The Optimist 8.28.15

THE OPTIMIST VOL. 104. NO. 2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

1 SECTION, 12 PAGES

A D O B E CC FR E E FO R S E LEC T S T U D EN T S PAGE 5

CASA ACU CLOSURE AND WHAT’S NEXT PAGE 3

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Canvas and Cookies will take place outside of Moody after Chapel to celebrate the launching of Canvas, the new online course management system.

S P I R I T U A L F O R M AT I O N CREDITS *Number is based on days Chapel is offered in Moody

MONDAY

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from www.acuoptimist.com •

An informational meeting for girls interested in pledging a social club will be held in Cullen Auditorium from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

TUESDAY

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202 College Ministry at the Well will meet downtown at 202 Cypress Street; 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

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Healthy Woman Expo at the Abilene Civic Center from 5-9 p.m.

THURSDAY

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34th Annual Chili Super Bowl and CookOff at Old Settlers Reunion Grounds in Buffalo Gap will take place Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

SA Vice President Caleb Orr resigned Monday after he accepted a position on the senate staff of Marco Rubio (R-Florida) in Washington, D.C. Orr, a junior political science major from McKinney, will serve as a legislative correspondant for fiscal and economic policy for the senator. He has been replaced by interim VP Abbey Moses.

Jake Rosser & Co. will perform at the Neon Parrot Lounge at 8 p.m.

Brittany Jackson Editor-in-Chief Opinion Page Editor Allison Brown Online Managing Editor Page 2 Editor

SATURDAY •

Trevor, a dark comedy by Nick Jones in Van Ellis Theatre at Hardin-Simmons University at 2 p.m.

The common rooms of Mabee Hall and Nelson Hall were turned into dorm rooms over the summer. When Residence Life learned the large number of incoming freshmen, the staff realized therewouldn’t be enough beds for all of the students.

These rooms have four beds each, and residents even got to keep the large-screen televisions. With the conversion of these common rooms, 20 beds were added to Mabee Hall and eight were added in Nelson Hall.

By Haley Remenar

OME changes name, rebrands as OMA The Office of Multicultural Enrichment has changed its name to the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Prentice Ashford, director of OMA, said the change came from the decision to better define what the program does.

Along with changing the name, OMA received a new logo and mission statement.

By Allison Brown

published by the department of journalism and mass communication

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SUNDAY

SA vice president resigns, moves to D.C.

THE OPTIMIST

FRIDAY

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ACU cheerleaders are without uniforms because of an increase in the number of members on the squad. The team was forced to retire several older uniforms that did not contain the ACU trademarked logo, and these will be sold as a fundraiser.

New uniforms have been ordered, but until then, the team will wear ACU Wildcat T-shirts. Only six members and the mascot will travel to out of town games until the new uniforms are ready.

By Abbey Bowling

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Cheerleaders forced to go Freshman halls adapt to large class without uniforms

By Rachel Fritz

Ben Todd Cartoonist

Savanah Silva Sports Broadcast Producer

Shera Niemirowski Sports Multimedia Director

Kenneth Pybus Faculty Adviser

Hannah Null Sports Broadcast Producer

Cade White Visuals Adviser

Abby Runnels Copy Editor

Cara Lee Cranford Advertising Manager

Cassandra Cox Copy Editor

FOLLOW US ONLINE

Rachel Fritz Print Managing Editor

Abbey Bowling Sports Copy Editor

Elijah Evans Visuals Managing Editor

Daniel Zepeda Online Sports Editor

Mercedez Hernandez Arts & Features Editor

Collin Wieder Print Sports Editor

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08.28.15

NEWS

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Study Abroad converts to homestay program

BY BRITTANY JACKSON After 15 years of students filling the halls every fall, spring and summer, the Study Abroad office is closing its doors to Casa ACU in Uruguay.

Instead of placing the Latin American program’s students in the dorm-like housing at 2073 Colonia, Montevideo, the office will launch a homestay program. For the program, students will live with host families in the city presumably apart from all other classmates.

The facility, originally used as a roastery for a leading Urugayan coffee and tea brand, but was bought by a church in the 1990s. After it was renovated to feature villa-like living areas, the university was able to sign a lease and begin the Casa ACU legacy in 2000.

Stephen Shewmaker, executive director for the Center for International Education, said the El Chana congregation, which owns the building, informed ACU of its interest in selling the facility prior to the end of their lease agreement.

Shewmaker said the new approach to living situations should advance the office’s main goal for the program.

“One of the principle reasons for that program’s existence is Spanish language acquisition, and that kind of structure is more conducive to that.”

The homestay program will also give the office time to evaluate the best move in housing options for the long-term study abroad program in Latin America, whether that entails finding a similar building to Casa ACU or continuing homestays.

Paul Roggendorff, assistant professor and director of world languages in the Department of Language and Literature, will function as the program coordinator and point person throughout the design of the program.

“Paul has experience in working with a homestay program in Spain, and so he is the most capable and the best experienced person for us to be able to do that,” Shewmaker said.

In the past 15 years, students would fly to Montevideo with a facul-

ty member who would live with them in Casa ACU, in addition to having the resident directors in the house.

With the closure of Casa ACU, resident directors will no longer be necessary, and faculty members could potentially be living in a separate housing structure from the students.

However, Shewmaker said a faculty member will always be in the city with students.

He said the university is looking around the Pocitos neighborhood in Montevideo, close to the Rio de la Plata in the southern portion of the city, for homestay hosts.

“Safety is a consideration, and with a program location in Central and South America, safety and risk management is important, but we also have extensive experience in the city and a lot of people on our campus that are familiar with Montevideo,” he said. “We still see great opportunities there for our students to learn, connect and grow in ways that we would want a program to accomplish.”

Beatriz Walker, associate professor in the Department of Language and Literature and native Uruguayan, is leading the last program in Casa ACU. “To me it’s touching that after 15 years in Casa ACU, the professor that closes the program there is a native Uruguayan. It just happens to be a coincidence that I’ll be the professor with them at the last program at ACU,” she said.

Walker said when the language and literature department was still known as the foreign language department, staff and faculty recommended a homestay living to the Study Abroad office.

“With homestays, the culture will be enhanced. There’s not going to be any time spent with students among themselves talking about peanut butter and the things they miss,” she said. “They’re going to be with families soaking up the culture.” bkj12a@acu.edu

PHOTO COURTESY OF NIL SANTANA

The El Chana building was originally used to produce Uruguay’s leading brand of coffee and tea, but was bought by a Church of Christ organization in the 1990s.

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NEWS

08.28.15

Campus construction continues

BY ELIJAH EVANS Campus construction is in full swing at the beginning of this semester. New construction projects have started, construction from last semester is complete and smaller summer proj-

ects brightened up campus over the summer.

Bennett Engineering and Physics Laboratory and Elmer Gray Stadium are the two primary construction projects from the spring that have been completed.

The renovation of Bennett Gymnasium started in April 2014, and despite delays, was finished in mid-February.

Although the grand opening was Aug. 22, classes started in the new engineering and physics lab over the summer.

Similarly, construction of Elmer Gray Stadium finished at the end of last semester.

One track meet has already taken place at the stadium, said Kevin Roberts, chief information officer at ACU. The women’s soccer team has also been practicing at the stadium over the summer and played an intra-squad scrimmage there in early August.

Construction on the Onstead Sci-

“Our hope is that we’ll start moving dirt in January for the football stadium.”

Kevin Roberts ence Center, formerly Foster Science Building, is progressing nicely, Roberts said. The exterior portion will be completed in October or early November. This includes the atrium and glass exterior facing the quad. The quad is also being revamped, Roberts said.

Construction on the Halbert-Walling Research Center will soon begin in the massive hole that was the former location of Chambers Hall.

Halbert-Walling will provide laboratory space for modern scientific research and encourage robust collaboration between students and faculty, according to ACU. Contractors are currently finishing preparations to pour the foundations.

“Next month, Walling will come up out of the ground,” Roberts said.

Once Halbert-Walling is completed, labs will be moved from the Onstead Science Center to Halbert-Walling so construction can begin on the rest of Onstead.

Finally, the university is finalizing fundraising for the football stadium, which is projected to be open by Fall 2017.

“Our hope is that we’ll start moving dirt in January for the football stadium,” Roberts said. ece12a@acu.edu

08.28.15

5

NEWS

Adobe CC, university partner to release pilot programs

BY RACHEL FRITZ Adobe Creative Cloud will be available to a select group of students free of charge beginning Monday.

The university is making the software available to students in the Departments of Journalism and Mass Communication, Art and Design, Digital Entertainment Technology, as well as part of the College of Business Administration as a pilot before making it available to the whole campus.

Dr. Robert Rhodes, provost of the university, approved the contract between the university and Adobe, making it possible to provide it free to students.

“One of the things we want to be sure of as we talk about innovation here at ACU is that it’s not just based on hardware and devices,” Rhodes said. “Much of the innovation has moved from just having the devices to having access to software and technology that is more about the programs and the software that’s available.”

In the past, ACU has provided students with iPads and iPhones as part of an initiative to have technology incorporated into curriculum. The university no longer offers students free Apple devices, but to continue the learning initiative, faculty of the university decided to approach Adobe and make a deal.

John Weaver, dean of library services and educational technology, has been a key players in negotiating with Adobe and making the software available to students in hopes that it will better prepare them for the future.

“ACU has a reputation in higher education for purposefully connecting its students and faculty to emerging technologies in the broader culture, such as the iPhone and iPad, which have direct and meaningful application to teaching, learning and preparation for the job market,” Weaver said. “The focus on innovative and impactful technology is now continuing with ACU’s campus-wide licensing of Adobe Creative Cloud, which itself is a pioneering transformation of established, market-leading software.”

According to a survey conducted by Adobe in 2014, more than a thousand hiring managers reported that 94 per-

cent of the managers agreed creativity is key when evaluating candidates, and 82 percent agreed the ability to communicate through digital and visual media are becoming essential skills.

“For a number of departments on campus, and for many corporations, the skilled use of Creative Cloud tools is required knowledge,” Weaver said.

“This initiative with Adobe brings the power of these professional tools to all of our students, for whom multimedia creativity is an increasingly essential skill, regardless of academic discipline.”

Weaver said ACU’s provision of Adobe CC is one new component in a broader strategy to foster digital creativity and other innovative skills for real applications in a global context.

Alongside Weaver is Marisa Beard, director of educational technology. She has also taken part in the negotiating process with Adobe.

Though the software is planned to be available for all students by the spring semester, Beard said it is only available to about 500 students to allow time to test and improve, if necessary, the technical process for accessing, downloading and troubleshooting the software.

“The reason we did that is so it would only affect 500 and not 4,000,” Beard said.

Adobe CC will be accessed from remote servers and downloaded to students’ personal computers. The software, which includes InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, usually costs $240 for students. The software has been available for use on all campus lab computers, but this is the first time the software will be available for students to download in their personal computers.

“The university was able to arrange partnership pricing with Adobe that is a fraction of the cost of the retail price for students and most other universities,” Beard said. “It was a deal offered

by Adobe to a small number of other partner universities around the country.”

Weaver said he and Beard are still in the process of negotiating the deal with Adobe and plan to meet with them next week to discuss more details of the agreement. ref11a@acu.edu

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADOBE

Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud is one of many programs offered by Adobe that will be available for students to download on their personal computers.

F E AT U R E S

7

Dr. Brenda Bender, an ACU alumnus, has been teaching at ACU for more than a decade.

Walking the Talk Speech pathology professor receives award and praise from students for teaching

“She has been a good example to all of us on how we can think outside the box in terms of teaching.”

Dr. Terry Baggs

BY ELIJAH EVANS

D

ELIJAH EVANS VISUALS EDITOR

r. Brenda Bender didn’t have any interest in speech pathology in 1986 as a freshman. Twenty nine years and two degrees later, she is the teacher of the year in the communication sciences and disorders department.

“I wanted to make a difference in how we educate masters level speech pathologists,” she said.

Bender, associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was named Teacher of the Year at graduation last May. When she was announced as the recipient of the award at graduation, her students gave her a standing ovation.

Even today, several months after graduation, several of her former students warmly recall Dr. Bender’s teaching prowess and enthusiastically emphasize her kindness and patience.

“She was someone who would always go above and beyond to help her students,” said Becca Clay, who graduated from the Speech-Language Pathology masters program in the spring and was Dr. Bender’s graduate assistant

for two years. “She was an extra-mile teacher, for sure.”

After getting her masters at the University of North Texas in 1994, she worked in the speech pathology field for about five years before she decided to pursue her doctorate at the University of Memphis.

The speech pathology field has a shortage of doctorate level and Ph.D.-trained faculty, Bender said. fter the department chair at ACU contacted Bender and offered her a position, she came onto faculty at ACU in 2001. She started teaching in January of 2002, just after ACU established the graduate program.

She served as the department chair from 2006 through spring 2015, while teaching graduate classes, investigating speech disorders and continuing to treat patients.

“Teaching is my vocation,” Bender said. “I come from a long line of teachers, so as a speech pathologist you use those skills of teaching with patients. I think that my job is to help another person to understand the world and themselves better than when they came in the door that

A

day.”

She relies on a multitude of techniques to achieve her goals with her patients, and she also utilizes a variety of activities in the classroom to help her students. Not only is she honest with her students, she also uses fun, hands-on activities to engage her students, Clay said.

Dr. Bender’s teaching philosophy is driven by her belief that we are all “created for communication” and that “everyone in the classroom is learning.” These two guiding principles mean that she engages her students every day and learns alongside them in every class.

“Not only is she an incredible professor, but she demonstrates the compassion necessary to engage the world as a passionate speech-language pathologist,” wrote Jordan Hanson, who graduated in the spring after receiving a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. “She instilled the idea of compassionately loving our patients and going the extra mile for them.” he new department chair Dr. Terry Baggs highlighted Dr. Bend-

T

er’s non-traditional teaching and departmental insightfulness.

“She has not only been a good administrator, she demonstrates excellent teaching skills,” Dr. Terry Baggs said. “She has been a good example to all of us on how we can think outside the box in terms of teaching.”

Both Clay and Hanson emphasized Dr. Bender’s classroom vigor and authenticity, and Dr. Baggs agreed.

“I think that’s one of the reasons she’s teacher of the year, because she’s not a traditional teacher,” he said.

“She helps a student not only gain the knowledge, but the skills they need to be a speech pathologist.”

Dr. Bender will continue to open her students’ minds, tune their ears to speech and treat patients in need of her help. But her impact is not just educational. Because she determinedly invests in her students, she also makes a lasting impact on them.

“We are all proud of her,” Clay said. “I miss her and wish she was still my professor.” ece12a@acu.edu

F E AT U R E S

7

Dr. Brenda Bender, an ACU alumnus, has been teaching at ACU for more than a decade.

Walking the Talk Speech pathology professor receives award and praise from students for teaching

“She has been a good example to all of us on how we can think outside the box in terms of teaching.”

Dr. Terry Baggs

BY ELIJAH EVANS

D

ELIJAH EVANS VISUALS EDITOR

r. Brenda Bender didn’t have any interest in speech pathology in 1986 as a freshman. Twenty nine years and two degrees later, she is the teacher of the year in the communication sciences and disorders department.

“I wanted to make a difference in how we educate masters level speech pathologists,” she said.

Bender, associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was named Teacher of the Year at graduation last May. When she was announced as the recipient of the award at graduation, her students gave her a standing ovation.

Even today, several months after graduation, several of her former students warmly recall Dr. Bender’s teaching prowess and enthusiastically emphasize her kindness and patience.

“She was someone who would always go above and beyond to help her students,” said Becca Clay, who graduated from the Speech-Language Pathology masters program in the spring and was Dr. Bender’s graduate assistant

for two years. “She was an extra-mile teacher, for sure.”

After getting her masters at the University of North Texas in 1994, she worked in the speech pathology field for about five years before she decided to pursue her doctorate at the University of Memphis.

The speech pathology field has a shortage of doctorate level and Ph.D.-trained faculty, Bender said. fter the department chair at ACU contacted Bender and offered her a position, she came onto faculty at ACU in 2001. She started teaching in January of 2002, just after ACU established the graduate program.

She served as the department chair from 2006 through spring 2015, while teaching graduate classes, investigating speech disorders and continuing to treat patients.

“Teaching is my vocation,” Bender said. “I come from a long line of teachers, so as a speech pathologist you use those skills of teaching with patients. I think that my job is to help another person to understand the world and themselves better than when they came in the door that

A

day.”

She relies on a multitude of techniques to achieve her goals with her patients, and she also utilizes a variety of activities in the classroom to help her students. Not only is she honest with her students, she also uses fun, hands-on activities to engage her students, Clay said.

Dr. Bender’s teaching philosophy is driven by her belief that we are all “created for communication” and that “everyone in the classroom is learning.” These two guiding principles mean that she engages her students every day and learns alongside them in every class.

“Not only is she an incredible professor, but she demonstrates the compassion necessary to engage the world as a passionate speech-language pathologist,” wrote Jordan Hanson, who graduated in the spring after receiving a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. “She instilled the idea of compassionately loving our patients and going the extra mile for them.” he new department chair Dr. Terry Baggs highlighted Dr. Bend-

T

er’s non-traditional teaching and departmental insightfulness.

“She has not only been a good administrator, she demonstrates excellent teaching skills,” Dr. Terry Baggs said. “She has been a good example to all of us on how we can think outside the box in terms of teaching.”

Both Clay and Hanson emphasized Dr. Bender’s classroom vigor and authenticity, and Dr. Baggs agreed.

“I think that’s one of the reasons she’s teacher of the year, because she’s not a traditional teacher,” he said.

“She helps a student not only gain the knowledge, but the skills they need to be a speech pathologist.”

Dr. Bender will continue to open her students’ minds, tune their ears to speech and treat patients in need of her help. But her impact is not just educational. Because she determinedly invests in her students, she also makes a lasting impact on them.

“We are all proud of her,” Clay said. “I miss her and wish she was still my professor.” ece12a@acu.edu

08.28.15

OPINION

Opinion page aims to stir conversation The function of the Opinion page is to get students, faculty, staff and all other readers to talk about things happening on and off campus. By detailing our opinions through columns, editorials and cartoons, we hope to stir up conversation about things ranging from the lack of Blue Bell to recent shootings.

Just as we are encouraged to think critically and globally in our coursework, the Opinion page is meant to encourage students to look at an argument from each perspective and defend their own. Editorials and columns will feature an issue, background and a possible solution or stance that the writers see fit.

We do realize school is taxing on brain power at times, so comedic relief is provided through cartoons and featured social media.

The editorial board features eight regular writers, those featured in Monday’s issue.

Each editorial is composed of the opinions from each board member.

The cartoon is meant to use one of the world’s best tool in handling bad, awkward or unsettling news: humor. Or, if a situation is too important to not take seriously, it helps readers to visualize the issue at hand.

Tweets are there for reader entertainment and as a way to let students’ voices be heard.

Columns are also written by these board members, though the content featured under their picture on the editorial page is their sole opinion and does not reflect the entire board.

The opinion page is not meant solely for the editorial board’s ideas, it’s to generate conversation and provide a venue for student voices to be heard. Anyone can comment online, and letters to the editor are encouraged and may be published in the Optimist or online.

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

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

The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters

containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes.

Phone numbers will not be published.

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

9

OPINION

08.28.15

Senior moment: Looking back, looking forward On the Fritz Rachel Fritz I’m a senior in college, and I haven’t quite wrapped my mind around what that means.

If you’d have asked me last year where I thought I’d be at this point, I could not have told you I’d be the print managing editor for my university’s newspaper, or that I’ve already worked at two newspa-

pers, or that I’ve decided to stop straightening my hair. I’ve never seen myself as leadership material, and I was a firm believer in a relaxer. Boy, things have changed.

I would not have been able to tell you that I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and I wouldn’t have been able to tell you what I was going to do when my four years of undergrad were up. Now, I can answer these questions with full – OK, partial – confidence, and that’s a lot more than what I could say for myself last year.

It’s taken a lot of late nights, criticism and come-to-Jesus moments to get where

I am, but it’s shaped me into the person and journalist I want to be.

To be a journalist, I’ve learned you have to listen and think at the same time, which is a lot harder than it sounds. You also have to be aware of your surroundings and not afraid to ask the tough questions. In learning to do this, I’ve become a tougher, more intuitive person, a long jump from the shy girl I once was. But most important, I’ve learned the value of integrity.

Journalism isn’t just what you see on the news or in a newspaper, at least not to me. It’s about telling people’s stories and

telling it in a way that makes them proud to be who they are; that’s the kind of journalism I’ve decided to dedicate my life to.

This is something I think about a lot, and in the next eight months, I hope to build myself into the kind of journalist I’d trust to tell my story.

My major has helped me grow more than I ever imagined it could, and I can’t imagine how much more I’m going to grow. I’ve never been more excited to move forward in life, and I can’t imagine where it’s going to take me next.

Violence in the media is nothing to turn away from I’m Sorry Miss Jackson Brittany Jackson Police brutality, harassment, shootingsyou name it. If you ask anyone why they don’t read the news, one of the most common responses is that it’s just too violent.

Regardless, the news will never and should never back away from these stories. And neither should you.

Apart from what some Twitter feeds might have said, this summer consist-

ed of more than just tanning, traveling and working. In fact, a lot of key events happened, and are still developing, that are important to talk about despite the violence involved.

Here is a timeline of the events and headlines that caught my attention over the summer. I believe these incidents will continue to impact us for the rest of the year, if not longer: June 17: A white man shot and killed nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina after sitting in a prayer meeting with them for several minutes. This led to a national discussion about the Confederate flag and whether it

hashtagACU Follow @acuoptimist on Twitter i h8 acu wifi

@ma_k_laa326 Aug. 24 11:27 a.m.

I’m glad the crickets joined us for ACU’s opening chapel

@madisontflowers

Aug. 26 11:52 p.m.

Realizing a grammar error hours after @k_winz posting is such a sad moment

@Em_ily_95

Aug. 27 12:57 p.m.

Aug. 27 2:04 a.m.

LOL NEVER GOING TO SLEEP BC 50 PAGES OF READING THAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND ONE WORD OF

@lexxwal

should continue to fly over South Carolina’s capitol building, as well as what the flag represents. The South Carolina state government eventually removed the flag from the grounds on July 10.

July 13: Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old black woman, is found dead in her jail cell after being arrested three days earlier for a traffic violation outside of Houston.

Contradicting booking documents caused users on social media sites like Tumblr and Twitter to question the police department’s actions. An investigation by the district attorney is ongoing.

July 23: A white man walked into a theatre in Lafeyette, Louisiana and shot

Aug. 24 11:35 a.m.

Aug. 24 12:37 p.m.

Another day, another 55 chapel credits

@tmcdaniel94

Aug. 27 10:53 a.m.

“If you’re ever on a date that’s gone horribly awry, there’s no better way to kill it than by bringing up Hebrew grammar.”

@ryne_parrish

11 people. Two of those shot died, and the gunmen died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Theatres are now looking into checking bags at the door.

Aug. 26: Two journalists are shot and killed during a live broadcast in Roanoke, Virginia. The shooter, an ex-employee of the news station, killed himself after police pursued him.

All of these stories are gruesome and not easy to read. It is inevitable that we will continue to face similar stories as time goes on unless we take time to read them, think critically about them and move to make a difference.

so Beyoncé isn’t coming to opening chapel?

@AustinLinehan Aug. 24 10:06 a.m.

Aug. 27 7:54 a.m.

I may look semi put together on the outside for my 8 am, but on the inside I’m dying

“We had three tests but then I got lazy for now we have 2.” -my tennis professor for the semester

@kkraatz11 @toriFaith43

Aug. 25 1:21 p.m.

Cricket meeting in the bible building, come join us for fun and games

@ACUcrickets Aug. 23 12:35 a.m.

I think my roommate just broke up with me...and it’s only the first week of school. #roomtomyself

@m_shaw007

10

SPORTS

08.28.15

Volleyball aims to defy conference expectations

BY JONATHAN RAITZ ACU is picked to finish 12th out of 13 teams in the conference, but all of the players and coaches expect better.

The volleyball team prepares to open its third season in the Southland Conference against Big-12 and Pac-12 powerhouses, Texas Christian University and Arizona University. The two games will be the first of many early season, tough non-conference matches.

The Wildcats return seven players from last year’s team, including senior outside hitter Jennie Loerch, who finished fifth in the conference in kills a season ago.

Joining the returning team will be seven incoming freshman, who head coach Jason Bibler says will provide more options.

“We have more girls who can score than last year,” Bibler said. “We’ve got three freshmen front row players that’ll come in and be options for us, which will be really really helpful.”

Similar to last season, where the Wildcats played only one non-conference match at home, ACU will not play in Moody Coliseum until its second conference match of the year against Northwestern State on Oct. 1.

Bibler hopes this road trip will prepare the team for whatever conference season brings.

“Our biggest thing is to see where our strengths are and what we’re going to be good at going forward, because those things will stand out against those really tough opponents,” Bibler said. “We’ll also see what our weaknesses are because those will stand out as well.”

“There’s no way we finish second from the bottom this year. Our girls have too much drive, too much grind, and they are going to be really really unsatisfied with that,” Bibler said.

Senior libero Madison Hoover, who led the team in digs last season, said the team chemistry is already better than last year.

“This team is unlike any other team I’ve played with since I was a fresh-

ELIJAH EVANS VISUALS MANAGING EDITOR

Freshman middle blocker Lauren Walker (7) and sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Schoelman (1) attempt to block a hit in practice.

man. I really love how everyone’s court presence is so strong and everyone is so competitive,” said Hoover.

Despite losing 24 matches a season ago, the Wildcats competed in many close games. Hoover believes the team could have finished near the top of the conference.

“We really want to be able to finish games,” Hoover said. “We went to so many games, we took them to five and lost by just a few points and if we had won those games we would’ve been second in conference. So we’re really focusing on being able to finish and have that mindset that we’re going to win and just sweep them fast.”

Bibler said although this team has some lofty goals, he is confident they can achieve them.

“It’s an uphill battle, and we’ve got to stick it to every team we play in conference,” Bibler said. “So that’s what we plan on doing. It’s easy to say, but harder to actually do it, but we plan on doing it.” jmr13b@acu.edu

11

SPORTS

08.28.15

A Team Effort Freshman adjusts to school, football team after life-threatening accident

BY ALLISON BROWN Freshman J.R. Hall was seriously injured in a one-car accident just three days before signing with ACU football.

He broke his neck, fractured several vertebrae near his spinal chord, suffered nerve damage and was in a coma for several days.

After spending 92 days in the hospital and being placed in a wheelchair, Hall thought his dream of college football was finished.

But Coach Ken Collums wasn’t done with him yet.

Hall, a freshman undeclared major from Mesquite, was on his way to baseball practice. He had never played until his senior year and even the coaches were surprised that he made the team.

“They told me if I was late to practice, there was a possibility I would get kicked off, so I was rushing,” Hall said.

He had to go home, get his baseball cleats and grab something to eat before practice.

“I was on the way to Taco Bell, and I don’t eat Taco Bell anymore,” Hall said.

“I was going 90 in a 45 and I lost control.

That’s what I was told; I don’t remember.”

Hall woke up several days later in the hospital and his thoughts immediately went to football.

“The first thing I thought when I came back conscious was ‘Dang, I didn’t get to sign,’” Hall said. “And I couldn’t talk either, but I mouthed out the words to my mom. She read my lips and said, ‘We took care of it.’”

Hall was first team all-district his senior year and received 13 different scholarship offers to play safety and cornerback in college. He said after visiting campus, he felt welcomed and at home here, so he decided on ACU. What Hall didn’t know at the time of his car accident was Coach Collums would still honor the scholarship, allowing him the opportunity to be on the ACU football team.

One morning after the wreck, Hall got a text from cornerback coach Nick Smith, saying he was coming by the

“Coach Collums

didn’t know me, but he showed grace. How many coaches would give a scholarship to a student that they didn’t know would ever walk again?”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF J.R. HALL

Hall was a two-year starter at Mesquite Horn High School.

He recorded 131 total tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and 10 pass break-ups.

Hall garnered offers from University of Texas-El Paso, Stephen F. Austin University, Missouri State University and Grambling State University according to Rivals.com.

J.R. Hall Hall’s house. Hall heard a knock on the door, and when he opened it, the entire football coaching staff was there to talk to him about the scholarship.

“Coaches don’t usually do stuff like that- like driving two or three hours to see one person,” Hall said. “That’s when I knew I really liked these guys. Coach Collums didn’t know me but he showed grace. How many coaches would give a scholarship to a student that they didn’t know would ever walk again?”

Collums and the rest of the team have tried their best to make Hall feel just as much part of the team as any other player.

“J.R. is a great kid, and we’re praying for him and his family,” Collums said.

“I don’t know what his future holds, but we are going to hold up our deal, even if he can’t right now. He’s such an encourager, and he has one of the most contagious smiles you’ve ever seen.”

In the days since his accident, J.R. has been attending physical therapy sessions and maintaining a positive attitude to help him get back onto the field as soon as possible.

“As an athletic person, I try not to

think about the transition to a wheelchair,” Hall said. “The nerves in my legs are basically regrouping right now, and the plan is to return to playing next year.”

Hall said he is glad to be a part of ACU in the coming days of recovery.

“I feel like I would’ve been sitting at home if I had committed anywhere else,” Hall said. “I wouldn’t be getting my education right now, I wouldn’t be around the game or in the state of mind I’m in.”

Hall said his heart is to tell people his story and make a positive impact on others’ lives.

“If you have a traumatic injury and are sad, I understand the feeling,” Hall said. “They tried to put me on antidepressants, but I said I don’t need those.

I’ll never be depressed. I know some injuries are different than others but you should be happy because you’re still alive and breathing.” akb12b@acu.edu

SPORTS

THE OPTIMIST FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 PAGE 12

VOLLEYBALL AIMS FOR IMPROVED 2015 PAGE 10

HOW COACH COLLUMS CHANGED J.R. HALL’S PAGE 11 LIFE