The Optimist Print Edition 10.20.17

SPORTS

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

Friday, October 20, 2017 Vol. 106, Issue 09

WILDCATS PREPARE FOR NICHOLLS STATE GAME Page 6

THE ARE

BACK

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

Mariel Ardilla, senior theatre major from Round Rock, performs in the cast of the Homecoming musical Cats. For more photos, check out pages 4 and 5.

Wildcat Stadium sees first Homecoming

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

The first Homecoming game to be played at Wildcat Stadium will have a sold-out crowd.

All tickets have been sold for the Saturday game against Southeastern Louisiana University at 2 p.m., according to an announcement from the ACU Sports Twitter.

Alumni can first participate in the carnival in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center gyms and on the lawn outside of Moody Coliseum.

After the Carnival, a candlelight devotional will take place in Beauchamp Am-

EVENT SCHEDULE

phitheater. The Candlelight Devo replaced Jamfest for the first time last year.

“This year our Homecoming weekend includes a Candlelight Devo on Friday night after the carnival.

This is our second Candlelight Devo at Homecoming as we had a huge turnout last year with many positive comments,” said alumni director, Craig Fisher. “This event gives our alumni and future students a chance to experience one of our greatest traditions. This special and unique time of worship during a busy Homecoming weekend exemplifies what a great university community we have.”

The fourth annual Galaxy social club KGR fundraising dinner will also take place on Friday. The dinner kicks off the yearly fundraising Galaxy social club does in honor of Kirk Goodwin. The dinner is served by Galaxy’s most recent pledge class.

“It’s humbling to carry on a tradition that has benefited so many lives of families in need,” said sophomore accounting major, Kyle Lott, who recently pledged the club.

Saturday activities begin with clubs hosting breakfasts for club alumni. After breakfasts, the Homecoming parade will begin at 9:30 a.m.

fire at the age of 24. David Halbert was one of Sitton’s lifelong friends who played football with him from elementary to high school.

The sculpture is named “Lean on Me” and has a dedicatory plaque that reads, “One of the most iconic projects to grow from ACU’s 21st-Century Vision is Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. Here, the unique experience created

by intercollegiate athletics helps draw people into closer community, uniting students and alumni in support of each other, with gratitude for their alma mater and for God’s providence in their lives.”

Ron Hadfield, who was heavily involved in consulting on the project, said “Lean on Me” is intended to represent the kind of supportive camaraderie stu-

dents and student-athletes enjoy as Wildcats, the importance of teamwork and the lifelong relationships collegiate athletics can foster in an environment like Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium.

In January, Halbert’s sister Belinda Harmon, wanted to honor the relationship between Sitton and his best

Green had shirts made for all the residents with the motto of “The Strength of the Wolf is the Pack” and said the residents have bought in to the theme. This year is the first year Mabee Hall is themed.

In addition, Mabee Hall has created a hall council made up of representatives who were interviewed during the first week of school. The hall council is unique to Mabee and a first for all residence halls in the university’s history.

“I wanted a hall council,

which is made up of residents in Mabee to create events alongside the RCLs to do community service specifically for Mabee as well as to prepare freshmen to be professionals,” said Green. “They are taught professionalism, how to send an email, how to create proposals, how to create evaluations to quantify what they are doing.”

The Mabee hall council is the primary organizer of the dance. The dance will feature a red carpet and a barista. The hall council

FRIDAY

• •

Wildcat Stadium Open House Homecoming Carnival 5-8 p.m.

•

Chemistry Circus at 6 p.m.

•

Candelight Devo at 8:15 p.m.

SATURDAY •

Homecoming Parade at 9:30 a.m.

with a theme “The Cats are Back in Town.” Social clubs and any student organization can apply to participate.

Alumni will also be able to participate in the Wildcat

•

Chapel at 10:45 a.m.

•

Tailgate at 11:30 a.m.

•

Choral Concert and Reception at 11:45 a.m.

Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. at Faubus Fountain Lake

Chuck Sitton and David Halbert will be honored at Wildcat Stadium with the dedication of a statue outside of Gate A near Wildcat Way The first-team All-American defensive back and one of the co-captains of the 1977 national championship football team, Sitton, passed away in a house

6

DAYS UNTIL

FALL BREAK NEWS

NURSING SCHOOL ACCEPTS SPRING CLASS Page 3

SEE SCULPTURE PAGE 2

prepared a proposal and finance sheets for the proposed dance weeks ago, said Green.

Green said he is excited to see what the hall council and “the pack” do in the coming year.

“It’s interesting to see freshman men really buy into this concept of belonging and this concept of unity and community through being a part of the wolf pack,” he said.

EMR14C@ACU.EDU

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

•

SUNDAY • •

Soccer vs. Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m.

Musical Cats at 2 p.m.

Country tailgate on campus, for the first time.

EMR14C@ACU.EDU

LAUREN FRANCO

The “Lean on Me” statue created by Jack Maxwell.

Men of Mabee host Homecoming dance

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

Mabee Hall will host a homecoming dance for all students on Saturday evening.

The dance is a result of the theme Mabee hall has adopted. The hall draws its thematic inspiration from “The Jungle Book,” with credit for the theme going to Khamisie Green, the resident director of Mabee Hall.

“The main idea is that the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack,” said Green.

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

BY CYNTHIA RANGEL STAFF REPORTER

The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will honor two outstanding alumni and several students who received scholarships during its annual Homecoming Barbecue and Awards Ceremony on Saturday.

The Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for the department being recognized is Keith Lancaster, and the Young Professional of the Year is Justin Singleton.

“The people selected for this award are doing outstanding work in their field,” said Charlotte Marion, the administrative coordinator for the department.

At the barbecue, students who received a scholarship from the department will be celebrated. There are a total of 12 scholarships and 43 recipients.

The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Club will also participate in the Homecoming Parade with its own float on Saturday morning.

Cassandra Veneman, junior animal industry and business major from Modesto, California, was one of the students awarded with the T.W. Colby Memorial Endowed Scholarship for the current year.

“Receiving these scholarships through my time at ACU has helped me to be more driven academically,” Veneman said. “Being awarded scholarships for my work in the classroom helps me realize that doing my best is rewarding. I appreciate others who notice this hard work of students and then commend them for it.”

Tickets are $10 for anyone who is not in the AES Club.

Stadium sculpture to honor friendship

BY LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

A&E department honors alumni

2

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FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

CHOMA celebrates with African food, music

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER

CHOMA, an African Food Festival, celebrated African culture as the African Student’s Association cooked dishes for members and non-members Saturday. Flags from different African countries were displayed and the room filled with the sounds of upbeat songs.

Food from Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda filled the paper plates of the guests.

Grace-Kelly Muvunyi, junior nutrition major from Kigali, Rwanda, and president of the African Students’ Association, said it

Grace-Kelly Muvunyi giving announcements. is one of the organization’s biggest events.

“We have a variety of countries represented,” Muvunyi said. “The purpose of the event is to provide

an occasion where Africans, Americans and all people can come and experience African culture represented

by African students.”

Josiah Oduro, freshman accounting major from Ateiku, Ghana, talked to the other participants about himself and his country. He said the best parts of the event were the music and spending time with people from different countries.

“I came to this event because I miss a lot of things back home,” Oduro said.

He also participated by bringing his own dish of rice balls and groundnut soup.

Diana Ejakpomewhe, junior nursing major from

Delta State, Nigeria, said the food festival gave her a break from school stress.

She also brought homemade jollof rice.

“My semester is so busy because this is my first semester in nursing school.”

Ejakpomewhe said. “I could have just stayed at home and have done homework and I honestly thought about it. But I was like, ‘I miss my friends and it’s going to be really fun.’”

After about a half hour of dancing, the festival ended with a spice contest in which participants had to eat a bowl of pepper soup.

Whoever ate the most without crying was declared

Jonathan Rugamba serving food to Rachel Lopez De Castilla (left) and Ren Reed (right). the victor. The winner was Ojima Edeh, senior nursing major from Otutulu, Nigeria, who won a free T-shirt and membership

into the African Students’ Association.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Sculpture: Sing Song seeking class act directors Jacob’s Dream maker builds statue

BY ZEKE TRIPP STAFF REPORTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

friend and a team began working on it as a gift to the university. Her husband, Bob Harmon, coached Sibert on the championship team.

“Bob came up with the idea because he believed, as I do, the bond between the student body and the athletic teams, is crucial to a strong university,” Harmon said.

She said the Halbert-Harmon Foundation, started by her father David S. Halbert, funded the statue.

Jack Maxwell, a professor of art, and his wife Jill worked in partnership to sculpt the piece, although they were not close to Sitton.

“Its been meaningful to me to understand that relationships can last a lifetime, and how special that friendship was and even after all these years, you can tell when David speaks, how good of friends they were and how much of a loss he feels today,” Maxwell said.

The statue will be located outside of Gate A near Wildcat Way. LMF14A@ACU.EDU

The Sing Song co-chairs are accepting applications for Sing Song class act directors until midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Class act directors are responsible for every aspect of their act’s Sing Song performance – including recruiting participants, creating lyrics, running rehearsals, facilitating the creation of props, costumes and directing on stage.

Kaitlynd Satterfield,

2018 Sing Song upstage co-chair, said participating as a class act student director could appeal to a future employer and helps improve leadership skills.

Two directors will be selected for the freshman class, each with their own separate act. One team director will be selected for each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes.

The interviews will be conducted on Oct. 30-31 by Satterfield, senior sociology major from Arlington, and Sam

Mulder, upstage co-chair.

“In the interview process, show that you’re good with time management, ability to lead and preferably have some musical background history,” said Mulder, junior physics major from Magnolia.

During the fall, those chosen to be class act directors will attend weekly meetings on Monday nights.

Each week, directors will select different elements of their act, including theme, songs and lyrics. During the spring, class acts will

have about four weeks to practice, along with two rehearsals in Moody Coliseum to prepare for three days of performance, Feb. 15-17. In addition to group practices, they will need to attend weekly meetings during Chapel.

Last year’s Sing Song junior class act director Macy McAlister, said she enjoyed the job because those involved with her were supportive.

“I felt a lot of pressure to be successful because we had

won as sophomores,” said McAlister, senior kinesiology major from Abilene. “But even though we don’t win, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it since I had such awesome people working with me.”

The senior class won the Sing Song competition the last two out of three years.

The winning act is awarded with the donation of funds to a charity of their choice.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Sing Song hosts, hostesses begin preparation

BY JENNA WILLIAMS STAFF REPORTER

Three men and three women were named Tuesday as 2018 Sing Song hosts and hostesses.

The hosts and hostesses, chosen after a long audition process, are: Barrett Lewis, senior management major from Abilene Christian Winter, junior acting and theatre ministry major from Escondido, California Reuben Byrd, senior physics major from Abilene Keely Smith, junior music major from Fort Worth Kendall Stubblefield, senior vocal performance major from Pearland Kristen Gillis, junior vocal performance major from Round Rock Nick Tatum, assistant

director of student productions, said the finalists made the cut because they can sing both high and low notes and are good as soloists and in a group.

“I am excited about this year’s hosts and hostesses,” Tatum said. “They are all very smart musicians.”

The hosts and hostesses have been prepping since last month by going through auditions and multiple rounds of callbacks.

Byrd said he looks forward to seeing what the group can do when they sing together.

“It’s going to be really cool singing with this

group,” Byrd said. “I’m really excited for our songs together.”

Stubblefield also said she is excited for the opportunity in general.

“I hadn’t seen or heard of Sing Song before attending ACU,” Stubblefield said, “and since then I knew that

Multicultural Affairs, said the Halloween activity will bring students and members of the organization together.

“A lot of people have surprisingly never carved pumpkins or don’t do it on a regular basis,” Ashford said. “I’ve done it every

year that I can remember.”

Aleira Martin, sophomore ad/PR major from Fort Worth and intern for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, had a different kind of pumpkin-carving childhood. Unlike Ashford, she hasn’t carved a pumpkin since she was 10 years old.

Martin also said she hopes this will be more of a social event than just a pumpkin carving event.

She also wants this to build more OMA membership, rather than just student group membership, such as the African Students’ Association or the Black

Students Association.

“It’s not just for minority students, but it’s just for people who feel like they have another place to be themselves,” Martin said.

There will be 30 teams of two, although more than two people can be in a group, and the winners are

Left to right: Christian Winter, Keely Smith, Reuben Byrd, Kristen Gillis, Kendall Stubblefield, and Barrett Lewis.

one day I would want to be a Sing Song hostess and lucky for me it has come to be.”

The hosts and hostesses will have their first meeting in a week and a half to begin preparation.

The theme of Sing Song is “For the Love of Sing Song” and will take place Feb. 16-17 in Moody Coliseum.

“I think Tom is going to pull out all the stops,” Tatum said. “I think it will be a great last show for him because he is great at what he does and is going to put everything out there this year. It will be something to remember.”

For more information on this year’s Sing Song, www.acu.edu/singsong or email singsong@ acu.edu.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Multicultural office prepares first pumpkin carving contest

BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is preparing a first-time pumpkin carving contest, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Prentice Ashford, director of the Office of

decided by the crowd.

Amazon gift cards will be given to the winners. $10 will go to third place, $20 will go to second place and $30 will go to first place.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 10/10/2017 5:00 p.m.

ACUPD worked a domestic disturbance where an adolescent child assaulted a parent. The child was admitted into a facility for a mental health evaluation.

10/11/2017 10:04 a.m.

ACUPD was alerted to a suspicious person in the Admin Bldg. Day-shift officers located the subject wandering the hall “looking for the courthouse.” Suspect has outstanding warrants for his arrest and was taken into custody.

10/11/2017 4:37 p.m.

ACUPD receive a report of an unknown male stealing a student’s laptop and wallet from the main floor of Brown Library. Follow-up investigation led to the 10/16/17 arrest of a local unaffiliated suspect and recovery of the laptop.

10/15/2017 12:21 a.m.

Officers investigated a noise violation complaint at 1600 Morrow. The resident was initially uncooperative but did clear the party/noise issue.

911 CALL 2 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 16 ALARM 7 ANIMAL CALL 2 ARRESTED SUBJECT 2 ASSAULT 1 ASSIST 4 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 8 CHECK BUILDING 301 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1 DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE 2

ELEVATOR RESCUE ESCORT FOOT PATROL FOUND PROPERTY INFORMATION REPORT INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP LOST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE UNIV ASSETS: CCTV MEDICAL EMERGENCY MONITOR FACILITY/LOT

4 2 22 4 12 20 1 1 4 7

MOTORIST ASSIST: INFLATE TIRE 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 10 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 4 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 7 NOISE VIOLATION 2 OTHER 3 PARKING LOT PATROL 22 PARKING VIOLATION 8 PATROL VEHICLE:

MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL RANDOM PATROL REPORT WRITING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SUSPICIOUS PERSON SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE THEFT TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING VEHICLE COLLISION WELFARE CHECK

3 8 11 25 3 7 1 1 3 3 1 3

TOTAL

569

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: Remember to not park in areas Friday night/Saturday which are closed due to Homecoming Parade route.

See Homecoming Parking Advisory for details.

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FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

3

LEARNING TO

Care

School of Nursing sees growth four years after opening

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

Laura Walling, junior nursing major from Abilene, asks a question during Mask-Ed class. The class involves instructors wearing prosthetics to dress up as “patients.”

T

he School of Nursing typically accepts students for the fall only, but in early October, the school accepted 33 students for the first class to start in the spring semester.

Dr. Becky Hammack, dean of nursing, said the school planned to start taking a spring entry class but the Texas Board of Nursing encouraged the school to wait until a few classes had graduated. The school started in 2013 and the first class graduated in 2015.

“That was our plan, that after we got real stable with our pass rates that we would start a second entry,” Hammack said.

To get into the nursing school, students must have a 3.0 GPA and have completed 60 hours of courses. Students also must have high scores in mathematics and science classes. Hammack said this allows students to take science classes and know for sure they want to study nursing before getting into the school.

“I think it’s better for our students to not really be locked in,” Hammack said.

“A lot of times at 18, a student may not know that that really is what they want. We don’t want anybody wasting their time and money. We only want people that love it to come.”

Last spring, the nursing school accepted about 50 students for the fall semester. But Lauren Maloy, junior nursing major from

Prosper, was not one of them. She didn’t have a high enough GPA in several science classes to get into the school, and she got put on a waiting list.

“I had worked so hard, and I felt like I could do it,” Maloy said, “but ACU is growing and it seems like it’s more competitive to get in. I knew I could do better.”

Maloy decided to retake several science classes during the summer to raise her GPA. She did better in those classes, but when the fall semester started, she still didn’t get accepted. She didn’t want to wait another year to get in, because that would cost another year of university tuition. At that point, she had two choices: she could change her major and stay at ACU, or she could continue studying nursing by transferring to another university.

“I had a lot of doubt,” Maloy said. “Since high school I was always like ‘I want to do something medical,’ and the fact that I couldn’t get into the School of Nursing was very degrading and discouraging.”

On Oct. 3, she saw an email notification pop on her phone. The first few lines said “Congratulations,” and that was all she had to read to know she had finally been accepted.

“I started crying, and I Facetimed my dad and my mom,” Maloy said. “It was a happy day.”

Now Maloy will be able

Ajahcia Powell, junior nursing major from Abilene, listens to instructors in the Mask-Ed nursing class.

Volleyball player attacks nursing school challenge

Pricilla Wyatt, instructor of nursing, demonstrates nursing skills to students by “treating” another instructor in costume. to graduate just one semes- groups of nursing students in 2015 with 48 students, ter later than expected, in in the building, Hammack 97 percent of whom found December 2019. She said said the school will have to jobs within six months of she wants to become an do more evening classes. graduating. About 91 peroperating room nurse and She tries to fit all classes in cent of the first graduates possibly study to become a the building rather than passed the test to become nurse practitioner. using classrooms in anoth- a certified nurse, called the er building because most National Council Licensure efore 2013, the uni- of the nursing classes are Examination (NCLEX), on versity operated a three or four hours long and their first time taking the consortium school wouldn’t fit the schedule of test. This is higher than the with McMurry Universi- other departments.

Texas average of 87 percent ty and Hardin-Simmons The school also faces and the national average University first called the the challenge of accom- of 84 percent. The school Intercollegiate School of modating students for clin- offers tutoring four days Nursing and later called ical shifts at local hospitals a week, which Hammack Patty Hanks Shelton School which also have to make said is unique for a nursing of Nursing. Hammack said room for nursing students school to do. This allows ACU usually had about 40 from McMurry, Texas Tech athletes to succeed in the students at the consortium, University School of Nurs- program which is not typibut in 2010 ACU started ing, Hardin-Simmons, and cal for nursing schools. pulling away. Hammack Cisco College.

“We work with our athhelped establish the school, “I think there are more letes,” Hammack said. “It’s and by 2013 ACU’s School and more people going into not necessarily an easy of Nursing took residence nursing because there’s a thing to do, but we’re glad on campus in the Zona huge shortage still,” Ham- that they’re part of our uniLuce Building. mack said. “No matter versity. It’s hard for the stuZona Luce was one of the where you go in this world, dent, but it has worked out.” first six buildings on cam- you can get a job and you Hammack said the school pus and had been the home can make a decent living hopes to have a Master’s deof the Department of Agri- and that’s important for gree program by January of culture Sciences since 1987. people.”

2019.

To accommodate three The first class graduated

B

Rachel Watson, junior nursing major, talks with classmates in the lobby at the School of Nursing before class.

Alum from first nursing class pursues Master’s

Alicia Adams Bartholomee graduated from the School of Nursing’s first graduating class in 2015. Now she works in the orthopedic neurology unit at Midland Memorial Hospital.

Even though the nursing school had just started, Bartholomee said she was excited to be a part of something new.

“We were guinea pigs,” she said, “the first ones to try out the system.”

Bartholemee wanted to study English but changed her major to nursing right before coming to the university. She had read a book about medical missions that sparked her interest in the medical field.

“I’m more of a hands-

on person,” Bartholemee said. “I like to know that what I’m doing is making a difference.”

The nursing school prepared her for the NCLEX with intensive courses, but she said she didn’t think the clinicals prepared her to be a nurse as much as they should. When she would arrive at a local hospital for

clinicals, she would have a different nurse to shadow each shift. Some of the nurses, called preceptors, weren’t as passionate about teaching as others, Bartholomee said.

This made working difficult after she graduated.

“As a new grad I was really awkward on the floor,” she said. “There were a lot of basic skills I hadn’t really

mastered yet.”

Bartholomee gave the nursing school feedback about it and said she thought her professors were accepting of feedback. She also said she had a good relationship with many of her professors.

Now Bartholomee is studying to become a nurse practitioner at Angelo State University.

At every school she considered, Corinne Grandcolas asked the same question: “Can I play volleyball and study nursing?” The answer was always, “No,” until she visited ACU for a volleyball camp.

“It wasn’t a ‘No,’ it was a ‘Give it your best shot, we’re going to support you,’” GRANDCOLAS Grandcolas said. “It’s not an easy major and it’s just a full-on demand and they know that.”

Many schools do not allow student athletes to study nursing because the high demand both programs put on students. Nursing school would bring challenges like long clinicals and hours of studying, while volleyball would challenge her with early morning practices, late nights of traveling, and many missed school days because games took place on Thursday or Friday nights.

“I was prepared going into nursing school but it was going to be a battle to stay in,” Grandcolas said.

Now a senior, Grandcolas plays right side/middle blocker and is nearing the end of nursing school. The nursing school provided a mentor for Grandcolas named Ms. Floyd. She acted as Grandcolas’ nursing “coach,” helping her study or catch up on classes she missed because of tournaments. The team could be gone for as long as a week for some tournaments.

“You cannot be independent in nursing school,” Grandcolas said. “That’s definitely a shock to your ego when you think you know it all and you think you’re prepared, when in reality I lean on my classmates on a daily basis.”

Grandcolas said she thinks being an athlete will help her be a good nurse because she learned how to work on a team and handle pressure well. Just as her volleyball team works together with a goal of becoming conference champions, nurses work together to keep patients healthy and safe.

“I don’t want to just be an athlete, and I don’t want to just be a nursing student,” Grandcolas said, “I want to make the best of a college experience that I can.”

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

4

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

N E W S

The Queens’ Court

THE TEN SENIOR WOMEN NOMINATED TO 2017 HOMECOMING COURT

Madison Losher

Allie Cawyer

Kristen Brehm

Karen Baker

Club: Sigma Theta Chi Major: Kinesiology Hometown: Garland Escort: Her father, Greg Losher.

Club: GATA Major: Communication Hometown: Plano Escort: Her father, John Cawyer.

Club: GATA Major: Biology Hometown: Flower Mound Escort: Her father, Wayne Brehm

Club: Tri Kappa Gamma Major: Sports Management Hometown: Austin Escort: Her father, Wayne Baker.

“To know that a specific amount of people put my name down when they saw nominations for homecoming queen. It makes me excited to represent my club more than anything; to be in front of everyone representing Sigma Theta Chi.”

“To be on the court with these other girls that I have known most of college and am in club with is such a fun and encouraging experience. I have made amazing memories at ACU and am beyond grateful that I get to be a part of this tradition.”

“It is such an honor to be a nominee along with the other amazing women on the court. It is so fun and humbling to represent ACU and the wonderful Women of GATA.”

“I’m honored, and unbelievably excited, I am honestly elated over it. It is a huge honor that my friends and people at this school would think of me and nominate.”

Bridget Glass

Bailey Goodenough

Jenna Lightfoot

Club: Alpha Kai Omega Major: Elementary Education Hometown: Benbrook Escort: Her father, Brad Glass.

Club: GATA Major: Social Studies Education Hometown: Abilene Escort: Her father, Rob Goodenough.

Club: Sigma Theta Chi Major: Kinesiology Hometown: College Station Escort: Her father, Jay Lightfoot.

“It just reminds me how incredibly blessed I am.

God continually blesses my life with wonderful opportunities to give Him all the glory and this is just one of those opportunities. But it also means that I have to come back in ten years.”

“It’s honestly an honor to be on the court. I love ACU Athletics and the new stadium, so being a part of the first homecoming court in the stadium just makes this even more of an honor and even more special.”

“Honestly, I was really surprised that I was put on homecoming court. It was such an encouragement to me because people see something in me that sometimes I don’t even see in myself. I feel loved by it.

Rachel Lowe

Jaquelyn Loya

Club: Alpha Kai Omega Major: Biology Hometown: Crowley Escort: Her father, Jay Russell Lowe.

Club: Ko Jo Kai Major: Social Work Hometown: Rockwall Escort: Her father, Mark Loya.

“Part of the blessing of this experience is sharing it with some of my greatest friends since freshman year and having my parents fly down from Washington to escort me. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior Homecoming than to walk proudly with some wonderful Christ-centered women and get to see my family.”

“It is especially meaningful to me to be chosen by my peers as part of this court. It’s such a sweet gift from the Lord to get to experience this reverent tradition and to share this memory with those who came before me.”

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Allie Metzger Club: Ko Jo Kai Major: Speech Pathology Hometown: Fredericksburg Escort: Her little brother, Daniel Metzger.

“Honestly, I was really surprised and honored that people at this school looked up to me to want me to represent in such a way.”

Sunni Zamora Club: Ko Jo Kai Major: Speech Pathology Hometown: Lubbock Escort: Her father, Kent Zamora.

“I think it is the highest honor and I’m incredibly humbled to be chosen as one of these twelve women. Homecoming is a long-standing and meaningful tradition at ACU and it’s both exciting and encouraging to be a part of it.”

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FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

Legacy students talk about family and club

BY ERICA ROBBINS STAFF REPORTER

Pledging traditions can look familiar to some students who had family members pledge the club before them.

Macy Goodenough, sophomore English major from Abilene, is pledging GATA this semester. Her sister, Bailey Goodenough, senior social studies elementary school major from Abilene, is a member of GATA and acted as the public relations director during her junior year. Their cousin, Shannon Roewe, senior marketing major from New Braunfels, also pledged GATA and was the social director during her junior year.

“My sister and my cousin have fallen in love with the women of GATA and what this club stands for,” Macy said. “I am excited to be a part of a family and be involved in something bigger than myself.”

Mitchell Bradford, sophomore theatre major from College Station, is pledging Gamma Sigma Phi. Bradford has three GSP alumni family members including his uncle Jason Fikes, and his brothers Zachary Bradford and Jonathan Bradford, who was their intramural director for part of his active time in club.

As the younger brother, Mitchell said he saw how much GSP changed his

brothers into being men of God. “GSP establishes itself as a club that is most Christlike; which pushes all of its members to strive serving for God,” Bradford said.

Whatley Jones, sophomore speech pathology major from Willis, is pledging Ko Jo Kai. Her mother Kristie Jones and aunt Denise Conder

are alumni members of Ko Jo Kai. Conder was the pledge mom for the NuNus, KJK pledges, when she was in club.

“Ko Jo Kai is an amazing club founded on strong Godly principles. Getting to be apart of such a legacy-in addition to my mom’s legacy-is an honor, and I am so proud to represent this club,” Jones said.

Jace Pimentel, senior finance major from Abilene, is a third-generation member Galaxy. His younger brother Jax, sophomore engineering major from Abilene, is currently pledging to be a Moonie. Pimentel said he wanted his brother to share the college experience rushing Galaxy

ing Galaxy in 1984 when he was killed in a car accident while traveling home for the weekend. In Goodwin’s honor, Galaxy organized an annual 5K race. Every year since his death, Galaxy has provided financial assistance to families in similar situations.Galaxy will be

inviting back their alumni to help raise operating cost of the race. All donations and proceeds will be going straight to the family in need of medical bills.

Tod Brown, a Galaxy alumnus and co-founder of Moriah Real Estate, will be the notable speaker this year.

Michael Humphrey, senior accounting and finance major from Fort Worth said, “Each of the men of Galaxy organizes a standard to remember our purpose to be the light of Christ in the world and to secure the operating costs of the KGR.” According to ACU web-

site, tickets are $40 a person, or to reserve a Silver Table for $400 or a Gold Table for $500. You can RSVP by emailing Michael Humphrey at mjh13c@acu.edu.

wineries, breweries and distilleries. She is also launching her own lifestyle brand, Wine Gypsy, as a clothing line and lifestyle blog.

While Jessup was at ACU, Delta Theta was suspended from campus, but she was part of the group that brought it back. Coming home, Jessup said she is proud of the girls who went through the same work she did.

“I’m thrilled that these ladies put in the hard work to do a deep dive self study of the club, secured amazing

sponsors and recruited some amazing women to help bring Delta Theta back to life again,” Jessup said.

In her return to ACU, Jessup said she is excited to catch up with all of her old friends, and already has every moment of her time in Abilene planned out with different people.

Alumni Relations Officer, Aubree Browning said being in the new stadium as opposed to Shotwell Stadium will bring a new level of excitement to coming “home.”

“It’s really cool to have the two courts stand side by side and think of all the life that has happened between the 10 year age difference,” Browning said. “The Coming Home Court has such a

fun time reconnecting and thinking of their time here on campus. It is a very interesting combination of thinking back and looking forward.”

JONES

The men of Galaxy will host the fourth annual Kirk Goodwin Run benefit dinner to raise money for a family in need at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at at the Grace Museum.

Kirk Goodwin was pledg-

PIMENTEL

just like their father and grandfather did.

“I’m excited to be part of Galaxy because of the rich history they have on ACU’s campus, and because I will get to experience the same traditions and brotherhood that my dad and brother have,” Jax said.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

Delta Theta alum returns as Coming Home Queen

BY LAUREN FRANCO

CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR

The Coming Home Court for 2017 will honor the class of 2007 nominees.

The Homecoming Queen of 2007 was Lindsay Jessup of Delta Theta, who will be coming from Santa Barbara, California. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in communication studies, she opened her own company called LJ Marketing Concepts, doing experience marketing and brand building for

LMF14A@ACU.EDU

2007 Court Kayla (Freede) Agan – Ko Jo Kai Amanda (Deveneau) Berres – Ko Jo Kai Betsy (Noah) Brumley – Ko Jo Kai Lauren (Hart) Day – GATA Calee (Varner) Follins – Alpha Kai Omega

Cornerstone production tackles cancer

BY PHOEBE VOSS STAFF REPORTER

Galaxy hosts 4th annual KGR Benefit Dinner

BY ASHLAN SMITH STAFF REPORTER

5

Hillary (Hoover) Ramey – Alpha Kai Omega Shelbi (Watten) Rampy – Ko Jo Kai Maria (del Pinal) Saab – International Student Association Lindsey (Scraggs) Underwood – GATA

Rehearsals have begun for this year’s Cornerstone production, “Wit,” a story about a woman dying of ovarian cancer.

Each Cornerstone class will attend when the show goes on stage the second weekend of November.

According to the Department of Theatre, the show written by Margaret Edson “wrestles with the ultimate question of what it means to be alive.”

“Wit” will be directed by Kari Hatfield, associate professor of theatre.

After the show, Hatfield said she plans to have talkbacks with the crowd to dive even deeper into concepts introduced in the show. At each performance, a different person with an occupation or life experience that connects to the show will give the audience their perspectives. After the talkback, the audience will have an opportunity to ask the expert and the cast questions.

“It’s so intellectual,” said Jill Jackson, junior theatre major and cast member.

“We’re kind of forcing [the Cornerstone students] to appreciate theatre.”

By performing this show, the theatre department is seeking to provide these classes with an example of how subjects like the humanities can make a difference in the world.

“Wit” will be performed Nov. 13-18 in the Fulks Theatre. Visit acu.edu/theatre for more information.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Engage Literary Culture from a Christian Perspective

Cultivating Difference Makers Since 1899

Earn Your Master of Arts in English Program Highlights • Investigate the ways Christian faith enriches the creative process of writers, scholars, teachers, and literary artists.

• Benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that explores everything from literature to composition studies to literary criticism to creative writing.

• Enjoy a versatile graduate program, designed to enrich students’ lives, solidify their passions, and prepare them for career opportunities.

Program units

30 Average completion time

1½–2 years

Apply by december 1 and start this spring! apu.edu/english

Location

Azusa 21735

6

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20 2017

FEATURE

FEATURE

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20 2017

7

SCRATCH ‘EM CATS

The Herder of Cats

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

T

Cats director Jeremy Varner shares his vision for the show and the surreal experience of producing quality work for his alma mater

he singing and dancing cats have arrived with full force in hopes of taking the audience on a journey to the Heavyside Layer. Set in a dump just outside the Russel Hotel, the Jellicle cats have returned in celebration of the annual choosing of a cat to journey to the Heavyside Layer, a mystical divinity where cats can be reborn into a new Jellicle life. Under the protection of Old Deuteronomy and Munkustrap, the tribe must be wary for the light of dawn is coming and the choosing shall commence. With flashing lights, skin-tight costumes and popping makeup, Cats will premiere as one of the most renouned musicals in history. Combining every aspect of the theatre, the department is ready to show off what it can do.

T

BY PHOEBE VOSS AND EMILY GUAJARDO STAFF REPORTER AND FEATURES EDITOR

he Jellicle moon shines brightly across the stage of the Abilene Civic Center. Actors, musicians and crew members scramble silently as microphones, lights and sound boards prepare for the opening number. Jeremy Varner walks unto the stage in his trendy plaid shirt and army green pants checking the progress of the set while loudly humming one of his favorite show tunes.

Offstage, the stage manager removes her headset as she yells “We are at time, ladies and gentleman. We are at time.”

The lights dim and mystical music begins to play.

Debuting his first directing and choreographing show, every aspect of the show has come through Jeremy Varner’s creative vision.

There was a new man in town and he is ready to take Abilene on a journey far beyond its imagination.

After growing up in Abilene and graduating with a theatre degree in 2010, Varner has been working professionally in the theatre business. From working in television voiceovers to debuting as the Rum-Tum Tugger cat in Atlanta to acting in shows at the French Festival in New York, Varner is living his life doing what he loves most– performing.

M

onths passed and the time for the Homecoming musical was commencing. Unlike most musicals, Dawne Swearingen-Meeks, chair of the theatre department, decided to take a producer role and contacted Varner with the opportunity of a lifetime. Varner was announced as the newest director for Cats the Musical.

With the help of his father, Gary Varner, professor of theatre, Varner decided to fly down from New York to Abilene with one goal in mind– create the best musical performance Abilene has ever seen.

For eight intensive weeks, Varner said he has loved seeing this side of theatre.

“Its an exciting new lense to look at the theatrical process,”said Varner. “As an actor, you’re focused on your job and your job is acting. As the director, you’re this helicopter view making sure that all the different elements come together to create a singular vision.”

Varner said one of the reasons Cats stands out as a musical is because there is no strong linear plotline.

No single actor leads, no long monologues and no real beginning, middle or end.

That’s the beauty of Cats.

“It’s less about what the story is saying and more about the celebration and the intersection of music and dance and poetry and all of these arts coming together to create something much greater than their individual parts.” said Varner as he smirks revealing inches of his white smile. “The production value is always phenomenal at ACU and that’s one of the things that people always expect out of the homecoming musical.”

I

t’s obvious Jeremy loves this show– and the students love him, too. Before he arrives at rehearsal, one can simply mention his name. In an uproar, cast and crew members begin voicing compliments immediately.

“He’s so cool,” “Oh he’s great,” and “I want to be his best friend” are just some of the few common remarks heard among the checkered hallways of the backstage rooms.

Just by looking at Varner’s eyes behind his round spectacles, one can see his passion for his work. His constant character-like remarks and quick laughs has allowed students to grow foundly of Varner’s fresh face and bold ideas.

As a former theatre student, Varner understands the amount of talent that is required to put on a show of this magnitude. With over two hours of pure dancing and singing with very little break in-between, Varner compares the entire process to professional-grade theatre referring to it as one of the most technically intense shows that the department has ever done.

“It’s one of those things where the music by itself is amazing. The set by itself is amazing. The lights by themselves are amazing. The costumes by themselves are amazing,” said Varner. “And then, when you combine them it’s like everything comes together and creates this crazy event.

Above all else, Varner stresses that this show is more than just a light show or a weird caucus of meowing actors on stage in spandex bodysuits. With Varner herding the tribe, the show will be one for the history books showing what is possible with a fresh, New York face and a never before seen vision.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

PHOTOS BY LAUREN FRANCO

PVV16A@ACU.EDU

6

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20 2017

FEATURE

FEATURE

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20 2017

7

SCRATCH ‘EM CATS

The Herder of Cats

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

T

Cats director Jeremy Varner shares his vision for the show and the surreal experience of producing quality work for his alma mater

he singing and dancing cats have arrived with full force in hopes of taking the audience on a journey to the Heavyside Layer. Set in a dump just outside the Russel Hotel, the Jellicle cats have returned in celebration of the annual choosing of a cat to journey to the Heavyside Layer, a mystical divinity where cats can be reborn into a new Jellicle life. Under the protection of Old Deuteronomy and Munkustrap, the tribe must be wary for the light of dawn is coming and the choosing shall commence. With flashing lights, skin-tight costumes and popping makeup, Cats will premiere as one of the most renouned musicals in history. Combining every aspect of the theatre, the department is ready to show off what it can do.

T

BY PHOEBE VOSS AND EMILY GUAJARDO STAFF REPORTER AND FEATURES EDITOR

he Jellicle moon shines brightly across the stage of the Abilene Civic Center. Actors, musicians and crew members scramble silently as microphones, lights and sound boards prepare for the opening number. Jeremy Varner walks unto the stage in his trendy plaid shirt and army green pants checking the progress of the set while loudly humming one of his favorite show tunes.

Offstage, the stage manager removes her headset as she yells “We are at time, ladies and gentleman. We are at time.”

The lights dim and mystical music begins to play.

Debuting his first directing and choreographing show, every aspect of the show has come through Jeremy Varner’s creative vision.

There was a new man in town and he is ready to take Abilene on a journey far beyond its imagination.

After growing up in Abilene and graduating with a theatre degree in 2010, Varner has been working professionally in the theatre business. From working in television voiceovers to debuting as the Rum-Tum Tugger cat in Atlanta to acting in shows at the French Festival in New York, Varner is living his life doing what he loves most– performing.

M

onths passed and the time for the Homecoming musical was commencing. Unlike most musicals, Dawne Swearingen-Meeks, chair of the theatre department, decided to take a producer role and contacted Varner with the opportunity of a lifetime. Varner was announced as the newest director for Cats the Musical.

With the help of his father, Gary Varner, professor of theatre, Varner decided to fly down from New York to Abilene with one goal in mind– create the best musical performance Abilene has ever seen.

For eight intensive weeks, Varner said he has loved seeing this side of theatre.

“Its an exciting new lense to look at the theatrical process,”said Varner. “As an actor, you’re focused on your job and your job is acting. As the director, you’re this helicopter view making sure that all the different elements come together to create a singular vision.”

Varner said one of the reasons Cats stands out as a musical is because there is no strong linear plotline.

No single actor leads, no long monologues and no real beginning, middle or end.

That’s the beauty of Cats.

“It’s less about what the story is saying and more about the celebration and the intersection of music and dance and poetry and all of these arts coming together to create something much greater than their individual parts.” said Varner as he smirks revealing inches of his white smile. “The production value is always phenomenal at ACU and that’s one of the things that people always expect out of the homecoming musical.”

I

t’s obvious Jeremy loves this show– and the students love him, too. Before he arrives at rehearsal, one can simply mention his name. In an uproar, cast and crew members begin voicing compliments immediately.

“He’s so cool,” “Oh he’s great,” and “I want to be his best friend” are just some of the few common remarks heard among the checkered hallways of the backstage rooms.

Just by looking at Varner’s eyes behind his round spectacles, one can see his passion for his work. His constant character-like remarks and quick laughs has allowed students to grow foundly of Varner’s fresh face and bold ideas.

As a former theatre student, Varner understands the amount of talent that is required to put on a show of this magnitude. With over two hours of pure dancing and singing with very little break in-between, Varner compares the entire process to professional-grade theatre referring to it as one of the most technically intense shows that the department has ever done.

“It’s one of those things where the music by itself is amazing. The set by itself is amazing. The lights by themselves are amazing. The costumes by themselves are amazing,” said Varner. “And then, when you combine them it’s like everything comes together and creates this crazy event.

Above all else, Varner stresses that this show is more than just a light show or a weird caucus of meowing actors on stage in spandex bodysuits. With Varner herding the tribe, the show will be one for the history books showing what is possible with a fresh, New York face and a never before seen vision.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

PHOTOS BY LAUREN FRANCO

PVV16A@ACU.EDU

8

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

OPI N I ON

We aren’t the ACU website THE ISSUE

Some people think the Optimist shouldn’t publish anything negative about the university.

OUR TAKE

First of all, we’re not the university website.

This week we jumped on the Twitter trend with our own “First of all” Tweet.

The trend involves responding to someone sarcastically by saying “First of all,” then offering only one response point. We tweeted: The Optimist made another typo. First of all, we’re a student run newspaper.

In a world of fake news and biased journalism, we realize that even misspelled words cause us to lose credibility. When students or other readers comment on our errors, we try to cor-

rect the error and we have a healthy embarrassment at the mistake. We appreciate our readers who take the time to not only read our stories, but also provide feedback, even about punctuation.

But now we want to respond to one of the other common comments we often get: “The Optimist shouldn’t write about negative things about the university.”

First of all, we’re not the university website. Journalists are basically just trained

in the art of passing on information and yes, there are lots of university organizations disseminating information. You can get information from the university website or a department blog about when and where events are happening.

But let’s say you want to know what’s going on with the university changing its LGBT policy. Unless you’re getting coffee with President Schubert tomorrow, you probably don’t have access to that information. What if it isn’t good news?

Well, that’s where we come in. Not only do we have more access to university administration then most people, we’re also willing to take the heat for asking something a lot of

people wouldn’t want to or would disagree with.

What if the university does something unethical?

If we were the university website, we would try to put that on the down-low because that would make the university look bad. But as student journalists, we have the freedom to criticize the university. We can tell you the truth about even the negative things. We want you to know what the university is doing and why so you can be informed.

But first of all, if you’re reading this, you probably already think we’re pretty credible. So thank you.

Thank you for giving us your time and reading the little bit of information we can give.

#FirstOfAll @deemele15 10/18/17 10:02 A.M. Professor: “This is an easy test.”

First of all, you have a PhD in this subject @acuoptimist #ACUoptimist @jaaaasssMINE 10/18/17 8:16 P.M. “How many bean bucks do you have?”

First of all, did you buy me something when you had bean bucks @BlairMarieClayt 10/18/17 11:31 P.M. I just want to cuddle. And not with a person. With my dog @shelby_strauser 10/16/17 9:31 P.M. Professor: “so since you all read the chapters before coming to class today” first of all, I don’t own the textbook @Emmalulu96 10/18/17 6:44 P.M. so i made a sc group, left the group thinking it would die, & now it’s a group dedicated to making fun of me. @OliviaDahl4 10/05/17 10:54 A.M. Some squigs just greeted me thinking I was a Siggie....sorry girls I’m a GATA @camillaklar 10/14/17 8:13 A.M. I had a dream last night that I found the Nunu’s squirrel.

Plot twist: it had babies. @lorenzo_ellis33 10/16/17 2:33 P.M. “....YAHH!” First of all, I could’ve dropped my croissant @deemele15 10/18/17 11:08 A.M. “65 degrees isn’t even cold” First of all.... I live in Texas @acuoptimist #ACUoptimist

CARTOON BY ERNESTO GUAJARDO

Men should be the ones posting about sexual assault RATED R

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

As I scrolled through all the “Me too” posts on my Facebook feed last night, I started to get confused.

The post reads, “Me too.

If all the people who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the mag-

nitude of the problem. #MeToo.” I don’t know if this social media movement will make a difference, but I don’t think it should be taken lightly. Women who have not been harassed or assaulted should be listening and offering support,

not jumping on the band wagon of a hashtag for the sake of politics. But the most important voices in this discussion, belong to men, not women.

When I see some friends post the status, I am genuinely surprised. These are girls who don’t typically post anything political or trendy, so to see their post made me wonder if they had been assaulted. Then I see the girls who typically post about victimization or feminism or other trendy political views, and I wondered if they had really

been assaulted or harassed.

I begin trying to analyze and categorize these posts.

I’m looking for the stories that really matter so I can have a reason for the righteous anger I know I should feel. But I don’t want to feel angry or compassionate for someone who equates their experience getting catcalled to the horror of being raped. I know the point of the “me too” movement was to show how widespread sexual assault and harassment are in our society. But the truth is, not every woman can say they

have been assaulted or harassed. It is not right for women who have not experienced this to use the post as an opportunity to complain.

The most powerful posts were those posted by men.

One of my friends recently became a father to a little girl. He posted about his eyes being opened to the problem of sexual assault as he tries to keep his daughter safe. Another older gentleman posted an apology to all the women whose stories he may have ignored or minimized

throughout his lifetime.

These posts are going to make the real difference.

Hopefully the “Me Too” movement will make men join together to hold each other accountable and speak against sexual assault. Social media has shown us a taste of how widespread sexual assault is, but what will have a greater impact is widespread support from men who are willing to stand up and say this is not OK. HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Stop saying theatre majors have it easy. They don’t ONE IN A EMILLION EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR Senior Convergence Journalism Major San Antonio, Texas

After eight weeks of constant singing and dancing, losing twelve pounds and attaining a number of knee problems, I’d like to announce one very important lesson non-theatre students need to start noticing – theatre majors work really hard to put on a good show.

Little did I know one hot June afternoon that I, a journalism major with no musical theatre experience, was auditioning for some of the most rigorous,

time-consuming, mentally draining and socially awkward encounters of my college career.

On the first day of Cats the Musical rehearsal, I knew I had just entered a world where competition, drama, love and passion were suddenly swirled into one room. The constant laughter and inside jokes made me feel completely out of place and yet I stayed. The pressure to sing your best made me feel unqualified

and yet I sang. The strange stares from across the white room wondering who I was made me feel uncomfortable and yet I stuck it out.

Yes, the theatre department is an entirely new world. However, it’s also the most hardworking and dedicated departments on this campus.

To put it in the words of Cats Director Jeremy Varner, the Homecoming Musical is a beast. Every cast member has placed countless hours in each individual costume, set piece, visual effects and dance numbers which is why each musical put on by the department looks amazing.

The theatre department sometimes gets a bad rap

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

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

compared to other majors.

No, they aren’t saving lives across the border, becoming the future bankers or accountants of H&R Block or campaigning to be the next senator. But at least, they are actually performing what they want to do. Unlike some, they are proactive and actively seek the characters they would like to portray. Compared to others, they have to watch what they eat every day to make sure they can fit into the spandex suit and sing for 90 minutes straight. They are setting scenarios where people can escape the chaos of the world.

Frankly, at least they have talent.

Night after night, everyone is pushed to be excellent singers, dancers, actors and professional human beings ready to embark on the next big thing.

We were focused and craved for the possibility of free time even when we knew it wouldn’t happen.

And after every rehearsal when our bodies were constantly touching with sweat running down the sides of our faces, my peers would nonchalantly pat me on the back and say “OK. See you tomorrow.” As if the boundaries of physicality and personal space were not as important as getting the lines right or scene correct.

The next time you see a

poster for a play or musical put on by the department, make sure you understand how much work has gone into it. Appreciate the value each cast member has placed on it and remember they are putting on a show with you in mind.

The theatre department is one of the most hard working, talented, unorthodox, encouraging, extraverted groups on campus.

How many of us can say the same thing about our own department? And no, I don’t have time to wait for your response. I have rehearsal in an hour.

EAG13B@ACU.EDU

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FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

Another year of kneeling HOT OFF THE PRESTON MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Junior Convergence Journalism Major Amarillo, Texas

The NFL season is still fairly fresh with six weeks in the books, however, something that isn’t fresh is the news of players kneeling before the national anthem.

Protests of the national anthem have only been getting worse with players on the same team rivaling each other by choosing if the want to lock arms and kneel or stand.

The players have generally complained that we are not together as a nation, which I can certainly agree with. However, what frustrates me is that these NFL players think the nation is

not a great place to live, but they’re making more money in a year than most people will in their life.

Players should be thankful for what they have instead of protesting against a nation that is paying them loads of money to see their game and have them produce successful results.

Protests that these players are making are truthful and I can understand why they think our nation is not equal.

I did a speech in class two weeks ago over police brutality and how it’s actually a major issue we deal with

in the United States. I’m not saying police don’t do a great job and protect us well, but there are some police that have made terrible decisions and false accusations causing debates over police brutality.

This is just one example of how NFL players are right in their protests.

There have also been shooting tragedies and riots of political issues that have divided our nation as well.

But kneeling is causing more harm and division to our nation instead of fixing it.

Sure they’re right about our nation being divided, but kneeling during a time of honoring our country gaining its independence because of the men and women that died for it is a big no-no.

I think these players

should try to help the problem and not just kneel and protest it. Like I said, they make tons of money and they should use it to make generous donations or to build the nation back together.

Players should not be complaining about the harm they’re not receiving, but rather showing love and care to their surroundings as big entertainment role models of this country in order to actually make a progress.

The NFL should feel blessed with their success and the money they’ve made and try to move this country in a positive direction, not be negative and protest something we already know about.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

A’s get degrees too ... and sleep QUITE FRANCO-LY

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

Let’s start with something a little obvious. College is hard.

It’s hard emotionally, it’s hard academically, its hard relationally. You’re coming to a new place you don’t know with people you don’t know and information you thought you knew, but you realized, you know a lot less.

But “C’s get degree’s” sounds a little too much like an excuse to stop trying.

I’m not going to discount anyone’s hard work. I have a C in a class right now that I read four hours a night for, and I’m confident that I’ve complained more in this semester about how “busy” I am than the past

two years combined.

Let me make one thing clear -your GPA isn’t about how much you have going on. I have four jobs to support myself, and I’m pledging. Every semester since Spring 2016, I have taken 18 hours on top of work.

As much as I’d hate to break the stereotype, I still sleep just as much as everyone else (thanks FitBit for being proof that I average seven hours of sleep a night during the school year). I still have a social life and maintain a healthy relationship with the people I love.

I still go to the movies, go out to eat, attend sporting events, and all of the other so-called exciting events that make up “college life.”

It’s unfair to generalize “straight-A students” as these sleepless zombies roaming campus at 2 a.m. preying on every coffee maker they can find. I’ve definitely been in that position before, no doubt about it, but I don’t think I’m invincible. I know I will fail and I recognize how I have already failed and used those times to learn how I can improve myself.

The biggest issue a college student can have is complacency. To fail, and not care nor learn about why you did, is the reason you will continue to fail.

But don’t excuse yourself from the lessons that failure has to offer just because you will get a degree regardless.

Am I stressed that I have a C in Communication Law? Absolutely.

But that doesn’t take away how much I’m learning.

I’ve made two very good friends in that class and

learned more than I ever thought I could.

But its frustrating, and seems a bit off to me that celebrating my 4.0 GPA is considered boasting, but its OK to celebrate and laugh at a failing GPA? It’s unacceptable to retweet complaints and desires to have a 4.0, but decide not to put in the hard work it takes to achieve it.

Putting that I have straight A’s on my resume isn’t my attempt to be better than anyone else, its used as a testament to the unruly hard nights I’ve been through, alongside my dedication to do and be the best I can.

To all of my 4.0 friends, don’t fret. It’s OK to have high academic goals and stress about school. It’s okay to spend hours studying. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

LMF14B@ACU.EDU

OP IN ION

9

Ask Sawyer How to eat healthy during Homecoming HEALTH COLUMN SAWYER COBB GUEST COLUMNIST Senior nutrition major Midland, Texas

Happy homecoming week! Parents will soon be coming to town, and with that you are more likely to go out to eat.

Eating out is a fun, easy, and great way to experience new foods with your loved ones. However, eating out can make it harder to eat foods with a lot of health benefits. Eating out is a great opportunity to have your favorite meal or to try new foods, but no one likes it when they leave a restaurant feeling just blah. So, here are my tips on how to eat out in a way that is both enjoyable and won’t leave you with a stomach ache after.

One simple and easy way to make this more attainable is to share a big entrée with a friend. Pick water over soda or other sweetened drinks – it’s cheaper and is one of the easiest ways to cut back on your sugar intake.

Aim for meals that include a protein, fat and carb source. The carbs will give you energy and the protein and fat will you keep you full and satisfied. When choosing sides, try to fill your plate up with vegetables, they are full of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Don’t eat something because you think you should; eat it because it sounds good and you want it. For example, if you’re having burgers and fries and do not really want the bun, don’t eat it. Save more stomach room for the fries if you prefer them over a bun!

The number one advice I can give is to eat slowly, notice when you are full and satisfied. That blah feeling almost always comes from overeating so stop when your full and take home the rest. You can always eat it later.

But most importantly, remember, food is just food.

Make the people you are with the main focus, not the food you are eating.

Have a great homecoming week. Go Wildcats!

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Repeal the Jones Act, for Puerto Rico and America I CAN’T EVAN

EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

Junior management major Sugarland, Texas

You may have heard recently that our esteemed president granted a 10-day waiver to the island of Puerto Rico from the “Jones Act” while declining to permanently exempt the island from the outdated regulation.

The “Jones Act” refers to Merchant Marine Act of 1920 which requires that all maritime shipping between U.S. ports be done by ships which are American made, owned by American’s and crewed by a 75 percent American crew. This law was passed in a bygone era, when a nation’s prowess

was measured in maritime strength. Nowadays, in our new (blessed) globalized economy, this law serves as an albatross around the neck of the most vulnerable Americans in Puerto Rico.

Requiring that goods shipped to the non-continental U.S. be transported has real consequences which have hurt consumers and the American shipping industry which the Jones Act originally set out to protect.

The Jones Act has costs for Americans on the mainland as well, with gulf coast crude oil producers finding

it to be uneconomical to transport the oil they’ve produced to refineries on the East Coast. This had led to America being forced to rely upon foreign oil from South America. For example, it is cheaper to pay shipping from Venezuela to the East Coast than it is from Texas to the East Coast.

With Puerto Rico specifically, two Puerto Rican economists found that the Jones Act has cost the island $17 billion between 1990 and 2010. On average, a vehicle purchased on the island costs $6,000 more than the same car purchased in nearby Florida.

Lack of competition in the area of domestic shipping has led to a artificially high prices and a decline in the American shipping indus-

try. Since 1960, the number of ships which met the requirement of the Jones Act declined from 2,926 to 169.

During the same period of time, the number of freighters worldwide increased from 17,317 to 41,674.

This is unsurprising as requiring that ships be American made and manned by Americans leads to higher operating costs which keep domestic shipping from being able to compete abroad with cheaper shipping. The Jones Act in fact heralded the beginning of the end for American shipping abroad by crippling their ability to operate competitively abroad.

In the specific case of Puerto Rico in 2017, having 169 ships to transport goods to an island of 3.4 mil-

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lion people is a nightmare scenario which a 10-day waiver can not solve. Puerto Rico needs long term help and access to cheaper goods than they currently have. Before the hurricane, the per capita income was $18,000 per year, which is almost equal to half of Mississippi, the poorest of all 50 states. At the same time the cost of living is 13 percent higher in Puerto Rico than in 325 urban areas of the continental U.S. These factors have caused Puerto Rico’s economy to struggle with an unemployment rate double the national average at 10.1 percent in August 2017. Add to that the major crisis of a hurricane and you have the current disaster.

Trade isn’t a zero sum game of us versus them.

It’s an exchange of goods and services where all benefit when competition, even foreign competition, and market forces are allowed to proceed freely. The crony protectionism is harming American citizens, driving down economic growth and contributing to a blossoming Puerto Rican debt. This lesson is something which seems to have escaped the “great dealmaker” in the White House. Instead, this administration clings desperately to a mercantilistic worldview from an antiquated era, as American citizens in Puerto Rico struggle to gain access to the most basic of goods in the aftermath of hurricane Maria.

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

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10

SPORTS

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

Cross country makes big jump at pre-nationals

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE DOOLEY Sophomore Bryce Dooley has given his team boost from the day he joined started his journey at ACU.

The women’s cross country team rocketed from sixth in the region to third after an 18th-place finish out of 43 schools at the Adidas Pre-National Cross Country Meet in Louisville, Kentucky.

The women were led by redshirt senior Michaela Hackett as she finished 32nd out of 288 runners, earning her second Southland Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week award this season. She also finished less than half a second behind Arkansas runner Carina Viljoen. The Razorbacks are first in the region and third nationally.

Michaela was followed by her twin Alexandria Hackett in 35th, Diana Garcia-Munoz at 99th and Carnley Graham and Soren Underwood rounded out the Wildcats’ topfive finishing 144th and 263rd respectively.

Head track and field coach Lance Bingham said before the meet, this would be a good gauge for the women’s team and would help them solidify a fifth runner to supplement its top four of Hackett, Hackett, Munoz and Graham.

The jump to third happened after ACU beat a number of teams in the South-Central region, mainly the University of Texas and SMU, who were ranked third and fourth at the time of the meet. The top two teams in the region will advance from the regional meet in College Station, Nov. 10.

Coach Jarvis Jelen said that even though the girls could have done better, the team had a good day.

“Our women’s team had a solid race day beating region opponents Texas and SMU,” Jelen said.

“They finished really well overall even if we didn’t finish as high as I thought

we could.”

Oregon, the No. 2 team in the nation finished first in the women’s race, followed by Colorado, who was previously ranked as the nation’s top. Arkansas came in third to round out the top-three.

The men’s team finished 21st out of 24 teams with Ryan Cleary leading the Wildcats in 84th place.

He was followed by Drew Cummings, Travis Nichols, John Baker and Roy Kipkorir. Jelen said the team had an average day overall and has a lot of work to do before the conference meet in Abilene.

The next race the Wildcats will run takes place on Friday, Oct. 27, when they host the Southland Conference Championships on their new Cross Country course, which debuted in the Naimudu Classic last month.

TMW13A@ACU.EDU

COMMANDING THE GREENS Dooley fuels competition on and off the golf course

BY DAVIS DENTON SPORTS REPORTER

In the world of golf, less is more.

In Bryce Dooley’s case, less means averaging a 76.4 over 30 rounds and being the top-rated golfer on the team his freshman season.

“Bryce came in his freshman year a great player and has only progressed since then.” junior teammate Reagan Brown said. “He consistently played well in tournaments this summer and has carried it over into the fall semester.”

Despite being on the younger end, Dooley shined as a freshman.

In the fall, he played in all four tournaments averaging 77.4 strokes. In the spring, Dooley had two top-30 performances, both of them team-high scores.

Even with the strong play last season, head coach Tom Shaw said his top three players have continued to progress.

“It’s a night and day difference. Players like Bryce and Garrett have improved over the summer and are more experienced as well,” Shaw said. “With the addition of freshman Alex Clouse and his good play, the top three in the lineup have really been the engine that’s driven us for the fall season.”

Dooley describes himself as a major outdoorsman.

When he isn’t playing golf or working out, he enjoys hunting, fishing or h a n g i n g Dooley out with his buddies. His friends, who are mostly golfers, are on the team, which has contributed to the bond, redshirt sophomore teammate Jack Conner, said is growing.

“This year the the team has done an excellent job of working toward creating a tighter family bond both on and off the golf course,” Conner said. “All of the guys are equally bought in and each and every single one of us is constantly pushing one another to get better on the golf course, in the weight room, and in the classroom.”

Conner also said Dooley’s focus on the course and at practice drives the team, but off the course Dooley keeps the guys going with his outgoing spirit.

“Bryce has always been an excellent leader, and an even better competitor.

At practice, in the weight room, or even just playing basketball in the rec, Bryce pushes us to give it everything we have and perform at our best,” Conner said. “There’s never a dull moment when Bryce is around because he always brings a

positive attitude with him everywhere he goes and if there’s ever music playing, he has a hard time keeping himself from not dancing and going all out.”

The men’s team has finished in the top-10 in every tournament they have played in this season.

Finishing 10th at Air Force and tying for fifth at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate in Ruston, Louisiana with a score of 293-288-288.

After a a little time off, the Wildcats hit the road for Pearland to play in the Bayou City Collegiate Championship.

Upon finishing 8th, the hungry Wildcats headed for Las Cruces and scored an impressive 292-292-290 in a sixth place finish in their final tournament of the fall.

Dooley’s impressive play didn’t come out of nowhere though-he has been commanding the greens for many years.

A four-year letter winner at Friendswood High School, Dooley was a three-time team captain, four-time first team alldistrict and ranked in the top-15 in the Texas Class of 2016 at the time he signed with ACU. As a sophomore in high school, he finished No. 5 in the District 24-6A tournament with a two-round score of 146 and Friendswood as a team finished No. 11 at 4A state tournament.

But all those previous

WITH COACH ADAM DORREL, GRANT BOONE AND HANNAH NULL

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accolades would mean little if his play hadn’t translated to the college level. Dooley said it was hard, but he has battled through difficulties to succeed at the Div. 1 level.

“Last year being a freshman it was a tough transition from junior golf to college golf. The courses are harder and the 36-hole days are tough,” Dooley said. “Mentally I’m a lot stronger this year and able to make smarter decisions on the course when I wouldn’t have last year. I’ve always been a pretty good ball striker but I worked hard in my putting in the offseason and it’s been paying off so far.”

After finishing up at New Mexico State earlier this week, the team will have a chance to sharpen its game until spring play begins.

And that means more of the healthy competition that Dooley said drives this year’s squad.

“There’s a whole different atmosphere within the team this year.

We are deeper than last year so everyday you have to bring your stuff to make it into the lineup, Dooley said. “We’re really competitive and we are constantly pushing each other on and off the course.

Having that environment at practice has enabled us to grow mentally and that’s a huge part of the game.”

The team will begin

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYCE DOOLEY spring play at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate, Feb. 12.

DMD14A@ACU.EDU

S PORTS

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

11

Athletics unveils football First Down Club

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

is money that supplements the operating budget,” De Leon said. “We created the First Down Club to help us bridge that gap and get closer to the median [budget] in the conference. If we plan on spending a dollar over what we get from the school, then we have to raise that separately and that’s where the First Down Club comes in.”

The Football Excellence Fund covers the cost of recruiting, travel, summer school stipends, equipment and preseason meals. Deputy director of athletics, Dave Kinard said the excellence funds help donors see how they’re helping.

“The biggest thing is letting them know where

their money is going,” Kinard said. “I think a lot of people are hesitant to give, whether it’s to the university or to athletics, so we’re trying to be very specific to where their dollars are going. And if there are football fans out there and they can know that it’s going to recruiting or travel, that’s something that they can put a tangible thing to, versus just going to the black hole.”

Anyone who gives $100 or more annually to a sport is considered part of the Wildcat Club, but De Leon said to qualify for the First Down Club, one must donate $1,000 or more to the Football Excellence Fund.

The initiative breaks up

into five different levels and offers new perks based on the amount given per year.

The top level is the National Champion and is for donors who give more than $25,000 per year. The perks for this level include things like an all-expenses paid trip with head coach Adam Dorrel, access to practice, a private signing day event, four pre-game sideline passes at all ACU home football games and several other gifts.

The $1,000 amount is known as a starter. These benefits include access to practice, access to a season kickoff luncheon with Dorrel and a weekly email from Dorrel.

With football having just beginning its journey in

After the graduation of punter Austin Kilcullen in the spring of 2017, the mood on the special teams side of the ball could be seen with one tweet by then new head coach Adam Dorrel.

because I’d always been an athlete but I started punting and people kept telling me ‘hey you got a good leg, you got a strong leg’ so I kept refining my skill.”

And refine he did. The stud kicker was at one point the No. 1 kicker/punter combo in the state of Ari-

Coach Dorrel laughed when the tweet was brought up, but it caught the eye of a punter out of Scottsdale, Arizona by the name of Simon Laryea. The six-foot-one, 200 pound 21-year-old may not look like a stereotypical punter, and that can be attributed to his position before he started kicking.

“My senior year of high school, I was a defensive end still,” Laryea said. “I didn’t think anything about punting and then my mom came up and suggested it, saying you know ‘you get to kick the ball, you get to be part of the team and you know, you get to keep your head.’ I was nervous at first

zona and the No. 58 punter in the nation. His high school numbers got the attention of the University of Central Oklahoma, but it wasn’t for him and he transferred back home to Mesa Community College.

Simon played two years there before transferring to ACU in June. During his time there he kicked a total of 55 punts for 2,049 yards, an average of 37.25 yards. It was there he set his career long of 68 yards.

But in his first game with ACU against New Mexico, Simon booted six kicks for 274 yards, including a new career long of 69 and 5 punts inside the 20. That new personal best didn’t

last long as he kicked an astounding 70-yard punt in ACU’s game against Houston Laryea Baptist.

“I knew they were good punts. As a punter you know when you’ve kicked a good oneit just feels good off the foot and you see the returner wobbling and running all over the place,” Simon said. “I didn’t know exact numbers until I went and talked to my mom after the game.”

You might notice Simon talks about his mom a lotthat’s no mistake. To him, she’s more than just another parental figure.

“She’s my second coach,” Simon said. “I’ll always have my actual coach, Mike Vanderjagt, who played in the league for a while, but my mom even put me in contact with him. My mom clocks all my times, she knows what’s going on, knows my mechanics behind my punting. It’s crazy, she’s really just another coach.”

His talents have significantly affected ACU’s football team. Coach Tremaine Jackson, who works with defense and special teams, said it’s not just a good thing to have a punter like

Simon, it’s a necessity.

“It not only helps [to have] a punter like that, it’s what you need,” Jackson said. “Getting the field position flipped and getting people pinned on the other side of the field so we don’t have to defend on the short field, it goes hand in hand with our defensive mindset. Really, it’s the first play of defense, that’s how we look at it around here.”

Simon also gets praise from Coach Dorrel, who says Simon has been “a blessing” for the team.

“He’s done a really good job for us,” Dorrel said. “His hang-time has been good, his directional punting is great and he’s very coachable.”

Simon doesn’t only get praise from his coaches but from his fellow teammates, especially special teams members. Freshman wide receiver and special teams member Bryce Baccarini said Simon gets the job done and makes his job a lot easier.

“Seventy yards is a long way and when we’re backed up as an offense Simon can flip the field like that and change the whole game scenario right there,” Baccarini said. “He can put you from being backed up in your own end zone to making the other team be backed up into their own end zone, just

The Department of athletics announced last week the introduction of the First Down Club, a fundraising initiative to aid in raising money for the Football Excellence Fund.

Each athletic team has an excellence fund created for it, so donors can give to a specific sport or the program as a whole.

Director of athletics Lee De Leon said the initiative was part of a solution to help decrease the difference left by the football program operating at $250,000 below the median budget of the Southland Conference.

“The First Down Club

FIRST DOWN CLUB National Champion................$25K / Per Year All–American..........................$15K / Per Year Coach........................................$5K / Per Year Captain...................................$2.5K / Per Year Starter........................................$1K / Per Year Div. 1 eligibility, Kinard said it might be difficult for people to give because the results aren’t there yet. But this initiative allows people to lay the ground level for the future.

“I think it’s a need that we see and have identified and we hope that need will be met,” Kinard said. “When [success] happens I think

it’s easier for people to jump on board, but it really is that these people are going to be the foundation makers to propel our program.”

The fundraising initiative has already received a $100,000 matching gift for the next three years.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

BEST FOOT FORWARD Transfer punter dazzles with distance and direction

BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

LAURA CORRAL STAFF CONTRIBUTOR Junior Punter, Simon Laryea from Scottsdale Arizona, kicks the ball for a return. switch the field.”

Simon said he’s glad to not only be at ACU, but in Abilene. He says it feels like home, and whether he makes it to the NFL or not, he knows he has people he can trust.

“It’s crazy how awesome people here are. Teachers come up to you and say, ‘Hey I saw you on the field’ and people come to the games. That just doesn’t happen at a community

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college. But it’s better hereeveryone here is more than a teammate or a coach. It’s a family.”

After questions about what the team was going to do this summer about their punting situation, it looks like the Wildcats have a found a leg to stand on: and that leg belongs to Simon Laryea.

TMW13A@ACU.EDU

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12

SPORTS

FRIDAY | OCTOBER 20, 2017

Basketball program dawns on new season

BY MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS DIRECTOR

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are closing in on the 2017-2018 campaign with less than a month to go before they open on Nov. 10.

The women will begin the season at 5:30 p.m. against the University of the Southwest, then the men are scheduled to play against Randall University at 7:30 p.m.

The men were predicted a seventh-place finish in the Southland Conference at the league’s media event on Monday. They sit under New Orleans, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Southeastern Louisiana, Lamar and Stephen F. Austin.

But head coach Joe Golding said being predicted seventh does not matter to his team.

“We don’t spend a lot of time on preseason polls,” Golding said “Preseason polls are for media and for people to talk. There’s a bunch of magazines that come out over the summer and we’ve been picked anywhere from second to seventh. I think the conference is the most competitive it’s been on paper since we’ve been in the league.”

Junior point guard Jaylen Franklin and redshirt sophomore center

Jalone Friday were honored by being named to the Southland Conference preseason second team.

Friday received a bigger honor last year when he was named Southland Conference freshman of the year.

He was also the co-leader in scoring for the team averaging 13.7 points per game.

Franklin was a good facilitator for his team, finishing with 115 assists on the season and also averaged 10.8 points per game.

“I’m very honored to make preseason second team this year,” Franklin said. “This motivates me even more because I know what our team can do this year with the new pieces we added over the summer. We have big goals this year and One of those goals is going to the NCAA tournament our first year. We just gotta continue to build everyday and put God first because he has something planned for this group of guys and I can’t wait to see it.”

Along with Franklin and Friday, the Wildcats return junior forward Jaren Lewis, who was the co-leader with Friday, averaging 13.7 points per game.

ACU also brings back seniors Drake Green and Isaiah Tripp, juniors Hayden How-

LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR From the sidelines, teammates cheer on their team during an exciting game. ell and Hayden Farquhar, sophomores Peyton Ricks, B.J. Maxwell and Trey Lenox and red shirt freshman Kolton Kohl.

Notable non-conference games for the men include Texas Tech, Air Force, Arkansas State, Bowling Green and Texas State. The men will begin their conference schedule against New Orleans on Dec. 28.

On the women’s side, the

team will be trying to do something rare in winning a third consecutive regular season Southland Conference championship. But now that the Wildcats are officially eligible for the postseason tournament, the regular season carries a little less weight, as its the winner of the Southland tournament that makes the NCAA Tournament.

Head coach Julie Goodenough and her back-to-

back Southland Conference champs sit at a predicted fifth place finish, a year after the departure of superstar seniors Suzzy and Lizzy Dimba, Alexis Mason and Sydney Shelstead. The women come in behind Lamar, Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin and New Orleans.

Goodenough said her team is ready to get the season underway.

“We’re just excited about the season starting,” Goodenough said. “We’re happy with where we are right now in our practices and looking forward to the upcoming season.”

The team will return a starter in sophomore point guard Breanna Wright, who finished last season with an impressive 117 assists and averaged 5.5 points per game.

Other returners include seniors Sierra Allen and Taudenciah Oluoch, junior Sara Williamson and sophomores Dominique Golightly, Pamela Herrera and Lexi Kirgan.

The women’s notable non-conference games will include Arkansas, SMU and Idaho. Their conference schedule will also begin with New Orleans on Dec. 28.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

Guarantee games helping Wildcats close gap

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

$1.65 Million AMOUNT OF PAYOUT

When the Wildcats began the transition to Div. 1 in 2013, the university knew new expenses would come with the recognition. But with the football program operating budget $250,000 lower than the median of the Southland Conference playing the same level of competition wouldn’t cut it. That’s where guarantee games come in.

Football is not the only sport to book guarantee games, but it most certainly has the most to gain. Just this year alone, the program earned $650,000 for two guarantee games against Mountain West competition.

Early on in the transition period, it was enough to play the likes of New Mexico State, Georgia Southern and Troy, where the program made as much as $210,000 for its matchup with Troy.

But as the Wildcats venture deeper into the Div. 1 era and expenses increase, the values of the game have to as well.

“We don’t get 350,000 dollars right in our pocket,” Director of Athletics Lee De Leon said. “It’s a big part of our revenue plans on the annual basis, but we also have to generate revenue through other sources like ticket sales, fundrais-

$2,000,000

$1,500,000

$1,000,000

$500,000

0

$450-500 K

$375-400 K

$325-350 K

Previous ACU games against Fresno State, Air Force, New Mexico and CSU.

Upcoming ACU games against Baylor,Texas Tech and Kansas State.

Upcoming ACU games against Texas A&M, Mississippi State.

Biggest payout on first week of 2017 Season

PAID GAMES

The Wildcats have scheduled guarantee games through the 2026 season. ing, sponsorships and mer- Leon said that game will visibility and players get exchandise and concessions pay between $375,000 and cited for these games. and everything else we do. $400,000. A road trip to “We get to play in front of So it’s a big number but our Kansas State in 2022 and huge crowds, we get to be on goals and expectations is to two trips to Texas Tech in T.V., and we get to go to a generate between two and 2024 and 2026 is also ex- different part of the country three million dollars per pected to pay as much. that may or may not have year in revenue, so it’s not When ACU adds SEC ever heard about Abilene the entire number either. competition in the likes of Christian University,” De The Wildcats have Mississippi State in 2019 Leon said. “So it’s tremenplayed four Mountain West and Texas A&M in 2020, dous exposure for the entire teams since 2015 and re- De Leon said the program university not just the footceived between $325,000 will get paid a maximum of ball team.” and $350,000 for each of $500,000 in for those games.

For many of the FCS or those games. The 2018 sea- But as many college football smaller FBS games in these son will mark the programs fans know it’s not just the games, it’s also a chance to transition from Mountain income helping with set the prove something.

West guarantee games to operating budget that makes “The great thing about Big-12 guarantee games, these high-profile games so games like those is it gives a when the team travels to appealing. De Leon said it chance for us smaller schools Waco to take on Baylor. De gives the university national to go and experience the big

game atmosphere while also giving us a chance to prove we can play up to that level,” senior linebacker Sam Denmark said. “It is huge when a smaller school goes and beats an FBS team.”

And that’s exactly what happened earlier this season when Troy was paid $985,000 to play LSU, and the Trojans came away with 24-21 victory over the Tigers. With FBS programs allowed 85 scholarships and FCS just 63, these games give the “underdogs” something to play for.

“You’re guys are going to get fired up to play on the big stage to play against the bigger teams,” De Leon said.

“And those bigger teams often overlook the smaller guys like us, so it gives you the opportunity for an upset and everyone loves to cheer for the upset. And it’s just a necessary part of being an Div. 1 FCS school.”

De Leon also said that booking these types of games can be informal and a result of text conversation, or it can take two years like the two-game series against Texas Tech. But at the end of the day, when the game is played, these games and this aspect of college football is big reason why FCS schools and smaller FBS schools can compete at the highest level.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

FOOTBALL MATCHUP PREVIEW 2017 SEASON

ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (2–5)

JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

18.6

POINTS PER GAME

75.4

RUSH YPG

303.6

254.1

PASSING YPG

165.9

POINTS ALLOWED

28.3

23

MAX PRESTON

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

40

DAVIS DENTON SPORTS REPORTER

STANDINGS Football

Team

UCA Nicholls SELU McNeese SHSU ACU SFA NWSU UIW HBU Lamar

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

5–1 5–2 4–3 5–1 5–1 2–5 2–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–5

Volleyball Team

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

Ovrl. SLC.

10–9 18–5 15–6 17–3 10–12 9–11 13–10 4–12 8–11 6–13 3–14 3–19 2–19

7–0 6–1 7–2 6–2 5–2 6–3 5–4 3–6 2–5 2–5 1–6 1–8 0–7

Soccer Team

Ovrl. SLC.

Lamar 12–3–1 McNeese 11–3–1 SFA 9–6 HBU 6–5–2 UCA 8–8 ACU 6–9 SHSU 6–7–1 TAMU-CC 6–6–2 Nicholls 5–9–1 SELU 3–9–3 UIW 2–11 NWSU 5–10

7–1 7–1 6–2 5–2–1 5–3 4–4 3–4–1 3–4–1 2–5–1 1–5–2 1–7 1–7

DORREL DAILY “We want our kids to embrace Homecoming, you want them to understand the Dorrel significance of it. It’s on our goal board to win Homecoming.”

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Cross Country

Michaela Hackett has received her second Southland Conference Cross Country Athlete Hackett of the Week after her 32nd place finish at the pre-nationals. She will look to play a big part in the Southland Conference Championships on Oct. 27, as well as the Regional Championships Nov.10.

Football

Nik Grau is only seven field goals away from breaking the ACU all-time record. His Grau 22-yard field goal Saturday against Nicholls gave him his 43rd field goal of his career. Grau has had his struggles this year making six of nine field goals this year, but lately he’s been looking more like his 2016 form when he was named Southland Conference first-team kicker.

Golf

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANNA UNIVERSITY (4–1)

TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER

Southeastern Louisiana’s 4-1 conference record is incredibly deceiving. Two of those wins are over the same teams ACU defeated earlier this season in UIW and HBU. And the Lions’ other two wins are over Lamar and Northwestern State, two teams near the bottom of the conference. With that being said, the Wildcats are going to have to stop the run. SELU leads the conference in rushing and scoring. Both are a product of the easier schedule it has played, but if ACU can’t slow down a rushing attack averaging 303.6 yards per game, it’s in for a long game.

But with it being the first homecoming football game on-campus since 1942, I’m putting my faith in the Wildcats.

The Wildcats have fought their hearts out to try and win games against tough opponents. They fell 13-7 two weeks ago to McNeese and 29-20 last week against Nicholls, which means they’re right there with those top 25 teams. Southeastern Louisiana is not a top 25 team, but it’s tough and has a 4-1 record in conference this season. The Lions have outscored their last three opponents 154-60 and lead the league in rushing by a landslide with 2125 yards. It’s hard to know how good Southeastern Louisiana is when they haven’t played the tougher teams in the Southland Conference, however, they have beat their last four opponents soundly showing they have talent.

I think the Lions run their way to a close victory over the Wildcats.

The Wildcats took a tough loss on the road verses a talented Nicholls State team. The offense stalled out on penalties 5-for-49, but cranked out 393 yards, out gaining the Colonels by 91 yards.

SELU is averaging a loud 40 points per game, but don’t fall prey to misleading facts. SELU has four wins, all against teams in the bottom half of the conference. After falling in Conway to Central Arkansas 38-6, the Lions have ripped off some impressive scores, scoring at least 49 in every game since. ACU’s 2-5 record is not indicative of what this team is capable of. The Wildcats played two tough FBS opponents in New Mexico and Colorado State as well as solid Southland leaders McNeese and Nicholls. Backed by a sold out Homecoming crowd, ACU takes a big one at home.

Southeastern Louisiana has trounced its last four opponents after a huge loss to Central Arkansas, the number one team in the conference. That ties the Lions with Nicholls for second place in the conference. SELU has a great running game lead by a trio of great running backs. Expect ACU to struggle against the run game after playing so many great passing teams, but I wouldn’t count out a second half comeback started by Dallas Sealey. ACU lost against Nicholls last week and McNeese two weeks ago, but they were close games with great defensive showings. Expect the same this week, but with the Homecoming crowd and a hungry Wildcat team, don’t count them out for an upset. However, SELU definitely won’t roll over in this one.

FINAL SCORE: ACU 35 SELU 27

FINAL SCORE: SELU 35 ACU 28

FINAL SCORE: ACU 31 SELU 17

FINAL SCORE: SELU 28 ACU 20

Garrett Glanton had an impressive finish tying for seventh place in the Glanton Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate.

He scored 71-70-72 in his three rounds and finished at even par for the tournament. His team will pick up play again in the spring at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate Feb. 12.

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