the
VOLUME 130, ISSUE 6
SIGNAL
DECEMBER 9, 2021
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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Sara Patterson
SIGNAL
MacKenzie Hall
Langley Leverett
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
Magic found in mundane: Saddler’s origin story BY LANGLEY LEVERETT Copy Editor
She has storyteller eyes. Dark brown and inky– they are like the dense script in her journals, or the decorated post-it notes spread across her room. While her eyes observe, they absorb every detail, searching for the glimmer of a story. Her eyes scan, looking for something resembling the truth, or at least, something with a little magic. Cora Saddler, a senior English and Spanish major from Cabot, Ark., is a writer. She is also Alpha Chi president, Sigma Tau Delta copresident, Carl Goodson Honors Program secretary, Women of Tri Chi member and a clarinet player in the wind ensemble. She can be seen running to and from classes or functions, backpack in hand, armed with her yellow water bottle and a printed journal. What many people don’t know is that Saddler’s birth name is Xing Hong, which translates in English as “Little Red.” When she was an infant, her adoptive parents brought her to Arkansas from the Hunan Province of China. “My mom is part Cherokee. Her Cherokee name is ‘Big Red.’ Before she went to China to adopt me, she wore this red string, which symbolized good luck. It’s the red string of destiny,” Saddler said. “She was so excited when she found out my name was Xing Hong – she told me, ‘God wanted me to have you.’” Saddler is a language lover at heart, and she claims that it’s because her mother began to share stories with her at an early age. To help Saddler understand their situation, her mother would make books, often with Saddler being the main character. One of her favorite books was titled “Cora and the Elephants.”
“This herd of elephants adopts a girl named Cora, and she plays with all the other little elephant children. She asks why she is not an elephant, but her parents tell her that they still love her. They live in the jungle and then move to the city. But, they start to miss their home in the jungle, so they bring in elements from their home into the city,” Saddler said. “Things like that helped me understand. I never didn’t understand that I was adopted, but at a certain point I just knew.” Writing a thesis is a requirement for honors students. Saddler’s thesis consists of multiple short stories revolving around themes of magical realism and surrealism. Part of her inspiration for these stories comes from her own experience of being an Asian American in a predominantly white environment. “There are times where it was hard not seeing anyone like me in school. I wrote a short story about it, and it might go in my thesis. It’s about the closest I can come to writing about myself,” Saddler said. “It’s about two girls in the past and the present. It’s about the Asian experience I’ve had, where there’s this longing for the girl I would’ve been if I had stayed in China. Who is that girl, what would she have looked like? It’s called ‘Hot and Sour Soup’ because that’s what I feel like– like fake Chinese food. You know, Chinese on the outside, American on the inside.” Saddler was awarded the Ben Elrod travel grant for her honors thesis. This grant gave her the resources needed to travel to a place of her choosing to find further inspiration for her thesis. Originally, Saddler planned to visit Japan in the spirit of one of her favorite authors: Haruki Marakami. However, because of COVID restrictions she changed
plans and visited New York City. She recounts the overwhelming feeling of belonging, despite the reality that she was alone. “When I went to New York, we went to Chinatown. I had never, ever, seen so many Chinese people. They were speaking Mandarin, and I felt a sense of comfort, even if I didn’t know what they were saying,” Saddler said. “I could imagine, almost, what it would have felt like if I had grown up there. It felt like going home, in a sense. Maybe ethnicity is a scale. I am proud of the girl I am, and who I am. But there’s always a ‘what if’ question. It will always be a locked door that I’ll never be able to open.” The experience of traveling to New York and exploring a new environment impressed upon her new ideas and inspiration for not only her stories, but for her own growth. “It’s a storyteller’s dream to be in New York. Being a woman and being there semi-alone, without my family, forced me to realize what I could do,” Saddler said. “I think some people are afraid to feel small because that might insinuate that their purpose is diminished or not as grand. But I love that feeling of being small because I put a lot of pressure on myself. Being that small takes the pressure away, and makes me realize that there is so much more to life than sitting down and getting my homework done, or getting that ‘A,’ or getting a win. It puts life into perspective.” After four years of majoring in English and Spanish and being introduced to some of her favorite writers like Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Neruda and Franz Kafka, Saddler has no regrets over choosing to study language. “I always knew I was going to major in English since high school. I’ve always loved English, it has
A senior English and Spanish major, Cora Saddler is motivated by her love of storytelling. After college, Saddler plans to attend graduate school to develop her creative writing skills. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
always been a subject I gravitated toward, not because it was the easiest subject, but because it was the subject that let me grow the most. It was innate,” Saddler said. She credits Márquez with her magical realism fascination. This niche genre of literature, closely associated with Latin America, incorporates fantastical elements into realistic fiction. “There’s something about Márquez that made these mundane things so magical, and the magical so mundane. Something about that really attracted me to it, because I see that in our world, and how everyday there’s these really magical things that happen, but because they happen every day, they lose their luster. I resonated with that.”
Her peers joke that Saddler is superhuman, but it rings true. She is diligent when it concerns writing and academics, not because of a prize or an accolade, but because language affords her the most growth. “It’s important to me to do my very best. It’s not about the accolades or about the reputation of doing good work. It’s about doing good work. That has always been my motivation. I’ll work on an essay for seven hours, not because I want to win something, but because I want it to be a good essay. I’m learning as I write it. That’s the only way I grow.” After graduation, Saddler hopes to attend an M.F.A. program, where she can practice creative writing and explore more of her craft.
NEWS
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Robinson received a prestigious $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation. As a registered dietitian, Robinson hopes to provide resources for minority communities, where diabetes has a severe impact. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
Robinson receives dietetics scholarship BY MACKENZIE HALL
News Editor Latina Robinson of North Little Rock, Ark., a Dietetic Internship graduate student at Ouachita, is one of two recipients of a $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation. The scholarship was established to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and access for dietetics students to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the field. The $25,000 scholarship is for the 2021-2022
academic year to support students as they pursue dietetic careers. “I was delighted and appreciative to receive the AND Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship. I honestly could not believe that they chose to select me out of all the other applicants in the nation. What a blessing,” Robinson said. “It is amazing to know that AND believes in me and what I intend to do within my community.” Robinson feels that the professors at Ouachita value her as a student. She enjoys the support and hands-on nature of the program. “I knew Ouachita’s Dietetic In-
ternship program would teach me the necessary competencies to help develop a confident disposition,” Robinson said. “I love the program’s community concentration and public health aspect, which fully embodies my core value of becoming a registered dietitian.” Robinson hopes to continue pursuing her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Ouachita and become a registered dietitian to provide resources and care for minority communities, where the prevalence of diabetes has a severe impact. “My vision is to provide the pub-
lic with the right tools and resources to prevent the disease within minority groups,” Robinson said, adding that she wants to “inspire and motivate minorities in the nation into defeating this dreadful disease.” After losing a loved one to type two diabetes, Robinson knew she wanted to continue fighting and educating on the disease. “During the last couple months of my grandmother’s life, I witnessed her complication’s hardship,” Robinson said. “I ultimately realized the increased risk of these complications within the African
American population.” “Latina is an excellent student in our Dietetic Internship. She aspires to own her own business and work in a rural setting with people who have been impacted by diabetes,” Holly Kyzer, instructor and director of the Dietetic Internship program at Ouachita, said. “She has a big heart and wants to give back to her community. I expect great things from Latina.” After completing her master’s degree and gaining experience as a registered dietitian, Robinson hopes to establish a diabetes clinic and wellness center.
NEWS
Social clubs to host rush week BY JULIA SHANDS Staff Writer
With the first semester of the school year coming to a close, social clubs and freshmen are preparing for rush week, which takes place the first week of the spring semester. Last year, rush took on an online hybrid form due to COVID. Clubs are excited to return to an in-person rush process this year. Josie Pringle, panhellenic co-president, confirms that rush will look how it has in the past apart from a new rule that will only benefit rushees. “Rush will proceed as normal, with girls attending short parties each night, starting on Tuesday and ending on Friday, and bid day will be held on Saturday,” Pringle said. “My favorite change we have made this year is loosening our dress code rules. We want rushees to feel completely comfortable and confident in the outfits they choose to wear, so we have decided to forgo the requirement of neutrals only. Rushees can now wear any color clothing to the rush parties.” Although rushing can be a stressful experience, panhellenic hopes that the week will foster new friendships. “Rushees should expect to have fun and to get to know all kinds of people on campus,” Emily Tarr, panhellenic co-president, said. “One of the best parts of rush is the connections that you can make. One week could end up bringing you an unexpected friendship.” Rushees should look forward to participating in an exciting, memorable week where they will learn more about the social clubs and, ultimately, decide if they would like to take part in a brotherhood or sisterhood. “The week consists of attending four nights of short parties alongside other girls within their rush groups,” Pringle said. “These
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School of music presents annual Christmas service BY SARA PATTERSON Editor-In-Chief
Top: Panhellenic co-presidents Josie Pringle and Emily Tarr give a presentation at the women’s rush interest meeting in November. Rushees can go to panhellenic with questions about rush. Bottom: Junior Alex Henry talks with rushees at the interest meeting. Current members and rushees alike make new friends during rush week. (photos by Coleman Callan)
parties allow rushees to meet club members, learn about joining a social club and think about if they want to join.” Every student involved in a club has participated in the rush process. Therefore, members understand what rushees are experiencing and are happy to share wisdom from what they have learned along the way. “Go into the week with an open mind,” Thomas Harrington, president of Eta Alpha Omega said. “Take this chance to really get to
know the upperclassmen and see which club is the right fit for you. The main thing is just to enjoy the week and all the memories that you will make during it.” Lydia Dean, Chi Mu co-rush chair, hopes participants know that their identity is found in Christ. “Rush is what you make of it,” Dean said. “Whether you put pressure on getting the club you want is ultimately up to you so have fun, be mindful and give your heart to the Lord because He is our ultimate source of love and care.”
The Division of Music presented A Service of Lessons and Carols on Monday, Dec. 6. The service was open to the public and involved a variety of Ouachita faculty, staff and students. A Service of Lessons and Carols has been a tradition at Ouachita for over twenty years. The program includes Scripture readings related to the birth of Jesus, as well as carols sung by both the performers and the audience. Student scripture readers for this year’s service were Emily White, senior graphic design major; Nicholas Harrington, senior studio art and history double major; and Erica Dixon, senior graphic design major. The three students are currently enrolled in the senior Fine Arts Seminar class taught by Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. Gerber asked the students to read at the service and each of them were excited by the opportunity. “I presented for Dr. Gerber’s class. A couple of weeks later, he pulled me aside and asked me to read scripture since I’m able to project well. There are no microphones at the service,” White said. Faculty and staff Scripture readers included Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president; Dr. Jeremy Greer, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies; Carrie Sharp, assistant professor of education; Larry Grayson, instructor of music and director of the Worship Arts Program; Dr. Lewis Shepherd, vice president for community and intercultural engagement; and Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs. The Ouachita Singers, Women’s
Chorus and Ouachita Brass Ensemble led the audience in carols. Dr. Joshua Brown, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, conducted Ouachita Singers and Dr. Mary Chung, associate professor of music, accompanied. Dr. Natilan Crutcher, visiting assistant professor of music, conducted Women’s Chorus and Kristen La Madrid, Ouachita staff accompanist, accompanied this group. Jim Lloyd, instructor of music and athletic band director, conducted the Ouachita Brass Ensemble. These groups led the audience in carols of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “Angels From the Realms of Glory.” The event provided a reminder of the impact of Jesus’ birth for both those in the audience and those who helped lead the event. “I am grateful for the opportunity to read scripture and sing praises that reflect the coming and life of Jesus. The choirs sang beautifully and I was grateful to read the Word of God alongside Ouachita faculty that I look up to,” Dixon said. With students ending the residential semester at Thanksgiving break and finishing the fall semester remotely due to COVID restrictions last year, the service has not happened since December of 2019. The return of this important holiday tradition meant much to students like Dixon. “I really enjoyed the traditional feel of the program. Dr. Gerber recounted the history of Lessons and Carols and it began in the 1880s in England. Ouachita began its program in 1997 and last year was the first time it has ever not happened,” Dixon said. “Knowing it was a returning step to our Ouachita traditions made the experience even more sentimental.”
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Styles hosts local concert, draws OBU crowd
BY EMILEE WEBB Staff Writer
Harry Styles, a popular pop artist, held a concert at Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, Ark. on Nov. 24. This show was a part of his tour titled “Love on Tour,” during which the singer traveled across the United States from Sept. 4 to Nov. 28. The show in Little Rock was not originally on the schedule of the tour. It was added to the lineup of shows in October, causing a large wave of excitement and a rush for tickets. Many students attended the concert and enjoyed a night of singing, dancing and bonding over music. When the extra show of the tour was announced, Ouachita’s campus was abuzz with talk of the
concert. Finding tickets was the first step of attending the big night. Many students sat in the Evans Student Center together waiting for the exact moment that tickets went on sale. The thrill of receiving concert tickets was a reality for many students, and social media was filled with photos of students expressing their eagerness to see Styles. After acquiring tickets, more preparations were in order. Students across campus hurried to find outfits, compare ideas with friends and finalize all their plans for the big night. Throughout the tour, fun, vibrant outfits have been the norm. The Arkansas show was certainly no exception to this. “I loved seeing people’s fashion choices and I had so much fun
putting my outfit together,” sophomore Brennon Humphry said. “Fashion is really important to me, and Harry gave his fans permission to push the boundaries and wear something really fun.” On the night of the show, fans were captivated by Styles’ lively performance. He sang many of his biggest hits including “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You” from his newest album. There were also a few surprises in store for the crowd. Styles shocked fans by partaking in the Arkansas tradition of calling the Hogs and performing a fan favorite song, “Medicine.” Ouachita students were pleased to experience it all, and these moments were remembered as the highlights of the night. “I saw Harry in St. Louis in
September and then again at the Little Rock show. I had so much more fun at the Little Rock show because there really wasn’t anything like seeing Harry in my home state,” sophomore Clara Beth Hill said. “Some highlights of the night for me were hearing Harry call the Hogs, and as a Harry fan, I was really excited that he played ‘Medicine’ because that’s a song he only plays live.” Sophomore Anna Marie Plastiras experienced the show from the pit, and says that the show is something she will always remember. “Being able to be in a room full of 20,000 other people who love the same music as you is unlike anything else. I got to meet people from all over the country while in the Cherry Pit, and being able to
connect with them over Harry was so amazing,” Plastiras said. A sense of community bonded the crowd, especially since the COVID has halted the production of live concerts for the past year. Opportunities to attend concerts have become even more special in this regard. Fans of all ages are bonding over the immersive experience of listening to live music. “When Harry announced he was coming to Little Rock, I knew that I had to be there,” sophomore Brynn Clark said. “Getting to experience the atmosphere of people who were just so grateful to be there made it unforgettable. It felt like we were all friends from the minute we walked into the venue, and I couldn’t have had a better time,” Clark said.
Festival of Christmas rings in holiday season
BY WYATT ASHLOCK
Arts/Entertainment & Opinions Editor The temperature was 70 degrees outside, the Evans Student Center was decked out in lights and the Christmas buffet lunch was served, which left the Festival of Christmas (FOC) to ring in the holiday spirit on campus. FOC proved to be a fun way to usher in the Christmas season for the Ouachita community as well as audience members from the local area. Several people led the production of this year’s show. Dr. Joshua Brown served as musical director, Dr. Natilan Crutcher directed the Women’s Chorus, Stephanie Murray served as stage director and alumna Abby Shourd choreographed for the lead dancers of the program: the movers and shakers. “I didn’t have my senior year Festival of Christmas due to the pandemic, so it felt like I was
robbed of that,” Shroud said. “But working with the dancers has been an amazing experience. I hope this year especially, we start people’s Christmas season off right and bring them joy, hope and a good time.” A highlight of this year’s FOC was that almost half of the music performed was new to the show. Some of the new songs came from well-known and well-loved Christmas movies like “Elf” (2003) and “The Polar Express’’ (2004). Along with the new additions, the choirs still performed some of the songs that have become tradition in the production. “It’s very important to continue tradition,” Brown said. “It’s a uniquely Ouachita musical experience in terms of excellent singing, dancing and performance. Anyone can come to the Festival of Christmas and enjoy it.” One song that particularly impressed audience members was
“Little Drummer Boy.” The choirs and the drum band collaborated to put on a spectacle with interactive lighting throughout the song to create an immersive experience. In between the secular and sacred portions of FOC, dancers from the local dance studio, Dance Praize, performed. This provided the perfect segue. FOC also had some surprise guests including Santa Claus, Santa’s Elves, Frosty the Snowman and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The production was a magical experience and had over 1,000 people in attendance. “I’m really grateful to Nick Smith and the JPAC crew for all that they did to make this event happen,” Brown said. “And I want to thank Stephanie Murray for making everything look amazing. I am also really grateful to my instrumental colleagues and those students who [participated] with us in a different way this year.”
Top Left: Kenzie Burks performs “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” (photo by Brooks Bell) Top Right: Santa Claus makes an appearance in the program. (photo by Brooks Bell) Bottom: Mary and Joseph celebrate the birth of Jesus (photo by Stephanie Murray)
OPINIONS
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Christmas story gives hope to those who feel unworthy BY SARA PATTERSON Editor-In-Chief
There is a mistake in this newspaper somewhere. If you look hard enough, you will find it. After a semester of doing this job, I can guarantee this almost with certainty. Whether it’s a misspelled word or a space that shouldn’t be there, I can always find something that I should have caught before sending it to the printer. Whenever I find one of these mistakes, it weighs on my mind for the rest of the day. I lose faith in my ability to do this. I feel like an imposter. The term “imposter syndrome” has gained popularity in recent years. According to Psychology Today, people who experience imposter syndrome “believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held.” When I realize that I have made a mistake, it is very difficult for me to accept any compliment as truth. When someone tells me that I’m doing a good job, I find myself fighting the urge to exclaim, “Really? Me?” These words remind me of Mary’s story in the first chapter of Luke. Luke 1:28 says that the angel Gabriel greeted Mary in this way: “Greetings favored woman! The Lord is with you.” Verse 29 says, “But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.” An angel of the Lord has just appeared before Mary’s eyes, and the text says that she is deeply troubled by his statement rather than by his divine appearance. In a greater sense than you and I experience, Mary likely felt like an imposter. She probably did not see herself as a “favored woman.”
Out of all of the prestigious people and places in the world at the time, God sent the angel Gabriel to a young, unmarried woman in the small town of Nazareth to inform her that she would be the mother of the Light of the world. God intentionally chose her for this grand opportunity.
“When we walk with God, we can walk with confidence.”
-Sara Patterson
Though we can rest assured that God will not task any of us with parenting the long-awaited Messiah, He will call us to tasks, positions and careers that we may be convinced we are not ready for. Beyond our specific callings, God also calls all of His followers to glorify Him and to share the gospel. While we should work diligently to prepare for all that God calls us to, we should also trust He will make us ready to walk through the doors that He opens. When we walk with God, we can walk in confidence. This confidence comes from relying on Him. Mary did not agree to follow through with the task because she bolstered up enough self-assuredness to be the mother of Jesus. Rather, she concluded: “I am God’s servant. May it be done to me according to your word” (v. 38). God is the one who calls us, orders our steps and prepares us well for the future. As we embark on this overlapping season of Advent and finals week, let us look to God and trust in Him as we glorify Him in our work. In humility may we value what God says about us more than what we think about ourselves.
Students eat midnight cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria during finals week at the end of the spring semester last May. Students enjoy commemorating the end of each semester with this finals week tradition. (photo by Caity Hatchett)
How to thrive during finals week BY VALERIA GOMEZ Staff Writer
Finals week is around the corner: days are going by fast, and it feels like each day does not have quite enough hours. Assignments, group projects, presentations, papers and exams are all due the same week, and stress levels are rising. Here are five tips to help you survive finals week. 1. Use your time wisely. During finals week, you only go to class to take your exam. You will have more time than you would on a regular week since you won’t have to attend all of your classes each day. Utilize this time to be productive and avoid procrasinating. Seek help if you need it, but seek it in time and not the night before your exam. People want you to succeed and are willing to help. 2. Prioritize sleep. Your brain needs sleep to function. Especially if you have an
8 a.m. exam, go to bed early and get enough sleep. If by 10 p.m. you have not memorized the content, you are probably not going to memorize it when you are exhausted and burned out, so give yourself grace and rest. You do not want to be falling asleep in the middle of your exam. Sleep determines a lot of your academic performance, so prioritize it. 3. Take care of your health. Food is fuel, and fuel is important to keep your body moving. Your brain also needs food to work. During finals week, you are memorizing and doing so much that the least you could do is make sure you are getting enough nutrients and water. Encourage your friends to do the same; friends who motivate each other, stay together. 4. Reward yourself. This is the last stretch. Everyone is tired and just trying to do their best. Have an incentive to keep you going until your exams are done. Have something to look forward to
that will keep you going even when you start to feel unmotivated. Find a reward brings you joy and keep that promise to yourself. 5. Eat cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria for the memories. When you reach the end, after you get done with your exams, all you are going to have left is the memories you created that week. Allow yourself to enjoy finals week instead of letting it consume you with fear or stress. One of the best things Ouachita has is their midnight cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria. It’s one of the best traditions and you don’t want to miss it. This is the one night when you should sacrifice going to bed early. If you do it with friends, you will all remember this time forever. Remember that grades do not define who you are, and this is just a temporary season of life. Don’t give up, you have made it this far! Pat yourself on the back and be kind to others as we take on the last week of the semester together.
SPORTS
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Like father, like son: Allen triumphs BY MACKENZIE HALL News Editor
For quarterback Grant Allen, playing football for Ouachita was an opportunity that he did not think was going to happen. After months of rehab and multiple surgeries, Allen, a junior accounting major from Springdale, Ark., was not sure if his football career would continue. During his junior year of high school, Allen tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder and later had surgery. After rehabbing back to health, Allen returned strong for his senior year of football. Later in his senior season, Allen broke his ankle– another setback to his football career. Despite these difficulties, Allen was an overcomer. “I’ve had my fair share of adversity. Overcoming those injuries was a really big part of my story. I feel like those injuries made me who I am today,” Allen said. “It taught me a lot about myself and how I was able to overcome so much and still be successful at the college level. I didn’t know if my career would end or if I would get to play college football.” Two weeks before National Signing Day, Allen received an offer from OBU. “Up to that point, I had no idea where I was going to go. I feel like God kind of showed me this is where I needed to be. OBU has a great business school and great football program. Those two were big for me in my decision. I really feel like God opened this door,” Allen said. His time with OBU football goes beyond the field. Allen values the brotherhood and life lessons he has learned from both his teammates and coaches. “Football is the greatest team game there is. The relationships
you form along the way are powerful and last beyond the game,” Allen said. “I have benefited from this football program so much. Not only on the field, but off the field. Our coaches teach us valuable life lessons. The game of football really prepares you for life. There are so many aspects to it that can be applied to the real world.” For Allen, this love for the game started at a young age. Since he was 6 years old, people could always find him with a football in hand. Coming from a family of strong quarterbacks, it was natural that he picked up the sport. “I grew up in a football family. My dad played quarterback at University of Arkansas, and both of his brothers also played quarterback in college,” Allen added. Allen and his dad have similar stories. A redshirt freshman for the Hogs, in 1991 during his second year of what was quickly becoming a highlight season as a starting quarterback, in his eighth game versus Baylor he injured his knee and started the long road of recovery. “Going through my injuries, I’ve really been able to rely on him. His experience has helped me get through mine; I just really look up to my dad,” Allen said. From his time playing football and overcoming obstacles, Allen has learned that he is capable and can do more than he believes is possible. “Nothing is guaranteed. There is no guarantee that you can play the game as long as you want, and I think that’s big. There is no challenge too big, and I am capable of doing more than I think,” Allen said. From his time at Ouachita, Allen hopes he is remembered for not only his athletics, but also the way he cared for others on his team.
Men’s Basketball
Fri Nov 26 OBU 62 UT Tyler 74 Sat Nov 27 OBU 76(OT) TAMUC 86 Thur Dec 2 OBU 54 Ark Tech 72 Sat Dec 4 Harding 92 OBU 85
Women’s Basketball
Tues Nov 23 CCU 54 OBU 92 Sat Nov 27 OBU 71 Rogers St 82 Thur Dec 2 OBU 84 Ark Tech 90 Sat Dec 4 Harding 60 OBU 82
Battle of the Ravine Football
Sat Nov 13
Allen received an offer to play football for Ouachita two weeks before National Signing Day. Allen’s unconventional story in athletics in similar to his Dad’s, so he looks to him as an example. (photo by Levi Dade)
“I want to be known as a guy who was friends with everyone,” Allen said. “I think it goes beyond football because football is going to end, but relationships last forev-
er. I want to be known as not only a good quarterback, but also someone who was respected by others and friends with everyone. Someone who could be relied upon.”
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