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A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
Volume CVIII, Issue XXII
Friday April 26, 2019
News
Sports
Fifty-four students were recognized on Thursday afternoon as University Scholars for their academic achievements and demonstration of knowledge and skill in their appropriate field..................Page 2
Baseball was 3-1 last week at home with wins over Arlington Baptist, 11-1, and a 2-1 series win over Lamar. The Wildcats’ record improves to 21-18 overall and 8-10 in conference play.............................................Page 6
F S S M T
W
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Opinion Though the university has made strides in their efforts toward racial inclusion and equality, the addition of an African American studies class would help to close the gap in education....................Page 5
Photo by LEXI WALTER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CAMPUS NEWS
Kelsey Buhlig, senior nursing major from the Woodlands, joins in one of her final evenings as a Wildcat during the Senior Candlelight service Thursday night at the Beauchamp Amphitheatre.
Two Fulbright Scholars prepare for year abroad EMMA CONATSER COPY EDITOR
Two students, Angela Jirik and Mackenzie Dalton, were named Fulbright Scholars and received awards in the form of travel grants to teach English abroad. The Fulbright Program, founded in 1946, seeks to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” according to their website. With its extensive application process and selective nature, awards from the program are something that required from these students years of work, dedication and mentoring to achieve.
For this program specifically, students are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree and be proficient in the language they plan to teach in their host country. The two students, after having gained their TESOL certification, gained an advantage as candidates for the award. Jirik, a senior Spanish education major from Keller, is teaching Jirik English in Columbia and said she is excited to see what Columbia has in store. “I’m going to be in Monteria as an English teaching assistant at a university there,” Jirik said.
“I don’t know their language level, I don’t know what it will look like, but I’ll be teaching them English and teaching them about American culture.” For Jirik, the application process was something of a culmination of her entire college career – not one essay or one project, but four years of work. “I knew I wanted to do it since freshman year, since my first semester here,” Jirik said. “I got my TESOL certification and then last summer, I did a volunteer opportunity with an international volunteer organization in Bogotá,” Jirik said. She said she hopes her experiences in Columbia will prepare her for a life-
time of work similar to next year. “I love seeing Latin American countries and I want to live there permanently one day,” Jirik said. “I’m wanting to get better at Spanish; you always can be more fluent. I’m looking forward to learning how to teach in different contexts with different learners.” Dalton, a senior accounting Dalton major from Little Rock, is teaching English to students in Malaysia, but will not know where in the country nor what age students she will teach until January. Both Dalton and Jirik
will receive English Teaching Assistantships for their time abroad. ETA’s are awarded to students who have committed to a variety of hours teaching in their host countries, and in some cases, students who have gained proficiency in the language of their host country. Dalton said she’s looking to use the opportunity to gain experience before advancing to law school. She was accepted into Baylor Law School and starts there in the Spring of 2021. As she looks forward to the opportunities working in Malaysia will afford, Dalton said experiences like this one are important. “I believe this opportunity to teach and live
abroad would be beneficial for any career, but I think it will be especially helpful as I prepare for a profession in law because of the international experience I will gain during my time in Malaysia.” Both Jirik and Dalton are honors students, something that comes with an advantage, as Dr. Jason Morris, dean of the Honors College, has received two Fulbright awards and stands as a mentor for students as they pursue the award. “I think it’s just getting an opportunity to engage a culture on a deep level, those deep bonds that you develop last a lifetime,” Morris said. “You create a more peaceful world.”
SPORTS
Phase two of golf facility constructing parking lot, clubhouse LAUREN FRANCO EDITOR IN CHIEF
After completing the fouracre short-game practice course, the second phase of construction began on the new golf facility. Drew Long, deputy director of athletics-internal operations, said athletics completed the course earlier in the academic year, and it recovered well from winter break. “The team has been really excited about that and so has the coach,” Long said. Phase two, the clubhouse, will include offices, locker rooms and a training
area for the team as well as hitting bays and swing training bays with virtual hitting, a team meeting space and patio that overlooks the short-game area. “Everything right now is tracking well, we’re going to start having our weekly update construction meetings on Monday,” Long said. Over the next six to eight months, in addition to building the facility, construction crews will work on moving the main entrance from Ambler to Judge Ely. As athletics started considering what they would need for the facility, they wanted to consider the
possibility of expanding to include a women’s golf program, Long said. Long also said the golf facility is similar in size and scope to the $1.6 million tennis facility that was completed for this season. Originally, the construction schedule started with the short-range course and then the driving range, finishing with the building, but the clubhouse construction was moved up in priority. As more of an official driving range with hitting bays facing the freeway and Ambler, phase three has not picked up a lot of steam. Long said including more
features in the facility would require more maintenance. “A lot that goes into maintaining a golf course, when you start to add features, it’s more equipment that you have to factor into projects. It comes down to available funds, donor and coach preference,” Long said. Jack Connor, redshirt junior, said practicing at the Jim has been great because it’s the best short-game facility in Abilene. “It’s located right here on our campus, it is always in exceptional condition and we have the ability to hit just about any shot imaginable from 110 yards
The Jim, across from campus on Judge Ely was completed in time for this year’s golf season. in,” Connor said. “The Jim along with our clubhouse will be huge for our program in the future. Recruits will be blown away when they come to Abilene for a visit and see that ACU Golf has facilities that very few
other schools have to offer. “The only potential downside I see to having the clubhouse is the fact that Coach Shaw may end up charging some of us rent for how much time we’ll be spending out there.”