OBU Signal – April 2, 2015

the

Signal

www.obusignal.com

04.02.15 Volume 123 Issue 20

Ouachita Baptist University

IN THIS ISSUE:

#TSD Students prepare to serve Arkadelphia community once again, p.3

Cold Steel Hutch reviews his favorite axe p.4 Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal “THE REALITY IS we’re overwhelmed by this because so many participated and did so much that I don’t feel worthy that our name is out there on this building,” said Gene Whisenhunt at the March 12 dedication of OBU’s new Whisenhunt Fieldhouse. “We love Ouachita. This is a special place. We feel extremely blessed.”

Whisenhunt Soccer Fieldhouse dedicated

Whiplash Guest reviewer Evan Wheatley provides a critique of the box office hit, p.4

Wildcat Pride Why you should re-think your decision to cheer against Kentucky basketball, p.6

S News 1 n S Features 3 n S Opinions 4 n S Sports 6 n

By TRENNIS HENDERSON News Bureau

Dedicating Ouachita Baptist University’s new Gene and Kathy Whisenhunt Soccer Fieldhouse on March 12 capped a busy and successful season for Ouachita soccer.

The Tiger soccer teams previously celebrated the dedication of Wesley and Debbie Kluck Field last fall, the women’s soccer team earned its first Great American Conference championship and the men’s team welcomed new head coach Wilson Jones. Kevin Wright, who previously served as head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams, continues in his role as head coach of women’s soccer.

With the dedication of Whisenhunt Fieldhouse, the new home of Ouachita soccer features state-of-the-art locker rooms as well as a team room, players’ lounge and coaches’ offices.

The dedication service honored the contributions of Gene Whisenhunt, a 1983 Ouachita graduate and immediate past chairman of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Kathy. Also recognized during the ceremony was Greg Hatcher, a major supporter of both Ouachita soccer and wrestling.

Jay Heflin, a 1993 OBU graduate and current trustee chairman, welcomed special guests, student-athletes, faculty, staff and fellow trustees to the standing-roomonly dedication service held in the new facility’s team room.

“Today is a special day in the history of an athletic program,” Heflin noted. “This kind of facility shows students the value that Ouachita places on athletics.”

As future student-athletes are recruited to play soccer at Ouachita, Coach Wright and Coach Jones “will be able to mentor and nurture those students,” Heflin added. “Those students will also be molded by the Ouachita community as they de-

velop mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually into the kind of difference makers that only Ouachita can produce.”

Expressing appreciation to each of the major donors who contributed to the soccer facilities, Coach Wright told the dedication crowd, “We’re obviously very grateful for the generous gifts that make all of this happen” and for the individuals “who facilitated the process and got us the wonderful building that you’re sitting in.”

Logan Hampton, a soccer midfielder and sophomore accounting major from Conway, Ark., spoke on behalf of the soccer teams, citing “our deepest gratitude to everyone who was a part of making this building possible.”

“As dedicated soccer players, we’re grateful for the opportunity to play college soccer,” he added. “It’s an honor to play for Ouachita Baptist. This is a game see SOCCER z 2

Elementary Russian makes a comeback: classes to be offered in the fall, spring

By SARAH HAYS Staff Writer

Elementary Russian I has returned to the fall schedule as a language elective at Ouachita. Interested students, including those who are looking for a unique way to meet their foreign language requirement, have an opportunity to learn the Russian language.

The instructor will be Dr. Irene Trofimova, professor emerita of modern languages.

She has taught language for 50 years, 24 at Ouachita.

“We are very pleased to have Elementary Russian on the fall schedule for the first time in a number of years and we plan to follow it with Elementary Russian II next spring,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of Humanities. “Dr. Trofimova is a gifted teacher, and we are fortunate to have her leading the class. I would like to encourage any student interested to step forward and take the course this fall.”

Root said the courses’ availability would depend on student enrollment but he felt confident word would spread of Dr. Trofimova’s expertise and enthusiasm.

“I’m very excited because it’s a fascinating language,” Trofimova, a native speaker, said. “The relations with Russia [and the U.S.] are good and bad, good and bad; we don’t have anything in the middle. I think people need to learn at least a little bit of elementary [Russian].”

Trofimova recognizes the need for more Americans to learn foreign languages because it is critical to our nation and the world as a whole. Some of Trofimova’s former students who majored in Russian are now working for the CIA, the FBI and other intelligence organizations.

Trofimova explained, “Bill Clinton invited me to come and open the Russian program, that’s what I did. They invited a native speaker. So the school immediately had see RUSSIAN z 2

Nadalie Gill z The Signal FRESHMEN ALYSSA DELKER AND JAMIE FLOWERS perform as part of the Campus Ministries variety show on March 19. The evening was hosted to help raise money for Campus Ministries’ spring break mission trip to Anaheim, Calif.

Juggling, duck-calling raise money for missions in annual variety show

By NADALIE GILL Staff Writer

Ouachita’s Campus Ministries held a variety show on March 19. The purpose of the show was to raise money for the spring break mission trip to Anaheim, Calif.

The variety show included many short skits involving singing, dancing, juggling and duck-calling.

One show included a group of denim clad and lip-syncing young men who performed

to songs like “Shut Up and Dance,” originally by Walk the Moon.

“We vibe out, we feel it, we live it and hope others enjoy it. It’s all God,” said Beau Daggett, a senior business administration/marketing major from Roland, Ark. Other skits included a juggling and singing Egyptian performing an interpretive dance to “Butterfly Kisses,” originally by Bob Carlisle.

Admission for the show see VARIETY z 2

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TOP

this weekzCALENDAR HONORS COLLOQUIUM featuring sophomore Barrett Gay will take place on Monday, April 6 at 12 p.m. in the Alumni Room. Gay will speak about her directed study on editing literature.

EEE’S MR. TIGER, a pageant for the men of Ouachita, will take place on Monday, April 6 at 8 p.m. in the Tiger Den. For more information contact Erin Jackson at jac56014@obu.edu.

THE ROOMMATE MIXER will take place Monday, April 6 at 9 p.m. on the bridge of Evans Student Center.

For more information contact Scott Haynes at hayness@obu.edu.

THE SENIOR DINNER

will take

place Tuesday, April 7, at 5:30 p.m. in Walker Conference Center. For more information email Jon Merryman at merrymanj@obu.edu.

WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS will be recruiting in Evans Student Center on Wednesday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact John Madden john_madden@ wycliffe.org.

THE AR BLOOD INSTITUTE BLOOD DRIVE will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, in the Tiger Den. For more information contact Melanie Brandenburg at mbrandenburg@obi. org.

[from our perspective]

Emily Terry Editor-in-Chief

“Anything with chocolate”

Dixon Land Sports Editor

“The only real candy of Easter: Brach’s Jelly Bird Eggs”

Things you don’t want in your Easter basket

5 4 3 2 1

A Blockbuster gift card Candy from last Easter A toothbrush An eviction notice from your parents (looking at you, seniors) A rotten egg

What is your favorite Easter candy?

Noah Hutchinson Opinions Editor

Aly Smith Ouachitonian Editor-in-Chief

“Cadbury cream eggs”

“Peeps”

RUSSIAN

z Continued from Page 1

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal GENE WHISENHUNT cuts the inaugural ribbon of the new Whisenhunt Soccer Fieldhouse at the dedication ceremony held March 12. The fieldhouse features new locker rooms, a players’ loung and coaches offices. Last fall the Ouachita soccer teams also celebrated the dedication of Wesley and Debbie Kluck Field.

SOCCER

z Continued from Page 1 we love.”

The dedication celebration also featured a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the presentation of an encased soccer ball to the Whisenhunts and a prayer of dedication by Audrey Rodriguez, a soccer midfielder and junior elementary education major from Rogers, Ark. Affirming the fieldhouse donors and honorees, Ouachita President Rex Horne said, “There are no finer people than the Whisenhunt family. Gene is a great board member, churchman and a great businessman.

Kathy is so supportive and so kind and does so much. We are indebted to these two.”

Noting that Whisenhunt Fieldhouse “will be a lasting legacy to Gene and Kathy and also to their children,” Dr. Horne said, “You honor us by

caring about Ouachita and by being devoted. Thank you for what you do and thank you for your leadership.”

President Horne also emphasized that “there’s nobody who has more vision and ideas than Greg Hatcher,” noting that “in some respects, he has changed the face of Ouachita athletics” through his generous support of Ouachita wresting and soccer.

“Greg is a guy who just has a vision and is willing to put his own life and resources on the line to make good things happen,” Dr. Horne added.

“Everybody gets to this point because they had good mentors,” Hatcher responded. As a longtime youth soccer coach, he added, “There’s nothing more important than the bonds you have with your kids, coaching and fighting those battles.”

Encouraging the Ouachita soccer players to pursue lives

check out the online, full color edition at obusignal.com

of generosity and community service, he said his personal motivation has been based on the perspective, “If I ever do good, I’m going to give it right back to the things that meant a lot to me.”

Voicing appreciation for the dedication service, Gene Whisenhunt said, “The reality is we’re overwhelmed by this because so many participated and did so much that I don’t feel worthy that our name is out there on this building.

“We love Ouachita. This is a special place,” he declared.

“We feel extremely blessed.”

Reflecting on his years as a Ouachita student, Whisenhunt concluded, “God provided the path for me to be a part of this institution. God opened the door and changed my life though this place. It’s a great joy for us to give to Ouachita, be a part of this institution, and we plan to do that our entire lives.” n

this power of a native speaker bringing the culture, the language and the literature.”

When studying a new language, practicing by reading, writing and speaking the language is very important to retain what has been taught.

“Learning a foreign language, I call it the mental gymnastics because you exercise your brain muscles,” said Trofimova.

Dr. Myra Houser, assistant professor of history, picked up a major in Russian while a student at Ouachita.

“Dr. Trofimova taught Russian here for many years prior to her retirement a few years ago,” Houser said. “Since then, she’s remained active at OBU, teaching Elementary German.

Given her continued contributions to campus and Arkadelphia, the School of Humanities decided to utilize her skills once again in offering Elementary Russian.”

Houser mentioned that most

VARIETY

z Continued from Page 1 was $2, but donations were accepted.

The show was a fundraiser to help cover travel costs. “It’s an expensive trip to fly out there,” said James Taylor, the director of Campus Ministries.

Fourteen students and Kendall Calvert, assistant director of Campus Ministries, flew to Anaheim, California, on March 21 and returned March 28.

“They work with Voice of the Refugees, who work with Middle Eastern refugees who have moved to Southern California,” said Taylor.

Voice of the Refugees is a faith-based, non-profit that serves local refugee communities in Orange County, Califor-

of the class consists of learning Russian grammar and sentence structure. Also included is a wide range of vocabulary including numbers, food and even the Cyrillic alphabet.

There are 33 letters contained in the Cyrillic alphabet, two of which are silenced, meaning they indicate how the consonant should be pronounced.

Dr. Houser said, “It’s a really logically constructed language.”

According to Houser, there are certain advantages to taking these classes. First, the Russian language classes are much smaller than other foreign language classes. Because of this, students will experience more of a one-on-one relationship with their instructor.

Houser commented that it is a rare opportunity for a school as small as Ouachita to offer Russian.

Ouachita currently offers Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Latin and the biblical languages.

For more information about Russian, contact Dr. Trofimova at Trofimovai@obu.edu. n nia. One of the ways Voice of the Refugees offers assistance to the community is by offering classes in the English language and English Sign Language.

“Our ministry going in for the week helps give their full time people a sort of break.

Then they will also go and eat dinner in the homes of the people, getting to know them, and they’re learning so much about other cultures. It becomes a cross-cultural experience,” explained Taylor.

Upcoming events for Campus Ministries include a Tiger Serve Day team that will participate in Tiger Serve Day on April 11. Sign up ends this Friday, April 3.

For more information about how to get involved with Campus ministries or any of their programs, contact Kendall Calvert at calvertka@obu.edu. n

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Tiger Serve Day A Ouachita Tradition since ‘97

By EMMA SEAY Staff Writer

Along with the rigorous courses that Ouachita offers, there are also amazing opportunities that involve serving the community. One of the most popular is a service event known as Tiger Serve Day. Tiger Serve Day is an event that happens once a semester in order to help connect students with the Arkadelphia community through service. Not only is Tiger Serve Day a favorite event in the community, it also is a long awaited tradition that the students look forward to each semester.

Tiger Serve Day came into existence around the time a tornado hit Arkadelphia in 1997. “We were already planning to do a big serve day that April, but of course when the tornado hit in March of 1997, it gave us an opportunity to get out and serve the community,” said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement and director of the Elrod Center.

Ever since the first Tiger Serve Day, its popularity only continues to grow each semester. This is mainly because of the relationships that are formed between a team and the people that are being served as well as between the team members.

“One of my friends, during her freshman year, was on a Tiger Serve Day team serving an elderly couple and she was able to have a really great conversation with them and she is still friends with this elderly couple today and will go see them every once in a while,” said Haley Wilkerson, sophomore Christian studies major from Prosper, Texas.

“It was fun that I got to know the people that I was serving with a lot better,” said Will Combs, sophomore physics major from Jessieville, Ark. According to the Elrod Center website, more students are participating in Tiger Serve Day each year. It just goes to show that no matter who you are, Tiger Serve Day will impact your life in some way whether it’s through the actual serving experience or through the stories shared afterward.

“Its fun to be standing on the drive way when people bring their tools back because they start to tell stories of how they got to meet the sweetest lady or man and heard about some of their life experiences,” said Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center. “I heard one story from a team coming back about a gentleman playing gospel

music and when they all finished their project they all had a sing along and a time of rejoicing the Lord together.”

For freshmen and new transfer students it is also a great way to start relationships and connect with other Ouachita students and members of the community.

“Since I am a freshman, I have only done one semester of Tiger Serve Day but last semester when I did it with the honors program we went to two different ladies’ houses and we got to clean up their flower beds for them. It was a really neat experience because at this one lady’s house, her backyard was completely filled with leaves and a lot of grown out grass and we were able to completely clean it out and it looked like a different place once we were done with it,” said Hannah Cook, freshman biology major from Hot Springs, Ark. “It was really cool to see how us working could make such an improvement.”

A typical Tiger Serve Day starts out early on a Saturday morning when everyone meets at the Elrod Center, all wearing the same Tiger Serve Day tshirts.

There, breakfast is served on the lawn next to the Elrod Center as teams wait to find out what projects they will be working on for the day. As soon as everyone receives the necessary tools, the teams jump into cars and start driving to their work sites. Then, everyone drives back to campus and meet at the Elrod Center to give back the tools and eat lunch together.

“I love it when we are outside and we see everyone come up in their purple shirts and there is an excitement while we have our music playing early in the morning, but I can just tell that people feel like something great is about to happen and I also love it when people return and they have had the experience and kind of a celebratory feeling of a job well done,” Duvall said.

Tiger Serve Day is one of many opportunities to get involved on campus at Ouachita. However, there is more to this service day than just doing volunteer work. You are able to build relationships with your peers and with the people you are serving while making lifelong memories.

“I think students should experience Tiger Serve Day because it gives you a chance to get out of this Ouachita bubble that we live in because a lot of the times we don’t understand the need and the things going on in our own community in which we live. I think Tiger Serve Day is a great reminder that we live in a town that has needs and that Tiger Serve day is a practical way to meet those needs,” Wilkerson said. n

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal ANNA KUMPURIS helps to build things in a service project at Tiger Serve Day last fall. Kumpuris, along with the rest of the Campus Ministries team spent the morning serving alongside one another.. Like every team , they were given a specific assignment with a specific home and began to work on projects around the house throughout Tiger Serve Day.

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal STUDENTS serve themselves breakfast before they go to serve a local resident as a part of Tiger Serve Day. Sodexo provided students with breakfast before they left and when they returned, they were given a free lunch. These meals are all provided to help promote student community along with the emphasis on the community of Arkadelphia, which is already the major theme of the day.

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal THE LEADERSHIP TEAM of Tiger Serve Day gathers for a picture before Tiger Serve Day begins. The leadership team led the way in planning all of Tiger Serve Day in various areas including gathering the tools needed, to coordinating all team communication and communicating with local Arkadelphia residents.

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal GAIL LANGE-SMITH washes a window during Tiger Serve Day last fall. Members of Tiger Serve Day teams performed tasks such as window washing, mowing lawns, trimming bushes, painting and many other activities to help local residents in Arkadelphia.

Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal OUACHITA STUDENTS pray with one local resident following a morning of house work. A major part of the event is the faith side of service that Tiger Serve Day strives to achieve. Tiger Serve Day teams begin working at local Arkadelphia residents’ homes early in the morning and stay until lunchtime.

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Cold Steel viking axe: a review

By NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor @Hutch15 A while back, I bought a battle axe. I’m sure at some point in everyone’s lives, they’ve dropped a little too much cash on something stupid that they wound up regretting a few months later. One of those sweatshirts that’s plastered with cutouts of Steve Buscemi’s face. A really fancy organizer when you know good and well that you aren’t even organized enough to show up to class with your textbook. A dinner date with that girl who caught your eye at the gym but who wound up telling you that “Earnest Goes to Jail” was her favorite movie. For me, that dumb, regrettable purchase was a ten pack of Chapstick back in the winter months. Me worrying about chapped lips is like putting a bow tie on a chainsaw. Nobody cares.

My Cold Steel viking axe, on the other hand, may be one of the greatest purchases anyone on my family tree has ever made since the dawn of time.

When talking about this axe, you’ve got to get one thing out of the way first. When you hold it, you feel like you just finished a heavy deadlift workout. It’s like Odin himself rained syringes full of horse testosterone upon you from the sky, and you were suddenly blessed with the power of a viking berserker. Just having it slung across your lap while you’re watching TV (I would know, I didn’t put it down for the first week after I got it) is enough to make you feel awesome. You’re not just going to let it sit there though.

You can’t. You’re holding a real deal, ready to rumble battle axe that’s sharp enough to expertly carve a ham. Of course you’re going to go outside and chop something.

A big thing about this axe that can be a pro or a con is the fact that it’s heavier than what a historical axe would’ve been. Noticeably so. What that means for you whenever you decide to post an ad in your local

newspaper stating that everyone in your home town is a nancy boy if they don’t come to your house and fight you, is that horizontal swings will be a little hard on your shoulders. You’ll either have to choke up on the axe with your dominant hand to get a little more control or just swing it around over your head in a never-ending circle like a bloodthirsty maniac. I prefer method number two for spiritual reasons, but unless you want to run out of targets fast, sticking with one good, controlled whack is probably the way to go.

The upside to the axe’s historically inaccurate heft is that on a downward swing, you’re unstoppable. If you hit a target made of anything softer than wood, this thing will split it from the nave to the chops. Or from the chops to the nave, rather. This is a man’s weapon, not some namby pamby sword. If you’ve ever swung a sledgehammer before, imagine something like that, but much more powerful. The handle is around four feet long and while hefty, the head is significantly lighter than that of a sledgehammer, meaning it moves a whole lot faster. Fast enough that you’ll honestly surprise yourself with how hard you can hit.

Another thing that allows this axe to cut so deep is the fact that the blade is incredibly thin and sharp.

This is where one of the few cons comes into play for this weapon, but really only for the uninitiated. You can’t cut down a tree with this axe. A wood cutting axe is barely even a blade. It’s a big, dumb metal wedge that basically just breaks stuff in an extremely concentrated area. The Cold Steel viking axe is like a huge, top heavy knife on the end of a stick. It’s made for cutting down filthy peasants, not trees. That doesn’t mean that it can slice through bone or wooden hafts on other weapons. It goes through oak dowels and schedule 80 PVC like butter. However, you don’t want to repeatedly smash a fine blade like this into a hard, immovable object. For target practice, I’d recommend 3 liter soda bottles (the best substitute for medieval peasants) from the dollar store. They’re cheap, and make good targets being that the people who make them basically spent the whole dollar on bottle durability and then filled them with tasteless sugar water.

You can’t even smash them with an aluminum baseball bat unless they’re resting on the ground. They’re hefty and satisfying to cut, and as an added bonus, spew everywhere when you hit them.

On top of hacking and slashing like Michael Myers taking up a foreman job at a sawmill, Cold Steel made sure to add in several other functions, the most noticeable of which is the stabbing horn at the top of the blade. The blade curves upwards at the top, similarly to how most axes curve downward at the bottom, meaning that if you ever find yourself in an area too confined to flail your axe over your head like a psychotic lawn mower, you can still poke any chumps that might dare protect their precious loot from you.

This is one of my favorite parts about the axe, because it’s better at stabbing than literally anything I’ve ever seen in my life. The axe weighs about four pounds overall and is extremely top heavy, meaning that it stabs like a steel lawn dart that fell from Valhalla. You could put it through a car door. On top of that, this axe has a downward curve as well, meaning that you can hook weapons, shields and ankles with it. The solid hickory haft is also pretty handy for body checks.

I’ve basically sung this thing’s praises for this entire column, but that’s because it’s awesome. My only complaints are that the head is held on with a screw and that you have to screw it on yourself when you take it out of the box. While I do really wish that the head was attached in a more traditional way, being that screws will oftentimes shake loose when put in high impact situations, both of these problems can be solved with a power-drill and some Locktite. Just be sure to be patient when assembling it, being that they don’t sell replacement hafts.

Yes, I’m fully aware that the number of women who are interested in you is inversely proportional to the number of medieval weapons you own. Still, life is too short not to own a battle axe. If you’re looking for something fun that will also look unfathomably awesome hanging over your desk, the Cold Steel viking axe is a solid choice. That hole in your wallet is the smallest hole this thing will make for as long as it’s in your possession. n

“Ee Voht Opyat Yaveelas Tee”

By Johnny Wink

Betty Burton Peck Professor of English “Bistroh! Bistroh!” From my paltry accumulation of Russian words, “Bistroh” is a favorite, although my memories of its occurrence in my life are attended with some anxiety. It’s what Irina Trofimova used to say to me and my classmates when she was driving us to go faster, faster in our recitations of Russian phrases and clauses.

Aroundabout the year 1980 I asked Ben Kimpel, my mentor and hero, what the prettiest language he’d ever studied was. Ben was famous at the University of Arkansas for having become fluent, or nearly so, in roughly a dozen languages. I knew very little about most of the languages he’d gotten good at, but I did think I knew his answer to my question before he gave it me. Ben was accomplished enough in French as to be able to read the likes of Proust and Mallarmé in the original. I knew enough of French to recognize how lovely it is on the tongue, and I knew as well that Ben spent a lot of time in France. French had to be the answer, despite Dr. Kimpel’s having numerous other candidates from which to choose his response.

“Russian,” said Ben. My considerable surprise at his answer was nothing other than a function of my ignorance of Russian.

I knew nothing of the way it sounded. Ben tried a few words out on me. I liked them but did not take

up Russian.

About a decade after I’d queried Ben, Irina Trofimova walked into my life. I was a pupil of hers in the first Russian course she taught at OBU. Very quickly I began better to understand Ben’s preference.

“Come next August, I’ll be the old guy in the front row when the Russian class convenes.”

I’ve taken a good many language courses during my time at Ouachita. My holy trinity of teachers consists of David Anderson, my Spanish teacher in the early 1980’s, Irina Trofimova, and Susan Wink, in whose linguistics courses I sat enthralled for the first twelve years of the present century. All three of these worthies lace rigor with a clear concern for what is in

the best intellectual interests of their students. The results are magical.

I never had more fun studying anything than I did Russian under Professor Trofimova’s tutelage. She taught us how to think about cases and tenses and the splendidly intricate ways in which they play their roles in the life of this pulsing language. She showed us Pushkin’s and Lermontov’s poems and compelled us to fall in love with them. In one of Pushkin’s lyrics which I still have in my old cabeza, the poet remembers a shining moment when his beloved was in his presence. The couple eventually parts, the years roll on, life goes gray for the poet, and he loses hope. And then, in memory, all of a sudden, there she is again!

Ee voht opyat, yaveelas tee! “And, voilà!, there you were again!”

The poet is rejuvenated by poem’s end.

Remembering what pleasure Russian has given— and continues to give--me, I heard with great joy that it is coming back again to Ouachita in the fall, again to be taught by the exquisite Trofimova. I find myself now saying to the lovely, winsome Russian language, “Ee voht opyat, yaveelas tee!” I’m an avid student of languages, albeit not a particularly gifted one. But that’s all right. Samuel Johnson once said, “Greek, sir, is like lace; every man gets as much of it as he can.” I feel that way about Russian.

Come next August, I’ll be the old guy in the front row when the Russian class convenes. I’ll be getting as much of Russian as I can. n

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2000s rom-coms a cultural experience

By ANNA KUMPURIS News Editor

@AnnieBananie14 Lately I’ve found myself surrounded by people who consider themselves “sophisticated” when it comes to their tastes in art, books, movies, music, etc. You know, the type of people who consistently refer to movies as “film” and pride themselves on owning old copies of classic books that they bought at a thrift store. Don’t get me wrong, I love these people. My boyfriend and a lot of my best friends are exactly these people. Most of these people would not consider me “one of them.”

Sure I love classic literature and award-winning indie flicks, but just because I also find joy in chick flicks, Disney channel movies and occasionally jamming out to Ke$ha in my car, all of a sudden my tastes go from “sophisticated” to “tweenage white girl” in their eyes. But here’s the thing: I think I definitely get the better end of the deal here. In the words of the once great Hannah Montana, I’ve got the best of both worlds. I can understand and appreciate the “art” of the award winners my friends love, but I can also laugh and enjoy just about any Rom Com without cringing at the cheesy moments, constantly critiquing the poor acting or having my whole mood ruined because of the generally low quality film techniques. At the end of the day, those movies weren’t made to be earth-shattering pieces of art, they were made to make people happy, and unlike many of my friends who get angry at movies like these for polluting the world of film, I get that. That’s called being well-rounded people.

So for all the people like me out there who don’t mind a little mainstream cheese in their entertainment now and then, and who can appreciate the small things in life, including Hallmark and straight to DVD movies that the critics loathe, I have created a list of my top 4 favorite movies that most of my friends either hate, or haven’t seen. Beware of minor spoilers.

1.) “View from the Top.” The best movies are the ones that inspire you, and this 2003 rom-com starring Gwyneth Paltrow had me determined to become a flight attendant for at least a year during middle school. Paltrow’s character, Donna Jenson, is a small town girl who one day decides to leave the small town life behind and

train to become a flight attendant. She moves up from a dinky regional airline, to eventually working first class international flights and she’s loving it, but along the way she falls in love with the sweet and adorable Ted, played by Mark Ruffalo.

It doesn’t take long before Donna knows she must choose between her blossoming career in the friendly skies that keeps her constantly traveling, or her newfound love with Ted who dreams of settling down into the small town life she was trying to escape. This movie has it all: comedy, romance and even mean girl rivalries with Gwyn’s fellow flight attendants. And let me tell ya, you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

2.) “Blue Crush.”

Like I said, the best movies are those that inspire you. After my dream of becoming a world-class flight attendant died out, I quickly picked up an even more adventurous dream. I would move to Hawaii and become a world-class surfer instead.

Just like Kate Bosworth’s character in the 2002 classic, Blue Crush, the best rom com/surf movie hybrid there is. Not to be confused with Blue Crush 2, which is stupid and a complete waste of time.

Kate Bosworth’s character Anne Marie works as a maid at a hotel struggling to make ends meet so she can raise her younger sister, while also holding onto her passion for surfing. After a near-death surfing accident from the previous year , she’s not sure if she’ll ever be able to face the fierce Hawaii pipeline without fear again, or achieve her dream of competing in an international surf competition.

Along the way she falls in love with a charming professional football player Matt (played by Matthew Davis) who is staying at the hotel she works in while on vacation with his team.

Matthew Davis went on to a very successful career in The Vampire Diaries, my current favorite show, playing Alaric Saltzman, the daring vampire hunter. Needless to say, this movie has an all-star cast making the cheesiness of it all that much more enjoyable.

3.) “Return to Me.” If you have a heart at all, the tears will be flowing within the first 10 minutes of this 2000 heartwrencher starring Minnie Driver. The movie opens by introducing you to the adorable married couple, Bob and Elizabeth. You’ll swoon at how sweet and in love they are, but don’t get too attached because (spoiler alert) Elizabeth tragically dies in a car accident before the opening credits have barely finished rolling. Bob is devastated and as he lays there on the floor and sobs while being comforted by his

loyal yellow lab, your heart will just about break in half and fall out of your chest.

But don’t despair too much. While Bob grieves, Minnie Driver’s character, Grace, is a terminally ill hospital patient awaiting a heart transplant that could save her life. She finally gets the call that her new heart has arrived and it just happens to be the heart of none other than Elizabeth, Bob’s dead wife.

You can guess what happens next. Very few movies have made me cry more than this one.

4.) “Love & Basketball.”

The early 2000’s must have just been an overflowing fountain of quality entertainment, because this 2000 sports drama is one of my absolute faves.

Monica and Quincy meet at 11-years-old when Monica’s family moves in next door. They find that they both share a passion for basketball and want to play in the NBA one day, just like Quincy’s dad.

Each is so competitive and head strong that a lovehate relationship begins, that will last all the way through high school.

Quincy grows up to be the popular all-star player, feeling the pressure to follow in his dad’s footsteps, while Monica is the outsider who doesn’t always fit in with her girly mom and sisters, and has a temper on the court. Despite their rivalry, love manages to bloom. Every time Quincy’s parents argue, he climbs through Monica’s window and sleeps on her floor, as high school comes to a close, the night of their senior prom, they finally realize their feelings for each other. They take their relationship into college, but soon they find that juggling basketball, school and each other isn’t easy.

Will their mutual love of basketball drive them apart? Will they leave their careers behind for each other? Will both of them go on to really successful careers, fall in love with other people and have adorable families with basketball-playing babies?

Go to Hastings or whatever the equivalent is near you and buy this quality film to find out.

Chances are, if you spent enough time watching ABC Family during your teen years, you probably already know and love most of these! If you haven’t heard of any of them, I’m not surprised, but I am sad for you. Don’t worry though—there’s still hope. Unfortunately, only View from the Top is on Netflix, but the others are out there somewhere just waiting for you to watch them. It’s times like these that I miss Blockbuster. So go find them, and when you do, sit back, relax and enjoy a movie that made very little money, impressed zero critics, won no awards, but that is good for your soul and will make your heart happy. You’re welcome. n

“Whiplash” stakes claim as an indie frontrunner

By Evan Wheatley

Guest Writer Independent films have grown increasingly popular as of late. Some would say that the hype surrounding these movies is beginning to rival that of the beloved superhero blockbusters. Last year was filled with these types of movies that seemingly came out of nowhere, and “Whiplash” was one of the frontrunners.

Miles Teller plays Andrew Neiman, an aspiring jazz drummer attending Shaffer Conservatory in New York City. Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons, is a well-respected instructor at the university who takes notice of Teller's character and recruits him for his studio band. Neiman's excitement to join the band is short-lived, however, as Fletcher's brutal methods of teaching prove to be immensely taxing both physically and emotionally.

Brutal is an understatement to how cruel some of Fletcher’s methods are. Throughout the film it is difficult to tell if he is one of the protagonists or one of the antagonists; if he is doing this to truly better his students or if he is just trying to find the next Buddy Rich, at any cost.

A recurring question the movie poses is where does

an instructor draw the line? Is being one of the greats worth losing one’s humanity?

Neiman desires to be one of the greats, and this is shown in his decision-making throughout the film.

His passion allows him to endure the physical and emotional abuse put forth by Fletcher, and the battle of wits that ensues between these two actors is where the movie truly shines.

The writing and direction by Damien Chazelle fuels the intensity of the acting. Chazelle himself struggled to make it as a jazz drummer in high school, and stated that he had an intense music instructor who was an inspiration for Terence Fletcher’s character in the film. His musical experience is evident in the script, and the quality of the jazz music is no doubt a testament to Chazelle’s guiding hand in the production.

The music in the film is captivating, and the ferocity in Fletcher’s conducting is not only the product of good acting. Simmons graduated with a music degree from the University of Montana; he also minored in composition and conducting, which definitely contributed positively to his role in “Whiplash.”

Teller also possessed some amount of rock drumming experience tracing back to his teen years. Rock drumming and jazz drumming are entirely different ballparks however, and for two months Teller had to

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train three to four hours per day in a drumming boot camp of sorts by professional drummer Nate Lang.

Because of his hard work, Teller was able to actually play, in portions, the difficult pieces that Neiman performs in the film. The fluidity and intensity of Neiman’s drumming however, is more of a testament to the excellent film editing.

The first shot slowly creeps down a dimly lit hallway with Neiman at the end of it practicing on his drum set. This is an example of how the cinematography and lighting contribute to the overall mood of the production. While the editing can be jagged at times, this adds to rather than detracts from the experience of the film.

The last 30 minutes of this film will have viewers’ eyes locked onto the drama; it is by far one of the most emotionally gripping finales I have ever seen.

“Whiplash” is an impressive feat by 30-year-old Damien Chazelle, winning three Oscars including the well-deserved Best Supporting Actor recognition awarded to J.K. Simmons. It is a fast-paced, full-throttled drama that will have viewers on the edge of their seat until the last drum stroke.

Rating: A+ However, it is rated R. I’d reccomend it, but only to those over 17 years of age. n The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Thursday 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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Thursday, April 2, 2015

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Dr. Wesley Kluck y Courtesy JOHN FRANKLIN MATROS throws a practice pitch to Matt Sinclair this past weekend. On Tuesday, the Tigers split a two-game series with the Harding Bisons, losing the first game 7-4 and winning the second game 8-6. The Tigers play Southwestern Okla. State this weekend in Weatherford, Okla. in a double-header on Friday and a game on Saturday.

Tigers split one-day series with Bisons

By DIXON LAND Sports Editor

The Harding Bisons jumped out to a four run lead in the second inning to defeat the Ouachita Tigers 7-4 in Searcy on Tuesday in the first game of a double header. The Tigers won the second game 8-6.

Alan Copeland began the scoring for Harding when he hit a single homerun in the second inning. On the next play, Zach Beasley singled to left center, then Kyle Offenback doubled following a fly out.

Chris Taylor tripled to right field on the next play, scoring Offenback and Beasley for two more runs.

Harding scored again in the

inning off a Zac Stewart single that drove in Taylor to give the Bisons a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Jace Melby hit a two-out double that scored Ryan Hammer from first base. On the next play, Will Wallace singled to right field scoring Jace Melby from second, giving Harding a 4-2 lead.

Harding responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs, one coming off a Davis Richardson homerun to begin the side of the inning and the other off a single, scoring Copeland from third. After three, Harding led Ouachita 6-2.

Ouachita added two runs in the fifth inning when Justin Weigle and Hammer scored off of a Jace Melby double down

the right field line.

Harding did not score again until the sixth inning, when Harrison Hunter scored after Stewart sac-flied to center field. Hunter reached third on a triple the play before.

Ouachita did not answer in the seventh inning, as the teams only played seven innings and the Bisons defeated the Tigers 7-4.

Reed Roberts was awarded the win and Zac Stewart received his fifth save of the season for the Bisons.

May recorded his first loss of the year, allowing seven hits and five runs through two full innings.

In the second game, Ouachita scored two runs in the first inning. Justin Weigle singled,

scoring Parker Norris. Following that play, Will Wallace reached first on a fielder’s choice. On the throw to third, the ball sailed high scoring Weigle on an unearned run.

Harding answered in the bottom of the first off runs by Harrison Hunter, Noah Chandler and Alan Copeland to give the Bisons a 3-2 lead after one inning.

Ouachita scored two runs in the second inning. Tyler Faught scored on a bases-loaded walk. On the next play, Wallace singled past the shortstop scoring Kyle Alexander.

In the fourth inning, the Tigers three runs. Rueben Miller singled to right field scoring Norris and Hammer. Feuerbacher hit the last single of the

inning, scoring Wallace.

Harding added a run in the bottom of the fourth and two runs in the sixth to give Ouachita a 7-6 lead. Ouachita extended the lead when Jakhari Howell scored from a single by Parker Norris to give the Tigers a 8-6 lead. Harding did not score in the bottom of the seventh and Ouachita finished the series on a win.

Matt Sinclair was awarded the win, while Lance Cullum received his fourth save of the season. Josh Reeves also recorded three and two-thirds innings on the mound.

The Tigers take on Southwestern Okla. State this weekend in Weatherford, Okla. First pitch is on Friday at 12 p.m. n

Ouachita men’s tennis moves up in rankings Division II Men’s Central Regional Rankings

By BRANDON SMITH Sports Information

The Ouachita men’s tennis team moved up to No. 18 in Division II in the newest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings released March 18.

The Tigers also claimed the numberone ranking in the ITA Central Region.

The Tigers moved ten spots from 28th in the previous national poll and one spot from second in the region.

Senior Marko Boskovic is currently ranked 26th nationally and first in the central region. Junior Vitor Oliveira is ranked 41st nationally and regionally at fifth. Together, the two are ranked 21st nationally and third in the region in men’s doubles.

Lennart Lonnemann holds the No. 7 spot in the central region singles.

The Tigers will travel to Oklahoma this weekend to face conference opponents Southeastern Okla. State and East Central University. n

Dr. Wesley Kluck y Courtesy NATHAN STREET serves a ball to an opponent earlier this season. Street, along with the rest of the men’s team, is ranked first in the Central Rankings for division II tennis

1. Ouachita Bapt.

2. NW Missouri State 3. Nebraska-Kearney 4. Southwest Bapt.

5. Southeastern Oklahoma 6. washburn 7. east Central 8. Saint Cloud State 9. Harding 10. Lindenwood

Why more should be fans of Kentucky basketball

B

lue and white. They are the two colors that strike fear in many college basketball players’ eyes from all over the country. No, it isn’t Duke blue, though slightly darker [and closer to navy], Duke doesn’t stand nearly competitive enough. It’s the Kentucky Wildcats.

From 1999-2007, Kentucky rendered themselves unable to achieve a final four appearance. Blame it on poor recruiting, poor coaching or bad luck, Kentucky had lost its dynasty.

But back are the days of blue and white. Back is the school that Rick Pitino once dubbed “The Roman Empire of College Basketball.” And it all starts with John Calipari.

Flash forward to last weekend. As I was watching Kentucky almost fall to Notre Dame, I came to the realization

By DIXON LAND Sports Editor

that my avid hatred for the 2014-2015 Kentucky basketball team was probably misguided.

I strongly disagree with the “one-and-done” theory. If we are going to play by these rules, they need to be able to go from high school directly to professional basketball. College for these athletes is a joke.

A year in school goes nowhere close to getting them a degree,

it just delays the process to play in the NBA. Blame the NCAA for legislating this. Blame the NBA for allowing this. Blame Kentucky administrators (and other schools that follow the same standard) for weak restrictions on class participation and classes required. Blame Calipari for recruiting them and advocating it with his philosophy on recruiting. Just don’t blame the players.

We want to hate Kentucky for winning and doing so with players who are young and so much more talented than everyone else. This seems to be an image that many people hate that far exceeds the players themselves. It’s the idea of a coach who has built his success on players like this.

The NCAA doesn’t care about the individual player’s

education. Far from the “student-athlete,” the one-and-done rule promotes the idea that the NCAA needs their piece of the financial pie, and then they can let “their” athletes go pro, after they have used them for their own financial benefit. So much for the academic standard that the NCAA holds “equally” for all their players.

But for those who like to hold Kentucky to the standard of a “one-and-done” team, remember: Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress and Dakari Johnson all decided to return to Kentucky for this season. Some of them are juniors. That’s what makes them so good—they are incredibly talented and incredibly experienced.

But, what makes me root for these people now is the idea of who these kids are. They

are chasing perfection. Even though they are not perfect.

They are fighting an incredible number of naysayers and critics who not only say they can’t do it, but also say that they have negative intentions or are just looking to go pro. They are a team, play as a team and want to win as a team.

Perfection in college basketball is a pressure that has plagued so many teams before them. The pressure that these students have on them is unlike much else that exists on college campuses throughout the country.

Win or lose, these students have done their university proud, regardless of what others say of their intentions to go pro. They fight, play and win like a team. Root for these guys, and if you do, you’re one of the few. n