the
VOLUME 130, ISSUE 11
SIGNAL
APRIL 28, 2022
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F O U A C H I TA B A P T I S T U N I V E R S I T Y
CONTENTS PAGE 2 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM
COVER STORY.............................3 NEWS......................................4-5 ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT...............6 OPINIONS................................... 7 SPORTS......................................8
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEWS EDITOR
Wyatt Ashlock
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT & OPINIONS EDITOR
Dr. Jeff Root Adviser
Ryan York
SPORTS EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
Valeria Gomez SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Dr. Deborah Root Adviser
Caroline Derby
AD COORDINATOR
Abby Blankenship PHOTO EDITOR
Levi Dade
PHOTO EDITOR
Jackson Carter Online Adviser
Ouachita Baptist University Office: Evans Student Center Email: signal@obu.edu Phone: (870) 245-5210 The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Nashville Leader. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via email to signal@obu.edu.
COVER STORY WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 3
Humphry siblings seal bond in college BY ERICA WILMATH Staff Writer
College students hope to leave campus with lasting friendships. Cloe Humphry, senior worship arts major, and Brennon Humphry, sophomore music major, have used their time at Ouachita for the past two years to seal their sibling bond. “We have so many fun memories at Ouachita. I love that I get to do life with Cloe on a day-today basis,” Brennon said. “It really blows my mind that Cloe is graduating; it came so quickly. I look back to last year when I was thinking, ‘We have two years together. That’s plenty of time.’ Those two years have come and gone so quickly.” Although both Brennon and Cloe feel their time on campus together has come and gone surprisingly quickly, they agree that this time brought growth for them as individuals, as siblings and as music majors. In Cloe’s experience, Ouachita has brought her an appreciation for diverse genres of music. “I have listened to church music my whole life, and when I started voice lessons here at school, I started singing songs in French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek and Spanish,” Cloe said. “I also started singing musical theater pieces. I have a deeper appreciation for music now than I ever have before.” She also finds immense value in the time she has spent learning from her music professors. “I want people to know that our music professors are incredible people. They are geniuses, but they are also compassionate, talented teachers who go the extra mile to help their students succeed.” From performing as a host in Tiger Tunes to being cast in the spring musical, Brennon feels that
Brennon and Cloe Humphry lead worship at the inaugural chapel for the spring semester on January 25. Music industry and worship arts majors from Bryant, the two are active in different areas of Ouachita’s music program, but they occasionally get to make music together. (photo by Sarah Dean)
Ouachita has presented him with vast opportunities to improve his craft through the school’s theater and music productions. “I want people to know that the music department at Ouachita is a really incredible place. The music department is full of brilliant faculty. I would say that a degree in music is not for everyone though. There are lots of late-night rehearsals, lots of time in a practice room and lots of performances to prepare for. Music can still be very enjoyable, but it becomes work, too,” Brennon said. In their two shared years on campus, the siblings have only crossed musical paths a few times. “We honestly don’t get many chances to ever perform together. Usually if Cloe and I get to sing together it is to lead worship in
chapel or another worship service. This semester, though, I convinced Cloe to perform at Coffeehouse with me. We had some other friends involved and we had a blast. It was fun to hear Cloe sing a different style of music and for it to just be for fun,” Brennon said. For Cloe, singing with her brother at Dr. Jacks’ Coffeehouse was her favorite of the musical moments they have shared together. “Since we are siblings, our voices blend really well together,” Cloe said. “The music he chose was exciting, so it was easy to have fun.” Even though they are rarely involved in the same musical production, Cloe and Brennon make a consistent effort to support one another’s endeavors. “Cloe has seen every single
production I’ve ever been in. There are a lot of Sundays where Cloe will be asked to lead worship at a different church and I try to make a point to go see her lead,” Brennon said. “I also led worship alongside Cloe in her senior worship project.” Having a sibling to lean on throughout college has been a blessing for the two. Like any good friendship, their relationship involves a balance of give and take. “The thing that encourages Brennon the most is for me to listen to what he says and for me to understand him and his point of view. I try my best to give that to him. I love words of affirmation. Brennon encourages me through words of wisdom and advice,” Cloe said. Although the sibling duo’s time in college together is coming to a
close, the two have plans to support one another despite the distance. “I have really been nervous about not having Cloe on campus next year,” Brennon said. “I walked onto Ouachita’s campus with hundreds of connections on day one because of her. We spend basically every day together. It really is more about having her here on a regular basis than the big moments. She can always drive down for those.” Cloe feels bittersweet about leaving campus but looks forward to new memories. “I will miss the convenience of doing everyday life with Brennon. It will be a completely new season of life for both of us,” Cloe said. “I plan to come back to see Brennon perform as a host for Tiger Tunes, and I can’t wait.”
NEWS
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Project 6:8 seeks to equip servant leaders on campus BY EMILEE WEBB Staff Writer
Project 6:8 is a new organization on campus that focuses on providing students with a community that allows them to find their passions through service and leadership. The founder and president of Project 6:8, junior elementary education major Isabella Bejarano, started this organization to help students find their purpose and to provide them with the resources and training along the way. The idea for the organization comes from Micah 6:8. The verse reads, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” “This is such an important value that Ouachita wants to instill in its students and Project 6:8 seeks to serve all around us by empowering better servant leaders,” Bejarano said. Along with president and founder Bejarano, Project 6:8 has other students involved in leadership. Andy Strauss serves as vice president, Juli Parsons serves as secretary and Jake Greenwich is the current social liaison for Project 6:8. Strauss believes that Project 6:8 is a doable and meaningful addition to students’ schedules. “In the end, Project 6:8 is a resource. We require only 10 Transerve hours a semester to join Project 6:8, so we don’t want to add a heavy burden to students who are already overworked,” Strauss said. “Joining may mean starting up your own unique service project, but it may also mean benefiting from teachings and from a community that will pray for you and that will champion your servant-heart. Similarly, we seek to communicate
all opportunities that are available. We want to grow the ministries and services already available through Campus Ministries, the Elrod Center and OSF philanthropy.” Project 6:8 has already had a large presence on campus through the Walk for Freedom last fall, which will happen again this fall on October 15. The organization is also supporting Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is sponsored by Christa Neal. Many of the organization’s members were able to get plugged in by volunteering in support of this cause. Project 6:8 is also starting to host Table Talks, which are designed to be a conversation with faculty members to answer any questions that students have over a meal. The first Table Talk was on April 20 at the Elrod Center. Kiki Cherry, who serves in the Communications and Marketing Department at Ouachita gave a talk titled “Mythbusters: Nonprofit Edition.” Cherry focus ed on breaking down many of the common misconceptions about nonprofit work. As this organization continues to expand, students will find more and more opportunities to get involved and make a difference while growing in faithful friendship. “As we grow, we seek to encourage students to plug into what is already existing through Campus Ministries and the Elrod Center, but to also try new things and possibly even start new things while being poured into through community and other exciting opportunities,” Bejarano said. Students looking to get involved can follow the Project 6:8 Instagram (@_project68_) and use the link in their bio to join the GroupMe. Students can also email Bejarano (bej72069@obu.edu) for more information.
Founder of Project 6:8 Isabella Bejarano shares the intention behind the organization at an interest meeting. (photo by Levi Dade)
NEWS
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Ouachita hosts panels for sexual assault awareness BY RACHEL DUNNAM Staff Writer
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and Ouachita’s theme for the month is “In it Together.” Throughout the past few weeks in April, students and faculty on Ouachita’s campus have gathered for question and answer panels highlighting issues related to sexual assault. Christa Neal, alongside other Ouachita staff members, has worked to shine a light on the subject of sexual misconduct through honest and open discussion with students. The first panel was held on April 6 and was open to both male and female students. The topic of this panel was focused on what to do as a bystander in the event of sexual assault or misconduct. Community and family services majors, sophomore May Hyman and junior Natalie Fletcher, have both gained helpful insights from the panel discussions. “Sexual assault is difficult to talk about because it makes people uncomfortable,” Hyman said.
Christa Neal speaks at the women’s panel, “What If?” for sexual assault awareness month on April 14th. (photo by Sarah Dean)
“However, this is a major issue in our fallen world today, and shying away from this problem hinders growth and healing. I’m thankful to be on a campus that provides resources for students to learn, grow and raise awareness together.” Another panel titled “What if?” took place on April 14. This question and answer panel, led by Ni-
cole Porchia, Merrilee Greer and Christa Neal, was open to women only. The panel answered relevant questions and taught attendees how to respond in situations of sexual misconduct that involve themselves or someone they know. “I got to attend both the panels during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, where I got to listen to
faculty discuss and answer questions,” Fletcher said. “They were informative, helpful and I left feeling empowered that this needs to be talked about.” The final panel of the month was held on April 20 for men only. The theme of this night was “Brother’s Keeper.” It was a time for men to openly discuss all aspects of sexual
assault awareness and prevention. Cori Gooseberry, Dan Jarboe, Bryan McKinney and Spencer Knight led the panel. Neal encouraged students and faculty to attend these panels and submit their own questions on the subject. All of the discussions were safe, judgment-free and full of honest dialogue between leaders and students. “Sexual assault is a heavy topic but shouldn’t be dismissed,” Fletcher said. “Evil thrives in the dark, but when it’s brought to light... people can begin to find healing. Together we can raise awareness and fight this issue.” This month serves as a challenge to talk about the hard topics. Many students have mentioned how little they have heard on the topic of sexual assault awareness and prevention at Ouachita until this year. April on Ouachita’s campus is a call for everyone to step back and evaluate our place and role within this discussion. Faculty, staff and students all play a role in our campus being a place of respect, safety and equality for all.
Students earn 64 awards at ACMA conference BY VALERIA GOMEZ Staff Writer
The 2022 Arkansas College Media Association Awards took place on April 8 in Jonesboro. The conference and awards were held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton. Ouachita communications students won 64 awards for university publications and media outlets. Students serving over various Ouachita media won in the competitive General Excellence categories. Senior yearbook editors Gracen Goudy and Anna Roussel were named yearbook editors of
the year, senior OSDN coordinator Matthew Branch was named TV Producer of the year, junior Ouachita News Show anchor Caroline Derby was named TV anchor of the year and senior newspaper editor Sara Patterson was named Website Editor of the year. Ben Swanger, a 2021 Ouachita graduate, won designer of the year along with other first place awards for the 2020-2021 yearbook. “I definitely was not expecting the number of awards I received. When entering my job as editor of the Ouachitonian, awards were never a motivating factor in creating a memorable book. Being
recognized by the state and even nationally by the CSPA is amazing, but what’s more rewarding is knowing that book will harbor memories forever for the students, staff, and faculty that lived through it,” Swanger said. Swanger’s cover design won first place. He explained his heart behind the theme of the 2020-2021 “Ouachitonian” and how especial it was to record all the stories from such a different school year. “I only wanted to tell the story of Ouachita from 2020-2021. Being able to live through a school year that saw an entire Ouachita student body come together to fight
through the pandemic and stay on campus, and in the classroom, doesn’t come around too often. The theme “Resilience” personified our university perfectly for the school year,” Swanger said. Upon receiving awards in the newspaper category, Patterson was excited to report back to her staff. “My favorite part has been seeing the people on my staff grow and discover different areas of journalism that they are interested in, and it’s fun seeing them get good at it and be proud of themselves. It’s such a joy to be a resource for them. They make my job so much easier,” Patterson said.
This award is especially meaningful to Patterson because website editing was a task she felt was outside of her comfort zone. She is grateful for the guidance of advisors as she learned a new skill. “It meant a lot to me because website editing has always been more intimidating to me. This year we tried a lot of new things. We tried to make the website more interactive and visually appealing. I’m just so thankful that those efforts paid off. I’m so thankful for the guidance of my online advisor, professor Carter, for always being willing to help and pushing me to try new things,” Patterson said.
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM
Actor makes debut in ‘The Adam Project’ BY WYATT ASHLOCK
Arts/Entertainment & Opinions Editor The newest Netflix original introduces the world to a new actor who is taking Hollywood by storm. In the year 2055, the world is falling apart and only one man can save the day. Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) must travel back in time to rewrite the timeline before the world ceases to exist. As he heads to 2018, he crash lands in 2022 and he meets someone unexpected: his younger self. Young Adam (Walker Scobell) is still coping with the death of his father, Louis Reed (Mark Ruffalo), while trying to survive middle
school. Louis Reed is a scientist working on something known as the Adam Project, which results in time travel existing in the year 2055. Young Adam and Adam must work together to travel back to the year 2018 to stop the Adam project from ever being invented while dealing with the emotional trauma of seeing their father. Director Shawn Levy does not reinvent the wheel in this movie but clearly had a fun time making it. It is a well done movie but nothing stands out cinematically. The CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) is one of the most impressive parts of the movie. From the weapons to space travel, it all looks realistic enough to sell the film. The best part of this movie is the
acting. Reynolds does a remarkable job at playing a witty pilot while also struggling with significant childhood trauma.
“I rate this film a 4 out of 5 tiger paws.” -Wyatt Ashlock Making his acting debut, Scobell is the standout actor. He does a phenomenal job at playing the younger version of Adam who still has the wit but is trying to
deal with the trauma of losing his father. The undeniable chemistry between Reynolds and Scobell is what sells the idea that they are playing the same character. Jennifer Garner plays Adam’s mom and will make your heart hurt as she struggles with trying to be there for young Adam while not being able to grieve the loss of her husband. The story itself is pretty good if you don’t try to look too hard at the science behind time travel and focus on the emotional aspect of a boy who has lost his father. However, if you focus on the science aspect, it is lackluster in the story. There is nothing to write home about when it comes to the score. It doesn’t take away from the plot, but it never adds to it either.
There was no themed music as it has become status quo for many sci-fi movies such as “Guardians of The Galaxy.” Overall, I enjoyed this Netflix original. Scobell is by far the best part of this movie, and the fact that this is his first film is impressive. I did wish the score was better and the science behind this film’s version of time travel was better written. Otherwise, I had a lot of fun watching this. This heart warming story is great for anyone looking for a fun movie to put on. Reynolds and Scobell made me laugh throughout the entire movie and had some epic fight scenes, earning it a 4 out of 5 tiger paws. “The Adam Project” is available to stream now exclusively on Netflix.
Cajun Snow opens, kicks off summertime Summertime has officially arrived when Cajun Snow opens its snowcone shack. The shack is decked out with a nice awning, picnic tables and above all else, the tastiest snow cones in Arkadelphia. College students anxiously await the opening of the shack in the spring and are sad to see it go in the fall. Cajun Snow has everything from good ole’ classic snow cone flavors to intricate ice cream-filled cones. Adored by the college crowd and
the locals alike, you can typically find the line of customers stretching across the gravel parking lot. Craved by all, Cajun Snow has become more than a snow cone stand. It has become a place where friends gather, meetings are held and memories are made. Located right off the banks of the Caddo River, Cajun Snow creates a casual, welcoming and friendly environment for all who come to it. “I appreciate that it’s super consistent—always in the same place, same quality each time, and super friendly employees. It’s just enjoyable to go there,” Anna Roussel, an
avid Cajun Snow customer, said. “I think it’s just an easy place to spend time with friends. You can share something less than a meal but still hang out and have meaningful conversations together,” Roussel said. The prices are the next most remarkable thing about Cajun Snow. The price is affordable for college students and families looking for a yummy afternoon snack. They offer large portions and all the fixings as well as simple cones, all for low prices. Snowcones range from $2.00 for the smallest size, a SnowBowl, to $6.00 for
their largest size, a Big Easy. The customer makes their snow cone unique to them. Whether you like cream on top, ice cream in the middle, sugar-free flavors or shaved ice in the form of a snow shake, the prices are great and the product is even better. “I love Cajun Snow because the ice is shaved New Orleans style and has an unmatched meltin-your-mouth texture. They are affordable, and their punch-card rewards system is enticing,” Anna Kate Velaquez, another fan of Cajun Snow, said. Velasquez has already punched
in two full punch cards this Cajun Snow season. With those completed punch cards, customers are rewarded with a free snowball size snow cone or an amount taken off the total price. “I especially love getting a stuffed Snowball, which means it has ice cream inside, and you can’t find that at many other places,” Velasquez said. Cajun Snow is an Arkadelphia favorite and a local staple in this small town. It is the best way to take a break from the end-of-theyear stress and cool off during these warm and busy spring days.
Art Credit:
Music Credit:
Music Credit:
Theater Credit:
Music Credit:
Student Juried Art Show Hammons Art Gallery April 20th - October 8th
David Glaze Music Competition April 28th at 7:30 PM McBeth Recital Hall
Steel Drum Concert May 4th at 8:00 PM Jones Performing Arts Center
Student Directed One Acts May 5th - 6th at 7:30 PM Verser Theatre
Guest Artist Priscilla Navarro - Piano May 6th at 7:30 PM McBeth Recital Hall
BY CAROLINE DERBY Staff Writer
Arts Engagement Calendar
OPINIONS
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Convictions, counselors, community mold minds BY SCOTT DUVALL Guest Writer
Dr. J. Scott Duvall, a 1980 Ouachita graduate, is the J.C. & Mae Fuller Professor of Biblical Studies and chair of the Pruet School’s Department of Biblical Studies.
Commencement season is here. I must admit having bittersweet memories of the day I graduated from Ouachita. Yes, it’s quite an accomplishment and the celebration with family and friends was memorable—a milestone, changing the world and all that. While finishing a college degree stands as a significant achievement, I was totally unprepared for the abrupt change that graduation day would bring. As a student you spend four years (or more) cultivating community only to have the “adults” decide one Saturday in May that the game is over and we all have to leave. That Saturday was simultaneously wonderful and painful. I would never again live and eat and play and study with that same group of people in the same place. The neighborhood was gone, and when commencement was over I found myself, surprisingly, … grieving. We have to grow up and staying at OBU forever wasn’t an option, but I’ll never forget how difficult that day was. Wonderfully difficult, you might say. After over 30 years of teaching, I think I know now why it was especially tough. What happens here is, in a word, transformational. It’s mostly the people but it’s also the place. Much like a greenhouse provides an optimum environment for growing new plants, so Ouachita offers a healthy setting for growing kids into adults. That’s probably the reason that some of us come back to work here and many of us come back to visit. Something special happens here
Photo by Andy Henderson
for most people. You arrive an 18year old kid and you leave a young adult. You land as a bundle of excitement and awkwardness, anticipation and apprehension. During these four years you change, perhaps more than you will ever change again in such a short span. Transformation happens here for many people, at least it did for me. When I think about how God transformed me at Ouachita, I’m reminded of the account of another group of college students. In his book, The Fabric of Faithfulness, Steven Garber zeroes in on what leads college students to become faithful and stay faithful through their university years. He tells the story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, students at Munich University in the 1940s. Under the guidance of an influential professor, they formed an anti-Nazi resistance movement, The White Rose. They were Christians and distributed ideas through their newspaper about human dignity and freedom that ran counter to Hitler’s dogma. Hans and Sophie and several of their friends were eventually executed by the Nazis. Their professor, the only member of the Munich faculty to support
the students, also was martyred. (The 2005 movie, “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days,” powerfully portrays their courageous stance.) As Garber studied the entire story, he observed that three things set these students apart from the rest, three things were essential to form faithfulness: a biblical worldview or set of convictions, role models such as teachers to incarnate those beliefs for the students to observe and a group of people who share those beliefs who can journey together through life. In other words, the perfect storm of faithfulness includes convictions, counselors and community. Ouachita is transformational because it’s a place with strong concentrations of these three important essentials: a biblical worldview, wise and loving mentors and a community of like-minded friends. I teach in the Pruet School of Christian Studies and I can say without any hesitation that our greatest strength is teaching students how to value, understand and live out God’s Word. This is not a statement that can be made with integrity by every Christian college in the land. It’s true at OBU.
But this commitment to a biblical set of convictions goes far beyond the Pruet School. When I was a student here, the BSU (now Campus Ministries) made a deep and lasting impact on my life, and CM continues to touch students in significant ways. All over campus faculty, staff and administrators do their part to embody and pass on a biblical view of the world and, as a result, students are transformed. But a biblical worldview without examples and role models and mentors isn’t worth much. You have the theory but no sense of how these beliefs play out in real life. Once again, Ouachita is a transformative place because of its people—those who teach and plan and counsel and serve and do so many other things for the benefit of our students. The place provides a wealth of courageous and compassionate examples. I’ve heard the parents of numerous prospective students say that they can tell from the beginning that we care deeply about students. During this phase of life, you sometimes need to talk to someone trustworthy who is not a peer or a parent. Ouachita has those
people in abundance and students are transformed by their example. When we forget the lectures, we still remember the words of encouragement, the presence at a recital or ballgame, the comforting talk and the many other times when our mentors at Ouachita embodied our biblical beliefs. The third essential is community. We need fellow travelers to journey with us through the good times and the bad. To say Ouachita is a social place is a huge understatement. But social doesn’t always include community. Along with all the fun, deep and lasting friendships are forged here. True community happens here. That’s why commencement was painful. I loved my community and it hurt to give it up so suddenly. Since then I’ve learned that authentic community can be found elsewhere since the Spirit of God joins us together in real community. But it happens so naturally and so quickly here. It has a lot to do with living on campus, where you are forced to reckon with important things like laundry, respecting others’ space, flexibility, forgiveness, and where you reap the benefits of laughter, spontaneous trips and pranks, envisioning the future and so on. You grow close as you learn together, eat together, play together and worship together. Ouachita isn’t a perfect place but it is a transformational place because it nurtures convictions, counselors and community. God is not just involved in one of these three elements; He’s in all of it, orchestrating a beautiful symphony of faithfulness. And no matter how long you’ve been away, most of us still remember the day we had to leave and look forward to our next visit. My only consolation to each graduating class is a plea to let God use you to cultivate the same kind of transformation wherever you go.
SPORTS
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Oliveira garners accolades for impressive performance BY MATTHEW CHEATHAM Staff Writer
Francisco “Chico” Oliveira is a graduating senior and a vital member for the men’s tennis team. The men’s tennis team is currently ranked 17th in all of Division II by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, due in no small part to the contributions from their 16th individually ranked star. Oliveira and Santiago Kearney (ranked 42nd himself in singles) are ranked 22nd in doubles. Alex Blanchar and Phil Exner join their fellow Tigers in the rankings by holding the 50th spot in doubles. Oliveira is a native of Porto, Portugal, a daunting 4,471 miles from Arkadelphia. He began to have the desire to go overseas to play collegiate tennis through a convincing friend. After getting connected with a recruiter, Oliveira was put in contact with Ouachita’s men’s tennis coach, Craig Ward. Oliveira did not get to see much of the beauty of campus due to an untimely storm, but he was sold based on the general friendliness of the people he met on his visit. He would soon become one of the best tennis stars in all of Division II. After starting out his freshman season going 10-4, he continued to improve. His sophomore season was cut short by the pandemic, but not before seeing him go out on a 3-game win streak. In his junior season, he was named MIAA Player of the Week and UTR ITA Player of the Week, finished 12-3 and finished the season ranked No. 10 in singles in all of Division II. During this season, Oliveira was named MIAA/GAC Player of the Week on April 20, adding to his accolades. Oliveira points to pro-
fessors as a key source of support. He compared the drastic difference in the mindset and attitudes of Ouachita’s professors compared to those back at home. “Everybody wants to help you,” Oliveira said. Oliveira knew that the COVID-19 virus was becoming an serious risk before America went into the lockdown as he was in contact with his family in Europe. The day before they were to compete at a tournament in San Antonio against some of the best teams in the nation, while being a formidable foe themselves, they were informed of the disappointment that took the world by storm. He recalled the team’s worry and sadness, but more importantly, the sobering words of his coach. Oliveira remembers Coach Ward’s leadership and steadiness through that time. Ward helped them to see that the crisis was about more than sports and acknowledged the seriousness of the rapidly changing situation. Oliveira’s advice to his teammates and incoming collegiate tennis players is simple: “Trust your coach.” He also emphasized that “it is all about relationships,” as tennis has given him connections that go past the sport. Tiger tennis alumni, he noted, have been valuable people for him to connect with, and he has already seen job opportunities from colleagues that he has met through playing the sport at Ouachita. He is keeping his options open, but plans to work at a tennis club in Boston, where he will coach youth in tennis. This is a change from his original plan to use his fifth year of eligibility and continue his college career. Oliveira looks forward to sharing his passion for tennis with younger players in a new role.
Top left: Francisco Oliveira prepares to serve against University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. (photo by Abby Blankenship) Top right: Oliveira plays against South Arkansas University. Oliveira currently holds a 29-12 record in singles matches over his career. (photo by Hannah Adamson) Bottom: Oliveira encourages his teammate in a match. (photo by Hannah Adamson)
