the
Signal
www.obusignal.com
01.29.15 Volume 123 Issue 13
Ouachita Baptist University
IN THIS ISSUE:
Super Bowl XLIX What kind of snacks match your viewing party personality? We have some ideas, p.2
Meal4Meal Ouachita alumni give back one taco at a time, p.3 Kamikaze Fireflies z Courtesy ROB WILLIAMS AND CASEY MARTIN, the real life couple that makes up the acrobatic duo, Kamikaze Fireflies, met four years ago working at a renaissance festival in Florida. After two years, they created the act that landed them on season nine of the popular competition show, “America’s Got Talent.”
“America’s Got Talent” act comes to JPAC tomorrow sb2k15 Should you stay(cation) or should you go? p.4
#45 Colt Fason on “God, family and basketball,” p.4
S News 1 n S Features 3 n S Opinions 4 n S Sports 5 n
S
By MCKENZIE CRANFORD News Bureau
Ouachita will host acrobatic duo Kamikaze Fireflies for a special, one-night experience Friday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 in Jones Performing Arts Center as part of the Ouachita School of Fine Arts’ Guest Artist Series. Tickets can be purchased for $10 each at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. Showcasing their years of experience with strange tricks and vaudevillian arts, Los Angeles-based performers Rob Williams and Casey Martin bring a comedic approach to acrobatics that seeks to appeal to audiences of all ages. An act seen on America’s Got Talent, this duo puts on a dynamic show that features “a series of routines, physical impossibilities, unbelievable situations and audience interactions.” America’s Got Talent judge and co-
median Howie Mandel said of the act, “It was dangerous. It was exciting. It was funny!” “I think Rob and Casey’s acrobatic tricks will certainly amaze audience members,” said Adam Wheat, Ouachita’s fine arts administrator. “But I think beyond that, the audience will be thoroughly entertained by their wit and humor.” Wheat has been working to expand the School of Fine Arts’ Guest Artist Series. “The Guest Artist Series allows us to bring in a variety of artists and events,” explained Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. “These larger events are geared not only toward the students and the Ouachita community but also to the larger Clark County constituency.” Along with the benefit of providing a broader range of artistic experiences
for Ouachita and the local community, Wheat added, “These events also give students even more opportunities for interaction with professional artists, which further enhances their creative exploration.” Williams (formerly of The Flaming Idiots) and Martin (formerly of the acrobatic show Barely Balanced) have performed their vaudeville-style act nationwide, and their performance will be full of tricks, props, comedy, audience engagement and other surprises. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from the OBU Box Office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. Tickets also may be purchased online at www.obu.edu/ boxoffice. Current Ouachita students may receive one free ticket by presenting their student ID at the box office. For more information, call the box office at (870) 245-5555 during business hours. n
Ouachita faculty member Dr. Dave Ozmun published in media history textbook By CHELSEA WHELPLEY News Bureau
Dr. Dave Ozmun, professor of communications at Ouachita ==, was recently published in Routledge Reader on Electronic Media History. Ozmun’s article, “Opportunity Deferred: A 1952 Case Study of a Woman in Network Television News,” contributed to a textbook that will be used in universities worldwide. The article was originally published in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. “The first publication of Dr. Ozmun’s article was an affirmation of his scholarship, and it’s especially gratifying to see it included in a book highlighting exceptional academic work,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of Ouachita’s School of Humanities. “Dr. Ozmun’s research adds to the strong reputation of the Rogers Department of Communications.” “It’s very nice to have an editor look at your piece and
think it will work well in a textbook,” said Ozmun. “The hardest part was getting it published in the peer review journal, so this is just icing on the cake.” The Routledge Reader on Electronic Media History illustrates the growth and development of electronic media research from its earliest appearance to current day and lays the groundwork for future study. Ozmun’s piece, exploring Natalie Jones’ experience as one of the first female news correspondents, is included in the news, information and political programming section. Highlighting how academic research both adds knowledge to the field of study and complements the act of teaching, Root said, “Dr. Ozmun is an expert in his field, and his students benefit from both his work in class and his standing as a published author.” “It’s fun to do historical research in my area because I have always been a student see OZMUN z 2
Students, community gather for documentary screening By ANNA KUMPURIS News Editor
Students, faculty and community members alike gathered in Walker Conference Center last Tuesday night for the free screening of the 2014 documentary “In Plain Sight,” hosted by Second Baptist Church and IJM Ouachita. The film, produced and narrated by Christian music artist, Natalie Grant, seeks to shine a light on the crisis of commercial sex trafficking in the United States, highlight-
ing six cities across the U.S., including Little Rock. Ouachita alumni director, Jon Merryman, heard about the film straight from Natalie Grant and worked through Second Baptist to bring it to Arkadelphia for this screening. “I have known Natalie Grant, the narrator and executive producer, for some time,” Merryman said. “The church I worked at in Nashville worked with orphans in Moldova, which is the number one see SCREENING z 2
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
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this weekzCALENDAR REFUGE is tonight at 9 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu. CAMP WAR EAGLE will be in the student center recruiting summer staff tomorrow from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.For more information, contact: Shelby Hartgrove at shelby@campwareagle. org. KAMIKAZE FIREFLIES will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. in JPAC. Students recieve one free ticket with an ID; all other tickets are $10 each. For more information, contact: Adam Wheat at wheata@obu.edu.. BASKETBALL GAMES against Arkansas Tech will be Saturday in SPEC. Women’s game begins at 1 p.m.; Men’s game tips off at 3 p.m.
BACKYARD BIBLE CLUBS will meet Sunday, Feb. 1, at 9 p.m. in Berry Chapel. For more information, contact: Katherine Melson at mel51457@obu. edu. SAI MISCAST RECITAL will be Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the McBeth Recital Hall. For more information, contact: Gary Gerber at gerberg@obu.edu. RA INTEREST MEETING is Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9 p.m. in Hickingbotham’s Young Auditorium. For more information, contact: Scott Haynes at hayness@obu.edu. TIGER STEEL CONCERT is Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. For more information, contact: Ryan Lewis at lewisr@obu.edu.
TOP
Artists we hope never perform the Super Bowl halftime show
5 4 3 2 1
What snack should you serve at your Super Bowl XLIX party?
Spongebob’s Marching Band Miley Cyrus Mouserat (from “Parks and Recreation”) Josh Groban The Wiggles
[By party style]
If you’re having an
If you’re having a
If you’re having
If you’re having an
If you’re having a
elegant party...
“Man’s man”
a “Just
You should definitely make sure you bring out the chocolatecovered strawberries decorated to look like footballs. The trick with this style of party is you want your guests to be confused as to whether you’re watching football or the Oscars. Classy is key; black tie is optional, but recommended.
“I’m healthier than you”
“One-Upper Housewife”
This should definitely go without saying, but if you’re going for the manly theme, you absolutely need to make sure there are hot wings (drenched in the hottest sauce your wing supplier of choice offers). Don’t embarrass yourself by leaving out the Super Bowl staple.
party...
party...
You’re the kind of person who isn’t going to let something like the Super Bowl constitute a cheat day. You don’t understand why people want to waste thousands of calories on mindless eating. Your snack of choice is fruit skewers with honey yogurt dip. Dig in.
Don’t lie. The only reason you’re having this party is to prove to others you’re going to be a killer homemaker some day. You can’t wait to show off your wifey skills to everyone in attendance. Make sure people know you mean business with a cheese ball.
party...
Student Juried Art Show winners
FIRST PLACE s Myca Nutt “Tuxedos”
See these pieces and more in the Hammons Art Gallery through Feb. 6.
s THIRD PLACE Craig Martin “Victoria Falls”
s
SECOND PLACE Courtney Gibson “The Formal Dining Room”
here
for the commercials” party...
Let’s be real. You know that the Super Bowl would be nothing without the commercials. You’re here to have fun. You need salsa, queso and guac made to look like a football field. If you don’t know what this is, go to Pinterest immediately.
SCREENING z Continued from Page 1
country for trafficking women and children. Natalie helped fund some work we were doing with children aging out of the orphanages since they are most at risk of being tricked into sex slavery. She let me know about the project when it still needed funding and when it was ready to view.” After the screening Louise Allison, founder of Little Rock’s P.A.T.H. (Partners Against Trafficking Humans), an organization that was featured in the film, spoke and had a question and answer session. Allison who is a survivor of trafficking, also brought a former victim and graduate of the P.A.T.H. program with her to share her experiences. “As the film was playing, I had no idea that two of the women featured were actually there and would speak afterwards. It made the story of the film all the more real to see two victims right in front of me with their story,” freshman Rachel Bacon said. “It showed that the film wasn’t just meant to stir up emotions and guilt trip people.” Representatives from Into the Light, a group working to start a home for rescued trafficking victims in Mountain Home, and student representa-
tives from IJM Ouachita were also present at the event to offer those in attendance more information about the problem of human trafficking as well as opportunities to get involved in the fight against it. IJM Ouachita is a student chapter of International Justice Mission, a Christian non-profit organization that fights human trafficking and modern day slavery globally. The chapter hosts various events and projects to raise awareness and support community organizations and efforts to fight human trafficking. “This event was something that has been prayed for by our chapter for a couple months and the Lord answered our prayers and brought many to the screening to be educated on this issue and see how He is already working,” said junior and vice president of IJM Ouachita, Hannah Osborne. “My hope and prayer since the beginning stages of planning has been that people’s hearts would be burdened from the screening and that they would feel compelled to do something about it.” For more information about the documentary, visit its website at www.inplainsightfilm. com. To get involved with IJM Ouachita contact Osborne by email at osb53300@obu.edu or Sam Beary at bea53635@obu. edu. n
check out the online, full color edition at obusignal.com
Dr. Dave Ozmun
OZMUN
z Continued from Page 1 and enjoyed being a student of the history of broadcasting,” Ozmun said. His research interests include history and television news. Ozmun joined the Ouachita communications faculty in 1987 and teaches a variety of video production and communication classes. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, his Master of Arts degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. The Routledge Reader on Electronic Media History is published by Taylor & Francis Group. n
S3 features n
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
has provided
234,991
meals
since
June 2014
Kristen Young z Courtesy AUSTIN SAMUELSON, Justin Young, Kristen Young and Ashton Samuelson traveled to Minnesota to attend the Feed My Starving Children Gala. Feed My Starving Children is the organization that Tacos4Life partners with in their “meal for meal” endeavor to end world hunger.
[tacos•4•life] By KATIE KEMP Staff Writer
M
•what it is•
any of us start college thinking we know exactly what we want to do and where we want to be after we graduate, but the reality is that sometimes we end up with a job that didn’t even exist five years prior. This was the case for recent Ouachita grads Kristen Young and her husband, Justin. “Justin and I had jobs locked in at Tyson Foods whenever we graduated and got married. January of our senior year rolled around and we started to feel unrest about taking that certain job, but we kind of ignored it,” says Kristen. But the longer the couple ignored it, the more strongly they felt that God was calling them to use their talents to work in tandem with their passion for missions. They started applying for all sorts of jobs (Kristen in communications and public relations, Justin in business), but one in particular stood out. One of their final inquiries in their search for a job led them to Austin and Ashton Samuelson, Ouachita alumni Justin knew through the Hickingbotham School of Business. The Samuelsons opened Pitza42, a restaurant that serves pita bread “pitzas,” wraps, soups and salads, in Conway in 2011 with the promise of giving a meal to a child in need for every meal purchased in the restaurant. The restaurant became wildly popular in Conway, and the Youngs sought to partner with the Samuelsons to open another Pitza42 with the same mission of providing a meal for every meal sold. But rather than continuing the Samuelsons’ work at Pitza42, Kristen says God had other plans for the couple. “They had been praying for a young couple with the same heart for missions to come along and help them expand,” she said. “We thought we would work at Pitza, but that wasn’t God’s plan! So we helped open Tacos4Life.” Opened earlier this year, Kristen describes Tacos4Life as “a trendy, eclectic restaurant that serves 17 unique tacos, quesadillas, burritos, rice bowls and more, with the same meal for meal model.” The “meal for meal model” refers to the system in which two meals come out of one—the restaurant donates 22 cents per taco sold to Feed My Starving Children, providing one meal for a hungry child. Tacos4Life plans to send food to a different country specific to every store they open, with the intent of sharing the gospel along with meals. The on-ground organization the restaurant sends food to in Swaziland, Africa, builds relation-
ships with the communities and builds the children up, ultimately sharing the gospel with them. This is why Tacos4Life sees one meal as so much more than just a meal—every meal has the potential to change a child’s life. The new restaurant has also been a huge hit in Conway, and there are even more plans to expand. “Our goal working with Tacos4Life, as a management team, is to feed one million kids a day,” says Kristen. “To achieve that, we need to open about 1,000 restaurants nationwide.” While this may seem like a lofty goal with only two restaurants open at the moment, the Tacos4Life team is taking steps to reach it. A Fayetteville location is in the works to open by June of next summer, with more locations sure to follow. The time the two spent at Ouachita prepared them well for their work with Tacos4Life, Kristen says. Justin helped start Dr. Jack’s coffee, a place with which all students are familiar, which developed his love for business and missions. Kristen did photography work study all of her four years at Ouachita, and feels that it helped her develop her skills in marketing and social media. “In a general way, Ouachita prepared me to work hard, plan events, communicate well and effectively, network, serve, invest in others, work on a deadline,” Kristen says. “I loved that Ouachita always gave me real-world opportunities.” While we may still be living in the bubble, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get involved with the cause that Pitza42 and Tacos4Life have created. At about an hour and a half drive from Arkadelphia, both Conway restaurants are worth the drive for the quality of the food and the heart behind it. Kristen encourages current Ouachita students to follow @tacos4lifegrill on Twitter and Instagram to stay updated on how God is working in the restaurant and to help get the word out about their mission. She also encourages students to take part in the restaurant’s Mobile Pack on April 15-18 at New Life Church in Conway to help pack the meals the restaurant has raised. Ouachita grads have a tendency to make incredible differences in the world, and the Youngs are no exception. “It’s so awesome because we are not just providing food for children, but ultimately the gospel,” Kristen says. “In about six months of being open, Tacos4Life has raised 182,813 meals for hungry children.” As of Jan. 28, Tacos4Life has provided 234,991 meals and the number climbs every day, with every meal pointing back to the love of Christ. n
“It’s so awesome because we are not just providing food for children, but ultimately the gospel.” – Kristen Young
Tacos4Life z Courtesy TACOS4LIFE opened in June 2014, under the direction of Austin and Ashton Samuelson, Ouachita graduates with a passion for ending world hunger. The couple also started Pitza42, another meal for meal restaurant in Conway that serves “pitzas,” wraps, soups and salads.
For every meal purchased at Tacos4Life, one meal is donated. One for one. Every day, more than
6200 children die from starvation and malnutrition. FMSC uses the donated food as a foundation to provide medical care, education and skills training, as well as a vehicle to share the gospel.
Meals from Tacos4Life go to Children’s Cup, an organization in
Swaziland, Africa.
Feed My Starving Children (fmsc. org) was founded in 1987 with the mission of “Feeding God’s Starving Children Hungry in Body and Spirit.” It is a non-profit Christian organization that ships meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
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How to beat your chest By NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor @Hutch15 If your testosterone levels aren’t high enough to make an alpha-mongoose at the height of his mating season stand aside in fearful respect, you can’t afford to stop reading this column. How did you celebrate the last time you won a “Super Smash Bros” tournament? If a knife wielding maniac demands that you give him the rest of your Chick money, how are you going to rile yourself into a barbarian battle rage? After you read this column, the next time you find yourself in a situation that only a chest-beating testosterone machine can overcome, you’ll know to do the obvious. You’ll beat your chest. If you think that this is simpler than I’m making it out to be, you’re both right and wrong. Baboons beat their chests before they snack on the faces of their enemies. How hard could it be? Every modern man, however, has lost that side of himself to some degree or another. The animal within has to be tamed so that he can stomach sitting on the couch and watching reality TV with his girlfriend. That’s why the first step to successfully beating your chest is to have the right attitude. Your fists should be flying into your chest like A-10 warthogs, guns blazing. If you’re about to make somebody regret the last thing they said about
your mother, scream like a maniac while you’re at it. If you just brought home the W in the sweatiest game of Ultimate Frisbee to grace this campus in the past 100 years, then “wooo!” with the voracity of 1000 JJ Watts. The purpose of this display is not to look like your 4 year old cousin playing Tarzan. It’s purpose is to solidify your place as a member of the only species on this planet to invent grenade launchers, nachos and space travel. You’re a man. You need a way to express the fact that there is nothing that walks, slithers, crawls or rolls (in the case of the inevitable robot apocalypse) across this patch of dirt that can overcome you. Once you’ve committed yourself to going at this thing whole hog, the technique is simple. Like wielding a katana, your movements must be smooth, yet explosive. Completely relax your arms except for your clenched fists. Then twist at your hips. Let your arms swing back and forth with the movement of your torso as you loosely guide your fists into your pecs. Once you’ve got the motion down, hit the gas and go full speed. Pound on your chest like it’s a vending machine with five bags of mis-dispensed doritos perched tantalizingly on the edge of their shelf. If you’re wondering, or if you just tried it and made this observation for yourself, yes, this will kind of hurt. That’s half of the point. Beating your chest is like a more simeon version of a powerlifter slapping himself before he lies down for a big bench press. You’re simultaneously getting loose, warming yourself up and spurring yourself into an unstoppable frenzy with a little taste of pain. It’ll put hair on your chest,
“Stay-cation” vs. classic get-away Is the money worth the memory?
By EMMA SEAY Staff Writer
Spring break. It is the one long holiday from school that college students nationwide look forward to in the spring semester. This one to two week holiday is famous for travel, whether domestic or international. After looking at a few different articles, I wonder why this holiday is known for its touristy getaways and if tourists should really be spending so much money on these vacations instead of saving money while staying home. While I think “stay-cations” are a great way to relax and unwind, after doing some research, I think the idea of spending money on travel during this holiday is the better option. Some of the most popular spring break vacation destinations, according to Fox News’ article on the “7 Best Spring Break Destinations in the United States,” include places like Key West, Fla. and New Orleans, La., both with very good reputations as spring break destinations. However, is the idea of saving and spending money on destinations like these two really worth the expensive costs? In the NBC article entitled “Sea, sun, sand…and revenue,” the author, Roland James talks about how important the spring break rush of tourists is to a typical beach town like Key West, because of all the revenue brought in by this one week each year. Also in this article, James explains why the “spring break dollar” is worth fighting for. This is due to statistics gathered from the market-research company, Harris Interactive, which include that “roughly 16 million students from the United States spend around $208 billion dollars” every year. Harris Interactive goes further to say that “22% of this spending is dedicated to travel.” So if a majority of this spending is dedicated to spring break, I think that this is a good reason why people should travel during this holiday. Tourist destinations rely on the capital received for traveling expenses. I also think traveling during this spring break holiday is a great idea because of how much it emphasizes family and friend bonding. Especially
with families that have college-aged children, getting away from all of time-consuming daily distractions of technology like Netflix or social media will ensure that there are fun experiences that will lead to memories for the entire family. Whether it be a 10 hour road trip or a weekend at the cousins’ house, being with family will create more memories that everyone will enjoy. Also, according to author Heidi Mitchell of the Travel and Leisure article “The Best Getaways of 2014,” the best family holidays include ones with “thrill rides of adventure.” I absolutely agree with Mitchell because no matter where a family goes for spring break, as long as it is together, a little bit of adventure will come their way which will definitely create many memories that will bring everyone closer together instead of everyone just staying at home.
“However, is the idea of saving and spending money on destinations like these two really worth the expensive costs?”
Winter weather:
layering not always the answer By WILL LECHNER Staff Writer
Okay, can someone talk to Elsa or something? Because this freezing weather is really starting to get on my nerves. Every morning I walk out the door, take in a deep breath and am greeted by a frigidly cold wind and temperatures that make going back to bed and pretendingcollege doesn’t exist seem like a sound plan. The warm sunshine is hidden behind a thick blanket of gray clouds. The warm smile that I greeted the day with quickly freezes and falls intoa bitter scowl. So I turn around, head back to my room, and prepare to combat the cold. I bundle up inthe warmest clothing I own. A coat and a jacket covering a thick t-shirt. Thick socks and bootsprotect my feet from the biting wind and cold. I return to the outside world prepared for the intrepid trudge to morning classes. Now I am ready for the weather. The wind and the cold can’tget past my armor of cotton and polyester. I’m a genius. On my way to class, I feel pretty good about my protective layers. But as soon as I sitdown in class, I am kicking myself for wearing them. What I failed to remember is that while it may be cold outside, the classrooms, cafeteria, and every other room on campus are heated to feel as sauna-esque as is possible. Unfortunately, for people like me, this means a fair amount of sweating and removing a layer or two of clothing, making me look like a gypsy setting up camp in the back of my Western Civ class. So much for being a genius. After several days of wearing layers, surviving the freezing walk to class, and then sweating off several pounds in class, I’d had enough. I now wear one jacket and walk quicklybetween classes, walking inside as much as possible. I hear so many people talking about Winter, saying it’s a magical time of year. I’m not sure what’s so magical about it. If it’s having to wear layers upon layers of thick clothing to walk maybe a hundred yards, then Disney has got the wrong idea about what magic is. So if you are considering layering up for a cold winter day, please reconsider. Unless you are going to be spending the entire day outside, wearing layers really isn’t the way to go. The cold may be uncomfortable, but the tremendous heat of the classroom is even more uncomfortable. n
Even though spring break is still a few weeks away, I think that the idea of traveling during this holiday is overall the better choice. Not only does it bring in revenue to towns and cities famous for hosting college students, but it also gives an opportunity for bonding whether it is between a group of friends or a family in order to create lifelong memories. Stay-cations might be a great idea for a relaxing weekend, but for spring break, adventures are calling. n facebook.com/obusignal twitter.com/obusignal instagram.com/obusignal
Ouachita Baptist University Office: Evans Student Center E-Mail: signal@obu.edu Phone: 870.245.5210
Emily Terry
Dixon Land
Tyler Rosenthal
Dr. Jeff Root
Anna Kumpuris
Ali Robinson
Nate Wallace
Dr. Deborah Root
Noah Hutchinson
Caroline Poole
z EDITOR-IN-CHIEF z NEWS EDITOR
z OPINIONS EDITOR
z SPORTS EDITOR z AD MANAGER z COPY EDITOR
which will make it look even more awesome when you do this. As a side note, while any kind of monosyllabic cry of power compliments a chest pounding like a powerful woman does a late night game of “Risk”, you’ve got to be careful with your timing. If you let out your mighty roar while you’re actually hammering away at your chest, you’ll sound like your trying to sing along with the radio while driving over a bumpy road. Get a couple of hits in and while you’re tapering off towards the end, let it all out. It’s the difference between William Wallace filling the glen with a bellow of freedom and your highschool valedictorian vomiting on himself at the beginning of his speech. Finally, once you’ve truly mastered this masterpiece of dominance, you can also slap the ground with both hands if you so choose. This is an expert level move and will likely not feel so great on a pair of hands that wouldn’t be described as “beefy”. You’ll have truly captured the essence of a territorial chimpanzee, and only a fool or a worthy opponent would dare stand against that. With this newfound knowledge, you’re ready to conquer the world. Go out, beat people at things and then be a really ungraceful winner about it. Climb mountains and let your fury slice through the clouds. Make people really uncomfortable after you move their ancient, impossibly heavy TV into their fourth floor apartment. Whatever you do, know that you’re in the winners circle, because when you’re beating your chest, that circle only extends as far as your own arms. n
z PHOTO EDITOR
z VIDEO MANAGER
z ADVISER z ADVISER
Ms. Tiffany Eurich z ONLINE ADVISER
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.
sports
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
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Ouachita wrestling defeats OKC Stars 32-9 last Wednesday By BRANDON SMITH Sports Information
The Ouachita Tigers traveled to Oklahoma City to take on the Oklahoma City Stars last Wednesday. The Tigers, who are ranked ninth in Division II, defeated the Stars, ranked 13th in NAIA, by an overall score of 32-9. Ouachita started with three straight victories, beginning with Garrett Evans. Evans, who is currently ranked fourth in Division II’s 125-pound class according to InterMat Wrestling, recorded a 3-1 victory over Aaron LaFarge to put the Tigers head 3-0. Nate Rodriguez immediately followed Evans by pinning Adrian Gains just over four minutes into the match. Rodriguez, ranked third in Division II’s 133-pound class, gave Ouachita a 9-0 before Josh Myers extended the lead to 14-0 on a 17-2 victory over James Landoll. Myers is currently ranked as the number-one wrestler in the 141-pound class. Following a 14-0 start to the dual, the Tigers dropped
back-to-back matches in the 149 and 157-pound classes. Ouachita’s Connor Loderhose was pinned by Aaron Guery just under two minutes into the match, and Zach Skates earned a 3-2 decisionwin over Dakota Head. The two losses brought the overall score to 14-9. The Tigers responded after the losses with five consecutive victories. Dexter Carter began the streak with a 7-2 decisionwin over Ricky M c C a r t y. Payne Hatter then claimed an 11-1 major decisionvictory over Jared Bass in the 174-pound match. Dallas Smith, InterMat Wr e s t l i n g ’ s second-ranked Garrett Evans wrestler in the 184-pound class, then joined in on the action with an 8-1 victory over Derek Sivertsen to give Ouachita a commanding 24-9 lead. In the final two matches, Ouachita’s O’Dell Lee and Blake Andrews each earned major decision-wins and beat their opponents by a combined score of 28-8. The two victories by Lee and Andrews sealed the 32-9 win for the Tigers. n
Sports Information y Courtesy The 1964-65’ team composite photo. The 64’-65’ Tiger basketball team finished 27-10 and won the AIC championship. They also finished 3rd in the NAIA Tournament.
1964-65 Tiger basketball team celebrates 50 years By DIXON LAND
Sports Editor @dixoncland The 1964-1965 Tiger Basketball team will be on campus this weekend as they celebrate 50 years since their 1965 AIC Championship. The team, which finished 27-10 on the season, won an AIC Championship and finished third in the nation. The team was also presented the first Charles A. Krigel Memorial Award in 1965, honoring the team’s sportsmanship in the 1965 NAIA Tournament. The team was inducted into the Ouachita Sports Hall of Fame in Feb. 2010. Led by David Kossover and Leon Clements, the team also was awarded the James Naismith/Emil Liston Sportsmanship Award. Along with the 1964 team, notable alumni will be returning, with alumnus Bob Gladin being the oldest registered. Gladin played at Ouachita
Tigers defeat Southern Ark., tie for first in GAC standings By BRANDON SMITH Sports Information
The Ouachita Tigers grabbed a 77-70 win over the first-place University of Southern Arkansas Muleriders on Saturday, behind Carven Holcolmbe’s first career double-double. The Tigers and Muleriders are now tied with East Central for the number-one spot in the GAC. SAU claimed an early lead in the first half until a 7-0 run by the Tigers put Ouachita ahead 21-17 with 8:26 to play in the half. Holcolmbe sparked the run with five straight points for the Tigers. Ouachita built on its lead and eventually led by double-digits before a 10-1 run to end the half by the Muleriders cut Ouachita’s lead
to only one at the break. Both teams were 13-30 from the field and netted six freethrows each in the first half. The Tigers, however, knocked down one more three-pointer, giving them the 35-34 lead. Micah Delph finished the first half with a game-high 12 points. Colt Fason added 10 points on 5-7 shooting from the floor. Ouachita never surrendered its lead in the second half, and an 11-2 run for the Tigers gave them their largest lead of 12 with just under nine minutes remaining. The Muleriders did pull within four points with 2:16 to go, but a three-pointer from Delph, five free-throws from David Berete and a fastbreak slam from Tirrell Brown prevented any comeback. Delph once again led all
scorers in the second half with 10 points, giving him a game-high of 22 for the game. Holcolmbe provided size down low, as he posted eight points and nine rebounds in 13 minutes of the period. The Tigers finished with a field-goal percentage 45.8 percent. Holcolmbe finished with career-highs in both points and rebounds, totaling 13 points and 13 boards in 23 minutes. Fason followed with 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. The Tigers are the only team in the GAC with an undefeated home record (9-0). The Tigers (12-4, 8-3 GAC) will travel Monticello, Ark. on Thursday, Jan. 29, to take on the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. n
Reddies, Ouachita’s Micah Delph hit a 3-pointer that was answered with a 3-pointer from Henderson’s Micah Walker. Delph then hit another 3-pointer that closed the gap to seven points with 1:08 left in the half. The Reddies ended the half with a 3-pointer as time expired by Aaron Cooper. This gave the Reddies a 40-32 lead going into halftime. With a couple of jumpers by Fason and a layup by Allen Buchanan to start the second half, the deficit was down to four points. After a Henderson turnover that led to a onehanded slam by Ouachita’s Fason, the Tigers were within one possession of tying or taking the lead. Following a timeout by the Reddies, Ouachita’s Tirrell Brown stole the ball and dished it to Buchanan for a one-handed
slam dunk. The Tigers were on an 11-0 run with the score being 47-47 with 12:29 left in the second half. The teams traded buckets until Henderson’s Kozan caught fire from the floor with three 3-pointers that gave the Reddies a 66-65 lead with just under two minutes left in the game. The Tigers were outscored 9-4 with 2:30 left in the game which led to the Tigers losing, 71-67. The Tigers shot just 25% from the three-point line in the second half, going 2-8. They also went 9-16 from the freethrow line.
from 1944-1948. The last reunion was held in 1989, some 26 years ago. Along with Gladin and the 1964-1965 team, many coaches will be in attendance. The coaches will include current Tiger Head Coach Dennis Nutt along with former Tiger coaches Mark Price (2009-2011), Charlie Shaef (2001-2009), Mike Reynolds (1989-2001) and Bill Vining (1954-1989). “The idea started when coach Vining and I went to a former player’s funeral,” former head coach and current professor at Ouachita Mike Reynolds said. “We wanted to reconnect everyone again since we hadn’t had a reunion in quite some time.” The former player that Reynolds was talking about was Tony Patterson, oneo of Ouachita’s few NBA stars, who was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets and played for three years. The Tigers will play Arkansas Tech this Saturday at 3 p.m. The 1965 team will be honored at halftime. n
Dr. Wesley Kluck y Courtesy Tirrell Brown goes up for a layup against an SAU Mulrider defender. The Tigers defeated Southern Ark. 77-70 on Saturday.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball suffer losses to Henderson By BRANDON MARKS Staff Writer @BMarks43
The Men’s Tiger basketball team gave up a late lead in the second half to lose to the Henderson State Reddies 71-67 in GAC play. The Tigers got on the board first just 21 seconds in the game with a layup by David Berete. Henderson answered with nine straight points, with six of those points coming from Kelvin Dixon of the Reddies. Following a media timeout, the teams traded baskets until Kevin Kozan of Henderson hit back-to-back 3-pointers, which put the Reddies up 17-10 at the 13:03 mark in the first half. With just under four minutes left in the first half, Brown hit a jumper that put the Reddie lead at nine points. Following a timeout by the
* * * The Ouachita Lady Tigers took a hard loss to the Henderson State Lady Reddies during the basketball Battle of the Ravine with a final score
of 75-46. Kori Bullard led the Lady Tigers with 15 points on the night. The Lady Reddies took off from the tip with 15-0 lead. The Lady Tigers responded with two free throws by Jasmine Cashaw and their first points from the field came shortly after with a 3-pointer by Kori Bullard. The Reddies responded with a 3-pointer by Haleigh Henson to bring the score to 23-7, HSU. After Ashley Johnson drove the lane and layed the ball up for an easy two points, Breana Harris hit a jump shot from the left wing to get the deficit down to 13 points with 5:58 left in the first half. Bullard then made a layup after a Reddies free throw to make the score 26-13, HSU. Sledge then stole the ball from the Lady Tigers and made a layup at the end of the half to
bring the score to 28-14, HSU. In the first half, the Lady Tigers shot a season low 14% from the floor and 8% from the 3-point line. Henderson scored the first points in the second half with a 3-pointer by Sledge. The Lady Tigers responded with two free throws by Alexis Sharp. Following another basket by the Lady Tigers, Sledge scored three straight buckets to make the score 38-18, HSU. With 11 minutes left in the game, Bullard sank a 10ft jumper from the top of the key to get the deficit back down to 21. That was as close as the Lady Tigers would get. The Lady Tigers’ fell to the Reddies 75-46. Kori Bullard led the Lady Tigers with 15 points. Breanna Harris scored 6 points in the contest. n
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
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“It’s about making sure I’m impacting someone around me in a positive way.” —Colt Fason
Photos courtesy of Dr. Wesley Kluck
God, family and basketball By: DIXON LAND Sports Editor
@dixoncland Slowly he laces up his purple shoes as the booming voice of Dr. Casey Motl screams his name through the speakers of Bill Vining Arena. He takes a step out of the locker room and climbs the steps to the court. The crowd goes crazy as the tip of his shoe touches the wood. Game time. Far from the confines of a crowded arena, Colt Fason flashes back to a time when he was just a boy on a court with a ball bigger than his head. “My love for basketball started when I was about four or five,” Fason said. “We live maybe two or three miles from a community center where I would go shoot every day.” Fason said that the center, which gave him the inspiration to play, was a place where his family could go and play as well. From the earliest days, Fason would spend days and nights on the same court, shooting baskets and dreaming big. “I played everywhere I could. My brothers would go, my sister would – it was just like a family thing; we went to the gym and played basketball from when I was super young.” And while Fason’s basketball dreams were endless, his childhood was all about the work ethic behind success. “As a kid, we started from the bottom,” Fason said. “We didn’t have a lot of money, but my parents worked so hard at what they do and so as the years went on, dad and mom started making a little more money and we moved to a little better neighborhood.” Fason joined his school’s basketball team in seventh grade, but he would once again be tested with adversity. “In seventh grade, I was a third string point guard because I was so short,” Fason said. “In ninth, I hit a growth spurt and that’s when I went
from about 5-7 to 6-1 and that’s when I started starting, my body started growing into itself.” But along with growing, Fason would put in hours of work and dedication to getting better. “I remember working day in and day out,” Fason said. “I’d go in before school and go play ball, go to school and then as soon as practice was over, I was back at the community center shooting and doing drills.” Fason believed that if he worked hard, success would come. He pushed hard to get a scholarship. “I really wanted to get a scholarship to play ball, so I wouldn’t have to put all that pressure on my parents to pay for college,” Fason said. His senior year, Fason began to get looks and remembers one specific night, on chance, that he met former head coach Mark Price of Ouachita. Price, who was there to watch Micah Delph (A Fason teammate since sixth grade), was surprised to find Colt Fason. “I found out they were there to watch Micah, but they saw me and gave me a card and got my phone number and they started contacting me about a month later,” he said. “I didn’t even know anything about Ouachita.” After a few visits and a scrimmage with the team, Fason was on board and signed with the Tigers. That summer, Ouachita coach Mark Price signed elsewhere and Ouachita hired Dennis Nutt as head coach of the men’s basketball team. “I knew I was going to have to work hard to show him how I play and I knew that I would have to start from the bottom again,” Fason said. “It was frustrating at first, but I knew everyone on the team was going to have to prove to him that they could play.” Following a rough first year of basketball, Fason had the opportunity to start for the Tigers in 2013, his sophomore season. That year, the Tigers won the Great American Conference Championship, where Fason was named the MVP of the tournament.
“I could take credit for some of that, but most of that was from my teammates who pitched in and made plays that gave me the opportunity to shine.” This season, Fason, a senior on the team, says that his goals haven’t changed from day one on campus. “My personal goals aren’t something I like to share,” Fason said. “The primary goal is for us to play as a team and be successful.” Even when Fason eclipsed 1,000 points in his career, he still credited his teammates, and while honored by the milestone, still points to team ball as the key. “It’s a great goal and milestone that I’ve accomplished, but that’s not the most important thing to me,” he said. What is most important to Fason is God; he said that tops the list of his priorities. “What is important is God, then family and basketball,” Fason said. “That’s the way it has always been for me. I’ve always lived to make sure that I’m right with God and then making sure my family is safe, then comes Colt.” Fason said that after graduation, a short career in the international basketball leagues would be an option if he continues to work hard. If basketball isn’t an option, Fason will apply to physical therapy school – the career he wishes to enter either way. Short term, Fason is focused on another championship. And as Fason continues to lead a team that is currently tied for first in the GAC, he will continue to preach teamwork as the key to success. “Some nights you’re gonna have great nights and some you aren’t. This year we are playing team ball and I think that is a big reason we are tied for first in the GAC.” So for a kid who grew up competing on the court of a local community center, Fason will continue to lace up his sneakers to the tune of fans screaming his name – a long time away from a five year old with a basketball bigger than his head. n
Time to discontinue the NFL Pro Bowl By ZACH PARKER Staff Writer
@Zparker1030 All-star games, by definition, are supposed to be matchups between the best players in the game from their respective conference or league facing off against one another. While there is some competitive nature involved, overall they are intended for the entertainment of the fans. The NBA and MLB All-Star games are must-watch TV for almost every sports fan. However, in recent years, the NFL Pro Bowl has fallen out of favor in comparison. Despite the efforts of the league to make the game more entertaining, the time has come to eliminate the game altogether. The NFL’s version of an all-star game has become an unnecessary spectacle. For starters, the players themselves don’t even want to play in the game. The NFL regular season is a long and brutal process that leaves players looking forward to rest in the offsea-
son, rather than suiting up for a game that offers nothing to gain. Year after year, the best players choose to skip out on the game and spend time with their family instead. The $55,000 reward for the coaches and players of the winning team doesn’t seem like much to guys that all make millions annually. This year alone, Andy Dalton, T.Y. Hilton, Mark Ingram and CJ Anderson were among the players competing in Arizona. They’re are all solid players, but hardly considered the best in the league according to most avid fans. If the best players aren’t participating, then it’s difficult to call the event an “all-star game” in the first place. With the game being the week before the Super Bowl, the NFL prevents any of those players from participating in the game. It’s hardly a showcase of the best players if some from the two best teams are not represented. Tom Brady, Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are all considered to be in the conversation for best in the league at their respective position, yet none of them participated in this year’s Pro Bowl because they are playing in the Super Bowl the following week.
All-star games are supposed to be the best players from each conference or league facing off against one another. However, the last couple years, the NFL has gone away from the traditional AFC versus NFC matchup, in favor of a fantasy draft to determine the rosters for the two teams. This potentially leads to teammates facing off against each other and no conference pride as motivation for the players and leaves the fans struggling to decide whom to root for, all of which just further negates the purpose of the game. I give the NFL credit for doing everything in its power to try and salvage some type of all-star game. Implementing gimmicks like the fantasy draft style rosters, rules that place the emphasis on offense and narrow goal posts to make kicking more difficult were all decent ideas and at least show that the league is trying. However, the time has come to admit defeat and just do away with the Pro Bowl. Naming players to the team without playing the game could be a way to still give the guys the recognition they deserve. To continue with this setup and call the Pro Bowl a matchup between the best of the best is a joke. n