects. And so, a lot of service is done as volunteers, but for the most part, no one knows that. Which is fine. The whole idea of service isn't because of the recognition; it is something you're doing because it is something that needs to be done. I think that that has made a difference in this community and I think it's an important part of the students' lives [here at Harding]." - Cole Coubrough/Harding Student "Harding brings great opportunity to the community by offering great education and more money to small businesses as well as charitable help in the community." But, the aspect that helps both the community and the University flourish economically may be one that is often overlooked. Each semester the student population (currently totaling 6,500) grows and each of those students spends money in the community. Dr. Jim Carr, Harding's Executive Vice-President, discusses the personal items each of those students purchase, from food in grocery stores and restaurants, to gas and clothing. And, of course, there are always movie tickets, music, and school supplies. "The typical college student has the spending power of $50,000 because their parents make that money available." This need to spend is supported by business owners with goods and services primed for their cash outlay. The impact grows exponentially when events at Harding bring in those students' parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors. With a hefty budget, Harding's immense customer base for local businesses helps provide employment and business opportunities for many hundreds of White County residents. The nationally recognized lecture series, sports events, adult education and graduate studies also provide additional opportunities to spend money in the community. It is certainly a substantial economic boon. Dr. Burks agrees. "Hardings annual budget, which includes the capital and operating budget, is about $100,000,000. That does not include what the students spend - that's just our budget and the capital budget. Students and parents probably spend another $20,000,000 according to conservative estimates that I have. Then using a conservative multiplier (3), there is really a $350 - $500 million economic impact each year. That doesn't even include the impact that is made in the community because we have a staff that numbers 800 and what they spend in the community. It is a major impact." - Sarah Spear, First-year P.A. student from Little Rock, as quoted in Harding But expenditures within the community are only part of Harding's economic force. President Burks compares the University's expansion to a new industry in its effect on here. "You cannot think of a university as industry because there is a difference between the two, but in some ways they are similar because they do create jobs, they do create a payroll, they do create a lot of opportunity for growth. People get really excited about the announcement of a new industry coming to town - it is front page news- [it may] employ 100 people. We have a brand new College of Pharmacy, a brand new program. The College of Pharmacy has 35 highly paid professors plus staff, plus, when it's fully developed, 240 students. If you were to look at the payroll and the economic impact of that in and of itself, it would exceed any industry that has been announced here in the last ten years, but no one views it that way. Combine that with the building of the new $8 million facility in which it is housed and the entire expansion is easily a small "industry" without the formal terminology and focus attached to its completion. The community, in return, is not unaware of the beneficial impact to their economy and has been very supportive of the exemplary University situated between Race and Beebe-Capps. Dr. Carr is very cognizant of Searcy's support. "[A recent] fund raising drive raised $1.2 million, pledged by the citizens of Searcy. They see an awful lot of value [in Harding.]" But money is one thing and character is another. The environment that is allowed to foster within the boundaries of any community helps determine whether a city is either another clone of the community at the next exit on the Interstate system or whether that city morphs into a municipality that is unique, with a character all its own. The result is a locale that attracts or repels potential citizens. As witnessed in countless unnamed cities around the United States that boast a college in their midst, the two can feed off each other to form a city that is anything but family friendly. From kicking ROTC out of schools, to protesting against the military's presence in their city, the character of a city can be extreme to say the least. So, Searcy and Harding University should stand proudly when viewing their mutual relationship and the atmosphere they have created hand-in-hand. No apologies should be given. After all, while every area has its issues, look around your State and the nation and ask yourself honestly, "Where do I want to raise my children? Where do I want to live out my life?" When you can proudly call a city your home because of its stands and you can quietly bow your head in prayer and do so without consequence, you have found a wonderful place to call home. Searcy is home for both Harding's President and Executive Vice-President and has been for over two decades. Dr. Jim Carr is originally from Tallahassee , Florida, where he attended Florida State University. He has been on the Harding staff for 22 years and met his wife in Searcy. White County apparently made an impression because Carr's parents moved here in 1970 and now call Searcy their adopted home. President Burks first came to Searcy from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, to attend Harding as a student in 1961. With the exception of three years when he attended grad school at Florida State University and was working for Exxon, he has been here ever since. He has been on the Harding faculty for 42 years, and has been the University's President for 22 years. "This is home," he says with pride. "This is where my kids grew up. They went through Harding Academy, they went through Harding University, and they left and took jobs elsewhere. They're now back in Searcy working for Harding University. So, I get to watch my grandkids grow up and watch them in the soccer program and the baseball program and all kinds of activities. I just think that Searcy has been a great place to raise a family and that was a major factor in my decision at a very young age to come here." The distinctive conservative core has shaped its past and forged its future and, sometimes without the average citizen realizing it, has created an atmosphere that makes its inhabitants thrive - even in the midst of surrounding turmoil. That rural, down home flavor has made its university students thrive in its culture. Unlike a much larger metropolitan area, this college population has fewer distractions and can focus on academics. As a result, there are more activities on campus and, therefore, the students tend to stay on campus to attend those functions and form closer bonds with each other. They build stronger relationships that last beyond their years in college. And many of those students choose to stay in Searcy or come back here to retire and be able to participate in the programs made available through Harding and within the community. Ben Stein may have been on to something when he spoke of Searcy. Dr. Burks is pleased with Harding's place in developing that great community spirit: "I think it has been a shared relationship between the community and the University. I think that Searcy is a better place because of this interaction, because of this partnership." After all, it has been said that where there is an active, growing college, there is an active growing city. But it takes both the community and that college working together for mutual success. Dr. Jim Carr is proud of the University he serves, but is happy to add, "Harding is a better institution because of Searcy." Go Back to Contents Go to SearcyLiving.com |
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