Ouachita Stories

Euodias Goza and Dayja James at Ouachita

news

Alumni return for Black History Month luncheon, reflect on Ouachita history

February 17, 2026

Ouachita Baptist University’s Multicultural Student Programs brought together generations of African American alumni during a Soul Food Luncheon and Alumni Spotlight on Monday, Feb. 2, sharing a narrative of progress, perseverance and community.

news

Ouachita reports Spring '26 enrollment, led by 50% increase in graduate students

February 11, 2026

Ouachita Baptist University has announced its Spring 2026 enrollment of 1,822 students, reflecting continued momentum in graduate programs and strong undergraduate retention.

happenings

"Freesia" to put Ouachita's MUSE members on the map

February 9, 2026

The Department of Theatre Arts in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts will present “Freesia,” a student led MUSE project, from Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 12-15 in Verser Theatre.

Ouachita to hold Christian Focus Week Feb. 2-6

January 28, 2026

Learning to Love

January 18, 2026

Upcoming Events

Feb 23

Meaningful Work Monday

Faculty & Staff Encouragement Gathering – Lunch is on us!

Feb 23

Celebrating Black History Through Song

Dr. Natilan Crutcher and Dr. Jennifer Mitchel

Feb 24

Improve Your Interview Workshop

*Bring your dinner* This fun, highly interactive time will help you have the mindset and the skills ...

Feb 24

OBU Jazz Band

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The Signal Student Newspaper

OUACHITA CIRCLE: FALL // WINTER 2025

The alumni magazine of Ouachita Baptist University

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Ouachita has faced high times and low times. Years of strength and years of struggle. Through all these seasons — institutional and individual — one certainty remains: God's faithfulness.

The Why Behind Our Traditions

While we often want to hold on to the comfort of traditions, I think it’s important to ask why they were important to us. What about the behavior do we long to preserve? I often remind students to think beyond the behavior of a tradition and consider the belief behind it. What is it about the tradition that is important? Often, the importance is found in the why.

Staff Profile: Sonny Jackson

One member of the Ouachita family was Sonny Jackson. Once a professional middleweight boxer in the Pacific Northwest, Sonny wasn't a Ouachita graduate. But he was very much part of the family as a member and later the head of Ouachita's grounds crew.

Staff Profile: Rosemary Chu

When I give the newly arrived freshmen a taste of Ouachita history before classes start each fall, I tell the inspirational story of Rosemary Chu. What Chu had was the investment she had made in Ouachita. And Ouachita invested in her.

Faculty Profile: Phil Rice

What an honor it is to share a few words about a man who impacted my life so profoundly. As a good Baptist, I thought I would arrange my thoughts around three alliterative points: paper, people and purpose.

Ken Sandifer (left) with two students conducting field research on poisened fish. Photo from the 1965 Ouachitonian yearbook.

Faculty Profile: Kenneth Sandifer

Tim Knight shares about his professor and colleague, Kenneth Sandifer, professor emeritus of biology at Ouachita.

Faculty Profile: Bill Downs

Melinda Mayo reflects on her professor, Bill Downs, professor emeritus of mass communications, who served Ouachita for 41 years.

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