the
Signal
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10.16.14 Volume 123 Issue 5
Ouachita Baptist University
IN THIS ISSUE:
Financial Aid New initiatives enhance tuition affordability for incoming students, p.2
Law of Hutch Some basic universal rules we should all live by, p.3
Wesley and Debbie Kluck Field
Courtesy z News Bureau Ouachita’s soccer field will be named in honor of Dr. Wesley Kluck and his wife Debbie in recognition of their contributions to the soccer program. A dedication ceremony will be held at the soccer field on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Soccer field to be named in honor of Klucks By TRENNIS HENDERSON News Bureau
Treat Yo Self In the midst of college stresses, a little indulgence is necessary, p.3
All Things Sports Kyle Parris on the road to Ouachita, away and back again, p.4
Dr. Wesley Kluck and his wife, Debbie, will be recognized for their contributions to Ouachita soccer with the field being named in their honor on Tuesday. The dedication ceremony will be held at 3:15 p.m. at the soccer field immediately prior to the Ouachita men’s soccer team competing in a match against Harding University. Students, faculty, staff and community residents are invited to attend the ceremony. Dr. Kluck, Ouachita’s vice president for student services, has served at Ouachita since 2005. He previously was vice president for institutional advancement. Mrs. Kluck works part-time in the Arkadelphia Clinic for Children and Young Adults. “Since the inception of our women’s and men’s soccer programs, Wesley and Debbie have been leading proponents of
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degree from the University of Arkansas Medical School. In addition to his vice presidential role, Kluck serves as university physician and teaches photography. Among numerous leadership roles and honors, he has served as chairman of the Ouachita Board of Trustees, received Ouachita’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and earned several “Best Doctors in Arkansas” recognitions. He also has been named Rotarian of the Year and received the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce President’s Award. Mrs. Kluck holds a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from UAMS. The Klucks are also active members of Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia where they lead college Bible studies and she leads a women’s Bible study. Their daughter, Jennifer Hopkins, is a 2008 Ouachita graduate and teaches school in Benton. n
Senate, Safety develop new Hamilton chosen as electronic ticketing system VIP representative for musical manufacturer By WILL LECHNER
S News 1 n S Opinions 3 n S Sports 4 n
soccer at Ouachita,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “They also have been among the most generous supporters of our teams and of the development of their facilities.” “Since the Ouachita men’s and women’s soccer teams were started, I’ve had a close relationship to the coaches, players and parents of players,” said Dr. Kluck. “Having Debbie’s and my names on the field is such an honor and also very humbling. “Ouachita athletics is a huge part of our lives as are the relationships we have with the athletes,” he added. “An association of our name with Ouachita soccer and Ouachita athletics in general is a very proud moment for us and we are so grateful.” Dr. Kluck, a 1977 summa cum laude graduate of Ouachita, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in math, chemistry and biology. He also holds a Doctor of Medicine
The Ouachita Safety Department, in conjunction with Student Senate, has developed a new ticketing system for the Ouachita community. The new system is a response to repeated concerns among students who believed the old system was unfair. The new system is designed to help both the students and the officers. “There was some growing dissatisfaction among students as voiced by Student Senate. Most of the time they are hearing the voice of the students when they are frustrated about tickets,” said Scott Haynes, Ouachita dean of students. The new system allows students to track the tickets they have received. Students, rather than having to keep track of an actual paper ticket, will receive an email notification when they receive a ticket. The new system also allows students to receive a warning ticket before their first fine for improper parking. Following that warning, the student will receive a $20 fine for their next offense. Any suBsequent fines will result in an increased fine,
increasing by $10 each time. “Something new that came from Student Senate was the idea for offenders to receive a warning. Maybe they are new to campus and simply aren’t sure where to park. Maybe they are commuting and don’t know where the commuters lots are yet,” said Haynes. Safety officers now will use an iPad when issuing tickets to illegally parked cars. The safety officer will have the ability to record information on the vehicle including taking pictures to upload to the file on the offense. When the offense is recorded, the information will be stored in an electronic file at the Campus Safety office. An email will be sent to the owner of the vehicle notifying them of the offense. “All of the information found on the electronic ticket is the same information that could be found on a paper ticket. We simply moved everything on the paper onto the electronic version,” said Haynes. As in the former system, students will still be able to dispute their tickets. Students can attend traffic court, held every first and third Wednesday of the month in the Stusee TICKET z 2
NEWS BUREAU Ouachita professor Dr. Craig Hamilton recently was selected as a VIP representative for Conn-Selmer Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments. Conn-Selmer began its VIP program as part of the company’s commitment to supporting music education around the world. “His VIP selection shows the dedication and commitment Dr. Hamilton has to his profession and to his particular instrument, the trumpet,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, chair of Ouachita’s Division of Music. “Being associated with an instrument manufacturer shows a continued commitment to the field of instrumental music and a commitment to the education of our students going into the field of music.” “The VIP candidates represent the top tier of the profession’s most exemplary music teachers and fine arts administrators,” said Carolyn Sauer, Conn-Selmer’s VIP Program manager. “They are the most respected student-oriented leaders in the field who have demonstrated the highest
level of dedication to quality standards in every facet of the profession.” At Ouachita, Hamilton serves as the Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music, director of bands and coordinator of instrumental studies. “I was honored to be asked to become a Conn-Selmer VIP representative,” Hamilton said. “Visiting their manufacturing facilities in Elkhart, Ind., was a very enlightening and educational experience. The Conn-Selmer people are passionate about building quality instruments and helping music educators.” More than 200 teachers, administrators and music business officials have visited see HAMILTON z 2
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this weekzCALENDAR CHICAGO SEMESTER information will be available in the student center today and tomorrow until 5 p.m. For more information, contact: Doug Sonheim at sonheimd@obu.edu. REFUGE is tonight at 9 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu. FALL BRAWL will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Room B. For more information, contact: Drew Ervin at ervind@obu.edu. LIVE music at dr. jack’s is Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the student center. Abby Lindsey will perform. For more information, contact: Jimmy Phillips at phillipsj@obu.edu.
VERITAS women’s discipleship will be Monday night at 9 p.m. in Berry Chapel. For more information, contact: Kendall Calvert at calvertk@obu.edu. CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN with Outdoor Rec next Tuesday from 3:309 p.m. Climb Pinnacle Mountain and have dinner at Chipotle. Sign up on the Rec Life door on the ESC bridge. For more information, contact: Jason Bean at beanj@obu.edu. RED BUS PROJECT will be on campus next Wednesday from 8 a.m.5 p.m. For more info, contact CA.
Meet the Editors: the people behind the paper.
Emily Terry Editor-in-Chief @emilymterry
Anna Kumpuris News Editor @anniebananie14
“Until last week, it was ‘Dexter.’ Currently, it’s season three of ‘New Girl.’ Next up is season six of ‘Parks & Rec,’ followed by all of ‘Gilmore Girls’... all before ‘Friends’ becomes available Jan. 1.”
“‘Downton Abbey.’ It replaced ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ after that show made me really mad.”
News Bureau
Many families today are concerned about keeping college costs as affordable as possible. Ouachita actually is doing something about it. Ouachita trustees recently endorsed two major initiatives to help limit long-term higher education costs for incoming freshmen. Ouachita’s groundbreaking Loan Affordability Pledge is the first of its kind among any college or university in Arkansas. It is being coupled with the new Finish in 4 Guarantee, which specifies that students who meet certain criteria will either complete their Ouachita degrees in eight semesters or have their tuition costs waived for any additional semesters. “We are pleased to offer these two innovative financial assistance programs for the benefit of our students,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “These programs enable students to obtain an exceptional education at an even more affordable rate. “Ouachita strongly focuses on the student’s best interest while they study here and as they establish themselves upon graduation,” Dr. Horne added. “We encourage families to discover what national rankings have found. This private Christian university is a most affordable investment in a student preparing for a profession and for life.” Ouachita’s Loan Affordability Pledge is being offered in partnership with the non-profit Loan Repayment Assistance
Program Association. The pledge will be available to incoming freshmen beginning in fall 2015. It provides financial assistance to students and parents, helping with the repayment of federal student loans, private alternative student loans and Parent PLUS loans if graduates’ salaries do not meet specified income levels. The Loan Affordability Pledge will be provided at no cost to students or their families. The loan assistance will continue until the graduate’s income rises to a specified level or until the loans are paid off. Upon enrollment at Ouachita, students will receive a Loan Affordability Pledge offer letter from the university, detailing the specific income levels that determine how much assistance they will be eligible to receive following graduation. “For many families, an investment in Ouachita is one willingly made in order to provide the very finest education in a setting that integrates faith and learning,” said Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president for institutional advancement. While Ouachita students, on average, graduate with student debt levels below both the state and national averages, Henley said Ouachita is seeking to further enhance the university’s affordability. He said Ouachita’s Loan Affordability Pledge “connects our graduates to a non-profit foundation making this simple promise: ‘If your income after graduation is modest, we will help you repay your loans.’” The university’s new Finish in 4 Guarantee is designed to
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Best things about fall The weather and changing leaves Sweaters Football Pumpkin Spice Lattes Bonfires
What show are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Noah Hutchinson Opinions Editor @hutch15
“‘Sherlock.’ I want to be Benedict Cumberbatch’s exposition guy.”
Ouachita unveils new initiatives to enhance tuition affordability By TRENNIS HENDERSON
TOP
FOOTBALL VS. HARDING (AWAY) kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. For more information, contact: Todd Knight at knightt@obu.edu.
offer additional financial peace to students and their families. Henley said the program is set up “to help families manage their investment in a college education by avoiding additional semesters of tuition.” The guarantee specifies that in most degree programs, if a qualified student is unable to complete a degree in eight semesters, the university will waive tuition charges for any additional semesters needed to graduate. “Ouachita’s Loan Affordability Pledge and Finish in 4 Guarantee are two substantial ways in which Ouachita can make a lasting and significant difference for students and families,” Henley explained. “Along with generous financial aid opportunities and a history of low year-to-year cost increases, Ouachita continues to provide an exceptional financial value.” In addition to the new affordability initiatives, Ouachita recently was recognized by CollegeFactual.com among the Top 100 “Best Nationwide Colleges for Your Money,” based on “colleges that deliver a great education compared to their cost.” As a leading liberal arts university, Ouachita also is ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top tier of “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” and has been named among “America’s Top Colleges” by Forbes magazine. For more information about Ouachita’s Loan Affordability Pledge and Finish in 4 Guarantee, contact the Office of Admissions at 800-DIAL-OBU or visit www.obu.edu/afford. n
Dixon Land Sports Editor @dixoncland
“I usually switch between ‘Chuck,’ ‘The West Wing’ and ‘House of Cards.’ I can’t wait until the new season of ‘House of Cards’ comes out in February.”
HAMILTON
z Continued from Page 1
Conn-Selmer’s world headquarters since the introduction of the VIP program in 2012. The strategically tailored schedules include a visit to the onsite brass and woodwind manufacturing facilities where the VIP guests have the rare opportunity to witness oldworld craftsmanship blended with the latest technological manufacturing processes,” Sauer noted. Their agenda also includes one-on-one meetings with the Conn-Selmer product experts and open conversations with the executive team, including CEO John Stoner and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, vice president of education and founder of Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc. “Conn-Selmer’s Division of Education is committed to creating partnerships with the music education community to advance the positive growth and development of first-class school music programs,” Sauer explained. “From sharing the latest arts advocacy informa-
TICKET
z Continued from Page 1 dent Senate office. If the student’s warning is voided, they will still have a chance for a warning ticket. Once Student Senate decides the outcome of the protested ticket, the Senate officers will put a slip in the student’s mailbox notifying them of the decision made. That decision will also be recorded in the file on the ticket and will be available in the student’s info portal. For more information, contact Student Senate at senate@ obu.edu. n
tion to working hand-in-hand with teacher development offerings, the VIP initiative serves as a source-of-support for music educators around the world.” Hamilton’s partnership with Conn-Selmer is already having a positive impact on the Ouachita music department. “In December, the music education representatives from Conn-Selmer will come to Ouachita to talk with our students and faculty about what they have to offer,” Hamilton noted. “Conn-Selmer is currently looking at our instrument inventory to see ways they can help us maximize our current instruments and plan for the future. “We have also begun discussions with music manufacturing representatives and artist management representatives to visit with our students about alternative careers in music that are not the traditional performance and teaching careers,” Hamilton added. For more information, contact Dr. Craig Hamilton at hamiltonc@obu.edu or (879) 245-5137. n
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The unwritten rules of the universe By NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor @Hutch15 I’d say this is just a guy thing, but this may even be just a me thing. The world has unwritten rules, most of which I make up on the fly, that are almost as important as the constitution, a samurai’s bushido, or the five second rule. They’re some of the only things on this crazy little space rock that make any sense, and whether you realize it or not, they hold almost all of civilized society together. When somebody breaks one of these rules, I want to fight them. I just want to walk up to them and be like, “You know what you did. You certainly don’t have to take your punishment sitting down, but understand that some justice is about to be served,” and then drop The People’s Elbow on them. It’d be so satisfying not just for me, but for all sentient life, to see that guy that thought it was ok to spit in the face of the law get his comeuppance. Some people need to get punched in the mouth at least once for how they’re living. The first person I’d fight if given the chance is anybody whose job it is to try and get you to switch over to the TV or internet provider that they work for. How dare you. I don’t care if you’re an 80-yearold grandmother who makes the cutest baby hats in your crochet club, there is a folding chair of justice in your future if you relentlessly try to peddle your empty promises to me. It’s so fast. We include HBO in the starter package. We don’t have anywhere near as many problems as your current provider. Bull roar. These people need to understand that unless they’re
coming to give me Google Fiber, they’re evil. They’re “the system,” “the man,” that intangible menace that everyone knows is holding them down. When the Tribulation rolls around, I’m almost positive it’ll be sponsored by Comcast. The second person I’d fight is Geoffrey Arend and anyone of his kind. For those who don’t know, Geoffrey Arend is married to Christina Hendricks. That’s against the rules. Christina Hendricks is too talented, smart, funny and drop-dead gorgeous for me to be able to fathom her being tied down by any one man. Other than myself of course. And whether or not I agree with your personal choice of celebrity, you probably think the same of whatever movie star whose every talk show interview, podcast guest appearance or early bit part in a sitcom pilot you’ve diligently tracked down on the Internet. Whenever I watch “Mad Men,” I can’t help but imagine a cool, misty day in rural Twin Falls, Idaho (Hendricks’ home town). I’m walking through a scenic potato field when who do I see but the lovely Miss Hendricks. We sit down to a picnic lunch I just happened to be carrying with me. I tell her my best Laffy Taffy joke. She laughs. Then we have a riveting conversation about how we both still have our Doc Martens tucked away in our closets from our punk phases in our younger years. She’s smitten. So much so that she proposes on the spot, and we live happily ever after. The whole fantasy is ruined, however, because in the back of my mind, I know the only thing keeping any of that from happening is stupid Geoffrey Arend and his stupid bug eyes. I just can’t abide that. I wouldn’t go as far as to give him The People’s Elbow as I said in the second paragraph. A cookie elf like Arend could never survive the borderline nuclear power generated when I channel Dwayne “The Rock” John-
son, and one of the other unwritten rules of the universe is that you can’t make Christina Hendricks sad. I’d at least get him in a figure four leg lock though. Or maybe give him a noogie. Really anything to bump his life back a step from being absolutely perfect. My list of people who I want to fight is too long to ever be put down on paper, but the last one I’m going to mention here is Cain Velasquez, the current UFC heavyweight champion. Velasquez is one of my favorite fighters, don’t get me wrong, but you can’t claim the title of “baddest man on the planet” if you’re only ever going to pick fights out of a pool of maybe five guys. Sure, I may get out of breath after climbing three flights of stairs, but maybe I’m the baddest man on the planet. Cain Velasquez will never know until he mans up and fights me. I’d go as far as to say that you if you don’t want to fight Cain Velasquez, you can’t even call yourself a man. He could show up outside my dorm tomorrow and say, “There’s an octagon outside. You’ve got five minutes to put these gloves on and get down there.” I’d be down there in three. I wouldn’t even question it. If your male ego wouldn’t risk getting plowed into the ground by 230 lbs. of highly trained, linebackermauling fury for the right to call yourself the baddest man on the planet for even just a day, you might want to get your testosterone checked. As of right now, the United States legal system doesn’t recognize the unwritten rules of the universe, so I could only enforce them one or two times before I got tossed in jail. However, once some kind of catastrophic event rolls around that disbands the government and throws everything into anarchy, you can sleep soundly at night knowing that the new law of Hutch will protect you from the evils of cable providers, lofty sports titles and famous people getting married. n
College life too simple, Zombies eat our brains, special luxury needed also our peace of mind By Katie Kemp Staff Writer We all know that college life is not exactly luxurious. Most of my days consist of sleeping through about fifteen different alarms, hastily attempting (and usually abandoning) a rescue mission on my appearance and barely making it to class on time, all while struggling in a groggy haze to remember whether or not I turned my straightener off after I was done with it. Meals usually consist of cafeteria food or Easy Mac, so as not to dig an even deeper hole into an already cavernous wallet. Recreation seems to be limited to late night trips to truck stops or any event with the word “FREE” included in the title in bold letters. This isn’t a bad life, but it’s certainly not a lavish one by any stretch of the imagination. Days like these seem to become routine after a while, and routine quickly becomes mundane. We all deserve a little more than mundane, but it’s very easy to become caught up in the endless juggling act that life as a college student entails. Don’t get me wrong, having good grades and maintaining a social life and participating in clubs and volunteering are all awesome aspects of college life that have countless benefits in the long run, but balancing all of these things becomes very stressful very fast. Anyone who knows me knows that I am the queen of blowing silly things out of proportion until they explode, but I have recently discovered a philosophy that helps counter my stress. Three words have completely altered the way I go about the day and handle my stress when it feels like I can’t take anymore: Treat. Yo. Self. It’s a completely ridiculous phrase that quirky characters on TV comedy “Parks and Recreation” coined, and the concept is laughable. Two colleagues set aside one day of the year to “treat” themselves, meaning they spend the day blowing extravagant amounts of money on ridiculous things that they would normally deem unnecessary.
They decide to bring a bummed colleague along on their indulgent outing, and he declares that the idea is insane. But in all honesty, isn’t there some sort of weird truth to the idea that treating yourself is a good thing? The Treat Yo Self philosophy demands that you take time to do something that you love, even if it means sacrificing some of your time or money. As their distressed coworker discovers, treating yo self brings a feeling of release and satisfaction that he didn’t realize he needed. Although this realization is tearful and awkward for everyone involved, it demonstrates the true power of treating yourself. At the time that I watched this episode, it was just another installment of a TV show that made me laugh. But there is some truth behind any joke, and this one in particular stuck with me. As the queen of getting stressed out, I made a decree to myself that rather than beating myself up or getting frazzled and upset because of my ever-increasing workload, I would set aside a little time every day to do something nice for myself. Whether that be a full-on mani-pedi session or taking some time off studying to watch another glorious 90’s chick flick on Netflix, it creates time to think about things other than school or work or whatever makes me want to rip out my own hair on that particular day. Taking a few minutes here and there to distance myself from my tired daily routine provides enough of a break from it that I’m able to see how much more I deserve than the fast-paced urgency I tend to go through each day with. Everyone deserves a treat from time to time, so take some time this week to do something you love: jam to your favorite album with the windows down, buy the name brand chips instead of the Great Value ones, take a weekend road trip with your best friends or just do something that you know will make you happy. We were made to delight in God’s creation, and He delights in our happiness. For the sake of your own mental health and well being, treat yo self. n facebook.com/obusignal twitter.com/obusignal instagram.com/obusignal
By Robert DeSoto Staff Writer Unholy shuffling from behind you combines with the scraping of your exposed bone on the pavement in a symphony of living versus the undead. As this final race comes to a close, you feel the chomping, fleshshredding of mandibles just before you can crawl away. It’s too late— your own disembowelment your last memory as you lie there helplessly. However horrific our protagonist’s demise may have seemed, what’s even more disturbing is the number of times we have already seen this sole character devoured by zombies in movies, TV shows, video games, books and graphic novels. Impossible to ignore the millions of fans salaaming the new season of “The Walking Dead,” zombies have become a fundamental aspect of our culture today. And with the new addition of Ebola to our list of fears of apocalyptic doom, what do zombies tell us about ourselves? And more importantly, whatever happened to the voodoo zombies of old? Centuries before Scooby-Doo ever set paw on Zombie Island, voodoo practitioners on the original zombie island of Haiti concocted zombie powders that when applied to victims, would render them paralytic and under the control of the voodoo priest. The first zombie film, 1932’s “White Zombie,” is even testament to this tradition of mind control. The cadence of the drum and c’est le Congo changed in 1968 with George A. Romero’s landmark tale of radioactive reanimation as “Night of the Living Dead” became the granddaddy of all modern zombie films. The rest of the 20th century’s zombie tales now fall into two subgenres: supernatural zombies of Haitian tradition or Romero-Zombies, flesh-eating monsters of pandemic. 1988’s “The
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Serpent and the Rainbow” and 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead” serve as examples of both categories. Our post-9/ll culture, however, is a horse of a different brain-eating variety. Increasingly gory, bloodspurting, brain-oozing, zombiebaby-crawling tales of end times and peril become more and more popular. Tales of gris-gris-wearing shamans entrancing victims have virtually vanished. Now that our nation has been injected with the fear of violence and the enigmatic Ebola plague, we’re left asking, “What does it all mean?” We internalize that what we’re seeing is fiction, yet when we watch the mindless zombie devour a victim, we are looking in the mirror. In the same way that Haitian traditions served as a metaphor for slavery and Romero-Zombies the Vietnam-era, Civil-Rights violence, today’s zombies show our fundamental need as humans to overcome adversity. The message that today’s zombies are all moaning, albeit a little xenophobic, is that we want to preserve our identity. Voodoo zombies just don’t serve that need. We desperately want our band of survivors to sustain life when they are surrounded in Zombieland. The ubiquity of zombies, “bluecollar monsters,” as Romero calls them, may seem monotonous and overdone—like hearing that Amanda Bynes is in trouble again, it’s just sad. However, it is vital that we understand that the true horror is in the idea behind the monsters: a fear that one day our civilization will evaporate, forever gone with the wind. But who knows? It’s always a possibility that you could have been exposed to some zombie powder while reading this. Maybe you’ll be the start of the glorious return of the voodoo zombie. One day it’ll be the shamans that are coming to get you, Barbara. 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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Head Coach Todd Knight earns 100th win BY: DIXON LAND Sports Editor @dixoncland
Dixon Land y The Signal
Kyle Parris, who took over as Sports Information Director for Ouachita Athletics in 2013, operates all media functinos for the Tigers. Parris, along with other things, coordinates all stats, deals with media outlets and the NCAA, works to publicize players and does most of the media that Ouachita Athletics releases.
Parris has the info on Ouachita sports By HANNA DEAN
Staff Writer @HannaPreslea “When I was a kid, I told people that when I grew up, I was going to be a marching band,” Ouachita’s Sports Information Director Kyle Parris said. “Not that I was going to play in one, but that I was going to be a marching band. But that didn’t work out.” Although he is originally from Arkadelphia, Kyle Parris grew up traveling. When he was 12-years-old, he moved to Venezuela, where he graduated from high school. For college, he returned to Arkadelphia to pursue his degree in English at Ouachita. While enrolled, he was a columnist for The Signal and served as assistant sports editor. His father, Stan Parris, pastor of Second Baptist Church, is a graduate of Henderson State University. “He’s not just from Henderson,” Parris said. “Dad was an All-American over at Henderson. He’s in their Hall of Honor. We have a good time kidding about it. We’ve got a healthy, respectful rivalry that goes on, but he’s really happy that I’m here doing what I’m doing.” Parris worked in the restaurant business before starting his career at Ouachita Baptist. He worked from the restaurant level all the way up to the corporate level and helped write training materials and put together training programs for the restaurants to use. When he left the restaurant industry, Parris was in Arkadelphia visiting his parents and got a call from Ouachita’s Athletic Director David Sharp. “Coach Sharp said that he had heard that I was looking for something to do and asked what experience I had with writing,” Parris said. After talking with Sharp about a position that needed to be filled, Parris started
his journey at Ouachita as the Sports Information Director in May of 2013. “I love Ouachita,” Parris said. “So, to get the opportunity to come back here and work here is just awesome.” In addition to his experience and skill set earning him the position of Sports Information Director, Parris considers the job a blessing. “Some people would say it was coincidence, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it was God,” Parris said. “It’s just one of those things where I wasn’t sure what I was going to do next, and I just kind of left
“I’m getting to write about two of my biggest passions: sports and Ouachita. “ —Kyle Parris Sports Information Director that in God’s hands, and He went to work. He just made doors open and made things happen.” Parris starts each day around 7:00 a.m. He begins by responding to emails anywhere from students to NCAA agencies that update him on rules, stats and rankings. Depending on the day of the week, Parris sends in nominations for Player of the Week for Ouachita’s conference. A vital part of his day is making sure everything is prepared for any Ouachita games during the
day, such as staffing, files and equipment. If the game is away, Parris is responsible for sending any necessary files to the game location. Updating and adding information to the Tiger website is also an essential part of the day. To wrap it all up, Parris attends any games that are scheduled for the day and could be done as early as 6:30 p.m. or as late as 11:00 p.m. “My job as a sports information director is to promote our student-athletes,” Parris said. “That’s it. There’s a lot of things I have to do, but ultimately, we are here to promote our team and our student-athletes. Get the word out to alumni, prospective students, the media.” The Sports Information Department offers live stats, along with audio streaming for basketball and baseball. The Tiger website is updated daily and includes rosters, feature and game stories, and stats. Parris believes that there has also been a huge improvement in the use of social media to cover games in the last year and a half. While most student-athletes make up 20 to 25 percent of the student body at other universities, Ouachita’s student-athletes make up almost 35 percent. Parris has a genuine interest in each individual athlete and their well-being. “Getting to interact and getting to know the student-athletes, that’s really special,” Parris said. “We’ve got a lot of really neat kids and a lot of really great stories with our athletes here on campus. So, to be able to get to know them and form that connection with them, that’s probably the best part.” If you look up the common definition of a sports information director, Parris exceeds all expectations by being intentional with Ouachita’s student-athletes and yearning for their success. “I’m getting to write about two of my biggest passions: sports and Ouachita,” Parris said. n
Ouachita Football Head Coach Todd Knight received his 100th win as a head coach this past Saturday against Northwestern Okla. “I attribute the success to great players and great coaches,” Knight said. “I’ve been fortunate to coach where I have.” Knight began his coaching experience as an assistant under Red Parker and Don Skelton at Delta State from 1986-1989. After a brief stint as an assistant at UTEP, Knight retured to Delta State as the head coach where he led them to their first Gulf South Conference Championship in 1998. Knight became the head coach of the Ouachita Tigers in 1998, returning to his alma mater, where he played under Head Coach Buddy Benson. “It was great to be around those coaches early on in my careeer,” Knight said. “They all had their special niche and I was able to pick up some different coaching techniques from each one of them.” Knight coached the Tigers to the inagural Great American Conference Championship in 2011. The Tigers are the only team in Akransas with six consecutive winning seasons, finishing in the AFCA Top 25 in five of those six seasons. “Those teams really set the standard here at Ouachita,” Knight said. “They helped us build a great program here.” Knight has coached six professional athletes, 115 All-Conference players, 18 All-Americans and 30 Academic All-Conference players. His seniors have boasted a 90% graduation rate and extensive hours of community service. “It feels no different than any other day,” Knight said. “We have a big game coming up this weekend and while it is a huge honor to have 100 wins in my career, we are focused on the gameplan for this week.” n
Tigers ranked, NLCS best series in baseball
The Tiger football team has been in the news lately with a 5-0 start. But the biggest test of the year will happen this weekend against Harding. The Tigers, coming off an impressive 41-10 win against Northwestern are ranked number 22 in the AFCA D-II Top 25 poll. They’ll play a tough team in Harding University, which is ranked 13th. The game will feature a few key players that could potentially play beyond their careers at the schools. For Ouachita, that would include safety Etauj Allen and quarterback Kiehl Frazier. Allen was selected as the GAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He now averages a 23.4 yard average on punt returns. Harding features a dangerous offensive attack that the Tigers have yet to see this season. Harding, who runs the ball most of the time will challenge the front seven of the Tiger defense. The game will begin at 6 p.m. in Searcy. * * * Eric Braeuer, a fromer team captain and point gaurd for
BY DIXON LAND Sports Editor @dixoncland
the Tiger basketball team will be on the sidelines with Head Coach Dennis Nutt this season. Braeuer accepted the assistant head coach position and will help Nutt coach the seventh ranked team into GAC play this season. The Tigers return senior Colt Fason and Micah Delph who should help lead the team to key victories in the 2014-2015 season. Fason led the team in scoring and rebounding with 16.9 points per game and 8.8 rebounds. Delph averaged 15.5 points per game. These seniors have to lead and have big seasons to compete in a very good Great American Conference this sea-
son. In fact, every team in the GAC this season could have a winning season in any other conference. * * * The Volleyball team, 11-6 overall and 4-5 in conference, are looking good going into games this weekend against East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Alabama Huntsville. The Tigers defeated Southern Arkansas in five sets earlier this week. Abby Pickett looked impressive as she led the Tigers with 13 kills and Stephanie Pollnow stepped up with a season-high 12 kills. * * * In Division 1 football, I personally will admit to overlooking a very talented Mississippi State team. They are playing incredibly well so far. Granted, if Auburn doesn’t spot them 21 points in the first quarter, the game might have been different since they played pretty even for the rest of the game. I’m still not buying Ole Miss though. I know they defeated Alabama and rushed the field, but Alabama is down this year. In fact, they could barely beat
Arkansas, and quite frankly, the only reason they did was because Arkansas missed an extra-point. If that game goes into overtime, it’s Woo Pig Sooie all the way back to Tuscaloosa. Arkansas is much better though. They may be the best three loss team in the country. I’m still unimpressed with Florida State. They’re playing down to their talent and that’s saying a lot considering Syracuse, a 2-4 team, had four chances to score touchdowns
“I think the NLCS is the series with the best two teams left in the playoffs” —Dixon Land
in the redzone in the first half. They still managed to score 20 on a Florida State defense that struggled throughout the game. Take those four redzone trips and add points. Who knows what might have happened? Baylor looks good. Really good. But its still the Big 12. So I’m not fully sold yet. * * * I know the Royals look good. They’ve swept twice in this post season. But I don’t think they are good enough to beat the Giants or the Cardinals. I think that the NLCS is the series with the best two teams. The way the Cardinals and the Giants are playing just shows how good both teams are. The bullpens are impressive and both teams can hit, as evidenced by last night’s performance. Another major reason why the NL will win the World Series is because both the Giants and the Cardinals are much more experienced than most of the players on the Royals team. In fact, a lot of the players on both teams have been in World Series before and a few have won one. n