Volume 131, Issue 2: September 22, 2022

the

VOLUME 1 31 , ISSUE 2

S GNAL SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

The heart of Ouachita news

CONTENTS PAGE 2 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

COVER STORY.............................3 NEWS......................................4-5 ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT...............6 OPINIONS................................... 7 SPORTS......................................8 OUACHITA TIGERS VS. HARDING BISON Saturday, Sept. 24, kickoff moved to 7 p.m.

the

Julia Shands

S GNAL

PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Valeria Gomez

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Emilee Webb NEWS EDITOR

Wyatt Ashlock

Isaac Bourne SPORTS EDITOR

Rachel Dunnam OPINIONS EDITOR

Sydney Motl COPY EDITOR

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dr. Jeff Root Adviser

Adviser

@obusignal

SCAN FOR AN ONLINE EDITION

Ouachita Baptist University Office: Evans Student Center Email: signal@obu.edu Phone: (870) 245-5210

Matthew Cheatham

AD COORDINATOR

Addie Chumley STAFF DESIGNER

Levi Dade

PHOTO EDITOR

Sarah Dean

PHOTO EDITOR

Dr. Deborah Root

CONNECT WITH THE SIGNAL

Jackson Carter Online Adviser

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays 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 Nashville Leader.

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 email to signal@obu.edu.

COVER STORY WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 3

On the call: Batson becomes trained firefighter

BY MATTHEW CHEATHAM Staff Writer

Firefighting isn’t necessarily the most glamorous profession.

The constant danger, emotional toll and the spontaneousness of emergencies understandably add much to one’s plate, but junior Cabb Batson is hungry and wants nothing more than to spend his spare time in the heat of it all.

Batson is a pre-med biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology and has goals to one day be a physician. Batson is the prime example of an involved student, serving as vice president of the Ouachita Student Foundation, a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, working with the off-campus housing exceptions committee, acting as a member of the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, a member of the American Chemical Society, working in the County Judge’s office as an assistant and to top it off, added being a part-time firefighter to his long list of responsibilities over the summer. The Arkadelphia native is no stranger to going above and beyond and has his fingerprints over many different aspects of Arkadelphia life.

While Batson still has to do several online classes and in-person training (including two Monday nights a month), Batson was certified to be on duty over the summer and has participated in several calls already. Most of the calls are triggered fire alarms, but they also include illegal burns, grass fires, house fires and dumpster fires. Yet the responsibility isn’t limited to fires alone, as the local fire department also acts as first responders for vehicle accidents in town and on Interstate 30 in Clark County.

Each firetruck has an emergency medical technician, and while

Batson is not certified as an EMT, he is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED).

Firefighting is a family tradition in the Batson family, with

taken in becoming firefighters, the desires are similarly aligned.

“I’ve always really enjoyed helping people; that’s my main goal in life,” Batson said. “Being a physician lets me help people

where pay is done by call, which can happen at any moment. Because many of the surrounding departments are volunteers and don’t have much funding, there are plenty of times when the Arkadel-

Cabb Batson became a certified firefighter this summer and now volunteers to protect the community. (photo by Levi Dade)

Cabb’s dad, uncle and both grandfathers having worn the bunker gear. Growing up, Batson saw firsthand how rewarding it was to be a firefighter by seeing how his dad was able to help others.

“I’ve grown up around my dad doing it, knowing how important of a job it is,” Batson said.

“Being able to help people is a really rewarding job and something I thought I would enjoy.”

Though he didn’t take the customary route that his family had

and be there for them, and while I’m studying for that, firefighting is a way I can still do that.”

His current plan is to continue fighting fires while becoming a physician once his schooling is complete.

While many fire departments in the surrounding areas are volunteer-based, Arkadelphia is large enough to support paid firefighters, having nine full-time and fifteen paid volunteers. Batson falls into the part-time volunteer rank,

phia Fire Department is called outside of its jurisdiction to provide extra manpower and equipment.

Anyone going into firefighting must consequently prepare themselves for not only disaster but also how to respond once the flame has been extinguished. Being delicate and caring is an unwritten rule of firefighting, as knowing how to interact with someone who has experienced trauma from a life-threatening event, such as a house fire. “It’s a lot to carry

knowing that you’ll never know what you’ll be pulling up on when pulling onto a scene,” Batson said.

Nonetheless, it is still a rewarding experience to be a part of. He added, “It is good to know that you’re there for people in their hardest times. It’s nice to know that you can provide some support to them in the moment.”

Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, otherwise known as HIPAA, Batson couldn’t give detailed information about any specific call that he had been on. This gave the creation of standards designed to protect patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s permission or knowledge.

He was, however, able to recount an ironic occurrence on the interstate several months ago. An eighteen-wheeler caught on fire on I-30, and Batson was part of the team on call. The irony was the truck contained loads of frozen shrimp, so it became hard to tell once the smoke stopped and the steam from the shrimp started. Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident, except perhaps the local seafood market.

Being a full-time student at Ouachita is no small task in itself, and the many clubs, organizations, and events on campus provide extra opportunities for students to double down and truly commit time towards. It is remarkable to commit to another responsibility, especially one as dangerous and unpredictable as firefighting while being a member and leader in multiple organizations on campus and completing schoolwork.

It is a respectable career, but Batson’s heart isn’t in it for the honor, money, recognition, fame or being a cover story for our school newspaper. Batson looks to serve his community through risking his life to help others and that alone is a rare and honorable trait.

NEWS

PAGE 4 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Run Club invites all skill levels, encourages physical activity, builds friendship

BY RACHEL DUNNAM Opinions Editor

The Nursing Education Center is a state-of-the-art facility that allows for nursing students to complete their education at Ouachita. The simulated hospital patient rooms were built to create real-life scenarios for students. (photo by Levi Dade)

OBU opens Nursing Education Center for new BSN program

BY AUSTYNN CROCKER

Staff Writer The newly implemented Nursing Education Center and the 4-year BSN program is entering its fifth week on Ouachita’s campus. Once a guest house called Hammon’s House with a mere four rooms, the building has been expanded by 22 square feet. The facility was built to resemble a healthcare clinic with fully furnished lobbies and houses a clinical skills lab, five simulated hospital patient rooms and a pharmacy.

Keldon Henley, the vice president for Institutional Advancement and Chief of Staff, has played a significant role in the creation of the Nursing Education Center.

“The Nursing Education Center is a state-of-the-art facility that will help our students to be the best possible,” Dr. Henley said.

This facility has provided junior and senior nursing students with an isolated building, equipped with an estimated $500,000 in the newest simulation technology. These innovations provide nursing students with the most accurate representation of experiences they will face during their future employment.

Dr. Tim Knight, professor of biology and dean of Natural Sciences, remarked that the Nursing Education Center should have been in the works 50-60 years ago, but serious discussions did not begin until just 10 years ago. Those talks have finally come to fruition.

In past years, nursing students could only attend Ouachita for a two-year term limit and then would relocate to Little Rock. This was a direct result of Ouachita’s dual enrollment partnership with Baptist Health in Little Rock which allowed nursing students to continue

their studies but not on Ouachita’s campus.

Along with the new nursing building, Ouachita has received approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing for a 4-year BSN program. Students who were set to study at Baptist Health now have the ability to stay at OBU if they choose.

Emily Watson, a nursing student in her junior year at Ouachita, planned to relocate to Little Rock and study at Baptist Health. She had not received the news of the accredited program until last year and when asked whether the decision to stay at Ouachita was difficult, she answered, “It was an easy decision because I had a really hard time thinking about moving to Little Rock away from OBU,” Watson said. “Being able to stay on campus and be a part of campus life was really important to me.”

Since its arrival in the spring semester of 2022, Ouachita’s Run Club has become a place of community, celebration and healthy living. Run Club is an extension of the community known as Healthy Celebrations, started by a student at the University of Georgia. Run Club has made its way across many other campuses and has created an opportunity for the community here at Ouachita. Currently led by sophomores Sydni Whitfield and Emily Shipman, Run Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m outside of Gosser Hall.

“Run Club is a community of people who come together twice a week to get some healthy movement in their day,” Whitfield said.

“You can meet new people, talk about life and meet new goals.”

Not only does Run Club provide camaraderie, but it also provides a sense of security while running.

Even while running in a group, there are still many safety precautions every runner should be aware of. Emma Gipson, a freshman member of Run Club, speaks on some tips she has found to work for her.

“A safety precaution to take when running alone or with a group is to be aware of your surroundings,” Gipson said. “Even when you are in a safe neighborhood or somewhere that you know, it is best to listen and look at what’s around you.”

Run Club at Ouachita is all about finding community with people who enjoy spending time outside and meeting new friends. The trail for Run Club is three miles long and can be run or walked at any

pace. Whitfield and Shipman emphasize that Run Club is open to anyone who wants to join, no matter their level of expertise.

“There is a benefit to running alone, but when you have someone next to you pushing you on your hard day or vice versa, running is that much more enjoyable,” Whitfield said. “I think running together leads you to such a deep relationship because in doing something hard together, you will more likely to grow as better individuals together as well.”

Run Club is one of the many opportunities Ouachita has to offer that encourages students to make connections campus-wide. Whitfield and Shipman met through the group, and their shared love for running has helped their friendship flourish even more.

“Emily and I first became such close friends because of running and going to the gym together,” Whitfield said. “I think this is because we participated in something challenging together regularly and learned how to push one another. Now, she is one of my closest friends, and I know for a fact this friendship will last.”

More information about Run Club at Ouachita can be found on Instagram (@healthycelebrationsobu).

NEWS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 5

Ouachita Student Foundation hosts 2022 Tiger Tunes reveal to kick off tunes season

BY KATIE BAYER Staff Writer

Ouachita had its annual Tiger Tunes reveal celebration on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Cliff Harris Stadium. The reveal video was broadcast during halftime of the first home football game of the season.

Tiger Tunes is a 44-year-old tradition at Ouachita that raises scholarships for students to continue their academic pursuits through OSF’s mission of “students helping students.” Every year, OBU’s clubs and organizations come together to create fun, imaginative shows that are performed at Homecoming.

The themes for this season are EEE “Reporting Live,” Eta Alpha Omega “Mall Cops,” Gamma Phi “Aerobics,” Rho Sigma “Referees,” Chi Mu “Queens,” Beta Beta “Beach Boys,” Tri Chi “Rocks,” Kappa Chi “Australia,” Chi Delta “Disco,” Student Life “Sweet Shoppe” and Campus Ministries “Marathon.”

Senior Izzy Baughn is this year’s

head director. “From the time I was a freshman in OSF, I knew this was something that I wanted to do,” Baughn said. “I was 19 at the time.

Now, I turn 22 next week, and I’m getting to live out that dream and watch it come to life.”

From host and hostess auditions to watching the club directors choose their themes, OSF has been

be available as much as possible,” Baughn said. “Then in August, once people are finished with summer jobs and camps, that’s when the ball started rolling.”

Tunes is now well underway as everyone prepares for the shows on JPAC stage.

Baughn’s favorite part about Tunes reveal is how it brings

population from year to year, we had to come up with something different and make a new tradition,” Baughn said. “I love how we do the reveal now; getting to see how it brings everyone together for this 44-year-long tradition is always exciting.”

When it comes to being Chi Mu’s Tiger Tunes director, junior

The EEE women’s social club cheer after their theme, “Reporting Live” is revealed to the audience. (photo by Sarah Dean)

preparing for the 2022 Tunes season since March.

“During the summer, I was available for the directors and any questions they had, and I tried to

Ouachitonians together, whether they are current students or alumni.

“We used to have Tunes reveal in the Student Center, but because of COVID and the growing freshman

Clara Beth Hill considers it a great honor.

“I would say the best part is finally getting to show our club what we’re doing, teaching them the

lyrics and seeing their reactions to the dances,” Hill said. “Putting in all this effort all summer long, then finally getting to see them enjoy it and have fun has been amazing.”

Freshman Rebecca Danuwar will be performing with the men and women of Student Life in their show “Sweet Shoppe.”

“It is definitely worth going to the reveal because it’s fun seeing all the groups get excited and getting excited with your group is really special,” Danuwar said.

You don’t necessarily get that from watching it on your phone.”

Tiger Tunes 2022 is sure to be a season that will be remembered for years to come.

“Tunes is really important to our campus culture,” Hill said. “It takes a lot of time out of students’ lives, but it’s a lot of fun, too. I think it really brings our community together.”

The Ouachita Student Foundation will host five Tiger Tunes performances Oct. 6-8 in Jones Performing Arts Center. Details about show times can be found on OBU’s official website at obu.edu.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Theater department debuts first fall show

BY JACIE SELLARS Staff Writer

The OBU theater department will present “Anne of Green Gables.” The play is a coming-of-age story adapted from the novel by L.M. Montgomery. The show is set in the early 1900s in Nova Scotia, Canada, and it’s centered around a young girl named Anne Shirley.

Department head Eric Phillips describes Anne as “an orphan girl who ends up being adopted into a sleepy little town, and she brings all of her imagination, energy and

drama to it.” The department has brought in guest director, Claudia Beach to help develop and organize the show.

At the beginning of the play, Anne is taken in by siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The Cuthberts originally planned to raise a boy, but Anne ends up winning their affection.

Freshman Kenzie Tatum is excited to portray Marilla. “I’ve never gotten to play a character who undergoes as much development as Marilla does,” Tatum said. “It has been so much fun to forge all of her little quirks into one personality,

while also building a character at the same time.”

Playing the title role is freshman Genevieve Cooper. “I would describe Anne as imaginative, strong-willed and eager,” Cooper said. “She has a lot of thoughts and ideas that she loves to share with everyone.”

Throughout the play, Anne has many sweet and humorous adventures as she navigates family, friends and school. Her outgoing and creative personality can sometimes get her into trouble, but she always learns from her mistakes.

“My favorite part about bringing

Anne to life is getting to know her better,” Cooper said. “She is very purposeful with every action she takes, so it’s exciting to think about her motivations and thought processes.”

Cooper believes that the play is breathing new life into a classic story, and she can’t wait for people to see the show.

Although the play is set in the past, it covers the timeless and universal themes of growing up and finding family. According to Eric Phillips, Anne’s story reveals how community can influence a person’s life.

“The appeal of this show is that the audience gets to see how a single person can impact a community because of their outlook on life and how they see the world,” Phillips said. “There’s a lot of humor in the play as we see Anne try to deal with a lot of different problems, and she ultimately makes an impact, even as a simple orphan girl.”

“Anne of Green Gables” is one that audiences won’t want to miss.

This play is the annual children’s theater production, which makes it a perfect show for families. Tickets are available online through the Box Office.

Guest faculty arrive to teach theater classes

BY MADISON BASCO Staff Writer

This past year, Ouachita’s theater department said goodbye to faculty members and welcomed new ones.

Chair of the Theater Arts Department, Eric Philips, worked vigorously to find those who wanted to teach and be a part of the program this year.

Claudia Beach was one of the gracious individuals who stepped up and is now directing the fall show, Anne of Green Gables.

Beach was the director of theater at Henderson for 22 years and began her first year of retirement last year; however, she wanted to be back and involved in something

after her first year.

“The timing worked out great,” Beach said. “Just as I was starting my second year of retirement, I heard about the opportunity. For 22 years I was colleagues with the theater folks over at OBU. When Eric Phillips found himself needing to cover some vacancies at the last minute and figuring out what he needed to do and who he could get to help, he called me to see if I was willing, and I was.”

Beach claims the new experiences that she’s had working at Ouachita and meeting students have been the best part of being on campus so far.

“It’s been a fun adjustment because there are ways that things work in OBU’s theater program

that are different from what I was familiar with at Henderson,” Beach said. “So, that’s been kind of a challenge but part of the fun too.”

Having worked at Henderson for so many years, Beach was familiar with most HSU students and knew almost everyone in the theater program. She explains that part of the fun has been not knowing any of the OBU students.

“Particularly, it was fun to do the auditions and cast the show without knowing any of the students, “ Beach said. “It was fun to be able to start with such a clean slate. Students have been so welcoming and everyone seems so appreciative of all of us who have stepped in to share the load of work. I know

they are bound to be frightened and wondering what’s going to happen, but they’re ready to work hard and make everything happen.”

Jennifer Maddox, long-time dance instructor at Ouachita, believes that being able to work with many new talents will provide amazing opportunities for the students in the theater arts program.

“In the performing arts, it’s a great opportunity for our students to work with different designers, directors, and educators,” Maddox said. “We have several alumni who are professionally working in the field, and who were able to step into some of the teaching and directing responsibilities of this semester. Alumni can interject passion and have long-lasting connec-

tions and networking opportunities for the students. Collaboration is an integral ingredient for theater, and it is this collaboration that we look forward to in creating magic in the theater.”

Junior Maddy Moore is thankful for the faculty members who have stepped up to teach and is excited for the year.

“All of the new staff members are wonderful and devoted to giving us the best education possible,” said Moore. “Even though we lost some great faculty members, we are getting to work with people that we wouldn’t otherwise get to work with. This allows us to become familiar with different acting, directing styles, techniques and make new connections.”

Arts Engagement Calendar Art Credit

Art Credit

Art Credit

Music Credit

Theater Credit

Kara Gunter: Germinal Aug. 23 - Sept. 30 Moses-Provine First Floor

Estamos Aqui (We Are Here) Aug. 23 - Sept. 30 Moses-Provine Second Floor

Margo Duvall: All she needed to do Oct. 10 - Nov. 9 Moses-Provine Second Floor

Faculty Recital Natilan Crutcher Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

McBeth Recital Hall

Anne of Green Gables Sept. 22 -24, 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Verser Theatre

OPINIONS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 7

Learning to budget as a college student

BY EMILEE WEBB News Editor

One of the most frequent problems college students have is money, or the lack thereof. The cost of tuition, regular expenses and the lack of free time to work can make this an area of struggle for a lot of students. However, there are many tips and tricks that students can use to make and keep a budget and begin a lifelong habit of saving money, even during their college years.

Dr. Chris Brune, associate professor of finance in the Hickingbotham School of Business and chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance, shares his advice on how to budget during college. To begin, Brune advises that it is important to understand some of the benefits of starting a budget in order to have the motivation to stick to it.

“It just gives you some guidelines for spending,” Brune said.

“It just gives you an idea of where

your money is going. That’s often not enough to motivate people to stick to a budget, though. So, the main advantage I see is that having a budget helps you know how much money you have available so you can pursue other goals. That also leads to financial freedom, which sounds counterintuitive because a lot of people think a budget is restrictive, but actually if I know where my money is going, that frees me up to pursue whatever goals I may have.”

Dr. Brune also shares an exercise he assigns in the Personal Finance class he teaches, which may be helpful for any students looking to begin a budget.

“I start with asking students to develop a monthly budget in advance and estimating what their monthly expenses will be,” Brune said. “Then, I ask them to keep up with what they spend for the month and then compare the two. One of the things that comes out of that is that students are surprised that little things add up. Students may

not think too much about $4 coffee at Dr. Jack’s or trips to Sonic, but if they do that enough, that can really add up over time. So, it’s a good way for students to see if the way they’re actually spending their

money lines up with how they want to spend their money, and there’s often a disconnect.”

Dr. Brune then shared a few helpful tips and tricks for students who want to get serious about starting a budget.

First, be realistic. “I think too many times people try to get too aggressive with a budget. They are so restrictive that it is almost impossible, and then they get so frustrated that once they blow it, they don’t care anymore. If it’s more realistic, they are much more likely to stick to it.”

Second, include some fun money. “I helped develop a budget for a good friend who liked to have fresh flowers on her desk, so we added that into her budget. That way, she knew that she would still have money left over for the things that she needed to purchase.”

Third, be flexible. “Know that whatever you come up with, you’ll likely need to make some adjustments. And then the more you do it, the more you understand where your money is going and then you can better plan for future months.”

Lastly, Dr. Brune expressed his understanding for students who do not feel as though they are in a position to save any money during college. However, he gave some

helpful information on saving and how to do it.

“I would never begrudge someone who’s not in the position to save anything,” Brune said. “It’s hard because there are so many things competing for your dollars. I do think there is some merit in trying to save, even if it’s just a small amount, because that can help establish a habit. And if you can establish that habit now, it’s much easier to continue that when you do have more income. Saving a little bit, even if it’s not much, sets you up for success down the road.”

In conclusion, starting a budget does not have to be scary, and contrary to what many people think, it is attainable and practical for college students. Dr. Brune echoes this sentiment and encourages students to give it a try.

“A budget is a spending plan essentially,” Brune said. “There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, so don’t feel pressure that you have to get it perfect initially.

You just have to get started.”

The numbers are astounding: mental illness is running rampant and heavily affecting the young

BY MARIAH HALBERT Staff Writer

Mental health has been a rising topic in the past decade. As the number of cases dealing with depression and anxiety rise exponentially, families’ and individuals’ awareness of symptoms has grown as they take on their next season of life. How do they mentally prepare for what could come? How do they identify symptoms of an unhealthy

mental state? One of the most vulnerable age groups is college students.

The transition from senior year of high school to freshman year of college is stressful for young adults moving into a new time of life. The drastic change in their lives has given them an opportunity to step back from where they came and how they were brought up. The change offers a chance for reflection and understanding of any hurt and trauma that was difficult

to process in younger years. It can be difficult to lose an established worldview and learning to accept a new point of view can be overwhelming and damaging.

College students are learning how to become their own person, but it doesn’t erase their past. Students who are dealing with past trauma can often lose touch with reality and isolate themselves from their community. Without the right tools to process their memories and experiences, students’ mental

health is at risk.

Poor mental health can have damaging effects on all other areas of life. When the new freshman goes from a joyful peer to a person alone in their room, it can be a sign of mental health spilling into other areas of life. We are not to be alone in pain without a support system.

College students should not only be using this time to get an education but also to get help from the right resources that can lead them down a path of strength and better

understanding.

College is the time for students to discover and develop who they truly are, often by accepting and growing from one static point of view to a more developed understanding of the world. It might take more than the four years that they have here, but it’s a start in the right direction. I believe that it’s never too late to speak with someone. For those who would like to reach out for a guiding hand, contact Dan Jarboe, jarboed@obu.edu.

SPORTS

PAGE 8 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Cross country anticipates exciting season

BY SYDNI WHITFIELD Staff Writer

Behind a big win at the Bob Gravett Invitational, the OBU cross country team is excited to continue the season with the same success.

“The season is going very well,” said Evan Armitage, freshman business administration major.

“Even this early on, we have already established ourselves as a high-ranking team in the GAC after a win on both the men’s and women’s sides at our home meet. With each race, our excitement and anticipation only grow.”

The track and cross country team consists of a total of 83 athletes. Of these athletes, 65 competitors are participating in cross country. The team has witnessed great improvement this season after a long summer of hard work.

“We all knew that our efforts and training over the summer would pay off,” remarked Avery Howard, junior elementary education major.

Despite not having a track, Coach Guymon has still successfully been recruiting new athletes.

“Ouachita has more to offer than a track,” Guymon said. “It is a privilege to have our track being built as we speak, but Ouachita cross country and track provide students with a bond of unity unlike any other.”

Howard noted, “Coming from an athlete that has played sports all her life, this team is nothing like any other. The word that describes our team is “‘unbreakable.’”

At the start of the year, the team set the goal to race together. “We were able to execute the plan of racing as a pack well at our home meet a couple of weeks ago,” said Taylor Koeth, who recently placed 1st at the Bob Gravett Invitational. “Not only did we run as a pack, but we also had 10 girls run personal best times.”

In just a few weeks, the team has already witnessed a lot of success. “In our first meet, we had four of our girls go under 19 minutes and all seven scorers under 19:30 in the 5K,” said Mackenzie Davis, sophomore chemistry major. “For it being this early in the season, those times are amazing.”

This year, in particular, the team

has been emphasizing making running less of an individual sport and focusing more on running as a group. “We plan on finding our strength in our numbers, rather than individual talents,” Davis said.

The athletes feel like their coaches are there for them and are working hard to see them succeed. “Coach is easily one of the most devout and honest Christian men I have ever seen,” said Lawson Sanders, sophomore business administration and communications-sports media double major.” He cares about his runners as people and as student-athletes.

It is easy to trust him to help better us as people and runners.”

Sanders also mentioned being highly elated for the meet in Florida this weekend. “We will get to compete in a different atmosphere as well as enjoy a long trip together as a team,” Sanders said. “We will also be competing in our GAC championship meet the first week of November where we hope to win a trophy in both the men’s and women’s divisions, which will line us up for a great

as out for the next six to eight weeks, forcing backup Cooper Rush to step up in his absence. The Cowboys will hope to keep their season alive until Prescott returns by utilizing key players RB Ezekiel Elliot and WR Ceedee Lamb.

After a disappointing week one performance for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Pittsburgh Steelers, QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase hope to even things up in week two against the Cowboys. Burrow turned the ball over five times, including throwing four interceptions last Sunday after being sacked seven times by

the elusive Steeler defense. After their week one performance, it wouldn’t be an overreaction to surmise that the Bengals seem destined to be one of the league’s biggest disappointments this season.

The biggest upset of the week goes to new coach Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears after they endured the wet grass of Soldier Field to beat the San Francisco 49ers 19-10. The largest factor of the game was the drenched, muddy field that caused a knee injury to 49ers’ starting RB Elijah Mitchell, who will be out for the foreseeable future, giving the team yet another

Cross country runners compete in the Bob Gravett Invitational on Sept. 9. The Tigers finished first at the meet. (Photo by Levi Dade)

showing in NCAA regionals.”

The athletes are eager to see how the team is going to rank against others as the season goes

on, specifically at NCAA regionals. Until then, the athletes are working hard to improve and see where their feet take them.

loss and a bad day to all 49ers fans.

The team hopes to rebound against the Seattle Seahawks this week.

Out in Philly, new wide receiver AJ Brown has staked his claim as QB Jalen Hurts’ number one target. Against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, he erupted for 155 yards, accounting for more than half of the Eagles’ passing yards. With young players Devonta Smith and Jalen Reagor also lining up on the outside, Hurts expects to have an exciting season full of many passing yards and high-scoring games.

To finish out week one, the Denver Broncos’ red zone struggles

led to a 17-16 Seahawks win in Seattle at Lumen Field. This win came after a questionable Broncos decision to let the clock run down at the end of the game on fourth-and-five to allow kicker Brandon McManus to kick a 64yard field goal, which would have been his career long. McManus missed, leading to the Seahawks’ win. This decision came instead of allowing star QB Russell Wilson to drive the team further down the field, who has the fifth most fourth-quarter comebacks in NFL history, leading to a bad start of the season for the Denver Broncos.

NFL season starts out with big storylines

BY ISAAC BOURNE

Sports Editor With the NFL season underway, fantasy managers are saying their prayers, coaches are running through their game plans and teams are hyping themselves up for another football season.

After the first week, we have seen many storylines across the league, one of the biggest being the injury to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. After injuring his thumb late in the Cowboys’ blowout loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday, Prescott was labeled