Written by Sarah Kyle
The Searcy City Council voted Tuesday to approve capital improvement revenue bonds for Harding, the proceeds of which will go toward renovations to Sears Hall.
While the city has agreed to sell the bonds on behalf of the university, Harding’s attorney Shep Russell stated that all financial responsibilities would rest on Harding and its investors.
“These bonds are not obligations to the city in any respect as far as repaying is concerned,” Russell said.
Once sold, the bonds will total anywhere between $4.5 and $5 million. The council voted unanimously to approve Harding’s request, with Alderman Carl Nutter publicly commending President David Burks and the university.
“It’s always good to see [Burks] because it means Searcy is progressing,” Nutter said.
Burks said the university is excited about the council’s decision.
“We look forward to re-funding the issue and to remodeling Sears Hall,” Burks said.
Freshmen and first floor Sears Hall residents Erin Simons and Elizabeth Burson said that while they love the social life of the dorm, it is in dire need of renovations.
“There’s mold in our showers and on our windows and rust on the screens,” Simons said. “There’s a big crack in our wall, and we can see our suitemate’s light on if ours is off.”
Burson said that the integrity of items such as closet drawers and bathroom fixtures has begun to wane due to the dorm’s age.
“Things fall a lot,” Burson said. “Sometimes you have to take the whole drawer apart if you want to get anything out. Water sprays out when you turn the sink on. The shower clogs easily.”
Burson added that animal and insect roommates made living in the dorm a little less pleasant.
“I think there’s rats living above us because we can hear scurrying,” Burson said. “We have ants.”
Despite the physical problems of the dorm, the pair said they truly enjoy the social life and setup of Sears Hall.
“We have hall parties where we sit in the hall and eat pizza,” Burson said. “We draw on the walls and write each other notes.”
