O U A C H I TA
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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the
Signal
10.6.16 Vol. 125, Issue 6 www.obusignal.com
Women in Business aims to empower Ouachita’s women By ASHLYNN MORTEN Staff Writer
Ouachita has a new organization on campus for women, primarily those majoring in business and mass communications. Women in Business is an organization with the goal of creating networks with women successful in their careers, creating a learning environment for those who are planning a career in mass communications or business, and empowering women to achieve whatever they put their minds to. Four years ago, a group of senior girls planted an idea for an organization for women interested in business. Although this never materialized, Dr. Faught became interested in the idea last year and challenged one of his classes, with a majority of women, to begin this project. So the organization began with a push from faculty of the Hickingbotham School of Business. A few students took hold of this idea and ran with it. They worked through the summer and planned a schedule for the organiza-
tion now known as Women in Business. While they began with a focus on business, they realized how connected mass communications and business really were, so they incorporated both. Even with the focus mainly on these two majors, women with any interest or major may join. The main focus for this organization is to empower women, to connect them with people already successful in the business world and to create a place with a dynamic that allows students to learn from others. Their mission is to connect, inspire, and achieve. “Personally I grow with the idea that woman can do it all,” said Estefanie Perez, a senior majoring in business and mass communications who serves as the executive team leader and charter member. This organization wants to help women gain the ability and confidence to do anything a man thinks he can do. Through this organization, students will interact with the community and learn alongside their peers. At the first meeting, a form was passed around to
Andy Henderson z Photo Lab FOUNDERS of Ouachita’s Women in Business organization include (from left) Ali Kinsey, Erin Jackson, Estefanie Perez, Haley Martin and Abbey Little.
let those attending identify their interest. Many were interested in marketing, fashion merchandising, management, etc. So, the leaders took all the women into consideration, and they are working diligently to set up meetings with successful women in the many fields mentioned. They plan on bringing in alumni and others connected with Ouachita to speak monthly. They will also set up workshops throughout the year to help with things like creating a resume.
Some of the leaders will be graduating in the fall and want to see this organization that they put countless hours and hard work into continue to grow and impact future students. The leaders are beginning to watch for those interested with leadership potential to take over. When the spring semester begins, they will pick a few students who will carry on the leadership roles in this organization. The Women in Business provides wonderful oppor-
tunities for career-minded women, particularly those interested in business or mass communications. The networking and experience will be invaluable in a future career. Perez summed it up well, “We really hope this is a place where you can learn from other people and be inspired.” Emails will be sent regarding meeting times, and students can always feel welcome to contact Estefanie Perez or others from the Women in Business. n
Ouachita Singers prepare for concert, tour of Italy By ETHAN DIAL Staff Writer
On October 18, the Ouachita Singers will not only perform a concert for free at 7 p.m., but they will also release a CD, titled “City Called Heaven,” to fund their upcoming tour. This spring, the Singers are getting the chance to tour Italy. They will be performing in many places, including the Sistine Chapel. At the concert, the audience will get a sneak peak of what Italians will hear from the Singers over spring break. The repertoire will include many classical pieces, but also some spirituals. “In the past when I’ve gone, the Italians love American Spirituals,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of Fine arts. Along with the spirituals, there will be renaissance pieces. In some venues in Italy, pianos may be unavailable, and so the Singers will perform all of their songs a cappella. Not only will the audience be able to hear the current Singers, they will also have the opportunity to buy a new CD of past Singers to support the Italy trip.
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Ouachita Singers z Courtesy OUACHITA SINGERS (pictured) and Women’s Chorus will present a joint concert on October 18. The two groups will release their new CD, ”City Called Heaven,” which will be available for purchase at the concert to help raise funds for the Singer’s upcoming spring break tour of Italy.
“I had a donor fund the [CD] project, so all the proceeds from the CD sales will go towards the Italy tour. So that’s the cool part about that. It won’t cost us anything to produce it, but we get the proceeds from it to help them [the Singers] go to Italy,” Gerber said. Students in Singers are also very grateful for this. “I think it is wonderful that they give us the opportunity to sell those CD’s as a fundraiser! And honestly, even if you don’t consider yourself a big fan of choral music, I think anyone can enjoy this. It is really profes-
sional and has some beautiful pieces on it,” said Bethany Courtney, a freshman in Singers. While Courtney is excited for the upcoming concert, she is ecstatic about the Italy trip. “This is going to be a once in a lifetime experience! To do what I love most in such an amazing place full of beauty and music. I’ve never been out of the country before, and we are getting to sing in the Sistine Chapel and in St. Peter’s Basilica,” Courtney said. Courtney is strongly encouraging fellow students to
come to the concert. “We’ve got several surprising pieces up our sleeves that I think everyone will really love, so I really hope everyone comes,” Courtney said. According to Dr. Gerber, one of the ten songs the Singers are performing at the concert doesn’t even have words. Along with the Singers, Ouachita’s Women’s Chorus, directed by Dr. Becky Morrison, will also be performing. The first half of the concert will feature the Women’s Chorus, while the second half of the concert will fea-
THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM
y News: multicultural student meet-up y News: First Friday speaker series follow up y Humans of OBU: Nathaniel Schrader
ture the Ouachita Singers, directed by Dr. Gary Gerber. Pieces to be performed by Women’s Chorus include: Z. Randall Stroope’s “Dies Irae,” Andrea Ramsey’s “Jesu,” Dan Forrest’s “And Can It Be?,” Charles H. Gabriel’s “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” and “When He Is Silent” by Kim André Arnesen. Pieces to be performed by Singers include: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s “Sicut cervus,” the traditional South African freedom song “Tshotsholoza,” the traditional spiritual song “Great God Almighty,” Tomás Luis de Victoria’s “Ave Maria,” Ludovico da Viadana’s “Exsultate Justi,” Richard Farrant’s “Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake,” Jake Runestad’s “Nyon, Nyon” and Eriks Esenvalds’ “Only in Sleep.” The concert will take place in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on Ouachita’s campus. The concert will be free and open to the public, and the two groups’ “City Called Heaven” CD will be available for purchase for $15. For more information on the concert or the upcoming Singers trip, contact Dr. Gary Gerber at gerberg@obu.edu. n
CONNECT WITH THE SIGNAL
News
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this weekzCALENDAR Tweets of the Week REFUGE will take place tonight at 9 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. For more information, contact James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu. OBU @Ouachita
THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER will hold a workshop Monday, October 10 at 11 a.m. in Lile 127. For more information, visit obu.edu/success. 15 Apr
intramural fields. The women’s game will begin at 4 p.m. and Justin Young @JustinYoung072 the men’s will begin at 5 p.m.
information, contact Hannah Ramsey at ramseyh@obu.edu. 16 Apr
So howOF do you useRAVINE social media affirm and encourage BATTLE THE for-- toVERITAS large group will meet or to attack and tear doen? “Be ye kind one another.” intramural flag football will take in toBerry Chapel on Monday, (Eph.today 4:32). Hmmm... place at Henderson’s October 10 at 9 p.m. For more
The Harley Davidson leather vest must be the key to memorizing the entire Bible. TIGER FOOTBALL will face TIGER TUNES
DRESS Arkansas Tech at Cliff Harris REHEARSAL will take place Stadium on Saturday, October 8 Wednesday, October 12 at 6:30 at 1 p.m. p.m. in JPAC. Tickets will be sold at the door. The Signal @obusignal 6 October 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
[from your perspective]
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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.
5 4 3 2 1
Fall break destinations Branson Dallas
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch with RecLife The visitors’ stands in Monticello Your bed
Which professor would you want to have a Tunes solo, and what would you want them to sing?
Emily Knocke Senior
Kimberly Wong Junior
Kacy Spears Junior
Braeden Gregg Junior
Andrew Gendi Senior
“Dr. Hicks singing ‘Blank Space’ by Taylor Swift”
“Dr. Wink, ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’”
“Dr. Houser, the opening number of Hamilton”
“Dr. Curlin, Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings in B-Flat Minor’”
“Dr. Brennon, ‘Free Bird’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd”
Campus Minsitries to travel to Memphis, Anaheim; promotes “Perspectives” class By CHUCK FARMER Staff Writer
Campus ministries has several trips planned in the upcoming months. Students will have the opportunity to go on two trips this spring. One will be to Memphis, Tenn. and one will be to sunny Anaheim, Calif. Students will be working with refugees from around the globe. They’ll have the opportunity to teach ESL courses, work with children, and help refugees find jobs and pass citizenship tests as they adjust to life in the United States. The trip allows students to experience cultures they would not normally be exposed to. A representative from Campus Ministries
said, “This is a great opportunity to see what these people have been through and hear their stories.” Campus Ministries is offering to help students raise funds for the trips. The trip to California will cost around $650, while Memphis costs $200. Additionally, the trips are capped at a certain number of participants. The trip to Memphis has spots open for six-eight people, while the Anaheim trip will be limited to approximately 14 members. The trips to California and Memphis will take place over spring break: March 18-25. Students should apply through the campus ministries office or online at their website, www.obu.edu/ campusministries/. Applications will be reviewed,
and students will be selected to attend both trips. Campus Ministries is also promoting a class this Spring called “Perspectives.” This class, led by a group in Arkadelphia, meets once a week for three hours. Students are able to choose between two levels in the class: Certificate and Key Reading. The Certificate level will require students to read more material, but it also comes with qualification at the end of the course. Key Reading allows students to only cover the base materials so that they are able to focus additional time on their other studies. Campus Ministries says there are scholarships available to those who are taking the class and qualify. Students who are not able
Campus Ministries z Courtesy THROUGH CM, students have the opportunity to travel to places like Memphis and California.
to go on the Spring Break trips will have the opportunity to go on a trip to East Asia in May. Details for this trip will be announced later.
Interested students might consider applying for these trips or attending the Perspectives class; to learn more, by visiting www.obu. edu/campusministries/. n
Features
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Presidential pancake party www.obusignal.com
After taking the two-question “larger dream” survey, where Dr. Sells asks current and former Ouachitonians what should and shouldn’t change about Ouachita, students enjoyed late-night pancakes at the cafeteria. Thanks to Sodexo and President Sells, students could choose from regular and chocolate chip pancakes, with a wide variety of topping choices. Students who have not taken the “Larger Dream” quiz are encouraged to do so at obu.edu/largerdream.
Barrett Gay z Courtesy Sodexo staff worked with President Sells to host a pancake party in the cafeteria at 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 29. Before attending the event, students were asked to take the “larger dream” survey, asking what should and shouldn’t change about Ouachita, at obu.edu/largerdream. Dr. Sells says these suggestions will help his team develop a plan to make necessary changes and achieve the “larger dream” for Ouachita.
Barrett Gay z Courtesy Left to right: Abby Root, Drake Puryear, Haley Brown and Mari Bednar pose for a photo at the pancake party.
Barrett Gay z Courtesy Students had several toppings to choose from, including sprinkles, whipped cream, apples and, of course, syrup!
Kelsey Harrison z Courtesy Students Sydney Allen (left) and Kelsey Harrison (right) take a selfie with Dr. Sells at the pancake party.
Michael Pere z Courtesy Students take a selfie with Dr. Sells as he makes chocolate chip pancakes with Mrs. Jeanette Stewart.
Features
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Estefanie Perez z Photo Lab THE OUACHITA flag plaza’s twenty-four flag rotation provides a link for foreign students to their home countries. The foreign flags serve as a reminder for students to pray for alumni serving as missionaries around the world.
Ouachita’s flag plaza: A global connection By WILL BLASE Staff Writer
Ouachita’s flag plaza stands proudly in the central area of campus. It flies a total of nine flags, three of which are taller and remain standing permanently and six smaller flags that are rotated out every Monday. Located on the corner of campus, the flag plaza is fairly centralized, and the vast majority of students will walk past it at some point during their day. It’s such a common part of daily life at Ouachita, but its meaning and symbolism is so much more than just nine flags that fly on campus. Grant Memorial Hall, which housed several administrative offices, was torn down in 1995 in the location that the flag plaza would soon be built. The offices previously in Grant Memorial Hall were moved to Cone-Bottoms as the project underwent three years of teardown and building. Cone-Bottoms was remodeled and occupied in 1995. In 1998, Ouachita had its very own flag plaza in a centralized area that saw high traffic in students. The class of 1998 decided that they wanted to be a part of this
new Ouachita attraction, so as a senior gift, they gave the school a world map located on the side of the plaza. “The flag plaza was built to demonstrate Ouachita’s connection with the rest of the world,” said Phil Hardin, assistant to the president of administration at OBU.
flags are reminders for a much smaller group of Ouachita students. These flags fly for students who are studying abroad. It stands to keep them in students’ prayers and thoughts daily. The flag plaza flies international students’ home flags, while they are attending OBU. It shows support and care for fellow students. ESL students are also thought of when the flags go up every Monday. ESL stands for Eng-
ties to OBU who are out among the world. “We currently rotate twenty-four flags, six per week,” said Gwen Crangle, office manager for facilities management at Ouachita. “We communicate with the Grant Center, and they let us know which countries will be represented through foreign students each year.” The twenty-four flags are recycled as students from across the globe attend Ouachita each year.
Estefanie Perez z Photo Lab GIVEN TO the school by the class of 1998, the world map reflects Ouachita’ connection to the rest of the world.
The flag plaza serves as a constant reminder to students. Three of the nine flags flown pertain to the vast majority of Ouachita students. The Ouachita flag, Arkansas state flag and the American flag are flown permanently on campus. Six of the nine
lish as a Second Language, so those who are here at OBU learning English are represented by the flags as well. The flags also fly for missionary children, some of whom are currently attending OBU, and they fly for missionaries with
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“We have Ouachita alumni around the world. This is also a connection to them,” Hardin said. The flags provide a link to alumni serving as missionaries throughout the world. Each flag serves as a reminder to keep those serving
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in your thoughts and prayers as they spread ministry in areas that do not know Christianity. A student thinking of going into missions could see a flag and feel a strong calling to that country, sparking inspiration from something as simple as a flag plaza. Dylan Bester, a sophomore from South Africa, is at Ouachita to get his degree. Bester returns home only once a year, during the summer months, so homesickness is fairly common for him. “Homesickness is kind of situational for me. Sometimes my parents send me things that are happening at home and it kind of just hits,” Bester said. The South African flag is currently within the rotation of flags at Ouachita. “It definitely stands out to me. It’s not so much of a reminder, more so a symbol of national pride for me,” Bester said, “I do notice every time they put out the South African flag.” Ouachita will continue to build on this tradition of respecting those attending from outside the United States. The flag collection will continue to add to its repertoire as students from around the globe seek education at OBU.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.
Opinions
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“The White Helmets” Embracing liberal arts By EVAN WHEATLEY Features Editor
“Any human being – no matter who they are or which side they’re on – if they need our help, it’s our duty to save them.” Khalid Farah, a former Syrian tailor, gathers a few pieces of wood and stokes a small fire in his living room. He kisses his baby daughter goodbye and tells her not to give her mom too much trouble. He leaves his home with a white helmet in his hand. Nearby, Abu Omar, a former Syrian blacksmith, kisses his mother on the forehead and bids her farewell. After joining Khalid, the two walk through the rubble of several destroyed buildings. The sequence cuts to a shot of Mohammad Farah, also a former Syrian tailor, studying the Quran. He puts on a jacket and a beanie before heading out. An emblem of a white helmet can be seen on his left arm. Soon after, Khalid, Abu and Mohammad enjoy a meal with a handful of other Syrian men in the Ansari District of Aleppo City, Syria. A low rumble cuts through their laughter and conversation. A plane thunders overhead, the earth shakes and within seconds, a plume of black smoke rises from a group of buildings in the distance. The men quickly put on their white helmets and pile into a red bus. “It’s the Russians,” one of them says. After arriving at the site of the bombing, the men immediately begin to assist those in need. They direct people to safety. They recover children from the rubble and take them to their parents. And after helping a man double check that no one else in his building needed rescuing, Khalid races down the stairs, leaving the man with a promise. “Whatever you need,
we’re the White Helmets.” Debuting at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival in September, “The White Helmets” captures the day-to-day life of members of the Syrian Civil Defense (also known as the White Helmets) – a group of 2,900 civilians located in 120 centers across Syria, who serve as first responders to indiscriminate bombings of civilian communities in rebel-held areas by the Syrian Arab Air Force.
Netflix y Photo Courtesy
Following the intervention by Russia in the Syrian conflict on September 30, 2015, much of the White Helmets’ work has been responding to air attacks by the Russian Air Force. Through this 40-minute Netflix documentary, Academy Award-nominated director Orlando von Einsiedel plants you in the heart of one of the most dangerous places on Earth. You follow the White Helmets through the eyes of Khalid, Abu, Mohammad and their teammates as they risk their lives daily to save others. The sacrifice and heroism exhibited by these men alone are worthy of merit, but Einsiedel’s direction is also exceptional. Wherever the White Helmets go, he goes. In the film’s opening, he fol-
lows a couple of Helmets into a damaged building. The air is drenched in a thick cloud of dust. As the Helmets carry children out of the building, civilian screams can be heard from behind the camera. The frame pans around in time to catch another bomb strike the building. A lone Arabic cry pierces through the now orange-brown cloud of dust as the scene fades to black. Einsiedel also joins the Helmets as they travel to southern Turkey for one-month response training. While he is there, he films a handful of shots that later, when editing the film, are placed together to create powerful imagery. “There is no war here. No devastation. No destruction,” Khalid said. The scene cuts to a shot of him looking up to the sky. “Just by crossing the border, it’s so strange how a situation can change.” He sees a bird soaring freely. The scene cuts back to him looking up. When the sky is shown again, the bird has been replaced with a plane. “Without hope what good is life?” Abu said. “People will die without hope.” Khalid, Abu and Mohammad, along with 2,900 Syrian Civil Defense members, are providing hope for the people of Syria. Since 2013, more than 130 White Helmets have been killed. During this same period, however, they have saved more than 58,000 lives. “I’m willing to sacrifice my soul for the sake of the people,” Mohammad said. “This job is sacred.” Abu added, “Every morning I wake up and do this work because it’s my duty, my humanitarian duty. I will never quit as long as I’m still alive. In the White Helmets, we have a motto: ‘To save a life is to save all of humanity.’” For more information about the White Helmets and how you can contribute to their cause, visit https:// www.whitehelmets.org. n
By KATHERINE CARTER Ed/Op Ed Editor
There’s no point in denying it; every student that passes through this school has a feeling of relief once they finish up their core classes. When we envision coming to college, we’ve got this image in our heads that we’ll finally be done with the subjects that we detested in high school and can move on with the subjects that we actually care about. While some of these subjects might not be high on our list of favorite classes, there is value in taking them. That realization just might take some time. For me, natural science is not a field I’m interested in pursuing. Be that as it may, I see the value in studying science. Despite the fact that it covered broad subjects, I was still able to study different topics that I either hadn’t studied in depth or studied at all. I have a similar case with the required foreign language classes. I took five years of Spanish before I got to college, and I figured I was done studying it until I looked at the core curriculum. Although studying foreign languages can be tedious at times, it’s exceedingly obvious why students need to learn them. Our world is more connected than ever, and it isn’t all about the United States. Even within our borders, there are a vast number of different cultures each with their own language. Learning about different cultures and studying their languages not only expands our worldview, but it also helps us reach out to people we formally wouldn’t have been able to communicate with. Don’t get me wrong. As a junior, I love diving deeper into my majors, especially considering that these subjects are the reason I chose to
go to college in the first place (and the jobs available with a college degree don’t hurt either). However, because I chose to go to a liberal arts college, I’m not only knowledgeable about the subjects in which I’ll eventually gain a degree, but I’m also familiar with a plethora of other subjects. Going to a liberal arts school gives me the ability to not only talk about the Bible, but also art, math, philosophy and so on. Not only does this benefit my own understanding of the world, it also helps me understand why someone else might find a specific subject, which I believe to be unbearably boring, fascinating. I can take a class that might help me understand why my friend wants to become a doctor someday, or they might understand why I find studying the Bible to be so interesting. It takes us out of our own little worlds and introduces us to one another’s. Likewise, there may be a subject that I didn’t have the opportunity to study in high school that piques my interest in college, such as sociology. I came into college as a Christian studies and mass communications double major, but I found that I really wanted to try a sociology class after a semester here. While mass communications is a great field, I found that sociology was a better fit for what I wanted to do in the future (besides, I have the best of both worlds with my job for the Signal anyway). Liberal arts colleges get a lot of flak for giving its students a “surface-level” education, but I don’t see it that way. They allow us to study a variety of diverse subjects outside of our areas of interest. They allow us to learn more about why our friends may be passionate about theater or business. They expand our worldview, allowing us to see outside of our myopic bubbles, and I, for one, think that’s important. n
The demise of a republic: yesterday and today By JULIE WILLIAMS Copy Editor
Something we have all been forced to study since the mean, old lady in the eighth grade pointed a ruler at us was the Roman Empire. We read about Julius Caesar taking power from the First Triumvirate, Brutus leading the Senate in his assassination on the Ides of March in 44 B.C.E., the institution of the Second Triumvirate and the ultimate naming of a single empire with the rise of Octavian (Caesar Augustus). Friends, that’s the part we all know, the downhill spiral that led to oblivion for the common man’s hopes and dreams. It’s the part where we watch glamorous film of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on a 1963 silver screen. It’s all old news and the usual script, but how did Rome fall that far? How did it get so bad as to lose sight of “the people’s matter?” Reading the prefaces of those chapters in the history books provide a little more insight into the fall of the ancient republic. Since Rome is the most commonly cited, let’s continue using her as the example. The rise of res publica, Latin for “the public business” or “the people’s matter,” came during the time of 509 to 287 B.C.E. There were a number of factors that led to its growth, popularity and success. While it took time to forge, the Romans established assemblies of elected
men, representing the social class distinctions of the time. Men were elected to a series of public offices, denoted by the phrase, “ladder of offices.” Most of them held one year terms in which different qualifications were required, like age, previous service or social class. At the crux of this development was the belief in fair law and social mobility. Because of these structures, through the gaining of power or wealth, men were able to become more than what they were born into. As their history moved forward, it was discovered that many Roman leaders were the descendants of slaves. The point of this brief history lesson was to display the early Roman fear of a single monarch or dictator. The development of the Senate guarded against tyrannical power from a single executive. Having delineated from a line of corrupt kings, Rome feared the advance of a single power, resulting in the diversified, representative model. While this system worked better than any other system of self-government that the world had seen thus far, the Republic soon faced challenges that altered its standing in history forever. A variety of variables influenced its fall, some of which being a growing welfare state, a constant state of civil war and the eventual rise of a single, tyrannical power. By the end of the imperial conquests of the third and second centuries B.C.E., a large amount of rural, agri-
cultural land had been abandoned while the men had left to fight. Women and children were not enough man-power to keep up the work that the land warranted, resulting in men returning home to no home and no land to work. The Republic became increasingly urbanized as those families flocked into the city walls of Rome, leaving their unworkable land up for grabs. The few social elite left in the city took control of those lands, using increased amounts of slave labor to produce exponential profits for only a few people. Their increased wealth allowed them to remain the favored patrons of the increasing poor community within the city. Demands for food subsidy by those crowds resulted in massive imports of food from other civilizations like Egypt. At first, a reduced price was given to the poor, but eventually the government of the city began giving it for free, only further enlarging the burden as more people flocked to the city. The few social elite who served as beneficiaries to the new cause, did this to gain social and political favor. The amassing welfare state favored these men because of the good treatment they received. This resulted in the growth of a smaller, but larger central power, taking control from common men, the Senate, the elected men. Powerhungry elite and comforthungry poor simply used each other for their own
benefits, disregarding the idea of individual liberty. It was this idea from the elite: “If I feed them and entertain them, they’ll keep electing me. They’ll never realize that I own them.” The rise of “reformers” like the Gracchus brothers sponsored further demise. With the ruse of representation of the continuously rioting poor, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus used their own desires for personal advancement to harden the divide between the rich and the poor. Their reforms focused primarily on forcing the rich to make concessions to and subsidize the activities of the poor. These men were both consequentially assassinated by the Senate “to save the republic.” Military men like Gaius Marius produced what are now known as “client armies.” The poor men were given weapons and food in return for their will to fight for this ruler. Their allegiance soon switched from the Republic to the men who gave them food. Other power-hungry men used this new-found military power to pit conquered lands and people groups against each other and against Rome, resulting in massive states of civil war. This only further complicated the growing disunity, the growing welfare state, and the need for civil order: the perfect opening for a single dictator. Resulting from these generations of hardship and conflict, a tyrant arose, not
immediately, but sneakily. Julius Caesar soon declared himself as princip, or “first citizen,” and sole consul of Rome. By the time he was assassinated and both Triumvirates collapsed, the active nature of the Senate was gone. While they remained in title and in name, their actions no longer affected the annals of history. Becoming merely an advisory council, they only kept their place in society if they agreed with the opinions of Caesar. Why do we go through the agony of this very simple history lesson? Because, as the old wise men say, “hindsight is 20/20.” We should listen to the mean, old lady with the ruler in our faces back in the eighth grade. History often repeats itself, and much of the Roman demise sounds familiar. Am I suggesting an overthrow of American government? No, I am not. But I am advocating an awakening among the American people. The “bread and circus” of the Roman Empire is not a new idea. Today, it’s just food stamps and the NFL. “Keep people entertained and keep them fed, and we’ll always get their vote. They’ll let us stay in power, as long as we treat them nice.” Friends, if you fall for that, it’s nothing more than Stockholm Syndrome of the social kind. We are provided a lesson of what not to do. Do not allow this single executive control, because when you do, you are no longer the citizen of a republic. You’re now the subject of an empire. n
Sports
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Harambe
Punters: They’re more than just a pretty face By IAN CRAFT Sports Editor
Punters are like politicians. They’re vitally important. They do a lot for their organization or group, but people don’t notice them until they mess up. There are a select few of us who have made it our mission to let the world know punters aren’t just pieces, they’re people, too. Shelton Wooley, a junior graphic design major from Ruston, La., has taken up this mantle for Ouachita by not only being the team’s punter, but also being one of the most beloved players on the team. Challenging norms, both with his popularity and his punting distance, Wooley is a special player. Wooley has loved the special teams aspect of the game since he was young. Most players grow up
Dr Kluck z Courtesy Shelton Wooley, Punter, #14, graphic design and mass communications double major
wanting to be the hotshot, gunslinger quarterback, but Wooley has always been a little different. “Kicking and punting to me has always been the most fascinating part of the game, even at a young age I would say, ‘Wow, I want to do that.’ I played flag football at a young age, I don’t even really remember, but I started playing tackle football when I was 10. Obviously there wasn’t an emphasis on the kicking game at that young of an age, but I still kicked at home with my dad in the backyard. My dad has been a football coach even before I was born, so you could say I was born into it. I always had a ball in my hand from day one. My kicking days started when I was about 5 or 6, with a little plastic football [that] cheerleaders throw out at halftime of high school games and a paint can top as my tee,” Wooley said. Punting is an art form. Although only on the field for a few moments each game, launching a ball 40 yards with your big toe is harder than most give it credit for. Wooley has always had a knack for being able to handle it, as can be seen with both his long distance punts and his perfectly placed “coffin-corner” kicks. In high school, he started to get offers to play in college, and that was when he realized this was something he could see himself diving into for a long time. “As I got older (middle school and high school), I began to have that goal
to play college football or baseball. Football was my main favorite though, because I felt like I would enjoy it a little more than baseball. Ouachita was one of the first schools to recruit me in high school. I had other offers, but Ouachita seemed like a great place to get the education I needed along with getting playing time on the field. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Wooley said. As a punter, you’re in an interesting position. You want to punt well and show off your skills by getting on the field, but if you’re on the field, it means your offense was stopped before scoring. Punters accept the fact that if they don’t get playing time, it means the team is on fire. They get to be encouragers. Punters get the ultimate win-win situation in that case: either the team is winning, or, like Wooley, they’re on the field knocking 50 yard bombs down field. Wooley says his love for this great game has only grown as he’s gone along. “Other than the muffin top I have acquired through [the] years from my terrible eating habits when I was younger catching up to me, the only thing that’s really changed is my love for the game. Everyday there’s a reason to get better not just for me, but for my teammates. Stats and personal accolades are great, but at the end of the day, the team comes first, and the encouragement and support for my brothers on the field are so much more important than me,” Wooley said. Wooley stands as one of the best punters in the GAC the last few years. Last year, the only thing that stood between him and Punter of the Year was the Tigers falling just a few games short of the conference title. Even though he has so much talent, he has stayed humble. “You always get a cliché answer to this question, so I’m going to be as honest as I can. Football has taught me a lot of skills, and it’s no coincidence that people always talk about character building and attitude and integrity when talking about the outcome of years of football, and while I’ve definitely received those things beyond a doubt, football has given me so much more. The people I have met through football, the connections I have, the fans I’ve met and the kids I’ve been able to influence through this great game [are] way more than anything I could have ever done without football. I am forever grateful and humbled to be in a position where I am supported and encouraged by teammates, friends and family. I think that’s what has made me who I am today and who I will be for the rest of my life, even after football,” Wooley said.
Wooley’s career average of 43 yards a punt, as well as his longest punt of the season, an incredible 62-yard shot into space, puts him on par with where current Miami Dolphins punter Matt Darr stood his senior season at the University of Tennes-
in fact, we’re also football players, believe it or not. We run sprints, lift weights and occasionally wear pads. But we’re a different breed: we’re specialists. I explain it like this: kicking is like golf, where a massive amount of technique and consis-
one, and games away from home have been our Achilles heel. But a team will face adversity, it’s inevitable. We’ve done a great job coming together and staying together already through half the season, and I can’t wait to see how we finish togeth-
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Dr Kluck z Courtesy Wooley, #14, launches a punt against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Wooley has averaged 43 yards per punt with a season long of 62 yards.
see before being drafted by the NFL franchise. That alone is an impressive task. As a special teams guy, Wooley has heard his whole life the common adage: Punters aren’t players. Like I said, Wooley doesn’t take his craft lightly, and he is very passionate about the fact that punters rightfully deserve the respect given to other players. “Punters are people, but in all seriousness, and
tency is the only way to be great. Its not about brute strength and game plans, but incredible attention to detail and mental toughness. We are definitely people though,” Wooley said. Although Ouachita’s team has faced some adversity this season, Shelton keeps his head held high. “This season has been a struggle for the team, considering injuries have plagued us since day
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er,” Wooley said. So next time you see your Cajun Compadre kicking the ball down at the Cliff, make sure to cheer. When you see Shelton and the rest of the K-Team standing on the sideline cheering on their team to victory, make sure to remember what NFL Network analyst Rich Eisen famously said, “I’m going to get a T-shirt and it’s going to say: Punters are players. Punters are people too.” n