VOLUME 128, ISSUE 9
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MARCH 4, 2020
SIGNAL A P U B L I C AT I O N O F O U A C H I TA B A P T I S T U N I V E R S I T Y
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cover story.......................................3 news....................................................4-5 arts/entertainment.....................6 opinions................................................7 Sports....................................................8
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SIGNAL
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The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Wednesdays 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.
cover story WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 3
Sanders reminds audience, ‘God is in control’ BY ETHAN DIAL Editor-In-Chief
“Surviving the White House... [is] all about knowing who you are before you ever step in the building and knowing that nothing that anyone says about you can define you if you don’t allow it to. And I really tried to remind myself of that every day and really live out who I decided I was going to be beforehand,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House Press Secretary and Ouachita alumna. As a part of the Birkett L. Williams Endowed Lecture Series, Sanders spoke to students, staff, faculty and guests Monday evening in Jones Performing Arts Center. While answering questions from President Ben Sells, which were formed by communications students in Dr. Deborah Root’s Senior Seminar class, Sanders addressed various aspects of her personal and professional life, while also encouraging students to enjoy the cherished moments spent on this campus and boldly take on life when they leave this place, standing up for their faith and family. Thanking professors, including Dr. Bill Downs, who passed away last year, Dr. Doug Reed, Dr. Kevin Brennan and Dr. Hal Bass, Sanders emphasized the vital role her education at Ouachita has played in her success. “I stepped onto this campus almost 20 years ago...and if you had told me at that time, when I was coming to Ouachita, that I would one day be the White House Press Secretary and I would do that for Donald Trump, I would have laughed in your face. And I got the preparation I needed from Ouachita to do that job, and frankly if Ouachita can prepare me for that, then it can prepare anybody for anything,” Sanders said. “It was the relationships and the en-
vironment that Ouachita put such an emphasis on that really helped empower me to go out and take on pretty much anything.” Ouachita not only gave her a strong sense of community, many friends who traveled across the country to attend the homecoming event, but was a place that enabled her to grow in her faith. That faith was the foundation of the perseverance and stamina she needed to handle the stressful demands that came with the job of press secretary. “In terms of confidence, it goes back to my faith: the fact that I don’t need anybody from the Washington Post or the New York Times or Saturday Night Live to define me; God has already done that,” Sanders said. “I know exactly who I am and I don’t have to wake up every day wondering who that is and what that’s going to look like, and to have that comfort and that confidence going into every day, it makes everything else disappear. When you can focus on who God created you to be and know that He has a unique purpose for your life, then it is a remarkable feeling and gives you all the confidence you need to face even the greatest challenges you could imagine.” While Sanders was only the third woman to ever hold the honor of being White House press secretary, she was the first mother to have the job, and she has seen her experience parenting as great preparation and above all else, her greatest accomplishment. “I got a lot of different exposure to a lot of different political and campaign practice, and in the midst of all of that, the greatest achievements I had [were] I got married and I had three kids and, you know, it’s certainly the greatest thing I’ve ever done. And my biggest success are those things, for sure,” Sanders said. However, juggling parenthood
Former White House Press Secretary and Ouachita alumna Sarah Huckabee Sanders responds to questions from Deborah Root’s Senior Seminar class posed by President Ben Sells as a part of the Birkett L. Williams Lecture Series. (photo by Hannah Smith)
in the political frenzy of Washington D.C. was not an easy task, especially after receiving so many substantial threats on the job that she became the first White House press secretary in history to require Secret Service protection. “It was, you know, very difficult for our family during that time, but it was still important for us to stand up and talk about what we thought was right and to stay strong and steadfast in our faith throughout that process. And I think we’re stronger and closer as a family because we went through that and came out on the other side,” Sanders said. Sanders also remarked on the distortion of her relationship with the press and encouraged students to “never read the comments.” “Despite what most people saw on TV, I actually had a very good working relationship with a large number of the White House press corps. They’re some of the shrewdest, most talented, toughest reporters anywhere in the world, and we had a good back and forth. Sometimes, it was difficult for both sides, but there was sort of a sense
of ‘I have a job to do, you have a job to do,’ and behind the scenes we actually a lot of times worked very well together,” Sanders said. Ultimately, in the midst of all the chaos, Sanders credits her faith as her driving force. “If your faith is real to you, it defines who you are and it’s something that you should be very proud of and be very public about. I have no apologies for my faith. At the same time, I never want to impose my faith on somebody else, so while I’m open about it, I’m not going to force anybody else to follow what I’m doing,” Sanders said. “I would want to live a life that they see something different and something different inside of me that they want too. I want to live a life that’s full of joy even when it’s hard to have it and I want people to want that and to see that light and hope that they can have it. I think that’s the best way that Christians can impact other people is to live a life that is worthy of the grace that God has shown us.” In the end, Sanders marveled at the Lord’s provision and realized the importance of constantly re-
membering, “God is in control.” “Every single day that I stepped into that building, I knew that it was an honor and a privilege to be there, and one that I didn’t want to take for granted. I knew that I had a responsibility to serve in that role and to serve the American people and it was one that I cherished... one I was proud beyond belief to have held and something I never thought that I would be able to do,” Sanders said. “ I always said that if I ever went into the White House and I didn’t have a sense of reverence and a sense of appreciation then I didn’t need to be there, and I’m thankful that I never had that moment, that I always respected not just the president that I served but the presidency as an institution. And I think that our government and our democracy and what America is is so incredible and so special and so unique that we should never allow it to be upended and destroyed. And I think that we all have a part to play to make sure that we protect and preserve an America that we love [and] an America that we want our kids to get to experience and grow up in.”
news
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Ouachita to host performer Tigers for Life week offers Robert Edwin to speak in opportunity to appreciate students Birkett Williams Lecture BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
BY ASHLY STRACENER Ouachita News Bureau
Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music and Vocal Studies Program will host professional singer and actor Robert Edwin for a lecture and performance on Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Ouachita’s McBeth Recital Hall in Mabee Fine Arts Center. The event is part of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Endowed Lecture Series and is free and open to the public. The lecture, titled “Is Music Really a Universal Language?,” will explore Edwin’s career in the performing arts as a renowned voice teacher, professional singer and actor. Edwin also will perform as part of the lecture. “Robert is such a refreshingly creative individual whose experiences in the world of music are rich and widely varied,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. “He has instructed literally dozens of Broadway performers and adjudicated vocal competitions all over the country. I know the community will be enriched so much by his lecture-recital.” Edwin has been a professional singer and actor since 1965, a recording artist since 1966, an ASCAP songwriter since 1967, a published author since 1968 and an independent studio singing teacher and coach since 1975. He has sung Bach cantatas in church cathedrals and rock songs in New York City’s Greenwich Village, recorded for Avant Garde and Fortress Records and toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. Edwin also has served as an adjunct voice instructor for the University of Michigan, as a master
teacher for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Summer Intern Program and presently is on the Editorial Board of Australian Voice. Some of Edwin’s notable students include Bianca Ryan, season one winner of America’s Got Talent; Ian Eisendrath, music supervisor and director of “Come From Away” on Broadway; and contemporary Christian recording artist and songwriter Paul Baloche. Also a leading authority on contemporary commercial music and child voice pedagogy, Edwin is an associate editor of the NATS Journal of Singing, a frequent faculty member of the Voice Foundation’s Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice and a member of the distinguished American Academy of Teachers of Singing (AATS). “Being exposed to elements of the arts always gives one a new perspective on the creative thought process of one’s own discipline,” Secrest said. “All arts impact all our thinking, whether we are fully aware of it or not.” Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts, Division of Music and Vocal Studies Program will serve as hosts for this Birkett Williams lecture. Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series was established in 1977 through a gift from the late Birkett L. Williams, a 1910 Ouachita graduate. His generous endowment established the lectures as an opportunity to extend the concepts of a liberal arts education beyond the classroom by bringing renowned scholars and public figures to Ouachita’s campus. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Secrest by email at secrestj@obu.edu or by phone at (870) 245-5134.
Staff Writer
The Ouachita Student Foundation (OSF) is hosting its annual Tigers for Life week March 9-13. This week is a philanthropy outreach project dedicated to honoring and appreciating Ouachita students and faculty. Organized by OSF Philanthropy Committee Chairs Racheal Smith and Tyrese Allen, the week will have events for students to pick up snacks, engage in fellowship and relate to the week-long conversation of purpose.
“Knowing that these people are working so hard, I wanted to actually have a space for making recognition and appreciation intentional.” -Tyrese Allen “What we’re looking to do during Tigers for Life week is make it a moment where students actually feel like they’re appreciated on campus,” Allen said. “I feel like we focus so much on our donors and alumni. We have alumni banquets, we have donor’s banquets and all these other things. We sometimes forget that we actually have to appreciate the students that are here, now, in the present. We want to show that what our students are doing is affecting Ouachita.” Each day will have something different to celebrate students’ efforts in making Ouachita what it is today. “On Monday, we will have a
A freshman student sports his new Ouachita beanie and Tiger for Life T-Shirt at Welcome to Ouachita’s World. With Tigers for Life week, OSF strives to continue this school spirit in the hearts of the entire student body. (photo by Justin Trostle)
percentage day to raise funds for the rest of the week and students’ scholarships. Tuesday we will have a video at the beginning of Chapel, so that we can show what it means to be a ‘tiger for life,’ now and in the future,” Allen said. “Every day of the week we are going to do a banner sign, which will be a way for students to sit down and think about why students are here outside of their education. On Friday, we’re doing ‘Pops and Bops’ which will be during Coffee House...There’s also a day where we’re going to have pancakes in the Student Center.” By attending events throughout the week, students can find ways to pause and reflect on their Ouachita experience with gratitude. “None of the events offered are a large time commitment, as we wanted them to fit around students’ schedules,” Smith said. “I think by showing up, there is something to take away from each of the events...It can have a huge impact when you stop and think about
all that Ouachita provides us with - intellectually, socially and spiritually. I am hoping students will take away a better sense of what it means to be ‘tigers for life’ and that it will encourage them to give back to future tigers.” OSF wants to convey that Ouachita will always be a place that current and eventual alumni can return to and engage with. The overarching goal of the week is to create an environment of fellowship and respect, where students feel comfortable not only being themselves, but to also create lifelong memories and relationships. “I felt like I had a vision to make Tigers for Life week something bigger. Structuring it and trying to find what to do has been an uphill battle, but I just had a vision for making it that space for students. Knowing that these people are working so hard, I wanted to actually have a space for making recognition and appreciation intentional,” Allen said.
NEWS
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Healthy relationships week shares life advice
BY MANDY HALBERT Staff Writer
Ouachita will host this year’s Healthy Relationships Week March 2-7. Events include special Noonday speakers, breakout groups, chapel and Refuge speakers and the retreat for married and engaged couples. “Part of being a well-rounded person is knowing how to relate well to others,” said Judy Duvall, associate director of the Elrod Center. “We don’t automatically know how to do this. Our sessions for the week will be led by faculty and staff members and other experts in the field who have experienced joys and successes and disappointments and failures and through
their life experience have learned how to love and relate to others well.” The annual tradition has had several names since its beginning due to its focus changing many times to more effectively reach students. “The annual emphasis has been modified over the years,” Duvall said. “Originally [it was] known as Marriage and Family Week. Elrod Center leaders felt the need to include more of the campus in the event’s focus. The name changed to Dating, Engagement and Marriage Week, and then Healthy Relationships Week in 2012.” The week had originally focused on marriage topics, but was changed in 2012 to help students learn how to improve all relation-
ships, even friendships and family relationships, rather than only romantic relationships. “Healthy Relationships Week is a week dedicated to helping students make connections and strengthen bonds with each other in all the important relationships of life,” Duvall said. The breakout and session speakers for the week include Susan Goss, an OBU alumna, who is a licensed family and marriage counselor, founder of Joshua Center - a faith-based therapy center - and founder and director of Tangible Truth Ministries. Stew and Shelli Grant are also speaking. Stew is the pastor of marriage and family at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in
The Fund Run will take place throughout Ouachita’s campus, and participants will run or walk for three miles, stretching from one end to the other. Anyone that wants to participate is welcome, including elementary-age children. “Our goal is to make it as accessible as possible for people,” Barton said. “That’s why it’s only a 5k, but we do have hopes that in the future there could also be a 10k or even a half marathon.” The success of this event depends on student engagement and community participation, and one of its goals is to welcome Arkadelphia’s community on campus. Nicole McGough and the Arkadelphia Run Club have played an important role in helping OSF learn how to host a successful 5K. “Our Tiger Tunes and Tiger Traks Director Addy Goodman noticed there was no event really like this on campus and there was potential for students to really connect with this,” said Selby Tucker, OSF President. “From there, we
got the idea to partner with the Arkadelphia Run Club to create it.” The idea for this new campus event was inspired by a conference where OSF recently won high awards. At the CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Programs Conference in August, OSF was named the national Outstanding Student Advancement Organization for 2019. This conference allowed members of OSF to learn about other fundraising events that schools across the country host. Several other student advancement programs have annual runs to raise scholarship money, so OSF decided this would be a great addition to this campus. “We are always looking for ways to advance our student organization, so I can’t wait to see how the kickoff of this event will go,” Barton said. To register for the Fund Run, go to www.obu.edu/fundrun, and for more information, email OSF at osf@obu.edu or call 870-2308974.
The Woodlands, Texas and his wife Shelli is a women’s Bible study leader and teacher. They will be leading the couples’ retreat at Wingate in Little Rock for married and engaged couples. “The retreat is a Friday night and Saturday morning where couples gather together to learn from a married couple trained in marriage and family counseling on how to have a healthy relationship,” said Dillon Thomas, an admissions counselor. “Not only do you get personal time with your significant other, but you also get to meet other couples that are in the same life stage as you as well as some fantastic faculty and staff couples that are there to support.” The retreat aims to provide cou-
ples with helpful tools and lessons to strengthen their relationships. “The thing that I have learned from the retreat and applied most to our marriage is to not use the word ‘but,’” Thomas said. “During the first retreat we learned that this both inhibits discussion when conflicts start to arise and can affect the way one views love. Since then I have tried and struggled to use ‘and’ more than ‘but.’ Thomas says that the retreat in the past has given him the tools and knowledge to better his marriage. “While there are times where I still mess up,” Thomas said, “I have been able to implement this simple but extremely helpful advice and it has changed our marriage for the better.”
OSF to hold Fund Run for student scholarships BY ELIZABETH STEELY Staff Writer
The Ouachita Student Foundation (OSF) will be hosting a Fund Run on March 14, from 8-10 a.m. on campus. This event consists of a 5K walk/run for Ouachita students and members of the community. Race registration costs $10-20 based on the participant’s age, and an event t-shirt will be included in the cost. This is the first Fund Run hosted by OSF, and they hope to make it an annual fundraiser for student scholarships. Since 1974, the organization has been raising scholarship money for students who are in financial need to continue pursuing their college education. “We are hoping to make it a staple event,” said Brady Barton, OSF’s special events co-chair. “The Fund Run will hopefully make a great addition to the fundraisers we already do like Tiger Tunes and Tiger Traks.”
March 14, 2020 Race starts at 8 am On Ouachita’s Campus $20- Adults $15- HS/College Students $10- Middle School & Under
*T-shirt included in sign-up fee **Price increases $5 for day of sign-ups
All Welcome!
Register Online
www.obu.edu/fundrun
Contact
email: osf@obu.edu call: 870-230-8974
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‘Call of the Wild’ wows with similarities to book
justice and left me unable to say that “the book was better.” The emotional roller-coaster the movie takes the audience on keeps them invested in the movie until the end. While this film is a more serious story, there are some lighthearted moments throughout to ease the tension. I absolutely loved this film. This is a powerful story that any dog lover should feel a connection to, and I highly recommend that everyone see this film. There is something in this movie for everyone to find enjoyment in, and this is definitely worth a trip to the movie theatre. I rate this film a five out of five tiger paws.
Adapted from the classic book “The Call of the Wild,” 20th Century Fox has brought the adventures of Buck, a dog who is always looking for new adventures, to the big screen. Buck leaves his California home for Alaska during gold rush in the 1890s. During this, Buck continually crosses paths with John Thornton (Harrison Ford), a man looking for something that has been missing from his life. Little does he know, Buck is what he has been searching for. “The Call of the Wild” shows the power of what “man’s best friend” truly is.
This movie is amazing. The CGI work brings the main character Buck to life. Buck is incredibly realistic and at some points, I wasn’t able to tell if he was CGI or a real dog. The special effects and CGI work do an excellent job at creating environments that pull the audience in. The northern lights are very beautiful and realistic whenever they are shown. The cinematography also allows for a captivating experience. The use of wide, long, medium and panoramic shots is done without flaws. The score is also an excellent aspect of this film; it immerses the audience into the film’s world, assists in provoking emotion and
sets the tone for the movie. The acting in this film is outstanding. Ford brings such power and emotion to the screen, and his character’s connection with Buck will tug at the audience’s heart-
strings. Omar Sy’s character has such a realistic connection with Buck, and the characters in the film who are desperate to find gold during the gold rush show how badly wealth can corrupt people. On top of the acting, the writing is phenomenal. The ending to the movie is very emotional, bringing the entire audience to tears. The story will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end. The film stays historically accurate, showing audiences that even though animal cruelty was frowned upon during this time, there were no laws against it. “The Call of the Wild” is a masterpiece. The movie did the book
BY SCARLETT CASTLEBERRY Staff Writer Ouachita’s All Night Theatre is an annual student-led event where participants have only 24 hours to put together a 10-minute play. The whole process is overseen by the All Night Theatre Triumvirate. Three theatre majors—a sophomore, a junior and a senior— make up the Triumvirate. This year those students are Dani Thompson, Molly Kennedy and Dylan Blackwood. One of the great things about this event is that people of any major are free to participate without worrying too much about the time commitment. It’s a short-term activity that exposes students who might not otherwise get to participate in theatre to the process of assembling and performing a play. Every script comes from a student writer who submitted their show for the Triumvirate’s consideration. Most of the scripts come from theatre majors, but anyone is allowed to submit theirs.
The Triumvirate reads through the submitted scripts and selects six to eight plays to be performed during the event. Next, the Triumvirate selects student directors. These are typically upperclassmen in the theatre department, but any students are free to apply. The directors are chosen before the event begins. Most of the participants in All Night Theatre end up acting. On Friday night, students sign up to audition for the various plays. Small groups are brought into Verser Theatre, where they partake in “cold readings” or unrehearsed auditions. The Triumvirate makes notes and assigns roles once everyone has auditioned. From that point on, the clock is ticking. The participants scatter to rehearse: directors guide readthroughs and try to acquaint their actors with the script. But the process is often taken lightly as students act in ways that a professional theatre might deem “unconventional,” goofing off and spending more time at the snack table than reading their scripts.
Though it is called All Night Theatre, very few actually stay up all night - it’s usually just the directors who do. At different points of the night and early morning, directors will send their actors home to get some sleep before coming back the next day and getting everything else wrapped up. The dress rehearsal where participants perform for each other is often filled with laughter as the actors and crew members fumble their way around a stage they have had little - if any - time to practice on and attempt to remember their lines. After this, the students have a little extra time to practice before their final performances, which are open to the public. By the time 24 hours are up, the participants will have put together and performed 10 minutes’ worth of something, hopefully resembling a short play. The audition times for this year’s All Night Theatre have yet to be decided, but auditions will be in Verser Theatre on Friday, March 13. The final performances will be in Verser Theatre on March 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Molly Kennedy, a junior musical theatre major, recently starred in Ouachita’s Muse Project “Almost, Maine.” Kennedy is one of three members of the All Night Theatre Triumvirate. (photo by Wesley Kluck)
BY WYATT ASHLOCK Staff Writer
“I rate this film a five out of five tiger paws.” -Wyatt Ashlock
All Night Theatre unites students across majors
OPINIONS
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OBU meme pages bring laughter Date auctions provide fun BY RYLEE ROBERTS Staff Writer
Rising meme culture among students at Ouachita highlights campus-focused and campus-friendly comedy. Instagram provides an easily accessible platform for Ouachita students to find creative ways to entertain their classmates. Through unofficial Ouachita social media accounts, the already tight-knit Ouachita student body moves even closer to one another through a new generation of inside jokes. Over the last few semesters, several non-official Ouachita Instagram accounts have surfaced and gained considerable popularity. Created by students and for students, the accounts offer hilarious commentary regarding the people of OBU, the Ouachita college experience and various events as they take place at the university. Here are a few of the most popular unofficial OBU accounts. @overheardOBU: For your daily dose of Christian comedy, read through the posts on this account. Random quotes heard around campus debut out of context. Instagram users submit what they hear others say around campus out of context. The laughs brought from unintentional eavesdropping have earned this account over 1,000 followers. Here are some samples of its posts: “My parents are squash farmers,
what do you want from me?” “I want Sonic, actually, I think I just want the Sonic experience, to sit in my car in a stall.” “My toes are so cold, I think I may start a musical about it.” “I have a fond memory of that pothole.” “This rain is going to wash away my motivation and my Tunes makeup.” Next time you catch a single line of a conversation while walking to your next class, consider making a submission by direct messaging the account on Instagram with the quote and where on campus you heard it. Junior Mason Holder, a middle school education major, enjoys following @overheardOBU for its funny content. “Overheard at OBU is a fun experience because you hear things you might not usually have the opportunity to hear out of fear of feeling stupid or judged,” Holder said. @obucafreviews: To keep tabs on which dishes to try in the cafeteria, give a follow to the cafeteria review page. Sophomores Mitchell Waite and Logan Daust star on the account and bring in fellow students as guest tasters, offering their opinions on various cafeteria offerings. Over 750 students follow the account. After giving a short description of the entrée, they offer their signature line, “One bite, everyone knows the rules.” A quick description of how it tastes follows, and
a rating out of ten concludes each review. The account reviews everything from chicken to pasta to international dishes. @obu_memeth: This meme account accepts submissions from Instagram users who create memes regarding college life at Ouachita. Over 600 students follow the account. Include your handle with your submission for meme credit. @eligiblebachelorsofobu: On this page, single men at Ouachita get featured as “eligible bachelors.” The page posts a picture of the male with an accompanying short biography including their major and general interests. In its short life, this page has gained over 500 followers. Single ladies, this one is for you! @crushesofobu: If you want your crush to know someone has eyes for them, make an anonymous submission to this account. Submissions are sent through an online form and posted anonymously, so you have nothing to lose. The page posts a picture of submitted crushes and includes the class of the admirer when included. “Secret admirer” submissions are also accepted. Add to the over 500 followers on this account to see if anyone is crushing on you! These student-run accounts create a new sense of community, placing eyes and ears all over campus. Keep your eyes and ears open, because you could possibly be the next feature on one of these accounts.
for all when done correctly BY VALERIA GOMEZ Staff Writer
Are date auctions fun and trendy or useless and old-fashioned? Ouachita men’s social clubs usually host these events, and they come with both pros and cons. A date auction is an event with the purpose of raising money for a charity or organization by paying to go on a date with somebody, and just like in any auction, the highest bidder wins. It is common for celebrities to do this; they auction concert tickets or meet and greet passes to those who would like to donate to a cause they represent. Let’s talk about pros. Going to a date auction can be especially beneficial if the environment and the people inspire others to donate. The energy can be contagious. These auctions are also a great opportunity, if you are bold enough, to bid on the person that you like. If you are lucky, you might end up walking out with a date with your crush. Or you might be going just to do one of your friends a favor. Either way, going to an auction can be a lot of fun. For the bidder, one of the benefits is that you get to go on a (hopefully) fun date. Now, it’s time to talk about the cons. As college students, money can be a big issue. Every dollar counts. At the auction you will need to “buy” the person you bid
on. This can be too expensive for a college student and might discourage people not only from bidding but also from even attending. Bidding on a person might not be comfortable or easy. If your crush is up next and they get on stage, you don´t want to expose yourself by letting all the people in the room know that you want to go on a date with that person. Even if you are bidding for one of your friends just to get them out of there, it can be nerve-wracking to raise your hand and make an offer. If a few people are going after the same person that can cause tension in the room. Date auctions can hurt people´s feelings by making them feel bad about themselves. Fun can easily be lost if people start looking at others as objects; this can be degrading. If no one bids on the person up on stage, it can be a very awkward situation for everybody and the mood of the room could change. It would not be nice to make someone feel unloved or unwanted; that is not the purpose of date auctions! Date auctions promote collaboration and student involvement. It´s always good to take a break from school work and go do something outside the box. This can be an interesting activity to go to with your friends, but remember that the main purpose of this activity is to contribute to the social club and not to hurt anyone´s feelings.
sports
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Louis Steen, a junior center fielder for the Tigers, dives for the ball in last Saturday’s match-up against Southern Nazarene University. Steen suffered a torn UCL over the summer. (photo by Wesley Kluck)
Steen recovers from torn UCL to play junior season BY MITCHELL EMRICH Staff Writer
One word comes to mind when talking about junior center fielder Louis Steen: passionate. The Southaven, Mississippi native has been through so much over the last year, but his passion for baseball has not withered. Steen had high hopes for the 2020 baseball season, but a turn of events last summer threw that into question. This past summer Steen, along with three of his teammates, played in a summer league in South Carolina. The summer’s schedule was packed, with the team playing eight or nine games a week. Steen’s team ran out of pitchers one day toward the end of the summer and called on him to take the mound.
Everything felt fine as Steen warmed up, but that quickly changed. A shock started in Steen’s fingers and ran up his arm as he released his fourth pitch of the inning. His hand and arm were numb, but he shook it off and finished the inning. Steen had never dealt with any arm problems in the past, but he knew something was really wrong. A few days later, Steen visited the doctor and got the news that he had torn his UCL in his elbow. Then the doctor said two of the most dreaded words in baseball: Tommy John’s. The surgery to repair a torn UCL is a common one, but that doesn’t make the recovery any easier. “When he said Tommy John’s, my gut just fell,” Steen said. “I
thought, is he serious? I have to get my elbow cut open?” After his surgery in July, Steen started rehab for his elbow. Sometimes, Steen couldn’t move or even feel his arm from nerve damage. The physical therapist would have to take his arm out of the brace and do everything for him. When he found out he didn’t have to wear the brace anymore, Steen was encouraged, but he still had absolutely no strength in his arm. Therefore, he carried on with physical therapy, working toward being able to throw a baseball. Doctors told him it would be a tall task and he would have to learn how to throw all over again. Steen didn’t believe them, but soon found that they were right. “It really is like you’re throwing
a baseball again for the first time ever,” Steen said. “I had no feel for my arm. The first time I threw a baseball, I threw it five feet in front of me into the ground.” Doubts were prevalent in Steen’s mind during the long months leading up to the 2020 season, but he had lots of people encouraging him. “The support I’ve had from my friends and coaches has just been insane,” Steen said. “If I didn’t have the coaches that I have here at Ouachita, it would have been hard for me to come back.” One week before the season-opening series, Steen was cleared to play. Throws from center field can reach up to 250 feet, and Steen didn’t know if he would be able to make that throw. He
hadn’t thrown as much from long distances as he would have liked, but he played in the game anyway. “I was a little nervous because the farthest I had thrown on my protocol was 180 feet,” said Steen. Luckily, his first game back went smoothly. It was an amazing feeling being back out on the field, especially with the uncertainty of Steen coming back from his injury. Steen has started in every game this season, and for him, that’s one of the best possible outcomes he could have hoped for. He may still have a few more months until he’s 100%, but after getting through that first game, Steen was just glad to be back. “To be out on the field doing what I love with the guys I love was one of the best feelings ever.”