The Signal | Ouachita Baptist University | 09.12.18

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09.12.18 | Vol. 127, Issue 2 | www.obusignal.com

Tiger Serve Day empowers students to help local community

By ETHAN DIAL Online editor Ouachita’s biannual Tiger Serve Day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Students across campus are forming their teams to participate in the event that serves the Arkadelphia through the Elrod Center.

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to donate their time and energy to helping the permanent residents of the city that they call home throughout the school year. To volunteer, visit the Tiger Serve Day tab on Ouachita’s website, where there is information about joining or registering a team.

“As far as the day itself, I love it, because it’s one morning out of our busy schedules that we get to leave ‘the bubble’ to serve the community that we live in and realize that there are more people who call Arkadelphia home than just us college students,” said Brooke Woessner, a junior mass communications and Christian studies double major who serves on the Tiger Serve Day leadership team.

“I love being able to promote TSD, because I am a part of the team that gets to communicate to others the significance of this day and why everyone should get involved.”

Although many social clubs on campus create different teams for their members to participate in, many individuals like to get with a close group of friends to serve.

“I wanted to get our friends

together to serve, because it really is just a lot of fun serving together.

It’s also a great way to continue to build community with one another. Very few things build community like serving [or] working together. Also, our friends are crazy, so it’ll be so much fun,” said Sean Carney, a junior music piano and Spanish double major from Little Rock.

According to the Tiger Serve Day tab on Ouachita’s website, “Ouachita students, faculty and staff have put in more than 82,520 hours in community service since 1997 through Tiger Serve Day alone.”

Ouachita alumna Anne McMillion, who graduated in 1962, has gladly had students come and work at her house since close to the beginning of Tiger Serve Day’s creation.

“My husband and I both have back problems, and as we’ve gotten older, it’s harder and harder to do some of the things in the yard.

And they’re things that I couldn’t hire someone to come in to do,” McMillion said. “We live in an older house, and our yard often gets overgrown with vines and things like that. I’ve also had my house painted…and they did a wonderful job with that.”

McMillion not only benefits from the generous work that the students do, but she also thoroughly enjoys just talking with and getting to know the young people.

“The students are always so curious and so enthusiastic, and I just

Spencer Ewing z Photo lab

Dani Droste z Photo lab

love to be around young people.

So it’s a real blessing to me. I get to talk to them about their majors and their career goals,” McMillion said.

Many students also see the advantage of getting to know the community and serving in this special way.

“I’ll be working with the most

fun people and it will get me out of the ‘me’ mindset,” Carney said.

“College is very ‘self-focused.’

It’s about your major, what you want for your future, what classes you want to take. We are catered to as students. Not all of this is a bad thing, at all, but we can be consumed with ourselves. So, it is

Caden Flint z Photo lab TOP LEFT: The 2018 Tiger Serve Day leadership team meets over a meal to discuss details and plan the event. The leadership team receives new volunteers every year that are eager to serve within the community.

TOP RIGHT: Junior Samantha Dixon balances atop a ladder while painting during a 2017 Tiger Serve Day project. Students can expect to participate in a wide array of activities while serving members in the community.

BOTTOM LEFT: The 2017 Tiger Serve Day leadership team gathers at the Help Desk.

Students participating in the event will congregate on 6th street and receive instuctions.

so important to break out of that and serve. Think about someone else for once and their needs. Tiger Serve Day is such a great way for us to do that together as a college.”

“It just brightens up my life every time they come,” McMillion said. “I look forward to it every year.”n

Campus Activities hosts “Flapjacks and Throwbacks” to kick off year of exciting new activities for OBU

By SARAH PATTERSON Staff writer

Alex Blankenship z Photo lab editor

Ouachita alumni and friends took to the Chenal Country Club in Little Rock on Monday, Sept. 10. The event was held to raise scholarship assistance for students currently enrolled at Ouachita.

The Ouachita Development Office sponsored the annual event and was assisted by members of the Ouachita Student Foundation.

Businesses across the state sponsored the event. n

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CAB, or Campus Activities Board, is a student-led event planning organization at Ouachita that puts on some of the best events on campus. The first of these events, Flapjacks and Throwbacks, took place last Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Evans Student Center. CAB leadership members served the students fresh pancakes and offered a full topping bar.

Students then settled in to spend the morning eating pancakes and watching nostalgic television shows together. The showings included “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Kim Possible,” “Ned’s Declassified,” “Drake and Josh” and more.

This is one of CAB’s “staple events” that comes around every year, according to junior and CAB president, Grace Kemp. Kemp feels that this event is special because it gives students, especially freshman, an initial opportunity to “get connected with the community here and have a lot of fun” in a low-pressure environment.

CAB has many other exciting events planned for the rest of the fall semester. CAB will kick off TWIRP (The Woman is Required to Pay) week with a foam party, complete with a foam machine, colored lights and upbeat music

for girls and their TWIRP dates to enjoy. Also on the agenda is a Bob Ross painting party. At this event, students will follow along to an old video from PBS Kids of Bob Ross teaching kids how to paint. CAB will provide painting supplies and invite students to come and paint away their stress.

When Halloween season comes around, CAB is set to host a scary movie night showing the movie “A Quiet Place” on a huge inflatable movie screen at Speer Pavilion.

Lastly, CAB plans to celebrate the start of the Christmas season with a Christmas party in the Student Center. This event will include Christmas-themed crafts, group competitions, a classic Christmas story read by a professor and festive Christmas treats. Be on the lookout for more details regarding the dates and times of these events.

You won’t want to miss out on such great opportunities for fellowship.

The overall mission of CAB is to help people integrate themselves into the OBU community through bonding experiences facilitated by the various CAB events. Kemp and the rest of the CAB team are passionate about offering readily accessible fellowship opportunities to students to help them have the community experience that Ouachita is known for.

“Students at tours are always hearing ‘OBU is about the commu-

THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM

y Miss Arkansas contestants with OBU roots y Life before Ouachita y Humane Society: Dogs bring joy

nity,’ so at CAB we try to support that statement,” Kemp said.

Students come to college eager to make relationships with others but often struggle to do so on their own, so campus events like the ones CAB puts on give students an easy way to meet people and bond over the activities.

If you’re interested in supporting CAB’s mission to get students connected and in relationships with one another, members are welcome to join at any point throughout the school year. Kemp asserts that CAB is “lower commitment than other organizations,” so even the busiest students on campus can likely fit it into their schedule if they would like to be a part of the organization. There are no fees associated with the organization either. The inclusive nature of CAB gives all students the chance to contribute to campus life by offering ideas to the planning of upcoming CAB events.

CAB does a great job at nurturing the Ouachita community with a variety of events for all students to enjoy. If you’re seeking a relief from the pressures of college and want to meet new people in a fun and relaxing environment, check out one of the many awesome CAB events coming up this semester and consider joining the organization to contribute to its worthwhile mission. n

CONNECT WITH THE SIGNAL

NEWS

12, September , 2018 u page 2

www.obusignal.com

[from your perspective]

What song was your summer jam?

Julie Williams Editor-In-Chief

Will Blase News editor

Will Johnson Opinions/ Sports editor

Ethan Dial Online editor

Catherine Lyp Arts/ Features editor

“‘Electric Love’ by Borns.”

“‘New Map’ by M83”

“‘New Light’ by John Mayer.”

“‘Summer Fever’

by Little Big Town.”

“‘2000’, by Anne Marie.”

TOP

5

News Briefs

A look at the biggest news of the week

9/11 Rememberence President Donald Trump spoke in Shanksville, Penn. to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001.

The field in Shanksville is where the last hijacked plane landed.

Trump read off the names of the 40 victims, accompanied by the tolling of bells, his wife Melania Trump, current Governor of Pennsyvania Tom Wolf and previous governor of Pennsylvania Mike Schweiker (who acted as lieutenant governor during the attacks that occurred on 9/11.)

Trump pronounced the field a “monument to self-defense,” and vowed that America would, “never fall to tyranny” at the ceremony on Tuesday.

The terrorist attack, carried out by members of al Qaida, took the lives of over 3,000 Americans.

Source: AP

Things to do on a rainy day

5 4 3 2 1

Drink Coffee Read Sleep In Movie Marathon Catch up on the homework you didn’t do over the weekend

Hurricane Florence Meteorologists predict that Hurrican Florence will make landfall late on Thursday, Sept. 13 or Friday, Sept. 14.

Scientists believe this storm has the right conditions to become a disaster. Currently, warmer-thannormal sea temperatures, higher sea levels and a strong wind have scientists predicting this storm to deal massive damage to those who aren’t prepared.

Florence is predicted to be a category 4 storm, but under the right conditions, it could easily become a category 5.

The University of Michigan has predicted that 2.4 million people will lose power due to the effects of Florence.

President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency that spans over North and South Carolina as well as Virginia.

Source: AP

Osaka wins against Williams at U.S. Open Naomi Osaka triumphed over Serena Williams at the U.S. Open on Saturday, Sept. 8 Osaka’s victory remains controversial, as Williams was awarded penalties rarely enfored in regulation tennis matches.

Chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, penalized Williams for receiving coaching from the sidelines, a rarely enforced rule, resulting in both a penalty and a $17,000 fine.

Williams smashed her racket and insisted that Ramos owed her an apology for the controversial call.

Osaka, who had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament, found herself in the final round and triumphed over her idol, Williams.

Source: AP

Carl Goodson Honors Program organizes Professional and Grad School Fair community of scholars, fosters further study showcases future options,

By EMILY MCMASTER Staff writer

The Ouachita Carl Goodson Honors Program, under the direction of Dr. Barbara Pemberton, fosters extensive academic study and a cohort of fellow scholars.

There are currently four hundred members at Ouachita in this prestigious program.

“The purpose of the Carl Goodson Honors Program is to provide selected students with an enriched and challenging academic study experience throughout their four years,” Pemberton said. “It gives students the chance to join a community of scholars comprised of motivated and imaginative Ouachita students, to work oneon-one with professors, to travel to exciting locations to conduct research and to produce an original senior honors thesis.”

In order for an incoming freshmen to qualify for the program, they must have an ACT score of at least a 28, and at least a 3.5 GPA. Ouachita students who would like to join the program must have attain a 3.5 GPA by semester.

Those who qualify will receive an invitation after the first semester.

Honors students must complete a curriculum before graduating with distinguished honors.

“There are basic requirements that we have lined out for each year a student is in the honors program, but it is very flexible; I am willing to help them fit everything into their schedule,” Pemberton

said. “Students must have two honors courses, two one-hour interdisciplinary seminars, a one hour study that is one-one-one with a professor and one thesis.

The thesis is worth four credit hours.

“In order to graduate with distinguished honor, you must present it at scholars day. If a student comes in the second semester, they may contract up any class to honors if the professor allows.”

Mary Grace Hill, a senior elementary education major from Bryant, currently holds the office of social co-chair for the program.

She has been a member of the honors program since her freshman year.

“In my current office my responsibilities include planning activities such as the upcoming Honors Barbecue. I got involved as an officer at the end of my freshman year. Dr. Pemberton and one of the outgoing co-chairs asked me to consider being an officer, because I had been helping out in the office,” Hill said. “Since then, I have held several different officer positions within the program.

The main goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for academically driven students to do individual research under the guidance of OBU professors. It also gives students an opportunity to be a part of an organization that brings students from all different disciplines together and rewards them for their hard work in the classroom.”

Honor students attend several events such as the Black and White Reception and Scholars Day. At

Signal

The

paths for graduating students

By HANNAH WEBBER Staff writer

Scholars Day, there are awardwinning presentations from every field of study. It gives students an opportunity to see what their peers have been working on all year. However, the program also hosts private events such as the Honors Barbeque and traveling abroad. Along with the events, only five percent of university graduates receive a distinguished honor award; this allows graduates’ transcripts to stand out.

“Students should join the program so they can take advantage of the opportunity to go above and beyond what their degree has to offer by doing individual research.

Not many students graduate with their undergraduate degree having completed individual research and published a thesis,” Hill said.

“It is an incredible opportunity that sets students apart when applying for graduate school, medical school or jobs after graduating from Ouachita. I would encourage any student who is eligible to get involved and make a commitment to complete the program, because along the way, you will make memories with friends you will never forget.” n

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As college students, we are constantly bombarded with questions like “What’s your major?”, “what made you decide to come to college?”, and, probably the most daunting of all, “what do you want to do with the rest of your life?”

As young adults just starting to find ourselves, these questions can be scary and unnerving, especially if we don’t know quite what we want to do yet.

Even if we do have a perfectly mapped-out plan for the future, we can never predict exactly what is going to happen. Sometimes life throws us a curveball, and we find ourselves in a place in our education where we become even more confused about what to do with our future. We just want a little bit of stability, something to strive for and something to work toward instead of just floating along, not knowing.

Well, what if you had some help in finding something worth fighting for, a goal for the future or just that backup plan in case you change your mind?

Ouachita will hold its annual Graduate and Professional School Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 19 in Evans Student Center, where students can come and explore op-

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

tions for the future.

Rachel Roberts, Career Coach for students and recent graduates of Ouachita and organizer for the event, stated that the fair is meant to give students the opportunity to look at different options when it comes to their plans for the future and furthering their education.

“Our Graduate and Professional School Fair [is where] several graduate and professional schools from Arkansas and different states...come in case students are interested in attending grad school once they graduate. They can get information from recruiters [and] find out requirements for what makes them different from other grad schools, what sets them apart.”

The fair will feature ten or more different graduate schools--like law and medical programs--from universities in the Arkansas area.

These include the Clinton School of Public Services in Little Rock, Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, and John Brown University in Siloam Springs.

The fair will also include a few out-of-state schools like the University of Tulsa and Baylor Law from Waco, Texas.

The graduate school fair will be in Evans Student Center next Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to all students who are interested in graduate school. 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 Hope Star.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and

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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.

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12, September, 2018 u page 3

Darlene Fendley z Courtesy MT. BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH is the oldest church in the Arkadelphia area and has lead to the start of other churches in the area. Mt. Bethel was founded in Aug. 1836 by a few of the area’s larger families.

Mt. Bethel brings 182 years of service to Clark County

By JULIE WILLIAMS Editor-In-Chief

Having grown up in Clark County, spending my entire life here, I’ve always had a passion for local history, especially in sharing it with my Ouachita friends. Even though I lived in Arkadelphia, my father always preached in other areas’ churches, so I rarely was a member of an Arkadelphia fellowship. That being said, I frequented Vacation Bible Schools, church camps and Sunday mornings with relatives and friends of those local bodies.

One of those churches I often visited was the oldest church in Clark County and perhaps all of Western Arkansas, founded 182 years ago, Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.

Mt. Bethel is not only the oldest church in the area, but it is also the “mother church” to several other area churches in the Arkadelphia community. Among these are First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia (founded July 1851), Degray Baptist (founded Aug. 1853), Unity Baptist (founded sometime around 1856 or 1857), Gum Springs Baptist (founded 1875), Richwoods Baptist (founded 1877), Hollywood Baptist (founded 1881), Shiloh (founded 1883), Mt. Zion Baptist (founded Oct. 1894), Social Hill Baptist which moved to later become Park Hill Baptist (founded 1952) and Springdale Baring Cross United (founded Feb. 1957).

According to W.L. Fendley, a deacon of Mt. Bethel for over thirty years, “Some people living in the community wanted to start their own church out here. As families grew, they just spread out.” He continued by saying that Springdale Church and Sweet Home church were two others that resulted from the original founding of Mt. Bethel, the latter of which gave all their assets to Park Hill Baptist in following years.

According to Darlene Fendley, W.L.’s wife and a former Ouachita employee, Mt. Bethel was founded in 1836, the same year that Arkansas received statehood, and the original location is slightly off from where it is now. The original location is slightly off of Highway 26, but due to the inaccessibility of the church by wagon in that time, the Church decided to move around 1841 or 1842 from there to the current location which is on Helms Road.

Near the original location lies Bozeman Cemetery, sometimes simply referred to as Mt. Bethel Cemetery. In the tradition of many Southern, rural churches, cemeteries were often connected to the church grounds as a way of burying the church family’s dead

all together. In many ways, the Church was one of their greatest social and familial connections of that era.

Interestingly enough, I have distant family buried there. The saddest of the cases is a distant several-greats-of-an-aunt of mine that was killed in a wagon accident just barely over the age of 12. While this cemetery has its share of sadness, it also holds some of the oldest family names in the Clark County area and several founding members of that early church fellowship. Separated now from the current church building site,

moved from the Graysonia community further down the highway. Since they no longer had an active membership, the Graysonia church decided to donate the building to Mt. Bethel.

“Can you imagine what job that was? They tore it completely apart,” Darlene said. “They wrote on each board where it went, and put it back together.

On some of those back windows on the church, you can see where they wrote on the wrong side of the board, and on the window sills, you can see where it says, ‘Window four, right side.’”

Another piece of this exquisite

old friend of mine, Joyce Johnson, whose membership dates back to her childhood in the 1930s, there was also an old baptism hole that sits, now, in the woods just behind the current location of the church building. Baptisms were previously held in a local pond owned by a member, but this hole was cemented outdoors.

Both of the Fendleys’ children were saved and baptized into the Mt. Bethel fellowship, making this place very much a home. In just the thirty “some-odd” years that they have been members (as the older generations would say), they have heard from several

Darlene Fendley z Courtesy

ABOVE: The chart displays several of the area churches that Mt. Bethel Baptist Church has “mothered” in its history. Several of these churches still worship today in the Clark County area.

Darlene Fendley z Courtesy

Darlene Fendley z Courtesy

LEFT: The bell that was orignally intended to be on the roof of the current buiding currently resides on the ground. It was placed here during the rush of building in a thunderstorm. RIGHT: Bozeman Cemetery hosts the final resting place of several original members. The cemetery is still accesible to community members today.

many people do not know of its existence, although several still choose to be buried there today.

The current church building that stands at 99 Helms Road just outside of Arkadelphia was constructed in 1936 after the first building burned in 1935. There is no official knowledge on what started the blaze that ruined the 80-something-year-old gathering place.

According to Darlene, neighbors right down the road from the church woke up in the middle of the night to hear what “sounded like a tornado. He jumped up and ran outside, him and his wife…she got so excited, she put her head through the arm hole. When they realized it wasn’t a tornado, they got over here and by then, it was too far gone.”

The next building was actually

history lies in the story of the bell tower, which instead of resting on top of the building, it rather resides on the ground near the front.

The local legend goes that the man who was roofing the current building in its puzzling back together was rather displeased with the fight that was happening down on the ground between several of the men. While they fought over whether to put the bell on the roof like it had been at Graysonia or leave it on the ground, a thunderstorm had been rolling in, leaving the roofer stuck with impending danger.

Rather than listen to anymore fighting, he simply roofed over the spot for the bell tower. This left the church with no choice but to set the small bell tower in concrete out front.

According to the stories of an

pastors.

“I don’t know how many I’ve seen. We’ve loved every one of them, and my heart just cries when each one of them leaves,” Darlene said. “It’s just like they’re a part of your family.”

Discussing some of their favorite memories of their time with Mt. Bethel, the Fendleys both said that seeing several come to know Jesus in one revival meeting a few years ago was at the top of the list. “During a revival week…we had 18 baptized at one time,” Darlene said.

Citing another fond memory of a recent pastor, Darlene said, “Chad Cox…He said, ‘We’ll have so many people here some Sunday morning, I’ll preach from the roof.’”

He did just that as he climbed up to the eave and preached to

the congregation below.

While the church just celebrated their 182nd Homecoming Service, the 150th was also one for the books. According to W.L., this was in 1986, and Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas.

The Church extended an invitation to Governor Clinton, which he accepted. Following some congregational singing and words of encouragement from representatives of churches that Mt. Bethel had “mothered,” Clinton delivered the “celebration address,” with his daughter, Chelsea, tagging along.

I must also admit that Mt. Bethel holds a special place in my own heart. My father, Charlie Williams, surrendered to pastoral ministry in early 1986, and started pastoring Mt. Bethel Baptist church right before he married my mother, Amy. My older brother, Jake, was born during my parents ministry there, and I currently still have several family members and friends that worship there regularly.

According to my father, he was ordained by Mt. Bethel at the age of 18 in the fall of 1986. He spoke of this body of believers as unchaging in their efforts to serve the Kingdom of God. “The community and society should take note that it is the Church that has transcended all cultural trends and ethical fluctuations,” he said. “The issue of Jesus Christ remains at the core of every social debate in America, and the current congregation of Mt. Bethel aswers the challenge to be starkly different from the cosmopolitan world.”

Throughout its 182-year history, Mt. Bethel has been witness to countless professions of faith and baptisms. Some church records, ironically compiled by my own mother during my father’s tenure as pastor there, only date back into the Depression era. Current membership is about 80 people with active services three times a week. A prospering children and youth program is burgeoning growth for the rural gathering of believers.

While our generation often defines church as some mega church atmosphere found in places like Dallas or Atlanta, Mt. Bethel is the perfect example of how a rural church can be warriors for the kingdom of God. The spiritual growth that they have sponsored in the Clark County are is unmatched.

182 years of faithful service has led to hundreds, possibly thousands, coming to salvation in Jesus Christ, the sponsorship of dozens of local churches and the commitment to furthering the Gospel, even down the highways and county roads of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. n

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 12, September, 2018 u page 4

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Lin Holland’s artwork is “Informed By Shadows”

By CATHERINE LYP

Arts / Features editor Every so often the school will show various artworks of either students or other artists. Recently, a collection of pieces by Lin Holland were displayed in the downstairs gallery of Moses Provine. Lin Holland is an artist from Liverpool who teaches various art classes at Liverpool Hope University and is well known as a successful artist.

In 2016, Donnie Copeland, a professor of visual art, asked Holland if she would share some of her works with Ouachita.

While nothing came of the offer that year, earlier this year Holland sent her collection of artworks titled “Informed By Shadows,” for them to be shared with Ouachitonians.

Copeland wanted to share Holland’s work, because “she is a star in a way.”

Copeland described a few of

Holland’s copious achievements, such as winning several awards and teaching her craft at many prestigious universities. While Holland is currently teaching at Liverpool Hope University, she has also “taught at the Liverpool School of Architecture, John Moore University and the Western Australian School of Art and Design.”

Copeland said many of Holland’s most notable works are sculptural or a form of installation in nature, including “a disc hanging from the ceiling on a long cable in the Liverpool Cathedral.” Copeland said that “there is a projection of an image of candles” on a table-like disc from above, “so you have this table suspended and the image itself is kind of suspended, too.”

While none of Holland’s installation pieces are on display at Ouachita, her collection of drawings titled “Informed By Shadows” are incredibly interesting.

The collection of artworks ex-

plore the idea of line and shadow by using various shapes, lines and techniques.

Copeland explained that as you look at the artworks, “You’ll see she’s drawn on paper just simple circles”, but it’s what she does with such simplicity that is intriguing. Copeland said that the lines Holland created “are not made of graphite or ink, they are made of just pressure on the paper and it’s created an indention, it’s embossed the paper, and as the light strikes it the light causes the line to change.” The pressure on the page “creates a shadow inside the line itself.” By making an indentation in the paper on which she draws, Holland has “employed the materials and formal elements that are more usually attributed to drawing such as paper, ink and plane and imbued these with her sculptural sensibility.”

The artworks themselves are simplistic, beautiful and cause the viewer to think about the artCatherine Lyp z Courtesy

Kenzie Henderson z Photo Lab OUACHITA STUDENTS admire the artwork collection “Informed By Shadows” displayed in Moses Provine. The art was created by Liverpool Hope art professor, Lin Holland.

work and its environment. This exploration into shadow uses such an uncommonly thought of medium. It is easy to draw on paper with any of the commonly viewed art materials such as graphite, pencil or ink, but it is something else entirely to break out of the conventional way of thinking and seeing the world to create artwork as Holland did.

Lin Holland’s collection, “In-

“The Beach Boys”: a trip down memory lane

By WILL JOHNSON

Sports / Columns editor

Fall television: the season to come

By WILL BLASE Staff Position

As streaming platforms continue to build their empires and acquire more and more content, television has seen drops in its average viewer pull.

However, television still boasts a wide berth of original shows and a large number of quality spinoffs and adaptations.

Fall 2018 is shaping up to be a promising season for television.

Here’s a list of shows to be on the lookout for.

“Kidding”:

Showtime is changing everything we know about children’s television shows like “Mr. Rogers” in their original show, “Kidding.” Jim Carrey plays Mr. Pickles, an icon of children’s programming, who tragically loses one of his two children in a car crash. The story expands off of Mr. Pickles and traces plotlines of his sister and father, as well as his surviving son. A gay brother-in-law in a seemingly happy marriage, kids smoking dope around your brother’s grave—these plotlines are heartbreaking and provide just the right amount of “real” that this comedy needs.

You can catch “Kidding” with a SHOWTIME subscription at 9 p.m. Sunday nights. (Viewers have the opportunity to watch the season premiere for free on both YouTube and SHOWTIME’s website for a limited time.)

“The Voice”: Spurred by predecessors like “American Idol,” NBC’s “The Voice” returns this fall to give competitors a chance at fame and riches. The talent show has remained wildly popular since its debut in 2011. “The Voice” features a judge’s panel consisting of stars such as Kelly

Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and longtime veterans of the show Blake Shelton and Adam Levine.

Fans can catch the premiere of the newest season on NBC, Sept.

24 at 8 p.m.

“The Big Bang Theory”: NBC has decided to air one last season of “The Big Bang Theory” after receiving the news that Jim Parsons, who plays Dr. Sheldon Cooper, wanted to leave the show. The show boasts a 12-season run, but this isn’t without mixed reviews. Many viewers grew tiresome of the nerd culture presented on the show and didn’t find reason to commit to the characters’ relationships.

“The Big Bang Theory” still brings in a massive number of weekly viewers. Jim Parsons’ decision to leave the show has put the envisioned season 14 on the backburner, but show writers have a lot to think about as the show begins to wrap up. You can find the final season premiere of “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.

“This is Us”: Over the last two years, “This is Us” has captured viewers by storm. The show follows Jack (played by Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca’s (Mandy Moore) story during the 1980s. These young parents have three children, and the story takes plotlines and views from their lives nearly four decades later. The show has received critical acclaim, many praising it for its touching realness. “This is Us” was created by the writers and directors of “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011), which parallels this generational gap throughout its plot. NBC has invested a lot into this show, because they know that viewers will keep coming back for its quality and real content. “This is Us” returns to NBC, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.

“Modern Family”: ABC’s hit comedy “Modern Family” returns for what many predict to be its final season.

When the show first premiered in 2009, it presented young families, all with varying problems and conflicts to its audience. These storylines have played out in ridiculous and heartbreaking ways, true to those in everyday family life. Now in 2018, longtime fans can expect to see the cast at their oldest. This doesn’t mean the show will change drastically, but if you watched casually in season three or four, expect to be shocked by just how much the cast has grown. America’s favorite mockumentary sitcom returns to ABC, Sep. 26 at 8 p.m.

“The Walking Dead”:

Robert Kirkman’s comic series “The Walking Dead” gathered such a cult-following, producers at AMC thought it ridiculous to not pick up the show for television. Eight years later, the show is still running and still pulling in Sunday night television viewers.

“TWD” follows the story of Rick Grimes and his son Carl, as the world becomes ridden with zombies.

The fight for survival brings them into the company of friends and foes alike. Finding a good balance between hostile humans and hostile zombies, “The Walking Dead” has received the constant green-light to keep pumping out seasons. However, it has been confirmed that this is the last season Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) will appear in. Longtime fans will be interested to see how this storyline meets its end and what direction the show will move in once he’s gone. Those interested in the show can catch up on the streaming platform Netflix and those who have remained loyal to the show can catch the season premiere Sunday, Oct. 7 on AMC. n

formed By Shadows,” is immensely interesting and leaves the viewer pondering the various ways the art can be altered by light. If you would like to view her artworks and also receive your credit for Fine Arts Engagement, Holland’s “Informed By Shadows” will be displayed in the downstairs gallery in Moses Provine until Homeoming on Sept. 29. n

When I was younger, I used to spend hours at a time in my upstairs playroom listening to my parents’ favorite CDs. I didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics and melodies because I was busy playing with my favorite Hot Wheels and Legos; however, a few albums were special. These were the albums that I could replay over and over and still appreciate each song.

One of these CDs, in particular, communicated through song the feeling of walking on the beach while waves tumbled onto the shore. This album was called “Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys.”

This “greatest hits” album formed my very first experience with this band. Now, say what you want about albums made solely of the band’s top singles.

Obviously, the songs on “Sounds of Summer” were meant to be listened to on their respective original albums. But, I was just a kid. I had no concern for how I was supposed to listen to them.

All I knew was I enjoyed the songs. Each track held a special place in my heart.

The Beach Boys formed in the early 1960s. The band’s initial focus was releasing West Coast surfin’ summer sounds. In fact, many of the songs on “Sounds of Summer” were written and performed in the group’s early days. In the mid-’60s, however, The Beach Boys began trying different types of music near the same time that The Beatles also pioneered new and experimental recordings.

These groups inspired each other by taking risks with their classic pop and rock-and-roll sounds, knowing that their previous fans may not appreciate the innovative styles the bands were bringing to the records.

When I was a kid, the California summer songs of The Beach Boys were my favorites. As I grew older and started listening to individual albums, my preference began to sway to the band’s experimental styles. To this day, I believe “Pet Sounds,” the album that kick-started their progressive pop movement, may be the greatest album ever recorded. It’s a masterpiece from beginning to end.

“Pet Sounds” mixes consistency with variety. It’s one of those albums that demands to be listened to from start to finish.

There are no songs included to desperately reach the standard length that make a recording feel empty and rushed. Each track knits the holes to form a beautiful

display.

Brian Wilson, one of the lead vocalists and members of the band, as well as the chief composer of “Pet Sounds,” shows off his musical intelligence throughout this album. In my opinion, Wilson’s knowledge in the field of music was limited by the band’s early recordings meant for radio hits. I don’t mean this to be completely negative, because a few of the early hits are still some of my favorites today.

It’s hard to go wrong with “Don’t Worry Baby” or “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” but The Beach Boys truly shined when Wilson had more control of the orchestra.

The album leads off with a splendid opener: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” This track serves as a preview of what to expect, as well as what not to expect, which is what makes the album so special. This song was also on “Sounds of Summer,” so it’s a personal favorite of mine.

As the album plays through side one, there are comparable instrumentational notes to keep an ear on. These similarities bind the album tightly together, reminding the listener of its consistency. There are also stark variations in instruments and sounds used, such as bells and trains. Some of the themes about love and personal yearnings vary severely with each track.

It’s hard to identify a favorite song on “Pet Sounds.” Each track is so unique and essential to the album’s flow. “I’m Waiting for the Day” successfully combines kettledrums and flutes into its back-and-forth jazzy tempo.

“Sloop John B” completes side one with a folk song that’s quite different from the other tracks but fits nicely into the album. “I Know There’s an Answer,” “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” and “Caroline, No” are also some of my favorite Beach Boys songs. “Caroline, No” wraps the album up nicely with a mellow tone incorporated into Wilson’s outstanding voice. These are some of the best works the group has ever produced.

If I were to pick a favorite, I would have to choose “God Only Knows.” This track is nearly perfect: I selfishly believe the song should be a longer.

“God Only Knows” takes me to the past, where I would spend countless hours in the playroom listening to my favorite Beach Boys songs. This song is the crowning achievement of an epic album.

To those who have never listened to “Pet Sounds,” or any pre-1970s Beach Boys recordings for that matter, I would suggest tuning in and giving it a play. Or a replay. n

OPINIONS

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Arkadelphia native reacts to closing of hometown paper

By ADDY GOODMAN Guest writer

One of my very favorite pastimes growing up was firing up the laptop and writing little stories for my mom to read when she finished making dinner.

Time passed, I grew a little older and the laptop turned into a desktop computer at my dad’s flower shop. The pastime was no longer short stories; it was now designing and writing my very own newspaper, named “The Ladybug Chronicles.” It included pictures and clipart, stories about my family, my dog, my school. I even had an ad page, all pictures of Dad’s logo of course.

I would print multiple copies and hand them to my parents, my grandparents…all the while developing a marketing scheme in my head to get some real customers.

And you know where I developed the desire to make my own newspaper? The Siftings Herald, the local newspaper for Arkadelphia. From the very beginning, I respected that paper.

I liked to study it. I liked getting little newspaper clippings when my name made the big leagues.

I liked the idea of informing the public of news. That was, and is, a worthy job, and I admired our newspaper for it. As I grew older, however, I realized the paper wasn’t as big of a deal in Arkadelphia as I once thought, but I still admired the staff, as they were producing content every week for a smaller community that still has easy access to bigger papers such as the DemocratGazette. But then a couple days ago, I read a heartbreaking announcement: the Siftings Herald was publishing its final paper on Sept. 14.

Alex Blankenship z Photo lab editor

As soon as I read the news, my mind immediately went back to my introduction to mass communications class freshman year. It was in this class I was first introduced to the idea of a transitioning universal media platform. During the class, I disregarded the thought that the print media industry was dying.

But now, two years later and a couple more communications classes under my belt, I am being forced to acknowledge the possibility. And now that my steadfast and inspiring hometown newspaper is printing its final edition, I can’t help but

ask myself the one question on all mass media majors’ mind: is our world as we know it, reading the tangible Sunday paper and dog-earring the corners of worn book pages, coming to a close?

This question doesn’t take much research to determine a hypothesis that will match the rest of the world…if you look up from this article, you will most likely be surrounded by people of all generations scrolling on their phones. We get automatic news updates of all kinds on our phones, we track current events “live” on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, we

Ask The Signal

By WILL BLASE News editor

“What is there to do in the Arkadelphia area when I’m out of school?”

Fantastic question. Locals might disagree, but as a student who lives in Arkadelphia only eight months of the year, there isn’t much to do in Arkadelphia.

Sure, there’s a few small shops in downtown Arkadelphia that are worth stopping by, but for a college town that boasts two colleges, Arkadelphia doesn’t have limitless activities for students. Even small escapes, such as trying all the restaurants in town, run their course due to the limited selection. However, the Macho Nachos at Burger Barn are always worth a trip.

Arkadelphia’s allure comes from its surrounding nature.

For starters, and for those who want to remain close to campus, Speer Pavilion is a great escape from schoolwork. Located just behind the Evans Student Center, the pavilion highlights the Ouachita River which flows right off of campus. Students can bring hammocks or picnic blankets and escape, possibly just for a while, in the canopy of trees. It’s a great place to walk laps, read or catch up with/ make new friends.

The DeSoto Bluff Trail is another nearby attraction that students have full access to.

The trail is relatively short, sprawling nearly a quarter mile, but ends at a Cliffside with an incredible view. It makes for an excellent place to watch the sunset, or sunrise for all you early birds. Ask most students and they’ll tell you

that “The Bluff” is the best place to hammock with friends. If fire conditions are safe, there are a few places to start campfires at “The Bluff.” Be mindful to practice proper wilderness etiquette whenever starting fires or disposing of trash.

If you’ve never been, you might be surprised at just how large Lake DeGray is. This Arkansas State Park sits just off of the Caddo River. DeGray features a golf course, a lodge, a restaurant, marina and campground. There are several beach areas in which students looking to take a break or hang out with friends can go to. It’s especially satisfying to head to DeGray when the leaves begin to change. The heavily forested area becomes a vibrant wildfire of color. Even though the water may be cold, there’s plenty of reasons to make a trip over to DeGray.

The Lake DeGray campground is open year-round and is a great way to make lasting memories with friends. Renting a campsite is straightforward and affordable. Grab some friends, grab some food and head out to the campgrounds for a weekend.

For students that don’t own camping equipment, or didn’t lug it all the way to OBU, RecLife offers affordable rentals. Tents, sleeping bags, propane stoves… you name it, they’ve got it.

Contact Shane Seaton or go to the OBU RecLife website for more information.

The Caddo Valley Flea Market is, in itself, an experience.

Head over to Caddo Valley and immediately on the left will be a large, hangar-esque building.

From the outside, the flea market looks relatively small. This is far from the truth. Once inside you’ll be surrounded by relics of the past and cheap items from the

present. The flea market is set up in various stalls and displays, making the walkthrough seem like you’re walking through an IKEA store. Don’t sell the joint short, it really is worth going at least once.

For students looking to get out of Arkadelphia for a while, Hot Springs, Little Rock and Benton are all within reasonable driving distance. These cities offer a wider range of activities and eateries. The drive to Little Rock is a little less than an hour, so grab some friends and take a trip one afternoon. Reading for pleasure? Little Rock has plenty of bookstores. Want to see a movie? There are a number of quality theaters that are worth the drive. Have to sate the need to shop? Little Rock has outlet shops and a few shopping malls for the shopaholic. Hot Springs has a great downtown area, with plenty of delicious restaurants and coffee shops.

If you’ve never experience Hot Springs, you should definitely take the 30-minute drive one weekend. It’s well worth the gas money. Benton is nearly 40 minutes away, but has the best movie theater in proximity to Arkadelphia. There are a few select restaurants that are worth driving to Benton for, so plan dinner and a movie and take a break from studying.

Arkadelphia gets boring.

There’s no use in denying it.

Slow life doesn’t have to be slow thought. Find a group of friends and pick a new restaurant every week. Hammock with new friends and old friends alike.

Take a lake day and see all that DeGray has to offer. Try the Macho Nachos. Whatever it may be, Arkadelphia has a few hidden gems that are begging to be found. n

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

even follow the daily actions and opinions of our president on social media…in a world where it is a commodity to not own a smart phone, and true book stores are considered “hipster” even though their rightful place is standing as a day-to-day, common occurence, we live in a constant state of little patience and high demand. And those things cannot be delivered through the form of print media, a media that requires the time to print. There is no comparison through the eyes of younger Millennials and Generation Z, who have lived their whole lives

gathering all needed information off of a screen rather than a grainy, thin piece of paper.

However, as I dream to one day become a children’s book publisher, it would be rather defeating of me to give into the end of that argument without a fight. So while my beloved hometown newspaper is printing its final copy, I am not going to say that this is the sign of the end times. I may be a naïve sister, surrounded by a sea of Kindles and news apps, but I truly don’t see the final chapter of libraries and newsstands coming any time soon. n

Gaming exerts new prominence over traditional entertainment

By BRODY BROWN Online staff writer

As college students in a small town, we have certain things we do to pass the time. It can be anything from hanging out in the student center or heading to Hot Springs for a night on the town.

Perhaps the most common source of entertainment for us is Netflix.

I’ve heard many students gush over their favorite series on there (the most common being “Grey’s Anatomy”) and this author has experienced first hand the immense artistic and entertainment value of the many series held on the site. However, I find that movies and series can only keep me entertained for a bit until I grow bored and need a break from watching, for plots of most all series and movies become predictable as patterns emerge from watching so long. This is one aspect where I believe video games are superior to video content.

I understand that many people reading this may not consider themselves very intrigued by games. After all, from the outside looking in, many games appear to be the same, either falling into one of two categories. The first being shooting games, either first-person or third-person, and the second category being Mario games and/ or Mario carbon copies. However, just because these two are the most popular categories, that doesn’t mean that all games fall into them.

It would be the same as saying action movies and comedy movies are the most popular and therefore those kind of movies must be the only to exist. Just as there are multiple genres of movies, so too are there multiple genres of games. It would be foolish of me to simply list off all of them here, nor do I believe you would find it terribly interesting to read descriptions of game types. I’ll leave it up to you whether or not you want to search for your genre of choice after this article.

Many today dismiss games as

a type of media outside of their interests, which is confusing to me, to say the least. When someone tells me they’re not interested in games at all, it’s like they’re saying they’re not interested in books, movies, TV, or music. It’s certainly possible to not be interested in one of them, but it’s still surprising when someone views one of them as uninteresting. What’s even more peculiar is that video games themselves are the medium that are dismissed most of all. But why?

Video games offer an experience no other piece of media can offer.

The ability to step inside a different world, into a character’s shoes, and essentially tell their own story.

It’s perhaps the most interactive experience one can have from an entertainment stand point. There’s the visual and audio input, but the player themselves must output something to get anything out of it. If you want to go somewhere in a world, while a movie would take you there, it’s your job as a player to get to that point in a game. If you want to explore a certain aspect of a world, a book may suffice, but a good game allows you to explore the part that interests you to your heart’s content. A TV show won’t allow you to take different paths, but a game may give you options for how to solve a problem or end a story. Of course, some, if not all of this, maybe obvious. If you know these things and you still refuse to give it a shot-- and by shot I mean choosing something you want to try and play, not what’s popular in the gaming world right now-- I don’t know what else to say.

Maybe you have good reasons.

Video games take a long while to complete, and you don’t have the time. Or perhaps the price of games are just to high for you at the moment. Or maybe you’re just not going to do it for the simple reason of you don’t want to. Either way, I can’t force you to take up a controller or fish a couple dollars out of your pocket to get started. All I can do is say that I think you’re missing out on something great if you don’t give video games a shot. n

SPORTS

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Football executes on all cylinders, remains unbeaten

By CODY POE Staff writer

Last Saturday, the Ouachita Tigers played their first home game of the season against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

The Tiger absolutely crushed the Bulldogs, winning 41-8.

The offensive showcase was led by senior running back Kris Oliver. Oliver rushed for 127 yards and three Ouachita (2-0) touchdowns on the night. Junior running back Shun’cee Thomas had the most yards in a single carry on Saturday. Thomas broke free for a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and he finished with 80 yards on just four carries. The Tigers more than doubled the Bulldogs in rushing yards. Ouachita had 329 yards on the ground, while Southwestern Oklahoma (1-1) was held to just 146 yards. The Tigers scored the first 41 points and never looked back on their way to victory No. 2.

In the air, redshirt freshman quarterback Brayden Brazeal found receiver Drew Harris five times for a total of 39 yards.

Brazeal had a successfully efficient performance in his second career start at Ouachita, completing 61 percent of his passes and getting 110 passing yards. The Tigers put it in the air for a total of 126 yards in the game. Junior Allie Freeman led the way with 62 receiving yards.

The Tiger defense allowed just 272 yards the entire game and sacked Southwestern Oklahoma quarterbacks five times. In Southwestern Oklahoma’s performance last week against the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Freeman was able to throw for 416 yards and seven touchdowns, but against the Tigers, he was only able to put

up 104 yards while also throwing an interception to sophomore defensive back Hayden Lassiter.

OBU held the Bulldogs scoreless until the fourth quarter.

The Tigers allowed one touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but that would be the only time that the Bulldogs would find the end zone. SWOSU would come close to getting another touchdown later in the game, but the Tigers defense would be ready for them. Later in the fourth quarter, The Bulldogs made it to the goal line, where they met the full force of the Tiger defense. The Tigers held the goal line and got the ball back.

Ouachita’s special teams were also all about their business on Saturday, led by senior kicker Cole Antley and redshirt junior punter Jake Ford. Ford punted four times with an average of almost 40 yards per punt. Two of the punts found their home inside the Southwestern Oklahoma 20yard line. Antley, who averaged just north of 60 yards per kickoff, also went two-for-two on his field goal attempts, hitting from 36 yards in the second quarter and 26 yards just after halftime.

In the fourth quarter, both teams decided to put in their younger players due to the large gap in the scores. After the impressive goal-line stand, the Tigers felt much more comfortable with the lead. They would get the ball back and drain the clock to very soundly win the game.

The Tigers are now 11-4 against Southwestern Oklahoma and 2-0 overall for the season. This was also their third consecutive year to be taking home the Paul Sharp Trophy. With their 33-point victory, the Ouachita Tigers have tied for their largest victory in series history.

The Tigers hope to improve their undefeated season to 3-0 next week when they face Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma.

The Savage Storm are 1-1 overall, with both results coming in conference play. In the season opener, Southeastern Oklahoma defeated Southern Nazarene University 35-0. In week two, the Savage Storm lost to Oklahoma Baptist University by only six points (28-34). All signs point to Ouachita vs. Southeastern Oklahoma to be a high-impact, competitive game.

This will be the second away game of the season for the Tigers.

The game is set to take place on Paul Laird Field in Durant, Oklahoma on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.

The weather is projected to be 88 degrees out with only a 20 percent chance of rain. For more information on Ouachita Tiger sports, visit their website at www.obutigers.com. n

By ASHLY STRACENER Staff writer

Daniel Thomas has a passion for duck hunting. He wants to share that passion by creating a Ducks Unlimited chapter. An interest meeting will be held tomorrow, Sept. 13 in Young Auditorium.

Thomas grew up duck hunting and says he has done it for the majority of his life, which is what inspired him to begin a new university chapter of Ducks Unlimited on Ouachita’s campus.

The organization is not only meant to connect fellow duck hunters, but to also raise awareness for Arkansas wetland conservation, which will be discussed during the interest meeting by a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

After the first meeting, those interested in joining the new chapter will be able to apply for different committee positions.

Once the committee and members are established, together they will work to form a constitution for this new organization and set a calendar for hunting and other activities, such as banquets.

Thomas, who began to seek out interest for this new organization, felt that Ouachita needed a place of connection for hunters on campus who share a passion for outdoor activities.

“I’ve grown up duck hunting my whole life,” said Thomas.

“It’s more than just a sport. It’s a way to get to know people better and make closer bonds with your family. It’s a way to get involved with wetland conservation and it’s more of a way for students to get involved. This is a way for the hunting community to connect together in a more civilized manner. I thought this was a cool way to get people

“Some people have art, some people have sports, but this is my passion.”

-Daniel Thomas Thomas wanted not only to bring people with common interests together through Ducks Unlimited, but to also raise awareness about one of their main causes, which is wetland conservation. Thomas believes that the Ouachita community should take advantage of this new resource for wetland conservation, especially considering that Arkansas is known as the natural state.

“It’s just a cool way to preserve God’s creation and also to enjoy it, and Ducks Unlimited is a way for anybody, not just hunters, but people who enjoy nature, to know how to take care of it,” Thomas said. “It’s a great way for people to become aware of their surroundings. It’s more than just killing ducks. It’s more about wetland conservation and

TOP: Senior running back Kris Oliver takes it to the house in Ouachita’s 41-8 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Oliver rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns in the game. BOTTOM: Ouachita fans get ready to cheer on the Tigers during the Saturday evening game. Ouachita improved to 2-0 on the season and moved up to No. 14 in the AFCA Division-II Coaches Poll.

Kori Goudeau z Photo Lab

New Ducks Unlimited chapter to gather hunters, conserve Arkansas wetlands connected because connections are everything.

“Some people have art, some people have sports, but this is my passion,” Thomas said. “I feel like there’s a lot of people who love hunting and love the outdoors but there’s no way to help connect them to that. Being a small university, I feel like this would be a good club for people to get together and share their common interests. It could be business finance people, biologyanybody can get involved with it. It’ll speak to the people that share this common interest and they’ll understand. If you have a passion for the outdoors and what God has given us, then you should join.”

Alex Blankenship z Photo Editor

what that means to Arkansas and what that means to this country.

I believe that what you take, you’ve got to give back. So this is a way of giving back.”

One way that the new Ducks Unlimited chapter will be able to give back is through social activities like banquets where the event’s money will be raised for Ducks Unlimited.

As a result, this will hopefully channel money into different conservation projects, such as planting food plots, replanting forests or restoring watersheds.

“We plan to have a couple of meetings each semester, and as we get founded more firmly, we plan to have banquets where people can come out and have a good time,” Thomas said. “We’ll have raffles, maybe auction off some prizes, some duck hunts or Yetis. It’s a way to have a good meal, to meet people that you may not know that are good connections and maybe bring a date and have fun dancing. We may also have a trap shooting competition.”

For Thomas, this new chapter will fill a need on campus for connecting people with this similar passion.

“I would say everyone has their passions and hobbies,” Thomas said. “In the Bible, there are many instances where God called people out into the wilderness to be with Him. Being in the flooded timber and basking in the glory of His creation is amazing. You have to see the sun’s rays peek through the tops of the golden trees. Hear the sound of sound of the ducks’ wings going ‘tut tut tut’ as they land on the water. It’s more than killing ducks. There’s a greater purpose. It’s about spending time outdoors with the ones that are close to you. It’s a challenge and an adventure.” n

EPL’s worldwide growth

By CALEB BYRD Guest writer

At 6:30 a.m. on any given Saturday, alarms around campus ring, rousing students to wake up and enjoy the English Premier League.

That’s right, some students on Ouachita’s campus are crazy enough to wake up that early just to watch two soccer teams play half way around the world. It does not make much sense why many college-aged kids would wake up earlier for a soccer game than they would for any class, but this is a normal thing across the country.

The English Premier League (EPL) is the biggest sports league in the world, showcasing the best players. Broadcast in almost every country, EPL teams even go on global tours, playing preseason matches to connect with fans.

It hasn’t always been this way, however. For many years, the EPL was mainly followed by local supporters. Most English families would support the same team for generations, passing down the tradition of fandom. The teams would be populated by local players who had grown up supporting the team. Ian Brew, a Liverpool native and lifelong Everton-supporter, remembers these days well.

“My father was an Evertonian,” Brew said. “Because he was, I was brought up an Evertonian.

So were my children, and so were my grandchildren. It runs in the family, mate.”

These days of local fandom have long passed, however. In recent years, the Premier League has encountered a huge rush of cash. The influx of money has transformed the EPL into a global league. Clubs are no longer passed down from generation to generation in a local city, but are chosen worldwide based upon which ones play in the most attractive manner, win the most trophies or connect best with fans. Rivalries are no longer contained to locali-

ties, but now can be felt at bars in major American cities at 7 a.m.

Some of those modern, global fans are those crazy Ouachita students who wake up at 6:30 a.m. to watch a soccer game. Jack Bennington and James Lasley, both Ouachita sophomores, support the rival clubs of Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively.

Asaph Camillo, a sophomore international student from Brazil, began to support Chelsea because he enjoyed playing with them on FIFA. Despite not having a local connection, these students have a deep emotional investment.

“The excitement was obvious,” said Lasley on his Manchester City team winning the Premier League last season. “It was pretty obvious we were going to win all season, so it was just pure happiness when it finally happened.”

Possibly, the biggest emotional attachment which comes with supporting an EPL team is rivalry.

While local sports rivalries in America might occur between teams hundreds of miles apart, EPL rivalries occur between major teams just three miles apart, like Manchester City and Manchester United. While international supporters might not be as present as local supporters, they are still passionate about rivalries.

Bennington, a huge Manchester United fan, has some thoughts to share on Manchester City.

“Even not living there, I hate City. They’re chumps, trying to buy everyone and win the league.

They’re the worst,” he said.

While rivalries might be a little friendlier between stateside fans, the emotions are still intense, and those emotions are what connect fans around the world to a club.

“Culturally, we may have different backgrounds and nationally, but we’re united with this one common love for the club,” said Brew, who met with American Everton fans in Boston this summer. “It’s like meeting an estranged family.” n