The Optimist Print Edition 09.22.17

Shades step team doubles dancers Page 2

SPORTS

Friday, September 22, 2017 Vol. 106, Issue 05

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

WILDCATS PREPARE TO PLAY SFA Page 8

Freshman take on Follies challenge

BY LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

Freshman Follies, a production during Family Weekend, will have shows on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

There will be a total of 18 acts participating, including 12 hall acts and six of talent acts, and a dance crew. The show will last about an hour and a half.

Acts will be judged based entertainment, appearance, originality and preparation with two women’s hall act winners and one men’s hall act winner.

The Follies co-chairs are Shelly Ahmed, Lauren Wartheim, Sarah Hall, Abby Ware, Marlow Davis, Aleksander Cook.

Wartheim, a freshman global studies major from Abilene, said the biggest takeaway is that leadership requires flexibility and adaptability.

“You never truly know what you’re going to get when you ask a group of classmates to lead a whole production, so the co-chairs have had to be creatively flexible in order to make everything work together to create the best show possible,” Wartheim said.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at https://acufollies.ticketleap.com/2017/.

HOLLY DORN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Freshmen women perform in one of 12 hall acts at Freshman Follies rehearsal Wednesday night in Cullen Auditorium.

CALENDAR 9/22 •

Freshman Follies at 8 p.m.

Entra a la Plaza at 6:30 p.m

•

9/23 •

Freshman Follies at 1 p.m.

Freshman Follies at 2 p.m.

Football v. SFA at 6:30 p.m.

• •

9/24 •

Men’s Coffees for Social Clubs Deadonline for Ethnos design contest entries

•

9/25 •

Last day to audition for Ethnos host

BOX OFFICE SEPTEMBER 15-17 1. It

$60,103,110

2. American Assassin $14,846,778 3. mother!

$7,534,673

4. Home Again $5,183,004 5. The Hitman’s Bodyguard $3,588,883

7

DAYS UNTIL

BID NIGHT NEWS

WILDCAT REIGN LOOKS FOR NEW MEMBERS Page 2

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

Entra a la Plaza celebrates Hispanic heritage

BY PHOEBE VOSS STAFF REPORTER

Hispanos Unidos will host Entra a la Plaza from 6-9 p.m. Friday in the Hunter Welcome Center.

The annual event filled with music, street tacos and more will celebrate Hispanic heritage month.

The Hispanos Unidos organization began on campus in 1991 with a purpose of providing representa-

tion and inclusion for Hispanic students. Entra a la Plaza is one of their most anticipated events of the year.

Gema Perez, sophomore art major and member of Hispanos Unidos from Houston, said she is most excited for the ambiance.

“I was really missing my culture,” Perez said. “Last year I skipped a Freshman Follies performance for this!”

This year the event is a part of Family Weekend and the members of Hispanos Unidos are preparing for their biggest turnout yet. They have made several changes to the festival in order to bring more insight into the different hispanic cultures represented at ACU. Booths will be set up representing five individual Latin American countries.

The booths emphasize the

elements of each culture and highlight things like foods, dances, and clothes specific to that region.

“Our hope is that you leave with something you learned,” said Lisamarie Maldonado, junior accounting major and president of Hispanos Unidos from Snyder.

Maldanado said she is looking forward to families of students seeing an inclusive and welcoming

side of ACU. Freshman Brittany Venegas, sophomore social work major from Cleveland, said she is eager to see all the hispanic cultures come together.

“We are all so different,” said Venegas. “Entra a la Plaza is a way to celebrate these differences.”

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

SA funds more student groups with less money

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Students’ Association cabinet gave Student Congress an extra week to review the fall budget which is smaller and stretched to fund 20 more student groups than last year.

The fall total budget is $167,645, which will be spread among more student groups than last year, with the total number of groups risingto 80 from 59.

The SA cabinet also changed multiple allocations in this year’s budget including changing the appropriations fund to an emergency fund, and a ten-percent tithe

of the funds which will be given to a charity. Congress will have to approve the tithe and will vote on the bill next week.

Executive Treasurer Ruhika Roy and Chief Financial Officer Jace Pimentel presented the budget to Congress and student groups Wednesday night.

Congress typically debates and votes on the budget the same night, but this year the cabinet decided to wait one week before taking a vote.

Executive Vice President Julia Kennedy said this gives representatives more time to meet with student groups.

“We just noticed some discrepancies last semester

and years past of just throwing a budget at a Congress and them having no time to review it,” Kennedy said.

“That’s just unrealistic. So we just opened this up for a time discussion – a continued discussion – and then a vote next week to make sure that we’re truly hearing who we’re representing before just voting on it in five minutes.”

Roy changed the process for allocating funds this year by creating a computer system that allocated funds based on different variables.

The old process allowed student groups to request funding by budgeting for items and events, then meet with

the the SA treasurer and the chief financial officer.

The process was inefficient, said Executive President Danny Burke, because some groups did not use all their money and about $23,000 remained after the spring semester. The leftover funds were donated to the Katie Kirby Relief Fund.

“Some clubs didn’t even touch their budget,” Roy said. “And that was kind of unfortunate because that meant that other organizations who were actually using their budget and coming in and asking for more couldn’t touch any of the money that was left over, cause once it’s

gone, it’s gone.”

The new computer system uses data including what the groups asked for last year, how much money they used, how many members they have, and what they need the money for.

Roy and the chief financial officer, Jace Pimentel, also met with representatives from student groups to find out what their needs were in person.

“We’re giving them what they need,” Roy said, “but if they find themselves needing more, we don’t want them to just be out in open water drowning. So I’ve told SEE BUDGET PAGE 2

Title IX office awaits sexual assault reporting rules

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

The university’s Title IX policies are under review

by Slade Sullivan, vice president and general counsel, and a lengthier policy is expected, said Sherita Nickerson, director of compliance and deputy anti-harassment coordinator.

“Within the next few weeks we’ll be sending out a new and expanded anti-harrasment Title IX policy,” Nickerson said.

The lengthened docu-

ment will also put ACU’s policies up to date with recently signed state laws.

Public and private universities in Texas have until Jan. 1, 2018, to implement new policies aimed at cracking down on sexual assault. Universities will be required to offer a form of anonymous electronic complaints for students and employees on their campus. The policies also include offering immunity to witnesses who might have committed a crime, such as underage drinking, when they witnessed

a Title IX violation. ACU, however, has already had this policy in place.

“I’m happy to say we’re kinda ahead of that ball already,”said Nickerson.

“Our policy, if you read it right as it stands today, already offers full immunity to anyone involved in a complaint. Say there was underage drinking involved, well, we’re gonna focus on the sexual assault and use the underage drinking as an opportunity to educate.”

The Title IX office adheres to the guidance laid

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

out in a 19-page document issued by the Obama administration in 2011, commonly known as a “Dear Colleague” letter.

If the Trump administration were to rescind that guidance, as Secretary of Education Betsy Devos suggested was possible in a recent speech, ACU would adjust its policies accordingly.

“We follow the guidance from the Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights because that’s what we’re going to be judged by and audited by,”

Nickerson said.

Nickerson believes the Title IX office is fostering a culture where students are more comfortable coming forward, through an increased focus on education.

“We’ve expanded the Title IX office, so we have more people, so now we can focus more on prevention and education,” said Nickerson.

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

2

NE W S

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Summit session tackles the complexities of bullying

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

In a panel discussion hosted by Dr. Joey Cope during Summit 2017, faculty from around campus gathered to discuss bullying in schools, churches and the workplace.

Cope, interim dean of the College of Professional and

Graduate studies in Dallas, was joined by Dr. Steven Moore, an associate professor in the Department of Language and Literature, Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker, a professor in the Department of Psychology and Dr. Stephen Baldridge, an associate professor in the

School of Social Work.

The discussion kicked off with each panel member offering a definition of the term “bullying,” or “unwanted, repetitive and aggressive behavior marked by an imbalance of power.”

The discussion touched upon recent statistics about

the prevalence of bullying in our society. In addition, the faculty each touched upon their own personal experiences and research. Moore said 64 percent of employees report being bullied in the workplace.

Baldridge said the dangers of social media and how easy

it is for people nowadays to demean someone online with little to no repercussions.

“I do think that blends over into some of our face to face actions”, said Baldridge “I think the attitude is just pervasive a little bit.”

“What I find troubling is that it’s not only taking place

in public schools, or private schools but also at colleges and universities and even in the workplace,” Moore said.

“So we see it everywhere we go, even in churches we see

Kwaramba said. “Your voice, your hands, your legs, your head, you make your own rhythm and no music is required. We try to get a godly message across. We want it to be entertaining but also carry the message that God puts on our hearts.”

During tryouts, Kwaramba taught the group a routine to see how well they picked it up. She said perfection is valued, but she can usually see potential.

“I always try and go through the routine slowly to give everyone the best chance they can get,” Kwaramba said.

Nadia Hooper, junior biology major from Katy, said trying out for Shades was out

of her comfort zone.

“I hadn’t gotten involved in many things on campus so I decided to just go for it,” Hooper said. “I was super nervous but Precious does a wonderful job at walking you through the routine during tryouts.”

Hooper said people considering trying out should do it and see what it’s like.

“No one is judging you,” Hooper said. “Performing in front of people gives me a

huge boost of confidence in myself. It’s like a family.”

Shades is planning to perform in Ethnos, themed “Step 101,” this year, and teach the crowd how to step in addition to the customs and history of the dance.

The new members include: Zorah Green, freshman english major from Summerville, South Carolina; Nicole Liverpool, freshman digital entertainment technology major from

Fort Worth; Joelle Opele, freshman undeclared major from Irving; Orlandria Howard, senior engineering major from Killeen; Princess Payan, freshman undeclared major from Dallas; Kaelyn Pate, sophomore psychology major from Fort Worth; and Tayah Neal, freshman biochemistry major from Little Rock, Arkansas.

visor at the time, mentioned that we should go ahead and join and try to make it to the convention even though it was all the way in Terre Haute, Indiana.”

Jackson also said although they don’t have a national presence like some student sections, people still recognize Wildcat Reign’s name across the country.

“Being a part of the NCSSA automatically elevates the national relevance of our student section,” Jackson said.

“That being said, Wildcat Reign doesn’t have the na-

tional presence like that of say, The Cameron Crazies. But I think ACU students would be shocked at how many people around the country recognize the name ‘Wildcat Reign’.”

Wildcat Reign president Jalaiyah Chisolm, a sophomore undeclared major from Cibolo, said she wants to provide a consistent Gameday atmosphere for student athletes.

“My goal for Wildcat Reign is to provide a consistent fan base for the athletes just to let them know their school is behind as well,” she said.

Wildcat Reign is open to all students. A membership is $30 and gets you a Wildcat Reign T-shirt, a third-down rally towel, an ID Card sticker, free food at tailgates and access to other activities the club participates in throughout the year.

Anyone interested can contact Chisolm at jmc15f@ acu.edu or the official Wildcat Reign email at wildcatreign@gmail.com.

ing events on campus.

Wildcat Reign co-found-

er Trey Jackson, a graphic design major from North Richland Hills, said the group was encouraged to grow Wildcat Reign through participating in the National Collegiate Student Section Association.

“We found the NCSSA online in its early stages and kept an eye on its development for a semester or to see how it grew,” Jackson said. “Then Grant Boone, the Wildcat Reign ad-

year. But to receive accreditation for the Dallas campus, the university asked SACS to approve of it as a “branch campus” ahead of the fiveyear review, said Dr. Robert Rhodes, provost.

“We are appreciative of our longstanding accreditation of ACU through SACS,” Rhodes said. “This type of regional accreditation is an expected standard for all public and private universities.”

The SACS board sent a team to conduct a site visit at

ACU Dallas as part of a campus review process. The visit resulted in a formal warning to the university to hire more faculty members for the new campus, Rhodes said. For example, he said, the Doctor of Nursing Practice only had one faculty member and five students. Although the faculty-student ratio worked for teaching purposes, the SACS board wanted the university to have at least two faculty members for that program.

“When they looked at ev-

erything, we met their standards,” Rhodes said. “The one thing that we needed to address was in this area of faculty. We need to address this area to be in full compliance and the avenue to show that we addressed it is through this formal process.”

Although the university received a warning, Rhodes said he believes the university successfully corrected all the requirements and hired the required number of faculty. He said the SACS board

gives a two-year deadline, but the university wanted to stay ahead of deadlines and make corrections quickly.

“They understandably want to ensure that we are keeping pace with the number of faculty that we need to meet student demand and that we have met the standards of staffing that we have proposed,” Rhodes said.

In two years, the Dallas campus has grown to 1,038 students and the university has had to address a high de-

mand with more faculty. Most of the students are attending graduate programs online from throughout the country and even internationally, Rhodes said. The students are mostly non-traditional students who are working fulltime while getting a degree.

“What I’m relieved and pleased with is that we’ve been able to keep pace with this growth,” Rhodes said.

presentation in Bible Studies Building room 115.

Based on scripture in Deuteronomy 10,“He enacts justice for orphans and the widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing,” the walkthrough experience shared testimonials and items from Abilene refugees.

Braden Crow, senior biblical studies and communica-

tions major from Fort Worth said he was glad he got to witness the refugee experience, but desired to see more.

“It was powerful to hear about these people’s lives here in Abilene and how they have a new opportunity here that they wouldn’t have had back in their home country, but I wanted to hear more of their story,” Crow said. “’What were

their lives like back in their home country? What led them to Jesus? And how is their relationship with Jesus growing and changing because of the place they live now?’ One of our most powerful tools is our testimony and I wanted to hear theirs and how the Lord has taken them from one place to the other.”

“From pre-health students

to Maker Lab workers, everyone who volunteers had either mission experience or a passion for helping the refugee crisis,” said Louis Sanchez, junior biology major from Austin.

Sanchez said the best part about working on the project was knowing that it was creating awareness.

“Although small, it felt wonderful to contribute and

bring awareness to people about what is going on beyond and within our borders,” Sanchez said. “The one lesson I took away from this experience is that as Christians, we should open our arms to people in search of help as our Lord did.”

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

Shades Step Team holds auditions, doubles members

BY JENNA WILLIAMS STAFF REPORTER

The Shades Step Team conducted tryouts Thursday in the Money Student Recreation Center and added seven new members, totaling 14 in the club.

Precious Kwaramba, a junior biology major from Fort Worth, said she has been stepping for 14 years.

“Step is a form of dance where you make beats with every part of your body,”

JBW15A@ACU.EDU

New participants needed to bring on the Reign

BY BRIAN SWEET STAFF REPORTER

The Wildcat Reign Student Section is looking for new members to help cheer on athletic teams for the 2017– 18 school year.

Wildcat Reign, nationally recognized though the National College Student Section Association, is the official student section that cheers on the athletic teams at home games. The NCSSA was founded by students who saw a need for change in student attendance at sport-

BCS10C@ACU.EDU

Dallas campus growth prompts accreditation review

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The university responded to a warning for the university from its accrediting organization after a review of the ACU Dallas program.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) gives the university regional accreditation based on criteria like staffing, finances and student services.

The university will submit its five-year review to the SACS governing board later this

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Exhibit portraying refugee experiences debuts at Summit

BY LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

The annual Summit conference brought alumni, students and faculty together to deepen their understanding of faith through a multitude of teachings over Deuteronomy.

With work from a variety of departments on campus, the exhibit was hosted for

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 09/14/2017 10:21 p.m.

An SWRC employee reported the theft of a basketball rim from one of the outdoor courts.

09/15/2017 7:37 p.m.

ACUPD investigated the complaint of someone shooting doves in the backyard of a house in the 600 block of EN 21st. The violator was located and denied shooting doves, but claimed to be shooting squirrels. He was given a warning against pellet gun use within the city.

09/17/2017 12:03 a.m.

ACUPD invested a noise violation complaint of a loud party in the 600 block of EN 20th. Three ACU students were contacted and instructed to close the party; they complied.

09/18/2017 9:15 p.m.

ACUPD is investigating the theft of home plate from Wells Field/Softball Stadium ACCIDENT ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY ADVICE ALARM ALCOHOL INCIDENT ASSIST BARRICADES BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK BURGLARY (ATTEMPTED) CHECK BUILDING CITATION ISSUANCE DIRECT TRAFFIC DISCHARGE OF AIR GUN DISTURBANCE

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

ELEVATOR RESCUE 1 ESCORT 1 EVENT SUPPORT 1 FIRE 1 FOOT PATROL 1 FOUND PROPERTY 1 HARASSMENT 1 IMPROPER PHOTOGRAPHY OR VISUAL RECORDING 1 INFORMATION REPORT 1 INTOXICATED PERSON 1 INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP 1 LOST PROPERTY 1

MAINTENANCE UNIVERSITY ASSETS: CCTV 1 MAINTENANCE: UNIVERSITY ASSETS 1 MEDICAL EMERGENCY 1 MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 1 NOISE VIOLATION 1 OTHER 1 PARKING LOT PATROL 1

PARKING VIOLATION PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL PUBLIC SERVICE RANDOM PATROL RECKLESS DRIVING REPORT WRITING SUSPICIOUS PERSON SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE THEFT TRAFFIC HAZARD TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

WELFARE CHECK TOTAL

1 596

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: Remember that all vehicles must be cleared out of the Stadium Lot and Library Lot by Midnight Friday Night due to GameDay Parking Operations.

N E WS

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

3

Writing Center hosts Halloween short story contest

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER

The Writing Center is accepting entries for a Halloween Short Story Fiction Contest until Oct. 22.

Alyssa Johnson, assistant director of the Writing Center, said she started the event so the university could have its first fiction writing con-

test. Halloween is known for its ghost stories, so Johnson said she thought it would be fun for students fun to write their own.

Johnson said students often think the Writing Center is only for English 111 papers or getting APA citation help.

“But I really want to let it be known we do more than that,” Johnson said. “And I

think we have a lot of creative writers on campus.”

Dr. Cole Bennett, director of the Writing Center, approved this contest. He said students can show their creative writing potential regardless of what their career paths are.

“If you are an engineering major or math major, you might want to write and you

should know about the Writing Center,” Bennett said.

Editors of The Shinnery Review, the university’s annual student literary magazine, partnered with the Writing Center for the contest. Students who don’t win the Halloween Short Story Contest, can still publish their work in the journal.

“In fact, there will be a

lot of great short stories submitted,” Bennett said.

“I’m guessing that they won’t win but they will be great. And The Shinnery Review will want them.”

Contest entries must be a spooky story with 4001500 words. The winner will receive a gift card. If enough students participate, the Writing Center

may host a Valentine’s Day Love Poetry Contest.

“If no one participates, I don’t know if we can do it,” Johnson said. “But my fingers are crossed.”

Stories should be sent to Alyssa Johnson at aqj11a@ acu.edu.

novative, main stream and it is geared towards the younger generation.”

The program handshake was started in 2014

by Garrett Lord, Scott Ringwelski and Ben Christensen – three graduates from Michigan Tech. The graduates were from a small town, and it was hard for them to network. They decided to make a system to make networking easier for college students.

The program is not only in favor for the stu-

dents but employers also.

The jobs on Handshake vary in several different industries. From accounting to nursing, with the employer market being globalized it is increasing chances and opportunities for students. Not only can students search up employers but employers can search up students.

Over 400 schools are involved in the network already. Baylor, Texas Tech, and University of Texas in Austin started in

June and they are already getting about 1 employer an hour on average.

10 jobs get posted daily on the website. Everyone can get the program from freshman to seniors, and even alumni can have access to Hand shake.

“Some alumni even said that it’s great to come back and plug in to the ACU network.”

There are more than 8 million students and alumni, more than 400 universities, and more

than 200,000 employers connected on Handshake. On their website it says “Talent is distributed evenly, opportunity is not.

We’re leveling the playing field.” Companies ranging from Google to Nike is on this platform.

With ACU joining the program handshake it will open many doors for students when it comes to jobs and internships. Students can access the program through the ACU Career Center. Click on hand-

shake and login with your ACU email. The ACU Career Center can help students with build up their resume before uploading it to handshake. Students should take advantage of this great opportunity that ACU is introducing. One great thing about this platform is that a student can still have access to their account after they graduate.

HVG11A@ACU.EDU

Career Center adopts new Handshake program

BY ASHLAN SMITH STAFF REPORTER

Networking for jobs and internships is now made easier with a new program called Handshake a platform that helps students find work after graduating and during the summer.

Handshake is replacing the program College Career Network that the ACU career center has been using.

Hayden McHan, a student worker at the career center, says, “Handshake is more in-

ADS15E@ACU.EDU

Budget: Cabinet changes budget requirements CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“We’re giving them what they need,” Roy said, “but if they find themselves needing more, we don’t want them to just be out in open water drowning. So I’ve told all of them, we’re happy to help if they want to come back in.”

The computer system also takes into account whether a student group gets funding from outside resources or member dues.

Two groups added to the budget this week because they didn’t make the deadline to meet with Roy or Pimentel. Any group that didn’t meet

with the SA cabinet will not receive funding.

The Collegiate Entrepreneur’s Association received the most money, $6,400, which was about half of their requested $11,250. Meredith Orr, executive vice president of CEO, said the group will use the funds for Startup Week, a campus-wide annual event in November. The week will feature networking events with alumni and entrepreneurs. Students in any academic department can participate.

“Luckily we’re underneath the Griggs Center so we’re able to get outside

Students receive awards at Film Fest 2017.

funding through donors and other sponsorship opportunities,” Orr said.

Filmfest received the second highest amount at $2,350, almost $1,000

more than they received last year. Forrest Lorenzen, student advisor for Filmfest, said the group may have received more funds this year because the new computer system took into account the fact that they used all their funding last year. Lorenzen, senior multimedia major from Amarillo, said although the event takes place in the spring, the group uses the money in the fall to book the Paramount Theatre. About 1,000 students attend the Filmfest gala each year to watch student-produced films and awards ceremony.

Like last year, SA will not fund T-shirts or travel expenses for student groups. This year SA also will not give groups money for cutlery, tablecloths or plasticware, but will instead provide them if groups send an email to SA one week before an event. Student groups can also rent a sound system, projectors, coolers, or TVs from the SA office starting October 2.

The fall budget can be seen at saacu.org.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

2017

organizations

total budget

Top Five Budget Recipients ACU Collegiate Entreprenuers Organization International Students Association

$6,400

FULLY FURNISHED UNITS WITH A WASHER AND DRYER $2,500

Film Fest $2,350 Hispanos Unidos Equine Association

Top 5 Reasons to Call the Arch Home: CABLE AND INTERNET PROVIDED AMENITIES LOCATED ON SITE INCLUDING A 24-HOUR FITNESS CENTER PET FRIENDLY WALKING DISTANCE TO THE NEW WILDCAT STADIUM AND ANTHONY FIELD

$2,300

$2,300

GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON AND GO WILDCATS!

CALL TODAY FOR PRICING! THEARCHABLENE.COM | 325-672-2960 2702 NORTH JUDGE ELY BOULEVARD, ABILENE TX 79601

4

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22 2017

FEATURE

CH A L L E N ACCEPT

Combining dance nu performances a concepts, fresh compete for the title Fresh

DESIGNED ARTS

PHO

S

FEATURE

NGE TED

umbers, solo and creative hman dorms e of winning hman Follies.

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22 2017

FRESHMAN FOLLIES THE LINE-UP GARDNER 1ST SOUTH GARDNER 2ND EAST GARDNER 2ND CENTER GARDNER 3RD WEST. CENTER WEST. GARDNER 1ST EAST. 1ST WEST. 3RD EAST

D BY EMILY GUAJARDO

NELSON 1ST & 2ND

OTOS BY HOLLY DORN

SIKES 2ND NORTH

AND FEATURES EDITOR

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

5

NELSON 3RD SIKES 2ND SOUTH SIKES 3RD FLOOR MCKINZIE MABEE 1ST WEST MABEE 3RD WEST

6

OP I N I ON

&

ED IT O R IA L

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Freshman follies not to make this year

THE ISSUE

tion which means no Sing Song or intramurals in the spring.

Switch your major sooner rather than later.

There’s no better time to change your major than freshman year when you’re mostly taking general required courses that can carry over into another major if you switch.

Put cookies from the bean in your backpack.

You won’t regret it.

While you’re collecting cookies, pace yourself on Chick-Fil-A and save those Bean Bucks for coffee during finals week.

You’ll save money and

All students have their ‘freshman’ moment, where they feel like they made a terrible mistake.

OUR TAKE

The Editorial Board gives advice on what not to do from our own experiences.

Hello freshmen.

You’ve survived your first month of college. As you celebrate freshman follies, we want to give you a list of follies you shouldn’t do this year.

These are all things we upperclassmen have experienced and want you to learn from our mistakes.

Don’t wait to get your chapel credits. If you go everyday for the first half of the semester, you’ll have plenty of time to relax at the end of the semester when finals and projects kick into highgear. Unless you have exemptions, you have to get all 55 credits or you’ll be put on Chapel proba-

your thunder thighs will thank you.

You don’t really need all the free shirts. If you take them all freshman year, you’re not going to have room in your drawers when you get those social club shirts.

Go to as many school events as you can. School spirit and free food aren’t going to come your way often in the working world, so take advantage of every opportunity.

Don’t text and walk through the Mall Area. It ends badly.

Enjoy that freshman 4.0 while it lasts. It’s only

going to get harder.

Don’t walk through the GATA fountain just because your friends dare you too - you’ll stink for days.

Don’t pet the cats.

They’re staging a revolt and you’re enabling them.

Oh, and let the crickets be. They’ll be gone by the end of the month. If you kill one, more will come, so it’s better to just leave them alone.

If a friendship matters to you, put effort into developing it. You may look around and wonder how so many people seem to have made their

best friends during Wildcat Week. Maybe it didn’t happen that fast for you, and that’s ok. The truth is lasting friendships take time and effort, so don’t worry if you haven’t met your best man/bridesmaids/your children’s future godparents yet.

Keep God at the forefront, others next, and yourself last.

Don’t ever think you can’t do something.

Chances are you can and will.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Reese had it right: Church must reconsider LGBT ONE IN A EMILLION

silence as homosexuality bangs on its doors.

The church is afraid.

Afraid of seeming too radical, becoming too liberal, looking too oppressive or even too dumbfounded because we don’t know when where we stand.

We close our eyes and ears as if the LGBT issue, question or idea – whatever politically correct phrase one may want to use – will disappear and subside. The reality is that the community the church is so afraid to accept is actually growing.

In the 2010 Census, over 10.7 million U.S. residents identified as gay.

Does one honestly believe the number of homosexuals has subsided today?

The church is stuck in time. A time where people were afraid of coming out because of the persecution from all aspects of life including their religious affiliations. Just as Reese mentioned once in class, how can we live throughout our lives, give our accounts to the Lord and still believe we are in the right even when we reject those who are not like us?

EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR Senior Convergence Journalism Major San Antonio, Texas

In lieu of one bold sermon including one brave female professor, and in a coliseum filled with generations of Christians both old and new, one powerful sentence was announced across the podium during the finale of a Church of Christ conference – the church needs and should reconsider our stance on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender question.

While the faces of several turned sour and ears of hundreds became deaf with disbelief, Dr. Jeanene Reese, associate professor of Bible, mission and ministry and associate chair of the department, spoke out after months of prayer, tears and ultimately acceptance that perhaps the love for one another is more vital, more important and more difficult to comprehend when it

comes to people who simply have decided to love someone of the same sex.

That the very people who have been marginalized, opposed, exploited and undermined are rejected by the church. Not only rejected in the sense of not accepting them into a congregation, but also disregarded by simply remaining silent.

Members of the LGBT are not the problem – it is the deafening silence the church has toward this community that is the problem. Specifically, it is the lack of action the church is taking. We have collectively decided to remain oblivious in the face of our society. Where do we expect our neighbors to run to because it’s obvious they cannot run to the house of the Lord where the men and women sit in

I CAN’T EVAN

@RACHESCOTT 9/19/17 1:09 P.M. I called a professor “Mom” once. #ACUwhatsyourfolly @EMILYGUAJARDO2 9/19/17 1:56 P.M. Four years later and I still call Hardin Admin the Hardin Simmons Building. #ACUwhatsyourfolly @ALLEN_STORM96 9/19/17 2:47 P.M. Not stockpiling cookies from the Bean at the end of sophomore year #ACUwhatsyour folly @KELLUMCREED 9/21/17 2:45 P.M. Your “best friends” you make immediately may just be your free trial before you find the real ones. @POPCORNSENSEI 9/21/17 3:37 P.M. Accidentally locking your roomate out of the room while they’re in the shower @JoshHogan47 @RAVEDAMSEY 9/21/17 2:37 P.M. Being mentioned in the police log on the first week of school for trespassing on the intramural fields to play ultimate. #ACUwhatsyourfolly

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

remaining silent or are shunned by their elders because of where they stand on the issue.

And yet, I challenge the church to take a stand and open their arms despite their own sentiments.

I challenge the church to be bold. I challenge the church to wake up. Get up. Say something!

Just as Martin Luther nailed the theses, Dr. Reese banged on the doors of the church and now we wait for the sound of the cries and pleads of the oppressed to reach our ears. The church must arise. The church must accept homosexuals and reconsider the fact that our first and most important commandment of all is to love.

How can we sit in a hypocritical church that ignores the marginalized?

How can you sit in silence when you hear the knocks on the door; perhaps even knocks on your door.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

Junior Business Management Major Sugar Land, TX

Yes, the headline is “click-baity,” but that doesn’t make it any less true.

The argument against the recent changes to the bid night and pledging procedures and the argument for the legalization of marijuana are essentially the same. Advocates for the legalization of marijuana would argue that if people are already using marijuana, that it is in the best interest of a society to regulate its usage to cut down on the ancillary negatives which accompany any item supplied by a black market.

When there is demand for something, which the government or other regulatory body has banned, supply will develop to

be leery of reporting legitimate and over the line hazing.

I understand the new guidelines seek to serve the noble cause of “promoting student safety,” however, does anyone actually believe this will change anything? Are students asking that their safety be promoted in such a way? Clubs which want to pledge outside of the guidelines still will; while at the same time, clubs that weren’t to blame in the first place will be stifled by the restrictions.

As someone who plans to pledge this fall, I’d be surprised if I weren’t hazed to some degree.

Frankly, I hope I am hazed. I understand it’s a part of the process and I look forward to it. Students who pledge certain clubs know what they are signing up for. Nobody walks into pledging blind or incapable of making their own decisions.

Why not regulate what you can, while accepting

“

EVAN RODRIGUEZ

meet that demand. However, with that will come less regulation leading to consumer safety being put in jeopardy.

In the same vein of thought, pledging and “hazing” activities will take place regardless of any decision by Tom Craig and should be regulated as best they can be, to cut down on egregious and real instances of hazing.

Furthermore, the recent actions undertaken by the Office of Student Life will potentially have negative consequences for student safety. By fostering a culture which seeks to vilify the pledging process and those involved, the Office of Student Life will find that students will

T H E

EDITORIAL AND LETTER POLICY 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.

How is the rejection of homosexuals any different than rejecting someone of a different skin color, nationality, political party or religion?

Leviticus 20:22 repeats the very Bible-thumping verse every homophobic (and radical Christian) uses to protect themselves from the idea of accepting homosexuals. “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death.”

While this verse is just as valid as every other sentence or commandment in the scripture, let us look at what the greatest commandment of all is – to love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. How is the church fulfilling

this commandment? The picking and choosing of this very phrase is sorrowful and those who follow this ideology should be ashamed.

My question to the church is who are you to not accept your neighbor regardless of his or her sexual preference? Why is the sexual preference of one community more debated and censored than murder or any other sin?

How can we even consider the possibility of being like Christ if we are afraid to even consider the notion of accepting gays into our pews. The truth is simple: we are not fulling the will of the Lord.

If the church considers sex to be the boundary between acceptance and rejection, then I must say I am frustrated. I am frustrated that the very church Christ came down to save rejects those who prefer a man over a woman. I am frustrated on how ignorant and blind the church is pretending to be when in reality, the problem is staring at them right in the mirror. I am frustrated that my own peers are

Pledging is basically marijuana

#ACUwhatsyourfolly

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 question to the church is who are you to not accept your neighbor regardless of his or her sexual preference?”

...the Office of Student Life should have “joint” meetings with each club to “hash out” this complicated issue.”

that students who are 19 and 20 years old can make decisions for their own well-being? Instead, it seems that the Office of Student Life has decided to pretend hazing and pledging activities outside of the new guidelines would never happen while neglecting to foster a culture of accountability.

Perhaps, the Office of Student Life should have “joint” meetings with each club to “hash out” this complicated issue.

Maybe then the Office of Student Life could stop being such a “drag” on campus life.

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

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 Jessica Clark Video Director Emily Guajardo Arts and Features Editor

Adrienne Barrick Opinions Editor Evan Rodriguez Web Editor Hannah Null Adam Dorrel Show Host Max Preston Assistant Sports Editor Amber Chavez Assistant Video Editor

newsroom (325) 674-2439

sports desk (325) 674-2684

Daniel Tapia Graphic Designer Christi Lim Graphic Designer Staff Photographer Chelsea Twohy Copy Editor Ashley Alfred Copy Editor Trevor Wyatt Sports Reporter

Davis Denton Sports Reporter Laurel Drain Videographer Emily Clunn Videographer Noah Tamborella Videographer Ross Barrington Videographer Ashlan Smith Videographer

photo department (325) 674-2499

Holly Dorn Staff Photographer Matthew Baker Staff Photographer Madison Fichtner Staff Reporter Allison Crist Staff Reporter Staff Photographer Phoebe Voss Staff Reporter

advertising office (325) 674-2463

multimedia desk (325) 674-2463

Kenneth Pybus Faculty Adviser

Cade White Visuals Adviser

Celeste Kinkade Advertising Manager

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

SP ORTS

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

7

FIFTY-NINE YEARS IN THE MAKING Wildcat Stadium opens to an electric crowd

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

The long-awaited stadium-opening of Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium delivered in every way last weekend.

The build-up of the NEEDTOBREATHE concert, on-campus tailgate, ribbon-cutting ceremony and did we mention fireworks, brought an electricity to campus that campus and community representatives were

hoping for. The busy and entertaining weekend was of course capped off by the football team’s decisive 24-3 win over Southland Conference Houston Baptist and then more fireworks!

Here’s a look at some of the festivities

of the inaugural weekend of Wildcat Stadium and the sellout crowd that followed.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

WITH COACH ADAM DORREL, GRANT BOONE AND HANNAH NULL

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

@acuvideo

AT 11 AM ON K TAB -T V

8

SPORTS

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Cross country advances with momentum

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS WRITER

It couldn’t get much better for the women’s Cross Country team after a big win on their new home court.

Four Wildcat runners finished in the top-five of the field. The Hackett sisters led the way for the women, with Allie finishing first, followed 10 seconds later by her sister Michaela. In third was another Wildcat, in sophomore Carnley Graham. And rounding out the Wildcats were senior Diana Garcia Munoz in fifth and freshman Briahna Gerlach in 11th.

Allie, who won her first Southland Conference player of the week award of the year, said the track was a good comeback to a rough start of the week.

“We ran on this quite a few times for workouts in the morning,” Allie said, “And this was really just another workout for us since

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Alexandria and Michaela Hackett. seniors from Cranston, Rhode Island train for the upcoming race.

we were out sick Saturday night through Tuesday.”

Neither sister showed any signs of sickness though,

finishing the 6K Naimadu Classic course in 21:15.52 and 21:24.25 respectively.

Head Coach Lance Bing-

ham said the girls had a really good meet. With runners finishing in first, second, third, fifth and eleventh,

Bingham was pleased with the strong showing.

On the men’s side, Ryan Cleary led the way with a sixth-place finish. He was followed by Drew Cummings (12th), John Baker (13th), and freshmen Conner Miller and Seth Crockett.

Coach Bingham said that the men had a strong showing as well, despite also battling illnesses.

“Very good for a first meet,” Bingham said.

“Ryan and several guys have had some sickness going on, so they ran really well considering how some of them have been feeling.”

The Wildcat cross country team heads to Minneapolis, Minnesota this weekend to compete in the historic Roy Griak Cross Country Invitational.

TMW13A@ACU.EDU

Finally home: Volleyball opens Southland play in Moody

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

After a 10-day break and 12-straight games on the road, the Wildcats are home for a four-game home stand.

ACU opens the home portion of its schedule, and Southland Conference play when Sam Houston State visits Moody Coliseum.

Junior outside hitter Jacey Smith said it will be refreshing to be back in Moody, a building where the team was 9-0 last season.

“We haven’t even practiced in [Moody] much this year, but it’s fun,” Smith said. “I’m excited to be here, excited to see the crowd that shows up on Saturday, we’re

hoping a lot of people will come. It’s nice to be home for a while, being on the road on the time is hard.”

The Wildcats lost the final game of their non-conference schedule against North Texas in straight sets, but still finished with its best mark since 2013 at 4-8. In 2016, the women finished third overall in conference, boasting a 11-5 record, despite going 1-12 during non-conference play. While the four wins don’t carry much weight statistically, junior middle blocker Lauren Walker said the team has a good idea of what they have to do to get more of those wins during conference.

“Not only have our re-

cords improved from previous preseasons, but I think we made strides on the court in how we play,” Walker said. “I think we know the things we need to work on, and we’re going to do our best to kill it in conference.”

Prior to the North Texas loss, ACU put together an impressive three-game win streak, due in large part to great defense. As a team, ACU ranks second in total blocks and blocks per set at 2.36. Walker said a good blocking percentage really changes the landscape of the game.

“I think blocking is a huge momentum builder,” Walker said. “If you can shut down a team from hit-

ting, from getting their good kills, they get scared. And so we can play our offense because they are scared to play their offense.”

Smith said defense has been a focus of the team and if it continues to execute the offense is going to come as well.

“We focus a lot on making creates out of our defense and creating our offense out of that,” Smith said. “So it’s just about execution for us.”

Over the last two years, ACU is 20-12 in Southland Conference play, and 2-0 against SHSU, although both matches were hardfought five set victories.

SHSU enters Saturday’s game at 3-9, after a daunt-

ing preseason schedule similar to the Wildcats’.

Smith said she hopes Saturday, with the football team home again and momentum from last weekend’s exciting festivities, will be a full game day.

“Last weekend was really, really exciting, seeing the student turnout and just the community turnout at the football game,” Smith said.

“And I’m really hoping we can just make a full game day out of it.”

The game is set for a noon start time and will be the Southland Conference opener for both teams.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

Football welcomes SFA for second game of homestand

BY MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS DIRECTOR

The football team will remain in its new stadium this weekend as it welcomes the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin.

The Wildcats hold a 1–2 overall record after topping Houston Baptist a week ago in their first conference game of the season.

SFA has had a similar experience this season so far with a 1–2 record, losing to SMU and Southern Utah in its first two games, then winning its conference opener last week against Incarnate Word.

Junior defensive tackle Dante Hibbert says the team must focus on themselves before heading into Saturday.

“We have to focus on us and make sure we’re where we need to be,” Hibbert said. “We have to beat ACU first, but Saturday we’re not playing ACU, so it’s mainly our scout guys, they give us a good look for every team.”

Last Saturday, the Wildcat defense held its first Southland opponent to 129 total yards and an average 2.5 yards per play.

The team’s only points surrendered were by an impressive 54-yard field goal from HBU junior kicker Alec Chadwick.

Junior quarterback Dallas Sealey and the offense nearly tripled HBU’s yardage picking up 386 in the game. Sealey threw for 195

of those yards and ran for another 46.

After three games, including two against FBS schools, the Wildcats have racked up a total of 1001 yards offensively and given up 1215 defensively.

SFA comes into Wildcat Stadium after escaping last week’s wild victory against Incarnate Word.

At the end of the first quarter the Lumberjacks led Incarnate Word 21–0, however, the Cardinals flipped a switch and scored 31 unanswered points up until the 11:58 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Lumberjacks then answered with 10 points to tie the game at 31 and with 17 seconds left in the game,

the Cardinals threw an interception to sophomore safety Alize Ward which he returned for a 70-yard pick-six as time expired.

Through SFA’s three games, they have earned 822 yards on offense and given up 1520 yards on defense.

Last year when the Wildcats and Lumberjacks faced each other, SFA won by a score of 41–30.

Sealey played a phenomenal game, however, throwing for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back De’Andre Brown, a junior at the time, caught the ball out of the backfield well with 165 yards and a touchdown, while senior wide receiver Troy Grant, also

a junior at the time, added another two touchdowns with 53 yards.

Head coach Adam Dorrel said that SFA will be a talented team.

“If you look at them across the board, they’re super athletic big kids,” Dorrel said. “They’ve got really good skill players and it will be a tough game because they’re very athletic.”

Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. and can be heard on 98.1 FM. Tailgating will also be on campus starting at 3 p.m., and the stadium gates open at 4:30.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

FOOTBALL MATCHUP PREVIEW 2017 SEASON

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (1–2)

JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

16.0

POINTS PER GAME

21.7

77.3

RUSH YPG

59.3

256.3

PASSING YPG

214.7

26.3

POINTS ALLOWED

46.7 HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITYT (1–2)

MAX PRESTON

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

DAVIS DENTON SPORTS REPORTER

TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

Both teams are 1-0 in conference, and both teams have momentum. SFA is a historically relevant team in the Southland Conference coming off a walk-off pick-six in one of the craziest games in recent memory.

And of course the Wildcats started history in the brand-new Wildcat Stadium with a bang and outstanding defensive showing.

The stats don’t tell the whole story of this game, both teams will come out and find success at times, but if ACU can continue to win the turnover battle and stay balanced another packed out stadium will propel the Wildcats to a win.

ACU and SFA have each took two beatings from non-conference schools.

Both won their conference opener. Both are 1-2. Seems like it will be a tight one right? Nope. SFA took a major beating from SMU which is understandable, however, they faced another FCS school in Southern Utah and got demolished 51-14. They also had to squeeze out a win with a walk off pick-six against Incarnate Word last week.

The win was only due to the fact that the Cardinals made an awful decision to pass into triple coverage with 16 seconds left. I believe the Wildcat defense comes out to play again and beats the Lumberjacks.

ACU prepares for another Southland game when they host the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The Lumberjacks thumped a lowly Wildcats squad last season 41-30, but the Wildcats opened Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium with a bang against HBU. SFA has surrendered an average of 46 points per game in the first three games and needed a buzzer beater touchdown to beat Incarnate Word. I believe the Wildcats win decisively and they begin to hit their stride.

SFA picked up a new quarterback transfer in the offseason, but it hasn’t helped them at all this season. Even with a historically good record against ACU, I don’t think their team is good enough to compete this year, even coming off a cheap pick-6 that should have been overturned, but turned into a win against a near-cellar ranked UIW. Sealey played very well last game and I think he throws all over this defense.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 31 SFA 17

FINAL SCORE: ACU 21 SFA 10

FINAL SCORE: ACU 27 SFA 14

FINAL SCORE: ACU 27 SFA 17

STANDINGS Football

Team

UCA Nicholls ACU NWSU SFA SHSU McNeese HBU Lamar SELU UIW

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

Volleyball

Team

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

Team

1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1

Ovrl. SLC. 9–6 11–1 12–4 8–4 6–6 4–8 4–10 3–8 3–9 2–8 2–11 1–6 2–12

Soccer

1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1

Ovrl. SLC.

Lamar 6–2–1 McNeese 5–2–1 UCA 4–5 SFA 4–4 TAMU-CC 4–2–1 ACU 3–5 NWSU 4–4 SHSU 3–4 SELU 2–5–1 Nicholls 3–5 HBU 1–4–1 UIW 1–5

1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1

DORREL DAILY “If you look at them across the board, they’re super athletic big kids.

Dorrel They’ve got really good skill players and it will be a tough game because they’re very athletic.”

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Football

Senior De’Andre Brown only rushed for 29 yards on 12 carries in the stadium Brown opener last Saturday, but his fiveyard touchdown run may be one of the most memorable the stadium will see. Not only did Brown score the first ever touchdown at Wildcat Stadium, he did so by weaving his way through five HBU defenders after what looked like a sure negative yardage play.

Golf

In just his second collegiate golf tournament, freshman Alex Clouse led the WildClouse cats to a fifth place finish at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate. Clouse posted an impressive 3-under-par score to finish in seventh individually and help ACU to a 5-over-par team score of 869. Having already contributed in both tournaments he’s played and drawing praise from head coach Shaw.

Cross Country

Her twin sister edged her in the first meet of the season, but redshirt senior Allie Hackett Hackett posted a first place time of 21:15.52 at the Naimadu Classic this weekend to even the score. Hackett was also named Southland Conference Athlete of the Week for her efforts, again matching Michaela’s award-winning performance earlier this season at Baylor’s Bear Twilight Invitational.