From the "Ouachitonian": Laura Spradlin

A loud bang like a gunshot, groans of scraping metal and a sickening crunch were heard as a Ford F-250 barreled into a car on the highway, sending it hurtling 30 yards from the original site of impact. What should have been a normal day on her way to school for then 17-year-old Laura Spradlin, a junior music therapy major from Memphis, Tenn., became a life forever altered thanks to a simple blind-spot on the freeway.

From the "Ouachitonian": Mason Woolbright

Most people do not realize their calling until later in life, but for Mason Woolbright, a sophomore business administration major from Benton, his career path was clear from an early age.

From the "Ouachitonian": Clay Mobley

For Clay Mobley, a junior music industry major from Wylie, Texas, music is much more than a mere performance; music is a way of life. “I grew up singing in church choir, and I grew up watching my dad singing country music opries,” said Mobley. It was only natural that Mobley decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Why Read C. S. Lewis?: Literature both sweet and useful

Like so many readers, I first encountered C. S. Lewis’ books as a child: one summer, I stashed a copy of The Chronicles of Narnia in my suitcase before a family vacation and, after staying up far later than I should’ve to discover how Shasta and Bree, Aravis and Hwin would end their adventures in The Horse and His Boy, I devoured the rest of the series in days.

Food from home

Food is a reason to gather with our friends and family. Food is also something that is nostalgic, whether from our childhood, special occasions or cool places we’ve visited. For many of us, food reminds us of home and our community. Our international students on Ouachita’s campus feel exactly the same way, but they cannot simply go home for a weekend if they are missing home.

What threatens me

I recently read “The Coddling of the American Mind,” a book as dismaying as it is excellent. It was a painful reminder to me of just how alive and well and ubiquitous is the censorious mind these days.

While I may disagree, should I not have empathy?

The first book I remember being scandalized by is Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple,” which I first read my junior year of high school. We had read other previously banned books in class, but none that I actually thought merited being banned.

Explore Ouachita! delivers a tight-knit campus experience

The summer of my senior year of high school, I attended Explore Ouachita! (what used to be called GROW, or Getting Ready for Ouachita’s World) for the first time. I didn’t know much about Explore – or Ouachita for that matter – but my dad urged me to attend. He said he just knew that Ouachita would be the perfect fit for me and that I would fall in love with it. Little did I know at that point in time that he was exactly right.

Test your best

Standardized tests are … well … standard in the college process, but your score is a huge factor in college acceptance and scholarship decisions. While it may not feel fair that a test affects so much, you want the results to show the very best that you can do.

Looking to reduce your waste?

When looking to go zero waste, dip your toe into waste reduction or be more eco-friendly, my first suggestion is always the Big Four! The Big Four are four simple, easy swaps popularized by Plastic Free July. These four items are easy to avoid and make up a huge portion of waste in landfills and the ocean. All of these swaps are convenience items that are easy to avoid, and I’ll show you how.

The beauty of light: Christmas chapel 2019

I remember when I was a kid looking forward to something we did once almost every year. We would get in the car and drive around the city to the blocks or houses that were known to have the best light displays. There’s something special about getting in a warm car on a cold night and admiring beautiful, creative displays of light. If you’ve had that experience, you know that it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe: comfort, safety and a sense of wonder – all at the same time.

From the "Ouachitonian": Tracey Knight

When Tracey Knight moved into Cone-Bottoms dormitory in 1981, she never dreamed that 36 years later she would be walking up its front steps to work every day. For her, Ouachita was a good life. It was home.

How do I not stress out about a campus tour? #askingforafriend

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: college hunting season! For some, this time is filled with excitement and joy. For others, it is a little scary and overwhelming, or a mixture of both! Below are six tips that may answer a few questions you have and give you confidence in becoming a college tourist.

How do I even begin my college search? #askingforafriend

If you’re searching for a college to attend, where do you even begin? To ease some of the stress, and avoid any #askingforafriend anxiety, here a few bits of advice to answer the common questions that pop up as you begin the college search.

10 facts about C.S. Lewis you may not know

November is the birth month of author and theologian C.S. Lewis. Here are 10 facts you may not know about C.S. Lewis and his first book in the Narnia chronicles.

Top 10 things to do in nature this fall

The days are getting shorter, temperatures are beginning to drop and the trees will soon be abundant with brilliant seasonal colors. You got that right, fall is on its way! The season of football, pumpkin-spice and spooky autumn nights. Don’t miss out on all the fun this season by enjoying these 10 activities to do in nature!

How dare Homer!

In the fall semester of 2018, Dr. Wink and I taught again a seminar for the Honors Program that we had first offered some fifteen years before: Banned Books. Just a few weeks before the semester was to begin, The New York Times published a story that let us know how deeply vital the subject remained, that it was a far more pressing issue for the current age than it had been when we had offered the seminar years before.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic and Latino Americans have positively shaped our society, so it is only right to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month, held from September 15 to October 15.

The summer of a lifetime

A few years ago, sitting in Evans Student Center, I overheard someone say, “It’s a lot easier to live the life of your dreams than you think.” This idea set me free and opened a whole world that dared me to dream big and work harder. This summer I got to live my dream job: I was a videography intern for a nonprofit’s cross-country bike adventure.

4 tips for starting a zero waste lifestyle

Most beginner guides for going zero waste are full of simple swaps, but there’s so much more to zero waste living than replacing your household items. Don’t get me wrong, I love swaps, too, but I think the tips below are the four most important tips I can give you for going zero waste. They’re essentially the building block of zero waste, minimalism and eco-friendly living.