THE OPTIMIST VOL. 104 NO. 3
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
1 SECTION, 12 PAGES
STUDENT PARKING STRUGGLES CONTINUE PAGE 5
CHRISTIAN VILLAGE COULD BE HOME TO STUDENTS
PAGE 3
04 05
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Women’s Soccer vs. University of North Texas at 7 p.m. at Elmer Gray Stadium
FRIDAY
*Number is based on days Chapel is offered in Moody
56
from www.acuoptimist.com •
Jake Rosser and Co. will play at the Neon Parrot Lounge at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY
06 07
S P I R I T U A L F O R M AT I O N CREDITS
•
For all women registered to pledge, Women’s Teas will begin at 2 p.m. in Hart Auditorium.
SUNDAY • • •
Frater Sodalis Rush at 5-7 p.m. Pi Kappa Rush from 7-9 p.m. Sigma Theta Chi Siggie Cinema Rush from 7-9 p.m. GATA Red, White & You Rush from 9-11 p.m.
• •
Trojans Rush from 7-9 p.m. Alpha Kai Omega Hollywood Rush from 7-9 p.m.
10
THURSDAY
The Bean is offering several solutions to alleviate overcrowding this year. The freshman class is the largest it’s been in 25 years, and the sophomore retention rate is at 80 percent this year. To provide eating space for every student, the executive leadership team implemented the Overcrowding Mitigation Plan. This plan consists of adding a graband-go station and putting six new tables in the Bean. In additon, Aramark’s new 1881 Food Truck has been popular with
Intramural office adds payment option
KACU provides student opportunities
Students can now charge payment for intramurals to student accounts. Passes are still available and include a $40 annual pass, which allows students to play the entire year, as well as fall and spring semester passes for $25 each. Passes cover all sports for that time period. Students can also pay by sport, which varies from $5 to $10 based on the sport.
KACU moved frequencies to 89.5 from 89.7 by switching its signal to a new tower on the south side of Abilene. Additionally, this year a new role of reporter has been created to gather local news. Station general manager Nathan Gibbs said he hopes to grow this position so KACU will have a news presence similar to the Optimist.
By Abbey Bowling
By Haley Remenar
THE OPTIMIST
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Austin-based country artist Sam Riggs will perform at The Patio at La Nueva Luna Friday. Riggs is a true Red Dirt artist whose musical influences include Garth Brooks and Ray Wylie Hubbard. His contemporary country-rock style has earned the up-and-comer a three-time spot on the Texas Music Chart’s Top 10 hits, with two of his songs making it onto the Texas Music Chart’s Top 100 songs of 2014.
By Haley Remenar
MONDAY
09
Bean adapts to large student population
By Mercedez Hernandez
•
08
Country artist Riggs to perform in Abilene
• • • • • •
• •
Gamma Sigma Phi Watermelon Rush from 5-7 p.m. Zeta Rho Disney Rush from 5-7 p.m. Sub T-16 Rush from 7-9 p.m. Tri Kappa Gamma Rush from 7-9 p.m. Galaxy Rush from 9-11 p.m. Ko Jo Kai NFL Rush from 9-11 p.m.
Abilene ArtWalk will be downtown at 5 p.m. Frater Sodalis Rush from 7-9 p.m.
published by the department of journalism and mass communication Brittany Jackson Editor-in-Chief Opinion Page Editor Allison Brown Online Managing Editor Page 2 Editor
Ben Todd Cartoonist
Savanah Silva Sports Broadcast Producer
Shera Niemirowski Sports Multimedia Director
Kenneth Pybus Faculty Adviser
Hannah Null Sports Broadcast Producer
Cade White Visuals Adviser
Abby Runnels Copy Editor
Cara Lee Cranford Advertising Manager
Cassandra Cox Copy Editor
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Rachel Fritz Print Managing Editor
Abbey Bowling Sports Copy Editor
Elijah Evans Visuals Managing Editor
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09.04.15
NEWS
3
Christian Village could be home to sophomores BY ALLISON BROWN Christian Village of Abilene may become home to students next fall. The university hopes to purchase the Christian Village retirement home facility near campus and convert it into sophomore level housing. The university has entered into an offer-option agreement with the board of trustees of Christian Village, giving the university the option to purchase the retirement home near campus facilities and potentially convert it into sophomore-level housing by next fall. Christian Village, a non-profit independent living facility for seniors, has operated for nearly 30 years since its creation as a ministry of University Church of Christ. The church eventually spun off the retirement home on 19th Street west of Barret Hall as a separate entity, one that maintains significant ties to the university. Several board members are ACU employees or alumni. In recent years, Christian Village has struggled with financial losses and low occupancy. The non-profit lost more than $75,000 in 2013, the most recent year in which financial data is available. For that reason, the retirement home has scheduled to close in February 2016. Dr. Allison Garrett, executive vice president of the university, said CVA was likely to shut down next summer, but this agreement could be better for residents. “While it’s sad for the people who have lived there for such a long time, I think it is a good resolution for them,” Garrett said. Many of these residents own their units and have been unable to sell them for as many as five or six years, she said. “It’s just that what people are looking for today is not that style of living,” Garrett said. “As people retire today, their objective is to remain in their own home until they finally have to go to a nursing home. So, it became harder and harder for them to fill vacant units.” If ACU goes through with its purchase of the facility, unit owners will receive payment for the sale of their units. “For those who own units, it actually means they’ll get paid, as opposed to the alternative – immediate closure with no payment,” Garrett said. Christian Village will handle the distribution of funds to unit-holders if the
ELIJAH EVANS VISUALS EDITOR
Christian Village of Abilene, located behind Barett Hall on East North 19th Street, has been home to residents for almost 30 years.
facility is purchased by ACU. The university already owns the two acres on which Christian Village sits. And while Garrett would not disclose the purchase price negotiated with the Christian Village board, the building is valued by Taylor County’s tax assessor’s office at more than $2.4 million. Now in the offer-option agreement period, the university has until the end of September to decide whether it will move forward with purchasing the facility, but Garrett said it was likely. “It would be surprising if we were to make a decision not to exercise the option,” Garrett said. Should the university decide to purchase Christian Village, the move will affect students in more than one way. The building has been kept in good condition, and not much would need to be done to get it ready for student residents, Garrett said. The 59 units would be converted to one or two bedroom apartments, with capacity for 180 beds. This facility would provide much needed space for the increasing number of students. The apartment-style units each contain a kitchen area, a bathroom, a walk-in closet and a washer and dryer. The facility includes many common-area spaces, such as a dining room, an audito-
rium that seats 50, a little beauty shop, a third-floor deck and a small library. “It’s really a great location for us, and it comes at a good time,” Garrett said. “This fall, it was pretty crowded. We have what some people would call a high-class problem.” If ACU exercises the option to buy Christian Village’s facilities, CVA could be operating as an ACU dorm by next fall. David Swearingen, member of Christian Village’s board of trustees, said the potential conversion to student housing would be a good use of the building. “ACU is interested in our building as
the university grows,” Swearingen said. “We can’t think of a better way for our building to be used in the future – as a place for students to live and mature as they prepare for a life of Christian service as young adults.” At the end of the month, ACU will decide if they will move forward with the project. If so, conversations about a closing date for the final sale will continue. “We feel really blessed to have an opportunity to acquire a facility that’s been so well loved and well cared for,” Garrett said. akb12b@acu.edu
4
NEWS
09.04.15
MARIANA CEDILLO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students take part in pledging activities during the 2014-15 fall pledge season.
Student Life rushes to sign up pledges BY ABBY RUNNELS Rushing season begins this week for women registered and eligible to pledge. Teas, where potential pledges visit with all the women’s clubs on campus, start Sunday afternoon. This year, the deadline for women to register has been moved from immediately following teas to Friday at 5 p.m. The deadline for men to register is Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. Coffees, the men’s club’s version of teas, start off campus Sept. 20. As of Aug. 31, 292 women and 124 men were registered and eligible to pledge. Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs, said he is optimistic about these numbers, even if they are not as high as last year. “This time last year we had 338 girls signed up, and that number continued to grow throughout the week leading up to teas,” Jackson said. “But at the same time, the number of guys right now is quite a bit higher.” Last year, 275 women completed the pledging process, which is the most in the five years Jackson has been in his position. This year, with the addition of Tri Kappa Gamma as the sixth women’s club, Jackson said he feels comfortable capping the pledge class size at 50-55 women. “It’s not in the best interest of the clubs to take 60-70 new members,” he said.
“There was a huge need for a sixth girls club.” Last year, the pledging period was shortened from five weeks to three, along with a few other changes. This year, the changes are not as drastic, Jackson said. “Visits can now start during the second week of pledging and must be completed the week before finals,” Jackson said. April Young, senior social work major from Allen and president of GATA womens social club, said she approves of the change. “The rule change regarding starting visits earlier is a good thing,” Young said. “It will allow pledges and members to connect on a deeper level during pledging. It will also allow members to be more involved in the pledging process.” In addition, all activities on Aug. 24, Bid Acceptance Night, will stop at 11 p.m. and, for the first time, a curfew will be enforced. “Friday is a long day itself,” Jackson said. “We felt it was important that everyone stopped what they were doing at 11 and went to bed as soon as possible.” Jackson said he hopes these changes will make for a smoother rushing and pledging process. “My desire is that every club does well,” he said. anr11a@acu.edu
09.04.15
5
NEWS
Grace, Paramount present rooftop film series BY RACHEL FRITZ The Grace Museum partnered with the Historic Paramount Theatre to present Grace After Dark, a series of 24fps International Short Film Festival rooftop screenings. The event took place Thursday, Sept. 3, with the Rock’n Rollerz Rollin’ Grill food truck and courtyard seating, and the rooftop opened to the first 100 guests. This was the first of several free events the Grace Museum will offer on its rooftop. Normally, the museum rents the venue for events such as weddings, special events and exhibition receptions. Emerald Cassidy, director of marketing and communication, said the event was created to cater to the young adult crowd.
“We do a lot of things on Thursday nights as far as the museum,” Cassidy said. “We always have an exhibit on hand, and we have educational forums for children, families and adults, but we wanted to engage our younger adults.” The museum was able to provide equipment to project films on the rooftop with money received from a grant, something Cassidy said they’d been wanting to do. “We’re blessed to have one of the rare views in Abilene with the rooftop that we have and our famous neon sign,” she said. “Although we have these rooftop screenings with the Paramount, Grace After Dark will encompass more of a late-night kind of activity for adults to enjoy.” Barry Smoot, artistic director
of the Paramount, helped make the event possible by curating a set of short films from the 24fps International Short Film Festival, a film festival facilitated by the Paramount Theatre. Films from Spain, the Unit-
ed Kingdom and other places around the world have been submitted into the competition. “It’s an international film festival, so they’re really great films,” Smoot said. Smoot was able to provide the Grace with the films because of his connection to the festival. He said it was as simple as asking the artists for permission to show the films. Thursday night was the inaugural debut of the rooftop as a venue for free events. A series of six short films will be screened and complimentary refreshments will be available. These events are limited to patrons 21 and older because alcohol will be served. ref11a@acu.edu
Students struggle to find on-campus parking BY ABBEY BOWLING The problem of on-campus parking has become more of an issue this semester because of continued construction on the Onstead Science Center. The construction site is in an area surrounded by residence halls, which creates an extra challenge for students trying to find on-campus parking, said ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison. “Anytime you have to close off certain areas for construction, that’s a problem,” Ellison said. “The amount of traffic coming in and out of the construction site adds another problem, coupled with the exceptionally large freshman class, which is a great problem to have, but it does create some ripple effects, and that’s more pressure on the parking system. That’s what we’ve noticed so far, but it hasn’t been any worse than we’ve expected, and actually, I think everybody is handling it really well.” Construction is expected to last for the next 24 months, said Scot Colley, executive director of construction. “Construction is a good thing because it’s exciting for the campus,
and progress is exciting, but it does create the parking problem,” Ellison said. ACUPD allowed three days grace for parking permit violations, which gave students extra time to buy a permit during the busy first week of school, but it doesn’t mean no tickets were issued, Ellison said. “Parking enforcement occurs year round; a lot of people don’t realize that,” Ellison said. “We don’t start issuing permit violations until the fourth class day, but a lot of people misunderstand that for no tickets are given the first three days, and that’s not accurate. We always enforce restricted lots, fire lanes, handicap zones and things like that. We realize the first week of school can be busy for everyone so we try to give them a few extra days to get their permits.” However, returning students might have noticed that the price for parking permits has increased to $25 from last year. “Parking sticker prices go up occasionally because we test the market and see what prices are out there, but obviously expenses go up from time to time,” Ellison said. “We feel like
LYDIA LAWSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students park in the grass near Barett Hall because of the shortage in parking spaces caused by campus construction.
our parking prices don’t increase significantly, and we certainly believe that our parking permit prices are well below comparative schools.” Despite the usual minor parking problems that occur at the beginning
of every school year, this semester is off to a good start, Ellison said. “So far, everybody’s had a great attitude and we haven’t had any major problems,” he said. akb12a@acu.edu
F E AT U R E S
7
Dr. Santana, his wife Tacia and sons Matheus and Hatus came to Abilene over a decade ago from Campina Grande, Brazil.
Officially American How Dr. Nil Santana and his family became U.S. citizens BY MERCEDEZ HERNANDEZ
D
EMILY GUAJARDO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
r. Nil Santana, associate professor of art and design, is finally able to call himself an American citizen. Dr. Santana first came to Abilene in 1998 from Campina Grande in Brazil as part of a two-year graduate program at ACU. When he, his wife and two young children landed in the Key City, Santana said they had no plans to make Texas their permanent home. “We quickly realized that the community, both ACU and Abilene in general was a very welcoming community,” he said. “When I finished my degree and was invited to teach, we had still not decided that this would be the place where we would stay, until four years later.” Cheryl Bacon, chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, had Santana as a student in 1998 and said his infectious creativity is what makes him a great person, professor and now American citizen. “Nil is just a treasure for the university,” she said. “I know that students love him and his classes, and he just embraces the opportunity to support student creativity.” The desire to seek citizen-
ship was not a quick decision for Santana and his family; they had mulled it over for several years before taking the final steps to become U.S. citizens. “When we talked about becoming American citizens a few years ago, maybe eight to 10 years ago, we understood that it would take some time,” he said. “Shifting from the work visa into the green
and biometrics, and about another nine to 10 weeks to receive the letter for an appointment in Dallas,” he said. Santana received the letter containing the time and date for the citizenship interviews while he and his family were on vacation in Cancun. The family was waiting for the letter so eagerly that they had a friend check their mail everyday while on vaca-
“We quickly realized that the community, both ACU and Abilene in general, was a very welcoming community.” Dr. Nil Santana card was part of that process; once we reached the fifth year of the green card, that’s when we initiated the process.” fter beginning the final process of gaining permanent resident status, Santana had a bit more time to wait before he and his family would be declared Americans. “The final process itself took about three months, from the time we went to Lubbock for fingerprinting
A
tion. Once the letter finally arrived, the family prepared for their interviews. The family was officially declared American citizens on July 9 of this year, something Santana said is a blessing and a relief. “My wife and I went through this decision process not only because we felt it was the right thing to do, but it takes out a lot of stress from us in relation to our immigration status,” he said. “The question for us always
was, ‘what’s going to happen if the green card expires, are we going to be allowed to renew it, are we going to go back to Brazil?’” ow that Santana is an American citizen he is allowed to participate in civic responsibilities such as voting and serving on a jury, the latter being something Santana, like most Americans, begrudgingly participates in. “I want to be engaged and belong to the community,” he said. “But I am not so much looking forward to belonging to popular juries. I have used the excuse that I’m not an American citizen so I can’t be on a jury in the past, but now if I receive a letter, I’d have to come up with a different excuse. “ Although Santana and his family have made a commitment to reside in the U.S., he said he will keep their heritage alive by taking trips to Brazil every other year to maintain family ties. “Being an expatriate is a long process and at times I’ll be homesick thinking of the food, culture, friends and family in Brazil,” he said. “But it’s a feeling that I think I’ll cope with.” mmh13a@acu.edu
N
F E AT U R E S
7
Dr. Santana, his wife Tacia and sons Matheus and Hatus came to Abilene over a decade ago from Campina Grande, Brazil.
Officially American How Dr. Nil Santana and his family became U.S. citizens BY MERCEDEZ HERNANDEZ
D
EMILY GUAJARDO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
r. Nil Santana, associate professor of art and design, is finally able to call himself an American citizen. Dr. Santana first came to Abilene in 1998 from Campina Grande in Brazil as part of a two-year graduate program at ACU. When he, his wife and two young children landed in the Key City, Santana said they had no plans to make Texas their permanent home. “We quickly realized that the community, both ACU and Abilene in general was a very welcoming community,” he said. “When I finished my degree and was invited to teach, we had still not decided that this would be the place where we would stay, until four years later.” Cheryl Bacon, chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, had Santana as a student in 1998 and said his infectious creativity is what makes him a great person, professor and now American citizen. “Nil is just a treasure for the university,” she said. “I know that students love him and his classes, and he just embraces the opportunity to support student creativity.” The desire to seek citizen-
ship was not a quick decision for Santana and his family; they had mulled it over for several years before taking the final steps to become U.S. citizens. “When we talked about becoming American citizens a few years ago, maybe eight to 10 years ago, we understood that it would take some time,” he said. “Shifting from the work visa into the green
and biometrics, and about another nine to 10 weeks to receive the letter for an appointment in Dallas,” he said. Santana received the letter containing the time and date for the citizenship interviews while he and his family were on vacation in Cancun. The family was waiting for the letter so eagerly that they had a friend check their mail everyday while on vaca-
“We quickly realized that the community, both ACU and Abilene in general, was a very welcoming community.” Dr. Nil Santana card was part of that process; once we reached the fifth year of the green card, that’s when we initiated the process.” fter beginning the final process of gaining permanent resident status, Santana had a bit more time to wait before he and his family would be declared Americans. “The final process itself took about three months, from the time we went to Lubbock for fingerprinting
A
tion. Once the letter finally arrived, the family prepared for their interviews. The family was officially declared American citizens on July 9 of this year, something Santana said is a blessing and a relief. “My wife and I went through this decision process not only because we felt it was the right thing to do, but it takes out a lot of stress from us in relation to our immigration status,” he said. “The question for us always
was, ‘what’s going to happen if the green card expires, are we going to be allowed to renew it, are we going to go back to Brazil?’” ow that Santana is an American citizen he is allowed to participate in civic responsibilities such as voting and serving on a jury, the latter being something Santana, like most Americans, begrudgingly participates in. “I want to be engaged and belong to the community,” he said. “But I am not so much looking forward to belonging to popular juries. I have used the excuse that I’m not an American citizen so I can’t be on a jury in the past, but now if I receive a letter, I’d have to come up with a different excuse. “ Although Santana and his family have made a commitment to reside in the U.S., he said he will keep their heritage alive by taking trips to Brazil every other year to maintain family ties. “Being an expatriate is a long process and at times I’ll be homesick thinking of the food, culture, friends and family in Brazil,” he said. “But it’s a feeling that I think I’ll cope with.” mmh13a@acu.edu
N
09.04.15
OPINION
Who’s who in the 2020 election In case you missed it, Kanye West announced his presidential bid for the 2020 election. But before we discount his speech-turnedcampaign as a trip from whatever he rolled before stepping on stage (yes, he admitted to that), let’s look at his credentials. Technically, he meets the Constitution’s (Article II Section I) requirements to run for president: he’s a natural born citizen of the U.S. , is at least 35 years of age and has spent at least 14 years as a resident in the States. But, if those are the only things qualifying people to run, who else can cast a presidential bid for the 2020? Here are our favorites: Chris Pratt, born in Minnesota but moved to Maui, Hawaii to
work at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. He knows what it’s like to go from blue collar to celebrity status and maintain a flawless reputation. Plus, if he can push himself from an Andy to an Owen, how much could he push the United States? Next up, Leslie Knope. Born and raised in Pawnee, Indiana, she was the co-vice president of her high school’s student body, participated in Model United Nations, Young Republicans, Young Democrats and Young Independents. She also served six seasons as Deputy Director in the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana. These qualifications put her at the top of our list thus far. We don’t care if she’s not a tangible
human being. Knope 2020. Moving on, there’s Morgan Freeman. Not only is he a wonderful person to listen to, he served as a mechanic and radar technician in the U.S. Air Force. While he lacks the government experience Knope has acquired, he has played God (plus the president, but that’s not quite as important) a few times. Lastly, whoever comes out on top in the Game of Thrones would pretty much have our vote. But, you know, they’ll probably all die in the next season anyway. The point of the matter is, no matter how famous Kanye is, fame and monetary intimidation shouldn’t run the United States (we’re looking at you, Trump).
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
9
OPINION
09.04.15
The least favorite thing I’ve ever written The Weekend Warrior
Elijah Evans
As a kid, the notion of enjoying homework was completely foreign. School was the precursor to running around outside and playing sports with friends. The faster I finished it, the better. School remained this way through high school and into my freshman year of college. But then a peculiar thing happened during my sophomore year. I fell in love with school and the process of learning. Suddenly, I wanted to challenge my classmates, write papers that forced my professors to
think and hold myself to a higher standard than before. Sure, I still resent the general education classes, but I find myself making the effort to learn something. Now, one year later, I’m preparing applications for graduate schools, investigating Ph.D tracks and spitballing ideas for thesis and dissertations. Learning to love the process of learning didn’t happen on purpose; it just kind of happened. And honestly, I think that was the best way for such a development. I didn’t plan it out or fit it into my schedule for the semester. It just happened. And because it just happened, it opened up new possibilities and options for my future that I had never considered before.
Writing about my future for a column is weird. Putting it on paper (or, a computer screen) suddenly made it very real. I replotted my course for the near future so quickly and quietly that I continue to be surprised by it. If you’ve read this far and are confused, then that makes two of us. I started this semester the same way I’ve started every other semester: not really sure what’s going to happen. In some ways, that’s the beauty of it. As long as I keep learning, working hard and don’t get lazy, some interesting things are bound to happen.
Allison Brown
In 1844, Thomas Haynes Bayly penned the words, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” While Bayly might have been writing about the Isle of Beauty, when I hear the phrase I can’t help but think of Blue Bell ice cream. If you didn’t know, after a listeria outbreak in the spring, Blue Bell recalled all of its products and faced a financial crisis that almost put it out of business. See, here’s the thing. I went to England in January knowing that I’d leave some of my favorite foods behind until I returned to America in May. Upon my departure, I never
thought it possible that anything could happen to America’s best ice cream. April came and news of Blue Bell’s trouble reached across the Atlantic. I thought, “Oh Blue Bell, surely you’ll return by May…” Well, September arrived yesterday, and here we are in Abilene, still waiting for the half gallons of vanilla bean and cookies and cream. I haven’t eaten Blue Bell since Christmas, and I can echo Thomas Haynes Bayly in saying absence does
“Here we are in Abilene, still waiting for the half gallons of vanilla bean and cookies and cream.”
Follow @acuoptimist on Twitter Sept. 3 5:47 p.m.
Why is your story longer than the day
@EarliestByrd Sept. 2 9:58 a.m.
Class was cancelled all last week. I overslept and missed it Monday. We have a test today.
@SoyTophu Sept. 1 10:24 a.m.
Aisles of Beauty, fare thee well Encyclodpedia Brown
hashtagACU
indeed make the heart grow fonder. Hope began to churn among us all after Texas billionaire Sid Bass invested in the company over the summer. Blue Bell would return. Hallelujah. News broke that August 31 was the day… but only in counties close to Austin and Houston. Nonetheless, I called Abilene’s H-E-B and Walmart, anxious to hear a day to mark on my calendar. “We have no idea when we will get it back,” I was told. Until then, friends, we wait, and we eat Ben and Jerry’s or, God forbid, Blue Bunny. But someday, the goldrimmed cartons will line the shelves again and what a sight that will be. Oh aisles of beauty, fare thee well.
Wake me up when September ends
@juliaaprior Sept. 2 4:26 p.m.
Just had a conversation with Aaron Watson at a stoplight on industrial blvd. #onlyinabilene
@rascoja Sept. 1 9:37 a.m.
Yo! Fight in the bible building. South wing.
@ReeseGwin Sept. 2 2:45 p.m.
“I want to drive into a Mac&Cheese coma.” #overheardinthehonorsoffice #1881
Sept. 2 12:56 p.m.
I’m consistently 2 minutes late for every class. That’s gotta count for something
@MasonAndrews21 Sept. 2 2:45 p.m.
You know it’s bad when the Starbucks barista says, “hey, Laura, you want the usual?”
@LauraRachelle17 Sept. 2 1:35 p.m.
People: “What’s your
major?” @k_winz
Me: “Netflix”
@ACUProbs Sept 2 8:59 a.m.
I just went to my 9:00 class. I don’t have a 9:00 class on mwf.
@chloe_braaten Sept. 2 2:44 p.m.
Just now realized that these freshman will never know what it looked like to have books everywhere on the top floor of the lib. I feel old.
@madisontflowers @ACUHonors
10
SPORTS
09.04.15
Coaches show to begin tenure on KTAB BY COLLIN THOMPSON The Ken Collums Show will air on KTAB-TV for the 2015 Wildcat football season. After the first week, the show will air at 11 a.m. Saturday mornings. The show is produced by the JMC Network student media, and is hosted by the “Voice of the Wildcats,” Grant Boone, as well as senior Shera Niemirowski, is a weekly talk show with the head coach of the ACU football team, Ken Collums, about upcoming match-ups and recapping previous games. At the end of last season, KTXS wanted to begin charging ACU to run the program on its channel. In past years, the only revenue that KTXS made from the show was through advertisements, which caused those in charge of the telecast, to begin shopping the show to other local stations in the Abilene area, which led them to Television Abilene. “KTAB was very interested,” Boone
“KTAB has been great in the past, and I think we’re all really excited to see where this goes.” Shera Niemirowski said. “I met with their general manager, Albert Gutierrez, and he was very eager to bring the Ken Collums Show over to KTAB. KTAB was the first place we went and they expressed an interest and we jumped on it. MARIANA CEDILLO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
This is the seventh year the JMC Network has produced the ACU football coaches show. The coaches show featured former coach Chris Thomsen for three year and current Head Coach Ken Collums for four years.
This really came down to which station wanted it the most and which station would give ACU the best deal. Being Div. I, we wanted the most advantageous deal for us and we think it’s a win-win for both the station and for ACU. ” Boone said that the choice to go with KTAB was an easy decision, considering the station’s track record with the university and the opportunities the new timeslot and network presents for the show’s viewership. “KTAB has a great history in Abilene of hiring ACU alums and it just seems like a great fit,” Boone said. “The SEC is on KTAB and so for or us to be at 11 a.m., right as people are beginning to watch college football on Saturdays, we think it will be a perfect timeslot and we think KTAB will be the perfect station.” Despite only hearing the news of the change last week, Niemirowski said she and the rest of staff are excited to see the show succeed on a new network. “Throughout the summer, there were a lot of unknowns and I think
we’re all in a place now where we’re happy with where [the show] is at,” Niemirowski said “KTAB has been great in the past and I think we’re all really excited to see where this goes.” Regardless of the way the show’s tenure ended with KTXS, Boone said he knows business is business and there are no hard feelings toward the station that gave the Ken Collums Show a home. “ACU athletics is really grateful for the years we were at KTXS,” Boone said. “It’s a great station, I worked there when I was right out of college, [I have] great friends over there and it was real blessing because it gave our students the chance to get real broadcast industry experience and so we will always be really grateful for the five years we had at KTXS.”
cnt13c@acu.edu
09.04.15
11
SPORTS 39
Interceptions
Yards per game McKenzie
26
Baker Gale
9
Malone
McKenzie
Baker
Gale
Malone
5
Yards
=1000 yds.
Malone Gale
Touchdowns =10 touchdowns
300
Baker McKenzie
Malone
Games started Gale: 45 games Gale
Malone: 45 games Baker PAIGE OTWAY FILE PHOTO
McKenzie looks to stand with the quarterback greats in ACU history. He will have almost all his offensive weapons from last season to help him achieve that.
Baker: 11 games
McKenzie
McKenzie: 11 games
The Pressure on Parker Is this the year he joins Malone, Gale and Baker?
BY COLLIN WIEDER Parker McKenzie knows the footsteps he is walking in this season. He has a year under his belt, but still has a lot to prove especially when you look at his predecessors’ resumes. The list of accomplishments, especially in the last decade, are endless. Billy Malone and Mitchell Gale were back-to-back 12,000 yard plus passers. John David Baker broke the single-season total touchdown record in his lone season as a starter (40). Current starter, Parker McKenzie made the All-Southland Conference honorable mention squad as a sophomore in the team’s first official FCS season.
“ACU has two quarterbacks that passed for over 12,000-yards and then JD (John David Baker) had a phenomenal year,” McKenzie said. “I just came in and did my best for the team.” The numbers are staggering to look at, but what is most impressive is the continuation of success from one quarterback to the next. ACU football fans see the articles and stats documenting this decade of offensive decadence, but they haven’t seen it broken down from each quarterback. Head Coach Ken Collums thinks that the quarterbacks shouldn’t be evaluated by the numbers they put up, but rather by efficiency.
“We don’t talk in terms of production,” Coach Collums said. “We talked in terms of Billy on, we say you are the mailman, just deliver the mail.” To be fair to all the quarterbacks, ACU’s offensive numbers should be looked at on different levels based on strength of schedule. Malone and Gale played in Div. II Lone Star Conference, John David played at an FCS independent level and McKenzie on FCS Southland level. It should also be noted that McKenzie has yet to finish out his career and his numbers are based on just one season, just like Baker. Gale and Malone had to start from scratch in their freshman sea-
sons. Their first seasons brought down their yards-per-game averages, making it an interesting breakdown. The legacy that Parker McKenzie is facing entering the 2015 season has to weighing heavily. He already dealt with all the questions during his sophomore season being the first FCS starter for the Wildcats under Coach Collums, and he answered them. Then, in an open quarterback competition this offseason, McKenzie had to find a way to win the job back. It is fair to say that he has been through a lot to stay on track with his fellow ACU greats. cpw11a@acu.edu
HOW MCKENZIE MEASURES UP Where will he rank among past greats?
Billy Malone #2 Starting QB 2005-2008
Mitchell Gale #15 Starting QB 2009-2012
John David Baker #17 Starting QB 2013
Parker McKenzie #14 Starting QB 2014-present
SPORTS
THE OPTIMIST FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 12