Thoughts of a Red Tiger

Eight minutes. That’s how long it takes to get from the parking lot of Maddox to the parking lot in front of Arkansas Hall. Eight minutes is all I have to leave the Ouachita campus and be on the dance floor at Henderson. Five times a week I make this trip. I am a Ouachita Tiger and a Henderson Reddie. I am a Red Tiger.

Since I transferred from a large state school, driving from one class to another is not a weird occurrence for me, but driving from one campus to another is not something most college students do. I am not alone either. Since I transferred I have met three other people both from Ouachita and Henderson who take classes on both campuses.

What is the main difference we observe? The size of the student population; Ouachita currently has 1,500 students and Henderson has more than double at 3,230 students. There are pros and cons with this difference in size that may or may not persuade you to try taking classes at Henderson too.

Warning: This list may cause you to want to be adventurous and step outside Ouachita’s campus.

Pros:

1. There is a Starbucks located right at Henderson.
2. Both Henderson and Ouachita students are welcome at Refuge. The more friends you make on campus, the more people you can share the gospel with.
3. Henderson classes have larger class sizes, which means there are more people to meet.
4. There are a variety of classes at Henderson you can’t get at Ouachita; i.e. dance classes.
5. Meeting new people can open up new experiences and lead to friendships you may not find otherwise.
6. The more people you meet the more connections you make and that will be helpful in the future.
7. Being a Henderson student as well as a Ouachita students gives you the option of being apart of one of the Henderson social clubs.
8. You have access to both libraries. More books, more knowledge.

Cons:

1. Driving back and forth to campuses can be time-consuming and use up coveted gas money.
2. Parking at Henderson is terrible. Imagine Ouachita parking with one more lot and 1,000 extra students.
3. Professor student ratio is higher, so your relationship with your professor may not be as intimate as it would be here at Ouachita.
4. Because Henderson is a state school, chapel is not available and growth in your faith is not a focus area.

As you can see the pros completely outweigh the cons. I’m not trying to tell you to leave Ouachita and become a full time Reddie. That would be a terrible decision. What I am trying to tell you is that you have more options for classes, activities and experiences than you know about. The hours transfer seamlessly and the bigger classes create a different learning experience.

College is a time to find yourself, and with Henderson classes available right across the street you have so many opportunities and experiences to help you grow more. So keep your Tiger pride, but don’t be too quick to judge those Reddies before you get to know them.

If you have any questions about classes orHenderson in general don’t be afraid to ask me if you see me around campus.