VOLUME 129, ISSUE 7
the
SIGNAL A P U B L I CATI O N O F O U AC H I TA BA PTI S T U N I V E R S I T Y
JANUARY 28, 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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Hambrick serves through sweet side hustle BY MADELINE MARTIN Staff Writer
On the cover: Snickerdoodle cupcakes are one of G & G’s holiday flavor options. (photo courtesy of Gracen Hambrick) On this page: Hambrick poses with her mother, the other half of G & G’s Bake Shop. (photo courtesy of Gracen Hambrick)
Becoming a baker was never the plan for Gracen Hambrick. However, making a few cakes here and there during the summer blossomed into an official motherdaughter business. Gracen Hambrick, a junior biology major from Des Arc, Ark., started baking with her mother when their pastor asked them to make a cake for a wedding. The two had made cakes from boxed mixes before, but they had never attempted one from scratch. The task proved daunting, and Hambrick swore she would never bake again. “I hated it and said I would never touch another cake in my life,” Hambrick said. Fast forward a couple of years, and a family friend asked the pair to bake another cake for an anniversary celebration of around 250 people. Hambrick and her mother agreed. Word spread, and soon other friends, church members and locals wanted them to bake goods for their events. This interest was overwhelming at first and they had to turn down a lot of requests. It seemed intimidating. The pair had never baked for people other than their family and close friends. It was not a serious business at the time. Hambrick did not think that they could handle it all. In the summer of 2019, Hamrbick and her mother got so many requests that they decided to roll with it and see where it went. That busy summer of baking produced G & G’s Bake Shop. Now almost two years old, the shop is named after its bakers: Gracen and Garri Lynn. Both Hambrick and her mother work part-time, and the two rely
on each other to complete the orders. They each have their own skill set that benefits the business. While her mother does most of the baking, Hambrick focuses on decoration. The bake shop operates out of the Hambrick home. They make sweets for weddings, birthdays, church events and other special celebrations. Their menu includes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls and breads. Customers can order from the items listed on the business’s Facebook page or they can reach out to Hambrick to place a custom order. G & G’s started out locally, but now they have customers from outside of Des Arc. Some Little Rock citizens even choose G & G over bakeries closer to them. Hambrick and her mother update customers through G & G’s Facebook page, and they get people excited by occasionally hosting giveaways. While the shop is open all year, Hambrick and her mother only work part-time while Hambrick is at school. She sometimes goes home on the weekends to help fulfill orders. Orders were more sporadic than normal at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, G & G’s business picked back up over the summer of 2020. In fact, Hambrick stayed busy over winter break and baked almost daily. This included a five-tier wedding cake and many holiday sweets. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, G & G’s offers special menus that include several different flavors for their cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Thanksgiving flavors include pumpkin spice, italian cream, salted caramel and caramel apple. For Christmas, they offer snickerdoodle, hot chocolate and gingerbread. For Hambrick, baking serves
as a way to give back during the busy holiday season. After facing the COVID-19 pandemic, baking treats for her customers was more meaningful than in past years. Since the holidays can be hectic for a majority of people, the bake shop sees an uptick in business during this season. 2020 was no exception to this, and Hambrick enjoyed being able to relieve some of the holiday stress by filling orders from her customers. “It’s less that they have to do,” Hambrick said. “They just place the order, and I tell them when it’s ready. I can deliver it if they’re local or even meet them.” In the new year, Hambrick hopes to grow the business and improve upon her craft. The duo has already updated the shop’s logo and branding in an effort to change things in 2021. Hambrick also wants to continue working on her decorating skills. Throughout the year, the business proves to be rewarding for Hambrick. But one of the things that she’s most proud of is being a completely self-taught baker. Hambrick feels that she has accomplished something she once thought she could never do. Her skills have improved, and she is now more adventurous when decorating sweets. “To me, that shows that I put time in it and put effort [in it], and it just shows my hard work,” Hambrick said. However, pleasing G & G’s customers has proven to be the greatest reward for Hambrick. She loves to bake, and seeing the reactions of customers when they receive their orders makes the business worth it. She enjoys hearing feedback, getting sweet messages and making people happy with her creations. “Their satisfaction is my number one priority,” Hambrick said.
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RecLife debuts renovated climbing center BY MAKENZIE HALL Staff Writer
While Ouachita students enjoyed an eight week-long winter break, Director of Recreational Life Shane Seaton and Assistant Director of Recreational Life Matthew Cook were hard at work preparing for the upcoming spring semester. From renovations to the CRAG to new virtual events, Ouachita students have a lot to look forward to from RecLife this semester. With a fresh coat of paint, new monochromatic routes and an added slab, the Climbing Rental and Gear Center has new routes for climbers to enjoy. “I’ve been wanting to put a slab in where it’s at a little lower angle because that’s good for beginners and also really good for people who’ve been climbing awhile because it helps you with balance,” Seaton said. These updates came just in time for the annual Rockfest Climbing Competition, which will run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 18 this year. Students are not required to sign up for this event and are welcome to enter at any time during the course of the four week competition. Competitors can earn points by completing different routes. “Students can come in and get their scorecard. As they climb, it will get harder, which earns them more points,” Seaton said. “Because it’s longer this year, we will also do some kind of footage prizes as well as for climbing the most routes.” Winners will receive prizes, including items from the popular Arkansas brand Fayettechill as well as gift cards to local restaurants, for these different categories. Students can also look forward to the wide range of virtual events hosted through IMLeagues.com. These virtual events will allow
Emily White, iunior graphic design major and regular climber, marvels at the rennovated CRAG on its opening day. The yellow slab pictured on the left is a new addition that helps beginning climbers with balance. (photo courtesy of Mallory Wallace)
students in quarantine to participate. A few of these events include NBA Pick ‘Em League and Super Bowl predictions. “Students can pick winners of
the NBA games every Saturday and Sunday. Correct predictions will allow them to acquire points that will go toward an overall winner for the week as well as the overall
winner for the whole thing,” Cook said. “There will also be an overall weekend winner so if somebody gets really lucky one weekend they will also be awarded.”
Students can create an account at IMLeagues.com and click the NBA Pick ‘Em League link on the website to submit their picks. As for the Super Bowl predictions, students will be asked questions centered around the game. “Students can sign up for the Super Bowl predictions that night. We’ll be asking different questions like, ‘Who is going to win the coin toss?’ and ‘What’s going to be the final score of the game?’” Cook said. Along with these virtual events, students will still have the opportunity to participate in intramural sport leagues while observing COVID guidelines. A couple of new intramural leagues are archery and disc golf. For two weeks in February, students will be able to show off their archery skills by competing against other teams. “We’re going to be signing people up in teams of three or four and they’re going to come in here and compete against other teams. As they move through the league depending on their score, they will be playing those other teams to crown the winner,” Cook said. Following the archery league will be a disc golf scramble to celebrate the upgrades to the disc golf course. Players will compete against other teams and play from the best shot. This is another opportunity for people of all skill levels to participate. “You’ll be able to throw from the best person shot on your team. So, if you’re throwing in the woods every time, you’re not going to throw from the woods, you’re going to be able to throw from the person that is kind of moving your team through,” Cook said. More information will be available through RecLife emails, on the RecLife app and on the RecLife Instagram, @ouachitareclife.
NEWS
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COVID-19 crushes hope of spring Tiger Tunes BY CAROLINE DERBY Ad Coordinator
Tiger Tunes is a beloved Ouachita tradition that brings excitement and joy to the campus atmosphere every fall. Last year, Tiger Tunes was postponed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the pandemic still affecting people’s lives across the world, Tiger Tunes was officially canceled for the safety of everyone involved. This was a tough decision because Tiger Tunes is one of the top fundraising events for the Ouachita Student Foundation (OSF), which provides scholarships to Ouachita students. Since its beginning, Tiger Tunes has been an instrumental part in reaching annual fundraising goals. “Everyone in Tiger Tunes leadership was very disappointed that we had to cancel our spring show,” Special Events Director for OSF Brady Barton said. OSF and the show directors received guidelines from the Health Monitoring and Action Team (HMAT) that detailed precautions all participants would have to abide by in order for spring Tiger Tunes to happen. Those involved were willing to take the necessary precautions for the production to occur. Many of these guidelines and safety regulations dealt with needing ample amount of space for clubs and organizations to properly social distance and practice safely. That space would have involved using some of Ouachita’s athletic facilities. “When the decision was made that most of the OBU sports teams would be competing this spring, we knew there would be no way
we could hold practices in their spaces,” Barton said. “Between this and the significant rise in cases in our state, along with other factors, OSF and Ouachita’s administration could not find a way to move forward with spring Tunes.” OSF and Ouachita’s first concern is the safety of students and neither organization wanted Tunes to endanger the health and safety of anyone involved. Although Tiger Tunes will not happen this semester, OSF is still eager to raise money to serve their peers. Last March, just days before Ouachita students were sent home due to COVID-19, OSF planned a “Fund Run,” a 5K to raise money for student scholarships. While students were at home in the spring of 2020, OSF hosted a virtual version of their Fund Run and encouraged those who had signed up to get out and show their support for Ouachita, OSF and for student scholarships by running individually. “We are hoping that this semester, we will be able to hold the event in person, even if it’s just for our campus community,” Barton said. The Ouachita administration and the OSF Special Events Committee are committed to helping juniors and seniors at Ouachita stay on campus until they graduate, and they are dedicated to raising money for student scholarships, even without the added help of Tiger Tunes. OSF is grateful for everyone who contributed to the planning and preparation for the spring Tiger Tunes and hopes for an inperson Tiger Tunes in the fall. If interested in serving as part of the Ouachita Student Foundation, the application process is active now. Check out @osf_official on Instagram for more information.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wave to the public alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. The 2021 inauguration theme was “America United.” (photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times)
Inauguration day inspires unity BY SARA PATTERSON News Editor
President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris were sworn into office last Wednesday, Jan. 20. Biden is now the 46th president of the United States. Harris made history as the first female, first Black and first Asian vice president. Another history-making aspect of the ceremony arose from the absence of a typically prominent guest. President Donald Trump left Washington, D. C., for Florida days before the inauguration. However, Vice President Mike Pence was present. While this marked the first time in over a century that the former president did not attend his successor’s inauguration, both Biden and Trump made statements prior to the ceremony agreeing that Trump’s absence would be beneficial for the peaceful transfer of power. Trump’s decision to not attend the inauguration is “one of the few things he and I have ever agreed on,” Biden said. This plan seemed to work, as the inauguration ceremony conveyed a resounding message of national
hope and unity. Three prominent women at the event, Harris, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, wore purple to signify bipartisanship and unity, which was the official theme of the ceremony. Biden used his speech to discuss the paradoxes of democratic government, ultimately pointing to the hope it provides for the American people. “Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy,” Biden said. “The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. We have learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.” Along with the traditional inaugural speeches, the ceremony also featured guest performers, including singers Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks, as well as poet Amanda Gorman. Gorman, America’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, read an original poem titled “The Hill We Climb.” The poem was honest yet optimistic. Its hopeful message can be felt by its closing lines, “For there is always light, if only we’re
brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Just moments after the ceremony, Biden began putting his words into action from the Oval Office. On his first day in office, Biden signed 15 executive orders, not including other kinds of executive actions. To put this number into perspective, the last president to sign an executive order on their first day in office was Bill Clinton in 1993, who signed one. Biden’s executive actions addressed national issues regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery and climate. The most prominent orders include a 100-day mask mandate for all federal property, continued deferral of repayments on student debt and reentry into the Paris Climate Agreement. Biden and Harris are focused on addressing the most pressing issues that Americans are facing now. Keeping with this focus, the president and vice president have chosen not to weigh in on Trump’s impeachment trial, which is set to start on Feb. 8. After an inspiring inauguration and full first day in office, Biden’s administration is off to an active and hopeful start.
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Internet usage: practical steps Pixar’s ‘Soul’ shows to become a better consumer afterworld, highlights Black culture in NYC BY LUKE ROBERSON Guest Writer
As more and more studies are done on millennials, the results that pour in continue to shock. On average, 72% of Gen-Z (anyone born between 1995 and 2019) claims to have depression and 67% of this same group say they have been bullied online. These numbers make sense considering this same generation spends on average three and a half hours online daily. Or do they? The actual statistics claim that only 58% have depression, and just 43% have been cyberbullied. While those numbers are slightly more refreshing, the first set—the fictional set—were believable. Why? Was it because it came from a trustworthy source? No source was mentioned. Or was it because as humans we give our trust even if credibility isn’t offered? Misinformation can spread like wildfire on social media. However, if falsehoods can spread quickly, why can’t the truth as well? For every racist take your uncle spits off on Facebook, couldn’t good news or maybe even a little dose of truth spread, too?
“We want our opinions to be heard, especially if nobody else shares it.” - Luke Roberson As we look into human psychology, we understand that the message often doesn’t matter as much as the method. For example, both the truth and the lie can spread just as quickly if the way they are being shared is appealing. People will often fall in line with what is happening even if they don’t know
BY WYATT ASHLOCK Staff Writer/Columnist
why it is happening, or even that it is happening at all. However, psychology also teaches us that as much as we like to go with the flow, we also want to stand out. We want our opinions to be heard, especially if nobody else shares it. Think about your reaction when you read the first set of statistics earlier. If you had just researched those statistics, you may have known the real numbers, but otherwise you probably just gave me the benefit of the doubt. This is something that is extremely easy to do when you don’t know the answer, but something incredibly challenging to do when you do know the answer. In situations like these, step one always needs to be to pause, step back and think, “Do my fact-checking abilities need to be implemented in this moment, or should I just move on?” Pastor and author Michael Agnew poses that question like this: “Can you just be there and let your presence and your pause be enough in that moment?” In reality, if you corrected someone every time you knew they
posted false information on social media, it would be a full-time job and millions of people would hate you. It’s not worth it. It’s also important to remember that perspective matters. Seemingly every detail of the way a person was raised—from the obvious factors like health and family income status, to the notso-obvious, like the age order of siblings and what month they were born in—play into why a person thinks and acts the way they do. If you steamroll your facts on top of somebody’s falsehoods, you may be overlooking the reason why they are thinking that way. And thirdly, it helps to post like nobody’s watching. Are you posting this just to get clout for your idea, or because it is something that others need to hear? Why are you sticking up for that particular fact, and what does defending it say about you? To avoid being cheesy, social media can be a force for good, but that lies in the way that we choose to react. People will always lie, cheat and steal. However, we have the option to turn the other cheek or be just as guilty as they are.
Set in the hustle and bustle of New York City, one middle school band teacher’s life will change forever. Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) lands the gig of his life where he gets to play jazz with Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett). However, his dreams are left unfulfilled when one wrong step in the street will take Joe into the afterlife. As Joe tries to avoid the “Great Beyond,” he ends up in the “Great Before” where he must mentor soul 22 (Tina Fey) in hopes of returning to earth before he misses his performance. In doing so, Joe must avoid the accountant, Terry (Rachel House), who is trying to set the afterlife count right. “Soul” is an incredible story that highlights the everyday gifts of life that many take for granted or do not take time to appreciate. The story also discusses mental health and how spoken words can hurt in unexpected ways. This film will inspire the audience to chase their dreams and find contentment where it counts. The script does a great job of showing how complicated life on Earth is, but how simple it can be at the same time. It also shows the complexity of human interactions and passions, conveying that even though someone may love something, it could be hard for them to continue down that path. This film is the perfect combination of comedy and drama. The audience will laugh and cry all within 90 minutes. They will also be surprised by some cameos along the way.
“Soul” focuses on several spiritual and metaphysical questions using highly stylized and creative animations. The audience can relate to 22’s struggle to find her passion and Joe’s willingness to do what it takes to achieve his dream. Not to mention, the jazz music in this film is so immersive that it feels as if the audience is on the streets of New York City. “Soul” is the first Pixar movie to have a black lead and is a wonderful representation of Black culture. “Soul” is the fourth American animated film to make a Black character the title role, following “Bebe’s Kids” (1992), “The Princess and the Frog” (2009) and “Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse” (2018). “To me, Joe represents a lot of people who aren’t being seen right now,” Foxx said of his role in the film. “Joe is in all of us, regardless of color. To be the first Black lead in a Pixar film feels like a blessing, especially during this time when we all could use some extra love and light.” “Soul” is another spectacular film to come from Pixar Studios with a story that will resonate with everyone in some way. This film will leave the audience asking important questions about spirituality and the afterlife. Unlike the Pixar standard to make films pointed toward children that adults can enjoy, this film feels like it was made for adults. The message is one that is unforgettable, and it has the ability to give a new perspective on life. “Soul” is now available to stream on Disney+. I highly recommend it and rate it a 4.5 out of 5 tiger paws.
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New administration brings hope for new era, despite concerns BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
Arts & Entertainment/Opinions Editor
COVID-19 vaccine fears debunked BY ELIZABETH STEELY Sports Editor
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a never-ending cycle of confusion. No one saw the virus coming, and no one knew much about it. Scientists had their work cut out for them. After months of testing, a vaccine was finally produced and has been distributed to citizens. However, many people are skeptical about the vaccine. Most people have questions about the safety of the vaccine, its ability to defend against COVID-19 and when they will be able to receive it. Even though it seems like the vaccine came out quickly, the CDC reminded citizens that the routine processes and procedures that occur with every other vaccine had to take place before any COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use. Clinical trials have proven that the COVID-19 vaccination makes it substantially less likely for someone to contract the virus. There is a common misconception that the vaccine will give you COVID-19. This isn’t true. The vaccine only contains mRNA
from the virus’s genetic code that triggers an immune response to produce antibodies that protect against COVID-19. According to the CDC, the first dose of the vaccine starts to build protection against the virus. The second dose, given a few weeks later, maximizes the body’s protection against COVID-19. There really is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect each person. With serious, lifethreatening complications at stake, it’s not worth letting rumors that have no scientific basis keep you from doing something to protect yourself and others. The vaccine will be distributed in three phases. The first people to receive the vaccine (group 1a) were healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. The next two groups (groups 1b amd 1c) consisted of frontline essential workers like fire fighters, police officers, USPS workers, teachers and food service workers in hospitals. Group 1b also included people who are 75 years and older, and group 1c included people 65 to 74 years old and people 16 to 64 years old with high-risk medical conditions.
My sister Madeline Steely, who serves as a patient ambassador in the call center of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine as part of group 1c. “I was excited to have the opportunity to receive the vaccination because I can be one less person who could potentially get it and spread it to others,” Steely said. “I wanted to do my part to stop the spread. Plus, it was actually less painful than the flu shot.” According to the CDC, phase two will include people with mental and physical disabilites who live in group homes and the staff members, people in prisons and the staff members and any older adults not included in phase one. Young adults and children will be able to receive the vaccination as part of phase three, and so will workers in non-high-risk fields. Even though the vaccination can seem like another unknown part of this pandemic, I encourage you to trust in the professionals who have been working nonstop to keep us safe. It’s important to not be selfish and to do what you can to protect those around you who are at risk.
Joe Biden stepped into office on Jan. 20, following a ceremony that was heartfelt yet resigned. The new administration is no stranger to the problems we are facing today, but we have been strangers in witnessing unified courses of political and social action. There’s no doubt that the last four years have given us anxiety and division. However, they have also given us a new awareness of what needs to change, and both parties can testify to that. Biden began his presidency by signing 17 executive orders on the first day, which is a staggering amount. Although I don’t agree with every decision the administration has made, I find myself hopeful. After reviewing several articles discussing the new executive orders, I’m thrilled to hear about freshened equity discussions, humanitarian approaches to immigration and national security and the commitment to promote the ‘Buy American’ agenda. There’s also heightened commitment to COVID-19 protection plans, protections for tribal sovereignty and many mandates to end workplace prejudice and discrimination. Even more so, environmental policies are taking the foreground, as well as an order to help struggling veterans face financial issues. There are many optimistic promises being made and many worries to overcome. Are these plans logistical? Can our communities cooperate with one another? Is our nation capable of moving forward from the jarring
past with new understandings? Are we going to be able to have honest conversations again? The answer? We won’t know until it’s over. The country is struggling to find common ground and the next few years will be a decisive factor for that. There will be hard decisions to make and hard conversations to have, with both ourselves and our close friends and family. No one can deny that there is work to be done. In an essay published by the “New Yorker,” Pankaj Mishra makes several comparisons between the U.S. and China’s political developments. After painstakingly describing mass deceit, false hope and clashing interests, he brutally concludes that our two political parties have succeeded in working themselves into “bureaucratic machines,” rather than responsible organizations that listen to the people at hand. These questions of evolution and revolution are hard to ponder and to answer, but I have to agree with the essayist: we have just completed our own version of a “cultural revolution” phase. We have accepted a new administration, and I want to say, “Now we can rest.” But we cannot. Now is the time to sprint, to breathe deeply, reorganize and recommit to our values. 2017 National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman mentioned in her poem “The Hill We Climb” that our country is “far from polished, far from pristine,” but in this effort of stepping into a new era, we are “striving to forge a union with purpose.” Yes, we are bruised, battered and confused, but we can choose to be gracious in action and stubborn in healing.
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GAC announces return-toplay protocols for sports BY RYAN YORK Staff Writer
Sophomore Blythe Epp operates a baseline camera during the men’s basketball game against Harding University on Jan. 23. As part of OSDN’s crew, Epp had to complete a health screening before being allowed to work the game. (photo by Levi Dade)
In early December, the Great American Conference (GAC) announced return-to-play protocols approved by its Council of Presidents. The protocols came into action in January at the start of the league’s basketball season. The council has decided to not allow fans to attend any sporting events. As the season progresses, the council members will reconsider whether it is safe for fans to attend games. However, the venues will only be allowed to seat 25% of their full capacity. Though the CDC’s recommendation for safe social distancing is six feet, the league plans to utilize a 12-foot buffer zone between fans and all athletes and gameday staff. To be eligible for the GAC championship, teams will need to compete in 50% of their scheduled games. Additionally, teams are required to have seven healthy players in order to play in those games. If a team has six or fewer players available to participate in a game because of positive COVID tests or contact tracing they cannot participate, resulting in a cancellation. Athletes and team staff members are required to complete a health screening before they are allowed in locker rooms or other parts of an athletic facility. During games, athletes and gameday staff are required to wear face coverings properly. When actively participating in a game, players and officials are not required to wear their masks. Coaches and players not actively involved in the game must wear their masks at all times. Junior basketball player Jacob Street was able to play in Ouachita’s first home basketball game on
Jan. 23, and it was definitely a different experience than what he is used to. “It’s very odd with no fans allowed at the games. There’s no one in the gym rooting for you except you and your teammates, so that adds a new element of having to bring your own energy to the game for every possession,” Street said. “I think the GAC has done a good job thus far trying to keep us as safe as possible and we have already had to quarantine once this season, so we are hoping to stay on campus for the remainder of the season.” In addition to the coaches, trainers and other athletic staff and officials, anyone working with the athletics department or the Ouachita Sports Digital Network (OSDN) was required to wear a mask at all times during the game and to socially distance as best as possible. The OSDN crew had to complete a health screening before they were allowed to work during the game, and the four camera operators inside the gym were required to have no symptoms of COVID. “Normally, no one really pays attention to the media crew, but this time I had to fill out a health questionnaire and have my temperature taken before I was cleared to stay and work the game,” senior communications major Caity Hatchett said. This basketball season will consist of only 20 divisional games, which started on Jan. 7. Other sports will also see shortened schedules, and many non-conference games have been canceled. As each sport’s season progresses, it will be interesting to see the evolution of these return-to-play protocols and to see how each team manages with the ever-growing list of postponed or canceled games.