VOLUME 129, ISSUE 3
the
SIGNAL A P U B L I CATI O N O F O U AC H I TA BA PTI S T U N I V E R S I T Y
OCTOBER 1, 2020
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cover story....................................3 news................................................4-5 arts/entertainment....................6 opinions...........................................7 Sports................................................8
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SIGNAL
Caity Hatchett
Elizabeth Steely
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS EDITOR
Sara Patterson
Matthew Branch
OSDN COORDINATOR
Katie Kemp
Hannah Smith
COPY EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
Langley Leverett ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT & OPINIONS EDITOR
Dr. Jeff Root Adviser
Caroline Derby AD COORDINATOR
PHOTO EDITOR
Abby Blankenship PHOTO EDITOR
Dr. Deborah Root Adviser
The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Wednesdays 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.
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Tunes Rewind unites students and alumni BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
Arts/Entertainment & Opinions Editor While most people associate fall with cozy sweaters and warm mugs, September at Ouachita signals the arrival of “Tunes season.” Every year, social clubs and campus organizations plan memorable performances with efforts comparable to Broadway. Students are seen running across campus in strange costumes and practicing dance moves and reciting lines, while amused professors watch from a safe distance. However, Tunes season looks a little different this year because of COVID. This year, the Ouachita Student Foundation (OSF) is hosting Tunes Rewind on Oct. 3. This livestream event will combine videos of current hosts and hostesses, a silent auction, an intermission and shows from Tunes past. Although these new plans don’t involve the majority of students, they do still require the leadership of OSF and participation from the hosts and hostesses. These few students, with the help of faculty members, have worked to successfully organize the production to keep fundraising for scholarships and boost student morale. “Ouachita is hosting big watch parties and I know different clubs and alumni groups are hosting watch parties too,” Student Director of Tiger Tunes Brady Barton said. “I’ve always said that my senior year would be for Ouachita, for the alumni and the legacy. That has definitely manifested in a different way, but I think that with everything we have lost, it has made everybody thankful for anything that we can do.” Typically, Tiger Tunes is OSF’s primary event to raise scholarship money. For over 40 years, OSF has been able to sponsor upperclass-
men so that they can finish their degrees at Ouachita. “Our concern right now is raising any money we can,” Vice President of OSF Anna Roussel said. “You don’t realize it, when you’re doing mundane tasks like putting popcorn in a bag or walking seniors in high school around campus, but each thing you’re doing is raising money for people. The people that you love and your close friends — a lot of them couldn’t stay on campus if they didn’t have an OSF scholarship.” While preparing for the rewind, the hosts and hostesses had to choreograph and design their performances in compliance with COVID guidelines. They were required to stay 12 feet apart, sanitize and wear masks. Otherwise, the show wouldn’t be able to air. “Whenever we auditioned in February we expected a full, normal Tunes show. I barely knew what the coronavirus was back then, so the expectations were not the end result,” junior middle school education major and hostess Melody Stotts said. “It’s been crazy and different, but also exciting because we are the first group that gets to do this online format. If it does get to happen next semester, we’ll be the first group to be able to do it twice. It’s a new frontier.” Tiger Tunes usually has hundreds of participants, featuring students from all across campus. OSF still wanted to showcase student talent and create an opportunity for fellowship even with the unusual circumstances. “The first time I saw Tunes, I was a senior in high school. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool,’ and I thought, ‘That’d be cool to do someday,’” senior musical theatre major and host Ryan Lynch said. “Tunes is known for bringing people together. I hope it still does that.”
On the cover: Autumn Romines and Wade Wilson practice one of their numbers for Tunes Rewind. Above: Senior Ryan Lynch performs as part of the hosts and hostesses performance. Lynch was a student director for Kappa Chi last year. The hosts and hostesses practice another part of this year’s show, posing as they finish the number. Hosts and hostesses for this year’s show had to stay twelve feet apart. Senior Melody Stotts performs as a hostess. (photos by Abby Blankenship)
news
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Shepherd champions diversity in new role BY MADELINE MARTIN Staff Writer
Ouachita President Dr. Ben Sells expressed the need for greater advancement in diversity and inclusion for minorities on campus in June. This followed months of national protests calling for an end to systemic racism. As part of this mission, Sells brought Dr. Lewis Shepherd onto Ouachita’s executive leadership team as the Special Assistant to the President, a full-time position dedicated solely to advancing diversity and inclusion. Shepherd grew up in southwest Arkansas as the youngest of four siblings. From a young age, his parents instilled in him the importance of getting a good education. Shepherd was encouraged to do well in school and to go to college. Shepherd has been part of the Ouachita community since he started his undergraduate degree at the age of 17. While in school, Shepherd served as a campus resident assistant and worked as a funeral home assistant. Shepherd graduated with a bachelor’s degree in religion. Following graduation, Shepherd was offered an assistant position to Dean B. Aldon Dixon. While serving in this role, Shepherd earned his master’s degree in education from Ouachita. He also worked with the TRiO program, pastored at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and served as assistant to former university president Andy Westmoreland. In 2009, Shepherd went across the ravine to Henderson and served for 11 years in various leadership capacities. But recently, an opportunity arose for him to return to Ouachita in a new role. And for Shepherd, the decision to return was easy. “Dr. Sells gave me the tremen-
dous opportunity to come back home, and I took it quickly,” Shepherd said. “Let me just tell you, there’s no place like home. There is no place like Ouachita.” The creation of Shepherd’s position was a product of Ouachita’s pursuit of racial equality and inclusion on campus. The idea came about as a result of several meetings between Shepherd and Sells over the past few years, where Shepherd also expressed his desire to return to Ouachita in some way. The catalyst for his instatement, however, was the culmination of the pandemic and the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old former security guard from Minneapolis. Floyd was killed on May 25 at the hands of police during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill at a convenience store. His unjust death sparked protests and conversations over racial injustice and inequality in the nation, all while a global pandemic surged. “It’s an amazing thing that someone most people would never have known has had an impact all over the world, and simultaneously there’s a virus that no one has ever heard of,” Shepherd said. The purpose of Shepherd’s position is to ensure racial and cultural diversity as well as inclusion for students of color. Having racial equality levels the playing field, allowing everyone to have some oportunity to succeed. Shepherd will work with students and faculty members of various ethnicities to make certain that they are comfortable and supported at Ouachita. He will also ensure that rates of persistence toward graduation, GPAs and enrollment of minority students are in good standing. Shepherd also works with alumni of color to form connections with current students so that they have ties to the professional world
Quantel Williams, Lewis Shepherd and Monica Rutledge smile during MORE’s back to school event. Shepherd has played a vital role in overseeing MORE and working to foster discussions about diversity on campus. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
after graduation. There has been overwhelming support from alumni who want to get involved with current minority students through mentorship or donations for scholarships. The Multicultural Organization Reaching Equality (MORE) is also under Shepherd’s scope. MORE provides a safe space for minority students, brings students of different cultures together and encourages inclusivity and diversity. One of the ways they accomplish this is by hosting events on campus. With Shepherd’s guidance, MORE hopes to explore ways to be more visible on campus and get more students involved with their events. By lending support, students can become allies for minorities on campus and help move toward change. Visibility and presence are key. “Just someone’s presence makes all the difference in the world because it speaks volumes,” Shepherd said.
For Dayja James, sophomore biology major and president of MORE, this organization has been vital to her Ouachita experience. She found a home away from home in MORE. James praises Shepherd for his ability to be a peacemaker as well as an advocate. He is also a warm and welcoming person, which is important for his position. “That’s what I love about Dr. Shepherd,” James said. “ He has such a warm presence. He just brings something refreshing to the table.” Shepherd’s position is relevant, and a college campus is a good place to cultivate diversity among cultures. One way students can do this is to engage with people of other races and cultures that are different from their own. When discussing what it takes to achieve diversity, Shepherd refers to what he calls the “Three A’s”: acknowledgement, acceptance and appreciation.
When it comes to acceptance, Shepherd believes it is important to accept people for who they are and to appreciate others’ perspectives. This fosters learning and acceptance. Having understanding and being willing to grow helps to create real change. “Everyone does have something to offer,” Shepherd said. “And that’s what makes America strong.” Learning to acknowledge, accept and appreciate other cultures goes to the core of Ouachita’s mission statement. As followers of Christ, it is important to realize that all people are God’s children, despite varying racial backgrounds. Everyone is made in the image of Christ and therfore has value. “No matter how different we may look, it shows the love of Christ when we accept people for who they are and want to include them in the family of God,” Shepherd said. “It’s the right thing to do as a Christian university.”
NEWS
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Refer-A-Tiger aims to reach potential students BY KATIE TYREE Staff Writer
Over the past few weeks, Ouachita students have been participating in the Refer-A-Tiger challenge. By submitting names of potential students, their names have gone into a drawing for prizes such as an Apple TV, AirPods, gift cards and a year of free Spotify Premium. This challenge is a way for current students to contribute contact information for potential students. Having this information allows Ouachita to send information to potential students and encourage them to apply. According to Director of Admissions and Ouachita alumna Lori Motl, about 65% of this year’s freshman class found out about Ouachita from someone they knew personally. Motl believes that personal connection helps Ouachita stand out, especially when the information is coming from someone who is a current student. “Students are really the best recruiters when they’re talking to their friends because they can share everything they love about Ouachita,” Motl said. Referrals from current students are especially important this year because COVID has put traditional college fairs, where recruiters typically interact directly with students, on hold. “Normally my entire office would be gone right now, and they would be gone all of this month and all of next month going to college fairs,” Motl said. While virtual fairs are being held in place of the regular college fair experience, there is less interaction from current students at these events. Prospective students are also receiving less information than they would normally receive
at these events. “When we walk out of a college fair… we come away with stacks of info cards, and I get an email with a whole bunch of leads of students who are interested in coming to Ouachita,” Motl said. “From yesterday and today, we’ve gotten a total of 36 leads so far, and that’s with some of our biggest fairs already behind us.” This limited interaction coupled with no guarantees of continued on campus learning has hurt the college admission and recruiting process. But student referrals are a way to fix this problem. “We need the help of the entire Ouachita student body to help get us names and help us recruit,” Motl said. “That’s one reason we’re giving away Apple TVs and Apple watches.” Referring others can make a larger impact than students may realize. Motl taught at a high school before working as an admissions counselor. During that time, she printed out an application to Ouachita for a student who was uncertain about which college to attend. The student ended up choosing Ouachita, where she met her future husband. Motl says she has no memory of the event, but the student told her about it after graduating. “I changed the entire trajectory of her life in that one conversation, and it’s not something I thought about. I just told her she needed to check out Ouachita,” Motl said. “It’s just a simple conversation. I was sharing something I loved with someone that I cared about, and that’s what referring students to Ouachita does.” Students can participate in the challenge by filling out the form at admissions.obu.edu/register/referchallenge. The form can be filled out for as many people as each student wants to refer.
Madison Cresswell and Judy Duvall talk while carrying sack breakfasts for volunteers. Judy Duvall is the associate director of the Elrod Center and leads Tiger Serve Day each year. Cresswell was a team leader this year. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
TSD inspires community appreciation BY GABBY DAVIS Staff Writer
The Elrod Center hosted Tiger Serve Day on Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. A total of 116 teams and 850 volunteers participated in the event. The Tiger Serve Day leadership team successfully found new service projects that allowed students to serve the community while complying with COVID guidelines. Projects included picking up trash across as well as working on a range of outdoor projects at churches, schools, nursing homes and local nonprofit organizations. “Because of the pandemic, we switched to mostly outdoor cleanup projects in the city,” Associate Director of the Elrod Center Judy Duvall said. “It was satisfying to be able to give back to our city and its workers, and Tiger Serve Day was a way for our volunteers
to take pride in our city and say, ‘Thank you, Arkadelphia!’” Duvall added that teams also wrote thank you notes to city workers, which will be delivered this week along with treats from local bakeries. For many students, their commitment to local service in the community inspired them to continue the Tiger Serve Day tradition despite the unusual circumstances. “I wanted to remember the legacy of all the Tiger Serve Days before this one,” junior communications major Lydia Dean said. “The coronavirus shouldn’t stop us from serving the community. We need to be serving our community more than ever before.” Tiger Serve Day provided leadership opportunities for students like Dean, whose team helped paint and stain the gazebo by Java Primo in downtown Arkadelphia. Rachel David, a senior biology
major, led her first TSD team this past weekend. Despite her initial hesitation and fear of disappointing her peers, Davide stepped out of her comfort zone in order to serve her community. “We joked and had a good time,” David said. “Also, the community greeted us and thanked us for our work. It truly warmed our hearts. We can make an impact doing the smallest of tasks.” David led a small team in picking up trash along the road from St. Andrews United Methodist Church up to N. 23rd St. She attributes her positive experience to the hard work put in by the Tiger Serve Day leadership team. Duvall was also proud of the leadership team and the work they put into the event. “It was a beautiful, joyful day from beginning to end,” Duvall said. “I am so proud of our Ouachita volunteers who gave so willingly of their time.”
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Throwing it back: Hosting your own Tunes Rewind watch party
Top 10 fall flicks to enjoy as temperatures drop
BY KENZIE BURKS
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
With Tunes Rewind just around the corner, we’ve come up with a few ways to make your Tunes experience one to remember. So gather a few friends together and throw a socially distanced watch party this weekend. Ouachita alumni have been able to order Tunes Rewind Host Kits for this special event which include a program, a scorecard, a Tunes vinyl sticker, hand sanitizer, and Tiger Tunes themed snacks. The snacks are Tiger Paws, customized M&M’s, 100 Grand Bars, Bugles, and Reese’s Pieces. All of these treats are packed into a VHS tape box, tying into the “rewind” theme. For students, though, we have plenty of creative watch party decoration and treat ideas to help you host the best Tunes watch party ever. Microphones are a big part of Tiger Tunes. They’re on the logo and are easy to incorporate into snacks. Our first recipe is Tunes Mics. These s’mores microphones can be used as props and, of course, as snacks. You’ll need mini ice cream cones, graham crackers, a 1.8 oz. block of softened cream cheese, and silver colored sprinkles. Crush the graham crackers in a blender (or by hand). Then, mix the crushed graham crackers with cream cheese until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for one hour. Next, fill each cone with the leftover crushed graham crackers. Use the graham cracker and cream cheese mixture to form little balls to put on the top of each cone. Dip the ball tops into the silver sprinkles to make them resemble a microphone. Feel free to sing along
with the shows and enjoy your Tunes Mics. Another great snack is a fun spin on a classic we all know and love: popcorn. The only ingredients you’ll need are popcorn and Flavor Blasted Goldfish. Microwave the popcorn, and then put it a fun, vintage popcorn container to stay on theme. Crush the Goldfish by hand or using a food processor. Sprinkle the crushed Goldfish on the popcorn, and grab a seat to watch the rewind. Decorations are what make any party fun Sticking with the “rewind” theme, here are a few ideas for throwback decorations. Every good watch party has fun snack stands. For these, you will need a few Rubik’s Cubes and some old records. If you don’t have records, you can just use plates. s\ Stack two Rubik’s Cubes on top of each other and place the record (or
plate) on top. Another way to add a little flare to the snack table is to create a centerpiece. For a fun and simple centerpiece, just grab an old record and glue a miniature disco ball to its center. If you use a plate or platter, it could also serve as a snack tray. The finishing touch is to create a backdrop in case anyone wants to take pictures. You will need pieces of 12 inch by 12 inch scrapbook paper, scissors, a hole punch, and string. Cut a circle out of the middle of the paper, then punch a hole in the middle of each circle. String the circles together in strands and hang.the strands on your wall This gives you a photo booth-worthy backdrop. Tunes Rewind is going to be a lot of fun, so be sure to tune in on Saturday night and use these ideas to spruce up your watch party!
BY WYATT ASHLOCK There are many amazing movies to watch during the fall season, but these 10 stand out from the rest. “October Sky,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, shows that while a son’s dreams are not what his father expects from him, the son will fight tooth and nail for those dreams to become a reality. “October Sky” motivates the audience by showing that hard work pays off, and it comes in at number 10. “Frozen II” will take the audience into the unknown. Everything changes for Arendelle when Elsa awakens the spirit of the enchanted forest. The character development of Elsa, Anna and Kristoff is excellent. From Kristoff’s eighties rock ballad to “Show Yourself,” the music makes this film stand firm in spot nine. “Christopher Robin,” which stars Ewan McGregor, shows the harsh reality of what happens when kids grow up and leave their imaginary friends behind. This is a heartwarming, feel-good film, which has earned it the number eight spot. Sitting at number seven is “Dead Poets Society.” There is something about going back to school that brings the fall season with it, even if school is during a 1989 class with a teacher (Robin Williams) who wants to bring inspiration to a bunch of students who need hope. “Rudy” is an inspirational film about a college freshman (Sean Astin) and his dreams of becoming a football player. While Rudy might not be the strongest, tallest or most athletic, his drive sets him apart from the rest of the team. His determination makes this movie a must-watch as number six. “The Princess Bride” is a
hilarious fairytale movie. The story demonstrates how true love is the strongest motivating force, which will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. This inconceivable film works its magic, earning the number five spot. “Good Will Hunting” is another great film set during college that shows the journey of a janitor (Matt Damon) who is discovered to be a mathematical genius and a professor (Robin Williams) who helps him deal with his past and his future. This movie put Damon as well as Ben Affleck on the map, and it also claims the number four spot on this list. “The Blind Side” is based on the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless boy, and Leigh Ann Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). The Tuohys take Oher off of the streets and into their home, providing for and protecting him. The family will do anything to keep Oher safe from the pain of his past.The heart-warming family dynamic and message set this movie in the number three spot. Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) of “You’ve Got Mail” brings in the fall season like no one else. Tom Hanks gives an amazing performance alongside Ryan in this romantic comedy. It gives the audience a look at the beauty of New York in the fall like no other movie, earning it the number two spot. “Knives Out” is a phenomenal film in which murder mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plumber) is murdered after a family party and everyone becomes a suspect. Renowned investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) leaves no stone unturned in this thrilling, darkly comedic murder mystery. The humor and amazing story put this film firmly in the number one spot on this list.
OPINIONS WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 7
Conquering mask fatigue, continuing to live boldly BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
Arts/ Entertainment & Opinions Editor
Hitting pause on resposibility BY RACHEL SANSANO Staff Writer
Learning in college is typically centered around the internet. But especially this semester, many classes have relied heavily on technology. Which is great — until the Wi-Fi goes out. And Moodle becomes inaccessible. And the campus email shuts down. You might be wondering how you learn in classes that mainly rely on and require access to the internet when there is no Wi-Fi. The simple answer is that you don’t. But that’s okay. That weekend taught us things unrelated to the classroom, but still vital to our college success. We get so caught up in the digital world that sometimes it seems better than reality. Maybe it’s because we can hide from what’s going on in our lives, maybe it’s because it gives us an escape. Regardless of the reason, we all are guilty of being swept into the cyber sea. This absence of technology gave us a chance to hit the reset button.
It gave us a chance to connect in person with friends (while staying socially distant, of course). It gave us a break from homework and responsibility. So, what did everyone do with their free weekend? At first, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Eventually I figured it out. Some of the weekend’s adventures were surprising, and others were long overdue. Eating In the bottom of our suite’s junk drawer, we found a tiny waffle maker. I’m not sure who it belongs to, but we jumped at the opportunity to have semihomemade waffles for dinner. None of us are exactly culinary experts, but the waffles were edible. With some strawberries and Nutella on top, they’d give the cafeteria a run for its money any day of the week. Sleeping This one is self-explanatory. Sleep is a rare commodity for most college students, and napping is quite possibly in my top three favorite things to do at Ouachita. Enjoying the Lake I’m a big fan of the ocean. Always have been, always will be.
I love the waves and salty smell. It just makes me happy. That being said, the Wi-Fi outage gave me a chance to get acquainted with the lake life that is so popular in Arkansas. It took a little bit of convincing, but I can now see its appeal. Once you get past the muddy water and the snakes lurking in the background, it’s a great time. The lake is great, but I’m still partial to the ocean. If I had my choice, I’d much rather face a shark than a snake. But maybe that’s just me. A common theme this semester has been stress. I know stress levels are high every year, but this semester seems worse. So many of us, myself included, were stressed when we were unable to turn in assignments or reach out to professors to ask for help. Sure, breaks from homework are great, but now that everything is (almost) running again, we’re drowning in it. But on the bright side, hopefully a weekend without Wi-Fi gave you time to breathe, which might be the most important lesson you learn this year. So, remember to breathe.
I didn’t want to write this, but I felt like it was an opinion that should be acknowledged and heard collectively. A few weeks ago, I was writing a different story and interviewing one of my professors in the BugTruck. (For those of you who don’t know, the BugTruck is that humble office tucked away in the south corner of Lile Hall. The Language and Literature department sits there.) As I spoke to my professor about an event where cultural appreciation was the focal point, she began sharing her thoughts on “mask fatigue.” I thought, “Yeah, sure. Everyone hates masks.” Some people wear them, some people don’t, but either way we’re irritated. We’re tired of the redundant remarks about masks, COVID and political controversy. But this wasn’t exactly her point. She went on to express that mask fatigue isn’t the physical complications that come from eight-hour mask wearing. Rather, it’s the threatening phenomenon in which people mistake masks for facial gags. Mask fatigue occurs when people feel a physical and mental hindrance in expression, when people start to hide behind their masks, rather than living boldly. People start to feel like their opinions and thoughts are worthless. They start to feel overwhelmed with the unknown and instead begin to settle into a state of terrible dread. They begin to lose a sense of community. With the current seemingly unceasing social unrest, it’s hard not to fall into that pit. I’m guilty of it, too. This year has been hard and it doesn’t take a genius to
see that. The list of grievances could carry us away, if we let it. COVID-19. Racial injustice. Missed milestones. Overwhelming division. Hurricanes. Technology frustration. It doesn’t take much sleuthing to uncover heartache and tension. It doesn’t take much effort to be consumed with questions, anxiety or anger. However, it does take work to be mentally and emotionally strong. It’s hard work, but it’s necessary work. If you’ve been struggling, take heart because you’re not isolated in this experience. Don’t listen to the lie that normalcy will never exist again. Don’t give stock to those who want to talk over you. Half of your face might be covered, but your imagination, your strength and your contributions matter now more than ever. As I finished my interview with my professor, these thoughts stayed with me for a few weeks. I’ve been tempted to stay in the shadows, stick to the walls and just try to get through these weeks unscathed. But the truth is, we’re all affected. We’ve watched our communities hurt and wander in grief. We’ve read terrible news headlines and heard shocking reports. Our world is unstable and tomorrow is never promised. So in this chaos, when so much of our future is unknown, I’m encouraging you to think in simple terms. No matter what it is — relationships, school, jobs, money or sickness — keep it simple. Don’t dwell on what you can’t change. Instead, be proactive and faithful to responsibilities in your control. I’m keeping it simple because my peace will not be stolen. It will not be threatened. I don’t care how long we have to wear masks or witness injustices. I will continue to live boldly and confidently.
sports
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Fantasy owner’s guide to replacing injured MVPs
BY BEN SWANGER Yearbook Editor
Three weeks into the NFL season, several teams have already been pillaged by injuries. Fantasy owners have lost top draftees and the waiver wire is now an owner’s best friend. If your fantasy team is now without stars like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Marlon Mack, Paris Campbell, Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert or even Michael Thomas for a short period of time, you might need some sleepers on the waiver wire to give your team a boost. Let’s dive into some underrated flex options.
1. Devonte Freeman, RB, New York Giants: After franchise running back Saquon Barkley suffered a torn ACL against the Chicago Bears, Freeman signed with the New York Giants on Sept. 22 to a oneyear deal worth up to $3 million. Freeman spent his first six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and from 2015 to 2017, he was undoubtedly an RB1 option. However, after suffering a season ending injury in 2018 and a scheme change in 2019, Freeman fell off of the map. Now, Freeman’s new gig with the Giants could reignite his fantasy value. Freeman was not a factor in week three, but once he picks
up the playbook in week four, Freeman could be a weekly flex option. 2. Mike Davis, RB, Carolina Panthers: Another franchise running back, the No. 1 overall pick in countless leagues, Christian McCaffrey, has been sidelined for at least three weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Coming in to replace McCaffrey’s snaps and possible production is Mike Davis. Davis is a career journeyman who has spent two seasons in San Francisco and Seattle and spent half of 2019 with Chicago before getting traded to Carolina for the latter half of last season. After McCaffrey exited
the week two game with an injury, Davis has impressed with 14 rushes for 47 yards and 16 catches for 119 yards and one touchdown. 3. Keelan Cole, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville came into the season widely regarded as the worst team in the NFL. However, through three games the Jags have proven otherwise. With the continued growth of young quarterback Gardner Minshew, the Jaguars’ wide receivers are gaining fantasy value. One of those wide receivers is veteran Keelan Cole. In three games, Cole has accumulated 15 catches for 148 yards, and two TDs. If Minshew mania continues
to surge, Cole could be another weekly flex option. 4. N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots: Cam Newton is looking sharper than expected in Bill Belichick’s new offense, which has opened up the Patriots’ passing game. As long as Newton continues to threaten with his legs, the quick hitters will be available for the Pats’ offense. As a rookie, N’Keal Harry struggled to find his footing in a Tom Brady-led offense in 2019. However, catching passes from Newton might be just what Harry needs. Harry has 13 receptions for 111 yards this season, and his value will keep increasing.
Full-body workout class not for faint of heart BY ELIZABETH STEELY Sports Editor
Because of the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of people who are regularly exercising. Whether they are working out at home, in the gym or outside, people have developed a growing interest in staying healthy. Ouachita students are no exception. Since the fitness center has been converted to a COVID testing site, RecLife has been creative in continuing to provide ways for students to be active. The full-body workout class is a new addition to Ouachita’s fitness classes. It takes place on the lower courts in SPEC from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Instructor Ramona (Mona) Wilkins has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fitness, which means that her classes are challenging. Students should expect to put in a lot of work and be tired after participating in one of Wilkins’ class-
es. What you eat before the class is also extremely important in determining what kind of experience you will have. “You are what you eat,” Wilkins said, “and the energy you use for fuel will make or break your workout.” Full-body workout normally has under ten attendees, which makes it easier for Wilkins to pay attention to the participants’ form during the workouts. She is also able to speak with each attendee about their diet and what their fitness goals are. For the workout, Wilkins has attendees complete rotations of cardio, arms, legs and abs. She has them repeat this cycle before making them run up and down the court about eight times. Then, she leads them through a series of arm workouts, which are done while squatting. Next, the class completes ab workouts and more running, which form the last cycle of the workout. Time goes by quickly during the
class, but the session will be somewhat grueling for someone who is not in great shape. “I like workouts that are hard, that I can’t do,” Wilkins said. “These are the ones that push us to be better, that burn fat and build muscle, that challenge our bodies to the limit.” Wilkins is currently in pursuit of her certification to become a life coach. She gives the class pep talks and valuable information about eating right and living a healthy lifestyle. “The world is very unpredictable right now with the coronavirus, flu and plenty of other stuff,” Wilkins said. “That is why it’s so important to eat right, exercise and stay healthy.” Attending Wilkins’ class feels like receiving a personal training session for free. Students will most likely be sore, tired and hungry, but they are still encouraged to take advantage of the chance to challenge themselves with this workout.
Students participate in one of RecLife’s weekly outdoor yoga classes. Zumba and yoga are the other fitness classes that RecLife offers. (photo by Fatih Webb)