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2.6.19 | Vol. 127, Issue 13 | www.obusignal.com
Williams crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University 2019 By ETHAN DIAL Online editor “To wear the title of Ouachita Baptist University, you have to understand that your service doesn’t come from the crown on your head; it comes from the crown on His. Your duty first and foremost to your university is first and foremost to your God. I think it becomes so much more heavy when you wear Ouachita Baptist University,” said Julie Williams, who was crowned Miss OBU 2019 last Saturday. You would probably recognize this political science and communications major from Arkadelphia anywhere on campus. Her daily uniform typically includes sparkly heals and at minimum business casual attire. With hair up, makeup on and sophistication and class radiating as her heels click across the university floors, Williams is the editor-in-chief of The Signal, a member of Student Senate and College Republicans, an honors student and now the reigning Miss OBU. However, she never quite imagined being a pageant girl. “I had intentionally kind of stayed away from it all when I was younger, simply because I never really thought I could be a part of it. I never viewed myself as that kind of person that could succeed the way that those women did,” Williams said. “My parents really encouraged me to just try it once.” And try she did. Williams’ first pageant was last year’s Miss OBU, where she was named first runner up. The following day, after growing encouragement from community members and pageant
Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab Editor
Justin Trostle z Photo Lab
(LEFT) MISS OBU 2018 Emma Pitts crowns the new Miss OBU 2019, Julie Williams, in last Saturday’s annual scholarship competition. (RIGHT) THE FIFTEEN MISS OBU contestants line up on stage following the competition, which includes private interview, on-stage question, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, talent and presence and poise in evening wear.
leaders, Williams competed for the title of Miss Southwest Arkansas, and ended up being crowned. Representing the community she grew up in was a dream come true and a highlight of 2018 she hadn’t pictured. After a year full of joy holding the title of her people, Williams was completely honored. Elated by checking this experience off her bucket list, as of last fall, Williams had not decided if she would compete again this year. However, when nominated by Student Senate, Williams prayed about the opportunity and subsequently accepted the nomination. With support from her family and friends, Williams moved forward, blanketing the outcome with utmost prayer. Asking her close peers and Sunday school class for
specific prayer requests, Williams felt completely at peace last Saturday, knowing that no matter what, the Lord was in control. Loving every single girl that stood by her on stage Saturday evening, Williams was completely honored when her name was called as the new Miss OBU. “The first thing I remember was my dad, and he just stood there and didn’t say a word,” Williams said. “Of course, my mom was crying, and talking and taking pictures because my mom is like the ultimate photographer mom. So, she was taking photos and my dad just hugged me and held me for about 30 seconds and just kept saying ‘I’m proud of you’ and ‘You made us proud’…I think this title meant just as much to my parents as it did to me…I think they felt the
weight of it just as much as I did, if not more.” When it comes to the weight of the crown, Williams holds this experience to the highest respect and prays to wear it with grace, dignity and elegance. “Ouachita is just as much a part of who I am as this town is. I find pride in being from both Arkadelphia and from Ouachita, and I have increased a network both politically, socially, professionally and spiritually that I would not have had had it not been for specific individuals at Ouachita. I’ve always said that being from somewhere is not about the place; it’s about the people. And when I won that I thought of dozens—dozens of individuals and specific names and faces, many of whom were
on that stage to take a picture with me that night, many of whom were in that crowd that were the entire reason I was here to begin with, and I don’t mean just in a pageant; I mean at this university,” Williams said. “They changed my life and they invested in me and when you start wearing their name, you realize that you are branded about who you are. It makes it official as though I belong to them, and that is one of the most beautiful feelings I have ever had in my time at Ouachita is that I’m branded a Ouachitonian.” No matter what she is doing, Julie wants to showcase the love she has for her savior. “To wear the title of Ouachita Baptist University, you have to understand that your service see Miss OBU z 2
Special Olympics return to Ouachita ESC patio to be renovated By SARA PATTERSON Staff writer Ouachita will host a Special Olympics basketball tournament from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.on Thursday, Feb. 21 in the Sturgis Physical Education Center. This tournament hosts persons with disabilities from surrounding towns, giving them an opportunity to get active and supporting them along the way. Ouachita has hosted the Special Olympics games since 2002, and the number of participants and volunteers has continually increased. This year, it is estimated that over 400 persons with disabilities will participate, and around 300 Ouachita students will volunteer at the event. On the day of the event, a pep rally and opening ceremony precede the various games. Individual player activities take place in the arena- including dribbling, shooting and tossing exercises. Team games take place in the lower gyms, and these players can qualify for the state tournament at this event Dr. Mike Reynolds began organizing this event when
he was teaching the Adapted Physical Education Methods class at Ouachita. “Part of my teaching philosophy is to get my students out of the classroom and to learn by doing. So, I went to the public schools to see if my students could go into the public schools and work with persons with disabilities. They were not well receptive to that. So, I said, ‘if I can’t get my students to go to schools, maybe I can get the persons with disabilities to come to Ouachita,’” Reynolds said. Reynolds and other Ouachita staff then worked to connect with surrounding public-school districts in Benton, Bryant, Hot Springs, Prescott and a few others. The Arkadelphia Human Development Center also participates in the Special Olympics. The event hosts participants of a wide range of ages as well. “Special Olympics starts at age eight, but they’ve backed it up now even to individuals that are five, and then there’s all the way up to people that are in special centers like the Arkadelphia Human Development Center - they’re up into their fifties. It’s a wide range of participants… [with] all different
types of disabilities,” Reynolds said. Volunteering with the Special Olympics gives Ouachita students a real-life learning experience of how to interact and help persons with disabilities. This experience is helpful for any Ouachita student, regardless of their career goals. “We’ve had students that have graduated from Ouachita and have gone to work with students with special needs. In any major, when you get out into the real world, you’re going to be around persons with disabilities. That’s just us, it’s not them and us- it’s we, together,” Reynolds said. Students from the kinesiology department, members of social clubs on campus, and other groups of Ouachita students volunteer at the event as one-on-one partners with the participants, coordinators of the various events taking place and cheerleaders offering encouragement to participants at each event throughout the day. For more information on Special Olympics, the upcoming event, or volunteering, contact Mike Reynolds at reynoldsm@obu.edu or Amber Chelette at chelettea@ obu.edu. n
By JACOB COTTRELL Staff writer The balcony attached to the back of Evans Student Center is scheduled to be renovated beginning in March 2019. Dr. Ben Sells, president of Ouachita, informed students of the remodel during chapel on Jan. 22. Sells presented renderings of the new furniture that is going to be installed. These upgrades included outdoor furniture like chairs and umbrellas that will help accommodate more students. “The Overlook Balcony will have three kinds of outdoor furniture: lounge-style seating, high-top tables and regular round tables that will accommodate a total of 40-50 people seated,” Sells said. “It also involves four large umbrellas that will remain up most of the time because they can withstand high winds; the umbrellas include LED lights that will also help extend the use of the Overlook Balcony during the evening. The front of Evans will include a couple of tables and benches for seating.” The renovation is scheduled for March, weather permitting. This
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will come in a time for students to enjoy being outside and enjoying the Arkansas weather for the second half of the spring semester. “The project will be completed sometime in March, subject to the arrival and installation of the furniture,” Sells said. These furniture upgrades will provide students with more seating outside. The intent is to encourage students to spend more time on the bridge that overlooks the Ouachita River and in front of Evans Student Center and more space to build community. This remodel will be more user friendly and help create a new atmosphere and a new space on campus for even more students to enjoy. “The goal is to provide more excellent outdoor gathering spaces for students that is connected with a highly used space, the Evans Student Center, and with a signature view of the Ouachita River,” Sells said. “With the addition of umbrellas and lighting, the use of the Overlook Balcony is extended during days the sun is bright and during the evening hours.” In a couple of months, the see Patio z 2
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A look at the biggest news of the week Groundhog doesn’t see shadow Last saturday, Punxsutawney Phil continued the long tradition of Groundhog Day from his home in Punxsutawney, PA. In the early morning chill, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow, ushering in the start of spring. This tradition comes from German legend, which speaks of a furry rodent casting its shadow, determing whether winter will continue for six weeks or end. 300 miles away, Staten Island Chuck’s prediction was the same. While the groundhogs are renowned for their ability to predict the season’s changes, scientists lend their predictions to the tradition days prior to the groundhogs even emerging. This information is suprising, as most of America experienced a massive cold snap last week. Source: AP
Patriots beat Rams in Super Bowl The New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 at Super Bowl LIII. The teams took to the field in Atlanta, Ga. at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This was the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history. The Patriots played an exceptional defense and helped lead the team to their sixth championship ring, the third in the last five years. The Los Angeles Rams, who have the second highest offense in the league, were only able to put up three points against the NFL powerhouse. The annual event’s viewership dwindled down to 100.7 million people, down from 103.4 million in 2018. The Half-Time show was led by Adam Levine and Maroon 5, featuring Travis Scott and Big Boi. Source: AP
Trump delivers State of the Union President Donald J. Trump delivered the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress last night. Trump focused on issues such as immigration, the promise of a southern border wall, the protection of unborn life and the threat of socialism to the American government. To u t i n g t h e l o w e s t unemployment rates in recent history and a booming domestic economy, Trump also noted some bipartisan efforts on issues like VA refrom, criminal justice reform and the last session’s Farm Bill. President Trump noted the work of many honored guests such as Buzz Aldrin, Matthew Charles, Alice Johnson and Tom Wibberley. Source: Fox News
PLF fosters leadership skills, recruits students State Convention to host By SARA PATTERSON Staff writer The President’s Leadership Forum took place at Ouachita on Jan. 26-27. This annual event serves to strengthen the already existing leadership skills of academically distinguished prospective students. This year, prospective students responded notably well to PLF, with many committing to attend Ouachita next fall. On the first night, PLF students had dinner with Ouachita alumni and then had breakout sessions with the alumni- discussing their career fields and the role of Ouachita in their paths to success. Students then had preparation time for Monday’s culminating “Last Leader Standing” competition. Students then attended a worship service with music led by current Ouachita students and a message from James Taylor, the director of Campus Ministries. Sunday night ended with a coffeehouse session at Dr. Jacks. After breakfast on Monday morning, Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita President, led the students in a challenging leadership case study. “This year I taught a new segment called “Mount Everest,” a leadership case study of a real-life situation from 1996 when several people, including experienced leaders, lost their lives while trying to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the world. Developed by the Harvard Business School, I experienced the case study while studying at the Harvard Graduate School of Education a few years ago. While written for
Miss OBU
z Continued from Page 1 doesn’t come from the crown on your head; it comes from the crown on his. Your duty first and foremost to your university is first and foremost to your God. I think it becomes so much more heavy when you wear Ouachita Baptist University,” Williams said.
graduate students, I thought PLF participants would enjoy and benefit from it – and they did,” Sells said. Finally, prospective students participated in the “Last Leader Standing” competition, had lunch and went home. According to Lori Motl, director of Admissions Counseling, prospective students’ response to PLF was especially encouraging this year. Because the event took place earlier in the semester than in previous years, many of the high school students in attendance were unsure about whether they would attend Ouachita in the coming year. “I do think it really moved the needle for a lot of students. We’ve already gotten a lot of feedback from students saying, ‘I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure, but after coming to PLF, I’m coming to Ouachita,” Motl said. For many PLF students, meeting with alumni was one of the most influential experiences of the weekend. “Those alumni coming in and sharing their Ouachita experience and their work experience since they graduated… and the networking that they were able to do because they graduated from Ouachita, was really meaningful to the students,” Motl said. Dr. Sells believes that much of Ouachita alumni success can be attributed to the unique leadership opportunities that come with attending a smaller college. “On a per student basis, there’s more of these kind of opportunities at a university the size of Ouachita than at much larger institutions.
It’s one of the reasons Ouachita alumni exemplify leadership and influence in so many ways. In other words, I believe Ouachita is a “leadership laboratory,” Sells said. Having served as founding director of the International Centre for Excellence in Leadership for the International Missions Board from 1997 to 2004, Sells developed a committed passion for leadership improvement. “I took a deep dive into understanding what causes leadership development that included research, teaching and writing, as well as traveling around the world,” Sells said. As a result of all he gained from his experience as a leader, Sells wanted this experience for students, as well. Thus, he and other Ouachita staff members worked to relaunch PLF in Sells’ first year as President. “When there was discussion during my first year of bringing back the President’s Leadership Forum (PLF), I wanted to revamp it based on what I had learned and then make it the best possible experience for high school seniors,” Sells said. This year ’s President’s L e a d e r s h i p F o ru m o ff e re d students unique experiences to meet their future classmates, connect with successful alumni and learn valuable leadership skills. “Leadership is the ability to positively influence others. One of the most significant ways to develop a person’s leadership is to take on new challenges paired with support from others,” Sells said. n
Williams is ecstatic about the next year and can’t wait to put on her crown and represent the people of Ouachita. However, at the end of the day, after the fake eyelashes have been taken off, Williams is oh so humbled by this opportunity and still in awe that the Lord chose her to be the woman behind the sash.
“I’ve read the end of the book; He wins. We throw those crowns at his feet anyway,” Williams said. “Yeah, it’s a fun sparkly hat to wear for a year, but you want to know, and I pray that I am the same Julie not wearing the crown that I am wearing it. And at the end of the day, I want to make sure that crown is laying at His feet.” n
church planting meeting By MANDY HALBERT Staff writer The Arkansas Baptist State Convention will host a church planting interest dinner on Tuesday Feb. 12. The meal will be held in the Alumni Room from 6 to 8 p.m. Students that would like to attend the meeting are required to RSVP. “Students who are interested in getting experience and finding out what it’s like to participate in a church plant will be able to apply to partner with churches,” Mary Farley said. Church planters from across Arkansas will be speaking and offering opportunities. The speakers include Zack Reno, Jordan Bowen, Neal Scoggins and Dave McClung. The speakers will be connecting students to churches who are in need. “Dave McClung will be there at the meeting, and he’s a great guy to get connected with,” senior Ryan Fielder said. “He’s always looking for people who are eager to get into church planting, serving, or who are looking to intern.” Fielder participated in a church plant his sophomore year with Summit Church based in Little Rock. “A church plant is a little bit of everything,” Fielder said. “I would sit in on pastoral care and counseling sessions, a lot of manual labor, just run around and make sure everything was good to go.” Church planting also provides
Patio
z Continued from Page 1 students of Ouachita will be able to enjoy these updates. The outdoor space will be able to accompany and provide a new comfortable space for students to hangout. The new makeover will also give a new look to the student center for welcoming future tigers
community ministry opportunities in sharing the gospel with neighbors of the church. “We did block parties, movies in the park, just hanging out and talking with people,” Fielder said. “We did several door to door ministry activities like that.” Church planting requires all types of skill sets and can teach important skills for those hoping to go into ministry in the future. “In general, we have a lot of students who do church internships,” Farley said. “They are working with the youth, working under a worship pastor, or they’re in children’s ministry. A lot of those are going to be similar to a church plant, and then you have the added aspects of trying to reach people who are not currently being reached by churches in their areas.” While these programs are beneficial to students going into ministry, students of all majors and interests can learn important lessons that can be applied to all areas of life. “My internship taught me that everything you do starts with prayer,” Fielder said. “If the presence of God isn’t there, then there’s no purpose in doing what we’re doing. The other thing it taught me was learning to love people, and learning to love everybody.” Those who are interested in learning more about church planting internships can RSVP by going online at www.churchplantdinner. eventbrite.com. n and alumni who visit campus. “During my first two and a half years, I’ve spent much time listening to Ouachita students and others about their ideas. This project reflects the input of many people and I’m grateful that friends of the University stepped forward to make it a reality,” Sells said. n
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The Daily Word Game: Johnny Wink’s decades-old tradition By HAYDN JEFFERS Staff writer
If you’ve ever had a class with Dr. Johnny Wink, then you know about the Daily Word Game. What you might not know, though, is that it’s been around since the mid-1980s. The Daily Word Game is just what it sounds like: a game. Around the beginning of every semester, Dr. Johnny Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English, sends an email that contains a word for each class day of the semester. The words are always unique, and the individual lists always contain words starting with the same letter. Wink plays the Daily Word Game alphabetically, so that if Fall 2018 daily words all start with “X,” Spring 2019 words must all start with “Y.” And they do. Every time a class meets, Wink writes the daily word on the board, explains its etymology and has the class chant the word to him. The game is open to all students and faculty to play in their classes, but it is 100 percent voluntary and can be played according to an individual professor’s rules. It all started when Dr. Joe Jeffers, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, wanted to do something institutionally to improve the vocabularies of students and professors alike. Jeffers called upon Dr. Hal Bass, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, the late Dr. Tom Auffenberg, R. Voyt Hill Professor of History and Chair of the History Department, and, of course, Wink. “Joe called together just a few of us: Hal Bass from political science and the late Tom Auffenberg, you know, the Chinchilla, and me,” Wink said. “We got together one day, and we were shooting the breeze. We said, well, what about every day that school meets, we have an official word of the day?” After that meeting, the Daily Word Game was born. It wasn’t the same as how we know and
Alex Blankenshipl Sony Animation z Photoz lab Courtesy editor DR. WINK begins each semester at Ouachita with an email to all Ouachitonians containing a word for each school day of the semester. This endevour has become known as The Daily World Game and has been going on since the mid-1980s.
understand it now, though. For example, each semester’s list did not start off going in alphabetical order. For the first few years, Wink simply picked words from the dictionary and added them to the list without giving a second thought to the order they were in. That left room for mistakes, though, and he would find himself repeating words every so often. “That’s another thing I’m just absolutely fuzzy about. I do not know when I started going alphabetically, although I can push it back a certain amount of time,” Wink said. “I know, for instance, I was doing it alphabetically 13 years ago,” he added. “Because in 2006 Tom Greer died suddenly of a heart attack here in the Bugtruck [the Department of Language and Literature]. And we were on the letter ‘Z,’ and Jay Curlin wrote a great poem called ‘Of Time and Tom,’ and he worked the words ‘zeitgeist’ and ‘zeptosecond’ into it. I love that poem. We were in ‘Z,’ so that’s
26 semesters. Thirteen years. So ‘A’ would have occurred back in 1993. At the very latest, we were going ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ ‘D,’ ‘E’ back in 1993. But I do know the game started in the 1980s, and 1993 is probably when I did start alphabetizing.” The credit goes to Jeffers for getting the ball rolling all those years ago, but Wink has been the one to lead the game and compile the word lists every semester. “I will forever sing his praises,” Wink said of Jeffers. “He’s responsible for so many things that have made this a cohesive university.” Wink initially found it a bit difficult to remember the finer details of the meeting that occurred over 30 years ago, but his memory served him well. “I think I probably volunteered,” he said. “I said I would be happy to be the one to gather up these words, and I have, down through the years, been the secretary for the game.” One of Wink’s favorite stories about the Daily Word Game revolves around a long-retired
professor who shall remain unnamed. Wink always makes a point to include daily words that he himself has never heard of, so he’s enhancing his vocabulary along with everyone else’s. There was a business professor, though, who didn’t agree with Wink’s daily word lists. “He [the business professor] was a curious fellow in that he could be a really nice guy, could be very thoughtful, but there was a particular way in which he was obnoxious,” Wink said. “He was kind of legendary around here, and this one story will give you an idea of what I’m talking about. I met him right after I broadcast the words one semester down at the post office, and he had a complaint.” The professor didn’t like that there were words on the list that he’d never heard of. For whatever reason, he thought the standard should be that if a welleducated, middle-aged man like himself knew the words, they could go on the list. Otherwise, they should be left off. “Have you ever heard of
anything more perverse in your life?” Wink asked as he remembered the strange encounter. While Wink has faced some opposition to the Daily Word Game, the response is typically very positive. “Generally, when I send the list out at the beginning of the semester, I’ll get a few encouraging words, you know, people saying this is a good thing, keep doing this,” Wink noted. All of Wink’s classes start off with the daily word, and he has found great value in that over the years. “We’re coming up on the second cycle of the going in alphabetical order. It’s become such a valuable thing for me to start the class off that way, to get us thinking about a word, to ponder the history and mystery of the way words arise,” Wink said. “And I just like it. For me, it’s a bit like a benediction on the class. And it makes good sense to me, it seems like a good thing to do. We do have fun with it.” n
Samantha’s Sweets: Browns come home to start new bakery By KATELYN MYERS Online staff writer
The smell of vanilla, freshly baked cupcakes and a pot of coffee roasting overwhelm your senses with joy as you enter the doors of the little teal house on 7th St. Samantha’s Sweets Bakery opened Friday, Oct. 25 in Arkadelphia. The iconic teal color of the bakery led many customers to stop by and try out their new sweets. The bakery specializes in cakes, cookies, pies and macaroons. They are also selling a wide variety of cold brew and freshly made hot coffee. “Our first day we sold out of everything two hours before closing. It has been steady since,” said Samantha Brown, the owner of the bakery. “We have yet to have a long period without any customers coming in, so it has been very exciting.” Samantha, 23, recently discovered that she wanted to open her own bakery. A Henderson graduate with a degree in education, Samantha began to work in Hope, Ark. as a teacher before realizing that it was not what God had planned
for her. The concept of opening her own bake shop started soon after her teaching career began. Samantha felt led to leave her job as a teacher to pursue her dreams of creating a bakery. Choosing Arkadelphia as the starting point for the business was an easy decision. Samantha has been living in Arkadelphia for more than five and a half years. The long standing relationship Samantha and her family have to Arkadelphia made it an easy transition to have the town as their permanent residence. “This is home to me,” Samantha said. “I love the community and all of the people here. It feels good to help out and be a part of it.” Finding the perfect location in Arkadelphia was the first task on the agenda. After long days of searching through the town, Connor Brown, husband to Samantha, googled commercial real estate and found the perfect place to open their bakery from the very first listing shown. The house had recently been listed on the market. The Browns then decided to tour the potential property and wanted to buy it on the spot.
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“We had been looking for a long time, but no one was really selling,” Connor said. “I had almost given up when I found the listing for this building just down the street from where I was eating at the time.” Samantha immediately began to create her brand for the bakery, which included making a website, finalizing her recipes and painting the building the now iconic teal color all by hand. Samantha has also included a blog in the bakery’s website, where she discusses her personal health, her newfound love for baking and even a comical story about her year long struggle to make the perfect macaroon. The blog allows readers to see Samantha’s reasoning on why her love for baking has recently grown. In the past, Samantha struggled with body image and felt as though she could never meet the expectations of those around her. She continuously pressured herself to eat the right foods every day to the point where she could not truly enjoy the food that she was consuming. If she did eat the wrong food guilt ensued her. “I want anyone who is suffering with anything like what I went through to know that they
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Online Signal z Courtesy SAMANTHA BROWN, a Henderson graduate, left her job of teaching in October of last year to pursue her dream of opening her own bakery. Since Samantha’s Sweets Bakery opened last fall, they have had steady business.
can overcome it. They can enjoy life and food without the guilt or fear of food. I want them (and everyone) to know that they are beautiful, and a cupcake every once in a while is not going to hurt them or make them any less of a person,” Samantha said in one of her blog posts. Samantha wanted her love for baking to show within her treats, and choosing the menu that fit her vision of the bakery was essential. All of the recipes were created to give the customers a feeling of home.
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“Arkadelphia is full of college students who become homesick,” Connor said. “When you leave here with a treat, you are taking a slice of home with you. I’ve had several people tell me that our cookies taste like their grandma’s cookies.” The bakery on 7th St. is just the beginning for the young couple’s vision. The Browns hope to eventually have several locations within the surrounding area. “My main goal for my business is to make people happy,” Samantha said. n
The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Wednesday 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.
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New exhibit showcases diverse works by professional artists By SARAH RUSH Staff writer
Two exciting new art exhibits by working artists have come to Ouachita. “A Visual Compromise” by Ouachita alumna Greta James and “Disparate Impressions” by UALR professor Win Bruhl are currently on display in the Moses-Provine art galleries. The exhibits will remain open until Feb. 22. The reception for “Disparate Impressions” will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The two exhibits complement each other – while Bruhl’s exhibit is filled with eye-catching, mostly black-and-white patterns and drawings, James’s exhibit features fascinating, vividly colorful illustrations and designs. Both artists explained that art was a big part of their lives growing up, which inspired them to study art in college and as a career. “I was blessed to have been born into a family that was not wealthy. Both parents were creative in providing what was needed for me and two siblings,” Bruhl said. In fact, his parents often made clothing and furniture, and he was involved in some of their creative projects. “So studying further to become an artist was simply an extension of how I was reared by two creative parents,” he explained. He added that he was encouraged by wonderful teachers. “I can’t remember a time when
Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab Editor
Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab Editor
GRETA JAMES (LEFT) AND WIN BRUAHL (RIGHT) both opened exhibits last week in the galledries in Moses Provine. The artworks by each artist are different in both style and type.
I wasn’t interested in art,” James said. “It was kind of a family thing.” After graduating from Ouachita in 2011 as a studio art major, she went on to complete a Master of Fine Arts degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. Bruhl described the creative process and inspiration that went in to making his exhibit. “Most of what is in the exhibit, Disparate Impressions, results from being visually alert to many things that are already made and within easy reach,” he said.
“Time magazine pages became small collages, boards that had been randomly cut by CNC (Computer Numeric Controlled) routers became large relief prints and irregular surfaces became rubbings that evolved further to make socio-political statements.” He hopes his exhibit will help viewers to notice art more often in the world around them. “I have recognized that many of us have a limited recognition of what art is or can be,” he said. “I would encourage anyone who is interested in art to recognize the abundance of items, activities,
things, places and subjects that can inspire someone to ‘make’ a statement. That statement may be expressed through the written word, visual arts, music, theater or dance.” Similarly, James hopes her exhibit will encourage students to broaden their horizons in studying art. “I want to encourage current art students that they don’t have to remain in one art field they can branch out into several disciplines at once and there are many employers that ask artists to do exactly that,” she said.
James herself is an excellent example of this, as she currently works for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as both an illustrator and graphic designer. Her exhibit features patches and pins she designed for campers, educational illustrations of wildlife, graphic designs she created for event flyers and even amusing magazine illustrations. “I’ve found as a designer and illustrator that each field informs my approach to the other. I believe the process of combining illustration and design has strengthened my work’s effectiveness. Keeping in mind that my artwork will ultimately become an element in a larger design provides insight and inspiration as I complete it. Likewise, I enjoy designing in a way that suits my illustrations. I strive for subtlety in my designs so that imagery and layout harmonize rather than fight for the reader’s attention,” she said. “This collection is a record of my attempts to create a visual compromise between my graphic and illustrative efforts.” We also have sponsors Carey Roberson and Donnie Copeland to thank for helping bring the exhibits to OBU. Copeland remarked that exhibits like these are important “to show students within art and design the relationships between the types of art they’re involved in.” Thanks to him and Roberson, students now can witness two excellent examples of artists working in true art fields. n
YouTube allows new medium for internet artists to present By CATHERINE LYP Arts / Features editor
Within the last few years, Internet usage has changed and continues to evolve. As websites and apps such as YouTube and Instagram have risen in popularity, various professions have taken to using social media platforms to further their businesses. One such category of career that has made use of social media are artists. From illustration to painting, both digital and traditional, the art world has made use of websites like YouTube to share their various creations. While Youtube alone has hundreds of artists creating a business through their art, there are a select few who are not only entertaining to watch, but inspire audience members to create as well. Typical of the movement is YouTube artist is Leigh Ellexson. Based in Ohio, Leigh Ellexson creates mainly watercolor and ink pieces, which she sells on her website in the form of prints, stickers and pins. While she only posts about once a month, each of her videos are casual vlogs that show everything from sketching and packaging orders to selling her products at art shows. Ellexson’s artwork exhibits a playful style with brightly colored, lightly lined watercolor paintings of cute animals, such as her pet parrot, being her main subjects. As shown in her videos, Ellexson stays within this consistent style, yet at the same time is constantly trying to broaden her abilities through new methods of creating art. Ellexson tries various methods, tools and experimentation when it comes to making her artworks. What makes Leigh Ellexson’s videos so motivational as an artist is her demonstration of the trial and error involved. There are many videos where she shows a painting that didn’t turn out as she would have liked, yet she still shows it as a learning experience alongside her better artworks. From painting without lines to trying new art types,
Leigh Ellexson inspires her audience to experiment in their artform. Similar in videography yet different in art style, Jacquelin Deleon is another inspiring YouTube artist. While Deleon, like Ellexson, has a vlog format to her videos, her art style and brand identity is far more structured and edgy. Jacquelin Deleon’s posts a new video at least one to two videos a month in which she vlogs her life as an artist as well as her artistic process. Deleon’s art style consists of colorful watercolor portraits that tend to have a magical element, such as the subject being a mythical creature or having supernatural powers. Jacquelin Deleon’s artworks are commonly portraits which show a stylized version of humanoid creatures portrayed in a whimsical and imperfect style. Her artwork exhibits an immense amount of creativity with various elements combining to complete the finished product. While there are several hundred artists that share their work on YouTube, another who provides a feeling of inspiration through her content is Audra Auclair. Yet another watercolor and ink artist, Audra Auclair utilizes the same supplies as Leigh Ellexson and Jacquelin Deleon, but with a slightly different outcome. Auclair’s artwork is a sort of combination of the playful nature of Leigh Ellexson’s work and the magical realism of Jacquelin Deleon’s work. Auclair focuses on a more realistic style in her portrait paintings, yet she utilizes bright colors and magical elements to bring a sense of wonder to her art. The resulting prints are immensely detailed and structured, while at the same time being vivid and playful. With the increase of social media usage and the internet’s capabilities evolving each year, the opportunities for careers continue to grow. As someone who wants to gain the knowledge and platform to later on create a career out of my own artwork, such content creators as these artists on YouTube bring inspiration and hope to a new wave of artists. n
Netflix z Courtesy
Gilroy’s “Velvet Buzzsaw” falls short of mark By WILL BLASE Staff writer
Dan Gilroy’s horror debut, “Velvet Buzzsaw,” premiered on Netflix last Friday. Known for his breakout hit “Nightcrawler,” Gilroy has amassed a large following of dedicated fans and critics alike. In odd fashion, “Velvet Buzzsaw” didn’t follow one main character as many of the trailers seemed to insinuate. Instead, varying storylines are explored and through slow and awkward pacing, our characters found themselves entangled in a supernatural phenomenon heralded by their desire for art. “Velvet Buzzsaw’s” story revolves around a simple theme – art is dangerous. Morf Vandewolt, played by the captivating Jake Gyllenhaal, is one of the largest and most influential art critics in the United States. Morf’s critiques are usually fair, but as he becomes more and more invested in his career, he finds himself losing interest in the art itself and becoming more fixated on monetary gain. His close friend and art exhibit owner Rhodora Haze (Rene Russo) has succumbed to avarice long ago and her character is brash and cutthroat, always trying to strike a deal. One of Rhodora’s largest art producers, Piers (John Malkovich) is thinking of leaving to join another art installment led by longtime competitor Dondon (Tom Sturridge). Rhodora’s assistant and protégé Josephina (Jawe Ashton) has found only
pain in the art community, discovering that her artist boyfriend has been cheating on her. If these characters seem bland, don’t worry, they are. The film is littered with lingo and each character boasts their own facades. While Gyllenhaal and Russo find their charismatic stride once again (having previously worked on “Nightcrawler”) their characters cannot carry the brunt of the story by themselves. I found myself wanting more of Morf and for the story to be wholly told through his character. Instead, Josephina takes hold of the story early, sharing most of the plot with Rhodora, and Morf becomes a side character merely appearing every now and then in her saga, contrary to his stardom as a critic. Josephina returns home on a seemingly normal day, only to discover one of her neighbors lying dead in the apartment stairwell. Josephina learns that the neighbor, Ventril Dease, was an artist and that his apartment was filled with hundreds of paintings, all condemned to be destroyed. Rhodora soon catches wind that her protégé has been acting on deals without her and demands a cut. The art world suddenly becomes enthralled with works made by Dease and many begins throwing outrageous sums of money to become proud owners. However, as larger acts of greed begin circulating the Dease works, stranger and stranger events begin happening to their owners.
“Velvet Buzzsaw” is weird, and weird might be an understatement. Gilroy wrote and directed the Netflix original, but it doesn’t hold a flame to his work on “Nightcrawler.” “Velvet Buzzsaw” displays Gilroy’s research into the art community, and visually, everything holds up. Unique and breathtaking set pieces were created to showcase in the film’s art galleries. I found myself taking in the cinematography and color while scanning each frame, allowing the dialogue to ease into the background. Exposing hypocrisy is a valiant attempt and there’s no better group to target than the elite art community. But “Velvet Buzzsaw” is neither an actionpacked ride, nor a slow burn. It’s just there. Tonally confused might be a better way to describe it. The film doesn’t quite know what to do with itself in its nearly two-hour runtime. And if we’re being honest, the film bears few elements of the horror genre, something that many fans were looking forward to Gilroy’s attempt at. Themes of avarice and hypocrisy are excellent material, but Gilroy’s storyline becomes muddled and strays from its intended impact. Nonetheless, the film is immensly entertaining, but certainly won’t enlighten the viewer. “Velvet Buzzsaw” feels like a story better suited for that of a mystery novel than a feature length film script. Gilroy’s third directorial credit falls short of its mark. “Velvet Buzzsaw” is now available to stream on Netflix. n
OPINIONS
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Williams strives to minister to veterans as new Miss OBU By JULIE WILLIAMS Editor-in-Chief
“Bridging the Gap Between the Free and the Fighter.” Every young woman who participates in the Miss America Organization is required to list a platform, that is, a social issue that she feels poses great importance to her generation. I was never a pageant girl g ro w i n g u p . I t w a s n e v e r something that I thought I could be a part of or a way I thought I could succeed. While Miss Arkansas and Miss America was always a girl that my friends and I could look up to, I never dreamed that I could be her. My first ever pageant experience was with Miss Ouachita 2018. In preparing for competition, I began thinking long and hard over what issue I thought needed the most attention. As a political science and communications student, I spent my Honors directed study hours on studying the history and development of special operations groups in the military. Because of my own academic curiosity and my own passions for serving the veterans community, I tried to devise a way in which students could learn history more from those who lived it, rather than simply being spoon fed whatever
they are handed on the pages of a history book in schoool. At the same time, could this whole new project serve to bring joy to an older generation who wonders if all their sacrifice was worth it? While I don’t have any direct family connection to military service, I believe that in the United States of America, that relationship is always personal. No where else in this big old world does this kind of relationship exist between man and liberty. Beyond this, my reasons are deeply rooted in my faith. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Beyond the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, I believe the men and women of the United States Armed Forces are some of the greatest earthly examples of such sacrificial love. Is there a way in which we can love them back? Thus, playing off the words of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, I named this social impact statement “Bridging the Gap Between the Free and the Fighter.” After being awarded the humbling and unexpected honor of Miss Ouachita Baptist University 2019, I have a renewed sense of urgency in seeing this mission expanded to the university and Arkadelphia community.
Julie Williams z Courtesy
JULIE WILLIAMS, Miss OBU 2019, visits with local World War II veteran, Gene Pollard. Williams began working with the platform, “Bridging the Gap Between the Free and the Fighter,” last year during service as Miss Southwest Arkansas 2018.
I take great pride in being from both Arkadelphia and from Ouachita, and because of this, I have a great desire to see both communities come to love and work together. The ultimate mission with this platform in action is to see academic curiosity grow in the
Student argues against punitive tax rates By WILL GOODSON Staff writer
Recently, we have been hearing more and more about how the United States needs to adopt a 70 percent income tax. I admit, calling for the rich to pay more taxes is excellent politics. The idea of sticking it to the man always plays well with the base of the Democrats. In recent years, this idea has even played well with the Republican base too. According to a Hill-HarrisX poll, a staggering 59 percent of Americans are in favor of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s plan for a 70 percent tax on Americans making 10 million or more annually. Even 45 percent of Republicans were in favor of the idea. Some polls show the approval rate to be even higher. Truthfully, I understand and sympathize with people who support the idea. Inflation, lack of wage growth, and the increased cost of living has made the American Dream harder than ever to achieve. But unfortunately, increasing taxes on the wealthy will ultimately harm the middle and lower classes more so than the rich. Before I go any further I want to go ahead and get the, “We once had tax rates at 90 percent,” argument out of the way. From 1953 to 1961 the marginal tax rate was at 91 percent. However, the effective tax rate for the wealthiest one percent was only about 42 percent. So it was only slightly higher than today’s, and also state taxes were lower on average at that time too. Ultimately, today’s effective, overall tax rate on the wealthiest one percent is not much different today than it was when we had a marginal tax rate of 91 percent. Basically there was far less income the government considered taxable when our country had 90, 80 and 70 percent marginal rates. The loopholes and deductions were far more generous than they are today. The wealthiest one percent of Americans have never paid more than a 50 percent overall effective tax rate, and they never will. Even if people like Elizabeth Warren make good on every political promise, there is no way people are going to give up over 70 percent of their hard earned money. (And yes, the vast majority of it is hard earned. Simply look at the Forbes list, read the stories of America’s billionaires, and you will quickly realize that well over two thirds are self-made. Some are inherited fortunes, but even
then they are typically people still working hard in the family business. Those who inherit fortunes with no work ethic always lose their money. After all, there is an entire economic principle around the idea that fortunes are typically lost within three generations. There is this idea that the one percent is a bunch of trust fund babies who inherited fortunes and keep their heel on the working man, but the one percent is a revolving door; people enter and exit the economic one percent on a near daily basis.) Anyways, there is an old idea that wealthy individuals, or anyone making a relatively high income, will never pay more than 50 percent. This is simply because those who are smart enough to earn that kind of income are also smart enough to find ways to avoid taxes. This principle has been true throughout history, and it will continue to hold true into the future. If extraordinarily high tax laws pass in the United States, the wealthy will either find the loopholes or leave the United States. It is that simple. Either way, this winds up hurting the working families in this country. In the late 1970s when marginal tax rates were still high, the wealthy would just put their cash in bank accounts and draw 21 percent interest. At this time, it was also incredibly easy to dodge taxes completely, at least on part of your income, by using the infamous numbered bank accounts in Switzerland. Strategies like those create liquidity and circulation problems that limit the taxes our government can effectively collect. This also hurts one’s ability to spend in the United States, start a new company, or employ people. Obviously, it is not impossible, but these things do become less common in high tax environments. Unfortunately, if we pass high marginal tax rates this time they will be more effective, which means more wealthy people will leave the United States than ever before. By leave, I mean renounce citizenship. Like it or not, the wealthiest Americans are objectively good for our countries economic growth and future. Do we really want someone like Elon Musk to face such burdensome corporate tax rates and regulation that he is forced to relocate to another country? (He has talked about these issues before). The reason why a mass exodus of our countries wealthy is much more likely this
time is simple. We already have draconian tax laws on the books. For example, the United States is the only country with citizenship based taxation (outside of Eritrea), as opposed to taxation based on residency. There is also the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act). Basically this law forces foreign banks to report their American client’s holdings to the IRS. Again, we are the only country that does this and actually enforces it. Because the paperwork is so burdensome, many banks simply refuse to open accounts for American citizens. And unlike in the 1970s and 1980s, there are no more offshore banks that simply ignore the U.S government. Basically, there are now laws we have passed since the 90’s that make any kind of legal (or illegal) tax dodging impossible. We have also eliminated countless tax deductions. So if we have a situation with a 70 percent plus tax rate, laws that eliminate loopholes, and citizenship based taxation, what will stop a mass exodus of millionaires and billionaires from our country? Nothing. We live in a globalized world and they will go where they are treated best. If you have the money you can buy new citizenships and residencies in a matter of months, sometimes weeks. After World War II, the United States did not have much competition in terms of quality of life, but today there are plenty of options, and some of them are objectively nicer places to live than the United States. For example, a place like Singapore, where the taxes are low, the infrastructure is new and the school shootings are nonexistent. Sounds nice to me. Ask yourself, is it a good idea to incentivize the top one percent of our country to leave when they currently pay 39.48 percent of all income tax, and more than the bottom 90 percent combined? Where then will the money come from to pay for free college and single payer health care? More borrowing from China? Good luck. Even if all of the one percent stayed, which would never happen, and you effectively taxed 100 percent of their income, it wouldn’t even begin to cover the increasing costs of entitlement and military spending. I will ask you this one last question… If you still support significantly higher tax rates, despite knowing what it would do to our country, is it just because you don’t want to see someone else succeed? n
local schoool distrcits’ children, while also reminding local veterans of their continued value to our society. Through the formation of mentorships and research projects, students can come to learn the true value of American freedom and the heroes around us can be convinved of their continued value
to our society. As Miss OBU, I find even greater purpose in being able to share the message of the grace of Jesus Christ, our original example of the greatest love given. With hope, we will see renewed joy in young and old faces alike, along with a fervor to protect true American liberty. n
Ask The Signal By WILL JOHNSON
Sports / Opinions editor I’m considering changing my major, but I don’t know if it’s the right decision. What should I do? When it comes to choosing a major, especially as a freshman, it’s not always that easy to know where you belong. In fact, many other students face an identical dilemma at least once in college. Making the right decision on which major is the best “fit” can be stressful and is certainly a challenge. I remember my senior year of high school, sitting down with my parents and working through numerous college decisions. One of those included blindly picking a major out of the bottomless bowl of possibilities. As a 17-year-old with little job experience and no clear career path I wanted to take, how was I supposed to know where I wanted to be in five years? In fact, through my first four college semesters, I changed my major a total of three times. It wasn’t until my fourth destination when I realized I was in the right place. So, from someone who has carried the burden of identifying the perfect major over a long period of time, I know this decision can be a difficult one to manage. Keep in mind, not everyone faces the same issues when choosing whether to change a major or not. People have different hobbies, talents, strengths and weaknesses. Students discover classes they enjoy as well as classes they hate. The decision is sometimes scary to think about, but it can be solved. There are a few ways to assess this undoubtedly tough, yet important question. First off, talk to people you consider to be strong influences or close friends in your life. Remember, you don’t have to go through this decision on your own. Sometimes it’s best to communicate those persistent questions to family members or friends who may have some beneficial advice to share. Talk to others who are currently studying the major you are considering switching
into or try and converse with a few who have a job in that field. The more you know about the major, the easier it will be to make a “yes” or “no” decision. If money is your big motivator, look at annual salaries for particular jobs in that field of study. Also, research basic requirements that employers look for in the occupation you would like to pursue. Maybe grad school is a preferred route or internship experience helps in successfully landing a job within that major. Research could help you resolve your distracting dilemma. In some cases, changing a major might mean taking more semesters of class. If you’re faced with this situation, know that it could cost you time and money. This problem is
“The more you know about the major, the easier it will be to make a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision.” more for those further down the college road, like juniors and seniors, but some majors require more hours than others. Be aware, because it could affect your final decision. For those planning on changing majors but are worried about graduating on time, talk with a dean or advisor who can work through a degree plan. Students have to opportunity to double-major, as well. Instead of completely switching out of a major that you may have built up hours in, you can keep it as a major, or minor, while pursuing a field that you could be initially unsure about. Fortunately, there are plenty of courses to major in and get a degree. Though this can make the choice more challenging, it allows students the freedom to explore a few classes as well as research jobs within each field. Most importantly, don’t rush the decision. Take time in finding the perfect fit. Eventually, you’ll stumble upon the right major. n
Submit your “Ask The Signal” questions at signal@obu.edu.
SPORTS
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Lady swimmers down crosstown rival to capitalize on season By GRACIE STOVER Staff writer
Ouachita’s women’s swim team made a splash as they rounded out the end of their season with a huge 30-point win against Henderson State University on Jan. 25. This was the first time that the Lady Tigers have beaten the Reddies in five seasons. Alyssa Reece, a junior diver and Nutrition and Dietetics major, said, “The atmosphere [at the meet] was absolutely breathtaking. The way that our [team] got together to cheer for everybody made the entire room light up. We also had one of our best crowds we have ever had. When you look up and see all of those people that are there for you and supporting you, it’s really an amazing feeling. I think that this meet our team got together and represented us so well…The way that everybody came together was just great.” OBU started the night strong with first and second-place finishes from the team’s divers. The team’s seniors led the way to victory with individual wins, and a night full of top three finishes and personal bests paved the path to victory for the Tigers. Unfortunately, the Tigers fell to the UALR Trojans the following day, after their big victory over the Reddies, despite strong individual showings throughout the day. “It was a hard day because… we had raced our hearts out, and the hype wasn’t there like it was the day before,” Reece said. The team’s next meet is the New South Intercollegiate Swim
Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab Editor
Alex Blankenship z Photo Lab Editor (TOP) A Ouuachita women’s swimmer takes a quick breath before closing out the race during an October meet versus Henderson State. The Tigers lost the meet but got revenge in the home competition on Jan. 25. (BOTTOM) Tiger teammates cheer on the swim team at the local meet. Ouachita hopes to finish high in the NSISC competition in Cleveland, Miss.
Conference (NSISC) on Feb. 2023 at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. The NSISC Championship meet will be four days of competition, which is exhausting, both physically and emotionally.
Reece says that the team is “stoked” coming off the Henderson meet, especially at the possibility to perform well against Henderson in the conference championships. Reece said the team hopes to
perform better overall, hopefully winning against teams they’ve fallen to in the past – Delta State and Lindenwood. Two seasons ago, the outlook was not so positive. The women’s team finished last at
the conference championship. Things improved last season when the team had its first ever win against UT Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Texas, which was great for the team’s selfesteem. Things have only gotten better since then, with an improved season record of 5-6. The women of the OBU swim team are dedicated in and out of the pool, and Reece predicts that next season will be the best they’ve had in several years because of the combination of outstanding and team-oriented young women. The thing that sets next year apart, according to Reece, is the team’s overall mindset. Reece said she is excited for next year because there is a strong group of women coming in, and she suspects the team will only continue to grow and get better. Swimming requires a great deal of dedication. Early morning trudges to the weight room, smelling like chlorine, and spending most time outside of school with teammates is what makes the sport itself unforgettable. Reece said that the girls’ swim team is very close, spending every day together and practicing for 19 hours a week. “It’s nice to have those girls to go throughout life with,” Reece said. She also said that one of the best things about being on a college swim team is that all the girls are in the same place in their lives – working towards their education. If this season’s successes are any indication of the team’s determination, next season can only be better. n
Mann strives to be valuable student-athlete, Tigers achieve victory over maintain servant-leader social responsibility By CAITY HATCHETT
Oklahoma Baptist, fall short against Southern Nazarene
Abigail Putterill z Photo Lab
Staff writer
Tyler Mann’s wrestling career began in elementary school. He had his parents’s support from the start, and that just made falling in love with the sport easier for a young Mann. “I’ve wrestled since fifth grade in elementary,” Mann said. “I loved WWE and my parents thought I would like wrestling.” With his inspiration coming from WWE and his parents’s support, Mann worked his way through high school into the college arena. Collegiate wrestling presented a different challenge for Mann, but the sport was still fundamentally the same. To him, wrestling is a tough sport. It presents both physical and mental challenges and requires a lot of sacrifices. “Wrestling is the hardest sport. Not just on the body, but on the spirit as well,” Mann said. “It’s not a popular sport, so we’re not doing it for the cheers. The act of wrestling uses all of your muscles. Seven minutes feels like a lifetime if you don’t train hard for it.” The season has been good for Mann and the wrestling team so far, with a good mix of home and away meets. Mann is hopeful about the team’s future and respects the leadership of his coaches. The team has their sights on the national tournament, but Mann knows there are obstacles to overcome along the way. The practices are tough and so are the road trips, but the team is ultimately doing well. “The end goal has been to win nationals, but as Coach always tells me, ‘There are milestones along the way to accomplish the goal,’” Mann said. “The team is young, and I think the future is bright for the team with Coach Crutchmer and Coach Ash.” But wrestling is not Mann’s only talent. As a member of Rho Sigma, he directed the club’s show for Tiger Tunes this past fall. Mann is very musically
By CAITY HATCHETT Staff writer
SENIOR TYLER MANN pins an opponent to the floor in a match in December 2018. Mann began wrestling competitively in the fifth grade.
inclined; he wrote the lyrics for and choreographed the dances to the songs for his club’s Tunes show. It was truly the experience of a lifetime for him, and it allowed Mann to use his creative talents and passion for the arts. “I was tasked with directing the first Tiger Tunes show, so I wrote all the lyrics for the songs. Then when it came time to rehearse, I came up with most of the structure, but my members were very creative, so throughout the process it was like organized chaos,” Mann said. “I directed, was the writer for the lyrics, choreographed the dances and scenes, then I got with my mom to make all the costumes. So, it was everything I wanted as far as music. I loved every second of it.” Mann’s hidden theatrical talent is unusual for an athlete, but he has taken it in stride. Mann has always been passionate about expressing himself through art and through music in particular. It provides a way for him to connect with people and to showcase his personality in a very different way than wrestling does. “I love musical theatre art and anything to do with self expression,” Mann said. “I’ve always had a passion to pursue art. Using that outlet to connect with others. It’s awesome.” For Mann, juggling his commitment to wrestling and his
academics has been a challenge. He admits that he does not balance school and sports well, but at the end of the day the sacrifices he makes for his sport are worth it to him. “If you’re not a wrestler, then you can’t understand the sacrifice you have to make to be successful in this sport,” Mann said. “Wrestling teaches you the golden rule to thriving in life: be comfortable being uncomfortable.” As a student athlete at Ouachita, Mann has made plenty of sacrifices and holds himself to a high standard. Despite the initial challenges he faced in transitioning to collegiate wrestling, Mann has managed to mix being in a social club with wrestling, as well as maintaining his academics and allowing himself to have fun with music. For him, being a student athlete means letting yourself gain wisdom from making those sacrifices and allowing yourself to grow into being a leader. “I think it’s a different thing to do as a college kid to not only be in school but to also be in a sport,” Mann said. “You grow through pain, so being a student athlete is one step to being a leader in your family and community.” Mann has definitely taken his own words to heart, and he strives to be a valuable member of Rho Sigma, the wrestling team and the Ouachita community. n
This past week was a roller coaster for Ouachita’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Following a win on Thursday night against Oklahoma Baptist University, both teams fell just short of beating Southern Nazarene University on Saturday. The Lady Tigers ended the first period six points behind the Lady Bison. They trailed the Lady Bison again at the end of the second period, but only by four points. Ouachita surpassed the Lady Bison in the third period, ending with a score of 57-47. The Lady Tigers continued their lead throughout the fourth period, and the final score was 70-59. Madison Brittain, Alivia Hewell and Eden Crow scored most of the points in the first period. Maija Gertsone joined Brittain, Hewell and Crow as a leading scorer in the subsequent periods. “This was a huge win for our team and helps put us in better position moving towards the conference tournament,” junior forward Laura Spradlin said. “The crowd was especially supportive and filled the gym with a really fun and exciting atmosphere.” The men scored first in their game against the Bison, with Mahlon Martin and Kendarious Smith scoring most of the goals in the first half. The Tigers trailed the Bison 34-27 at half-time, but kept up a strong offense in the second half and came out on top. They beat the Bison 77-70, and Trey Harris joined Martin and Smith as a top scorer in the second half. “Thursday night’s game was a tough one that we had to fight
from behind. In the second half our offensive got going and we were able to hold on to the lead at the end of the game,” Martin said. “It was a much needed win.” Saturday’s games were tougher on the Tigers, resulting in losses for both teams. The Lady Tigers fared well against Southern Nazarene in the first two periods, but were still trailing the Crimson Storm 42-29 at the start of the third period. After several goals by Kara Rogers, Alivia Hewell, and Madison Brittain, the Lady Tigers started to make a comeback. They ran a good defense, forcing the shot clock to run out on Southern Nazarene several times. Ultimately, the Crimson Storm came out on top, and the final score was 76-64. “We came out a little flat and fell short of beating one of the better-ranked teams in our conference,” Spradlin said. “We had a chance to beat them, but I think the challenge of playing a good team on top of coming from a big, energetic game on Thursday hurt us a little bit.” Wesley Franklin scored the first goal against the Crimson Storm in the men’s game, followed by goals from Trey Harris, Grant Jones, and Eric Brown. The Tigers ran a good offense throughout the first half, but trailed Southern Nazarene by nine points at half-time. Mahlon Martin and Kendarious Smith scored several goals for the Tigers in the second half, but Southern Nazarene beat the Tigers 86-71. “Saturday’s game was one that we started behind from the beginning. We had a sloppy game and didn’t come out playing our best,” Martin said. “I felt as if our fight was there but we just weren’t able to make plays when we needed to.” n