NEWS

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A recent photo of the new Terrace Apartments where students are residing this fall. (photo by Levi Dade) Ouachita unveils apartments

BY MATTHEW CHEATHAM

Staff Writer

It has been a long summer filled with many adventures for new and returning students, but that hasn’t stopped the excitement in the air for new adventures at Ouachita. Even with unforeseen circumstances, the tiger community has a strong outlook.

In August of 2021, it was announced that Ouachita would begin the massive building project of the Terrace Apartments, two buildings that would collectively hold 144 students in 36 furnished apartments. The project was estimated to cost $12.6 million and planned to open by fall 2022.

While these plans came to fruition, the project stumbled into obstacles. A side effect of the pandemic has resulted in supply chain issues as well as seeing many subcontractors run into labor shortages, resulting in work delays. While the city has given the certificate of occupancy stating that Terrace Apartments passed necessary regulations to allow students to move in, every apartment has problems of varying degrees.

While the plan is to make repairs over Christmas break, most work, such as drywall restoration, would likely need to wait until summer of 2023, as the resulting dust would damage students’ property.

Ouachita encouraged contractors to focus on the immediate needs of the buildings prior to move-in. Several students who had to be on campus for early activities such as WOW (Welcome to Ouachita’s World), were able to spend two nights at the Fairfield Inn at Ouachita’s expense. Ouachita also provided meal swipes for those whose kitchens weren’t available by move-in.

“Dr. Sells has done an amazing job keeping us informed and making sure we are taken care of,” said Josh Case, a senior Christian studies and communications double major from Fort Worth, Texas. “Most of the people are pretty understanding. I think it’s hard from a communication aspect because things are constantly changing so it can be confusing to hear multiple different dates on when things are happening or supposed to be finished. It’s important to be flexible and just go with the flow as they get finished up.”

While it can be easy for students to get discouraged, there is genuine excitement for the new expansion.

“We are really excited about the apartment project overall,” said Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president of for institutional advancement and chief of staff. “The design has gotten great reviews by students with the physical layouts of the the space, and over the long-term, we think they will be really appealing to students as another option of student life at Ouachita.”

While larger enrollment played a part, Ouachita has also gotten out of leases that were once tied to local apartments. With the completion of Terrace Apartments, all OBU students now live in Ouachita-owned buildings besides Tatman Corner, which will eventually be given to Ouachita through a charitable trust.

During the summer the contractors will resume their work to complete the finishing touches needed for the rooms. In addition, old building foundations and pavement will be cleared from 10th St. and replaced with landscaping.

“We are very grateful for the grace that students have demonstrated in moving into a building that was still a bit rough,” Dr. Henley said. “They have been very patient, very understanding and worked well with contractors and subcontractors who have needed access to the apartments to resolve issues that needed immediate attention. For all of that, we are very grateful to our student residents.”

Ouachita mourns loss of student-athlete, senior Clark Yarbrough

BY FELLEY LAWSON

Communications & Marketing

Ouachita Baptist University senior Clark Yarbrough, 21, of Rowlett, Texas, died Sept. 4. A business administration/sport management major and starting defensive lineman for the Tiger football team, Yarbrough was the son of Mattie Yarbrough of Rowlett. He is remembered on campus for the example he set as a leader, a scholar-athlete, a friend and a man of faith.

“Clark was an exemplary student – academically, athletically and spiritually,” said Dr. Rickey Rogers, vice president for student development at Ouachita. “He held strongly to his Christian faith, and it was evident in the way he lived his life and led his fellow students.” Jason Jackson, a senior finance major and Tiger defensive back from DeKalb, Texas, said Yarbrough was “a special kind of guy. He always led me in the right direction, from the day I got here until the last conversation I had with him. He made me feel welcomed, like I had a real brother in Christ at a brand-new university where, at first, I felt like I was all alone. Clark was my first friend when I got here, and I will cherish him forever.”

Yarbrough earned a spot in the Tigers’ starting lineup in 2021, earning All-Great American Conference honorable mention accolades for his efforts on the field. Although he was a senior academically, he had two years of football eligibility remaining, including the 2022 season. Knight recently had a conversation with Yarbrough about his future with the team since he was on pace to graduate in Spring 2023.

“Clark was that kind of young man, always thinking and preparing for what’s next,” said Knight. “He wanted to be an athletic director and was already making plans for internships and graduate school.”

Knight said Yarbrough was a quiet leader who lived out his favorite Bible verse, James 4:10, which says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Yarbrough died Sunday morning, Sept. 4, following a sudden collapse. Ouachita staff provided immediate emergency assistance, and, following additional measures by emergency responders and other medical professionals, he was pronounced dead at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia. Asked how the Tigers will be impacted by the loss of their highly-regarded teammate, Knight said, “We were already playing for a purpose, but now there’s an added sense of motivation. It’s something we are going to take very seriously.”

Starting defensive lineman Clark Yarbrough passed away Sunday morning. (photo by Dr. Wesley Kluck)

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A Tiger Serve Day team member works to trim bushes for a senior adult. Each team that particpates in TSD is sent to assist a senior adult or an organization in the community. (photo by Levi Dade)

Tiger Serve Day Team gears up for fall TSD

BY EMILEE WEBB

News Editor

The Ben M. Elrod Center For Family & Community is hosting this semester’s Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, Sept. 24th, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Tiger Serve Day, or TSD, is designed for Ouachita students, faculty and staff to give back to the community, show the love of Christ through serving others, form relationships with residents and make the town a better place. In just a few short weeks, the streets of Arkadelphia, Arkansas will be full of members of the Ouachita family who are eager to give back and form lifelong memories with their peers.

The theme of this semester’s Tiger Serve Day is “Purpose.” Judy Duvall, the director of the Elrod Center, explains how this semester’s theme relates to TSD’s mission.

“This word encompasses so much of the day and all that goes into it,” Duvall said. “There is purpose in the practical work that is done that helps people in their homes, non-profits, schools, nursing homes, etc. There is purpose in the community that is formed as teams serve together. There is purpose in the relationships that are formed with the individuals that are helped on that day, and most importantly, there is purpose in living lives that are centered in serving God and people.”

Leigh Anne McKinney, the associate director of the Elrod Center, echoes Duvall’s sentiment. She shares how everyone should participate in serving and how the relationships formed at Tiger Serve Day truly make a difference.

“I think that it is really special that we have the opportunity to serve many of the same senior adults and nonprofits year after year through Tiger Serve Day,” McKinney said. “Although we love getting to connect with new faces each semester as well, there is something very significant about the relationships that have been formed and continue to be shaped with visits to these same people year after year. Longevity can be a powerful thing and these relationships are very meaningful to all involved.”

As the date of Tiger Serve Day inches closer, a lot is going on behind the scenes in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

“The Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team is composed of 24 students who are strong servant leaders with a huge heart for helping the community,” Duvall said. “They meet for a month before the day to plan and orchestrate all the behind-the-scenes logistics. They produce all the media, recruit volunteers, visit every project for the day, buy tools and many more important tasks.”

Two members of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Cabb Batson and Emma Bynum, are enthusiastic about their roles on the team and are excited to share this special day with the entire campus.

Emma Bynum, a senior biology, pre-med major, outlines her responsibilities as a member of the projects committee and tells why she enjoys it.

“Before the event, we visit the different homes and businesses where each team will serve,” Bynum said. “We have the amazing opportunity to meet with community members and learn more about the needs within Arkadelphia. I have loved meeting the people of Arkadelphia. There are vast life stories, experiences and lessons that each person has to offer, and I get the opportunity to hear and learn from them.”

Cabb Batson, a junior biology, pre-med major, serves on the logistics committee. Batson is an avid supporter of TSD’s goal and tells his favorite part of serving on the leadership team.

“I really love getting to see all the people involved in Tiger Serve Day and helping with outreach,” Batson said. “I know that it is a really cool thing for our campus to get to show Arkadelphia what Ouachita means to us and how we are just a great group of students that want to help them out. I love getting to see that from the other side.”

In addition, Batson encourages his peers to sign up to serve.

“I would encourage everyone to sign up for Tiger Serve Day,” Batson said. “Freshmen can sign up with their residence hall, a group of friends or as a free agent to be placed on a team by the leadership committee. It’s a great way to reach out and expand your scope out of Ouachita’s bubble and move into Arkadelphia’s community.”

Judy Duvall invites students and faculty to participate in the incredible event that is Tiger Serve Day.

“Tiger Serve Day is an opportunity for Ouachitonians to get off campus and invest in the community of Arkadelphia,” Duvall said. “As they do this, they can meet some great people, see genuine needs and then are able to provide help to meet those needs. There is something wonderful about 800 volunteers showing up on a Saturday morning to work together for the good of the community. There is a lot of energy, joy and excitement as the crowd gathers before being sent out. As the teams return to campus, they are exhausted, but at the same time, they are joyful and have great stories to tell of their experiences working together and the people they have met.”

Students can get more information and sign up for Tiger Serve Day at www.obu.edu/elrod/serve.