The Optimist Print Edition: 12.05.14

New kid on the ball De Leon takes office

vol. 103, no. 28

friday december 5, 2014

1 SECTION, 8 PAGES

Feature Page 8

what’s INSIDE NEWS Several students stay on campus for Christmas break Page 4

SPORTS Fall sports come to a final close. See our fall semester in review

Page 7

OPINION Our Latin American correspondent wrote a column, actually a song, to tell you about her travels Page 6

NEWS

SANTAMENTAL

Theatre selects Mary Poppins as 2015 Homecoming musical Page 3

paige otway staff Photographer

Jamie Calomeni, sophormore family studies major, visits with Santa Claus at Christmas Slam in Moody Coliseum Thursday night.

CEO giveaways don’t include tuition

OPINION Don’t believe everything you hear.

ACU’s student debt ratio is not what they say

Page 6

SPORTS Women’s basketball can’t execute against Red Raiders

Page 7

NEWS Student life asks students to take sexual assault prevention course Page 4

what’s online

madelyn bane student reporter During Christmas Slam, The Collegiate Entrepreneur’s Organization gave away $250 in gift cards to the student competing for a year’s tuition.

The winner, Andrew Collins, junior biology major from McKinney, was chosen by raffle. He shot a layup, a free throw and a three pointer in 25 seconds. Had he made the final shot from half court, he would have won a full year’s worth of tuition.

“It was really stressful,”

callie oliver student reporter Season of Caring is now known as a service program called Wildcats Serving to expand service opportunities.

The program will be a collaboration of Student Life, Alumni Association and ACU Marketing just as Season of Caring was.

“This new name allows the campaign to scale beyond a certain time of year or specific group

communities – or even the world,” said Garza, junior marketing major from Corpus Christi.

Garza also serves as the chief communications officer (CCO) for SA. He used his position in CEO to merge SA into Christmas Slam to benefit students as well as increase the turnout for the game itself.

“As CCO at SA, I design and push out promotional campaigns,” Garza said. “But as president of CEO, I’ve decided to work with SA on Christmas Slam by sponsoring a half-court shot series

where students could win a year of free tuition.”

Attendance to Christmas Slam by social clubs was encouraged. Not only did it get more spectators at the basketball game, it also gave them a chance to win money for this year’s Sing Song costumes.

“Everyone in club came out and got rowdy and supported,” Garza said. “It helped their chance to win money, too.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

of people,” said Jason Groves, chief marketing officer. “We hope it allows us to expand this effort more broadly rather than focusing on specific seasons of giving.”

Wildcats Serving will be a year-round organization that allows more than just students to participate.

“This shift allows us the chance to unite several areas who serve yearround,” said Jan Meyer, executive director for Center for Christian Ser-

vice and Leadership.

The new name allows the organization to expand past a season and a specific group of people to help. Wildcats Serving can be applied to any kind of service project and is built to allow alumni and students to serve many different areas; it is not limited to Abilene.

Wildcats will be able to head a project in different cities as well.

Current projects Wildcats Serving is participating in are Turkeys 4 Tay-

lor, Mission Thanksgiving and Adopt-an-Angel.

Turkeys 4 Taylor provides dinner for a Taylor Elementary student and his/her family. Mission Thanksgiving encourages donations of clothes, food and personal items for those in need and asks for volunteers to distribute the items donated. Adoptan-Angel benefits children in ACU’s Treadaway Kids program.

“The main purpose of Wildcats Serving is to provide opportuni-

ties to make a difference throughout the world,” Groves said.

Wildcats Serving aims to cultivate more collaboration and synergy throughout the ACU community.

“We hope to see students and alumni working together to make a difference throughout the world,” Groves said.

“Some of those might be organized by the university and many will sursee serving page 3

Food truck grills up childhood favorites allison brown

VIDEO

Read more at acuoptimist.com

Association. His position in the association puts him in charge of marketing and putting together Christmas Slam among other events.

“As my first year heading it up, (I was) just looking forward to getting as many people to the game as possible to have the best possible experience,” Carter said.

Rudy Garza, president of CEO, worked with Carter to organize the event.

“CEO works to give ACU students the tools they need to take their passions and turn them into companies that can change their

Season of Caring now ‘Wildcats Serving’

managing editor

Check out this week’s JMC Newscast with Laura Benson

Collins said. “My dad and sister are good at basketball and I’m not, so the last thing I expected was to win something relating to basketball, but it was fun, and I had a good time.”

Collins’ earnings were comprised of $25 to McAlister’s Deli, $75 to Walmart and $150 to Amazon. The shootout was during halftime to set this year’s ACU Christmas Slam apart from years past.

Beau Carter, junior political science major from Farmers Branch, serves as the vice president of Student’

Abilene’s newest food truck has rolled onto the culinary scene to serve gourmet grilled cheese around town.

The Toasted Traveler, owned by Jason and Stephanie Blair and Allen and Amy Botkin, opened for business on November 22.

Only 6 months before the griddle was fired up, Stephanie Blair was taking golf lessons from Allen Botkin. Over the many hours taking lessons, Blair discovered Botkin and his wife Amy own Hickory

Street Café. The two couples began brainstorming and tossing ideas around for opening a food truck.

“I have this passion for feeding people,” Blair said.

“But I’ve never wanted to own a restaurant because I didn’t want to be tied down to brick and mortar and mortgages and that sort of thing.”

With food trucks growing in popularity across, the Blairs and the Botkins got to work to give their idea some wheels and contribute to the growing fleet of mobile eateries around town. see truck page 3

sara batelman Staff Photographer

The new food truck, The Toasted Traveler, serves up comfort foods, like the classic grilled cheese, around Abilene.

Abilene Christian University

friday 12.05.14

5

6

friday

7

saturday Last day of classes

8

sunday 9 a.m. Jingle Bell Jog

monday 8 p.m. Yule Stomp

Dead Day (no classes)

7:30 p.m. Christmas Vespers concert at First Baptist Church

12 a.m. Midnight breakfast

Announcements

Chapel checkup To date:

2

Remaining:

For 31 days of December, the women of International Justice Mission are wearing dresses to raise money and awareness for women who have been exploited for their femininity. Please consider donating or getting involved with the cause! Contact jem11c@ acu.edu for more information.

You can sign up at www.dressemberfoundation.org.

Join the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for a fun Christmas-themed 5K! The First Annual Jingle Bell Jog is Dec. 6. Registration is $17, and Yule Stomp has been moved to the first 100 participants to sign Dec. 7. Come on out to the Elk’s up get a free long-sleeve TBallroom for a night of fun, free shirt! swing dancing with the ACU Swing Cats and live Jazz En- Struggling with time mansemble! The lesson will begin agement, stress, motivation, at 7 p.m. and the dance will be studying or test anxiety? The from 8-10 p.m. Dress up, dress Academic Development CenDon’t get sick and miss out on vintage or dress Christmas! ter is here to help. Schedule an any fun (or classes) this season! Spread the word and bring a appointment with an academic Flu shots are now available in friend! coach today! the ACU Medical Care Center for $20. We accept cash, check,

69 3 @acuoptimist The Optimist

credit, debit or you may bill it to your ACU Banner account. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday.

KACU is in need of participants for focus group sessions. You will only be asked to participate in one session based on your schedule and the session’s needs. Please email your name, phone number and best time of day to contact you to research@ kacu.org. Participants will be eligible to win a $50 Visa Gift Card.

Mark your calendars! The 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Festival is approaching!

Abstracts will be accepted Jan. 12-30.

optimist@acu.edu Police log SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 12/01/2014 11:10 a.m. A student reported the burglary of their van while it was parked in the Gardner Hall lot.

12/01/2014 2:55 p.m. A student saw a driver strike a car parked in the University Park parking lot and then flee from the scene without reporting the crash.

12/03/2014 12:10 p.m. A student reported a suspicious male in truck parked in the COBA lot; investigation revealed that the male is a Bennett Gym construction worker who was taking a break in his truck.

12/03/2014 4:58 p.m. ACUPD investigated a suspicious male in the Bennett Gym area; he was a construction worker who was transporting his belongings in his backpack.

911 CALL 1 ACCIDENT 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 9 ALARM 2 ANIMAL CALL 1 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 17 BURGLARY (MOTOR VEHICLE) 1 BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) 1 CHECK BUILDING 203 DIRECT TRAFFIC 2 DISTURBANCE 2 ESCORT 3

Weekly Stats For Week of Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, 2014 - Total Events: 368 FIRE 1 NOISE VIOLATION 1 FOOT PATROL 6 OTHER 7 HARASSMENT 1 PARKING LOT PATROL 28 HIT & RUN 1 PARKING VIOLATION 1 INFORMATION REPORT 3 PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE 2 INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP 6 PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL 6 LOST PROPERTY 1 RANDOM PATROL 18 MAINTENANCE UNIV. ASSETS: CCTV 11 REPORT WRITING 5 MAINTENANCE: UNIV. ASSETS 1 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 4 MONITOR FACILITY/LOTL 1 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 5 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 8 TRAFFIC STOP 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 6 TRAINING 1

Police Chief Tip of the Week: ACUPD wishes everyone a safe weekend and good luck on final exams next week.

Intramurals

For intramurals, finals were this week THE VAGABONDAGE REC-COVERING SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND ADDICT

DANIEL BLOCK

The 2014 intramural season has come and gone faster than a KojieMoonie dating relationship.

Championships have been won, tempers have been lost and glory has been found on the courts and in the pools of the Rec. This week alone, four teams added their names to the famed intramural championship hall, forever immortalized as the best-athletes-stillholding-onto-the-dream ACU has to offer.

The waterball and volleyball championships were played last night as this paper was in print, so the information that follows is simply my not-sohumble (and most likely accurate) prediction of what went down in intramurals Finals Week.

Women’s Champ Volleyball I’ve said it before. What’s better than a Ko Jo Kai vs.

Sigma Theta Chi showdown for all the marbles? This game probably couldn’t have gotten more intense unless the two teams were playing for a Starbucks gift card rather than a championship.

If my prediction is right, this championship match will go down as the longest in ACU intramural history. As if a three-set thriller wasn’t enough, it didn’t help that everyone, players included, took a break after the first two sets to refill their pumpkin spice lattes and iced caramel macchiatos and look at engagement rings online.

Kojies stay awake long enough to get revenge for the f lag football champi-

onship loss to the Siggies ably be even better if we and win their second title did do them.” in as many years.

GSP can be expected Men’s Champ Volleyball to raise its level of gameplay, and I wouldn’t write The rematch of last year’s off a three-set match. But championship game was Arnett said he believes his the talk of the town all team has what it takes to week. pull of the title defense in Could GSP dismantle the end. the She Set Yes pow“We have a secret erhouse that coasted weapon up our sleeve through the regular sea- that hasn’t been used all son undefeated? Parker season,” Arnett said. “AcTennet and the Gammas tually, two. The first one would need all the Bad is our spirit animal, the Mama Jama they could honey badger. Watch the muster to have a shot documentary on Netf lix, against Trey Arnett and it will blow your mind. his maple-syrup-drink- The second is Jedi mind ing, igloo-dwelling Ca- tricks. You’ll never know nadian teammate, along what’s happening until with the rest of She Set it’s too late.”

Yes. My prediction is She Arnett spoke about the Set Yes wins in straight possibility of his team sets, leaving GSP to join achieving the perfect sea- the Siggies in the Starson. bucks waiting line.

“Playing in the league ain’t no easy thing,” Ar- Women’s Waterball nett said. “You see us on TV and think you could GATA and Alpha Kai Omedo the same thing, when ga waged war in the pool. in reality, nobody sees Alpha Kai had shallow the dedication we put in. hopes of drowning Two-a-days, ice baths, GATA’s title streak at four-hour scrimmages. three, but the challengers Those are all things we were determined to bring never did, but we’d prob- everything they had to

MEN’S WATERBALL STANDINGS (AS OF 6 P.M. DEC. 4)

the table.

Waterball can certainly be deemed as the most violent intramural sport on ACU’s campus, and success is not only derived based on how many points a team scores, but also how many hospital visits one team causes the other to make during a match.

Because of the importance of last night’s championship game, I expected the tallies to be high in both categories.

Sure enough, GATA had Alpha Kai seeing red the entire match. I’m still unsure if it was the blood from the scratches, or those custom-embroidered GATA caps, but there was more kicking and screaming in the pool than you’d see on Shark Week.

In the end, GATA overpowered Alpha Kai and won 26-20 on the scoreboard, 3-2 in the broken rib department.

to lose by one point at the end of the game. It’s been a while since anyone has challenged Galaxy in the pool, and GSP might be the only team with an honest chance to end another team’s intramural winning streak.

Last night’s final brought more excitement to the pool than has been seen since Jesus joined his local waterball team and walked on water.

Despite Galaxy’s dominance over the past three years in the water, I don’t think enough punches can be thrown in this game to keep them on top. GSP will dethrone the defending champions in overtime, winning everyone’s favorite sport in which 14 men hug each other in a pool while wearing nothing but swim shorts and goofy headgear. I think Chang said it best…

Until next semester…

Men’s Waterball GSP held a lead over Galaxy for much of the regular season matchup, only

contact block at djb13a@acu.edu

WOMEN’S WATERBALL STANDINGS (AS OF 6 P.M. DEC. 4)

Galaxy, 3-0

GSP -2,

1-2

GATA, 3-0

Sigma Theta Chi,

1-2

GSP, 3-1

G-Woosh,

1-2

Alpha Kai Omega, 2-1-1

Ko Jo Kai,

0-3

Sub T-16,

Frater Sodalis,

0-3

Eta Pi, 1-1-1

2-1

Trojans, 1-2

3

news

friday 12.05.14

Truck: mobile eatery serves grilled cheese from page 1 “Allen loved the idea since he already had a restaurant,” Blair said. “It’s more fun and flexible; we can take it where we want and change up the menu whenever we feel like. It’s just a business model that really works for us.”

The Toasted Traveler serves fun twists on an American classic – the grilled cheese sandwich.

With a blank canvas of bread and cheese, the truck has creative freedom to dazzle its customers with new creations.

“Grilled cheese is quintessential comfort food, somewhat easy to prepare,” Blair said. “It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t at least harken back to their childhood and find some kind of comfort in cheese and bread and things that mom made or grandma made. I want people to enjoy coming, I want them to get that warm fuzzy feeling out of visiting, and I think grilled cheese can do that.”

Blair is the brains behind the menu, crafting sandwiches as simple as

bread and cheese and as complex as cinnamon cranberry goat cheese with apples. There may even be a glazed donut grilled cheese on the menu.

“I’m the creative cook behind everything,” Blair said. “I’ll take suggestions from anyone, but it’s funny that when you open a business, everyone has a recipe to share. The exciting thing about a food truck to me was the opportunity to be creative and do things kind of off-the-wall.”

Still in the early stages of business, Blair and the team continue to learn and figure out the logistics of purchasing ingredients for the sandwiches.

The Blairs and Botkins have commercial food accounts with Ben E. Keith and Performance Foods in Abilene, but have found purchasing from Sam’s Club is usually cheaper.

The tricky part of the grilled cheese business lies in the bread that houses the adventurous creations.

McKay’s Bakery and H-E-B on South 14th St. do special orders for the truck.

“We’d love to still find

Sarah Bateman Staff Photographer

The Toasted Traveler can be found at different locations around town serving up gourmet grilled cheeses. a third local bakery a little less corporate do orders for us,” Blair said. “We want to work in as many local products as we can.”

Opening a food truck is fairly simple. If you don’t already own a restaurant, the truck has to be equipped with a commercial grade kitchen and meet the health code that applies to a small kitchen. Beyond that, per-

mitting requires the truck be parked within a certain distance of restrooms for customers and employees.

As long as the truck isn’t parked illegally, business can proceed as usual.

The Toasted Traveler’s truck was designed by the Blairs and Botkins and was custom-built in Tennessee.

The truck features a generator so it can be parked

anywhere and not be tied down to electrical cords.

After their first few weekends, Blair said the demand for grilled cheese is higher than she expected, but they will be selective about the number of appearances the truck makes around town weekly.

“There’s a high demand for us right now, which I didn’t anticipate,” Blair said. “People really love grilled cheese and that is exciting. But we said going in to our business plan that family comes first.”

The truck will stick to two nights a week, with the exception of special events every now and then.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities to do things in the evenings and I have to be very careful what we commit to because I’ve got young children, and I want to spend time with them,” Blair said. “I was hoping to receive more of a lunch crowd following so that I could do that while my children are at school.”

Blair said she hopes to see the food truck industry continue to grow around town. There is already a

sense of community and friendship among different trucks in Abilene.

“It’s more like a club than a competition,” Blair said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie which is what makes it really fun. We’re not really competing as much as making a trend.

The more food trucks we have in one place, the bigger the crowd we’ll draw.”

The Toasted Traveler sits outside local venue The Mill on Saturday evenings and makes a few other stops throughout the week.

Blair and her team said they look forward to continuing to serve others with their comfort food.

“To watch it all come together, we’ve been very blessed along the way and things have really fallen into place for us,” Blair said.

“To me it’s exciting because we really have something that people want. It’s fun to watch people enjoy your product.”

contact gasvoda at jrc07d@acu.edu

SAND to conduct first Jingle Bell Jog 5K kynzie newman student reporter The Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics will conduct its first Jingle Bell Jog at 9 a.m. Dec. 6 on the Lunsford Trail.

SAND promotes professions in nutrition and serves students and the wider public by providing valid nutrition information and services. The group has a fall fundraiser each year, and this year it is transitioning from the traditional Zumbathon to a 5K.

The money raised will go toward SAND students and their admission to the statewide nutrition conference which will take place in Houston this year.

“We fundraise for both the state and national convention each year because it gives us great opportunities to learn about what is happening in our field and to network with professionals,” said Shanleigh Clinton, senior nutrition major from Fort Worth.

Clinton said she expects the Jingle Bell Jog

to be popular among the ACU community, especially since it will be Christmas-themed.

Each participant will receive jingle bells to wear the day of the race and is encouraged to wear festive socks, accessories and the holiday-themed clothing.

“We think this is a great way to get students active right before finals week and to ring in the holidays,” Clinton said.

The Jingle Bell Jog will have a one-mile option, half a lap around the Lunsford, as well as the 5K,

“

one and a half laps around the Lunsford.

Kristen Wells, a junior nutrition major from Frisco, is helping with the race as well as participating.

“The thing I am looking forward to the most

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Campus Center for registration weekdays from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Credit cards are accepted and the first 100 runners to sign up will receive a free long-sleeve T-shirt. kristen wells “We want this to be a junior nutrition major from frisco fun event and are really excited and look forward to a great turnout and we will be seeing everyone hope this will become a decked out in Christmas fun, annual tradition,” attire and hearing the Clinton said. jingle bells on everyone’s shoelaces,” Wells said.

She also said there will be hot chocolate at the contact the optimist at finish line. jmcnetwork@acu.edu SAND will be in the

The thing I am looking forward to most will be seeing everyone decked out in Christmas attire and hearing the jingle bells on everyone’s shoelaces.”

news

Friday 12.05.14

4

pagie otway Staff Photographer

Left: Duran Porter, forward, goes up for a basket at the basketball home game in Moody Thursday night. Right: The student section shows off their spirit and cheers on the ‘Cats.

Not all students head home the for holidays Chris Cornell, a senior religious studies major from Pasadena, California, has never returned For many students, going home for Thanksgiving home for Thanksgiving break. Additionally, he and Christmas break is a has stayed in Abilene two God-given right. out of three summers and But for many students, will stay this Christmas staying in Abilene for break to marry his fiancé. break is an immediate re“We’re going to cook ality. Some students don’t Thanksgiving dinner, have enough money to re- which none of us have turn home, others live too ever done before,” Cornell far away and others are said, before Thanksgivtied down by prior com- ing break. “We’re going to mitments in Abilene. do it with another couple

elijah evans

student reporter

and another friend, all of them international students.”

Because many of the international students are unable to return home for holidays, Cornell empathizes with them.

“Holidays can be pretty depressing for them because they cannot go home,” he said. “So we’re going to have dinner with them, and they are also good friends of ours.”

Cornell was very excited to cook a Thanksgiving

meal with his fiancé and friends for the first time.

“Everything should be fine, except for the turkey, I have no idea how that will turn out,” he said.

“But if it doesn’t turn out, we can just order pizza.

And I am completely okay with that.”

One of the international students Cornell invited over was his friend, Denzil Lim, a senior convergence journalism major from Malaysia.

Lim said staying in

Abilene during school holidays is like going into an old closet. Most things are old and boring, but every once in a while, you stumble upon an undiscovered gem.

“Having the right people around you is the most crucial part in a good Thanksgiving day,” Lim said. “Not everyone gets to go back home; it takes me two days to get back to my country. But knowing I’ll spend a day with some of my friends, stum-

bling our way through Walmart and burning a pot or two trying to serve up Thanksgiving dinner is assuring.”

Although most students f lee Abilene as soon as possible, it’s important to remember that not every student at ACU has that privilege.

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

‘Mary Poppins’ selected as 2015 musical said there were a number of reasons the show was staff reporter selected.

“It’s a family favorite, The ACU Theatre depart- and the rights became ment has chosen Mary available just in time,” she Poppins as the Homecom- said. “We just knew that it ing Musical for the 2015 would be something our fall semester. students would benefit Director Kari Hatfield from and our audiences

james eldred

would love.”

Laura Harris, sophomore theatre education major from Little Rock, said the production is very special to her.

“I think every theatre major, every person in theatre has a show that really got them committed and

got them inspired to do theatre,” she said. “For me, Mary Poppins is that show, so I am very excited to get to do it.”

Harris said one of her favorite things about the show was its appeal to a wide range of audiences especially children.

“Disney shows appeal to children, and getting children to come see theatre is the way we build an audience for the future,” she said. “People that come to see theatre as children are way more likely to come see theatre as adults.

That’s something that excites me, so I love having a lot of children in the house when I perform in a show.”

The original Disney film is well-known, and there are a lot of similarities between the stage production and the movie. But they’re not identical. The dance numbers are bigger,

“

Obviously, we won’t have animated penguins, but there are some surprises in the live show that we look forward to implementing.

some music is added and quite a few song arrangements are different, Hatfield said.

“Obviously, we won’t have animated penguins,” she said. “But there are some surprises in the live version of the show that we are looking forward to implementing.”

Even though the production is almost a year off, the department has some plans already made.

Hatfield said they were looking into renting the set from the same theatre they rented the set for Les Mi-

Kari Hatfield director of mary poppins

sérables from for the 2013 homecoming musical.

The administration isn’t the only part of the department looking forward to the production, though.

A lot of the students are already talking about the show, despite the fact auditions are typically held in April.

“Our students are excited,” Hatfield said. “We’re going to have a lot of fun with it.” contact eldred at jfe11a@acu.edu

Student Life asks students to take sexual assault survey over break madeline orr editor in chief The office of Student Life has asked students to participate in an online training course for sexual assault prevention over the upcoming Christmas break.

The course, “HavenUnderstanding Sexual Assault” is facilitated through EverFi, a website created as a learning platform. The course takes approximately an hour to complete and can be completed in a single or multiple visits to the site.

Chris Riley, vice president of Student Life, said new legal requirements state that ACU must provide its students with on-going training regarding issues related to discriminatory and sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, assault,

stalking and relationship violence.

“At ACU, we strive to comply with all applicable legal requirements prohibiting, preventing and responding to unlawful harassment or violence against any member of the ACU community,” he said. “Beyond the legal requirements, we believe Haven provides essential information that will both protect you and equip you to respond by helping others stay safe.”

Students completing the course by Jan. 19 will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $100 Starbucks gift cards.

Several students said they do not think that there will be much participation. Vikki Temple, sophomore education major from Austin, said she doesn’t think students will take the survey unless Chapel credit is offered.

“

We can’t get them to go to football games, much less take a survey over break. houston schoonmaker sophomore biology major from abilene

“No one I know is going to do it,” she said.

Houston Schoonmaker, sophomore biology and pre-medicine major from Abilene, said he doesn’t think it’s something that needs to be taken lightly but that students will not be interested in taking the course during Christmas break.

“We can’t get them to go to football games, much less take a voluntary survey over break,” he said. contact orr at mco10a@acu.edu

Serving: CCSL changes program name from page 1 face organically from students and alumni that see a need and take the initiative to address it. Wildcats Serving is a great opportunity for

us to help cultivate relationships throughout the ACU family while fulfilling the mission of the university.”

To get involved with Wildcats Serving, contact Student Life, Alumni

Association, Center for Christian Service and Leadership or ACU m arketing. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

5

arts

FRIDAY 12.05.14

UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, Dec. 5

24th Annual Christmas Lane light display will begin at 6 p.m. at 2501 Maple St. in Abilene. Participation is free.

Christmas Vespers holiday concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church.

Admission is free.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Rock 108 Jingle Bell Jam will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Silo. Tickets are $10 in advance.

24th Annual Christmas Lane light display will begin at 6 p.m. at 2501 Maple St. in Abilene. Participation is free.

‘Christmas Time is Here, the holiday concert, will begin at the Paramount Theatre at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Sunday, Dec. 7

24th Annual Christmas Lane light display will begin at 6 p.m. at 2501 Maple St. in Abilene. Participation is free.

photos courtesy of Acu department of music

Students perform in 2013 Christmas Vespers concert at First Baptist Church in Abilene.

8 Annual th

Christmas Open House opens from 1 -4 p.m. at the Historic Swenson House. Admission is $10.

Music presents the

Christmas Vespers Catherine Blakemore Arts Editor The Department of Music presents the 8th annual holiday tradition Christmas Vespers in which 150 students will perform at First Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The A Cappella Chorus, University Chorale, Orchestra and more will present “Gloria” as a public worship service to the Abilene Community with time set aside for prayer, liturgy and poetry throughout the music.

Jeffery Goolsby, director of choral activities, and Dr. Steven Ward, director of bands and orchestra, have coordinated to bring the service to Abilene.

“It’s sort of a concert, worship service that is very liturgicallybased,” Ward said. “There are three hymns this year that the audience sings with everyone. It’s a worship service built around music. It’s such a beautiful evening of celebration, meditation, worship, scripture and prayer.”

There will be various pieces in the show in conjunction with both the Orchestra and the A Capella Chorus, like Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata and Vivaldi’s Gloria. The choir will be singing pieces by themselves as will the orchestra in their performance of Noel by Chadwick and Polonaise from Christmas Eve by Rimsky-Korsakov.

“This will be my fifth Vespers service, and every time it succeeds,” Gordon said. “I hope that we once again present an environment where we can all come together in a spirit of worship and unity to reflect the true meaning of the season. First Baptist is such a beautiful church ordinarily, but when it is decorated for Christmas and the pipe organ starts playing Christmas hymns, it becomes so much more.”

The A Capella Chorus has had just three weeks to work on the pieces and only began working with the Orchestra the week of the performance.

“The Vivaldi has it’s own style,” said Goolsby. “Learning the style and intricacies of that kind of music is a separate problem from the challenging rhythm and harmonies of the contemporary piece.”

Student conductor, Phillip Jackson, a senior music education major from League City, is excited for the chance to work outside his conducting class with a full ensemble.

“I’m actually in the rehearsal with Mr. Goolsby and getting hands on experience with an actual ensemble that isn’t just my classmates and friends I hang out with,” Jackson said. “It’s great starting a piece

from scratch through the whole rehearsal process and then to the final performance.”

Parker Gordon, graduate English student from Weatherford, plays the oboe and English horn for the Orchestra.

“I view the Vespers service as something where I can bless others with my gifts as a musician, but also take time to revel in the beauty that accompanies such a powerful service and the anticipation of celebrating the meaning of Christmas - Christ’s birth and God’s redemption for humanity,” he said.

Gordon will have an English horn solo in one of the pieces during Christmas Vespers.

Rehearsal was not without its’ own obstacles, though.

“There was a moment in a rehearsal where we were all struggling to ‘get in the groove’ and really move as a group,” Gordon said. “Dr. Ward took a moment in rehearsal away from the piece and had us play a scale. Just a scale. We worked on that scale for probably 10 minutes or so playing it in a variety of ways and then we came back to the music and it just felt right. That was the turning point for that piece and is a great example of the musicality that has to go into making a piece work so that it truly speaks to an audience.”

Austin Lemmons, senior music education major from Abilene, plays bass drum and cymbals in a piece by Rimsky-Korsakov during the show, but it most looking forward to hearing the Vivaldi Gloria performed by the choir and orchestra.

“The highlight for me has been being part of such a quality ensemble of musicians,” Lemmons said. “Even though I’m only playing in one piece, I always enjoy contributing to this ensemble however I can.”

The directors of the show echo the excitement for the show and the students involved in each piece. Gloria will provide a new sense of connection and worship with Christmas music throughout the night.

“I hope we have a full house,” Goolsby said. “I hope that students who come really appreciate the beauty and the intense sacred nature of the program. Everything about it is a really beautiful celebration of Christmas. It may be something they’re not used to; I hope they really get something meaningful out of it.

contact Blakemore at crb13a@acu.edu

WEEKLY FAVORITES with Allison Brown.

Song

Sunday Candy by Chance the Rapper

Band The Avett Brothers

TV Show

The Office

Food/Recipe Mexican food.

Coffee Drink Cappuchino with one raw sugar.

Blog/Website Washington Post

Movie

You’ve Got Mail 90’s Knick Knack American Girl Doll

Tell us yours with #OptimistFavorites

Opinion

Friday 12.05.14

Debt rankings are invalid

editorial This editorial is really short because we don’t have a lot of room (see Brittany’s column below). But it’s also really short because it’s more of a statement. Not so much a stance or an opinion.

While we would love to chime in with the classic complaint of how expensive school is, we would rather use this small space to point out how highly inaccurate this is and to echo your mother’s words, don’t believe everything you hear (or read on the Internet).

Last week, a list circulated the Internet titled “20 Private Colleges With the Highest Student Loan

Debt,” and Abilene Christian University was ranked number 11, with an average debt of $42,967.

There are several reasons their calculations are off, the biggest one being that they are pulling numbers from a report that schools are not required to file with all their other federal documents and so very few do. ACU is one of the few who does and so here they are being compared to a very small number of other very random private schools.

Dr. Allison Garrett, executive vice president of the university, also pointed

out that the number given in the article is for those who have debt, so it’s not an average of ACU students graduating.

“In fact, she said the percentage of ACU students who graduate with any debt is quite a bit lower than the national average,” she said.

“The national average for a private university is 75 percent of students who take on debt. Ours is 66 percent.”

It’s dangerous, a time when student loans and the affordability of education is a national issue and constantly in headlines, for stories like this one to be propelled across the inter-

net by outlets like Money Magazine (TIME) and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For 6 years, U.S. News has ranked ACU as one of the top 15 best value schools. ACU has actively taken steps such as creating block tuition or initiating a $50 million campaign for student scholarships. Many students will graduate with debt, but it’s doubtful that it’s the 11th worst amount of debt in the nation.

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

DAILY doodle dosage

Ben Todd

6

Guest Column DREW RITCHIE VAGABONDAGE

Senior Biblical text major SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND from Lake Jackson

Wisdom from a soon-to-be grad Often when people talk about what makes ACU such a special place, they talk about the people they encounter. I am grateful for my education from ACU, but the greatest part of my ACU experience has been the lives that have become a part of my story.

I am sure all of us can picture people at ACU who have shaped our lives, and although it seems like an eternity ago, there was one day when you met those people for the first time. At one point or another, you introduced yourself to the people who are now your friends, mentors and people who feel like family.

So here is my point, my piece of advice that I felt was worth being said: remember people’s names.

I realize not everyone has the same abilities to remember information as easily, but I don’t think anyone should ever be allowed to say, “I am not good at remembering people’s names.”

When you meet someone and forget someone’s name, you are admitting that you didn’t care enough about that person when you met them to remember their name. Remembering someone’s name tells him or her that they mattered to you.

I know I’ve met a lot of people and forgotten their

name immediately after, but I hope that I do a good job of asking peoples’ name the next time I see them.

I could tell you about how remembering people’s names will improve your networking skills, help you land a job or make you more popular, but the simple fact is that people deserve to have their names remembered because they are people. Remembering a person’s name is a simple way of acknowledging they exist and hopefully making them feel like they matter.

“What is in a name?”

Shakespeare asks. Personally, I think a lot.

I will be getting my diploma in less than 10 days, and it is impossible to avoid thinking about how much ACU has meant to me. While I can’t say enough good things about my education here, ACU’s true impact on this chapter of my life has been the people who I have met here. From professors to roommates, countless people have made this place special.

Even though each one of these people started out as just a name to me, now they are a piece of my story.

contact Ritchie at arm10b@acu.edu

Column

On the twelth day of Christmas, Uruguay gave to me...

I’M SORRY VAGABONDAGE MISS JACKSON SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND BRITTANY JACKSON

It’s almost Christmas time, and it’s also almost time for me to leave Uruguay. So, I decided to mix my sentiments surrounding of the two, enjoy: On the first week in Uruguay The country gave to me A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the second week in Uruguay My meal plan gave to me Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the third week in Uruguay My professors gave to me Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head

On the fourth week in Uruguay My ignorance gave to me Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the fifth week in Uruguay My cabin fever gave to me Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the sixth week in Uruguay Meeting new people gave to me

Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the seventh week in Uruguay My study abroad plan gave to me Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the eighth week in Uruguay, My new classes gave to me Eight hours of homework (kind of kidding), Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers,

Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the ninth week in Uruguay, Las ferias gave to me Nine new souvenirs for my friends, Eight hours of homework (kind of kidding), Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head On the tenth week in Uruguay, My housemates gave to me Ten hours of Downton Abbey, Nine new souvenirs for my friends,

hashtagACU Dec. 3 11:50 p.m.

Dec. 3 11:06 a.m.

Unsure if I am in Moody or an oven.

@Shacara_Shacara

@rudymgarza

Dec.4 7:35 p.m.

Dec. 4 11:05 a.m.

It’s really unfortunate that all of these kids have such terrible humpbacks #PeterPanLive

@marafleet

Chapel is making me cry, it’s safe to say I need a nap. #DontGrowUpItsATrap

Sleep is for the weak.

Dec. 4 7:00 p.m.

#tbt to all the nike shox I see in the gym today

@hollyyyholmes “We should make a week where students just take like a bunch of tests back to back! That would be fun! Am I right guys??” -Satan himself

@Alainaw1992

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.

published by the department of journalism and mass communication editorial and management board

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

Or people who don’t have group projects.

@NPEllwood

newsroom (325) 674-2439

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Time to walk down 3 flights of stairs and across the dorm for 1 drink of water because that’s the only water fountain. Prayers appreciated.

@thechadfontenot

I remember in like 3rd grade when I wanted to be in collge now I just want to be back in 3rd grade

On the twelfth week in Uruguay, This country gave to me Twelve and more reasons to never want to leave, Eleven trips to the beach in Rio (OK, probably more), Ten hours of Downton Abbey, Nine new souvenirs for my friends, Eight hours of homework (kind of kidding), Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing cooks A milanesa that was bigger than my head Disclaimer: I was here for 15 weeks and experienced so much more, but this song wasn’t exactly made for this.

Also, I’m not a music major.

My apologies. contact jackson at bkj12a@acu.edu

Dec. 4 7:55 p.m.

boy listening to Airplanes

by Eminem on repeat in the library...pls...

@maddie_thannum

If someone dies during a final, then everyone in it is excused from having to take it. So...Yeah

Mom: “Got any A’s?”

Me: “Go Fish...”

YikYak

YikYak

YikYak

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

On the eleventh week in Uruguay, My free travel gave to me, Eleven trips to the beach in Rio (okay, probably more), Ten hours of Downton Abbey, Nine new souvenirs for my friends, Eight hours of homework (kind of kidding), Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger

than my head

Dec. 2 10:10 p.m.

Dec. 3 1:20 p.m.

Important question: Am I allowed to study INSIDE of the sail boat in the library atrium?

Eight hours of homework (kind of kidding), Seven days traveling in Peru, Six besos from complete strangers, Five walks to La Rambla, Four burns from a scalding hot mate, Three hours of Spanish class, Two amazing in-house cooks and A milanesa that was bigger than my head

YikYak

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sports

friday 12.05.14

7

A SEMESTER IN REVIEW

PAIGE OTWAY Staff Photographer

The ACU fall 2014 seasons have finally come to a close. It was a season of firsts as the football team played its first official year in the Southland. A year highlighted by the

defeats of FBS team Troy and perennial Southland contenders: Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin.

ACU’s soccer team finished its second year in

the Southland with a winning record in conference at 5-4-2. Freshman Baylee Mitchell led the team in goals as a freshman with seven.

The volleyball team

managed to double its conference wins from last season along with two key wins against Nicholls State and McNeese State.

Cross-country featured one of the confer-

ence’s best runners in sophomore Diana GarciaMunoz. Munoz managed a fifth place finish with a time of 20 minutes and 59.2 seconds.

Tennis had a great fall

season from the youngsters as freshman Whitney Williams won a f light two title at the GCU Invitational and freshman Brad Gleason placed third at the Aggie Invitational.

Wildcats struggle offensively in Lubbock Collin Thompson sports reporter The ACU womens basketball team lost Wednesday against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, 61-44.

The Wildcats never lead in the game but tied it at 18 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Ellyn Avery with 7:22 left in the first half. Tech would grab the lead just 52 seconds later on a free throw by senior guard Amber Battle, a lead they

would never lose.

“Our defensive effort was really, really good today except that we would not block out,” said Julie Goodenough, head coach. “We played great team defense but wouldn’t get physical to block out. We will definitely spend time during finals working on rebounding.”

Rebounding has been one of the team’s strengths in this early season averaging 41.5 before their Wednesday game. But the team managed just 26 re-

bounds against the Lady Raiders’ 48 total rebounds which Goodenough said is unacceptable for her team.

“There is no excuse for not blocking out and pursuing rebounds,” she said.

“There was simply a lack of focus today.”

Such lack of focus could have been the result of the amount of scrutiny the players received as the away team against their Big 12 opponent. The Raiders scored 22 points off Wildcat turnovers in front of

an estimated 6,477 fans at the United Supermarkets Arena.

The Wildcats are currently 3-0 in front of the home crowd this season, outscoring their opponents by a little more than 25 points a game, compared to their now 2-2 record on the road.

“We had about two to three dozen fans today compared to the 5,000 for the home team, and that does make a huge difference without the home

crowd energy like we have in Moody,” Goodenough said.

Goodenough said the team will try to use the next 12-day break they have before their next game to focus on the players’ schoolwork and getting better as individuals and as a whole going forward. “(The team) will now have a chance to dedicate some time for preparing for finals since we are not preparing for an opponent for awhile,” Goodenough said.

“This break also allows us to focus on ourselves for awhile and schedule extra individual workouts as well as video sessions.”

The Wildcats will try to bounce back from their loss and extend their home record to 4-0 as they take on Southwestern Christian College Dec. 15 at Moody Coliseum.

contact thompson at cnt13c@acu.edu

sports

friday 12.05.14

8

standings mens basketball Standings

Team

Div.

UIW 0-0 HBU 0-0 MSU 0-0 SHSU 0-0 SFA 0-0 TAMU-CC 0-0 NSU 0-0 ACU 0-0 Lamar 0-0 NO 0-0 SELU 0-0 Nicholls St.0-0 UCA 0-0

Ovrl 4-0 3-2 3-2 4-3 4-3 3-3 3-4 2-3 2-5 1-3 2-6 0-4 0-7

womens basketball Standings

Team

Div.

ACU 0-0 MSU 0-0 NSU 0-0 UCA 0-0 SFA 0-0 SELU 0-0 HBU 0-0 Nicholls St.0-0 UIW 0-0 Lamar 0-0 TAMU-CC 0-0 SHSU 0-0 NO 0-0

Ovrl 5-2 4-2 4-2 3-2 4-3 3-3 2-3 2-3 2-4 2-5 1-4 1-4 0-4

Who’s Hot

‘I’m a fanatic’

De Leon brings energy and experience to ACU athletics university to university learning everything he could and waiting for his dream job of athletic diIt was because of a clas- rector to become a realsic. ity.

A sports classic that “In college, I had is. He never had to go a friend tell me that I through the stress and should be an athletic pressure of deciding director, and I thought where to go, because he that it was a good idea,” already knew. He knew De Leon said. “I got my from a very young age degree in marketing, so as a kid. He knew it was I like being on that end the place for him, and of the table, and plus I he would do whatever it just really love sports. I took to get there, even watch ESPN when I wake though it was more than up in the mornings, in jarred schuetzw chief Photographer a thousand miles away. my spare time in the ofNew athletic direc- fice and definitely before De Leon, a Houston native, talks about coming back tor Lee De Leon always I go to bed. I’m a fanatic.” home to Texas and all that he has missed. wanted to go to college A humble man, De at the University of Notre Leon has been very or two during my time all got me to where I am Dame, and it was all be- grateful for the opportu- at those universities and today.” cause of the movie Rudy. nity he has been present- I’m so grateful to have Coming home to Texas “I was 10 or 11 and I ed with at ACU. But one gotten to learn under was a major factor for the saw the movie and I just look at his resumé and the people that I did and Houston native. Sweet really fell in love the Uni- most people would agree gain the experience that tea and hearing people versity of Notre Dame as he has reason to boast.

I have today,” De Leon say “y’all” was one of well as the combination Upon graduating from said. “I learned that I the things he claims he of athletics and spiritual Notre Dame in 2005, De want the ACU commu- missed most about belife,” he said. “W hen I Leon went on to earn his nity to have that bleed- ing away. But above all, first got the call about master’s degree at Texas purple mindset that De Leon wanted to come Abilene Christian, I told A&M University. He was they have out at LSU. I to Abilene because of its my wife ‘It’s a little Notre then hired for an intern- learned that I wanted to atmosphere.

Dame.’ They do the same ship with Louisiana State be a part of a school that “Most of my career I great job about incorpo- University. Over the next was more of a residential have served at big public rating sports with spiri- few years, De Leon spent university than a com- schools where I haven’t tual life as Notre Dame, time at well-established muter school like Hous- been able to share my faith and ministry,” De Leon said. “This is my calling in life; I want to share my faith and use college athletics as a platform for Christ and an impact for Him. That’s why this job was so appealing to me. Once in a meeting, I got reported to human resources for quoting scripture in front of other people. At that point, it really hit me that this wasn’t the place for me and I needed to find something different.”

Aside from sports and Christ, family is another passion De Leon makes easily known to others and something he highly prioritizes.

His wife and two young boys have supported his decision throughout all the change and, at times, chaotic moments. jarred schuetze chief Photographer “Before coming to Athletic Director Lee De Leon has already begun to make big changes for ACU in Abilene, I experienced his first week as head of athletics. On Monday, De Leon announced that ACU had the most memorable and at the same time nervesigned a four and a half year deal with Peak Sports Management. wracking 36 hours of my and I’d love to be a part Div. I universities such ton. I also learned that life,” De Leon said. “My of that.” as the University of a big school of 35,000 to wife, Lacey, went into laDe Leon was hired as Houston and University 40,000 students isn’t re- bor, we had the baby and the eighth director of of Arizona and served as ally in my wheelhouse, then I got offered the job athletics in ACU history the associate director of that something like ACU within 36 hours. I was at on Nov. 13. Before com- athletics for New Mexico is more of my size. Ev- the hospital sitting with ing to ACU, he spent close University. ery where I’ve gone, I’ve my wife and our sleepto 10 years moving from “I’ve learned a thing learned something and it ing newborn son, and

Daniel Zepeda

sports Director

I got the call from Dr. Schubert and I’m silent fist-bumping in the air trying not to wake the baby. It was just this moment of not only was our life about to change with a newborn, but now I have my dream job, we’re moving back to Texas; it was just very overwhelming and wonderful.”

After sitting down with this man, it is easy to see his enthusiasm and desire to take ACU to heights it has never seen before. Already in his first week on the job, he announced that ACU athletics had signed a f o u r- a n d - a - h a l f -y e a r deal with Peak Sports

“

People want to buy into something that’s exciting and great. My job here is to take the uniqueness of ACU and sell it and market it in a compelling and convicting fashion to get people to buy into what we’re doing here.”

lee De Leon director of athletics acu athletics

Management. The partnership is expected to help ACU improve on corporate sponsorships, expand its market presence and provide additional staffing.

Big things are brewing for ACU athletics, and it all started with a boy watching a classic underdog movie.

“At Notre Dame, I learned that you are always selling something, and I want to take that mindset and use it to promote ACU,” De Leon said.

“People want to buy into something that’s exciting and something that’s great. And to do that, you have to tell a great story.

My job here is to take the uniqueness of ACU and sell it and market it in a compelling and convicting fashion to get people to buy into what we’re doing here.”

contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu

Junior point guard Whitney West recorded a career week for the women’s basketball team. West led the ‘Cats to a 3-0 record last week including two wins in the Plaza Light Classic. She scored 50 points over the break including a career high 24-point outing against Missouri-Kansas City.

West also hit the gamewinning shot against George Mason, giving them an 88-86 victory.

The junior earned MVP honors for the Classic and was named Southland Conference player of the week for her play.

briefings Athletic Director Lee De Leon announced Monday that ACU athletics signed a 4.5-year partnership with Peak Sports Managements.

The ACU football team had 12 players receive all-conference honors.

Senior defensive end Nick Richardson and senior tight end Noah Cheshier were named first team allSouthland Conference.

The second-team selections included De’Andre Brown, Cedric Gilbert, Codey Funk and Jonathan Epps, and the honorable mentions included Demarcus Thompson, Justin Stewart, Damon Williams, Justin Stephens, Parker McKenzie and Nik Grau.

Men’s and women’s basketball will be taking the usual finals break next week as the men will not play after this week until the 13th and the women until the 15th.

Upcoming Men’s basketball will hit the road to take on Houston Saturday. The battle of the ‘Cats will begin at 7 p.m.