The Signal | Ouachita Baptist University | 11.28.18

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11.28.18 | Vol. 127, Issue 11 | www.obusignal.com

Stepping Up for Ouachita raises scholarships for female students

By HANNAH WEBBER Staff writer Ouachita held its annual Stepping Up for Ouachita luncheon in the Benton Event Center on Nov. 16. Started in 2010, the event not only provides a delicious meal to those who bought a ticket, but also helps to raise scholarship money for some remarkable women students at Ouachita and honors one remarkable female Ouachita graduate who has succeeded in her career, made an impact in her community and is someone who shows her love of Christ in her work and life.

Terry Peeples, vice president of development and organizer of Stepping Up, said that the idea for the event came from both a need for female-centered scholarships, as the women on campus did not have the same opportunity to get money at Ouachita as the men did, and a need to break the glass ceiling at Ouachita.

“When you look at how many students we have on campus, there is usually a few more female students than males,” Peeples said.

Even though our golf tournament [and other events] at Ouachita [are] for women or men, it seems [the events] are usually attended mainly by men…But I wanted to do something that focuses on the education of women [and] I felt the best way to do that was a

luncheon.” The scholarships help women continue their education and get jobs in realms that were originally dominated by men. In the past, women did not have the same opportunities in the business world as men and now, as this society is seeing more women in the workplace, Peeples feels there should be an easier way for more women to get the education in order to take on those positions alongside their male counterparts.

This year’s honoree for Stepping Up was Cathryn Berryman, a 1988 Ouachita graduate. Berryman graduated from Ouachita with a bachelor’ degree in political science and history, going on to earn her juris doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1991. She currently works at Winstead’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, where she is also a shareholder. Her practice mainly focuses on domestic and international intellectual property licensing and transactional work. For her work as an attorney, D Magazine recognized her as one of the Best Women Lawyers in Dallas in 2010 and one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas in 2018. She has been also been recognized in Woodward/ White Inc.’s The Best Lawyers in America from 2011-2019 and named 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas Trademark Law by that publication. According to Peeples, Berryman not only helps to recruit future students for Ouachita and

Carey Roberson z Courtesy CATHRYN BERRYMAN, a 1998 Ouachita Graduate, speaks as the honoree for the Stepping Up for Ouachita fundraiser luncheon. The annual gathering, which honors an alumna of Ouachita, serves to raise scholarship funds for female students.

talks well of the school, but also goes home after getting off work and takes care of her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. “To me that says something.” said Peeples.

“The other says something about her brilliance and success, but that shows you Christ in her. Every one of our honorees has a mixture of that component: the way Christians show and live Christ, but they also have other aspects of their life that make them noteworthy.”

Along with the lunch, President

Ben Sells delivered some remarks and donors were thanked for their efforts. The school provided the guests with some entertainment, as well. There was a special performance by Marcia Ramirez Waldron, an award-winning country singer, founder of “God and My Girlfriends Ministries” and Miss OBU 1981. The guests also took home a gift bag filled with skin care and cosmetic products courtesy of Mary Kay Cosmetics.

This year, the event was presented

by Everett Buick GMC and was

sponsored by businesses and churches in the area, like First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Ouachita Print Shop, Mary and Martha’s Florist and Gifts and Vibrant Occasions Catering.

Proceeds made from the luncheon this year went to the Stepping Up Scholarship Fund, and since this year’s honoree graduated from the Sutton School of Social Sciences, funds will be used to help women of the Sutton School further their education here at Ouachita. n

Ouachita offers after-school Sigma Tau Delta teams up with Art Club steel band program at Peake

By ASHLY STRACENER Staff writer Sigma Tau Delta and the Ouachita Art Club joined together to host a book sale where members sold books and bookmarks in the Evans Student Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

“We did it because we weren’t able to do anything for banned books week and we decided to just do something in November,” said Haydn Jeffers, a senior English major from Hot Springs and the current president of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society on campus.

“The English department is filled with a lot of books that we don’t need and we try to give them away all the time, but it wasn’t working so we were like, maybe people would just rather buy them and they bought them,” Jeffers said.

“Originally, they wanted to do a sort of art sale with us, where we make artwork based on their writings and vice versa,” said Carrie Hill, a senior art and graphic design double major from Benton who is the president of the Art Club. “However, this would have been a big time commitment for both clubs, so Sigma Tau Delta instead invited us to join in the book sale they were planning. We were excited for the invitation, because it would be a fun way for both

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clubs to work together.”

The book sale was partially a result of book shelf cleaning of the English department’s bookshelves which led to a rather large number of books to sell.

“Most of them were from the Sonheims and then a few other English professors donated and then a few Sigma Tau Delta members donated, but most of them were from the Sonheims,” Jeffers said. “There were a lot. There were like 120 books.”

“Everything was two dollars or less, so the hardbacks were two and then paperbacks were a dollar, but if they were in poor condition then they were a quarter,” Jeffers said. “And then bookmarks were a dollar. Anybody who bought a book was donating to the SCOPE fund.”

“It was definitely a success,” Hill said. “We were selling bookmarks from 11 to 5, to both students and teachers, and we made a nice profit to keep Art Club in business. Working together was great, because anyone who bought a book also wanted a bookmark, and anyone who bought a bookmark wanted a book.”

“Almost everyone made a few bookmarks, each in their own personal style,” Hill said. “Some used abstract color and paint, others drew fun images in pen and pencil, and others did both! I used a dip pen and ink to draw mine, and had a lot of fun doing it. Hannah painted hers with blueberry juice.”

“We always knew we wanted to make artwork about books to fit the theme of the sale, but we initially didn't know what kind of work that would be,” Hill said.

“We discussed it during a meeting, and bookmarks won out. A STD officer came up with the quote, “Art thou into books?” and it was brought it to the meeting. We absolutely loved it, so I designed the quote's typography and we printed it on every bookmark.

Using the same quote unified the bookmarks, even though they were each unique.”

The sale was set outside to catch the Thanksgiving lunch traffic, however, members of both clubs who were working the sale decided to move inside to the warmth after a while.

“All of the Thanksgiving people were done being outside so we decided to go inside,” Jeffers said.

“When I was selling bookmarks, it was freezing cold outside, but hanging out and talking with customers made it worth it,” Hill said. “Everyone seemed so excited to have their own unique bookmark to go with the books they bought and I know each artist appreciates those who bought their work.”

“Working with Sigma Tau Delta was delightful,” Hill said. “Everyone was kind, funny and excited to collaborate with us. This was a great way to get outside of our comfort zone and make something great for Ouachita students.” n

By TIFFANY LEE News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University has begun offering an after-school, community steel band program for fourth and fifth graders from Peake Elementary School in Arkadelphia. The steel band, called Pan Harmony, meets every Monday on Ouachita’s campus from 3 to 5 p.m.

The community steel band program began at the start of the 2018 fall semester with nine Peake Elementary students and student volunteers from Goza Middle School, Arkadelphia High School and Ouachita. The program is geared toward fourth and fifth graders specifically because they are not yet old enough to play school sports or join the school band. The students will have the opportunity to show the skills they have learned this semester during Ouachita’s fall and spring steel band concerts.

“To have young students excited about music, and excited about learning music from a different culture other than our own, is very exciting,” said Dr. Ryan Lewis, director of the steel band program and associate professor of music at Ouachita.

Something unique to the program is its goal not only to teach music but also respect. At the beginning of each rehearsal, Lewis leads the students in a chant about respecting the people around

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them. This emphasis on respect inspired the band’s name: Pan Harmony.

The students start each Monday afternoon with their school homework and a snack before beginning their music lessons. After each practice, while they wait to be picked up, students also have free reign to play the instruments and put their new knowledge to the test.

As they have watched the elementary students learn more about steel drums, Ouachita’s student volunteers have been reminded of their own love for music and are hoping to see the program grow. Hannah Terry, a sophomore Christian studies/ missions major from Texarkana, Ark., is both a Pan Harmony volunteer and a member of the Ouachita Steel Band.

“This experience has humbled me in a way nothing else in my life has,” Terry said. “I played steel pans for four years in high school and, so far, two at OBU. These kids have shown me that even though I have been playing for six years, there is still a lot I can learn.”

Other Pan Harmony student volunteers include Maggie Foreman, a senior music major from Sherwood, Ark., and Karlee Sanders, a freshman music education major from Caraway, Ark. For more information, contact Dr. Ryan Lewis at (870) 245-5421 or lewisr@obu.edu. n

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News Briefs

A look at the biggest news of the week Mars Landing A NASA spacecraft sent toward Mars six months ago has finally reached the red planet.

The 300-million mile journey reached the end of its trek on Monday.

Of nine missions to land a US rover on Mars, eight of the attempts have been successful.

NASA’s last touchdown on Mars was in 2012 with the Curiosity lander.

The 800-pound lander is designed to dig six feet into the surface of Mars and place a seismometer, a feat that no other lander has attempted before.

The lander will conduct research and collect results over a two-year period, as well as collect sediment and planetary rocks that will be retrieved on the 2020 mission. This marks a great success for NASA. Source: AP

Russia-Ukraine Tension Three Ukrainian naval ships were captured by Russian forces.

The ships were sailing in the Crimean Peninsula when they were attacked by Russian boats.

The Russian boats opened fire on the Ukrainian boats, stating they overstepped their boundaries and illegally entered their waters.

23 crew members were captured and three to six individuals were injured in the attack.

Ukraine has deemed this an “act of aggression.” Kiev announced that Russia was in direct violation of international law due to Crimea belonging to Ukraine.

The Black Sea has been known to be a free shipping zone.

The United Nations met earlier this week to discuss Russia’s actions. An agreement wasn’t reached due to Moscow’s currentrelations with the West.

Source: BBC

Border Security An unsuccessful attempt to cross the US-Mexico border resulted in nearly 500 migrants being targeted by US troops with tear gas.

The defensive attack sparked action by the Mexican government to up their security at the border. The deportation of 98 individuals will go underway in the coming days.

Mexican officials claim that this is an act of “violent” chaos and will begin to limit the processing of asylum claims.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection have arrested 69 migrants who tried to cross the border illegally.

Women and children were among those targeted by tear gas, sparking outrage from American citizens and migrants alike.

Source: AP

“Scope: Toda su dimensión,” by students for students

By EMILY MCMASTER Staff writer “Scope: toda su dimensión“ is a bilingual literary arts journal that is written by and written for Ouachita students. This students publication is from the English Honor Society of Sigma Tau Delta and is under the direction of faculty advisor Dr. Amy Sonheim.

“Although I am the faculty advisor, ‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ is completely student led and created. I simply help guide students in the work and make sure everything runs smoothly,” Dr. Sonheim said. “The purpose of ‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ is for Ouachita students to have a venue to share their creative endeavors, whether that be poetry, short stories, creative non-fiction essays or just celebrating the genius and talent of their peers.

Ever since the English department and the Modern Language department combined to become the Language and Literature department, ‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ has also found purpose as an outlet for creativity in Spanish as well as in English.”

The Language and Literature Department works on “Scope: toda su dimensión,” but the submissions can be from any student with any major or minor.

Students do not have to be in a language or literature class to make a submission. Students can choose any topic they choose.

The deadline to submit is Dec. 7 at 11:59 p.m., but if a student feels that they need more time to come up with an idea and create a submission, they can send it in the first week of the spring semester.

Hadyn Jeffers is an English and mass communications double major from Hot Springs, Ark. She is the president of Sigma Tau Delta and the managing editor of

“Scope: toda su dimensión.” Jeffers gave insight into the mission of the publication and her journey in the program.

“Accepted written works are translated into Spanish by two Sigma Tau Delta members and a few Spanish professors. It’s a great way for students to get their works published, and for Sigma Tau Delta to help foster a love for literature,” Jeffers said.

“I became involved with Scope during the spring of my freshman year, after I was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta. I was on the fiction committee, which simply meant that I helped pick which fiction submissions would be accepted and which would be denied. I also offered a helping hand in editing works, which was greatly appreciated.

I was elected ‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ managing editor at the end of my sophomore year, and I have been working to improve the journal ever since.”

Only Sigma Tau Delta members can play a role in forming “Scope: toda su dimensión” committees, determining which works do and do not get accepted, designing “Scope: toda su dimensión,” and making any other executive decisions.

And, for a student to be able to join Sigma Tau Delta, they must have received a “B” or higher in at least two non-CORE English courses, be ranked in the top 35 percent of their class, and have completed at least three semesters of college coursework.

If a student feels like they meet all of the requirments, yet are not invited to join Sigma Tau Delta, they can talk to Dr. Sonheim. Jeffers encourages all students to submit a work to “Scope: toda su dimensión” in order to have a chance at some of the benefits.

“I would strongly recommend people submit a work to ‘Scope: toda su dimensión.’ Even if their work is accepted, translated into

Spanish and published, students own the copyright of whatever they submit and can submit it to future publications if they so choose,”Jeffers said. “‘Scope’ is an award-winning publication that looks great on a résumé, and I always get super excited when I check the “Scope: toda su dimensión” Gmail account for new submissions. We’re currently accepting submissions at obuscopesubmissions@gmail.com.”

Students who have published work in “Scope: toda su dimensión” and become members of the editorial staff have found a new passion and career choice through their experiences. Dr. Sonheim has witnessed several past members go on to beome professional editors.

“I have seen the editorial staff benefit by discovering that they really enjoy doing work such as design, creative writing and formatting. I have seen students who were members of Sigma Tau Delta at Ouachita become professional editors. Within a school Ouachita has small classes, but there is never really a moment where all of the majors can collaborate on one project, so this affords English majors and minors to collaborate on one project and this organization is ranked from freshmen to seniors,” Dr. Sonheim said. “‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ gives the underclassmen the chance to work shoulder to shoulder with the upperclassmen. It gives people who are in creative writing to work with those emphasizing in literary studies. It gives members of Sigma Tau Delta who are not majoring in English to still engage in literary culture. It is a unified project that builds community within the Language and Literature Department.”

The “Scope: toda su dimensión” commitee is currently in need of more Spanish translators for the upcoming publica-

tion. In the past, translators have come from the Spanish translation class, but that course will no longer be offered in the spring semester.

Jeffers has seen personal growth from her time in leadership for “Scope: toda su dimensión.” She points out how this experience has impacted her future and taught her new skills.

“I am hoping to pursue a career in copy/developmental editing after I graduate OBU, and being managing editor for ‘Scope: toda su dimensión’ has given me tons of great experience for this goal,” Jeffers said.

“As managing editor, I have the responsibility to proof and edit anything from short stories to nonfiction to poems. It’s also my job to communicate directly with the authors of such works, so that they can see the changes I make and come to me with any questions or concerns. In this way, I am learning various leadership skills. It has also given me a lot of design experience, especially with InDesign, so I’m grateful for that because it will help me in the long run.”

For more information or to submit a work, email obuscopesubmissions@gmail.com. n

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Second Baptist Church: serving Arkadelphia for over 110 years

By SARA PATTERSON Staff writer

Second Baptist Church has a long, full history of seeking and spreading the word of God. For over a century, the church has been bringing in new developments to bring the presence of God to His people week after week.

Second Baptist also shares unique ties with the Ouachita community -both students and faculty- that is evident throughout the history of the church.

Second Baptist Church began over 110 years ago and has had around 30 different pastors, one of them being Ouachita Vice President Dr. Wesley Kluck’s father, Dr. Carl Kluck, who served as pastor from 1960 to 1990.

Second Baptist church began in 1905 as a ministry of First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and was originally named Sweet Hill Mission, after the hill it is located on.

After its first seven months, Sweet Hill Mission asked to begin its own work, and it became Sweet Hill Baptist Church, independent from First Baptist.

This independence caused a turning point of growth and revival. Sweet Hill Baptist held a revival just a few months after its independence which resulted in 55 conversions and an increase in church membership- the church now had about 100 members and continued to grow.

The church began under the leadership of H. H. Thomas, a college ministerial student at Ouachita who served as a parttime pastor.

In 1928, the congregation voted to change the name to Second Baptist Church. The name change felt appropriate as the church’s ministry was expanding to include the entire city of Arkadelphia -not just the small region around Sweet Hill.

The church continued with further developments- gradually adding to various types of ministry. Some included starting a Vacation Bible School, adding to the original building space, establishing a church library and

a church bus ministry and even opening Park Hill Mission -now called Park Hill Baptist Church.

Today, Second Baptist is led by Pastor Louie Heard and is continuing to grow in new ways.

Heard, who started as head pastor of Second Baptist in 2016, has a history with Second Baptist that goes back to when he was a student at Ouachita in the late 1990s.

Heard attended a Second Baptist Bible study led by Dr. Kluck

certainly already had a good bonding there, so he knew me pretty well… That’s what really led to the progression of me being called here as lead pastor,” Heard said.

Since Heard began pastoring at Second Baptist, the already strong church has continued to improve in new ways.

“The church was a healthy, strong church before I came here.

Any change that I made since I came here just added to the rich

flair is probably the best way to describe what we have done in regard to music and technology and the approach to communicating the Gospel,” Heard said.

These modernizations have helped Second Baptist draw in a large portion of the Arkadelphia population- college students.

Second Baptist has experienced an increase of college student attendance within this semester and has added programs designed to involve college stu-

Dr. Wesley Kluck z Courtesy Dr. Wesley Kluck z Courtesy

Dr. Wesley Kluck z Courtesy BOTTOM LEFT: SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH early Vacation Bible School group sits in front of the church. The church has been in operation for over 110 years.

BOTTOM RIGHT: DR. CARL KLUCK stands at the pulpit of Second Baptist Church. Dr. Carl Kluck was pastor from 1960 to 1990.

and helped with worship occasionally.

Years later, when Second Baptist was searching for a new head pastor, Heard’s connection to both Second Baptist and Ouachita contributed to his recruitment for this role.

“The pastor search committee chairman was Dr. Hays, so because I had him in a lot of my classes in Christian studies, we

tradition of glorifying God and becoming a place where people want to come and worship God,” Heard said.

To Second Baptist Church attendees, the most apparent difference is in the style of the Sunday service. The church has adopted a more modern worship style compared to that of it’s previous years.

“Bringing it more in a modern

dents in both learning and serving.

In addition to Sunday worship service, college students can learn through Faith Track Bible studies that meet on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. or on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

The church has also recently implemented a volunteer internship program, giving students an opportunity for experience in

church ministry.

“We’re getting a number of college students participating in internships, kind of peeking behind the curtain to see what happens in church and also getting involved in ministry, so that’s a really exciting thing that I like,” Heard said.

College students are also encouraged to get involved with Second Baptist’s community involvement mission called “L.I.F.E in Missions”. The acronym “L. I. F. E” stands for Local missions within the Arkadelphia community, Intermediate missions in surrounding areas, Foreign missions in places outside of the U.S and Evangelism.

For Heard, evangelism is particularly important for the health and growth of the church.

“Churches catch fire when they start recognizing where they have come from, where they started apart from God, and when they realize what God has done for them and when they start sharing that with others. That’s when a church really lights up. That’s when things begin to change within the community and beyond… A lot of it starts with sharing your faith, and so that’s my hope for this next year or two… that we become a church that is passionate about sharing our faith. I would love college students to be a part of that,” Heard said.

Heard believes that the church thrives most when its congregation acts on their faith, so he and the rest of the staff aim to provide a church experience in which members can encounter God and be prepared to act.

“What I hear probably the most in the time that I’ve been here, what they’re loving about Second is that when they come here, they know that they can encounter God every time…

Whether it be through the music, the preaching, the other experiences that we provide, they are going to be moved closer to God. That’s really our mission statement is moving people closer to God. If we are successful at that, we are confident people will want to keep coming,” Heard said. n

Ouachita international students adopt new holiday traditions

By EMILY MCMASTER Staff writer

The end of the fall semester corresponds with the season of holidays and time off from classes. The Ouachita dorms close down for Thanksgiving and Christmas and students disperse back home to spend time with family and friends. However, the international population, which represents 14 different countries at Ouachita is several thousand miles away from home. For many there is not time to fly home for less than a week at Thanksgiving and there may also be challenges in finding a budget-friendly way home between semesters.

Many international Ouachita students stay in America during these holidays. Some stay with close friends whose families invite them into the celebration while others stick with each other. Another aspect is that while the U.S. population has a relatively set standard for our culture’s celebrations, other countries have varying traditions and holidays.

Dylan Bester is a junior business administration and management major with an emphasis in

entrepreneurship and a Christian studies minor from Johannesburg, South Africa. He shared his past experiences during the holiday breaks here at Ouachita.

“I spent Thanksgiving last year at my girlfriend’s house and will do the same thing this year.

For my very first Thanksgiving, I was invited to go home with a friend from D’Hanis, Texas, and that is where I went,” Bester said.

“For Christmas this year, I will take my girlfriend home to South Africa to spend Christmas with my family. However, the last two Christmases, I have spent traveling around, snowboarding and staying with friends.”

Zoar Moreno is a freshman nursing student from Aguascalientes, Mexico. She is excited to go home this Christmas break and visit her family and friends.

“I did not go back to Mexico for Thanksgiving because it was such a short break, but I was able to travel to Little Rock where my sister lives and celebrate with her,” Moreno said. “I am excited because I will be going back home during the Christmas holiday so that I can see everyone for a little bit.”

Able Kusaloka is a freshman from Zambia, Africa. He has

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The

been a part of a host family for almost four years in Texas.

“This year for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will be traveling to Texas to celebrate with my host family,” Kusaloka said.

“Fortunately, I knew my family before I even moved here because they lived in Zambia with me before we moved. However, I miss home, friends and family, because I don’t get to see them much.”

Traditions are unique in every part of the world and with every family. No matter how someone celebrates the holiday season, it is an awaited time. Many International Students who do not go home to celebrate adopt new traditions here in the U.S. Bester has had the opportunity to spend the past three Christmas breaks in three different states. Although he has not adopted specific traditions, he does acknowledge that Christmas in South Africa differs greatly from that in America.

“Celebration of Christmas in South Africa is fairly different.

We do not say Santa Claus, we say Father Christmas. We open gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas Day,” Bester said. “Most Christmas celebra-

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tions in South Africa are spent around the swimming pool, since it is the middle of summer.

It is also popular to pop Christmas crackers with family to celebrate.The main tradition my home has is having a barbecue for Christmas eve. At the barbecue, we usually cook lamb.”

Although both Bester and Kusaloka are both from Africa, the minor difference in location brings about differences in typical holiday celebrations.

“My home country does not celebrate Thanksgiving, but we do have Christmas. Everyone stays up all night until morning.

Some people go to parties, others go to church, because they stay open all night. I normally just go to church for a while and then go back home and watch Christmas movies,” Kusaloka said. “On most holidays people make the best meal in the country which consists of chicken and rice along with dance to loud music.”

Moreno compares the traditions and cultural norms during the holiday season between here and her home. Although some traditions in Mexico are different from the U.S. there are a few similarities, as well.

“The food in Mexico is defi-

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

nitely different than that of America. What would be considered a traditional holiday meal here is not the same as my home customs. In Mexico we usually eat tamales and pozole for the end of the year type meals.

However, one similarity is that in Mexico people decorate their houses for the season and put up a Christmas tree,” Moreno said.

“I am looking forward to returning home for Christmas because a family tradition that my family has is celebrating my Dad’s birthday on Christmas as well because his birthday is so close to the holiday.”

There are differences in the holiday season all around the world. In Germany, at Thanksgiving people celebrate the harvest Thanksgiving Festival in early October. In Japan, people honor hard work and community involvement in late November. This day is called Labor Thanksgiving Day. There are many other countries and beliefs represented here at Ouachita, as well. No matter the differing customs, traditions and mindsets during the holidays, everyone can find a way to come together and celebrate with friends and family. n

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Nashville Leader.

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Senior art exhibits bring Ouachita college years to a close

By CAITY HATCHETT Staff writer

For senior artists Allisha Bates and Wesley Ramsey, the past weeks have been filled with anticipation and anxiety.

Both have exhibitions being showcased in the Moses-Provine art galleries, following their reception on Nov. 26. The exhibits are vastly different, with Bates’s being openly personal and Ramsey’s being subtly personal.

For both of the artists, though, these exhibits are representative of something bigger: the end of their time at Ouachita.

For both seniors, having their artwork on display is both exciting and nerve-wracking.

They have worked so hard to make these pieces, and being able to show their work to their peers is definitely big for them. Bates and Ramsey are excited about the reactions to their artwork, and they hope that people will be able to enjoy and interact with their art.

“I think and I hope that people are going to like it,” Bates said. “I just want to inspire people to tell their stories.”

“I want somebody three years from now, two years from now, when they’re doing their show, to be like, ‘How can I one-up that guy?’” Ramsey said. “So, that’s really what I want to leave. It’s just kind of that, ‘Oh, I did this.

Let’s see what you can do.’”

Bates’s passion for art began when she was a child, and it has continued into her adult life.

Her showcase is very personal, and it is titled “The Journey of a Female Artist.” The exhibit has two series, and one highlights the two most important women in her life: Bates’s mother and her grandmother who passed away when Bates was eight. The other series, “Emotions and Notions,” has three pieces: Depression,

Chandler Franklin z Photo lab Chandler Franklin z Photo lab

TOP: Senior Allisha Bates poses at the beginning of her senior exhibit titled, “The Journey of a Female Artist.” ABOVE: STUDENTS peer at Bates’ pieces which reflect on the most important women in her life. RIGHT: Wesley Ramsey explains some of his work to students gathered at Monday’s reception. Both exhibits are displayed in Ouachita’s Moses-Provine Hall galleries.

Anxiety and Joy. Depression and anxiety are feelings that Bates struggles with, but the third piece reminds her that she can find joy in the midst of darkness.

Bates wants her audience to be able to connect with the pieces on a personal level.

“I think that’s something important for art,” Bates said, “to both be aesthetically pleasing and to have that deeper connection.”

Ramsey’s exhibit, on the other hand, is a bit different.

Ramsey was also a young artist, and he often got into trouble for doodling on tests in school.

He transferred from Arkansas State to Ouachita and has spent most of his time here in the graphic design program. He has also become a printmaker, and his exhibit showcases both his graphic designs and his printmaking. Ramsey’s style of graphic design and style of printmaking are even different, though.

“With my graphic design style I have a really crisp layout, but then on my other stuff… I get a lot rougher,” Ramsey said. “So, my layouts I like strict and clean, but my printmaking… almost

Chandler Franklin z Photo lab

looks sloppy to a degree, and then I do vehicle wraps as well.”

Ramsey’s exhibit is titled “[Default Printer],” as a play on words and a play on the pieces in his exhibit. Most of his showcase is print-based, and it features a motorcycle and a children’s vehicle that Ramsey has done vehicle wraps for. The exhibit shows Ramsey’s playful side, but he also wants it to show something else.

“I can mold my style to fit the project and the scope of what it needs to be,” Ramsey said. “I’m an all-around designer, but I can

work on something completely different and two things may not even look the same, depending on the project.”

For both designers, art is in their post-graduate plans. Bates plans to be an art teacher, and then return to school to become an art therapist. Ramsey is already working as a graphic designer and pre-press operations worker for a company in Little Rock, where he plans to work full-time when he graduates. Both artists poured a lot of themselves into their exhibits, and they both have a bright future. n

Percussion ensemble Christmas tunes bring holiday cheer wows audience members

By CATHERINE LYP

By BRODY BROWN Online staff writer

On Monday, thunderous pounds could be heard from the Mabee Fine Arts building as the Percussion Ensemble performed its fall program. As those who have frequented these events in the past, they always have a theme for the program and this year it was “Space Odyssey.”

Dr. Ryan Lewis, associate professor of Percussion and director of the program, said, “Every fall we want to do a theme, in some cases actually we use our photos or video to go along with it, but this just happened organically. I knew we wanted to do ‘Gravity’--that was a great piece-- then I chose ‘Doppleganger’ for our competition, and it just sort of happened.”

All of the pieces in the program had a quick tempo and were, above all, loud.

Perhaps the most memorable piece from the event was “Dark Flight,” a musical interpretation of an asteroid falling to earth. The volume fluctuates from loud to very loud throughout the piece, and it culminated into an ending where bubble wrap and grocery bags were fiddled with, followed by the loud thrashing of all the drums on stage.

The performance certainly left an impression on the audience.

Allyson Oliver, a freshman community and family services major from Bismark said, “I thought it was really good. It was really loud and exciting.”

The performers of this program also took great pride in what they accomplished.

Ben Moss, a junior Christian

studies major and a performer from Krugerville, Texas said, “I feel very satisfied with our performance. We’ve been working hard all semester long on these pieces and trying to make them as good as possible, and I really feel like tonight was one of our best runs.”

Another performer, Grace Faulk, a sophomore music industry major from Maumelle, Ark., said, “It was a lot of fun, it was

“I feel very satisfied with our performance.

We’ve been working hard all semester long on these pieces and trying to make them as good as possible, and I really feel like tonight was one of our best runs.” Ben Moss a little rough at some parts, but we brushed it off and kept going, ‘cause that’s what performers do.”

The director held similar thoughts to that of his pupils.

“They did terrific. Some of the performances were the best they’ve ever done, which is the goal musically, to try to peak at the performance, to not do our best too soon or too late, and I don’t think everything went perfectly, but they’re still so mature musically that they were able to adapt and move around and get back on track,” Lewis said.

All in all, the performance was exceptional and received an earned standing ovation from the audience upon its end. n

Arts / Features editor

During the Christmas season there is never a shortage of Christmas-centered media. From movies and television specials, it is almost impossible to scroll through Netflix or Hulu without seeing a Christmas themed option. While Christmas movies are a defining part of the season, the atmosphere present around Christmas would not be complete without the accompanying music.

Everyone tends to have different traditions and ideas of what makes Christmas, Christmas.

While new music is released every year that falls into the genre of Christmas music, there are a select few of classic Christmas songs that are crucial on any playlist.

One song that is absolutely necessary on any Christmas playlist is “The Christmas Song”

by Nat King Cole. This song is an utter classic, so much so that one cannot think of Christmas music without thinking of this song. “The Christmas Song” captures the the cozy essence of the Christmas atmosphere perfectly.

Another song that should be present on any Christmas playlist is Burl Ives’ song “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” Whether you were introduced to this one through hearing it in the final scenes of the classic stop-motion animated special, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” or simply played on the radio, this song is a Christmas essential.

Among the countless Christmas songs played each year, one that is commonly a crowd favorite is “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee. The song’s beat combined with Brenda Lee’s singing performance, result in a song that gets its au-

dience energized and excited for the holiday season. No matter if you’re decorating a Christmas tree or creating a fake party scene to deter robbers like in “Home Alone,” this song is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

When comprising a list of classic Christmas songs it can be a challenge to choose the best, but it is not a difficult decision when it comes to Bing Crosby’s song, “White Christmas.” With the combination of Bing Crosby’s iconic vocals and the Christmas holiday, it is not a surprise that this song is well loved.

Similar to other classic Christmas tunes, “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Johnny Mathis needs little explanation. With the memorable voice of Johnny Mathis mixed with the traditional comforting attributes of Christmas, the song was destined to be a Christmas music staple.

Just as the Christmas classics that came from those such as Bing Crosby and Burl Ives, Dean Martin is no exception. The song “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” sung by Dean Martin tells the tale of a couple enjoying Christmas together, being cozy while snow falls outside.

It is songs such as these, which portray the warmth, comfort and joy of the holiday that bring the atmosphere of Christmas to life.

Yet another song that brings the joy of Christmas alive is Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Along with many of the Christmas songs I now hold dear, I was first introduced to this song through the movie, “Christmas With The Kranks.” Just as the film shows someone who is not entirely fond of Christmas coming to terms with the holiday through the power of neighborly kindness, this song reminds the listener the importance of being with loved

ones for the holidays.

An absolute classic Christmas song that most people think of when contemplating Christmas music is “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.

Being one of the newer songs on this list, means that there is a higher likelihood that it is also well known. While “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is not sung

by Bing Crosby or the like, Mariah Carey’s distinct voice creates a classic in it’s own right.

Many songs that I commonly think of during the holidays are associated with movies. One such song that falls into this category is “Believe” by Josh Groban. While “Believe” may not commonly be thought of among other classic Christmas songs, when I think about “The Polar Express” and all the great music from its classic Christmas movie, I automatically think of Josh Groban’s “Believe.”

While there are many more songs that I would categorize as a classic Christmas tune, there is only one other song that, to me, reminds me of traditional Christmas. “Christmas Time Is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is a Christmas classic that most are first introduced to as a child, and while some may forget it, it has endured as one of my favorite Christmas songs. One of the classic Christmas specials most children grow up seeing at least once is “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and with such a classic movie, it’s music is almost automatically classic as well.

The world is full of Christmas music. Christmas is a time to be with those you love and remember what is truly important.

Christmas season is full of love, kindness and hope among other things, and having a playlist that adequately portrays and reflects such values can only heighten one’s Christmas spirit. n

OPINIONS

28, November, 2018 u page 5

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Thanksgiving takes backseat to commercialized Christmas

By JULIE WILLIAMS

Catherine Lyp z Courtesy

Editor-in-Chief

Over the Thanksgiving break, my family and I were watching a football game together while we ate our baked turkey, stuffing, rolls and the rest of the traditional feast. It was only when we glanced up at a commercial that we all spun into violent hysterics and riotous rants.

In the particular scene before us, a television-perfect family is seated around a television-perfect table full of the traditional feast in a half-a-million-dollar home, while everyone smiles from the comfort of their sweater vests and materialism. The commercial starts with the patriarch of the family stating something that he’s thankful for, and then the camera pans to a woman who says, “And I’m thankful for this sale tomorrow!” Upon this exclamation, she leaves the table full of her family to go shop for the biggest deals of the season.

Now, I must confess that I have no experience with Black Friday shopping, nor do I submit judgment to any one of my friends and family who participate in the annual festivities. However, why have we fallen this far? This commercial is just one example of the self-consumed world that we have manufactured, the materialism that no longer respects the sanctity of any holiday. It’s almost as if Thanksgiving is merely a passage into Christmas right out of the spooky goings-on of Halloween. Gone are the times of our national day of prayer.

Gone are the days of listing what

we’re grateful for, because we’re already planning to bargain for what we don’t yet have, but have told ourselves that we need.

I can see how all of this sounds like a fruitless and hypocritical rant, but I found this commercial alone enough to convict me about how little I paid attention to the gravity of such a day as Thanksgiving, and for that matter, Christmas. We cover social media in discussions about food and plans for the next day’s shopping spree. We ignore the family that has travelled so far to

see us maybe only this once in a year to scroll through everyone else’s Facebook family photos.

While it’s valuable to share in the fun of your friends, we often get caught up in the social traditions of the holiday without consulting the throne of God about His blessings that are evident in the last year of our lives.

With Christmas, we can rattle off the old clichés of “Jesus is the Reason,” but I think that needs to be taken more to heart, rather than just what we say. If there is no supplication, prayer

and thanksgiving to God for the blessings he’s given, then what is it all for? An excuse to see people that you normally don’t care to?

A reason to wear a nice outfit to the living room of your own house? To decorate the house on November 1 with red and green?

To double the electricity bill? To spend money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like?

Without the grace of God and our prayerful consideration of that, we celebrate nothing. It stands for nothing. It is nothing.

Thanksgiving is not just about

what I’m thankful for, but it’s also about the God to whom I am eternally thankful. A wise man once told me, “A beneficiary cannot be thankful for a benefit without properly identifying a benefactor.” There’s no way for me to be thankful if there is no subject to receive my thanks. Thanksgiving, just like Christmas, is a holiday that deserves our prayerful supplication before the Lord.

It’s not just another American tradition to be walked over on our way to the mall. n

Ask The Signal

By WILL JOHNSON

Sports / Opinions editor With finals coming up in a few weeks, what should I do to de-stress during break periods?

Pixabay z Courtesy

Christmas decorations generate holiday spirit

By WILL BLASE News editor

All it takes is the slightest whiff of pine, a familiar smell from the oven, or an unforgettable tune on the radio to set off the Christmas spirit. Christmas encapsulates so much of our upbringing and livelihood, but when is it deemed acceptable to begin decorating and preparing for Christmas?

As much as I love Christmas, any decorations related to the holiday that are in place before Thanksgiving are an eyesore.

The holiday cycle holds an aura of respect, one that I feel is becoming disrupted by Christmas excitement preceding Thanksgiving. There’s no rule in place that demands you celebrate either holiday, much less respect them, but they dictate (and dominate) how we navigate through each season.

Thanksgiving is a time to be home with family and reflect on the last year. Savory foods and cool, fall weather make for a memorable holiday, one that’s celebrated by households nationwide. Personally, I don’t find Thanksgiving decorations very appealing. Wooden turkeys, bales of hay and multi-colored gourds just don’t make me think of Thanksgiving. With an artistic mind and a well-set budget, it’s entirely possible to create a beautiful ensemble to showcase

to the entire neighborhood. I think that Thanksgiving decorations are better implemented indoors where they can dominate a table piece or fireplace mantle and solidify feeling of home, but many families place the occasional turkey or square of hay on their front porch to signify their celebration and respect for the holiday and who am I to stop them? My neighbors have a 20foot inflatable pilgrim turkey and it brings feelings of disdain and hilarity, so take inspiration in Thanksgiving decorations from their example.

It seems like Thanksgiving decorations disappear just as quickly as they’re placed. I’d argue that most families have their Thanksgiving decorations up the week following Halloween and have them down by no later than Black Friday.

This brief period seems to be the only thought that we give to Thanksgiving. A quick helping of turkey and we’re on our way to Christmas.

Contrary to my previous statement, there is one exception to this unofficial decoration rule – Christmas trees. Nobody bats an eye when the family Christmas tree peeks from behind curtains or shutters in early November.

There’s something welcoming about a Christmas tree. Whether it be strung with multi-colored lights or riddled with ornaments, these trees illicit a feeling of

home and comfort and it doesn’t hurt to have a slew of presents placed underneath, just waiting to be torn open.

Christmas decorations stand out when placed outdoors.

They do so in a much more appealing and fun way than Thanksgiving decorations do.

Colored strands of lights lining the garage, snowmen waving to you from the front door, a gentle manger bearing homage to the reason behind Christmas—these are familiar and meaningful decorations that solidify the Christmas spirit.

So, is it too early to decorate for Christmas? No, in an odd fashion, I’d argue that it’s never too early. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas are times meant for family and the decorations we display for each help bring about nostalgic and homely feelings. If you want to skip Thanksgiving decorations, by all means, be my guest. If you choose to respect the Thanksgiving holiday and place minimal decorations, good for you.

But don’t let Thanksgiving fall victim to the holiday cycle.

As excited as most are for the Christmas season, don’t just gloss over Thanksgiving. People are thinking about you and giving thanks for your presence in their lives. It can’t hurt to wait a couple extra days before thinking about everything Christmas has to offer. n

Finals can be stressful.

Whether you have three exams in one day or six in the span of five days, there’s a lot of studying involved in order to retrieve material learned throughout the semester. With all the studying that finals week requires, students need an occasional break. Here are some tips to de-stress while preparing for finals week.

I often try to push through a few additional minutes of studying before I go to sleep, but sometimes rest is simply more important. I seem to perform better on exam day when using an extra hour for sleep instead of studying more before bed. Rest and relaxation can take away some of those pre-exam jitters. Instead of constantly worrying about finals, spend a couple of hours in a more calming environment for reading or listening to music. If you don’t have a goto spot for relaxation, I would consider going somewhere like DeGray Lake where you can set aside exam worries for a few moments and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation in a peaceful setting. Video games can also be a relaxing break activity, just try not to get locked-in to a game for too long. Remember, you still have finals to study for.

Another way to de-stress is physical exercise. Take a walk through campus. Jog around the Arkadelphia Sports Complex. Throw the frisbee or pass the football with some friends. Instead of locking yourself in your room for half the day, go outside for a while to briefly free your mind of finals. The momentary break may help you concentrate more after spending some time away from your review

notes. I’ve found that keeping my mind preoccupied during breaks can relieve some of that stress. Even if I’m spending a few minutes cleaning dishes or doing laundry, I’m using the opportunity to remain active without looking over notes for too long of a period.

As valuable as exercise can be, I find that another good de-stressor is food. Often, I don’t even realize that I’m hungry when concentrating on homework or reviewing for an exam. Grabbing something quick to eat, like an energy bar, may be just what you need to serve as extra fuel for the mind.

Likewise, a full meal can be even more important and provides for that desirable longer break.

Some Arkadelphia restaurants, such as Java Primo, perform as both a place to pick up some coffee and a cozy location for studying alone or in groups.

One thing that stresses me out during finals is the constant thought that I need to prepare for several exams a once. Over the years at Ouachita, I’ve learned how to better handle this situation by organizing a schedule. For example, if I’m studying on the Saturday before finals week, I know to spend a certain amount of time that day reviewing for one exam. Once that scheduled time ends, I move on to the next class material. Of course, not everyone likes to prepare for finals the same way. Find an ideal study method that relieves some stress and helps you the most by test day.

The most important way to counter stress is pretty obvious but incredibly important: be prepared. The more prepared you are, the less stressed you will be once finals week begins. Although studying is imperative for a successful finals week, it doesn’t hurt to take breaks from time to time.

Make sure you know how to manage your schedule to take off some of the stress that finals exams are destined to bring. n

Submit your “Ask The Signal” questions at signal@obu.edu.

SPORTS

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28, November, 2018 u page 6

Ouachita seeks revenge in quarterfinals against Ferris State

By CALEB BYRD Staff writer

The Ouachita football team will host its first-ever national quarterfinal playoff game Saturday afternoon as the Ferris State Bulldogs visit Arkadelphia for a rematch of the 2017 playoff game which ended the Tigers’ season.

All current Ouachita students will gain free entry to the game by showing their student IDs at the gate. Kick-off will be at 1 p.m. preceded by tailgating in the Cliff Harris Stadium parking lot.

The Bulldogs defeated Ouachita in the first round of the playoffs last fall when they came from behind to win 24-19. Ouachita led the game 13-0 in the second quarter, but three second-half turnovers ruined the Tigers chances at victory.

Ouachita looks to avenge last season’s loss and will enter this game with more confidence than they did in 2017. This year’s Tiger team has won 12 games in-a-row en route to a second-consecutive conference championship. Last Saturday’s big win over UIndy cemented the Tigers’ place as the top-seeded team in Super Region III and the fourth-ranked team in the country.

The Tigers are well-aware of the challenge Ferris State will pose this week, however. Despite being confident, Coach Knight’s team will still go to work this week with determination to advance further in the playoffs. A big part of the game plan this week will be stopping Ferris State quarterback Jaryu Campbell. Campbell, a junior dualthreat quarterback, is one of the front runners for the Harlon Hill trophy, given to Division II’s most valuable player, and has scored a combined 44 touchdowns this season. Campbell was originally ranked a three-star recruit committed to Michigan State coming

Spencer Ewing z Photo lab

Tigers record first DII playoff win

Spencer Ewing z Photo lab (above) Running back Brockton Brown breaks loose down the right sideline for a 63-yard gain during the first half of Ouachita’s 35-7 win. (right) Seniors Drew Harris and Kris Oliver react to the loud home crowd as the Tigers enter the field before the win againt UIndy.

out of high school, but was forced to take the JUCO route after criminal charges landed him in jail for seven months. Campbell enrolled at Ferris State in 2017 and has taken the Bulldog offense to a new dimension this season. The Michigan-based team averages 38.7 points-per-game this season.

Defensively, Ferris State does not perform nearly as well, allowed 18.5 points and 330 yards-pergame.

This combination poses an interesting matchup for Ouachita as the Tigers have the best scor-

ing defense in the nation and an offense which has been efficient enough to put up points but not necessarily dominate games. The Tiger offense tends to dominate on the ground, an area in which the Ferris State defense has had relative success, only allowing 103 yards-per-game. The Tigers may need to rely on redshirt-freshman quarterback Brayden Brazeal to come up big this week through the air. Brazeal was an efficient 14 for 19 last week with 164 yards and two touchdowns. Brazeal’s best passing effort came in the

Ouachita won its first NCAA DII playoff game in convincing fashion when the Tigers pulled away from the Indianapolis Greyhounds in the second half last Saturday for a 35-7 victory.

The Tigers scored first on a three-yard run by Brockton Brown to cap a first quarter drive of eight plays and 65 yards. UIndy tied the game early in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass from Jake Purichia to Aaron Matio. Ouachita moved back into the lead with 10:15 left in the second quarter on Drew Harris’ three-yard touchdown run. Harris then scored the key touchdown of the game with four seconds left in the first half on a pass reception from quarterback Brayden Brazeal.

The Greyhounds took the first possession of the second half but could not launch a drive. Ouachita then took complete control of the game on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Brazeal to Kris Oliver.

Ouachita scored the final touchdown of the game with 9:47 left in the third quarter on a 63-yard run by Shun’cee Thomas. first week of season against Northwestern Oklahoma when he threw for 220 yards and a touchdown.

That was the only time this season Brazeal eclipsed the 200 yard mark.

A big effort from him and a veteran receiving corps would be huge for the Tigers on Saturday.

The Tiger offensive line will have to play its best game of the season Saturday to ensure the rushing game can get moving. The Tigers average 277.6 yards-per-game on the ground, while the Bulldogs only give up an average of 103. The Bulldogs

conceded 262 rushing yards to a run-dominant Harding team two weeks ago, so the Tigers do have a chance to dominate on the ground, especially if they put in a similar performance to they one they did against UIndy. The Tigers rushed for 303 yards last week, with Shun Thomas leading the way with 97.

With a win over Ferris State, the Tigers will win Super Region III and advance to the national semifinals, one game away from the National Championship Game in McKinney, Texas on December 15. n

Gertsone travels overseas to new culture, teammates

By CAITY HATCHETT Staff writer

Maija Gertsone spends most of her time on the basketball court launching long passes to her teammates. From one end of the court to the other, Gertsone is fully in the game. She makes a formidable opponent as a point guard for Ouachita’s women’s basketball team, and that shows most in her ability to pass from literally anywhere on the court. Distance is nothing for her; Gertsone can pass the ball cleanly into the hands of a teammate no matter how far they are from her. It is an impressive and strategic playing style, and her teammates are very appreciative of it. For Gertsone, though, that is just how she sees things.

“That’s how I see the court. If I see someone is running and they want the ball… I will pass them the ball. So, I think I see the court,” Gertsone said. “I would rather pass someone the ball than score.”

Gertsone has been on a basketball court for most of her life. She began playing at the age of nine.

Her journey to Ouachita is very interesting. As a student from Latvia, Gertsone definitely travelled a long way to get here.

“One day, Coach Crowder called me. He’s like, ‘Hey, I’m a coach from America and I have a scholarship for you, everything for you, just come play here.’ He wasn’t the only coach who called me, but I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this guy,’” Gertsone said. “I loved Coach Crowder so much, I was like, ‘I wanna come here.’”

Gertsone’s job on the court is to help her teammates find good positions to score and to pass them the ball when they find those good spots. She does this very well, especially with her ability to get the ball anywhere it needs to be.

However, she is still very hard on herself.

“After every game I’m like, ‘That was a bad game.’ But at the same time, Coach is like, ‘Oh, that was a good game.’ After like every game, I’m like, ‘I could play much

Wesley Kluck z Courtesy SOPHOMORE MAIJA GERTSONE is a point guard for the Ouachita Lady Tigers basketball team. Gertsone was born and raised in Latvia where she began playing the sport competitively.

better.’”

Even when she gets injured, Gertsone does not let that stop her from getting back in the game. She pushes herself to help her teammates any way she can, and she sees injuries as minor setbacks.

Gertsone knows when to take some time to heal, though, but she still wants to be out on the court helping her team.

“That’s how I am. It hurt much more after the game,” Gertsone said. “So, in the game, if I get hurt, I’m gonna still play—if it’s not something serious. I want to help my team as much as possible. If I’m gonna get hurt, I’m gonna be back.

Coach knows that, so he’s like, ‘Go back and help us.’”

Gertsone definitely got a bit of a surprise during her transition to America, but she was goodnatured about it. She admits that the cultures are definitely different, and she has adjusted well to everything.

“The first months were crazy.

The cultures are so different, the food is different… I wanted my healthy food because of all these pizzas, burgers, everything. I was like, ‘Oh, I want to go back,’” Gertsone said. “Right now, I’m like… ’I can eat everything. Like, I don’t care anymore.’ But at the very beginning it was hard.”

Part of Gertsone’s journey has

also been balancing school and sports. For her, the balance is not as hard because of how far away her family is. She mostly studies because that is all she can think to do.

“I have a full scholarship, so I’m just like, ‘You just need to use it, and like, you need to study,’” Gertsone said. “I guess it’s easier for me because like, I’m so far away from my family and the only thing I can think of is studying. So, whenever I have free time, I’m studying.”

But Gertsone’s real passion is on the court. As a student athlete, it really means a lot to her that she has this opportunity to play basketball for Ouachita. Gertsone truly loves not only the sport, but also the opportunity she has been given.

“It’s hard to connect studies and playing basketball,” Gertsone said.

“I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t here as an athlete. That’s what I did like all my life. It’s a good opportunity to be here and play [basketball]—that means a lot for me.”

What makes it all worth it for her, though? Gertsone loves the feeling of a hard-won victory and the satisfaction of knowing that all of her hard work in practice was worth it. She challenges herself to keep pushing and playing better, knowing that it will all pay off in the moments of victory. “[It’s] that feeling whenever you won a hard game and you’re thinking, ‘Woah. That’s what I get out of all these hard practices,’” Gertsone said. “That [feeling] is something awesome.”

And for Gertsone, it truly is something awesome. She plays well on the court and has adjusted to life here very well. Enough so that she is able to joke about it.

“Whenever it’s cold, Coach Crowder’s like, ‘Oh, you’re like, from Latvia. It’s cold, too,’” Gertsone said. “I’m like, ‘No, Coach.

I’m from Arkansas. I’m from here.

I hate cold.’”

With a team to back her up and a coach to joke with, Gertsone’s time here at Ouachita is going to be full of victories both on and off of the court. n

Exercise is Medicine z Courtesy

Kinesiology, Leisure Studies class to host “Exercise is Medicine”

By JOSH SALIM Staff writer

Every day that I drive back to the dorm, I see at least one person running along the sidewalk. More often than not, this person is not an athlete but your “average” college student. However, I use the term “average” stereotypically because many college students do not even think about physical activity and exercise on a daily basis, but instead will stay in their dorms studying, playing video games or will engage in activities that are indoors, with minimal movement. It is likely that these students have not even thought about ways to take care of their body through physical activity. Well, they are in luck.

According to their website, Exercise is Medicine is “a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine,” who “is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions, and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care.” In other words, physical activity increases people’s health.

Students, faculty and the general public can attend the “Exercise is Medicine” event outside of Bill Vining Arena in SPEC as the men and women’s basketball teams begin Great American Conference

play against Arkansas Tech University at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night. Dr. Terry DeWitt’s Fundamentals of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies class will be hosting the event.

His students will have eight different stations set up, all of which serve to promote the idea that “Exercise is Medicine.” Some of the stations include: a healthy food snack station, a BMI testing station and a drug and illness prevention station to name a few.

“Our purpose is to promote ‘Exercise is Medicine’ in order to prevent the metabolic syndrome (cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes and obesity),” said DeWitt. “Students who know their baseline measures can use this information to help them formulate and evaluate their own physical well-being programs.”

Every year, the American College of Sports Medicine awards the EIM credential to university programs that meet its standards. Ouachita has been awarded the EIM credential twice in the last three years with a Bronze certification in 2016 and a Silver certification in 2018.

While the basketball games are going on, DeWitt’s students will be throwing out free “Exercise is Medicine” t-shirts to Ouachita fans. If you need advice on how to live a more healthy life, if you are looking for a way to get physical active or even if you are just looking for the next step, this “Exercise is Medicine” event is the place for you. n