Arkansas residents had to shed their jackets and pull out their summer wardrobes early this year as the state experienced record-breaking temperatures for the month of March.

Students at Harding University in Greece will visit Turkey instead of Egypt this semester because of continuing political turmoil in the country according to Dr. Jeffrey Hopper, dean of international programs.

Award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver a poetry reading Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in Cone Chapel, with a book signing to follow.

Volunteer Harding hosted a double-elimination dodgeball tournament Sunday, April 1, to raise money for Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission.

Volunteer Harding is an organization that was started Fall 2011 by senior Milton Stewart, who said he wanted to help White County through creative means. Stewart told several friends throughout last summer about his idea in hopes of recruiting them into making his idea a reality.

“Milton is a very close friend of mine and I just told him I’d be happy to help him however,” said junior Kory Howard, vice president of public relations for Volunteer Harding. “So I just jumped in and started doing some work for him.”

Those who visit the Sears Honors House will encounter an unusual sight in the meeting room: A young, 6-foot-high crabapple tree has been planted inside a toilet. Stacked beneath it is an assortment of toiletries.

This display is for the Honors College’s second annual toiletry drive for the Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission in Searcy. Until April 13, students and faculty can donate body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, towels and other essential bathroom items and place them beside the tree.

After going into the national championship in Chicago ranked 25th, Harding’s Academic Quiz Team pulled ahead with an 18th-place finish.