Optimist Print Edition 2.28.20

ACUOPTIMIST.COM | Friday, February 28, 2020 | 1

Dr. Steven Moore publishes new children’s book sequel

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

PAGE 2

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior Pitcher Calie Burris looks towards her team excitedly after her game-winning run.

LCU selects McDowell as next president

BY ALLISON HARRELL EDITOR IN CHIEF

Dr. Scott McDowell, vice president for student life, has accepted the position of president of Lubbock Christian University, effective April 1.

McDowell has served on campus for two years, overseeing spiritual formation on campus, residence life, student organizations, student dining, multicultural affairs, career services, student productions, student recreation and wellness, on-campus medical and counseling

facilities and more. He also served on the university’s Senior Leadership Team.

Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, and Kevin Campbell, senior vice president for operations, will assume leadership to the area of Student Life during the time of interim until a replacement has been found. Campbell said Student Life has reported to him for the last three to four years and he is familiar with the work of Student Life.

“Essentially I would be working directly with the

leaders of Student Life that continue to progress on our goals and the support and care of our students,” Campbell said. “I will continue to keep the initiative that Scott has started in motion, and Dr. Schubert and I will be formulating a strategy to put a search committee in place to begin searching for the next V.P. of Student Life.”

In a campus-wide email, Schubert said a national search will begin immediately for the replacement of McDowell in the position of vice president for stu-

dent life.

“Ideally, we would love to have somebody in place as McDowell we start the next school year, but if we do not feel confident that we found the right person yet, then we will not hire somebody just to have somebody filling that role at the start of the year,” Campbell said. “And if that’s the case then we would put together some

kind of interim leadership plan, until we find the right person.”

Campbell said McDowell’s new position did not come as a surprise.

“Scott kept Dr. Schubert and I aware of the dialogue that he was having with Lubbock Christian,” Campbell said. “So he not only gave us an awareness of what was going on, but also a sense of timing. We were able to work in coordination with him and the folks at Lubbock Christian to agree upon the right transitional time for him to step

Bowman chosen as new director of OMA

BY ALLISON HARRELL EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ryan Bowman, former associate director of spiritual formation and Title IX investigator and case manager, has been chosen as the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

After a nationwide search that began in October of 2019, the Office of Student Life and a 12-person search committee narrowed down applicants and selected Bowman.

“It was a long and lengthy process and I thank God for everyone involved,” Bowman said.

Bowman, a graduate of Southwestern Christian College and Abilene Christian University, has held various positions on campus since 2011. Bowman served as associate director of spiritual formation, campus Title IX investigator and case manager and recruiter for the College of Biblical Studies.

April Napier, former director of the office of multicultural affairs, left the university in October, during which time Bowman transitioned into the position of Interim for the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Bowman said when he was first approached and asked to consider serving as interim, he was a little nervous.

“I hadn’t worked with students in this close a capacity for a long time,” Bowman said. “So I turned it down a few times, and then I really thought about it. And I remembered when I was in college I had a professor, years ago, that challenged us as students when he was

BY ALLISON HARRELL | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ryan Bowman, former associate director of spiritual formation and Title IX investigator and case manager, assumes new role as Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. asked to take on a task, he asked, ‘By whose authority do I have to say no?’ And he was talking about Christ.

And if the opportunity presents itself in the Kingdom, you don’t see yourself as qualified, but what if God does?”

Bowman has served as interim for about six months.

“It gave me a birds-eye view of how things ran and how to communicate with students, which I was really not strong with because I’ve always been in an authoritative role,” Bowman said.

“Here, I am learning some dynamics among students and one of the things that people don’t understand is that, you get into a role, you’re not really ‘readymade.’ There’s no such thing as a ‘ready-made individual.’

You have to be exposed to it.

You have to learn to adapt.”

With more than 35 percent of minority racial or

ethnic students represented across campus, the Office of Multicultural Affairs provides resources and fellowship opportunities for a diverse community.

“I had to learn how to become a student with them, which is very humbling,” Bowman said. “And these are not just any students, these are the cream-of-thecrop. I’ve never seen student workers that are this diligent, committed and extremely smart.”

Bowman said he plans to implement some new initiatives through phases, with significance of student input. The first phase, that will begin in March, will be a rebranding of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, by renovating the office and lounge spaces to make them more welcoming and inviting.

“We’re just rebranding, not changing anything, because I don’t believe it’s broken,”

Bowman said. “They have kept it together, I say they not me, because they have kept this office together.”

The second phase is to connect the Office of Multicultural Affairs with the Office of Admissions.

“What we would like to do, in the future, is to partner with admissions and when we get new students to get tours down here, to come downstairs, to see this place, let students know, especially students of color, that when they’re coming here they can find a familiar face that will partner with them and their walk,” Bowman said. “We want to make sure that we are visible to campus and to our future students and serve the population that is here.”

Bowman said one thing the office is working on now is training others to be healthy encouragement partners to all walks

of life, whether male or female or any cultural background.

“What they taught me is that consistent communication is key,” Bowman said.

“Because you’re serving the need of a population that is constantly changing. Next year will not be the same as this year. So the innovativeness of you having to be ahead and to make sure that you are listening to them.”

In a campus-wide email from Dr. Scott McDowell, vice president for student life, McDowell said, “The members of the search committee who selected Ryan have been impressed with his commitment to bridge cultural and social barriers and to make sure all of our students feel valued.

His ability to connect with a variety of individuals, combined with his strong understanding and knowledge of ACU, position him well to lead this area.”

“For the tenure that I’ve been in the role of interim, I’ve had more faculty and staff ask, ‘What can we do?

We want to be of service.’

So I think it’s important for me to brag about how intentional this university has been in involving themselves in the lives of students,” Bowman said. “My heart melts with the fact that [we] have individuals who would like to share in their experience, and not to get in front, not to take it over, but to simply just to share in their experience and their walk and to say, ‘Hey, we are here if you need us.’ And that has made me feel safe and I know it’s made the students feel safe.”

into his work at Lubbock Christian.”

McDowell was in Lubbock for the announcement and was not available to interview.

Campbell said he remembers two years ago working to find Chris Riley’s replacement in the position of vice president for student life and found McDowell.

“I’m really grateful for what Scott has done,” Campbell said. “While we’re sad that Scott’s leaving, we’re also excited about what God might have in store for us as we find our next candidate.”

NEWS

Read about Sing Song results PAGE 3

SPORTS

Read the recap on Women’s Basketball PAGE 6

QUESTION Which men’s club had the longest winning streak in Sing Song history, with seven years?

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, February 28, 2020 | NEWS

Moore publishes sequel to hit children’s book

BY SYDNEY VARNER STAFF WRITER

Dr. Steven Moore, associate professor of language and literature and director of the McNair Scholars program, published his second book, Theodore and the Yellow Balloon, Tuesday.

A sequel to the children’s book Theodore Thumbs, published in 2014, the book hosts the same characters as the previous and contains another powerful message about the effects of bullying.

“The second book deals with Theodore. He’s older and he’s bullied one again, but we get to learn more about the bullies life,” Moore said. “Without revealing too much, they go on an adventure together.”

Moore, who has always had dreams of writing children’s literature, pulls from experiences in his own life that he and his twin brother faced growing up.

“Things that happened to me growing up become

PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. STEVEN MOORE

Dr. Moore poses with a child after the release of his first book, Theodore Thumbs. materials for these books,” Moore said. “I also notice things that are happening in society; sometimes that will inspire me to write children’s literature. When you think about the news and what people are saying about bullying and how it’s still a huge problem, that’s

what inspired me to go ahead and tackle this real problem.”

After publishing the two books, Moore wishes to continue and follow the narrative of the character, Theodore, growing up through life.

“Depending on the

publisher and other things, we’re hoping to do a series of 12, maybe 15 books,” Moore said.

“Through the whole series, I want the readers to grow with Theodore and to talk about issues and challenges that young boys and girls face while

growing up. The whole dream was to do this series and to do young adult literature where Theodore is a college student, so hopefully I can do some writing in that arena.”

In addition to the successes following the publishing of the two

books, Moore also hopes to bring a new class to the English department, specifically focusing on the impact of children’s literature.

“It’s still in a pilot program at this point, but we’re playing with expanding our sophomore literature options,” said Dr. Mikee Delony, department chair and associate professor of the Department of Language and Literature. “He’s really excited about doing that.

It would be interesting to look from a literacy perspective, to go all the way back and go, ‘What does it take for kids to find something hysterical?’”

Moore, known across campus, is beloved not only by the students on Praise Fridays but by the English department as well.

“He’s a great faculty member,” Deloney said.

“He’s a great friend, a great worker and students love him. He’s just giving and caring.”

ISA to host annual food festival, celebrating 15 countries

BY SYDNEY VILLANUEVA GUEST WRITER

The International Students Association is hosting their annual food festival at 6 p.m. on March 21 in the Hunter Welcome Center.

Sofia Ramirez, a junior political science major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and ISA president, said they are expecting a full capacity of 250 people at the event. Thirteen

to 15 different countries will be represented by students who will serve food. Some of the countries being represented include: the Honduras, Ukraine, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, China, and the Philippines.

“We [ISA] are a safe space for international students to showcase their culture, to be celebrated, and to be themselves,” Ramirez said.

Games, such as trivia,

will take place during the event as well.

“If there is a chance to share my culture, then I like doing that,” said Keren Lemus, junior interior design major from Guatemala.

This is Lemus’s third year participating in the food festival and second year as head leader and cook. Lemus said she doesn’t always talk to her other friends, who are also here from Gua-

“We [ISA] are a safe

space for international students to showcase their culture, to be celebrated, and to be themselves .”

SOFIA RAMIREZ JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR FROM TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS AND ISA PRESIDENT

temala, but through this experience they all come together to represent their country at the food

festival.

Lemus’s said her table was a huge hit last year and the line was non-stop all night. They served frozen bananas covered in chocolate with various toppings to choose from.

Her table, representing Guatemala, will be offering the same dish this year.

Tickets will start being sold from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday in the Campus Center, and ev-

ery Monday through Friday. Ramirez said last year people waited last minute and attempted to buy tickets at the door, but ISA sold out of tickets so fast they had to turn people away. There are limited tables and food for the event.

Volunteers are still needed. For more information about how to volunteer, contact Isabella Maradiaga at ixm16b@ acu.edu.

‘One Night Only’ performance sold out last Saturday

BY GABI MORALES GUEST WRITER

The student-led dance production titled One Night Only sold out on tickets for the show on Feb. 29.

Students get a unique opportunity to show their talent on the stage through the expression of dance at a sold-out show.

Lily Balogh, freshman English major from Abilene and member of ACU the-

ater, was the main coordinator for the night of dance.

One Night Only included 22 students and 18 dance pieces. The pieces spanned many genres of dance, such as, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap and Slam Poetry.

This is the second time Balogh has coordinated the event.

“It was exciting to present choreography as it’s own entity and not as just a part of

“It was exciting to present choreography as it’s own entity and not as just a part of the musical theater scheme.”

LILY BALOGH FRESHMAN ENGLISH MAJOR FROM ABILENE AND COORDINATOR OF ONE NIGHT ONLY

the musical theater scheme,” Balogh said.

Balogh said dance has not

had an opportunity to shine in Abilene until she brought the One Night Only act to the stage, comparing Abilene to a “footloose town.” Balogh said she is excited for the opportunity to showcase students’ dance talent.

The Saturday showing sold out because of the support from the Abilene community. Because of this reaction, Balogh decided to open up the Friday night dress rehearsal

as a pre-screening. The pre-screening will began at 7:30 p.m. in the Fulks Auditorium and tickets were sold at the door for $5 dollars.

Corban Gililland, junior theatre major from Abilene and dance captain, and LJ Brodie, junior theatre major from Mesquite and assistant choreographer, had the opportunity to choreograph their own dance numbers for the show. Each danced in 8 out of the 18 numbers.

When talking about the night and how he feels, Gililland said it is like your “heart and soul put on the stage.”

“Sometimes you don’t need words to say what’s on your heart and on your mind and just gotta dance it out,” Brodie said.

This show brought together both the ACU and Abilene communities to watch a variety of unique choreographed dances.

FRI., MAR. 6

SAT., MAR. 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING? MON., MAR. 2 Admitted Student Day

TUES., MAR. 3 8 p.m.- Swing Cats Gatsby Night Faculty / Staff Appreciaion Night at ACU Basketball

WED., MAR. 4 11 a.m.- Healthcare Fair 7 p.m.- Alpha Kai Omega Yippee Kaio Rush

THURS., MAR. 5 12 p.m.- Graduation Fair 6 p.m.- OMA Clothing swap 7 p.m.- A Cappella Tour Concert with HS choirs

3 p.m.- Beach Volleyball vs GCU

police log SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK: •

A citizen reported a prowler actively pulling on their residential door. Officers checked with the caller, then checked the area, but were unable to locate the person. There was no description of the subject. 02/20/2020 10:45 a.m.

•

A student reported that someone struck his parked vehicle, causing damage to the front left quarter panel. 02/22/2020 111:12 a.m.

•

ACUPD Officers investigated a report of possible drug activity at Edwards Hall. Further investigation revealed no offense occurred.

02/22/2020 4:23 p.m.

•

A citizen reported a suspicious white truck stopped near their residence. The subjects were digging in the trash cans in front of their residence. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the vehicle or suspects. 02/25/2020 2:19 a.m.

13 Medical emergency 0 Report writing Disturbance 2 911 Call 0 1 Missing person 0 Report writing (follow up) 0 Administrative activity 38 Domestic Disturbance 2 Monitor facility/lot 40 Sex offense Drug activity/offense 2 Advice 2 1 Motorist assist: inflate tire.

3 Special assignment Elevator rescue 1 Alarm 3 2 Motorist assist: jumpstart 7 Stolen vehicle Escort 1 Alcohol incident 0 2 Motorist assist: other 0 Suspicious activity Event support 1 Animal call 0 2 Motorist assist: unlock 3 Suspicious person Fire 0 Barricades 9 3 Other 9 Suspicious vehicle Foot patrol 4 Building lock/unlock 21 0 39 Trespasser Found property 6 Parking lot patrol Burglary (vehicle) 0 Traffic stop 4 Parking violation 7 Hit and run 1 Burglary (residence) 0 1 Patrol vehicle: maintenance 4 Training Harassment 0 Cart patrol 6 9 Information report 5 Patrol vehicle: refuel Check building 302 Total 622 1 22 Prowler Clery 10 Investigation follow up 0 Lost Property 3 Public service Criminal mischief 0 *List of selected statistics of this week’s 24 Maintenance: univ assets: cctv 2 Random patrol Direct traffic 3 ACUPD activity report.

Refuel gasoline cans 1 Maintenance: univ assets 0 Discharge of firearm 0

MESSAGE FROM POLICE CHIEF ELLISON:

“ACUPD would like to remind all students and employees to always report crimes to ACUPD first, before starting other administrative processes. Victims always have the right to not file charges, but we must have reports on file. Call or email ACUPD with questions.”

6:30 p.m.- African Gospel Concert

FEATURES | Friday, February 28, 2020 | 3

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

The men of Frater Sodalis show off a magic trick.

Frats use magic to end 38-year drought

BY DILLON DANIEL MANAGING EDITOR

Mens social club, Frater Sodalis, won its first Sing Song since 1982 on Saturday.

This marks their seventh overall win in the men’s division of Sing Song. Past wins include 1964, ‘69, ‘72, ‘74, ‘77 and ‘82.

Aside from placing third under Pi Kappa and Galaxy in the vocals category, the men of Frater Sodalis placed first in set/props, costumes, choreography and entertainment.

“A-Frat-Acadabra” was

led under the direction of Tyler Cepica, senior biochemistry major from Lubbock, and his assistant director, Patrick Reed, junior history major from Austin.

Cepica said that since he wanted to be the director for Frats, he was thinking big picture and about the ability to make history.

“Since I was running for [Sing Song director], my goal was to win,” Cepica said. “From the very getgo, you have to be thinking across all the categories from the theme to the songs that will be used.”

Regarding this act, Cepica said he tried to incorporate something unique in every song.

“You have to have, at least, one big moment in your act. You have to be memorable and you have to be recognizable, so I tried to make a big moment in every song to increase our chances [of winning].”

Cepica also said he believed the biggest thing Frats had to think about was buying into the idea they had a chance to win but that they could always improve.

“Our motto for this Sing

Song was ‘Your next performance is your best performance.’ I think we really did that and our club verse something to that,” Cepica said, “in the sense that we’re always seeking to better one another. ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,’ Proverbs 27:17.”

To himself and the rest of the men in Frats, Reed said that this win was special and touching.

“It’s just a really big sense of satisfaction. Finding out that it had been 38 years since Frats had won, there was a big drive

“You have to have at least one big moment in your act. You have to be memorable and you have to be recognizable.

So I tried to make a big moment in every song to increase our chances [of winning].”

TYLER CEPICA SENIOR BIO-CHEMISTRY MAJOR FROM LUBBOCK AND DIRECTOR OF FRATER SODALIS SING SONG ACT “MAGICIANS”

to win this year. So going from ‘man, I want this to happen’ to ‘wow, this might really be possible’ to ‘okay, it actually happened’ is just

really satisfying.”

Reed said that even though Sing Song is unique to ACU, he felt that the world was focused on Frats in that moment. “[Sing Song] is such a weird thing that only happens here, but when you’re in that moment, you just feel that the world is surrounding you.”

Along with Frater Sodalis, the overall winner of the women’s division was Ko Jo Kai, scoring first in each category, and the overall winner of the class division was the Senior Class.

Designers: From a shoe to an art show

BY ALYSSA HIGH STAFF REPOTER

During her freshman year as an art major at ACU, Myra Castillo walked into a senior art show intimidated, knowing she’d have four short years before exhibiting in a show herself.

“It was really intimidating because I would ask juniors and seniors to look at their projects and think there is no way I can do this,” Castillo, senior interior design major from Forney, said.

Myra recollected that she’d only just finished her first assignment, a drawing of a shoe, when she arrived at the back corner of the senior art show for the class of 2016.

“During my freshman year, I went to my very first senior show and I’m looking at all of the projects so intimidated, but then I go to the very back corner and I see this picture of a shoe,” Castillo said. “Every art major knows that the very first project is in drawing class and it’s a picture of a shoe. I had this big revelation that I don’t know if I can do this stuff yet, but I know that she once did exactly what I’m doing.”

Four years later, “Designer: The One with the Senior Show,” a ‘Friends’themed art show featuring the work of Castillo and four other seniors, is set to premiere on Friday, Feb. 28 in the Shore Art Gallery at the Don Morris Center.

The five grouped for the first time during the Fall 2019 semester and have met once a week since then to discuss the theme, costs and choices of artwork. According to Castillo, shared costs were split between the five, but costs were reduced due to Chris’s mom providing the catering for free.

“Everyone knows that

food is the best part of any art show,” Castillo said. “It was awesome that his mom offered to do it because that would have been a huge part of our costs.”

As the only interior designer in a group with four graphic designers, Castillo was able to gain

a new perspective on the differences between their majors.

“The graphic designers always have this extra edge in their show because their job, what they’re training to do, is to advertise,” Castillo said.

“Interior design shows are beautiful but graphic

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“Every art major knows that the very first project is in drawing class and it’s a picture of a shoe.”

MYRA CASTILLO SENIOR INTERIOR DESIGN MAJOR FROM FORNEY

designers bring that edge

that we lack.”

The art show will display various kinds of art, including Castillo’s furniture pieces, various interior design plans, watercolor art from a class that four of the five took when studying abroad together, and, of course, her shoe from freshman year.

“My advice to freshmen who are intimidated would be, all the great designers that you’re looking up to all started in the same spot that you’re in,” Castillo said. “So take it one day at a time and focus on square one, because you’ll get to square ten eventually.”

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4 | Friday, February 28, 2020 | OPINIONS

Candidates’ fight for voters in 2020 election EDITORIAL BOARD

The 2020 Presidential Election is only nine months away, meaning that some of the largest battles between candidates are already occurring.

With a Republican partisan currently occupying the Oval Office, most qualified Republicans did not even announce their running. The few that have, however, have mostly been defeated already by the president’s relentlessly coarse personality, his undeniable power as President of the United States and the sure vastness of his personal fortune that backs

his forceful campaigning. Trump has currently invested the most money into his campaign out of any candidate with an striking $206 million.

Now, the only other Republican candidate willing to stand it out with Trump is former Governor of Massachusetts, William Weld. While Weld offers the only diversity of choice on the red side, he would frankly need a miracle to win the election.

In contrast to the Republican side of the election, Democratic voters will have much to think about in this election with the large majority of candidates now rep-

resenting the Democratic Party.

In recent months, the U.S. has seen millions of dollars spent, many candidates drop out of the race and friends become competitors at best and enemies at worst, all in an effort to gain the title of President of the United States for the next four years.

Needless to say, the Democratic Party already shows tireless effort in the race and, if nothing else, is united by at least one motivation: getting President Trump out of office.

This motivation was obviously shared in

the heat of Tr ump’s impeachment case and is now saturating all events leading up to November.

With that being said, the splits between left-sided candidates is already brewing an election that Business Insider is calling “one of the largest, most competitive, and most unpredictable in modern history.”

Plainly, the Democratic voters will be forced to yield support to one candidate. Otherwise, the odds of seeing a blue tie in office will not be ones to put money on.

Despite this reality, polls show that opinions

are generally split between the first and second most popular Democrats right now: former candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden, who served as President Obama’s vice president while in office, appeared to be the Democrats clear leading candidate, exiting 2019 with polls reaching above 30 percent and stabilizing in the high 20 percent.

However, just since this month, Biden has fallen down significantly in the wake of Sanders’s excellerating campaign. Sanders’ promise of a largely reformed education sys-

tem, free of cost, seems to have spiked the attention of voters, giving Sanders’s popularity percentages to rival Biden’s former. Meanwhile Biden is now polling at 16 percent popularity, just above the more stagnant, Mike Bloomberg.

In the early months of this election year, there are still many things that can change, particularly on the Democratic side.

The coming months will provide all indications of which candidates can obtain the trust and, more tangibly, the votes of their party in anticipation of the next President of the United States.

Forty-day Lent is not as scary as it may sound

BY HENRY ERICKSON OPINIONS EDITOR

For many within the ACU community, liturgical practices, namely the season of Lent and Holy Week, are unfamiliar.

However, the beauty of their tradition and sym-

bolism still holds great value.

Lent is a 40 day period meant to resemble Jesus’s 40 days of fasting in the desert. In doing this, Jesus gave a model of penance and humility that is now observed by members of the church.

By following this example, Christians aim to prepare their bodies and minds for Jesus’ death and resur rection in the for m of fasting.

That fasting g oes beyond just abstaining from eating, in fact it can look different for ever y individual.

My experience and di-

rection from my family and church body has shown me that the idea of fasting should only be confined to an object or practice that can take us away from that remembrance and anticipation of the Resurrection.

Believe it or not, for the majority of my life, I have observed Lent in ways much less extreme than wandering in the desert until Easter morning. When I was young, my fasting took the form of giving up candy and sweets. Later it was deleting social media as I got older. These days it is usually a combination of the

It has become increasingly important for young people to vote in elections

BY RILEY FISHER CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

As various political events within our nation increase conversations and as presidential elections near, I hear more people my age voicing their opinions about its current state.

It’s good for everyone, especially young adults and students, to feel like they can safely voice their opinion.

However, in order for things to change, an action has to be made. You can say as much as you want, but if you don’t do anything about what you think, things stay the way they are.

For many, this means becoming local, state or even national activists

for politicians or causes.

The work these people do changes lives, but not everyone can feasibly manage to do that, so that’s not what I’m suggesting.

I’m asking you to simply register to vote. It’s one of the easiest ways to get involved in making your city, state or country the place you want it to be and the place you want future generations to grow up in.

No matter the size of your city or state, this can apply to you, even if you are perfectly happy with the way things are right now.

You may ask me why you should vote if you aren’t happy with any candidate or if you don’t want anything to change.

How will anyone know these opinions if you don’t formally share them?

Ballots offer write-in or obstain options for this reason.

Additionally, counties and states offer absentee ballots designed specifically for students and adults traveling or living away from home. Your

community still wants and needs you to voice your opinion, so it provides you with the resources to do so from afar.

It’s important to express how you feel with a vote. If no one shares with those around them, no one gets the support they need for their cause and no one accomplishes anything.

According to the U.S. Census, in the November 2018 election 36 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds voted.

This number increased by 79 percent from the previous November election in 2014, but there is still room for it to grow.

We are a generation that can tr uly change the nation and the world.

I’ve seen many students stand up and fight for something small they believe in like their grades or a policy at their university.

Our generation is becoming the future. Why shouldn’t this extend on a city, state and nation-wide scale?

two.

With Lent having started this week on Ash Wednesday, we are offered a time to recenter our focus on Christ as we approach spring and its commotion. At first, the idea of finding time to go to church in the middle of the week seems outrageous. However, my experience has yielded the opposite; for years, I have relied on this service’s ability to take me out of the unending cycle of demands. Ash Wednesday offers a wider perspective from the trap of the narrowed, transitory lifestyle that we concern ourselves

with too often.

This idea is only expanded in the 40 days of Lent. The power and intention of Lent becomes clear during this time when we live with the lack of something we relied on. That absence allows us to occupy our time with a relationship that is much more necessary.

My experience in the Liturgical church has shown that, as with many things in the church, often their unusual names or outward appearances can intimidate and polarize a younger generation from feeling comfortable enough to engage in

them.

However, I can ensure that beyond its unusual name, Lent is a beautiful way to prepare for such an anticipated holiday and further, is completely normal, or at least deserves to be considered as such.

These 40 days before the great day of celebration not only add to the joy of Easter but is genuinely a time that I look forward to as a time to improve myself and my relationship with God and others. It is my hope that more and more will look to do the same in this season of Lent.

Tweets Almost Christian University @ChristianAlmost After winning sing song, frats are literally dating every girl on campus. Every gamma wishes they were a frat right now.

Chapel Bat @ACUChapelBat You guys hear about the whole whind turbine vs. bats thing? Yeah, well senior class’s set nearly killed my cousin Mikey. Twice.

Chapel Bat @ACUChapelBat One time I noticed a guy come back to Moody chapel for the first time in weeks, I bit that heretic for fun just so he had to go through rabies treatment.

Tavian Miles @tavianmiles I’m ready for spring break because I miss my parents cooking.

Sydney V @SydneyJVarner Naps at 10 am really hit different Almost Christian University @christianalmost Hot takes: Sub-T should’ve ranked.

Kojies only won because people love Christmas.

Sing Song needs more chapel bat.

Chapel Bat @ACUChapelBat I had to leave before they inevitably announced Kojies for first, my ears are very sensitive.

Maddie @thealphamaddie I’m at the point in the semester where I’m drinking coffee for dinner.

Jacob @JocobSwan_ I don’t know if you heard or not, but Frater Sodalis won Sing Song.

Jacob @JocobSwan_ I legit don’t know what scares me more, the thought of graduating, or the thought of not graduating.

Jonathan Palmer @jonpalmer68 2019 Sing Song: Moonies chop down trees 2020 Sing Song: Frat tackles a tree 2021 Sing Song: Sub-T eats a tree

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

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EMILY SHAFER

ABBEY LEE

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HENRY ERICKSON

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ERNIE GUAJARDO

AVERY JACKSON

LEAH FIKES

JALEN GARRETT

RACHEL CROSSNOE

TYLER HENDERSON

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SPORTS & NEWS | Friday, February 28, 2020 | 5

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior infielder Hunter Gieser makes contact with the ball in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Gauchos get to Wildcats, win series 2-1

BY TYLER HENDERSON SPORTS WRITER

ACU traveled out west to face the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara for a weekend set, losing two out of three.

ACU’s hot start was halted last week, beginning with a big loss to TCU, and losing two of three to UCSB. In the first two games, UCSB silenced ACU hitters outscoring the Wildcats 13-1.

In the first game, sophomore starter Austin Wagner took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits including a big three-run third inning.

He fell to 1-1 on the season. Freshman right-hander Johnnie Krawietz entered the

game in the fifth and allowed one run, followed by freshman Austin Glaze who finished the final three innings.

The Wildcats were baffled

by Gauchos starter Rodney Boone, who went 5.1 innings and earned the win for UCSB. Freshman Hayden Clearman and juniors Seth Watts and Colton Eager were the only three Wildcats to get a hit on the day, with Eager ripping a double in the sixth inning. Defensively, ACU allowed five errors and the Gauchos took advantage with nine hits.

Game two featured the Wildcats patience at the plate, drawing seven walks but could not capitalize on

their opportunities outside of their third inning run.

The Wildcats fell in game two, 6-1, but forcing UC Santa Barbara to use six pitchers on the night.

For ACU, Hayden Clearman, batting .467 up to that point, belted a one-out triple to center, scoring on a Cameron Cromer groundout.

This cut the Gauchos’ lead in half, 2-1, but they could not get any closer after allowing one run in both the fourth and fifth inning, and two more in the eighth.

ACU were hit with some bad luck in the later innings, as a double play squandered a scoring threat in the seventh inning with runners

on the corners and one out.

In the eighth, after UCSB allowed two walks and a passed ball put runners in scoring position, a fielder’s choice got the Gauchos out of trouble. The Wildcat’s struck out 15 times on the night, with four hits and seven walks.

ACU finished out the series with a victory over UCSB, carried by sophomore starting pitcher Nate Hawkins and a ninth inning rally. Hawkins went 4.2 innings in a no-decision, only allowing one unearned run in the first inning.

That would be the only run the Gauchos would push across until the ninth inning.

The ninth inning was busy for both squads as ACU pushed across five runs, and UCSB answered with three.

Senior Eric Wimpee came through with his biggest hit of the season for ACU, ripping a three-run double in the final frame.

Junior Tommy Cruz, Colton Eager and sophomore Mitchell Dickson setup Wimpee’s clutch hit with a leadoff walk, infield single and a hit by pitch. Freshman Miller Ladusau followed with an RBI single of his own, driving in pinch runner Seth Watts, with Ladusau scoring on a passed ball later in inning.

The Wildcats looked

to close out the ninth unscathed, but following a leadoff walk, single and fielder’s choice, Head Coach Rick McCarty went to his bullpen.

Sophomore right-hander Colby Adkins came in and got the first out on a ground ball but got into hot water when he allowed a two-run single up the middle, closing the gap to 5-4. Adkins followed with the two fly outs and earned the save for ACU. ACU finished the series at 5-3 on the season.

They head back home for a three-game set against Youngstown State beginning on Thursday. First pitch is at 6:35 pm.

ACU overcomes second half woes to defeat HBU

BY JALEN GARRETT SPORTS WRITER

The Wildcats came out on top in their first home games of the season, defeating the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers in both matchups on Tuesday.

It was the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive game with nine runs or higher with nine in the first game and 13 in the second. In the second game, the Wildcats ended with a batting average of .565, which is their highest so far this season.

“Great wins for our team tonight, especially for the first home games,” Head Coach Abigail Farler said. “I’m very glad we pulled off great wins in our home. Home field is where teams have the most confidence and as a team and with this crowd, we came out on top.”

In the first game, the Wildcats trailed throughout the game until the seventh inning, tying the

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Redshirt junior outfielder Donelle Johnson prepares to swing at the ball. game 8-8. On their route to a comeback, the Wildcats completed two grand slams including four RBIs and a game-winning run by junior pitcher Calie

Burns for a 9-8 victory.

Senior outfielder Carolina Adair had one home run as well.

“We didn’t lose our fight in the first game,” Farler

said. “I loved the way we rallied together and came back late in the game. In those nail-biting moments, we needed each other the most, and we did just that.

I’m so proud of our team in that first game.”

For the second game, the Wildcats dominated the Panthers in a 13-1 defeat. Beating the Panthers

in five innings, Adair had three RBIs along with two other players with two RBIs each. They also scored a total of nine runs in the first inning alone.

“I loved our execution in the second game,” Farler said. “We definitely came out swinging hard, and I loved how much we executed on the field.”

This season, the Wildcats have been progressing in some categories in the Southland Conference.

The Wildcats are fifth in slugging percentage, runs scored, triples and home runs. Adair is third in runners batter, runs scored and triples. Other Wildcats have been moving up in the statistics including senior catcher Blair Clayton and junior infielder Briana Tijerina.

The Wildcats will be back on the road for their final tournament of the season as they travel to Norman, Oklahoma for the Courtyard Marriott Tournament Friday.

Campus makes health protocol changes due to coronavirus threat

BY HANNAH STEDMAN GUEST WRITER

ACU is better equipped to handle an outbreak of disease such as the flu or coronavirus because the school updated its protocol last fall.

State and local officials, and members from the health response team on campus met in November for a tabletop workshop to find flaws in the health

protocol said Kris Sutton, director of institutional compliance and risk management.

“We have Res-Life involved, HR involved, myself, Facilities, we’ve got Dining involved and the Chief of Police, since he’s our instant commander,” Sutton said.

The goal of the meeting was to find gaps in the health procedures and create ways to fill them

so everyone is prepared when a real emergency arises. For example, in the case of a measles outbreak, the team would go over its procedures to see if they meet the local health department’s expectations.

“We had to see how [the fire department] would respond, how would the state health department respond as far as their procedures,” Sutton said.

This helped the ACU health response members put hypothetical situations into action.

“They got to interact with the local health department as well and that was very fruitful and nice,” Sutton said.

An updated health protocol was sent out after the meeting to members of the health response team on campus. This better prepares faculty and staff to

handle a potential outbreak of flu or an unknown virus, such as the coronavirus.

The coronavirus is commonly found in different species of animals. It is suspected to have spread from animal-to-human contact at a live animal and seafood market in China.

It can be spread through a cough or a sneeze and can give a person flu-like symptoms according to the CDC website.

Each member of the health team has their own role said Sutton. If a situation were to arise in the dorms, the health department would be notified first and then they would address the problem.

“Maybe it’s a situation where we have to determine where the individual is going to stay so they don’t stay in the dorm and potentially infect other individuals,” Sutton said.

6 | Friday, February 28, 2020 | SPORTS

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

Ovrl.

25-3 18-10 19-10 18-11 16-13 12-14 10-18 13-15 11-17 9-19 8-19 6-22 3-23

Conf.

16-1 13-4 13-5 11-7 10-8 9-8 9-8 8-9 7-10 6-11 4-13 3-14 3-14

Women’s Basketball

BY DAVID MITCHELL | PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior guard Anna McLeod and junior forward Alyssa Adams celebrate a game-tying basket.

ACU topples top-seeded Bearkats in thriller

BY CARRIE JOHNSTON SPORTS WRITER

The Wildcats survived a nail-biter on Wednesday, defeating the Southland Conference’s once No. 1 ranked Sam Houston State Bearkats, 94-91.

“I’m just super proud of our team,” said Head Coach Julie Goodenough. “This was a really hard-fought battle; they were tremendous tonight. They never got soft or freaked out, or anything like that. They played with resolve today.”

Four Wildcats found themselves in double figures against Sam Houston. Senior guard Dominique Golightly scored 15 points, but also brought in three rebounds and two assists. Senior forward Lexie Ducat played a

solid game for ACU, scoring 16 points, most of which added to the Wildcat’s 56 points in the paint.

Leading ACU once again in scoring was senior guard Breanna Wright. Despite the Bearkats’ full-court pressure, Wright scored 25 points for the Wildcats, along with having four assists and one block.

“We were really excited coming into this game,” said Wright, “to knock Sam Houston out of first place or sweep them, and that’s exactly what we did. It was a good team win, and I wouldn’t be doing this without my family here.”

Though scoring only seven points in the game, junior forward Makayla Mabry made many other contributions to help lift the Wildcats

over the Bearkats. Mabry led both teams with 14 rebounds but also brought in four assists, one steal and one block.

“Tonight was very nerve-racking,” said Mabry, “but we’ve learned to stay composed. We’ve had a ton of these kinds of games in the past, like in the conference tournament. But tonight was really big and was a really big team win.”

In the first half, the Wildcats took control on both the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. ACU’s defense was able to slow down the Bearkats’ offense, causing them to shoot 34% from the field and 17% from 3-point range.

As for the Wildcats, they shot 71% from the field and 57% from the 3-point line in the first half. ACU’s ball

movement and court vision were put on display, with the team having nine assists to Sam Houston’s four assists.

This allowed ACU to take a 51-31 lead into halftime.

“We needed to jump on them early,” said Goodenough. “I was really proud of our starters for that. Offensively, we had our way in the first half and shot a high percentage. I’m proud of our defensive effort in the first half. We ended with rebounds on consecutive possessions that gave us early offense.”

However, the former number-one team found their stride in the second half. The Bearkats finally started to capitalize offensively, made many stops defensively and caused 11 turnovers on the defensive end. Sam Houston

started to cut down the Wildcats’ large lead, making it a one-possession game in the game’s last few minutes.

It took many crucial plays down the stretch to help the Wildcats overcome the Bearkats. Many of those plays made by junior guard Anna McLeod, who scored 17 points.

The Wildcats continue conference play on Saturday, facing off against the Lady Bears of Central Arkansas for senior day. The game will tip-off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcasting live on ESPN3.

“Central Arkansas is a team fighting to make the tournament,” said Goodenough. “They’ll come in and play like junkyard dogs. They have a great coach; it’s going to be another hard-fought battle.”

Ricks busts lip, scores 23 in win over Sam Houston

BY OWEN SIMPSON SPORTS DIRECTOR

Senior guard Payton Ricks dealt with adversity early in what would end up being the Wildcats’ sixth-consecutive win.

Just 70 seconds into the game Wednesday night, Ricks was charged with a foul, but it seemed he took the worse of the contact as blood was visible from his face.

“I went to help on defense,” Ricks said. “As soon as he went to make a move, he stopped and his head hit my lip. I knew as

soon as it happened that I busted my lip.”

In the following minutes, Ricks was looked over by the staff to stop the bleeding. He would ultimately come back on the court with 15:28 till halftime but picked up a quick second foul, putting Ricks on the bench for the rest of the first half.

“Ricks was in foul trouble a ton, and we still go up 12 at halftime,” head coach Joe Golding said. “We got off to a slow start in the second half, but we were able to settle down. I thought this was a great team effort tonight.”

The Wildcats (18-10, 13-4 SLC) shot 51% (26-51) in rout to an 85-69 victory over Sam Houston State. With the win, ACU secures a firstround bye in the Southland Conference Tournament.

“Early in the season, our offense wasn’t as good as we’d like it,” Golding said.

“But over the past three or four weeks, those shots have now been going in.”

Entering the second half, Ricks caught fire from beyond the perimeter. He scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, shooting 6-10 from the field, five of which were 3-pointers.

“All credit always goes to my teammates,” Ricks said.

“Without them, I wouldn’t have the confidence to shoot the way I do.”

After the Bearkats (18-11, 11-7 SLC) cut the lead to just seven points with 14:23 left to play, ACU responded with a 15-0 run to further extend the lead.

Junior center Kolton Kohl played a large role off the bench. He finished a perfect 4-4 with 12 points and three rebounds. Kohl, in fact, hasn’t missed a field goal in over a week. He’s a combined 10-10 over the past two games.

Sophomore forward Clay Gayman also played a key piece while Ricks was on the bench. Gayman scored the first two points of the game with a two-handed slam and finished with 13 points.

Up next, ACU stays home at Moody Coliseum to face Central Arkansas Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The last time the Wildcats faced the Bears, Ricks drained a last-second jump shot in overtime to come out on top.

“We’re gonna trust the process,” Golding said. “We got to protect home court, so we have to be ready to play and make no excuses.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL MATCHUP 2020 SEASON 76.2

POINTS PER GAME

74.9

64.6

POINTS AGAINST

82.5

45.0

FIELD GOAL %

41.8

33.7

REB/GAME

38.7

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSIT Y (18-10, 13-4 IN SLC)

Owen Simpson SPORTS DIRECTOR

CENTRAL ARKANSAS (10-18, 9-8 IN SLC)

Tavian Miles

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It seems Head Coach Joe Golding has figured out the group of guys he wants out on the court, and it’s truly paid off. ACU now sits at six-consecutive wins, and they’ll need to win the next couple games if they want a double-bye for the Southland Conference Tournament.

Central Arkansas is coming off a bye, giving them more time to prepare for the Wildcats. In their last match, ACU survived in an overtime thriller in Conway, Arkansas, where senior guard Payton Ricks nailed a game-winning jump shot with just a couple seconds left.

Since then, the Bears have endured a tough schedule, losing two out of their last three.

For Central Arkansas, they’ll need to keep ACU fom shooting the way they’ve been during its six-game win streak. For the Wildcats, they need to keep finding Ricks outside the perimeter, as the final stretch of the regular season begins. Wildcats with another statement win in this game.

The Wildcats have hit their stride late in the season as they’re on a six-game win streak and are currently second in the conference standings, just behind Stephen F. Austin.

This Saturday they take on a good Central Arkansas team who almost defeated the Wildcats back in January. Senior guard Payten Ricks was on fire this past Wednesday night, as he scored 23 points and shot 6-10 from the field. They’re going to need his shooting performance in order to continue winning games. Central Arkansas comes in giving up 82.5 ppg and averaging about 17.6 turnovers per game. They’ll need to take care of the ball and slow down the Wildcats offensively in order for them to get a win in Moody. I expect it to be a close game, but the Wildcats will close it out on a big run.

Wildcats win this one.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 80 UCA 65

FINAL SCORE: ACU 73 UCA 64

Tyler Henderson SPORTS REPORTER

After clinching their spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, six straight wins and explosive offensive output against Sam Houston, the Wildcats are set to play Central Arkansas for the last time this season. With the win over SHSU, the Wildcats clinched a top-four seed and a first round bye at the conference tournament in Katy. In the win over Sam Houston, senior guard Payten Ricks led the team with 23 points, followed

by Clay Gayman with 13. The emergence of Gayman and the consistency of Ricks make the Wildcats very potent against any opponent, but the highlight was the steady offense throughout and tough defense.

It was a complete game for the Wildcats, and if they finish the season out with play like that, a win over UCA should come easy.

ACU wins it late in the second half and takes home another victory.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 83 UCA 78

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

Ovrl.

21-5 20-7 19-8 21-5 13-10 14-12 11-15 11-16 11-15 9-18 7-19 6-20 5-21

Conf.

14-3 11-3 14-4 13-4 9-5 10-7 8-9 8-10 7-10 5-13 4-13 2-15 2-15

Softball Team McNeese SELU SFA UCA NWSU HBU Lamar UIW ACU SHSU Nicholls TXAM-CC

Ovrl.

14-3 12-3 10-4 11-6 11-6 9-6 8-6 7-7 7-9 7-10 7-11 4-9

Conf.

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Baseball Team NWSU SHSU McNeese ACU UIW UNO TXAM-CC UCA Lamar Nicholls SELU SFA HBU

Ovrl.

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

Conf.

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Softball

CLAYTON The Wildcats’ softball team beat Prairie View A&M this past Tuesday, 13-1. Senior catcher Blair Clayton scored two runs in her two at bats. Clayton had one walk to top it all off. The next home game for the Wildcats is March 20 against Sam Houston State.

Men’s Basketball

Jalen Garrett SPORTS REPORTER

The Wildcats host the Central Arkansas Bears Saturday. Senior guard Payten Ricks led the Wildcats to victory against the Sam Houston State Bearkats, with Ricks scoring 23 points. Sophomore forward Clay Gayman and junior center Kolton Kohl also scored in double digits as well. The Wildcats were very effiecent as a team against Sam Houston State, shooting 51% from the field, which is their sixth-straight game shooting at least 45% as a team from the field. Central Arkansas is currently seventh in the Southland Conference with a 10-18 record. The Bears are led by junior guard Ryan Bergersen and junior center Hayden Koval. Bergersen is seventh in the conference in scoring, averaging 15 points per game, while Koval is fifth in rebounding and first in blocked shots, averaging over three blocks per game. The Wildcats will need to find a way to lock down those two star players for the Bears. The last time these two teams played, the Wildcats won by one point in overtime.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 79 UCA 69

MASON Junior guard Coryon Mason helped lead the Wildcats to a win over Southeastern Louisiana winning, 75-69.

Mason scored 15 points for the team in the 31 minutes he played. He also had a steal in five rebounds during his time in the game.

The next home game for the Wildcats is Saturday, where they will host Central Arkansas.

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