The Optimist Print Edition 02.16.18

SING SONG SPECIAL EDITION

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

Friday, February 16, 2018 Vol. 106, Issue 20

Love

FOR THE

OF SING SONG

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW BAKER AND LAUREN FRANCO Top: Bridget Glass, senior education major from Benbrook, directs the women of Alpha Kai Omega. Lower left: The men of Frater Sodalis perform in “Frat-a-burger.” Lower right: The Freshman Ushers perform classic moves.

Tatum changes scoring for Sing Song

BY LAUREN FRANCO

CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

Sing Song scoring was updated this year to ensure judging is fair and relevant.

Nick Tatum, assistant director of student productions, said every few years the judging sheets are reconsidered. This year, with the help of the upstage co-chairs, he decid-

14

ed to make major changes based on his familiarity with the criteria.

For the past 10 or so years, there have been four categories: entertainment, originality, vocals and appearance. Despite choreography lacking a category of its own, it was intertwined into parts of each.

Because choreography is

a huge part of Sing Song, Tatum said it was one concern driving the new changes. The other included the ambiguity and nature of the originality category. Prior to the changes, Tatum said it didn’t truly judge what was original, but how well the theme was executed and how creative the act was.

The changes to each category include: Vocals: Before the changes, the scoring wasn’t based on how an act sounded, but this year, the guidelines are more specific, making it less about the songs and lyrics chosen, and more about how the act sounds. Acts will be judged on tuning, musi-

cality, diction, tempo and tone. Vocals are worth 35 percent of the total score.

In addition, song selection and lyrics are now in the entertainment category.

Entertainment: In the last scoring sheet, it included some score based on audience interaction.

Tatum said this was unfair to groups who go

earlier or have less alumni. Now the category includes how clever and how funny the act is and whether or not the songs are catchy and memorable. Entertainment is worth 20 percent of the total score.

SEE SCORING PAGE 3

NEWS

OPINION

PREDICTIONS

FEATURE

SPORTS

ALUM GETS ROLE IN “HAMILTON” CHORUS Page 2

WHY WINTER OLYMPICS AREN’T POPULAR Page 5

WHICH ACTS GO ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP? Page 6-7

BOARD CHAIR TALKS FAITH AND WORK Page 9

FRESHMAN SHOOTER OVERCOMES INJURY Page 10

DAYS UNTIL

SPRING BREAK

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

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For Lewises, music event a family affair

BY HOPE CORDES COPY EDITOR

The year was 1995, and the theme was Turn the Radio On. The songs were radio hits from different decades, and the stage was a multitiered old fashioned radio.

Dr. Susan Lewis was the Sing Song director for that one year, but left that fall to have a baby.

Now that baby, BarLewis rett Lewis, senior management major from Abilene, is all grown up and a Sing Song host.

“It’s a full circle moment for our family,” Lewis said.

“I always like to come to Sing Song. I’ve gotten to be a judge a couple of times. So that’s really fun. To really focus on how hard everyone has worked and the time and hours and how dedicated everyone is to it, I think it’s really fun.”

It was a year Gamma Sigma Phi, Ko Jo Kai and Freshman took home the top honors. Lewis described directing Sing Song as fun, but challenging, especially when the vice president for marketing – Sing Song was under marketing rather than student life at that time – asked her to make the show only two hours long.

“It was very fast paced,” Lewis said. “We minimized the time that we took from the upstage acts. But the hosts and hostesses we reduced, they wouldn’t sing the whole song. They would sing an excerpt from the song…

Just [to] give the upstage acts enough time to trade out.

That just made it so much more exciting. To feel the pressure of that time. It was a really good show; everybody did a really great job.”

HCC14B@ACU.EDU

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

English faculty discovers lost play

The Dutch Lady was discovered by Dr. Joe Stephenson.

Dr. Stephenson found it, that have been marked the play dated back to the through and changed.”

1600’s and had no reference Stephenson is uniquely in any scholarly literature. qualified to research the “The manuscript is in manuscript as his dissertaexcellent condition,” Ste- tion was about Dutch charphenson said. “There are acters on the English stage. no missing pages, and the The play is a satire and is paper is of very good qual- “... about a young, beautiful ity and has not deteriorated Dutch widow who travels to at all. The only difficulty in England to look for a rich reading it are a few words husband to raise her for-

tunes. There is no shortage of men interested in her, but it is not easy for her to land just the right one,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson worked with the Fred Theatre Company in London, England to put on the play for the first time during the summer. The play was performed in London, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham, England.

Dr. Mikee Delony, associate professor of English and Culp Distinguished Professor from 2014-2017, said Stephenson approached her to see what advice she had when he was named as the next Culp Professor.

Stephenson originally submitted a different research topic in his abstract for the Culp Professorship but discovered the play after the application deadline.

This semester, Dr. Stephenson will be studying The Dutch Lady at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, En-

gland to ascertain its origins and author through this semester and summer.

“One large question that remains about the play is ‘Who wrote it?’ I will be comparing the language of The Dutch Lady with that of plays by every known author from the period.

A friend of mine, Darren Freebury-Jones, will assist me in using computer programs to look for similarities in vocabulary and style between this play and others,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson will also be preparing an annotated version of the play with notes and commentary for the public to read. He is looking into putting into production another version of the play in the United States during his three-year term as Culp Professor.

Delta Doo’ from the wellknown cartoon Scooby Doo. Forty-two women will perform in the act.

Lucky 13 was the name of a club founded in 1926 and re-chartered to became Delta Theta, according to the 1990 Prickly Pear. The club went inactive in 2011 after both of its sponsors resigned.

“As a past member, it is

an exciting time to have Delta Theta as an active social club on campus. Delta Theta has hundreds of alumni who are equally as proud to see the club flourish in its first year. Many will be attending this weekend to celebrate the club’s success,” said Emerald Cassidy, the associate director of enrollment marketing and club sponsor.

Delta Theta has won the title 10 times, and the last recorded win was in 1977.

Sponsor Emerald Cassidy said Beth (Neeley ‘78) Peables and Laurie (Shedd ‘78) Corbin were members of the club during its last year to take best overall. The sponsor team also includes Paige Beale, Debbie Haag, Harriett Haag and Brooke Hines. Since this is the club’s

first year, having an experienced sponsor group has been invaluable in providing tips and helpful advice that are usually passed down to members from year to year.

“We are really excited to be back on campus and to be doing Sing Song again,” Roy said.

Athletes take the stage of Sing Song this year with high expectations from directors and coaches alike.

Any college athlete would tell you the difficulties of balancing athletics and schoolwork. It is a yearround challenge whether or not the sport is in season.

Student athletes must stay in tip top shape, especially in the off season.

Lincoln Jones, junior accounting and information systems double major from Brentwood, TN, runs track at ACU and trains all year.

Jones has an optimistic outlook on the events of Sing Song and how it affects his performance in sports and schoolwork.

“It is challenging to manage your schedule as an athlete in Sing Song. Athletes have to use every hour of the day diligently to take care of both their body and

their work during the season,” Jones said, “but like all great experiences, the end result is well worth the effort. We have tremendous coaches at ACU who want to see their athletes grow both on and off the field of competition.”

Sing Song is a unique experience that comes around once a year for all to enjoy, including those hard-working athletes. For athletes like Lincoln, being a double major, athlete and sing song

participant must sound like an absolute nightmare to most people.

“As an athlete, I look at participating in Sing Song as a unique opportunity. Athletes get used to being separated from the student body during practice and competition, but Sing Song allows athletes to work alongside the entire ACU community in producing a show,” Jones said.

“Sing Song is an event that transforms ACU from a D1

university into a family, and I hope more athletes get to be a part of that family.”

For some, Sing Song might just be another block of the school year, but for students like Lincoln, it reminds them that it is an experience that brings the community together to laugh and smile at something truly special.

audition, he was offered a swing role in the show. As a swing performer, Cochran learns dances for six different roles to cover the actors if they get sick or injured.

“It’s cool to be part of something that is helping musical theatre, and it’s different,” Cochran said.

With its blend of hip hop and traditional musical styles, Hamilton was a “dream” show for Cochran, who performed in Sanctify during his time in college. He also served as a choreographer for Sing Song with Gamma Sigma Phi. Cochran graduat-

ed in five years with a bachelor of fine arts in musical theatre because he left campus several times to do the Broadway tours of Mamma Mia and Dream Girls.

“The department was very understanding, and they let me go twice,” Cochran said.

When he returned to campus his senior year, Dawne Meeks, chair of the Department of Theatre, asked him to help choreograph the Homecoming musical. Meeks allowed him to choreograph one number in the department’s performance of Footloose, and

he did such a good job that she asked him to help choreograph Big Fish in 2014.

“Everything he does, he just has such a spirit and a million dollar smile,” Meeks said. “It’s so cool when you’ve had the pleasure and honor of getting to instruct such a hard worker.”

Meeks said the department has stayed connected to Cochran since he graduated, and the faculty are proud of him as he starts work on Hamilton.

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

An English professor has received international acclaim for discovering and reviving a lost play from the 1600’s.

Last April, associate professor of English Dr. Joe Stephenson inadvertently discovered a never before seen play which had been sitting in a Boston library since the 1880’s. Because of this, he was named the Culp Distinguished Professor for 2017-2020 in order to further study the manuscript. The Culp endowment pays for professors to teach a reduced course load and funds travel costs for research.

Stephenson will be preparing for publication of the unpublished play titled The Dutch Lady. The play had been scanned into an online database by the Boston Library System. Unbeknownst to anyone until

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Delta Theta returns to stage after recharter

BY ASHLAN SMITH STAFF REPORTER

Women’s social club Delta Theta will perform in Sing Song for the first time since it has been re-charted.

Under the direction of Ruhika Roy, senior Engineering and Political science major from Toronto, Canada, Delta Theta’s theme this year is ‘Scooby

ADS15E@ACU.EDU

Athletes join in on upstage Sing Song acts

BY BRYCE LURKENS STAFF REPORTER

BCL14A@ACU.EDU

Theatre alumnus added to touring ‘Hamilton’ musical

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

After dancing for seven hours in a studio, the group of 30 candidates for the role had been cut down to just five. Eean Cochran, a 2015 graduate, was one of five dancers still in the running for a part in Hamilton, but he had already been rejected twice for a part in the Tony Award-winning musical.

This time he got called back for a second audition, an hour one-on-one session with the show’s choreographer.

A few weeks after the

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Eean Cochran plays the role of Willard in the 2013 performance of Footloose. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Theatre)

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 02/07/2018 10:25 p.m.

A student reported the theft of his wallet from his backpack in The Bean.

02/07/2018 11:30 p.m.

A staff member reported the theft of a mini iPad he left on top of his car parked in the COBA lot.

02/08/2018 9:23 p.m.

A student reported the theft of a cell phone from behind the scorers’ table in court C during an intramural game.

02/09/2018 10:30 p.m.

ACUPD issued two students municipal Minor in Consumption of Alcohol citations for violations that occurred in Dillard Hall.

02/12/2018 6:58 p.m.

A student was issued a Minor in Possession of Alcohol municipal citation for a violation that occurred in Gardner Hall.

ABANDONED VEHICLE 0 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 33 ADVICE 1 ALARM 2 ANIMAL CALL 0 ASSIST 0 BARRICADES 0 BICYCLE PATROL 0 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 14 BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) 0

CHECK BUILDING 337 CITATION ISSUANCE 1 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 0 DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE 0 ESCORT 2 EVENT SUPPORT 0 FIRE 0 FOOT PATROL 21 GRAFFITI 0 INFORMATION REPORT 1 INVESTIGATION

FOLLOW UP 7 MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 12 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 11 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 0 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 4 OTHER 3 PARKING LOT PATROL 34 PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE 15

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

10 0 0 9 12 2 0 3 0 0

TOTAL

603

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: In honor of Black History Month, ACUPD salutes the approximately 58,000 African-Americans serving as role models in American law enforcement today.

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FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16 , 2018

Sing Song costumes step up each decade

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

When Sing Song began in 1956, the clothing choices started simple. Students wore the same color slacks or skirts and shirts or blouses.

“They dressed more like what you would expect from a choir,” said Tom Craig, director of student productions.

Throughout Sing Song’s six decades, costume designs have changed and evolved, and today, how students look onstage is just as important as how they sound.

In the 60s, small elements were added to clothing to go with themes. With a western theme, for example, they wore bandannas or cowboy hats.

“From that,” Craig said, “it progressed to costumes just gradually getting a little more elaborate year after

year after year.”

In fact, after Sing Song moved to Moody Coliseum in 1968, students crafted costumes with more creativity. It evolved into participants asking “What can we do bigger and better from the year before?”

The 1970s introduced figural costumes into the performance. Foam material was introduced to craft three-dimensional outfits.

Sewing was a dominant way to make clothing until glue guns were put to use in the 1980s.

Tom Craig recollected one particular act’s costume design choice in 1987: Adam and Eve. “Adam and Eve were dressed in bodysuits that had leaves applied to them,” Craig said. “The guys, Adam, had a big band-aid on the side where the rib was taken to make Eve. And it

Kojies as broadway bumblebees with integrated Christmas lights in 1987. was the first time I had seen character costumes come to life in that way.”

Broadway Bumblebees in 1986 was another act whose costumes stood out. They

were the first Sing Song act to integrate electric lights into their costumes. But improvements did not stop there. Craig said when colored duct tape was intro-

duced in the 90s, students used it to their creative advantage.

The 90s and 2000s also gave affordability to make custom t-shirts, Craig said.

Students still use them to this day as base layers for their costumes. Additionally, foam insulation boards started being used more as they were cheap, lightweight and able to take paint well with the plastic coating taken off.

Despite how far costume designs have come, they also share a commonality.

“The common denominator among all of our Sing Song costumes is the creative factor,” Craig said. All costumes help enhance stories and add to stage performances, but creativity is what stands out the most.

“And when you think back from then all the up way to now,” Craig said, “it really is the creativity that makes it come to life.”

OPTIMSIT@ACU.EDU

Scoring: Choreography counts on act scoring CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Appearance: This year, Tatum and the upstage co-chairs removed choreography from the appearance category and geared it more toward the appeal of the act’s set and costumes. Set and props, costumes, recognizability and creativity make up the appearance category. Appearance is also worth 20 percent of the total score.

Choreography: Scoring will now be based on how creative, how clean and how together the act is.

Choreography is worth 15 percent of the total score.

The last 10 percent of the overall score is derived from deadlines.

“Now the categories really represent what they’re supposed to,” Tatum said.

“I think they’re much fairer and more even and more straightforward. Another thing we added is some more

SCORING BREAK DOWN

30% 20% 20% 20% 10% VOCALS

explanations about items, a lot are directed toward size.

No more judging size, but rather judging content.”

Ko Jo Kai sing song director, Kayla Torp, a senior vocal performance major from Waco said she was a fan of the new scoring changes. Torp has directed the Ko Jo Kai act for two years in a row.

“In my opinion, it is much more clear and fair on what

CHOREOGRAPHY

should win,” Torp said. “Vocals now have a clear definition of what sound they are looking for. That makes it much more attainable.”

She also said she agreed that originality shouldn’t be part of the scoring.

“I don’t think anyone really knew what made an act more ‘original’ than others so it seemed a little pointless in the scoring,” Torp said.

Torp said she focused

APPEARANCE ENTERTAINMENT

DEADLINES

on making the show fit the “top score” section of the scoring sheet the judges will receive.

“I made sure I knew exactly what they would be judging us on and did my best to create what the judges want while still staying true to myself and Kojies as a whole,” Torp said.

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

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PYEONGCHANG 2018

5

Why Americans favor Summer Olympics

THE ISSUE

The Summer Olympics is favored over the Winter Olympics.

OUR TAKE

Most Americans do not have the connection to the Winter Olympic sports like they do for the Summer Olympics

Every four years, Americans sit behind the bright lights of their television screens for three weeks and watch the Summer Olympics, but when it comes to the viewership of the Winter Olympics, most of us are apathetic. Since there is such a mass following in our country for the Summer Olympics, it would make sense that we would also be interested in the winter games. That is not the case, however. Most Americans could only name Shaun White as one of our Olympians.

There are a multitude of reasons for the Summer Olympics favoritism, but the most significant reasons have to do with geography and demographics.

In the United States, we have all heard of Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Misty May Treanor, but can you name that many winter Olympians? The viewership of the last Winter Olympics was 21 million people compared to the 27 million for the Rio summer games. Less peo-

ple and less nations are interested in competing in the Winter Olympics.

The biggest reason most people favor the summer games is simply because they were raised in sports that are part of the Summer Olympics. Most American high schools promote sports in track and field, swimming or gymnastics. The inclusivity of summer events makes it more likely that viewers have an emotional connection to the sports during the summer.

The majority of Americans don’t go skiing in Purgatory every winter break, so the likelihood of a random person enjoying Alpine Skiing is pretty low.

The lack of availabiliCARTOON BY ERNESTO GUAJARDO ty of Winter Olympic sports means most people in our country don’t less you live in states that that is a part of the Winter care about them. receive a consistent snow Olympics.

The Winter Olympics annually or you can afOur country will always on face value looks like it’s ford to take ski trips every have pride and hope in our more privileged than its break, you likely have nev- winter teams, but it’s clear summer counterpart. Un- er participated in a sport that countries covered in

snow will almost always take it more seriously.

The United States will always be one of the greatest nations in the Olympics, and Americans will contin-

Unity is not worth the cost of truth I’M JESS SAYIN’ JESSICA CLARK VIDEO DIRECTOR Senior Multimedia Major Dallas, Texas

The Winter Olympics is generally more lackluster than its summer counterpart, but even though we pay less attention to the games, there’s one aspect of the Olympics the world has its eyes on this year.

With the games hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea, North Korea and South Korea had a rare opportunity and chose to march under a unified flag, and in some of the

events they are participating with a joint team.

What does this say about the relation of North Korea and South Korea?

What we want it to say is peace. How awesome, right? The two countries can put their differences aside and come together for a couple of weeks in a event that’s meant to bring the world together. That’s how we’ve chosen to portray it. Headlines across

the world are highlighting small talks of reconciliation. But the facts show this is not how it is.

Just look and listen closely, and you’ll see North Korea’s treatment of its athletes and its relations with its competing countries is nothing admirable.

So what’s the point of highlighting this truth?

Well, truth. Would it be nice to be able to affirm that North Korea is on its way to reconciliation with South Korea and other countries?

Yes. But does portraying a false hope via the Winter Olympics do us any favors?

No. Why is this so? Because the actual situation is not any better.

It’s a simple concept that

gets misconstrued in several aspects of life. The Winter Olympics is just a sign of the times. In our individual relationships, in our classrooms, in our churches and in our world we’ve settled for stressing unity over truth, even when the underlying fact stands that unity based on falsehood never benefits any situation.

We should strive for unity. We should cherish it, and we should celebrate it. But we can only do that when we see its basis rooted in truth. That’s the only foundation on which true unity can stand.

JMC13F@ACU.EDU

You shouldn’t undermine the underdogs QUITE FRANCO-LY

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Junior psychology and convergence journalism major Fort Worth, Texas

I know it’s ironic. A girl in a big club writing about small acts, but I think it’s important to say.

Small acts work just as hard as big acts do, if not harder.

Maybe they won’t place or compare to the bigger acts as far as vocals, appearance, choreography or entertainment go, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t put the same

amount of time and effort into making their show happen.

I think that it’s a common reaction to care less about the clubs with less alumni and less people, but think about how difficult it is to sound as loud and full as 90-person acts do with 12 people. 90 people to make an entire set versus 12.

It isn’t fair to discount

the work and effort put in by small clubs to participate and enjoy themselves. I’d argue that small acts have become increasingly better and more competitive in my time at ACU. I know this might be a little bit biased, but Frats grew their act from 10 to over 40 and are competing with the so-called “big” clubs with their passion and humor. Pi Kappa’s vocals strongly rival every single act, and they do it with only 27 people. Trojans use their club-pride to bring an entertaining ring-by-spring act to life with catchy songs.

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

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

T H E

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

Though those are just a few, I think it’s important to remember that in the future, you’ll remember more about the relationships you made than what categories your act won.

It’s okay to be big, and it’s okay to be small, but keep in mind the memories you made through the work you did, rather than focusing on turning an eye away from the small acts just because of their size or lack of strength in a category.

ue to be one of the best fan bases that any country has to offer...in the summer.

EDITOR@JMCNETWORK.COM

@acuoptimist @ragingfloortile 2/14/18 8:19 P.M. Nobody cares if you have a valentines or not, they care if you run a meme page @CarleeStapp 2/08/18 1:04 P.M. Justin found my old twitter so today is not good @JessWhineygirl 02/14/18 4:28 P.M. This week I learned that theater students at ACU call their non-major classes “muggle studies” and that makes me feel a lot of things @marysa_travieso 2/13/18 11:23 P.M. Screaming because I just watched @shaunwhite win his third gold medal in the men’s snowboard halfpipe in the Jason’s deli parking lot on my tiny iPhone screen!!!!!!!Ahhhhhhhh @andrewboonedog 2/12/18 9:16 P.M. “You and I have been through hell and back. Well, we’re still working on the ‘back’ part, I guess.” #EvanQOTD @Evan_Beck_ @scottdye8 2/14/18 9:16 A.M. Someone let Nick know that I’ve been rehearsing “Bye Bye Lil’ Sebastian” for Tom’s farewell Sing Song tour.

Put me on stage, and I’ll bring the audience to tears. @BlairMarieClayt 2/14/18 5:04 P.M. One of my coaches called me an earth muffin today and preceded to tell me i was born in the wrong era.

So that’s fun @empirestrikemak 2/15/18 10:22 A.M. Sitting in class thinking: “okay i have 9 hours, 38 minutes and 50 seconds until i have to be ready for sing song tonight”

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Love SIN G

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

SON G

2018

P R E D ICTION S

FOR THE

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

7

The Optimist once again called in the infamous Hal Hoots for his long-awaited Sing Song predictions. Hal prepared predictions based on actual scoring sheets used by the judges this year, so pay attention for these top-ranking acts in the Men's, Women's, and Mixed Voices competitions.

Editor's note: Staff members participating in Sing Song did not partake in the prediction process.

OF SING SONG

MEN’S VOICES

1. KO JO KAI

1. GAMMA SIGMA PHI

ZETA RHO Don't Be Antsy They may be small, but the Zeta Rho colony is lining up to entertain with an act that carries twice its weight. Bring your appetite to this picnic cause these critters will leave you antsy for more.

WOMEN’S VOICES

They rescued the princess, and now these plumbers are rescuing first place with diction and vocals that keep them jumping for the gold. With funny cameos, good dynamics and a nostalgic storyline, I think Mario and Luigi have what it takes to win it all. As long as they don’t trip over a mushroom, they could finish the game in first.

With squeaky clean vocals and bubbly lyrics, this act is cleaning up the competition for the women’s clubs.

From start to finish, the entertainment never gets lukewarm for these ducks. Their choreography is clean, their diction and dynamics glow, and their set and costumes take the audience to childhood memories.

MIXED VOICES 1. FRESHMAN USHERS This classic act is everything a winning act should be with Academy-Award nominated vocals, clean costume changes and an overall popping atmosphere. If they keep up their facial expressions and dynamics, this act could go all the way.

Should We Stay Or Should We Ghost?

2. FRATER SODALIS

2. GATA

2. FRESHMAN PAC-MAN

3. GALAXY

3. TRI KAPPA GAMMA

3. JUNIOR CLASS

Is their number up this year for Frater Sodalis?

With cleaner vocals and better diction than past years, this club has stepped it up as a contender for the top spot. They’ll need a side of dynamics and tuning to beat the Gammas, but they’re not chicken for the challenge.

They didn’t pull the parachute for this act, so they're crash landing into third place. The beginning of the act is slow, but if they can get through this midlife crisis with good diction and dynamics, this act could soar higher.

Texas nostalgia and entertaining music make this act an oasis in the desert, but these prickly pears don’t have the vocals to beat Ko Jo Kai. They’ll need to clean up their tuning and synchronize their act if they want to stay afloat of the bathwater.

These records are spinning that old time rock’n’roll that hits top of the charts on entertainment, but isn’t N’Sync enough to make it the top two. Not to sound like a broken record, but they’ll need to fix their diction and facial expressions to stay on the billboard.

FRESHMAN PAC-MAN

This act immerses the audience in the game with one of the most original costume changes and choreography this year. But they don’t have the clean appearance and vocals to beat the Ushers. If they game up on their dynamics, they could eat the competition.

Break out your joysticks cause this act is an arcade of its own. Floating onto the stage with ghostly sets, audience can follow the trail of white dots to an entertaining show.

With a cute set and clean choreography, this act is entertaining, but rent is high on the competition this year. Their small numbers make vocals bankrupt in this act, but if they step up their diction they could get of jail free with an act rich enough for the third place spot.

Honorable Mentions GALAXY Free Fallin': A Moonie Life Crisis

Moonie men are diving onto the stage with an act that will have the audience on cloud nine. From the couch to the sky, these daredevils are pulling the parachute on this adventure one jump at a time.

DELTA THETA Scooby Delta Doo's, Where Are You?

Prepare to be spooked as these mystery lovers hit the stage in search of a famous dog. You won’t have to go searching for fun with this act, so take a ride on the Mystery Machine with these colorful detectives.

GAMMA SIGMA PHI Peach Is In Trouble, I Mustache For Help

Prepare to Level Up with this act that’s game to save the stage. Collecting coins and unclogging drains, these plumbers are sure to rescue the princess and leave audiences feeling nostalgic.

PI KAPPA These buccaneers won the sea battle with their vocals and diction, but with their slow storyline, they’ll have to make sure they do more than just wash up on shore.

KO JO KAI

ALPHA KAI OMEGA

Release the Quackin'

Take It Squeezy

Grab your loufa and bath bombs cause these rubber ducks are drawing up an act worth soaking in. With a sparkly set and a shower of entertaining lyrics, these childhood toys will leave the audience quacking up.

When life gives you lemons, listen to Alpha Kai with a sugary act that will take you back to summertime. Bring a quarter and skip the powder cause this act is fresh squeezed.

FRATER SODALIS

TROJANS

Frat-a-burger!

For Love, I Will

This act is bringing home the bacon with a show that’s sure to leave your mouth watering. With a side of spicy ketchup and an appetizing set, prepare to fill your midnight cravings with the men of Frater Sodalis.

Keep your sweetheart close or the men of Trojans will steal their hearts with this classic love story. From Tinder to True Love, this act will fly audiences to a showstopping romance.

SOPHOMORES

SIGMA THETA CHI

DELTA THETA

Despite their first time being back on the Sing Song stage, this Scooby gang got their snacks in choreography. Their lack of strong vocals might be too frightening to jump into the rankings, but they put on a good show.

The glittery colony of sweet bees stole the stage at first sight, but if beauty is in the eye of the bee-holder, I sure didn’t get what all the buzz was about. Regardless of their bland set, will their vocals have what it takes to sting the competition?

TRI KAPPA GAMMA

GATA

Play That Kappa Music!

Stuck On GATA

This act is sure to leave audiences longing for that old time rock n’ roll. Turning tables and bringing out classic jams, this act will break records for audience entertainment.

SUB T-16 Ships of the Road

You’ll want to listen to this act on a back road cause these Subbers will take you through the countryside. Their set may be imaginary, but the heart is there so by horse, motorcycle and truck, get buckled for a wild ride.

It may be dry in West Texas, but these cacti will stick on you with an act that’s blooming. You won’t have to journey to the desert to find these prickly pears entertaining and succulent.

SIGMA THETA CHI Won't You BEE Mine?

Burt’s got nothing on these bees with an act that’s sure to leave even Winnie the Pooh craving more hunny. Buzzing onto the stage with a sweet act, these glittery pollinators will have you feeling like a queen.

Ya'll Gonna Make Me Lose My Mime They may be silent, but these street performers will transport you to the glow of a Paris night. With baguettes and suspenders, they won’t need words to leave audiences cheerful.

JUNIORS It's All Fun and Games 'Til You Pay Rent

Don’t get a mortgage on this act cause these properties are ready for Free Parking. With an act that’s on the money, you’ll want to pass Go and collect all the laughter of junior year.

PI KAPPA

FRESHMAN USHERS

SENIORS

Nothin' Jolly About This Roger

Let's Go To The Movies!

A Polaroid Is Worth 2,018 Words

With a small crew and a mighty captain this act won’t be walking the plank this year. They're not Jack Sparrow, but you'll always remember the day you almost caught Pi Kappa on this stage.

Follow this act to the big screen as these freshmen usher in the classic movie atmosphere. From Jaws to the Titanic, their act will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Capture the moments of senior year with the postable memories of this act. Shaking and taping, the seniors are developing an act worth scrapbooking.

6

Love SIN G

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

SON G

2018

P R E D ICTION S

FOR THE

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

7

The Optimist once again called in the infamous Hal Hoots for his long-awaited Sing Song predictions. Hal prepared predictions based on actual scoring sheets used by the judges this year, so pay attention for these top-ranking acts in the Men's, Women's, and Mixed Voices competitions.

Editor's note: Staff members participating in Sing Song did not partake in the prediction process.

OF SING SONG

MEN’S VOICES

1. KO JO KAI

1. GAMMA SIGMA PHI

ZETA RHO Don't Be Antsy They may be small, but the Zeta Rho colony is lining up to entertain with an act that carries twice its weight. Bring your appetite to this picnic cause these critters will leave you antsy for more.

WOMEN’S VOICES

They rescued the princess, and now these plumbers are rescuing first place with diction and vocals that keep them jumping for the gold. With funny cameos, good dynamics and a nostalgic storyline, I think Mario and Luigi have what it takes to win it all. As long as they don’t trip over a mushroom, they could finish the game in first.

With squeaky clean vocals and bubbly lyrics, this act is cleaning up the competition for the women’s clubs.

From start to finish, the entertainment never gets lukewarm for these ducks. Their choreography is clean, their diction and dynamics glow, and their set and costumes take the audience to childhood memories.

MIXED VOICES 1. FRESHMAN USHERS This classic act is everything a winning act should be with Academy-Award nominated vocals, clean costume changes and an overall popping atmosphere. If they keep up their facial expressions and dynamics, this act could go all the way.

Should We Stay Or Should We Ghost?

2. FRATER SODALIS

2. GATA

2. FRESHMAN PAC-MAN

3. GALAXY

3. TRI KAPPA GAMMA

3. JUNIOR CLASS

Is their number up this year for Frater Sodalis?

With cleaner vocals and better diction than past years, this club has stepped it up as a contender for the top spot. They’ll need a side of dynamics and tuning to beat the Gammas, but they’re not chicken for the challenge.

They didn’t pull the parachute for this act, so they're crash landing into third place. The beginning of the act is slow, but if they can get through this midlife crisis with good diction and dynamics, this act could soar higher.

Texas nostalgia and entertaining music make this act an oasis in the desert, but these prickly pears don’t have the vocals to beat Ko Jo Kai. They’ll need to clean up their tuning and synchronize their act if they want to stay afloat of the bathwater.

These records are spinning that old time rock’n’roll that hits top of the charts on entertainment, but isn’t N’Sync enough to make it the top two. Not to sound like a broken record, but they’ll need to fix their diction and facial expressions to stay on the billboard.

FRESHMAN PAC-MAN

This act immerses the audience in the game with one of the most original costume changes and choreography this year. But they don’t have the clean appearance and vocals to beat the Ushers. If they game up on their dynamics, they could eat the competition.

Break out your joysticks cause this act is an arcade of its own. Floating onto the stage with ghostly sets, audience can follow the trail of white dots to an entertaining show.

With a cute set and clean choreography, this act is entertaining, but rent is high on the competition this year. Their small numbers make vocals bankrupt in this act, but if they step up their diction they could get of jail free with an act rich enough for the third place spot.

Honorable Mentions GALAXY Free Fallin': A Moonie Life Crisis

Moonie men are diving onto the stage with an act that will have the audience on cloud nine. From the couch to the sky, these daredevils are pulling the parachute on this adventure one jump at a time.

DELTA THETA Scooby Delta Doo's, Where Are You?

Prepare to be spooked as these mystery lovers hit the stage in search of a famous dog. You won’t have to go searching for fun with this act, so take a ride on the Mystery Machine with these colorful detectives.

GAMMA SIGMA PHI Peach Is In Trouble, I Mustache For Help

Prepare to Level Up with this act that’s game to save the stage. Collecting coins and unclogging drains, these plumbers are sure to rescue the princess and leave audiences feeling nostalgic.

PI KAPPA These buccaneers won the sea battle with their vocals and diction, but with their slow storyline, they’ll have to make sure they do more than just wash up on shore.

KO JO KAI

ALPHA KAI OMEGA

Release the Quackin'

Take It Squeezy

Grab your loufa and bath bombs cause these rubber ducks are drawing up an act worth soaking in. With a sparkly set and a shower of entertaining lyrics, these childhood toys will leave the audience quacking up.

When life gives you lemons, listen to Alpha Kai with a sugary act that will take you back to summertime. Bring a quarter and skip the powder cause this act is fresh squeezed.

FRATER SODALIS

TROJANS

Frat-a-burger!

For Love, I Will

This act is bringing home the bacon with a show that’s sure to leave your mouth watering. With a side of spicy ketchup and an appetizing set, prepare to fill your midnight cravings with the men of Frater Sodalis.

Keep your sweetheart close or the men of Trojans will steal their hearts with this classic love story. From Tinder to True Love, this act will fly audiences to a showstopping romance.

SOPHOMORES

SIGMA THETA CHI

DELTA THETA

Despite their first time being back on the Sing Song stage, this Scooby gang got their snacks in choreography. Their lack of strong vocals might be too frightening to jump into the rankings, but they put on a good show.

The glittery colony of sweet bees stole the stage at first sight, but if beauty is in the eye of the bee-holder, I sure didn’t get what all the buzz was about. Regardless of their bland set, will their vocals have what it takes to sting the competition?

TRI KAPPA GAMMA

GATA

Play That Kappa Music!

Stuck On GATA

This act is sure to leave audiences longing for that old time rock n’ roll. Turning tables and bringing out classic jams, this act will break records for audience entertainment.

SUB T-16 Ships of the Road

You’ll want to listen to this act on a back road cause these Subbers will take you through the countryside. Their set may be imaginary, but the heart is there so by horse, motorcycle and truck, get buckled for a wild ride.

It may be dry in West Texas, but these cacti will stick on you with an act that’s blooming. You won’t have to journey to the desert to find these prickly pears entertaining and succulent.

SIGMA THETA CHI Won't You BEE Mine?

Burt’s got nothing on these bees with an act that’s sure to leave even Winnie the Pooh craving more hunny. Buzzing onto the stage with a sweet act, these glittery pollinators will have you feeling like a queen.

Ya'll Gonna Make Me Lose My Mime They may be silent, but these street performers will transport you to the glow of a Paris night. With baguettes and suspenders, they won’t need words to leave audiences cheerful.

JUNIORS It's All Fun and Games 'Til You Pay Rent

Don’t get a mortgage on this act cause these properties are ready for Free Parking. With an act that’s on the money, you’ll want to pass Go and collect all the laughter of junior year.

PI KAPPA

FRESHMAN USHERS

SENIORS

Nothin' Jolly About This Roger

Let's Go To The Movies!

A Polaroid Is Worth 2,018 Words

With a small crew and a mighty captain this act won’t be walking the plank this year. They're not Jack Sparrow, but you'll always remember the day you almost caught Pi Kappa on this stage.

Follow this act to the big screen as these freshmen usher in the classic movie atmosphere. From Jaws to the Titanic, their act will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Capture the moments of senior year with the postable memories of this act. Shaking and taping, the seniors are developing an act worth scrapbooking.

8

SI N G

SON G

FEAT U R E

For His Final Debut Beginning as a student worker and later becoming director, Tom Craig explains how he has been shaped by Sing Song

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

C

oncluding his servanthood as the university’s director of student productions, Tom Craig will issue his last curtain call after Sing Song 2018.

Craig, who graduated from ACU in 1989, said he was hooked after getting his first taste of Sing Song. He participated in his junior and senior acts as a toddler and a Dallas Cowboy, respectively. Craig said he loved how Sing Song was able to make people grow closer together – its ability to make strangers into life-long friends.

“One of my favorite Sing Song experiences was working on the Optimist staff, and a couple of us were doing the senior act together,” Craig said. “We would work on our production lab trying to get the paper out and run to Sing Song practice over at the Gardner lobby. We would come back and finish the paper and for the rest of the night, we would practice singing our songs, doing choreography while laying out the Optimist.”

After working at the Abilene Reporter News as a business editor and Hendrick Medical Center as the director of public relations, Craig made his way back to the Hill, where he served as the director of public relations before joining the Department of Student Life.

“It all just kind of slowly evolved,” Craig said. “The first thing I did in the Sing Song office was to be the business manager. I revamped the ticket sales system and introduced the online ticket sales. The first thing I did was make it available to buy tickets online and after that, I became the director of the show and oversaw the whole process.”

T PHOTO BY LAUREN FRANCO

Tom Craig finishes his last year as Sing Song director

hough the thoughts of singing flowers and impressive dance numbers are not easy to forget, some of Craig’s memories as director do not bring smiles to the surface.

Reflecting on one particular car accident after a dance rehearsal, Craig struggled to find the words to express the sheer horror of identifying one of his students in the trauma center.

“Realizing that one of the students had passed away,” Craig said, “and finding out

that I knew their parents from when I was in school, was one the most difficult things I had to do – we’re all experiencing life together. That was the hardest thing to go through.”

While Craig continues to reflect on the concept of life, death and the memories that fill us, he is eager to continue with his own life and direct his attention back to one of his first loves – antiquing.

Growing up with parents who saw the opportunity to make a profit from taking old things and making them new again, Craig said his love for antiques began at the age of 10. Wanting to have old Coca-Cola signs hanged up on the walls of his room, Craig said he loved the idea of taking something old and making it new again.

“I slowly began to realize that I could buy and sell things, buy and sell, buy and sell and make some profit for the much bigger thing I wanted,” Craig said. “Before you know it, you’re in the business.”

O

wning the Antique Station in downtown Abilene with his wife, Betsy, and other family members, Craig said he is eager to go back and start doing other things in his life. Although Craig will miss the chaos and constant submersion of Sing Song, he said he thinks it’s a good time to make the transition.

“This transition will give me more time to do some restoration work, refurbishing work and approach the business in a more forthright way, which hopefully will be the right move,” Craig said. “This transition allows me to follow another dream, and that’s exciting to me.”

Ending his last term as the man behind the curtain, Craig said Sing Song has been able to show him how valuable life is.

“Many people always ask me ‘why do people like Sing Song so much,’ and my answer is always that it keeps you excited year after year,” Craig said, “because we have a shared experience that gives us the opportunity to make relationships, and that experience is similar and almost the same generation and generation.”

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

PHOTO BY HOLLY DORN

Freshman rival directors Abigail Zeller and Lauren Wertheim compete for the Sing Song title.

FRIENDLY FOES

From childhood friends to freshman Sing Song rival directors, Abigail Zeller and Lauren Wertheim look forward to the competition and memories to come

BY STELLA WIESER COPY EDITOR

F

reshmen Abigail Zeller and Lauren Wertheim began their friendship in the 3-year-olds Bible class at Highland Church of Christ. They performed together in the church Christmas musical, went to the same youth group functions and both graduated from Abilene High School last May. But come this weekend, they will be Sing Song rivals.

Zeller, accounting major from Abilene, co-directs the freshman Pac-Man Sing Song act, while Wertheim, global studies major from Abilene, co-directs the freshman movie ushers Sing Song act.

Both grew up attending Sing Song with their parents, who are alums, and loved it – each for her own reasons.

Though both freshmen, the friends are directing different acts in this year’s Sing Song. (Photo by Holly Dorn) “I’ve always loved Sing Song and wanted to be a part of it,” said Wertheim, daughter of Dr. Paul Wertheim, professor of accounting. “Sing Song is combining a lot of

things I love to do, like creativity and organization and working with people. So that’s why I wanted to do it.”

Wertheim always enjoyed the magnitude of each year’s productions.

“Because it’s on such a large scale and everything’s so well done, it’s amazing to watch and be like ‘wow, that’s incredible,’ considering everything that has to happen,”

she said.

For her part, Zeller said she likes the funny acts the most and especially enjoys the ending, when all the acts come out again and fill Moody.

“Especially the Saturday night show,” Zeller said. “It’s so much fun to be at because everyone is so happy and relieved for it to be over. But also, they had fun.”

Zeller and Wertheim are unsure whether they will try to director again in the future, but both are certain they want be a part of Sing Song again.

But the two aren’t letting the healthy competition come between them. While they have been busy directing their separate acts and don’t have a lot of free time, they still make sure to spend some time together.

“Everything is unique to your own act, so because of that, everything is done separately,” Wertheim said. “But we talk to each other like, ‘Wow this is stressful, but, wow, I love it.’ And we can relate on things like that.”

ECW13B@ACU.EDU

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

F E ATUR E

9

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY JEREMY ENLOW

Just Call Her ‘April’ From mom to CEO, Anthony joins the legacy of influential women as she becomes the first female chair of the Board of Trustees.

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

A

t the mere age of 25 years old, April Anthony decided to dream big, risk everything and achieve what she couldn’t imagine.

Today, overseeing two of the largest home health service companies in the nation, Anthony has conquered the impossible, including becoming the first woman to chair of the ACU Board of Trustees.

Outgoing chairman Dr. Barry Packer said Anthony was not only chosen for her experience but also her passion to serve the university.

“April has a love and passion for the mission of ACU and has demonstrated high standards of leadership throughout her life in both her business and her service on the Board of Trustees,” Packer said in an email. “April has an incredibly high work ethic, and she has been able to integrate her faith as a vital part of her work and family life.”

After graduating with a degree in business administration and accounting in 1989, Anthony decided to get out of the public accounting world and rerouted herself to work for a home health company that had four subsidiaries in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.

Planning to start a family soon thereafter and hoping to get into a profession with ‘more intensity,’ Anthony didn’t expect any issues behind her job switch. But after being at the company for just 58 days and realizing one of the home-healthcare company’s subsidiaries was in serious financial distress, Anthony was kissed by fate – she bought one of the company’s subsidiaries and became the chief executive officer.

“Through an odd set of circumstances, I ended up buying that subsidiary,” Anthony said. “I just took it over rather than the business closing down, and I assumed it and was able to take it and grow it from there. So, I was 25 years old and at the time, I had only been in the home health industry for 58 days when I became the owner of a home-healthcare company.

It was a very unusual path to entering an entrepreneurial experience, and I took it over and absolutely fell in love with what we do.”

The CEO Life

L

earning the ropes as she went, Anthony founded Homecare Homebase, a leading software technology platform for the home-health and hospice industries and later, Encompass Home Health & Hos-

pice, a provider of home-care and hospice services. Known as two of the largest healthcare companies in the industry, Anthony took off and continued to grow her companies with faith, courage and her family by her side.

“I learned a long time ago about the idea of balance,” Anthony said. “You know, if you’re trying to be a wife and a mother and a CEO and a Christian and a member of your community, and you just have these opposing forces pulling at your time and that if you think about them as opposing forces, then in fact you hardly ever find balance. And if you do, the reality is that you may be balanced, you maybe have thought of everything, but you’re probably not doing any of it particularly well.

“And so, I began to realize that the best way to think about that is how can I draw all of these things to the center and the closer I can get my priorities together, the closer to success I’ll be. As opposed to saying ‘my family is way over here,’ ‘my work is over there,’ ‘here’s my faith’ and if I keep all of these things apart and try to balance and just thought ‘I need to bring all my things together.’”

Her son, Luke Anthony, sophomore financial management major from Dallas, said in an email his mother always communicated the importance of her job and how it helped people.

“My sisters and I were regulars at the office in our early childhood,” Luke Anthony said, “but later in life she would talk about work experiences and would stress the importance of the lessons she learned in her work. The older we were, the easier it was for her to simply communicate lessons from business that she found applicable to life.”

After taking one look at her calendar and deciding where she spends most of her time, Anthony found out that work was taking the largest chunk. Anthony said she later began figuring out ways to incorporate her faith, family and community into the workplace which later translated into creating their non-profit foundation, Encompass Cares, which provides international medical mission trips for her employees. With dozens of nurses, doctors, clinicians and other skilled professionals, Anthony’s company began financially supporting medical professionals to attend to people in need across their community and around the world.

Unlike most CEOs, Anthony wanted to live out her faith in the workplace and to be true to who she was.

“We began having meetings about being godly in the workplace and what that meant,” Anthony said. “We were going to

respect one another. We were going to love our neighbor as ourselves. We were going to follow the rules and do what’s right, and we got to talking about how those godly principles that are living through the scriptures are the keys to success of our business. We would grow and succeed, and people would want to be a part of what we’re doing.”

Taking her work ethic lessons with her, Anthony began branching out and continued to use her funds to bless others.

After donating $30 million toward the Vision In Action campaign and serving on the board from 1997-2016 and rejoining last year, Anthony was elected chair of the board in November.

While Anthony said she is a bit anxious to start the role, Luke Anthony said he wasn’t too surprised to hear about his mom’s recent success.

“We were sitting at dinner one night, and she told me that she was going to be serving as the chair of the board,” Luke Anthony said. “I was not surprised at all, as she shows me how competent she is at being in charge daily, whether as a mom, boss, or chair of the board here at ACU. I have learned that the power of being kind and rewarding to others is not to be underestimated. I find this leadership role in higher education as another channel for my mom to show her true character by working with and loving others.”

Setting the Agenda

A

pril Anthony said while her position is more of an overseer of the board and doesn’t necessarily come with more authority, she does have the opportunity to lead the discussion toward what should be on the agenda.

“I think by having a recent graduate last year and having a son at ACU gives me a little bit of perspective than maybe the past board chairs since his children have been at ACU,” Anthony said, “So trying to make sure that the work of the board is relative for our ongoing financial success, but also from a standpoint of how are we creating a distinctive experience that includes not only a quality academic experience, but also high quality social experience that allows students to not only learn at their time at ACU.” Hoping to bring out the holistic experience, Anthony said she would want to keep in mind the students and the experiences they endure during their time on campus. Thinking about her past experiences as a Tri Kappa Gamma founding member and performing in Sing Song, Anthony said it’s her memories that keep

her going and learning what students want from their leadership.

“It seems like every time I step onto campus, I smile about something I remember,” Anthony said. “I think about our intramural championship one year, and that was super fun. We did Sing Song, and it’s always a great memory. And so those songs get engraved in your heads – especially those little key changes that are always creeping up on you. I think it was just intramurals, Sing Song, rush events, bid night event, club socials and grubs and all night study sessions at the Kettle and so, it just seems like every time I drive by campus, those memories just flood back and are just connected to the people that came as a result of that. So, that’s the ACU difference for sure.”

Being one of the few women on the board and the first as the chair, Anthony said she has been inspired by previous board women to stand strong and advocate for women to step into leadership roles in higher education.

While settling into her new position, she said she began to admire women like Mary Prudie Brown and Mary Smith. As some of the first pioneers for women serving on the board, Anthony said they were the epitome of godly women – playing gracefully and firmly in a man’s world.

“They were really the pioneers for involving women on the ACU board and leadership roles at ACU,” Anthony said.

“I’m happy to get to continue on in that opportunity, and hopefully more and more women will find their way to the ACU board and pursue opportunities to serve in ways that can impact the future.”

As April begins her journey, outgoing chair Barry Packer said everyone should utilize their skills for God’s mission – regardless of gender.

“As people of faith, we should affirm that men and women are equally valued in the eyes of God and thus are able to exercise their gifts in roles of ministry and leadership,” Packer said. “I am delighted that the ACU Board of Trustees has chosen April to use her God-given gifts to lead the Board in the years ahead.”

With high hopes and visions for the university, Anthony clings to her past memories as a Kappa, student and fellow Wildcat to prepare the agenda for the necessary changes for the next generations to come.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

10

SPORTS

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

DEAD-EYE

Larson leads Wildcats’ long-range attack

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

It’s an accomplishment to shoot 40 percent from 3-point range. Some of the best shooters and guards in the NBA don’t end up shooting 40 percent from downtown people like Lebron James, Tyreke Evans and James Harden aren’t even at .400 for the season. So how is it that ACU ended up with a shooter that is averaging a .409 three-point percentage?

Josie Larson, freshman guard from San Antonio, has emerged as one of ACU’s premier shooters from the outside. At 5’9, she spaces the floor very well for other teammates but originally, she wasn’t even on ACU’s radar.

“We actually originally went to her high school to scout her teammate, Alyssa Adams,” Head Coach Julie Goodenough said, “and just in the process of following Alyssa we met Josie.”

Josie started playing basketball at the age of 6, but didn’t start playing competitively until sixth grade.

“That’s when I started playing club basketball for AAU,” Larson said. “But I didn’t get on a really good team that traveled until my junior year, where we went to more expose events where

coaches would actually watch us.”

It was there, along with her high school, where Goodenough saw the potential for Josie to become a contributing member for the Wildcats.

“We saw her play, and the summer before her senior year we followed her around as much as we could at AAU tournaments, Goodenough said. “We saw that she could make layups and was really crafty around the basket, which is what we wanted to do, so we signed her, and then she didn’t play her senior year.”

Josie was playing well at her AAU tournaments when she tore her ACL. Josie said he is healed physically but is afraid to admit whether the way she’s played has been changed due to the injury. She said that she needs to work on driving to the lane, but may have some mental effects.

“I like to think that it’s not [the case] but psychologically it, you know, kind of scares me a little bit,” she said.

One thing that is clear is Josie’s strength: shooting the outside ball. Josie wasn’t the only one to make that clear.

“I’ve got to give Josie a lot of credit. She shoots the ball very well because she is in the gym all the time,”

Goodenough said. “On average, Josie is making somewhere in the ballpark of 800 to 1,000 threes a week.

She puts in a lot of time, and that’s why she’s such a good three-point shooter.”

Josie’s teammates also notice the effort that she puts in, and know that it not only makes her better but increases the talent level of the entire team.

“It’s really great having someone like Josie to coming into the game, but she’s doing more than that,” sophomore starting guard Breanna Wright said. “A lot of us girls try and go in as pairs and shoot together, and we can always know that Josie’s going to ask us to shoot, or we can ask her to shoot. She loves being in the gym and loves getting everyone else in the gym, and it’s really great having that extra motivation to pick us up if we’re not feeling it that day. She’s always there.”

Josie said she’s been instilled with a work ethic since she started playing, put in place by the belief that she can always get better.

“I’ve always tried to be the best that I can be, and the best way to get a good threepoint percentage is to just shoot the heck out of the ball in practice, and practice as much as you can. I wanted to

better my three so I just started working on it, and that’s what I got better at. When I tore my ACL, I couldn’t do much but shoot, so I would just form shoot. That turned into shooting further out and

eventually working on threes so I just continued to practice that and I got pretty good about it.”

Only time can tell where Josie will end up while at ACU. It’s clear though, that

with a strong work ethic and a killer shot from downtown, the pool is always open for her to make a splash.

winning seven games in a row after losing four to Michigan State. Unfortunately, that run accounted for more than half of the team’s wins last year as they went 13-43.

Head Coach Britt Bonneau said that one of the sore spots last year was defense, something he looked to address this season.

“Being able to play behind those pitchers is going to be key to our success this year,”

Bonneau said. “We have six new defensive players, and we feel like those guys are guys that can play at this level, and they’ve shown that over the last six months.”

ACU will return 2017 Southland third-teamer and 2018 pre-season second-teamer senior catcher Luis Trevino. The pitching staff had a complete overhaul, however, returning only four full-time pitchers

and junior outfielder/pitcher Derek Scott. New Pitching Coach Cory Vanderhook looks to take a team that had an above seven ERA last year and turn it around. Coach Bonneau said the team has been working on getting better all off-season.

“What you do with the preseason is you go out there, and you get a lot of guys some playing time,” Bonneau said. “You see who can play

at the level that you want, and you look at who can do the little things.”

Quinnipiac is picked to finish eighth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season out of 11 teams.

The Bobcats return its star outfielder junior Brian Moskey and junior first baseman Liam Scafariello, but lose its biggest offensive contributor in Matthew Batten, who is now in the San Diego Padres

farm system. The team also returns a stud closer in Mike Davis, who had 9 saves in 20 appearances last year with an astounding ERA of 0.96.

The season begins in Abilene at Crutcher Scott field Friday at 4 p.m., with the next two games landing on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Larson is shooting just under 41 percent from behind the arc this season.

TMW13A@ACU.EDU

Baseball welcomes Bobcats for first pitch of 2018

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

The baseball team kicks off its season Friday with a threegame series against Quinnipiac University and is hoping to get off to just as hot a start as they had last year.

After being picked to finish tied for 12th in the conference, the Wildcats hope to set the stage against the Bobcats with a decisive series win.

Last year, ACU started off hot

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S PORTS

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

Junior forward Jaren Lewis has been a valuable asset for the Wildcats ever since arriving and starting as a true freshman. But after posting 15-plus points and rebounds in consecutive games last week, the 6-foot-6 Orlando, Florida native may be playing the best basketball of his ACU career.

In a losing effort against league-leader Nicholls State on Feb. 7, Lewis hauled in an ACU Div. 1 record 20 rebounds and scored a game-high 18 points. He followed that up with a 20-point, 17-rebound outing against Incarnate Word in an 8069 win, which resulted in Southland Conference Player of the Week honors.

“Really it’s just a testament to a lot of hard work,” Lewis said. “First and foremost, actually, it’s just a testament to my teammates and coaches staying on me. My coaches not letting me settle, not letting me rest, always wanting me to get better.

My teammates believing in me and really just helping me out with everything.”

In fact, Lewis’ double-double against Incarnate Word was his third consecutive and seventh this season. Head coach Joe Golding said the recent surge in rebounding was something he emphasized to Lewis at halftime of the Wildcats’ Feb. 3 matchup against Sam Houston State.

“I pulled him out of the locker room and got on him a little bit and I really like where he’s been, you can tell that he’s definitely engaged, he’s invested in what we’re trying to do here,” Golding said. “You know he didn’t make Southland Conference Player of the Week because he scored points.

He made Southland Con-

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

COMING OF AGE Lewis’ success testament to team mindset

JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR Lewis leads the team in rebounding with 7.7 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 13.5 points a contest. ference Player of the Week because he averaged 18.5 rebounds a game this week. That’s doing the little things.”

But aside from his recent recognition and a firstteam all-academic award last year, Lewis has flown under the radar to many outside of the ACU circuit.

Lewis was in the running for freshman player of the year, after averaging 9.4 points per game and leading all freshman with 5.8 rebounds per game, but teammate and classmate Jaylen Franklin garnered the honor after averaging 16.2 points per game.

And last season after scoring career-high 26 points, averaging 13.7 ppg and grabbing 6.6 rpg, Lewis wasn’t given a spot on any of the three all-conference teams. However, that hasn’t phased Lewis.

“I just try to help my team win every game, just do whatever it takes to help my team win,” Lewis said.

“Really when one of gets an honor, it’s a testament to all of us and how we push each other and how close we are.”

And it’s that type of mentality that has gotten the respect of teammates like Franklin.

“My favorite part about play with Jaren is that he never gives up, he always play with the motor, he is a great teammate,” Franklin said. “Jaren is someone I would always want on my side playing together. He just bring something to the table that must guys don’t and that’s why he’s a special player for us.”

However, Lewis has clearly taken his play to a whole another level as of late. Golding said he’s seen

the talent and leadership capability since Lewis became a starter his freshman year, but it was really this summer and now season he’s stepped into his own.

“I’ve said it from day one I think he’s been a great player,” Golding said.

“What he’s done lately is he’s really taken this team on his back and he’s a leader, he started being a leader this summer. He’s not a very vocal kid, this whole team is not very vocal. And sometimes that can be misguided as they don’t have a motor or energy but Jaren does. He’s played that way the last three or four games and really all year from us.”

And lucky for the coach, his players are mimicking the winning team and winning mentality. Lewis said

he doesn’t plan on easing up any time soon and neither does the team.

“Really I’ve just got to stay hungry, got to keep working,” Lewis said. “I just know how important every game is, I’m just trying to do the best for my team so we get a better seed in Katy. Once we get to Katy, anything can happen so that’s really what we’re shooting for, that’s really why we’re all just trying to stay focused, why we’re all so locked in.”

For Lewis and the rest of his recruiting class, this season’s mentality was something cultivated before they even played a game in an ACU uniform.

“I really wanted a chance to do something big in college basketball,” Lewis said. “ACU and

11

Coach Golding just told me that my class would be the first to go through this transition period and have a chance to compete for a conference championship in Katy. That really just sold me, I just wanted to be the first to do something to make history.”

Lewis ranks 20th or better in the conference among eight different categories, headlined by the second-best field goal percentage at 59 percent, fourth-best rebounding clip at 7.7 rpg and seventh-best in steals per game with 1.7 per game.

If maintains his level of play, Golding is confident, everything will even itself out.

“I’ve said it from the beginning, I think he’s an all-conference player, I think that’ll prove it self right,” Golding said. “I think if he continues to do what he’s doing right now. To be all-conference and to get multiple all-conference players, you have to win basketball games, it’s a team effort. Teammates have to do things for guys to get individual awards in men’s basketball, but the one thing that he’s doing that’s an individual effort is rebounding the basketball. It’s effort it’s heart and it’s want and it’s an investment of where we’re trying to go.”

And not to mention, the Wildcats are on track to where they’re trying to go.

With five games left in the regular season ACU sits in a tie for seventh place in the conference.

But Lewis and the rest of the Wildcats will have their hands full as they look to move into a tie for sixth this Saturday when they take on Southeastern Louisiana, who sits third in the conference, winners of four straight.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

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SPORTS

FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2018

Wildcat attendance ranks No.25 No. School

HOME ATTENDANCE LEADERS — FCS

1. Montana 2. James Madison 3. Florida A&M 4. Yale 5. Montana St. 6. Jacksonville St. 7. North Dakota St 8. Prairie View 9. Delaware 10. N.C. A&T 11. Grambling 12. Alabama St. 13. Southern U. 14. Youngstown St. 15. Alcorn 16. Jackson St. 17. Tenessee St 18. South Dakota St. 19. South Carolina St. 20. Illinois St. 21. SFA 22. New Hampshire 23. Westerm Caro.

24. Mercer 25. Abilene Christian

BY MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS DIRECTOR

In its first season of existence, Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium has already found its name on the FCS top-25 list of average attendance at football games.

ACU landed at the No. 25 spot with an average of 10,441 fans per game and a total of 52,204 out of five home games. The specific attendance for each game, according to ACU Sports, was a sold out 12,000 in the stadium opener against Houston Baptist; 11,645 against

Games 6 9 4 5 6 6 9 5 6 5 4 6 4 6 6 5 4 8 5 5 5 6 5 5 5

Attendance

141,212 195,514 76,190 94,699 111,702 110,328 164,996 89,016 99,890 78,486 59,699 87,689 57,261 85,220 83,078 68,780 48,320 95,951 59,414 57,200 56,881 66,141 52,735 52,725 52,204

Stephen F. Austin; 10,564 against McNeese; another sell out of 12,000 for Homecoming against Southeastern Louisiana; and 5,995 against Sam Houston.

This was certainly a step up from the previous year, when ACU averaged only 6,342 fans per game in its final year at Shotwell Stadium, making this year’s average attendance a 65 percent increase.

Director of athletics Lee De León said he was pleased with the attendance count this season.

“It speaks volumes to our fan base and the potential

Average

23,535 21,724 19,048 18,940 18,617 18,388 18,333 17,803 16,648 15,697 14,925 14,615 14,315 14,203 13,846 13,756 12,080 11,994 11,883 11,440 11,376 11,024 10,547 10,545 10,441

that we have,” De León said.

“I think it shows that we belong in FCS and that we’re here to stay, and that we plan on being a top-25 FCS program not just in football but across the board.”

While the stadium made its debut this year, head coach Adam Dorrel also began his new job leading the Wildcats. In the team’s home games, Dorrel coached ACU to a stadium-opening win against HBU, also keeping things interesting in a close 13-7 loss against defensive powerhouse McNeese, as well as losing by only 44-35 to third-ranked Sam Hous-

2017 Win Perc. .630% .933% .273% .900% .455% .833% .933% .545% .636% 1.00% .846% .455% .636% .545% .583% .273% .545% .786% .300% .545% .364% .643% .583% .455% .182%

ton State.

Dorrel said the attendance figures mean something to his team.

“It’s really exciting for our program; it’s something we’re going to try and publicize as much as we can,” Dorrel said. “It’s like the line from Field of Dreams, if you build it they will come, and it was really cool to see, so hopefully we can keep growing that.”

With his second year to come and new recruits on the way, Dorrel said his goal is to see steady growth in all aspects of the program, including attendance.

Enrollment 13,358 21,227 7,769 12,385 16,703 7,561 14,516 7,455 22,680 9,688 4,863 4,727 6,489 15,194 2,825 9,811 9,027 12,725 2,529 21,039 12,614 15,398 9,171 8,600 3,758

The Wildcats were one of two Southland Conference teams to appear in the top25 for FCS attendance. SFA came in at 21 with an average attendance of 11,376.

McNeese State did crack the top-30, coming in at 27 with an average attendance of 9,939. ACU also had the third-smallest enrollment of any school in the top-25 and the lowest win percentage, showing promising potential and support for a program in just its first-year of postseason eligibility.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

Null deals third-career no-hitter

BY DAVIS DENTON SPORTS WRITER

The Wildcats opened their first postseason eligible season in San Antonio at the UTSA Softball Classic, which was highlighted by senior pitcher Hannah Null’s third-career no-hitter.

In the opening game against Seton Hall, Hailey Arteaga hit a home run that scored the only two runs of the game for the Pirates, but it proved to be enough as ACU was shutout, resulting in a 2-0 win.

The Salukis from Southern Illinois squared up with ACU in the second game for a two-game split.

In the first contest, the Wildcats fell 8-5, despite senior Peyton Hedrick’s first homerun of the season to put the Wildcats out in front 1-0 early. Unfortunately, the Salukis unleashed an eight run barrage over the next two innings to take an 8-1 lead.

“It went okay with it being our first weekend,” Hedrick said. “We definitely wanted to come out with more wins, but it’s a starting point, and we will work from there. Defensively we had a really good weekend, offensively we struggled a bit the first day, but our bats came around and they will

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Senior Hannah Null fires in a pitch. She is jsut one no-hitter from tying ACU’s all-time record. continue to.”

Senior Holly Neese and Hedrick both scored on a fielding error in the 5th inning and senior Brianna Barnhill hit a two-run shot to bring the final score to 8-5.

“I do feel confident going into this season. We have some underclassmen

that are filling some big roles, a great pitching staff led by Hannah and a lineup that has potential to do very well and produce a lot of runs,” Barnhill said. “A mixture of senior leadership and young talent will help us on this years endeavors.”

In the second game against the Salukis, senior

pitcher Hannah Null played one of the best games of her career in a 9-0 win. Null pitched five innings with seven strikeouts, no hits and no runs allowed just one base runner. With her third no-hitter as a Wildcat, Null is now just one shy of tying the all-time record.

In what proved to be the

final matchup of the weekend, as Sunday’s game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was cancelled, the Wildcats fell 4-2 to tournament host UTSA. Barnhill’s second homerun of the tourney gave ACU an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. But a homerun by UTSA right fielder Hannah Boring in the 3rd scored two runners to give the Roadrunners a 2-1 edge. Shortstop Ashlynn Walls doubled in a run and second baseman Hailey Garza drove in a run on a fly out to extend the lead to 4-1.

ACU’s Donnelle Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly by Callie Burris, but the Roadrunners outpaced the Wildcats in the final inning to get the 4-2 win.

“Obviously we would’ve loved to come out with 4 wins, but it’s the first time for all of us to come together again so it was a good warm up for these next coming weeks,” Null said. “We could’ve played better, but we have some new girls in new spots and all of that will come with time.”

ACU will travel to Florida for the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational this weekend.

DMD14A@ACU.EDU

Men’s Tennis back in action with six-match win streak

BY BRYCE LURKINS SPORTS WRITER

The men’s tennis team continues to move closer to conference play as it takes on local rivals Hardin-Simmons and McMurry amidst the Sing Song bustle, while the women are idle this weekend.

Last time the men were in action it was senior Hunter Holman who stole the headline and propelled the team over Air Force for the second consecutive year.

When Holman took the court his team held a 3-1 lead, but the tide quickly turned as senior teammates Henry Adams and Paul Domanski were defeated and the Falcons battled back to even the score at 3-3. Meanwhile, Holman headed into the third set tied 1-1 with Paul Hendrix and everyone was focused on their final set. Holman eventually defeated Hendrix 6-3 to secure the win

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Senior Paul Domanski returns the serve to his opponent. for ACU, 4-3.

“Coming into the third set I was telling myself I

needed to be tough. I was exhausted out there, and after I lost that first set I

found myself peeking over at the scores to see how my teammates were doing,” Holman said. “I came out and told myself I’d play as hard as I possibly could and I’d play the third set the same way I did the second set: by keeping the ball in play.”

The win over Air Force, paired with a 5-2 victory over Oral Roberts earlier in the day, gave the Wildcats their sixth-straight triumph.

“I like winning a lot better than losing,” Head Coach Hutton Jones said.

“You lose a close 4-3 in the last match of a double-header and you don’t play for a couple weeks leading up to this weekend, then it’s good to know that we can win coming down to the last match. I think Hunter really embraced this situation, and he was the one last year that really clenched it when we beat them 4-3 at Air Force. So they don’t like him much.”

With a full head of steam

and fresh legs after a week off, the men also now have the 111th ranked player in the country in junior Josh Sheehy, as he cracked the Oracle/ITA rankings earlier this week. Sheehy is 8-3 this spring and a five-time Southland Conference Player of the Week.

The women finished 2-1 in their latest action on Feb. 2-3, with wins over UTEP and New Mexico State, before falling to Northern Arizona 1-4. They were also scheduled to return to action last weekend in Abilene against New Mexico State and Tyler, but those matches have been postponed until further notice.

Following this weekends matches, the men will head to Waco to take on Baylor Feb. 24, while the women travel to San Antonio to play University of Texas at San Antonio and Eastern Michigan.

BCL14A@ACU.EDU

STANDINGS Softball

Team

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

Ovrl. SLC. 3–0 4–1 2–1 3–2 2–3 1–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 0–0 0–2 0–4

Men’s Basketball

Team

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

0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0

Ovrl. SLC.

17–9 17–10 21–5 16–11 13–12 16–11 15–11 13–13 9–14 8–15 6–20 5–18 3–22

11–2 11–3 10–3 10–4 10–4 8–6 7–6 7–6 6–7 5–8 2–11 0–13 0–14

Women’s Basketball Team

Ovrl. SLC.

Lamar 18–6 SFA 20–4 UCA 17–7 ACU 15–8 TAMU-CC 15–9 NOU 12–13 Nicholls 12–12 McNeese 11–13 SELU 6–19 HBU 7–16 UIW 3–21 NWSU 7–18 SHSU 4–19

13–1 12–1 10–3 9–4 8–5 8–6 7–6 7–6 5–9 3–10 2–11 2–12 1–13

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Softball Despite going 1-3 in the first tournament of the year, Null made headlines by Null throwing a no hitter in a 9-0 win against Southern Illinois last Saturday.

She threw for seven strikeouts, and the only thing that kept her from a perfect game was hitting one batter in the fourth inning. Null and the Wildcats return to action this weekend at the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational in Florida.

Men’s Basketball Lewis played a memorable week and topped it off with being named Lewis Southland Conference player of the week. He grabbed an impressive 20 rebounds against Nicholls and 17 against Incarnate Word. Lewis also totalled 37 points over the two games.

The men play its next game on the road against Southeastern Louisiana Saturday.

Women’s Basketball Williamson brought her team and the Moody crowd to its feet last Saturday when she hit Williamson two clutch layups to win 58-56 against Incarnate Word. She posted a total 13 points in the game making three of seven shots and seven of nine free throws. Her team will hit the road to face Southeastern Louisiana for its next game.

For more, check out ACUOptimist.com Or follow us on social media @OptimistSports