Volume 131, Issue 12: May 4, 2023

the

VOLUME 1 31 , ISSUE 1 2 M AY 4 , 2 0 2 3

S GNAL The heart of Ouachita news

CONTENTS PAGE 2 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

COVER STORY.............................3 NEWS......................................4-5 ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT...............6 OPINIONS...................................7 SPORTS......................................8

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the

Julia Shands

S GNAL

PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Valeria Gomez

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Emilee Webb NEWS EDITOR

Jane Ellen Dial

Isaac Bourne SPORTS EDITOR

Rachel Dunnam OPINIONS EDITOR

Madison Basco COPY EDITOR

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dr. Jeff Root Adviser

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 Adviser

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

Lloyd and Rossell move to Southeast Asia post-grad

BY JACIE SELLARS Staff Writer

Ouachita students Hannah Rossell and Hannah Lloyd will be taking a gap year in order to serve as missionaries in Southeast Asia. They are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB) and will be overseas for five months. Lloyd and Rossell will prepare over the summer and leave in August.

Rossell is a communication sciences and disorders major, and Lloyd is an elementary education major. They will be able to use their degrees as they work within communities in Southeast Asia.

“Our first job will be to work with the missionary family’s little boy,” Rossell said. “He is language delayed, and we will combine our love for speech pathology and education in order to give him more ways to communicate.”

Rossell found out about this opportunity after feeling unsure about her post-grad plans. “I told the chair of my department that I thought I needed to do something else before I went to grad school, but I didn’t know what,” Rossell said. “Soon after, an opening with a missions team with the IMB became available to me.”

At first, Rossell was a bit uncertain about committing to international missions and traveling across the world.

“I said no to begin with. I had no interest in going to Asia,” Rossell said. “Then, as I prayed through the situation and Dr. Hardman encouraged me, I felt the Lord undeniably calling me.”

Lloyd committed to the mission trip after hearing about it from Rossell. She began to feel calm about the whole experience as time went on.

“On the drive to our club outing, Hannah told me the details, and I decided to think about it,” Lloyd

said. “By the end of the trip, I had a peace about it, and I knew that this is what I wanted to do and where God was leading me.”

Lloyd also believes that a gap year will be beneficial both in the short term and the long term. “I didn’t really feel like I was supposed to start teaching right after graduation,” Lloyd said. “I didn’t feel like teaching was my next step, but I didn’t know exactly what that

to know each other and become true friends over the past few years at our home away from home.”

Lloyd is excited to partner in missions with a long-time friend, and she believes that her friendship with Rossell occurred at just the right time so that their future plans could align.

“We both love the story of Esther, and we both love the verse that talks about ‘for such a time

order to fellowship and minister to local students and their families to the absolute best of their ability.

“We are trying to prepare for culture shock because we know it will happen,” Rossell said.

Lloyd is making plans to maintain relationships from home while she is overseas. “The time difference will be a lot to get used to in many different ways, but especially when keeping in touch with our

Rossell is excited to meet the people she will minister to. “I am overjoyed with the thought of the relationships that we will build overseas,” Rossell said. “It is really sweet to know that if the people we

“ ...there may be difficult times, but in the long run you know that you are doing what you are supposed to do.

You aren’t missing out, and it will pay off in the end. ­— Hannah Lloyd

Seniors Hannah Lloyd and Hannah Rossell will move to Southeast Asia for five months post-graduation while working for the International Mission Board. They have planned to take a gap year before pursuing their degrees in higher education.

step would be. When this trip came up, though, everything just fell perfectly into place.”

Rossell and Lloyd have become close friends during their time at Ouachita, and they are thankful that God brought them together.

“Neither of us ever planned on rushing or pledging a club, but I decided to pledge on the last night of rush,” Rossell said. “A year later, Hannah decided to pledge, and I took her as my little. The Lord guided each step. We have gotten

as this,’” Lloyd said. “If Esther hadn’t been put in the right place at the right time, so much would have been different. This reminds us that if God did not have His own sovereign plan, we would not have met and become friends, and this trip would not be happening. Our own plans fail to measure up to His.” As Rossell and Lloyd prepare to move to a new country, they know that they will face obstacles. Rossell hopes that the two can adjust to a new language and culture in

families and friends back home,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd is looking forward to truly experiencing life as an international missionary in Southeast Asia. “I have always been interested in the idea of doing missions, especially internationally, and I am excited to see what that will look like,” Lloyd said. “God will use us in ways that we have not even thought about.

This trip will confirm if missions is something that will continue for me in the future.”

meet decide to follow Christ, we will see them again after we leave Asia. I’m holding onto the hope that we will make friends, and even if we don’t see them again on this side of Heaven, we will meet them in Heaven one day.”

Rossell and Lloyd would highly recommend a gap year to students who feel called to it, even if the future feels uncertain.

“When we committed, we had no idea why the Lord was asking us to go, but I know that when we look back, we will see that the Lord was very clear,” Rossell said.

Lloyd believes that God is always at work in our seasons of transition and change.

“My advice to graduates is to pray about your post-grad plans,” Lloyd said. “If that gap year is what God wants you to do, there may be difficult times, but, in the long run, you know that you are doing what you are supposed to do.

You aren’t missing out, and it will pay off in the end.”

NEWS

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Admissions team hosts Yard Sign Blitz for new class

BY KATE ELLIS Staff Writer

Tacos 4 Life comes to OBU

BY KAELIN CLAY Staff Writer

Students are raving about Ouachita’s next addition: Tacos 4 Life. The taco company is coming to campus in the fall of 2023. This change has proven to be exciting, and the smiles on faces that pass by the “coming soon” sign in the Evans Student Center show that the replacement for Sandella’s is perceived as a positive shift.

Tacos 4 Life is a philanthropic restaurant chain fighting to end world hunger. Their website describes their mission as “craft tacos for a cause.” For every taco, bowl, salad, quesadilla or order of nachos purchased, a portion of the cost is donated to a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to children.

One of the unique things about Tacos 4 Life is its connection to Ouachita. Sometimes it seems as if Ouachita can be found at every corner of the world, and in this case, it’s found in the form of tacos. Ouachita’s own graduates Ashton and Austin Samuelson co-founded the company. Sodexo marketing intern Coleman Callan provided a little more information on their backgrounds.

“Austin is a 2008 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts

in Finance,” Callan said. “Austin’s wife, Ashton, is also a 2008 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching. Soon after graduating, Austin and Ashton got married. Then, they moved to California, and this is where they got their vision for Tacos 4 Life.

Together, Austin and Ashton have four boys and many animals, including a pet donkey named Taco.”

Talks of Tacos 4 Life coming to Ouachita are not exclusively recent. In fact, the idea was first considered five years ago, but 2023 ended up being the perfect moment to finalize a warm Ouachita welcome to the company.

“Ouachita, Sodexo and Tacos 4 Life met five years ago regarding the idea of putting the restaurant into the Evans Student Center.

During the original meetings, it was determined that it was not the right time to put the concept into Evans Student Center,” Callan said. “Within the last year, we revisited the idea of putting Tacos 4 Life into Evans Student Center, replacing the Sandella’s concept for a revitalized and refreshed look. We felt like this was the correct change for the campus at this time.”

Since the announcement of Tacos 4 Life making its way to Arkadel-

phia, students have provided feedback in the form of conversations happening around campus and on social media platforms. Ouachita sophomore Madison Gray is embracing the exciting change.

“Change is always good, and after a while, having the same options to eat can get old. While the options that we have to choose from suit many taste buds, adding a Tacos 4 Life will be a good change to campus,” Gray said. “This gives students a variety of things to eat on campus, as well as giving back meals to those in need.”

Students are also thrilled about the full-circle moment the company is providing by showcasing alumni success in the center of campus. Ouachita junior Caroline Smallwood is looking forward to supporting Ouachita alumni.

“I think it’s long overdue, especially since the chain was created

by Ouachita alumni,” Smallwood said. “When I first heard the news, I couldn’t wait. It supports Ouachita alumni and also gives the students something they love.”

Tacos 4 Life will greet Ouachita students before they know it and will provide a remarkable opportunity for all students to give back, support alumni and munch on some yummy tacos.

The pandemic changed a number of things on campus, but in May of 2020, Ouachita’s admissions staff refused to let the Yard Sign Blitz tradition become history. Prior to the pandemic, Ouachita yard signs were passed out to incoming students at Early Registration in the spring, but when this event was done virtually in 2020, Ouachita staff members hit the road and hand-delivered the signs to the houses of each incoming student.

Senior admissions counselor and one of the brains behind Yard Sign Blitz, Dillon Thomas, explains how admissions has kept this beloved tradition alive.

“Since we got a great reception from both incoming and current students, we knew that we wanted to continue this tradition,” Thomas said. “Now, we have tons of current students helping out. The atmosphere on campus is one that is very welcoming and where students put others first. Students are willing to sacrifice their time in order to welcome others to the Ouachita family.”

This tradition has allowed many staff and faculty members to connect with future students outside of Ouachita’s campus, which creates a special sense of community for these prospective students before they even begin their time as a tiger. Thomas reflects on his favorite memory from passing out signs.

“My favorite memory is when I surprised a student with the yard sign at their job at Whataburger,” Thomas said. “We normally place

the signs directly in the yard, but a mom made this special request. I met her in the parking lot, and the mom was able to get her student outside where I was waiting to surprise her with the sign. She was so thankful and astounded.”

Yard Sign Blitz encompasses many of Ouachita’s best qualities, including an emphasis on student and staff relationships and the feeling of intertwined community. For many of the incoming freshmen, this is their first interaction with current students, staff members and what life is like at Ouachita.

“In my opinion, the Yard Sign Blitz is the official welcome by current students to those who will be starting in the fall,” Thomas said. “Notes are written on the back of the yard signs, telling the incoming freshmen how excited we are for them to be a Ouachita Tiger and how they will enjoy being a part of the Ouachita family.

They cannot believe that we would spend time driving to their house to deliver a yard sign, and they are so appreciative. These future tigers are reminded of what drew them to Ouachita in the first place – that this university is a special place that intentionally connects with anyone who steps foot on campus.”

On May 16, many of Ouachita’s students will be making the journey back to their hometown, but this time, they will have a yard sign in hand to deliver to a future tiger. Yard Sign Blitz is not only a fantastic way to ease prospective students into their transition to college, but it is also proof that Ouachita’s influence extends far beyond the physical campus.

NEWS Art and design majors find a new home in the School of Humanities WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 5

BY EMMA DONLEY Staff Writer

Majors in the Rosemary Adams Department of Art & Design are now part of the School of Humanities as a result of a redesign of the School of Fine Arts and existing connections between fields of study in humanities and art. The changes will be official this summer, although the new lineup was in place for the recent Early Registration of the incoming freshmen.

The School of Fine Arts will focus on music and theatre. Discussions between faculty and administrations in both schools took place for months before a firm decision was made earlier this spring to reposition art & design in the School of Humanities.

Majors in the Adams Department of Art and Design include graphic design, studio art and art education for K-12 teacher certification.

Graphic design in particular is a close fit with the communications major in the School of Humanities, but studio art also fits as a natural companion of English and Spanish, also in humanities. In the long term, the faculty of both schools believe they’ll find additional ways in which their work can create new opportunities for students.

“The connection at Ouachita between graphic design and communications has existed for decades, but I believe the new school structure will create more conversations about how we can work together and strengthen each other,” Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of

Humanities, said. “Literature and studio art are creative expressions that date back to our earliest civilizations. It just makes sense to see where those connections can lead us, and we also believe art education is tremendously important and has a bright future.”

Some graphic design majors choose a second major, which often proves to be communications.

Printed publications of all varieties depend on graphic designers as well as writers and editors. Ouachita continues to have an abundance of student talent in each of these areas, and the new structure will enhance those relationships, Root said. The study of literature and art includes significant consideration of the periods in time in which the works were created. It’s important

for students to see these connections between related ideas which happen to reside in different academic departments, he said.

While the new arrangement will be meaningful to students, but it will not have an immediate impact on their degree plans or the location of their classes. The Department of Art & Design will remain in Moses Provine, while the Department of Language and Literature and the Department of Communications will remain in Lile Hall.

The bigger effect will be on the faculty, as they will work together to consult within each department and brainstorm potential new classes or other changes to the majors.

Donnie Copeland, chair of the Department of Art & Design, shares his thoughts.

“I do think that there are some good connections between art and design and areas like English and literature and communications, of course,” Copeland said. We all share, for instance, the creative process, which is clearly part of so much work happening in all of these areas.

“Whether we are talking about creative writing, literature and storytelling, film or other forms of communication, we share much in common with our friends in the School of Humanities.”

Students in the future will benefit from the joining of departments that already have so much in common. There are exciting possibilities that may come in the future when these faculty members are able to work together.

Scholars Day celebrates research

BY CAMRYN MANNING Staff Writer

The Carl Goodson Honors Program held its annual Scholars Day event on April 26, during which students presented theses, oral presentations, papers and posters made throughout the school year.

The event also hosted juried performances, galleries showcasing artwork, a large presentation discussing the Sundance Film Festival and a roundtable reading of stories written in Spanish.

Dr. Barbara Pemberton, professor of Christian missions and director of the honors program, views Scholars Day as one of the most important days of the year for students and faculty alike.

“Scholars Day is one of my favorite things the Honors Program sponsors because it provides an opportunity for all students to celebrate academic excellence in every field of study,” Pemberton said.

“The diversity of fantastic work presented at Scholars Day signifies the great variety of academic excellence at Ouachita.”

Senior Bella Blankenship presented her thesis this year, titled “The Beliefs of the Oldest Fraternity.” Her research paid off when it came time for presentations.

“There were super in-depth questions from the audience at my presentation about things I didn’t even cover in my slideshow,” Blankenship said. “It was awesome to have done enough research for my thesis

to answer the questions well and feel confident about the subject.”

A large amount of work behind the scenes went into Scholars Day. “This was one of the smoothest events we have done in many years. This is largely thanks to our honors officers’ hard work in putting the program together in advance,” Pemberton said.

Scholars Day is a significant showcase of academic achievement from all corners of campus.

“We get to share everything we’ve been learning and researching,” Blankenship said. “It’s cool to see most of the campus shut down and have the opportunity to go and hear from peers instead of professors. It makes it a little more real that as a student, we can go and share with

Karlee Sutterfield presents her poster on Scholars Day. Her research explored the links between nurse-to-patient ratios and medication errors. (photo by Sarah Dean)

others what we’re learning in that way. We don’t always get the opportunity to say, ‘Here’s what I’m learning. We may be in completely different fields, but you may be in-

terested in this too.’ It’s an exciting day to get to learn more about all the scholarly work happening across campus that you might not even be aware of.”

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

SCOPE student literary journal released

BY ALFONSO GONZALEZ GOMEZ Staff Writer

Sigma Tau Delta, Ouachita’s international English honor society, released the university’s 32nd edition of SCOPE on April 26.

SCOPE is an annual bilingual literary journal that contains a variety of students’ creative works. This year’s publication includes poems, short stories, art and photography.

Hannah Smith, this year’s design editor for SCOPE, mentions that the journal is a great way for students at Ouachita to get their artistic works published and a way for their classmates to appreciate the values of Scholars Day. However, not every piece submitted makes it into the journal. In order for an entry to be published, it must be selected by a committee put together by the English honor society. The journal ensures only the best works are published through the use of committees. Riley Collins, Alex Moore and Andy

Strauss served as the managing editors, which means that they were in charge of the various committees.

This selection process has proven successful for the journal in the past, as Ouachita’s 2022 edition of SCOPE was chosen as the best overall literary paper by the national Sigma Tau Delta board.

“SCOPE is an opportunity for the more artistic side of students to be shown,” Smith said. “We have Assayers and other opportunities for students to showcase their academic work, but we do not have as many that celebrate creative efforts. SCOPE hopes to provide more opportunity to see students’ creative work.”

Scope is also made in collaboration with the Spanish honor society, Sigma Delta Pi, which helps translate the stories, poems and titles of the art and photography pieces and also accepts entries in Spanish.

Breanna Watson served as the head translator this year, and Mackenzie Amaya, Pietra Gois, Elizabeth Hahn, Emma Mackey, Jack Webb

and Graca Webster also provided Spanish translations.

Smith cited Emma Smith’s “Lowkey Bound” as one of the highlights in this year’s publication of SCOPE. Smith also pointed out the quality of the poems, photography and art chosen.

Inclusivity is a big reason as to why SCOPE has been so successful. Students from any major and background are encouraged to submit works for consideration.

“We took pieces from a lot of different students from a lot of different majors,” Smith said.

The funds raised from the sale of SCOPE on Scholars Day go back to the English honor society.

Sigma Tau Delta plans on continuing to develop SCOPE in the years to come and hopes to give Ouachita students from all corners of campus the opportunity to show off their creative efforts. Those interested in purchasing a copy of SCOPE can stop by the Department of Language and Literature in Lile Hall 220 to pick up a copy.

SCOPE 2023

SCOPE 2023 showcases students’ creative work in the forms of poetry, short stories, art and photography. Hannah Smith served as this year’s head design editor.

Theater department presents student-led One Acts

BY SYDNI WHITFIELD Staff Writer

Ouachita’s Department of Theater Arts will present its biannual One Acts Festival directed by students on Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theater. The festival is first come, first serve and qualifies as an arts engagement event.

Providing a large variety of entertainment with a different student director for each piece, the One Acts will have audience members on the edge of their seats anticipating what will come next.

Each semester, every senior is in charge of finding a published one act. They then hold auditions that

are open to the entire student body to cast the show. Finally, they work together with other student directors to host the One Act Festival as the final project for directing class.

Seniors, who have studied all of the different elements of theater whether it be acting, lighting, costuming, design or makeup, are now granted the opportunity to take everything they have learned and apply it as director in their final project for the class.

Watching five different plays by different authors will give audience members a fun, unique night.

The shows will provide contrasting moods with a total of two comedies, two dramas and an absurdist play being performed.

Wyatt Ashlock, senior media and film major, is directing “Loaded Language” by Elizabeth Shannon; Landon Denman, senior theatre arts major, is directing “The Sandbox” by Edward Albee; Tyranni Hubbard, senior theatre arts major, is directing “The Proposal” by Anton Chekhov; Hailey Johnson, senior theatre arts major, is directing “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell; and Payton Mixon, senior musical theatre major, is directing the “The Ugly Duckling” by A.A. Milne.

Hubbard’s show features a young man, Lomov, who decides to propose to his neighbor, Natalya, but they keep fighting over various topics. She shares her experience being a director.

“I love getting to work with the other directors to create a fun and creative atmosphere,” Hubbard said.

Student directors have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of being a director through the One Acts Festival. They also have to solve any problems that may arise and figure out how to best help their cast embody the roles they were given.

“My favorite part about my experience as a director is the unconventional rehearsals I have done with some of the cast. Two of the actresses in my show play young kids on a playground, so we had a rehearsal focused on getting into a young mindset. We watched “Bluey,” a children’s television show and went to the park to play,” Ashlock said.

Ashlock’s show is about a young girl, Lilah Gordon, and her imaginary dragon, Toucan, who, during a school recess unlike any other, decide to set off on a special adventure to help Lilah earn dragon wings of her own.

“The One Acts will provide something for everyone to enjoy,” Ashlock said.

Ouachitonians will not want to miss these exciting performances.

Students that attend the One Acts Festival will spend their night watching shows directed by their friends and fellow classmates.

Not only will they be supporting them, they will also be provided with entertainment, memories and, surely, a good laugh.

OPINIONS

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A letter from the print editor, Julia

BY JULIA SHANDS Print Editor-In-Chief

When given the role of editor-in-chief, you enter into the unknown. The unknown can be an intimidating and fragile space if you

let it, but it can also be a place of growth and resilience. I chose the latter. When you’re thrown into the vastness of a position such as this, you just have to keep swimming.

Throughout the year, this has been my mantra, and I swam. I swam to the finish line, now passing the torch to the next editor-to-be.

Having the privilege of telling Ouachita’s stories has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. For one, I was reminded of the importance of storytelling.

Publishing a moment in time is so significant because as Ouachita shapes and shifts with the times, publications ensure our history has been documented. What a cool feeling it is to have had a part in recording headlining moments in Ouachita’s history.

As print continues to die, I feel lucky to have gotten to know the feeling of Ouachita’s stories at my fingertips. Moments become more

nostalgic and honorable when they rest in your hands. Students and faculty who were selected as the cover got to know the feeling of celebration and recognition as people from all over campus picked up an edition just because their faces resided on the front page. I believe this is what our school is all about—connectivity and rooting for each other’s testimonies. I’m thankful to have been the editor for an institution that intertwines both.

When embarking on something new, you’re likely to fail, and I failed often. I learned that mistakes are OK and necessary for improvement. I missed commas, misspelled words and didn’t always follow newspaper layout rules. Although I didn’t reach perfection every time, I feel as though I produced a paper that embodied what Ouachita is as a university.

Speaking of perfection, it’s my enemy. I write about this now as

I’m on the other side, but there were moments when I was angry at myself when I made mistakes.

My mind would immediately tell me that I was a bad editor and that I didn’t deserve to be in this seat.

This is the classic imposter syndrome that a lot of us know well.

I had to learn to give myself grace and that my hard-earned four years at Ouachita led me to this position for a reason. These thoughts were my Goliaths, and I held them captive like I was David.

Beauty and greatness come from unequal odds, but these odds were never my disadvantage; they were to my advantage. As self-doubt and a lack of confidence swarmed, I used these thoughts to work a little harder and push myself a little farther. I discovered that I don’t need affirmations from others to know that I’m doing a good job, but I can find contentment within myself.

No one supported David. No one

thought that he would defeat Goliath, but he believed in himself.

Through this position, I’ve learned to believe in myself even without the belief of others.

I now sign off as print editor-in-chief as an individual that’s been challenged and discovered her worth. Many hours have been spent, tears have been cried, laughs have been laughed and many moments have been celebrated within the four walls of the newsroom.

With the amount of time that I’ve spent in this place, it’s become more than just a newsroom. It’s a newshome, and my staff has become my family. The Signal has taught me perseverance, self-compassion and the importance of deadlines. I’ll forever be marked by my time in the editor’s seat. So, if you’re still reading this, take the leap, be all in and know that you’re capable of far more than what you think you are.

A letter from the online editor, Valeria

BY VALERIA GOMEZ Online Editor-In-Chief

I went to my first Signal meeting on February 20, 2020. I was terrified. I had not taken media writing, so I had no idea what I was doing.

But, I wanted to learn and have the experience. I wondered how people in leadership positions got to where they were. I didn’t think I would ever get there; I was certainly not qualified. Then, we were sent home for COVID, and opportunities to get involved decreased.

I have been working in publications ever since the second semester of my freshman year. The Signal was my first experience, but I also worked on the Ouachitonian and the Ouachita News Show.

I love the community aspect, and seeing your work get published is an amazing feeling. As communications majors, we only need two semesters of practicum, but I just kept doing it for fun. I think it’s a great, underappreciated way of serving our campus.

December of my junior year, I got asked to interview for the job of editor-in-chief of the Signal. I knew I had some competition, so I wasn’t feeling confident. Despite the fear, though, I did it anyway.

We went home for Christmas break shortly after. Then, I waited. I did not hear back until February. It was a long wait, and part of me just assumed I did not get the job. To my surprise, they had decided to split the job and get two editors instead of one. And just like that, Julia and I walked out of Dr. Root’s office at around 8:50 a.m. as the new editors of the Signal.

Being the online editor-in-chief meant I oversaw our website and social media. I had been doing social media, so that wasn’t anything new for me. But, A WEB-

SITE??? I had no idea how any of that worked. We learned the basics of how to create a personal site in class, but the Signal’s website was a lot harder than what we had learned. I felt underqualified, but Jackson Carter, the online adviser, had the time and patience to teach me everything I needed to know.

He also answered all my questions and welcomed me into his office anytime I was frustrated.

And so I learned, not just how to create and manage a website, but how to be a leader to those around me. My staff is simply the very best, and there would not be a website without them. They are the backbone of this publication, and I’m so thankful for their hard work and for trusting me with their well-written stories.

I learned that it’s hard to be a leader. Things won’t always go your way, and sometimes, you will feel overlooked and underappreciated. I learned that communication and empathy are key. I also found that the newsroom is a sacred place.

I am better because of this job. It has prepared me well for life after graduation. I have gained valuable leadership and creative skills.

So, I am signing off one last time as the online editor-in-chief and the ACMA’s website editor of the year. The Signal is my pride and joy. I hope I will never take the gift of being a creative and a storyteller that my Jesus has given me for granted. To the next editor, steward it well, be humble and continue to serve this campus by being the heart of Ouachita news.

SPORTS

PAGE 8 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

OBU dance team to begin inaugural season fall 2023

BY AUSTYNN CROCKER Staff Writer

Ouachita’s newly implemented dance team had tryouts Saturday, April 29, and dance coaches Ashley and Melissa Carozza expect big things from this group of girls.

After admissions counselors approached Ouachita about the increasing interest in a dance team from incoming freshmen, Ouachita took it upon themselves to research the idea. There has been a strong interest in a dance team among a number of Ouachita students in recent years, but the element that convinced Ouachita to implement the dance team was the overwhelming number of recruits who showed an interest.

Upon Ouachita’s research, they found that dance has evolved over the years and has become more competitive and popular. Ashley and Melissa Carozza were offered the position of dance coaches be-

cause of their experience with a local dance studio that they built from the ground up. The dance studio they founded in 2011 is quickly approaching its 12th dance recital.

Melissa is a Ouachita alumna, and Ashley is a Henderson alumna.

Twelve girls were chosen as members of the 2023-2024 Ouachita dance team following tryouts on April 29. Sophomore Endsley Norman was named captain, and sophomore Alyssa Rye was chosen as co-captain. All of the new members of the team are girls who eagerly want to continue their passion for dance in college.

“From a Biblical standpoint, they have been given a gift, and they are not just dancing for themselves,” Ashley said. “They can use their love of God and dance through college. Some people may not have committed to Ouachita if it weren’t for the dance team because while they loved Ouachita, they wanted to continue to dance.”

The Ouachita Baptist University dance team will begin its first season in the fall of 2023. Tryouts were held on April 29.

Dance is set to begin in August with occasional instruction given over the summer. During the school year, practices will typically be every Tuesday and Thursday for two hours. Although the coaches hope for the team to eventually get to a level where

they can compete nationally, they will begin their inaugural season in the fall by performing at football and basketball games.

“We are super excited,” Melissa said, referencing the upcoming season. “Everything has fallen into place for this team. God has provid-

ed every person and resource. We can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the team and Ouachita” Coaches Ashley and Melissa along with the whole Ouachita community are anticipating the great things these dancers will do in fall 2023.

ATHLETICS SCOREBOARD BASEBALL TUES APR 25 @ L, 1-9 Searcy, AR FRI APR 28 VS L, 5-6 Arkadelphia, AR SUN APR 30 VS L,9-10 Arkadelphia, AR SUN APR 30 VS W, 2-0 Arkadelphia, AR

MEN’S TENNIS

MIAA/GAC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS

WED APR 19 VS

W, 4-0 Stillwater, OK MIAA/GAC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS

THURS APR 20 VS

#15

L, 2-4 Edmond, OK

NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SAT APR 29 @

#18

L, 1-4 Topeka, KS

TRACK & FIELD

WOMEN’S TENNIS

SOFTBALL

APRIL 14-15

FRI APR 14

SUN APR 23

@

VS

VS

Commerce, TX

L, 0-7 Arkadelphia, AR

APRIL 21-22

SUN APR 16

VS

VS

Jonesboro, AR

W, 5-2 Arkadelphia, AR

#26

GAC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS

GAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

W,12-4 Arkadelphia, AR SAT APR 29 @ L, 1-4 Alva, OK SAT APR 29 @

MAY 4-6

FRI APR 21

@

VS

W, 7-4 Alva, OK SUN APR 30

Searcy, AR

L, 0-4 Bentonville, AR

@ L, 1-4 Alva, OK