The Optimist Print Edition 02.09.18

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BSA prepares for Black History Month events and Black History Production Page 2

SPORTS

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

Friday, February 09, 2018 Vol. 106, Issue 19

SOFTBALL PREPARES FOR 2018 TOURNAMENTS Page 6

RING BY SPRING? EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR The Department of Theatre performs Sense and Sensibility adapted from Jane Austen’s novel for the spring production. The show opens Friday night Feb. 9.

CALENDAR 2/09 •

Sense and Sensibility at 7:30 p.m.

2/10 •

Beloved Boot Scootin’ Dance at Eller Hall

2/12 •

OMA Sundaes on Mondaes at 6:30 p.m.

2/13 •

The Wizard of Oz at the Abilene Convention Center

2/14 •

Sweetheart Hike at the Abilene State Park

2/15 •

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The university will reduce faculty by 30 full-time positions through retirement packages and non-renewal of contracts for non-tenured faculty as part of an effort to make up a $7-8 million budget deficit.

University provost Dr. Robert Rhodes said a voluntary retirement incentive

BOX OFFICE FEBRUARY 2-4 1. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle $10,930,222 2. Maze Runner: The Death Cure $10,474,895 3. Winchester

$9,307,626

4.The Greatest Showman $7,695,644 $5,218,122

28

DAYS UNTIL

SPRING BREAK

FEATURE

THEATRE BRINGS JANE AUSTEN TO LIFE Page 5

was offered to 27 tenured faculty, and 24 accepted the offer. Other faculty positions were cut through “natural transitions” as contracts were not renewed for ten full-time and part-time positions –an equivalent of six full time positions.

The Board of Trustees approved the plan to reduce faculty and offer retirement packages at their November meeting. This was done to

prevent a potential budget deficit of 5-7 percent or $7-8 million. Faculty salaries and benefits account for more than 55 percent of the overall university budget.

Rhodes said departmental budgets and structures will remain the same.

Rhodes said his office looked at each program to give priority to positions that would not have to be replaced based on the num-

ber of students and program needs.

“Sometimes you have a retirement incentive that is eligible to anyone interested,” Rhodes said. “This was more strategic in looking at areas where we might have that level of flexibility versus areas where we did not.”

Rhodes said retirement packages were the same for each person, although a different percentage was of-

fered to faculty in positions that would be replaced than to those that would not be replaced. Three out of the 27 faculty who were offered the buyout chose not to take it, so Rhodes said the next step is to look at other positions that might be an option for the buyout.

“Since it’s voluntary, it’s really up to the person,” SEE BUYOUTS PAGE 2

Beach volleyball starts season in Arizona

BY LAUREN FRANCO

CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

Sing Song dress rehearsal $5 for students, faculty and staff

5. The Post

Faculty retire as board cuts budget

ACU Sports is starting a new era through the NCAA beach volleyball team.

Although practicing at Hardin Simmons University until enough funds are raised to build an on-campus facility, the team will have 15 on-the-road games across five tournaments.

During the first season, all of the indoor players will be on both the beach and indoor teams.

“As we recruit more beach only players to ACU, the demand to have the in-

door players crossover will significantly change,” Head Volleyball Coach Angela Mooney said via email.

“Ultimately, we would like to have an almost full roster of beach only players.

This would allow only the indoor players who are very interested and serious about beach to crossover.”

Mooney said beach and indoor volleyball can be very different. Some players who might excel at indoor might not do as well playing beach and vice versa.

In beach volleyball, players must have exceptional ball control as well as the ability

to attack the net at a higher level. On the other hand, indoor games can sometimes be very specialized by positions. For example, middle blockers deal very little with ball control and focus mainly on their offense and defense at the net.

Despite the potential disadvantages, Mooney said change and new opportunities are always exciting.

“We are able to be a part of making history,” Mooney said via email. “Not only here at ACU but across the county with growing the beach game at the NCAA level. Adding a beach program

is definitely an advantage to our program as a whole. We will benefit from being able to recruit a wider range of athletes. Beach will help our indoor players gain a better perspective of themselves competitively while having a larger sense of accountability than what is provided to them with the indoor game.”

Amy Weiss, a junior social work major from Midwest City, Oklahoma played indoor volleyball at North Central Texas College, but transferred to ACU to play on the beach team.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is

probably competing with some of the ranked teams and just learning from that experience,” Weiss said.

“Being able to be apart of a team that is new to the sport is gonna be a huge learning experience. We have a great team, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this season.”

The team will be on the road for every tournament, starting in Arizona for two tournaments, New Mexico for one and finishing their final two in Texas.

of the overall SA budget. Executive treasurer Ruhika Roy said the change fits better with the mission of SA and the increase in student groups each semester.

“Now our sole purpose is a little bit to help the campus as a whole, but mainly for student organizations,” Roy said.

“Organizations have the potential, they have all these ideas, but we have all the money and almost 90 groups to split it amongst.”

In the past, SA funded on-campus activities like concerts through the Campus Activities Board, now called the Cabinet.

This year the Cabinet has its own budget provided by the university which allows SA to give more money to student groups. About 90 groups now fall under SA funding, which is an increase from 79 groups last fall and just 59 groups last spring. Groups cannot get funding if the organization members do not meet with SA officers.

The change to the constitution, if passed by the student body, will go into affect in the fall.

“That would at least give organizations the ability to do all the things that they need to do and not have to decrease the

amount of ideas that they have,” Roy said.

Roy created a computer system last semester that divided the funding based on each group’s needs and how much money groups used last semester. The system also accounted for overall budget changes the night before the budget meeting.

“Our budget with the school f luctuates a lot,” Roy said. “We oftentimes get last minute, ‘Oh, this is the new budget,’ so trying to reallocate those numbers makes it so we have to stay longer.”

Other changes to the funding process include increased penalties for

2018

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

SA Congress to increase student group funding

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Students’ Association Congress plans to change the SA constitution to allow a higher percentage of the overall budget to go to student organizations.

Changes to the const itution must be voted on by the entire student ROY body. The change will bump the percentage of funding for student groups from 45 percent to 60 percent

W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M

64 $40,855 organizations

student organizations budget

ACU Collegiate Entreprenuers Organization International Students Association

$6,500

$3,500

Enactus $2,355 Swing Cats Black Students’ Association

$1,900

$1,880

SEE CONGRESS PAGE 2

2

NE W S

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Buyouts: Cuts result in faculty retirements

Confirmed Retiring Faculty Sixteen faculty members have confirmed accepting the voluntary retirement incentive. Department chairs emailed Optimist staff to confirm which faculty will be retiring. Some will retire in May, while others will continue in adjunct or part-time roles next academic year. Twenty-four faculty members have accepted the buyout.

Jeanine Varner - professor and chair of the Department of Language and Literature, 2007 Dr. Jeanene Reese - associate professor of Bible, 1991

Dr. David Dillman - professor of political science, 1984-phased retirement Sandy Freeman - professor of theatre, 2005

Jack Maxwell - professor of art and design, 1984

Gary Varner - professor of theatre 1996

Jim Cooke - professor of agriculture and environmental sciences, 1982

Dr. Larry Norsworthy - professor of psychology, 1999

Dr. Cheryl Bacon - professor and chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, 1979-81, 1990

Dr. Billy Van Jones - professor of psychology, 1974

Dr. Vernon Williams - professor of history, 1989 Dr. Kay Williams - professor of music, 1989 Dr. Dan Brannan - professor of biology, 1988

University Park offers housing for Sing Song

BY CALEB MALTBY COPY EDITOR

The sleepy town of Abilene, though known for being in the middle of nowhere, explodes with tourism only a few times a year. Arguably the most popular time is during Sing Song week. Hundreds if not thousands of family members drive from all over the state to watch the performances, and the motels in town are booked weeks in advance.

Offering a solution to the problem, University Park is offering to let family members of Sing Song performers stay in vacant houses at $25 per person per day, or $125 per person per week.

The apartments are fully furnished, with a living room and kitchen including refrigerator, dishwasher and stove.

Laundry access is available, and internet is taken care of (though a wireless router is needed, and some are available to be rented at the front desk on a first-come firstserve basis).

The request must be sent in at least a week in advance, and the spaces are limited.

These “conference stays,” as they are being called by UP, are available year round, though their most requested time of year is during Sing Song week.

For more information, call (325) - 738 - 4600, or email info@universityparkacu.com OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Dr. Joe Bell - associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition, 1985 Dr. Lorraine Wilson - professor of kinesiology and nutrition, 1985 Dr. Connie Yarema - professor of mathematics, 1998

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Rhodes said. “But fortunately, most individuals felt like this was a good option for them at this point.”

Faculty who do not have tenure must have their contract with the university renewed each year. Rhodes said contracts were sent out Feb. 1, and the equivalent of six full-time positions were cut through this process.

“We have the natural transitions that occur of people who, for other reasons, are separating from the university or positions that become open,” Rhodes said. “We’ve worked for those areas that were not part of this retirement incentive but part of the natural annual transition.”

Rhodes said the board provided funding for a retirement package, which allowed the university to cut the budget in a healthy way. The provost’s office will update the board on the progress at its meeting Feb. 16-17.

“This is the type of activity that you never want to be involved in,” Rhodes said, “but if we’re going to take a challenging situation and do a good job with it, I feel like we have.”

The provost and the university did not release a list of those faculty accepting the retirement incentive. Several faculty members independently confirmed to The Optimist they have chosen to accept the offer.

19th annual BSA production delayed

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

The Black Students’ Association will perform the 19th annual Black History Production a few weeks later than usual.

The production would normally take place at the end of February or the beginning of March, but this year the group will host more activities for Black History Month.

BSA president Summer Thompson, junior communications major and business administration minor from Missouri City, said the group is starting later because the production director had his first child. She said students in the production also host a Black History Service, and they wanted the two events to be on different weeks. The fourth annual Black History

Service will take place on Feb. 25.

“Since those are our two bigger events, that’s the reason it’s been spread out,” Thompson said.

Khamisie Green, director for the BSA production, said the production was originally named “Eyes Open,” but Green changed it to “The Mystery of Our History.” He said he wanted to open the audience’s eyes to see history differently by showcasing three historical moments, poetry and music.

Audience members can expect a different take on traditional civil rights stories and new perceptions on the civil rights movement, Green said.

“The play is designed to get inside of our heads,” Green said, “to challenge our mind as well as feed our souls.”

The date of the BSA Production is undecided, but Green said it will be either March 24 or March 30. Rehearsals will begin next week Feb. 11.

BSA will have themes for each week during Black History Month. This week’s the theme was “Brotherhood Sisterhood” and focused on unifying the black community on campus.

Next week will be centered on the theme “Roots” which will focus on African heritage. BSA will partner with the African Students’ Association for three Chapel events and a movie outing to see “Black Panther.”

The third week will focus on “Black Pride.” Students can compete in a competition for the best dorm door that fits the theme. The week will also feature a fitness challenge and a smoothie

challenge.

The last week’s theme will center on “Justice.”

BSA will partner with the International Justice Mission for the voter reg istration drive. Environmenta l and climate displays will be presented in the campus center and keynote speaker DiArron Morrison will talk about spirituality and politics in the black community.

For more information, contact Summer Thompson at snt15a@acu.edu or

Khamisie Green at kdg12a@ acu.edu.

HVJ11A@ACU.EDU

Study abroad expands scholarship funding

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

The Center for International Education has recently unveiled a slate of new scholarships available to students interested in studying abroad. The scholarships are a part of a larger push by the Senior Leadership Team to boost student participation in experiential learning opportunities.

Experiential learning is defined in the university

strategic plan as “opportunities for students to engage in various activities both inside and outside of the traditional classroom designed to enhance their understanding of curricular topics through practical application, self-reflection and exposure to varying and opposing perspectives.”

While studying abroad is only one part of experiential learning, it is a part of a push by the SLT to reach a goal of 50 percent of undergraduate

students participating in experiential learning in one or another, said Camille Dickson, coordinator for study abroad and the Center for International Education.

Steven Shewmaker, director of the Center for International Education, said about 30 percent of undergraduate students study abroad during their time at ACU. Experiential learning, however, also involves internships and student-faculty research projects.

While some have already been claimed, the original scholarship offering, which applies to the program fee, includes: • $5,000 for Leipzig in Fall 2018 • $2500 for Leipzig in Spring 2019 • $3500 for Oxford in Fall 2018 • $750 for Oxford in Spring 2019 (All scholarships claimed for this trip) • $2,500 for Montevi-

deo in Fall 2018 (All scholarships claimed for this trip) Studying abroad is about more than just scholarships, however.

“Our true goal is to make sure that those who want to study abroad have the opportunity to do it, because as trite as it sounds, it is life-changing,” Dickson said.

OPTIMSIT@ACU.EDU

Congress: SA increases budget for student groups CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

increased penalties for improper use of SA purchasing cards, called P-cards.

Last semester, some student groups did not properly return receipts of all purchases to the SA office.

Some groups also did not return the P-cards within their allotted time or added the P-cards to their personal Amazon accounts when they made purchases. Fines for violating these rules increased to $250 per student.

SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK

Congress passed a budget providing $40,855 to 64 student groups at a meeting Wednesday. The top dollar amounts went to the Collegiate Entrepreneur’s Organization at $6,500, the International Students’ Association at

$3,500, and Enactus at $2,335.

CEO president Meredith Orr said the spring funding will go to weekly CEO Chapels and events, and the second annual Startup Madness competition. Orr, a junior management major from

North Richland Hills, said the event is a national virtual competition in which entrepreneurs compete against schools around the country.

As in previous semesters, SA did not fund T-shirts, travel fees or gift cards to any student group. The

office will provide cutlery and paper plates to groups that make requests one week in advance.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG

01/30/2018 9:05 a.m.

An elderly resident reported the theft of his locked 3-wheel bicycle from his carport. Local media covered this theft, resulting in donors replacing the bike for the elderly resident.

02/02/2018 5:38 p.m.

Officers investigated a hit-and- run crash that occurred in the McKinzie Lot. 02/03/2018 12:28 a.m.

ACUPD responded to a noise violation: loud party in the 2300 block of Campus Ct; the ACU tenants were advised to close the party and did so promptly. Warnign issued and documented.

02/04/2018 6:44 p.m.

ACUPD conducted a welfare check of a student who was reported to possibly be seriously ill; the student was located and found to be safe.

02/05/2018 11:31 p.m.

A student was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to the Taylor County Jail. He was also issued a municipal citation for Minor in Possession of Alcohol.

02/05/2018 12:35 p.m.

Officers investigated a reported prowler, but determined that 2 subjects living nearby were searching for their lost cat.

ABANDONED VEHICLE 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 23 ADVICE 1 ALARM 5 ANIMAL CALL 1 ASSIST 4 BARRICADES 0 BICYCLE PATROL 0 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 9 BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) 0

CHECK BUILDING 283 CITATION ISSUANCE 0 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 0 DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE 0 ESCORT 2 EVENT SUPPORT 0 FIRE 0 FOOT PATROL 15 GRAFFITI 1 INFORMATION REPORT 6 INVESTIGATION

FOLLOW UP 9 MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 3 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 15 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 0 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 3 OTHER 1 PARKING LOT PATROL 24 PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE 4

PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL PROWLER PUBLIC SERVICE RANDOM PATROL REPORT WRITING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SUSPICIOUS PERSON THEFT TRAFFIC HAZARD TRAFFIC STOP

9 0 1 9 15 1 4 2 1 2

TOTAL

516

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: Sing-Song parking creates significant parking pressures.

Remember to plan ahead, arrive early, and expect to have to walk further.

N E WS

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 9 , 2018

3

Student speakers chosen for fourth TEDxACU

BY BRIAN SWEET STAFF WRITER

Two ACU students will be speaking at the 4th annual TEDxACU talks that will be taking place March 23.

This year’s event theme is Six Words.

TED Talks are speeches posted online and are about “ideas worth spreading” according to their website.

The two ACU student speakers at the event this year are Tatiana Cordts and Taylor Spencer. Students who want to speak need to apply online and go through the TED selection process.

Taylor Spencer, a senior business marketing and management double major from Joplin, Missouri, said the application for students to apply to speak at TEDx talks is a very simple process.

“You go to the TEDx website and there’s going to be a separate application for a student speaker,” Spencer said.

“What they’re going to ask you to do is take a 2-3-minute video of what you want to speak on.”

Dr. Lemley, an Associate Communications and Sociology professor at ACU, said the TEDx talks are different from the original TED talks

you see online.

“TED of course is like a global international organization and they started TED Talks over thirty years ago,” Lemley said. “Around 10-15 years ago something like that they started releasing permission for individual groups to host locally organized events. So, anything that says TEDx online it means that its locally organized.”

Lemley also said for a second year the school will be offering discounted tickets for $10 and excused absences for students who wish to attend the event.

“Feb 28 is the deadline to apply,” Lemley said. “You

can go on our Facebook page to find the link or go on the website to find the link. You tell us a little about yourself and answer three questions and basically the university has given us clearance to give a certain number of students who apply an excused absence for the day.”

If you want to get discounted student tickets, you can go to http://tedxacu. org/studentfellowships to apply for the student discount.

To learn more about the TEDxACU talks, you can go to their website at https:// www.tedxacu.org/speakers/ or you can follow them at

Ben Cobb, first student speaker for TEDxACU, in 2016 any of their social media accounts found at the bottom of their home page.

BCS10C@ACU.EDU

African Students’ Association to sell head wraps

BY STELLA WIESER COPY EDITOR

The African Students Association will be selling head wraps from Uganda during the week preceding International Women’s Day. ASA president Grace-Kelly Muvunyi, junior nutrition major from Rwanda, said the head wraps are a big part of African culture and by wearing them, they will be living out a small part of the African lifestyle.

ASA will be selling the head wraps in COBA 118 after chapel on Feb. 27 and

in the campus center from March 5-7. They will be instructing consumers on the different ways to wear the head wraps and explaining the meaning behind them.

Those who have bought the head wraps will be invited to wear them all together on International Women’s Day. The head wraps are made with half silk and half cotton by young women in Uganda. They will be available in many different colors and patterns, and some wraps will be sold for $10 while others will be sold for $12, although members of

ASA will have a $2 discount on the $12 head wraps, Muvunyi said.

“This is a sale that we’re opening to all people, not just Africans, because wearing a head wrap has different meanings in different cultures, but in Africa, you can wear a head wrap to church, you can wear it whenever you’re going to work for a cleaning day, it’s just a part of that lifestyle, you know?” Muvuni said. “I know a lot of people ask ‘if I wear this head wrap and I’m not African is it cultural appropriation?’ but we’ll make

sure to show you the different ways it can be worn, and the main thing we want to show through this is we’re remembering the lives of African women today, and we’re also remembering the lives of African women who were heroes and changed Africa and did all these amazing things. As we live out our normal day as college students, we’re kind of taking a little bit of that lifestyle by wearing the head wrap.”

The head wraps can instill a sense of pride and meaning and beauty in those who wear them, Muvunyi said.

“We, African women, crown ourselves in different fabrics stretching back through our origin to represent our history, personality and willingness to face anything that refuses to adhere to the strength of our femininity. It’s a symbol of both beauty and stature, embodying the way we view ourselves and how we want to portray ourselves to the world,” said ASA secretary Jemimah Wavamunno, a freshman undeclared major from Uganda.

Erica Robbins and Jemimah Wavamunno.

ECW13B@ACU.EDU

Eller Hall to put on Valentine’s Day two-stepping event

BY HOPE CORDES STAFF WRITER

Valentine’s Day is one of the most commercialized holidays of the year. It’s usually filled with chocolates, overstuffed teddy bears and cheesy cards.

This Valentine’s Day, Eller Hall has created a new way to celebrate which includes all generations gathered together in a good old fashioned

small town dance hall.

In 2009, ACU alum Steve Eller took his family on a trip to Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, where he had a dance night full of family-friendly fun and realized that Abilene needed a place just like that. Last February Eller Hall kicked off the year with their first dance, Beloved, which was a massive hit.

“People love the atmosphere,” Eller said. “Family friendly is at our core, and we strive to conduct business, relationships, and entertainment in a manner where you can bring your family, and still have an enjoyable evening.”

To maintain a family friendly atmosphere, Eller Hall has a no-alcohol policy. They also have

live bands that play two stepping country music and line dances to get the whole community involved.

“You’ll see generations gathered in the same place,” Eller said. “Small children filled with laughter, attempting to move their feet in rhythm to the sounds of old songs.

Families come together.

Some older couples glide gently across the f loor as

if dancing was the 6th love language.”

Currently they have 6 more dances planned through May and, even though it is just a pop up dance hall, they are looking for a permanent space.

This Saturday from 7 to 10 the second Beloved dance will take place on 201 Mesquite Street.

There will be country

music and food trucks, including Sweet Side and Toasted Traveler. Advanced tickets are $4 for youth (ages 12-17) and $8 for adult, but tickets are also sold at the door for $5 and $10. Everyone under 12 is free.

OPTIMSIT@ACU.EDU

OFF-C AM PUS HOUSING

Sign-up Now for Summer and Fall 2018 Housing!

LEIPZIG, GERMANY • FALL 2018

Now is the time to get on the waiting list -- DON’T MISS OUT! -- house showings beginning March 2018.

Rent is charged to student accounts just like the Dorm (a semester at a time). Utilities are included along with yard care, maintenance, filters, smoke detector batteries, and regular bug treatment.

(325) 674-6817 Contact Terry Bowman, Director of Off-Campus Housing bowmant@acu.edu

WE

ACU

Valentine’s Special

10% OFF

ANY VALENTINE ORDER for ACU students/faculty/staff

Offer valid for PICK-UP ORDERS ONLY through February 15, 2018. Must present valid ACU ID.

Apply now for a discounted application fee and to secure your place at ACU’s new villa! formerly Highs Flowers and Gifts 241 N 13th St • Abilene ORDER EARLY! 325-672-5566

After Study Abroad scholarships, the program fee is $1,500 for a semester abroad, which includes airfare and program excursions. Visit acu.edu/study-abroad or email camille.dickson@acu.edu for more information.

4

OP I N I ON

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 9, 2018

What Forbes should’ve seen, but didn’t

THE ISSUE

Abilene may be a small town, but it has enough people to thrive like the city of Midland. So why hasn’t it?

OUR TAKE Abilene has potential, so maybe college students should stick around after graduating and make this a great place to live.

The city of Abilene lives and breathes off of community and Christ. With more churches per capita than any other city, there’s no wonder that the town we call home is full of faith-centered families and businesses, but that’s not all. Abilene has the only zoo in Texas west of Dallas and east of El Paso. Country music thrives in our Christian community, and the dramatic arts are not far behind in popularity. Forbes even ranked Abilene as one of the top 25 places to retire in the nation. Even though Abilene has a low cost of living and plenty of room to expand, we

have not grown into the “city” that we should be.

If we look to the town of Midland, which was ranked the number one city in America for startups by Forbes, we see a thriving economy and population. The oil boom has completely transformed this west Texas town, and it seems it’s only going to continue to grow. The population of Midland is only slightly more than that of Abilene, but the economy, stemming from immense energy industrialization, has left Midland the go-to destination for small businesses hoping to expand. Anybody who

has lived in Abilene and driven through Midland would agree when we say that Abilene feels like the community that more people would like to be a part of.

We are home to more than three college campuses and a military base, which may be what is keeping Abilene from becoming an economic hotspot. Many of the students who graduate from Abilene colleges will move away for work and then maybe return when they are ready to start families or retire. While Abilene has an abundance of good food and great community activities, we simply do not have the economy to draw

in aspiring young entrepreneurs like Midland does.

Our economy is geared towards family-friendly attractions like museums, historic theatres and the dramatic arts, while the entire economy of Midland lives off of oil and natural gas.

What makes our country great?

OVER THE HILL DAVIS HILL OPINIONS EDITOR Freshman Psychology major San Angelo, Texas

There were over 500,000 “Make America Great Again” hats sold during the Trump campaign, but during this entire period, how many times did we stop to think about what really made us a great nation? I would argue that our nation isn’t great because of a strong military or anything tangible.

What makes our nation the greatest country in the world is the principles that America was founded on.

We created a nation not to secure a place in history, nor to establish a

royal bloodline. We started a nation for justice, equality and freedom.

We sought out individuals to lead our nation that stood for the equality of all men and women; we did not seek out leaders to conquer all around us.

While history has not exactly followed these same principles, that does not exempt us from ensuring that they are part of our future. We have made great strides to secure equality for all Americans regardless of gender, ethnicity or wealth,

but we are not done yet.

What truly makes America the greatest country in the world is the constant battle for the principles we hold dear.

America’s greatness cannot be quantified by percentages, stock market values or the size of the military. There are nations all around the world with great economies and great militaries, but what sets us above the rest is the indisputable drive to be better. It is the drive to secure a spot in our future for equality of all, not equality for few.

It is the drive to establish justice for anybody without the dependence of wealth. Most importantly, it is the drive to make America free to all its inhabitants. Whether you immigrated from

a war-torn nation, came for a better job or simply wanted to see Yosemite, America is great because America is free.

We must not let politicians trick us into believing American greatness is dependent on a governing party. Be skeptical of the drive behind our government’s actions. Are we doing this for justice, equality and freedom or are we doing this for partisanship? We must remember that America is not great because of tangible things or numbers on the news. We must continue to fight for the same principles that our ancestors fought for hundreds of years ago.

DBH16B@ACU.EDU

Abilene has all the potential to become a city in which businesses and people flourish, but we simply do not have the economy that towns like Midland have. Abilene is a town where families can feel safe and express their

love for community and Christ. Midland might be a wonderful place to live, but nowhere can compare to the little piece of paradise that we call home.

EDITOR@JMCNETWORK.COM

@acuoptimist @RjPutnam1 01/30/18 6:59 A.M. Me leaving Texas: “Man, I really won’t miss this place.”

Me Crossing back into the Texas Border:*Starts shooting guns into the air recklessly as “Deep in the heart of Texas” is playing and I’m riding a horse, eating whataburger, and drinking a Dr.pepper* “Man, what a state!” @ragingfloortile 02/04/18 9:50 P.M. Imagine a Christian hack sack company called “Sack-Religious” @vanessajvela 02/06/18 11:27 P.M. i haven’t bought water for two weeks so i’m really waiting 15 minutes in a mcdonald’s drive-thru just for some free water.

It’s okay to be a Barb. Who cares about the Livelys in the world ONE IN A EMILLION EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR Senior Convergence Journalism Major San Antonio, Texas

Sometimes I think about the person who sat next to Blake Lively in high school.

I wonder if anyone ever paid any attention to them behind Lively’s bubbly, loud personality and gorgeous good looks. What did Lively have that Barb in the second row didn’t?

As my time as an undergrad slowly comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past four years. I remem-

ber the jokes, laughs, tears, screams and silences endured after an event – and definitely after a bad formal date. However, one thing that I still find hard to believe is how much time I stared into the lives of other people.

And while I didn’t realize it then, I have finally realized it now – who gives a flying frick about the lives of Lively’s.

Each of us were created differently by God for a spe-

cific purpose, time and place.

Thus, we must learn to remain faithful to our own lane.

I’m not writing to the Livelys that identify with the Barbs in the room – although, you are more than welcome to take a seat. Rather, I am writing to the Barbs who force themselves to look down when encountering a Lively or yearn to be seen as a Lively, when their hearts, minds and wits are made for more capabilities.

I imagine Queen Esther as a Barb, since she was a Jewish girl who saw herself as weak and inferior to the Persian king, Ahasuerus. As the story goes, God helped her push through with the

Chocolate has benefits

BY SAWYER COBB GUEST COLUMNIST

ALMOND FLOUR COOKIES

Senior nutrition major Midland, Texas

1 egg, slightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled ¼ cup coconut sugar 1 cup almond flour 1/4 cup coconut flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup of dark chocolate chips

T H E

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

you this: Forget the annoying, cackling Lively trying to grab the attention of your favorite teacher or person you’ve liked for months on end. Forget about the Livelys bumping into you and not saying a single ‘excuse me’ as they continue to walk in their gaudy attire.

Remember how, like Esther, you were created for such a time as this, and it is because of God’s perfect plan that you will receive the reward, recognition and crown as desired.

Forget the Livelys of the world. Be a Barb.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

INSTRUCTIONS:

(Makes 12 cookies):

EDITORIAL AND LETTER POLICY

about the future of her people, and even her own.

Today, many of us (including myself) have chosen to spend time wanting to be a Lively – full of attention, insecurities and the means to fund those insecurities. However, it is in times like these where I have seen how great it is to stay in your own lane – how great it is to be a Barb.

In Micah 6:8, we are encouraged by the prophet Micah of Moresheth to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” In the same way, we must want to walk with God in our own lane – the lane specifically created and intended for us.

To all the Barbs, I say to

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, add in beaten egg, melted and cooled coconut oil, coconut sugar and vanilla extract. (Please make sure your coconut oil is cool!) Next add in almond flour, coconut flour and baking soda, mixing well to combine and form a dough.

Fold in dark chocolate chunks. You may need to use your hands to moisten the dough so that it sticks together well.

Use a cookie scoop or large tablespoon to drop dough onto ungreased baking sheet. Gently flatten the dough with your hand.

Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden brown.

Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finishing cooling.

INGREDIENTS

One of my favorite sweets or desserts is chocolate, preferably dark chocolate. Dark chocolate doesn’t just taste good but has tons of health benefits. Dark chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants and these antioxidants help kill disease causing free radicals as well as aiding in keeping your heart and brain healthy. Dark chocolate has also been shown to help balance blood pressure and sugar.

Excuses to eat chocolate? Ok, I’M IN! One of my all-time favorite cookie recipes are my almond flour dark chocolate chip cookies! Make yourself a batch this weekend and remember all the health benefits of the dark chocolate in them!

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

goodness found within her heart. He saw her for who she could be instead of what she saw in the mirror.

Esther became the best version of herself because of how much she focused on God’s plan for her life.

In Esther 4:14, it reads “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” It is evident Mordecai see’s Esther for the great queen she was meant to be and challenges her to think

O P T IM IST

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FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 9, 2018

F E ATUR E

5

KEEP AUSTEN ENCHANTING From the classic Jane Austen novel, the Department of theatre premieres Kate Hamill’s, Sense and Sensibility.

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

W

himsical music, flowered dresses and quick dialogue take over the Fulks Theatre stage as the Department of Theatre takes Sense and Sensibility back to a time where proper decorum was expected, and hushed love was accepted.

As part of the winter romance season debuting on Feb. 9-10 and 16-18, the play was chosen for its humor, interesting dialogue and sense of true Austenian romance. Originally adapted by Kate Hamill after premiering at the Bedlam Theatre on Broadway, director Adam Hester said the adaptation brings the audience closer to Austen’s true style.

“This is a little bit more contemporary in the approach,” said Hester, professor of theatre. “It certainly maintains all the Austenian feel, so it’s all Jane Austen. But it just feels a little bit closer to us today, and part of that is in the way we are presenting it. But, also bringing out the humor.

Her humor is all there in the novel, and it’s there. And it’s a little subdued in the novel, whereas Kate Hamill has put it up front.”

Top: Victoria Steffins playing the role of Elinor Dashwood.

Bottom Clockwise: Kasey Birchfield playing the role of Marianne; The Dashwood family played

by Birchfield, Carly Carroll, Melissa Henderson and Steffins; Steffins and Andrew Gilliland playing the role of Edward Farrars; Rest of cast dancing in Act One; Steffins and Birchfield.

PHOTOS BY EMILY GUAJARDO

Following the Dashwood sisters, the audience is pushed into the lives of Elinor and Marianne, who seek love in the midst of their constant social change. Yearning to be seen as the steadfast eldest sister, Elinor – played by Victoria Steffins – takes on the role as the caretaker of her naive sister – played by Kasey Birchfield, a sophomore theatre major from Lubbock – who easily falls in love. While Marianne does not hold tight to her tongue or heart, Elinor is quite the opposite and keeps her love for Edward Ferrars silent.

Hester said while the department was originally set to debut All the King’s Men, the timing for Sense and Sensibility couldn’t have been better – they had the women, play rights and budget to put on a great show.

“After having so many red flags with budget cuts and not receiving the rights to the music, it just seemed like we needed to put it off for a bit,” Hester said. “And as I was reading through reviews and checking out what was going on, I said ‘I remember Sense and Sensibility, the Kate Hamill version, and we have the women to do it. Actually, we could cast this three more times over with different women, and we have such talented women and could feature them.’ And I thought, it would be great for Valentine’s Day and all that is

going on.”

Hester said while both plays could pertain to the debates and social changes occurring today, Austen brings something new and needed to the table.

“Jane Austen was definitely a feminist before her time,” Hester said. “She speaks to the plight of women and of all people who suffer some kind of opposition in some ways. Probably not as loudly as you would hear it in All the King’s Men, but in her own way.”

D

elegating the necessary emotions and propriety for each character, Steffins, a sophomore theatre major from Calhoun, said the role of Elinor needed to keep a sense of purity, honesty and tenacious wit.

“I feel like I have certain qualities that I share with Elinor,” Steffins said. “At the same time, the way she handles everything and her struggles and one of my biggest things is to keep Elinor innocent and pure and kind-hearted. And since she doesn’t know what happens in Act Two, I have to make sure to keep her honest with everything – to make sure how she reacts to her sister and everybody and how she is just that anchor to keep it all together.”

Steffins said while the role of Elinor is unique to the development of some characters, she must remain as calm and ‘in the moment, just as Elinor would.

“I, Victoria, know when things are going to happen, but being able to take a step back and see the whole picture,” Steffins said. “But, what Elinor does is she takes what happened, and she looks at it all and then proceeds with what she thinks is best. And I think that’s an important lesson for all of us to learn.”

With many heartbreaks and tears binding the Dashwoods, social imbalances cause the women to seek each other for support and loyalty among themselves.

Hester said the beauty in Hamill’s adaptation is to see how Austen is able to keep her humor and still express love, kindness and virtue in just a couple of characters.

Adding witty remarks and stylistic choices, Sense and Sensibility reminds the audience of the importance of young love, sisterhood and self-discipline in times of chaos.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

6

SPORTS

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 9, 2018

STANDINGS

Men’s basketball

Team

Ovrl. SLC.

Nicholls SHSU SELU NOU SFA Lamar UCA ACU McNeese TAMU-CC HBU UIW NWSU

15–9 15–10 15–10 12–11 18–5 15–10 13–12 14–11 8–12 8–13 5–19 5–16 3–20

9–2 9–3 9–3 9–3 7–3 7–5 7–5 6–6 5–5 5–6 1–10 0–11 0–12

Team

Ovrl. SLC.

Women’s Basketball

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Redshirt senior Hannah Null prepares to take the mound .

Softball gears up for 2018 season

BY DAVIS DENTON SPORTS WRITER

The 2018 softball season begins this weekend as the Wildcats prepare for its first few tests of the season at the UTSA softball classic in San Antonio.

Tournament play opens Friday at 11:30 a.m. against Seton Hall.

The Pirates battled last season and finished with a competitive 22-25-1 record but struggled in conference play, going 7-14.

Two games against Southern Illinois, winners of the Missouri Valley Conference last year, will follow Seton Hall at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats will then square off with UTSA at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and finish Sunday at 11:30 a.m. with conference foe Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The A&M Corpus Christi Islanders struggled last season, posting a 12-36 with

a dead last 4-20 in Southland play.

“I have always scheduled tough opponents during tournaments. I believe it prepares us for conference,” head coach Bobby Reeves said.

The team will also compete in the national champion Oklahoma tournament and the Baylor tournament.

The Wildcats revamp after the graduation of Casey-May Huff, Kaleigh Singleton and Alli

Spivey and the departure of talented freshmen pitcher Sidney Holman.

Retooling the lineup defensively will be a key focus, but the return of seniors Holly Neese, Brianna Barnhill and Peyton Hedrick, who combined for 28 home runs and 121 RBI’s, will balance out the new faces by providing a stout offense.

“Each year we work hard - this year we get a little taste,” Hedrick said.

“That’s what we want. We

get a chance to play those big teams to win that conference tournament. It’s what we’ve been working for since August.”

Redshirt senior pitcher Hannah Null will return to the mound this weekend after grabbing 12 wins in 27 starts last season with a 2.94 ERA.

DMD14A@ACU.EDU

Trevino earns pre-season team honor

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS WRITER

ACU is looking forward to their first year of eligibility in the Southland Conference as a D-I school when it opens its season next weekend.

They do so with a strong core of young players, transfers and their one all-Southland selection, but were selected to be tied for 12th in the conference.

Last year the Wildcats finished 13-43 with an abysmal 3-27 record for conference. Sam Houston was picked to win for the second year in a row.

Senior catcher Luis Trevino was named pre-season Southland second-team catcher for the 2018 season. Luis was a star for the Wildcats last year, hitting for a .366 average with a team-leading 82 hits and 43 RBI’s.

The Wildcats lose its number two hitter in Russell Crippen, but brought back two important starters in junior pitcher Derek Scott and junior first basemen Koby Claborn.

All in all, the wildcats re-

NICHOLAS CROMWELL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Senior catcher Luis Trevino at-bat for the Wildcats turn 11 players this year, while losing key players Anthony Dominguez and Mark Pearson.

Another new addition to the Wildcats is their pitch-

ing coach Cory Vanderhook from Cal-State Fullerton, where he was the Director of Operations. He looks to improve the pitching staff that posted a 7.05

team ERA last season.

“I know Coach Evans has spent the better part of the last year on the road recruiting and I like what I see on paper,” Vander-

hook said last year. “With the 2018 season being our first season fully eligible for tournament play, I want to be part of something special and help build it from the ground up.”

The new pitchers are also embracing the coach, who was a part of the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles organizations.

Garrett Hutson, a pitching transfer from Crowley College in Kansas, says he trusts Vanderhook to lead the staff to a better season.

“Obviously our first goal is to have a winning season, and Vanderhook is a great guy to help us achieve that,” Hutson said. “But we also have other goals, like getting a spot in the Southland tourney and possibly a regional spot.”

Only time will tell how the Wildcats perform this season, but they’re poised to do much better than last season already. The season starts Friday, February 16 at Crutcher Scott Field against Quinnipiac at 4 p.m.

TMW13A@ACU.EDU

Football sign 24 recruits from nine states

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

After the Wildcats’ 5621 Homecoming loss to Southeastern Louisiana, head football coach Adam Dorrel was clear that his team needed to get bigger and stronger.

Keeping with that mantra, the football team announced the signing of 24 recruits, eight of which will play on the offensive or defensive line and 15 that have previous collegiate football experience.

“If you start in the backend and you look at the corners and the length that we’ve got in there, that we don’t have in our program right now to help us cover all the great receivers we’ve got in this league, that’s one,” Dorrel said. “If you look at the defensive lineman and the offensive

linemen, we really got to improve our length there.

And there’s a lot of things guys got to do to get better, but if a guy gets in the weight room and eats properly they’re going to put that weight on that we need them to put on.”

The 2018 recruiting class is also the first Dorrel was able to see through from start to finish. Last season, when he arrived in late December, he said he and his staff were having to rush through the process, but this year they were able to take the appropriate time.

“What it allows you to do is to go slower,” Dorrel said. “You can be really thorough really detailed in the recruiting process. It allowed us to have longer visits. Last year, we weren’t able to do that, we’re having to bring kids in so quick

they were here maybe six or seven hours.”

Of the 15 transfers, three players enter their tenure at ACU having spent time at a Div. 1 program. Running back Billy Ray McCrary III transfers from the University of California-Berkley with two years of eligibility left and linebacker Johnathan Picone comes from Texas Tech as a sophomore. And defensive back Alex Lofton signs with ACU after spending last season at Butler Community College, but having previously been a part of the Southeastern Louisiana’s program.

“I thought it was a real diverse group, we got guys that can run,” Dorrel said. “We got big guys. Powerful guys. I thought we met all our needs, I was really excit-

ed about our staff and all that the work they did.”

The Wildcats will also hope to reboot the receiving with this class after primary redzone threats Carl Whitley and Troy Grant graduate this spring. ACU signed two receivers in Trinity Valley Community College transfer Torin Justice and Javorian “Brother” Miller from west Texas football powerhouse Odessa Permian. Last season, Justice caught 46 passes totaling 638 yards, and Miller finished with nearly 400 yards receiving on less than 20 catches. He was also one of the top multi-sport athlete in Texas, earning Newcomer of the Year and District MVP in basketball.

The offense will also look to develop 6-foot6-inch tight end transfer, Kevin Ventura-Cortes

into a redzone option.

Ventura Cortes is transferring from Cerritos College where he had three touchdowns in nine games of action.

The Wildcats will begin spring ball March 1 and have their first scrimmage open to the public April 6, which should feature most of the newly signed transfers.

ACU opens its season against Baylor on Sept.

1 and hosts Angelo State the following weekend in its home-opener.

The team will look to improve upon a 2-9 finish from a season ago, but should have plenty of depth heading into its second year of Div. 1 playoff eligibility.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

16–6 Lamar 18–4 SFA 16–7 UCA 14–8 ACU TAMU-CC 14–8 11–12 NOU McNeese 10–12 Nicholls 10–12 6–17 SELU 6–15 HBU 3–19 UIW 7–16 NWSU 4–17 SHSU

11–1 10–1 9–3 8–4 7–4 7–5 6–5 5–6 5–7 2–9 2–9 2–10 1–11

Baseball Preseason Poll 2017 Finish

McNeese SELU SHSU HBU UCA SFA Lamar NOU Nicholls TAMU-CC NWSU UIW ACU

2018 Projection SHSU SELU McNeese UCA HBU Lamar NOU SFA Nicholls TAMU-CC NWSU ACU UIW

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Men’s basketball

Despite two losses this week, Franklin put up a good stat line as he scored 15 Franklin points and passed for five assists Saturday against Sam Houston, then scored 17 and came up with two steals in Wednesday’s matchup with Nicholls.

He also took on the biggest workload of the team in the two games playing 77 minutes.

Foster has continued to have a breakout season for the Wildcats as he led Foster the team in scoring Saturday against Sam Houston with 17 points. He also fared well Wednesday against Nicholls with 11 points and two steals. The men matchup with Incarnate Word for its next game Saturday in Moody.

Women’s basketball Wright had a career evening against Sam Houston Saturday scoring 31 points. She hit seven Wright three-pointers and made all eight of her free throws. Wednesday against Nicholls, she scored 13 points and passed for four assists.

The women will next face Incarnate Word at home Saturday.

Golightly showed young leadership alongside Wright this week scoring 14 points in Golightly each of the team’s games. She also grabbed five rebounds and two steals against Sam Houston, as well as five rebounds and three assists against Nicholls.

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