The Optimist Print Edition 05.04.18

Track closes regular season at Southland Championship Page 8

OPINION

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

Friday, May 4, 2018 Vol. 106, Issue 30

MOST LIKELY TO...? WE PICKED ACU SUPERLATIVES Page 6

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Students, families, faculty and staff joined to send off the senior class with a candlelight devo hosted by the Student Alumni Association Tuesday evening.

CALENDAR 5/04

SGA hires cabinet officers

•

CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

Cabinet paddleboarding at 5 p.m. at the Abilene State Park

5/05 •

•

Big Country CASA Superhero Fun Run at 8:30 a.m.

Boot Scootin’ Pop Up Dance at Eller Hall at 201 Mesquite St.

5/07 •

•

Cabinet goat yoga at 11 a.m. in the Mall Area SALT Dead Day recycling in the UCC parking lot all day

5/12 •

Commencement at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

BOX OFFICE APRIL 27-29 1. Avengers: Infinity War $257,698,183 2. A Quiet Place $11,004,977 3. I Feel Pretty

Student Government Association voted five students into the president’s cabinet last Wednesday.

Ty Kelley, the executive president of SGA, said they had a great turnout of applicants, so much that they had to turn people away from an interview.

The base level qualifications of each position are outlined in the constitution, but Kelley said him and Jones looked for team dynamics, strengths within the team, how that person would work in the role and how each person would work with their respective boss.

“We really tried to get a holistic view of each candidate, not just based on qualifications, but also their fit within the team as a whole, their strengths and

$8,176,757

5. Black Panther $4,736,428

DAYS UNTIL

GRADUATION FEATURE

EIGHT RETIRING FACULTY SHARE LESSONS Page 4-5

their weakness, their ability for that specific job that they were applying for,” Kelley said. “We had some amazing applicants apply, it was a really tough decision.

Everyone we hired was really passionate.”

Colton Powell, junior finance major from CLINTON N a s h v i l l e, Tennessee, was voted in as Executive Treasurer, and will handle finances for SGA and allocate funds to the 88 student organizations.

“Student organizations are the backbone of this university, and we’re just the ones that get to oversee that and encourage student involvement,” Powell said.

This semester, SGA vot-

ed to split chief communications officer into press Secretary and marketing director.

Mikaela Clinton, junior advertising and public relations major from San Antonio, was voted in as press secretary.

Additionally, Lauren POWELL Wa s s o n , junior political science major from Denton was voted in by congress as the new chief of staff.

“This year, I hope students can come to understand and become more aware of SGA’s purpose,” Wasson said. “With the name change, I hope students can discover the power they have in impacting decisions on the cam-

pus they love and want to improve. Ultimately, our job consists of serving students, the people we strive to represent on a day to day basis. I hope the SGA office can become an even more organized, strategic center for student voices to be heard.”

Kevin Shurtz, senior computer science and political science major from Southlake, was appointed to be the chief financial officer, working closely with Powell regarding budget allocation. Shurtz explained three major goals as CFO in the coming years including refining the organizational processes, updating the software and creating more venues for congress members to contact their constituents.

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

Noble Kings hosts first probate event

BY HALEY REMENAR

4. Rampage (2018) $7,205,315

7

BY LAUREN FRANCO

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Men’s social club Noble Kings last week conducted the university’s first-ever probate, a tradition common among predominately black fraternities and sororities nationwide.

The event allowed Nu Kappa Psi, also called the Noble Kings, to present its most recent pledge class to the campus using songs, chants and dances to illustrate the club’s core principles. Noble Kings president Tryce Prince said the club had about 30 members attend and about 75 students came to the event which took place at the Beauchamp Amphitheater on April 25.

“It’s an opportunity for the pledges to be able to showcase the things they have learned during the pledging process,” Prince said.

The tradition is a common

part of Greek life at historically black universities and the Divine Nines, the first black fraternities at major universities. Prince said Noble Kings founder Chuck Oputa wanted the club to bring the probate tradition to the university. At this time, the club is not planning to do other black Greek traditions, Prince said.

“Historically black and minority students didn’t feel comfortable pledging at ACU for whatever reason,” Prince said. “We just want to make sure there is a space on campus for everybody to have a social club experience.”

He said the club intends to provide a space for black and minority students but it is not exclusive to those demographics.

The Noble Kings did not take pledges in the fall but took 16 pledges in the

The men of Nu Kappa Psi chant and sing in the club’s first probate event (Photo courtesy of Tryce Prince). spring. The club also did not participate in Sing Song, but Prince said in the future the club will participate in whichever events the majority of members want to do.

“My hope in the fall is that we are more visible, whether

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

at tailgates or having grubs and formals,” Prince said.

For more information about the club, Prince can be reached at tdp15a@acu.edu.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Riley’s Front Porch Market to feature vintage items

BY STELLA WIESER COPY EDITOR

The annual Front Porch Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday at home of Dr. Chris and Rachel Riley.

Rachel Riley, instructor of psychology, has hosted the market on her front lawn for a number of years, and it has grown from just an opportunity for her to sell her own “good junk,” to an annual event where students, alumni, her friends and even her children participate with booths of their own to sell various odds and ends.

“It’s a market. It’s not a flea market, it’s not a garage sale,” Riley said. “It’s just kind of like a day at the house where there’s music, there’s food, and there’s all kinds of things being sold.

On an ideal day, people will come and stay and have some refreshments, listen to the musicians.”

After she and her family moved to the home she lives in now, which has an adjacent parking lot, she found that it was easy to invite other people to come sell things alongside her.

“I started inviting friends that I knew made things, so handmade items, or that had their own bakeries or food trucks or that sort of thing,” Riley said.

“Also, so many students are so talented here at ACU, that my friends need to know about them, and they need to sell the things that they are making, so that’s made some pretty interesting connections over the years.”

There will be twelve SEE PORCH PAGE 2

2

NE W S

Goats will frolic around posing yogis

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER

Goat Yoga Richardson will conduct a goat yoga event from noon to 2:30 p.m. on dead day in the mall area.

The event will be divided into three sessions: noon12:40 p.m., 12:50-1:30 p.m. and 1:40-2:20 p.m.

Bailey Goodenough, who planned the event, said the yoga class will include baby goats, a common trend.

“I’ve never done goat yoga before,” said Goodenough, senior composite interdisciplinary major from Abilene. “But I think doing yoga with little goats running around would just be hysterical.”

Goodenough saw videos of goats running around and followed Goat Yoga Richardson on Instagram.

Goodenough said she thinks the class takes the relaxing part of yoga and adds in a fun vibe with the baby goats.

All spots are sold out in all sessions, according to Eventbrite. However, students can still watch the yoga class and the goats.

The Sweet Side food truck will also be there to serve ice cream and cookies. The first 100 people to show up will get a free treat, Goodenough said.

HVJ11A@ACU.EDU

FRIDAY | MAY 4, 2018

Abilene Allies hosts LGBT dance

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Abilene Allies group hosted two events last weekend to show support for LGBT students.

Led by Abilene pastor Damon Parker, the group invited LGBT students to a dance last Friday night at the Swenson House.

“The purpose of the dance was mostly to

have the community of Abilene show support for our LGBTQ students,” Parker said. “And to show we’re glad you’re here in Abilene at school and as a part of our town.”

Gabby Thompson, co-president of Voice, a student LGBT peer-support group, said about 30 students attended the dance.

Some students brought dates while other came

with friend groups, Thompson said.

“If you aren’t out yet, formal dances aren’t as fun cause you can’t bring your significant other,” Thompson said.

She said she had the idea for an “LGBT prom” and told Parker it would be a good way for the allies group to show support. The allies group started in March after the

announcement of changes to university policies for students in same-sex relationships. About 70 local residents attended the group’s first meeting.

The group also hosted an ally training event last Saturday to discuss how Abilene residents can support members of the LGBT community. Parker said the discussion ranged from the meaning of the

letters “LGBT,” to ways to talk about sexuality and sexual identity. Parker said the group plans to have another ally training the fall and will continue working on other long-term plans.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Drama group performs skits for campus

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER

Seekers of the Word Drama Ministry performed at Chapel on the Hill on April 26.

“Seekers of the Word is a drama ministry,” said Sarah Dillinger, junior social studies major from Pittsburg and director of Seekers of the Word. “So we do skits that are based off of biblical principles.”

Each actor plays a multitude of roles, Dillinger said. An actor can play Satan in one skit and explain the meaning of grace in another one. The group performed 15 skits.

Samantha Calderón, freshman biology major from San Antonio, said all members got to choose the skits they wanted to be in and the roles they wanted to play.

“And then if you didn’t choose something,” Calderón said. “The directors and assistant directors would just, you know, choose whatever they thought you would fit in.”

The members practiced their skits before the performance, Calderón said.

“I would say for me the most memorable one I did was one called Elephant Tamer,” Calderón said.

The skit involved a person praying, two demons and Satan, she said. The skit was about the doubts Christians can have. It demonstrated how Satan can make someone feel alone. Calderón played the role of the person praying.

She said the purpose of the skit was to show two things: one can always lean on God, and a Christian community is important.

“I think what’s really cool about the skits is that you can kind of get out of it what you want and what is prevalent in your life,” Calderón said.

HVJ11A@ACU.EDU

Campus sees rise in energy efficiency Since partnering with an energy specialist in 2014, the campus has saved 26 percent of its energy costs, a consultant said.

James Parker, energy specialist for Synergistic, said most of the cost savings come from increased efficiency for heating and cooling with the campus’ HVAC system. He said over the last three and a half years, the campus has

saved 19,318 metric tons of carbon dioxide on its 2.3 million square feet of facilities. This is the equivalent of 500,000 trees over a 10year period or taking 4,000 cars off the road.

“We don’t have earth day, we do this every day,” Parker said. “When the students go home for the summer, we’re still doing this. We’re constantly measuring and evaluating how our systems are responding.”

Parker said energy savings not only help the en-

vironment, but also save the university money. The most recent data from February shows the university is on track to meet its goal of saving $750,000 for June 2017-May 2018.

“What we strive for is cost-avoidance,” Parker said. “That’s the money you didn’t spend on utilities that you can spend where you need.”

Parker worked with the facilities team to schedule heating and cooling systems better so empty build-

ings aren’t wasting energy.

The team also tries to make sure lights are turned off in buildings overnight. Parker said the weakest area for energy saving is residence halls. He said many students don’t turn off lights or air conditioning systems in their dorms when they leave for the day.

“Students come to school, they don’t think about that,” Parker said.

“We’re trying to raise awareness that every light switch matters, every ther-

mostat matters.”

Turning off the lights in just one classroom can make a difference because of the large number of classrooms, offices and break rooms across campus, Parker said.

“People don’t realize they have the liberty to turn a light switch off,” Parker said.

survey can be anonymously taken in two formats, online with a specific user ID code mailed out to residents with a water account, and in-person at the Abilene Public Library.

The graduate students will be responsible for compiling the results of the online survey while the city will handle the paper surveys. The faculty advisers for this project are Dr. Tom Winter, director of the School of Social Work,

and Dr. Kyeonghee Jang, assistant professor in the School of Social Work.

The graduate students overseeing the online portion of the survey are students in Dr. Kyeonghee Jang’s Research Methods class. Dr. Jang approached Dr. Winter concerning projects which would give students the ability to apply what they had learned in class. Dr. Winter then coordinated with the

City of Abilene to bring this partnership about. The students were then tasked with crafting a need-based assessment which met all the goals the city laid out.

“Definitely, this a learning opportunity for students to learn about research projects that effect the community,” said Dr. Jang.

The survey polls citizens on their satisfaction on a number of city services, in-

cluding community services, such as the library system and public safety services including the fire and police departments, respectively.

Alaisha Montanez, communications and media relations manager, said the city chose the department because it had done good work for the city in the past.

“We felt it could be a good partnering opportunity and a chance for Abilene to sup-

port one of our local colleges with a real world teaching moment,”Montanez said. “I think that is also the benefit. There were some costs savings, but frankly, the partnership was more important than the money.”

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

City of Abilene partners with School of Social Work

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ STAFF REPORTER

Graduate students in the School of Social Work helped design and implement a wide-ranging survey to gauge Abilene residents’ satisfaction with city services. This is the first city-wide survey conducted since 2009.

The survey was commissioned by, and in partnership with, the City of Abilene. The

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

Porch: Vintage market to sell handmade items, food CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

booths, including some by her children.

“My son is in sixth grade, and he’s in Destination Imagination,” Riley said. “He’s going to have a booth called ‘Everything’s a book.’ That’s not necessarily the caliber of things that we sell. It’s

usually nice things that have been re purposed . . . but everything will be a dollar, and so he’s collected donations and things to put in it, and he is quite a character, so it will be interesting to see what that looks like.”

Many of the booths will be selling what Riley calls “good junk,” while others provide food.

“Good Things Bakery will be there,” Riley said.

“The owner of Good Things Bakery (Emily Cooke) is an ACU alum, and she makes the most delicious things.”

Riley is thoughtful about the things she sells in her own booth.

“I put out all kinds of things, some handmade things but mostly things

that I’ve purchased at estate sales,” Riley said.

“So everything is second hand in my booth, and then I try to think about ‘what are the things people would want in their homes?’ So there’s a wide variety of things.”

The musicians playing are mostly students, including Weston Weast, sophomore music major

from Edmond, Oklahoma.

“I performed last year as well,” Weast said. “I appreciate the Front Porch Market because it promotes the love to create. It showcases men and women who take time to create something beautiful, whether the commons is clothing, jewelry, art, music, food, et cetera.”

Riley encouraged anyone interesting in having

a booth at next year’s front porch market to email her at rachel.riley@ acu.edu. Her home is located at 1725 Austin St. in Abilene.

ECW13B@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 04/25/2018 3:35 p.m.

A student’s bicycle was stolen from the east bike rack of Smith-Adams Hall near the front doors.

04/27/2018 5:22 p.m.

A student reported that a vehicle that had struck their vehicle left the scene.

04/28/2018 2:44 p.m.

A student reported seeing a snake in the rocks at Faubus Fountain Lake.

04/28/2018 11:09 p.m.

An ACU student reported a noise violation in an apartment at 2789 E Lake Rd. Investigating officer found no violation and the caller noted that the violation had subsided after their call to ACUPD. 04/29/2018 4:10 p.m.

A hit-and- run driver struck a student’s vehicle in the Mabee-Edwards lot and then fled the scene without providing information for the victim as required by law. Investigation continues.

04/30/2018 7:25 p.m.

ACUPD assisted APD on a hit and run collision at Ambler Ave. and N Judge Ely Blvd. ACUPD officers were able to locate and detain the hit-andrun driver at The Arch Apartments, 2702 N. Judge Ely.

911 CALL 2 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 26 ADVICE 2 ALARM 7 ALCOHOL INCIDENT 1 ANIMAL CALL 1 ASSIST 4 BARRICADES 15 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 10 CHECK BUILDING 278 CITATION ISSUANCE 1

DISABLED VEHICLE DISTURBANCE ELEVATOR RESCUE ESCORT FOOT PATROL FOUND PROPERTY HIT & RUN INFORMATION REPORT INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP LOST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE UNIV

1 1 1 1 7 4 4 2 2 2

ASSETS: CCTV MONITOR FACILITY/LOT MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK NOISE VIOLATION OTHER PARKING LOT PATROL PARKING VIOLATION PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL PUBLIC SERVICE

1 7 9 3 1 42 11 2 6 1

RANDOM PATROL REPORT WRITING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SUSPICIOUS PERSON SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE THEFT TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING WELFARE CHECK

10 12 1 4 1 2 8 4 3

TOTAL

511

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: ACUPD appreciates everyone’s vigilance this year and wishes good luck on Final Exams.

N E WS

FRIDAY | MAY 4, 2018

3

NEW SOCIAL CLUB PRESIDENTS PI KAPPA

GATA

SIGMA THETA CHI

Jayce Walker

Alex Hill

Allison Dennis

ALPHA KAI OMEGA

GAMMA SIGMA PHI

KO JO KAI

TROJANS

ZETA RHO

Garrison Powell

Jillian Rolan

TRI KAPPA GAMMA

Kayla Mosley Lincoln Jones Sarah Brooks Tori Timmons

GALAXY

Trey Dennis

SUB T-16

DELTA THETA

FRATER SODALIS

NOBLE KINGS

Justin Fender

Lily Drever

Austin Parsons

Tryce Prince

Diversity grows with new club presidents

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

Social clubs elected new officer teams for the next academic year, and two of the largest women’s social clubs elected their first black presidents.

Ko Jo Kai elected Sarah Brooks, junior kinesiology major from Lubbock, and GATA elected Alex Hill, junior English-teaching major from Fort Worth. Both women were involved in campus leadership before being

elected –Brooks served as a gameday student director and a Wildcat Week student director, and Hill served as a Sing Song CoChair for 2018.

“I pledged Kojies because I saw the diversity of the girls in club,” Brooks said. “It’s a reminder that the Lord can use anyone. It doesn’t matter your background.

The whole officer team this year is so diverse, and it’s given me the opportunity to see the beauty of the Lord’s kingdom. No

matter our skin color, the Lord can use anyone.”

After Brooks was elected, several black alumni from the club expressed excitement on social media. Taylor Crumpton, a 2017 graduate, said she had seen women of color occupy some officer positions before, but not the top three positions –president, vice president and pledge mom. Erika Wong serves as the new vice president of the club and Kendall Castillo serves as the new pledge mom.

“I’ve really seen the movement of women of color from regular leadership to more powerful positions,” Crumpton said.

Sheila Hilton has served as a GATA sponsor for 11 years and she said as the university grows more diverse, clubs have become more diverse. She said having a black president for GATA shows that the club looks at good leadership, not skin color.

“For the Women of GATA, I think that when we have rushes and wom-

en see the diversity that we have, they are more drawn to our club,” Hilton said.

“As a club, I feel like we do not see diversity, we see who the person is as a whole and what that person can bring to our group.”

Nu Kappa Psi president Tryce Prince said having a few black presidents may not mean clubs are getting more diverse, but it could encourage black and minority students get involved in clubs in the future.

“What we’re seeing with social clubs at ACU is final-

ly kind of a breakthrough in allowing minority students to be in leadership positions, not just faces for the sake of diversity in social clubs,” Prince said.

The Office of Student Life does not have a list of past social club presidents, said Chris Herrington, student organizations and productions coordinator.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Cycling club joins fundraising ride in Sweetwater

BY BRIAN SWEET STAFF REPORTER

The ACU Cycling team participated in the 4th annual Beat the Street in Sweetwater to help benefit Cornerstone Christian School.

ACU Cycling team restarted in January after a short break and has been picked up by ACU Sports as a club sports team.

Justin Rasco, senior criminal justice major from Frisco, wanted to bring back the cycling club, and now it looks like it’s here to stay.

“We started earlier this semester, we kind of rechartered,” Rasco said.

“Me and a group of friends decided we wanted to find like-minded people in terms of cycling, so we started a page, and we kind of got that rolling there. Club Sports got a hold of it and said they want it to make it an official organization again.”

Rasco said they are already a part of collegiate cycling and look to start competing against colleges starting next year.

“We are actually al-

FOR RENT LARGE FURNISHED RENT HOUSE A MUST SEE! Great for 4-5 tenants, $1600/month. Only 1/2 block from ACU campus, clean, well maintained.

No smoking. No pets. 1 year leases beginning June 1st. Please call (325) 513-6572 for more details.

ready a part of it, we just haven’t started just because we don’t have the manpower,” Rasco said.

“We are a part of USA Cycling; we are registered with them, and we are in the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference, so I believe we compete with bordering states of Texas: Oklahoma, Arkansas just a few of those

states right there.”

Logan Primm, freshman engineering major from Colleyville, said that the frames on most cyclists prefer are pretty small.

“They’re pretty light, I think mine was roughly around 20-25 pounds so, decently light,” Primm said.

Rasco hopes the cycling team grows after he graduates ACU.

LARGE HOUSE FOR RENT

2532 GARFIELD

NEAR ACU, 2,628 sq.ft. 7 bedrooms/4 baths, 2 living areas, dining room, central heat/air, refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer, otherwise unfurnished. Circle drive and rear parking.

Pets okay with deposit. Tenant responsible for utilities. $2500.00 monthly (or $360.00 per x7) plus one-time security deposit. Email becky@ beckyhamric.com or call 325-668-2949.

“After I graduate? That is a good question, being a senior, and this starting was one thing I was concerned about,” Rasco said. ”I just want to lay a great foundation, and so we got some guys who are avid cyclers, and I think they will do great once I leave.”

To learn more about the ACU Cycling Team or join, download the app

Strava and join the club or email Justin Rasco at jar14d@acu.edu or Haylee Hunt at hah14b@acu.edu.

BCS10C@ACU.EDU

DownDtaonwcne LIVE MUS IC FOOD TRUCKS

MAY 5 201 Mesquite St.

Abilene, TX

SAT$ 7- 10 PM $ TICKETS 8 ADV.| 10 AT DOOR

ellerhall.com

Monday-Sunday: 11am-9pm | 849 E Hwy 80 - Abilene | (325) 672-3330 | sharonsbarbeque.com

4

F EAT U R E

FRIDAY | MAY 4 2018

5

FRIDAY | MAY 4 2018

F EATU R E

THE CROWNS OF GLORY

Eager to start the next phase of life, eight soon-to-be-retired professors share some lessons they learned from teaching and experiencing life on the Hill. Hoping to learn, enjoy and find new hobbies, it’s no secret these professors have received their crowns of glory.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

Dr. Jim Cooke

Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Cheryl Bacon

N

L

ature photos of grand canyons, icy mountain ranges and snapshots of his many adventures hang on the walls of Dr. Jim Cooke’s wooden office. After teaching for 36 years, the save-theplanet enthusiast has made plans to retire and enter into a new cycle of life.

“I’m an outdoor enthusiast,” Cooke said. “I like sailboats, I like backpacking and ride motorcycles, so I’m going to do some of those things with my wife. I will also spend some time with my family and grandkids. We have six of them now, so I’m very excited to do more of the things I love.”

Cooke said while he will slowly remove himself from the department, the memories the university has brought him will never leave.

“Christian higher education is not a vocation, it’s an avocation. It’s a mission, and it gives you purpose, and it has meaning,” Cooke said. “You can see lives being transformed, and it’s a great place. To be a part of that and contribute to that is very satisfying. Staying intellectually active and interacting with students and the life of a professor is very satisfying.”

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications ike many journalists, Dr. Cheryl Bacon has redefined the word ‘relentless’ with her dedication and persistence to the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. Serving as chair of the department, Bacon is not taking retirement as a motivation to sit back – she is already making plans to continue to run forward.

“I want to learn some new things and write some and re-learn some things,” Bacon said. “I want to be able to say ‘Sure. I can do that’ when various opportunities come my way.”

With Bacon’s retirement leaving a huge imprint on her students, Bacon is sure the department will continue to succeed even without her constant guidance and leadership role.

“Spending a career in higher education is that for four years I have people that become my students and after that, they become my friends,” Bacon said. “I don’t think that there is very many careers where you can do that. I have enjoyed staying in touch with my former students through the years. I plan to do some things I wasn’t able to do.”

Dr. Lorraine Wilson

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition

T

he phrase “Life is water and water brings life” is all too real for the joyful swimming instructor Dr. Lorraine Wilson. Teaching numerous kinesiology courses, Wilson has made it clear that there is something about water and its presence that brings peace to her heart.

“I know this is going to sound very zen-like, but being in the water feels like being one with the world, one with God’s creation,” Wilson said. “I find it peaceful, relaxing and tiring, and it’s kind of like ‘it does the body good’ and it does.”

Wilson doesn’t allow her petite stature and grandmother-like personality get in the way of her outdoor adventures including swimming with sharks, scuba diving in the underwater canyons of the Bahamas and taking photographs with her Nikon in the ocean.

For Wilson, life is meant to be lived to the fullest.

“I was here for student’s success, and when I hear about their successes it is very rewarding,” Wilson said. “Another is relationships. Not only the relationships with God and Jesus, but also the kind that doesn’t know barriers. That penetrating type of relationship. It doesn’t matter what your race, religion or whether you’re a legacy or first-time student, I just like the connections and relationships that are built on this campus. It’s very affirming.”

Professor Gary Varner Department of Theatre

I

nside the unforeseen halls, twists and turns of Sewell’s Theatre is the office of the infinitely creative mastermind Gary Varner. Known for designing some of the theatre department’s greatest sets for various plays and musicals, Varner is ready to hand the juggling batons over to someone new.

“We take scripts and create an environment to tell the story of the play or whatever,” Varner said. “I always say we need to create an ‘exposition of setting’ which means when someone walks into the theatre, they immediately can take something away and understand the story better. It says something to them. It gives them a certain time or feeling.”

Because he understands the difficulty in designing, building and enforcing multiple sets at various times, Varner will be training and helping the incomer learn the ropes of the theatre, so to speak. In any case, Varner is at peace with parting from his role – he is eager to see what’s next.

“I have done shows around the country and have made lifelong friends,” Varner said.

“And here, I have done 22 of those and now I have a whole group of people working in the business whom I consider very solid friends and colleagues. It’s the people. The love and experiences I have had from these very talented actors and actresses is something I care for very much.”

Professor Jack Maxwell

Dr. Jeanene Reese

Department of Art and Design

Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry

W

ith both a tenacious and warm spirit, Dr. Jeanene Reese has lent a helping hand in the inclusion of women and the underrepresented in ministry.

After being of one the leading roles in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry, Reese has decided to accept her calling and step down to let others have their chance.

“I’ve always felt that people need to be educated and have the ability to think for themselves, and I think we were created to be communal with one another,” Reese said. “I want people to know how to pray, how to live and navigate life with all of its up’s and down’s with faith.

“I think what’s happening here is that we need to gain wisdom, and I think wisdom sometimes is more important than knowledge.”

After influencing countless students across her 27-year teaching span, Reese is excited and eager to see how God will shape the future of the university.

“I think the most amazing takeaway is the privilege of journeying with students in this incredibly formative part of their lives,” Reese said. “It isn’t just that I teach my students, but I think I learn as much as they do. God is at work. God is at work in our world and nation and our lives. I consider that the greatest takeaway of all.”

Dr. Charlie Pruett

Director of the Pruett Geronotolgy Center

F

rom sculpting beautiful pieces for his pleasure and for the university, to painting figures that make him lose his sense of time, Maxwell has established his role of mentor, teacher and friend to many in the Art and Design department.

Maxwell is a jack of all trades.

“I never get hungry when I paint,” Maxwell said. “I can just focus on what I’m doing, and I can do it on hour upon hour. Sculpting is more physical worth, and it takes longer, but the reward might be greater.”

Although he is known for his quiet demoner and delayed laughter, Maxwell doesn’t like how retirement includes the idea of taking away memories from the university– he thinks he has received them.

“I have learned how important relationships are and how you can’t be self-reliant and you have to depend on others,” Maxwell said. “I have learned to rely on others and my colleagues, and that has helped me grow as an artist and as a teacher. I came here expecting to teach my students, but I would never think how my students will teach me. That’s happened over and over and maybe in one small way, I have changed them, but in many different ways, they have changed me.”

D

r. Charlie Pruett has a big heart, an old soul and a love for the marginalized in society. After teaching gerontology for a number of years, Pruett has seen how older adults suffer in an ageist society.

“For the first time in history, the older adults are asking the young ones ‘What is my role? What is my function,’” Pruett said. “Before I came to ACU, I was preaching at a congregation in San Antonio, and I saw what we call the Silver Tsunami, and I thought it was important to study and help the older adults and how people should see them as well.”

Hoping to finish creating a training packet for congregations with members who suffer from dementia, Pruett is not stopping.

“Your short time at ACU is offering you the greatest opportunity to build lifelong friendships,” Pruett said.

“Choose to be with people who love what you love.

Bring them alongside your spiritual journey, now. Hold to them even after you have walked across the stage at graduation.”

Retiring Faculty COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Dr. Malcolm Coco (phased) Dr. Rob Byrd (phased) Dr. Paul Morris

COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES Dr. Jeanene Reese Dr. Tom Milholland

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Dr. Billy Van Jones Dr. Bob Mckelvain Dr. Charlie Pruett Dr. Cheryl Bacon Dr. Dan Brannan Dr. David Dillman (phased) Dr. Ed Brokaw Gary Varner Jack Maxwell Dr. Jeanine Varner

Dr. Jim Cooke Dr. Joe Bell Julie Pruett Dr. Kay Williams Dr. Larry Norsworthy Dr. Lorraine Wilson Sandy Freeman Dr. Vernon Williams Dr. Jill Scott

4

F EAT U R E

FRIDAY | MAY 4 2018

5

FRIDAY | MAY 4 2018

F EATU R E

THE CROWNS OF GLORY

Eager to start the next phase of life, eight soon-to-be-retired professors share some lessons they learned from teaching and experiencing life on the Hill. Hoping to learn, enjoy and find new hobbies, it’s no secret these professors have received their crowns of glory.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

Dr. Jim Cooke

Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Cheryl Bacon

N

L

ature photos of grand canyons, icy mountain ranges and snapshots of his many adventures hang on the walls of Dr. Jim Cooke’s wooden office. After teaching for 36 years, the save-theplanet enthusiast has made plans to retire and enter into a new cycle of life.

“I’m an outdoor enthusiast,” Cooke said. “I like sailboats, I like backpacking and ride motorcycles, so I’m going to do some of those things with my wife. I will also spend some time with my family and grandkids. We have six of them now, so I’m very excited to do more of the things I love.”

Cooke said while he will slowly remove himself from the department, the memories the university has brought him will never leave.

“Christian higher education is not a vocation, it’s an avocation. It’s a mission, and it gives you purpose, and it has meaning,” Cooke said. “You can see lives being transformed, and it’s a great place. To be a part of that and contribute to that is very satisfying. Staying intellectually active and interacting with students and the life of a professor is very satisfying.”

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications ike many journalists, Dr. Cheryl Bacon has redefined the word ‘relentless’ with her dedication and persistence to the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. Serving as chair of the department, Bacon is not taking retirement as a motivation to sit back – she is already making plans to continue to run forward.

“I want to learn some new things and write some and re-learn some things,” Bacon said. “I want to be able to say ‘Sure. I can do that’ when various opportunities come my way.”

With Bacon’s retirement leaving a huge imprint on her students, Bacon is sure the department will continue to succeed even without her constant guidance and leadership role.

“Spending a career in higher education is that for four years I have people that become my students and after that, they become my friends,” Bacon said. “I don’t think that there is very many careers where you can do that. I have enjoyed staying in touch with my former students through the years. I plan to do some things I wasn’t able to do.”

Dr. Lorraine Wilson

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition

T

he phrase “Life is water and water brings life” is all too real for the joyful swimming instructor Dr. Lorraine Wilson. Teaching numerous kinesiology courses, Wilson has made it clear that there is something about water and its presence that brings peace to her heart.

“I know this is going to sound very zen-like, but being in the water feels like being one with the world, one with God’s creation,” Wilson said. “I find it peaceful, relaxing and tiring, and it’s kind of like ‘it does the body good’ and it does.”

Wilson doesn’t allow her petite stature and grandmother-like personality get in the way of her outdoor adventures including swimming with sharks, scuba diving in the underwater canyons of the Bahamas and taking photographs with her Nikon in the ocean.

For Wilson, life is meant to be lived to the fullest.

“I was here for student’s success, and when I hear about their successes it is very rewarding,” Wilson said. “Another is relationships. Not only the relationships with God and Jesus, but also the kind that doesn’t know barriers. That penetrating type of relationship. It doesn’t matter what your race, religion or whether you’re a legacy or first-time student, I just like the connections and relationships that are built on this campus. It’s very affirming.”

Professor Gary Varner Department of Theatre

I

nside the unforeseen halls, twists and turns of Sewell’s Theatre is the office of the infinitely creative mastermind Gary Varner. Known for designing some of the theatre department’s greatest sets for various plays and musicals, Varner is ready to hand the juggling batons over to someone new.

“We take scripts and create an environment to tell the story of the play or whatever,” Varner said. “I always say we need to create an ‘exposition of setting’ which means when someone walks into the theatre, they immediately can take something away and understand the story better. It says something to them. It gives them a certain time or feeling.”

Because he understands the difficulty in designing, building and enforcing multiple sets at various times, Varner will be training and helping the incomer learn the ropes of the theatre, so to speak. In any case, Varner is at peace with parting from his role – he is eager to see what’s next.

“I have done shows around the country and have made lifelong friends,” Varner said.

“And here, I have done 22 of those and now I have a whole group of people working in the business whom I consider very solid friends and colleagues. It’s the people. The love and experiences I have had from these very talented actors and actresses is something I care for very much.”

Professor Jack Maxwell

Dr. Jeanene Reese

Department of Art and Design

Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry

W

ith both a tenacious and warm spirit, Dr. Jeanene Reese has lent a helping hand in the inclusion of women and the underrepresented in ministry.

After being of one the leading roles in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry, Reese has decided to accept her calling and step down to let others have their chance.

“I’ve always felt that people need to be educated and have the ability to think for themselves, and I think we were created to be communal with one another,” Reese said. “I want people to know how to pray, how to live and navigate life with all of its up’s and down’s with faith.

“I think what’s happening here is that we need to gain wisdom, and I think wisdom sometimes is more important than knowledge.”

After influencing countless students across her 27-year teaching span, Reese is excited and eager to see how God will shape the future of the university.

“I think the most amazing takeaway is the privilege of journeying with students in this incredibly formative part of their lives,” Reese said. “It isn’t just that I teach my students, but I think I learn as much as they do. God is at work. God is at work in our world and nation and our lives. I consider that the greatest takeaway of all.”

Dr. Charlie Pruett

Director of the Pruett Geronotolgy Center

F

rom sculpting beautiful pieces for his pleasure and for the university, to painting figures that make him lose his sense of time, Maxwell has established his role of mentor, teacher and friend to many in the Art and Design department.

Maxwell is a jack of all trades.

“I never get hungry when I paint,” Maxwell said. “I can just focus on what I’m doing, and I can do it on hour upon hour. Sculpting is more physical worth, and it takes longer, but the reward might be greater.”

Although he is known for his quiet demoner and delayed laughter, Maxwell doesn’t like how retirement includes the idea of taking away memories from the university– he thinks he has received them.

“I have learned how important relationships are and how you can’t be self-reliant and you have to depend on others,” Maxwell said. “I have learned to rely on others and my colleagues, and that has helped me grow as an artist and as a teacher. I came here expecting to teach my students, but I would never think how my students will teach me. That’s happened over and over and maybe in one small way, I have changed them, but in many different ways, they have changed me.”

D

r. Charlie Pruett has a big heart, an old soul and a love for the marginalized in society. After teaching gerontology for a number of years, Pruett has seen how older adults suffer in an ageist society.

“For the first time in history, the older adults are asking the young ones ‘What is my role? What is my function,’” Pruett said. “Before I came to ACU, I was preaching at a congregation in San Antonio, and I saw what we call the Silver Tsunami, and I thought it was important to study and help the older adults and how people should see them as well.”

Hoping to finish creating a training packet for congregations with members who suffer from dementia, Pruett is not stopping.

“Your short time at ACU is offering you the greatest opportunity to build lifelong friendships,” Pruett said.

“Choose to be with people who love what you love.

Bring them alongside your spiritual journey, now. Hold to them even after you have walked across the stage at graduation.”

Retiring Faculty COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Dr. Malcolm Coco (phased) Dr. Rob Byrd (phased) Dr. Paul Morris

COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES Dr. Jeanene Reese Dr. Tom Milholland

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Dr. Billy Van Jones Dr. Bob Mckelvain Dr. Charlie Pruett Dr. Cheryl Bacon Dr. Dan Brannan Dr. David Dillman (phased) Dr. Ed Brokaw Gary Varner Jack Maxwell Dr. Jeanine Varner

Dr. Jim Cooke Dr. Joe Bell Julie Pruett Dr. Kay Williams Dr. Larry Norsworthy Dr. Lorraine Wilson Sandy Freeman Dr. Vernon Williams Dr. Jill Scott

w

6

OP I N I ON

FRIDAY | MAY 4, 2018

CAMPUS SUPERLATIVES The Best and Worst of ACU

TY KELLEY

DR. CHRIS RILEY

BARRETT LEWIS

Campus overacheiver

Least likely to talk to the Optimist in person

Twitter hater

Is there anything Ty Kelley isn’t in? From the Cabinet to Student Government Association all the way to Galaxy officer and Wildcat Week student director, he does more than anybody on campus.

You had a lot going on this year, bud. From Hooters to chaplins, you were probably the most talked about name.

It’s a shame you’ll be moving on from the position of “Optimist Interrogatee.”

We had to give a huge thanks to the one and only. We appreciate not only your accountability, but also providing tweets for each week’s paper. Best of luck out there at Tech Law.

FRESHMEN/MAN

BAILEY GOODENOUGH

SHARON MIZE

Most likely to be misspelled

Most school spirit

Favorite Bean employee

Dear Optometrist, you had a field day with this one. We’re sure of it. From now on to avoid error, we will just call them “first-year, non-transfer students.”

From Wildcat Week to football games to random paint events, Bailey could be seen at any ACU event. We appreciate your contagious Wildcat spirit.

We are always greeted by Sharon’s welcoming smile any time we walk into the bean. Whether she is reading a book or making needlepoint designs, she is surely there to make you feel welcome.

ACU PARKING TICKETS

ACU BOOKSTORE

TOM CRAIG

Most likely to bleed your student account funds

Most likely to rip you off

Most likely to star in a reality television show

We’ve found that it isn’t our tuition paying for the grass at Jacob’s Dream to be overly green, it’s those parking tickets we get for parking in the 30-minute spot for 31 minutes.

NICK TATUM Most likely to get stuck in Abilene forever We truly have no words about Nick Tatum except that he is one of the greatest people to bless our town. Directing the biggest campus tradition may be a huge undertaking, but Nick is set for the job.

We all know Dr. Beck’s handmade, “Intro to Psychology” textbook is worth more than $17. Don’t act like you don’t know, Barnes & Noble. Don’t even get us started on the price of mechanical pencils.

DR. RICHARD BECK

From heading Sing Song in an office to pricing luxury antique items, we know that Tom Craig is a man of mystery.

We would all love a closer look into what makes this sauve man tick.

DR. STEVEN MOORE

Most likely to play Jesus Christ Most likely to tour performing Highways and Byways in a Christian film The Killers had it wrong. He DOES look a thing like Jesus. After performing humorous lectures in front of hundreds of students every Tuesday and Thursday, we know he has what it takes to act.

If there was any professor to tour the world singing one gospel song, it would have to be the Michael Jackson impersonator, Steven Moore. Highways and Byways wouldn’t be the same without him.

FRIDAY | MAY 4, 2018

OP IN ION

w

7

What the Optimist is and what it is not

ing attention to the little things on campus -the myACU ads for student events, the soap in the GATA Fountain, the broken air conditioner in COBA. It’s talking to students, meeting with them for interviews and trying our best to always get their name, classification, major and hometown.

The Optimist is emails –lots and lots of emails.

It’s putting Dr. Phil Schubert on speakerphone while he’s in the airport and you’re in

your car frantically trying to take notes on a piece of scrap paper. It’s knocking on faculty office doors and begging them for an interview. It’s chatting in the Campus Center with club presidents and learning how they feel about changes to the pledging process.

The Optimist is 106 years of campus history.

It’s thousands of stories that seem to repeat themselves over and over -a new SA president, another nonprofit fundraiser, pledging, Homecoming, Sing Song etc. It’s writing the first draft of history as the university takes its first steps toward changing the LGBT policy.

The Optimist is fi nding out a football player was arrested for sexual assault and writing about it on

your phone on the bus in another state. It’s sitting down to talk with that same student and fi nding out he claims innocence and believes he was falsely accused. It’s scouring legal documents, calling the district attorney’s office and wondering if you have the real story or if you’ll ever know what really happened.

The Optimist is arguing over which club should get an honorable mention in the Sing Song edition. It’s ordering pizza for long nights of designing. It’s staying up all night just to make sure every word lines up on the pages even though we know thousands of copies will end up in the recycle bin or a paper mache float or lining a dog kennel.

The Optimist is the ul-

moving my body in ways that I truly enjoy and that make me feel good. I now know that health looks different for everyone.

I have seen many different people that are in various walks of life who have come to realize that health looks different for each individual person.

The health of someone who is in a low-income home, has three children to take care of, and is a single mom with two jobs is going to look very different from someone who is a college student or a woman who can shop at Whole-Foods for her groceries and can eat out at all locally sourced, organic restaurants for every meal she wants. All of

these socioeconomic situations are very different, therefore how could one defi nition of health fit every single person?

The main thing that has shifted in my mindset and belief about nutrition and health is that I used to believe that health had everything to do with what you ate and how much you exercised. I never once thought about one’s hormone levels, stress levels or their sleep health. However, now I see health as so much more than how many vegetables you eat. How much sleep you’re getting and how you manage your stress are huge factors in your overall health, and I plan to practice as a Registered Dietitian someday with all of these factors at the forefront of my practice.

Whether you are wanting

to begin eating more fruits and vegetables or on the complete other side of the spectrum and stuck behind a fad diet, I see you. I want you to know that no matter what all of the people you follow on Instagram or what the current diets you are hearing about are saying, health does not look like cutting various food groups out of your diet, counting every calorie or food that goes into your mouth, and most of all, missing out on going to get dinner with your friends because “you can’t eat anything on the menu.” Eat fruits and vegetables because they make you feel good, exercise in a way you actually enjoy, and remember that life is about so much more than food.

RATED R HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF Senior convergence journalism major Albuquerque, New Mexico

Around the newsroom, we often joke about how our work makes people mad sometimes. We’ve been accused of chasing scandals, promoting gossip or trashing groups on campus. We’ve been accused of not having school spirit or not caring about positive things.

After writing for the Optimist for four years and serving as editor-in-chief for one year, I want to share The Optimist I’ve come to know.

The Optimist is pay-

What I’ve learned about nutrition

BY SAWYER COBB SPECIAL CONTRIBUTER

When I fi rst arrived to ACU as a freshman, I was a nutrition major. Over the past four years, I have changed and grown so much in regards to my views on nutrition.

I arrived at ACU with a very restrictive, close minded view on health.

When I entered this field as a freshman, I believed that being “healthy” consisted of eating an abundance of vegetables, running as many miles as possible and micromanaging my body to be a size it was never meant to be.

However, over the past few years, my perspective on health has evolved. To me, health is eating food for nourishment, celebration, and enjoyment; it is

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

And for the first time, I did it my own way ONE IN A EMILLION EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR Senior Convergence Journalism Major San Antonio, Texas

After four years of writing countless, harsh, informative and sometimes pointless articles, I have no more words left inside me. For the fi rst time, I am speechless.

Therefore, I have decided to use the classic hit ‘My Way’ from Frank Sinatra as my outlet for expression; to explain how I have felt during the past six months of my senior year.

“And now, the end is near. And so I face the fi nal curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain” From club to mafia-like news groups, my time as Emily Alexandra Guajardo, senior convergence journalism major from San Antonio, is coming to its bitter end. I have performed alongside some of the best dancers West Texas has to offer and sang ‘Diamonds are a girls best friend’ beside a red head and blond on my right and left. And while these things only matter to me, I frankly

don’t care because, for the last time, the curtain is closing, my hands are still waving, my face is still smiling, but my heart is slowly breaking.

“Regrets, I’ve had a few.

But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do. And saw it through without exemption” Even in the aftermaths of love lost and the deaths of a few too many friends, I regret nothing because I learned more than what I thought I would. To the boy who almost fooled me into love, I forgive you. To the girl who I punched, I forgive you. To the teachers who didn’t see me for the person I am going to be and gave away awards to those who don’t deserve them, I forgive you.

I regret nothing because I came with nothing. As a first-generation Latina student swimming in a pool of white paste, I am proud to come out on the other side with a degree in one hand, cords around my neck and

family surrounding my accomplishments.

“Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew,” Juggling life, relationships and faith all while maintaining my overachiever like conduct, I have fallen into deep holes that go by the names of depression, self-hatred, fear and complete utter failure. And through it all, God has brought me out. I have pushed myself to the absolute physical and mental limits – and still have become accustomed to the dark walls that fill my head from time to time.

“But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall” A phrase my dad always told me is ‘Emily, Will you bend under pressure or will you perform?’ And you can bet your money, I performed and sometimes did not smile to the sneer, tacky, crackling laughs of those who stepped all over me. With the help of unexpected friends and the Lord All Mighty, I am back on my feet. And guess what? I am already in the lead once again.

“I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried. I’ve had my fi ll

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

EAG13A@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

my share of losing. And now, as tears subside, I fi nd it all so amusing” I have been blessed with some of the best people God has allowed me to know. Unlike most students, I have grown a deep, unsettling love for my friends since freshman year. They have been my rock and my sea and have made me learn what it means to be a woman of God. And now, I no longer cry the tears of I-will-never-forget-you because I won’t. The trips we took, the near arrest records we had and the secrets we told will never leave my mind.

“The record shows I took the blows. And did it my way. Yes, it was my way” College is not easy, but it wasn’t hard for me either. I pushed myself for myself. And yes, I did bend over backwards and kill myself for a title, but as I look back now as the curtain fi nally closes and the stage is dark, I am glad I did things my way – no bootlicking, no hookups, no lasting feuds. I did things the way I wanted to, and to be honest, my way was the best.

timate school spirit. It’s almost getting hit with a firework cannon so you can get a good photo of the football team running onto the field. It’s running up and down from the press box to the field during the game and staying until the end even when the Wildcats are losing and most students have left.

The Optimist is calling the family members of students who have died.

It’s listening to them talk for hours about the baby girl they’ll never see again in this life. It’s putting the death of your little on the front page because no matter how heartbreaking the news is, the news is the news.

I’ve called The Optimist my boyfriend, because it feels like I’m in a

relationship with it, and my baby, because I would do anything for it. I’ve said “I am The Optimist” because there were times when I thought it wouldn’t survive without me.

But the truth is, The Optimist is a service to the university. The Optimist is the good, the bad and the ugly of ACU. It’s a magnifying glass that enlarges our misspelled words and our campuses’ hidden blemishes or overlooked heroes. The Optimist is not it’s editor or the students or the sources or the administration or the department in which it’s housed. The Optimist is ACU. May it go on for as long as people say “Go Wildcats.”

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Tweets of the year

@empirestrikemak 04/23/18 10:08 A.M. Freshman year me: “ACU is like church camp but with homework!”

Senior year me: “ACU is just a bunch of fat L’s for me but everyone keeps telling me Jesus loves” @kencarhar 03/03/18 3:56 P.M. Phil Schubert just almost ATE METAL tripping on some stairs.....they said we all falll short of the glory of God...and they were right @hayleeanne87 02/26/18 9:57 P.M. My goal in life is to be in shape enough to make it to the top of the admin building without feeling like my lungs are going to fall out of my body @Nickboone5 03/01/18 10:44 P.M. Intramural basketball season just wrapped up. Stay tuned for my freshmen year Hudl highlight @_madisongrace__ 04/17/18 5:10 P.M. hey @ACUedu is there a secret student parking lot i don’t know about? because y’all keep giving me tickets like there actually IS somewhere else for me to park @iamjmc95 04/22/18 4:47 P.M. There are two places in this world, Abilene and not abilene @camillaklar 04/26/18 2:02 P.M. here a flue, Theraflu, everywhere a flu @Scottydye8 02/14/18 9:16 a.M. Someone let Nick know that I’ve been rehearsing “Bye Bye Lil’ Sebastian” for Tom’s farewell Sing Sing tour. Put me on stage, and I’ll bring the audence to tears. @chelsea_derbs 01/15/18 2:02 P.M. its gonna be 19 when i go to class tomorrow omg im sorry but i dont even know how you’re supposed to dress for that??? acu please cancel @JoshHogan47 03/26/18 2:02 P.M. One of my favorite things is when there’s a group of potential students on a campus tour and I walk right by them in my pajamas

O P T IM IST

published by the department of journalism and mass communication staff and management board Haley Remenar Editor in Chief Lauren Franco Content Managing Editor Jonathan Raitz Sports Director Amber Chavez Video Director

Emily Guajardo Arts and Features Editor Evan Rodriguez Web Editor Max Preston Assistant Sports Editor Davis Hill Opinion Editor

newsroom (325) 674-2439

sports desk (325) 674-2684

Hannah Null Adam Dorrel Show Host Ernesto Guajardo Cartoonist Jessica Clark Newscast Producer Daniel Tapia Graphic Designer

Katie Cripe Graphic Designer Stella Wieser Copy Editor Caleb Maltby Copy Editor Hope Cordes Copy Editor

photo department (325) 674-2499

Davis Denton Sports Reporter Laurel Drain Videographer Cole Widder Videographer AJ Carter Videographer

advertising office (325) 674-2463

Holly Dorn Staff Photographer Matthew Baker Staff Photographer Madison Fichtner Staff Reporter Lee Mills Staff Reporter

multimedia desk (325) 674-2463

Kenneth Pybus Faculty Adviser

Cade White Visuals Adviser

Celeste Kinkade Advertising Manager

subscriptions ($40/Year) (325) 674-2296

8

SPORTS

FRIDAY | MAY 4 , 2018

Tennis ends season at Southland tournament

Team

Ovrl. SLC. Nicholls 35–13 18–6 SELU 34–17 17–7 SFA 30–18 17–7 McNeese 34–18 16–8 UCA 26–23 14–10 NWSU 26–21 13–11 ACU 21–24 13–11 Lamar 27-25 11-13 SHSU 19–31 10–14 UIW 14–32 6–18 HBU 9–31 6–18 TAMU-CC12–36–1 3–21

Men’s Tennis

Team LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Sophomore Jonathan Sheehy hustles to return the ball to his opponent. we keep doing what we’re doing and pushing each other to get better, I have full confidence that we will be back in the tournament next year.”

For the men, junior Josh Sheehy and his brother, sophomore Jonathan Sheehy, dropped their doubles match 6-1, and seniors Henry Adams and Brad Gleason lost theirs 6-3. This discontinued seniors Paul Domanski and

Hunter Holman’s match since Corpus Christi clinched the double point.

The Sheehy brothers responded to their doubles loss by each coming away with singles wins.

Jonathan took down sophomore William Mottet 6-3, 6-2, and Josh topped junior Francois Kellerman 6-1, 6-3.

It wouldn’t be enough for ACU though, as Corpus Christi came back

with three singles victories to seal its advancement to the second-round.

Although his team lost, Josh said he enjoyed the experience of making the first-ever Southland Conference Championship for ACU. “I’ve been looking forward to this tournament ever since I got to college,” Josh said. “It was awesome getting to compete for a chance to go to

the NCAAs and having the confidence at conference from beating these teams before.”

With both team’s seasons coming to a close, the men finished at 14-11 overall and 3-2 in conference. The women finished at 13-9 overall and 7-4 in Southland play.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Senior McKennon Cecil prepares to line up for the javelin throw. broke his personal records in the 100 and 200-meter dash. For his efforts, he was one of three Wildcats honored as a Southland Conference Athlete of the Week.

Freshman heptahlete Megan Kirby also posted a personal best in all of the four events she competed in. She finished second in long jump (19-02.5), third in

the 100-meter hurdles (14.69-seconds), fifth in high jump (5-03.75) and ninth in javelin (102-11).

The Wildcats also had freshman Cole Palka record a PR in javelin, discus and 110-meter hurdles, while freshman Irene Akwitti did so in triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles.

ACU also put on a throwing clinic, winning

five of six throwing events.

Junior Kai Schmidt led the way placing first in shot put (58-09.75) and in discus (190-05), with new personal bests. Schmidt holds the top discus spot in the Southland conference. Senior Morgan Knight didn’t PR, but won the hammer throw with a throw of 178-00 and placed right behind Schmidt in shot put at 57-05.

For the women, Ju-

against TCU, the Horned Frogs avenged a 4-2 loss from earlier this season in Fort Worth, holding the Wildcats scoreless on the way to a 4-0 victory.

ACU did distribute eight hits throughout the game, but couldn’t string them together at the right time. The Wildcats’ best scoring chance came in the fifth inning after JuCo transfer Zack Mouser led off with a double and freshman Zach Smith reached safely on a bunt.

However, with runners on the corners and no outs, the Horned Frogs’ pitching staff was able to pitch

around it and keep the game scoreless.

“I feel like coming out of the game with TCU, something that we can take away is that we can hang with or beat anyone if we honestly just play like we did,” Smith said. “We competed every pitch on the mound, played clean defense, and grinded each at bat.”

The Wildcats enter the weekend with a 19-23 record overall and 5-16 in conference, while UCA comes in at third in the conference at 13-8 and 25-18 overall.

Last season when the

two teams met in Conway, Arkansas, the Sugar Bears came away with the series sweep. But Smith said the non-conference games last weekend and the tough midweek match up against TCU has prepped the team for the weekend.

The game against TCU was an opportunity to see good pitching and hitting and our practices through the week have helped us prepare for the series against UCA,” Smith said. “We’re looking to go out and have fun and see it as an opportunity to get to play base-

nior Kayla Melgar took first place in shot put and hammer. Melgar’s hammer throw of 183-11 moves her from sixth to fourth place in the Southland conference. She also finished second in discus at 176-03, right ahead of redshirt junior Lonnie Smith, who set a personal record of 171-02.

The Wildcats return to San Antonio for the Southland Conference outdoor championships this weekend. When ACU competed at Incarnate Word three weeks ago, Smith broke the school record in the hammer throw, and 25 Wildcats finished in the top-five.

At last year’s Southland Championships the women finished ninth overall, and the men finished sixth.

“I think as a whole we are capable of great things,” Melgar said.

“We as a team are constantly striving to be the best for Christ. I feel confident in my team or for better, my family, going into this weekend, we’re coming to compete and show his glory.”

With a number of Wildcats having redshirted last outdoor season, the team will look to improve on those finishes this weekend.

RKP15A@ACU.EDU

Baseball to host UCA in three-game series After a weekend of non-conference matches and a rematch with TCU on Tuesday, the Wildcats look to snap a three-game losing streak when they return to conference play against Central Arkansas this weekend.

With a break from Southland Conference play last week, ACU traveled to New York over the weekend to take on Siena.

But the Wildcats were unable to come away with a win falling 5-0 and 3-2.

In Tuesday’s rematch

18–3 17–7 13–8 13–8 14–10 12–9 11–10 9–12 8–13 9–15 6–15 6–15 5–16

Softball

BY RACHEL POE SPORTS WRITER

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

Ovrl. SLC.

SHSU 32–13 SELU 30–17 UCA 25–18 HBU 21–24 McNeese 21–24 UIW 28–18 NWSU 25–19 Nicholls 20–26 NOU 19–27 Lamar 15–31 TAMU-CC 22–25 SFA 14–29 ACU 19–23

Wildcats head to Southland Championships

In its final action of the regular season, ACU track and field hosted the Oliver Jackson Twilight meet at Elmer Gray Stadium last Thursday.

The meet was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but inclement weather pushed it to Thursday.

However, the shake up in the schedule didn’t seem to affect the Wildcats much, as 21 athletes set 29 personal bests in 18 events.

Three athletes posted personal best times in the men’s 400-meter dash.

Freshman Jared Williams won the event with a time of 46.78, and sophomore Avery Williams with a time of 46.89, and Blaze Brownlow (47.01) finished second and third respectively.

“The work is paying off, and we should be ready to make some noise this weekend,” Avery Williams said.

The times are also good enough for the top-three times in the conference heading into the Southland Conference Championships this Friday.

“I just want to do my best and give all the glory to God regardless of win or lose,” Williams said. “I can’t wait to watch my teammates compete this weekend.”

Jared Williams also

Baseball

Team

BY MAX PRESTON SPORTS WRITER

The men and women’s tennis teams concluded its season this weekend at the Southland Conference Championships, both losing in the first-round of the tournament.

Northwestern State faced the women Friday morning and edged out a 4-3 victory by winning four singles matches, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi handed the men a 4-2 loss on Saturday.

Senior Lucile Pothier and freshman Nini Memishishi won their doubles match 6-3, and freshman Ileana Mocciola and sophomore Autumn Crossnoe also stole a 6-4 win to give the Wildcats the doubles point to start the day.

NSU would redeem itself, however, by winning four singles matches to capture the victory and move on to the next round.

Sophomore Sarah Adams and Pothier picked up the only two singles victories for their team.

Adams won her match in straight sets against sophomore Emilija Dancetovic 6-3, 6-2, while Pothier also took only two sets in a 6-1, 6-2 win over junior Polina Mutel.

Adams said she was pleased with her team’s performance, despite the loss.

“I wouldn’t say there was anything that wasn’t working for us. We gave it our all, and even though we didn’t get the W on paper, we certainly got the W in plenty of other areas,” Adams said. “If

STANDINGS

ball. I feel like we play at our best when we’re competing and having fun.”

The Sugar Bears are coming off a weekend where they took two of three from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, despite falling 16-3 in the series opener.

The series this weekend will feature two of the top-five ranked hitting teams in the conference.

ACU boasts a team average of .290 and is ranked second, while UCA is fifth with a .276 average.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

Ovrl. SLC.

UIW 11–10 TAMU-CC 20–9 ACU 14–11 Lamar 10–13 Nicholls 5–12 NOU 4–13

5–0 4–1 3–2 2–3 1–4 0–5

Women’s Tennis

Team

Ovrl. SLC. McNeese 18–3 10–1 TAMU-CC 16–7 10–1 NWSU 16–9 8–3 SHSU 14–6 8–3 UCA 14–7 7–4 ACU 13–9 7–4 NOU 10–11 4–7 UIW 5–17 3–8 Lamar 5–15 3–8 Nicholls 11–11 2–9 SELU 6–14 2–9 SFA 3–17 2–9

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Track & Field Kayla Melgar was named Southland Women’s Field Athlete of the Melgar Week after her efforts in the Oliver Jackson Twilight. She captured two first place finishes in the shot put and hammer, while also picking up second in the discus. Melgar and the rest of her team will next head to San Antonio for the Southland Conference Championship meet this weekend.

Women’s Tennis Lucille Pothier stood out in her team’s loss to Northwestern State in the Pothier first-round of the team’s first ever Southland Conference Tournament. She was the only one to capture a singles and doubles victory for her team.

Potheir defeated Polina Mutel 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot in singles, while her and Nini Memishishi teamed up for a 6-3 win in doubles.

Golf

Garrett Glanton, along with Alex Clouse, earned spots on the All-SouthGlanton land Conference third team. Glanton carded a third place finish at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational with scores of 67-71-71 (209).

The best finish for Clouse came in the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate where he finished tied for seventh shooting 71-72-70 (213).

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