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.

Ouachita's favorite mascots

Tripp and Talley are well-known faces around the Ouachita campus. They are Ouachita athletics’ most spirited fans and are loved by many. Have you ever wondered the history behind our furry friends?

A prayer for wisdom in the back-to-school rush

As I write this, I’m looking through my newsfeed and seeing all the “first day of school” pictures. It wasn’t so long ago that I was posting these same photos. I love hearing the moms share how their kids responded to a new classroom, new friends, a new teacher and maybe even a new school. These transitions can cause our hearts to be anxious as we anticipate all the obstacles our child/children may encounter or needs they may have.

Confronting ableism

I have grown up in a society that condemns racism. Within the past few years, I have even seen more and more men and women condemn sexism. And yet, there is still one “inferior” group that is often discriminated against, having to fight an “-ism” that few people have heard of. Ableism is a real prejudice issue in our society. In short, ableism is discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.

TWIRP, Tunes, Dr. Jack? Decoding everyday Ouachita life #askingforafriend

We know you have questions about life in general at Ouachita. So, we’ve put together some common questions and answers to give it to you straight. You’ll start-off your freshman year with a few nuggets of knowledge to navigate this new world of Ouachita, complete with it’s own distinct culture and lingo – with no need to ask for your friends.

Besides having a name that's hard to pronounce, what makes Ouachita different? #askingforafriend

So you’ve heard of us – Ouachita Baptist University? Great! We are a leading liberal arts university and ranked nationally among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. But you might wonder, “So what makes Ouachita different?” Here are a few commonly asked questions about Ouachita, along with the answers. No need to ask for your friends!

How to survive the first day of freshman year

The first day of freshman year can be a scary thought. You are walking into a new place, with new people at your new home, and you have no clue how to take it all in. The best part of being a freshman is that everyone else in your class is right there with you, and the people who aren’t were there at one point. After talking to fellow students, I came up with a few tips to help you survive the first day of freshman year.

Dorm room decorating tips

If you’re mentally preparing to move-in to your dorm here in the next few weeks, it’s likely you’ve thought about how to decorate your new room. But, you’re also in college now and have little money to renovate a room you’ll move out of in May.

The guys behind the camera

If you’ve kept up with Ouachita lately, you’ve likely glimpsed at different Ouachita photos taken by graduates Tyler Rosenthal (’15), Andy Henderson (’18) and Alex Blankenship (’19). Among the three, they have captured 15 years of life at Ouachita.

The struggle is real: How students facing hardship can find hope in Christian community

College at a small, residential school in the South is an experience that can live up to all the hype: days filled with your friends, studying subjects you are passionate about, new friendships, figuring out who you are and who you want to be. It can also be filled with hard seasons that don’t make it on the promo card.

Intellectual and spiritual growth

At Ouachita, we have fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously. But we’re serious about intellectual and spiritual growth, and I want to spend a few moments introducing this year’s theme.

Overcommitted and overwhelmed

Involvement is good – scratch that – involvement is great, and one of my personal favorite things about Ouachita Baptist University. There is something out there for everyone! My mistake was taking that as, “I am the someone for everything.” Ha, nope.

10 things parents of a college freshman need to know

In my 32 years as a Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) campus minister at another Arkansas university, as well as a current consultant in collegiate ministry for LifeWay Christian Resources, I have learned a few things that every parent needs to know as they prepare to launch their freshman college student.

Leaving them to the Lord: Dropping off your freshman at college

As we neared the time for my oldest son Blake to leave for Ouachita, I began to ask God to give me peace and direction on being a mom – my most loved and highest calling – 100 miles away. What would it look like? How was I to be his mom without seeing him at the breakfast table, walking by his room and praying over him while he slept, hearing “Mom” 100 times a day, watching every hole of golf he ever played?

Behind the names: Cone-Bottoms Hall

Sitting squarely behind a carpet of grass that some call “Ouachita’s front lawn” and shaded by oaks and loblolly pine trees is historic Cone-Bottoms Hall, a landmark of campus since it was built in 1923.

Freshman Move-In Day: Advice for parents

Before moving my oldest child to Ouachita, we thoroughly studied the housing information on the website and analyzed the floor plan, feeling pretty proud of ourselves for our preparedness. While the day did not go entirely as we had envisioned, moving in child #2 at Ouachita went more smoothly as we had learned a few things along the way.

Getting to know Frances Crawford

As I walked through the doors to the lobby on my freshman move-in day, I knew something was different about Frances Crawford Hall. When you live in Frances Crawford Hall, often referred to as “Francie,” you learn the phrase, “It’s not about where you live, it’s about who you live with.” I began to understand what that meant on the first day. The Residence Life staff were welcoming and warm, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.

12 apps to keep your mind sharp over the summer

The moment I turn in my last assignment of the semester, my brain officially shuts off from learning anything new. Summer is all about soaking up the sun while forgetting about the stresses of school. But when the three blissful summer months have passed, turning the switch back on in your brain seems to be way more challenging than it needs to be.

Best apps to use during your summer road trip

Road trips are the peak of summer adventures with your friends and loved ones. Lucky for you, I consider myself to be an expert of the open road. My road trips have lasted anywhere from two days to three weeks, and I’ve traveled from the west coast to the east coast all while compacted in a vehicle.

7 tips for networking the Ouachita way

Working the Ouachita network, it’s a real need. But it’s overwhelming and daunting and provides the potential for lots of awkward moments. You know, the ones like you have with crazy Uncle Ted across the Thanksgiving table, where you have enough in common to strike up a conversation (thank you liberal arts education!) but not enough to have many over assumptions playing out with every word you state.