WHAT'S INSIDE
NEWS
FEATURE
Dead Day is packed with events for students to join in. Wondering what to pick? See what all is going on. Page 2
OPINION
A lot has happened since August. Look back at the past year of campus life. Page 4-5
College is dying for Optimist editor Allison Brown. Read her farewell column. Page 6
SPORTS
Athletic trainers open up about concussion treatment for student athletes. Pages 8
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FINALS COUNTDOWN Friday, May 5, 2017 Vol. 105, Issue 31
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
LAUREN FRANCO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Macy Goodenough, freshman English major from Abilene, and Chase Rogers, sophomore English major from Arlington, work on final assignments as the last week of classes comes to a close.
Delta Theta receives recharter approval BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The women of Lucky 13 have received approval from the Office of Student Life to recharter the women’s social club Delta Theta. The group of 24 women completed all the steps to recharter the club, but still needs to get more sponsors before it can take pledges in the fall. Alyssa Ellison, student organizations and productions coordinator, said in order to start a social club, the group had to find on-campus sponsors,
start with a minimum of 10 members, and had to function as a student organization. The club already has one sponsor, Emerald Cassidy, associate director of enrollment marketing, and Ellison said Student Life wants the club to get at three more sponsors. “That’s something that we’re not worried about,” Ellison said. “We’re very confident that they’ll be able to find three more sponsors.” Delta Theta started in 1926, according to the 1990 Prickly Pear. The club went
inactive in 2011 after both of its sponsors resigned. The club’s colors are black and white, with green as an accent color, Ellison said. She said Student Life will help the club plan pledging because the members haven’t done it before. “The girls are going to kind of use the whole ‘come pledge with us’ pitch, because they’re all going to be kind of going through it together,” Ellison said. “It’s going to be a group effort.” Leksi Vasquez, vice president of Lucky 13, and Shelby Short, president of
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If somebody has a passion for something, then we want them to be open in sharing what that is so that we can act on it.ˮ
LEKSI VASQUEZ VICE PRESIDENT OF LUCKY 13
Lucky 13, said they hope Lucky 13 will continue as a student organization for women to do service projects even with Delta Theta
rechartered. “If somebody has a passion for something, then we want them to be open in sharing what that is so that we can act on it,” said Vasquez, sophomore biology major from Wichita Falls. Lucky 13 hosted several service events on campus, helped with the Suicide Prevention walk and served residents at Chisholm Place, a senior living center. OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
Res Life restructures, changes positions BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Office of Residence Life is restructuring to provide a director of sophomore residence halls and to have one resident director in each hall next year. Jenny Butler will be the director of the first year residential experience; Jessica Nguyen will be the director of the second year residential experience. Bart Herridge, dean of student
engagement and retention, said this will allow the directors to structure residential programs that reflect what students are experiencing at different times of the year. "It's going to give us opportunities to be much more intentional about what's happening in the life of students," Herridge said. "There's no way we could have done that under the old AC [area coordinator] model."
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It's going to give us opportunities to be much more intentional about what's happening in the life of students.ˮ
BART HERRIDGE DEAN OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION
A full-time staff member called the resident director will live in each hall, rather than some resident directors, also called area coordinators, overseeing two halls. Resident directors oversee facilities, check-in,
discipline and community building. This year, Javan Furlow had more than 350 students to oversee as the area coordinator for both Edwards and Smith-Adams halls. Herridge said many students didn't have easy
access to their resident director. "From the students' perspective, it was frustrating because of access to a staff member," Herridge said. "From the staff members' perspective, by going to one building, your staff is smaller so you can spend less time working with the staff and more time working directly with students." Each hall is different, SEE RES LIFE PAGE 2
Professor opens home to sell g ̒ ood junk ̓ BY LAUREN FRANCO STAFF WRITER
Students, alumni and local Abilene vendors will open their shops Saturday afternoon at a professor's home. Rachel Riley, instructor of psychology, is hosting her Front Porch Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 1725 Austin Street. This event provides an opportunity for the purchase of vintage furniture, hand-lettered pieces, handmade items, baked
tising. Riley’s husband Chris, vice president of student life, referred to it as, “an open house where people buy my good junk.” One of LYDIA LAWSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER the vendors, Savannah goods and other services, Pybus, a senior art edusuch as photography adver- cation major from North
Richland Hills, is selling original prints and paintings. She said she is most excited to meet the kind of people who care about art in the way that she does. “I wanted to participate in FPM because I wanted to be a part of a movement in Abilene that celebrates local talent and hard work,” Pybus said. “It's also an amazing way to meet other like-minded creatives.” Free drinks will be provided, and treats will be for
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M
sale. Music will be provided by Lane Luttrell, Weston Weast and Pybus. Riley suggested that because the weather will be so great, attendees should bring a picnic and blanket. Next year, if students or Abilene residents would like to participate, they can contact Rachel Riley and pay a $5 fee. OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
Library schedules Reading Commons construction date BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Brown Library plans to complete construction on the Hansen Reading Commons in summer 2018. Located in the southeast corner of the Learning Commons across from Starbucks, the Reading Commons will have new and recommended books and periodicals. According to the Brown Library blog, the area will have lighting and seating appropriate for reading and a presentation space for poetry readings and other events. The construction was funded by alumnus Ray Hansen, in honor of his wife, Nancy. The Friends of ACU Library donated $10,000 for new books in the space, said Dr. Mark McCallon, associate dean for library information services. He said the books will be non-academic, so students can find books to read beyond reading required for courses. He said he doesn't want students come to the university and spend four years only reading textbooks. "Many students said they had difficulties locating new books to read for enjoyment," McCallon said. "We haven't done a great job displaying our new books." The Reading Commons will also feature an exhibition case to display rare books from the ACU Special Collections, according to the library blog.
OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU