Arkadelphia, Arkansas is home to two very different colleges: Henderson State University, home of the Reddies, and Ouachita Baptist University, home of the Tigers.
At Ouachita, the word Ouachitonian is common to come up in casual conversation. While common to actual students and professors at OBU, outsiders may find this word strange, made-up, and have no idea what it means. So what does it mean? Honestly, it depends on who you ask. The definition varies from person to person. I've heard anything from "the stereotype of a typical Ouachita student" to "the most annoying Ouachita students, the ones that not only live and breathe the stereotype, but they embrace it and want everyone else to know it." Throwback to that one time in chapel when Ian Cosh called us all Ouachitonians, there were some very offended students afterward. Is it a bad thing to be called an Ouachitonian? I guess that depends on who you are and what your definition of it is.
Made-up words aren't the only thing that sets Ouachita apart. The majority of students on campus are musically talented in some form or fashion. Whether vocally, instrumentally, or both, these students are all incredibly talented. On Friday afternoons, Coffeehouse at Dr. Jack's takes place. What is Coffeehouse? Some of those musically talented students getting to perform in front of their peers. Students gather on couches, chairs, surrounding tables and booths, and even the carpeted floor to hear their friends and peers jam out on stage. If I were a prospective student walking through the Student Center on any Friday during Coffeehouse, I'd definitely be more inclined to attend.
How likely are you to see young women dressed up as toy soldiers, tumbleweeds, or clocks and young men dressed up as astronauts, Olympians, or train conductors? At Ouachita, pretty likely. Tiger Tunes is held each fall as a fundraiser for the Ouachita Student Foundation to collect money for scholarships to help students continue to attend Ouachita. Different clubs and organizations choose their theme in the spring before Tunes. The more creative the theme, the more interesting the show. While the costumes are great, the lyrics are even better. The clubs and organizations revamp the lyrics of current or oldies songs in order to fit their theme. The outcome can be anything from a story of a college student getting hired at a Super Center, to all the fun things that relate to stars! And remember how I mentioned all the musically talented students? Each show has at least one solo, if not the majority of their show being solos. The Hosts and Hostesses, the wonderfully talented young men and women who introduce each show, also get their own sets in between the club and organization shows. These sets also include solos. I mean if you're talented enough to perform Whitney, you basically have to right?
One of my favorite things that sets Ouachita apart has to do with academics. Since it is a small, private, Christian college, your class sizes are relatively small. I came from a huge institution where the professors only took attendance via an electronic check-in device. They didn't care to learn your name or your story. Ouachita is quite the opposite. The professors take attendance by calling your name. I was surprised to find that during the first days of class, the professors went around the room asking names, majors, classifications, and hometowns. After a few weeks of class, they know your name and your face. Skipping class becomes difficult because they absolutely notice if you are gone.
These are just a few of the many things that set Ouachita apart from other colleges. So if you happen to know anyone looking for a college that is not your typical school, recommend Ouachita and tell them about all these fun things.
