The Signal | Ouachita Baptist University | 09.19.18

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09.19.18 | Vol. 127, Issue 3 | www.obusignal.com

Kluck Apartments offer new, renovated student housing

By SARA PATTERSON Staff writer A dedication ceremony was held at the newly renovated Kluck Hillside Apartments yesterday to display the apartments and recognize those involved with the renovation process that took place this past summer.

Dr. Wesley Kluck, as well as other contributors to the project, gave speeches and received accolades for a job well done. Those in attendance were able to see inside the new apartments and take a look at the finished product.

The idea to renovate what were formerly known as the “OBU apartments” came around a year and a half ago, according to Vice President of Student Services and donor for the Kluck Apartments, Dr. Kluck.

At this time, it was clear that the Ouachita student population was growing and would outgrow oncampus housing if changes were not made in some area.

Looking for a solution, Ouachita President Dr. Ben Sells took tours of the various housing options available to students and told Dr. Kluck, regarding the OBU apartments, “Well, I think it looks terrible, but I think it’s well built.”

They both saw a feasible opportunity to improve the student housing options by improving the appearance of the OBU apartments.

Knowing that Ouachita had

decided not to borrow money for housing, but rather pay costs upfront, Kluck decided to provide the financial means with the interest he had accumulated from what he’d been putting into the Arkansas Baptist Foundation for 30 years.

Kluck always intended to use this money to help Ouachita students in some way, so he responded to the need at hand.

The renovation efforts resulted in apartments that are much more appealing to students. As a result of the news that the apartments would undergo renovation the waiting list filled up quickly.

Students were, and still are, eager about the changes made to these once run-down apartments. The apartments are currently only offered to female residents and married couples.

The apartments, roughly 70 years old, were in desperate need of a thorough revitalization, which is exactly what they got this summer.

Taking on a project of this capacity would be challenging. Before the renovation, Kluck said that each room “stunk so bad it was hard to even go in there… the bathrooms were outdated, [and] the kitchen was horrendous.”

After the renovation, the apartments have hardwood floors as well as sleek bathrooms with quartz countertops and newly tiled showers. In addition, the closed-off and cramped layout of the living room and kitchen was redone so the two areas connect seamlessly

Voter registration in Clark County encouraged for Ouachita students

By EMILY MCMASTER Staff writer The deadline to register to vote in Clark County is Oct. 9. Students can pick up a voter registration application from the County Clerk’s Office at the Clark County Courthouse, located in downtown Arkadelphia, or they can request to have the application mailed to them. Once the application is approved and entered into the system, they will receive their voter registration card.

Rhonda Cole, the Clark County Clerk, informed students on how to become a Clark County registered voter.

“When college students move from another county, or even from another state, they have to decide if they want to have the ability to vote in their new location or if they want to remain a registered voter in the county where they moved here from,” Cole said. “I would like to encourage the students who are registered to vote in another county or another state and who wish to become a registered voter here in Clark County to go ahead and contact their County Clerk so that they will have time to get an absentee ballot.”

Once registered to vote, students are eligible to pre-poll vote at the County Clerk’s Office start-

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ing on Oct. 22 for the general elections. If students do not choose to early vote at the office, they can go to one of their precincts and vote at one of the polling sites. Announcements for upcoming voting events are advertised through public service announcements and social media platforms.

Tina Johnson, deputy clerk at the Clark County Clerk’s Office, updates students on the various Clark County ballots and local elections coming up this year.

“This year, we have a Clark County Assessor race and a Circuit Clerk race, in which we have local representation for the running, that is on the county-wide ballet.

Of course, we also have the state constitutional officer elections that will take place, as well,” Johnson said. “We also have voting for the Justice of Peace, an individual that makes important decisions with minor civil cases or hold examinations for more serious crimes within a district, coming up this year if students want to vote for the local races.”

A physical ID is mandatory to show to officials before being allowed to vote in the office or at a polling site. Along with this, it is important for voters to familiarize themselves with who or what they are voting for before casting a ballot. see Registration z 2

Chandler Franklin z Photo lab

DR. WESLEY KLUCK speaks during the dedication of the newly renovated Kluck Hillside Apartments. Dr. Kluck and his wife, Debbie, provided funding to remodel the 70-year-old apartment buildings. The apartments are located on the corner of McNutt and North 8th Streets.

to create an open-concept effect.

“It was definitely a fixer-upper,” Kluck said. But, with the skills of all who worked to complete this project, the job got done. The architect, contractor and landscaper worked hard and produced “above what was expected. They really invested in that,” Kluck said.

Casey Klucher, a senior and Kluck Apartment resident, has enjoyed living in the new apartments this year. “The apartments are very

nice. You can tell they thought everything through to make it feel very homey,” Klucher said.

As for safety, each apartment floor has an indoor lobby area, so apartment doors are not accessed from the outside. Staircases are also located inside the building.

Ideas about advancing the security of the new apartments in the future, such as additional outside lighting, are being considered.

In all, the transition from “OBU

Apartments” to “Kluck Apartments” has already benefited Ouachita residents and will continue to do so as the years progress.

Yesterday’s ceremony showcased the new apartments and recognized those who contributed to seeing the project through. Thanks to Dr. Kluck and many other individuals involved, students can abide in a place that feels more like home. n

upperclassman and be treated like their friend for the weekend.”

Explore is unique in that it is an overnight event, giving it a stronger sense of community to offer prospective students. Prospective students stay with current students in their dorms. Having a group of older students take in the younger ones and interact with them gives prospective students a unique connection to campus culture that would not be found on a traditional campus tour day.

Explore students have the opportunity to attend the OBU Homecoming football game. The game will take place Saturday morning, and the Homecoming Queen will be crowned before the game. Prospective students also have the opportunity to witness one of the most notorious and exhilarating events at Ouachita during Explore weekend: Tiger Tunes.

“Watching Tiger Tunes made me very excited for the many fun opportunities I would have to get involved,” Zucha said. Not only does Explore weekend often persuade students to come to Ouachita, but Tiger Tunes specifically allows students to see how they can be involved as a student and look forward to those opportunities.

Students also have the opportunity to attend a Refuge service on Thursday night and attend college classes going on throughout the

day, along with many other typical orientation or “tiger day” type of activities. Parents of prospective students staying in the area are offered a parent program for part of the day as well.

A high-energy, social event like Explore is not going to be the best event choice for every prospective student, however. “If you are nervous about being on campus by yourself,” Motl said, “the best thing to do is grab friends.”

Especially for more introverted individuals, bringing a friend from home is a great way to make the event more enjoyable.

Explore is a one-of-a-kind outreach opportunity that has great potential to bring students to Ouachita. However, this event relies heavily on involvement from current OBU students to make it effective.

“It’s really important that we have our current students help us by housing students or else we couldn’t do this event,” Motl said.

Students who are interested and willing to serve younger students by hosting them in their dorms can sign up online and will receive an email from Motl with further instructions. For more information or answers to any questions about hosting prospective students, see Lori Motl in the Admissions Counseling Office located in Cone Bottoms. n

OBU’s Explore offers unique Homecoming experience for prospective students

By SARA PATTERSON Staff writer Explore Ouachita, formerly named “Grow,” is coming to Ouachita next week.

The annual event invites prospective students to come to Arkadelphia during Homecoming weekend and participate in a variety of activities that expose them to college life at Ouachita.

Lori Motl, director of admissions counseling, is a key leader in the preparation, organization and production of this event. The interactive experience of Explore offers “a great opportunity for students to get kind of a snapshot of what it’s like to be a student at Ouachita,” Motl said.

Before ever organizing this event, Motl attended it as a student. Explore weekend, having a different name at the time she attended, “was one of the things that made me want to come to Ouachita,”Motl said.

Motl was evidently not alone in her response. Hundreds of students choose to enroll at Ouachita every year because of this event.

“My experience at ‘Grow’ last year affirmed that Ouachita was the place for me,” said Ouachita freshman, Parker Zucha. One of Zucha’s favorite parts of the weekend was “getting to stay with an

THIS WEEK AT OBUSIGNAL.COM

y Evolution of Tunes: Then and Now y The Creation of OSF y Hosts and Hostesses Features

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NEWS

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[from your perspective]

What is the greatest American musical?

Caleb Smoke Senior

Alex Blankenship Senior

Mary Grace Hill Senior

Kat Allen Junior

Hannah Horner Junior

“Phantom of the Opera.”

“Hello, Dolly!”

“The Sound of Music.”

“A Very Potter Musical.”

“Newsies.”

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News Briefs

A look at the biggest news of the week

Hurricane Florence Last Thursday, Hurricane Florence made landfall.

The storm brought a large amount of water and displaced it across the Carolinas and Virginia.

Many towns have seen three to four feet of rainfall, normally uncommon, due to Florence.

According to AP News, nearly 320,000 have lost power. 34 deaths have been reported, but this number may rise as the floodwater begins to dissapate.

Total damages are estimated to be around $17 to $22 billion.

It’s also estimated that 4,300 homes have been destroyed by the coursing floodwater, but 2,600 people have been saved.

Search and rescue groups, as well as relief efforts have begun.

Organizations are making their way east to help individuals trapped by the storm and those who have lost all they have.

Source: AP

OBU Safety provides active shooter training, informs students on how to assess a threat Spencer Ewing z Photo lab

By ASHLY STRACENER Staff writer A training for civilian response to an active shooter took place in Hickingbotham Young Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. yesterday.

The event was led by The Office of Safety and Emergency Management.

Led by Jeff Crow, director of safety and emergency management, and Brandon Tollett, a campus officer, led the training event.

The civilian response training was open to all students and also gave a cursory overview of the university’s emergency response plan, as well as some crime prevention tips.

“We wanted to provide some training opportunities for students, something we provided for faculty and staff last semester,” Crow said. “It’s a national curriculum of civilian response to active shooter events and it’s not necessarily geared towards any entity or organization. It was very generic of what civilians should do if they unfortunately find themselves in an attack of some kind as we’re seeing in the national media, which is happening on a more regular basis.”

“The thought is that by training civilians on what they can do in the seconds after an event starts to unfold has very important ramifications on how that will turn out,” Crow said. “If they do the right things, then lives are saved.

If they do the wrong things, then, unfortunately, lives are lost. Those crucial decisions are made in the seconds after it starts to unfold, because law enforcement will be there within minutes but seconds count. We wanted to equip people that aren’t first responders, people that aren’t law enforcement, with the skills that they need to know to survive in an attack situation.”

The training was taken from

Chinese goods tariffs The Trump administration has decided to place tariffs on Chinese goods totaling up to $200 billion.

These tariffs will start a massive economic war between the two great nations.

The predicted tariffs will begin at 10 percent and rise to 25 percent by early 2019.

The Chinese government responded quickly to intial tariffs set by the Trump administration, by placing tariffs on U.S. soybeans.

This massive industry was hit hard and China plans to hit harder with the announcement of new tariffs. The economic power plans to strike up to $60 billion worth of tariffs in response to Monday’s announcement.

The U.S. has stated that they will remain open to negotiations and have already removed some items from their initial list.

Source: AP

Yearbook photos will be taken until Friday, September 21

Students can arrange a time through the OBU INFO portal, or show up to the Speer Writing Center. Wendesday and Thursday, students can schedule their time slots for 8:30 a.m. - noon; 12:30 - 4:40 p.m. For the last minute students, pictures will be availible during the hours of 8:30 a.m - noon; 1 - 3:30 p.m. on Friday. There is no charge to have your picture taken and the price of a yearbook is included in your student tuition. Please make every effort to have your picture made. These pictures are used not only for the yearbook, but for press releases, the university website and other publications for the university. n

Registration

it is very important for them to not only register to vote, but to actually cast their vote, because every vote matters. And it is an opportunity to voice their opinion.”

For more information on voter registration contact the County Clerk’s Office by emailing rhonda@clarkcountyarkansas.com or by calling 870-246-4491. n

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“I believe that local college students should participate in voting here, because there are several issues within the county,” Cole said. “Students should have a say for what is happening at the place they are living. I think that OFFICER BRANDON TOLLETT speaks during the Active Shooter Training session last night. Officers decided to train students on what to do if they found themselves in an attack.

professional education and is used nationwide not only for civilian training, but for professional responders, as well.

“It’s the curriculum from the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Deployment Training Organization, which is out of Texas State University, and it’s the national standard for not only civilian response, but also for law enforcement response,” Crow said. “They provide training around the nation and widely recognize the best practices for response from law enforcement and first responders, but this is more geared towards civilians and what civilians should do if they found themselves in a situation like this.”

“It’s based on three principles of the three things of what a person should do if they find themselves in an attack which is either avoid, which is the best thing they can do if the attack is going on, or leave the area and remain out of the area until it’s safe,” Crow said. “The second thing would be to deny access. That’s where you would barricade, lock down your room and lock down wherever you were at to deny the attacker to come in where you were at. The third thing would be the last and

the final resort which would be that you would defend yourself.

We reminded the students that you have a legal right to defend yourself. You’re not a victim, you don’t have to be a victim.”

Crow hopes to schedule more trainings in the future because he feels that this training could serve students in all aspects of their lives and not just on campus.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to get to do that,” Crow said. “I hope the students will really take advantage of the training, because it’s not only going to help them in the university setting, but in church, in malls, in theaters and all other walks of life.”

“It was a very generic presentation, but the principles are tried and true,” Crow said. “We know from experience that the people who find themselves in these situations, what they do in those seconds as it begins to unfold mean life or death. It was very important and it was good information that you could take back to your family and your friends and share it with them. It gave people a tool to make themselves safer if they find themselves in these situations. This is a safe campus, a safe community, but it can always be safer.” n

Golf champion murdered in US Celia Barquin Arozamena was found dead on an Iowa golf course this Monday.

As of right now, officials have stated that a homeless man is responsible for her murder.

Barquin was a top athelete at the University of Iowa and was completing an undergraduate degree in civil engineering.

Barquin won the European Ladies Amateur Championship golf competition in July.

This is the second female Iowa college student to be found deceased in the last few months.

Mollie Tibbetts, another Iowa State student, never returned from her run and was later found dead.

Barquin was known for her expceptional golfing skills and being well-loved by her Iowa State coach and teammates.

Source: AP

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TIGER SERVE DAY SEPT. 22ND 8:30am to 12:00pm

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“A Place to Belong”: Mt. Zion ministers to community [scripture] to our daily lives.” jail and snacks provided by the works as well, like the possible partnership with Park Hill The church chooses a more members of MZBC. Staff Writer traditional route when it comes They have also paired with the Baptist Church through their to music and worship. All of Pregnancy Resource Center in mentoring program there.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, or the songs the congregation Arkadelphia to provide a helping Any students who choose MZBC as it is lovingly called by sings come from a hymnal, hand and support to young, to attend MZBC and wish to its members, is one of the many with a mixture of classic and single mothers-to-be through the participate in helping the church churches here in the Arkadelphia contemporary worship songs. tough process of pregnancy and are very welcome to do so. Since the nursing home ministry is area. Only a short 10-minute The piano accompaniment is parenthood. drive from campus and pastored provided by Mrs. Janet Franks, The members have also been new and needs help getting off

by Ouachita’s own Dr. Ray while her husband, Todd Franks, known to visit nursing homes the ground, Franklin encourages Franklin, MZBC provides a conducts the choir, which is open in the area where they talk and students to help out. warm and loving environment to men, women and children. minister to the elderly who “Our special needs for senior some young for students still seeking a place The church also does a number can no longer physically go to citizens...need people to love on old people and to worship God. of ministries and volunteer church.

MZBC originally began as part of another church called Mt. Bethel Baptist Church that was founded 182 years ago and is still in operation today. Oct. 9, 1896, the members that left Mt. Bethel officially founded their own church and called it Mt. Zion Baptist Church, named after the hill in Jerusalem where King David built his citadel as spoken of in Psalm 87.

Today, MZBC welcomes all who walk through the door of the church and helps many of those forgotten in the community. “[We] believe in the basic Baptist faith and message,” said Senior Pastor Ray Franklin, “which is going to be the authority of scripture, God as Creator, the Bible as our authority for faith and practice…[and] priesthood Mt. Zion Baptist Church z Courtesy of the believer-we don’t have MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH is one of the original churches in the Arkadelphia area. Mt. Zion is one of the many churches that were anyone between us and God.” fathered by Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.

The church is also very proud of Franklin wants the adopt them,” Franklin said. its practice of open communion. work in the Clark County and While some churches restrict the Arkadelphia area. One of the congregation to continue to If a student would rather act of communion to members church’s newer but impactful minister to “members who were volunteer in the church building of that church only, Mt. Zion ministries is their Clark County faithful for all their lives and than in the field, new minds are Baptist chooses to let any Jail Ministry. Every Tuesday, now they can’t come because of always welcome. The church professing believer partake in Franklin and Mr. Perry Tilley age. We want to stay connected website just installed a new sermon audio where the message the communion service if they so head down to the Clark County with them.”

Jail and have devotional time MZBC also gives heavily to from the previous Sunday is choose.

Franklin describes his teaching with the inmates and talk to them their missions programs, both recorded so anyone who visits the and preaching style as being about God and His grace and internationally and right here site can hear it. Any student who “more of a balanced approach [to love. The men are given Bibles in the local community. Some is good with or enjoys technology preaching]. Mostly how to apply to read during their time in the future ministries are in the and can help with that would be

By HANNAH WEBBER

greatly appreciated. The choir is always looking for more young voices as well, whether you can sing or not. In Franklin’s words, “Whatever it is they do, if they come to us, we will try and find a way to stir up the gift that is in them.”

Moving away from home is a big transition for every freshman, especially if you have only lived in one place your whole life like me. I lived in one medium-sized town my whole life, only went to one school from kindergarten to when I graduated high school, lived in the same house I was raised in and only went to one church. I’m sure many other of my fellow freshmen here at Ouachita are in a similar boat and are experiencing their first time away from home as well. Finding a church to call your own can really help in bringing you one step closer to seeing Ouachita and Arkadelphia as a place to call home. Mt. Zion calls itself “a place to belong” and, as Franklin said, “We want college students to come and just enjoy being at Mt. Zion and create that sense of community among themselves... and just come in to worship. Just having college students sitting in the pews is a big blessing to us.”

By knowing a little bit about a church, like where they stand in their faith, the atmosphere and how they can get involved, it makes everything a little clearer and makes your home not seem so far away.

If you are interested in attending Mt. Zion Baptist Church, you can visit the church’s website at www. mtzionarkadelphia.org to find out more information about the church service times as well as other church opportunities such as available volunteer and staff positions. n

ROTC at Ouachita operates with turning time, traditions

By ANNI WILLIAMS Copy editor

For Anthony Kennedy, wearing an Army uniform continues a family tradition.

“A lot of my family’s done military and I’ve always looked up to them tremendously.

They hung the moon and stars, y’know?”

Since Kennedy, a sophomore Christian studies major at OBU, wanted to make a career out of the military, he found the ROTC was the best way to go about having a career in the military and get a college degree. Kennedy said the skills he learned through ROTC are helping prepare him for his future as a whole. “ROTC not only helps you to become a military leader but helps you become a leader in everyday life.”

“Since I was a little kid, everything revolved around the military,” Kennedy said, who had several cousins, an uncle and two great uncles serve in the military. He continued, “When I got the chance to join, I definitely felt the Lord calling me to do it. I had to make sure of the first and foremost.”

“It is just such a privilege to serve this country and fight for something I believe in, knowing that so many people sacrifice so much for my freedom. It just feels right to do the same,” Kennedy said.

One hundred years ago, April 13, 1918, The Ouachita Signal printed its twenty-sixth volume for those on the Ouachita campus during the First World War. An alumnus, as “time forbid” him write to all his peers directly, wrote briefly of his college nostalgia before ending with a well-written plea for contributions to the war’s cause, saying “I shall not continue to grieve over my state of affairs, for I am about to realize that if the Kaiser is to be whipped, the class of 1917 must do its part.”

Within the same volume, as well as many volumes before and after, The Signal kept a running list of all Ouachitionians fighting in the Great War while also advertising “War Savings Stamps” and other such things to help the war effort. The Signal itself derived its name from the WWI Army Signal Corps.

Ouachita’s support of American troops was clear throughout the turmoil of the First World War. After the end of WWI, in 1919, Ouachita received their first ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) infantry unit.

Many Ouachita ROTC graduates fought in WWII, and the marble memorial made in their honor in 1945 still resides on campus.

Even after WWII, Ouachita’s military program, dubbed the “West Point of the Ozarks,” continued to require all ablebodied males to participate in the ROTC program until 1972.

Today, the ROTC program continues on the Ouachita campus as students earn their degrees while also preparing for a military career. The current ROTC program “is an avenue to produce commissioned officers into either active duty army, the army reserve or the army national guard,” according to Major Clint Leonard, an instructor of Military Science and member of the ROTC Cadre at OBU. Students at OBU who are in ROTC learn valuable leadership skills, and those who graduate from the program at the end of their years at Ouachita will not only graduate with college degrees, but will also graduate as commissioned Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

So, what is the lifestyle and motivation of those who will be serving our country in years to come?

William Combs, a Ouachita alumnus and current Henderson graduate student, joined the ROTC to become an officer in the Arkansas National Guard.

When he realized ROTC could

not only help him become an officer, but also help him pay for his education, he “jumped at the opportunity.”

“There’s plenty of opportunities to test your resolve and drive for success,” Combs said. “[The ROTC] makes me kick it into high gear every single day and gives me excellent opportunities to both lead others and learn from others.”

The ROTC program consists of physical training and military labs as well as classes about military leadership and life in the Army.

“There are always new challenges every day in ROTC,” Combs said, “whether it’s mustering the willpower to get up at 5:30 a.m. to go work out, planning out weekly field training for thirty people, pushing my limits on a 12-mile road march or shadowing actual officers at my local Guard unit.”

Yet, at the end of it all, graduates of the program will walk across the stage with a college degree, and significantly less student loan debt, as commissioned Second Lieutenants in the Army.

Though adding in the ROTC lifestyle might be challenging, there are exceptional monetary benefits to joining the ROTC. All scholarships offer full tuition and a monthly stipend. There are two-year, three-year and fouryear scholarships available.

“There’s also incentives just in sheer leadership skills, ” Major Leonard said. “Not everybody comes in just to get a ROTC scholarship. People serve for many different reasons. Getting your school paid for is just a bonus.”

According to Major Leonard other incentives to the program include service to one’s country and leadership skills as well as an opportunity for students to better themselves for postcollege civilian careers.

Life in ROTC Physical Training One part of the ROTC training

program is physical training, which happens Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 6 a.m. PT focuses on endurance and strength with exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, sprints and long-distance running.

All cadets must pass a PT test to be in the military. The test consists of two minutes for pushups, two minutes for sit-ups and a two-mile run. The OBU cadets aim to reach a 13 minute twomile run, and be able to attain 78 sit-ups and 72 push-ups with two minutes for each exercise.

The training, while challenging, is worthwhile. “It doesn’t interfere too much with your everyday life,” Kennedy said. “It gives you great things to apply to everyday life. I’ve learned a lot about time management and being productive throughout the day and doing everything with a purpose.”

ROTC Classes In freshman level classes, students are given basic instruction about the army lifestyle.

The coursework continues to build on these lessons over the years until seniors finish their class requirements by participating in leadership classes that focus on all the roles and responsibilities of a Lieutenant.

ROTC students also participate in labs where they get to engage in training activities that will help prepare them for military life.

Life after ROTC On the day of graduation, as soon as an ROTC member who has completed the program walks across the stage, they’re commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. From there, they’ll be going into active duty in the Army, the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

Active duty comes with a four-year active commission as well as a four-year active reserve obligation. “They’re going to train you to be whatever kind

of officer you’re going to be,” Major Leonard said. “But after that, then you’re going off to anywhere in the world, Hawaii, Korea, Alaska, New York, wherever the Army needs you.”

If ROTC members go into the National Guard or Reserve, post-graduation, they first go to officer training before coming home to pursue a civilian career like anyone else.

Each opportunity has unique advantages and disadvantages depending on the lifestyle a student wishes to purse postcollege. “Pros and cons are relative to who you are and what fits your lifestyle,” Major Leonard said.

There are many jobs within the army: infantry, artillery, aviation, signal and intelligence personnel. “You don’t get to pick your position. We call it ‘needs of the organization,’” Major Leonard said. They assess what’s going to be the best match with knowledge, skills and ability, however, sometimes they make decisions based on where they need lieutenants.

There are certainly benefits to joining an ROTC program in college, especially as it can lead to a meaningful career in the years after OBU. Requirements for current students to join the program are 27 credit hours, a 2.5 GPA and the ability to pass a physical fitness test. Any current Ouachita students looking to join ROTC, should contact OBU’s Instructor of Military Science, Major Leonard, by either calling him at 870-245-4177 or emailing him at leonardc@obu.edu.

Though the military is certainly not for everyone, there are students who choose to spend their time in college preparing to serve our country.

For all of us who remain sleeping at 6 a.m. while ROTC cadets are preparing for a life of service, we should remember to appreciate those students who are taking initiative in their college years for our sakes. n

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“Wicked”: Broadway comes to movie theaters

By GRACE AVERY Online staff writer

The lights dim, and the excited chatter of the crowd simmers down to a whisper. There’s a mixture of melodic noise coming from the orchestral pit as the musicians finish their warm-up.

All at once, the curtains rise, and a stream of music fills the ears of the audience. Anticipation and excitement radiate throughout the room. If you’ve experienced this before, you know what I’m describing…the theatre.

I grew up going to stage productions, with my first show being “Disney Princesses on Ice.” Soon, I could include “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hairspray,” “Les Misérables” and many others to my repertoire.

Before writing this, I wondered to myself, “Out of the shows I’ve seen, which ones have not been

made into a movie?” Most of these shows, almost all of them in fact, have been made into very successful films. So, it took me a while to find one that had not been made into a movie, but eventually, it dawned on me.

In my opinion, this show is arguably one of the best stage productions to have been created, so when it came to mind it felt blatantly obvious: “Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.” “Wicked” is a timeless show that has been running since 2003, which means the story of Elphaba has been told to audiences for 15 years. If you’re not yet convinced of its greatness, here is some proof. It is the winner of over 100 major international awards, and Entertainment Weekly announced it to be the “Best Musical of the Decade” in 2013.

The production, “Wicked,” explains how Elphaba was named Wicked Witch of the West and is supposed to be a possible

prequel to the story of “The Wizard of Oz.” The story arch is similar to the film “Maleficent.”

Both productions show the life stories of two women who have been perceived as villains, and why.

Previous stage productions have specific and important messages. “Les Misérables” tells a bittersweet story about a prisoner and thief who is redeemed while living amidst a suffering world. “Hairspray” teaches its audience that race, weight or any other differences that humans may face, don’t matter. These attributes should not define the relationships we pursue with those around us.

“Wicked” teaches us that most times there is more behind the scenes then meets the eye.

Elphaba is an unusual girl with mystical powers and green skin. These differences cause the people of Oz to be wary of her, and she is named a freak.

Inside, she is a compassionate, kind and courageous girl. She is able to empathize with other people’s lives, because she has been bullied and was made to feel ashamed of who she is on the outside. She meets her soon-to-be best friend, Glinda, and they teach each other how to be the best versions of themselves. Elphaba later must choose between her newfound reputation and doing the right thing. The story is bittersweet and beautiful, because she decides to accept her differences, despite the people around her pressuring her to conform to their ways. Watching this production leads you through an experience I believe most people can relate to.

Live performances are wonderful and serve their entertainment purposes, but they have their limitations.

An adaptation of this stage production into a film, although

Humble story turned radiant performance

By LANGLEY LEVERETT Online staff writer

The lights slowly fade to black and the audience chatter quickly dies down. Hours and hours have been spent building scenes and decorating costumes for this particular moment. The actors have poured their dedication into memorizing the lines, and to fully becoming the characters they have been assigned. Places are met, and the curtain slowly rolls open.

Theater students have spent the last several weeks preparing for the production of “Charlotte’s Web,” which will be held in Verser Theatre. The show will begin its first performance on Sept. 20 and will carry on through Sept. 24. All shows will start at 7 p.m. except for the Sept.

23 show, which will start at 2:30 p.m. The cast is eager to share this childhood story with the community of Ouachita.

“I am playing Charlotte. She is the spider who befriends Wilbur.

I have struggled with this role more than I have with many in the past. I think it’s because Charlotte requires a kind of childlike innocence, and by that, I mean the whole play and not just the character,” senior music theater major Rachel Webber said. “It also deals with some really heavy subjects; death and life is touched on, as well as being different and ostracized, not being understood and needing someone who does understand you, who is a close friend. There is some really heavy concepts, but to keep that kind of innocence in that has been the most difficult thing.”

The cast has spent hours and hours together preparing for the week of performances; there is no doubt that the theater community has drawn close in these times of cooperation.

“It’s great, this is a really great cast. Theater is unique in the sense that you have so many different personalities doing a lot of different roles,” Webber said. “To put something on, it’s not just the actors. It’s not just the characters on stage fitting together. It’s the scenic crew, lighting crew and the sounds.

This cast in particular I have a lot of close friends, so it’s been a lot of fun.”

Along with the introduction of a new class, a new director has walked on stage. Joe Hernandez is currently the assistant director in the department of Theatre.

“It’s been fun getting to know all the new people, as well as the new director,” Webber said.

“Joe Hernandez is new this year, so it’s been fun setting the reset button, working with a new

environment and enjoying new people.”

The cast has been pushed to meet new levels of partnership and collaboration. With original exercises and more motivation, they have been able to become increasingly cohesive with the show’s demands.

“Joe is one of the more bolder directors I’ve had. That can either make him intimidating or a really handy tool, because he has been able to work with the cast in such an honest and outgoing way” Webber said. “He has done some cast building exercises, and he’s required from us a certain level of honesty and vulnerability.

So that’s been something a little new.”

Alongside the actors, the crew has been working tirelessly to improve the set and the conditions of the production.

“I have been working with the costume crew. A lot of that has been cleaning and organizing at first, but then we began to alter some costumes and build off of other items to match the characters,” freshman music theater major Danielle Thompson said. “With tech rehearsals starting up now, we have been assisting the cast members with changes and really any issues they happen to have.”

For every production, Ouachita has one show dedicated for the crew, titled “Crew View.”

This enables the actors to show the other workers the fruits of their labor.

“We watched the rehearsal and though it was still a rough run, it was very good and incredibly entertaining,” Thompson said.

“I was very proud of the cast for being able to pull off the show so amazingly with only about 14 or so rehearsals.”

“Charlotte’s Web” is a versatile performance meant for many ages and all actors, no matter the roles casted. From heavy heartfelt subjects such as morality in life and death to the comradery of friendship, the show will be an enthusiastic feat.

“I think the audience will enjoy the play. It’s such a fun show, and the fun part about it is, it’s not a main character show. The chorus has been so integral, and that’s the fun part. If you’re going to come, watch what they’re doing in the background, because it’s hilarious,” Webber said. “They really have put so much thought into it. Everybody has a funny moment that the audience will laugh at. There’s the phrase that goes, ‘there’s no such thing as a small role, just small actors.’

These roles, from the sheep, to Timpleton, to Wilbur, all have funny moments.”

To acquire tickets, contact the OBU Box Office. n

difficult, would be breath-taking.

With the cinematic technology we now, there are almost no limitations of what we can create through the camera lens and computer graphics. In plays, we mostly rely on the actor’s ability to perform to create the quality and realness of the show.

Stage sets don’t always immerse you in the story but watching a movie can make the audience feel as if they are truly living the experience.

Putting the characters from this show on screen would also allow the message of the story to be viewed by a larger audience.

Not everyone has the ability to go to Broadway shows, but many are easily able to go to their home movie theater. Luckily, “Wicked” fans don’t have to wait long for the movie adaptation, as “Wicked” is set to come to theaters in a couple of years, near the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020. n Danielle Sourber z Photo lab

DR. BRUCE JOHNSTON, instructor of string bass and classical guitar, performs in the 2018 Faculty Showcase. He teaches songwriting and arranging through the Worship Arts Program.

Danielle Sourber z Photo lab

Danielle Sourber z Photo lab

LEFT: Dr. Caroline Taylor plays “Stained Glass Window” on the saxaphone. RIGHT: John Briggs (left) and Dr. Maggie Garret (right) perform a duet on the McBeth Recital Hall stage. These performances were only a few of the many to share their talents at the 2018 Faculty Showcase.

Music professors perform in Faculty Showcase

By RANDALL EARNEST Staff writer

Students and teachers gathered in McBeth Recital Hall to watch the 2018 Faculty Showcase Recital last Tuesday.

The entire music department had been working for months to put together this recital, from planning and printing out all of the flyers and programs, to ironing out every single minor mistake in the music they were going to perform, and during the concert their preparation was clearly visible by each of the faculty members’ performance.

Each piece was played with amazing accuracy and precision, technically and stylistically.

There was a great range of styles of music, as well. The faculty played everything from slow, pretty pieces, to experimental, fast and exciting pieces, such as Dr. Carlos Feller’s amazing performance of the piece called “ZoomTube” by Ian Clarke. This piece used many techniques that aren’t used normally in standard music, and gives the listener an experience that escapes the characteristic sound of the flute. The piece even added new notes to the usually 12-tone scale that is used in modern music, which gave the piece staggering difficulty and a very different style.

The preparation was also quite evident in the performance of Mr. Geoffrey Durbin, the department’s low-brass instructor. Durbin prepared the ever-impressive “The Carnival

of Venice” by Herbert L. Clarke, not only on trombone, but on euphonium and tuba as well, impressing the audience with his skill on all three of the instruments.

The faculty recital was not only an impressive show from a musical standpoint, but it was also entertaining. Dr. Glenda Secrest and Dr. Jon Secrest performed an iconic duet, “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun. The pair did a wonderful job on this duet, perfectly switching between the musical and theatrical aspects of the song, creating a stunning and hilarious performance of this classic.

We also had a feature of the percussion section, as Dr. Ryan Lewis played “Christ lan in Todesbanden” on the marimba.

It was a very pretty piece, fading in and out between chords, and Lewis did an amazing job of this.

He even changed the timbre of the instrument in many parts of the song, changing from soft to hard mallets as the chords echoed through the instrument and the recital hall.

Not only was percussion featured, but the organ was featured as well, as Bart Morrison played “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” by Louis Bourgeois, another beautiful and well-prepared piece from our music division. The spectacular brilliance of the organ’s sound filled the hall to the brim with the amazing performance.

Another interesting piece that was played was “Stained Glass Window” by Sonny Burnette,

performed by Dr. Caroline Taylor on the saxophone. This particular piece required Dr. Taylor to play into a microphone that was hooked up to a delay (echo) module that would be activated and deactivated at times throughout the piece. As she played, the module would play back a loop of what Dr. Taylor was playing, and as it looped, Dr. Taylor would play something else that created chords and harmonies, adding more texture to what was already a brilliant piece.

Though none of us wanted it to, the recital had to end at some point, and the finale was more than spectacular. The recital finished with the song “Che gelida manina” from La bohème performed by Dr. Arnold Rawls who had Dr. Mary Chung accompany him on the piano.

Both performer and accompanist did an amazing job on this piece, accenting the ups and downs of the music, creating heavy emotion in the already emotional music, and keeping the audience on the edge of the seats.

The recital was an amazing performance that showcased not only the knowledge and skill of our music professors, but also their passion for music. This performance is a testimony to the wonderful music program we have here at Ouachita, and shows that we not only have professors who want to teach, but professors who want to learn, constantly improving, challenging themselves musically and putting on amazingly stellar performances. n

OPINIONS

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Potential dangers of overindulgence in Netflix

By BRODY BROWN Online staff writer

As college students, our lives primarily consist of three different areas, the first being schoolwork, the second, our social lives, and the third is Netflix.

However, I have noticed most students, including myself, use their free time mostly bingeing the next season of our favorite series or the next movie people have been telling us we just need to watch.

Speaking from personal experience, I spend much more time watching videos than doing any other activity, a problem that I’m trying to fix at the moment.

Beyond myself, I’ve noticed that many people’s conversations tend to consist of either other people and past social interactions (not necessarily gossip mind you, but gossip does get intermingled within this category of discussion, but that’s an article for another day) or shows that have been watched on Netflix. Only having two main categories of discussion seems unhealthy to me.

I think for some of us it may be time to reevaluate how much time we spend watching Netflix.

Moving beyond anecdotal evidence, according to research done back in 2016, while only 12 percent of college students claim to watch less than two hours of Netflix a week, a full 71 percent admit to watching up to 10 hours a week, and the remaining 17 percent over 10 hours. To some 10 might not seem like that big of a number, but it’s enough of a number to know that the average college user tends to binge watch (watching at least three episodes of a series in a row) more often than not and binge watching can be a sign of addiction.

So why do our brains rush to and constantly use Netflix in the first place? Well, it’s because our brains release dopamine when we watch a great series. For those

who don’t know, dopamine is the chemical released in our brains when we do something we enjoy, but if one continues to do the same activity over time, however enjoyable it is in objective reality, our brains will begin to produce less and less dopamine when it comes to the activity.

For example, let’s say there’s a student who watches “Grey’s Anatomy.” They watch the first episode and are hooked. So they move onto the next episode and get relatively the same amount of dopamine, but then decide to stop watching for the day so they can complete their homework.

The next day when they watch, they decide to watch three instead of two, because watching two episodes isn’t enough anymore to give them the proper amount of

dopamine they require. In theory, this person’s Netflix use could increase exponentially due to solely this principle.

Of course, beyond dopamine, there are other more obvious reasons why we watch so much Netflix. Often times series will have over-arcing narratives that’s told over the course of a season, and due to our natural curiosity, we’re drawn into watching the rest of the season to complete the narrative.

Then there’s the escapism of it all where we’re no longer stuck in our dorm rooms with our next paper’s deadline looming over our heads. Shows and movies make us forget about that and, in turn, keep us sane.

The last reason is a little less obvious, but it’s one that is worth pondering. Our minds always

Conventional wisdom is wrong

By HAYDN JEFFERS Guest writer

Growing up in a rural part of a southern state, I always heard talk of how kids today are lazy and will always choose the easiest—oftentimes least effective—way of getting things done. According to my elders, nobody takes the time to do things right these days. By this, I can only assume they meant that by taking the easy way out, people were bypassing vital steps in whatever process they were attempting to complete, thereby leaving room for some type of fatal error. While I agree that this is true in certain respects, I think it is a huge mistake to make such a blanket statement. I also think it’s a mistake to assume that everyone and their mother would rather take the easy way than seek out the more complex, more mentally stimulating way.

My take on the matter is similar to Steven Johnson’s take in his book, “Everything Bad is Good for You.” Within the first 10 pages, he says that rather than seeking out the simplest means of doing something, people are actually “getting more intellectually demanding, not less.” Johnson supports his argument by examining how popular culture has evolved over the years. Video games have undoubtedly become more drawn out and complicated in terms of playability; compare “Pac-Man” or “Space Invaders” with “The Legend of Zelda” or “Resident Evil” and this is obvious. Television shows, too, have become more complicated and participatory

than they were in the days of yore; “Breaking Bad,” for example, is so complex that an entire class is being taught about it on campus— the same can’t be said for older shows like “Bonanza.” Even the Internet has grown exponentially complex in spite of the countless memes you may be bombarded with on a daily basis. Though, to be fair, the memes have grown more complex as well.

Seeking out complexity doesn’t apply just to media, though. People choose scenic routes over highways for a reason, and it certainly isn’t because they’re faster. Some of the best chefs are the ones who do things the old-fashioned way—the ones who make everything f r o m scratch rather than using premade ingredients from the store. They choose to s p e n d more time making every part of a dish themselves, not because it’s easier, but for the exact opposite reason that it’s harder and gives them a larger sense of accomplishment. And yes, probably because it tastes better.

Similarly, people choose to play the devil’s advocate in discussions, because doing so creates a mentally stimulating discourse.

Playing games and watching television does not make a person inherently lazy like most people would like to believe. It’s just like Johnson says, “These expressions are not signs of mental atrophy.

They’re signs of focus.” Choosing to play Zelda for three hours instead of using that time to read classic literature does not mean a person is choosing the easier activity; it means they are choosing to exercise their brain in a different— possibly more difficult—way. n

“Playing games and watching television does not make a person inherently lazy like most people would like to believe.”

have a desire to work in some capacity if not tired or asleep.

Even if we sit and do nothing, our minds will come up with thoughts upon thoughts about anything to keep ourselves stimulated, but our finite minds just can’t keep us entertained forever. Thus, we look for outside input to keep us continually thinking.

In this day and age, we have easier access than ever to video entertainment so our minds immediately jump to a movie or a show to immediately satisfy its hunger for input. Even if we consciously still feel bored with what we’re watching, our minds will be satisfied having at least something to think about.

So, how do we break binge watching habits and addictive behavior towards movies and TV

shows?

First, obviously, is self discipline, as breaking all habits will always consist of this. The second and most important step is to come up with certain activities that replace the time you would be watching Netflix.

The activity can be as simple as reading a book or hanging out with friends. It can be as complex as starting a new hobby or a longterm project. Whatever it is, just make sure you have some sort of plan, because idle hands are indeed the devil’s playground.

If your someone who is fine with the amount of time they spend on Netflix, good for you. For the rest of us who want to change how we tend to use our time, good luck, and keep on moving forward. n

Ask The Signal

By WILL BLASE News editor

“How can I stay healthy during Tunes and flu season?”

A hint of fall has found its way into this muggy, summer air. The leaves detach themselves when nobody is looking, slowly at first as not to raise suspicions, but there’s no denying it—fall is coming.

As our lives become filled with influences of fall and the departure of summer, most students have found a rhythm in their daily schedules. For freshmen, this may be the first routine they’ve ever fallen into; for seasoned seniors, this may be the last academic routine they’ll ever perform. We begin to tire minds and bodies alike. Lack of sleep and procrastination are huge factors—believe me, I’ve lived it.

All these factors add up and overwhelm individuals very quickly. Tiger Tunes is notorious for affecting students’ sleep schedules, but students persevere in the name of grades and raising scholarship money. With Tiger Tunes taking place earlier this year than in previous years, another unspoken season has fallen upon us much earlier than anticipated—cold season.

It takes just one sickly and exhausted student that decides to attend class instead of resting that sets off a domino effect. Patient zero, if you will, goes to class like a good student and infects sweet, ol’ Cindy with a cold. Cindy infects Johnny, and so on and so forth. It snowballs out of control.

Before you know it, most of OBU has minor cold symptoms.

This isn’t a foreign concept on college campuses. You’ve gone from a summer at home, surrounded by a very small number of people to a college campus of nearly 1500 students.

Taking steps to prevent sickness is ‘easy as ABC.’ We’re all adults here and there’s a high chance that you’ve had a cold at some point in your life, but this time your parents aren’t here to tend to you.

For starters, wash your hands.

This should be a given, but sometimes you scour Wal-Mart and can’t find hand soap to save your life. Seriously, hand sanitizer works just fine as well, but make sure not to skimp on the soap.

If you can afford to, get a flu shot. While we haven’t hit flu season just yet, you better believe that it’s right around the corner.

Nobody wants to miss a week of class because you’re bedridden with the flu. Take precautionary measures and play it smart. It’s just not worth catching up in class because of something you could have prevented in the first place. You’ll also be preventing people getting sick because of you… win, win.

Avoid getting close to people who are sick. This one is tricky.

There’s always going to be students that come to class sick. If you’re not restrained by assigned seating, mix it up a little and get tactical with your seat. I’m sure they’ll understand. Class is one thing, but it’s much harder to avoid sickness while participating in Tiger Tunes.

Being confined to practice areas, surrounded by the next possible cold case, isn’t a comforting feeling. Add a fleet of sleep-deprived students whose immune systems are functioning on reserves… you do the math. If at all possible,

anticipate the day’s events a few days prior so that you can be prepared for anything that’s due.

This will help you to plan out your day in a way that ensures 7-8 hours of sleep. These hours are crucial. It’s easy to fall into spontaneous activities and put off homework, but this puts you at more of a risk as day becomes night. From an academic standpoint, most students perform worse on assignments completed when under lack of sleep than they would with a healthy, full night’s rest.

Being mindful of those around you stems from keeping yourself and your area clean. In the event you do get sick, be mindful of your roommate and disinfect things that you share on a daily basis. Even if you’re waiting out the storm alone in your room, you have a roommate and must be conscious of their exposure.

Aside from keeping your space clean, keep your body healthy.

Sleep is a huge factor, but diet and exercise play pivotal roles as well.

Eat healthy. The cafeteria offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as a Simple Servings line that’s filled with nutritious food.

Now, who’s to say that you can’t go and get a greasy chicken sandwich? I certainly won’t stop you, but be mindful of what you’re putting into your body. All junk isn’t going to help anything.

In terms of exercise, even basic movements such as walking are healthy for your body. Try to aim for an hour of outdoor activity (even things like walking around campus with friends or down in Speer Pavillion.)

Be conscious. Be mindful.

Together we can prevent campuswide sickness. n

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

SPORTS

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Soccer hopes to claim GAC title as conference begins

By CODY POE Staff writer

The OBU men’s and women’s soccer teams have kicked off the season and are now ready for conference play to start. Both teams have had a bit of a slow start to the season, but with Great American Conference (GAC) play about to start, both the men and women’s teams look forward to overcoming the challenges ahead.

On the men’s side, Ouachita looks to defend its 2017 GAC Tournament champion crown. The men were selected to finish first in conference in the GAC Preseason Poll.

The Lady Tigers return a few key pieces, including goalkeeper Erin Webster, who saved a conference high 128 shots in 2017. Forward Bryson Thomas, who led the team with six goals a year ago, returns for her senior season.

The defending 2017 GAC champions, the OBU men’s team (1-2-1) started this season with a 1-1 tie against Dallas Baptist University (2-3-1). They would get their first win of the season two days later in a 2-0 victory over Rogers State University (3-3). The next two games for the Tigers did not go their way, losing 5-0 against Mississippi College (3-1) and 8-1 versus Northeastern State University (5-0).

The Lady Tigers are 2-3, winning their first game 4-0 against Missouri Western State University (4-2). The next two games for the Lady Tigers would be two-point losses. The first of these would

Alex Blankenship z Photo Editor SENIOR MIDFIELDER BLAIN HICKMAN shows good control to keep the ball in bounds during Ouachita’s home game against Delta State University. The Tigers were selected as GAC preseason favorites, while the Lady Tigers were chosen to finish fourth overall.

come from Emporia State University (4-1-1) with a score of 2-0. The second of these was from Northeastern State University (5-1).

Their next game was against Texas A&M International University (13), the Lady Tigers were firing on all cylinders for this game, winning it 3-1. The last game for the Lady Tigers before conference play was a 2-0 loss against Texas A&M University-Commerce (3-1).

Conference play for both teams starts this week. For the men’s

team, their first conference game will be against Southern Nazarene University (1-5) shortly after that they play Southern Nazarene University. Oklahoma Baptist University (1-6) will be next on their roster. Then, they will face off against two non-GAC schools before having a three-game stretch of GAC matches, the first of these being Harding University. Second is Oklahoma Baptist University, and the last of the three games will be Southern Nazarene University.

After the SNU game, the Tigers will take a two-game break from the GAC to play against Northeastern State University and Union University. The Tiger will close GAC play the following game with a rematch with Harding University. The next game will be the final game of the regular season as the face of Lindenwood University.

The Lady Tigers start GAC play on Sept. 20 as well, but unlike the men’s team, they have no breaks in play. The rest of their games for

the remainder of the season will count towards their standing in the conference.

Their first GAC matchup will be against Southern Nazarene University (1-5). After that, they will face the 2-4 Oklahoma Baptist University Bison. Southwestern Oklahoma State University (22-1) will be the Lady Tigers next opponent in the race to the top of the GAC. Following that game, the Lady Tigers will face the 0-31 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Lady Rangers. Their next game is against the winless Harding Bisons (0-4). On Oct. 4, the Lady Tigers will play challenge the 2-4 East Central University Lady Tigers. Their next match will be a rematch against Oklahoma Baptist University.

The rest of the regular season games for the Lady Tigers will be rematches against other conference teams that they had faced previously, starting off with Southern Nazarene University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University in the same week. Next, they will see Southwestern Oklahoma State University, again followed

by Harding University. The Lady Tigers will close regular season play against the other Lady Tigers, East Central University.

The Tigers stand in second place of the GAC standings. They are two games behind Harding University who has a record of 4-1-1. The Lady Tigers are also in second place in the conference, just behind Southwestern Oklahoma State who has a record of 2-2-1. n

The Agony of Defeat Arkadelphia community to gather together, help clean Lake DeGray

Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFC Divisional round. Down Sports / Opinions editor a point with seconds left in the game, Vikings quarterback Case Sports are filled with highs and Keenum heaved a pass to wide lows. The highs may feel like a receiver Stefon Diggs down the dream come true. The lows may right sideline. Diggs caught the feel more like a nightmare. It might ball well short of the end zone, be a game, a season or a decade but Saints safety Marcus Williams of disappointment. No matter the completely whiffed on the tackle, situation, the lows can leave play- leaving Diggs with nothing but ers, coaches and fans devastated, green grass. The Saints are just one of many teams to feel the pain of searching for answers.

The ill-fated truth is that some- defeat on the biggest stage when one has to lose. Unfortunately, the victory appeared within reach.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, vicsome losses are more disastrous than others. Someone must experi- tors in game one of a best-of-three series against the Oregon State ence the agony of defeat.

There are many instances of Beavers in the 2018 College World the agony of defeat in athletics. Series Finals, were one strike away These situations occur frequently from becoming national champiin sports, though some are more ons. In game two, the Razorbacks severe than others. In the 2017 faced a runner on third with two College Football Playoff Champi- outs in the top of the ninth, leading onship Game, Georgia had the title the game 3-2. Cadyn Grenier was within its grasp. Georgia led Ala- at the plate. He popped the ball up to shalbama 13-0 at low right in halftime, but foul territothe Crimson Tide elected “Sure, the unpredictability ry, and the Razorbacks to bring in backup may escalate the heart rate, could sense he final quarterand it hurts like crazy to be tout, preparb a c k Tu a ing to celTagovailoa on the losing side, but what ebrate their to start the second half. would sports be without a fbiar sste be va el rl He proceeded to lead a little bit of excitement?” championship. Three comeback Arkansas and eventufielders ally tie the Bulldogs late in the fourth quarter. charged the foul ball, but a lack of Georgia had a game-winning field communication caused the ball to goal opportunity at the end of fall at the feet of the trio. The hint regulation, but failed to convert of life was all the Beavers needed, the 36-yarder. In overtime, the as Grenier singled to left to tie the Bulldogs converted a field goal game, followed by a two-run home on their opportunity, but after a run from Trevor Larnach to claim 16-yard sack to begin the Crimson the lead. Oregon State went on to Tide’s drive, Tagovailoa threw a win the game, and then took game touchdown strike to wide receiver three in comfortable fashion to DeVonta Smith, crushing the hopes win the championship and leave Arkansas fans in disbelief. of Bulldog fans.

The agony of defeat – the heartIn some cases, such as the 2017 College Football Playoff Cham- break of failure – is the pit in pionship Game, the defeat feels which a fanbase never wants to like a slow burn, with the victory fall. The reality is that every fan gradually slipping through the will at some point experience the victim’s hands. On other occa- state of disappointment, no matter sions, however, the result may be the team, player or sport that the a mix of disappointment and utter cheers are aimed at, but that’s what disbelief – a swift stab to the heart. makes sports so special. Sure, the The latter occurred both in the 2017 unpredictability may escalate the NFC Divisional playoffs and the heart rate, and it hurts like crazy 2018 College World Series Finals. to be on the losing side, but what The New Orleans Saints suf- would sports be without a little bit fered a heartbreaking loss to the of excitement? n

By WILL JOHNSON

By CATHERINE LYP

Arts / Features editor

Arkadelphia is a small, tight knit community of people who care for one another. There are always opportunities for citizens to come together as a community, and one such event that is coming up is the DeGray Lake Clean Up Day. The DeGray Lake Clean Up Day is an annual event where Arkadelphia citizens take a day away from their busy lives to clean up one of the area’s most popular locations.

This weekend, on Sept. 22, the people of Arkadelphia will meet at the lower area of Lake DeGray to take some time together to work on the betterment of the community. Russ Johnson, one of the individuals organizing the event, has worked on the DeGray Lake Clean Up Day for 20 years.

The DeGray Lake Clean Up Day is a yearly occasion that has been going on “in the neighborhood for 35 years,” Johnson said. Each year, the DeGray Lake Clean Up Day is

made possible by those who plan and organize the event, the many “sponsors from the Arkadelphia area” and the volunteers who contribute their time.

The event registration starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 11:30 a.m.

While registration is currently available, those who wish to help but have not registered prior to the event are welcome to attend and register the day of, according to Johnson.

The DeGray Lake Clean Up Day consists of various projects occupying the three-and-a-half hour event. Speaking on the cleaning process, Johnson said, “We generally try to pick up anything that ends up in the Lake that doesn’t need to be there.” From across the lake, the volunteers and those who registered will pick up anything from “regular trash and recyclable trash” to random things that wash up on the lake like batteries and tires. Along with the main lake area clean up, “there will be other small projects,” such as cleaning the “mile and a half long handicap accessible observation trail on the

lower lake.” With a lot of ground to cover and various projects along the lake, there is always more work to be done when finished with one area.

While everyone involved in the event may work diligently, it is an unfortunate fact that “everything is never picked up,” Johnson said.

It is important to make event such as the DeGray Lake Clean Up Day a community effort not only because of the togetherness it reinforces, but also the understanding that comes with working on one’s community.

Through cleaning up the trash left behind at Lake DeGray, those in charge of the event hope to make Arkadelphia citizens understand the gravity of the situation. Every time someone throws “that beer can or that soda bottle out the window, someone has to pick it up,”Johnson explained. By realizing that our actions can harm our environment and the animals who inhabit it with us and taking the responsibility to fix our mistakes, “there is a spirit of ownership of DeGray Lake,” Johnson said. n

This Week at Ouachita Thursday, Sept. 20

Volleyball vs Henderson State @ 6:30 p.m. (Battle of the Ravine)*

*Match to be played at Henderson State

Saturday, Sept. 22

Football vs East Central @ 6 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 24

Men’s Soccer vs Delta State @ 2 p.m.

For a full calendar, go to obutigers.com and select “team schedules.”

GO TIGERS!