SIGNAL
Campus prepares for 97th Battle of the Ravine
BY ISAAC BOURNE Sports Editor
Ouachita Baptist University and Henderson State University have existed in tandem with each other for many decades, and added to the overall community of the city of Arkadelphia. For many of these decades, the two schools have competed in the iconic rivalry matchup known as Battle of the Ravine.
We know. If you’re reading this article, you know what the Battle of the Ravine is. You’ve heard the weeks of trash talk between the schools, you’ve endured the hard-fought games by coach Todd Knight and his team and you’ve seen the OBU squad put themselves in a position to make some noise once again in the division II playoffs.
Now, only one team stands in their way, and no team wants to crush the hopes of the Tigers more.
Led by star junior quarterback Andrew Edwards, who has racked up a grand total of three GAC offensive player of the week awards this season, the Reddies come into this matchup with their bitter rival on somewhat of a down year.
Typically top three in the conference, the team, led by head coach Greg Holsworth, heads into this matchup crutched by two brutal road losses–a 66-0 loss in Searcy to the Harding Bisons and a 42-19 loss at the hands of Judd Barton and the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.
Alas, it is folly to believe that this game will be anything but a hard-fought battle for Ouachita, who enters this game having beaten both GAC giants.
The Tigers enter this matchup in somewhat of an awkward situation in their season. The team sits at 9-1, with their lone loss coming in a puzzling drop to the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm just un-
der two weeks ago.
Hoping to channel the success of the former wins rather than the latter offensive collapse, an injuredbut-still strong OBU squad comes into the matchup with Henderson coming off a 55-0 clobbering of the Oklahoma Baptist Bison.
The largest story for Ouachita this season has been the defense.
The unit led by senior linebackers Dawson and Jax Miller has allowed a mere 8.6 points per game this season to teams that have had their work cut out for them if they have any intention of scoring.
Seniors Mikey Gonzalez and Rovell Carter hold down the Tiger
front line with five sacks apiece on the season, daring any quarterback to spend too much time in the pocket. However, Battle of the Ravine is a unifying week for more than just the football team. There are many festivities for students to experience before the big game. On the Ouachita side, students get their fair share of waking hours this week guarding the tiger statue from any mischievous HSU fans who have any ideas of stealing the prized figurehead. Each night of the week the tiger is guarded by a different class, while social clubs host booths with snacks and activities, and the men
of Rho Sigma and Kappa Chi provide entertainment in the form of live music, games and Kappa’s Car Bash event. Arguably one of the most memorable parts of the week is Rho Sigma’s campsite, which sits at the base of the tiger all week as the club members honor their club’s tradition and guard the tiger.
“Battle of the Ravine and guarding the tiger is more than just a school rivalry,” Cody Pallen, president of Rho Sigma, shared. “It’s a way for our club to preserve a longstanding legacy, protect our school spirit and pass down a sense of unity and pride to future generations. This tradition ties us to Ouachita’s
history, showing how the spirit of the battle endures year after year.” Meanwhile, on the other side of Highway seven, the Reddie fandom sets up for their tailgate outside Carpenter-Haygood Stadium just a mere 3,696 feet from Cliff Harris Stadium on the campus of Ouachita.
The game, which started in the year 1895 when OBU, which was Ouachita Baptist College, took down then Arkansas Methodist College 8-0 in an old-school slugfest for the ages.
On the 129th anniversary of the Tigers’ historic win, Kendel Givens and his squad hope to lead the program to victory once again.
Campus Ministries continues Barn Bash tradition
BY CAMRYN STROUPE Opinions Editor
Barn Bash is nearly a 30 year tradition and a hallmark event of the Ouachita experience. This year,
Campus Ministries hosted a total of 250 students at the event on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Brent and Beverly Bridges’ farm.
Campus Ministries director Dustin Wagley reflected on Barn Bash’s rich history, which extends back several decades.
“It was still going when I was here in the 90s as a student,” Wagley said.
Originally, Barn Bash only featured a dinner and lawn games, but the addition of square dancing as an element has increased the event’s popularity.
“Back in the history of Barn Bash, when we weren’t allowed to have dances, students had games, cornhole and horseshoes, and it was a lot of fun,” Wagley said. “Now that the school does allow dances, we teach both line and square danc-
ing at Barn Bash.” Wagley discussed why Barn Bash has been so successful over the years, especially since square dancing was added.
“It’s an opportunity to get off campus and gather with students in an environment that is different than the typical day at Ouachita,” Wagley said.
Barn Bash lives up to its name by taking place in a farm setting each year. The Bridges’ farm has a barn, a small pond and a large lawn for picnicking and dancing.
“It’s actually at a barn,” Wagley said. “About 250 folks outside by a barn, all square dancing together at the same time is a party. I’d never square danced before this year, and it was great fun. I understand now why so many elementary P.E. programs teach square dancing; it’s physical, easy to pick up and fun.”
Senior Jonathan Scott has attended Barn Bash all four years of his time at Ouachita, and he appreciates the unique fun offered at the event. “My favorite thing about Barn Bash is the square dancing,”
Scott said. “It’s easy to learn and something different to do.”
The event included a barbecue dinner of brisket and chips provided by Sodexo. Students also enjoyed photo opportunities with a farm tractor and bale of hay.
The weather provided a conducive environment to dancing, with rain patting down the dust the night before, and cooler temperatures made it a pleasurable experience.
The night began with line dances led by Ouachita students before dinner and square dancing.
In the square dancing portion of the event, Ainslee Webb served as an instructor and dance caller. Webb has a background of teaching square dancing in elementary schools.
“Ainslee called last year as well,” Wagley said. “There are lots of different square dance calls, and we didn’t explore all of them, but Ainslee taught us the moves first with her knowing how to call. She made it easy for everybody to learn.”
Barn Bash, with a rich heritage,
CONNECT WITH THE
may be best known as an event that brings people together, especially freshmen.
“I think an event like Barn Bash brings lots of different students together around the commonality of dancing and the country farm kind of atmosphere,” Wagley said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’ve ever square danced before or not; we can come together and enjoy something fun and goofy for a few hours. I think that brings unity to students that choose to come in doing something out of the box. It creates an opportunity to connect with different students that they wouldn’t normally connect with around an activity that they normally wouldn’t participate in.”
Left: The men of Rho Sigma pose with their campsite. It is tradition for the club to spend the week at their tent, which houses beds, televisions and food, to guard the tiger. (photo from Kate Ellis)
Right: Elijah Livingston (top) celebrates during the 2023 Battle of the Ravine game. (photo by OBU athletic communications) The tiger (bottom) stands tall on campus. (photo by Sarah Dean)
Students square dance at Barn Bash. The square dancing portion of the night was led by Ainslee Webb, who served as the caller for the event. (photo by Joshua Rhine)
BY MADELYN TULLOS Staff Writer
No two fingerprints are the same. The impression left from one’s finger is unique. A social security number is never equal to another. The nine digit number is meant to be an identifier of persons. Having a distinct voice makes someone able to be picked out in a crowd. One’s last name groups them in a particular family. Birthplaces tie individuals to a home and provide them an address. The letters on one’s birth certificate indicate what they will be called and give them a name.
Identity comes in many forms. Individuals are labeled with the pieces of their identity. The pieces of everyone’s puzzle were intentionally created by God in His image.
On Wednesdays at Ouachita there is a scrambling of the alphabet into different forms. These letters stand for various social clubs but fail to define all that it means to be a part of one.
As the fall semester is reaching its end, preparations begin for what’s to come in the spring.
Rush will be the first event of Spring 2025, starting the first week back from Christmas break.
All students interested in rush begin attending parties
hosted by each social club. At these parties, they get to know the members of the clubs and vice versa.
As they get a feel for the clubs, the rushees can then decide which parties they would like to continue going to based on preference and the invitations they receive.
By the end of the week, the goal is for rushees to be able to figure out what club feels like a good fit.
If the feeling is mutual between the rushee and the club, they will receive a bid and can accept this bid to attend that club’s bid day.
Rush looks different between guys and girls in the format of the nights and the role of the Panhellenic.
Whenever girls rush, they are assigned a Panhellenic, which is their point of contact throughout the week. The Panhellenics lead each rush group and provide an unbiased source of advice.
Senior Jenna McGraw serves as Panhellenic president and works behind the scenes of rush.
“Our goal is to serve the girls going through the rush process and to be there for them to answer questions or offer encouragement,” McGraw explained.
Panhellenic is in place to ensure that the week runs smoothly and to be there for the girls during what could be an emotional week.
Every member of each so -
cial club has been through the rush process. They can speak to the nerves associated with the week and provide encouragement for those who do not know what to expect.
When individuals enter the rush process with the wrong perspective, it can become a dangerous time. Some may have preconceived ideas about what it would mean to be a part of a social club.
Abby Moseley is the president of the Women of Tri Chi, and as a senior, this will be her third year on the other side of rush.
“If you think your social club is the most important thing about you, then you have the wrong idea completely,” Moseley said.
This goes back to the question of what defines one’s identity. Going through the rush process does not always guarantee the bid you desire by the end of the week.
“God can use whatever experience you have through rush to grow you,” Moseley explained.
When taken out of context the rush process can seem like a situation which would emphasize exclusion.
However, Panehllenic has emphasized that this was never meant to be the goal.
[Rush is meant to] “build community and to find a place where individuals can build relationships with others and find encouragement and find what we would call
a home,” McGraw stated.
Daniel Gillson, the president of the men of Eta Alpha Omega, explained the importance of remembering that one’s identity is found in Christ.
“Ultimately we’re defined by Jesus and our relationship with the Lord,” Gillson said as he referenced Galatians 3:26.
If anyone has any interest in rush there will be an event on Nov. 18 where you can receive more information about rush and what to
expect going into the week. There are also events that many social clubs host in the fall to help rushees get to know them better.
Letter day can seem daunting as individuals from the clubs walk around campus with their letters across their chest.“Your worth is not found in what shirt you wear,” Gillson said.
As image bearers of Christ one should find sole encouragement in the fact that our identity is not found in a social club but in Christ alone.
Donald Trump wins 2024 United States presidential election
Donald Trump is set to be the 47th president of the United States following his victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris with a total of 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226. Trump won all 7 battleground states, with the last, Arizona, called several days after the election. The president-elect also won the popular vote, with 50.3% as of Nov. 12. The Republican party is on the verge of a ‘trifecta,’ with control of the House and Senate to join with Trump’s presidential victory.
Jackson Carter Online Adviser
Archbishop of Canterbury resigns amid scandal Sudan releases first malaria vaccine in efforts to combat child mortality
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, has resigned following the release that he failed to report serial abuse at Christian camps in the United Kingdom and Africa. The archbishop was made aware of the abuse in 2013.
In a statement announcing his resignation, the archbishop said that, “[he] believes that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which [he] dearly [loves] and which [he has] been honored to serve.”
The Federal Ministry of Health has partnered with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to provide malaria vaccines for the people of Sudan. Currently, malaria is the leading cause in child mortality in the country. Sudan has had difficulty rolling out healthcare due to the current civil war. The country will be the first in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region to benefit.
Source(s): AP News
Source(s): AP News Source(s): UN News
Beloved Arkadelphia bakery announces closing, student takes last trip to try customer favorites
BY CAMRYN STROUPE Opinions Editor
In Arkadelphia, few businesses are as iconic to a Ouachita student as Samantha’s Bakery and Cafe. The turquoise building across from the post office invites the community to come in, take a seat and enjoy yummy treats. I personally have loved Samantha’s since my freshman year at Ouachita, and as a senior still remain a faithful customer.
However, on Nov. 11, the Arkadelphia and Ouachita community opened Instagram to find shocking and saddening news: Samantha’s Bakery will be closing on Nov. 22. Knowing I had little time left to grab a treat from this local favorite, I made my way to Samantha’s.
On this bittersweet visit particularly, I wanted to try some of Samantha’s seasonal specials and customer favorites to share.
Walking up to the counter, I asked Anna Helms, head barista, what the customer favorites for food usually are. After being armed with this information, I ordered a chicken salad sandwich with a “sprankle” cookie, while my husband ordered the turkey chipotle sandwich (another customer favorite on the bakery’s menu).
We also ordered a seasonal pumpkin pie macaron, and to drink I indulged in the seasonal pumpkin pie cold brew. Though we ordered lots of pumpkin, I thought it was fitting for the change in seasons as leaves swirled past outside. Our order lined up quite a bit with Helms’ favorites as well: when I asked what she would recommend, she also noted the chicken salad sandwich and turkey chipotle sandwich as two of her favorites along with the Cinnamon Roll, a drink at the cafe.
Sitting at a corner table, Helms told us a bit of how she came to work as head barista there. “I went to Henderson and did a work study job there for two years,” Helms said. “I was trying to find another job and remembered there was this one little place I came to my freshman year and figured I’d try there. I love coffee and love to bake so I was like, you know what, either one would be great. I applied here and interviewed with Conor and now I’ve been
here two years and am head barista.”
Macarons, as it turns out, have a delicate process of being made. Since Samantha’s is famous for its macarons, I asked Helms what the process looks like to make them. “It’s definitely a complicated process,” Helms said. “Once you start doing it, it’s a little easier though. You have to whip up the egg whites, flour and all that, and get it to the right consistency. You get stiff peaks and have to check it, add the food coloring if you want it colored, and make the butter cream which is also pretty hard. You can also do a cream cheese frosting and add the extracts in it with whatever flavor you want. The piping is really fun, also tricky to get it right but I love doing the piping. It’s fun. They’re also gluten-free, so they’re super popular.”
Samantha’s was started in 2016 by Samantha and Conor
Brown, who still own the business today. “Samantha, we call her Sammy, was originally an elementary school teacher and did it for a few years but wasn’t feeling it anymore,” Helms said. “She had always loved to bake. So, she wanted to start her own little place. They stayed in Arkadelphia because she had graduated from Henderson herself and you know, some people say that once you come to Arkadelphia it’s hard to leave. It’s a nice little homey place. That’s why it was here and they started in 2016 but it was just cupcakes and cookies, stuff like that, and it evolved into sandwiches and coffee and the things we have today.”
The building Samantha’s Bakery and Cafe is located in has a rich history. “First it was a hair salon, then a jewelry store,” Helms said. “People still sometimes come in thinking it’s a jewelry store and then they just say, ‘oh, this is differ-
ent!’ It was a white house when Sammy bought it and she loved the turquoise color. She painted it this ‘famous blue.’ We actually redid the inside recently. I personally love the Christmas lights we do yearly around the front.”
Samantha’s also has a matching turquoise blue camper that is frequently seen around town catering to events. “We have an espresso machine in there,” Helms said. “It’s mainly just for drinks. We don’t have a stovetop in there to do food. Lately, we’ve been catering to things such as OBU people getting married and wanting Samantha’s to do their drinks. They tell us a few of their favorite things and we have a set menu of the drinks. We also go to several functions around town like the festivals or if OBU or Henderson has one of their fairs or things around campus.”
Samantha’s has a great client
relationship with OBU students and the community. “About 80 percent of our clientele is OBU students,” Helms said. “More Arkadelphians and Henderson students have been coming in recently, too. I think one of my favorite things is when someone from out of town or out of state comes in and mentions they saw us on Google and wanted to try us out. They’ll talk about the area, or Arkansas in general and we get to tell them about it. It’s run in the best way. I really just think we definitely listen to the customers and watch other businesses in the community a lot, and try to implement new things.”
It is safe to say that Samantha’s has made a lasting impact on the local community and Ouachita students. It has been a hub for fellowship, from providing a place for students to work to hosting coffee dates for friends, Samantha’s will be missed.
Sodexo staff keeps students fed while building relationships, fostering community on campus
BY EMILY HOWARD Opinions Editor
As many communities do, Ouachita requires help from outside contractors to provide the best experience for its students, like Ouachita’s partnership with Sodexo.
Since Oct. 12, 1972, Sodexo workers have worked hard every day to keep the Ouachita students fed with a variety of delicious foods that are tailored to the students as much as possible.
“Menus are based on regional preference, student preference, and our corporate menu cycle. All Sodexo accounts follow the same five week menu cycle. We track our numbers and on factors like weather and temperature. We see
how we need to adjust the menu the next time the cycle comes around, but our ultimate goal is to give the students what they want,” Jon Fitzgerald, general manager of Sodexo, said.
Sodexo workers do a huge amount of work for our campus and the residents of our campus.
“Our staff comes in at 5:00 in the morning to get started on the day, preparing food for approximately 300 students at breakfast, 700 at lunch and 700 at dinner. We’re all one team and we all jump in to help each other,” Fitzgerald said, “Every year, we serve approximately 35,000 meals in Tiger Express, 360,000 meals in the Dining Commons and 110,000 in the Evans Food Court.” Not only does Sodexo
provide the food for our dining hall, Tiger Express, and Evans Food Court, they also provide food for the majority of schoolsponsored events.
“In catering, we serve 27,000 catered meals on campus and in the local community. In concessions, we serve 25,00030,000 people per football season and we feed 45,000 – 55,000 meals to eager campers at our summer camps,” Fitzgerald said, “We sponsor many campus events and student fundraisers and community service organizations. We enjoy being a bustling part of the campus community.”
Sodexo isn’t all about the work though, it is also about the community. Sodexo staff members love meeting and growing rela -
tionships with the students and professors at Ouachita and around the community in Arkadelphia.
“Many of our employees have worked here for 30+ years, and as Mr. Scott will tell you, it’s because of the kids. We love when alumni come back to campus and run over to visit with Ms. Jeanette and Ms. Phyllis. I strongly encourage our staff to get to know the students and develop a relationship with them, so they feel comfortable enough to let us know if they have any special needs or requests or if they are just hungry for something that we can make for them to make them feel at home,” Fitzgerald said. As Ouachita does, it has fostered great memories for Sodexo staff, not just
students.
“I have a lot of memories here, but some of my favorites and some of our staff’s favorite memories are of the friendships that we have built with faculty, staff, and students over the years. It’s a joy when people come back to campus and run up and give our employees a big hug around the neck. Going to sporting events and student activities like Tiger Tunes and seeing the students in action; watching students interact with Dr. Sells as he carves the meat at our holiday meals; Late Night Cinnamons Rolls and Breakfast with our wonderful faculty and staff are always a joy… there are just too many to choose from. I could go on and on,” Fitzgerald said.
Left: The Samantha’s building boasts its iconic blue paint. The bakery will close on Nov. 22. Right: Samantha’s chicken salad sandwich (top) is a regular item on the menu as well as a customer favorite, while the pumpkin pie cold brew (bottom) is a seasonal treat for the holidays, only available for a limited time. (photos from Camryn Stroupe)
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
Verser Theatre presents “Julius Caesar”
BY KADE LOOMIS Staff Writer
The School of Performing Arts has officially wrapped their fall show, “Julius Caesar.” It ran from the 7th to the 10th of November, with a show each day and two on Saturday. From an all female cast to how the entire production was framed, it was most definitely a Shakespearean play, but with a few wonderful twists. Dr. Eric Phillips discussed the choices he and Dr. John Forkner made for the show.
“The director, Dr. Forkner, was open to casting the show as gender neutral with a mix of men and women even though the characters are pri-
marily men,” Phillips said.
“When we got to the auditions, the majority of students who auditioned were women. Since it’s a show about political power, intrigue and the way different tensions are working underneath, he decided that keeping it all women would make the message more clear. Thinking through this, it makes sense why they chose to do what they did. If there were even just one man, the show could have taken on a new meaning. If Caesar was a man and everyone else a woman, it might have come across as ‘overcoming the patriarchy,’ or if only Brutus was male, then it could have communicated that ‘a powerful woman
is seen as a dangerous woman.’ But, as he said, the message wasn’t about that, and was rather about the politics and the morality of political violence.
Phillips explained why the play was chosen. The theater department does a Shakespeare every four years, and with so much focus on the political spheres with the election, this one made sense. Especially with the assassination attempts over the summer. But also, it offered a different style of play—a drama.
“We originally thought about doing a comedy as a possibility,” Phillips said. “But, since we were doing a comedy already with School House Rock and Hello Dol-
School of Performing Arts set to put on steel drum concert
BY MADDIE COX Staff Writer
The Steel Drum Band is something that, if you’ve been at Ouachita for long enough, you are bound to have heard of. But what is it, really? Music is such a complex and intricate art form, and here at Ouachita we are fortunate enough to be able to embrace many of them.
Ryan Lewis, professor of percussion, was generous enough to give an inside look at how the upcoming Steel Drum concert will look and some of the things that the band as a whole entails.
“Tiger Steel began in 2013, so we are celebrating over a decade of steel drum music at OBU,” Lewis said. “Pan Jouvet, the beginning steel band, was created to give more students the opportunity to experience performing in a steel band.”
There is more than meets the eye to the steel drum band, as there are many different kinds of drums that make up the group.
“There are five different kinds of steel drums
in our band—tenors, double seconds, triple cellos, double guitars, basses, and the ‘engine room’ made up of drum set and percussion instruments,” Lewis shared. “Tenors and double seconds typically play melodies and countermelodies and are the soprano and alto voices, respectively. The cellos and guitars are the tenor/baritone voice, and the basses are, of course, the bass voice.”
Tiger Steel meets Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00-12:50, and Pan Jouvet meets Fridays 12:0012:50. Pan Jouvet is open to all students on campus and meets just an hour each weeks, so it is a great way for students to experience the fun and joy of playing steel drums.
Upon being asked further what a Steel Drum concert is like (particularly the upcoming one), Lewis gave insight to what the typical concert looks like.
“OBU Steel Band concerts are laid back and a lot of fun,” Lewis explained. “Tiger Steel, the advanced steel band, will perform first, then Pan Jouvet, the beginning steel band, will perform second, then Tiger
Steel will return to the stage to close the concert. Expect a lot of fun music that will transport you to a beach in the Caribbean. Also, audience members will have the opportunity to participate in a limbo contest on stage, which is the national dance of Trinidad and Tobago and a lot of fun to watch.”
Both steel bands perform mainly calypso and soca music from Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of steel drums, but they also perform reggae, rock, funk, pop, etc. During the fall concert, Tiger Steel will perform “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte, “Como La Flor” by Selena (arranged by one of our students, Baylee Burson), “Savannah Party” and “Calypso Music” by David Rudder, and “Volcano” by Jimmy Buffett in honor of his recent passing. Pan Jouvet will perform “Jouvert Music” by David Rudder and the traditional calypso song “Limbo” during the limbo contest that will take place on stage.
It truly is an amazing opportunity we have at Ouachita to experience and be exposed to all different kinds of music.
ly being a musical theater drama-comedy, Dr. Forkner started thinking about doing something more dramatic, with history.” In the end, they decided they wanted to leave the audience with questions. “It doesn’t make a statement about our political situation, but it is making a statement about the way humans interact,” Phillips said. If you enjoyed watching the play, chances are you enjoyed looking at the set, the stage and everything that was used to bring the show to life. From the raised platform across the back to the moving centerpiece that the actors lovingly dubbed “chonk,” every part of the stage is important. Phillips speaks on how the scenery and the driv-
ing theme behind the show influenced the set pieces.
“A lot of it came from the very specific split into two world,” Phillis said.”We would be starting as a rehearsal, with the rehearsal clothing and scripts, but as the show went on the scripts disappeared, the costumes shifted into the actual show [clothes], and we suspend our disbelief and then we’re in the play. We’re in Rome.”
The whole set was designed like this, taking influence from this idea of both present but separate.
The audience was left with questions to ponder. I hope after this article, you’re left with even more to think about and ponder as you wonder, ‘Am I the good guy?’
ARTS ENGAGEMENT SCHEDULE
The productions listed below are the remaining events that count as a credit for the Fall 2024 semester. The following are only eligible for the music engagement credit.
Cendrillon by Pauline Viardot (A Cinderella Story) Nov. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Left: Kailey May plays Julius Caesar in the assassination scene in Act 3. Right: Danielle Rivera, who plays Decius Brutus, reads a message. The play starts and ends with Rivera’s character. (photos by Emma Mayes)
The commercialization of the holiday season
BY PHIL BYRD Staff Writer
Christmas is around the corner, and as pumpkins turn to Christmas trees and headless horsemen turn to reindeer, American businesses prepare for one of the most profitable times of the year. This begs the question: Why did the advent of Christ become a marketing ploy? And is that a good thing?
Originally, church fathers didn’t even celebrate Christmas.
The time of year that Jesus was born was unknown, and Easter was the main holiday of the early church. Around the fourth century, Pope Julius I decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday.
He chose December 25 as the date, likely because it coincided with the pagan Saturnalia festival, dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn. As Christianity began to be the dominant religion in Europe, Christmas naturally adopted the traditions of the festival, such as causing mischief and celebrating excess, similar to today’s Mardi Gras.
While Christmas went through different phases, it largely fell out of fashion in America after the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t
until Washington Irving’s 1819 book “The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.” that many of the traditions we see today developed. In this book, families of different classes came together for a meal, mingling seamlessly in contrast to society at the time.
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” brought forth a similar message of charity towards all humankind, and a newfound concern for children’s emotions led to most of that charity going towards spoiling the children of the time.
Santa Claus as we know him today didn’t come around until 1881, when Thomas Nast drew on an old poem, “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” or as we know it today, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and depicted the saint as a jolly, fat man delivering presents to children.
I know what you’re thinking. “Phil, why is this a bad thing? It sounds like a joyous celebration of life!” You would not be wrong. Now, let’s look at Christmas from a different perspective. It is 1840, and stores begin to notice an uptick in sales in the final months of the year. Recognizing the newfound interest in Christmas and seeing the opportunity to grow their business, many stores began to advertise
How to practice gratitude this Thanksgiving season
BY JACIE SELLARS News Editor
As you sit around the table at Thanksgiving dinner this year, you might hear a classic seasonal question: “What are you thankful for?”
On a holiday full of family and comfort food, it’s probably pretty easy to think of at least one answer to this question. However, gratitude should extend beyond a single day each year, even when it’s harder to find.
In a fast-paced society full of negative news, it can feel difficult to slow down and practice gratitude. Stress often takes over, causing people to shift into survival mode instead of dwelling on their blessings. Gratitude, however, has many benefits that can actually decrease stress. According to a study from the Mayo Clinic, thankfulness boosts sleep and immunity, and it can even improve chronic pain and mental health. These benefits occur through purposeful gratitude in thoughts, words and actions.
Gratitude often begins internally with an intentional mindset. As you go through your day, make a point of noticing the wonderful blessings in ordinary moments. Take a reflective walk and lift up your happiest memories in prayer. A mindset of thankfulness can easily fit into everyday life, but it will create a lasting change in how you view things. What a privilege it is to have food to eat, people to talk to and a university to attend. Practicing grateful thoughts will allow you to find blessings in the most mundane aspects of life.
specifically for Christmas. As the winter-mania grew, so did the sales, and many found that the more spectacular they could depict the holiday, the more they could sell.
Fast forward to today, and total expected holiday sales are upwards of $1 trillion, with that number growing every year. The holiday season has become one of the most important times of the year for retailers, often working their employees to the bone, with some corporate entities requiring work on Christmas day. What had been an opportunity for familial joy has become a symbol of the greed and selfishness of man.
Those are two very different stories, and they exist on top of each other. Christmas is not an evil holiday. In fact, it is an amazing opportunity for community and fellowship. As we enter the Christmas season, it can be easy to get distracted by the bright lights and candy canes. While the decadence of Christmas can certainly be a lot, it isn’t a lost cause. Each day, try to love the people around you a little more, spoil your friends and become your group’s very own St. Nicholas. You will soon find the smiles on your friends and families’ faces mean so much more than any gift.
Once you have thought about things to be thankful for, you can use grateful words to encourage those around you. Write an encouraging text or note to the people you feel thankful for. Don’t be afraid of vulnerability-instead, honestly thank those around you. You never know how large an impact your words may have.
Finally, you can act on your gratitude by serving others. Helping other people provides perspective on life, and the holidays are a great time to find community service opportunities. Between toy collections, food drives and church gatherings, there are plenty of ways to get involved. At Ouachita, the Elrod Center will be delivering Thanksgiving baskets to the local community, and many other campus organizations have a holiday service project. When you are selflessly serving, it is harder to dwell on the negatives in your life. Sharing your blessings with others is a great way to better appreciate them yourself.
During the holiday season, many traditions become a shallow, commercialized form of something positive. Giving thanks does not have to become one of these empty traditions. When you let gratitude find a place in your heart and habits, your life will change. Gratitude does not mean that bad things will not happen or that you won’t mourn them. However, gratitude does mean that there is always a window of hope— hope in God and in people. By intentionally practicing thankfulness, this hope will be with you at your Thanksgiving table and far beyond it.
BY CAMRYN STROUPE Opinions Editor
This edition, we wanted to spice things up with a crossword puzzle. Enjoy filling in some familiar classic holiday tunes!
Down 1. This song is a 12-bar blues tune, musically similar to Chuck Berry’s popular song “Johnny B. Goode.”
2. This was the seventh single re-
leased by John Lennon outside his work with the Beatles.
3. This carol was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in the United States of America.
4. The earliest known version of this piece first appeared in a 1780 children’s book called “Mirth With-out Mischief.”
5. This song, originally in German, was first composed in 1818 and is the world’s most-recorded Christmas song.
Across 6. “Hey, chingedy ching.”
7. Released in 1957, this tune is considered Bobby Helms’ signature holiday song.
8. This composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards and is featured in a classic film with the same name.
9. One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950 at Decca Recording Studio.
Sydni Worley Online Editor-In-Chief “Hawaiian Rolls” Jacie Sellars News Editor “Pecan Pie”
Jordan Dallimore Staff Writer “Green Bean Casserole”
Camryn Stroupe Opinions Editor “Dressing with Cranberry Sauce”
How the division II playoffs work, OBU on cusp of fifth all-time playoff appearance
BY ISAAC BOURNE Sports Editor
“How do these playoffs even work?”
A common utterance among many a Ouachita student after the Tigers’ playoff position has been anything but advantageous to the boys in black-and-purple in recent years. In 2022, Ouachita came in at #3 in the AFCA coaches poll, but the NCAA regional rankings had the team at fourth in the region, and with all the chaos in division II super region three this season, things are shaping up to be just as difficult for the NCAA selection committee.
The DII playoffs are set up on a regional system, and every team is placed in a region loosely based on location. Ouachita is a member of super region three, a region that boasts the talents of Grand Valley State, Ferris State, Pittsburg State along with strong conference opponents Harding and Southern Arkansas. The top four seeds gain home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs, and until the national championship game, the higher seed hosts in any round of the playoffs. The selections, made by a different group than those who develop the AFCA and D2football. com polls, are made by
a committee made up of coaches and appointed members who have gone through a selection process. The criteria used by the committee is outlined in the DII policies in operating procedures manual, where teams are graded by in-region winning percentage, division II winning percentage, division II strength of schedule (opponents’ average winning percentage and opponents’ opponents’ average winning percentage), division II head-to-head competition and their results versus division II common opponents. Most likely, one of these criteria is favored among the others, with undefeated teams getting more nods in recent years despite their strength of schedule, but the manual outlines these criteria as equal.
With this season ramping up, the most recent regional rankings were released, with Ouachita ranking in at fifth in the region, meaning that if the season were to end today, the Tigers would play in Edmond, OK, at the four-seeded University of Central Oklahoma for the first round of the playoffs. Fortunately for OBU, there is still one game to be played, with many experts predicting Ouachita to get that final spot as a first round host if they can take down Henderson State in their final week.
Basketball teams look forward to upcoming seasons
BY SAM BENNETT Staff Writer
The Ouachita men’s and women’s basketball teams are set to launch their seasons with excitement and cautious optimism as they prepare for the challenging months ahead. Both teams aim to improve on last season’s achievements, with a focus on skill development, teamwork and resilience in the face of their competitive schedules.
The men’s basketball team, led by Assistant Coach Levin Thornton and Head Coach Dennis Nutt, started their season over the weekend at the Conference Challenge in Little Rock. Facing ArkansasFort Smith and Rogers State, the team split their games, ending the weekend with a 1-1 record. Ouachita co-hosted the
event with Harding University, a decision Thornton described as a valuable experience for the team.
“Little Rock was a great location as many fans and families were able to attend,” Thornton said. The upcoming home opener against Dallas Christian tonight marks the start of a season that’s been months in the making. “We have had a long pre-season, and I believe our guys are excited to start the year off,” Thornton said. “They have worked hard through the good and bad days of preseason to prepare for the obstacles ahead.”
With a blend of returning players and new recruits, the men’s program is confident about the strength and potential of this year’s roster. Their ultimate goal remains clear: to capture the conference title.
Thornton acknowledged the difficulty of reaching
this objective, emphasizing the competitive nature of their league.
“It is never easy,” Thornton said. “Our league is tough, and there is never an off night. Every team in our conference is very competitive and has the same goal as us.We must just take it one game at a time and try to get better each day in practice.”
Head Coach Dennis Nutt echoed Thornton’s sentiment. “We’re cautiously optimistic about our season! Our guys are working hard and eager to get the season started,” Nutt said.
On the women’s side, Head Coach Kiley Hill and the Tiger Women’s Basketball team opened their season with an exhibition game against Texas A&MTexarkana on November 8 at home. This initial game set the stage for a busy November with non-conference play, which will
transition to conference games beginning in December. Coach Hill noted that the women’s team has been rigorously preparing since August, with over seven weeks of pre-season training and intensive practices that started in early October.
Hill emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for the team that goes beyond technical skills on the court.
“Our focus has been on building a strong foundation in critical areas not only from a skill standpoint of improving their craft, but also the mental and emotional approach,” Hill said.. Coach Hill stressed the importance of focusing on each day’s challenges and opportunities. The team’s objective is to maximize their potential by setting individual and collective standards.
As the season unfolds, the women’s program is calling on the student body, alumni and local community for support. “We invite and welcome with open arms all who want to come out and be involved in good, clean, competitive entertainment,”Hill said. “So, find a buddy and come on.The popcorn will be popping in Vining.”
With both teams ready to embark on what promises to be an intense season, the Ouachita Tigers aim to make their mark, bringing excitement and competitive energy to Bill Vining Arena. From the men’s program’s push for a conference title to the women’s pursuit of maximizing their potential, the Ouachita basketball season promises actionpacked moments and displays of determination for
see.
Top: Running back Kendel Givens runs the ball in the Tigers’ loss to Southern Nazarene. Bottom: Ouachita wide receiver Keemontrae McKnight makes a tough grab in the Tigers’ win over the Harding Bisons. The tigers will face off with the Henderson Reddies on Nov. 16. (photos by Joshua Rhine)