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9.22.17
Vol. 126, Issue 4
SINCE 1890 FEATURES | 4
FIELD TRIP Education students learn from classrooms across the country
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OBU Department of Fine Arts to present “The Secret Garden” By ANNI WILLIAMS Staff writer
Ouachita’s production of The Secret Garden will open in Verser Theatre on September 28 at 7 p.m. Though regarded as a children’s show, this production’s complex characters, redemptive storyline and beautiful music make it a show for all ages. The Secret Garden musical is based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is about a little girl named Mary, who lost both of her parents and was sent to live with her uncle in York. In Ouachita’s production, Mary is played by junior Rachel Webber, who says she is surprised with how much she has connected with the tenyear-old character. “She has become one of my favorite characters that I’ve played,” said Webber. “Mary is a child who has dealt with loss… throughout the play we see her journey from a somber introspective little girl to a laughing and bubbly young child… Mary’s feelings come from a place that feels real and genuine,” said Webber. “I feel I am playing a real person in an imaginary world.” In the gloomy dark estate where Mary resides, there is
Andy Henderson z Photo Lab MELODIE DUBOSE (from left), Emily Johnson and Bailey Swanson rehearse choreography in preparation for “The Secret Garden.” The production opens in Verser Theatre next Thursday, September 28.
another young child, a boy who has been bedridden all his life, and his father Archibald Craven, played by junior Scotty Scott. Craven, the owner of the gloomy manor, is a man who is grieving the loss of his wife. “It’s easy to think of him as the bad guy in certain parts, but he has a heart and soul to him. He has a tender
kindness that’s hard to see at points, but is ultimately there,” said Scott. Archibald, Scott believes, serves as a relatable character as he struggles through the grieving process. Another character we meet in the show is Dickon, played by senior Cody Walls, a boy who helps Mary find the manor’s secret garden. Walls
Student Senate: becoming leaders of leaders By JULIA WILLIAMS News editor
Ouachita Student Senate is making some vital changes to its structure and organization, bringing some new services to the student body while enhancing existing ones. After peering at the organization’s constitution and by-laws, the current Senate administration has moved forward with efforts to make it more focused on student need and representation. According to Dr. Chris Brune, Student Senate faculty sponsor and chair of the department of accounting and finance, Senate decided to take a “fresh look” at the constitution and by-laws last spring. “We surveyed some other schools to see how their student government associations function, and we kind of compared what they were doing. We took a fresh look at our constitution and realized that maybe as strong as the history has been here that maybe there was room for us to grow that and reach out in some ways that we haven’t done in the past,” said Brune. “Over the course of the spring, we worked on identifying some things that might be some steps we could take. Hannah [Bunch] and I worked this summer to develop some of the structure around some of those things so that we could really start to implement some of it this fall.” Hannah Bunch, president of Student Senate and a senior political science and history major from Paragould,
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Andy Henderson z Photo Lab STUDENT SENATE MEMBERS discuss changes at a recent meeting. Senate is currently in the process of implementing several revisions to its consititution.
We took a fresh look at our Constitution and realized that maybe as strong as the history has been here that maybe there was room for us to grow that and reach out in some ways that we haven’t done in the past.”
CHRIS BRUNE
has been involved in Senate since her sophomore year. It was last year when she served as internal vice president alongside Senate President Haley Brown that she really saw an effort to get the “ball rolling” on these changes. Looking to the preamble of the constitution, members of the executive branch of Senate wanted to return to those original ideas that had been laid out. “For example, we had focused too much on creating events. That became one of the main focuses. The ones that we wanted to go back to were things that talk about being the official voice for the student body. We get to represent them not just to professors, but to the administration and to one another,” said Bunch. These changes can be
seen in the revamped Traffic Court, a service that’s been offered for many years. According to Bunch, Campus Life Committee Chair Selby Tucker has worked tirelessly on these changes. “The heart in the changes they’re making are for it to be more professional and for it to be a good learning experience for us as we learn how to serve in this capacity as we are a bridge between Safety and the student body,” said Bunch. “Also, the students learn what it’s like to make an appeal. When you come in, it’s not your friend sitting there. It’s your representative making a call on your appeal.” Senate committees are also undergoing some “changes.” Looking back to the original see Senate z 2
describes Dickon as “the emotional heart of the show.” Dickon is poor and works hard to support his family, but he never complains. Instead, he remains cheerful and brings light into Mary’s world, encouraging her to find the silver lining. A maid named Martha, played by sophomore Hannah Hill, also serves as an
encouraging character. Martha continually encourages Mary to never give up, and tells her that there is good to be found in even the darkest situations. As the show develops, we see these characters grow and evolve as many of them go through healing processes and ultimately find joy see Garden z 2
Irma tears through Florida
was to come. I wasn’t really frightened or too overly Staff writer concerned,” said Hudson. “Maybe it was my lack of ex Hurricane Irma, a category perience with these types of 5 hurricane, swept across the storms or maybe the Lord’s Atlantic Ocean and through peace over me. Still, my roomFlorida almost two weeks mates and I took some preago, now putting about 50 cautions – several packages million homes at risk accord- of bottled water, snacks, and ing to the United States Con- non-perishable food were gress Center for Economic purchased. My other AmeriStudies. As Irma traveled can roommate and I tried through central Florida, it to educate our other roomwas downgraded to a tropi- mate from China about some cal storm and closed Walt things we may have to do – Disney World for two days, dealing with possible power the sixth closing in the his- outages and no water.” Irma destroyed power lines as it tory of the park. David Hudson, an OBU blazed through Florida, leavsophomore musical theatre ing approximately 6 million major from Little Rock., is people without power. studying in the Disney Col- 16 Florida counties institutlege Program this semester at ed mandatory evacuations, Walt Disney World in Orlan- and 13 counties ordered voldo, Fla. “I remember learn- untary evacuations. Over ing about Irma for the first 6.5 million Florida residents time while I was at work. I were ordered to leave their was sitting in the break room, homes until Irma passes. “Orange cooling down from my last “(Irma was) the first category C o u n t y , where I set before I live, was got back into 5 hurricane in the United never orcostume,” States since hurricane dered to said Hudson. e v a c u “At that point, Andrew in 1992.” ate, but I it was still did hear a week to a week and a half before Irma people at work talking about hit so we weren’t even sure how it normally takes them it would hit Florida or if it 30 minutes to get to work, and it took them two and a would be a big deal.” In those few short days, half hours [to get to work] beIrma tore through the Virgin cause of all the people evacuIslands and Cuba as a cat- ating from south Florida,” egory 5 hurricane and ap- said Hudson. As the storm proached Florida as the first hit Orlando, “we did get all category 5 hurricane in the the storm had to offer,” said United States since hurricane Hudson. “Our power went Andrew in 1992 with winds out at 9 p.m. Sunday night… reaching up to 185 miles per We heard the transformer hour. “At this point, I was blow and knew it was going definitely weary about what see irma z 2
By KACY SPEARS
THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM
y Behind the curtain of Tiger Tunes: the technical side of a Ouachita tradition y Meet your Tiger Tunes Hosts and Hostesses
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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.
CAB MOVIE NIGHT will be “La GRADUATE AND La Land” tonight at Dr. Jacks PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL at 8 p.m. Admission is free but FAIR will be held in Evans concessions will be available for Student Center on Wednesday, purchase. For more information September 2715from OBU @Ouachita Apr 11 a.m. to contact Duel Cunningham at 1 p.m. For more information, So how do you use social media -- to affirm and encourage cun60324@obu.edu. contact Rachel Jones at or to attack and tear doen? “Be ye kind to one another.” jonesrm@obu.edu. (Eph. 4:32). Hmmm... TIGER SERVE DAY is this THE SECRET GARDEN opens Saturday, September 23 Thursday, September 28 at Justin Young @JustinYoung072 16 Apr beginning at 8 a.m. 7 p.m. in Verser Theatre. For The Harley Davidson leather vest must be the key to more information or to reserve memorizing the entire Bible. YEARBOOK PORTRAITS will tickets, visit obu.edu/boxoffice. be taken next week beginning Monday, September 25 at 8 a.m. REFUGE will be Thursday, in the Speer Writing Center. To September 28 at 9 p.m. at schedule a portrait time, log into Second Baptist Church. your info portal.
The Signal @obusignal 22 September 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
Delaney Bedunah Senior “Friends. The coffee cups at Central Perk look huge and I feel like you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.”
TOP
5
Spots to study on campus
5 4 3 2 1
The library’s second floor study rooms The McClellan rotunda Student center bridge The science building The caf in the mornings
If you could live in a TV show, what show would you choose?
jT Ryan Junior
Mattie Couch Junior
Jake Morris Sophomore
Paige Price Freshman
“30 Rock because there’s no consequences for being bad at your job.”
“Gilmore Girls. Living in a world where wit and coffee are the answer to everything would be a dream.”
“Teen Titans Go because I want super powers.”
“That 70’s Show because I’m obsessed with the 70’s aesthetic.”
Library, Writing Center to host “Read Out” for Banned Books Week By KATIE KEMP Editor-in-chief
In honor of national Banned Books Week, Ouachita’s University Writing Program and Riley-Hickingbotham Library will hold a Banned Books Read Out on Thursday, September 28. Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and freedom from censorship, and Ouachita’s Read Out will partake in the celebration by allowing students and faculty to read excerpts of their favorite banned books out loud. The event will take place in the amphitheater from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m. In the past, Ouachita has
Senate
z Continued from Page 1 intent of the constitution, Brune explained that this document and the by-laws outlined the committees that were necessary to function, so the recent redesign is merely reverting back to the old way. Other changes include some revisions made to the constitution. Among these were a raised GPA requirement, spring election cycles and a decrease in the number of officers. During last year’s term, Senate voted as a whole to remove two positions per class, as they were deemed not necessary. “We changed how many student senators were a part of it just because we didn’t see a need for a secretary and treasurer for each class. We wanted people to feel more involved and plugged in,” said Bunch. Some completely new ideas are also in the works as a number of these committees will be planning and creating new Senate-sponsored programs to aid the student body. Things like a
commemorated Banned Books Week through displays in the library featuring some of the most famous banned books, but the library and the writing center wanted to take it a step further for this year’s celebration by reading out loud and creating a space for meaningful conversations to start. “It opens up a lot of conversations about censorship and about what exactly is appropriate or inappropriate or if we should ban books,” said Jennifer Pittman, director of the University Writing Center. “It celebrates our freedom to even have those conversations.” “The whole idea of banning a book from a library is against the meaning of
libraries,” said Autumn Mortenson, a reference and circulation librarian in Riley-Hickingbotham Library. “Libraries are supposed to be a place where you may access a variety of information on topics and ideas, and so for one group of people to say, ‘no, you’re not allowed to read this book because I don’t agree with it’ is against libraries.” “We celebrate our freedom to read by informing people of banned books week, by reading banned books, by sharing and talking about banned books and discussing the importance of a variety of opinions,” said Mortenson. The event will be sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) as
an official Banned Books Week event. The ALA collects data on books that are publicly challenged and censored and releases an annual “Top Ten Most Challenged Books” list in conjunction with Banned Books Week. “[Students] may be surprised if they look at the ALA list by what kinds of books get frequently banned. A lot of them are children’s books or what we would consider classics,” said Pittman. Pittman will be reading an excerpt from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of the most well known frequently banned books in school libraries. Mortenson stresses that students do not have to read to participate in the Read Out—listening is an active
form of participation, as well. The event is not just restricted to students within the English department— students from all areas of study are encouraged to get involved. Those interested in reading at the event may sign up to do so in Riley-Hickingbotham Library. If students want to participate but are not sure what book they want to read from, the library is providing a list of the top 100 banned books that students may choose from. For more information on Banned Books Week and the Read Out, visit the library or contact Jennifer Pittman (pittmanj@obu.edu), Autumn Mortenson (mortensona@ obu.edu) or Kristi Smith (smithk@obu.edu). n
soundboard and a leadership forum will be soon in the works, providing resources, access and information to students, faculty and administration. “We want Senate to be a liaison between students and faculty and administration,” said Brune. “One side of that is, ‘How do we identify student concerns and share those with people who are in a position to consider whether to make a change?’ On the other side, when the administration has questions about student input, ‘How can we help [faculty/administration] collect data on student concern?’” “One of the things we are trying to do is conduct everything from Senate meetings to elections to interactions with students and faculty with a focus on professionalism. We’re trying to stress that as one of our goals just so we are more effective in how we represent students to the administration,” Brune said. “We want to be here for students. We can’t make any promises, but we’ll be glad to listen and happy to communicate their concerns as best we can.” n
Garden
acting, costumes, set, music, lights and direction it needs. “Everyone is putting their best foot forward and giving it 100 percent,” said Walls. “It’s a lot of fun, everyone who is there really wants to be there. The show is challenging, but the talent is incredible.” The performance itself is sure to be spectacular. Webber says the acting, lights, stage and costumes come together for an “aesthetically pleasing performance” with “the most gorgeous music I’ve ever heard in a musical.” Holsclaw also praised the upcoming production’s music, saying it has some of the most beautiful songs in it. Songs that seem to be particular favorites are both “Lily’s Eyes” sung by Scott and Will Stotts, and “Hold On” performed by Hill. The show will be per-
formed in Verser Theatre from Sept. 28 to 30 at 7 p.m., Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and students with a student ID can reserve tickets free of charge. People of all ages are encouarged to come see this show. The Secret Garden has a storyline built to be understandable for children, while also holding an emotional and intellectual depth for older audiences to contemplate. “It’s a great family show,” said Holsclaw. “It’s a wonderful evening of great music and a great story.” Gorgeous music, complex characters, and a redemptive plot makes this show an absolute must-see. “It’ll be something that’s very different than audiences at OBU have seen in the past from us,” said Scott. “It’ll truly be something special.” n
that it was limbs of trees snapping.” Because of the storm, Walt Disney World decided to close its doors for two days. “It was on the Thursday or Friday before Irma hit that the Walt Disney World Company
notified its cast members and guests that they would be closed on Sunday and Monday due to Irma,” said Hudson. “We also closed the parks early on Saturday. That was a little surreal because Disney is never closed.” n
z Continued from Page 1 again. Dr. Scott Holsclaw, the show’s director, loves the show’s redemptive storyline, and is glad to do this show for a second time. The Secret Garden was previously produced at Ouachita in 2001. Because this year marks the 50th anniversary of Verser Theatre and the 25th anniversary of Jones Performing Arts Center, all the of this year’s theater productions, including The Secret Garden, are shows that have been done at Ouachita previously. Holsclaw was also the director for the 2001 production. “This is another one of the favorite moments in my career I’m revisiting,” he said. Both students and staff are working nonstop onstage and off to bring this show the
Irma
z Continued from Page 1 to be a night to remember… I could hear loud popping. It sounded like a bunch of transformers blowing over and over. I found out later
Features
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Friday, September 22, 2017 u page 3
Rachel Mills z Photo Lab DR. NATHAN REYNA sits in his office. Reyna received a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Arkansas and continues his research while teaching at OBU.
CURE Labs: research alongside students By HANNAH WALKER Staff writer
T
he Patterson School of Natural Sciences has received national attention for its cutting-edge research methods and teaching style. They utilize the CURE (Course-embedded Undergraduate Research Experience) method of teaching, which combines undergraduate learning with real-world lab and research experience. The CURE program was implemented in the last sixyears; it allows students to be treated as scientists who both learn and work in the lab. One of the professors who implemented the CURE program is Dr. Nathan Reyna, a native Arkansan who is described by his students as well-rounded, passionate, unique and caring. Reyna has a Ph.D. in molecular biology, has garnered recognition from the National Science Organization and mentors other science professors to teach them how to run CURE programs. He has studied plant breeding and genetics and is currently working on a project studying neuron development funded by a $250,000 grant from the Arkansas Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (AR-EPSCoR). His passion for research and teaching has been fueled by opportunities he has been provided through programs at Ouachita. Reyna stated that “with the Patterson Summer Research Fellowship, I have been able to develop projects and ideas. It takes a while to collect enough data to justify funding from outside sources. However, using OBU research funds, I was able to develop my ideas and show a history of working with an undergraduate in research.” It was during his time studying at the College of the Ozarks in Missouri that Reyna discovered his love of
science. He described one of his work study jobs as being very transformational. “Everyone had to work… My job was to run a little mini research lab for students doing projects. I was not a very good student, and I was not a very good person, but once I worked in that lab, I absolutely loved doing stuff and so ever since then, I’ve always wanted to teach
of the process even existing. We used to think the students couldn’t do this. That was always the whole thought across science: ‘Doing research and doing real research where you have to be competitive for money and grants is impossible for freshmen or sophomore undergraduates.’” That misconception is being reversed through the use
because they have participated in several different research opportunities. Students have already completed extensive research by the time they graduate, so they are better equipped to get into graduate and professional schools, and their critical thinking abilities are better honed. Another advantage of being in the CURE program is that students have the op-
Rachel Mills z Photo Lab
“Students do not simply observe what I am doing. They are active participants in the research.”
--Dr. Nathan Reyna undergraduates, and I’ve always wanted to do research with undergraduates.” In the time since Reyna received his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, there has been much advancement in the field of biology. He has enjoyed getting to see the progression of both science and how science is included in university curriculum. “RNA sequencing didn’t exist until 2007… we are doing it with undergraduates within just a few years
of the CURE program. Students work alongside professors, doing real research and making real scientific advancements. Reyna teaches three out of the five CURE labs offered at Ouachita, and he says, “through CUREs, I can work with 40 [students] a semester. Students do not simply observe what I am doing. They are active participants in the research.” The CURE program helps Ouachita students to stand out in a crowd of applicants
portunity to publish their findings and present data at off-campus meetings. As the program has progressed, Reyna has been impressed with how the students have kept up with the continually rising standards. “We just set the bar high, and they just keep jumping over it. So as we keep raising the bar, students … just keep doing better every time.” His students are not left to fend for themselves while keeping up with the high cri-
teria. Senior biomedical student Morgan Lynch said of Reyna, “He cares about his students, not just their success in the class but their understanding of the material. He is a passionate teacher and researcher, willing to work with the students in lab and outside of it until they accomplish their goal for the class. He believes in students and expects them to give their best effort.” Kesley Brown, a senior in the biomedical program, spoke about how open and available Reyna makes himself for his students. “I can go sit in Reyna’s office and ask him in-depth questions about genetics, what I should be doing with my life, or simply about the beautiful art covering his walls. Well-rounded is an understatement.” Reyna is undeniably intelligent, but his humility and focus on God define him. Reyna recently received funding to teach professors across the nation how to conduct CURE labs. He named this project AR-CURE (Arkansas CURE) because he wants people to remember that they are learning all these new, successful techniques in Arkansas. Arkansas (and the South in general) does not have a reputation for being on the forefront of scientific innovation, and Reyna hopes to help change this stereotype of the South. He wants other professors and scientists to come to OBU because “they think Christian universities can’t do cool science… That’s the first thing, these faculty come [from out of state], and they don’t think the South is doing good stuff, they don’t think Arkansas is doing good stuff, and they definitely don’t think a Christian university can do science and still be true to a Christian university. And so it is kind of neat for them to come. We are a Christian university, and we love God, but we also love learning a lot of science. To me, that’s a huge deal!” n
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Alexa Spinks z Courtesy THE EDUSA GROUP poses for a silly picture with Ron Clark while visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga. All 17 students in the group were able to attend a day of training at the Ron Clark Academy thanks to a fund established in memory of Riley Pool.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice:” preparing to teach in culturally diverse areas By CAMRYN REEVES Copy editor
M
ark Twain said it best: “Travel is fatal to prejudice.” The education department at Ouachita recently took a trip to the east coast to learn more about what a diverse classroom environment really is. They had the opportunity to experience classroom styles that some had never seen first-hand and according to Dr. Collins, the chair of the education department, ultimately improved their cultural knowledge. The goal of the trip was to expose the students to cultures that they might not have necessarily encountered in a classroom setting prior to the trip. “Initially our decision to do any kind of training is based on trying to provide experiences for our education majors where they are exposed to various kinds of cultures and experiences like that which would help increase what we call their cultural intelligence for their future teaching,” said Collins. “So many classrooms today are multicultural and so we’ve tried to provide experiences that would give them those opportunities.” According to Collins, the reason that the students had the opportunity to attend the trip was because “there was a fund that was started and Dr. Pool’s wish was for that money to help take students to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, and so last summer we were able to take 17 students on that trip. All 17 of them were able to attend a day of training at the Ron Clark Academy because of that fund, so that was a tremendous blessing.” This fund was organized in honor of Dr. Rachel Pool’s infant daughter who passed away, and with that money, Dr. Pool graciously blessed the students in the education department with the opportunity to grow in their cultural intelligence. Dr. Pool’s mother, father and grandmother were also instrumental the planning of the trip. The trip was one full of a variety of stops and learning experiences. “We went from Little Rock to West Memphis… and attended classes in elementary and secondary schools. One teacher we got to observe was the regional Teacher of the Year who happened to be a Ouachita grad, and the other one we got to
observe was named Teacher of the Year for that school. She was also a Ouachita grad,” Collins explained. On their way from West Memphis, the group had the opportunity to stop briefly in Birmingham to observe a private school there. While there, the students stayed at the home of Drs. Andrew and Jeanna Westmoreland. Andrew, president of Samford University, is a former president of Ouachita. Jean-
na was dean of education at Ouachita. Madison McGee, a junior education major from Garland, Texas, explained her experience at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga. as her favorite aspect of the trip. “They built the school in an area where it’s very hard for kids… so Ron Clark made the school for the kids who need help… He pretty much turned it upside down,” said McGee. McGee explains that the Ron Clark Academy is full of dancing, decorated classrooms and a love for learning. “The students are answering right away; they
know what’s going on.” They also learn from each other and have a discussion-based atmosphere in the classroom. Through that, the students at the school learn to help one another. This trip was a dream come true for McGee. “The Ron Clark Academy has been a dream for me to go to since tenth grade in high school, so seeing that was really cool.” One thing that McGee learned while touring the Ron Clark Academy was the importance of making eye contact with every student. “If you know that your teacher is making eye contact with you, you pay attention
Alexa Spinks z Courtesy THE EDUSA TEAM stops to pose for a picture while at Central Park in New York City. The trip across the east coast culminated with a stay in New York City.
Madison McGee z Courtesy MADISON MCGEE shows off her “Slide Certified” sticker at the Ron Clark Academy.
Kathy Collins z Courtesy EDUCATION STUDENTS sit in an Amish classroom they observed during their visit to a Mennonite school.
Kathy Collins z Courtesy THE GROUP poses for a photo atthe Hershey’s Chocolate factory. Their trip allowed for many sightseeing stops.
Kathy Collins z Courtesy THE EDUSA GROUP poses at the Manhattan Christian Academy in New York City, where they were able to observe in culturally diverse classrooms.
better,” said McGee. After their stop in Atlanta, the group traveled to Harrisburg, Penn., where they had the opportunity to visit a Mennonite school and got to meet with an Amish schoolteacher. “Everybody was fascinated by that,” said Collins. They then took a train to New York City and had the opportunity to visit Manhattan Christian Academy where, according to Collins, “there is a high Latino population.” In summarizing the trip as a whole, Collins explains it was full of “lots of cultural diversity, lots of good teaching, lots of teaching strategies that we got to observe and of course we enjoyed fun things, too. We got to go to the Georgia Aquarium and the Coat Museum in Atlanta and then we went to several Broadway shows in New York City.” Spring 2017 was the first EdUSA trip and the education department also provides an EdUK trip which is similar to EdUSA, but the students travel to the United Kingdom. These trips alternate so that there are multiple opportunities provided for students to participate. This trip was especially helpful for students planning to teach in a public school setting. “Public school experiences are different depending on where they’re located. You’ve got different groups of people who live in specific areas. If you’re in the same area your whole life, you never see what life is like outside of that, so the cultural experience of going to different communities, even different states, broadens their viewpoint,” said Collins. The trip’s effort to expose the student’s to the world around them was successful and Collins explains her heartbeat behind the planning of the trip. “You want them to see how things are different at a private school or in a public school, or in a different state or in a different country,” said Collins. “If anything, it’s just made me really excited to teach. I can’t wait to be in my own classroom with my own kids and be able to help them and teach them. I hope to be as caring as I can be and be in a school where they support all that,” said McGee. “You never know what’s going to walk through the doors of your classroom; you never know what kind of kids you’ll get,” said Collins. n
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Friday, September 22, 2017 u page 5
Title IX directive on the chopping block By KATHERINE CARTER Opinions editor
Sexual assault is a serious issue that has increasingly been brought into the light, particularly those cases that occurred on college campuses. The widespread occurrence of sexual assault is alarming itself. According to RAINN, one out of every six American women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, with women between the ages of 18 and 34 accounting for the largest percentage of victims (54 percent). Not only that, but males between the ages of 18 and 24 who are also college students are five times more likely to become victims of rape or sexual assault than their non-student counterparts. Given the information above, we can see that college students are some of the prime targets for sexual assault, which explains why
many are outraged by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ announcement on September 7 about her decision to rescind a Title IX directive implemented during the Obama administration in favor of a revised one in the future. What is Title IX exactly? Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 states the following: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” In addition to that, the directive, in the form of a “Dear Colleague Letter,” provides students protection from sexual assault. So why does DeVos want to scrap it? Apparently she has some issues with it. Her main points against it include the lack of due process for the accused, school administrators playing judge and jury in sexual assault cases on
their campuses, and schools’ focus on data collection for cases rather than the creation of proactive policies. This does not mean the accused should be denied their rights for due process. I’m all for throwing rapists in jail, but our law dictates that the accused is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Seeing as sexual assault is a criminal offense, those accused should be proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a criminal court. Sexual assault and rape are horrible, but it doesn’t give us the right to crucify the accused before collecting all of the evidence. That’s how innocent people pay the price for crimes they didn’t commit. Be that as it may, while there is no way of collecting data from every sexual assault case, it can be confirmed that the vast majority of those accused are not done so falsely. Sexual assault, thankfully, has become an issue that is
Racism and the church: awareness and communication is important By ALEC EDMONDS Staff writer
Why is racism still relevant today? Why do we “struggle” with judging someone who might have a different pigmentation of the skin than we do? Why do we allow our society to continue to tell us lies that we are divided, not united? What is this messed up world that we live in that tells us we cannot love someone who might look different than us? Why do we misunderstand other cultures and the way they feel about issues? Why do we fall into the lies that we will never be whole again, but separated? By this point, is there any way we can become united as one? These are questions that most ask when it comes to racism. We see issues like blackface, police brutality and shootings in primarily African-American churches and wonder, “What is wrong with the world we live in and how do we fix it?” What if the answer was quite simple? What if the answer was to simply see what the Lord thinks about racism? Ephesians 2:14 states, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” What we see in this passage is that God breaks down the barrier of division that is constantly separating communities of different races. The simple understanding is that no matter our ethnicity, we are all the same people. We are all unified under One Thing, and that Thing happens to be the God of all the universe. Most of us at Ouachita have taken Bible Survey and Bible Interpretation. In these classes, something you start to realize is that our God does not stand for any injustice. And quite frankly, judging
someone and setting them apart from everyone else because of their race is an act of injustice. Instead of being blindly judgemental, what if it was our focus to act justly and accept them? We need to understand the cries that they have been crying for years. A cry for acceptance, love, kindness, understanding and justice. The only way we can understand this is if we are open with one another. We must communicate with each other how we feel. Communication is key, and from that communication will come possible friendships, acceptance, justice and, most importantly, understanding. In a recent discussion, sophomore Sharayah Wallace talked about how what we really need in this situation is understanding. We could live in such a positive environment if we start striving to understand one another and begin to live together in community with one another rather than in separation. This is why it is so key for the church to talk about racism. We could, as the church, stop hiding what is actually happening in the world and learn how to be aware of what is happening and strive to make a difference. This is what our calling is as people of God. We are called to allow the Holy Spirit to move us to make a difference in this terrible world we live in. Why don’t we stop compressing all these issues and begin to bring them in what should be the safest place on the planet, church? In the article, “Should Pastors Who Don’t Speak Up About Racism Resign?” by Jason D. Bradley from Relevant Magazine, Bradley talks about this issue. He states, “the temptation to avoid conflict is serious enough that Jesus felt the need to warn people, ‘Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets’ (Luke 6:26). If you’re not meeting any resistance, it’s time to question whether you’re truly saying anything true or valuable.” What Bradley is trying to say is that pastors and leaders of the church should start speaking up about racism within the church. People are looking to leaders of the church to stand for what is just. The church should strive to encourage followers of Christ to show the constant love of Jesus. We look for this encouragement from pastors, and if we found it within them, we could possibly see a huge shift in the racial dynamic of the church. We could see more acceptance of people of all ethnicities in primarily white churches, we could see a change of friend groups and even more acceptance of interracial relationships and marriages. With the encouragement of the church, a lot in this world could change. White supremacy could fade away and we could live united under Christ. But for that to happen, we must not just listen to the encouragement, but we must apply it. So, let’s encourage one another to stop this madness of just sitting around, doing nothing and living in this misunderstanding that we have lived in for years. Let’s start to move toward understanding one another and loving one another, in the same way that Jesus has loved every one of us. All it takes is one person to make a difference, so I encourage you to be that one person. Listen closely to what the Spirit is saying about this issue. Talk about it in your churches and friend groups and strive to show the love, kindness and acceptance of Jesus to every human being, regardless of the color of his or her skin. n
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taken very seriously these days, so, save the psychopaths and the idiots, the accusers are generally truthful about their accusations. Given how few people accused of sexual assault or rape are actually convicted (and how even fewer of those who are convicted receive maximum sentences), there really isn’t much that can be gained from a false accusation. How will this affect college students just like you and me? Well, it could mean that sexual assault cases don’t have to be taken as seriously as they were. The repeal of the Title IX guidance without a replacement could make it harder for sexual assault survivors to get the justice they deserve. It may make survivors of sexual assault and rape feel like their government doesn’t care if their rights are violated. It diminishes their voice. Despite DeVos’ reasons, getting rid of the Title IX directive without an immediate
Loving God, stage make-up, keeping the faith, and math By DR. DOUG SONHEIM Guest writer
We want to love God and we want to love learning. How do we do this? What, exactly, does this look like? Can we do one without the other? Can we love God and just kind of like learning? Wouldn’t you rather just pick just one? How do we integrate faith and learning? Is it sufficient that an OBU professor prays before her class? Is it necessary for an OBU professor to pray before her class? When it comes to loving God, we might think that a course in Spiritual Formation might be better than a course in Colonial Africa. Would we be right? How does my faith affect how I teach English grammar? I’ve heard of Christian music. Is there Christian math? Am I asking too many questions? Let’s say you are a Christian. Let’s say you’re a college student, and let’s say
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plan B doesn’t seem like an intelligent move. Yes, there are flaws, but we cannot simply throw out something we don’t like or disagree with without offering an effective solution. Criticisms of laws, or anything for that matter, should always be constructive. Even though DeVos claims she’ll have a new directive in the running shortly, there’s no telling how long that will take. The good thing is, DeVos hasn’t actually done anything yet, so hopefully, if she sticks to her plan, she can come up with a solution that is even better than before. In the meantime, we need to make our voices heard. Even if we don’t like what’s going on, we do have a voice, and we do have a say in what goes on in our nation. Policies or not, we need to stand up for survivors and make it plain to everyone that sexual assault in any form is not tolerated. Together, we can make our voices heard. n
someone asks you “How can you study trivial things like poetry and art when people are dying, lost to Jesus?” Let’s say you believe in heaven, and let’s say you are a business major. What is the eternal value in your learning electronic spreadsheet applications? What really matters? We won’t be conjugating Latin verbs in heaven (will we?) so why bother now? What eternal good will come from your hours in chem lab? Theater majors, what, for crying out loud, does learning how to apply stage make-up for a musical have to do with your eternal soul? Does this really matter? Why did Jesus spend most of life working an ordinary job—no miracles, just get up six days a week and go to work. How does faith impact our life, all of our life, at Ouachita? What does it mean that we learn, teach, play, live, sleep, and eat at a Christian university? I’ve wondered this for most of my adult life. What do you think? 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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OBU athletes more than “stereotypical jocks” By MORGAN HOWARD Staff writer
Cheering crowds. Whistles blowing. Adrenaline rush. Fierce determination. The sights and sounds of sporting events are well known to most OBU students. But most OBU students experience these sensations from the stands, where they watch and cheer rather than participate. Student athletes—our peers who participate in sports and help unite Ouachita unlike anyone else—view games and meets from a much different perspective. Those of us who do not play sports cannot imagine the work that athletes put into their game. However, student athletes face another challenge that largely goes unnoticed: the fact that they are also students. Kristina Beall, a senior psychology and math double major from Cedar Park, Texas, is on the swim team. Also a tutor at the Academic Success Center and a member of Chi Mu women’s social club, she has learned the importance of creating priorities. “The biggest challenge of being a student athlete is that people tell you to choose three: school, sleep or social,” said Beall. “As an athlete you have to sacrifice the social, and that’s hard. There are always non-athletes who don’t understand when you have to study or go to sleep.” In fact, most student athletes know the importance of time management.
Dr. Wesley Kluck z Courtesy DANNY PRESCOTT, the OBU volleyball coach, talks to his team during a timeout. Prescott encourages his team to greatness both on an off the court. Ouachita coaches focus on encouraging teams to academic and personal success.
“Multitasking is a big deal for me,” said Ethan Edwards, a football player who is a junior history and secondary education double major from Hawkins, Texas. “Imagine if you were practicing Tunes for 11 weeks out of the school year—because I have at least a three hour time commitment after class every day. It’s a lot about making sure your priorities are straight. As an athlete you have to make sure school is above football, but if there’s a big game coming up, then football will be first.” Margaret McGraw, associate athletic director, also acknowledges time management as a major challenge for student athletes. “Find balance between academics, athletics, social activities and other commitments, especially during playing season,” said Mc-
Graw. “Go to class and get to know your professors.” Tray Armstrong, a freshman English major from Rockwall, Texas, has already learned the same lesson. “Swimming takes up 22 and a half hours a week. That’s almost the loss of a full day to get other things done; potentially more when swim meets are factored in,” said Armstrong. “Balancing homework, going to classes, social life and relaxation are absolutely key in successfully growing both as an athlete and a person, and if you stink at time management, every one of those categories will suffer. If you learn how to manage time, each of those categories will be enhanced.” Many people focus on the passion student athletes have for their sports, and forget that they also have passion for their majors.
“I love history. I love learning about how we got to where we’re at, and looking at people who have done incredible things, and stories about how presidents became presidents, and things of that nature,” said Edwards. “I like that I get to study people. There’s nothing ever really dull about people,” said Beall. “It makes it challenging because you can’t anticipate what people will do. And my math degree helps me think through things and consider them.” Perhaps the biggest challenge student athletes face is breaking through stereotypes. “We’re not all the stereotypical jocks,” said Edwards. “There’s actually a large majority of us that are not just trying to pass a class to play the sport. There are a lot of
us who have a vision for after college, who want to be successful like every regular student.” Another struggle comes from a lack of understanding; non-athletes have no way of knowing all the work that goes into playing on a team. “People don’t know the time and effort we put in every day. How it feels to wake up at 5 a.m. and be in the pool 30 minutes later still rubbing sleep out from under your goggles while working your tail off in order to be better than the next guys,” said Armstrong. “Swimming is tough. All sports are tough. I’ve got a massive respect for anyone committed enough to do the kind of things student athletes do on a daily basis.” Of course, athletes do not have to try to make it on their own. The university provides a variety of resources for them, as well as for all students. “The coaches monitor the student-athletes via communication with faculty, the athletic academic coordinator and the staff at the Academic Success Center. In addition, coaches have access to midterm grades. The athletic academic coordinator also administers study hall twice a week,” said McGraw. Despite all these obstacles, OBU student athletes continue to shine both in their sports and in their academics. “There’s no way I could do what I do without having a quiet time,” said Edwards. “There’s definitely a dependence on God.” n
Fantasy football adds fun to NFL Football falls 41-35 By WILL JOHNSON Staff writer
Fantasy football is mesmerizing. Take that as you may, but the annual challenge certainly does not fail to fascinate. Frustration, pleasure and disappointment are just a few of the many emotions fantasy football owners experience on a weekly basis during the National Football League (NFL) season. For those with little to no knowledge of how the game works, fantasy football is a point-based system where NFL players are graded by how they performed in their particular games. In most fantasy leagues, players receive a point for every 10 yards gained in a single game. They also earn six points per touchdown, regardless of whether the score was a rush or reception. As the owner of your own fantasy football team, you have the opportunity to join a league, whether it be random or with friends, and draft players of your choice prior to the first week of NFL games. Once a full team is assembled, each owner may choose a weekly lineup of players they want to start based on their matchups. Personally, I have participated in fantasy football for more than five years, and I have been able to experience the highs and lows of the game. For those interested in joining the world of fantasy football, there are pros and cons to consider. If you have a passion for winning, such as I do, fantasy football may be the perfect
activity to participate in without having to worry about physical exhaustion (though it can be mentally draining). The week-by-week grind may prove to be dull and tedious for some, but those with competitive natures should enjoy the challenge. Fantasy football never fails to leave you on the edge of your seat, particularly if your team is down by five in the fourth quarter of Monday Night Football. Strategy also plays a significant role in fantasy football, especially for competitive personalities. Constructing the “perfect” lineup for your team each week can be a long and strenuous task. The result, however, may be worth the effort. In special leagues, such as DraftKings, members can gain money from a successful roster. Unfortunately, potentially acquiring a reward obviously comes with a high risk of losing money. Fantasy football doesn’t always have to be competitive, though. It gives you an outstanding opportunity to stay connected with friends throughout the season. Similarly, members may potentially reconnect with former grade school acquaintances. Whether it be watching Sunday football games or smacktalking with other league members, fantasy offers numerous positions for friendly socialization and reconnection. The fantasy football draft only adds satisfaction to the game. This is where strategy again comes into play, as owners must decide which athletes they want in their lineup. A few common approaches to this process come to my mind.
Most members will either pick the best players, pick their favorite players or simulate their picks. Although I tend to pick the best players projected on the board, while sprinkling in a few of my personal favorites, I have found that fantasy is more compelling when you choose a team based on individual preferences. Although the positives may elicit interest, the negatives cannot be ignored. For one, fantasy football can be incredibly time-consuming. Whether it be changing a lineup, picking up or dropping players, examining injury reports or viewing the team statistics, fantasy takes a lot of time and focus to complete an entire season. The game can also be frightfully addicting, so learning to balance entertainment with other important tasks is undeniably a valuable ability to develop. If you have a favorite NFL team, fantasy football may become frustrating as it takes away from the live football game experience. For example, a player on an owner’s fantasy team might play against the same owner’s favorite NFL team, generating conflict. It’s sometimes challenging to appreciate a football game when all the focus is on a single player, not the entire game. If fantasy football becomes an emotional and stressful burden, I would consider finding another game. If the pastime is viewed as an entertaining, communicative or rewarding game, I would recommend giving it a try. Most importantly, enjoy fantasy football for its unique and fascinating challenge. n
This Week at Ouachita WOMEN’S SOCCER Saturday 12 p.m. vs. Southern Nazarene
MEN’S SOCCER
Saturday 2 p.m. vs. Southern Nazarene
VOLLEYBALL
Thursday 6:30 p.m. vs. Henderson
in close home game By SAVANNAH HOGG Staff writer
After four quarters of playing their hearts out, the Ouachita Tigers fell short to Southeastern Oklahoma State University 41-35 on Saturday, September 16 at Cliff Harris Stadium. The Tigers fought hard in the second half after trailing 35-14 at halftime. Their efforts gained them 3 more touchdowns, but in the end were unable to make that last touchdown and take the lead. “We realize you can’t take any team for granted. All the teams in the conference are very talented. We must prepare for each opponent the same way every week,“ said head football coach Todd Knight. “The fight we showed in the second half was very good. We must eliminate bad penalties, turnovers and always play with great effort to be a good football team.” Ouachita’s offense didn’t seem to have trouble moving down the field. Senior quarterback Austin Warford rushed for 101 yards and threw the ball for a total of 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Allie Freema had 10 total receptions, including 2 touchdowns. “Of course it’s a little disappointing to have the results we did. I’m still proud of each and every one of my teammates. We fought hard and showed that we know how to play,” said Freeman. “We win together and we lose together. That’s what being a part of a team is all about. We will come back with a renewed focus and determination to get the outcome we
have worked so hard for.” This was OBU’s first Saturday home game, and was not only an important day for the team, but also a day that student fans look forward to each week. Students gathered early Saturday afternoon to prepare for the tailgate that took place prior to the game. Football games are an exciting time for students, and for senior Ben O’Brien, they hold a special place on the shelf of his Ouachita life. “I really enjoy games at OBU. I love everything about game days from tailgating to kickoff, to getting a big win,” O’Brien said. “I think game days are awesome at a small school like this because you know all the players and they are all your friends. You don’t find that at big schools. At big schools, you like the team, but you don’t have a connection with the players.” Even though the Tigers may have not won the game, they will always have supporters filling the stands, and they will always have their own teammates. Todd Knight tells us “Ouachita is a great place to be a coach or student athlete. Our student athletes excel on and off the field in many ways that are not seen and talked about. The reason I coach is the relationships. Being around the team and staff is very rewarding. Watching these players grow through the ups and downs of college football is the best part of coaching. There’s nothing like challenging a team, watching them come together for one cause, and proving to each other they can accomplish their goals is incredible.” The Tigers are a team that truly works together and, at each and every game, will always Finish Empty. n