O UAC H I TA
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U N I V E R S I T Y
the
SIGNAL
04.20.18
Vol. 126, Issue 21
SINCE 1890 FEATURES | 3
PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN A “Behind the Scenes” look at the spring musical
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Elrod Center honors volunteers at awards banquet By VICTORIA ANDERSON
Staff writer Ouachita hosted the annual Elrod Center’s University Community Service Awards Banquet in the Walker Conference Center on the evening of Tuesday, April 17. The evening was an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to be recognized for all their volunteer work during the 2017-2018 academic year. Honoring those who dedicated their time to serving the community had been a goal for the Elrod Center since its establishment in 1997. The awards banquet was another way to continue to meet that goal. “Each spring we honor our volunteers who serve our campus and community well,” said Judy Duvall, Elrod Center associate director and ElderServe coordinator. “These volunteers represent many of the major service programs on campus through the Elrod Center and Campus Ministries. This is a way to say, “thank you,” to our students who tirelessly give to others.” The event recognized every single volunteer with certificates, books, plaques and monetary awards. Special awards were given to program leaders and graduating
seniors. Some of the people recognized included America Reads and America Counts tutors, Peake Partnership volunteer tutors, Home School/After School Program participants, those who received Kluck Service Enrichment Grants (which totaled $6,313), Campus Ministry leaders, Tiger Serve Day leaders, ElderServe volunteers and many more. Several students also received the Transerve Award for 75 hours or more of service for the Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters. Planning and preparing for the banquet was a team effort. Duvall and Ian Cosh, the vice president for community and international engagement, worked with the rest of the Elrod Center staff to organize everything and to ensure that the event ran smoothly. The coordinating team also wanted it to be a memorable time for everyone who came. This year, the awards banquet celebrated a total of 53,000 volunteer hours logged by Ouachita students, faculty and staff in the past academic school year. “I love that we get to thank servant-leaders, shine the spotlight on them and let them know they are appreciated,” Cosh said. n
Danielle Sourber z Photo lab OUACHITA PRESIDENT Dr. Ben Sells (right) presents Phil Hardin with the Community Service Excellence Award at Tuesday night’s Elrod Center Community Service Awards Banquet.
Danielle Sourber z Photo lab SHARON COSH hugs junior Dylan Bester as he accepts the International Student Service Award. Bester was among many students who were recognized for their volunteer efforts.
Ouachita honors class of 1968, Traffic Court pursues welcomes Gold Tigers back home changes in structure By KATIE KEMP Editor-in-chief
By MICHAEL RICHARDSON Staff writer
Last night kicked off a weekend of celebrating Ouachita’s “Gold Tigers” as the class of 1968 came back to campus for their 50-year class reunion. Each spring, Ouachita welcomes back its Gold Tigers, members of an organization for alumni of 50 years or more. New members are inducted at each annual luncheon. “This is a great time for our Gold Tigers to visit and reconnect, and for many being inducted, this is their first time back to campus in a long time,” said Jon Merryman, director of alumni relations. Last night, members of the class of 1968, the newest class to be inducted as Gold Tigers, were honored with a reception and dinner for their 50-year reunion. There was a time to remember classmates who had passed away and a time for sharing memories and stories from their time at Ouachita. Gold Tiger festivities will continue today for the class of 1968 as well as other Gold Tigers who graduated before them. Members of the Ouachita Student Foundation will lead Gold Tigers on campus tours this morning. The class of 1968 will take a class photo before heading to their first luncheon as Gold
Traffic Court, one of the services that Ouachita’s Student Senate provides for their fellow students, has gone through significant changes since the beginning of the fall 2017 semester. “Traffic court is one of the ways that Student Senate uses their representative role to be a voice for the students,” said Selby Tucker, sophomore class president and chair of the Campus Life Committee. “If you feel like you’ve been unjustly ticketed, you can come to traffic court and plead your case on why you shouldn’t have gotten ticketed.” The Campus Life Committee, which oversees traffic court, is headed by Tucker and four other committee members. The whole proceeding is overseen by students, and all decisions and rulings are decided by the students who are a part of the Campus Life Committee. At the beginning of the 2017 and 2018 school year, Student Life Committee, a branch of Student Senate, alongside other students, began the process of restructuring how Traffic Court operated. “It’s all student run,” Tucker said. “We are the ones that get the appeals. We are the ones that make the judg-
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THE CLASS of 1967 poses at last year’s Gold Tigers event. The class of 1968 will be inducted as the newest class of Gold Tigers this weekend.
Tigers. At the luncheon, speakers will include Dr. Ben Sells, OSF President Haley Jo Wesson and 1968 Ouachita graduate Jim Moore. Each member of the class of 1968 will receive a Gold Tiger pin as they are officially inducted into the club. Gold Tigers attending who have been out of Ouachita the longest will include Dr. and Mrs. Grant, former Ouachita president and first lady, and Jean Justice Pilcher, grandmother of Alumni and Career Services Assistant Han-
nah Pilcher and sophomore worship arts major Robert Pilcher. “Some of my favorite Gold Tiger stories these last few years have been meeting alumna Bonita Watts, who invented the McDonald’s apple pie, hearing stories of students releasing alligators in the halls, pranks, outings, dates and more. The share time at the 50-year event is really my favorite part,” Merryman said. “From the moving, touching stories to the hilarious, it’s one of my favorite events of the year.” n
THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM
y Review: “Seussical the Musical” y Sexual Assault Awareness Panel Discussion y Winning Traks Team: “Baby Got Traks”
ments. We are the ones that change the tickets. So, it’s all us.” The idea behind this goes back to the hope for Student Senate to help represent and care for their fellow students. These students understand that sometimes there are mistakes made in the ticketing process, that there can be extenuating circumstances and that it can sometimes be, or appear to be, unfair ticketing. The goal in providing this is to allow students to plead their case before their fellow peers, and grant students the ability to voice their issues with traffic fines that they disagree with. In providing this service, Student Senate “really wanted to focus on their professionalism on campus and felt like this was an area where we could fulfill that role as a representative and a voice for the students,” Tucker said. “One of our roles is to be a liaison between students and the faculty and administration, and the staff even. And we find that this is one of the ways that we can, by hearing these concerns and complaints. Whether the ticket gets overturned or not, we are listening to them and hearing what they think.” Ouachita’s Traffic Court is held on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Students can submit their appeals by going into their Info see Traffic Court z 2
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thisTweets weekzCALENDAR of the Week Danny Hays @Haysdanny 15 Apr I love my job. I get to study God’s word & then teach it to eager college students who love the Lord. It’s a great job. Even on Mondays.
SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL SCHOLARS DAY will take place will have performances tonight Wednesday, April 25 starting at 1 and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and p.m. in various locations across Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Jones campus. For more information, Performing Arts Center. For contact Dr. Barbara Pemberton @Ouachita 15 Apr moreOBU information or to purchase at pembertonb@obu.edu. So how you use social media -- to affirm and encourage tickets, visitdoobu.edu/boxoffice. or to attack and tear doen? “Be ye kind to one another.” (Eph. 4:32). Hmmm... NELL MONDY LECTURE REFUGE will be
at Second featuring Dr. Gregory Smith will Baptist Church on Thursday, take place Monday, April 23 at April 26 at 9 p.m. For more @JustinYoung072 Apr 6:30Justin p.m. Young in Walker Conference information, 16contact James The Harley Davidson leather vest must be the key to Center. The lecture is free and Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu. the entire Bible. openmemorizing to the public.
The Signal @obusignal 20 April Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up-to-the-minute updates on everything going on around Ouachita Baptist. Twitter: @obusignal Facebook: facebook.com/obusignal Instagram: @obusignal
from our perspective
Will Blase Features editor
Will Johnson Sports editor
“Estes Park, Colorado.”
“Bill Murray’s house.”
TOP
5
Dr. Seuss books
5 4 3 2 1
“Horton Hears a Who” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” “The Cat in the Hat” “Green Eggs and Ham”
Where would you go in the event of a zombie apocalypse?
Katherine Carter Opinions editor
Josh Salim Copy editor
Julia Williams News editor
“Wyoming”
“The moon.”
“Hollywood, Arkansas.”
“Baby Got Traks” brings home the gold at Tiger Traks
NEWS BRIEFS Quick recaps of the biggest stories of the week
Justin Trostle z Photo lab STUDENTS RACE to grab dodgeballs during last weekend’s Tiger Traks dodgeball tournament. The annual weekend of games and friendly competition will use all funds raised to provide scholarships for Ouachita students. The weekend’s winning team was “Baby Got Traks.”
Ouachita Singers, Ouachita Sounds and Women’s Chorus to present “The Greatest Show” concert Thursday, April 26 By ADDY GOODMAN News bureau
Ouachita’s annual Ouachita Singers and Women’s Chorus spring concert will also feature Ouachita Sounds this year for “The Greatest Show.” The performance will be held on Thursday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on the Ouachita campus. The concert is free and open to the public. The Ouachita Singers, Ouachita Sounds and Women’s Chorus will be combined for the entire concert to present “The Greatest Show” and will be directed by Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts and director of Ouachita Singers; Donna Gosser, adjunct instructor of music and direc-
tor of Ouachita Sounds; and Dr. Becky Morrison, assistant professor of music and director of Women’s Chorus. “This is the first time in my career to program a choir concert in this fashion,” Dr. Gerber said. “We have always performed on risers, in our black dresses and tuxedos. This is a new venture for the choral program. I wanted to sing and stage a concert that would be fun, enjoyable for the audience and bring excitement and energy to the show.” The performances will feature popular selections from musical theatre productions and film. “The Women’s Chorus will be woven throughout the concert with selections from various Broadway musicals,” Dr. Morrison said. “The program has great variety, en-
tertainment and will engage everyone in the audience on some level. It is going to be a wonderful evening of music!” The program will include: “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray; “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman; “Wait for It” from Hamilton; “Seize the Day” from Newsies; “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman; “Seasons of Love” from Rent; “Openin’ Up” from Waitress; “Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast; “Circle of Life” from The Lion King; “Joyful Joyful” from Sister Act; “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman; and “Masquerade” from Phantom of the Opera. For more information, contact Dr. Gary Gerber at gerberg@obu.edu or (870) 2455128. n
Former First Lady Barbara Bush dies Former First Lady Barbara Bush, the wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother of President George W. Bush, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 92. A representative for the Bush family announced on Sunday that Mrs. Bush was in declining health and would not seek further treatment. She had recently been hospitalized for congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A funeral is planned for tomorrow in the Bushes' native Houston, Texas. The Bushes married on January 6, 1945, and had the longest marriage of any presidential couple in American history. Known for her candid manner and quick wit, Mrs. Bush was hugely popular in the White House and on the campaign trail. As First Lady, she started a foundation to teach literacy skills to families, an issue she continued to advocate for after leaving the White House. She also helped humanize AIDS at the height of the epidemic in the 1980s. n Source: AP
Traffic Court
z Continued from Page 1 Portal and clicking “Traffic Court Appeal” under the Student Senate Tab. The student is then asked to explain their situation and present their argument in a few short and easy questions that Student Senate will review. All appeals are due for submission by 5 p.m. Tuesday, the night before. Each student selects a time to present their case to
Southwest Airlines flight makes emergency landing A Southwest Airlines flight with a damaged engine and broken window made an emergency landing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, killing one and injuring seven. A former federal investigator theorized that one of the plane's engines blew out due to a fuel leak at around 30,000 feet, causing shrapnel to fly and hit the plane. The Boeing 737 was headed from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas' Love Field. There were 143 passengers and five crew members on board, and most walked onto the tarmac after the plane landed around 11:20 a.m. at Philadelphia International Airport. The passenger who died was identified as Jennifer Riordan, a bank executive and mother of two from New Mexico. The seven passengers who were injured are being treated for minor injuries and are expected to recover. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the incident. n Source: AP the Campus Life Committee in the Hampton Board Room, on the third floor of Evans Student Center. Students can sign up through the Info Portal for five-minute time slots between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. during the lunch hour to appear before the committee. For more information, email Selby Tucker at tuc62662@obu.edu, or visit the Student Senate page on the Ouachita website, www. obu.edu/studentsenate. n
FEATURES
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Pulling back the curtain for OBU’s “Seussical the Musical” By ANNI WILLIAMS Staff writer
“Seussical the Musical” opened Thursday, April 19 and will continue to run until April 22 with 7:30 p.m. shows tonight and tomorrow and a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. The spectacle of Seussical was assembled through a series of intense rehearsals over the past month. The show’s actors and crew have worked together tirelessly to put on this magical show. A week before their first performance, at the “crew view” rehearsal, the cast ran the show in its entirety for the crew to watch. Backstage was a flurry of activity with mic checks, clusters of actors talking and several dancers warming up in the halls. Onstage actors gathered around a mostly finished set. The Jungle of Nool/Whoville set had been constructed onstage in its two-story glory. The towering structure was still being painted, with some spots shining a bright lime-green and a sea blue, while the rest of the structure was either painted a greyish black or still its original golden plywood. The cast was in various states of costuming as they chatted on and off stage. Most had on regular clothing as they stood in small circles chatting. But bobbing through the crowd one could spot the bright purple ball caps of the Wikersham brothers, or the classic red and white striped hat atop the head of Michael Peré. Further observation shows Will Stotts wandering across the stage in a costume reminiscent of a giant grey jelly bean and close observers would note the small red feather swaying behind Mackenzie Holtzclaw. All this, of course, would seem perfectly normal compared to the tiny purple kangaroo peeping out of an apron-like contraption attached to Zachary Myers. Eventually all the actors from the halls flooded the stage. “We made it to preview!” was the shout as all the actors cheered before running back into the wings. Then the show began. Crew view was a show without lights, without most costumes and props. Yet, without so many of these crucial aspects of a production, the
Andy Henderson z Photo lab SOPHOMORE AUTUMN ROMINES (left), JUNIOR KENZIE HENDERSON (second from left), SENIOR HANNAH HINES, (center), SOPHOMORE DYLAN BLACKWELL (second from right) and SENIOR MICHAEL PERE (right) launch into a musical act. The cast and crew have put months of practice into the production.
Andy Henderson z Photo lab
Andy Henderson z Photo lab
SENIOR WILL STOTTS performs as Horton in OBU’s production “Seussical the Musical.” Horton plays an integral role in many Seuss novels as well as the play.
SENIOR MACKENZIE HOLTZCLAW delivers a strong performance as Gertrude during the crew view rehearsal. The crew view rehearsal took place on April 12.
story, music and acting alone was enough to drive the tiny audience to both laughter and tears. The show is heavily character-based, which is why the heart and feeling of the show still shines through unfinished set pieces and missing props. The level of talent at Ouachita is clearly shown through the amazing work these actors and actresses have put into this colorful show. The whole cast and ensemble shine in this show. Michael Peré, who plays Cat-in-theHat, is a particularly excellent example of this. His character alone makes the show worth watching. Peré kept the audience laughing and engaged with his incredibly animated character. Peré’s portrayal of the Cat-in-the-Hat, a perfect example of chaotic good, interacts with the audience and fellow characters with an inexplicable humor and charm. Another stellar actor is Hannah Hines who plays JoJo, a young Who down in Whoville. Through her character, Hines connects with the audience as she progresses through the excitement, confusion and magic of the show.
Her wide-eyed childish character has a firm belief in the impossible. Hines, acting with Stotts and Peré, does a superb job in convincing the audience that imagination really can take you anywhere. Stotts believably plays the kind and loyal Horton the Elephant. Stott’s portrayal of Horton’s steady hope and belief in the Whos is both heartwarming and inspiring. Stotts manages to portray the faithful elephant with both humor and a strange sort of grace. The world would be a better place if Horton was everyone’s kind, next-door neighbor. Speaking of next-door neighbors, it would be remiss not to note the adorable Gertrude McFuzz, played by Mackenzie Holtzclaw, Horton’s sweet, nervous next-door neighbor. It was delightful to see the love-torn McFuzz find her courage and voice throughout the show, thanks to the artful acting of Holtzclaw. Another delightful character is the Sour Kangaroo, played by Zachary Myers. The level of sass and pompous dignity displayed by Myers is both hilarious and mesmerizing. Myers perfectly portrays a sassy character with an
even sassier voice and the sassiest little baby kangaroo. Myers voice perfectly matches the glorious haughtiness of Dr. Seuss’s Sour Kangaroo. The Sour Kangaroo’s level of conceit and condescension can only be matched by the amazing Mayzie played by Kenzie Henderson. A living embodiment of an Instagram model in bird form, Mayzie skirts responsibility and revels in her own fabulousity in Henderson’s hilarious portrayal of the selfcentered bird. Another group in the jungle of Nool, The Wikersham Brothers, played by Dylan Blackwood, Micah Brooks, Logan Dooley, Jacob Hemsath, Jesse Robinson and Cody Walls explode onstage in a manner reminiscent of those conceited dude bros at the gym that reek of sweat and excessive egos. In contrast, the lovely dancing birds played by Hannah Hill, Lauren Terry and Autumn Romines are all grace and loveliness as their song and dance routines help narrate the story’s action. Away from the Junglee of Nool, in Whoville, we meet the Mayor and the Mayor’s Wife played by Scotty Scott
and Esther Atkinson respectively. The negative aspects of the animated couple’s misguided parenting and leadership skills are far outweighed by the hilarious way Scott and Atkinson portray the duo. Finally, we meet Clay Mobley, who plays the aggressively egotistic Whoville General. The general’s penchant for violence and passion for butter will both entertain and concern audiences across the board. All of these characters are masterfully woven together as their respective stories merge together in the colorful musical. Helping to bring all of it together is the show’s large and animated ensemble. The ensemble has impressive synchronization in choreography and dazzling characters that bring the world of Seuss to life. “Seussical the Musical” is a beautiful story with colorful characters in a world of nearly unlimited imagination. This masterfully written musical, along with the acting, directing and technical genius Ouachita has poured into this show, will touch your heart and dazzle your mind with the heart of its characters and unfiltered imagination. n
LIFESTYLE
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Stay silent in ‘A Quiet Place’ By KATIE KEMP Editor-in-chief
When you hear the name John Krasinski, you probably think of his famous run as Jim Halpert on NBC’s hit sitcom “The Office.” Funny, charismatic, king of the camera mug—about as far from a horror film as you can get. So when I heard that Krasinski had written, directed and starred in the thriller “A Quiet Place,” I was wary. I’ve never been so happy to eat my words. “A Quiet Place” is the story of a family forced to live in complete silence. Their world is overrun with monsters that are blind, have hypersensitive hearing and come running for their next victim if they hear the slightest sound. As the mother of the family, played by Emily Blunt (who, coincidentally, is married to Krasinski in real life), approaches her baby’s due date, the family must figure out a way to deliver the child without attracting the monsters. As you can imagine, things don’t exactly go according to plan, and the characters must make difficult and fast decisions in order to survive. What impressed me the most about “A Quiet Place” was its ability to tell a story while hardly saying a word. There are only two scenes in the whole film that contain
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any dialogue, as talking and making any kind of noise are a death sentence. In spite of this, the audience is able to see each character’s distinctive personality and feel what they feel. Some movies struggle to accomplish this in scenes filled to the brim with dialogue, so the fact that “A Quiet Place” was able to do so with practically none sets it apart. Not to mention how utterly terrifying it is to watch the plot unfold in complete silence. While the movie keeps you
on edge right up until the credits start rolling, it is also deeply affecting in its theme of family. The film’s two children have experienced significant loss and trauma in their childhood already, and Blunt’s character shows incredible determination to give them as normal of a childhood as she possibly can, given the nightmarish conditions in which they are forced to live. She and Krasinski’s character go to incredible lengths to ensure not only that their children are
safe, but also that they don’t live their lives consumed by fear. Millicent Simmonds gave an especially impressive performance for a fifteen-yearold. Simmonds plays the family’s eldest daughter who is deaf. Krasinski’s character tries time and time again to construct hearing aids for her with the materials he can find, always to no avail. Simmonds’ character struggles throughout the film to reconcile with the guilt and grief of the family’s past and to feel
that her father truly loves her. I can’t say too much about the father-daughter relationship in “A Quiet Place” without giving too much away, as one of the most pivotal scenes revolves around the two of them, but I will say that their story arc is my favorite one in the film. Simmonds, who is deaf in real life, gave the character depth and emotion that a hearing actress likely would not have been able to. I’m not someone who would normally go out of my way to see a horror film, but I would do just about anything for Jim from “The Office.” But after seeing “A Quiet Place,” it’s apparent that Krasinski is much more than this—he is an excellent writer, director and actor with a deep understanding of the horror genre. I remember feeling this same way last year after seeing “Get Out,” which was written and directed by Jordan Peele of “Key and Peele” fame. The comedian created a cultural phenomenon that won him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. While the two films are incredibly different aside from their shared horror genre, both have set forth a precedent for a new kind of horror movie, and both came from writers you might not necessarily expect to write in the genre. If it means we get more movies like these two, I hope we keep looking for horror films in unconventional places. n
‘Atlas: Space’ tells the story of the universe By MALLORY MORRIS Staff writer
When God created the universe, surely he felt that the sky was among His most marvelous work. Astronomers, stargazers and romantics alike will thoroughly enjoy the latest deluxe album by Sleeping At Last, “Atlas: Space.” In their latest album, Sleeping at Last's Ryan O’Neal tries to explain the beauty and adoration he holds for this particular aspect of creation. O’Neal is the music producer, vocalist and creative mastermind behind the group known as Sleeping At Last. The group currently has over three million listeners on Spotify and have been featured on a number of movies and television shows. The band is considered to be a part of the alternative rock genre, but they feature an array of differing instruments throughout their music. The album is filled with 22 songs, 11 of which are purely instrumental versions of the first set. The first song on the album, “Sun,” is a beautiful ballad about the birth of the universe beginning with our number one light source. The tracks proceed from there, covering the various planets of the Milky Way galaxy. Each song perfectly personifies the planets, making the music a
beautiful masterpiece which is unrecognizably a mixture of both nature and human qualities. Perhaps the most beautiful song written by them to date is number eight on the album, titled “Saturn.” “Saturn” has become one of the groups most popular songs, perhaps because of the arresting lyrics which ponder the words, “How rare and beautiful it is to even exist,” and, “that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes.” The majority of their songs are essentially poetry paired with music, and while the vocals may not be for everyone, the lyrics are undeniably beautiful and creative. Each song on ‘Space’ is around four minutes long and features instruments played by various guest artists. Although the songs on Space are recognizably similar in sound, each begin and end differently than one another. One example of this is the song “Moon,” which is a dreamy lyric less song centered around a piano. On the other hand, the next song on the album titled “Mars” is much more focused on the lyrics and telling a story instead of on the instrumentals of the track. In his own words, O’Neal described the album saying, “Atlas is an ongoing series of music based on the origins of the universe and life within it.” Listeners will be remind-
the
SIGNAL
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ed of the sounds of artists such as Bon Iver, Christina Perry and more. “Atlas: Space” is an hour and thirtyone minutes in length and is the perfect album to blast (or play in the background) of any stargazing trip. Although “Space” is their most recent album, the
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group has lately been releasing a set of singles based on the Enneagram personality tests. This fascinating project seeks to develop songs that relate perfectly to each personality type. Listeners will be touched and intrigued as they listen to words which perfectly align with their dis-
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position. Sleeping at Last’s “Atlas: Space” album is available on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud and more. For more information, visit their website or listen to O’Neal’s podcast in which he explores the meaning and creation behind his music. n
The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Friday 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 Hope Star.
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 e-mail to signal@obu.edu.
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Apathy: the Christian’s poison dart By KATHERINE CARTER Opinions editor
I’ve learned a lot during my time here at Ouachita, but, practically speaking, the most valuable thing I can take away is the ability to think critically about everything, including my faith. Not only have I examined my faith and studied it in depth, but I now own it for myself and am able to defend it more effectively than before. Unfortunately, this is rapidly becoming a lost art. We would rather take sides or accept a topic or situation at face value instead of studying every angle, weighing our options and coming to an informed and thoughtful conclusion. I’m guilty of this as much as the next person. It’s super easy to do—it requires little thought or work. That’s why I’m thankful for my professors here. The truth is, I’m no smarter than
the next person. There are tons of people who know far more than I ever will about the Christian faith. God has blessed me with intelligent and thoughtful professors who have equipped me with the tools I need to truly own my faith rather than simply inheriting that of my parents’. Sadly, for the vast majority of Christians in the West, particularly those of us in the American church, this isn’t the case. Instead, we sit in our pews, gobble up what our pastors preach and move on with the rest of our day. We leave apologetics to the experts and studying the Bible to our preachers. We’ll hear it on Sunday anyway. Why is it important to know about the Bible? Why should we know where specific verses in the Bible are located? Our pastors and teachers know the important doctrines; if we’ve got friends who are asking questions, shouldn’t we just send them
their way? We’ve bared our teeth, taken up arms and stated our case against the greatest perceived threats of Christianity, but we’ve neglected to protect ourselves against a formidable foe that’s already injected us with poison—apathy. Apathy has done more damage than we’ll ever know. It’s stymied the Christian zeal with which Jesus inspires us, and it’s reduced us to bloated, lazy freeloaders. The truth is, we as a whole don’t care about learning what our faith is about anymore. We’re content with simply listening to our pastors preach every Sunday, letting them and the other “professional Christians” carry the burden of studying the scriptures and going that “extra mile.” The average Christian is unprepared to defend their faith against the Mormon missionary or Jehovah’s Witness that knocks on their
door. They don’t know scriptures to back up the basic tenants of Christianity, if they’re even knowledgeable about the doctrines. Christians are converting to cult movements such as these, Islam, Buddhism or another religion, and the main problem is that we’re too apathetic to really understand what our faith is all about. Shouldn’t we care about learning more about our faith? Our eternities are literally dependent upon our faith—shouldn’t we at least know why we are being saved? We have a God who loves us more than we can comprehend. He loves us so much that he came down from heaven as a man, died a horrific death on a Roman cross and overcame death so that we could be with him. He is our Father, our Creator and our Redeemer. He set us free from the bonds of sin, releasing us from eternal damnation. All we have to do is con-
fess our sins and put our faith in him. No strings attached. We’ve been given the greatest gift anyone could be given, and we treat it as though it was something mundane, average. We accept it without contemplating the gravity of what Jesus did. This is especially true for those of us born in the “Bible Belt.” We’ve been inoculated against the Gospel by cultural Christianity. So what can we do to rid ourselves of apathy? I’m not sure exactly what the overall solution is, but I think prayer is a good place to start. We need to ask God for a hunger for his Word, for compassion and for a desire to learn. We need to stop accepting everything for what it is and delve into it, study it intently and actually process it. Apathy has made us docile when we need to be dangerous. It’s made our minds lazy and unwilling to actually think or care about anything. Let’s change that. n
From the ‘40s to today: Childhood fear of bees inspires transformation of the future apirast’s aspirations By WILL BLASE music industry Features editor
By WILL JOHNSON Sports editor
Just as culture has changed, music has also transformed over many years. Popular music has shifted during the course of my lifetime, fluctuating from many different styles of sound. Today’s “top hits” seem to represent the types of music that a large majority of individuals are drawn towards. These variations in popular music were in effect long before I was born. The 1940s, known as the Golden Age, featured a significant growth in radio. A few of the most defining artists in this era performed swing jazz, often without vocals. The 1950s transitioned to rockand-roll, including influential singers like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. The next decade saw a substantial progression in British rock as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones occupied the musical industry across America. Bob Dylan made his presence known through folk rock, and many bands began to explore other forms of rock. The 1970s continued the transitional theme with the rise in disco music, and the following decade saw an even bigger jump into the pop genre with musicians like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. This genre remained one of the most popular categories in music, reaching a large, world-wide audience. Music has clearly evolved over time and continues to change today. Turn on the radio. Explore iTunes or Spotify. The most popular music nowadays is entirely different from the mainstream hits 20 years ago. The genre of rock is almost nonexistent in today’s popular music, whereas it was one of the most successful forms of music in years past. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith and many other
bands impacted a genre that no longer brings in the same consistency of new music. Now, many of these influential bands are still widely listened to by fans, but this category of music has evolved towards different genres such as alternative and punk rock. This leads to the surge in pop music, which is undoubtedly the most popular form of music today. Though this genre is relatively broad, it’s a category that many singers and bands have found success in. Pop reaches a large audience worldwide, as many listeners enjoy the catchy rhythm it tends to produce. Some artists have even transitioned to the category of pop. Take Taylor Swift for example: a singer who once primarily performed country music, but gradually converted to pop. Miley Cyrus took a similar path between genres. Though country has remained a popular genre, pop music has reached a greater audience. Rap is another form of music that has grown considerably over the last few decades. The genre saw a development in the early 1990s and has since become one of the most popular musical styles. Beat mixing and electronic sound editing has also recently made its way into these categories. The transformation of music could be credited to advancements in technology. With popular platforms like Spotify, listeners have more access to music than ever before. Pop music has grown so rapidly, with immediate availability to users. It’s important to consider that individuals have different music preferences. Some are disgusted by the sound of a country song, while others have expressed curiosity in the growing trend of indie music. As history suggests, music will continue to evolve over time. n
When I was younger, I was terribly afraid of bees. This fear sprawled over any insectoid that produced a buzzing noise, but for the most part, bees were my weakness. I know you’re thinking, “bees are harmless. Don’t mess with them, and they won’t mess with you.” Well, that’s exactly how I lived my adolescent life. Even the slightest buzz, whether it be a common housefly or a harmless honeybee, sent me into panic mode. Don’t get me started on the stinger. I’ve never been stung, thank goodness, and I think this furthered my fear. Does it hurt? Probably. Do I intend to get stung? Not a chance. Bees are the leading source of pollination—nearly 80 percent worldwide. These helpful drones assist us by relocating pollen grains from the anther to the stigma. Think sperm (anther) and egg (stigma). Bees allows for constant food growth. Researchers estimate that nearly one third of all food grown is owed to bee’s pollination. A colony of bees alone can pollinate 4,000 fruit trees. These little guys help the world go round. If threatened, bees will utilize their stinger and deploy poison into their target. Consequently, after stinging an enemy, the bee will die. It’s estimated that over 1,000 bee stings are required for the toxins to be fatal. It’s also worth mentioning that bees are the only insect that produces food eaten by man— sweet, sweet honey. The most horrific experience I’ve had with bees was when I was 11. I was sitting in my grandmother’s car at Sonic, during happy hour of course, sipping on a grape slushee. All the windows in the car were down, when all of a sudden, a bee, probably drawn in by sweet aromas, paid us a visit. I heard a buzzing from behind my head and turned, trying to locate the perpetrator. A fat bee was crawling along the inside of the back windshield, sending me into frantic screams. Was the bee out to harm me? Absolutely not. Was I about to let that bee harm me? You bet your beeswax I wasn’t.
I threw the car door open and leapt into the parking lot screaming like a madman. My grandmother, bless her heart, got out of the driver’s seat and came to investigate. She saw the bee, removed her flip-flop and put an end to its existence. My sisters laughed at me and to this day haven’t let me forget that story. Humans kill bees both physically and indirectly. The population of bees has seen large decline from pesticide use, especially in the United States. Scientists have analyzed pollen collected by bees and pinpointed seven major pesticides that seem to be causing colony collapse. It’s kind of ironic that the pesticides used to keep harmful bugs away from our crops are keeping away the helpful bugs that pollinate said crops. Your move Environ-
mental Protection Agency… your move. I’ve come a long way since the horrific incident. Don’t let me trick you. I’ve killed my fair share of bees. I’ve swatted and smashed many that got too close for comfort. In the last 10 years of my life, I’ve begun to appreciate bees more and more. My fear toward bees has turned into fascination. Recently I caught myself on the Subreddit “Beekeeping,” reading up on how to own and maintain beehives. Crazy? Maybe a little, but I call it progress. I now hope to own an apiary of my own. If you’d asked me 10 years ago, I would never have thought about owning my own bees, but I can’t shake this feeling. I’ve got the bee fever and as I research more, my fever keeps getting higher and higher. n
SPORTS
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Friday, April 20, 2018 u page 6
Former Reddie Cris McGough embraces role as Tiger cheer coach By TIFFANY LEE Guest writer
The Battle of the Ravine is a tradition we all know and love. But this year there is something a little different about the rivalry. The Ouachita Tigers have let a Henderson Reddie on their turf. How did this happen? Cris McGough is an employee at Henderson State University. McGough is an academic advisor in charge of all fine arts majors including art, theater, communications, mass media and undeclared majors. Along with being an HSU advisor, McGough recently accepted the job of OBU cheer coach. The Ouachita cheerleaders first met McGough at Gymnastics Plus in Arkadelphia. McGough is a tumbling coach at Gymnastics Plus, and on Wednesday nights, he teaches college tumbling for the Henderson and Ouachita cheerleaders. McGough discovered his love for tumbling and stunting while he was in graduate school at HSU. McGough swam at HSU during his four years as an undergraduate and was asked by a few friends to try out for cheer since he could tumble. McGough, no longer eligible to swim, decided to give
him. So it was easy. And it is always fun to have a little extra component of rivalry added in there. He is a good guy. I hope he enjoys it, too, because we enjoy having him over here,” Kluck said. The OBU cheerleaders have accepted the Reddie from across the street and are proud to have him as a coach. “Cheering for Cris is awesome. He is a really encouraging coach, and I really love being able to talk to him about what I am doing wrong and hearing his positive feedback that he has always,” sophomore cheerleader Selby Tucker said. Although a Reddie at heart, McGough loves being on Tiger turf. McGough admits he’s been to many more Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab OBU games and events than OUACHITA CHEERLEADERS sing alongside one another prior to the Tigers’ 2017 football homecoming game against he has his own alma mater’s Harding. Cris McGough hopes to continue strengthening and encouraging the cheer squad. this year. McGough has encheer a try during graduate fornia. Soon thereafter, the When deciding on a new joyed getting to know the school. cheerleaders quickly went cheer coach to hire, Dr. Kluck squad and helping them to McGough fell in love with to their cheer sponsor, Dr. said he did not see a problem achieve their goals as a team. the sport and continues to be Kluck, and recommended hiring someone from across “I could not have a better a part of cheerleading today McGough as their new cheer the street, because his job was group. There’s the drama by teaching tumbling and coach. After much consider- to hire the best person for the that there is in everything, coaching. ation over a few months, Mc- job, even if that meant hiring but I could not have a better While participating in col- Gough decided to cross the a Reddie. group of 24 people to work lege tumble, the OBU cheer- ravine and accept the job of “This is not the first time I with,” McGough said. leaders quickly gained re- OBU’s new cheer coach while have had a Henderson per- McGough loves being the spect for McGough and loved still working as an advisor at son do the Ouachita cheer. Ouachita cheer coach and is working with him. HSU. It’s not an issue for me. He ecstatic to take on his second The OBU cheer squad’s “This opportunity kind of is the best guy for the job, year in the job. It looks like coach left in March of last fell into my lap. It’s a bless- and all of the cheerleaders re- this Reddie could be a Tiger year to move back to Cali- ing,” McGough said. ally enjoyed him and trusted for life. n
Instant replay diminishes human feature of sports By JOHN SHARP Staff writer
Artificial intelligence has taken a major leap forward in recent years, and many jobs that were once held by people are now becoming automated and run by machines. In the sports world, instant replay is the new hot-ticket item. While instant replay is not really new, it has taken over the way that both broadcasting and officiating works. The first use of instant replay was a CBS Sports broadcast on December 7, 1963, during the Army vs. Navy game. In recent years, though, replay moved from a broadcast feature only to an enhancement of officiating. With the increased use of replay in sports, both fans and officials have been able to get a more definitive look at what happened. The closer look into the play allows for more correct calls by the officials. But how does this affect the industry of officiating? Officials have always had the last word when it comes
to making the hard calls on any given play in a game. With instant replay being brought into the fold, coaches and players are gaining the ability to challenge calls made by the official. This is a huge change in the culture of sports. Traditionally, the only people who can challenge the official are the other officials on their team and the head coaches. With instant replay, the odds of teams arguing with the officials about a call is more likely to lead to a change in the outcome of the decision. The NFL implemented instant replay in 1999 as a tool to be used by the officials. In the 2016 season, there were 40,008 plays during the season, and only 345 of them were reviewed. These reviewed plays have only turned over 37 percent of the plays challenged. While instant replay is changing the number of calls being overturned by the officials, the official still has the final say in the end, The new advancement in technology, however, has allowed for more ac-
countability. When it comes to instant replay, I can see how its use of is changing the way that sports are being played. The pace of sports is starting to slow down. The average amount of time for a review of a play in the NFL is 2:25. Football is already a moderately paced game. Normally, the pace of the game is very consistent, but taking extra time to analyze plays and make sure the call is correct is changing both the pace and the strategy of the game. The extra time to review a play gives coaches an extended opportunity to strategize for the upcoming play or drive that was not previously a part of the game. Instant replay is taking the human aspect of officiating out of the game. Having an umpire in baseball make a bad call on a ball or a strike has become part of the culture. If the instant replay replaced the umpire, the whole feeling of the game would be different. With a physical person officiating the game, sports seem more personal and alive. n
This Week at Ouachita Friday, April 20*
Baseball vs Southwestern Oklahoma St. @ 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 21
Baseball vs Southwestern Oklahoma St. (Senior Day) @ noon
Baseball vs Southwestern Oklahoma St. (Game 2 - DH) @ 3 p.m. *Men’s Tennis vs Southeastern Oklahoma St. (GAC Tourney) @ 10:30 p.m. For a full calendar, go to obutigers.com and select “team schedules.”
GO TIGERS!
Potential advantages of multi-sport athletes By HUNTER GRAVES
Guest writer
Multi-sport athletes are beginning to become more of a rarity in today’s society. While some people think that playing multiple sports will make you a better all-around player and athlete, others claim that it takes away from your progress in some sports. People have always argued for and against it, but which side has the strongest case? First, we must look at some pros and cons of participating in multiple sports as opposed to being a single-sport athlete. Let us start by looking at some of the many advantages that come with being a multi-sport athlete. You can learn a variety of life lessons like how to treat people in positions of authority, how to trust your teammates and how to be a leader to those around you. Involvement in multiple sports also allows you some time to figure out which sport you truly love the most if you are still unsure about which direction you want to go. You also have a much better chance of playing at the collegiate or professional level if you do not limit your options while you are in high school. According to Stack, “Of the 253 players drafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, nearly 90 percent played multiple sports in high school.” Also, where multi-sport athletes may have the upper hand on single-sport athletes is in their ability to adjust to teammates, since they are constantly dealing with people of all kinds. Even though there are plenty of pros to playing multiple sports, there are some instances where it might not be the best thing to do. For instance, if you truly love one sport and just play the others to stay in shape, that may not be the best approach to take. Today’s high school and college athletes can find ways to be actively involved with one sport for the entirety of a year even if
their particular sport is not in season. If a young basketball player believes he has the chance to get a scholarship for his skills on the court, he might be tempted to strictly do basketball training in the offseason instead of adding another sport to his arsenal. I believe that is a big reason why we are seeing the decline in kids playing more than one sport all the way through high school. While specializing in one sport may seem intriguing, I would argue that there are many more drawbacks in limiting yourself to just one sport than you might think. For one, “It can interfere with healthy child development by increasing social isolation,” according to MomsTeam. Second, a good portion of coaches want to coach players who have had experience with different sports as opposed to one. University of Arkansas Head Football Coach Chad Morris has said he prefers multi-sport athletes because it “develops an overall, well-rounded skill set.” Also, it is very easy to simply just get tired or bored of doing one thing all of the time. According to Ridgeview Medical Center, “Studies have shown that sport dropout rate is substantially higher in young athletes who specialize at an early age (prior to 15-years-old).” I personally believe that if athletes want to play sports in college or at the professional level, it would be smart to get involved in multiple sports. Most experts and professional athletes highly encourage kids to not specialize, as well. I think that parents and coaches need to do a better job of informing their children about the risks associated with participating in only one sport. As more studies have been published, it has become obvious that the chances of getting injured, as well as the chances of someone maximizing their full potential, are greatly decreased when an athlete chooses specialty over variety. n