The Optimist - 03.19.14

Spring break scores ACU softball wins against Prairie View A&M Sports Page 6 vol. 102, no. 44

wednesday, march 19, 2014

1 SECTION, 6 PAGES

INSIDE NEWS ACU Intramurals begins its first tournament for March Madness Page 3

SPORTS ACU football is scheduled for its first 12-game regular season

PUT TO

Page 6

OPINION

THE TEST

The Editorial Board talks about the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day

Page 4

SPORTS

austin kilcullum Staff Photographer

Men’s basketball concludes season with loss to Page 6

NEWS

Charcandrick West, former Wildcat running back from Springhill, Louis., joins several other seniors at the Wally Bullington practice field for NFL pro day. West impressed scouts by running 40 meters in an unofficial time of 4.27 seconds. Senior football players were given an opportunity to show their skills in front of NFL scouts on March 7.

University receives second Apple award Dystanie douglas

Hendrick Hospice Care plans to build a new center that will expand their care center Page 3

OPINION Gabi Powell shares her tips for how to properly watch Netflix Page 4

NEWS ACU’s student multimedia agency, 99 West, received local and national awards for two commercials Page 4

student reporter ACU has been awarded the Apple Distinguished School Award, which is given to educational institutions that meet criteria for innovation, leadership and educational excellence

Dylan Benac, senior political science major from Boerne and SA president, has served The Students’ Association as vice president and is preparing for this president in his time at year’s elections and are ACU. encouraging students to “This role is more of a run for officer positions. lifestyle than just a posi“My greatest hope is tion,” Benac said. that in this upcoming Benac graduates in election a lot of people May, but he is running the run because competition elections as the election brings excellence,” Benac co-chair. said.

“You have to be

grace coan

student reporter

Watch the JMC Newscast for an update on the latest news on campus

Read more at acuoptimist.com

worked together to author an iBook based on a set of Apple award criteria. It was an interactive digital book that told the story of ACU’s faculty and students and the teaching and learning that takes place on campus.

Lem Byers, Apple area director of higher education, visited ACU in

February and met with faculty, staff and administrators, awarding ACU the Distinguished School Award.

“The selection of ACU as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our success as an innovative and compelling learning see apple page 5

“

My greatest hope is that in this upcoming election a lot of people run because competition brings exellence.”

the success of even one person,” Benac said. “It’s not that we want perfect people in office; perfect people don’t exist, but we do want the best candidate to, in essence, dylan benac be in office.” sa president Benac has set up an online voting system this year, which differs from prepared to take the fall the methods used in preand be responsible for the vious years where stuactions of your team, but dents had to vote in the also be able to treasure Campus Center.

Students will be emailed on the day of elections with the link to the website that will allow them to vote.

Benac plans to visit social clubs and other student organizations to encourage students to run.

“Some of the most vibrant leaders on our campus are not involved see elections page 3

Fairs offers jobs, internships for all majors emily seidel

VIDEO

an Apple Distinguished School due to the broader diffusion of innovation and leadership throughout the university,” Weaver said.

In the fall, a team of faculty and staff from the Provost’s office and the library, including leaders in the Adams Center and the Learning Studio,

SA begins officer elections for next year

sports reporter

ONLINE

and that demonstrate Apple’s vision of exemplary learning environments.

This is the second time ACU has been honored with this award, said Dr. John Weaver, dean of Library Services and Educational Technology.

“This past year, we were invited to apply as

The Tri-University Teacher Job Fair and the Collegiate Career and Internship Fair will be open to former and present ACU, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry students on March 20 in the Abilene Civic Center.

“This is for full-time jobs, part-time jobs and internships,” said Jill Fortson, director of the Career Center.

“It is for all sorts of things and you will have the opportunity to speak to employers right there. You need to come prepared for that.”

Students and ACU alumni are welcome.

“Any current student and

even former students, as long as they attended and graduated from ACU, can attend if they are looking for work right now,” Fortson said.

The fair will consist of two segments. The Tri-University Teacher Fair will last from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Collegiate Career and Internship Fair will begin that afternoon at 1 p.m. and last until 4 p.m.

“There will be all types of employers there to cover all types of majors,” Fortson said. “We have TV stations, social work, speech pathology, agriculture, accounting, government positions, along with some police forces that will be there.”

The event is free, but there are requirements.

“Professional dress is re-

quired to get in,” Fortson said. “You do not have to register to get in the door; you will do that there. I do recommend that you bring multiple resumes and possibly a networking card to hand out.”

ACU will offer mock interviews to help prepare students from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. Students can sign up on Career Link.

The event will be hosted at The West Central Texas Career Consortium. “[The event] consists of seven colleges and universities and they all come together to put on multiple fairs throughout the year,” Fortson said. “This is the biggest one that they do.”

The ACU Career Center

Abilene Christian University

TRI-UNIVERSITY JOB FAIRS At the West Central Texas Career Consortium on Thursday Teacher Fair: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Collegiate Career and Internship Fair: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

has worked hard alongside McMurry and Hardin-Simmons throughout the planning of the event.

“It has been really great working not only with ACU employees but the Abilene community as a whole, with Hardin-Simmons and Mc-

Murry,” said Brandon Kahla, graduate student of organizational development, from Abilene.

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Wednesday 03.19.14

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Wednesday 1:30 p.m. Mock

20 Thursday

interviews in Career Center

Chapel checkup To date:

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Friday

Midterm grades available to students

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22

All day - Track at Angelo State University

Saturday

10 a.m. Track vs. War Hawk Classic

Around Abilene

Remaining:

60 40 @acuoptimist The Optimist

Mar. 19 6:33 p.m. Beltway College Park at the Paramount Theatre.

12 p.m. Cara Hines and Bird Thomas will perform The Art of Tea at he Center for Contemporary Arts as part of the Mid-month Movie Matinee.

Mar. 20

Mar. 21

Mar. 22

1 p.m. The Abilene Civic Center is hosting the Collegiate Career and Internship Fair.

Students are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume and professional dress is required.

7 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is hosting the 10th Annual Film Fest Awards Gala.

This is a black tie event.

4 p.m. The Majestic will have a launch party featuring live mucis, food trucks and a clothes swap. Admission is free.

7 p.m. The Paramount Theatre will host Abilene Idol 2014 Finale. Cost is $10.

optimist@acu.edu Police Log Announcements Julie Connor, Central Texas Diplomat in Residence, will speak at 5 p.m. tonight in the Campus Center Living Room. She will talk about internship and career opportunities around the world and all majors are welcome.

ACU Rodeo registration is open in the Campus Center. The rodeo will be hosted by the Agricultural and Environmental Science Club at the Taylor County Expo Center Horse Barn on March 27.

Cost is $100 per team of four. General admission is $5 or $8 for two.

Sigma Tau Delta is sponsoring a po-

etry contest with a first place award of $100. Students may submit up to three poems, or three pages, to participate.

Submissions should be turned into Chambers 308 by 5 p.m. on March 31.

workshop fundraiser from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on March 22 in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Competitive Latin dancers will teach Salsa and Bachata. Lessons cost $5.

ing students to work as student advisors this summer. For more information, contact D’Angelo Sands at 324-674-2514.

Law school scholarship applications for Baylor and Pepperdine Law Schools are available through the political science department in Room 220 of the Hardin Administration building. Application deadline is at 4 p.m on March 26. For more information, email Carmen Price at cjp11a@acu.edu or call 325-675-2005.

Hispanos Unidos will host a Latin dance

Registration for the Kirk Goodwin Run is open. Applicants can register for the Run the West half marathon for $80 or the classic 5k for $20. The race will be Women for ACU is offering a $2,000 scholon April 26. To register, visit www.kirk- arship for men and women. All applications goodwinrun.com. and materials must be submitted by Friday.

For more information, visit www.acu.edu.

WACUscholarship.com.

Upward Bound Summer Academy is seek-

The Images of Aging Photo Contest deadline is Friday. For more information, visit blogs.acu.edu/imagesofaging, email imagesofaginf@acu.edu or call 325-674-2350.

Volunteer Opp0rtunities Beltway Park Baptist Church is seeking volunteers to help with special needs children in their program Kingdon Kids.

Volunteers would be needed on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. For more information, contact Sharla Sanders at 325-692-6540 or sharlasanders@beltway.org.

Grace Point Church is looking for creative students with craftsmanship skills to volunteer for Vacation Bible School.

Volunteers will be creating props, sets and decorations in preparation for the program. For more information, call Ruth Gregory at 325-675-5060.

New Life Alliance is searching for tutors, Khan Academy coaches, junior acheivement teachers and volunteers for their upcoming Easter program. For more information, contact Ashley Parker at 325-672-1636 or aparker@ newlife-alliance.org.

The International Rescue Committee in Abilene needs your help in welcoming refugees to our community. We are seeking the following donations: hygiene and cleaning supplies, bed linen, towels and kitchen items (dishware, silverware, pots/pans etc). Donations are accepted Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2-4pm or by appointment.

Theirr office is located at 3303 North Third Street Suite D in Abilene, Texas. For more information contact MariePascale Manishimwe at 325-675-5643.

Treadaway Kids is looking for more students and volunteers to join the group. For more information, contact Carly Henderson at cah10a@acu.edu.

JUMP @ Abilene North Apartments is seeking students to asssist in teaching the Gospel to at-risk low-income children. Students must be avaliable to volunteer from 4-5:30 p.m. on Mondays. Service opportunity begins Jan. 27 and lasts until April 28. For more information, contact Caroline Thompson at 281-782-2956 or crt12a@acu.edu.

Friends for Life is seeking volunteers to help with both elderly residents and independent living elderly. Nursing home service opportunities include visiting, playing games, reading to the blind and assisting in arts and crafts. Independent living service opportunities include mowing lawns, grocery shopping and changing light bulbs. To volunteer contact Cecilia Barahona at 325-672-2635 or cecilia@ friendsforlife.org.

The Noah Project is seeking volunteers to help with tasks such as answering phone calls, providing child care and doing maintenance and housekeeping. To volunteer call 325-676-7107.

Love and Care Ministries is looking for volunteers to help with sorting clothing, stocking their food pantry, assisting in prayers in their prayer room and serving food to the homeless. For more information call 325-670-0246.

Volunteers are needed at the BCFS Abilene Transition Center for event planning and setup, assisting in teaching life skills classes, accompanying transport, visiting homes and/or assisting in construction of facilities for assisting in the betterment of male and female youth ages 15-25.

This opportunity is open each morning Mondays through Fridays. Students interested must contact Johnny Nguyen at 325-692-0033 or jnguyen@bcfs.net.

Meals on Wheels Plus needs volunteer drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors and adults with disabilities Monday-Friday between 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Training is provided. For more information contact Samantha Barker at 352-672-5050 or visit http://mealsonwheelsplus.com.

University Place is seeking volunteers to help with resident birthday parties for residents on the third Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. For more information contact Linda Tijerina at 325-676-9946.

House of Faith is an organization that seeks to take Jesus to neighborhood children. Volunteers are needed to help with the various programs they do throughout the week. Backyard Bible studies are hosted Mondays and Wednesdays and a youth program takes place on Thursday evenings. The organization is seeking volunteers who can commit to a specific day a week. House of Faith lasts from 3-5:30 p.m. To volunteer or gain more information contact Amy Jeffers at abj09a@acu.edu or call 832-331-5324.

Rescue the Animals is seeking volunteers to work at the adoption center performing a variety of tasks, from playing with the animals to working in the office. For more information visit their website at http://www.rescuetheanimals.org/volunteer.

The Abilene Zoo is looking for volunteers to help with general labor such as grounds cleanup and painting any weekday at any time between 12-4 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Ln. Contact Joy Harsh at 325676-6487 for more information.

Breakfast on Beech Street is seeking volunteers to help set up, prepare and serve breakfast to homeless/lower income folks any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday at 5:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 5 a.m.

B.O.B.S. is located at First Christian Church on 3rd St. and Beech St. Service times must be scheduled in advance. To serve on Mondays contact Jody Depriest at 325-669-3312 or jody.depriest@gmail.com.

To serve on Tuesdays contact Allen Daugherty at 325-660-6949 or ale.al@suddenlink.net. To serve on Wednesdays contact Jane Harvey at 325-695-0092 or jharvread@aol.com. To serve on Thursdays contact Margaret Beasley at 325-692-4149 or mbeasley5@ suddenlink.net. To serve on Fridays contact Terry Stremmel at terry.stremmel@acu.edu.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters offers two volunteer programs. Lunch Buddies pairs volunteers with a little brother or sister to have lunch with once a week for 30 minutes. Lunch Buddies has a preferred time of 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Community Based program pairs volunteers with a little brother or sister that they will hang out with two to four times a month.

Both programs require committment to the program for 12-18 months. To sign up stop by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters office at 547 Chestnut St. or contact Randy Woods at 325-674-3102.

The National Center For Children’s Illustrated Literature is looking for volunteers to greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Help is also needed for special events like Artwalk and exhibit openings. The NCCIL is located at 102 Cedar St. For more information on times and dates contact Debby Lillick at 325-673-4586 or visit http://www.nccil.org/index.htm.

The International Rescue Committee is asking for Digital TV Converter Boxes to accompany several older televisions for refugees within Abilene. Drop offs are requested at the office located on 3303 N. 3rd Street, Suite D from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesday. This is a helpful way to make a difference in the lives of refugees who recently resettled into the local community. For more information, contact Marie-Pascale Manishimwe at 325-675-5643.

The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to help sort and stock food and other items any weekday Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Food Bank is located at 5505 N. 1st St. For more information contact Janice Serrault at 325-695-6311 or abfoodbk@camalott.com.

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs such as sorting and pricing items in the thrift store, helping in the kitchen and/or doing yard work. Times are flexible and volunteers are needed Monday-Saturday. The Salvation Army is located at 1726 Butternut St. For more information contact J.D. Alonzo at 325-677-1408 or visit www. satruck.com.

The Christian Service Center is seeking volunteers to help with filling requests for items such as clothing and bedding from the donation center, sort and organize donations and occasionally pick up donated items. Volunteers are needed every weekday and the first Saturday of each month between 9-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. For more information contact Roberta Brown at 325-673-7561 orrobertabrown51@hotmail. com. Visit http://www.uccabilene.org/ministries/csc. htm.

Christian Ministries Food Pantry needs volunteers to help with tasks such as cleaning up, stocking shelves and bagging flour. It is looking for students who can make a commitment of 1-3 hours a week. For more information contact Becky Almanza at 325-673-5295 or balmanza7@sbcglobal.net.

The Center for Contemporary Arts needs a gallery assistant to greet partons, answer phones and answer basic questions about the Center and its programs.

Volunteer opportunities are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays-Fridays. For more information contact Jennifer Parks at 325-677-8389 or jennifer@center-arts.com.

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news

Wednesday 03.19.14

Hendrick plans on expanding hospice

“

While it’s important to celebrate and remember our past, we need to look to the future.”

for Hendrick Medical Center.

“While it’s important to celebrate and remember our Hendrick Hospice Care past, we need to look to plans to construct a new the future of Hendrick norm Archibald Hospice Care and how to Hospice Care Center vice president for a couple blocks away Hendrick Medical Center best meet the needs of our from Hendrick’s primary community.” hospital site.

The estimated cost for The announcement plans for the Hendrick the care center is $10.4 of the expansion came Hospice Care Center at million, which will come March 3, the same day our 30th Anniversary mostly from donations. the Hendrick Hospice Celebration, surrounded The care center has 8.7 Care celebrated its 30th by community members acres mapped out that anniversary. who believe in our will be home to a 40,800 “We believe it was only mission,” said Norm square foot complex fitting to announce future Archibald, vice president with 16 patient rooms.

matt sloan

sports director

Future expansion of eight more rooms will also be possible in the future.

The center will also have various rooms for family members and friends of the patients, an exterior walking track, a chapel, a counseling room and several other accommodations.

The new building will also have administrative and home care offices on site.

“The new facility will give patients and their families more space to spend with each other

and provide a homelike environment,” said Karen Tucek, director of Hendrick Hospice Care.

“We are very excited to move everyone under one roof. Our current facilities do not include a dedicated area for educational sessions and has very limited space for family gatherings.

Additionally, our Hospice team is separated into three buildings located several blocks from the main hospital campus.

This will be a wonderful

move for everyone.”

Hendrick plans to begin building the new facility in less than a year.

The hospital plans to start construction in February of 2015 and open the new center 16 months later in May of 2016.

Donations can be made to Hendrick Medical Center Foundation at 1900 Pine St., Abilene, TX 79601. contact sloan at mes10b@acu.edu

Student agency wins production award allison brown student reporter Two commercials produced by 99 West, ACU’s student multimedia agency, recently received awards at local and national competitions.

99 West is in its first year of existence in the JMC Department, and they have already produced award-winning work.

The agency entered their ads for the Frontier Texas museum and ACU’s Campus Store in the local advertising competition, the ADDY Awards and in Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of

Media Arts.

Cade White, instructor of journalism and mass communication and coadvisor for 99 West, was excited both commercials proved to be competitive in their competitions.

The Frontier Texas and the Campus Store commercials won ADDYs for TV spots in the professional division of the local ad competition.

“The ADDYs is significant in its own way,” White said. “We were up against numerous professional agencies and our group, in its first year, won two awards they gave out.”

99 West entered their advertisement for

Frontier Texas in the BEA competition. BEA announced winners in mid-February, revealing ACU placed in the top five schools in the video division as an honorable mention for their 30-second TV spot.

“Sure, it’s an honorable mention but when you consider that we’re up against 1200 schools, the significance of that award is something we are excited about,” White said. “Especially since it’s 99 West’s first year of existence and producing work.”

Brance Armstrong, junior multimedia major from Odessa and producer for 99 West, was

“

We were up against numerous professional agencies, and our group, in its first year, won two awards they gave out.”

Cade White Instructor of journalism and mass communications

pleasantly surprised to find out they placed in the BEA competition.

“We didn’t even know we had won until we saw it on Facebook,” Armstrong said. “It was a nice surprise and we are definitely pretty proud of that commercial for Frontier Texas.”

Dr. Jessica Smith, associate professor of

journalism and mass communication and 99 West co-advisor, joined the JMC staff after the commercial was complete.

“The commercial was my introduction to the organization, so seeing that and knowing that our staff was capable of that level of work was impressive to me,” Smith said.

Last year’s BEA festival received over 1,250 entries in its 15 competitions.

“This really indicates to me that our staff is not just capable but commendable for their level of professionalism,” Smith said.

As 99 West continues

to grow and become established as an ad agency, the advisors and staff members are excited about what the future holds.

“We really hope that our business and service to clients continues to grow,” Smith said. “Our staff enjoys this kind of work. I am glad to see them honored and am looking forward to them having more opportunities to practice that in the future.”

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Images of Aging hosts third annual contest micah hermsdorf student reporter The Images of Aging photo contest extended the due date to Friday, March 21 from its previous date, March 17.

A high response rate and photo opportunities over spring break impacted the decision to push back the submission date, announced on the Images of Aging blog, h t t p : // b l o g s . a c u . e d u / imagesofaging/.

Students now have until Friday to submit their photos by email into one of the three contest categories: Black and White, Color and Mobile photos. The email address for submission is imagesofaging@acu.edu.

First and second place submissions are awarded for each category, along with honorable mentions.

A special awards luncheon will celebrate all the participants on April 8.

Laura Baxter, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Katy, entered the contest last year.

“I saw it as a great way to showcase pictures of the loved ones I cherish and admire,” Baxter said.

This year marks the fourth annual Images of Aging photo contest sponsored by the Pruett Gerontology Center.

Students are encouraged to take photos of a person who is at least 60 years of age or older to show their appreciation for

older adults in their lives and to enjoy digital photography.

“When I look at the photos I have submitted for the contest, I see the strength and joy in my grandfather’s wise eyes and hope that others do too,” Baxter said.

Baxter’s love for her grandparents is a key value the contest is trying to share.

Julie Reeger, an ACU speech pathology graduate from Lubbock, has worked at the Pruett Gerontology Center for three years and has seen what the contest brings every year.

“It encourages creative expressions through an appreciation for older adults and for people to share their love for

photography and art,” Reeger said. “They are all different, but they all show images of aging and give beauty to it.”

While Reeger’s degree is in speech pathology, she graduated with a certificate in gerontology after taking classes with Dr. Charles Pruett.

“He really made me understand the need for people to interact with older adults and have a relationship with them,” Reeger said. “I fell in love with older adults just because of their spirit and the stories you can learn from them.”

Images of Aging started out small, but the contest continues to grow every year. Last year, there were close to 50 submissions and all

Elections: SA prepares for filling positions from page 1 in SA right now; they’re involved in things that they’re passionate about and I think a lot of them could easily become passionate about leading the student body,” Benac said.

Benac said he is eager to reach out to potential candidates.

“Whoever the next treasurer will be, I am fully prepared to tell them exactly how to do my job and how to improve my

job,” said J.P. Ralston, senior financing and accounting major from Plano and SA treasurer. “There is never a perfect person, there is always improvement on the position.”

SA will hold an interest meeting on Thursday, March 20 at 4 p.m. on the first floor of the Campus Center in the SA office conference room.

At the interest meeting, students will receive petitions and will be given a week to obtain 10 percent

The Optimist

@acuoptimist

of the student body’s signatures.

After students achieve their petitions, they are free to put up campaigns.

If students meet the requirements, including classification, GPA and overall good standing with the University, they are free to run.

“You don’t need to be a finance and accounting major to run for my position,” Ralston said.

Specific majors are not required to run for any of

optimist@acu.edu

ACUOPTIMIST.com

the positions available.

“Get a group of guys, get out there and get excited about the election process,” Ralston said.

For more information, look up the SA Facebook page at www.facebook. com/acustudents “More than anything, I think that this should be an exciting time on our campus,” Benac said. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

were put on display in the Gerontology Department, sparking student’s interest for this year.

“There are older people constantly around us and to find an image and see the beauty in their aging is really neat,” Reeger said. “Not only can you

capture the moment and image of these people in a photo, but you will always have the memory of the conversations and stories they shared with you.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Opinion

Wednesday 03.19.14

4

editorial

St. Patrick had more than luck on his side the issue Millions of people around the world celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Monday.

our take St. Patrick’s story is motivating and should be remembered when celebrating the holiday.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world

by Irish and non-Irish alike. Today, the holiday is seen as an excuse to wear green clothes, eat corned beef, drink green beverages and maybe get a little rowdy.

On Monday, millions of people honored St. Patrick’s Day with parades and parties. New York City

hosted the oldest annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and had about 200,000 participants. In the Windy City, the Chicago River was dyed emerald green.

Other cities across the country hosted their own parades and parties.

The holiday is worth celebrating, but for more reasons than just sporting Irish pride.

Column

DAILY doodle dosage

St. Patrick didn’t become the patron saint of Ireland because he was lucky. His story is an inspiration to everyone, including college students suffering from the “postspring-break-blues.”

Though St. Patrick is an Irish icon, he was actually born in Britain, more than 1,500 years ago.

When he was 16, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish marauders and taken back to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. While in captivity he worked as a shepherd and converted to Christianity.

After six years, Patrick escaped and returned to

his home in Britain. However, he received a vision instructing him to return to Ireland and minister to

“

ity and built schools and monasteries.

According to legend, Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to illustrate the Trinity to the Irish pagans. Because of this story, the 18th century Irish people began wearing shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day to show their pride. This tradition eventually evolved into wearing green clothing.

The holiday is celebrated on March 17, which is supposedly the day Patrick died. It was made an official Christian feast day and a national public holiday in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The holiday is worth celebrating, but for more reasons than just sporting Irish pride.”

the people there. Though Patrick faced opposition from many of the pagan groups, he converted many Irish to Christian-

Ben Todd

Patrick’s success had nothing to do with luck.

His strong faith, patience, perseverance and dedication helped him accomplish so much. He overcame many adversities and his deeds are still celebrated more than a thousand years later.

So next year, don’t hesitate to sport some green and have some fun on St. Patrick’s Day. Remember the holiday’s true meaning. And don’t hesitate to take a leaf (or a shamrock) out of St. Patrick’s book. contact The Optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Column

How to break up with spring break

Fixed on Netflix

There is nothing more painful to a first world college student than waking up on the Monday morning after spring break. Months spent in anticipation of a glorious week devoid of all adult responsibilities come crashing down in a sea of research papers, applications and ridiculously long to-do lists.

Recovering from spring break requires intense detoxification from people and sun. Ice cream, Taco Bell and bad Netflix movies will likely be called in.

If you’re brave enough to accept the consequences, you might even consider indulging in a binge-worthy show and forsaking human interaction and decent grades when given the opportunity to watch seven seasons of a show in one sitting.

You may need to dress casually and definitely need to forgo pants or anything not made of elastic. Outings should be made sparingly and with caution. Abilene is a small town and you don’t know who you’ll run into.

If you’re caught at United buying pints of ice cream and other necessities, claim it’s for a friend who just got dumped.

After spending the first eight weeks of the semester looking forward to one week of freedom, eight more weeks now loom between us and summer.

Console yourself in the knowledge that with summer comes eight weeks to indulge in nothingness

Couches have never been so potatoed since the arrival of Neflix. Suddenly, dates are home-delivered, TV shows are gulped in season gorgings and Blockbuster has vanished — or been banished from the entertainment-providing building.

On a normal weeknight, Netflix accounts for almost a third of all Internet traffic in North American homes. That’s more than YouTube, Hulu, Amazon.com, HBO Go, iTunes and BitTorrent combined.

And out of the 36 million subscribers, the collegeaged are among the top viewers.

The time-shifting, cord-cutting service has allowed students to schedule their entertainment around their agenda. Netflix has also learned the way to a student’s heart is through his or her wallet, with a monthly fee costing less than the average movie ticket. Furthermore, on a campus of iPads, iPhones and gobs of other iStuff, Netflix also caters to the device assortment of ACU students.

In turn, Netflix has become as quintessential as a Keurig to the student lifestyle. So with great binging comes greater self-restraining.

A few tips as you stream, er, study your nights away: 1. When choosing a new TV series, opt for one with all seasons available.

For nothing is more heartwrenching than the shift from instant-gratification

PASS THE PUNS, PLEASE

GABI POWELL FEATURES EDITOR

KNOCK ON WOOD ALIKAY WOOD ARTS EDITOR

and shirk all responsibility. Unless, of course, you’re one of those career-oriented people with an internship, jobs and

LinkedIn profiles to stalk.

If you’re one of them, you can say goodbye to the carefree college life and accept your fate as a cor

porate zombie.

To the rest of you I say it does not have to end.

Preserve your fake tan with religious devotion and ignore the persistent nagging of adulthood.

Spring break. Spring break forever, my friends. contact Wood at AKW10a@acu.edu

“

On a normal weeknight, Netflix accounts for almost a third of all Internet traffic in North American homes.”

to immediate-halt of a story plot.

2. ACU Appropriate – screen before you stream, lest you are caught catching up on your raunchy TV series in the middle of Brown Library. Shame on you, freshmen are studying. Shame on you, God is watching.

3. Balance out your binge choices. For example, should you take in a season or four of Breaking Bad, lighten the load with some New Girl laughs.

4. Set a time-limit on your TV-streaming feast for school and sanity’s sake. No one should shove aside bottomless ocean of assignments. And no one should go through the emotional rollercoaster of an entire TV series in the span of a few days.

Four billion hours of Netflixed entertainment are watched every three months. So let us remember the fatal attraction of Netflix is also what we often forget to do: shift the time and cut the cord. contact POWELL at GMP10B@acu.edu

hashtagACU March 8 9:09 p.m.

There’s a movie on Hallmark right now called “Ring by Spring.” It’s all about relationships at ACU @overheardACU @acuoptimist #Gotem

@chrisjohn310

March 16 7:18 p.m.

March 15 2:36 p.m.

It hasn’t even been a week and I miss Abilene. This can’t be a good sign. #ACU

@SirmanTyler

March 16 8:22 p.m.

Told myself I would be productive today. Filling out my bracket counts, right?

@Twtrless_Mandy

@SoyTophu

March 17 10:32 a.m.

Just got dat chapel email.. #crying #noschool2k14

@anthonyhi11

@KelseySmith31

In one short week I completely forgot everything I knew about how to college .-.

@ryne_parrish

March 17 9:33 a.m.

March 17 11:31 a.m.

*Deletes advising appointments email* Nope. #senioritisthoughts

@Toni_Maisano

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March 16 6:33 p.m.

Two things I know for sure: spring break is never long enough, and senioritis is real. So real.

@TotesCourts

March 17 9:04 a.m.

March 16 4:59 p.m.

I get back to Abilene only to learn that the fence grew and blocked more parking spots. #ACUprobs #McKinzieprobs

March 16 6:02 p.m.

Run to Walmart for milk. Buy $40 worth of groceries..none of which was milk. I need to start making lists...

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5

news

Wednesday 03.19.14

March Madness hits campus in challenge collin weider assistant sports editor ACU students begin their search for the perfect bracket again this year for March Madness but not just on websites.

This week, ACU Intramurals begin it’s own Tournament Challenge for the popular sports game through ESPN.com. This year is ACU’s first year to have the tournament.

Students can register for

free and registration ends tonight.

Students must create an account on ESPN’s website before entering the contest.

Students then enter the bracket by searching ACU Intramurals.

The details of the brackets are endless. First, students will have to pick from 64 teams from four different regions. Then students have to move the teams along through the round of 32, the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, the Final Four and the National

Title. Students not only have to guess the winner, but also the scores of the winning and losing teams.

The top 10 brackets will get T-shirts and the participants will receive intramural points.

This year’s tournament has an added incentive to play. Warren Buffett, a billionaire, is offering $1 billion dollars to the perfect bracket. Students can enter the contest at quickenloansbracket.com.

Wesley Scott, a

sophomore engineering major from Leander, thinks the challenge is impossible.

“I think it’s pretty cool if you were to win it,” Scott said. “I just don’t think anyone is going to win it ever, so it’s kind of smart on his part.”

Spots are limited in this bracket with only the first 15 million allowed to participate. The perfect bracket odds sit at 9.2 quintillion-to-one according to the Washington Post.

The perfect bracket may

not happen but the top 20 most accurate brackets will receive $100,000 each.

Kyle Pinson, director of intramurals, hopes there is large participation from students and faculty.

“My hope for the tournament would be that we could get a lot of faculty, staff and students to sign up so all ACU is competing,” Pinson said. “It’s something that’s super easy to do and isn’t difficult to set up.”

Intramural points are a huge part of Intramurals,

especially for social clubs, and clubs will receive points for getting individuals to participate.

“I’m always looking for ways to reach students, faculty, and staff who normally do not participate in intramurals,” Pinson said.

“This is a small way to do that and increase the sense of community through a new activity. contact weider at cpw11a@acu.edu

Swing Cats attend conference over break logan sartain student reporter ACU Swing Cats attended an international swing dance convention in Houston, March 13-16.

The convention, Lindyfest, celebrated its eighteenth year.

“It’s the biggest gathering of swing dancers in the United States,” said Blair Agan, junior political science and communication major from Lake Jackson, and member of the ACU Swing Cats.

Lindyfest consists of workshops for beginners and advanced dancers taught by professionals from around the world, Lone Star Invitational competitions and social dances at night, said Ashton Bailey, senior accounting major from Mexia, and ACU Swing Cats treasurer.

Interacting with professionals is one of the highlights of the convention, Bailey said.

“You have just as much of a chance to dance with them as you do with anybody else,” Bailey said. “It’s a lot

of fun getting to learn from these incredible dancers.”

The social dances at Lindyfest begin at 9 p.m. and continue until 5 a.m., Agan said.

“How often do you get people from around the world to come to one place and all get to swing dance?”

Agan said.

Connecting with other swing dancers from across the globe creates a sense of community, Bailey said.

This year, 10 members of the ACU Swing Cats attended Lindyfest, said Elisa Wyrick, senior English major from

The Woodlands and ACU fee was expected of each Swing Cats secretary. individual that attended, Agan said.

How often do you get The convention gets its people from around the name from the particular type of swing dancing world to come to one practiced in Houston. Lindy place and all get to swing is pre-World War II swing dancing, Wyrick said. dance?”

The ACU Swing Cats blaire agan focus on the same style of junior political science and swing dancing. communication major Lindyfest also featured from Lake Jackson a live band playing classic hits.

SA was able to pay for The ages of the people at the ACU Swing Cats’ hotel Lindyfest range from prerooms for the convention, teens to couples in their 60s but the $299 registration and 70s. While there were

“

other college swing dancers there, ACU Swing Cats were the only collegiate swing dance group that attended, Wyrick said.

“I think that we have a really strong community as a club,” Wyrick said. “We like to improve and go out and dance together and bring back stuff.”

Wyrick said the ACU Swing Cats plans to continue to attend Lindyfest every year. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Seekers of the Word host fundraiser at deli catherine blakemore student reporter ACU’s student drama ministry group, Seekers of the Word, will have a fundraiser Thursday, March 27 from 5-8 p.m. at Jason’s Deli.

The ministry group creates and performs skits with biblical concepts and meanings, with the mission of spreading God’s word.

Emmy Sparks, Seekers of the Word president

and senior biology major from Boulder, Colo., and secretary Brantly Houston, junior advertising and public relations major from Abilene have been working to solidify the date and work alongside Jason’s Deli to create the fundraiser.

“Planning has been relatively easy; all that’s left for us to do is get the word out,” Sparks said.

The group works each semester on their skits and have a varied audiences ranging from church youth

groups, weekend retreats, group devotionals and other church ministries.

“We do a Chapel forum at the end of the year, we’ve performed at churches in the Dallas area,” Houston said. “Last spring break, [they] went to Colorado.

In the past, Seekers back in the day, they’ve gone as far as California. They’ve done youth group retreats and Sunday morning and Wednesday night services with youth groups. We’re doing this fundraiser to get a jumpstart on raising

gas money to go to out-oftown performances.”

The group will distribute flyers for students, faculty and friends to give to the cashier at Jason’s Deli when purchasing their meal, allowing a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the program.

“Our fundraiser is on the same day as the ACU Rodeo, but because our fundraiser is from 5-8, people who are planning on going but also want to support Seekers will have

time to grab a bite to eat Group Raise, which helps before the rodeo,” Sparks organizations get in said. contact with restaurants willing to help their Seekers is a ministry, so fundraisers.

“Seekers is a ministry, we don’t ask for donations so we don’t ask for or payment from the donations or payment people we are ministering from the people we are ministering to,” Sparks to.” said. “Fundraising helps Emmy Sparks us pay for gas when we senior biology major travel to our out-of-town from boulder, colo. performances.”

“

Jason’s Deli contacted Sparks through the website the group used,

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Crossing Cafe adds to selections kirsten holman copy editor The Crossing Cafe in the Mabee Business Building has happy hour from 121:15 p.m. where burritos are half-off. The cafe is also selling home-made cookies for the first time.

Mandy Stratton, sophomore finance and accounting major from Ham Lake, Minn. and leader of the student-run Crossing Cafe said, “We don’t like throwing away burritos at the end of the day because it’s just sad and wasteful, and so we decided that if we could sell them at a cheaper price to get rid of more of them and get them in peoples’ stomachs instead of in the garbage, that would be better.”

The Crossing Cafe sells breakfast burritos, kolaches, coffee and even

scantrons to help students prepare for the day.

“It tends to be busier Monday, Wednesday and Friday more than Tuesday and Thursday just because there are the three classes in the morning verses two classes,” Stratton said.

“We have seen an increase in profits all around,” Stratton said.

“Last semester, I know for sure it would just barely break even every day, but this semester we have been a little above that line so that is really cool to see.

But we have higher hopes for it, that we can offer more services and get more of the student population to know about it... not just the kids in the business building.”

For Valentine’s Day the Crossing Cafe sold homemade cookies made by Sarah Miller, graduate student in the masters of accountancy program

from Irving. Miller will continue to sell homemade cookies at the Crossing Cafe starting next week for the Easter, spring and summer seasons.

“It’s just a hobby that really just started when I went home for Christmas break,” Miller said.

There will be different types of cookies each week, said Stratton, such as flowers for spring, eggs for Easter and suns for summer. Miller said the cookies taste like a shortbread, a perfect treat with coffee.

“It’s just for fun,” Miller said. “And I am an accounting major so it’s like a creative outlet. So I will just keep doing it until it’s not fun anymore. If it’s a success, great, if it’s not then nothing is lost.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Apple: National award affirms university’s quality of education from page 1 ment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment,” Weaver said. “The award signals the successful quality of the learning experience at ACU, and this distinction has the potential to improve our standing among prospective students and other potential partners.”

Dr. Weaver said the award not only highlights the success of our campus, but also helps to raise the national and international profile of ACU. “We hope that it helps to advance a reputation for excellence at ACU that continues to attract diverse and highly qualified faculty and students,”

“

We hope that it helps to advance a reputation for excellence at ACU that continues to attract diverse and highly qualified faculty and students.”

Weaver said. “The award also raises the profile of ACU among potential employers, hopefully giving our graduates an advantage as they begin their careers. The award is also expanding and deepening the library’s set of individual and institutional collaborators around the world, which should translate into better learning resources and opportunities for our ACU community.”

Students said they are

Dr. john weaver dean of library services and educational technology

honored to attend a school that has received this honor.

“I am very proud to say that I am a student at ACU,” said Emmanuel Rindiro, sophomore accounting major from Kigali, Rwanda. “It is a huge honor to our campus, and I hope that we can continue to receive awards such as this one.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

austin kilcullent Staff Photographer

Southern Hills campus minister and Blaire Agan, junior political science and communication major from Lake Jackson, walk a mile in women’s shoes to support respecting women.

sports

Wednesday 3.19.14

Wildcats fall in season finale to UIW Daniel Zepeda sports editor The men’s basketball season came to close when junior guard Julian Edmonson’s game-tying three point attempt bounced off the front of the rim, securing the Wildcats 59-56 loss to the University of Incarnate Word last Saturday.

The loss leaves the Wildcats with a final regular season record of 11-20 and 2-12 in their first season as members of the Southland Conference.

“I thought the first half was just bad basketball from both teams, it’s hard to play when you really don’t have anything to play for after that game,” head coach Joe Golding said.

“The second half was much better, more competitive and we did a good job of staying in the game and fighting.”

The Cardinals finished their season with an impressive 21-6, 9-5 record as the Wildcats played tough, but did not have enough to finish out their season on the winning side.

The Wildcats trailed by as many as nine with 10 minutes left in the game. Edmonson cut the Cardinal lead to two points with just a little more than a minute to play on a layup that put the score at 55-53. After a UIW layup

forced the lead four points, sophomore guard and the Southland’s best three-point shooter sank a three to cut the lead to one point with 31 seconds left to play.

Freshman guard Michael Grant would go on to foul and send UIW to the line for one free throw. The miss off the front iron was secured by sophomore forward Austin Cooke and was dished off to Wentz.

Wentz drove to the lane looking to give the Wildcats their first lead of the second half, but was blocked and recovered by the Cardinals. Free throws would finish the game and leave ACU with yet another heartbreaking defeat.

“This game was similar to the way our last three to four weeks have been,” Golding said. “We’ve been good enough to be right there at the end and have a chance. We had the ball, down one and then again with the last possession and we just couldn’t get the shot we wanted.”

In typical Wentz fashion, he finished with a high 17 points and five steals in all 40 minutes of play. He came three points short of reaching 20 points, which snapped his five-game streak of recording at least 20 points in a game.

Sophomore forward James Pegues provided 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Rough shoot-

deanna romero chief Photographer

Junior guard Julian Edmonson drives against a defender in Moody Coliseum. Edmonson had six points on a rough 2-10 shooting night. ing plagued ACU as Julian boards, as the team shot just Edmonson put in six points 38.5 percent from the field for on 2-10 shooting, but add- the game. ed three assists and three Incarnate Word received

a combined 41 points from senior forward Anthony Horton and junior guard Denzel Livingston. Horton put in 20 points on 10-18 shooting and Livingston chipped in 21 points and five rebounds. Livingston (20.3) finished third in scoring in the Southland Conference.

The Wildcats were able to hold sophomore guard Kyle Hittle to just six points, as he averaged 16.3 points per contest, good enough for fifth in the Southland Conference.

The Wildcats will look to build on a solid group of players such as Wentz and Cooke, welcome back junior guards LaDarrien Williams and Harrison Hawkins and look to see what young players like freshman forward Riley Payne and Grant can add to the future of the men’s basketball program.

“What I’m really excited about is that we’re going to bring back a great core for the first time in a long time here at ACU,” Golding said.

“They’re going to be here all spring working, getting better individually by getting stronger, quicker and faster. And we’re going to continue to add pieces to the puzzle and get a winning program.”

contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu

Football reveals fall schedule Matthew Sloan sport’s Director The ACU football team will enter the Southland Conference for the first time in 42 years and will also take on several talented nonconference opponents.

The ACU Department of Athletics released the 2014 football schedule during spring break, which reveals the teams that ACU will play in its first 12-game regular season in program history.

The ACU football team starts the season when it heads to the Georgia Dome to play Football Bowl Subdivision foe, Georgia State on Aug. 27. Georgia State has not won a game since the 2012 season. The game also marks the Panther’s first season as an FBS team, as they were in the Football Championship Subdivision, which is the same division ACU is in.

“It is going to be a neat experience for the guys and us coaches,” head coach Ken Collums said. “The last couple years we have played in some pretty neat places and we have continued it this year in the Georgia Dome. We will be excited, ready and hopefully we will be healthy and make a good showing.”

The next week, ACU will play 2013 FCS playoff team Northern Arizona in Shotwell Stadium. The Wildcats have never faced Northern Arizona at home, and have not played the Lumberjacks since 1995.

The game will be ACU’s home opener.

ACU then travels to Alabama to take on the Troy Trojans. Troy is another

austin kilcullen Staff Photographer

Senior wide reciever Taylor Gabriel impressed many scouts at the Pro Day on March 7.

Gabriel ran an unofficial 4.27 second 40-meter dash in hopes of furthering his career.

FBS team and will provide a tougher test than Georgia State. The Trojans finished above .500 in the Sun Belt last season, lost to Duke by only seven points last season on the road and also beat Texas State by two touchdowns.

“When you look at our first three games you realize how far that we have to grow this thing,” Collums said.

“With those three games, that is pretty rough but that is what we signed up for when we moved up.”

ACU will head home after their trip to Troy to play their first Southland Conference game in over forty seasons when they play Incarnate

Word. ACU beat UIW at Homecoming last season, losing to the Cardinals in San Antonio a few weeks later.

The Wildcats next game will be on the road against the Houston Baptist Huskies.

ACU traveled to HBU last season as well, handing them a 69-12 loss. HBU will only be playing their second season of football in 2014, and ACU will look to beat the Huskies for a second time.

ACU has a two-game home stand after the return from Houston. ACU takes on Lamar Oct. 4 before playing Ave. Maria Oct. 11 for Homecoming. Ave. Maria is an NAIA team and Lamar

is a Southland Conference opponent.

The Wildcats travel to McNeese State and Sam Houston State after their twogame home stand to face two of the better teams in the Southland. Sam Houston State played in two straight National Championship games before taking a step back in 2013, and McNeese State spent much of the 2013 season ranked as well.

Nov. 1 ACU will welcome Central Arkansas to Shotwell Stadium with plenty of storylines swirling.

Collums won a National Championship with the Bears in the 1990s and also

coached as an assistant with UCA. In December, the Bears showed interest in Collums as a head coach, but he instead chose to sign a four-year extension with the Wildcats.

The game in November will be the first time Collums has faced UCA in his career.

“It will be a little bit weird when you are playing against your old school,” Collums said. “It’ll feel weird as the week goes on but once the game starts it doesn’t matter if we are playing Central Arkansas or the Dallas Cowboys we have to get out there and execute, communicate and be really sharp about what we are doing in order to win the game.”

ACU will make their second trip to Louisiana the next weekend to play Northwestern State before finishing their season at home against Stephen F. Austin.

The Wildcats’ 2014 schedule could be the toughest ACU has ever played, but should make for an exciting season as the ‘Cats usher in a new era in their second stint in the Southland Conference.

“There is an excitement and a little bit of nervousness too, and there should be,” Collums said. “ When you play against good teams there should be excitement and nervousness because if we don’t play well, we are not going to win. We just have to continue to put this thing together and grow it so that we can withstand and compete in a schedule like this and win some of these games.” contact Sloan at Mes10b@acu.edu

ACU earns three wins over the break hannah little sports reporter The softball team made progress last week when they played against Prairie View A&M Panthers for two backto-back double headers.

ACU went 3-1 both days, only losing the second game on Tuesday, 6-9.

The Wildcats defeated the Panthers 10-0 in the first game of the series, on a total of 14 hits. Senior outfielders Madison Buckley, Courtney Flanary and Lyndi Smith each scored two runs. Senior outfielder Ashley Nolan, freshman infielder Kyla Simmons, outfielder Taylor Brown and utility player Tori Valdivia each drove in one run.

“The highlight to me was speaking with our bats,” said austin kilcullen Staff Photographer Jacquelyn Perez, sophomore outfielder. “The other team Junior infielder Emily Seidel prepares for the ground ball.

6

standings Men’s basketball final standings

Team

Div.

Ovrl

SFA TAMU-CC SHSU NSU UIW ORU Nicholls St. MSU NO SELA UCA Lamar ACU HBU

18-0 14-4 13-5 12-6 9-5 10-8 10-8 9-9 8-10 7-11 5-13 3-15 2-12 2-16

31-2 17-15 23-10 17-14 21-6 17-16 14-15 11-20 11-15 12-18 8-21 4-26 11-20 6-25

woMen’s basketball final standings

Team

Div.

Ovrl

SFA Lamar UCA NSU TAMU-CC Nicholls St. ACU MSU SHSU HBU ORU SELA UIW NO

13-5 13-5 12-6 11-7 11-7 11-7 8-6 10-8 8-10 8-10 8-10 7-11 2-12 0-18

20-12 18-12 18-12 21-12 18-12 17-14 18-12 19-13 13-16 12-17 9-20 8-22 8-19 0-29

Who’s Hot Freshman pitcher Hannah Null has gotten off to a great start this Null season.

She has a solid 2.64 earned run average and has won six games already this season.

The freshman also has 84 strikeouts and has also only allowed a .253 opponent batting average.

briefings Senior Renata Marquez and freshman Suzzy Dimba each were named to the Southland Conference’s Honorable Mention List for their play in ACU’s first Div. I season.

Dimba also earned firstteam all defensive team, as she was the only freshman to earn that honor.

Two-time state champion pole vaulter Kami Berryhill has signed a National Letter of Intent to begin competing for ACU’s Track and Field program starting in 2015.

Follow @OptimistSports on Twitter for more stories and the latest ACU sports news.

Upcoming Women’s tennis will host Northwestern at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Abilene.

Track starts their outdoor season Friday at McMurry.

Men’s tennis plays this Saturday morning and afternoon. Their wanted to win talking, so runs for that game, making opponent has not yet we lit up their pitcher and her the player with the most been announced. started putting runs up on the board.”

The Wildcats not only had to have physical motivation to win the games, but also mental motivation. The series against Prairie View A&M was held over spring break and called for less rest than the usual break.

“We figured if we fought hard and won we could be given time off and have a spring break,” Perez said.

“And we did just that.”

Prairie View only tallied three hits in the first game, but were able to compete in the second game as they scored nine runs, five of which came in the fifth inning.

The second double header was a high scoring day for the Wildcats. ACU won 13-4 in the first game.

Brown scored a total of four

runs for the complete series.

“As a freshman, playing Div. I softball has really demanded more from me as a player than in high school,” Brown said. “The competition has really stepped up, as well as the pitching.”

ACU scored nine runs in the first inning of their final game, finishing with one run in the second and fourth innings. The game went five innings as the series against Prairie View A&M came to a close.

The wins have put ACU at 8-15 overall. The Wildcats will prepare for a three-game series against the University of Incarnate Word this weekend in San Antonio. contact little at hll12a@acu.edu

Baseball hits the road to play a doubleheader against Alabama A&M at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday in Huntsville, Ala. ` Softball will play a double-header against the University of Incarnate Word at 2 and 4 p.m. in San Antonio.