12.05.13 Volume 122 Issue 13
Christmastime at Ouachita
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this weekzCALENDAR ONE ACTS will be tonight and tomorrow from 7:30–9:30 p.m. in Verser Theater. For more information, contact: Daniel Inouye at inouyed@ obu.edu.
HEART OF TEXAS BOWL is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Copperas Cove, Texas. For more information, contact: Todd Knight at knightt@obu. edu.
REFUGE is tonight from 9–10 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu.
SOFA CHRISTMAS LUNCH will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. in the alumni room. For more information, contact: Scott Holsclaw at holsclaws@obu.edu.
CONCERTO COMPETITION is tomorrow from 3–4 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. For more information, contact: Scott Holsclaw at holsclaw@ obu.edu.
FINAL GRADES will be posted by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16. For more information, contact: Stan Poole at pooles@obu.edu.
Things you want for Christmas
5 4 3 2 1
Proverbs 31 woman. — Blaine Surber Ryan Strebeck’s approval. — Dixon Land World Peace. — Barrett Burger Leith Hobbs. — Mary Rachel Wolf Leith Hobbs. — Kara Reynolds By: Megan Scarbrough and Brittney Jones
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From Our
What is your favorite Christmas movie?
“It’s a Wonderful Life” “Miracle on 34th Tanner Ward Street” (1994 version) Editor-in-Chief Emily Terry Associate Editor
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“A Christmas Carol” Sam Cushman News Editor
“Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” Noah Hutchinson Opinions Editor
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” Chelsea Byers Sports Editor
“A Christmas Story” Anna Kumpuris Copy Editor
“Miracle on 34th Street” (original) Dixon Land Asst. Sports Editor
Student directors debut One-Acts tonight, tomorrow in Verser Theater By TAYLOR TOMLINSON News Bureau
Ouachita’s Department of TheaterArts will host its annual student-directed One-Act Plays tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theater. The performances are free and open to the public. This year, eight one-act plays will be performed over two nights. Thursday night’s performances include: DR. FRITZ or The Forces of Light: Timothy Drennan, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by David Ives. This comedy follows an ill American tourist around Brazil as he searches for medical attention from the German Dr. Fritz. What he finds instead is the wacky local souvenir shop owner, Maria. Stage manager for the performance is Hannah Fender, a freshman musical theater major. Performing in the show are Michael Connell, a senior graphic design and computer science major, and Emily Shull, a freshman theater arts major. The Chocolate Affair: Thomson, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by Stephanie Alison Walker. This comedy features a mother with a chocolate addiction who steals her daughter’s Halloween candy and is thus confronted by imaginary, talking chocolate bars. Stage manager for the performance is Dallas Sleeman, a freshman theater arts major. Performing in the show are Bethany Gere, a junior musical theater and communication sciences and disorders major, Kendrick Scorza, a sophomore musical theater major, and Kathleen Suit, a sophomore theater arts major. Tainted Love: Lola McClendon, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by Walter Wykes. In this drama a man reflects on pivotal scenes
from a past relationship. Stage manager for this performance is Wes Savage, a freshman musical theater major. Performing in the show are Joe Ochterbeck, a senior theater arts major, Caitlin Secrest, a senior vocal performance major, and Ben Stidham, a junior musical theater major. Time Flies: Cody Myers, a senior musical theater and psychology major, will direct this comedy by David Ives. This play shows a day in the life of flies Horace and May. Starting as awkward teenagers on a first date and ending as an elderly couple, these flies realize just how much can happen in 24 hours. Stage manager for this performance is Aaron Pinion, a sophomore theater arts major. Performing in the show are Blakeley Knox, a sophomore musical theater major, and Tyler Wisdom, a junior musical theater major. Friday night’s performances include: The Actor’s Nightmare: Lindsey Lederer, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by Christopher Durang. This comedy revolves around a man who inexplicably ends up backstage at a play. Assuming it’s all a dream, he goes along with his given orders until the script calls for a seemingly too real execution. Stage manager for this performance is Emily Coles, a mass communications and graphic design major. Performing in the show are Tara Clem, a sophomore musical theater major, Walter Dodd, a sophomore theater arts major, Kaylee Nebe, a senior musical theater major, Bret Sanders, a freshman musical theater major, and Jalin Wesley, a sophomore musical theater major. The Dumb Waiter: Jacob Sturgeon, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by Harold Pinter. This drama follows two hit men as they await their next assignment. After a series of conversations and strange encounters with a “dumb waiter,” the play comes to a
One-Act Plays
Concerto competition offers cash, opportunities
Tonight, Tomorrow – 7:30 p.m. Verser Theater Tickets: free, open to public shocking conclusion. Stage manager for this performance is Kayla Esmond, a senior musical theater major. Performing in the show are Mattie Bogoslavsky, a sophomore musical theater major, Kyle Osmon, a sophomore musical theater major, and Garrett Whitehead, a senior musical theater major. Tough Choices for the New Century: Jordan Miller, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by Jane Anderson. This drama depicts the unfortunate unraveling of couple Bob and Helen Dooley’s relationship as they ironically give a seminar on preparedness. Stage manager for this performance is Rebekah Taylor, a junior history and secondary education major. Performing in the show are Chad Burris, a junior musical theater major, Stacy Hawking, a sophomore musical theater major, and Jessica Smith, a junior musical theater major. Words Words Words: Nicole Mattson, a senior musical theater major, will direct this play by David Ives. This play follows three monkeys in a research facility as they try to prove the infinite monkey theorem that given time and typewriters, three monkeys will eventually produce Hamlet. Stage manager for this performance is Taylor Ford, a freshman pre-pharmacy major. Performing in the show are Lauren Hutcheson, a freshman musical theater major, Abby Root, a freshman theater arts major, and Blaine Surber, a senior musical theater major. For more information, contact Daniel Inouye at inouyed@obu.edu or (870) 245-5522. n
By JESSICA STEWART News Bureau
Ouachita will host the eighth annual Wind and Percussion Concerto Competition tomorrow from 3-5 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The performances are open to the public. The concerto competition is an opportunity for outstanding Ouachita wind and percussion students to compete for cash prizes as well as an opportunity for a solo performance with the Wind Ensemble in the spring, one of the highest honors awarded to Ouachita instrumentalists. The competition is presented in a recital format, with each student playing with piano accompaniment. There are three outside judges, and $1,000 of prize money will be awarded. “Each year, this is a wonderful, highly anticipated event that showcases the outstanding wind and percussion students at Ouachita,” said Kristin Grant, assistant professor of music. Students competing in the event include: Elizabeth Baker, a senior music performance major, Drew Ervin, a junior music and computer science major, Carter Harlan, a sophomore music education major, Allison King, a junior music major, Lindsay Palmer, a sophomore music education major from, LeeAnne Polk, a senior music major, and Bret Steed, a senior music performance major. The students will be accompanied by Glenda Aldridge, Kristen LaMadrid, Susan Monroe and Jillian Turner. For more information, contact Grant at grantk@obu.edu or (870) 245-5518. n
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Culture Shock: Bubble style
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ith the semester coming to a close and some international students packing up to move back home and many Ouachita students preparing to journey abroad next semetster, we at the Signal wanted to take a moment to appreciate the wonder and amazement (and occasional culture shock) that comes with being a student on foreign soil. Here is a list of the most surprising things about America from an article on thoughtcatalog.com that sparked our interest and also some insight from current Ouachita students who chose Arkadelphia for their higher education. 1. Free refills
2. People usually pay for things with cards
and rarely carry cash 3. America is mind-bogglingly huge 4. The friendliness of sales associates and waiters 5. Unheard of portion sizes (and, consequently, the amount of obese people) www.thoughtcatalog.com
Emily Terry Associate Editor
I had the privelege of rooming with an international student this semester (Ivana, the girl whose name is somewhere to the right of this sentence). My suitemates and I were anxious to start the semester, not knowing how living with an international student would play out. Thankfully, we were very fortunate to welcome someone who was awesome at English and had a great sense of humor. The first few weeks of the semester were especially eyeopening for me. It was so exciting to experience America through the eyes of someone coming to the country for the first time. I was able to take a step back from almost everything I used to not even think about and see it in a completely new light. Walmart
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was an adventure. The variety of cereal available for purchase became the eighth wonder of the world. Sweet tea was no longer the norm. Strangers smiling in passing was a strange phenomenon. And open dorm? Talk about weird. Gosser 321 was certainly changed for the better through meeting Ivana and introducing her to the Bubble. For a suite of girls who would not get to study abroad otherwise, it was a good taste of living another way of life. It opened my eyes to the amazing things Ouachita’s international students bring to our school, whether we realize it or not. They pack up their lives and move to a country where they are expected to learn our language and our ways of life. I say we give them a round of applause. Both America and Ouachita are blessed to have them. Thank you. Gracias. Merci. All that.
Claudia Brizuela, Honduras
I don’t know if this is interesting, but I didn’t realize there were so many Mexican restaurants here!
Ivana Trouve, France
Well, a lot of things were surprising to me. In France we have a lot of clichés about the US. I expected that most of people would be fat.. lol! I’ve been really surprised by the low prices of everything here. I was surprised when I went to Walmart for the first time because everything is so disproportionate (I still can’t believe it). Also, American people attach a lot of importance to being on time for class and appointments in general so it was so hard for me sometimes because in France when I don’t want to go to school, or when I’m super late it’s not a problem. I thought American people were party people, like, crazy parties and so on, but not at all so I was very surprised. Finally my best surprise was to see how kind are American people. I’ve never met people like this before and it makes my life in America so great!
Jacob Moreno, Mexico
Mexico is not extremely different from the United States and I had visited Arkansas and other parts many times before I actually moved to Ouachita. I wasn’t totally culture shocked, but there was something that surprised men when I moved to campus. I did not expect everyone to be so friendly here. You walk around campus and people will say hi or smile. Coming from a huge city where everyone is always rushing and focused on themselves, it was nice seeing a friendly face every day. Strangers become your friends, and it’s all because you say hi, wave, or smile at them. Walking around campus when you’re rushing to get to class is really fun, because you just run into so many familiar and smiling faces, and they’re not just students but also faculty or staff.
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Former rivals broadcast Badgers games together By TANNER WARD Editor-in-Chief
@TannerWard In high school, they were bitter rivals; one was a kicker for the Arkadelphia Badgers and the other was a receiver and defensive back for the Lakeside Rams. Now, just a few years later, they work together from high school press boxes around the state announcing the Arkadelphia Badgers’ football games on 100.9 KDEL-FM. “I loved playing Arkadelphia because I hated them so much,” said Jackson Carter, a junior mass communications and history major. However, Carter now calls himself a true Badger fan. He and sophomore mass communications major Brandon Smith have been providing color commentary every Friday night for the past two seasons, alongside Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the school of humanities, and Jim Rothwell, assistant dean of the Hickingbotham School of Business. Carter had originally hoped to continue his football career on the Ouachita Tigers football team. When he visited Ouachita in the spring of his senior year in high school, he spoke with Root about his interest in broadcasting. But because he was still planning to play football at Ouachita, he passed on the opportunity, and the job was filled. By the spring of his freshman year, he decided to give broadcasting another go, and was approached by Dr. Da-
vid Ozmun about anchoring the “J.R. Eldridge Show,” a weekly television show with Arkadelphia’s head football coach aired on local cable. Root again approached him about broadcasting the games on the radio. “I think it’s the coolest thing ever,” Carter said. “I get to watch a football game, and then I get to talk about it.” Smith began broadcasting his freshman year. “On the first day of class, Dr. Root told me, ‘Hey, you’re going to be on the radio on Friday,’” he said. “I had no experience; he just knew I wanted to do sports journalism.” More often than not, the broadcast booth is a “tiny room” with Root and Rothwell sitting at a desk and Carter and Smith standing behind them. Wearing headsets plugged into a small mixer, the broadcasters will call into the radio station office using either a cell phone or, preferably, a landline. Technicians at the radio station office handle switching during commercial breaks. “We’re just four guys who love sports, so we just talk about that,” Smith said. “It’s really just a conversation between us.” Though it did take some getting used to, Smith and Carter said they quickly adjusted to having their voices broadcast over the airwaves. “The first few weeks were hard, but after a couple of games, I started to get the hang of it,” Smith said. “I really watched Dr. Root and learned a lot from him. He showed me how to
research teams and what I should be talking about.” Carter said he usually spends three to four hours each week researching the opposing team. He and Smith will discuss talking points in the car on the way to the game. “The radio is not scripted, so we have to be thinking about our next step all the time,” he said. “You have to come up with clever words, and the quick pace really makes it fun.” “After a while, we both got better. We both will help each other out,” Smith said. Coming off what Smith said were the Badgers “two best seasons probably in history,” coming up with good words to say has not been difficult. “They’ve only lost three games in two years,” he said. “If they’re having fun, we’re having fun.” “It’s just exciting. There’s something different about high school football. There’s a lot more passion,” Carter said. “Even though we’re not technically part of the team, we get to help other people feel like they’re a part of it. The atmosphere is my favorite part. Arkadelphia has a great football atmosphere.” Carter receives real-time feedback on his radio performance courtesy of his father, who listens every week. “He also tries to get me to fit in some random word at some point in the game,” Carter said. “Like one week, it was ‘derp,’ so I had to figure out how to use ‘derp’ while we were talking that
night.” Carter said he has had several highlights in just his first two seasons with the Badgers. “Definitely calling in War Memorial [against Benton] for my first game was a highlight,” he said. “Also, Arkadelphia winning its first playoff game since 1999. And then this year overall, because of how well they played.” “Playing against Nashville in 2012 was definitely memorable,” Smith said. “They were the best in the state, and Arkadelphia is just now becoming a good team. But in the second half, Arkadelphia dominated. We were jumping around, high-fiving each other. It was definitely the most exciting high school game I’ve ever seen.” Having started broadcasting so early, it is no surprise that both hope to continue broadcasting if possible. “Radio is the most fun,” Smith said. “Dr. Root and Mr. Rothwell and Jackson are cool guys. Football is my favorite sport to watch, and there is nothing more fun than broadcasting sports.” n
It’s just exciting. We get to help people feel like they’re part of [the team]. — JACKSON CARTER
#HOTBOWL Live Coverage from Copperas Cove, Texas Follow @obusignal on Twitter for score updates, exclusive sideline access. 6 n OBUSIGNAL.COM x 12.05.13
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Man-terest: gift giving for the manly man By NOAH HUTCHINSON Opinions Editor
Put those noise-cancelling headphones back on the shelf and leave the store immediately. Guys are some of the easiest people to buy presents for, yet everybody always seems to mess it up. I’m looking at you, womenfolk. Luckily for all those noobs out there who were planning on making a bee-line for the gift card section, I’ve compiled an indisputable list of surefire and flexibly unspecific Christmas gifts to bring some Yuletide joy to any man.
1Medieval Weaponry
I’d like to ask all the guys reading this article to close their eyes and really think. If you didn’t feel inclined to look responsible when thinking of what you want for Christmas, what would you say? If “sword” wasn’t in your top five, take a lap. Give any guy a sword and I promise you he’ll play with it. Guys like to have problems that they can stab in the face and be done with. You could be Conan the Barbarian and it still wouldn’t help you trudge through that exegetical any faster. Staring at a screen while your cold coffee fueled fingers peck away at a keyboard doesn’t exactly make you feel powerful. Chopping wood is a whole different story. The axe comes
down and boom, you and your manly forearms just accomplished something. Just holding any kind of medieval weaponry makes you feel awesome. There might not be any bad guys around right now, but hey, they better be thankful, because if they were here, there’d be a 100 percent chance of pain in their forecast. . If you’re actually thinking about buying someone “medieval weaponry,” know that you don’t really have to go all out. Just get something sturdy that looks kind of cool and won’t break the bank. Crowbars are classic zombie killin’ implements and go for around ten bucks. Same with machetes. If you want to go the extra mile, pick up some 2 liter soda bottles from the dollar store for him to smash. This may not be something he’s going to use every day, but you’ll definitely see his personal justice dealer left out on the coffee table every once in a while and know you did a good job.
2Tools
Every guy has been given a really stupid set of tools before. A ratchet set when he loosely believes that his car operates on some kind of magic, or a power saw when he can’t walk into the lumber section of a hardware store without having an asthma attack. That’s not what I’m talking about. What about when he needs to assem-
ble some crappy particle board furniture? Or when something (door, cabinet, Pringles can he tried to slide over his arm to be Mega Man) gets stuck and the obvious solution is to hit it with a rubber mallet? Tools are a vital part of day to day life, whether you realize it or not. Tearing stuff open with your teeth and screwing things together with loose change may seem fine and dandy right now, but just a nice pocket knife or a set of screwdrivers to hang on your key ring makes life infinitely easier. This isn’t something that’s going to melt his brain with Christmas joy the second you give it to him. It’ll probably be one of those “Oh...a thing...thanks so much!” moments, but just wait until it breaks after a year or so of heavy use. He’ll be running to the hardware store in panic because that thing you gave him will have quickly become his best bro in his times of need. If you think tools are the Christmas present of choice for the man on your shopping list, a little multi-tool (one of those things with the screwdrivers and pliers and a knife) that he can attach to his keys is always a good choice. A guy who doesn’t already carry a multi-tool or pocket knife on a day to day basis will probably forget to bring it with him, so getting one he can put on his keys will ensure that he falls in love with it.
3Food
A caveman cutting that first shank off a freshly speared mastodon the night after a successful hunt. A viking ripping off a well earned turkey leg at the beginning of a post raid feast. That one guy that’s, like, super good at intramural flag football meeting his bros at the wing place after a big win. They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so why not take advantage of that? If you want a present that’ll truly make any guy happy, no matter who he is, just make him a home cooked meal. If you’re the kind that can’t pour a bowl of corn flakes without burning it, just make like 20 grilled cheese sandwiches. If somebody gave me 20 grilled cheese sandwiches, the Christmas after that I could get a reclining throne made from the atlas stones used to win the last 15 World’s Strongest Man competitions, sporting cup holders specifically designed to hold Route 44 Sonic cups, and I’d still think, “It’s nice, but it’s no 20 grilled cheese sandwiches.” If you absolutely cannot turn a stove on without setting your house on fire, just buy some food. Figure out what he likes and bring it to him at exactly that time when he’s thinking “Man, I’m hungry, but I really don’t want to walk all the way to the kitchen.” He’ll never forget it. n
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Christmas atOuachita
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Photos courtesy of Kristen Barnard and Dr. Wesley Kluck
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Editors write letters to Santa Dear Santa,
Santa,
member the g out on me. Re in ld as ho en be barrassing it w I think you’ve y idea how em an ve ld ha to u I r yo te megazord? Do om’s minivan af chool in my m es t? It wasn’t pr bo to ro t up an ll to ro me a gi ng gi in br e er w u Jessica that yo oked bad. lo at need is Karlie th e m just whole lot. All I a r fo ng ki as humble I’m not even odel. Quite the m et cr Se ’s ia or Kloss. The Vict y. sa rations that I’d t es requ me kind of aspi so ve ha ht ig m w qualms I know, she adelphia or a fe rk A to g in ov much “prodon’t involve m dy type isn’t so bo ’s r ho w y gu e-aged lumbe about dating a ” as it is “middl el od m it su im athlete” or “sw all seem yard worker.” though. Those in e m co u yo away with a That’s where could easily go at th gs in th of better life like the kinds s, she’ll have a de si Be . ic ag m der any other little Christmas er imagine un ev d ul co e sh art gym so she with me than r a state of the he ild bu l I’l s. go all out on circumstance r her man and fo od go g in r. can keep look pliances for he undry room ap la s with one d rd an bi n o he tw tc ki ll be killing u’ yo , is th l al tree and you’ll On top of r my Christmas de un e rli Ka t stone. You pu e true too. her wishes com l al e ad m ve ha ” Hutchinson – Noah “Hutch
I sort of have a longis h list this year, but don’t worry, you can handle single present on here it. Every is super important, so make sure you read th thing. Ready? e whole I really need a new pair of UGG boots to go with my UGG moccasi got for my birthday. I ns that I know you brought me UGG boots last year, bu don’t go with my mocc t those just asins and that just isn ’t going to work. Also, have to have a chevron I se riously iPhone case for my ne w iPhone 5 that you’ll Oh, and it HAS to have bring me. my monogram on it. HA S TO. Also, a Vineyard Vin es tumbler cup would literally be the coolest I mean, I have to have thing ever. something to keep my drinks in at school, rig mean, if the cup could ht? And I have my monogram too I totally wouldn’t mind Also, my dog Bruise . r really needs a sweater . He gets cold. Maybe could get us both ma you tching sweaters?! They could be chevron and monograms on them have our . Oh, and in case you we ren’t sure, Bruiser’s ini BDK (Bruiser Donovan tia ls are Kumpuris), you know, so you can use them for monogram. his The last thing I want is a ticket and VIP pass to the One Direction co know they’re $350, bu ncert. I t that’s no big thing for your elves, right? And concert I can wear my if I go to chevron sweater and UGG boots and take pic my iPhone 5! tures with Merry Christmas! Dear Santa , – Annie Kumpuris First, I wou ld li dropped th ke to point out how great I’ve b e ball in all een this ye of my class gotta be w ar. For start es. I’ve lost orth some e control of thing (like , $31,000). it in most o rs, I haven’t been arr ested. Also The way I se f them, bu Lucky for y , I haven’t t I’ve made e it, I dese ou, I don’t completely rv it e .A a lot this y really wan in mind w ear for all th nd I haven’t lost my t many thin hen you’re full ride. Th e g great thing s this year. pick need to be at’s Because, a s I’ve acco fairly comm ing that boyfriend y mplished. s y ou know, I’m ou itted to so my ex. Just meone I ca ’re gonna bring me. not high m think how This order n proudly aintenanc awkward th doesn’t ha take to the at day will ve to be fill e – you can keep tha June wedd be for me For my sec t ed by Jesu ing of my sans date… ond reque s’ birthday best I really nee st, I’d really I know a fe , but I d you to co friend of 11 years wh love an ea w breakdo ere she ma me throug sy tr wns stand fly and find h for me o rries between m ansition to being Ed room for a n th is one, Nic it e or-in-Chie and summ bajillion co k. f of the Sig er. I’m not okies and nal next se su untold qua I know the mester. Wit ntities of m re how you’re suppo se request h Tanner le sed to help ilk all on o s are big, b avin ne night e but you ca ut they’re v e n make rein g, ry re a si ll ngle year fo y all I need Thanks for deer this Christ r almost fo all the love mas (dad ju rever now these past . st bought 20 Christm me new ti ases. I hav Love, res, so you e faith in y missed tha our abilitie Emily “tha t one). s to contin nks again ue your tra for overloo d it io n of excell king the te ence. eball bat/b lack eye in cident wh en my bro ther was li ttle” Terry
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One final column: looking back at 96 Signals By Tanner Ward SIGNAL WRITER By TANNER WARD News/Features Co-Editor By TANNER WARD News/Features Editor
By TANNER WARD Editor-in-Chief
By TANNER WARD Editor-in-Chief
@TannerWard Eight semesters and 96 issues later, this is my last Signal. It’s hard to believe. I can still remember being a nervous little freshman walking into Dr. Brett Powell’s office at 2:00 on a Friday afternoon to do an interview for my first article about flooding at the field house. Since that first article, I’ve had so many experiences I will never forget, all in the name of being the official news and information provider for the community of Ouachita Baptist University. Or something like that, anyway. I sat with Colton Dixon in the Ray Winder Box at an Arkansas Travelers game. I hiked to the Gurdon Light with a GoPro camera strapped to my head. I photographed the greatest Battle of the Ravine ever from the sidelines, right next to the big boy news cameras from Little Rock. I toured New York City with the Roots, the Klucks and the Eurich. And as I prepare to leave my desk and iMac behind, rest assured that the Signal is in capable hands. I have a fantastic team of editors who are prepared to keep the Signal moving in the right direction. Looking back at the past year and a half I’ve been Editor-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of the work my staff and I have done. We’ve turned the Signal into a brand that includes so much
more than just a newspaper. We’re an award-winning print publication and an award-winning online publication. We produce an award-winning weekly sports show and award-winning live broadcasts that are viewed by 20,000 people on five continents. We are award-winning reporters, columnists, designers, photographers and videographers. Both our print and online publications were named runner-up for Arkansas Newspaper and Website of the Year, in addition to being named national Gold Medalists, the highest rank given out to college publications. We won three other national awards and 22 other state awards last year, and I know more are to come for this year. Without further ado, cue the usual last column festivities: Emily, I guess you’ll do. Kidding. Who knew when we became friends sitting across from each other in the Bryant High School journalism room that we’d still be working on a newspaper together five years later? Have fun on what I’m sure are many adventures to come as Editor-in-Chief. Always take the GoPro. And if you ever need anything, remember, we live in the same town. Sam, don’t set any fires while I’m gone. You’re a great writer, and I’ve loved seeing you mature into a mentor and leader on staff. Noah, you are one interesting guy. I can still remember you walking into the old Signal office for your first staff meeting, and you were wearing some kind of top hat. Whenever I need advice on being more manly, you’ll always be the first on my list. Don’t make Emily pull out your list of forbidden words. Chelsea, go to sleep! You’ve turned a little idea you had into an amazing weekly sports show, on top of doing sports articles and pages each week. If I ever see Tim Tebow, I’ll let him know you’d like to talk to him. Dixon, I’m counting on you to keep the office tidy and tastefully decorated with assorted artwork. Maybe some-
day I’ll get to ride in your Lexus. Kelsey, thank you for being so willing to learn all the new things I decided I wanted to try on the website, and for helping me come up with different coverage ideas. Anna, make sure you keep your Ke$ha levels in check. You don’t want to rot your brain too much before you start editing the news. Foreigners unite! Rachel, you’ve quickly become one of my great friends at Ouachita. Thank you for helping me make my vision for the Tunescast a reality, and for helping me with all the other weird video ideas I found on YouTube. When you have a beach house in L.A. because you’re making movies, I’m coming to visit lots. Kristen, thank you for keeping us sane in the newsroom! And for sending awkwardly huge emojis when we accidentally send rude messages on Facebook. Good luck with presentation team! Tarah. Even though you haven’t been an editor for a year, the office would not be nearly as fun without your contribu-
tions. From our old people dinners at Cracker Barrel to our chipmunk hits, we’re going to have a lot more time to hang out again in a few days! Abbey, Tori, Mattie, Kathryn, Katy, Brad, Caylie, Breanne, Emily, Samantha, David, Brittney, Marie, Andrea, Haley, Todd, Hannah, Caroline, Megan, Lauren, Hunter, Kathleen, Rachel, Taylor, Molly Anne and Nara. You all have been incredible staffers. Whether you wrote, designed, worked online or whatever else you helped us out with, we would not have been able to do the work we’ve done without you. Dr. Jeff Root. I’m so glad you gave me the opportunity to lead the Signal. It has been the experience of a lifetime, and I appreciate you listening to my outrageous ideas. Thank you for making me join the staff four years ago and for being a mentor since. Dr. Deborah Root. PICTURE, CAPTION, HEADLINE, TEXT. I won’t forget that as long as I live. Anytime you see LAST COLUMN z 12
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Evaluating traditions, preparing for change By NARA WESLEY Staff Writer
I am a freshman and I have enjoyed my time at Ouachita very much. However, I will be transferring to the University of Arkansas of Fort Smith next semester. Why? So that my fiancé and I can better plan our wedding. Yes, you read that correctly. I am a freshman and I will be married before summer 2014. Dennis Ray Ward II and I met on our first day of kindergarten. I would chase him around the playground trying to kiss him. I even told my mom I would marry him. She didn’t believe me. Yet, 12 years later, here we are. After two years and 11 months of dating, he proposed to me on our high school graduation night right after we threw our caps. You can look through my album on Facebook if you’re curious. So, because we have four to six months to plan (we’re considering a spring break wedding—I know, so soon) I need to move the two and a half hours back home in order to plan (and afford) everything. And, yes, two and half hours away from my fiancé is a lot further than I had thought. This Christmas season is making me excited to think that this time next year I will have a husband! We will be looking forward to our first Christmas as a married couple. This, of course, makes me think about each of
our families’ traditions and how we will combine them to have our own Christmas. Dennis’s family does things a little differently than mine. For example, Santa always wrapped the presents he left at Dennis’s house, but he never did at mine. My family always left cocoa for Santa, and Dennis’s left milk. His grandpa always reads the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Day, while my family reads it the night before and then sings “Happy Birthday Jesus.” Remember the episode of “Boy Meets World” that CAB showed a few Saturdays ago? Well I’m Topanga; we open our presents from our parents on Christmas Eve. Unlike Topanga, I am willing to compromise and not insist on everything being the way it was with my family. Fortunately, Dennis does not really care what specific traditions of his family we keep. One tradition that Dennis and I will most likely have together is to open presents on Christmas Day until (if) we have children; then we will open them on Christmas Eve and see what Santa brought on Christmas Day. Thus combining both traditions. Dennis wants us to leave milk for and wrap the presents from Santa. We will most likely put a star on top of the tree and decorate the outside of the house more than the inside. A tradition that I would like to start with Dennis is to get an ornament each year that reflects something fun we did or something momentous
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that happened that year. These may be souvenir ornaments that have the place we went and the date. We may read “The Night Before Christmas,” or bake a specific type of cookie, or watch a certain Christmas movie each year. Maybe we’ll put the tree up on a particular day or drive around looking at peoples’ lights. Other traditions will likely become so without our purposely doing it or realizing it. Of course, in the end it doesn’t really matter what specific traditions we have; what matters is celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Having a loving time of family and togetherness is far more important than demanding we stick to certain traditions, such as having a real tree instead of an aluminum one. n
Ouachita Baptist University Office: Evans Student Center E-Mail: signal@obu.edu Phone: 870.245.5210
Tanner Ward
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Kristen Barnard
Dr. Deborah Root
Sam Cushman
Kelsey Lamb
Rachel Gilmer
Ms. Tiffany Eurich
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z ASSOCIATE EDITOR z NEWS EDITOR
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LAST COLUMN z Continued from Page 11
need in-house entertainments, give me a call and I will assemble the Signal Rockettes. Tiffany Eurich. Thank you for always being available to talk and help us out whenever we needed it. I do need one thing before I graduate, though: I need you to teach me how to be a morning person! Margaret Sorrows. None of this would be possible without the foundation you laid in me at Bryant. Thank you for constantly pushing us to be the best and never accepting any work short of the best we can do. It’s why you have students leading publications all around the country, and why I am leading the Signal. Closing this chapter of life is going to be hard. I’m going to miss coming into the newsroom whenever and always having somebody there to talk and laugh with. I’m going to miss all the adventures we find ourselves on all the time. I’m going to miss having a Chickfil-A and ice cream just down the hall from my desk. But there comes a time to close every chapter, and I think my parents would agree that after four and a half years, now is that time. I’m going to steal the quote Tarah used in her goodbye column last year, because I think it describes our newsroom appropriately: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — Winnie the Pooh
Tanner Ward
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.
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Signal Turnt up: what does it really mean? By CAROLINE POOLE Staff Writer
@Sweet_CPoole As I’m sitting in class, listening intently (OK, daydreaming), my thoughts are interrupted by a strange voice in my ear. It’s low and raspy, almost unrecognizable. The professor is in the middle of a rapid lecture on an unknown topic. I must have imagined it, I think. There’s no way he said what I think he did. No way — wait a minute. There it is again. It’s not my imagination — it’s the guy behind me. “Turn up,” he said. “Turn up.” What does that even mean? OK, I can use context clues. He said it in the middle of a lecture about plants. Turnip, the vegetable — that’s it! He’s craving
a heaping plate of…roots? You probably know better than I do that we all love to “turn up.” But what does that actually mean? Everyone that I’ve asked has said something like “oh you know, like ‘get crunk.’” “Crunk?” Oh gosh, I’m in over my head. I’ve started to hear these phrases on a regular basis — in the student center, on the radio, in Walmart — but no one can truly define them. Merriam-Webster doesn’t know what either phrase means and Ouachita’s network blocks Urban Dictionary (a good sign or bad sign, I’m not sure). But, no fear, I’ve compiled a short list of possible definitions of both terms and any related tenses, with the help of Miley and Roscoe. Turn up, verb. a. To find oneself through the study
of botany. b. To exercise — usually using a large concrete ball connected to a metal chain of at least 10 feet in length. Yes, that’s better. So it’s settled — I’ll start a petition to get a wrecking ball in the weight room. Still, it doesn’t feel right. Turnt, noun. a. A state of being; all the way turnt up. Crunk, noun. a. One who is responsible for cranking the engine of any given machinery. Crunk, synonyms. Cranky, sad, excited, energetic, foul smelling — generally used to describe any form of emotion or sense. There’s a start, but there’s something missing. Something about turning up is still a mystery. Why couldn’t any-
one tell me what it means to turn up? We all know what we mean when we say that we are “turnt,” but no one can put a finger on the exact definition. We can’t define it because it means something different to all of us. To you it might mean a night out on the town, going to the movies or hearing a band’s newest album played live. To someone else, it could be watching paint dry or reading Kafka. The bottom line is that we determine our own happiness. We can choose what we want to do and how we want to do it. No one can define what composes our individual passions. Your personal happiness and drive for life is in your complete control as long as you want it to be. Think happy, be happy. Carpe diem. You only live once. C’est la vie. Turn down for what. n
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Christmas list of a destressed sports fanatic By CHELSEA BYERS Sports Editor
@Chelsea_Byers Dear Santa, I know I haven’t been the greatest this year, but I was really hoping you would be able to overlook a couple of things. Like that one time I called Ben Cline a child, and when I skipped class seven times, and that one time I had unChristian-like thoughts about not having a fifth chapel skip. I was also hoping you would overlook the times I blamed Dixon for something Tanner did, and when I intentionally manipulated Mitchell into wearing a Gators bowtie. I know all of my good deeds will erase those bad ones, and I’ve tried my best, like turning the other cheek (the majority of the time) whenever haters hated on my team. I think that should count for something.
But all of that aside, let’s get down to the real reason I’m sending you this letter — what I’m asking for Christmas. I have my list already made up, so don’t worry about having to exercise your omniscience or anything. So here it goes. 1. I would love a winning season for my Florida Gators. This 4-8 garbage isn’t cutting it, Santa. Let’s do something with that offense, like maybe a nice O-line that doesn’t embarrassingly defend itself. 2. I would love a home for Tim Tebow. Now, I wouldn’t mind if my home and his were one in the same, but I’m meaning more along the lines of a home team. Like maybe the Patriots? That would be nice. 3. I really want a winning bracket for March Madness. Last season was a bit rough, especially when you’re betting so highly on your own team and they let you down when you need them the most. I mean come on, I only had two teams in the final four. That’s terrible and needs to change, so let’s see a nice four for four under the tree this
Christmas. 4. A job at ESPN would be nice this year. Maybe head producer of a show such as First Take so I could rescript Skip Bayless some days. 5. I would absolutely love a new head coach for the Gators. John Teed thinks it’s absurd to even consider Muschamp taking the Defensive Coordinator position, but Santa, I know you can make it happen. You aren’t loved this much by kids for nothing, you must have some sort of phenomenal track record or something. Just give us Urban back and let Muschamp be in charge of defense. I know this should be at the top of the list, but a winning season is just a bit more important. 6. I don’t mean to be a spoiled sports fan or anything, but I really, really would love front row seats to the BCS bowl so I can complain the entire time about how Alabama wins every year. 7. Next on the list is an SEC team in the BCS bowl this year. I know that it might be a stretch, but please don’t let Ohio State hash it out with Florida State University for the crystal football.
Not only would that make me sick to my stomach, but I’ve never seen Tyler Davis cry and I’d prefer to keep it that way. 8. Let the Bengals win the Super Bowl. Mainly because I have a kind heart and I still have to make up for all of those bad things I did this year. 9. I would really appreciate a few more Tebows scattered throughout the NFL. There needs to be a bit more character around town, and the good looks don’t hurt either. 10. Another thing, something I don’t want, is Manziel to win the Heisman. Don’t give me that for Christmas, Santa, because I will give it right back. I hope you get me everything I asked for Santa, because you know what happens to unhappy children at Christmas. They stop having Christmas spirit, and how else will you power your sleigh? Merry Christmas, Santa! Stay warm when you visit the Signal office’s chimney. We like to keep it like an icebox in there. Love, Chelsea
SEC champion still has chance at BCS national title game By DIXON LAND
Assistant Sports Editor @DixonCLand Realistically, the Bowl Championship Series, college football’s way of regulating post-season bowl games, would be able to place the top two teams in country in a game to compete for the title of “National Champions.” But, all too often, what looks good on paper in college football doesn’t always work out right on the field. Just ask Alabama. Last week the Crimson Tide, ranked No. 1 by a significant margin in every poll, was upset by No. 4 Auburn in the 2013 Iron Bowl. The upset included one of the most bizarre endings that anyone in sports has ever experienced. Only four times
has any player ever returned a field goal back for a touchdown and this was the first time a player did so to win a game. Meanwhile, much further north, in a little town named Ann Arbor, unranked Michigan almost upset No. 3 Ohio State. The outcome of the gamewas decided by an interception in the end zone on a late two-point conversion attempt. Ohio St. escaped Ann Arbor with a 42-41 victory. So, when the BCS rankings were released on Monday, Florida State was undisputedly ranked No. 1 in every poll. Ohio State narrowly beat out Auburn for the No. 2 spot, but the margin was very close. The BCS poll is comprised of the Harris Poll, the Coaches Poll and a computer poll that comprise together to give us the BCS rankings. In both the Harris and Coaches polls,
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the rankings are based on points. In the Harris poll, the margin between Ohio State and Auburn is 66 points. In comparison, the margin between Ohio State and Florida State is 129, a significant margin. In the Coaches Poll, Ohio State and Auburn are even closer with just 25 points separating them. The computer poll is based on percentages. So the total difference comprising all the polls between Ohio State and Auburn is just .027 percent. Never has any one-loss team jumped an unbeaten team from a major BCS conference (ACC, AAC [previously the BIG EAST], BIG-10, BIG-12, PAC-10, and SEC). But after watching this year’s Iron Bowl, many college football analysts are claiming that Auburn’s resume is a bit more impressive than Ohio State’s. Auburn has a stronger strength
of schedule with monumental wins against No. 5 Alabama, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 24 Ole Miss and No. 25 Georgia. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s marque win was a close win against No. 15 Wisconsin (9-3). Nevertheless, the Buckeyes have won 24 straight games over the past four years. And this could be a significant point considered in the Harris and Coaches Poll. Auburn will play No. 4 Missouri on Saturday in the SEC championship game, and the winner could jump Ohio State in the poll. Nevertheless, many fans in the SEC have become huge Duke (plays Florida State) and Michigan State fans (plays Ohio State). If Florida State and Ohio State win, it will be a close battle for second place. Does a one-loss team from the SEC deserve a birth in the national championship? Many think so. n
#PrayforZack By DIXON LAND and CHELSEA BYERS Sports Editors
Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. Star City senior Zack Towers,
younger brother to Ouachita football player Ty Towers, suffered a major injury to the head that would lead to his recession into a coma for several months. Word of Zack’s injury spread quickly and even gained national coverage. And while the world moved on, Zack recovered slowly and steadily. Slowly he became able to breath by himself, then the ability to move a finger. Zack progressed on. Meanwhile, his brother Ty, a junior business major, continued to balance his school and football workload, and being with Zack as much as he could. Since that time, Zack has improved significantly, but he is still slowly recovering from the injury that changed his life. Just this past week, Zack was admitted to Easter Seals, a program in Little Rock that looks to assist children and young adults who suffer from disabilities and injuries like his. “He’s becoming more and more responsive every day: he can smile, frown and give a thumbs up,” Ty said. The Towers family is very hopeful about the progress they believe that Easter Seals will give Zack. “We have hope and faith that the therapy and classroom stimulation at Easter Seals is what he needs to continue to progress,” Ty said. “Last year at this time, we were hoping that Zack would be able to breath on his own and be able to move a finger. He can now move in place and breath on his own. He still has a long road ahead, but we are seeing significant process.” On Sept. 13, Zack Towers returned to Star City for the first football game since his injury. The homecoming for Zack and his family was emotional for them, as well as the entire Star City community. “The football game was really good for Zack,” Ty said. “He enjoyed being back and seeing his friends play as well as seeing people he went to school with. It was a reminder for us that we aren’t in this alone.” A couple of weeks before the game, the community got together and sponsored a peewee football tournament. The tournament, which was held in his honor, donated all the proceeds to helping Zack’s recovery. Many other events like this one have been created in order to raise money for Zack’s cause. “Zack’s situation has taught me to never take anything for granted,” Ty said. “I’ve learned patience and have grown even closer to my family. We are so grate-
Towers’ Story Revisited
ful for each day we get to spend with him.” Ty said that sometimes it can be hard for him to focus on football, school and visiting and keeping up with Zack. He said that one of the most important things he has had to practice is patience. “I’ve learned not to take anything for granted. I want to live to the fullest because you never know when your life could change forever,” Ty said. Zack’s story has influenced many people. Ty said that Zack’s story, he hopes, will be a strong testimony to the power of God and the power of prayer. “I’ve heard so many stories about how Zack’s story of survival and being healed has encouraged and even strengthened many relationships between individuals and God. I’ve even heard about how his story has strengthened struggling families,” Ty said. Zack’s story, according to Ty, has been an encouragement to many and has demonstrated faith and commitment to the power of prayer. “We have to keep faith that God will heal him. It’s been a crazy ride and God really has provided for us and Zack’s situation,” Ty said. When asked what people can do to help, Ty said that the best thing that people can do is to continue to pray for Zack and his situation. He also said that support through social media is always helpful to advance Zack’s cause. “All we can do is keep unending faith that God will continue to heal him,” Ty said. “There’s really nothing more that the doctors or medicine can do at this point. We just have to keep praying for continued healing.” Zack’s situation has brought the Towers family closer, but has also reiterated the strength behind a community for a cause like Zack’s. n
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Top 5: Ouachita News Biggest campus and community stories of the semester
Dr. Tom Auffenberg Passes Away
#BOTR2013
Auffenberg, a professor of history at Ouachita for 40 years, passed away following a brief illness Aug. 21. A British historian with degrees from Texas Christian University and Vanderbilt Universitiy, Auffenberg was highly respected among his peers.
The Henderson Reddies edged out victory in the Battle of the Ravine 2013 following three overtimes with a final score of 60-52.
Grant Center Renovated
Dr. Jack’s Coffee Debuts
New coffee roasts benefitting orphanages in Honduras and workers in Rwanda debuted in Dr. Jack’s Coffeehouse this semester. The coffee is also sold online and in the bookstore. 16 n OBUSIGNAL.COM x 12.05.13
35th Tiger Tunes
A special anniversary year for Tiger Tunes featured hosts and hostesses, music and dancing from shows past, all in an effort to raise $100,000 for student scholarships.
The Grant Center for International Education received a facelift this summer. The renovations provided additional classroom and meeting space for the center, as well as an updated facility.
