Volume 132, Issue 3: October 19, 2023

the

VOLUME 132, ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 19, 2023

SIGNAL 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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Emilee Webb

SIGNAL

PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kaelin Clay

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kate Ellis

NEWS EDITOR

Jane Ellen Dial

Isaac Bourne SPORTS EDITOR

Camryn Manning 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

Chau Tran

STAFF DESIGNER

Sarah Dean

PHOTO EDITOR

Meghann Bledsoe PHOTO EDITOR

Dr. Deborah Root Adviser

Dr. 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

Wink celebrates 50 years of service at Ouachita

BY EMILEE WEBB Print Editor-in-Chief

As a young boy, Dr. Johnny Wink fell in love with two things: reading and playing baseball. Throughout high school, he developed a passion for both hobbies but quickly realized that his future would not be in professional athletics. He decided then and there to make a living doing the thing that he loved most: studying language and literature and teaching what he has learned to students. Now, in 2023, Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English, celebrates 50 years of dedicated study, passionate teaching and impacting students.

After earning his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1973, Wink made his way to Ouachita almost by chance. The English department was in the market for a new professor, and five people who were finishing up their coursework, including Wink, were contacted about the potential opening.

“I talked to [my wife] Susan, and we decided that this was something that I should try for,” Wink said.

“Ouachita was pretty back then, although it was certainly not as pretty as it is now, and there weren’t many students on campus when I came down to interview. But, one thing that sold me on Ouachita was the man who interviewed me, Herman Sanford. Although Susan and I did not know what life would be like for us here, I an Episcopalian and she a Methodist in the land of the Baptists, we decided that I should give it a shot. Ultimately, I was offered the job, and I’ve stayed ever since, all these years.”

As students journey into the Language and Literature department, affectionately known as the “Bugtruck,” they will notice memorabilia spanning five decades covering every inch of the walls in Wink’s office. Memories from a life of learning are preserved through

photographs, posters, drawings and writings, each with a unique connection back to Wink. Dr. Jay Curlin, Kathryn Maddox Professor of English and Ouachita alumnus, is featured in many photographs on the walls from his time as one of Wink’s students. Wink shares that one of his favorite memories that has turned into a noteworthy parable involves Dr. Curlin during his time at Ouachita.

“When Jay was a senior, the grammar class was not required,” Wink said. “His senior year, he signed up for the grammar course, which was being taught by my

That fact remains true for all that have had the privilege to study under the guidance of Dr. Johnny Wink, who is known by students as a “disgustingly nice guy.” The 2023 spring semester marked Wink’s 50th academic year as a professor at Ouachita.

“I’m mainly just surprised that I’ve stayed here that long and have been lucky enough to have good health. It really just seems like I want to pinch myself about it,” Wink said.

His former students, current pupils and peers recognize this achievement for the impressive

actually set up on their first date, came down for the celebration and spent some time with me afterward.

Two students that I taught about 25 years ago were also in attendance.

I invited all four of these guests back to my house after the ceremony, and we sat at the kitchen table and talked for hours. I was sitting there with people from different generations, and the chemistry was so gorgeous. All I could think was about how nice it was because I just love to bring people together.

It was a lovely evening all around, and I could not have topped it off any better.”

Dr. Johnny Wink engages with friends at a celebration honoring his 50 years as a professor at Ouachita. The Department of Language and Literature hosted the reception, marking the milestone with conversation and poetry. (photo by Sarah Dean)

wife, Dr. Susan Wink. For about a month, he was really at sea, thinking that he would not be able to understand the material. As students now know, though, it all kicked in, and he became an excellent grammarian. His knowledge of grammar was so great that his superiors at graduate school asked him to tutor his classmates who did not have the virtue of a Susan Wink. The moral of the story is that wonderful and transformative things can happen when you put a good teacher and a good student together.”

milestone that it is. The Department of Language and Literature honored Wink with a campus-wide reception on Sept. 19. Attendees included Ouachitonians from the past and present and colleagues and friends from over the course of Wink’s life.

“Everything was lovely at the ceremony,” Wink said. “Greg Brownderville wrote a beautiful poem. Sarah Smith and Jennifer Pittman presented me with a wonderful shirt. A couple from my distant past, Doug and Brynda, who I

While joyful thoughts are at the forefront when reminiscing on the last half-century, there have also been challenges for the professor.

In 2019, Dr. Susan Wink, his wife, passed away. The couple served at Ouachita for more than 30 years before her death.

“The last few years have been compromised because of the loss of my wife,” Wink said. “It was as if my skies turned gray. But, the way I’ve felt about it comes from something I once heard a meteorologist say. He said, ‘well, it’s going

to be a gray day but with sunny intervals,’ and that to me has been a description of my life since Susan passed away. There are so many things that I enjoy that are these spots of sunlight for me; I enjoy reading a book and being in a Latin class. I’ve got so many sunny intervals that I often think that the day really isn’t that gray after all.”

The bright spots come in the form of passionate students more often than not for the professor.

Wink reflects on the most rewarding experiences of his career.

“The biggest rewards I get are from being able to be with colleagues and students in camaraderie,” Wink said. “I’m thinking about my classes that I had today and about how much I just love being there. But, my favorite thing to do of all is to grade student papers when a student means business. It really is a joy to get in a conversation in the margins of that paper.

Nothing is better than grading the paper of somebody who really wants to be doing the work.”

While Wink certainly has a soft spot for certain courses, including Latin and Traditional and Transformational Grammar, his favorite class could not be narrowed down to a specific subject. To him, the material he’s teaching is only a small part of what makes a class truly remarkable.

“I can’t tell you a specific course that is my favorite,” Wink said.

“The students who were in classes have counted for more than the subject matter itself.”

Dr. Johnny Wink truly exemplifies devotion to lifelong learning and study. After 50 years, Wink is still making an impact every day. The way that he has touched the lives of students has been and will continue to be long-lasting and far-reaching, and the legacy that he has created will stick with Ouachita for much longer than half a century.

NEWS

PAGE 4 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Career and Calling Week aids in future planning

BY CAMRYN MANNING Opinions Editor

During the week of Oct. 9 through Oct. 13, Career and Calling Week offered a variety of events allowing students to plug into resources to help prepare for life beyond college. Included were sessions on networking, practical skills and general calling events.

Adam Wheat, director of Career and Calling, spearheaded the events of the week.

“We tried to have a good variety of things for all different types of people,” Wheat said. “Ultimately, our main goal is to get people thinking about things earlier than graduation. We want them to come and start conversation and think about what they are working on, whether it be networking skills, their resume or graduate school.

Things here on campus can be

helpful and impact them in their future job searches. We are all about awareness and getting it in students’ minds.”

The most popular event of the week was Candy Crafters. The event allowed students to create edible sand art while learning about the Career and Calling office’s resources.

“Groups of friends came together to make these creations and candy straws,” Wheat said. “We offered magnets with reminders of things the students should want to think about regarding their career and calling while here at Ouachita that will help them think about things throughout college instead of cramming it all into the spring semester of senior year.”

Another popular event was Mix Masters, hosted on Monday.

“We used juice, carbonated water and garnishes to make drinks,” Wheat said. “It correlates to ingre-

dients in life such as talent, academics, personality and networking skills to mix together. Just like the perfect combination can make a delicious drink, mixing your strengths together can impact your future career.”

The Career and Calling office offers many advantages and resources to utilize.

“When it comes to resumes and life after college, it can be a lot like procrastinating a paper or project,” Wheat said. “If you procrastinate on them, whatever comes to mind first tends to be what gets put on the page, and that may or may not be the best idea. I think it’s the same idea for students. If you just go with whatever you can find because you’re scared about graduating, then maybe there are better things and options you could have pursued that would’ve been a better fit. So, I always think it’s better to take the time to learn some

Sophomores Grace Sexton, Blythe Hutchison and Chloe Miller enjoy Candy Crafters. This was held in Walker Conference Center. (photo by Sarah Dean)

things about yourself, what options are out there and how those two things might fit together.”

There are still plenty of opportunities to get plugged in with Career and Calling in upcoming events.

“These things that we discuss aren’t things to just be thinking about senior year, but all the years

you are here at Ouachita,” Wheat said. “So much of this is just keeping the future in mind while here, and we want to be a part of that. It can be scary to think of your future sometimes, and we want to make it more fun and exciting. Just check your emails and watch our website for upcoming events.”

Counseling Center offers free services to students

BY EMMA DONLEY Staff Writer

The Ouachita Counseling Center is located on the first floor of Evans Student Center and opens its doors to hundreds of students each year.

The Counseling Center is expected to see between 500-600 students this year.

Dan Jarboe is the coordinator for the Counseling Center and has been in the role for 15 years. There are four full-time counselors, Sue Poole, Kaneil Purifory and Sandra Schultz as well as Jarboe. In addition to these counselors, there are one to two graduate interns who provide services as well.

The Counseling Center provides three main services to students: one-on-one sessions with a licensed counselor or graduate

student, with both in-person and telehealth appointments available, group sessions or support groups and a catalog of online screenings and other resources. All of these services are completely free to students. Insurance is never billed and students are never asked to pay for their time spent with counselors.

Confidentiality is a top priority for the Counseling Center. All students who receive counseling at Ouachita will always remain completely anonymous.

The faculty and staff at Ouachita are committed to helping students in any way they can and make frequent visits to the Counseling Center to address concerns or get wisdom from the counseling staff.

They can raise concerns about a student and recommend that they utilize the services that Ouachi-

ta provides, but it is in the hands of the students when it comes to whether or not that information is disclosed to the person who recommended them.

“The level of involvement from university leadership in making sure that whatever students need in relation to counseling services is provided has really exploded in the last 5-6 years,” Jarboe said.

“Dr. Sells makes personal visits to come see me. He wants to know what’s going on with our students and their mental health. He asks, ‘How are they doing? What do they need?’ That is exceptional for any university.”

This support has been incredibly encouraging to all of the counselors that work at Ouachita.

“We care very deeply about the students that we work with,” Jar-

boe said. “We take their needs very personally. By having our leadership standing right at our side and supporting us, we can have confidence in the fact that the needs of our students are going to be met, no matter what those needs are.

That is really extraordinary.”

Sue Poole, one of the counselors in the center, reflects on the barriers a student might face that might keep them from utilizing the resources that the center provides.

“We understand that often a student will come in with a negative counseling experience in their past.

We want to know that and make it a better experience for the person,” she said.

Scheduling an appointment with the counseling center has never been easier. Students can visit the Counseling Center’s website

to schedule an appointment. Previously, they would have been required to speak to someone to schedule an appointment. This remote access is important for the center, as it eliminates a step in the process that could be a barrier for students with anxiety.

“I would encourage students to just give it a try,” Poole said.

“Come in for just one session.”

Ouachita has put in tremendous work and effort to remove as many barriers to receiving mental health services as possible. Most students will never again have the same access to free mental services as they do here at Ouachita, and they should take advantage of that privilege as much as possible. To schedule an appointment, students can visit obu.edu/counseling or call 870-245-5220.

NEWS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 5

OBU hosts state’s Poet Laureate for reading

BY KATE ELLIS News Editor

Ouachita was honored to host the Arkansas Poet Laureate, Ms. Suzanne Underwood Rhodes, for a poetry reading on Oct. 10 in Young Auditorium. Ms. Rhodes recited several of her poems from different collections, vulnerably baring her soul through stories about her childhood, her relationship with her mother and times of grief from the passing of her husband. Ms. Rhodes’ trip to campus was made possible by a donor, and she was hosted by several of the English faculty and staff members, including professor Jennifer Pittman, chair of the Department of Language and Literature.

“Suzanne was recommended to the Humanities Dean, Dr. Jeff Root, by Mr. John Hampton, who has read her poetry and used her editing services,” Pittman said. “The poet laureate is vitally important for the state’s culture. Through the art of poetry, Ms. Rhodes, as other Arkansas Poet Laureates have done, reminds us of our humanity.

Through poetry, she expands our knowledge and asks us to consider a multitude of topics from a variety of perspectives, helping us engage reasonably with the world.”

While in town, Ms. Rhodes went to lunch with students from the Language and Literature depart-

orders major, shares what the class was like with a professional poet in the room.

“Ms. Rhodes came to our Intro to Creative Writing course and led a mini-workshop,” Powers said.

“She brought various small items to the class and had each of us se-

workshop was the perfect segue into the future writing workshops that we will have throughout the rest of the semester.”

Powers, who has a love for both reading and writing, was able to talk with Ms. Rhodes at the poetry reading in addition to her time

Suzanne Underwood Rhodes, the Arkansas Poet Laureate, reads from her book of poetry to an audience of captivated students and faculty. Rhodes visited with students in classrooms and at the reading on Oct. 10. (photo by Meghann Bledsoe)

ment and graced campus with her presence by paying a visit to Tuesday morning chapel and Dr. Johnny Wink’s Intro to Creative Writing class. Abigail Powers, senior communications sciences and dis-

lect one. We wrote about who the object reminded us of, from the perspective of the object, or whatever else our object insired. We were then able to read our pieces to the class and receive feedback. Her

working on creative writing with Ms. Rhodes in class. Powers was familiar with the poet and her creative work long before her arrival on campus and was thrilled to get to work with her.

“I was gifted Sketches of Home, a collection of her earlier poetry focusing on her life with her thenyoung children, from a friend a few years ago,” Powers said. “This collection has truly stuck with me over the years, as Ms. Rhodes has an ability to pen such poignant words about life’s most seemingly mundane activities. It was wonderful to meet her and hear about her children, as well as how her poetic style has changed over the years.

Ms. Rhodes writes with a delicacy and attention to detail that she uses as a way of worshiping the Creator.

It is evident that she uses her work as a way of honoring the Lord, and in reading her poetry, one can get a sense of the testament of the Lord’s provision and comfort in her life.”

In just a few short days, Rhodes inspired Ouachita English students, as well as students from other majors, like Powers, to foster their love of reading and writing, encouraged them to explore the realm of poetry and reminded them of the importance of the English language and creative writing’s necessity in the world.

History Club returns to campus, elects officers

BY KATIE HENRY Guest Writer

The Ouachita History Club was restarted in the Spring of 2023 by faculty sponsors Dr. Bethany Hicks and Dr. Chris Mortenson and has started the semester strong with recruitment and meetings. Upon the club’s refounding, history students elected officers from a pool of members of Ouachita’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society, who promptly got to work reviving the club.

The History Club had been a part of campus before the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted club ac-

tivities. Its return after three years was much anticipated by both the members and faculty sponsors.

The club was revived to provide students with a space to learn about history in a setting outside of class and to facilitate comfortable discussion and meaningful activities.

Students are encouraged to engage with each other and to share their passion for history and community.

The club welcomes people from all departments to become members and recognizes that history lovers can be found all over campus, not just in the history department.

The History Club sponsors several different events throughout

the year that all students are welcome to join. The twice-a-month meetings are a casual environment where the members gather to eat snacks, talk about history, and discuss future events. These meetings are hosted every other Monday at 8 p.m. in Lile 308. The club also celebrates a wide array of holidays and hosts movie nights throughout the semester.

There are four officer positions in the club: President (Katie Henry), Vice President (Sierra Douglas), Secretary-Treasurer (Makena Munger) and Social Media Chair (Alexis Hawkins). Douglas is currently studying abroad in Lithua-

nia, so Munger has taken over as interim Vice President, and Hannah Smith has been appointed as interim Secretary-Treasurer.

Chloe Jamora, current member, shares how the History Club has positively contributed to her time at Ouachita.

“I joined the History Club because it was a good way to make friends with people who enjoy history as much as I do. The History Club has also given me the opportunity to become more involved on campus,” Jamora said.

Membership has grown significantly since the Purple Plaza Party, where the club hosted a recruitment

table, and the club now boasts students from several different departments around campus.

Mortenson was at first unsure if the History Club would be able to take hold on campus once again, but he has since said that the club really has everything under control. The members and sponsors have worked hard to make the History Club a legitimate part of campus life and are excited to see the club thrive and grow at Ouachita in the coming years.

For more information, students can follow the History Club’s Instagram account @obuhistoryclub_ or email hen72369@obu.edu.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Short film “Dust Bowl” has ties to Ouachita

BY JACIE SELLARS Staff Writier

A filmmaking team that included Ouachita students worked together to create a successful short film titled “Dust Bowl.” The film was written by former Ouachita student Sam Conine, and it centers around Ava and Gus, two high school acquaintances whose perceptions of each other change as they reconnect inside an old bowling alley. Since its release in Sept., “Dust Bowl” has been selected for screening by five film festivals and finished as a finalist in the Student International Film Festival.

When making a film, it’s important to assemble the right team.

With success in mind, Ouachita junior Davis Jordan, one of the film’s directors, stepped into a new role to help out a friend.

“I first got involved because Sam Conine, one of my best friends, wrote and directed the short film,” Jordan said. “We had worked on two previous feature films together two years ago. Because of the limited characters in the film, I ended up filming the short film with no prior experience. I had only ever acted before.”

The filming and acting team also included Ouachita students Emma Smith, Chase Ramsey, Sammy Arizaga, Logan Davis and Abbey Moore. Together, the students acted, filmed and helped on set in order to bring the story of “Dust Bowl” to life.

Smith, a Ouachita senior, was excited to tell the film’s story by playing the leading role of Ava. “To outsiders, Ava Moore is your typical sorority gal,” Smith said.

“She’s a partier and a lover of life and living it in the moment. However, she challenges Gus’s preconceived notions in many ways. She has a solid head on her shoulders, majoring in engineering and enjoying a good book.”

Smith has been involved in theater from a young age, and she enjoys acting in short films. The role of Ava allowed Smith to portray a complex character.

“Ava understands that image isn’t reality, at least when it comes to herself, though that’s something she also struggles with,” Smith said. “She loves to soak in the present and make the best of her time in school, but she’s also searching for something better, something with more meaning.”

In order to fully capture this powerful story of reconnection, the “Dust Bowl” crew needed a good setting and visuals. The crew worked in a retro bowling alley to shoot the film, and even during late hours of the night, the project still came together.

“Probably one of the biggest challenges of shooting is that we had to work after the bowling alley closed,” Jordan said. “We shot the film over two days from the hours of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.”

Capturing the right shots was hard work, but Jordan loved getting to see the finished product.

“One of my favorite memories about shooting the film was us trying to get a shot of one of the characters bowling a strike,” Jordan said. “I was laying down in the middle of the bowling lane recording shot after shot of Chase Ramsey throwing the ball over top of me trying to hit the pins. It took us over 30 minutes to capture a strike, but it was well worth it.”

Smith really appreciated the collaborative atmosphere of the filmmaking process.

“The people are always the best part,” Smith said. “What’s better than getting together with a group

The filmmaking crew shoots a scene for the short film, “Dust Bowl.” The short film gained recognition upon its release in Sept. (photo provided by Davis Jordan)

of friends and creating something cool together? I’ve always loved make-believe, and it’s fun when I get to do that with other people.”

“Dust Bowl” has enjoyed a successful release so far, and the entire cast and crew is thrilled to see the film’s vision come to life and receive recognition. The film empha-

sizes the power of conversations to bring people together.

“The film shows that what you see in people isn’t always the full picture,” Smith said. “Taking chances and seeing others outside of your socially conditioned circles is one of the best ways to learn life’s lessons.”

International Worship Night creates connection

BY ELLA ONUOHA Staff Writer

International Worship Night took place on Oct. 13. It was a sight to behold and an experience one might find hard to forget. With the success of the event, officers and members of the International Club look back at the process of creating, planning and hosting International Worship Night.

Sophomore Erika Ortiz grew up in Paraguay, South America.

As secretary of the International

Club, she gives insight into what this event meant for her and for all of the members of the club as well.

“The International Worship Night is a night where a lot of people can come and worship the Lord,” Ortiz said. “Because that is what we’re called to do, its a great time to worship Him in different languages and appreciate the different languages God has created.”

Ortiz explains that the officers of the International Club had a discussion during one of their weekly meetings that led to the idea and the

eventual creation and execution of International Worship Night.

“The idea came in the first International Club officers meeting of the semester when we were planning out events for the semester,” Ortiz said. “The officers pointed out that one of the things we miss is being able to worship God in the languages we worship in at home.”

The team decided this would be a great program to bring people from all over together that were willing to worship and experience the different names we call God.

Tiffani Chew, a junior in the nursing program, is the chaplain of the International Club. Chew explains that a lot of work went into the entire process of planning the event, as it was not accomplished overnight.

“A lot of heart went into planning this event. We had extra meetings for brainstorming, but it wasn’t just talking it out and sacrificing time, it was also lots of prayers.”

Isabella Bejarano is a senior from Bogotá, Colombia and is the president of the International Club. Bejarano is thankful that God moved and

could be felt. Bejarano described the program as heavenly.

“Berry chapel was full, and people [were] struggling to find seats because it was very packed.

Overall, it was absolutely successful,” she said.

Bejarano was thankful for the many groups of people that had a hand in the program.

Everyone present at the event shared that they felt God’s presence and were glad they got to experience worship in different languages and exalt God.

OPINIONS

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Why you should be a registered voter

BY AUSTYNN CROCKER Staff Writer

As Americans, we have been given the extraordinary opportunity to live in a democracy where we can individually influence the way our country handles domestic and foreign affairs. This means that we each can have a hand in the way our government functions and the decisions our leaders make. However, that is only made possible if people are registered to vote and are doing their research on electoral candidates.

There are 195 countries in the world, and only 24 are fully democratic. Looking at it in this light, it is easy to see how unique an opportunity all citizens of the U.S. have to influence the government.

The controversy around the most recent presidential candidates has played a major role in deterring voters. According to data surveyed in 2019, 39% of Arkansans voted.

That is a very discouraging statistic. The issue with allowing controversial candidates to keep you

from voting is that it will lead to unqualified leaders representing constituents by holding the most important positions in our country.

It is important for everyone to vote, but it is especially important for students to make their voices heard through elections. Younger voters are the least represented at the polls, but it is younger people who are going to experience the most repercussions of inexperienced leaders.

As a political science student here at Ouachita, I have learned much about elections and the lack of voter participation in recent years. Some of the most important reasons I have discovered why students should vote are to help improve your community, represent those who do not have the same voting capabilities as you and fight against racial and educational discrimination. With your vote, you can protect your own voting rights.

Your vote can determine where your taxes are going, how the education system is run in the state and so much more.

Registering to vote in Arkansas is easy and only requires a few steps. Those wishing to register to vote must fill out a paper Voter Registration Application to be processed by the county clerk. This application can be picked up from the local county clerk, any public library and the local revenue or DMV office. Forms can also be requested by mail or printed through the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website, sos.arkansas.gov. Once the county clerk has processed the required form, applicants will receive a personalized voter registration card and will be ready to use their voice in the next election.

Those unsure about their voter registration status can check online at www.voterview.org.

There are many more reasons why voting in every election, federal, state or local, is so important to not only the success of our country, but also the success of your own individual future. In order to have your voice heard, register to vote and head to the polls during the next election.

The Arkansas flag is flown at the State Capitol in Little Rock. (photo by Levi Dade)

Mental health: awareness to a silent battle

BY MADISON BASCO Copy Editor

Mental illness is often a silent battle. Walking through campus, students are quietly studying at the picnic tables, others are throwing frisbees back and forth and some are rushing to class, ready to conquer the day. You see the same familiar faces every day. You ask some about their week and maybe complain about the midterm you have coming up. You make jokes before class, take notes and when class ends and get back to your

own day. Little did you know that the person you passed in the hallway or the person you sat next to in class is struggling greatly.

The term “mental illness” refers to disorders that affect your thinking, mood and behavior. The American Psychological Association concluded that more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem according to the Health Minds Study, which collected data from 373 campuses nationwide in 2020.

It’s important to understand the symptoms to help identify that you or someone you know could be

struggling. Those include feeling tired or low an excessive amount, feeling unmotivated for no particular reason, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed and more.

Those who struggle with mental illness often struggle alone due to the social stigma around seeking help and sometimes feel hesitant to seek treatment or help due to the perceived judgment of others.

Many often feel that it is their fault, and they don’t want to be seen as weak for getting help.

Unfortunately, if the problem goes untreated, those affected by their illness suffer in silence. Ac-

cording to the Mayo Clinic Health System, 75% of those affected by depression are reluctant to seek help from others.

You might never know when someone is struggling. It could be the person you sat next to in class this morning or even your roommate. Everyone copes differently, and it’s important to show kindness to everyone you encounter.

Being able to seek help is the best thing you can do if you find yourself struggling, especially here in college. As midterm season approaches, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged

by looming tests, an overload of coursework or mounting pressure to figure out life after college. These things can contribute to increased anxiety during college. However, no one is truly alone. Having open conversations is necessary and can be a catalyst for accurate and helpful education to both those who are and are not affected.

If you notice that your peers are struggling, you can always speak up and start a conversation, and that conversation can truly make a difference. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

SPORTS

PAGE 8 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

OBU volleyball buckles down into final stretch

BY JORDAN DALLIMORE Staff Writer

The OBU Women’s Volleyball Team has been hard at work with strong expectations to make the conference tournament.

With less than half of conference games left to play, head coach Allison Frizzell-Kizer (Frizz) strongly believes her team will continue to grow and be successful.

“Through our hard non-conference tournament weekends and now being into the heart of conference play, our mental toughness and grit has increased,” Frizz said.

Frizz believes that the team’s training and focus will be what sets them apart in the long run.

“We harp on being conditioned and working on refining our skills,” Frizz emphasized. “These basic skills that may seem tedious and boring to go over allow for teams and individuals to refine their technique, build a strong foundation and, most importantly, win.”

Great American Conference (GAC) setter of the week Courtney Hanson has been a key player offensively as well as defensively. Hanson currently leads both the GAC and the team in assists and hopes to continue this feat.

“If we can control the things we can control, like serving and communication, the rest becomes easier,” Frizz said. “If you are able to force the opponent out of system, your chances of winning the point and even the set are so much higher.”

Senior Kellen Church reflects on her journey with the volleyball team.

“It is a bittersweet last season for me. I am very thankful for my teammates and getting to do this one more time with them,” Church said.

The Tigers are set to play Oklahoma Baptist this upcoming week and will complete their regular conference season against Arkansas Tech.

As the team continues to improve one game at a time, there is still hope to make the GAC Conference Tournament in mid-November.

Sophomore Riley Braziel sets up to defend a shot against the Seawolves of the University of Alaska at Anchorage. Braziel topped the volleyball team’s leaderboard in points per set with 2.79 points for every set played. (Photo by Emma Mayes)

SCOREBOARD VS

VS

10

41 Sat Oct 14 Searcy, AR

FOOTBALL VS

146.5

87.5

Sat Oct 14 Arkadelphia, AR

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

VS

1

3

Sat Oct 14 Arkadelphia, AR

MEN’S SOCCER Soccer @

Thurs Oct 19

Swim VS

Fri Oct 20

XC @

Sat Oct 21

Soccer @

Sat Oct 21

Football VS

Sat Oct 21

MEN’S ATHLETICS THIS WEEK

VS

1

3 Sat Oct 14 Durant, OK

VOLLEYBALL VS

128

103

Sat Oct 14 Arkadelphia, AR

WOMEN’S SWIMMING&DIVING

0

2 Sat Oct 14 Arkadelphia, AR

WOMEN’S SOCCER VB VS

Thurs Oct 19

Swim VS

Fri Oct 20

VB VS

Fri Oct 20

XC @

Sat Oct 21

Soccer @

Sat Oct 21

WOMEN’S ATHLETICS THIS WEEK