Written by Carly Kester
Last Monday in chapel, Harding President David Burks announced that next fall the university will offer only one chapel, scheduled for 9 a.m.
According to Burks, the change was made primarily because of efficiency and togetherness.
“It’s more efficient to have only one chapel, and there’s more energy on the part of students who are together,” Burks said. “It’s always been our desire to have one; we’ve just not been able to do it in the past because of space.”
Assistant to the President Nate Copeland added that the decision was made after discussions with the Student Association and several students saying they would like to go back to one chapel, if possible.
He also added that the atmosphere of chapel is usually invigorated by having the entire student body together.
“For the most part, students seem happier during the spring semester when everyone’s together,” Copeland said
Seating in the Benson will be changed as well to make room for the incoming freshmen and transfer students. More seats will be added on the ends of certain aisles, such as the balcony and the back of the floor.
“Over the summer we’ll add about 175 seats, and by adding that many we’ll be able to seat everyone in the fall just like in the spring,” Burks said.
Burks also revealed that the plan to have only one chapel is expected to be a permanent change.
“We’ll just have to see how it works,” Burks said. “As long as people will fit, I’ll anticipate it to be permanent.”
Copeland said Harding’s enrollment is expected to remain level for some time and will not conflict with the new chapel schedule.
“We feel like we’re at the point in our growth at the undergraduate level to where we’ll be for a while,” Copeland said. “We don’t think we’ll have to go back to two chapels, so we’re pretty much set.”
The SA has been trying to work out a way for students to switch chapel seats sometime during the semester, but it looks like the suggestion will be put on hold for a while.
“For the first couple of weeks, it’s hard for students to remember where they’re sitting, especially for the freshmen and transfer students,” Copeland said. “So if we try to move every month or so, it could get a little confusing.”
Burks said the new chapel schedule would make scheduling classes for next fall simpler for students.
“It makes for a more efficient use of the day so I think it’ll be beneficial to everyone to have chapel at only one hour every day,” Burks said.
With such a big change coming up soon, the administration will be busy during the next few months.
“We’re still working out all the kinks and trying to get everything right so it’ll work out in the fall,” Copeland said. “There’ll be a lot happening during the summer.”
