VOLUME 129, ISSUE 12
the
SIGNAL A P U B L I CAT I O N O F O U AC H I TA BA PT I S T U N I V E R SI T Y
APRIL 15, 2021
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cover story....................................3 news................................................4-5 arts/entertainment....................6 opinions...........................................7 Sports................................................8
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SIGNAL
Caity Hatchett
Elizabeth Steely
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS EDITOR
Sara Patterson
Matthew Branch
OSDN COORDINATOR
Katie Kemp
Hannah Smith
COPY EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
Langley Leverett ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT & OPINIONS EDITOR
Dr. Jeff Root Adviser
Caroline Derby AD COORDINATOR
PHOTO EDITOR
Abby Blankenship PHOTO EDITOR
Dr. Deborah Root Adviser
The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays 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 Nashville Leader. 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 email to signal@obu.edu.
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Quarantined in Cancún: Rodrigues returns BY LANGLEY LEVERETT 2021-2022 Copy Editor
Juggling two cultures seems complicated, but for João Rodrigues, it is the cherry on top of the college experience. Rodrigues seized each opportunity to discover new lessons and contribute to community initiatives over the last four years. An international student from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, Rodrigues is a senior finance major. He has been a leader in many campus organizations including Enactus, Ary Fund and Tiger Serve Day. He is also on the swim team, in the Carl Goodson Honors program and is a beau for the Women of Tri Chi. “I always wanted to come to the United States to come to college. I started looking for schools a long time ago, and one day I was googling ‘small school,’ ‘Christian college,’ ‘swim team’ and Ouachita showed up,” Rodrigues said. “I had never heard of Arkansas or ‘the South.’ I had several options in different states, but when I heard back from Coach Bostick, it just felt right.” Preparing to graduate, Rodrigues applied to the Arkansas Fellowship last August. This program is designed to retain talent in the state by pairing graduating seniors from top universities with the state’s leading companies. He is the second Ouachita student to participate in the fellowship. “I was accepted and got a fulltime job offer from Dillard’s to work in their corporate office in Little Rock,” Rodrigues said. “The whole process of applying was pretty extensive, but it’s really cool that I get to represent Arkansas.” When COVID-19 struck last March, there was a lot of uncertainty for international students. Rodrigues was sent home to Brazil with the expectation that
he was only going to stay for 90 days. “You learn how to make it work. With the whole COVID situation, I was home for almost ten months. That was such an unexpected turn in my college career,” Rodgrigues said. “When you come here, you’re a different person, everything changes. But when you go back home, everything is the same. It’s neat to see how my perspective concerning home and life have changed.” In May 2020, a presidential proclamation banned travel into the United States from Brazil, with no exceptions for international students. As a result, Rodrigues received the disappointing news that he wouldn’t be able to return for the fall semester. Though European bans were eventually lifted, Brazil was still on the list. Because of this, Rodrigues spent his entire fall semester working from home. “My room was my classroom, my bedroom, my study room, my library. It was just crazy how I could make one place my whole college experience for just one semester,” Rodrigues said. “I think it was really good at some points. I got to focus on my thesis and job search. It was a process of accepting what was going on, and learning about new things that were happening.” The only way around the extensive ban was for Rodrigues to quarantine in a third country that was not on the ban list. At first, his parents and leaders at Ouachita were against this option for safety reasons. However, in order to come back for the spring semester, Rodriguez chose to quarantine in Cancún, Mexico, for 14 days. “My two options were to stay in Brazil or to go to Mexico and quarantine for 14 days. It was this huge game,” Rodrigues said. “It’s taken so much effort and investment for me to just be back
and finish my education. We signed a lot of petitions. There was a lot of research, a lot of worries. We checked the news every day to see if there was any light at the end of the tunnel.” Though eager to return to campus, Rodrigues is thankful to have spent extra time in his home country with his family. “I was ready. It’s my senior year. I wanted to be here for the whole time,” Rodrigues said. “But I could see how the Lord was working through my situation, and how it was really important for me to be with my family for the entire time. I look back, and it doesn’t bother me at all, even though it was a big frustration.” Despite these circumstances, Rodgrigues had to keep up with his school work to finish on time. During his time in Brazil, he spent many hours on his honors thesis. “My thesis is over the implications of financial technologies in the banking revolution, and the financial system in Brazil. It’s pretty cool and I’m proud of the work,” Rodgrigues said. At the center of Rodrigues’ time spent in Brazil and Ouachita lies a yearning to experience new adventures. He enjoys sharing his heritage with others and learning new things about the world around him. “It’s such a great opportunity to go and experience a different place and have the constant change hitting you. I love traveling. Every time that I go somewhere else, there’s this new piece of me that joins me forever,” Rodrigues said. “I consider myself a global citizen, in the sense that I am Brazilian, but I also live here. I have the responsibility of learning things about here and learning how things work. It just opens your mind to different ideas and perspectives, and I just love that.”
On the cover: João Rodrigues returned to Ouachita for the spring semester of his senior year after spending the fall semester in Brazil. Rodrigues is grateful to be spending his last semester on campus. (photo by Levi Dade) On this page: Top: Rodrigues relaxes on a balcony in Cancún, Mexico, during his 14day quarantine before returning to Ouachita. Bottom: Rodrigues participates in his last swim meet. (photos courtesy of João Rodrigues)
news
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Tiger Serve Day provides outreach opportunity BY ELIZABETH WIMBERLY
Staff Writer
The Elrod Center hosted this semester’s Tiger Serve Day on Saturday. More than 600 students got involved to serve the Arkadelphia community, keeping the campus-wide tradition going strong. Tiger Serve Day is an opportunity that empowers students and faculty to clean up throughout the Arkadelphia area and to help individuals in the community who need assistance with more strenuous tasks, such as yardwork or cleaning.
Taylor Fielder, senior Christian Studies major, has helped plan Tiger Serve Day for three years as a member of the Tiger Serve Day leadership team. Fielder’s job includes looking for future projects and putting all of the routes together. “We plan throughout the semester and stay up the Friday before to put together the tools and items needed for each project,” Fielder said. Students who serve on the Tiger Serve Day leadership have shown great leadership qualities that caused them to be hand-picked to
lead and plan service projects. “It was kind of a God thing that got me involved with Tiger Serve Day,” Fielder said. “The teams pick their members to put together a perfect team.” Other students on the leadership team set aside a couple of hours each week to plan the event for each semester. Associate Director of the Elrod Center Judy Duvall serves with Director of the Elrod Center Ian Cosh to coordinate Tiger Serve Day. Tiger Serve Day is not only an event for students to enjoy. Elderly or disabled individuals, non-prof-
its, schools and nursing homes all look forward to seeing young people that care about them. Duvall has done Tiger Serve Day for 16 years. She has seen countless ways that service brings joy. “We have many senior adults, nonprofits, schools and nursing homes that look forward to Tiger Serve Day each semester,” Duvall said. “They greatly appreciate the help and the interaction with volunteers.” One of the main purposes of Tiger Serve Day is to help students put their faith into action. “In many ways, Tiger Serve
Day serves as an entry into service for our volunteers,” Duvall said. “This day gives our campus an opportunity to see the value of volunteering , and many will go on to be involved in other forms of service throughout the year. This day serves as an excellent opportunity for our campus to put faith into action by serving our community.” Tiger Serve Day takes months of preparation, good leadership and love for service. Tiger Serve Day is an important tradition that continues to positively impact the Arkadelphia community and the campus culture at Ouachita.
President Dr. Ben Sells and Elrod Center Director Ian Cosh converse before Tiger Serve Day, while the Tiger Serve Day leadership team (wearing green shirts) prepares to check in teams. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
NEWS
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“See you later”: Hays retires after 29 years BY MACKENZIE HALL 2021-2022 News Editor
Dr. Danny Hays, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies, came to Ouachita in the fall of 1992. He was contracted to teach Old and New Testament survey. Twenty-nine years later, Hays bids farewell to Ouachita as he enters retirement. Hays graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. After that, Hays attended seminary and earned a Master of Theology. Shortly after graduation, he married his wife Donna. The newlyweds went to Ethiopia where they would serve as missionaries for five years. When they returned to the United States, Hays began his doctorate studies. With a Ph.D. in hand, Hays started his new job teaching core Bible classes at Ouachita. Students now take Bible survey and Bible interpretation as their core Bible classes. When Hays’ began teaching, students took Old Testament survey and New Testament survey. “My first semester here, they gave me a nice load. I taught four classes of Old Testament survey, the same class four times, to kind of get my feet on the ground. Pretty quickly they let me teach Hebrew, Old Testament classes and Bible interpretation,” Hays said. Looking back, Hays remembers several moments that shaped him in his career. While serving in Ethiopia, Hays found his love for teaching. “In Ethiopia, I was working as an engineer doing water treatment stuff,” Hays said. “On the side, I was teaching night classes to Ethiopian church leaders. I found in Ethiopia that I really loved to teach. I didn’t know that and never had it on my radar. Teaching the
pastors, I found it very fun and it seemed like something God gave me to do.” At Ouachita, Hays has been able to use his gift of teaching to influence generations of students. “As far as teaching goes, it is just really cool to see students graduate, go out into the world, serve the Lord and do incredible things,” Hays said. “We’re now teaching this next generation. Every class, I have children of students that I taught. A highlight has been being a part of the Ouachita education and watching students grow up and mature.” Along with teaching, writing “Grasping God’s Word” also proved to be a pivotal moment in Hays’ career. “One of the big things is, after coming here [to Ouachita], Scott Duvall said, ‘Let’s write an interpretation book.’ And so, once we wrote ‘Grasping God’s Word’, it changed a lot of things,” Hays said. “It opened all kinds of doors for me in the area of writing.” The book has been translated in several languages and is even used for teaching in China. The success of “Grasping God’s Word” is beyond anything Hays could have imagined. From his studies in seminary to his work as an engineer, missionary and professor, Hays has acquired wisdom and a strong support system along the way. “You don’t want to lose your passion. Passion for the right thing is good,” Hays said. “The key is to maintain your passion and focus it on the right areas. Don’t get too bent out of shape on the other stuff.” Hays credits his friends and wife for shaping, influencing and supporting him throughout his career. “When I was in seminary, in the master’s program, I think the most influential people on me were my
Dr. Danny Hays stands outside of the Berry-Peeples Bible Building, his home at Ouachita for the last 29 years. Hays is looking forward to the adventures that retirement will bring him, including spending more time with his grandkids. (photo by Levi Dade)
friends, the other students. They were my very best friends. They were very influential in my thinking and approach,” Hays said. “My wife has also had a big influence on me. Anyone who doesn’t admit that is probably lying. She has smoothed off the rough edges on me.” Although some want a relaxing retirement, Hays plans to stay busy teaching adjunct classes at Ouachita and, most importantly, spending time with his grandkids.
“Retirement will be a big change. I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited about it. I’m still going to teach a little bit. It’s not a total shift in what I’ve been doing. I will still be involved in teaching and have more time to write and see the grandkids,” Hays said. “Like any new phase of life, you can be excited about it but also a little nervous, too. By and large, I think it’s going to be good; I’m looking forward to it. I’m not one to get bored.” As his chapter at Ouachita clos-
es, a new one opens. Hays is not saying “goodbye,” but “see you later.” “It has been a wonderful experience.” Hays said. “I cannot imagine any place being more fulfilling and fun to work. Everyone here in Christian Studies has gotten other offers from different schools while at Ouachita. Everybody says ‘no.’ Ouachita is a special place to be. I have great colleagues and wonderful students. It has been a fantastic time.”
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Spring playlist to keep you dancing through finals BY ANA OELENBERGER Staff Writer
As we continue striving to finish schoolwork, I have created a springinspired playlist to motivate and inspire you to finish the semester strong. A blend of contemporary pop and worship music, this playlist is sure to rejuvinate you. 1. “Let It Happen” by Tame Impala I discovered Tame Impala through a Youtube video of their 2019 Coachella performance. Some of my absolute favorite songs are “Let it Happen,” “Borderline” and “Yes, I’m Changing.” They never fail to make you dance. 2. “Adore You” by Harry Styles Harry Styles’ entire album “Fine Line” has some of the brightest spring vibes. The album is filled with playful and energetic songs like “Adore You,” “Fine Line,” “Golden” and “Watermelon Sugar.” 3. “Blueberry Faygo” by Lil Mosey Even though this song is from last year, I still love the happy beat “Blueberry Faygo” gives. This song is a hit on any playlist. 4. “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift The incredibly talented pop icon has re-recorded her 2008 album “Fearless” with some fantastic updates to her original and nostalgic sound. “Love Story” had me the most excited. 5. “Swing Lynn” by Twin Cabins Need a warmer seasonal song with some easy and smooth vibes?
“Swing Lynn” reminds me of a beautiful sunset over the lake when the night sky mixes with the water. It has mellow tones and good lyrics that you can just melt into. 6. “Just Like Magic” by Ariana Grande I really enjoy a lot of Ariana Grande’s music and “Just Like Magic” from her “Positions” album is definitely one of my favorites. Other fun songs from this album include “Off the Table” and “Shut Up.” 7. “So Will I” by Hillsong United This is one of my favorite worship songs. Its lyrics artfully express ultimate trust. Hillsong uses elements of nature to display God’s faithfulness, creativity and love. 8. “Sweeter Place” by Selena Gomez With a softer, more elegant tone, “Sweeter Place” is a carefree song that I can’t help but love. I love her vocals mixed with Kid Cudi’s on this track. 9. “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa This song became really popular on TikTok last spring, and I still think it’s a great one to jam out to. Dua Lipa has a powerful ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude that empowers listeners. 10. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye Although this song is an older one, it’s still a great song about moving on after heartbreak. For the summer, “Somebody That I Used to Know” is a song that has a nostalgic feel while still keeping every emotion tightly in line with a groovy xylophone beat.
The steel drum class performs at the first of two concerts. Their next show is on April 15 at 5 p.m. (photo by Erica Wilmath)
Steel drum hosts tropical concert BY ERICA WILMATH Staff Writer
Ouachita’s steel drum band hosted its first of two performances at the Rachel Fuller and Ouachita Singers Amphitheater on April 6 at 5 p.m. The band provided popcorn and snow cones to the faculty and students that attended. The band’s concert sold the Caribbean theme that they advertised in promoting the event. Attendees wore leis provided by the band and band members wore tropical outfits, all of which immersed the audience in the feeling of a cool summer evening on a tropical island. Between each song, Music Professor Dr. Ryan Lewis asked audience members a variety of trivia questions that challenged the crowd’s knowledge of tropical places and cultures. Dr. Lewis teaches the steel drum class, which is open to beginners,
every semester. Junior graphic design major Erica Dixon joined steel drum on a whim her freshman year and has stuck with it ever since. “I met a lot of people that I never would have met otherwise,” Dixon said. “I’ve decided to do steel drum for the rest of college.” Senior elementary education major Mason Holder values steel drum because he feels he can express himself authentically. “Tiger Steel is a place full of fun times and great music where I can truly espress myself without the fear of what others think of me,” Holder said. “It offers a source of freedom that I do not experience in other places.” Each band member’s excitement on stage quickly set the tone for the audience. Watching everyone dance and genuinely enjoy themselves was nearly as exciting as the music itself. The concert provided authentic
entertainment for both the people that came to support the band and for the band members themselves. “I can’t wait for the next concert. This was one of the most fun events I have been to this year,” sophomore Kinley Ritter said. This performance from the steel drum band was just what the Ouachita community needed during this season. The overall highlight of the event was not the popcorn or even the snow cones, but witnessing the way that the members of the band interacted with one another while performing. It was clear to see that beyond their passion for engaging and enjoyable music, members of Tiger Steel also have an authentic chemistry while performing with one another. The band has one more tropicalthemed concert on April 15 at 5 p.m. at the amphitheater. Be sure to come prepared with a lei and tropical trivia facts.
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#StopAsianHate supports AAPI community BY MADELINE MARTIN Staff Writer
Stories of hatred, discrimination and violence against Asian Americans began to surface following the March 16 shooting at Gold Spa in Atlanta, Ga. 8 people lost their lives, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent. This crime inspired marches and rallies around the nation and also launched the social media movement #StopAsianHate. Asian Americans of all backgrounds use the hashtag to share stories of discrimination they have experienced. The movement continues to shed light on the systemic mistreatment of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Several Asian American celebrities voiced their support of the movement. Gemma Chan, star of the film “Crazy Rich Asians,” spoke out on Instagram, highlighting the frequent
discrimination of Asian women in particular. She called upon allies to educate themselves on the issue. “Racism and misogyny are not mutually exclusive,” Chan said. “In fact, sexualised racial harassment and violence is something that many of us face regularly.” Lana Condor, star of the popular “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” Netflix film trilogy, took to Twitter to share her own fear following the shooting. “Wake up... Your Asian friends and family are deeply scared, horrified, sick to their stomachs and wildly angry,” Condor said. “Please please please check in on us, please please please stand with us.” Many noticed that the support for the #StopAsianHate movement was lacking in comparison to the Black Lives Matter movement that ignited in June 2020. This proved how stories of Asian hatred and violence are diminished by the media.
This movement also brought attention to performative activism among brands that made statements of support that did not line up with their past behavior. Performative activism occurs when a brand makes a statement of solidarity but does not follow-up with actual action toward reaching change. e.l.f. Cosmetics CEO Tarang Amin released a statement condemning anti-Asian racism and went the extra mile by laying out his company’s plan to take immediate action. The brand plans to share Asian stories on social media platforms as well as conduct unconscious bias training among employees. Being an ally cannot stop with a simple post. White Americans especially must recognize their privilege and take action or change will never happen. Here are ways to help the AAPI community: Amplify Asian voices. You do not need to speak for them, but you should share
their stories. This can be done by sharing posts from people in the AAPI community about the discrimination and violence they face. Actively educate yourself. Read books and articles written by Asian authors that discuss the history of anti-Asian racism and their experiences. You can better support the Asian community by learning about these issues. Support Asian businesses. Buy from small, Asian-owned brands, like restaurants and beauty
companies. For example, the Gua Sha facial treatment has become very popular on TikTok. Instead of buying a cheaper Gua Sha tool from Amazon, support the Asian community by purchasing one from a traditional Chinese medicine or beauty brand. Donate. Take action by donating to organizations that support the AAPI community. For more information on ways to donate and support the #StopAsianHate movement, visit stopaapihate.org and aapifund.org.
extended Easter break. This was intended to reduce spring break travel and therefore lessen the spread of COVID-19. Students have expressed a combination of gratitude and grievances in light of the decision. A full week off of school is typically beneficial for physical and mental health, but the catch up days helped break up some of the semester’s workload. Many agree that the sacrifice of spring break is a small price to pay for the chance to be on campus during COVID. Sacrificing spring break does not come without some consequences. Around the mid-March point, many students said that they felt mentally exhausted from not
having a week off from school to relax and recuperate. Some students have said that with spring break gone, there should have been more than two catch up days this semester. Another surprise was when students had a semi-break in February during “snowmageddon.” Despite the non-stop snow, students still had to attend virtual classes and complete homework in a timely manner, which proved difficult while trying to stay warm and brave the cold for food. For several days students were snowed in, unable to drive anywhere or leave their dorms. However, the silver lining was certainly unforgettable. This
week off allowed friends to build snowmen, participate in snowball fights and to go sledding down the ravine. Lake DeGray has also been a safe haven for students to de-stress away from campus. Many students and Arkadelphia residents have gone there to hammock, swim or just enjoy the nature around them. The lake and “snowmageddon” have given many great opportunities for students to make on-campus memories. Last year at this time, students were forced to find ways to make memories remotely. Friends had virtual game nights, Zoom hangouts and iMessage Game Pigeon tournaments. Yet another surprise for the
spring semester was when Dr. Wesley Kluck sent out an email saying that Ouachita would host a vaccination clinic for students. This made for another unorthodox event. While this semester has been unlike others, Ouachita faculty, staff and students have tried to make it as fun and normal as possible by hosting Student Life events on the weekends, as well as sporting, theatre and music events. This semester has been full of highs and lows, but nonetheless, it is a blessing to be back on campus with our peers. The first on-campus spring semester for many students will be an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster as the end nears.
(photo courtesy of changelives.org)
Spring 2021 presents surprises, challenges BY WYATT ASHLOCK
2021-2022 Arts & Entertainment/Opinions Editor This year at Ouachita has been a year of firsts. We had our first semester with masks, first semester back on campus since the move to virtual learning in March 2020, first year with virtual Tiger Tunes and first year without a spring break. This is also the first year that both freshmen and sophomores have a full spring semester on campus. This semester has been full of surprises like the removal of spring break, which was replaced with two catch up days and an
sports
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Women’s soccer advances to semifinals in penalty kicks BY RYAN YORK
2021-2022 Sports Editor On Saturday, April 10, the Tigers closed out a long game against Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a 4-2 win in penalty kicks. With its victory over the Rangers, the team advanced to the semfinals. Along with advancing in the tournament, 11 Tigers received year-end awards from the Great American Conference. Head coach Kevin Wright was named the GAC’s Coach of the Year and senior Brianna Lozano is the GAC’s Newcomer of the Year. In their game against the Rangers, the Tigers set the tone in the first half with 53% of possession, keeping the ball out of their defensive third. “From a scoreline standpoint you saw the run of play was about what we expected,” Wright said. “We thought we had a lot of the ball, we had a lot of chances. In the first half I think they took one shot. I don’t know that they really ever troubled Michele [Snow].” In the first half of the game, the Tigers took 12 shots compared to the Rangers’ one. Though Ouachita created the chances to put a ball in the back of the net, the scoreboard still read 0-0 going into the second half. During the next half of the game, the Rangers turned things around and started the first five minutes in their attacking third with three corner kick attempts. The Tigers held them off, but were denied a goal from a penalty kick late in the game by NWOSU’s goalie Reyna Gonzalez. In that half of the game, the Tigers took nine shots, while the Rangers only took five. When the clock expired, the
score was still set at 0-0 and the games went into double overtime. In both periods, the Tigers took shots on the goal, but to no avail. In the shootout, the Tigers showed the conference why they are the number two seed, scoring every shot they took. The Rangers replied with two missed goals, which gave the Tigers a win before the designated five shots were taken. As the Tigers move into the semifinals, they have proven themselves to be a formidable opponent and 11 members of the team earned a GAC award. Senior Ashlyn Heckman, junior Jaymee Dotson and sophomore Hanna Thompson were named to the All-Conference First Team. Junior Jamie Fowler, sophomore Josilyn Kispert, senior Erica Gaddie and sophomore Michele Snow made the All-GAC Second Team. Senior Meagan North and sophomore Gracen Turner earned spots on the All-GAC Honorable Mention Team. For individual awards, Coach Wright won his first GAC Coach of the Year award while at Ouachita, ending the regular season with a conference record of 4-2. Returning to Ouachita for her senior season, defender Brianna Lozano took home the GAC’s Newcomer of the Year award. On April 15, the Tigers will face off against Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Shawnee, Okla., for their semifinal match. The Tigers played SNU for their first conference game this season, beating the Crimson Storm 3-1. If the team wins in the semifinals, it will move on to face the winner of the East Central and Oklahoma Baptist matchup in the conference championship on April 17.
Senior defender Brianna Lozano fights with a Northwestern Oklahoma State player for control of the ball in the Tigers’ April 10 semifinal match against the Rangers. Lozano was named the GAC’s Newcomer of the Year. (photo by Wesley Kluck)