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05.01.19 | Vol. 127, Issue 24 | www.obusignal.com Ouachita mourns loss of professor emeritus of communications Dr. William D. Downs By JULIE WILLIAMS Editor-in-chief
Ouachita Student Foundationz Courtesy OUACHITA STUDENT FOUNDATION hosted the annual Tiger Traks event on April 26 and 27. Traks is a decades-old project that helps to aid in OSF’s mission to fund student scholarships. Tiger Traks has been named “Arkansas’ Most Exciting College Weekend” by Governor Asa Hutchinson. See PAGE 8 for a photo collection of the weekend’s events.
OSF hosts annual Tiger Traks competition, “Arkansas’ Most Exciting College Weekend” By MANDY HALBERT Staff writer Ouachita’s 44th annual Tiger Traks took place over the weekend on April 26 and 27. Over 350 students participated in the event to raise money for student scholarships. “Tiger Traks was started in the early 1970’s soon after OSF was founded,” Jaret Webb, the special events chair for the Ouachita Student Foundation, said. “Traks was simply created as a way for students in OSF to make some extra scholarship money in the spring by asking clubs and individuals to set aside a weekend and participate in some friendly camaraderie while all rallying under one common theme of helping students stay at Ouachita.” Past years have seen a decline in student participation in Traks. The timing of the event is difficult, as students look toward final exams. This year, OSF worked to find ways to spark more interest. “In my opinion, Tiger Traks has received such a bad rap because it is predictable,” Webb said. “If one has participated on a team for
three years, the games can be easily so from here on.” OSF hopes to see Traks grow learned and the way the team With increased participation to as influential and attract as played the game can be repeated this year fundraising for student much student and community every year. In years to come, we scholarships has been more participation on campus as Tiger hope to change the games a little bit successful than past Traks events. Tunes. every year so that nothing becomes “Fundraising this year has been “I would love to see Traks grow,” learned and Edmonds said. “Last “Traks was simply created as a way for students everyone is year we were pretty okay with in OSF to make some extra scholarship money in the low on numbers, paying a $15 but we actually entry fee have 30 teams spring by asking clubs and individuals to set aside a this year, which is because it is for an experience exciting. This really they haven’t weekend and participate in some friendly camaraderie is a catalyst year, experienced considering we are while all rallying under one common theme yet.” changing so much OSF has and making sure that of helping students worked this it really is Arkansas’ semester to Most Exciting plan new games College Weekend.” at Ouachita.” and to promote A r k a n s a s Traks more than G o vernor Asa Jaret Webb in past years Hutchinson continued to not only those who wish to incredibly successful compared the tradition of recognizing Tiger participate, but also to encourage to last year,” Edmonds said. “We Traks as “Arkansas’ Most Exciting those who do not to come and have outstanding donors who gave College Weekend” in an effort to watch events. lots of money. This year we raised a encourage OSF’s efforts to raise “I think this is a catalyst year little over $10,000 in sponsorships, money for students. that will really emphasize how which has been amazing. And “I would say its a weekend full exciting Traks is and will show of course, all the money that is of college students just having everyone what it actually is,” Alec raised by participants goes to close fun and forgetting the stresses of Edmonds, president of OSF, said. to about 50 student scholarships it all and just having some good, “We’re coming back for the spirit depending on the price of the clean fun,” Edmonds said. “It’s of Traks this year and plan to do scholarship.” a trademark to what Tiger Traks is.” n
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Dr. William D. (Bill) Downs, Jr. passed away on April 20. A former professor and chair of the Ouachita Department of Communications, Downs also served as advisor to the Signal and the Ouachitonian yearbook. During his tenure, the Signal won a number of allnational Columbia Scholastic Press Association awards, and the Ouachitonian was awarded several Gold Crown recognitions. Downs served for 41 years at Ouachita, known for his kind heart and his encouragement of numerous re-writes. Considered a true servant to the Ouachita and surrounding Arkadelphia community, Dr. William D. Downs is deeply missed by friends and colleagues. Downs graduated from Batesville High School in 1949. After serving in the United States Air Force both as a drill instructor and entertainment writer, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas. He continued his education by earning a Master’s and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Working in the field of public relations, he also worked with March of Dimes, the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Canteen Corporation of America. An award-winning teacher and writer, he is also the author of two books. One, entitled “The Fighting Tigers,” details the stories of 36 Ouachita students who fought during World War II and whose names appear on Ouachita’s World War II memorial on campus. A second book is titled, “Stories of Survival: Arkansas Farmer During the Great Depression.” Beyond his service to Ouachita, he was also director of the Arkansas High School Press Association. He further helped develop and implement the Arkansas Student Press Law, which detailed the rights of high school student newspapers. An active member of his local and state community, Downs was also involved in the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Clark County United Way, the Rotary Club of Arkadelphia, and the Arkansas Television Network Commission. He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher of First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, where he and his wife, Vera, also minstered to two local nursing homes. A memorial service was held on Thursday, April 25 at First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Memorials can be made to the William D. Downs Endowed Scholarship at Ouachita at obu. edu/development/give or at 410 Ouachita St., Arkadelphia, AR, 71998. n
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