the
Signal
www.obusignal.com
09.18.14 Volume 123 Issue 2
Ouachita Baptist University
Days until Tunes:
14
IN THIS ISSUE:
Broadway Deput Senior Chad Burris performs in national tour of The Book of Mormon p.2 Tyler Rosenthal z The Signal
Graduate Fair Career Services to host graduate and professional school fair, p.3
Rite of Passage Why freshman English matters, p.4
A Calling Professor Dan Inouye answers the call to direct, p.5
Campus Safety Month promotes student awareness By SAM CUSHMAN Associate Editor
@SamuelCushman Ouachita is participating in National Campus Safety Awareness Month during September to promote awareness and to educate students on basic tenets of prevention and safety. The campaign on campus is spearheaded by the division of Student Services. “For us at Ouachita, it is an opportunity to have some conversations and bring some discussions to the surface regarding campus safety that often are not talked about,” said Scott Haynes, dean of students. “[Campus safety] is something that is addressed in WOW, it is addressed a lot with freshmen, but it is not something that is an ongoing conversation with much of the student body after freshman year.”
Ouachita’s efforts to promote campus safety coincide with the implementation of new provisions of federal law that are designed to prevent sexual assault on college campuses, which has become a widespread issue. According to a May report released by the Department of Education, one in five women will be sexually assaulted during their time at college. According to Haynes the Department of Higher Education and the Office of Civil Rights has set requirements to be fulfilled by all colleges for ongoing training and awareness prevention efforts for all students. “There are really two elements to [prevention] education that are set by the Department of Higher Education,” he said. “One of them is that all first time students receive training. Which we did through an online program through Moodle for all new students – that’s freshmen and
transfers. The second part of it is an ongoing awareness. And it seemed like participation in the nationwide campus safety awareness month was a good avenue to at least get that kick-started.” Haynes hopes that participation in Campus Safety Awareness Month will open up future avenues for education and awareness promotion. “There are a lot of options on the table,” he said. “These could range from student groups, town hall meetings, panel discussions, a poster campaign or even Chapel services. We could even partner with a course who is designing material for a campaign.” Students will have already received an email sent out by Dr. Wesley Kluck, the vice-president for Student Services, last week discussing fire safety and another on tornado response. There was also a see SAFETY z 2
New CORE curriculum means more flexibility
Delph Trio Hometown heroes join Tiger Football for 2014 season, p.6
By SUZANNA RIEVES Staff Writer
S News 1 n S Opinions 4 n S Features 5 n S S Sports 6 n
S
Sodexo offers new services for students with dietary needs By RACHEL WICKER Staff Writer
Returning Ouachita students may have noticed a new serving line in the cafeteria, the Simple Servings line which opened this fall. Simple Servings offers food for students with special dietary needs, carefully excluding milk, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts. “This line is designed to help students with any of these allergies feel comfortable in knowing that the food they eat will not make them sick or have a reaction with them,”chef Chase Nowlin said. Simple Servings is a new concept created by Sodexo that won a national award
from Food Management Magazine as the “best wellness concept” in the country. Ouachita’s kitchen was the first in the district to add this concept to the cafeteria. “We wanted to address the needs of the students and make their time at OBU easier,” Nowlin said. “College is hard enough to go through without worrying about what you can and can’t eat.” Nowlin has been executive chef at Ouachita for the past 3 years and said that he has seen the number of students with special dietary needs increase each semester. The food from Simple Servings is prepared in a special part of the kitchen, with all utensils and storage in a separate, specially sanitized area away from the rest of the food
preparations. Even the utensils they serve the food with are separate, using purple serving utensils to visually distinguish the special type of food being served. “We also would like the students to understand that we don’t mind giving you one item from the line or all of it, but we have to put it on clean plates that we have at the station,” Nowlin said. This is to avoid cross-contamination and confusion with the food. Simple Servings is scheduled to be open lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday and at lunch on Fridays. “Staffing has been an issue, so it’s been hard to keep it open during these times right see SERVINGS z 3
After months of discussion and preparation, Ouachita has introduced a new CORE curriculum that includes new courses, revisions to courses that already exist and a reduction of the number of hours required for graduation. Dr. Deborah Root, a member of the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee and professor of communications, said the reason for the changes is to try to create a more flexible and creative liberal arts education, as well as reduce the number of hours to graduate in order to compete with Arkansas’ state schools. “I think the new CORE curriculum will be beneficial because it focuses on outcomes instead of specific courses,” Root said. “This allows students more flexibility in choosing the courses they take in the CORE, and with reduction of hours, it also helps in moving most of our degree programs to 120 hours.” Major changes to the CORE curriculum include see CORE z 3
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this weekzCALENDAR YEARBOOK PHOTOS in the ESC Faculty Lounge (across from Chick) today and tomorrow from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, contact: Deborah Root at rootd@obu.edu.
CM MISSION AND SKI TRIP interest meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m. in Berry Chapel. For more information, contact:James Taylor at taylorj@obu.edu.
REFUGE is tonight at 9 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu.
GRAD SCHOOL FAIR is Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. in Evans Student Center lobby. For more information, contact: Rachel Roberts at robertsr@ obu.edu
FOOTBALL VS. EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA is Saturday, Sept. 20 in the brand new Cliff Harris Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. For more information, contact: Kyle Parris at parrisk@obu.edu.
THE GIVER fall children’s show is Thursday Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Verser Theatre. For more information, contact: Brian Bridges at bridgesb@ obu.edu.
Meet the Editors: the people behind the paper.
Emily Terry Editor-in-Chief @emilymterry
Anna Kumpuris News Editor @anniebananie14
“It’s either Hunter Hayes’ ‘Storyline’ or Sam Smith’s ‘In the Lonely Hour.’ I might be obsessed. But they are both really great, so it’s a justified obsession... I think.”
“‘Warrior’ by Kesha. She’s the only thing that keeps me awake on long night drives. She is my guilty pleasure jam.”
White Chocolate Mocha Caramel Macchiato Mocha White Chocolate Cremice Caramel Cremice
Noah Hutchinson Opinions Editor @hutch15
“Manly stuff.”
By MCKENZIE CRANFORD Staff Writer
Chad Burris z Courtesy SENIOR Chad Burris plays Elder Cunningham in the national tour of “The Book of Mormon” with Alexandra Ncube, who plays Nabalungi.
ethic to go with it,” she said. “Chad has always been one who has worked hard and then applied what he has learned,” Echoing that perspective, Dr. Jon Secrest added, “He hangs on every pearl of wisdom of his instructional experience and is also uniquely motivated to succeed.” Burris said his primary advice to students is: “The person who applies what God has given them and is constantly working on their talent and reaching out for opportunities will come across opportunities such as this. The early bird truly does get the worm.” He also makes a point to express his appreciation for the people who have supported him on his journey.
5 4 3 2 1
(according to last night’s baristas)
What CD is in your car’s CD player right now?
Burris makes Broadway deput Chad Burris, a senior musical theatre major recently made his Broadway debut in the national tour of The Book of Mormon. Performing in front of an audience of nearly 2,000 people, Burris played the role of Elder Cunningham, one of the two lead characters. Burris was hired at the beginning of the summer as a standby and now is traveling the nation with the production cast and crew. While on the road, he is working to finish his degree through online classes with a special degree plan devised with the help of Dr. Holsclaw, dean of the School of Fine Arts. Although Burris originally had planned to return to Arkadelphia this fall, his plans changed when he had the opportunity to audition for The Book of Mormon and was offered a position on the national tour alongside several Tony-nominated actors. “Chad is industrious, inquisitive and unafraid of networking and making the necessary connections with professionals in the field of performing arts,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, professor of music and chair of the department of applied music, who worked with Burris in Die Fledermaus, Hello Dolly! and Guys and Dolls. Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music, has worked with Burris in private voice lessons since the time he transferred to OBU. She also served as his vocal diction teacher and stage director during Die Fledermaus. “You can have the talent but you have to have the work
Drinks you order from Dr. Jack’s
“Dr. Glenda Secrest has helped me through many of the auditions and prepared me to do these shows,” Burris said. “Daniel Inouye’s classes at Ouachita have helped prepare me to quickly memorize the script and dances in short periods of time.” Reflecting on what it feels like to see Ouachita students on the Broadway stage, Dr. Jon Secrest said, “It is exciting for us as teachers to see how the potential we recognize comes to fruition.” Another Ouachita student recently made his Broadway debut, as well. Jacob Watson, a 2011 alumnus and Wynne, Ark., native, performed in the Tony Award-nominated musical Violet on Broadway during the summer of 2014. n
Dixon Land Sports Editor @dixoncland
“‘‘Sweeter’ by Gavin DeGraw. I really like the whole album, but my favorite song is ‘Soldier.’ I love the message of the song.”
SAFETY
z Continued from Page 1 breakfast hosted by the football team that provided education on bystander intervention to help prevent sexual assault. “From our past, we have not seen sexual assault to be a huge issue at Ouachita,” Kluck said. “Now that’s possibly because it’s been underreported, but the statistics say that one in every five women will be sexually assaulted in college nationally. “We are confident that we are not to that level,” he said. “We usually only average about one situation a year that is even close to sexual assault.” Kluck is correct in saying this. According to the Annual Security Report submitted to the federal government, there have only been three instances of a sexual offense in the past five years. Each of these fell under the classification of forcible sex offenses, and each occurred in 2012, two were on campus and one in a residential facility. The Annual Security Report utilizes the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting guidelines for each category. Kluck says that if there is one
thing that he hopes students will come away with it is that they would engage in bystander intervention. “I would want Ouachita students who are in groups and who see a situation developing to learn how to intervene in those situations and stop it before it even develops,” he said. For Haynes, it is about helping students understand the small things they can do to ensure each others safety, something as simple as not propping open the door to their residence hall. “A lot of times we think at Ouachita that campus safety just means the Department of Campus Safety,” he said, “your campus safety officers who are responsible for safety. But really it is a community effort. Just like your neighborhood is only safe because you might have a neighborhood watch – it’s not just the police presence. It is really because everybody’s in agreement on how we’re gonna live together.” Details on Ouachita’s sexual assault reporting policy are available to students in the Tiger Handbook. For more information, contact Haynes through email at hayness@ obu.edu. n
Thanks for reading
S3 news n
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Thursday, September 18, 2014
NEWS BRIEFS n Thirty second recaps of the biggest stories of the week.
NATIONAL ―Texas performed a
WORLD ― Australian authorities are rare occurence by executing a female conducting anti-terror raids today just inmate on Wednesday. Lisa Coleman days after the country raised its terror is only the 15th woman to be executed alert level to high. Police foiled a pendsince 1976 when the Supreme Court ing attack on “a member of the public. reinstituted the death penalty. ColeAt least one person was arrested and man is the ninth person to be executed another 15 detained in Sydney in conin Texas this year, more executions nection to terrorism related offenses. so far than any other state. She was Police conducted more than two dozen sentenced to death after being found different searches throughout Sydney guilty of murdering nine-year-old Dato make these arrests. The decision to vontae Williams, her partner, Marcella raise the threat level was foreshadWilliams’ son. Davontae was found owed by David Irvine, the departing emaciated with several bodily injuries director-general of the Australian Secuweighing only 35 pounds at the time rity Intelligence Organization (ASIO) of his death. Williams and Coleman last week. He said that the threat level restrained the boy and deprived him in Australia had been increasing for of food. The execution took place in the past year as jihadist groups in the Huntsville, Tex. and was performed by Middle East have recruited Australians lethal injection. It lasted 12 minutes. to join their ranks. The Australian After telling her family and “the girls government is one of 40 other nations on the row” that she loved them, her who have agreed to fight against the last words were “I’m done.” n jihadist group, ISIS. n Compiled by Anna Kumpuris, News Editor. Sources: cnn.com, washingtonpost.com, usatoday.com and CBSnews.com.
TECHNOLOGY― Netflix made its
debut in France this week despite national debates over its possible impact on the country. The debut in France is just a small part part of a wider launch in several other European countries planned for this month. Soon Netflix will be available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg, though none of these countries have expressed the anxiety that France has over the launch. “The French film and TV industry is quite insular,” said Richard Broughton, a London-based analyst at IHS Technology. “There’s a lot of fear that a player like Netflix that is not subject to the same rules as the traditional players may have a disruptive effect.” Much of the anxiety comes from fear of an American company promoting English programming over French programming. International expansion is a recent priority of Netflix.n
HEALTH― Dr. Richard Sacra, the
American doctor who contracted the Ebola virus while volunteering in West Africa, is expected to make a full recover. Sacra is being treated at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where doctors say that blood tests show that the amount of virus in his system has decreased from the first to the fifth day of his treatment. Sacra received an experimental drug, which doctors have not identifed, for seven days. Sacra’s doctors are waiting for results from a second blood test to confirm their optimistic prognosis. 51-year-old Sacra arrived in the U.S. from Liberia on Sept. 5. Officials say that are not ready to release him until they confirm that his infection has cleared without any serious complications. Two other American Ebola patients were treated at Emory University Hospital and realeased last month. n
Graduate school fair to be held Sept. 24 by Career Services office By CHELSEA WHELPLEY News Bureau
Emily Terry z The Signal MARGARET GEOFFRION, a freshman worship arts major, reads “Why College Matters To God” by Rick Ostrander for her OBU Connections class, a new class that is part of the revised CORE curriculum.
CORE
course,” said Scott Haynes, dean of students and an instructor for one of the OBU Connections classes. By not just teaching a subject but introducing a new train of thought, these classes are indirectly developing a true liberal arts education and accomplishing the goal of the course. Haynes, whose OBU Connections class this semester discusses TV sitcoms, said the importance of the revamped CORE is application. “One of the big complaints about a liberal arts education is, ‘When am I going to use this stuff? I’m a mass communications major, I need to know about journalism.’ Or, ‘I’m a biology major, I just need to get in the lab.’ And so it’s, ‘When I am I going to use this history or literature?’ And so we are trying to find ways to say, ‘This is how! This right here, living your life, talking with people
– this is how you apply these things, this is why this matters,’” Haynes said. “So we can take these things we are watching on the news or hearing about on the radio or watching on TV and think of them from a liberal arts background instead of just consuming.” Another feature of the new CORE is flexible menus. In addition to a common set of nine CORE classes, students can now choose from a set of menus to complete the CORE requirements. For example, Health and Safety, Outdoor Leisure Pursuits and Wellness are in a Physical Well-Being Menu. Other class menus that provide students with more choices are Analytical and Quantitative Reasoning, Applied Skills, Artistic Engagement, Civic Engagement in America, Intercultural Appreciation and Communication. n
SERVINGS
are knowledgeable about food allergies and are aware of the need to be careful. “The Simple Servings line has been a great addition to the caf,” Emily Tual, a junior dietetics major said. “The meals are fresh, well balanced, and flavorful. I have a gluten free diet and it really has been a huge relief to not have to worry about how the food was
made and what is in it.” Students with special dietary needs due to allergies are not the only ones who benefit from this new line, however. “The students love the idea of a healthier option even if they do not have an allergy,” Nowlin said. “Simple Servings is here to stay. It has taken off and is very popular with the students.” n
z Continued from Page 1 OBU Connections in place of Introduction to the Liberal Arts and OBU Experience, and Scientific Inquiry and Scientific Connections in place of Physical Science and Life Science. The major renovation of the new classes is a more topicbased, in-depth study of the subject. In OBU Connections and the CORE science classes, students learn the basics of the subject first and then apply the knowledge learned to a specific subject chosen by the professor. Instead of just learning the required material, the new classes will challenge students to expand their perspectives on a particular topic, emphasizing the class subject in a fun and interesting way. “It’s more of a practicing course than just an academic
z Continued from Page 1 now, but we are fixing the problem and will have it on a regular rotation very soon,” Nowlin said. Currently there are two chefs cooking for the Simple Servings line, Chase Nowlin and Jennifer Mace, but they are looking to hire new chefs that
Ouachita Baptist University’s Office of Career Services will begin its series of fall events with a Graduate and Professional School Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Evans Student Center. More than 20 graduate and professional schools from Arkansas, Texas and surrounding states will be present at the event. “The Graduate School Fair is an excellent opportunity to get more information about different programs at one time,” said Director of Career Services Rachel Roberts. “Students can learn about various programs while asking questions about admission requirements and financial aid.” Roberts encourages anyone interested in attending graduate school after Ouachita to come to the event. From freshman still exploring their options to seniors who haven’t decided their next step, all OBU students can benefit. “We want our students to connect with the right opportunity when they leave Ouachita, whether that’s grad school or employment in their interested field,” Roberts added. Career Services is a valuable resource for students exploring undergraduate majors, graduate schools, internships and jobs. The office equips students with solid resumes, interview skills and job search strategy. Career Services also sponsors workshops to improve various skills needed in the work force. “All of these efforts have helped me grow in confidence as I seek job opportunities, knowing that I am presenting myself and my skills in the best possible way,” said Molly Bowman, a senior mass communications and Christian studies/theology major from Conway, Ark. Bowman is one of many Ouachita students who has utilized Career Services to help prepare for the professional world. “As the working world is exposed to more alumni who are dedicated to professionalism,” Bowman added, “the positive reputation of our university grows. “Career Services is a tool to help you accomplish your goals, but you have to take the initiative to use that tool,” Bowman noted. “They are there to help you as you prepare resumes and seek out opportunities, but like all things of value, you as the individual
must still put in the time and effort required for success.” Schools and organizations that will be represented at the Graduate and Professional School Fair include: American University’s Caribbean School of Medicine, Baptist Health Schools Little Rock, Baylor School of Law, Christian Brothers University, Cleveland Chiropractic College, Criswell College, Dallas Baptist University, East Texas Baptist University, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Harding University College of Education, Henderson State University, John Brown University, Mississippi College School of Law, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, UALR Bowen School of Law, University of Arkansas Graduate School of Business, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Boozman College of Public Health, University of Central Arkansas, University of Tulsa, University of Tulsa College of Law and Wheaton College. The Office of Career Services is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for individual and small group consultation. The following campus-wide events are scheduled for the fall semester:
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Graduate and Professional School Fair (Noon-12:50 p.m., Evans Student Center) Wednesday, Oct. 22: Internship Panel (Noon-12:50 p.m., Ouachita Commons Alumni Room) Wednesday, Oct. 29: Resume Workshop (Noon-12:50 p.m., Ouachita Commons Alumni Room) Wednesday, Nov. 19: Nonprofit Career Panel (Noon-12:50 p.m., Ouachita Commons Alumni Room) TBD: Speed Networking
To learn more about career services at Ouachita, visit www.obu.edu/career or contact Rachel Roberts at robertsr@obu.edu or (870) 2455593. Follow @OBUCareer on Twitter and Instagram or Ouachita Career Services on LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest. n
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Freshman English: A rite of passage By DR. RAOUF HALABY Professor of Visual Arts
T
he theme of the quest in which a young protagonist ventures out into the world to pursue his dream through myriad adventures dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. Sometime in the 27th century BC The Epic of Gilgamesh appeared in an oral tradition and was eventually inscribed (in cuneiform) on clay tablets and is believed to be the alpha of this literary genre, a genre that eventually made its way to Phoenicia, Egypt, the Greeks Isles, Rome, and Europe to the West, and as far as the ancient Middle Kingdom to the Far East. Voluminous rich oral and written traditions focusing on this theme have been disseminated from one culture to another and from one generation to the other. While graduating from high school is a May/June rite of passage for millions of young Americans, August and September are the months associated with yet another post high school coast to coast rite of passage for tens of thousands of college-bound freshmen. For the past 41 years I have witnessed this rite of passage first hand. In his 1890 oil canvas under the title Breaking Home Ties, artist Thomas Hovenden depicts the following scene: a young man, perhaps 16 or 17, is in the center of the canvas whose setting is a late 19th century rural American living/dining room. The young man is being embraced by his mother. Clad in her apron, the mother appears to be signaling her last words of wisdom to her departing son. To the far left is a fireplace above which is a large mantelpiece with period ornaments. A young woman, perhaps an older sibling, is sitting disconsolately with her back to the fireplace; while her left hand (perhaps grasping a handkerchief to wipe her tears) is on her lap, her right hand is positioned lovingly at the base of the family dog’s head. Aware that something out of the ordinary is transpiring, the dog is attentively poised as though he’s ready to spring into action. In the background is a cupboard with one door widely ajar to perhaps signify that a family treasure is about to depart. To the right and sitting at the table is a frail old woman, no doubt the boy’s grandmother, whose stooping frame is an emphatic juxtaposition to the young lad’s pulsating vibrancy. Behind the old woman is an adolescent girl, no doubt the youngest child, waiting her turn to bid her brother tender adieus. Looking in from outside this cozy embryonic setting from which the young man is about to be ejected is a gentleman who appears to be a family friend or the stagecoach driver (he appears to be holding a horse whip). Even though his back is to the viewer, the father, carrying his son’s valise, is perhaps the most important annotation and affirmation that this young man will be cutting his apron strings for good and will soon be catapulted into the adult world on a groundbreaking venture, a sort of archetypal trailblazing quest that one hopes would spearhead him into adulthood. While it is likely that Hovenden’s composition is a statement on the dissolution of small family farms due to the proliferation of the Industrial Revolution in America and the burgeoning urbanization which began in 1820 and increased in crescendo in the late 1800’s, Norman Rockwell’s painting under the same title and with similar overtones, depicts a young lad, a farm boy, heading off to college. In a 1960 statement Rockwell is quoted as having said that his three sons’ attending college and/or joining the military had inspired him to paint Breaking Home Ties in 1953-54, an oil canvas that became the illustration for the September 25, 1954 cover of The Saturday Evening Post. “My three boys had gone away and I had an empty feeling. It took me a while to adjust without them. This poignancy was what I wanted to get across in the picture,” he stated. Commenting about the father, Rockwell stated that “… the father couldn’t show how he felt about the boy’s leaving. The dog did.” While a comparative analysis of the aforementioned compositions’ settings, persona, use of light, color, line, space, and the resonance of the tonal, emotional and historic perspectives are worthy of perusal, my intent is to fast-forward to my 1965 departure from Beirut, Lebanon, to attend college in far-off Arkansas and to draw a parallel between what I’ve been witnessing over the past 41 years when, in 1973, I embarked on an avocation in which I challenge my college students with the following aphorism ( printed at the top of my syllabi): “Some students drink at the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle,” to which I add: “Yet others choke. Which type of student are
you?” For years now I have utilized Rockwell’s iconic Breaking Home Ties during the first week of my Freshman English composition and art appreciation classes. The discussions have focused on the role of and interplay amidst the strikingly rich differences between the animate and inanimate elements in the composition’s telescoping technique, including the father and son’s body language, their facial expressions, and a host of other features. Not only have the discussions served as ice breakers, but they have also contributed to animated discussions thus setting the stage for the first writing assignment the topic of which has been to compare their personal leaving-for-college-experiences to Rockwell’s young chap (an infinitely better topic than the worn out What I Did On My Summer Vacation theme). The framing of an abundance of visual elements in such a compacted space circumscribed by the barely-visible railroad tracks in the foreground, the trunk, lamp, and red bandana to the left, the ancient farm truck in the background, and the dog to the right renders this a forcefully-focused image in which past and future are juxtaposed in a father-son Kodak moment, a moment during which each persona knows that the umbilical cord is about to be permanently severed. These discussions have meandered from one topic to the other and have included the following: How do the visuals help date the composition? Why did trains stop to pick up rural passengers? What time of the day/night is being depicted? Why the lamp and bandana? Is a ticket stub protruding from the suit pocket? What, if anything, do the hats represent (old vs. new; seasoned life experiences vs. youth and inexperience; rural values vs. urban values; educated vs. uneducated)? What about the dog’s demeanor as compared to the father’s blank gaze? Is there any significance to the fact that the father and son are staring in opposite directions (including the variance in their facial expressions)? The father and son’s hands are coarse and leathery; why? And, what will the son’s hands look like in a few short weeks? The lad is holding a delicately wrapped lunch box (with a pink ribbon) no doubt prepared by his loving mother. And finally, what about the father and son’s attires (worn out jeans and boots juxtaposed to an awkward-fitting Montgomery Ward or Sears suit, wing tip shoes and socks)? With $300 in my pocket and all my worldly possessions packed into two suitcases and a carry on, 49 years ago this month I landed in New York City, spent a couple of days with a cousin, a week with my twin brother in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and on to Arkansas fo the longest bust trip in my life. After purchasing a $35 one-way bus ticket I had only $265 dollars left for books and spending money to last me for the entire year. Like many of my generation, a tuition scholarship and campus and off campus employment paid my living and personal expenses. And the dorm into which I moved, three to a room with one set of bunk beds (scarce closet space and a paucity of storage space) meant that learning to share tight quarters turned into learning the art of portioning and accommodation. Privacy in the small rooms and the communal bathroom (showers and toilets) was a rare commodity, for the latter had to be shared with scholar and non-scholar types, as well as rowdy baseball jocks. And the only phone, bolted to the wall, was frequently appropriated by a star pitcher who’d spend hours sweet talking a prospective paramour. The dorm’s front lobby was the communal living room in which scores of students congregated to watch the news and sports events on a small black and white screen. It was also the ideal venue to socialize and to cement life-long friendships. With a deepening involvement in Vietnam and annulled student deferments, students paid careful attention to Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Roger Mudd, and Walter Cronkites’ reporting on the unfolding carnage in Vietnam, the place where, we were repeatedly lied to, “was the place to stop communism before it came to our shores.” And the same old lies have been recycled, over and over again, with newly conjured monsters for enemies. Armed with nickels, dimes and quarters, the lobby phone booth served as the link to family and loved ones, an expensive luxury exercised only on rare occasions. For supplemental income there were always glass Coke bottles redeemed for cash, there were lawns to be mowed, hamburgers to be flipped, pizza and fried chicken to be cooked and served at local fast food stores to hungry patrons from every walk of life. There was a summer job at a Ft. Worth boys’ camp and a 21-day float down the Brazos River; another job was selling a three-volume set of Bible commentaries in Charlotte, NC, a door-to-door sales job I quit in a couple of weeks only because I could not live with the thought that I was peddling spiritual promises for
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material gain to folks who were seduced by my scripted and dramatic sales pitches. The job at a Charlotte tire recapping company (in which temps went up to 130 degrees) taught me perseverance and patience and tested my physical endurance. While Jobs at a local saw mill and a boat factory during the school year were decent paying jobs, that took their toll on my energy, hence adversely affecting my grade point average. And the worst of these jobs was treating electric poles with creosote on back roads and bogs infested with ticks, mosquitoes, copperheads and water moccasins. And, after mastering a better than average barber’s skills, there were was a whole platoon of colleagues signing up for haircuts, especially on Monday and Wednesday nights, so as to be ready for the following day’s ROTC formation inspections. The best job of all was a three-week stint as a model for a boat factory promo brochure; the pay and benefits were great – I mean how many do people get paid for sitting in motor boats or canoes showing off with bikini-clad bodacious co-ed babes skimming the water at varied speeds? And in my senior year I would buy my first car, a high mileage 1961 two-tone white and green Chevrolet Impala (283 8-cylinder engine with a three on the tree stick transmission) whose front seat rocked back and forth because of a malfunctioning spring. At 18 and 20 cents per gallon of gasoline, the $150 invested in this jalopy plus hard work and perseverance helped set me up for the next phase of my life; marriage and graduate school. A kaleidoscope of historic social and political changes and upheavals served as the backdrop for a life-long education beyond the secure and serene confines of our college campus. A deeper and wider involvement in Vietnam; the Watts, Los Angeles, six days of rioting, death and carnage; the Kent State shootings; anti-war demonstrations; the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King; campus sit-ins; the Civil Rights protests; the women’s movement as articulated by Aretha Franklin’s R-E-SP-E-C-T, Gloria Steinem, and Betty Friedan’s voices; the Beatles; the counter culture with its draft-card burnings powered by peace signs and flower decals; Woodstock; and, with the landmark publication of Rachel Carson’s The World Around Us, a new awareness about the delicate balance between man and his environment emerged. Which brings me to the following: today’s college students arrive on campus in a caravan of parentdriven monstrous SUVs and extended-cabin pick-up lorries loaded with “stuff.” They move into fancy condominium-style wall-to-wall carpeted bedrooms that flank spacious kitchenetted living areas . A whole morning or afternoon might be spent hauling refrigerators, super-sized flat screen tellies, an arsenal of electronic gadgetry (including — for sure — X-boxes), reclining chairs, fancy bed coverings with matching drapes, suitcases-full of attire in every color and style, including an assortment of shoes for every occasion and non-occasion, and sufficient worldly goods befitting a luxurious lifestyle such as no generation had previously fancied. Mothers and fathers accompany their children into dorm rooms and spend hours helping set things up for their progeny. Agonizing over their children’s breakaway from home some heretofore Soccer-Mom-empty- nesters might very well turn into helicopter moms. This is, after all, the American way. Parents seem to always want their children to have more than they did, such as brand new cars, credit and debit cards, plenty of cash on demand, and 24/7 phone, text, and Facebook communication detailing every moment of every hour, of every day, of every month — of the year. And for social and political backdrops these young people live in an insular world removed from some serious issues facing this nation. These include an anemic economy; climate change; political corruption, especially at the national level; social unrest such as Ferguson, Missouri (not unlike the Watts riots); wars that are raging, unabated, in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe; droning entire families out of existence and justifying these attacks as an aberrant example of American exceptionalism; Big Brother’s monitoring our every move; militarized police forces; a polarized nation (and world) where ideology trumps good judgment and harmony; and a world in which corporations are bailed out for the sin of transgressing against the weak and are rewarded by having the Supremes declare them to be individuals, just like the rest of us common folk. Each generation has met the challenges thrown at them by the inevitable and unforeseen forces. And, while I have faith this new generation will meet the challenges it will have to face by discovering new and hopefully better paradigms, I am certainly glad that my send-off into the real world occurred in August of 1965, 49 years ago to the day, the month, and the year.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, September 18, 2014
“If I have a student come up to me after a show and tell me that they feel as if they’ve grown in their craft from doing what they did, that’s great. If that happens, I’ve done my job.” - Dan Inouye
Emily Terry z The Signal PROFESSOR INOUYE instructs castmembers of “The Giver” before beginning the nightly rehearsal. Inouye has directed several plays since being at Ouachita. His most recent project is the stage production of “The Giver,” which opens in Verser Theater Sept. 25. OBU students receive a free ticket with their student ID. For tickets, contact the box office at www.obu.edu/boxoffice, visit the box office or call 870.245.5555 weekdays from 1-5 p.m.
Dan Inouye: Creater of Worlds
Professor of theatre arts and director of “The Giver” enjoys telling stories through the stage
By NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor
“I
@Hutch15
t was at the part where they gouged his eyes out,” said Dan Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts. “Here I am, in the sixth grade, watching this moment and there’s a pool of blood on the stage. They go to a black out, and while everything else is going dark, there was this one shaft of light shining down on the pool of blood that faded out slower than anything else. It was mesmerizing to me! How did they get that kind of response from me? It was right there that I knew I had to get involved in this.” That moment, in a production of “King Lear,” was what Inouye says made him want to become a director. He wanted to produce something that would have the same “mesmerizing” effect on someone else as that show had on him. In his time directing in Chicago, New York and more recently here at OBU, he thinks he’s done exactly what he set out to do. “I did a production called ‘Crowns,’” Inouye said. “And at the time there was a lot of racial tension in the community I was living in. We specifically picked the show because we wanted to do something that might bridge the gap, since our audience was a little too white at the time. My favorite moment was after the show was done, this little old black lady comes up and starts telling our lead, this huge black man who was a well-known pastor, how much she liked the show. Well, as soon as he introduced me to her and told her that I was the director, she stopped dead in her tracks, looked at me for a moment and said, ‘But you’re white.’” That’s what Inouye says that he loves about directing. He, coming from a completely different background from any of the actors or characters, helped tell a story without letting his own experiences get in the way. In fact, Inouye says that when he directs, he thinks that giving his actors the freedom they need to
bring their characters to life is the best way to get things done. “Part of being a good director is getting everybody else behind your vision,” Inouye said. “A lot of it is delegating. If I tried to do everything, there’s no way it would all come together. I think the best directors are those that communicate effectively in order to inspire the people around them to do their best work. If I have a student come up to me after a show and tell me that they feel as if they’ve grown in their craft from doing what they did, that’s great. If that happens, I’ve done my job.” Inouye also says that personal glory isn’t part of his motivation. According to him, the show is it’s own individual thing, and he’s just there to tell it what to do. He says that at the end of the day, one of the biggest parts of what makes it all worthwhile is the audience. “For me, there’s never that moment where I have the response of, ‘I’m good,’” Inouye said. “For me, it’s just about the show doing what I want it to do. Now, whenever I’m at my shows, I don’t even watch them. I watch the audience. I want to know how they’re responding to the show. For me, it’s all about that ‘aha’ moment where I can see the crowd get excited. And that moment isn’t something that’s just for me. It’s for the technicians, it’s for the designers, it’s for the actors – we all have our hand in that.” Inouye said that out of all the shows he’s ever done at Ouachita, the big audience reac-
tion that sticks out the most in his head happened in “The Crane Wife.” “The big reveal in ‘The Crane Wife,’ where you find out that the wife was really the crane, got a great reaction,” Inouye said. “There was just such a tender moment where she was saying goodbye to him, because the magic was broken and she couldn’t stay with him anymore. Just watching my audience deal with that moment of loss was incredibly strong. One of the strongest moments I’ve seen recently.” Inouye says that he’s predisposed to be a director. He tried acting in his younger years and said that he actually liked it, but according to him, directing has always been his passion. “I get a stronger sense of enjoyment from directing than I do from acting,” Inouye said. “I’ve got a very clear connection with it. I like to create worlds. That’s what I’m doing when I direct a play - creating a world for my actors to come and play around in. And I like to tell stories. If I can have my audience members leave the theater talking about my story, I’ve achieved my goal.” Over the course of his time at OBU, Inouye has made his best effort to do what he loves to the best of his ability: tell stories and make people feel. For those looking to have that experience, his upcoming show “The Giver” hits the stage Sept. 25. He invites anyone interested to come, watch the show and potentially experience a few of those emotional moments that he strives to create. n
“I like to create worlds. That’s what I’m doing when I direct
a play - creating a world
for my actors to come and
play around in. And I like to tell stories. If I can have my audience members leave
the theater talking about my
story, I’ve achieved my goal.”
Ready for Tiger Tunes 2014? Get your Tunes face in tip-top shape and re-live the excitement of Tunes’ 35th anniversary by watching #Tunescast2013 between all those practices.
(...we thought so)
Couldn’t get tickets? Family live far away and can’t come? Have nothing to do Saturday night during Tiger Tunes? Join us at www.obusignal.com for a LIVE feed of the final performance. We call it #Tunescast2014.
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Thursday, September 18, 2014
Sideline view of history BY: CAMERON ALEXANDER Staff Writer
Dr. Wesley Kluck y Courtesy
“ We take care of each other...we always pick each other up. We have to do everything together. “ -Kris Oliver
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Hometown Heroes take Ouachita BY: HANNA DEAN Staff Writer @HannaPreslea When you ask college students from out of town to describe Arkadelphia, you get many of the same responses: small, plenty of mexican restaurants, home to two colleges that are the biggest rivals in Arkansas and 45 minutes away from Hot Springs. But when you really think about it, there’s much more to this small town. The Bluff. The Rock. Lake DeGray. Some of God’s most beautiful creations are located in this town. And we can’t forget about the people that are the reason for Arkadelphia’s motto, “It’s a Great Place to Call Home!”. Ouachita is privileged to have so many students enrolled that have actually been born and raised here in Arkadelphia. Just this past year, three students from Arkadelphia High School signed with Ouachita to play football. So, what is the significance? These three men have been through every aspect of life together for the past 18 years. Now, they get to continue to develop that relationship alongside one another on the field of Cliff Harris Stadium. So, who are these new Ti-
gers? Let me introduce to you the “Hometown Heroes” Jahlon Mitchell, Jakahari Howell and Kris Oliver. Since peewee league, the trio grew up playing football, baseball and basketball together. “Coming up from kindergarten, we’ve always been together,” Mitchell said. “We used to always play on the same team and play against each other. Good competition against each other, stuff like that.” They weren’t the only ones to notice the strong bond they had developed. “Throughout their years at Arkadelphia, they were like brothers,” Spencer Knight said. “They played three sports together and were pretty much inseparable. You hardly saw one without the other.” Since high school, Mitchell, Howell and Oliver all had their sights set on OBU. They each were well-acquainted with Coach Knight since they grew up alongside his sons, Spencer and Jake. “We kind of knew, because Coach Knight would always talk to us before we ever started the recruiting process in like 9th or 10th grade,” Howell said. “He would say, ‘You guys are gonna be on my recruiting list pretty soon.’” And they definitely made it on the list. The three signed
in early February to officially play football for Ouachita Baptist University. “I was excited,” Mitchell said. “To be able to play college football is probably every kid’s dream. Just something you can’t say you do every day, so I’m just blessed to be able to.” Along with their passion for the game comes high hopes for the upcoming seasons. “We are expecting really good things,” Oliver said. “We don’t feel like we can be stopped already.” While Oliver and Howell are stationed as running back and wide receiver on offense, Mitchell is a linebacker for the Tigers. “I think we all could do something good for each side of the ball,” Mitchell said. “They’re really good players on offense. They can do some good things. I’m looking forward to some good things out of all three of us.” But their physical ability is not the only thing that will lead these three to success. “I think they all three will contribute great talent and athleticism, and even more important than that, their great attitudes and work ethic that has been instilled in them through their time at AHS under Coach J.R. Eldridge,” Knight said. Their faith has also played a
huge role in the way they play the game. “Without God, I don’t have anything,” Mitchell stated. “Without the ability that He gives me, I can’t do anything. So, I just try to play and have fun like he would want me to do.” The three encourage each other, build each other up and, with each of them coming out of Badger stadium, hopes are high that Arkadelphia fans will follow. “I do expect there to be a lot more local interest in Ouachita football and baseball really, because we have a few baseball players as well, and Jahkari is playing both,” Chris Babb, Athletic Director of Arkadelphia High School, stated. “I expect there to be a few more Arkadelphia folks come out and watch, which is always good I think.” It is not often you see three men grow up learning to walk together, play ball together, and signing for the same college football team together. So, believe me when I say, these three will be a sight to see in the upcoming seasons. “We feel like we are brothers at times,” Oliver said. “We take care of each other. If one of us is struggling, we always pick each other up. We have to do everything together.” n
My first football game at Ouachita was one of the most historical events in OBU Tiger history. We played the first game in the glorious new Cliff Harris Stadium on September 13th at six in the afternoon. The crowd had a untamed intensity that was simply unbelievable. I am a freshman at OBU, and I am being redshirted this year. This gave me a spot on the sideline at Ouachita’s historic game versus the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. It was an exhilarating moment in my life! It is great to be a member on a team whose tradition is incomparable to any other school its size. That night at the game was simply awesome. I was right on the sideline when Steve Keener exploded for a long touchdown run, and I saw Brandon Marks dive into the touchdown for another score. These guys are my teammates, and it is extremely exciting to see them succeed on a stage that big with that much pressure. My first game as a Tiger was an excellent experience. Even though I was not playing in the game; I was on a team that made history. We dedicated Cliff Harris Stadium and honored Cliff Harris by getting a victory on the game field that night. This is the first win in the new stadium, and it is a memory that I will cherish and never forget. I hope all the games at OBU bring this type of excitement to our team, school and community. This year is all about Finishing Empty, and if we do that as Tigers we will have an amazing first year in our new home of Cliff Harris Stadium. n Editor’s Note: Cameron is the newest writer to our sports writing team. He is a native of Nashville, Arkansas and is on the football team. Cameron will cover mostly column writing and the occasional feature.
Volleyball gets conference win against TAMUC BY: DIXON LAND Sports Editor @dixoncland The Ouachita Lady Tigers defeated the Texas A&M Commerce by a score of 3-2 sets Wednesday. Kori Bullard led the team in Kills-Aces-Blocks with 13-0-6. Kelley Ballard also added 10-0-4. The action started with a TAMUC five point surge to start the first set. Kelley Ballard and Sydney Reyes both scored to end the TAMUC drive to make the score 3-5. With a 16-13 deficit in the first set, the Lady Tigers went on a 7-0 scoring drive. the drive was marked by Kelley Ballard, who scored six of the seven points. The Tigers would then respond to a TAMUC point, by scoring five of the next six points to win the set 25-18. In the second set, the Tigers got off to a good start. keeping the score tied at three. TAMUC went on a run afterwards though, scoring eight of the next ten points. After substitutions, the Tigers then scored twice, making the score, 9-7 on a kill from Chelsey Hess and then another one from Keely Howk. TAMUC answered on three scores, two from Veronika Baric. With those three scores, TAMUC increased their lead to five points. After a Keely Howk kill, the Lady Tigers scored four of the next six points, they trailed by just a point with a score of 13-12. TAMUC scored five of the next seven points and would go on to find themselves ahead 22 to 15. Ouachita would answer, going on a six point, unanswered run, marked by kills by Kelley Ballard, Tara Wait and Keely Howk. After the run, the Tigers were just one point behind. However, TAMU would pull away, scoring three points with a Ouachita point sandwiched in, winning the set by a final score of 25-22. In set three, the Lady Tigers would get back
Dr. Wesley Kluck y Courtesy
to where they were in the first set. Kelley Ballard would get another kill early on, along with kills by Abby Pickett and Jayme Shell. Early on, the Lady Tigers were ahead 5-4. With a 9-7 lead, the Lady Tigers would score three straight points off an attack error by TAMUC and two kills, one by Kori Bullard and the other by Julie Stanley. TAMUC would respond with four points of their
own, scoring off of two kills by Baric and two attack errors. After a Ouachita timeout, the score was even at 12. TAMUC would take three of the next four, going up 15-13. Ouachita would respond with four points of their own, going up 18-16. The Lady Tigers would go on to win the set and take a 2-1 lead. In the fourth set, down 17-8, the Lady Tigers took a timeout. Following the timeout, the Tigers scored consecutive points to get back in the game; however they came up just short, falling 25-19 in the fourth set, bringing the score to 2-2 going into the final set of the night. In a thrilling fifth set, the Lady Tigers would put the nail in the coffin late. Down 3-4, Anna Letourneau scored on an Ace following a service error and an attack error by TAMUC. With TAMUC up 12-11, the Lady Tigers rallied, scoring off three attack errors to take the lead 15-14. A kill by TAMUC’s Baric tied the game up at 15. Following that, Tara Wait got a kill and after subs, Kelly Ballard got the final kill on an assist by Wait to give the Lady Tigers the overall win in five sets. Kori Bullard led the team with 13 kills. Kelley Ballard and Tara Wait tied for second with 10 kills a piece. Kelly Ballard had 12 points and Kori Bullard had 16.5 points. Abby Pickett grabbed 10.5 points as well. Tara Wait led the team in Asssits with 39. jayme Shell got 21 digs and Ashley Wake had 20. Chelsey Hess also added 16 digs to a total of 93 digs on the night. The Lady Tigers had their best attacking set in the final one, having a 33% attacking average. There were 14 total lead changes, with seven of those coming in the third period. In that same period, there were 11 tied scores throughout the set. Nine tied scores came in the fifth set. The Lady Tigers improve to 7-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference. They will play at Henderson State next Tuesday. The first set is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. n