Optimist Print Edition 1.31.20

ACUOPTIMIST.COM | Friday, January 31, 2020 | 1

Former state rep, Susan King, returns to Abilene to pursue master’s degree in theology and social work

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

PAGE 3

BY MEGHAN LONG | PHOTOGRAPHER

Students perform opening number in the 24 Hour Musical, Tortoise and Hare, on Sunday.

Hendrick feels hit of national blood shortage

BY ALLISON HARRELL EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hendrick Regional Blood Center is asking for donations in response to a national blood shortage.

Blood shortages are present on the East Coast of the U.S. and throughout Texas.

Kelsey Caprio, donor recruiter, said a national shortage is always scary for any blood center.

“Usually during the holidays it is slower because life takes over, people are traveling and just don’t have the time,” Caprio said. “The

other thing, is that its flu season. When you donate it is required of you to feel healthy and well. So, if you don’t feel well, we are not going to encourage you to donate because your body’s just not ready to do it. The combination of the holidays mixed with the sick season, is a recipe to go into a shortage.

It was national but we were definitely feeling it here.”

There are a variety of ways to donate blood. One way is by visiting Hendrick Regional Blood Center at 1150 N. 18th Street, Suite 100, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-

day through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Another option for donation is through blood drives.

Caprio said they put on blood drives around Abilene and other communities like Albany, Eastland, Cisco and others within the Big Country area.

“There’s no substitute for human blood, just human blood, that’s all we can give somebody,” Caprio said.

“So, if there’s a trauma that needs it, you can’t plan a trauma, no one knows when it’s going to happen. It’s really important we have blood

on hand for them.”

Hendrick Regional Blood Center supplies blood for 17 area hospitals. Amanda Wherry, Hendrick Regional Blood Center coordinator, said they need roughly 60 donors per day to keep up with demand.

“When there are national shortages, where we go to then get our supply also couldn’t supply us,” Caprio said.

Blood supply is needed on-hand for routine heart surgery patients, cancer patients, babies in The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

(NICU) and more.

“Since there is no substitute for it, there’s only one way to help them and if we don’t have it, it kind of puts everyone at a standstill,” Caprio said.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center welcomes walk-ins.

No appointment is needed to donate blood. To donate one must be 16 years or older and weigh at least 120 pounds. Parental consent is only required if the donor is 16 years old. All donors must pass a physical examination at the beginning of the donation process to en-

TEDxACU looks for speakers and performers

BY DILLON DANIEL MANAGING EDITOR

TEDxACU student speaker and performer auditions and steering committee applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

According to www.tedxacu.org/studentauditions, students auditioning need to submit a video no more than five minutes of an “idea worth sharing” that convinces the selection that the student would be a great speaker.

Students auditioning to perform need to submit a video no more than 10 minutes “that embod[ies] the spirit of TED’s commitment to ‘ideas worth spreading.’”

“How could your spoken word performance address issues of global justice? How could your improv scene make us reconsider social norms? How could your choral or instrumental performance make us question the world around us? How could your dance routine give us a new way to see sci-

ence, math, poetry, life?”, the TEDx website said.

Logan Chapman, senior business major from San Antonio and former member of the TEDxACU steering committee, said speakers are evaluated on how committed they are to their idea.

“You want to look for speakers that are both confident and believing what they are speaking about, and are speaking about things that are relevant to the people that are attending, like students and faculty.”

Chapman said that although this is a great resume-builder, the biggest take-away speakers get from this is their inspiration to others.

“No one is speaking about common knowledge [at TEDxACU], everybody is speaking about something near and dear to their heart, which inspires and encourages those in attendance to find a topic they are passionate about.”

TEDxACU is an independently-organized event

from TED events that seeks to serve the same purpose to share “Ideas Worth Sharing” in the Abilene community.

“Our goal for TEDxACU is to create an event that highlights ideas from people on campus and in the Abilene community, brings in speakers from around the world to share their ideas, and fosters conversation about all of those ideas among the conference attendees,” said Dr. Lauren Lemley, director of TEDxACU. Along with positive feedback from numerous students, Lemley said the TEDx event is growing in influence online.

“This conference is also exciting because each of the videos are published online after the event. At this point, TEDxACU videos have been viewed over 2 million times.”

Additional information about TEDxACU, as well as the application for speaker, performer and steering committee member, can be found at www.tedxacu.org.

Wildcat Software’s Snacc Attacc app, commissioned

by Dr. John Homer to promote the School of Information Technology and Computing, was released in December on Google Play and the App Store.

“It started out with me

doing a 3D model of the atrium for a class and Homer saw it and started paying me to create a 3D model of the building,” said Matthew Middlebrook, senior digital entertainment technology major from McKinney and senior software developer for Wildcat Software.

The building is featured on the app, where the play-

ers objective is to protect their snacks from wild cats roaming the Mabee Business Building by throwing water balloons at them.

“He basically gave us open freedom to create any sort of game idea and pitch it to him. We pitched ten or so ideas and he picked the one that sounded the best and most marketable to

NEWS

GATA social club celebrates 100th year PAGE 2

SPORTS

New beach volleyball court under construction PAGE 5

OPTIMIST FILE PHOTO

TEDxACU opens applications for student speaker auditions.

Wildcat Software creates Snacc Attacc game

BY ALYSSA HIGH STAFF WRITER

sure the donor is healthy and well. This includes checking the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse and iron level.

A donor can donate whole blood, the most common form of donation, as frequent as once every eight weeks. Donors may receive a t-shirt or a hat upon donation.

“Without our donors, patients would go without lifesaving treatments,” Wherry said. “The biggest benefit for our donors is knowing they are making an impact on someone else’s life.”

incoming students and to showcase the building and show student work.”

Rich Tanner, clinical professor of digital entertainment technology, along with six students involved in Wildcat Software worked together to develop the app in time for the next semester.

“We are excited about it and ACU [administration]

seems excited about it.

Hopefully it will be a good thing we can leverage as Wildcat Software/Wildcat Ventures just doing some really neat things for the school to increase the amount of people that come here,” said Tanner Montgomery Scott, senior management major from Austin and CEO of Wildcat Software.

QUESTION Who does the Joyce Curtis Award go to each year?

Be the first to answer correctly by sending your answer to @acuoptimist on Twitter.

Winner will receive a prize.

Be sure to watch for a new question each week.

FOLLOW US @acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist

2 | Friday, January 31, 2020 | NEWS

GATA celebrates 100th birthday

BY ALYSSIA ANUAT GUEST WRITER

GATA members kicked off their 100th birthday celebration on Jan. 16 in the Campus Center after Chapel, handing out red velvet bundtinis.

The women of GATA celebrated their centennial with a singing of happy birthday around the GATA fountain and a dance party in the campus center.

According to “The Women of GATA” website, the group was established on Friday, Jan. 16, 1920 and was started by a handful of friends as Girls Aid to Athletics, making it the oldest club on campus.

Since its inception, GATA has donated the GATA garden, a diamond-shaped garden on the lawn of the administration building, and the GATA fountain to the university.

The GATA president

“I think back to our very first President Vera Ray Boone and how the simple idea of supporting athletics sparked something even bigger than she probably could have ever imagined” BAILEY BAKER SENIOR KINESIOLOGY MAJOR FROM ABILENE

OPTIMIST FILE PHOTO

GATA celebrated their 100th club anniversary Thursday. for this year is Bailey Baker, a senior kinesiology major from Abilene.

“Thinking about our history, I think back to our very fi rst President, Vera Ray Boone, and how the

simple idea of supporting athletics sparked something even bigger than she probably could have ever imagined,” Baker said.

“Something that started with eight girls has grown

and changed over time, but GATA will always be the same place for people to come and feel safe.”

Lauren Gumm, sophomore early child elementary international studies

major and GATA member from Abilene, helped arrange the festivities by helping with set up and tear down of the event and taking photos throughout.

“When girls choose to

pledge GATA, they are choosing to become a part of a rich legacy here on campus,” Gumm said.

For its anniversary, GATA wanted to invite everyone to join in the celebration.

“I believe we all felt so much excitement getting to celebrate in the way that we did,” Baker said. “Watching this club transition pledge classes is such a meaningful and unforgettable experience. It gives me hope that we will be on this campus for another 100 years.”

CSSA puts on Lunar New Year celebration

BY SYDNEY VARNER STAFF WRITER

The Chinese Student and Scholars Association hosted its annual Lunar New Year celebration Thursday.

During the Lunar New Year celebration, CSSA presented multiple events, including a presentation about the history and traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year and the ‘8 cuisines’ of China. The evening concluded with a Chinese

buffet style dinner as well.

CSSA, started in 2007, has its roots in sharing their culture with ACU’s students.

“The inspiration behind CSSA is to give those Chinese students a home away from home, even if they are far away from home. To let them feel the warmness that CSSA can bring to them, as well as we are really caring for each one of them as individuals,” said Jessia Tang, junior liberal studies ma-

“CSSA invites the ACU community to experience Chinese culture and traditions.”

YUNXI WEI JUNIOR MATHEMATICS MAJOR FROM SHENYANG, CHINA

jor from Shanghai, China.

In addition to the Lunar New Year celebration, CSSA also hosts a Mid-Autumn Festival.

“CSSA invites the ACU community to experience

Chinese culture and traditions through celebrations of some traditional Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year (aka. the Spring Festival) and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Students can volunteer to help with our event,” said Yunxi Wei, junior mathematics major from Shenyang, China.

All students are invited to the events held by CSSA in hope that the organization will bring more awareness to their culture

and presence on campus.

“In my own words, CSSA means to bring all the students on campus together, not only just the Chinese students but also the American students and students from other countries as well, when some students are half a world from their homes. It’s to bring the awareness and interests of Chinese culture to campus, also bring the support to the students both academically and socially,” Tang said.

Students are not only en-

couraged to attend events held by CSSA as a way to get involved on campus in a way that they may not have before and learn something while doing it.

“These students become more aware and involved by coming to different events.

Also when they come to the events, they are not only having fun, but also interact with students that come from other countries and learn about the traditions and culture,” Tang said.

Photo contest to be held by Pruett Gerontology

BY ALYSSIA ANUAT GUEST WRITER

Older generations are in the spotlight due to the “Images of Aging” photo contest being held by the Pruett Gerontology Center taking place Jan. 22 to Feb. 10.

“I expect to see photos that express all varieties of aging, from the mundane daily tasks like washing dishes to the extraordinary like the woman who bow hunts at age 70,” Dr. Suzie Macaluso, director of the Pruett Gerontology Center said. “My hope is that the

images convey the variation that exists amongst older adults and that the images are beautiful.”

The Pruett Gerontology Center is also known for the study of aging. This field of study is designed to give the student confidence to enter career fields where they will work with people at all stages of the life course and aims to increase intergenerational activity by bringing our traditional-age students together with older adults in various ways.

The Images of Ag-

ing Photo Contest began during the 2011-12 school year under the direction of Dr. C.D. Pruett. The purpose of the contest is to shed light on the realities of older adulthood and to show the positive aspects of aging.

“Many students think of old age as something to be feared or to dread but there are a lot of older adults who are living active, vibrant lives who make vital contributions to our society,” Macaluso said.

Students who are actively enrolled during the

2019-2020 school year are eligible to participate in this contest. That includes graduate and undergraduate students. The only requirement is that at least one of the subjects of the photo must be age 60 or older.

Sarita Aguilar, junior speech pathology major from Fort Worth, is minoring in gerontology.

Aguilar is a participant in the contest and submitted her work in the fall.

“I decided to pick an older couple from my church

that I have looked up to while growing up,” Aguilar said. “I took multiple photos during the reception of the wedding we were attending in order to have options to look at later for

my entry.”

The judges for the contest are still undetermined but the winner gets $100 in cash. The top 10 entries will be displayed at the Undergraduate Research Festival with the winners being awarded at the banquet.

“I hope that students will begin to question their preconceived notions about aging and take the time to actually get to know older adults before making assumptions about them and their abilities,” Macaluso said.

FRI., FEB. 7

SAT., FEB. 8

“I expect to see photos that express all varieties of aging, from the mundane daily tasks like washing dishes to the extraordinary, like the woman who bow hunts at age 70.”

DR. SUZIE MACALUSO DIRECTOR OF THE PRUETT GERONTOLOGY CENTER

WHAT’S HAPPENING? MON., FEB. 3 12 p.m.- Maker Monday

TUES., FEB. 4

WED., FEB. 5

6:30 p.m.- Big Country Y.E.S. 7:30 p.m.- Spiritual Warfare in the Pastorals

7:30 p.m.- “The Secret Garden” Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

THURS., FEB. 6 12 p.m.- Online iDea lab Webinar Series 4 p.m.- Healthcare Fair

11:30 a.m.- Adobe Workshop

police log SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK: •

ACUPD assisted APD with a shoplifter who was fighting. Subject was arrested and transported to Taylor County jail. 01/21/2020 8:36 p.m.

•

ACUPD and Abilene Fire Department responded to University Park Bldg #10 in reference to a possible fire. It was determined that there was no fire but that the oven had been sparking and had to be disconnected. 01/26/2018 7:30 p.m.

•

ACUPD responded to a suspicious person knocking on the front door of a residence. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the subject. 01/25/2020 10:00 a.m.

•

A resident reported that their unlocked vehicle had been burglarized and $270 cash taken. 01/26/2020 2:00 p.m.

911 Call Abandoned vehicle Administrative activity Advice Alarm Alcohol incident Animal call Assault Assist Attempt to locate Barricades Building lock/unlock Burglary (vehicle) Burglary (residence) Cart patrol Check building

1 0 36 2 2 0 0 1 4 0 1 2 1 0 5 360

Citation issuance Clery Disturbance Escort Event support Fire Foot patrol Found property Hit and run Information report Investigation follow up Lost Property Maintenance: univ assets: cctv Maintenance: univ assets Medical emergency Missing person

MESSAGE FROM POLICE CHIEF ELLISON:

0 6 0 3 1 1 2 1 0 5 12 1 37 0 2 0

Monitor facility/lot Motorist assist: inflate tire.

Motorist assist: jumpstart Motorist assist: other Motorist assist: unlock Other Parking lot patrol Parking violation Patrol vehicle: maintenance Patrol vehicle: refuel Prowler Public service Random patrol Reckless driving Report writing Report writing (follow up)

24 0 2 2 5 5 31 5 6 7 0 1 38 0 10 2

Suspicious activity Suspicious person Suspicious vehicle Theft Training Trespasser Traffic stop Vehicle Collision Welfare check Total

1 6 1 0 9 2 7 1 0 652

*List of selected statistics of this week’s ACUPD activity report.

“Remember that ACUPD is on-duty and patrols the area 24/7. Never hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.”

4:30 p.m.- Baseball - First Pitch Dinner 7:30 p.m.-Kellum Harris Senior Recital

FEATURES | Friday, January 31, 2020 | 3

BY ALLISON HARRELL | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Susan King, former state representative, returned to Abilene to pursue a master’s degree in social work and Christian ministry.

STATE REP RETURNS TO SCHOOL Susan King decided to take a break from politics to study theology and social work

BY ALLISON HARRELL EDITOR IN CHIEF

A

fter serving five terms as a member of the House of Representatives for the state of Texas, Susan King has returned to Abilene to go back to school.

“When I got out of the Legislature, I thought, ‘You know, I’ve always wanted to go back to school so I’m going to do it,’” said King, who worked as a nurse for over 35 years before being elected to the state legislature in 2014.

King spoke with elegance, one could tell she had previous practice in public speaking and interviews. Her wardrobe was professional but her pinkdyed hair tips made one interested to hear her story.

King grew up in Houston and came to Abilene originally in 1979, after obtaining her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Texas in Austin. She was a member of the Abilene ISD board of trustees for eight years.

“Along the way I had children and other things, and I always wanted to go back to school,” King said.

Her opportunity to return to school arose after pursuing a career in the state Legislature.

“Quit complaining if you’re not willing to do anything about it,” King’s oldest daughter would say, which became her main motivation for her political career.

“I thought well that’s kind of sassy for one of my children to tell me that but I thought, ‘Well, why not,’” King said. “So that’s when I kind of launched into the political realm.”

After 10 years in the state legislature, King decided to run for the Texas Senate. When she chose to run for Senate, she had to give up her position in the House. But she lost the election to Senate.

“You have to make a decision,” King said. “I was not going to the Senate, so that kind of presented the perfect opportunity for me to seek graduate school.”

Helen King, Susan’s oldest daughter, said she loves the fact that her mother has chosen to go back to school. Helen was working on her Ph.D. in political science at the time her mother began graduate school and was happy to share that experience with her.

“She is a lifelong learner and has always had a deep appreciation for ed-

ucation,” Helen said. “It just makes sense. She is also happiest helping other people, so her program is the perfect fit. I am thrilled for my mother and this new chapter in her life.”

King decided to return to Abilene and applied to ACU’s graduate school during the last week of the application deadline.

She was accepted in the Fall of 2018 and is pursuing a master’s degree in social work and Christian ministry.

“When you come back “Along the way I had children and other things, and I always wanted to go back to school.”

SUSAN KING FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND GRAD STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND THEOLOGY

to school after a certain period of time, it’s different,” King said. “I mean this is not the way school was back when I went to undergraduate school.”

One of the primary differences King described was the enormity of UT, compared to the small campus of ACU. King said as an undergraduate student at UT, she seemed like just a number to many with freshmen classes between 300 and 400 students.

“It was very difficult to discern a family atmosphere at UT - very different from the nurturing and excellent faculty to student ratio at ACU,” King said.

“At UT, there was little emphasis on student input or feedback - just the opposite of ACU. I recall making an appointment with the dean of the School of Nursing to share suggestions on how the curriculum might be strengthened and concerns of dishonest research at the school. This was received with the comment, ‘Miss Lewis, you do realize you are a student…’ I found that response to be rather curious.”

King noted another difference is that she now uses a car for transportation, instead of a bike.

“Being a non-traditional student is a unique experience,” King said. “I recall these types of students in my undergrad classes at UT. We rarely spoke to them and stereotyped them as people who thought they knew more than we did. With that in my past, my efforts to dispel this myth has been met

with mixed reviews.”

King said she has been blessed with three major life experiences that inevitably impacted her thinking: serving as director of surgery in a major Texas medical center hospital at the time of huge growth in cardiac surgery, spending eight years on the board of the Abilene ISD and working 10 years as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. However, she is careful not to reference these experiences in class dialogue, unless there is a precise correlation.

“I do not want my student colleagues to dismiss comments as ego-driven, which is not my intent,” King said. ing said after complet i ng a Maymester class in the Graduate School of Theology, her professor said he was disappointed she had not mentioned the Legislature. She told him it would not have been appropriate in a spiritual formation class unless he had posed a pertinent question that would have been answered at his request.

“Basically, any answer I offer, whether be it an opinion, perceived bias by others or life experiences, my sincere goal is to be a part of the discussion as a participating class member,” King said. “It is a mixed bag, a delicate balancing act. It is important to thoughtfully contribute and guard against perceived intimidation, which is never the intent.”

Dr. Melinda Thompson, associate professor and director of distance education in the GST, said King has brought helpful life experiences into the classroom.

“Susan started her career as a nurse working in a busy hospital. Eventually she moved into public service in the state Legislature. Both of those jobs definitely require a solid work ethic,” Thompson said. “And both of those experiences, focused on serving others, have uniquely shaped Susan for the ministry service God is calling her to do now.”

The School of Social Work had previously discussed hiring King as a non-traditional student ambassador to assist other students returning to school and adjusting to the new environment.

“I just decided that I’m going to embrace it as just a regular student,” King said. “I have to do the

K

BY ALLISON HARRELL | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Susan King, former state representative and now graduate student at ACU, sporting her red ‘State of Texas’ boots. same work but it’s just a little bit more of a challenge in some areas. And in some ways, it’s much easier than I thought because I have so many more life experiences. I’m not worried about giving my opinion, so in that way it’s been a lot of fun.”

Thompson said her students overall tend toward a pretty good work ethic.

“They have to; graduate programs are tough,” Thompson said. “There’s also less of a distinction between traditional and non-traditional students at the graduate level. That said, I think our non-traditional students bring good experience from their life outside the academy. They know what it’s like to balance work and family and lots of other demands.

And they’ve experienced more ‘real life’ situations, which is especially helpful for ministry students like Susan. They’ve got their own experiences to draw on as they think about how God could use them in the future.”

Tamara Long, vice president for enrollment management at ACU, said advisors work hard to support all students and connect them to resources unique to their needs.

“In Abilene, we know our campus is residential in nature and our course schedule is not conducive to most non-traditional needs, especially [for those] working full-time and without flexible schedules,” Long said.

On campus, ACU en-

rolls around 100-115 transfer students each year and typically two to four non-traditional transfer students. Long said those few students are driven to earn a specific degree that typically can’t be earned as easily in an online mode of delivery, like pre-med or teacher education. According to those numbers, on-campus non-traditional students are rare. Online non-traditional students are more common. uring her time as a graduate st udent King is required to obtain 12-20 hours each week of field practicum. King is on track to graduate with her two master’s degrees in two years. However, she must also complete a major thesis for her graduate degree in social work.

King said she is unsure what the future holds after graduation.

“That’s the question of the day,” King said. “I’ve always been very fortunate to have things happen to me, before me, or in spite of me that led me a different direction.

So I am not sure. There’s so many different opportunities with social work and Christian ministry. I think if God wants me to stay here, somehow or another the opportunity will be revealed to me. That sounds a little bit mystical for some people, perhaps, but I think that’s how it works.”

King said a kind of synergy exists between the

D

two degrees because of the commonalities between faith and helping others.

She loves to teach and work with difficult people populations and is open to different opportunities.

“One of the unique things about Susan from an academic perspective is that she is pursuing not one but two master’s degrees,” Thompson said.

“The Graduate School of Theology allows students to utilize credits from the Master of Science in Social Work to meet degree requirements for our Master of Arts in Christian Ministry. Earning one master’s degree is hard enough.

Earning two takes even more dedication. It is exciting to hear Susan reflect on what she is learning in her social work classes and how that impacts her ministry classes here in the GST and vice-versa.”

“This is the real world and I’ve learned that,” King said. “In a way it emboldens you to know that you are more mature. It’s fun to work together with all these generations.”

Thompson recounted a moment from leading a faculty-student weekly mentor group, in which King participated. The group met each week in the Campus Center at 7 a.m. Thompson said one week King noticed someone sleeping in a chair across from their meeting place and walked up to the person, introduced herself and asked a few gentle questions.

“In a way it emboldens you to know that you are more mature. It’s fun to work together with all these generations.”

SUSAN KING FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND GRAD STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AND THEOLOGY

“When she came back to our group she mentioned that she wanted to make sure the person wasn’t homeless,” Thompson said. “The care and intentionality she demonstrated, not to mention the courage to approach a total stranger, really touched me. As I’ve gotten to know Susan better I’ve come to realize that these ‘random acts of kindness’ are just who she is. She’s not afraid to ask hard questions or put herself in a potentially awkward situation if it will help others. The rest of us, faculty and students alike, are learning from her example.”

4 | Friday, January 31, 2020 | OPINIONS

Discussion of Trump’s impeachment is over EDITORIAL BOARD

This Friday, the House of Representatives will judge the process of President Tr ump’s impeachment trial with a decision to either call witnesses on the allegation brought for th or to dismiss the need, thus resolving the claims that Tr ump illegally conspired with Ukrainian leaders.

From Monday to today, the House has spent dozens of hours in deliberation concer ning Tr ump’s presidency with tensions that have radiated into nearly ever y medium br ushing the face of cur rent events.

What has often failed to disr upt the surface of popular bumble, however, is the tr uth of the case’s weakness – the facts of this episode, and the lack thereof.

In the case of Tr ump’s impeachment, the Democratic Par ty has made an asset of the power of speculation, whose influence shifts the emotions of the pub-

BY ERNIE GUAJARDO | CARTOONIST

lic but is immediately weakened in the plaintiff of a cour troom.

Statements snatched from House members in the brief moments of recess show that there is already substantial doubt in the testimony of the for mer National Security Advisor, John Bolton.

Still, even if witnesses are called on Friday, (which is dependent on the votes of ever y Democratic House Member in addition to

four from the GOP) the witnesses’ testimonies are charged to prove an impeachable offense.

This will be political feat and one that leans heavily on the imputation of motives.

Other Republican senators have shared their doubts about the trial’s justification more openly. Sen. Mike Braun has said that a mere quid-pro-quo, alone, would not qualify as an impeachable offense. In addition, the President’s

lawyer, Jay Sekulow, said that, “Nothing in the Bolton revelationseven if tr ue- would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense.”

In this week of anxious anticipation, the Republican Senators hold the responsibility to see this trial to its likely end or procession with witnesses. The media’s eye is par ticularly attracted to the several senators who remain publicly undecided, in-

cluding Sen. Lamar Alexander and Lisa Murkowski. Never theless, the GOP senators have stated on multiple occasions that an imbalance in witnesses will immediately lose the senators’ interest. Without representation from both par ties, the trial cannot be tasked to give a fair trial.

It is the duty of all politicians and the purpose of impeachment to hold those in power accountable for

all actions. If President Tr ump committed a federal crime or is shown to have g one against his duty as president in a manner of g reat severity he should be removed from office and no argument remains. However, many Democratic par tisans have given reason to believe, with reckless loyalty to the idea of impeachment, that this discussion is only interested in the ends while the means are checked at the door.

It is now the fear of many that impeachment is only a tool to gain an upper-hand in the coming election. It’s an idea that is hard to palate at first but a recalling of the many Democratic members of the House who have chartered for impeachment since Tr ump’s first day in office brings the notion some authenticity.

If these fears are justified it would confir m that the real violations of the Constitution are only in the misuse of impeachment itself.

It’s important to have an answer for what you believe

BY ABBEY LEE VIDEO DIRECTOR

My Bible class was split into groups to discuss questions over our reading of “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis on Tuesday.

What I thought was going to be a quick

‘Question and Answer’ around the room turned into almost 30 minutes of conversation about whether we actually had complete free will or not. Each student that participated in the conversation discussed their beliefs and backed them up with scripture and personal experience.

Although we did not come to an absolute answer during that class period, there were many good points that stuck out to me and left me thinking. I believe that it is important to have conversations with people that leave us think-

ing, especially difficult ones that leave us with questions.

When we have conversations that get us thinking, we are engaging and testing our faith. This is good because we are facing the reality that there are other ways of thinking out there and that what we think may or may not be the whole truth. If we want to find the truth, we have to seek it out and look at all our possibilities.

I’m not saying that you must walk away from ever y conversation thinking that ever ything you’ve ever

known is wrong.

It’s more like saying that you might walk away with a stronger belief or a realization that you are weak in your understanding of that particular topic. If you walked away realizing that you didn’t know as much as you thought you did, don’t feel lost or discouraged.

The good news is, you can begin to research that topic so when it comes up again you will have the answers and your own opinions.

Everyone needs to decide what they believe about their faith

for themselves. You may have heard the saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything.”

If you do not have a firm foundation, then you will be tossed back and forth between all the opinions and thoughts of others. You cannot go through life just clinging to what your family or friends say.

Find out for yourself what is actually true or not and what you believe, because that is when your belief will become sincere and real.

For Christians, 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to “... al-

Local businesses deserve your support

BY RILEY FISHER CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Supporting local businesses is an important part of keeping the heart of a small town beating.

A lot of the places I’ve lived in and driven through, even some of the larger cities close to the Metroplex, have more local businesses than I thought they would.

Discovering the local

businesses in an area has become a fun way for me to get to know the places I go. The internet is a good place to start, but I find it best to ask around and see what places people from the city like to visit.

However, it is important to visit local businesses for reasons other than the enjoyment of discovering a favorite new spot in town.

It is incredibly important to shop at local businesses because doing so not only supports the family that runs it, but it also supports the community as a whole.

According to an article from fundera.com, statistics show that when you buy from a local business, 68 cents out of every dollar

you spend stays within the community, as opposed to the 43 cents that stay in the community when you buy from a larger corporation.

From the same article, simply not having enough cash flow is one of the primary reasons why smaller business owners have had to close their doors.

Advertisements and social media can only go so far when it comes to spreading the word about local businesses. Word-ofmouth is equally as important, if not more important, for keeping people aware of the local businesses in an area.

Abilene can be boring at times, but it has a lot to offer if you know where to look. Off the top of my head, I can think of four

local coffee shops, one local hardware store and a few local clothing and accessory stores.

The next time you want a cup of coffee, think about taking your business to an Abilenian-run coffee shop like The Hallows or Monks instead of driving up to the closest Starbucks.

If you’re looking for supplies for a project, look at a place like Bible Hardware before you default to going to the closest Lowe’s.

Ask your friends what places they have discovered in the cities they’ve been. You might be surprised by the community and products you find by deciding to branch out and stop at a local shop, even just once.

ways be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”

We need to know what we believe for ourselves and so that we can be ready to give a testimony to others when they ask.

Other people are trying to do their research too and you can help them find their answers.

Don’t be afraid to have questions; God wants us to bring them to Him. He wants us to have a personal and genuine faith, and sometimes that means doing some searching ourselves.

Tweets Jose Garcia @Hose_Garc1a Flags at half mast for Kobe Bryant tomorrow Almost Christian University @ChristianAlmost Kent Brantly should contract the coronavirus then defeat it just to prove God is real a second time Melissa @prissymissy1999 just wanted to say I am taking a Harry Potter English class and tomorrow we are having a wand making workshop and wow I love school jaycee coker @jayceebril29 sing song has us all so delirious Almost Christian University @ChristianAlmost The best part about sing song is when you’re not doing sing song Tavian Miles @tavianmiles Prayers to everyone’s family who lost a loved one in the helicopter

THE OPTIMIST STAFF ALLISON HARRELL

ASHLEY LANG

CARRIE JOHNSTON

KENNETH PYBUS

DILLON DANIEL

DEVON HILLARY

DAVID MITCHELL

CADE WHITE

OWEN SIMPSON

EMILY PERRYMAN

MEGHAN LONG

CELESTE KINKADE

TAVIAN MILES

WILLIAM HEYEN

EMILY SHAFER

ABBEY LEE

ANDREW NORSWORTHY

KAUY OSTLIEN

RILEY FISHER

ALYSSA HIGH

HENRY ERICKSON

SYDNEY VARNER

ERNIE GUAJARDO

AVERY JACKSON

LEAH FIKES

JALEN GARRETT

RACHEL CROSSNOE

TYLER HENDERSON

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR SPORTS DIRECTOR

ASSISTANT SPORTS DIRECTOR VIDEO DIRECTOR CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER OPINIONS EDITOR CARTOONIST

COPY EDITOR COPY EDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER

SPORTS REPORTER

SPORTS REPORTER SPORTS REPORTER

SPORTS REPORTER PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

EDITORIAL & LETTER POLICY

FACULTY ADVISER VISUALS ADVISER

ADVERTISING MANAGER

(325) 674-2439 NEWSROOM

(325) 674-2684 SPORTS DESK

(325) 674-2499 PHOTO DEPARTMENT

Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration.

Signed columns, cartoons and letter are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university.

The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the

right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasive privacy.

Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verificationpurposes.

Phone numbers will not be published.

(325) 674-2819 ADVERTISING OFFICE

TO SEND LETTER TO EDITOR

(325) 674-2463 MULTIMEDIA DESK

(325) 674-2296

SUBSCRIPTIONS ($20/YR)

ACU BOX 27892 ABILENE, TX, 79609 ADDRESS

EDITOR@JMCNETWORK.COM EMAIL

SPORTS | Friday, January 31, 2020 | 5

BY RILEY FISHER | PHOTOGRAPHER

ACU beach volleyball court under construction near Teague Center.

ACU beach volleyball anticipating new court arrival

BY OWEN SIMPSON SPORTS DIRECTOR

For the first time in program history, the ACU beach volleyball team will have a home court.

Construction for a new beach volleyball court is in development in between

Teague Center and Wildcat Stadium.

The 2018 and 2019 seasons had the Wildcats away from home every game, but with a sand volleyball court, ACU can bring the competition to Abilene.

“I am really excited. It’s the first time we’ve had a

court in these three seasons,” junior outside hitter Hunter Barker said.

“We’re expected to work harder and better because we have the resources now, and we should be able to use it to be a better team.”

Barker transferred to ACU in 2018 after playing

one season at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

The Wildcats went 5-16 last year, traveling to New Mexico, Arizona and New Orleans for the Southland Conference Challenge to end its season.

Its new season gets

started Feb. 28 in Fort Worth against Texas A&M- Kingsville.

They’ll also go up against Nebraska and TCU the following day. Later in March, they’ll face Grand canyone and get their first taste of conference play with Houston Baptist

March 7.

Later, their regular season will wrap up April 8 with a double-header against Stephen F. Austin.

The ACU Athletic Department is projecting the court to be completed by early March, right after the season gets underway.

Lady Lumberjacks best ACU on the road

BY JALEN GARRETT SPORTS WRITER

In their final game of a three-game road trip, the Wildcats fell to the first-seeded Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks, 69-59.

The Wildcats had three players score in double digits, with senior guard Breanna Wright leading with 17 points. During their three-game road trip, the Wildcats won two games out of three, averaging 74.7 points per game.

During the month of January, Wright was a key factor for ACU. She averaged 17.8 points per game, while also putting up big games with 29 and 31 point clinics.

Wright is top five in the Southland Conference field goal percentage, three-point field percentage and threepoint field goals made.

With the loss Wednesday, ACU moves to fourth in the conference standings and 0-2 on the season when they score less than 60 points.

Senior forward Lexie Ducat fouled out of the game with 5:11 left in regulation. She finished with 14 points and five rebounds to cap off the month of January.

Early in the game, ACU got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first five points. However, the Wildcats hit a shooting slump scoring just 12

MAKE MONEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE Donate plasma and earn up to $400 per month*

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior forward Alyssa Adams shoots a free throw.

Advertise Here!

Call us at 325-674-2819 acuoptimist.com/ advertise

FOR RENT Cozy 1 bedroom garage apartment. near ACU on Cedar Crest Drive. $475 mo. Washer/dryer, fridge. No pets. No smoking. Available now.

Email triciajhester@gmail.com

*Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors.

Fees vary by weight and location.

New donors must bring photo ID, proof of address and Social Security number.

3202-C North 1st Street Abilene, TX 79603 325-673-7121

CSLPlasma.com

points and making field goals in the quarter.

SFA outscored ACU 3723 in the first half, while the Wildcats shot 37.5% (9-24) in the first half.

Entering the final quarter, the Wildcats trailed 5540, but they ensued to complete a 15-6 run to make it a single-digit game.

However SFA responded to cap off the evening and remain at the top of the conference standings.

The Wildcats return back to Moody Coliseum to host the Incarnate Word Cardinals Saturday at 4 p.m. Meanwhile the Lady Lumberjacks travel to Huntsville to battle with Sam Houston State Saturday at 3 p.m.

6 | Friday, January 31, 2020 | SPORTS

Softball looks to rebound from 2019

BY AVERY JACKSON SPORTS WRITER

After a 13-31 2019 season the team welcomed Abigail Farler as the new head softball coach.

With this new leadership going into its 2020 season, the team hopes they can start off on the right foot compared to last season.

Last season the team went 1-12 on the road winning one of their first four games on the road.

“We’re looking to go in and have a great year,” Caroline Adair, sophmore from Forth Worth said. “Last year we had a lot of ups and downs. We are looking to grow as a team and have already come a long way” On top of the addition

OPTIMIST FILE PHOTO

Wildcat softball ready for new season. of Farler, in this past offseason there were five new freshman added to the team including, Ally Mck-

inney, from Dayton and Lacy Johnson, from Marion, South Carolina.

“We’ve made plent of

changes on and off the field,” Adair said “It’s been an amazing change and it’s been extremely detail oriented.”

The idea of being detail oriented and have amazing change will be needed as they go into the Aggie Classic. They will begin by playing Texas A&M and then continue on to play UT Arlington. The team has never played A&M while they have played Arlington seven times. The record against Arlington is three wins and four losses.

This seems to be a tough start for the team but it will be a good test to see how much the lady wildcats softball team has really changed.

The first home game will be against Prarie View A&M University here at Poly Wells Field. The wildcats have played Prarie View 11 times and have only lost once to them.

Wildcats commit 27 turnovers versus SFA

BY OWEN SIMPSON SPORTS DIRECTOR

The ACU men’s basketball team struggled to protect the ball all night Wednesday, as they fell 71-61 at Stephen F. Austin.

The Wildcats wrapped up their three-game road trip on the road at SFA. Senior guard Kevon Harris led the way for SFA with 19 points, four rebounds and four steals. He also shot the ball at an efficient rate, going 7-10 in the game.

In the first half, both teams battled for control with four lead changes.

The Wildcats had the lead for majority of the first half, but SFA closed on an 8-2 run, giving them a 3231 lead at the break.

Despite committing 27 turnovers in the game, ACU shot the ball well at 46.5% (20-43).

Junior guard Coryon Mason led in scoring for the Wildcats with 17 points and a pair of steals.

Mason has now scored in double figures in six out of his last eight games.

Junior center Kolton Kohl also was in double figures with 12 points and three blocks.

With this loss, ACU

moves back into fifth in the Southland conference standings. The top four teams receive a bye in the conference tournament in March.

Meanwhile, SFA holds strong and remains at first in the conference.

Up next, they take on Sam Houston State at Huntsville Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

That matchup will decide who leads the conference going into next week.

Meanwhile the Wildcats will look to get back on track at home as they face the University of Incarnate Word Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

When the name Kobe Bryant comes up in conversation, what do you think? Do you remember him as the fivetime NBA champion, or was he the person you would root against in any circumstance?

Nevertheless, he was also a person who shined off the court following retirement. He was a family man until his last breath.

Bryant, 41, was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning. Along with him, his daughter, Gianna, 13, and seven others were also killed as they were flying to Gianna’s basketball game.

Bryant was one of the most talented NBA players of all-

time. An athlete we may never see again in our lifetime.

It’s challenging to put into words how you describe an athlete of his stature. You can’t. No matter how I write or rewrite, something just seems off.

I’m simply struggling of how to comprehend a death in the sports world that, frankly, we’ve never seen before.

The way he transcended the game of basketball was unparalleled and difficult to compare. The biggest comparison to Bryant was that of Michael Jordan, who released a statement via Twitter Sunday.

“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe and Gianna’s passing,” Jordan said. “Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe - he was

like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much...”

Following his retirement in 2016, he wasn’t like most athletes after they finished playing. He wasn’t in the news much. He didn’t go and pursue a sports broadcasting career, as many try to do. Instead, he made a movie and coached his daughter’s AAU basketball team.

Bryant became the first professional athlete to win an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film. The short film,”Dear Basketball” was written and directed by Bryant. In his acceptance speech, he credited his motivation to his daughters and wife.

Men’s Basketball Team SFA SHSU Nicholls McNeese ACU NWSU UCA TXAM-CC Lamar SELU UIW UNO HBU

Ovrl.

18-3 15-6 14-8 12-9 11-9 8-11 6-15 9-13 10-11 6-15 5-15 6-15 1-17

Conf.

9-1 8-2 8-3 7-3 6-3 5-5 5-5 5-6 4-6 3-7 2-7 2-9 1-8

Women’s Basketball Team SFA TXAM-CC SHSU ACU UNO SELU UIW UCA Lamar Nicholls McNeese NWSU HBU

Ovrl.

16-3 14-6 13-6 15-3 11-8 8-11 8-10 8-11 8-11 6-14 5-14 5-14 5-13

Conf.

9-1 8-2 8-2 7-2 7-3 5-5 4-5 4-6 4-6 3-8 2-8 2-8 1-8

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Women’s Basketball

OPTIMIST FILE PHOTO

Sophomore forward Joe Pleasant carries the ball toward the goal.

Bryant’s death concludes an unfinished story

BY OWEN SIMPSON SPORTS DIRECTOR

STANDINGS

“To my wife Vanessa and our daughters Natalia, Gianna and Bianka, ti amo con tutto il cuore [I love you with all my heart]. You are my inspiration,” he said.

Bryant wasn’t just an athlete. He was fluent in English, Italian and Spanish. He was an intelligent human being who used it in so many places of his life. From the court, the entertainment industry and his passion for his family, his impact was uncanny.

Bryant is survived by Vanessa, 37, and three of their four children together: daughters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months.

Bryant created the “Mamba Mentality” which motivated him to succeed in his everyday goals.

“There’s a choice that we have to make as people, as individuals,” Bryant said about the Mamba Mentality. “If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with making that decision.”

While Bryant is gone, his legacy will be remembered.

The impact he made, and is still making, will continue to impact the sports world for generations to come.

MEN’S BASKETBALL MATCHUP

WRIGHT Senior guard Breanna Wright had another strong week for the Wildcats.

In 40 minutes of play on Saturday, Wright matched her career-high of 31 points along with three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

These numbers helped the Wildcats earn a 74-64 win against the struggling Central Arkansas Lady Bears. As for Wednesday’s matchup against the Lady Lumberjacks, Wright finished with 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists and three steals. In spite of these numbers, the Wildcats fell to Stephen F. Austin, 69-59.

The Wildcats come back home to Abilene this week after three road games, taking on the University of Incarnate Word on Saturday and Northwestern State on Wednesday.

Men’s Basketball

2020 SEASON 75.4

POINTS PER GAME

65.5

64.6

POINTS AGAINST

73.8

44.1

FIELD GOAL %

40.8

33.9

REB/GAME

33.4

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSIT Y (11-9)

Owen Simpson SPORTS DIRECTOR

RICKS

UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD (5-15)

Tavian Miles

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Tyler Henderson SPORTS REPORTER

ACU finds itself in unfamiliar territory on the season.

They’ve lost two out of their last three on the road, but they finally return back to Moody Saturday. In their Wednesday loss, the Wildcats commit 27 turnovers and scored the fewest points since November. Meanwhile for the Cardinals, they’re coming off a tough win against Houston Baptist, 84-82, who sits with just one win on the season. UIW is 2-7 in conference play led by Keaston Willis, averaging 12.9 points per game. However, Willis is shooting at a 36.3% clip on the season. If the Cardinals hope to come out with a win on the road, they’ll need to protect the ball offensively and keep ACU’s offense under 70 points, as the Wildcats are 1-6 when they score under 70 points. I think it should be a slow start to the game for both teams, but ACU bounces back from its loss Wednesday.

The Wildcats went 1-2 in their three-game road trip and look to bounce back at home this Saturday in Moody Coliseum against the Incarnate Word Cardinals. UIW comes into this game averaging only 65.5 ppg and sit at second to last in conference with an overall record of 5-15. The Cardinals haven’t been able to find their stride but have a few close losses against conference opponents. The Cardinals are led by Keaston Willis who averages 12.9 ppg and will need to meet that average plus more if they’re wanting to pull of the upset this Saturday in Moody. The Wildcats come into this one with a chip on their shoulder and are looking to get the win at home. Payton Ricks had a sluggish game against SFA, but expect the senior guard to bounce back alongside sophomore forward Joe Pleasant. They’re forcing teams to turnover the ball 20 times a game and expect the same this Saturday. Wildcats bounce back and get the easy win.

ACU’s defense was at the forefront of positives from the 10-point loss to the top-seeded Lumberjacks Wednesday, as the Wildcats forced 22 turnovers, including 14 steals. The turnover bug got to ACU, giving up 27 turnovers and nine steals. Incarnate Word is coming off a nail-biter against cellar dwelling Houston Baptist, a game which they won 84-82. Junior guard Des Balentine and freshman guard/forward Derek Van Vlerah had career games, totaling 26 points and three steals between them. For UIW to win on the road, they’ll need to force ACU to shoot from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are shooting just 30% from the three-point line. If ACU gets to the free-throw line, they will dominate, shooting just under 75%. For ACU to come out on top, they need to take advantage of the Cardinals’ turnovers.

ACU is averaging 21.4 points off of turnovers this season, and that needs to continue in Moody. The Wildcats will be back home after a long road trip, with an electric crowd and in need of a bounce back game. ACU wins big.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 81 UIW 65

FINAL SCORE: ACU 81 UIW 67

FINAL SCORE: ACU 89 UIW 56

Jalen Garrett SPORTS REPORTER

Coming off of a three-game road trip, the Wildcats come back to host the Incarnate Word Cardinals. The Wildcats played well during the month of January, winning five of their seven games during the month. Led by senior guard Breanna Wright, who averaged 17.8 points per game during the month of January, the Wildcats shot 45% from the field and shot 33% from three-point range.

Incarnate Word is currently sixth in the Southland Conference and have had a rollercoaster season. The Cardinals are last in scoring offense and second to last in field goal percentage. They don’t have any playmakers that will be a challenge to these Wildcats. However, the Cardinals are fourth in the conference in scoring defense, so the Wildcats will need to dominate on the offensive side. The Wildcats are back at Moody, and the energy will be crazy. I expect the Wildcats to win this matchup.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 78 UIW 50

Senior guard Payten Ricks finished the week against Central Arkansas last Saturday. He scored 24 points and tallied four steals, three rebounds and one assist in 42 minutes. Ricks made crucial plays down the stretch to force overtime in Conway, Arkansas. The Wildcats narrowly defeated the Bears, 70-69, in their second straight overtime game. In the Wildcats matchup against Stephen F. Austin, Ricks only scored six points, but also brought in two rebounds, two assists and one steal.

In the end, the Lumberjacks defeated the Wildcats with a final score of 71-61 Wednesday. The Wildcats will start the month of February at home facing the University of Incarnate Word Saturday.

For more visit us at

acuoptimist.com