Written by Grant C Sloan
When people speak of ice in Searcy, Ark., they usually are referring to inclement weather that can shut down the streets of the city for days at a time.
However, for Harding students, the normally treacherous weather hazard was given a new face last week.
Thanks to the help of Harding University’s Student Association, students, faculty, staff and the Searcy community were able to ice skate on the campus front lawn Dec. 3-4. For $5, students could reserve a 30-minute time slot to experience a first in Harding’s history.
Mixed reviews surrounded the ice-skating rink. However, SA President Bryan Clifton received mostly positive feedback from the students who endured the cold weather to spend time on the ice. The low on Friday was 24 degrees.
“I think a lot of people expected it to be a full-size hockey rink, and that is just not realistic. The people who actually got out there had a blast,” Clifton said. “At one point we had 70 people on the ice, with a line of people waiting to try it out.”
For many students like John Gemma from Cleveland, Ohio, the ice-skating rink was a taste of home.
“The closest skating rink is an hour away from Searcy [Little Rock]. It’s nice to see the SA do something unique that all the students can enjoy,” Gemma said.
Though many students found the ice rink a nice way to spend a weeknight in Searcy, not all Harding students were impressed by the SA’s attempt at a winter wonder land.
“I like what the SA is doing, but 75 people on the ice at the same time were a little ridiculous, especially in that small of an area,” Jarred Brown said.
Rumors of students who suffered broken bones as a result of accidently falling on the ice have circulated the university, but Clifton was quick to dismiss the rumors.
“Nobody broke any bones,” he said. “I think the worst thing that happened was a girl slipped and ripped her pants. If that’s the worst thing that happened, I’m pretty happy.”
Clifton said he was unsure if the SA would repeat the event at the same time next year. However, he did say that the SA hopes to put on the event every four or five years so each Harding student has a chance to experience this unique opportunity.
