The Signal | Ouachita Baptist University | 12.1.17 by OBU Signal

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12.1.17

Vol. 126, Issue 12

SINCE 1890 FEATURES | 3

CHRISTMAS AT OUACHITA Campus celebrates with various holiday traditions

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School of Fine Arts to present annual “Festival of Christmas” By SAVANNAH HOGG Staff writer

The holidays are here, and that means it’s time for a performance that you won’t just feel inclined to attend for Arts Engagement Credit, but a show will get you into the Christmas Spirit. Festival of Christmas is one of Ouachita’s most popular holiday traditions, because what better represents Christmas than watching your fellow students run around in tacky Christmas sweaters while singing about the birth of Jesus? This is the 25th anniversary of not only Festival of Christmas, but also of the construction of Jones Performing Arts Center. In order to celebrate both of these anniversaries, the theme for FOC this year is “A Festival of Christmas: Celebrating 25 Years of Joy.” Dr. Gary Gerber, the director of choral activities and chair of the music division, says his goal for Festival of Christmas is for “the audience to experience the immense talent that Ouachita possesses in the School of Fine Arts. Our students are

very talented and enjoy performing. This particular show not only represents that talent, but also the building for which it is performed in each year.” The students have been working very hard to prepare for this performance, and have been putting countless hours into learning and perfecting their music all of the fall semester. The week of the production includes nightly practice for around four hours, and it all ends up being worth it. Performer Jhonika Wright says her favorite part is “watching it all come together. The music has been learned and is ready to be sung at the show. There’s just something about all of us being on JPAC stage this week that makes you feel accomplished about what you’ve been working towards all semester.” The show includes numbers performed by Ouachita’s Concert Choir, Ouachita Sounds, Women’s Chorus, Ouachita Singers and Ouachita Honor Choir, which is full of children from the Arkadelphia community. There will also be a pit orchestra and an appearance by the Ouachita Handbell Ringers. The first half of the

Andy Henderson z Photo Lab SENIOR MUSICAL THEATRE MAJOR MICHAEL PERE performs in last year’s Festival of Christmas production. The show celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and features performances by the Concert Choir, Ouachita Sounds, Women’s Chorus, Ouachita Singers and the Ouachita Honor Choir.

show usually consists of the classic secular songs such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The second half of the show will switch gears into the more traditional religious songs like “Breath of Heaven” and “O Holy Night.”

OBU RecLife to host “Christmas Climbing Party” at climbing center

Gerber’s favorite part of FOC is “watching the students perform and share their talent with the audience. They are a joy to work with and bring a special joy and appreciation to the effort that other faculty and I put into this production.” Overall, the students are excited to share one of their favorite productions and can’t wait

OBU Theatre Department to stage student-directed One Act Plays

By KACY SPEARS Staff writer

By MORGAN HOWARD Staff writer

This year, RecLife is bringing the Christmas cheer to the climbing center with a Christmas Climbing Party on Friday, December 8 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Ouachita Climbing Center. “The Christmas Climbing Party is a chance for all students to celebrate Christmas and have fun climbing together,” said Shane Seaton, Director of Recreation Life at Ouachita. “The Climbing Center will be open on a Friday night when they are normally closed.” The event is free, and allows students “access to the climbing center when it is normally closed,” Seaton said. “There will be snacks and hot drinks to fill us with Christmas cheer. I have even been working with the big man up North to get one of his workers to stop by with some stocking stuffers to give away. We will probably try out some crate stacking as well, which is something that is difficult to describe, but a of fun to try!” No registration is needed to enjoy this event. This winter break, RecLife is venturing to HoneyRock, a camp in Northern Wisconsin, which is owned by Wheaton College, where Seaton received his Master’s Degree. They will leave campus on January 7, 2018 and return January 13. “While there, I learned about all of the great winter activities there are to do besides downhill skiing,” said Seaton. “We will be tubing, cross-country skiing, ice

OBU’s theatre department will present student-directed one act plays on Thursday, December 7 at 7:30. The event will include seven different plays, each directed by a different senior theatre student. This semester’s directors are Mattie Alexander, Chris Baggett, Nadalie Gill, Jacob Hemsath, Andrew Martin, Will Stotts and Anna Joie Valdez. Although these plays are relatively short, a great deal of work goes into producing them. “First, we read a whole bunch of plays. I believe I read about 20 one acts and looked through many more,” said Nadalie Gill, a senior theatre major from Price, Texas. “During our Play Directing class we would also prep with exercises that better equipped us for the actual staging of our shows. Once the show is picked, in depth research about the show and breaking down of the script begins. All of this leads into casting for the show and starting the rehearsals. Now it has been a process of coordinating with actors and designers to bring it all to life!” Even choosing plays can be somewhat difficult. “We had to read a bunch of plays and figure out which one we actually wanted to put onstage,” said Chris Baggett, a senior theatre major from Maumelle, Arkansas. “We had to choose one that meant a lot to us.” After the directors pick their plays, they must figure

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RecLife z Courtesy RECLIFE DIRECTOR SHANE SEATON sports a festive costume during last year’s Christmas Climbing Party.

skating, playing broomball, snowshoeing frozen lakes, and horseback riding just to name a few things.” Attendees will be staying in comfortable cabins at HoneyRock and dining in their dining hall and lodge. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have a campfire on a frozen lake and enjoy fellowship with one another. On this winter excursion, students will have the opportunity to meet and engage with an OBU alumna, Faith Reed, at the K-Life House in St. Louis, where they will be staying the night on their way to Wisconsin. Registration is now closed for the Snow Retreat. However, if you didn’t get the chance to sign up for the Snow Retreat, RecLife is cur-

rently planning events next semester. In their lineup is the annual Rockfest Climbing Competition, where students get sorted based on their climbing skill and compete for prizes. More information will be sent to students closer to registration. “We will have some day hiking trips but we have not decided on a location for those,” said Seaton. “As it warms up, we will have a backpacking trip and the ever-popular canoe trip. We also hope to have several mountain biking trips throughout the semester.” RecLife is also working to plan a spring break trip. For more information on the Christmas Climbing Party and RecLife, contact Shane Seaton at seatons@obu.edu or visit obu.edu/reclife. n

for you to see their sweaters that they all worked so hard to find! Festival of Christmas performances take place today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be bought online or through the JPAC Box Office, and students receive one free ticket with their student ID. n

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out how to bring their visions to life. “First, I had to block out the show. I couldn’t just get onstage and tell the actors to do it organically—all the movements need to be exact. It’s told in a storytelling format, not just the actors interacting, so that was definitely a challenge. I took my binder and script and I have a diagram and drew out each movement I wanted for my actors on a separate sheet,” said Mattie Alexander, a senior theatre major from Midwest City, Oklahoma. “I also took a look at props and costumes and set design, and try to piece it together.” One acts also provide a way for students to get involved as actors and crew members. “I want the actors to work hard and do a lot of memorization and work well with another person,” Baggett said. “I especially want them to enjoy it.” Directors often choose plays that directly relate to their personal interests. Given the freedom to choose which story they tell, they choose one that seems the most impactful. “My play is about a circus, and I’ve always been fascinated with circuses. I’ve even dabbled in circus arts. That’s something I’ve always enjoyed learning about,” Alexander said. “Circuses are so mysterious—they pop up for a day, they come and perform these amazing feats and then they’re gone in a couple of hours. We’ve lost that circus tradition. We’ve transitioned to cirque now, see Theatre z 2

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NEWS

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thisTweets weekzCALENDAR of the Week Danny Hays @Haysdanny 15 Apr I love my job. I get to study God’s word & then teach it to eager college students who love the Lord. It’s a great job. Even on Mondays.

FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS A SERVICE OF LESSONS will be presented tonight, AND CAROLS will take place in December 1 and tomorrow McBeth Recital Hall on Tuesday, night, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. December 5 at 7:30 p.m. The Students get one free ticket concert is free15and OBU @Ouachita Apr open to the with So valid student ID. Individual public. For more information, how do you use social media -- to affirm and encourage tickets can be purchased in the contact Dr. Rob Hewell at or to attack and tear doen? “Be ye kind to one another.” box (Eph. office4:32). for $12. hewellr@obu.edu. Hmmm... STEEL DRUM@JustinYoung072 CONCERT ONE ACTS will be Thursday, Justin Young 16 Apr will be at McBeth Recital Hall December 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Harley Davidson leather vest must be the key to on The Monday, December 4 at Verser Theatre. Students may memorizing the entire Bible. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free and get one free ticket using a valid open to the public. For more Ouachita student ID. information, contact Dr. Gary Gerber at gerberg@obu.edu.

The Signal @obusignal 1 December Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up-to-the-minute updates on everything going on around Ouachita Baptist. Twitter: @obusignal Facebook: facebook.com/obusignal Instagram: @obusignal

TOP

Best Christmas movies

5 4 3 2 1

from your perspective

Mary Beth Jones Junior

“Stainless steel drinking straws.”

“A new guitar.”

Elf National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation White Christmas A Christmas Story It’s a Wonderful Life

What’s on your Christmas list?

Sarah Fish Senior

Mary Grace Hill Junior

“Reindeer antlers for my dog and money to pay rent.”

“Jumper cables and an air conditioner to keep in my car.”

Michael Carter Senior

Tyler Duncan Sophomore

“To be adopted by Dr. Wink.”

Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society sponsors door decorating contest By KATIE KEMP Editor-in-chief

Ouachita’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the national education honor society, recently sponsored its annual Christmas door decorating contest. Education students were invited to team up in groups of 4 to decorate a door on the third floor of McClellan, where the education department is housed, with a Christmas theme. After they signed up, teams were assigned a door and given time to decorate their allotted space from November 1 to 15. Doors were judged by education department faculty on November 15, and winners of the contest were

Theatre

z Continued from Page 1 which is definitely an improvement, but we’ve kind of lost what the circus was. I also enjoy the stories of animals. I love learning about how we can improve the lives of animals. It’s a story that needs to be told.” Ultimately, one acts serve as the culmination of everything these seniors have learned during their time at OBU. “Directing has taught me

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announced on November 17. Winners were senior music education Ashley Lovely, senior music education major Rachel Clifton and senior education major Nick Gibson. Their door was inspired by “The Polar Express” and featured the film’s famous train. Christmas movies were a common theme among entries, with doors inspired by “Elf,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and more. According to Kappa Delta Pi’s website, the organization strives to “advance quality education by inspiring teachers to prepare all learners for future challenges.” For more information on Kappa Delta Pi and the education department, contact Dr. Kathy Collins at collinsk@obu.edu. n so much about leadership in the theatre world and about keeping a level head,” Gill said. “It challenges one to not only look at a show and think about it from an actor’s perspective but also from the stage manager’s, set designer’s, costumer’s, and so on. It has felt like a test of all the things I have been learning these past four years in the theatre department.” For tickets or more information, visit the box office in Verser Theatre. n

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Friday during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Hope Star.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via e-mail to signal@obu.edu.

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Andy Henderson z Photo Lab EMILY WEEDEN (from left), Clay Mobley and Libby Villegas perform with Ouachita Sounds in last year’s Festival of Christmas production. This year’s Festival of Christmas will take place tonight, December 1, and tomorrow, December 2.

December brings favorite traditions back to campus By ANNI WILLIAMS Staff writer

It’s Christmas time at Ouachita. As trees, ornaments, wreaths and ribbons bedeck prominent spaces all over campus, students are preparing for different Ouachita Christmas traditions. As the final weeks of the fall semester go by, be sure to take the time to celebrate Christmas at Ouachita. Between the Speechie tree lighting, the CAB Christmas Party and Festival of Christmas, there are plenty of festive activities to engage in before the start of Christmas break. The first Ouachita event of this holiday season happened last night with the Speechie tree lighting. The annual Speechie tree lighting is an event hosted by the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. According to senior communication sciences and disorders major and Speechie Bethany Long, “it is a fun way to start the Christmas celebrations on campus!” The tree is a special one– it comes from the backyard of Dr. Nancy Hardman, the head of the CMDS program. Hardman and her husband have participated in the tradition for years. “I enjoy getting to spend time with my classmates outside of the classroom and put on this fun event together. We really are like a family, and it is so fun to come together and show people who we are,” Long said. One of the most wellknown Ouachita traditions during the Christmas season is the Festival of Christmas performance, which will occur Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. The production features several of Ouachita’s vocal ensembles performing classic Christmas songs as well as holiday songs the audience may not be familiar with. This year’s show commemorates 25 years since the first Festival of Christmas, and several elements of the production allude to the 25th anniversary. “(Festival of Christmas is) a big Christmas concert that involves all of our choirs singing Christmas tunes. We have dancers performing while the choirs sing, and actors that help add to the Christmas storytelling. In the second half is a selection of sacred Christmas tunes to worship the new born King,” said Jacob Hemsath, a senior musical theatre major and

a performer in Festival of Christmas. Another Festival of Christmas performer, junior musical theatre major Zach Myers, sees it as a time to “help usher in the Christmas season with traditional and some newer music. It’s always a fun time, and families come from all over to experience it.” Viewers can expect all styles of Christmas music and performance–the choise will perform Christmas songs new and old. There will also be a variety of different performance styles displayed, as a dance troupe, an acapella group and more will be part of the event. “Students should definitely come because it’s just a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. Students should participate if they want a unique performing experience. There are so many things to be involved with,” said Dylan Blackwood, a sophomore musical theatre major and performer in Festival of Christmas. Hemsath agreed, saying “it has something for everyone, and who doesn't love Christmas?” To Myers, the Festival of Christmas is “singing, dancing, and the reminder of the true meaning of Christmas… The student body should just know that it’s going to be a lot of fun and very entertaining!” Myers also stressed that students can use their student ID to redeem a free ticket to Festival of Christmas, and it’s an opportunity that should be taken advantage of. The production serves not only as a cherished Ouachita Christmas tradition, but also a nice break from the stress of impending finals and a festive celebration to ring in the holiday season. “I always tear up during ‘Mary Did You Know.’ It’s always moving to see the manger scene, and it really transports you back and reminds you what happened in a small town in Bethlehem all those years ago,” Myers said. Another anticipated Ouachita Christmas tradition is the annual Campus Activities Christmas party. It will be held on Tuesday, December 5 at 8:30 p.m. in the Evans Student Center Lobby and will include Christmas traditions such as decorating cookies, the reading of classic Christmas stories, photos with Santa and a White Elephant Gift Exchange. The party serves as an informal time for students from across campus to take some time to get into the holiday spirit in the midst of the last few weeks of the semester. If Festival of Christmas

Kelsey Blackmon yz Photo Lab

Danielle Droste yz Photo Lab

Kelsey Blackmon yz Photo Lab TOP: Students gather for the annual Speechie Christmas Tree lighting. MIDDLE: Vice President for Community and International Engagement Ian Cosh reads a scripture exceprt at last year’s Service of Lessons and Carols. BOTTOM: Sophomore Caleb Byrd hands Senior Haley Jo Wesson textbooks for the Speechie’s book drive at last year’s tree lighting.

doesn't satiate your Christmas music craving, A Service of Lessons and Carols will take place Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. The annual service features various scripture readings followed by corresponding carols that

reflect Advent or Christmas themes. The evening will feature selections by Ouachita’s Women’s Chorus, Ouachita Singers and the Ouachita Handbell Ringers, as well as some congregational hymns. While it's easy to get caught up in the stress and

chaos of the last few weeks of the semester, it's important to remember the reason we celebrate the holiday season. There's something truly special about the holiday season, and it's even more special when it’s celebrated at Ouachita.n

LIFESTYLE

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Disney Pixar’s Coco: Another success from the creative studio By WILL JOHNSON Staff writer

“Coco” focuses on the Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, in a charming addition to the successful Pixar Animation Studios movie history. Pixar reveals the value of family through a young boy’s epic adventure to the Land of the Dead. The 12-year-old boy, Miguel, enjoys playing music and listening to his deceased idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Faced with the conflict of living with a shoemaking family that has banned music, Miguel must find ways to play music elsewhere. He stumbles upon a flyer for an upcoming talent show, but cannot perform without a musical instrument. Miguel then decides to steal Ernesto’s legendary guitar for the performance, regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately, the consequences are severe, as Miguel discovers he is suddenly invisible to other humans. As punishment, Miguel is sent to the Land of the Dead, where his dead relatives wander as skeletal figures. Miguel’s curse confines him into the spirit world, trapped

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until he receives a blessing from one of his deceased relatives. The challenge brings forth a spectacular, yet mysterious adventure for the young boy to discover. “Coco” does a brilliant job of identifying the movie’s purpose throughout the film. The storyline captures the importance of family not only through motivation (and sometimes stubbornness) from the protagonist, but also relationship with supporting characters. Whether it be Miguel’s relatives, alive or deceased, or other characters met along the way, each person adds depth to an important topic of family. Miguel’s

desire to perform songs stands in the way of his family’s strict rules against music of any kind. “Coco” correctly acknowledges the difficulty of choosing between family and personal desires from multiple character perspectives. Naturally expected at this point from Pixar, the film reveals an emotional allure for particular characters and scenes. Pixar never fails to deliver tear-jerking or heartwarming moments, such as when Andy leaves for college in “Toy Story 3,” the barracuda attack in “Finding Nemo” or the entire opening montage in “Up,” and

“Coco” provides a few heartening moments of its own. Pixar’s more critically successful films seem to present an emotional depth that the studio’s less effective films have desired. Miguel’s once broken but later restored relationship with his family encourages a sensitive ending that could be foreseen by viewers, but still concludes powerfully. A musical film such as “Coco” requires a soundtrack that gives off a cultural charm. From “Remember Me” to “Un Poco Loco,” each scene fills the theater with captivating music. Of all Pixar’s animated films, “Coco” most

prominently needs a strong musical score to enhance the viewing experience. Though the mariachi soundtrack is a central piece in this kind of movie, the enchanting cinematography brought life to a “dead” setting. Once Miguel reaches the Land of the Dead, the film produces a multitude of wide, lively shots of skyscrapers and the orangepetal bridge. The afterlife environment feels identical to reality, yet creatively twisted with fantasy. The cinematography certainly is a spectacle to observe. Initially, Pixar focused on original films, such as “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story” and “Monsters, Inc.” to name just a few. Aside from the successful sequel “Toy Story 2,” Pixar avoided creating any follow-up movies for nearly 15 years; however, since 2010, Pixar has released five sequels with more in the making. These films have generated mostly mixed reviews, but continue to perform well in the box office. “Coco” brought back the magic of animation through its beautifully crafted soundtrack and fascinating protagonist, while also demonstrating what Pixar can still do with an original idea. n

Netflix’s Ozark: A dark and What we’re reading: “Every Thing On It” a Shel Silverstein masterpiece enjoyable crime drama By MICHAEL RICHARDSON Staff writer

“Ozark” follows the story of Marty Byrde and his family. On the outside, everything seems fairly normal and basic for the Byrde family. Marty is a self-employed financial advisor. His wife, Wendy, is a former realtor turned stayat-home mom. His daughter Charlotte is the basic rebellious 15-year-old girl, and his son Jonah is a strange kid and a loner. However, not everything is as it seems for this family. The mother is in an adulterous relationship with their lawyer, and Marty launders money for the Mexican drug cartel. So yeah, not so normal after all. The show follows the family as they move from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks after it is found that Marty’s business partner lost some of the cartel’s money. In a last-ditch effort to save the life of him and his family, he convinces the cartel representative that there is plenty of money to be made in the Ozarks. Marty quickly uproots his family, and they all move to the Missouri Ozarks. This show does a few things very well. The threat feels very real and you feel like Marty really knows what he is doing. When a problem arises, Marty is able to look at it with a business mindset and analyze the best way to come about a solution. The acting of Jason Bateman, who plays Marty Byrde, is fantastic., and you can feel the tension between him and his wife Wendy, played by Laura Linney, when they talk. It is believable. Things are not just peachy between the characters despite their common goal to protect their family. Things are tense. They are raw. There is a lot of hurt within Marty’s character and a lack of trust because of her unfaithfulness. Now, one big criticism I see by many reviewers is that it just feels like Breaking Bad in the mountains. It is an understandable criticism based on the two shows’ parallels and similarities. However, I

do not fully agree with that critique. In Breaking Bad, Walt is the cook turned drug-lord. You watch his character become deeper and deeper involved in the drug trade, as well as watch him turn to a cruel and horrible person whose downfall you root for. In Ozark, Marty is already involved with the drug trade, and has been for years, but only as a money launderer. He isn’t completely morally bankrupt; however, he is not a saint either. He is more than willing to purchase businesses and run drug money through it to “clean it” without people’s knowledge; however, he does not want to endanger or see people destroyed. Some of my favorite parts of the show are some of the villains, specifically the opium farmers. They’re both cruel and malicious, but come off with a nice southern charm and hospitality. These people have zero issue with offing anyone that stands in their way, with just as much ease as the Mexican drug cartel Marty works for. While some of the characters are very easy to enjoy, like watching the development of Julia Garner’s character, Ruth Langmore, and even getting to know the strange character of Buddy Dyker, the terminally ill tenant who lives with the Byrde family; other characters are a little more unnerving. FBI agent Roy Petty is one in particular. He is willing to do anything and use anyone to obtain his goal. Despite being one of the “good guys” for working on the right side of the law, he is in no way a good man. However, that character depth and level of duality within many of the characters to me is what makes Ozark so intriguing as a show. It may not be a perfect show, but it is a more than enjoyable watch if you enjoy dark, crime dramas, or are looking for a story that will keep you on your toes. I look forward to the seasons to come and to seeing more of the Byrde family. n

By CATHERINE LYP Staff writer

As college students, most of us tend to read books meant for our age group, but by doing so, we miss out on some of the most imaginative and interesting literature. One such book that I feel is underappreciated is “Every Thing On It” by Shel Silverstein. “Every Thing On It” is a book of poems and illustrations by Silverstein, who has written several other books in this format, including “A Light in the Attic,” “Falling Up,” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” Each is filled with poems ranging from a short stanza to a three-page poem, all accompanied by a drawing. The poems themselves follow a range of subjects, from the silly to the heartfelt to the deeply fantastical. My favorite poem by Silverstein is “Picture Puzzle Piece” from “A Light in the Attic.” The poem begins with a single puzzle piece laying on the sidewalk, but then it continues into the various possible pictures that could have been made by the contribution of the puzzle piece. In the end, Silverstein finishes the poem by stating that nothing has more possibilities than an old, wet puzzle piece. While many of his poems are silly or without deeper meaning, I think that “Picture Puzzle Piece” is one of the few that could mean more. The poem means that no matter how difficult of a situation you’re in, similar to that of an old, soggy puzzle piece on the side of the road, there are a thousand possibilities and infinite potential for things to get better. While this particular poem does not have an accompanying illustration,

its detail and descriptions of the possible home of the puzzle piece allow the reader to imagine the scene perfectly. Throughout “Every Thing On It,” artwork is used in a variety of poems and subjects, but mainly on poems that, without a drawing, would be harder for the read-

the Clock Man and the little boy both have unrealistic facial features as well as large eyes. Most of the drawings also have a purposefully imperfect doodle-like, sketch sort of style, leaving the final product with a feeling of whimsy. By giving his artwork an unrealistic style, it allows the reader to think of his poems as a fanciful realm far from reality, which is equally reciprocated in his poetry. A poem that falls into the silly category is “Sign,” which consists of one stanza with four short lines within it. “Sign” is an example of a poem that, without the drawing, would make little sense. The picture is simply a cartoon style hand exhibiting a peace sign. The poem above the drawing lists the various uses of the peace sign hand signal, including victory, peace and ending with it being an indication of the number of hamburgers a person is ordering. This poem, without the drawing, would not make sense because it does not blatantly say peace sign, but rather refers to the drawing by describing it. Silverstein's poems and illustrations allow the reader the opportunity to indulge in the silly, the meanSilver Birch Press z Courtesy ingful and the imaginative world that he writes. As college stuer to fully understand. For instance, the drawing that goes dents, we may often forget to with another favorite poem take a moment amongst the of mine, “The Clock Man,” chaos to sit and smile. depicts an old man with vari- While some may see "Every ous styles of clocks attached Thing On It" and other books to his person, with a young meant for children as being boy in front of him. Silver- outside their age group, I stein's art is distinguished by argue that children's books his use of only simplistic line- allow readers of all ages the art to portray his poems. His ability to view the world with art is also characterized by the curiosity and wonder of a the cartoony and unpropor- child. Silverstein's book, "Evtionate method of rendering ery Thing On It," along with humans, animals and their his other works, is well worth environments. For example, the read. n

OPINIONS

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Putting the “Christ” back into Christmas t

By KATHERINE CARTER Opinions editor As we’re approaching the end to another semester here at OBU, we try to ignore our impending doom (aka exams) by focusing on the upcoming holiday season. It’s one of my favorite times of year. Time with family and friends, putting up and decorating the Christmas tree, picking out gifts for loved ones, Christmas music and even the prospect of snow. Even though I’m no longer a kid believing in Santa Claus, Christmas still retains its magical quality, which allows me to transport back in time to when I was a kid waking up at 4 a.m. because I was literally too excited to sleep any longer. The thought of Santa Claus and his reindeer visiting me each year was too great to be overcome by something as menial as a good night’s sleep. I love Christmas time, but America’s idea of Christmas has taken away from its true meaning: a celebration of the birth of Christ. Last week, I spoke about our infatuation with Black Friday, the most American holiday besides Independence Day. Christmas is no different. It’s become less about Christ and more about consumerism. Walmart starts selling Christmas stuff the day after Halloween; many stores do it sooner. We scour Amazon on Cyber Monday looking for the best deals on junk that will be outdated by midsummer of next year (looking at you, Apple). We become like sheep, doing as we’re told. We don’t celebrate Christmas because we get to put a tree in our house and watch “Elf.” We cel-

ebrate Christmas because we have an incredible Savior who became human just so he could create a path for us to be with him. We have this great, big God who is the most powerful, awesome, amazing God in existence. He is the one true God, Creator of everything, King over everything and He humbled himself to the lowest form there is—that of a man. Santa may deliver presents to every good kid there is, but he did not save the world. Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t to knock Christmas. It’s probably my favorite holiday of the year, due mostly to that magic that hangs in the air, especially after Thanksgiving. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas. Be that as it may, as with anything else we place before God, it can become a problem. Christ should always be front and center, for his incarnation is what we celebrate. I proposed a challenge last week about forgoing Black Friday shopping, which I understand is next to impossible today to avoid. I’d like to propose another challenge to you and myself—I challenge all of us to have our Lord at the forefront of our minds this holiday season. Not only that, but I propose that we do our best to act as Christ-like as possible, especially during this season. For many people, this can be the toughest time of the year, and we need to keep these people in our prayers. We should focus less on receiving and more on giving—giving is way better anyways. This is a great time to serve in some capacity, whether that’s through a church or another organization. Let’s make Christmas about Jesus again. n

Camp Davidson: Not Camp Death By JULIA WILLIAMS News editor

Ouachita Baptist University is probably in one of the most boring parts of the state of Arkansas. Our state, bless its sweet heart, has never been known for being the place to see or the spot where all the activity is. However, we do have our small merits, our shares in American history. I’m a native of this great town. “Been here all m’life,” as our older generations would say. Arkadelphia is and probably always will be what I consider home, at least in heart if not always in reality. Because of this, I feel a very profound tie to this land and these people, not just in the Ouachita family but in the Clark County community itself. One of those Clark County shares of American history is the Davidson Methodist Campground, or what most of you probably call, “Camp Death.” I found it quite humorous when I first entered Ouachita as a freshman and I heard students talking about this very strange and all-together spooky ghost town looking place out west of town. Once I finally heard them describe the abandoned cabins and the dirt roads, I realized it was my beloved Davidson Campground. As a child, I camped out there with my grandmother, and still do to this day with my parents and extended family. The story of this place is one that goes way back into early Arkansas and American history. Beginning in the 1850s and spanning through the early 1900s, young America experienced what we now call the Third Great Awakening. This spiritual revival sponsored hundreds of “camp meetings” all across the nation in which people would gather and camp for days to weeks in the summertime to learn the Bible, pray together and

spread the Gospel of Christ. Davidson was one of those such camp meetings, a name that it still retains today. Our local campground, resting in the woods of Hollywood, Ark. just a few miles up Highway 26, was founded in 1884 when about six families tented. The camp meeting, as it still happens today, is a ten day tent revival with old hymn books, lace handkerchiefs, paper fans, tattered Bibles and little kids singing “Deep and Wide.” An 1899 deed recording shows a purchase of 21 acres from Jerry Davidson for $117. This later extended to the size of the current campground with a few other minor purchases in the following years. Geographically, the campground sits on about eight natural springs and grazes the edge of the Terre Noire Creek. (We pronounce that “Turn-war.”) Because of this, the campground is a natural target for flooding, but it has only stopped one camp meeting in its 133 year history in the year 1905. This creek and the springs are a known site for water-balloon fights among the kids, the occasional old man or teenage boy’s fishing hole or the hundreds of baptisms that have happened in the 132 revivals. The ghost-town look probably comes from the fact that there are about 100 (specifically, 93) open-air, un-airconditioned, un-plumbed wooden cabins. While aesthetically significant to campgrounders, it looks freaky to everybody else. A number of those cabins are over 100 years old, some timbers dating back to the earliest of campground history. While the campground itself is owned by the United Methodist Church, the cabins are privately owned and used. Some of the families only use them for the annual ten-day revival, but some more local families use them year round. While modern amenities are in short supply, a little getaway and

family time is easily accessible at the campground, so finding someone there isn’t too hard. At the center of the campground lies the heart of the revival: the Tabernacle. Named for the Old Testament worship space, the campground’s tabernacle, as it currently stands, was built in 1910. The original, first mentioned by new article in the local Southern Standard in 1888, was sadly burned after a lightning strike. Tenters (those who camp) quickly joined together to donate and rebuild the Tabernacle in time for the next camp meeting. The Tabernacle serves as the current worship space for the daily services held during the revival, occurring at 11 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. (Since it’s in the heat of an Arkansas August, we generally wait for it to cool down a little, since there is no conditioned air.) I could go on and on about the history of this beautiful place, but I guess the most important message is what it means to the Church. While it is dubbed a Methodist campground and still holds many Methodist traditions, it is now a gathering of any number of evangelical denominations held together simply in their love of Jesus Christ. This tenday revival, or camp meeting, has seen hundreds (maybe thousands) come to know Jesus personally as their Savior. The Clark County Historical Journal notes the record encampment as the year 1925 with over 8000 tenters and 250 recorded conversions to Christ. Since then, hundreds more have accepted Him and established fellowship with the wonderful body of believers to be found at the campground. I know it looks weird in the middle of the winter when no one is there. It almost does look like Camp Death, but I can assure you that with the history and the memories it holds for so many of this community, it is anything but. n

Holiday haikus spread Campus Cat Chronicles By Katherine Carter Christmas cheer By HANNAH WALKER Staff writer

Christmas lights go up The day after Thanksgiving. Christmas cheer is here! Finals are coming Can’t put textbooks away yetDon’t get too upset. The sun sets at 5 The hope of Christmas break is Keeping us alive! Joyous reunions Call for Cookies and cider Refreshments abound Christmas time is near Crackling fires and good cheer Watch out for reindeer! Students return home To see their families- and Their mothers’ cooking! Funny, ugly or Warm- Christmas sweaters should be Worn 24/7

So shiny!

For most southerners, A “white Christmas” is a joke, But we still have hope! Stockings and lights have Been hung, now we just need some Matching pajamas! The birth of our Lord Celebrated with candles, Singing and presents The gaiety of Jingle Bells quiets to a Reverent Silent Night Snowflakes are falling Break out your long underwear Hypothermia. All the planning and Months of anticipation Over in one day— But the reason for The season endures for all Of eternity.

Merry Christmas from the Signal staff!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

SPORTS

www.obusignal.com

Friday, December 1, 2017 u page 6

Exciting end to season in Volleyball with another strong season despite tournament loss store for college football By JOSH SALIM

By MARCELLUS HILL

Staff writer

It was yet another successful season for Ouachita’s women’s volleyball team. The Lady Tigers finished this season with an overall record of 19-12 along with a 9-7 Great American Conference record. The Lady Tigers also managed to qualify for the Great American Conference tournament for the third consecutive year. The Lady Tigers came into this season with extremely high expectations. After shocking the entire Great American Conference last season with a 12-4 record in conference play combined with an overall record of 237, the bar couldn’t have been set any higher this season for head coach Danny Prescott and his team. The Lady Tigers started the season smoking hot, winning eight out of their first nine games with a record of 8-1. The Lady Tigers went on to eventually finish sixth overall in the Great American Conference standings which matched them up with Oklahoma Baptist in the first round of the Great American Conference tournament. With that being said, the Lady Tigers face a very difficult conference schedule, facing teams such as Arkansas Tech (who finished the regular season with a remarkable 35-0 overall record) and Harding (who finished the regular season with a remarkable 27-6 overall record). The Lady Tigers, however, still managed to put up a fight in the seven conference game losses. In their

ADRIANA NOLLY goes to block an opposing team’s hit in a conference game this season. She was named to the All-GAC Second Team for her efforts.

first conference loss courtesy of Arkansas Tech, the Lady Tigers were able to take the Golden Suns to the very end of each set. Although they lost in three sets, each set was close with scores of 25-22 in the first set, 25-23 in the second set and 25-21 in the third set. Their second conference loss versus Harding was extremely similar, losing in three sets but with incredibly close scores in each set (25-22 first set, 25-20 second set and 25-23 third set). In their Great American Conference Tournament matchup versus Oklahoma Baptist, the Lady Tigers appeared to be in total control at the beginning, easily winning the opening set 25-17. The second set consisted of a back and forth affair and took more than 25 points to win. Oklahoma Baptist was able to win the nailbiter second set by a close score of 27-25. After losing the second set, the Lady Tigers were just unable to recover losing the final two sets with scores of 25-22 and 25-21. Three Lady Tigers were named to the Great American

all-conference team. Senior middle hitter Kori Bullard, sophomore middle hitter Adrianna Nolly and junior setter Stormi Leonard were all named to the Great American Conference second team. Bullard finished the regular season with 305 kills and a three kills per set average while Nolly finished the regular season with 267 kills of her own and a 2.8 kills per set average. Leonard, who received the Great American Conference Setter of the Year award last season, finished the regular season with 1112 assists while averaging 10.6 assists per set. Going forward, Leonard believes the expectations will be just as high even with losing senior hitter Kori Bullard. “I think our expectations for next year will be just as high as they were this year, whether or not we make it to those expectations is up to us, but I think we still hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence and we’ll be pushing for a regular season or conference tournament championship,” Leonard said. n

After another week, upsets and perfect records dominated the college football world. Every team is hoping to be in the top four teams in the nation so that they can play in a four-team playoff for the National Championship. Many different scenarios exist for the college football playoff projections. The College Football Selection Committee must choose which four teams they believe deserve the chance to play in the playoffs. An undefeated Wisconsin team, currently ranked 3rd in the nation, is projected to be one of the top four teams as long as they win the Big Ten championship against Ohio State. The only reason why they would not make it into the playoff is because they have not played as many tough opponents that other playoff contenders have. Clemson is another team projected to be in the playoff spots. The entire season they have dominated teams and surrendered their only loss to Syracuse by a score of 27-24. At the moment, the Clemson Tigers stand at the top of the leaderboard and will face the 7th ranked Miami Hurricanes for the ACC championship. A Clemson win against Miami will seal the Tigers’ spot in the playoffs, but if they lose, then Miami has the potential to sneak into the playoffs. However, even if Miami wins the game, they are not guaranteed to be in the playoff. A 4th ranked Auburn team has also played well all season and taken down two number one ranked teams. The only thing work-

ing against them is that they have two losses. A few weeks ago, Auburn defeated number one ranked Georgia by an extensive margin, 40-17. This past weekend, they defeated a number one ranked Alabama team, outscoring them 26-14. Before the game, Alabama had been undefeated, but then fell to 5th place in the rankings after their loss. Alabama, however, currently 11-1, is not out of playoff contention. They have proven that they can beat top ranked teams all season and have the potential to sneak into the playoffs depending on how the top four teams play this coming weekend in their respective conference championship games. A 6th ranked Georgia will get its rematch against Auburn this weekend in the SEC championship game. The winner will likely clinch their spot to play in the playoffs for the National Championship. The final team projected to be in the playoff is 2nd ranked Oklahoma. Oklahoma has been dominant all season and floated in the top four teams the past few weeks. Behind their quarterback and projected Heisman winner, Baker Mayfield, the team has flourished and only surrendered one loss the entire season. If they beat 10th ranked TCU in the Big 12 championship this coming weekend, they will clinch their spot in the playoffs. TCU is not likely to make the playoffs, even with a Big 12 conference championship. While uncertainty swirls around the playoffs spots this season, one thing is certain: college football fans are in for an exciting end to regular season this Saturday. n

CONGRATULATIONS

GAC CHAMPS 2017 TIGER FOOTBALL

WESLEY KLUCK PHOTO

• Coach Knight named GAC Coach of the Year • Tigers record 10 consecutive winning seasons • Win streak is longest of any university in Arkansas

Todd Knight

• Coach Knight earns his 100th win at Ouachita • 17 players earn All-GAC honors • Tigers earn trip to DII playoffs