Written by Sarah J Kyle
Seniors Frank Bolling and J.T. Hill played “Freaky Friday” with Harding President Dr. David Burks Wednesday, experiencing a day in the life of a university official.
The idea for “President for a Day” came from an old Harding tradition, according to Student Association President Jordan Stanley. Stanley said the student-president switch occurred annually for about five or six years, until it became an old concept to students.
“We head about it and decided to bring it back because it hasn’t been done since we’ve been here,” Stanley said. “I think the main thing is it’s just a fun day for students, and it gives those students [JT and Frank] a better perspective about what he [Burks] actually does.”
Out of 17 student candidates, Hill and Bolling tied with 125 votes each. It was then left to the SA and administration to decide which student would get to be president for a day.
“They were definitely the top two, and we obviously couldn’t open it up to another student election with it being [that] day, and Dr. Burks’ schedule had already been cleared and ready to go,” Stanley said. “We told them the fairest way to do this was to flip a coin, to avoid the partisanship of a small group of students voting.”
Bolling won the coin toss but decided to share the presidency with Hill anyway, a decision that Hill described as honorable.
“I just thought it was extremely gracious of Frank to extend the co-presidency with me,” Hill said. “It was brave of him to defy the fates.”
Bolling objected to such praise, saying he believed it would be more fun to share the presidency with Hill, and that it was the right thing to do.
“I just thought that since we had both tied, more than one person should be able to enjoy the perks of being Dr. Burks for a day,” Bolling said. “I mean, we tied, and it’s not like it was an official election. It wasn’t some selfless act of defiance against the system. It was something we both should enjoy.”
Hill said the co-presidency was a good way to cross the lines of club rivalry, with Bolling being a member of Beta Omega Chi and Hill being in Knights.
“I thought it was a really great showing of bi-partisanship between BOX and Knights working together and reaching across club boundaries,” Hill said.
The students were exposed to a variety of presidential tasks, including meetings with Harding officials and faculty, while Burks attended multiple classes and student rituals.
“They [the students] get to see a better idea of how things work on campus, and Dr. Burks is getting to see what it’s like being a student having to wait in line for coffee in the Student Center after chapel, going to chapel and what it’s like to sit in the Caf for lunch,” Stanley said. “It’s about changing perspectives on both sides and showing Dr. Burks’ involvement and commitment to students.”
Bolling said the opportunity allowed him to fulfill a goal he has had for quite some time: to tell a joke in chapel and have it be laughed at. On a more serious note, Bolling said it was an affirming experience to better see the purpose of the university from the eyes of an administrator.
“We met with Dr. Burks and discussed where he sees Harding going,” Bolling said. “It’s comforting to know that Harding’s mission is staying true to what it has always been, which is developing Christian servants.”
Bolling also admired the view Burks had of the front lawn, a view that Hill said students might want to be more aware of.
“You can totally just see everyone checking themselves out and doing crazy stuff because they don’t think anyone is looking, but Burks is,” Hill said. “He’s got this amazing view of campus, but there’s a light pole outside the Caf where couples make out. And he can just see everything.”
Hill’s favorite part of the day, however, involved getting caught for pulling a prank in the Presidential Office.
“We were at lunch, and it got kind of awkward and boring because we had to be there until 1 p.m. and everyone had stopped talking. So I got up and started looking around and saw this medallion and just grabbed it and hid it in the couch in the lobby,” Hill said. “Nate [Copeland] noticed later on, and talked to me about it and I felt guilty.”
Overall, the students said they enjoyed their day as Dr. Burks, and got to see a different side of Harding.However, Hill jokingly said he was a little disappointed that he did not get to complete an important piece of legislation.
“I was disappointed that they canceled our flight to Disneyland, because I was going to do an exploratory mission for HUD: Harding University in Disneyland,” Hill said. “But it didn’t work out.”
