OBU Signal - April 11, 2013

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Arkadelphia HS to host Relay For Life

By KELSEY LAMB Online Co-Editor

Longview, Texas, and fouryear competitor. “Every year my team goes into the competition to have the most fun we can. We like to be competitive, but we don’t train for the weekend.”

Competition is the name of the game during Traks, but students at Ouachita cheer on opposing teams.

Arkadelphia High School will host Relay For Life on Friday, April 19, at 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. on April 20, at Badger Stadium.

“The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer,” said Nikki Ezell, an American Cancer Society community representative.

Relay For Life is the main fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The funds that are raised within the state of Arkansas are then sent to the national program and services including the website, the 24-hour toll-free number, Road to Recovery program, Reach to Recovery program and also a program called Look Good, Feel Better that helps female patients with their appearance.

“As a global grass roots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community,” said Ezell.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the relay. There are many levels of involvement for volunteers, including the Relay Committee, team captain, relay team member

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Jessica Bowling z The Signal STUDENTS BATTLE it out over Tug-of-War during Tiger Traks 2012. Tiger Traks 2013 will take place tomorrow and Saturday.

‘Tiger Traks features something for everyone’

By BREANNE GOODRUM Staff Writer

Mud, eggs, ice water and basketball can only mean one thing at Ouachita; it’s game time. Tiger Traks, the Ouachita Student Foundation’s (OSF) annually hosted event, begins this Friday, April 12.

The two day event will not only consist of sweat and cheers but also smarts.

“Traks features something for everyone,” said Mary Castleman, senior mass communications major. “The game center includes pictionary, charades, humming and spelling challenges, while Tiger Trek tests your knowledge of OBU trivia, Mega Relay involves a lot of team work, and the mud games are just crazy, muddy fun.”

While teams can get a head

start in the competition during the Friday night quiz rounds, Saturday is the day students depend on. Events such as the mega-relay, raft races, mud volleyball and the mud tugof-war seem to be the biggest hit each year.

“You don’t have to be an athlete to win Traks, you just have to have fun and get dirty,” said Brandi Hull, senior psychology major from

P.A.T.H. project raises trafficking awareness

By EMILY TERRY Features Editor

@EmilyMTerry In recent years, significant light has been shed on the subject of human trafficking, thanks in part to the Passion Conferences, the End It Movement and the Not For Sale campaign.

Recently, OBU’s Enactus (formerly SIFE) has teamed up with P.A.T.H. (Partners Against Trafficking Humans), a Little Rock organization aimed at meeting the needs of former victims of trafficking.

The project leader is Kristen Barnard, a junior mass communications and business major from Hot Springs, Ark. “My dad knew someone who worked with it and talked about it and I got really interested in it,” Barnard said. “I started looking into P.A.T.H. and I was involved in Enactus and knew there was a need to fight human trafficking, so I sent them some emails telling them we would love to partner with them.”

Both P.A.T.H. and Enactus agreed on the partnership and now Enactus team members

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are working to raise funds and provide other goods and services to the organization.

Right now, P.A.T.H. is in the process of renovating a shelter for victims to live in if they choose while receiving help from the organization and getting reacquainted with living day to day life. It is the first shelter of its kind in Arkansas.

“We are donating crafts to help them to decorate the rooms of the victims with encouraging messages,” Barnard said. “We want to let them know they’re loved.”

Next semester, after mandatory training, Enactus members will help set up classes for the victims to teach them basic skills required to get a job, be an upstanding member of society and simply how to take care of themselves.

“I’ve always had a heart for social justice and those types of situations,” Barnard said.

“Until a couple years ago, I never realized it was such a big problem in modern society.”

Thanks to social media and the awareness it has brought to the problem, it is being

Tanner Ward z The Signal ENACTUS MEMBERS pose after being named regional champions at its annual competition in Dallas, Texas. The team will advance to national competition, which will be May 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo.

Enactus team named regional champions

By TANNER WARD Editor-in-Chief

@TannerWard Ouachita’s Enactus team competed in its annual regional competition yesterday in Dallas, Texas, and walked away regional champions, advancing to the national competition next month.

The team travelled to Dallas to present the results of the projects it has completed throughout the year.

“For the regional competi-

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Leader in training

shop will be serving a variety of pastries and juices. Officially called the Library Café, the old coffeehouse was referred to as Starbucks by the majority of students because of the brand of coffee they sold.

“The Starbucks connection

Haney attends Institute in D.C.,

FEATURES, P. 4 Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012

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Staff Writer

There are many questions students face when entering college and even more as they begin the voyage into the “real world.” What am I doing, where am I going and how do I get there? Where do my priorities lie and what will happen if I can’t do it all? Before getting too bogged down, students can rest assured that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Career Services is available as a launching point for every Ouachita student, no matter their classification.

Whether you are an upperclassman preparing for your life ahead or a freshman that doesn’t know where to begin, you are not on this journey alone. Career Services is an organization at Ouachita whose main goal is equipping students with the answers, opportunities and connections needed to succeed both on campus and off. It’s never too early to start taking advantage of all that Career Services has to offer.

“I really hope that more people will get involved with Career Services as a freshman or a sophomore,” said Aly Smith, a sophomore Mass Communications major, “be-

Tiger Tunes 2012

Dr. Jack’s legacy inspires sense of school pride The fact that there is a new coffee shop on campus is old news. However, just reading the name or looking at the logo, the significance might

JOEY LICKLIDER

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Photo courtesy of Dr. Barbara Pemberton.

Volume 121, Issue 2

Career Services offers students variety of tools, resources

News Editor

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On Jul. 30, 2012, Dr. Jay Curlin, professor of English, had a poem featured in The New Yorker. Curlin never submitted the poem, but after a remarkable set of circumstances, The New Yorker’s poetry editor, Paul Muldoon, contacted Curlin and asked him whether he might publish it in the magazine. The poem, entitled “Evidence of Things Not Seen,” was written in the fall of 2010 to feature

By Tanner Ward two words that appeared in the Editor-in-Chief Daily Word Game utilized by ight students and two professors got what will professors to enhance students’ probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in vocabulary. The words were May. They, along with a community member, were “Higgs-Boson,” the legendary granted an almost unheard of invitation to tour god particle and “hirsute,” a Saudi Arabia, a country typically closed to tourism outword meaning hairy. The poside of religious purposes. em’s title is a reference to the Dr. Barbara Pemberton, associate professor of Christian Bible verse Hebrews 11:1. missions and one of the professors who attended, said “After a couple of years of the trip was the result of years of talks between herself, playing the daily word games, a tour company in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian [Jay] would put [them] in his Nicole McPhate z The Signal embassy in thethe United Theofcertainty of the trip was in the reading in poems he STUDENTS ENJOY newStates. features Dr. Jack’s Coffeehouse recentlyquizzes renovated Evans Student Center. The first president’s unknown evenhelp to the last minute. wrote that he called lexical iconic mutton chops to reinforce the sense of school heritage among students.

Saudi Arabia, traditionally shy of tourism, invites student group for visit

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New Yorker publishes Curlin poem in July issue

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tion, all of the teams prepare a 17-minute presentation detailing their projects and results for this year,” said Judith Brizuela, a senior business management and psychology major and the president of Ouachita’s Enactus team.

“This year, our presentation theme was ‘The Story of One,’ so we emphasized the story of one individual in each of our projects and then talked about how we could expand that effort we put in that one individual’s life and replicate on a more broad scale.”

son, vice president of communications. “He was elected president in 1886 at age 29 and was responsible for recruiting students, hiring faculty and developing the Arkadelphia campus.”

As Ouachita’s first presi-

is important to have a reminder of where the school came from and the people who had a hand in making OBU what it is today.”

Dr. Jack stands out as a symbol for Ouachita and is more

of it’s founding Hosts/Hostessesthanp. just 2 one • Tunes Effects on Clubs p. 3 • Tunescast 2012 p. 3 • Joey Licklider p. 4

The complete print edition in a new interactive format. Now compatible with iPhone/iPad.

Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Results Inside, p. 3 The team presented three of its strongest projects at the competition, including work at the Ouachita Store, the Clark County Boys and Girls Club and World Gospel Outreach in Honduras.

“We added a grocery section to the existing campus see REGIONALS z 3

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this weekzCALENDAR REFUGE will take place tonight from 9–10 p.m. at Second Baptist Church.

For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu.

RELAY FOR LIFE Pageant put on by Summit Bank will take place Saturday from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. For more information, contact: Tim Harrell at harrellt@obu.edu.

LIVE MUSIC at Dr. Jack’s Coffeehouse will take place tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. in the Evans Student Center. For more information, contact: Allison Sweatman at sweatmana@obu.edu.

TIGER STEEL Drum Ensemble wll take place Tuesday, April 16 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. For more information, contact: Ryan Lewis at lewisr@obu.edu.

TIGER TRAKS will take place tomorrow and Saturday. For more information, contact: Tim Harrell at harrellt@obu.edu.

ENACTUS COFFEHOUSE for PATH will take place Tuesday, April 16 from 9- 10:30 p.m. in the the Tiger Den. For more information, contact: Kristen Barnard at bar49316@obu.edu.

The Beatles The Rolling Stones U2 The Grateful Dead Led Zeppelin

THE THE

HYPE

1 2 3 4 5

Rock Bands of All Time

From the Archives “Signal challenges students” October 8, 1992 By: Signal Staff

“The Signal does not pretend that it can please every one of its readers through the views expressed by the writers or by the weekly selection of the material that is printed in the publication.”

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Jason Pullano z The Signal DJ MCMICKLE plays laser tag during Spring Fling last weekend. Spring Fling is an annual event featuring games and inflatables hosted by the campus activities office in the middle of campus.

From Your

Tweets of the Week

Which song is your guilty pleasure?

Ashley Glover @AshleyGlover92 6 Apr “I like Pepsi more than Coke.” - Henderson Student. It explains so much.

Hannah Bushey @itsmehannahb 7 Apr Just wrapped my fluffy blanket around me right after I got it out of the dryer so I’ll see you guys in a few days.

James Taylor @jamesataylor 8 Apr Instagram should create an Arkansas April filter that coats everything in light yellow dust.

“‘Everybody Makes Mistakes’

by Hannah Montana.”

Kelsey Finney, senior

TIGER TRAKS z Continued from Page 1

“I have competed every year and it truly is the highlight of my spring semester because of the attitude going in to the competition and the event itself,” said Hull. “All the teams are composed of our friends in one way or another, and while our main goal is to win, we still aim to be courteous and encouraging to our friends and classmates.”

Traks participants are encouraged to be competitive and excited during the event, but for those not interested in competition, there is another way to participate. Friends of competitors are encouraged to come out to the fields and support the teams.

Students competing are required to submit an application and a $15 fee which is given back to students in the form of scholarships. The OSF motto of “Students Helping Students” is accomplished through events such as Tiger Traks and Tiger Tunes.

“Students should participate because not only is it the biggest university event of the spring semester, but it also promotes scholarships provided by OSF,” said Hull. “Since Traks helps us as students in the long run, I don’t mind giv-

“‘What I’ve Been Looking For’

by Sharpay and Ryan.”

Jacob Moreno, freshman ing $15 to play.”

At the end of the competition, $100 is rewarded to each member on the first place team, $75 is rewarded to each member on the second place team and $50 is rewarded to each individual on the third place team. There are plenty of other categories the teams can also win such as most sportsmanlike, most team spirit and most creative costumes.

Traks would not be able to happen if it were not for the hard work and dedication of many individuals.

Mary Castleman and Lindsey Fowler serve as co-chairs of OSF’s special events committee and have coordinated the majority of Tiger Traks.

They have had the help of Tim Harrell, staff coordinator for the special events committee of OSF. “Traks is unique to Ouachita. It’s like the much cooler, college version of a field day,” said Castleman. It gives students a chance to get creative, make great memories with their friends and take a break from the academic stress of the end of the year. But the biggest reason is that all proceeds from Traks will go toward student scholarships ― so you’re helping your fellow students while getting covered in mud. How many people can say that?” n

“‘Grenade’ by Bruno Mars.”

David Willhite, freshman

RELAY

z Continued from Page 1 and also a local mission volunteer; however, you do not have to be a part of any of these things to be involved in the relay. Everyone is welcome to come out and support the relay to support cancer.

“It is our desire to help build a group of volunteers in Clark County that represents your county as a whole including youth, college students, survivors, caregivers, families and anyone who has been affected by cancer. Relay is about a community coming together to support those who are fighting, to remember those we have lost and raise money to fund lifesaving research,” said

Chris Ross @chris_ryanross 9 Apr I believe the bridge between the Village and campus should be named The Principalizing Bridge so we can physically cross it daily. @Ouachita

Ezell.

The Arkadelphia Relay For Life event is one of the best in the state of Arkansas. The event will be held at the Arkadelphia High School football field and will include fun activities. These activities will include featuring local bands, good food and tons of familyfriendly fun activities. There will also be ceremonies to honor Survivors and Caregivers during the first lap of the relay and also during a luminary service at dark.

“Throughout the night Relayers stay up an give up that one night a year to pay tribute to the journey of a cancer patient through treatment,” Ezell said. “Just as a patient undergoing treatment can not choose

which day to fight we honor that by Relaying rain or shine.”

The American Cancer Society saves 400 lives a day because of volunteers and those who donate. More than 11 million people in the United States who have fought cancer and those who have been lucky enough to avoid it, will get the chance to celebrate another birthday this year.

“Your efforts at OBU are contributing to that success. The ACS cannot do this without the support of volunteers and donors such as the OBU students and faculty,” said Sherri Jones, executive director of the American Cancer Society.

For more information about the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.n

Ouachita hosts Birkett-Williams lecture

By SAM CUSHMAN News Editor

@SamuelCushman Ouachita will host Donald Soderquist, former chief operating officer of Walmart for the university’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series on Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. in the McBeth Recital Hall.

“The Birkett Williams Lecture Series was created to bring

guest speakers to the Ouachita campus on a regular basis,” said Phil Hardin, assistant to the president. “Responsibility for enlisting the speaker rotates among the academic schools so the Ouachita community has the opportunity to hear speakers from various fields.”

For this lecture, the Hickingbotham School of Business was responsible for choosing someone to come and speak.

They chose Soderquist because

of his career and experience with Walmart in the field of business.

Part of the Birkett-Williams lecture also includes a dinner banquet that will be held in Walker at 5:30 p.m.

For more information about the Birkett Williams Lecture series or the guest speaker, contact Dean Bryan McKinney through email at mckinneyb@obu.edu or call him at 870.245.5531. n

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

NEWS BRIEFS n Thirty second recaps of the biggest stories of the week.

NATIONAL ― The Air Force be-

gan grounding about one-third of its active-duty combat aircraft on Tuesday because of automatic federal spending cuts, including squadrons of fighters, bombers and airborne warning and control craft. The stand down will affect units stationed in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific, though the Air Force didn’t immediately provide a list of the units and bases that will be affected.

Some units that include F-16s, F-22s, A-10s and B-1s will stand down after they return home from their deployments. Other units began the stand down Tuesday. The Air Force says the stand-down is the result of cuts to the command’s operations and maintenance account. The Air Force says it must reduce its flying by about 45,000 fewer training hours by Oct. 1 than previously scheduled. For affected units, the Air Force says it will shift its focus to ground training. n

WORLD ― A 6.1 magnitude earth-

quake that struck near the town of Iran’s first nuclear power plant has left at least 4 dead, state TV reported on Tuesday, but operations at the plant are unaffected. The report said the earthquake struck the town of Kaki some 60 miles southeast of Bushehr, on the Persian Gulf. The Russian company that built the nuclear plant said the earthquake was felt there, but it didn’t impact operations, Sky News reports.

Shahpour Rostami, the deputy governor of Bushehr province told state TV that rescue teams have been deployed to Shomneh, the most damaged region.

Two helicopters were sent to survey the damaged area before sunset, Mohammad Mozaffar, the head of the province’s rescue department said. The quake was felt in the Gulf in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where workers were evacuated from high-rise buildings as a precaution. n

SCIENCE ― A recent experiment

conducted aboard the NASA Curiosity rover has confirmed that Mars lost most of its ancient atmosphere. The experiment shows that billions of years ago, Mars was a significantly warmer and wetter world, which would have made Mars more habitable earlier in its life. According to scientists, Mars was much more habitable about 4 billion years ago. The experiment conducted

by Curiosity showed less light argon gas than is normal for the solar system in the air left on Mars. Scientists believe that most of that light argon gas escaped from the top of the atmosphere. The report on the results of the experiment was made at a European geoscience meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Monday. The report was presented with very little input from NASA because NASA personnel cancelled their attendance due to federal budget cuts for travel. n

HEALTH ― A chemical found in red

meat helps explain why eating too much steak, mince and bacon is bad for the heart, according to US scientists. A study in the journal Nature Medicine showed that carnitine in red meat was broken down by bacteria in the stomach. This kicked off a chain of events that resulted in higher levels of cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. Dieticians warned there may be a risk to people taking carnitine supplements. There has been a wealth of studies suggesting that regularly eating red meat may be damaging to health. In the United Kingdom, the government recommends eating no more than 70 grams of red or processed meat a day ― the equivalent of two slices of bacon. Saturated fat and the way processed meat is preserved are thought to contribute to heart problems and other long term cardiovascular health issues. n

Compiled by Sam Cushman, News Editor. Sources: bbc.co.uk, nature.com, slashgear.com, space.com, abcnews.go.com, foxnews.com, news.sky.com.

PATH

z Continued from Page 1 brought to the attention of the world in ways that weren’t possible before, especially thanks to younger generations.

“We’re students. We have a huge opportunity and the capability to do immeasurably great things,” Barnard said. “This is a $32 billion industry that was kind of being kept secret. But with social media you can do so much. With all the people passionate about it now, it’s going to be so much easier to make a difference.”

Ouachita students interested in helping to make that difference can attend “Craft for a Cause Coffeehouse” on Tuesday, April 16 in the Tiger Den from 9-10:30 to listen to student musicians and paint scripture and encouraging messages to be used as decoration in the shelter.

Ladies are welcome to attend a girls-only tea party with the founder of P.A.T.H. at the Harper-Alexander House in North Little Rock on April 27 from 2-5 p.m. to learn about the organization and how to get involved. n

Sharon Gattis named 2013 support staff member of year

By TAYLOR TOMLINSON News Bureau

Nicole McPhate z The Signal KIRBY VON EDWINS swings an axe to fell a tree during the Spring 2013 Tiger Serve Day. Student groups served throughout Arkadelphia on the once-a-semester community service day.

REGIONALS z Continued from Page 1

bookstore,” said Brittney Jones, a junior business finance and management major and president-elect of the Enactus team. “We increased the revenue for the bookstore and Ouachita while allowing current students to participate in an internship program to gain valuable realworld retail experience.”

At the Boys and Girls Club, the team taught after-school classes to the students. They also helped the students come up with small businesses they could run to begin saving money for college. In addition, the team began a recycling program for the students.

The team also partnered with World Gospel Outreach in Honduras to help the organization’s orphanage to sell more of the coffee in the United States.

The team also designed business classes for local entrepreneurs.

“Our main mission is to empower people through economic, social and environmental factors, and the way Enactus is structured is by designing

sustainable projects that will improve people’s quality of life,” Brizuela said.

Enactus is a global organization, with 62,000 members in 38 countries.

Other projects the team worked on this year included the start-up of the Pregnancy Resource Center for Southwest Arkansas, the opening of a Christmas store in downtown Arkadelphia and creating a tutoring program at the high school to benefit the Arkadelphia Promise scholarship program.

They are also working with another orphanage in Honduras to maintain a sponsorship program for the children that the team created last year.

The team is also beginning to work with Partners Against Trafficking Humans and Pitza42 in Conway.

Brizuela said around 200 teams will compete for the title of national champion next month.

“One of those teams will be the national champion, and then compete at the world cup competition in September,” she said.

Senior business finance and management major Justin Trewitt was one of the members of the team that presented

Sharon Gattis, data entry specialist for the Office of Development, was recently named Ouachita’s 2013 Support Staff Member of the Year.

Gattis, who has worked in the Development Office for 14 years and previously worked two years in the President’s Office, said she was shocked when hearing she had won the award. “It’s an extreme honor to have been chosen among many other deserving and hard-working people,” she said.

“It is always the support staff that make sure that the important details are not forgotten in any organization,” said Terry Peeples, vice president for development. “It is wonderful to know that Sharon has been honored by this award. … It was way overdue.”

The award originated in 2001 and has been coordinated annually by the Ouachita Staff Development Committee. “The campus community is reminded of the important

the results of the projects yesterday.

“I joined Enactus because I wanted to get more involved with the business school,” he said. “I’ve made some of my really good friends through Enactus, and it is a way to work on projects that are much bigger than yourself or even our team. I’ve enjoyed being able to serve my community and getting to know my professors and other students by working on these projects.”

Trewitt also said Enactus has provided him a change to network with business leaders. He said the judges at the competitions work for some of the largest companies in the United States, and Enactus provides multiple opportunities to interact with those professionals.

Brizuela said the team will begin preparing for national competition next week.

“The way our team does our presentation is by making a video with footage from our projects and then writing a script to go along with the video that our presenters will memorize,” she said. “So we will continue to polish the script; we will also continue to get results from all of our projects. n

GATTIS.

contribution made by the university support staff, and the exemplary work of one staff member is recognized and rewarded,” said Phil Hardin, chairman of the committee and assistant to the president for administration.

During the fall, faculty and staff are invited to nominate candidates for this award. The nominations are then reviewed by the committee and recommended to President Rex Horne, who makes the final decision.

“Sharon Gattis is someone who makes sure the job gets completed,” Peeples added.

“I think that Sharon’s example will inspire others who know her.” n

Business plan advances to national competition Two teams from Ouachita were among the award winners at yesterday’s Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition in Fayetteville.

Junior political science major Lindsey Fowler won the undergraduate elevator pitch competition and a cash prize of $2,000 for her business TrustedWills.

Senior business finance major Connor Burke, senior kinesiology major Jason Cantwell and senior Sarah McKimmey won second place in the undergraduate category and a cash prize of $15,000 for their business eScout. eScout will advance to the tri-state business plan competition to compete against teams from Oklahoma and Nevada later this year for the chance to win more cash prizes.

The Governor’s Cup competition follows the OBU Business Plan Competition as well as the OBU/HSU Business Plan Competition. n

4 n opinions Thursday, April 11, 2013

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Reality of ‘Avatar’: guns beat hippies NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor

“F

lyin’ through some kind of spacemumbo-jumbo field,” growled Colonel Quaritch. “Targeting systems are down. Good thing these helicopter thingies are covered in machine guns that spit out a literal stream of bullets every time you pull the trigger. Let’s go kill some giant, blue cat-hippies.”

“Sir!” yelled the wimpiest spacecommando to ever disgrace a uniform.

“The Na’vi have us surrounded!”

“The what?” asked Quaritch, taking a sip of his coffee.

“The... ‘giant, blue cat-hippies’...sir,” said Sergeant Sissy. “They’re pretty much using the same weapons and tactics they did the first time, but now they have nature and friendship.”

Quaritch immediately tore Corporal Chicken-liver’s uniform off, grabbing him in a headlock and tossing the uniform to a nearby soldier who had probably never worn a sleeve in his life.

“Burn this uniform. It at least deserves to die with dignity.” said Quaritch. “When you’re done, get on the guns and shoot down the flyin’ petunia squad out there. I haven’t seen that many colors since the handbell choir on Easter Sundee.”

Quaritch stomped up to the roof of his gunship with Private Panty-waist in tow. Brightly colored meat confetti rained down from the sky as the pterodactyls and blue aliens were shredded by the unforgiving hoses of lead

they had so foolishly flown right into.

Quaritch spotted Jake Sully, hoisted his limp-wristed captive into the air, and waited. Sully’s pterodactyl swooped down for the scrawny little morsel, but as soon as it’s jaws had clamped down, Quaritch cut off Sully’s brain-ponytail, instantly lobotomizing both Sully and his pterodactyl.

“Pick up the pace, boys, I wanna be home in time for supper,” laughed Quaritch, catching a nearby arrow and snapping it over his knee.

After the shortest war in history had been put to bed, Pandora was mined to a lifeless husk, before being made into a monument in Quaritch’s honor. To this day, the entire western hemisphere of the planet reads “Property of Colonel Miles Quartrich: Invincible Space Gladiator” Let’s face it, if “Avatar” was even slightly reasonable, this is how it would’ve played out. In “Pocahontas”, it was bows against muskets. In “Avatar” it was bows against mini-guns. I don’t care if you’re riding a three seated tandem bike with Pinkie Pie and Funshine Bear to the biggest friendship bracelet emporium in history, you will never have enough friendship to win that fight. That isn’t where this argument ends though.

In the beginning of the movie, when Sully rolls in on Quaritch repping out 365lbs. on the bench press, Quaritch says that “The low gravity will make you soft,”.

At the same time, the big rhinoceros things that the Na’vi use to overrun the giant robots supposedly have armor that’s so hard, it’s a waste of bullets to shoot at them. How? On a planet with

significantly lower gravity than earth, why would this thing need armor so hard that we haven’t seen anything like it on earth? It doesn’t make any sense.

On top of that, all these hardened space marines are now playing on easy mode.

The lower gravity will give them some kind of advantage, whether it’s the ability to run and jump like the entire planet is a trampoline park, or just to be able to march further and move easier because their equipment now weighs less.

The foot soldiers don’t even matter in this confrontation though. The gun ships these guys were using would make an AC130 look like a butterfly.

They didn’t need targeting systems, as long as they kept shooting, they could’ve won the battle on accident. To miss with that many guns spraying that many bullets, they would’ve had to willfully try to avoid hitting the Na’vi.

Remember when they blew up the giant tree? You know, the one that was most likely bigger than any structure on the face of the earth? I’m guessing a herd of pterodactyls probably isn’t a sturdy as a solid piece of wood the size of five sky scrapers.

Some people might say that the guns the humans are using are meant to fight other humans, so they just weren’t cut out to fight the aliens. Those people probably shop at Whole Foods. The guns these guys are using are so huge, their giant robots were still feeling noticeable recoil. Go rest the butt of a 12 gauge shotgun against a fork lift and pull the trigger. Then take a minute to think about exactly how big of a gun it would take to push that forklift back even an inch. They were practi-

Selfishness is disease we all have

By TORI ABELLERA Staff Writer

The norm for me was hair

pulled back, black slacks, a black apron, and a black Genghis Grill t-shirt. On the other hand, most people who entered the “fast dining” establishment understood that blue jeans and a nice shirt would suffice. Then again, most of my customers were not like the girls who I must describe...

The three girls followed me to their table in their 4-inch stilettos and did not say a word. As normal, I gave them a happy Genghis Grill greeting and asked them what they would like to drink. One girl, also known as “The Leader,” looked sharply to her right and walked away toward the dinner line, bowl in hand. The other two girls, also known as “The Crew”, followed. Still, no word was said. The Leader pushed through the crowded row of chairs with her hot pink lips pursed and make-up-coated eyes glaring.

I got the girls three waters and placed them neatly on the table. I then peered through the crowd to make sure they were doing all right. The Leader’s skintight leopard print top was easy to spot. One of the girls of The Crew spotted me and chuckled to her friends.

Quickly, I walked behind the drink counter where I normally spent my time.

After bringing the girls their bowls with extra soy sauce and extra lemon for their water, I figured I would just leave them be. Payment time came and The Leader handed me her credit card. I followed normal procedures to ring up their ticket. Finally, I gave up after my sixth time typing in the

card number. I took the card back to the table and said to The Leader, “I’m sorry, ma’am.

Your card won’t work. Would you like to pay with cash?”

The Leader looked at me attempting to pierce through my soul with her eyes.

“The money is on there. I just called my bank. I don’t know what to tell you,” was her response to me, verbatim.

Normally, I would want to laugh at such a remark. However, I chose to use the opportunity to be firm with The Leader.

“Hmm. Well, you ate food here, and now you have to pay for it. So, I don’t know what to tell you,” I said in the most unconcerned voice.

The Leader was clearly set back. After a long silence I told her, “How about we stay here while you go get some cash from the bank.” I smiled at her and watched The Crew sit with their mouths open wide.

“So, you’re going to hold them hostage,” she said to me in an attempt to test me.

“Nope. I’ll just be here ready to take your payment for the food you just ate,” I said with a smirk. The Leader stormed off, hitting other customers with her huge faux diamond studded handbag as she left.

When she returned, The Leader handed my manager the money, which I guess was The Crew’s cue to take all the

theSignal

drinks they could find and dump them on the floor. Almost falling as their 4-inch stilettos made them slip and slide, The Crew left the restaurant with a look of arrogant satisfaction.

They would be very displeased to realize that it was not me who had to clean up their arrogant mess. Unfortunately, I was instructed to take care of my five other tables while the seventy-year-old man who was my bus boy, spent thirty minutes bending his tired back to correct their unsolicited sabotage. The fact that this old man still had to work for such low pay was always heartbreaking to me.

I could not tell whether to be upset because the girls were abnormally selfish customers or because I was abnormally uncaring for such high-maintenance people and therefore causing the commotion.

After all is said and done, selfishness is a disease that tempts us all.

While I know I cannot be perfect, I am blessed to know where my passion lays. I want to make an impact by showing everyone I meet that there is grace for us imperfect people. So, because of that, I was wrong. There is no excuse for selfishness, no matter how abnormal the situation.

However, there is no need for 4-inch stilettos in Genghis Grill. n

I want to make an impact by showing everyone I meet that there is grace for us imperfect people.

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‘People of Walmart’ induces hilarity at favorite grocer

By ANDREA LOCK Staff Writer

So I happen to be doing some late night browsing to kill some time before I start my nightly reading in bed ritual, when I come across a little website entitled “People of Walmart.” Considering that I have rarely visited this website, I decided to poke around… and I am I glad I did.

Hilarity ensued within the first ten minutes. You know we all have those moments where we might not be dressed to impress when we stroll into our favorite grocer. I know there have been multiple times where I have made a 3 a.m. Walmart trip in my pajamas, but I do not think I could ever walk in a public place wearing some of the outfits that these people wear.

For instance, there was a photo with a lady in her wedding gown in the clearance section. There was another photo with a young girl dressed like Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The rainbow socks were a lovely touch.

Don’t even get me started on the older gentleman in his Sunday best, which consisted of a forest green fur coat and matching hat. To be honest, he was strutting his stuff like a rooster in the hen house. My absolute favorite photograph, however, was a picture of a white vehicle that was literally parked on top of a boulder (you know those ones that are used for decoration).

For all those SpongeBob fans out there, you better be on the lookout for the older gentleman in his SpongeBob hat because he might pull out some of his karate choppers and pull the wool over your eyes. There is one photo where a young man has tattooed “Walmart” on his knuckles. It turns out this young man was banned from Wal-mart and, of course, there was alcohol involved. Life tip number one guys: drunken tattoos only lead to a fat hole in your wallet (removal expenses) and/or the embarrassment of trying to explain said tattoo to friends and family.

There was one photo in particular that no one will find surprising at all: Monster truck rally, in the parking lot. (I am not going to lie to you; it would be kind of awesome to see in person). What is Wal-mart without customers in pajamas, and not just regular pajamas, oh no, but with teddy bear footie pajamas. I am going to be completely honest with you and say, yes, I do own a pair of penguin footie pajamas. They are quite fabulous. Especially when you make your mother laugh so hard she shoots Diet Dr. Pepper out of her nose.

The point I am trying to make here is this: you go on ahead and wear what you want to wear to any public place. Don’t let the opinions of others bring you down. Just watch out for people poiting their phone at you, because you might find yourself scrolling through this website and seeing a not so nice photo of you in those footie pajamas. n

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cally spraying anti-tank rounds like there was no tomorrow. Anything that tried to charge one of those giant robots would’ve been ground into a pile of colorful dog food.

On top of that, how did the arrows suddenly gain the ability to shoot through the windshields of those helicopters? Sure, the pterodactyl things allowed them to fly up close enough to take a straight shot at point blank range (assuming they didn’t get mulched by the hail of oncoming bullets), but so what? The arrows couldn’t have even been an inch in diameter, and the whole reason that arrows work in the first place is because they bend as they fly. The whole concept of an arrow is based around the fact that it’s light and fragile, but after a rousing speech from a traitor who’s entire motivation is “This alien chick is pretty hot,” they can suddenly shoot through a sheet of plexiglass? Fat chance.

There’s no way the humans couldn’t have won that fight. All other arguments aside, if all it takes to suddenly become invincible in a movie is for your leader to say a few cool words, then the humans could’ve just leapt from the cockpits of their helicopters and beat the aliens to death with their bare hands. When Jake Sully was talking, I kind of felt a little inspired. Maybe. Every time Quaritch opened his mouth, I wanted to wave an American flag over my head, hit a home run, build a white picket fence, eat an entire apple pie, fill a Chevy pick up truck with astronauts and drive to Disney World. You could hear the national anthem playing in the background every time he came on screen. n

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

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via e-mail to signal@obu.edu.

opinions n 5

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Letters to the Editor: Equal Rights Dear Editor, I don’t like to cause a scene or create conflict but I do like to stand firmly behind my own principles. I tweeted that I was disturbed at The Signal’s stance on the controversial Defense of Marriage Act not because I abhor homosexuals or because I am a “homophobe.” I did so because when I read my Bible, there is no debate about God’s opinion on homosexual marriage. Therefore, I cannot justify forming my own “opinion” on the matter. I don’t believe I have the right to supersede the authority of the Creator of the universe.

But not everyone believes in Jesus Christ, you may say. I can base my opinion on gay marriage even excluding my religious beliefs. I’m anti-homosexual marriage because it is simply a misnomer. “Marriage” is the union of a man and a woman. So how can it be between two people who aren’t a man and a woman? It would be like two gases on the Periodic Table saying they want to be classified as an ionic bond now. It doesn’t work that way. It’s a covalent bond. Sorry, I’m a science major.

You can’t force people to believe the way you do, you may say. I know. I never claimed to force people to see things my way. Why can’t I express my opinion without it being me trying to force something? Why can’t I say I disagree with homosexual marriage without being labeled intolerant, homophobic, judgmental or a litany of other offensive adjectives? It’s funny to me that the liberal-minded members of society are all about people being equal – unless you disagree with them.

You only have a right to your opinion as long as your opinion is in line with theirs. Well, sorry to be “that guy.” I don’t agree with gay marriage. And I’m not changing my mind.

The Signal’s editorial said “perhaps if we were more loving to homosexuals” we would be more open to this idea.

Who are you to say that I do not love to homosexuals? Must I agree with their lifestyle to “love” them?

So, naturally, I hate homosexuals, right? Wrong. I do not discriminate against anyone because of their beliefs, love interests, skin color, etc. Jesus looks past my imperfections and loves me for who I am, so why wouldn’t I do the same thing? And here’s where the line gets really blurred. Looking past a man’s imperfections and accepting a man’s imperfections are two very different things. I am not God. It is not my job to judge people.

So, you Christians who hatefully insult homosexuals and treat them as inferiors, get off your high horse. You are sinning. Their homosexuality is no more a sin than the profane music on your iPhone. But I am called to stand for the commands of God. One of them is loving my neighbor. One of them is defending what the Lord has defined as marriage. Why can’t the two coexist?

Ryan Strebeck

By: Phil Flickinger

BLUNDERGRADS

To the Editorial Staff, I’m writing on behalf of the equal rights piece from last week’s paper.

As a student here at OBU, I appreciate the willingness of the editorial staff to approach a highly sensitive topic with tact and class. I believe that you all took the time to write a well thought out and articulated article on a subject that is often shunned by Christians.

I also believe that an article like this on a campus like OBU can cause a lot of criticism, but the fact that you all stood up for something you were passionate about and approached the topic anyways was admirable. We

Ouachita community, The Signal had quite the day yesterday. On Twitter, my staff and I were insulted by students both on campus and off. Some questioned why the university paid for the publication of a newspaper that supported equal rights for samesex couples. Others called into question our “supposed Christian background” and our faith and said we should be smarter. Still others decided that we had orchestrated a massive publicity stunt hoping to increase our readership.

This was, of course, all in reference to the editorial we published last week supporting the legal recognition of samesex unions. (If you did not get a chance to read the editorial, extra copies have been placed in the blue box outside of our office.)

Let me start off by repeating what was written in the editor’s note right above the piece last week: an editorial is an opinion written by the editorial board of The Signal. The editorial represents the views of the editorial board and not necessarily the views of Ouachita Baptist University or the rest of the newspaper staff. The editor’s note also included a reminder about our letter to the editor policy — which is the appropriate way to respond to anything published in this newspaper. If you disagree with our views, we welcome a letter from you, and if it meets the standards outlined in our policy, we will publish it in our next issue. This is as much your newspaper as it is mine.

When we published the editorial last week, we expected some reaction; we do serve a Christian university. It is for the same reason that we expected those responses to be digdo not have to agree with everything that happens in our country, but what right do we have to restrict others’ rights and freedoms? If the tables were turned and our rights were being restricted, sinful or not, we would be upset, but we are allowed to restrict the rights of others? Our sins are no better or worse than the sins of homosexuals, but we are still given freedoms and rights. I thought the statement that we have been given “the freedom to make our own choices, no matter how sinful,” was incredibly spot on. I find it sad that we think we can choose who should be allowed rights and who shouldn’t be. What love does that show? I completely support the article and the stance that it took on showing homosexuals love through our actions; allowing them the same freedoms we are allowed. Thank you for the time and energy you put into putting out a paper each week and thank you for allowing students the ability to share their opinions, even when they differ from yours.

Nicole McPhate Dear Editor, Before I begin this letter, I want to acknowledge that Christians are supposed to love all people. This is not meant to bash homosexuals or condemn The Signal. I just believe that, as a Christian, it is my duty to proclaim truth and fight for that truth. I understand this article was not written from a biblical standpoint, but rather a constitutional standpoint.

However, at the end of the article, some common, ideological and false interpretations of the Christian faith were clearly stated.

Let’s start with the constitutional issue. This article quotes the fourteenth amendment, which guarantees equal rights for all citizens.

The Editorial Board states afterwards that the right to marriage is included in the equal protection of the law; however, restricting gay marriage does not take away life, liberty, property or equal protection of the law. Gay marriage is illegal for all humans. Just like if a person were a kleptomaniac, it is not discrimination against them to make stealing illegal.

Unlike stealing, homosexual acts are not illegal under state law, so I do not understand where there is no equality.

Homosexuals assess the consequences monetarily of civil unions going into it, so they deal with that choice. It

nified and considerate. Going on a seven-tweet spree about how my staff and I are not Christians because we support basic human rights is certainly not dignified. It is tacky, it is immature and it is rude. And it is completely false.

Come to think of it, this editorial did exactly what I hoped when I pitched it to my staff last month. It opened the dialog on our campus about an issue that is being debated all around the nation. Too often, we stand back on issues like these, too afraid to think about them and craft our own opinion based on what is found in God’s Word and putting ourselves into other people’s shoes. We go with what is “normal” and leave it at that, because it is uncomfortable to leave the cozy little bubble we have made for ourselves.

Gay rights is going to be the civil rights issue of our generation. Start seriously thinking about your views on this issue. They may not be the same as our views, and we respect that. But think about what you believe — what you really believe — before you start spewing all over Twitter.

Do you really think people with different opinions are going to listen to what you have to say if you do nothing but cut everybody else down? Do you really think lost people are going to be receptive of God’s Word through you if all you do is hate on people who believe differently than you?

I will remind you once again that our letter to the editor policy is in the gray box at the bottom of the previous page.

It does not include @obusignal on Twitter. Thank you to everyone who has been supportive and respectful thus far.

Tanner Ward, Editor-in-Chief

is absolutely irrational to state that homosexuality is not a choice. Just like murder or stealing is a choice, so is homosexuality. Even though a murderer may be born or bred with the desire to murder, they still must make that choice.

As Christians, we should fight for biblical values. Christians are never called to be passive in the Bible.

Although we are called to submit to authorities, why would we not support what is biblically correct in public policy? Don’t we want America to have Bible-based laws? What Christian would sit back, be passive, and watch the country spin into sin?

We don’t have to achieve this by hating gays, but we should still fight for what is right. America was clearly based on Christian values, and the value of marriage is important to God. America’s constitution is strongly based off Levitical law, which is very clear on its views on marriage. Just because America doesn’t discriminate on other religions, Christian values were instilled at its establishment.

In conclusion, Christians have a hard time understanding how to attack this issue. Although we all agree homosexuality is wrong, we don’t know how to fix it. But through public policy, we can have the most direct impact on our society. It is hard to convince someone to not get a gay marriage when gay marriage is legal.

Therefore, for us to best fix this issue and fight for biblical values, we must as Christian citizens of the United States of America, put this issue at the top of our list when lobbying for public policy.

Griffin Peeples Dear Editor, In the course of a few hours, a lot of drama was stirred up because of an editorial published in The Signal.

Depsite the fact that marriage equality will probably have no affect on the way we choose to live our lives, and that people won’t remember anything about this drama a year from now, it is important to be able to state one’s beliefs on certain matters.

Personally, I don’t condone homosexuality, but neither do I condemn those who practice it.

Instead, I choose to live by what I believe to be righteous and allow other people the freedom to do the same, even if they believe differently, for the true test of a person’s tolerance

is when they have to deal with intolerance.

I believe that allowing marriage equality does not compromise our evangelical convictions, nor will it change the way we choose to live our lives. In fact, it shows that we Christians have evolved to a point in our faith where we believe that our convictions aren’t threatened by the choices of others or the sin of society.

It will cause us to hold more tightly to our convictions and will make us that much stronger in our beliefs as we spread the Gospel.

It is disheartening for me to see that people are choosing to support and engage in what we Christians see as sinful behavior, but it is even more disappointing to see that in our great nation where freedom of belief is a foundational idea, a person, because of their beliefs, might live in fear because of discrimination by others.

It is unfortunate that what society deems as “progress” is really nothing more than another step away from the values and moral standards that Christians have lived by for 2000 years. But we must remember that it is not so much the need to uphold these standards that drives us to live righteously, nor is it the threat of what might come if we allow these standards to be broken.

What we are truly threatened by is really nothing more than a lapse in memory. In the heat of all this, we forget to live with a spirit of forgiveness and acceptance. We must remember that if we force a person to make the “morally right” decision then that decision loses all of its moral value, whether we put a gun to their head or use the government. We must give people the freedom to make decisions for themselves, just as God gave us the same freedom, and allow them to learn from the consequences of those decisions.

We must have faith in God and in our fellow Americans that whatever choices are made, that we can find good in whatever comes from those choices and that we never stop doing good. And that whatever choices are made, we remember to love, as Christ loved, and forgive as God forgave us and to forever reach out with an open hand and the willingness to call someone “friend.”

Sam Cushman

6 n sports Thursday, April 11, 2013

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Behind scenes look at men behind clubs

By CAYLIE GILLUM Staff Writer

For some Ouachitonians, golf may be a sport that you watch on television every chance you get.

For others, it is a sport that allows you to reconnect with distant family members every once in a while.

Who knows, you may have never given golf a second thought in your life.

Well, those of you who take the sport a bit more seriously may be able to relate to freshman business major Drew Greenwood and sophomore accounting major Will Hegi.

Both of these students are members of the Ouachita’s golf team.

“Golf has made me who I am. It’s a gentleman’s game.

It’s given me the opportunity to make friends from all over the world,” Greenwood said.

“I love playing golf because it is a game of integrity,” Hegi said. “Golf is unique in that it is the only sport that has no referees or umpires. Each competitor is responsible for following the rules on his own.

I also just love the way a crisply struck iron or a pounded drive feels. That feeling is tough to beat.”

Greenwood started playing the sport in Tulsa at the age of eight years old, inspired by his father’s love for the sport.

Hegi, a fellow long-time player, was also inspired by his father.

“He taught me most of the basics of the game, but I’ve also had lessons from two

or three instructors taught throughout the years as well to help sharpen my game,” said Hegi.

When it came to playing golf at Ouachita, both players feel very secure in their decision.

Greenwood transferred to Ouachita from the University of Memphis, not only because he didn’t feel that Memphis was a great fit for him, but it was also important to him to be close to family.

“My brother Evan is here and we’ve always been best friends so it meant a lot to me to be able to get back close to him and the rest of my family,” Greenwood said.

For Hegi, playing golf at Ouachita seemed like a perfect fit from the beginning.

“I chose to pursue golf at Ouachita because I really enjoyed playing in high school and I wanted to play at a higher level. I also knew I’d want to do other things outside of golf when I was in college, like play intramural sports and spend time with my friends.

Ouachita golf was a great fit because the practice schedule is pretty flexible, so I’d be able to do things outside of golf, but the team is still able to be competitive,” Hegi said.

Greenwood and Hegi are both very dedicated and invested in their sport, and are noticing improvements as time passes.

“I’m a pretty self driven person when it comes to what I love most,” said Greenwood. “Mainly with hard work and dedication I’ve made a lot of improve-

OBU Tiger men’s golf finishes seventh place at Natural State Golf Classic

By JOSH FINK

Sports Information Director

PRESS BOX

After finishing up the first round of the Natural State Golf Classic in fourth place out of 13 teams, the Ouachita Tiger men’s golf team was unable to hold on during the second day of action, as they ended up finishing seventh.

Drew Greenwood, who shot a 75 on the first day of action, finished with a 79 in his second round of play.

He led the team over the two day event with a total score of 153.

Bryce Skinner posted a team best 75 on the second day of action, finishing with a 154 overall score after a 79 in his first round of the event.

Jamie Barker wasn’t able to match his first day score of a 76.

He finished the second round with an 82, giving him a cumulative score of 158.

Will Hegi shot an 83 on the second day of action after posting an 81 on the first day, giving him a total score

of 164.

Jacob Calhoon rounded out the list of Tiger participants.

He posted a 77 on the first day of competition, but wasn’t able to post a repeat performance, as he finished the second day with an 88.

He finished the event with a total score of 165.

The team shot a 625 at the two day event, finishing just two strokes behind Lincoln University, who ended up finishing sixth.

The Tigers finished ahead of conference foes Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and Northwestern Oklahoma at the event.

Each team finished tenth, eleventh and thirteenth respectively.

The Tiger men’s golf team will close out the season on April 14 and 15.

They will be travelling to the Hot Springs Country Club to compete in the Great American Conference Championships against other Division II schools. n

Greenwood and Hegi are both very dedicated and invested in their sport, and are noticing improvements as time is passing.” ment on my game and its fun starting to see it pay off.”

Individually, Hegi feels that he “struggled in the fall,” but is “striking it well now.”

He really wants to hone in on his putting skills as the year comes to a close.

“If I could get some putts to fall, I’ll be able to put up some low numbers here at the end of the season,” Hegi said.

Hegi also added (in reference to his team as a whole), “We are peaking at just the right time right here at the end of the season.”

Have you ever thought about taking up golf? Maybe you are intimidated by it, or maybe you simply have no clue where to begin.

Might I remind you, we are all beginners at one point.

Just keep in mind Greenwood’s warning: “It’s definitely something you won’t regret starting, but when you do start, its hard to stop.” n

OBU Women’s golf lands sixth place at Spring Invite

By JOSH FINK

Sports Information Director

The Ouachita Baptist women’s golf team capped off competition at the Oklahoma Baptist Spring Invite with a sixth place finish.

The team posted a cumulative score of 903 at the event, with a 23 stroke improvement during day two of action.

Emily Sinclair finished atop the team with a total score of 186, including an event best 90 on the first day of competition.

She was followed closely

by Ali Robinson who finished up with a 192.

Alleabelle Gongola was as consistent as it gets, posting a 97 in both of her rounds for a total score of 194.

The Lady Tigers finish out their season at the Great American Conference Championships at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 14-15. n

Meet the Coaches: Lizz Webb

By CHELSEA BYERS Sports Editor

How did you get your start in coaching?

I’ve known since I was very young that I wanted to coach basketball. I got an opportunity to come here and play under Coach Crowder. My senior year I got my start in coaching because their GA ended up leaving as the season started, and so I asked if I could do that role and play and they said yes. So I did some of the things a GA would do and strength and conditioning and that actually started my career while I was playing still. Then I got a GA job at Delta State and that was a great experience. We were ranked number one in the nation that year, and were undefeated until the Final Four. Then Coach Crowder called and said that they had a GA spot open and I like Ouachita and I like Arkansas so I came back and started working here and have been here ever since.

What is your career goal?

I want to be a head college basketball coach. Wherever that is I don’t know, but my goal is to be that. I know Coach Crowder has many more years here at Ouachita, but in the future I would love the opportunity to someday come back and coach here at Ouachita. I really like the level of basketball here. It’s competitive but it doesn’t really come with all of the crazy stuff that comes at the next level, and Ouachita is just a great place to be.

What is your favorite thing about coaching at Ouachita?

Where to start? It’s easy to recruit here because the school sells itself. It makes our jobs a lot easier. The people I work with are great and the people all across campus; it really is a great place to be. Obviously working with Coach Crowder and Coach Sharp is a plus; they’re great bosses.

It’s a competitive atmosphere.

How did you get your start in basketball?

I started basketball in third grade, and I was blessed to grow up in a place where sports were really emphasized. I had great coaches and great supportive parents. We were undefeated in my later years and that was really good, and in seventh grade I really made up my mind that this was what I wanted to do. Basketball wasn’t my best sport that I played but it was my favorite. It’s just one of those sports where anything can happen on any given night and I just love the challenge that comes with it.

What is your favorite moment as a coach?

I can’t really narrow it down to one, but the good moments aren’t always the wins, but when the players you have come out on top. We had a girl a while back who just started out slow and we had to use her in a position that she didn’t normally play and she came in and stepped up and did a really great job. Just seeing players get the opportunity and seize it or have success when they’ve struggled, those are my favorite moments. n

Dr. Wesley Kluck z Courtesy COACH WEBB alonside Head Coach Garry Crowder with some of the girls on Ouachita’s women’s basketball team.

STATS & RANKS

Men’s Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-0, 5th Women’s Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1, 4th Brand New Sports Talk Show OUT WEDNESDAY AT 5p.m.

Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18-1, 8th Softball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–26, 8th Weekly Topic: OBU Tiger Baseball pitcher, Men’s Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–7, 1st Davis Ward and Behind-the-Scenes Referees Women’s Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–12, 6th Round Table Topic: All things baseball with (wins – losses, conference rank)

special guests Garet West and Hunter Wargo Check us out: www.obusignal.com and @TheRundownOBU