WHAT'S INSIDE
NEWS
The Ag department launched an equine organization and had its first horse competition. Page 3
FEATURE
OPINION
The latest theatre production, The Mountaintop, examines the life of Martin Luther King. Page 4-5
Can even promises of purple hair get people to come to a basketball game? We don’t think so. Page 6
SPORTS
Kyle Karnei returns to the golf course this spring. In his off time, he’s plugged in to ACU. Pages 8
v
Friday, March 3, 2017 Vol. 105, Issue 22
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
ERIKA BOLADO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bishop Michael Sis visited campus and members of the community gathered in Chapel on the Hill for Ash Wednesday. Bishop Sis offered a special blessing for Lent and explained the season leading up to Easter.
Library bans emotional support pets BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Brown Library has begun prohibiting emotional support animals from the building, but will still allow service animals. The library administration began working on policies for animals in the library in January, said Mark McCallon, associate dean of Library Information
Services. He said pets cannot be allowed in Starbucks because it is a food establishment and health codes prohibit animals in areas where food is served. “The library is, I feel like, the most public building on campus,” McCallon said. “We are essentially the office of the students.” Service animals, or SAs, cannot be prohibited in accordance with the Amer-
icans with Disabilities Act, but emotional support animals, or ESAs, can be prohibited by law. The Department of Justice website defines SAs as animals which have been trained to perform a specific task, whereas ESAs “provide comfort just by being with a person.” The university released guidance for policies regarding SAs and ESAs on
Feb. 21, but policies have not been decided in all buildings. The ADA requires that SAs be permitted in any public accommodations, but classrooms and labs do not count as public accommodations. Departments have been asked to make their own policies. ESAs are allowed in residence halls because of the Fair Housing Act, so McCallon said this year he has
seen an increase in students bringing their ESAs into the library. “They’re walking their animal around the trail and they’re coming in to get Starbucks real quick,” McCallon said. “Is this just a pet? What is it’s purpose? Without asking, we don’t have a way of determining that.” SEE PETS PAGE 3
SRWC to offer massages to students “ BY LAUREN FRANCO STAFF WRITER
The Student Wellness and Recreation Center will offer massages to students from 3 p.m.-5 p.m on Monday, Wednesday and Friday near the bouldering wall. “We always wanted to add that additional component of wellness,” said Joel Swedlund, executive director of
the SWRC. “The relaxation, the spiritual mindset, I feel like we do that in some ways in the rec center already, but this is something we’ve wanted to do and just the way we originally envisioned it didn’t pan out.” Hannah Smith, a freshman kinesiology major from Bigfoot, approached Swedlund with the idea to start chair massages. Smith finished high
We always wanted to add that additional component of wellness.”
JOEL SWEDLUND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SRWC
school early and completed a 6-month program to become a certified masseuse before coming to ACU. “I always loved rehabilitation and this was a way to do that without going through
college,” Smith said. “So it kind of propelled me into that career earlier. I would love to be a sports medicine physician and I’m hoping I can use massage as a way to incorporate that.”
Swedlund said the SRWC prides itself on being open to suggestions and ideas in the rec center. With the closing of Pura Vida, the door opened to bring in Smith as a masseuse. Students who would like to schedule a massage can call the SWRC office at (325)829-6587. LMF14A@ACU.EDU
Catholic bishop gives Lent blessing for Ash Wednesday BY EMILY GUAJARDO VISUALS MANAGING EDITOR
Members of the Abilene community congregated at Chapel on the Hill for the ritual practice of Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. The service began with songs of worship and was led by a quick sermon preached by Bishop Michael Sis. Members of the congregation laughed and smiled as the sermon covered several questions asked during the time of Lent including its requirement, if it is scriptural and why it is practiced. Kevin Pantoja, a sophomore accounting and finance major from Roscoe, organized the service along with ACU Lighthouse, an organization that unites SEE ASHES PAGE 3
Study Abroad gets keys to historic German property BY ALLISON BROWN EDITOR IN CHIEF
The university has completed the acquisition of its first international property – in Leipzig, Germany. Dan McGregor and Dr. Tracy Shilcutt represented ACU in the legal handover of the house keys. “That officially completes the transaction,” said Stephen Shewmaker, exectuive director of the Center for International Education. “The property is 100 percent ACU’s.” The Center for International Education has scheduled a grand opening party for October later this year.
The Leipzig mayor has even been invited to the ceremony. McGregor, professor of art and design, is spending the semester in Leipzig as visiting faculty along with his family. The McGregors and Shilcutt enjoyed a sunny day while they received the keys to the house. “Not a lot of pomp and ceremony but still kind of touching to be present,” McGregor said in an email. The house is almost older than the city of Abilene and is full of quirks and interesting historical aspects. The purchase even includes a restored Gypsy circus wagon guest house in the
backyard. “The house dates back to 1883, just a couple of years after Abilene was founded – so there’s kind of a parallel history with our city and a nice reminder of how relatively young our charming frontier town is,” McGregor said. Past occupants of the home include a fur merchant, a bank in the late 20th century, and most recently a music school. The university will retain a piano as part of the purchase. But perhaps more interesting than all of that, one of McGregor’s favorite parts SEE GERMANY PAGE 3
PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Dan McGregor (second from left) and Tracy Shilcutt (far right) represented ACU as the keys to the Leipzig property were handed over.
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M