The Signal | Ouachita Baptist University | 3.30.18

O UAC H I TA

B A P T I S T

U N I V E R S I T Y

SINCE 1890

the

FEATURES | 3

SIGNAL

03.30.18

Staff writer

Alex Blankenship z Photo lab

Caden Flint z Photo lab

Dani Droste z Photo lab ABOVE: a Tiger Serve Day team pairs up for a photo with their host last fall.

MIDDLE: Another team repaints the train car at the Clark County Historical Museum in Downtown Arkadelphia. BOTTOM: Tiger Serve Day leadership gathers .

cost savings for them,” Duvall said. “The relationships formed on this day between our campus and the community are important. We are able to remind our community that there are people

Ouachita Student Senate to host “Sexual Assualt Awareness Week” Staff writer

Ouachita will host “Sexual Assault Awareness Week“ from April 16 through April 20. The Ouachita Student Senate chose this topic because of the desire they have to inform and educate students on the important issue.

Sexual Assault Awareness Week will feature many different informative activities for OBU students to be a part of. According to student senate treasurer Audra Halbert, the idea was brought up by her SAA committee co-chair, Lauren Ford, at lunch one day.

“One of her friends that attends the U of A was the chair of a sexual assault awareness week that their university’s student government hosts.

I became really interested in the idea of having something like it here too after Lauren mentioned it, so we spent the rest of the semester informally gauging the opinions of other students,” Halbert said.

The idea to host a week devoted to sexual assault awareness was carefully considered and planned by

SCAN FOR AN ONLINE EDITION

www.obusignal.com University police to make security changes

By JULIA WILLIAMS News editor

By ANNI WILLIAMS

By MALLORY MORRIS

Emma Pitts, Ouachita’s new Miss OBU

Vol. 126, Issue 18

Elrod Center’s Tiger Serve Day to impact Arkadelphia community Ouachita students will serve the Arkadelphia community from 8:30 a.m. to noon on April 7 for this spring’s Tiger Serve Day. Students will give back to the community by doing yard work, indoor work and some small painting jobs for citizens of Arkadelphia.

Those wanting to serve can register at obu.edu/elrod/ serve and sign up either as part of a team or as an individual. If students register as an individual, they will be placed on a team that needs volunteers.

“There’s a place for everyone to serve,” said Judy Duvall, the Associate Director of the Elrod Center. She encourages all students to participate, as it an excellent opportunity to serve the Arkadelphia community.

“Tiger Serve Day gives our campus a day to live out our faith and serve the community we live in,” Duvall said.

“There is a great sense of joy and satisfaction that comes from serving alongside others to make the lives of others better.”

Ouachita sends anywhere from 600 to 1000 volunteers into Arkadelphia each semester to serve residents of Arkadelphia and the surrounding communities.

“Many of the residents we serve are not able to do the work themselves and we are able to do it at a great

QUEEN OF THE COLLEGE WORLD

members of the Senate.

“We researched initiatives that other schools were taking to prevent sexual assault on their campus and met over Christmas to plan out what the week ideally would look like,” said Halbert. “We then brought the idea to the senate executive board in January and they were all in favor of us hosting a week like this. We received a lot of support from administration, as well.”

“The issue of sexual assault on college campuses and just of people college-aged, in general, is prevalent and significant,” Halbert said. “We felt that providing a week to educate students on sexual assault, practical prevention tips and services that are available on campus was necessary and that it naturally fell into an event that should be hosted by Student Senate.

We don’t see this week as just another event, but more as a service to students.”

Currently, plans have been made for a self-defense class, a panel discussion and an exhibit.

The self-defense class will be led by the new head of see Senate z 2

who care and want to come alongside them to help.”

Ouachita students not only serve the community on Tiger Serve Day, many also serve on the Tiger Serve Day Leadsee TSD z 2

Ouachita administration has recently implemented new changes to the safety procedures and protocols on campus. Having been in the works for a few years now, Ouachita students, faculty, administration and staff will be seeing a different approach to campus security in the coming months. Whelan Security’s contract will end around June 1, so new procedures will be implemented at that time.

Ouachita will have a hybrid system of an armed police department and unarmed security, led by Officer Jeff Crow. A retired Marine, Crow began his law enforcement career in 1986 with the Game and Fish Commission as a wildlife officer, and after 10 years, went to work for the Arkansas State Police for 15 years. After retirement, Crow worked for the Criminal Justice Institute, which is a continuing education program for law enforcement through the University of Arkansas.

In 2012, Crow returned to Game and Fish where he stayed until December 2017.

According to Crow, whose daughter is a senior at Ouachita, his discussion of desired security advancements began with Dr. Kluck when his daughter was just starting as a freshman.

“I expressed to him my concerns that while I was very pleased that my daughter was coming to Ouachita, I had some concerns about the

lack of an armed police force on campus, because I felt that it was important for the protection of the students,” Crow said. “He invited me on campus to come visit with his staff and talk about strategies and some of the things that I thought would be helpful.”

Crow further added that his being on the staff was not part of the original discussion, but it might have been preordained. When he stepped down from Game and Fish, he desired an avenue to better use his talents for public service, which, as he stated, came at the right time. He offered to help Dr. Kluck in the transition period and was later offered the job.

“I’ve been here a little over a month now,” Crow said.

“I’ve really tried to spend this time understanding the culture of the university even better as I try to assimilate into my new role and how I fit in to what goes on here on a daily basis.”

Looking for areas in which he can be of assistance, Crow provided four broad categories in which he could use see Security z 2

Ouachita, Henderson to co-sponsor “What Were You Wearing” exhibit

By MICHAEL RICHARDSON Staff writer A white t-shirt, a jean skirt and white tennis shoes. That is what Dr. Mary Simmerling was wearing on July 4, 1987, the night she would become a victim. In the early 2000s, Simmerling published her poem, “What I Was Wearing.” In it she answers one question, and expresses why she remembers in such detail, “What were you wearing?” This is sadly far too common a question asked of sexual assault victims in seeking an easy answer or understanding why someone would commit any form of sexual assault. Because rape can, and does, happen regardless of particular dress.

The outfit is not the problem.

The offender is the problem.

And this very myth that what people are wearing has anything at all to do with the assault is what this “What Were You Wearing” exhibit hopes to tackle.

The exhibit was first created in April of 2014 on the University of Arkansas’ campus, inspired by Simmerling’s poem. The framework

Jen Brockman and Mary Wyandt-Hiebert z Courtesy THE WHAT WERE YOU WEARING? EXHIBIT sits on display at one of its previous locations. The traveling exhibit showcases what victims of sexual assault were wearing when they were assaulted.

for the exhibit was created

by Jen Brockman, the director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center at the University of Kansas, alongside Dr. Mary WyandtHiebert, the director of RESPECT at the University of Arkansas. Volunteers were invited to share brief descriptions of what they wore and what happened the night they were assaulted, and these stories were then paired by recreated outfits.

And now, Ouachita and Henderson will be jointly hosting this exhibit from

THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM

y March Madness thoughts y Top 10 reasons Easter is the best y 86 questions with Dr. Sells

April 1-20 for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with an opening reception taking place at Captain Henderson House on Tuesday, April 3, from 4-6 p.m.

“There’s too much focus on girls needing to do things differently so they don’t get raped,” said Dan Jarboe, Ouachita’s University Counselor. “And not enough attention to making sure men wouldn’t do such a thing.”

He went on to explain further that from his experience as a crisis and trauma counselor see Exhibit z 2

CONNECT WITH THE SIGNAL

NEWS

Friday, March 30, 2018 u page 2

www.obusignal.com

thisTweets weekzCALENDAR of the Week Danny Hays @Haysdanny 15 Apr I love my job. I get to study God’s word & then teach it to eager college students who love the Lord. It’s a great job.

Even on Mondays.

CLASSES CANCELLED and offices will be closed Monday, April 2 in observance of the Easter Holiday. Classes will resume April 3.

OBUTuesday, @Ouachita

THE CARL GOODSON HONORS PROGRAM will be hosting “Spring Theme: A Royal Wedding” in Walker Conference Center on Thursday, 15 Apr April 5 at 5:30 p.m.

So how do you use social media -- to affirm and encourage ARKANSAS BLOOD or to attack and tear doen? “Be ye kind to one another.”

INSTITUTE BLOOD DRIVE REFUGE will be at Second (Eph. 4:32). Hmmm... will be held Tuesday, April 3 Baptist Church on Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and April 5 at 9 p.m. For more Wednesday, April 4 from 9 a.m. information, 16contact James Justin Young @JustinYoung072 Apr to 4:30 p.m. in the Tiger Den. Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu The Harley Davidson leather vest must be the key to memorizing the entire Bible.

CARTER HARLAN will be guest performing Master’s recital work in McBeth Recital Hall on Wednesday, April 4 at 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Ryan Lewis at lewisr@obu.edu.

The Signal @obusignal 30 March Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up-to-the-minute updates on everything going on around Ouachita Baptist.

Twitter: @obusignal Facebook: facebook.com/obusignal Instagram: @obusignal

from our perspective

TOP

5

Most pointless movie deaths

5 4 3 2 1

Walt in “Gran Torino” Robert in “I Am Legend” Bing Bong in “Inside Out” Boba Fett in “Return of the Jedi” Jack in “Titanic”

What is your favorite Easter candy?

Will Blase Features editor

Will Johnson Sports editor

Katherine Carter Opinions editor

Katie Kemp Editor-in-chief

Josh Salim Copy editor

“Starburst jelly beans.”

“Little Debbie Easter Basket Cakes.”

“Reese’s peanut butter eggs.”

“Cadbury eggs.”

“The big chocolate bunnies.”

Senate

z Continued from Page 1 safety, Officer Jeff Crow, and will be open to all students.

The panel discussion will include a variety of people from different areas of the community. Leaders will be given the opportunity to discuss the issue and give a voice to sexual assault awareness. The diversity in speakers will range from law enforcement officers, members of the campus community, to counselors and more.

“We also are hoping to provide handouts of information to students about sexual assault, prevention and oncampus services, as well as hosting a panel discussion one night during the week,” Halbert explained.

One of the main activities for the week includes the “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit. The Ouachita- and Henderson-sponsored exhibit will run from April 1 through April 20, and will focus on the clothing victims were wearing at the time they

TSD

z Continued from Page 1 ership Team to coordinate the event. “The Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team meets for six weeks prior to the day to get ready for the day,” Duvall explained. “Duties include designing all the media, visiting every project and person that will be served, preparing tools and recruiting volunteers for the day. We also spend a good amount of time praying for every aspect of the day.”

Brooke Woessner, one of the students serving on the TSD Leadership Team, encourages students to get out of the Ouachita “bubble” and remember the other residents of Arkadelphia. She, along with the rest of the leadership team, have spent a lot of time preparing for April 7.

“The Leadership Team is

were assaulted. Students are encouraged to visit this exhibit, as it is an important part of the discussion regarding misconceptions of sexual assault.

“I think what we want people to take away from this week is that sexual assault can happen to anyone anywhere.

So we want students to be aware of important statistics and feel confident in their ability to prevent something from happening to them and removing themselves from potentially dangerous situations,” Halbert said. “We also want them to be confident in knowing who they can and should talk to on campus should something happen to them. We want to create unity among the student body and remind them of the importance of bystander intervention, as well. It’s on everyone to prevent sexual assault.”

The Student Senate hopes to shed light on this issue and enable students to learn more about this important topic.

More information will be available as the events draw near. n preparing by going to each organization or house that the projects will be held to see who students will be serving,” Woessner said.

“We get to know the people we are serving by identifying what needs to be done, and how we can be praying for them. We also organize all the groups together and assign groups to projects, as well as getting all the tools that will be needed together.

“Students should get involved because it is fun,” Woessner said. “The impact TSD has on the community is larger than students may know. We had 805 students serve in the fall and we hope that number increases. The community appreciates not only the work that is done, but also the presence of the students setting aside their own needs to serve the elderly or disabled.” n

Security

z Continued from Page 1 his talents. The first is in the university’s transition away from a private contracting company that provides unarmed security. According to Crow, employees will no longer be contracted out, but will rather be university employees.

Secondly, Crow mentioned the task of establishing an actual law enforcement organization. “There’s a process you have to go through to establish a police force. There are certain administrative requirements you have to meet, so I’m in the process of doing that,” Crow said.

The third component is an assessment of the university’s culture. “Whether it be the things that go on here, how they occur, who does what, who’s responsible for what, I try to look at everything through the lens of safety,” Crow said. He went on to describe that it could be identifying problems or concerns with any number of things such as physical char-

Exhibit

z Continued from Page 1 that immodest dress is not the reason people are sexually assaulted, rather “the problem is the deviant men.”

Statistically, it is shown that 85-90 percent of sexual assaults reported by college women are committed by someone the victim knows.

The numbers vary, but it is even estimated that only 15 to 35 percent of all sexual assaults are even reported.

Why would such a horrible act often go so unreported?

Why is there such a fear toward coming forward and to tell their stories? Well, it alludes back to the question the exhibit holds, “what were you wearing?”

Now, to clarify, that question is not the reason victims are scared to go forward, so much as what that ques-

acteristics and practices like unlocked doors or students running at late hours alone.

The final focal component was training and preparedness. “If we look at recent headlines and incidents, especially on college campuses, I think there’s a lot of lessons we can learn from those,” Crow said. “I’m very interested in providing students in addition to faculty and staff with information that helps us to be aware of the potential threats and dangers that are out there, but also to have a plan on what to do if we find ourselves in some sort of crisis.”

According to Crow, his intent and desire is that things like ticketing will remain much like it has been. The average student will not see a major change in procedure, but it will remain under the purview of Student Senate.

“I think that we do need to make sure there is compliance with university rules and laws of Arkansas,” Crow said. “I want to lay any concerns that the hammer is going to be dropped on stu-

dents. That’s not my purpose here.”

Complete responsibility will be turned over June 1.

“It will be a combination of certified law enforcement officers and unarmed security, trying to strategically staff it whenever I think students are in the greatest need of being protected, basically when people are moving on campus,” Crow said. He stressed that one of these times in which people must be vigilant is during Chapel, especially since students are concentrated.

In the event of any emergency, the first resource should be to still call 9-1-1.

Crow also stressed that relationships with local departments such as Arkadelphia Police Department, Henderson Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office are very supportive and helpful. “It’s a great relationship. I’ve been encouraged by the conversation with them, and they’ve expressed their continued support for what we’re trying to do.” n

tion entails. That question in and of itself holds and perpetuates victim blaming. It implies a mindset that an assault victim is at fault for what happened to them because they did not take more preventative measures.

What this exhibit will show is that the dress was not what brought about the rape; the victim’s appearance did not bring on their sexual assault in any way. Sexual assault happens because a person is an assailant. Sexual assault of any kind is not the fault of the victim, it is the horrible action of one individual enacting their own will onto another individual. The victim is not the one at fault.

Simmerling writes in her poem, “you may be wondering why this matters, or even how I remember every item in such detail. You see, I have been asked this ques-

tion many times. It has been called to my mind many times; this question, this answer, these details,” she writes in reference to her poem’s title, “What Was I Wearing?” “If only it were so simple. If only we could end rape by simply changing clothes,” she writes. “I remember also what he was wearing that night. Even though it’s true that no one has ever asked.”

Sexual assault is a very real and prevalent problem. The goal of this exhibit is to open the eyes of its viewers and to help them see the realities of this issue, to fight against a stigma of victim blaming and to break down all negative pre-conceived notions regarding how and to whom sexual assault happens to.

For more information on the exhibit, contact Ashlee Giles at gilesa@obu.edu or (870) 245-5200. n

FEATURES

www.obusignal.com

Friday, March 30, 2018 u page 3

Sophomore Emma Pitts named Miss OBU 2018; platform promotes creativity through arts education

By ETHAN DIAL Online editor

“I am not just Emma anymore,” said sophomore Emma Pitts, a music education major from Clarksville, Ark., and our new Miss Ouachita Baptist University.

Coming from a small town with a small school, the arts played a significant role in shaping Pitts into the person she is today.

“I came from a school where we had a really great arts program,” Pitts said.

Not only did her experience with choir, band and drama in high school form her extracurricular activities and hobbies, but they also helped her become Miss OBU. After having a close friend participate in scholarship pageants, Pitts decided that she wanted to take on the challenge. While it was mostly to earn scholarships for college, it became something much more.

“I knew I wanted some way to pay for school…but once I did my first local I loved the people in the organization and I loved the philanthropy aspect of it,” Pitts said.

Pitts’ personal platform is “Inspiring Creativity Through Arts Education.”

“The reason that funding and supporting arts education is so important is some kids, when they wake up in the morning, the only reason that they go to school is for choir, to sing in the choir or to be in the play or to be in band, whichever one they are passionate about,” Pitts said.

“But if they don’t have that, they are not going to be able to find motivation.”

Because in many schools a certain grade point average is required to participate in these extracurricular activities, Pitts believes that the students will also be encouraged to learn and do well in school. Since many administrations in schools are pushing funding for their arts programs less and less, Pitts has several ideas for students to do fundraisers. Some even include herself leading in summer camps teaching the arts.

Pitts enjoys discussing her platform with others, but it is not the only thing she has come to love about the Miss Arkansas Organization.

“When you really just start going to events and meeting the different people and then networking, it’s so much more than just scholarship,” Pitts said.

In this process, her family has played an incredible role.

Supporting her are both parents, who also happen to be musically inclined.

“Both of my parents are musicians…but it was never forced that I had to be a musician or anything like that.

Choosing to do theater was actually my choice,” Pitts said. “Even as I got older and even as [my mom] was my high school choir teacher, she always made it very clear to me…that if choir wasn’t something that I wanted to do, that I was free to not do it.

But I saw all the benefits that choir was offering me, and so I chose to stay, and now, you know, I’m pursuing it for a career.”

Pitts also has two younger siblings: Isaac, who is 16, and Alanis, who is 6.

“There’s a huge age difference, which is kind of fun,” Pitts said. “[Alanis] actually gets to be on stage with me at

Andy Henderson z Photo Lab

Andy Henderson z Photo Lab

Andy Henderson z Photo Lab

Emma Pitts z Courtesy

Emma Pitts z Courtesy

TOP: Pitts performs “Gimme Gimme” from the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” during Miss OBU’s talent competition. TOP RIGHT: Pitts walks the stage during the evening gown portion of competition at Miss OBU. MIDDLE: From left to right: Julia Williams (first runner-up), Emma Pitts (Miss OBU), Caroline Sweet (second runner-up) and Kara DeLaune (third runner-up) pose for a picture after the pageant. BOTTOM LEFT: Miss OBU greets prospective students and parents on Tiger Day. BOTTOM RIGHT: Pitts greets a child during a visit as Miss OBU.

Miss Arkansas this summer as one of my Diamond State Princesses.”

Originally, Pitts came to Ouachita to pursue theater.

“Ouachita was just the right fit,” Pitts said.

Having her first audition at the age of eight, Pitts is no stranger to the stage. For the past ten years, she has performed in countless shows, including some on Ouachita’s campus. However, she recently changed her major to music education.

“When performing just wasn’t really enough anymore, I knew that I needed to be in the classroom changing lives,” Pitts said. “And you can change lives performing too, but I knew that teaching was really where I fit with the gifts I’ve been given.”

However, Pitts’ love of the theater remains.

“I love watching shows. It’s harder to see theater around here…[but] any chance I

get, I’m jumping at seeing a show,” Pitts said.

After competing in Miss Arkansas last year, Pitts had a lot of praying to do when deciding if she should compete again. “[I] spent a lot of time listening for God to open opportunities, because I knew that I wanted to go back, but I was just waiting for Him to open the opportunity,” Pitts said.

At first, she wasn’t for sure which pageants she should compete in alongside Miss OBU. Eventually, God revealed that she shouldn’t compete in any others.

“I didn’t do any other pageants and I just decided it was going to be Miss OBU and done. So if I didn’t win Miss OBU, I wasn’t going to be doing any more,” Pitts said. “I mainly prayed that if this was my time and if I was meant to go back to Miss Arkansas this summer, He

would allow it.”

Pitts ultimately wanted “whatever was in His plan” for her to happen and that she “would be at peace and ok with that.” She believes that this was all part of his plan. “This was my year to be Miss OBU,” Pitts said.

She is beyond excited to be attending Miss Arkansas again this year, “because it is one of the most fun weeks.”

Regardless, Pitts looks forward to serving Ouachita as the new Miss OBU in many ways.

She feels that one of her greatest responsibilities is to be intentional with students across campus from all different backgrounds.

“I just want to make connections with every student I come into contact with, whether it be an athlete, or a music person that I’m with all day or a business student.

I think that’s the most fun part, because people do no-

tice me now even if…it’s just because they’ve seen my picture. It’s helped me to make connections and I want to find out…if there is anything that I can do for people, what they need,” Pitts said.

Pitts believes God put her in this position to instill confidence and kindness, but also to “represent a different kind of student that people don’t see.” She is supposed to “be there for people” and teach them “how to support things that are out of their comfort zone.”

“Being Miss Ouachita… is a challenge, because I am not just Emma anymore. I’m not just representing myself.

I’m representing an entire university, all of the faculty and all of the students,” Pitts said. “Connecting with the students is so important to me because if I’m going to be Miss OBU, I want to be the best representation of all of the students that I can be.” n

LIFESTYLE

www.obusignal.com

Friday, March 30, 2018 u page 4

‘Black Panther’: king of Wakanda

By WILL BLASE Features editor

Odds are that you’ve been hearing about “Black Panther.” The film is smashing records and wowing audiences everywhere. You may be thinking, “it’s just another superhero movie… can it really be worth $10?” I’m going to have to agree with the masses and say, yes.

Disclaimer: This review contains minor plot spoilers.

“Black Panther” is the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It occurs shortly after “Captain America: Civil War” in the cinematic universe’s timeline.

The movie follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the current Black Panther, and his trials in becoming king of Wakanda following the death of his father. The nation of Wakanda loves T’Challa and after a ritual battle for the right to the throne, they happily accept T’Challa as their king and their Black Panther.

Wakanda is hidden from the world, thanks to an advanced cloaking device that sits over the realm, and the nation chooses to fend for themselves. They lend no help to others and ask for no help in return. The nation contains the world’s largest deposit of vibranium, a fictional metal created for the Marvel comics. The metal

Marvel Studios z Courtesy

has allowed Wakanda to become a thriving society with futuristic inventions and advanced technology thanks to the metal’s properties. Black Panther’s suit is made of vibranium, and it’s worth noting that Captain America’s shield is also comprised of vibranium.

A new threat emerges, Erik Killmonger, who seeks to take advantage of Wakanda’s vast vibranium resources. Killmonger is a trained military soldier that is experienced in overthrowing leadership in struggling countries. His master plan

Netflix’s ‘Bright’ brings cops into world of fantasy

By CODY POE Staff writer

What do “The Lord of the Rings” and “End of Watch” have in common?

Absolutely nothing. One is a medieval fantasy action movie and the other is a present-day film about the LAPD. These two films do not belong in the same conversation. Well, they didn’t until Netflix’s February 17 release, “Bright.”

“Bright” is a present-day fantasy film that follows the two Los Angeles Police Department officers, Officer Scott Ward (played by Will Smith) and Officer Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton). In this film, the world is not as we know it today, but is full of what we would call mythical creatures––elves, orcs and pixies live their lives just as humans do. They have jobs, families and homes and send their children to the same schools as humans. This is not something that came into being overnight; in the film’s universe, these creatures have been living alongside humans for thousands of years.

A quick spoiler-free summary of the movie: Two LAPD officers, one human and one orc (the first of his kind to join the police), respond to a distress call where they find a weapon.

After they find this weapon, just about everything that can go wrong in the city does go wrong. They end up running for their lives as well as protecting a young elvish woman from a gang of orcs, a human gang and an evil and powerful elf.

They have to try and survive this chaotic ordeal until they can find help.

“Bright” is an excellent movie that has a great balance between humor and seriousness. There are times where you will find yourself laughing at Will Smith’s witty jokes and actions, and a few scenes later you will find yourself on the edge of your seat because you do not know what is going to happen next. Tackling the issue of race in America is never easy, but somehow director David Ayer finds a way to use fantasy charters from children’s stories to tackle this issue and still find a way to keep it relevant in today’s society.

Great character development along with awesome makeup for the orcs and elves make this film very easy to watch and keep you attracted to it. Usually, when I watch something on Netflix, I am playing on my phone for most of the movie or show and am just using whatever I am watching as some background noise. With “Bright,” however, I didn’t want to pick my phone up at all. I was focused on my TV screen for the entire two hours. At the end I was sad, not because of how it ended, but because I wasn’t ready for the movie to be over.

“Bright” deals with some very serious topics like racial discrimination in America, so some of the content is not suitable for young children. Strong and offensive language, blood, death and use of alcohol are all featured in this film. “Bright” gets an 8/10 from me and I highly recommend it. n

is to arm the weak with vibranium technology so they may overthrow their masters and expose Wakanda to the world. His mysterious ties to Wakanda and knowledge of the vibranium are explored throughout the movie.

The story follows closely with the newer Black Panther comic arcs, but takes liberties so that it may retain continuity with the overarching cinematic universe. Overall, the story is fun and gives the viewer a good backstory, but at times feels like it’s overloading the audience. I felt this way with “Doctor

Strange,” another box office breaking Marvel movie. I’ve read my fair share of “Doctor Strange” and “Black Panther” comics, but the movies overwhelmed me with how much content they tried to fit into the two-hour plus runtime. I enjoyed both, but expect the movie to hold your hand a few times as it progresses through the story.

That being said, the action sequences within “Black Panther” may have been the most impressive use of CGI and choreography that I’ve seen Marvel implement in their films. There are many

groan worthy moments, as with any superhero movie, but the editing and pacing of fights often kept me glued to the screen. Early in the movie, Panther receives an upgraded version of his iconic suit. The upgrade allows him to absorb energy as it impacts his armored suit. Panther can then release this energy from his suit to incapacitate enemies or avoid damage altogether. Words can’t give these scenes justice. It’s a mess of action and color, but the fight scenes bring about nostalgia that comes from reading comics and imaginations of old.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe usually receives higher audience ratings than those of movie critics. They may not be producing the best movies on the market, but they’re producing the best superhero movies. It seems like every new installment in the main timeline of the universe exceeds its predecessors. Black Panther’s story isn’t stellar, but its action sequences are superior to “Captain America: Civil War” and similar to those of “Spiderman Homecoming.”

The next installment in the cinematic universe, Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” hits theaters April 26 and promises to give longtime fans and new fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe a wild ride, but for the time being treat yourself to “Black Panther.”

It’s worth it… I promise. n

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ best one yet

By VICTORIA ANDERSON Staff writer

In case you missed it in theaters, “Thor: Ragnarok” directed by Taika Waititi was released on DVD March 6.

This is the third installment in the story of Thor, and in my opinion, it is the best one yet.

The movie opens with a humorous scene of Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, in a cage talking to a skeleton about how he got in this predicament. He talks to and then fights a fiery monster named Surtur, voiced by Clancy Brown, to find out how to prevent Ragnarok, the destruction of his home Asgard. As Thor fights Surtur, “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin begins to play. This song adds so much interest and excitement to the scene as Thor’s hammer punches through all the monsters. The fact that this song is included in the film is unique because Led Zeppelin is known for rarely licensing their songs for use in movies.

When Thor returns to Asgard with Surtur’s crown, he finds his brother Loki disguised as their father Odin.

Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, tells Thor that he left Odin on Earth. They travel to find him, and run into Dr. Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Dr. Strange takes Loki because he does not want him to cause trouble, so Thor goes to 177 A Bleecker Street to retrieve him. Some may think this is a reference to the BBC series “Sherlock,” where Cumberbatch plays the clever detective who lives in 221 B Baker Street, but it is simply the address of the writer of the “Dr. Strange” comics.

After Thor and Loki find their father, they also find their sister Hela, who is the goddess of death. She is

Marvel Studios z Courtesy

played by Cate Blanchett. The brothers attempt to return to Asgard without her but fail.

They both end up lost in the galaxy as Hela enters Asgard and begins her violent reign.

Thor finds himself alone and amongst piles of junk in a strange world. It is not long before he is captured by a bounty hunter, played by Tessa Thompson, and taken to the Grandmaster, played

by Jeff Goldblum. Thor is secured in a chair and is taken through an introduction to this new planet he is on. As images move, lights flash and “The Candy Man” plays in the background, viewers may find themselves reminded of the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

In fact, the Grandmaster is quite similar in his eccentric behavior to Gene Wilder’s

Willy Wonka.

The Grandmaster captures people like Thor and has them fight in an arena like gladiators for his citizens’ entertainment. He tells Thor that if he can beat his champion, he will let him go.

When Thor arrives in the arena, Hulk bursts through the doors. At first, Thor does not think they will fight because they are friends, but Hulk loves to win.

Thor is left with the challenge of dealing with Hulk and figuring out a way to get back to Asgard to stop Hela.

The banter between Thor and Hulk and all the other characters is clever and hilarious throughout the film. Director Waititi said he wanted to showcase Hemsworth’s comedic timing. I think it is safe to say he succeeded. n

OPINIONS

Friday, March 30, 2018 u page 5

www.obusignal.com

Victorious through weakness

By KATHERINE CARTER Opinions editor

I like superhero movies.

Many don’t for a number of reasons, a big one being that they’re usually predictable— the good guys always win. As for me, I like that about them, as with a lot of movies. I like seeing the good guys defeat the bad guys, good conquering evil.

A lot of people like these movies for the same reason.

We don’t want the bad guys to win. When the bad guys win, everyone else loses.

These stories about good triumphing over evil are especially comforting when we face the harsh realities of this world. It seems that a day can’t go by without something terrible happening—calamity, war, crime, pain, poverty, death. We are constantly being reminded

of all the evils of this world, wondering when it’s going to cease.

In a world filled with pain and suffering, many question why God doesn’t seem to intervene. Why doesn’t God just make everything good again? Why does he allow pain and death? Why doesn’t he save us?

The truth is, he already did.

2,000 years ago, a humble, run-of-the-mill carpenter named Jesus walked the earth and flipped it upside down.

He talked about a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one.

He didn’t conquer the Romans, but was killed by them.

This unassuming man was the promised Messiah who, being God incarnate, refused to lift a finger to save himself from the cross. He, as a lowly human, defeated Satan with his death, thereby building a bridge between us and himself.

The truth is, our world is a nightmare. God created a beautiful, perfect world, and we messed it up. We turned it into something diseased, cancerous. In our selfishness, we rejected God, choosing to worship ourselves instead, and we expect everything to be okay.

I’m not going to pretend to know why God allows bad things to happen. I don’t have an adequate answer. Be that as it may, we have a Father, a God, who loves us so much regardless of the sin that plagues us, that he bridged the gap between us at his greatest expense.

Even though sin still permeates the earth, God has already won. Good has defeated evil. Satan has been crushed, and he knows it.

At this point he’s just trying to bring down as many people with him as possible.

We don’t need a superhero to

save the day because God has already secured victory for an eternity.

God’s victory is ultimately spiritual, which is why Jesus came as he did rather than as an earthly warrior king brandishing his sword to elevate the Jewish people to their rightful place. For now, he has secured our souls, but it won’t be until he returns that he will save the earth. For now, it’s our job, as his people, to be lights in the darkness.

God is changing this world, even if we can’t see it. There is still a lot of good in this world. Evidence of the original world God created is still there, even if it’s hidden beneath all the muck. God is also still active in this world, regardless of what it may seem. The great thing is, we get to work alongside him and change this world for the better.

We see people stand up for

what they believe in all the time. We see the church actively engaging lost people all around the world. We see believers sacrificing everything for the kingdom, including their lives.

God is our ultimate hero, our savior, who has delivered us from our fate, but he has also turned us into heroes as well. He’s transformed us, made us into people who can change everything. It is our job to turn this world we live in into something good, something beautiful.

He has empowered us, with his Holy Spirit, to bring the kingdom here, to let everyone know who he is and that he loves them. Evil never stood a chance.

Through death, our ultimate weakness, evil was vanquished for good. Now we act faithfully and wait impatiently for our Savior to return. n

Intrigue of college sports Violence in reality and video games

By WILL JOHNSON Sports editor

I’ve often wondered what makes college athletics special. Football, basketball, baseball and soccer, among other sports, are played both professionally and at the youth level, yet college sports feel entirely different. Does it have something to do with the atmosphere? The surprises and upsets? The captivating behind-the-scenes stories that develop during the season? Here are my reasons why college athletics are so fascinating.

College sports bring about a completely different mood when the cheerleaders occupy the sidelines to encourage the team or the band steps on the field to unite the fans. The fight songs, cheers and anthems echo across the stadium and fill the nearby streets and university sidewalks with music. The home fans seem more encouraged and involved in the game when the sounds of the band resonate and cheerleaders shout during stoppages of play.

Another part of college athletics that enhances the atmosphere is tailgating. Football and even baseball, to a lesser degree, allow for fans to socialize with friends, family and other fellow supporters while enjoying meat fresh off the grill. Fans can toss the football around and share the excitement for the upcoming game.

Focusing more on the student athletes, college sports help players maintain healthy fitness habits carried over from youth development. It also paves the way for athletic scholarships for students who are in need of financial aid.

Though sports at the college level produce remarkable and occasionally inspiring moments, sometimes the costly mistakes are what stand out. Whether it be a walk-off wild pitch, a bobbled snap to end the game or a 20-point lead blown late,

By JOHN SHARP

Staff writer

these situations occur more times than they probably should at the college level.

These mistakes usually transpire because young players are still learning the game in front of a larger crowd than they played for in high school. It sure does allow for some exciting finishes to games.

In college, every game is meaningful, especially in football. Since there are more teams in college than in the NFL and very few games being played, one loss can hurt a team’s chances of reaching the postseason. College football factors in strength of schedule among many other things, whereas the NFL considers the team’s record in comparison to other divisional teams first and foremost.

Fans of college teams understand the significance of each game, as a win or loss can impact the rest of the season.

the

SIGNAL

As mentioned previously, most college sports compete against more teams than the professional level. This means more teams stand in the way of the chance to win a championship. Though professional and youth sports deliver exciting moments, college athletics includes many teams who could upset another on any given day.

One of the most important aspects of college sports is the fan attendance. The student section is reserved for students to passionately cheer on their favorite team alongside others. Local fans drive, or even walk, to the stadium every Saturday to support the hometown team. Former players often return to encourage the current players and recapture the special atmosphere of college athletics.

College sports truly deliver exciting moments and special stories for fans to enjoy. n

facebook.com/obusignal twitter.com/obusignal instagram.com/obusignal

Ever since video games have come into society, people have been trying to figure out how they affect us as individuals. With the recent school shooting in Florida, this topic has once again become one of heated debate.

This topic broke headlines in 1999 with the school shooting at Columbine High School. The two students responsible were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

The shooters killed 12 students and one teacher, after which they committed suicide. The experts on the case said Harris was a clinical psychopath and Klebold was depressed. Not to mention, the two were bullied on a daily basis. Just from this information, you can see some of the warning signs that will lead them to this outcome.

The media latched onto the idea that the video game “Doom” was to blame.

“Doom” was a first-person shooter game in which the player would run through a map finding keys to doors while shooting demons.

The news went after the game, saying that it influenced the shooters’ actions.

While the game could have given them an idea, and in a video of the shooters they mentioned that the shooting would be like “Doom,” the game itself does not say, “go shoot your classmates.” The media was wanting something to blame, and that was the easiest target to hit.

After the recent shooting in Parkland, Fla., President Trump put the blame on violent video games and stated during a press conference, “I’m hearing more and more people seeing the level of violence in video games is really shaping young people’s thoughts.”

Ouachita Baptist University Office: Evans Student Center E-Mail: signal@obu.edu Phone: 870.245.5210

Katie Kemp

Katherine Carter

Will Johnson

Dr. Jeff Root

Ethan Dial

Will Blase

Andy Henderson

Dr. Deborah Root

Julia Williams

Kevin Barnard

Richard Resnick

Ms. Tiffany Eurich

z EDITOR-IN-CHIEF z ONLINE EDITOR z NEWS EDITOR

z ED/OP ED EDITOR

z FEATURES EDITOR z VIDEO EDITOR

z SPORTS EDITOR z PHOTO EDITOR

z ADVERTISING MANAGER

z ADVISER z ADVISER

z ONLINE ADVISER

Children are very impressionable, and video games have a noticable grasp on the attention of many of them. When a child sees something, their first instinct is to imitate it. This is why kids should play video games that are appropriate for their age.

“You look at the ‘culture of death’ that is being celebrated. There are video games that, yes, are listed for mature audiences, but kids play them and everybody knows it, and there’s nothing to prevent the child from playing them, that celebrate the slaughtering of people,” Kentucky governor Matt Bevin said. Therefore, parents should not buy their children these violent games. The issue with kids’ impressions by the games comes down to the parents allowing them to own and play the games. Not having the parental stamp of approval on a game not only says that it’s not okay for a child to play it, but they may also be able learn from the game and be influenced by things that they aren’t mature enough to handle.

Parents should know better than to allow their 12-yearold to play games that involve violence, gore and sex. Parents should know what they are giving their kids and how it could ultimately influence them.

Unfortunately, there is not a good way to test if violent video games are directly related to violent actions. But, I can tell you banning them all together is not the best way to handle the situation.

This is more of the nuclear option. While I don’t think that violent video games are the direct cause of violent behavior, I do think that an individual should know what they can handle, and parents should actually follow the rating system that has been placed. n

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Friday 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 Hope Star.

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 e-mail to signal@obu.edu.

SPORTS

www.obusignal.com

Friday, March 30, 2018 u page 6

Unrivaled bond between high school teammates

By STORMI LEONARD Guest writer

They say you meet your closest friends in college, but for Mahlon Martin, Allie Freeman and twins Cori and Justin Gooseberry, that was not the case. These four have grown up playing basketball and football with and against each other. Now they all attend Ouachita, playing football or basketball.

“We used to play against each other in Boys and Girls Club basketball. That’s where we really met,” said Freeman, a sophomore All-Great American Conference wide receiver.

All four attended Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, where they played football and basketball before joining their respective teams at Ouachita. Both Gooseberrys and Freeman are members of the Tiger football team while Martin plays for the basketball team.

Although none of the boys will credit their friends being at Ouachita as their sole reason of committing to play, they all agree it is nice to have them around.

“I feel like I was influenced the most by these guys in my recruiting process. There were other schools that I had visited, but I visited Ouachita

Andy Henderson z Photo Lab SOPHOMORE ALLIE FREEMAN attempts to manuever the Harding Bisons defense on homecoming. Freeman finished the 2017 season with 879 yards and nine touchdowns.

and liked it enough, and with them already being here, played a big role in my decision to commit,” said Freeman.

Justin was the first to receive interest from Ouachita’s football program, and shortly after, he committed.

Cori was the next to be offered and gladly accepted the opportunity to keep playing with his brother. The basketball program later gave an offer to Martin, and all three began their collegiate career in the fall of 2015. Freeman joined them the following fall

and the foursome was back together again.

Through numerous laughs and inside jokes, the guys were able to reminisce on some of their favorite memories growing up. They couldn’t keep it together while talking about an unfortunate event at one of their high school girl’s basketball games.

“A girl just so happened to shoot on the wrong goal and we all busted out laughing and booing her, but then she started crying so we had to stop,” said Martin, a guard,

trying to hold back his laughter.

“The lunch table. Man, we had some good times there, just roasting people and cracking jokes at each other,” said Justin Gooseberry, an All-GAC offensive lineman.

Another one of their favorite memories was winning back-to-back high school basketball state championship titles for the Wildcats during the Gooseberrys’ and Martin’s junior and senior seasons and Freeman’s sophomore and junior seasons. All four were starters.

They have all brought success to their respective programs at Ouachita, with Martin helping lead the basketball team to a conference tournament championship in 2016 and the Gooseberrys and Freeman winning the regular season conference championships in 2017.

They all still support each other, going to each other’s games throughout their seasons. Although they don’t all play on the same team anymore, they all agree that they would love to do it again. But only if it were basketball, as Martin stopped playing football in the seventh grade, after promising a Gooseberry brother he’d keep going if they kept playing basketball.

Only Cori held up his end of the deal.

“I think if we all still played in college, we could compete in the conference. We were good and we played well together and we know Mahlon isn’t about to come get on the field,” said Cori, also an AllGAC offensive lineman.

The guys are now upperclassmen at Ouachita and look to soak up their last full year being in school together.

The Gooseberrys and Martin plan to graduate in the spring of 2019, while Freeman will play his last season and will graduate in the spring of 2020 without his best friends. n

Setting standards for Ouachita volleyball Miracle season for triplets Andy Henderson z Photo Lab

By KYLIE SHARP Guest writer

By JOSH SALIM

Copy editor

Ever since junior setter Stormi Leonard stepped foot on the court at Ouachita Baptist University, she has been setting standards for girls to come on the Lady Tigers volleyball team.

Before coming to Ouachita, Leonard had the Division 1 dream like most high school athletes do. She was stuck on TCU and knew she had a good spot as a walk on for the team and had the potential to eventually earn an athletic scholarship with the Horned Frogs. After thinking about her options, she realized that taking on a high level of debt wasn’t worth the D1 TCU dream, so she made the decision to play for Ouachita, and that’s where her path of excellence started.

Leonard made great friends around campus as a freshman, found her place in the college environment and made great connections with her teammates, which made her realize this is where she was meant to be.

The team’s results during her freshman year weren’t what they had hoped for, but Leonard did great working through the transition between high school and college competitiveness. Stormi won Second Team All-Conference as a freshman but still had greater things she wanted to reach for.

Leonard made a huge impact as a sophomore and helped Ouachita win its firstever GAC championship in volleyball. Along with a ring, she was awarded Setter of the Year in the Great American Conference as well as First Team All-Conference.

JUNIOR STORMI LEONARD converses with teammates during a timeout.

Leonard received 2017 Second Team All-Conference honors for the fall season.

As a junior last fall, Leonard won Second Team AllConference and the Crafton’s Toll Distinguished Scholar Athlete award, proving she was more than just a rock star on the court but in the classroom as well. Leonard is a triple major in mass communications, finance and Spanish. After she graduates, she hopes to work for a professional football team as a broadcaster or go into public relations.

Since she started school at Ouachita, where she says she is not a just number but a student her professors care about, she has received many opportunities for internships that she might not have attending a larger university.

During her sophomore year, she got an internship with a sports agency and traveled to the NFL combine and NFL pro days. As a junior, she also had the opportunity to attend an ESPN sports convention and meet established broadcasters and sports writers as well as tour the Tennessee Titans facility and meet the head coach. All of these opportunities are leading her

down her own personal path of excellence.

Being at Ouachita also has brought Leonard the opportunity to go on a volleyball tour to Brazil, where she will spend 10 days travelling the country playing other great teams. One of her Ouachita teammates, Adrianna Nolly, is traveling with her, which is going to help them improve playing with each other even more going into next season.

Current senior Kori Bullard got the same opportunity last summer and helped pave the way for the program to know about Ouachita’s players and give them insight on their talent. Bullard suggested Leonard and Nolly as possible prospects for next year’s team.

At first, Stormi didn’t want to go to Ouachita, but she now knows attending OBU has made such a difference in how successful she has perfromed in the classroom and in athletics. In other schools, she doesn’t believe she would have been awarded these opportunities that have led her to setting both volleyballs and high standards. n

This Week at Ouachita Friday, March 30

Softball vs Southern Arkansas (DH) @ 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 31

Men’s Tennis vs Harding @ 1 p.m.

Softball vs Southern Arkansas (DH) @ 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

What would you say is better, having one of something or three of something? Three, obviously. That is how I feel as I make up a third of three triplet boys. Everywhere that we go together, we get triple the treatment, triple the gifts and triple the rewards. That is, if we succeed in something. If not, we tend to get triple the pain, triple the trouble or triple the consequences. In one particular instance, my favorite instance, we happened to fall into the much more positive category.

In my junior year, my older brother Jacob left the third brother and me at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, so that he could go to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. IMG Academy is an athletic boarding school that signs 98 percent of its athletes to Division I colleges. My brothers and I were baseball players that were looking to improve our skills, with the exception of the younger brother Jordan, who had quit baseball after freshman year. This was the first time any of us had been separated. Jacob chose to go to Florida. Jordan and I chose to stay home. How could there be a positive outcome coming from this? This is the question I was asking myself at the time, but God had other plans coming.

My brother stayed at IMG Academy for a year and a half, but discussion with the high school league I was in began as Jacob was looking to come back for the spring season of baseball at PCA. Many schools did not like that my brother was coming back because we already had a great team and Jacob had gotten much better after leaving. After many board meetings with the other schools and a collective voting, Jacob was allowed to come back. I was going to play a final season with my brother. The first miracle.

My younger brother Jordan quit baseball after his freshman year to pursue full-time ministry working at the church. He had not

played baseball in two years, let alone thrown a baseball for that amount of time. Before the beginning of the season senior year, our catcher got injured and was going to miss at least half the season. Little did I know that he would save the season for us and hopped in. Nonetheless, I was going to get to play one final season with both of my brothers. Jordan started as the catcher for the first 23 games or so before our old catcher recovered from injury. We won the first 27 games before losing our first and only game all season. Without Jordan, we would not have. The second miracle.

When playoffs came around, the first round was difficult, yet we pulled out a 1-0 win against Houston St. Pius for the last time I would play on my high school field.

We had a three game series the next round against our rivals Trinity Christian Academy, so we had to win two of the three games to move on.

After winning the first game, the next went into the eleventh inning tied one to one, but we scored seven runs to win 8-1 and move on.

In the semifinal game against St. Thomas, we led the entire game. However, we got a scare in the last inning of play to have the go ahead runner out at second base with two outs. With a 3-2 count and our pitcher in jeopardy of walking the hitter to load the bases, the next pitch came in as the final strike to send us to the championship.

Prestonwood had never won a state championship before, so the fact that we were in the position to win the first one ever was overwhelming.

I hugged each of my brothers before and after each game leading up to the championship. When I walked onto the field that day, I did not know I would be hugging them as their teammate one last time.

The championship game was a breeze against Beaumont Kelly. We won 7-1, and when the last out was made, we had a dog pile on the mound.

We had done it, but more importantly my brothers and I had done it together. The final miracle. n