The Optimist Print Edition 12.08.17

FilmFest scripts face censorship for curse words, LGBT content Page 2

FEATURE

Friday, December 08, 2017 Vol. 106, Issue 15

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

GOODENOUGH’S BIGGEST FANS

Page 5

THE FUTURE IS A BLANK CANVAS

EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR Deryn Pieterse, junior marketing major from Maypearl, looks at a drawing board while Jack Maxwell, professor of art, teaches students in a drawing class.

CALENDAR 12/09 •

Christmas Slam basketball games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

•

Ugly Sweater dance party at 8 p.m.

12/10 •

Christmas Vespers at 7:30 p.m.

12/11 • •

Pop-up Coffee Shop in the Shore Art Gallery Learning Studio Star Wars marathon at 10 a.m.

12/12-12/15 •

Finals Week

•

December commencement at 7:30 p.m.

12/15

BOX OFFICE DECEMBER 1-3 1. Coco $27,533,304 2. Justice League $16,651,104 3. Wonder

$12,147,182

4.Thor: Ragnarok $9,885,936 5. Daddy’s Home 2 $7,572,390

23

DAYS UNTIL

2018

SPORTS

FOSTER HAS BREAKOUT YEAR Page 6

Master of Ed. program will not face cuts

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The university will not be cutting the Master of Education program after all.

The College of Education and Human Services told students eligible to apply for the program last week that it could be cut. University provost Dr. Robert Rhodes said the university was considering other budget cuts that might have affected the program. Cuts would not have affected current students but could have impacted students in their junior year

preparing to apply for the program in 2019-20.

“We were reviewing programs based upon the budget work we’re doing right now,” Rhodes said.

The Board of Trustees approved budget cuts of $7-8 million last month that could affect faculty and staff positions and certain programs.

“We will always examine factors such as student enrollment and the number of faculty in each program for budgetary planning,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes said the Depart-

ment of Teacher Education wanted to make sure students were informed about the potential cuts. But some students posted concerns on Facebook when they heard the program could be cut.

Meagan Tunnell, junior elementary education major from Red Oak, wrote on her Facebook wall that her career plans would be uncertain without the program.

“Students were concerned understandably about something that was yet to be decided upon,” Rhodes said. “This was a point of discussion and

not a decision.”

Within a week from the initial announcement to students, the university leadership decided the Master of Education program would not be affected by the cuts.

Dr. Dana Pemberton, chair of the Department of Teacher Education, sent an email to students Wednesday saying the program would not be cut.

“After careful consideration, the ACU administration has decided to continue the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning,”

Pemberton’s email stated.

“The impact on students and the quality of the program informed this decision. We are grateful that the administration is fully committed to providing this exceptional opportunity for our Teacher Education students.”

Rhodes said the university follows a detailed process before cutting any programs, including council review and faculty votes.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Loop line leak caused water trouble Star Wars

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

A leaky pipeline caused the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to close and also resulted in water shutoffs to multiple buildings on Sunday, Dec.3.

Facilities management employees noticed the leak last Wednesday, said Corey Ruff, executive director of facilities and campus management.

After the leak was discovered near the SRWC, crews began digging under the soil to make repairs.

But crews hit a domestic water line Sunday morning, Ruff said, and they had to turn off the drinking and potable water to Gardner Hall, the Campus Center, Moody Coliseum, the SRWC and the Onstead Packer Biblical Studies and Mabee Business buildings.

The crew was able to turn the potable water on again within a few hours.

“Res halls are our biggest priority,” Ruff said.

“Contractors worked 14hour days and our staff was up here throughout the weekend.”

The pipe that leaked, called the loop line, runs five miles around campus and has provided water

heating and cooling for all buildings on campus since 2010. Ruff said the water system, which cost $5 million to install, saves energy needed to heat and cool 2.3 million square feet of facilities on campus.

The water gets heated or cooled in the central plant, located between the business building and the Bible building. The water then travels through the loop line to each individual building where it heats or cools the air behind fans that circulate air to the rest of the building. The loop line should last for 20-30 years, but this pipe began leaking after just 10 years.

Ruff said he attributes the leak to ground movement over time or poor insulation.

“There’s not necessarily anyone that was at fault,” Ruff said. “It’s a mechanical system, things are gonna fail prematurely. You just never know with equipment.”

The loop line that leaked affects the temperature in 1.8 million square feet of facilities, including the SRWC and Moody Coliseum. Because of the leak, the air conditioner did not work on Sunday

marathon lights up Dead Day

BY BRIAN SWEET STAFF WRITER

Water gets heated or cooled in the central plant between the Bible and business buildings.

Crews repair the loop line outside the Campus Center.

Corey Ruff, executive directory of facilities and campus management.

and Monday. Ruff said Moody was a little warm during the Sunday basketball games and the SRWC closed for the day on Sunday.

Contractors have finished repairing the pipes

and are now working to pour concrete and replace the soil on top of the pipes. Ruff said the repairs will be complete

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

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

May the Force be with you on Dead Day. The AT&T Learning Studio is hosting a Star Wars film fest beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11.

Five Star Wars films will be shown: Episode 4: A New Hope, Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, Episode 7: The Force Awakens and Rouge One: A Star Wars Story. In between the films, the Learning Studio will also show student-produced short films previously shown in Film Fest.

The event will be comeand-go, and snacks will be provided and prizes will be handed out throughout the event.

Dr. Kyle Dickson, the Learning Studio director, said the event allows students and staff to take a “breather” during the hectic finals week.

“A couple years ago we had our first Star Wars promotion with Episode Xmas [Star Wars Holiday Special] and had great student and faculty response,” Dickson said. “This SEE STAR WARS PAGE 2

2

NE W S

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2017

FilmFest scripts censored in first edit round

BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Office of Student Life and the Learning Studio asked students to revise the first drafts of FilmFest scripts after several scripts had curse words and other content that violates the student handbook.

This year’s structure for the film competition involves an editing process from Student Life and FilmFest advisers before scripts can be approved.

Tom Craig, director of student activities and productions, said the Learning Studio now handles FilmFest operations and functions, while Craig’s office provides feedback and approval of scripts.

“When subject matter is considered sensitive,” Craig said, “student film producers are mentored in how to deal with those subjects with sensitivities to the demographics of the primary audience, which is the ACU community. Student film teams are also instructed that all film content has to fall within the parameters ACU Student Handbook.”

Most of the scripts that were not approved contained curse words, Craig said, and FilmFest guidelines prohibit any profanity.

The guidelines also state, “Delicate subject matter can be dealt with and alluded to, but NO nudity, sexual contact of any kind, alcohol consumption, tobacco or

drug use, or profanity may be portrayed on CRAIG screen.”

Student Life prohibited one student from including a homosexual relationship in a film script. Michael Scales, senior multimedia major from San Antonio, said while his film does not center on the topic, it does include two characters in a homosexual relationship. He started working on his script in September, then in October he asked Craig for feedback specifically for the inclusion of the homosexual characters.

Craig emailed Scales

saying the same-sex relationship would not fit with the boundaries of the student handbook.

The student handbook currently states: “Abilene Christian University affirms the biblical model, in which sexual relations are experienced only within the marriage bond between a man and a woman. Relationships or their behavioral expressions outside of this example are not condoned

by Abilene Christian University and are subject to disciplinary or other appropriate action.”

Scales said Dr. Chris Riley, vice president of Student Life, also read the initial draft and said the script

seemed to be “promoting” a same-sex relationship.

“My goal was never to showcase sex or anything explicit,” Scales said. “I didn’t feel like I was promoting it.”

Scales said he revised the script to make the characters friends rather than in a same-sex relationship which did not affect the film’s plot. The script has now been approved.

“They’re doing their job,” Scales said. “Tom Craig was trying to help me out because he knew that I really wanted to get this film into FilmFest. And Chris – I don’t think he was against it, I just think he was just trying to make sure what was being put out there

didn’t hinder anybody’s job.

The last thing that I would want to do is cause issues, but I didn’t realize my script was going to be this controversial.”

Dr. Kyle Dickson, director of the LearnDICKSON ing Studio and advisor for FilmFest, said the reviews are always a part of the FilmFest process, and no scripts are truly rejected. Students will continue to revise before the final scripts and edits are due in March.

as “Hooter Girls,” wear a uniform that consists of short nylon orange runner’s shorts and typically revealing tight white tank tops.

The city of Abilene Planning and Zoning Department does not consider Hooters to be a sexually-oriented business.

Shawn Earl, commercial plans examiner for the department, said the city issued the restaurant a regular restaurant permit.

“If they had any nudity or toplessness, that would fall in a different category,” Earl said. “Because they

siders Hooters a standard restaurant, Riley said the business has a primary purpose to provide sexual recreation and cited a 2004 district court case, Hooters v. Winghouse.

The judge in that case wrote: “Hooters has admitted that the Hooters Girl’s predominant function is to provide vicarious sexual recreation, to titillate, entice, and arouse male customers’ fantasies.

She is the very essence of Hooters’ business.”

The Student Handbook, which all students agree to

follow when they enroll, gives guidelines for student conduct on and off campus.

“If a student was in a position where the university felt they were not upholding the standards in the handbook, we’d address those issues with that student at that time,” Riley said.

Riley and Mark Lewis, dean of students, said they will consider how

the student handbook will apply to students who choose to go to the restaurant as customers.

A spokesperson for the Hooters corporation confirmed the new restaurant, located on East Overland Trail near Lowe’s Home Improvement, will open at the end of January.

based institutions and the university’s “very good asset liquidity,” according to the rating service.

An A3 rating translates to the offering being a low credit risk.

According to the report issued by Moody’s on Nov. 30, the bond offering has been earmarked for “addi-

tional improvements to the science center and Wildcat Stadium, among others; and to pay costs of issuance.”

Moody’s noted however that ACU might face a lower rating on future bond offerings if it does not achieve viable tuition revenue growth or lose the liquidity it currently holds.

In 2016, Moody’s listed key challenges for the university as “thin operating cash flow due to investments in new strategic initiatives, reliance on endowment and reserves for capital and financial aid support, as well as a historically complex debt structure” and re-affirmed some

of the same challenges in the 2017 report.

The report was compiled by Mary Cooney, a lead analyst for higher education at the New Yorkbased rating agency.

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Star Wars: Students shouldn’t work at Hooters Students prepare Student Life: than ‘products’ to be sold.” are fully-clothed, it’s just a Female servers at Hootstandard restaurant.” for marathon ers, referred to by the chain Although the city conBY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF

CONTINEUD FROM PAGE 1

“This is also the first year the Learning Studio has collaborated more directly with FilmFest so we wanted the campus to see some of the best student films alongside some of the stories and filmmakers that inspired them.”

Kassandra Kim, a senior multimedia major from San Antonio, said the Learning Studio hopes the event inspires students to create their own films and show pride in them.

“We have hosted a few marathons in the past pertaining to FilmFest so students can see past submissions,” Kim said. “Having movie marathons, no matter if it’s short films or feature length films, gives students a chance to be inspired and create their own stories. We want to give students a chance to find that inspiration and create something that they’ll be proud of.”

Brittney Johnson, a communications graduate student from Universal City, said she loves to attend the events that the Learning Studio puts on during the semesters.

“As a graduate student, these study breaks and other programs the Learning Studio do throughout the year have by far been some of my favorite experiences on campus,” Johnson said.

“They are fun, bring people together and create new bonds over creativity.”

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

The Office of Student Life is cautioning students against working at Hooters, a restaurant known for sexualizing its servers, which will open a nearby location in January.

Dr. Chris Riley, vice president for Student Life, released a statement encouraging students to consider what the Hooters business represents.

“As Jesus followers, I think we have to consider what Hooters reflects about how we value others,” said Riley in them statement, “and whether we see them as more

HRR13B@ACU.EDU

Moody’s grants A3 rating to university bond

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ WEB EDITOR

Moody’s Investors Service has granted an A3 rating to the university’s planned $12,415,000 bond offering.

The rating is a product of the university’s substantial financial reserves compared to similar faith-

EMR16C@ACU.EDU

Cabinet to host Dead Day coffee, music event

BY CHELSEA TWOHY COPY EDITOR

The Cabinet is hosting Pop-up Coffee Shop on Dead Day for those students needing a break while studying for the final academic showdown of the semester – finals.

The event will occur between 2 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 11 in the Shore Art Gallery and is free for students.

Monks Coffee Shop will

be catering for Pop-up Coffee Shop and plan on bringing their more popular drinks such as royal breves, tuxedo mochas, classic drip coffees and chai lattes “for those who don’t consider themselves coffee people,” said cabinet member Aleksa Vasquez, junior biology major from Wichita Falls.

Not only will free specialty coffee drinks be provided, but also live entertainment by student performers Mi-

chael Guillot, senior management major from San Antonio, and Weston Weast, sophomore music major from Edmond, Oklahoma.

“Students will be able stay for the entirety of the acoustic sessions or simply stop by to grab a cup, listen to a few songs, and then head to their next study group or review session as needed,” said Vasquez.

“We understand students will be busy prepping for

The Shore Art Gallery features student work. their final projects and tests so this event will be entirely come-and-go.”

CLT15A@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 11/28/2017 8:50 a.m.

ACUPD investigated broken windows and spray-painted graffiti at 6 units in the Sherrod Park Storage Complex on Cedar Crest Dr. 11/29/2017 11:19 p.m.

ACUPD investigated a noise complaint in the 1600 block of Smith, involving HSU students playing sports and loud music in the back yard.

Activities were winding down when officers arrived.

11/30/2017 ACUPD responded to a report of a male chasing a female and her children on EN 14th . Officers arrived but were unable to locate.

12/01/2017 12:50 p.m.

A student reported a prowler/peeping tom that had occurred earlier in the week at their house in the 600 block of EN 16th.

12/02/2017 12:39 a.m.

Officers investigated a noise violation call in the 600 block of EN 18th.

911 CALL 2 ACCIDENT 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 29 ADVICE 4 ALARM 4 ANIMAL CALL 1 ASSIST 1 BARRICADES 1 BOOT/UNBOOT VEHICLE 7 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 9 CHECK BUILDING 367

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF DISTURBANCE DRUG ACTIVITY/OFFENSE ESCORT FOOT PATROL FOUND PROPERTY INFORMATION REPORT INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP LOST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: CCTV MAINTENANCE:

2 2 2 5 27 3 4 7 1 2

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

1 6 8 5 9 2 32 6 5

PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL 9 PROWLER 1 RANDOM PATROL 12 REFUEL GASOLINE CANS 1 REPORT WRITING 19 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 5 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 2 THEFT 1 TRAINING 4 WELFARE CHECK 2 TOTAL

641

POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: ACUPD wishes everyone Good Luck with Final Exams and safe travels over Christmas Break

N E WS

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2017

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OP I N I ON

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2017

@acuoptimist @calebtubbz 12/01/17 12:29 P.M. UPS driver:*sees my ACU polo* “I hear you guys are doing layoffs over there.”

Me: “yeah they are making some budget cuts.”

UPS Driver: “well hopefully that doesn’t effect you.”

Really nice guy but how old do I look? @AustinLinehan 12/05/17 7:28 P.M. what was i thinking when i decided a night class was a good idea @Kaylergrace 15/05/17 10:23 P.M. Last semester i wrote a critical analysis on Post Malone’s album, this semester I’m writing a lit review on J Cole.

College is cool y’all

CARTOON BY ERNESTO GUAJARDO

Becoming comfortable with death THE ISSUE

People are becoming desensitized to death.

OUR TAKE

We need to strive to understand death, not become comfortable with it.

Our generation has grown up in a world where terror, death and violence is normal. There have been 385 terror plots in the United States since Sep. 11. There is no question that Millennials have grown accustomed to death and despair, but regardless of the increase in crisis in the past year, more and more Millennials are becoming desensitized to the idea of death.

Even on our own cam-

pus, it seems we are taking out our black dresses and suits far too often.

Campus mourned the loss of Colby McDaniel in 2014, Katie Kirby in 2016 and Drew Kirk and Zach Trussell in 2017.

Death has struck our own campus more than we can even begin to understand.

We might watch the news and say “that’s horrible” or “I can’t believe it,” but that’s all we say. Violence

and death has become so prevalent in our society that people are beginning to accept that it happened and move on. We are no longer mourning each crisis like earlier generations.

With every death and every attack on our nation, we become more apathetic to mourning. How long do we grieve before the next mass shooting happens?

This is a question that has gone through the minds of every Millennial in America. Ever since we can remember, we’ve known death and despair.

We do not believe that people are losing empathy for those affected by cri-

sis, but we do believe that very few Millennials are mourning the loss of somebody that they have never known. The problem that we are running into is that we strive less to understand death and more to become comfortable with it.

We could not function if we mourned every single death in America.

Millennials are becoming numb to the idea of loss.

We must strive not for numbness but for understanding. Death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life before God. EDITOR@JMCNETWORK.COM

Letter to the editor: Why we kneel

As a black American student at ACU, I already have some contradictions about the school and stances taken on subjects like discrimination. The disappointing part of this article is that a white, upper-middle class male is telling black people how to deal with police brutality without any background or credible sources on what is happening in black communities. I agree with the reporter, we are not together as a nation, but if that is the case maybe we should all try to understand why America still isn’t a great place to live for minorities. Just because black NFL players make more money than the average black person per year does

“

using their platform on social injustices that are prevalent to the entire nation.

White Americans expect black Americans to respect a flag, the independence, and the military of a country that did not fight for us. African-Americans weren’t free in America until after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, and it was not until June 19, 1865 that slaves knew

about their freedom. This is also 89 years after white men were given equal opportunity in 1776, this doesn’t even factor in the civil rights movements throughout the 1950s and ‘60s and systematic racism that still goes on today.

Police brutality is not a debate, it is reality. Colin Kaepernick has pledged $1 million to teaching minorities how to deal with encounters with police officers and empowering oppressed communities. People like him are developing our broken down communities that will eventually build our nation back up from the cracks of systematic racism and will assemble us to turn our country from a tossed salad to a melting pot.

Stole Christmas sums up this basic plot: “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

The grouchy hermit gets his act together because someone showed him kindness. It’s done over and over again. But Charlie Brown is a little different.

A Charlie Brown Christmas starts with the premise that Christmas is not supposed to be commercialized. All of the kids know that. Most of them are happy to simply be with each other

rehearsing a Christmas play, taking a break from school and being in a generous and cheery spirit.

For all intents and purposes, Charlie Brown starts where most Christmas movies end yet Charlie Brown himself is facing a Christmas conundrum.

Charlie Brown is puzzled because he’s not happy. After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Isn’t the spirit that everyone is in supposed to make him innately happy? Well, not exactly. The paradigm shift of Charlie Brown’s uneasy feelings occurs when he exasperatingly begs the question, “Isn’t there

People like him are developing our broken down communities that will eventually build our nation back up from the cracks of systematic racism.”

ALEIRA MARTIN SOPHOMORE AD/PR MAJOR FROM FORT WORTH

not mean they should not use their platform to stand up for injustices.

The same country that is, “Paying them loads of money to see their game and have them produce successful results,” also racially profiles, brutalizes, and is openly racist or discriminatory to minorities.

The people who are paying them should show respect to the stances they are taking, not put them down for

@rach_besttwin 12/05/17 11:37 P.M. Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere.

How to build a healthy plate ASK SAWYER SAWYER COBB GUEST COLUMNIST Senior nutrition major Midland, Texas

Hi, everyone! I can’t believe it is already the last week of the semester ... It has flown by, and I am so excited for Christmas break.

Today I want to talk about the simple task of building a plate that has all the foods, vitamins, and minerals you need. Here are the things I strive for when filling my plate (or bowl) each meal: Look at your plate and make sure that your meal contains a fat, a protein and a carb.

Protein sources include: beans, eggs, chicken, fish and beef.

Carb sources include: potatoes, rice, pastas and breads Fat sources include: the

oils you use for cooking, nuts, butter and avocado.

Fill the other half of your plate with all the veggies (brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, squash, etc.).

Making sure your plate contains all of these foods, allows you to stay satiated longer and feed your body the many different kinds of vitamins and minerals it needs to be its best. I hope you all have a great winter break and a Merry Christmas!

P.S.: I am always looking for new nutrition topics you would like to read about. Please email me at sawyer@thewholesomeblog.com with any suggestions or questions.

What ever happened to Charlie Brown’s Christmas?

I’M JESS SAYIN’

JESSICA CLARK VIDEO DIRECTOR Senior Multimedia Major Dallas, Texas

Christmas movie season is in full force. Over the past several years, we’ve lost a classic in the mix. Whether it be through Freeform’s (formerly ABC Family) 25 Days of Christmas, a TBS or NBC special, or more commonly the streaming specials on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, it’s of interesting note that A Charlie Brown Christmas is hard to come by. Why?

Most Christmas movies follow a common theme.

Christmas is too commercial and we need to turn back to the root of understanding that this is not what the holiday is about. It’s about being happy and having cheer, being generous and spending time with family.

My favorite Christmas movie, Ron Howard’s – or maybe better known as Jim Carrey’s – How the Grinch

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

anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Another character, Linus, provides the answer.

The answer is found in Luke 2:10-11. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

That’s what we’re missing in our Christmas movies.

Am I pointing out this fact to start a culture war along the same lines of asserting that you should be offended when someone tells you “Happy Holidays” or writes out “Merry Xmas” or how

Starbucks is a ‘devil company’ because their Christmas cups are now solid red and therefore not representative enough of Christ? No. I submit to you this instead: Christmas is not the only time a dying world has lost the point. Live every day leading up to, during and after Christmas with that understanding. Never forget that the world needs to know a Savior has come. If you’ve lost sight of or have never heard that message yourself, I tell you rejoice – a Savior has come and his name is Christ the Lord.

JMC13D@ACU.EDU

O P T IM IST

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More Than Goodenough Fans Cheering at every women’s basketball game, the Goodenough sisters rally behind their favorite coach and mentor – and Mom.

PHOTO BY HOLLY DORN

BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR

The Goodenough sisters rally beside their mom, Coach Julie Goodenough, in Moody Colisium.

A

mong the cheering fans in Moody Coliseum, two screaming brunettes clap vivaciously as Coach Julie Goodenough calls for a timeout. The women’s basketball team huddles in a circular formation of purple and white with Goodenough kneeling in the middle of it. Quietly the team listens for the next play, the next winning shot. With fans standing and waiting for the clock to start ticking, Bailey and Macy Goodenough watch as the players place their hands into the circle for the final ‘Go Wildcats’ sendoff.

Yelling ‘Let’s go, ladies’ as the team assembles into their position on the court, Bailey and Macy take a deep breath and give their mom a thumbs-up. While neither daughter plays for the team, not a game goes by where the Goodenough sisters are actively cheering for their mom and team.

“I like watching her,” Macy said as she smiles. “She’s just like really cool and I like to see how my friends think of her.

At home, she’s like our mom, but on the court, she’s like this superstar and I like that aspect of team that she implements.

Not only are they teammates, but they’re also sisters and I think that’s cool.”

Even as children, the Goodenough sisters said how their mom placed them in sports and taught them how to appreciate teamwork and dedication to the things you love.

“I remember going to her basketball camps in the summer,” said Bailey, senior social studies education major from Abilene. “We would go to her camp as young as you could go like four years old.”

“Yeah, like even before we could participate in the camp, we were there anyways,” said Macy, sophomore english major from Abilene. “Like, we would be shooting on the side – or at least, trying to – and try to be like the older girls. Our mom even coached when she was pregnant and so we’ve literally been with her our entire lives playing basketball.”

A

fter learning the game and watching Coach Goodenough year after year, the girls learned to love the sport that inspired their mom. From traveling across states to helping along with any office or assistant

those things whenever and wherever I start teaching,” Bailey said. “I would never want to coach college anything, though.

That’s just too much pressure and not what I want to do in my life, but I do want to coach basketball like in middle school or high school.”

“My dad was an English major, and I’m an English major, so I’m doing what my dad’s doing,” Macy said laughing. “We really don’t branch out in the Goodenough household. We think our parents are just great.”

W

The Goodenough family poses with the Southland Conference championship trophy.

work, the sisters have witnessed some of the greatest achievements of the team. Winning the Southland Conference championship last season, the women’s basketball team has become a shining beacon of hope, perseverance and love for the Goodenough family.

“Growing up, we were always around the team and they became our big sisters,” Bailey said, “and just now it has kind of become a habit to always be with the team and my mom. It never feels like an obligation or like, “oh, I’m with my mom.” It’s just because we’ve done it so much it feels normal. [Coach Goodenough] has just made it so fun to see her at practice, so I don’t mind watching her coach practice or sitting at a game and watch her and the team play like four times.”

Although the girls watch their mom both at home and at work, Macy said there are different levels of intensity brought out depending on the time of day.

“At work she gets really intense because she’s in the game and wants to win,” Macy said. “But at home she’s just like goofy and fun.”

“I remember one time when it was the first 3-pointer of the season, she freaked out and started acting like she was bowling a bowling ball and the whole team acted like they were the pins and all fell down,” Bailey laughs. “Like I work for her in the office and she is pretty much the same on the court as she is at home – all around a cool person.”

Living in the Abilene area only for the past six years, the sisters have seen how far their mom has come. After being fired for her lack of wins at Oklahoma State, the sisters can see how strong, hard-working and exceptional their mom is – just how

they hope to be some day.

“Beating Oklahoma State was the best day ever,” Bailey said nostalgically. “She’s kind of always joked around about hating Oklahoma State and hating orange.”

“She hates orange. Like, she has no orange in her closet at all,” Macy said with a laugh.

“And last year, we got to go to Oklahoma State for the game and kicked major butt,” Bailey said.

“We didn’t just kick butt, we like destroyed them and we were like ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to beat Oklahoma State.

This is really happening’ and so that was a pretty great day for our mom,” Macy said.

“She was really happy.”

I

n the midst of joking around and tagging along, the Goodenough family doesn’t stop the sports talk once they leave the court. Watching, playing and coaching basketball has become a fundamental component of the Goodenough family.

“We’re not like crazy, but sports are always in the background or something,” Bailey said. “And both of my parents like listening to sports on like Sirius XM and they talk about it together, and it’s cool.”

“Our dad told us one day that he never watched women’s basketball and it wasn’t until he met our mom that he started watching it,” Macy said, “and now, he actually prefers it [over] men’s. Sports is a big deal in our family but that’s just normal for us.”

With hopes to teach and coach on the side, Bailey explains how she would like to follow in the footsteps of both her parents.

“My mom is a coach and my dad is a principal, and so I want to do both of

hen seen at the games, the Goodenough sisters can sense when and how their mom is feeling. From the way she pulls her hair up to the manner in which she talks to her players, the Goodenough sisters don’t see their cool mom on the court. Rather, they see a woman with limitless potential, roaring courage and kindheartedness take the team by storm.

“The biggest thing I take away from my mom is her infectious, positive attitude,” said Macy. “She has a bunch of sayings that she tells us like ‘You can only control the controllables’ and she never lets us or her players or assistant coaches be disappointed in themselves. She is always saying ‘OK, this happened. We need to fix it and we need to move on’ and so, just how she always is looking on the bright side of things and to the best of her ability.”

“In the education department we have to come up with a philosophy we want our classroom to have and so mine is to be a family and that’s something she has really shown m,” Bailey said. She not only coaches a team, but she also treats them like family and really brings them together and makes sure they respect and love each other. She has really shown all of those things and I want that to be within my students too.”

The last buzzer sounds and the last shot has been taken. The team rallies up for a pep talk with Coach Goodenough as the motivator. Watching her from afar, the sisters watch intently, pack up their belongings and cheer for their mom as the team walks off the court.

EAG13A@ACU.EDU

6

S PORTS

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8 , 2017

STANDINGS Men’s basketball Team

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

Ovrl. SLC. 8–1 7–1 6–3 5–3 4–3 5–4 5–5 4–5 2–4 3–6 2–5 2–5 2–6

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

Women’s Basketball Team

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

Ovrl. SLC. 6–1 4–2 6–3 4–3 5–4 3–3 4–4 3–4 3–4 2–3 1–6 1–7 1–7

Volleyball

Team

HOLLY DORN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

FINAL CHAPTER

Senior guard Tevin Foster made multiple crucial plays Wednesday night against the Air Force Falcons to improve the Wildcat’s record to 6-3.

Foster adds experience in final season of eligibility

BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR

As ACU has been on a journey to Div. 1, grad transfer point guard Tevin Foster has been on a journey of his own these last five years.

After injuring his C6 vertebrae his senior year of high school, Foster was recruited to play football at Missouri Valley Conference competitor South Dakota, even though his first love was basketball.

But Foster wanted his shot at the Div. 1 level. And in his first year he saw plenty of playing time, but the fit wasn’t right for him.

Still in love with basketball and a dream to play at the next level, Foster left South Dakota after just one season and eventually transferred to Labette Community College in Kansas. But it was just a stepping stone for him.

“JUCO is all about getting your opportunity,” Foster said. “You being able to, not necessarily having the green light but being able to play basketball and having that freedom. At junior college it was about winning, but it was really about for yourself.”

So again Foster was on the move, this time to Div. 2 competitor Drury University. It was here that Foster said he learned how to play in a system.

“It went from [the JUCO] mentality to going to Drury where it was all about team,” Foster said. “I had to learn team concepts, I had to learn a different system. I had to learn how to play without the ball,

set screens, be the screener. When I got to Drury I learned all the little things, and it really helped balance my game out.”

After two seasons Foster had become the team’s leading scorer at Drury University with 13.8 points per game and graduated with his undergraduate degree. But he still had one year of eligibility left, and Foster was ready to test the waters at the next level.

With Oklahoma, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri in his rear view mirror, Foster was drawn to Texas and more importantly ACU by head coach Joe Golding and his staff. And coming with, something that Golding harped on during the recruiting process.

“I’m an old football guy myself. And I think anytime you can sign a football player. I think they just bring a really good toughness to them,” Golding said.

Whether it has been all his transitioning before his arrival to Abilene or something entirely different, Foster hasn’t skipped a beat. He’s been just what the doctor ordered, adding his ball-handling, tenacity and scoring to a team that Golding already thought was deep.

“We thought that we needed another guard, a guard that could score it,” Golding said. “We returned a bunch of players, and it’s tough for a kid to come in that’s completely brand new. His role here is different than it was at Drury so there

are some adjustments in that, but since day one he’s fit right in.”

And score it he has, posting a 13.5 point scoring clip through the first nine games. For junior Jaylen Franklin, who Foster jokingly referred to as the LeBron to his Isaiah Thomas, this added scoring threat has really opened up the floor for others.

“It takes a lot of pressure off me, Jaren and Jalone, I mean you add another scorer, you can space the floor out,” Franklin said.

“Some nights if Jaren is going off or if they have to come to me, or if they have all three of us locked down you just add another scorer like him and he can do it all.”

“

I just want to come into this year, my last year, and be able to bring something to the table to this team that can help them grow TEVIN FOSTER GUARD

But beyond fitting into the scheme on the court, junior Jaren Lewis, who has been the Wildcat’s leading scorer during the early parts of this season with 15.3 points per contest said Foster’s knack for the way the game is played has helped the team from the get go.

“Tevin has added elements of toughness and experience right away,” Lewis said. “He’s been a great teammate and we all love

him. His experience is very valuable to us and he is another senior leader to compliment Tripp and Drake.”

With the experience however, comes the reality that this is Foster’s last chance and last stop in a long college journey.

“This is the last year this team can play with each other,” Foster said. “Next year this team won’t be together, players will leave, we’ve got a couple seniors, but you only get this team one time. We know we have the talent to compete with any team, so we just keep getting better and improving as a team, the sky is the limit for us. “ Golding said the decision to come to ACU speaks volumes about Foster’s character and is a great player to add to the foundation he hopes to build with this program.

“He’s trusted us with his one year, and I think that’s also a testament to who he is, that he wants to win now,” Golding said.

“We have a locker room right now that just wants to win games, they don’t care about stats. I think Foster is a winner, and I think he fits in with culture we’re trying to build.”

And so far so good for the Wildcats. After Wednesday night’s win over Air Force, ACU sits at 6-3 on the season and already has the Creek Classic Tournament under its belt. The team will look to continue to stay hot Saturday when they welcome Texas State to Moody Coliseum.

But Foster said that despite aspirations to go to

the NCAA Tournament, this season isn’t about wins and losses. At the end of the game, this season is about building character for what comes next in the bigger journey of life.

“I just want to come into this year, my last year, and be able to bring something to the table to this team that can help them grow in the future and to lead them to their future success,” Foster said. “I just want be able to be that guy that came in, and leave a positive impact on this team that can help them in the future. wWin or lose these guys brought me in, they took me in and I respect them for that.”

Golding said it’s that understanding and mindset that has helped make the transition seamless for Foster and the rest of this team.

“There is nothing fake about we do, from day one we told him we loved him,” Golding said. “Tevin understands that’s our culture and what that’s about. We care for each other and we want to invest in each other. Tevin has a big heart, he cares about people and he comes from a great family. He’s fit right into our culture and what we’re trying to do here.”

Along with the third best scoring average on the team, Foster has also garnered the most mintues played, most free attempts and makes and is tied for the team lead with Franklin with 1.9 steals per game.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

Women’s basketball falls to Florida Gulf Coast

BY MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The women’s basketball team was back at home Sunday as it faced the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University, and lost in a lopsided game, 94-55.

The Wildcats held up nicely in the first quarter, trailing 15-13 at the end.

However, after the Eagles outscored the women 3312 in the second quarter, Florida Gulf Coast never looked back as it topped the Wildcats 24-12 in the third quarter and coasted

to a victory, winning the fourth quarter 22-18.

Junior guard Sara Williamson led the team in scoring with 16 points, while sophomore point guard Breanna Wright scored 11.

For Florida Gulf Coast, sophomore forward Nasrin Ulel led her team, and redshirt senior guard Taylor Gradinjan was close behind with 18.

Williamson said the team is keeping its head up after the loss.

“The one positive to come out of our loss

against FGCU, is that we’ve been able to study our film from that game, and learn from our mistakes to help us get better and better prepared for when we play such a caliber team like them in the future.” Williamson said.

With the loss, the women are now 3-3 on the season, while the Eagles are now 8-2 this season after a win against the Wildcats and Southeastern University Tuesday evening.

Up next for the women will be Howard Payne University Saturday at home.

Heading into the game, Howard Payne has struggled against Southland opponents, losing 105-35 to Stephen F. Austin, and 101-37 to Lamar earlier in the season.

Junior guard Valarie Matlock leads the way in scoring for her team, averaging 12.9 points per game.

The game will also be ACU’s annual Christmas Slam celebration, which will most likely fill the seats for both the men and women’s basketball games.

We think the atmosphere is gonna be an

incredible one on Saturday,” Williamson said.

“Double headers with our Men’s team are always a fun time and the Christmas Slam will make the atmosphere even more exciting. We’re really looking forward to Saturday, and seeing all the Christmas sweaters our fans will be sporting.”

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Live coverage of the game can also be heard on 98.1 FM. MJP14B@ACU.EDU

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

Ovrl. SLC.

SFA 26–7 UCA 27–4 HBU 21–10 TAMU-CC 15–14 McNeese 19–13 NWSU 15–17 SHSU 14–16 ACU 13–18 UIW 8–15 NOU 12–16 Lamar 4–22 Nicholls 4–25 SELU 3–27

14–2 27–4 21–10 15–14 19–13 15–17 14–16 13–18 8–15 12–16 4–22 4–25 3–27

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Men’s Basketball Foster has remained an impressive breakout athlete so far this season.

He scored seven points, Foster along with five assists and five steals in the game against Schreiner. When facing Air Force, Foster matched Friday’s 14 points to lead the team in scoring for the game.

Friday continues to lead his team and impress in the scoring column.

The reigning Southland Friday Conference freshman of the year led his team in scoring against Schreiner last Saturday with 17 points, and put up 14 in the impressive road win against Air Force Wednesday evening. The men will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they host Texas State.

Lewis has been an overall leader for his team this season, averaging Lewis 14.4 points per game, and leading the team in rebounds per game with 6.4. He also stuck out against Schreiner scoring 14 points, and making three steals.

Women’s Basketball The only junior on the team stood out again this week scoring 16 points Williamson against Florida Gulf Coast Sunday. Her team has Howard Payne at home Saturday in the annual Christmas Slam celebration.

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