Flu numbers down from last year after Sing Song Page 2
SPORTS
Friday, February 23, 2018 Vol. 106, Issue 21
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
BASEBALL HEADS TO TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Page 6
HOME, SLEET HOME HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF Jonathan Ladd, sophomore political science major from Dayton, tries to reset his umbrella during icy weather Wednesday morning.
CALENDAR 2/23 •
ASA “Misconceptions of My Black Skin” at 6 p.m.
2/24 •
50th Anniversary of Moody Coliseum tailgate at 12:30 p.m.
•
Basketball Purple Out Women’s at 2 p.m. and Men’s at 4 p.m.
2/25 •
Black History Service at 3 p.m. in Chapel on the Hill
2/26 •
Justice Week begins
3/01 •
Theatre premieres Sight Unseen at 7:30 p.m.
BOX OFFICE FEBRUARY 16-18 1. Black Panther $201,797,000 2. Peter Rabbit $17,600,000 3. Fifty Shades Freed $17,320,000 4.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle $7,925,000 5. The 15:17 to Paris $7,620,000
14
University closes in icy conditions BY HOPE CORDES COPY EDITOR
The campus community took to social media to express their joy when – at 8:26 a.m. on Wednesday – faculty, students and staff received an email from ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison that campus would be closed for the day. Even faculty took to Twitter to express their excitement. Dr. Cole Bennett said, “Ok, a snow day... no school. How productive I can be!!! *checks listings for Law
SPRING BREAK
FEATURE
STUDENTS GET ART IN ABILENE GALLERY Page 5
Certain facilities, like The Bean, the Brown Library and the Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center, were open on
abbreviated schedules. “This snow makes me want to sing praises to Jesus,” said Mark Roberts, senior psychology major from
tionally experienced, so we feel really positive about that,” Herridge said. Despite spring retention being so high, it is not always a good predictor of fall retention, which typically remains in the mid70s. Herridge said this is a little bit lower than state schools and other campuses that the university is normally compared to. “We’re really starting to look at second to third year retention now,” Herridge
said. “We actually had a really nice increase this year. We had an increase in our retention from fall to spring for the second-year group.” Whether a student stays at the university can depend on fit, finances or both. Herridge said in the last several years the university has emphasized trying to find ways financially to help students who are doing well academically and who are really close to staying here.
One way the university helps students is through scholarship appeals. Herridge said any student struggling financially needs to be visiting with somebody in Wildcat Central. “It’s a very difficult challenge because we’re also, as a university, trying to find ways to cut costs, and we’re trying to find better ways to fit within our budget,” Herridge said. “But on a targeted basis, I think we absolutely do have addi-
A student runs through the sleet Wednesday morning.
Covington, Louisiana. The last time campus had snow days was in February of 2015. Classes on Feb. 23 and 24 were both canceled, and the two days after had delayed starts. During that week, ACUPD reported 28 ice-related auto accidents. All universities across Abilene were closed Wednesday and Thursday as well as Abilene ISD.
HCC14B@ACU.EDU
Freshman retention up from last year BY LAUREN FRANCO
CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR
Freshman retention for fall to spring is up by 1.1 percent from last year. Bart Herridge, dean of student engagement and retention, said this year’s spring retention is 90.4 percent, where as last year, it was 89.3 percent. Spring retention is usually between 89 and 90 percent. “We’re kind of at the high end of what we tradi-
tional funds that have been made available to help specific students that could be successful here.” Herridge said other things to help increase retention include centralized advising, changes in residence life and the SOAR program. “It’s not just staying for your second year, it’s staying all the way through completion,” Herridge said. LMF14A@ACU.EDU
Alumni start opposing petitions on LGBT issues BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
DAYS UNTIL
& Order marathon*” Students who still went to their 8 a.m. classes were slightly less thrilled. “I kept checking my email before I left my house to see if class was canceled, but I hadn’t received a notification, so I went to my class,” said Savannah Buchanan, senior psychology major from San Antonio. According to the email, the road conditions were still passable until between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., when conditions suddenly worsened and the decision was finally made to cancel classes.
Alumni started two opposing online petitions last week, asking the Board of Trustees to take a stand on LGBT issues. Darren Keyes, a 2000 graduate, said he is among a group of alumni that posted the first petition, called Concerned Alumni for Truth, or CATs. He said the petition had more than 100 signatures within 48 hours before it was taken down by the request of the administration.
The petition called for the Board of Trustees to adopt a statement of faith affirming marriage between one man and one woman and requiring faculty and staff to annually sign the statement of faith. The petition states: “We believe the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture.” Keyes said the group researched other Christian universities such
as Oklahoma Christian University and Wheaton College, which also have statements of faith. “Many faith-based organizations are having to confront the accelerating cultural trends,” Keyes said. Keyes said the group started the petition after hearing the university had hired chaplains connected to Fort Worth-area Galileo Church, which they knew to be LGBT-affirming. According to the church website, its first missional priority is “ justice for LGBTQ+ humans.” Tra-
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M
vis and Harmony Weber are on the Spiritual Care Team at Galileo Church and were hired as university chaplains in late January. Six days after announcing the Webers were hired, the university announced the Webers had chosen not to take the job. The CATs petition stated that if the university were to issue such a statement of faith, “such a statement and affirmation could have avoided the Galileo Church situation and would avoid similar events in the future.”
In response to the CATs petition, 2004 graduate Paul Anthony started a second petition rejecting the idea of requiring a statement of faith for all faculty and staff, something the university has never done. “I was pretty appalled and alarmed by that position,” Anthony said. He said he thought that would be a step backward for ACU in an academic sense. He said he also thought the message toward LGBT people was SEE LGBT PAGE 2
2
NE W S
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Post Sing Song flu numbers down from last year BY STELLA WIESER COPY EDITOR
Confirmed flu cases this year after Sing Song have not reached the same number as last year. The Medical and Counseling Care Clinic so far this year has confirmed 71 cases of the flu – compared to 148 for the same period in 2017. Cindy Gravitt, practice manager of the MACCC, said the numbers the clinic reports can be ambiguous because not all students with the flu come into the clinic – some go to other doctors in Abilene or to doctors in their hometown. Last year, the flu peaked just as Sing Song took place. “The Monday after Sing Song last year, we had to turn away 74 patients that called for appointments, and that’s part of what helped lead to us introducing Wild-
cat Care, the telemedicine option,” Gravitt said, “so that even if our clinic is full, or if it’s after hours or weekends, students can still have access to health care.” ACU’s flu numbers trend the same as numbers of flu cases in the area and across Texas. “February is usually the peak month for flu,” Gravitt said. “So Sing Song doesn’t actually cause the flu, but it does happen right in the peak of flu season.” In addition to the traditional winter-time flu period, she said students last year suffered from a flu breakout that spanned from Wildcat Week into the second week of school in early fall. “It wasn’t very long-lasting, but we did have a little pocket of flu that happened right at the beginning of the school year instead of the
traditional November-February months,” Gravitt said. She said a significant number of people have been diagnosed with either the flu or a flu-like illness through Wildcat Care. “I think what happens in situations like Sing Song and classrooms and just living in residential halls, you’re sharing a small space with a lot of people and are exposed to germs more easily,” Gravitt said. “In Sing Song particularly, you’re enclosed tight spaces with a big group of people, you’re doing choreography, you’re often holding hands.” Gravitt encouraged students to go to cdc.gov/flu for a wealth of information on everything from preventive steps to to treatment to symptoms. “It just so happens that Sing Song and the peak of
THE SING SONG SICKNESS
OPTIMIST TWITTER POLL
17%
11%
of respondents contracted the flu and participated in Sing Song.
of respondents have a professor that contracted the flu.
61%
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS:
141
of respondents did not contract flu and participated in Sing Song.
of respondents contracted the flu and did not participate in Sing Song.
148
150
CLINIC CONFIRMED CASES
11%
120
71
90 60 30 0
flu season occur within a few days or weeks of each other nearly every year, and
2018
that’s not just at ACU,” she said. “That’s everywhere.”
2017
ECW13B@ACU.EDU
Board appoints members and reviews financial plan BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Board of Trustees appointed two new members and reviewed the financial plan at a meeting over the weekend. Dr. Arthur Culpepper, executive director and deputy compliance officer for the University of
Texas System, and Mitch Wilburn, preaching minister at Park Plaza in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will join the board. Culpepper is a 1986 graduate who was also a wide receiver on the football team during his time at the university. Wilburn graduated in 1990 and was named the Young Alumnus of the Year in 2007.
The new board members will be eligible to serve up to five three-year terms on the board, which sets policy and guides the university’s long-term direction. The board also heard an update on the financial plan to cut the university budget by $5-7 million. The board first approved the plan in November and
last weekend heard an update from the university administration. University president Dr. Phil Schubert said about 75 percent of the plan has been implemented so far. “We’re rapidly approaching culmination of the initial steps that we laid out ... the majority of it has been completed,” Schubert said.
Other agenda items included presentations to the board about ACU Dallas and the student experience on campus. Each board meeting focuses on a different topic for the board to discuss, Schubert said. The February meeting focused on the student experience including student perceptions and satisfaction, spiri-
tual formation and the residence hall philosophy. The board also spent time writing a letter to the editor for The Optimist about the board’s position on LGBTQ issues.
HRR13B@ACU.EDU
Allen Ridge development proceeds with board approval BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
The ACIMCO Board of Trustees approved a plan for the first phase of development at Allen Ridge during its weekend meeting, which could mean breaking ground within 6-9 months. When completed, the first phase of the Village at Allen Ridge will include a multi-family residential building, a hotel, a pond, retail shops and restaurants built on 30 acres on the northeast corner of Ambler Avenue and Judge Ely Boulevard. Kelly Young, vice president for real estate development for ACIMCO, the company that manages university property, said the next step is finalizing the financing for the project. “The estimate is that we would be between 6-9 months from breaking ground, assuming the financing comes
through,” Young said. The university is working with a development firm called BVTD LLC from Dallas. Young said Allen Ridge will be similar to another development by the same company – Watter’s Creek in the Dallas area. The company estimates construction will take one year after breaking ground. The project has been a long time coming, Young said, as the university has owned the property since the 1940s and it was a farm for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences until the 1990s. The university initially announced plans for the development in May 2015 and received zoning approval from the city of Abilene in September 2016. The plan for the financing and timeline was presented to the ACIMCO Board of Trustees last week.
“Their top concern continues to be that this be done right,” Young said. “They really want this to be something that ACU and the city of Abilene are proud of. The look and feel
–they just want it to be very well done, sophisticated.” The university’s financial investment has not been finalized, but the project will also be funded through various partnerships and inves-
tors for an estimated total cost of $55 million. Phase 1 of the project includes the hotel, apartments and some restaurants. Young said the retail market is more fluid, so restaurants will take priority
over retail shops at first. “You’re not there just to run quick errands, you’re there to spend some time, have dinner,” Young said. “Right now our focus is on getting a cluster of restaurants.” Later phases of the plan could expand to additional retail depending on the needs of Abilene in the future. The apartments will be available for lease to anyone, not just students, and will be some of the highest end apartments in town. Other similar developments in Texas are Market Street in the Woodlands and University Park in Fort Worth. “This is a place that we hope people come to from all over Abilene and the region,” Young said. HRR13B@ACU.EDU
LGBT: Alumni call for statements on issues from Board CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
toward LGBT people was one of “intolerance” and he wanted to start a new petition that would give a voice to alumni who did not agree with the first petition called ACU Includes. The petition calls for the university to commit to welcome and love LGBT
people while also having honest conversation about disagreements on Biblical interpretations. As of Wednesday, 331 students, alumni, faculty and staff signed the petition. “Our goal was to make it as broad as possible to get as many people on board,” Anthony said.
The Board of Trustees responded to the petitions by writing a letter to the editor published by the Optimist Monday. “I do feel like the board took into account the various requests and made the vision to take the action of producing the letter,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, presi-
dent of the university. After reading the board’s letter, the Concerned Alumni for Truth released a statement saying they don’t believe the board’s policy “protects the truth.” “It misleads students and parents to expect a Christian education when, in fact, faculty may be
teaching something altogether different,” the statement reads. “Regardless of one’s opinion, every member of the ACU community deserves to know that it appears ACU does not intend to enforce the historic Christian view of marriage, sexuality and gender identity.”
In response to the board’s letter, Paul Anthony said the university seems to be willing to listen a variety of points of view on the issue. “I was satisfied with the letter,” Anthony said. OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 02/15/18 10:15 p.m. A student reported the theft of his white/gold Beats by Dre from his backpack in the 2nd floor common room in Mabee Hall. 02/18/18 2:39 a.m. An intoxicated student was issued a municipal citation for Minor in Consumption in McKinzie Hall. 02/19/18 1:36 p.m. A student’s bike was stolen from the west side of Moody Coliseum. 02/19/18 2:45 p.m. An unknown hit-and-run driver was reported to have collided with a student’s car in the UCC Lot between 11:50 am and 2:30 pm. 02/19/18 10:03 p.m. A UP tenant reported loud noise and music in the HWC lot; officers found a group of students playing tag; they were instructed to quieten down and they did so promptly. ACCIDENT 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 29 ADVICE 1 ALARM 0 ANIMAL CALL 0 ASSIST 1 BARRICADES 8 BICYCLE PATROL 0 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 16 BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) 0
CHECK BUILDING 290 CITATION ISSUANCE 0 DRUG ACTIVITY/OFFENSE 2 DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE 0 ESCORT 5 EVENT SUPPORT 4 FIRE 0 FOOT PATROL 18 GRAFFITI 0 INFORMATION REPORT 4 INVESTIGATION
FOLLOW UP 12 MEDICAL EMERGENCY 3 MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 12 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 9 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 0 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 10 OTHER 3 PARKING LOT PATROL 27 PATROL VEHICLE:
MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL PROWLER PUBLIC SERVICE RANDOM PATROL REPORT WRITING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SUSPICIOUS PERSON THEFT TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING
4 8 0 2 11 17 2 6 3 4 2
TOTAL
583
POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: With recent school shootings, as well as recent ice storm closures, make sure you are registered for ACU ALERT.
N E WS
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 23 , 2018
3
Freshman Ushers, GSP, KJK win Sing Song
BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Freshman Ushers, the women of Ko Jo Kai and the men of Gamma Sigma Phi won first place overall in the mixed vocals, womens clubs and mens clubs divisions. The competition was tight this year, with several ties for some of the scoring categories in the club divisions. Students booed during the Saturday night show after the co-chairs announced a tie for the women’s division in the entertainment category. Nick Tatum, assistant director of student productions, said ties are not uncommon for Sing Song, but haven’t happened in recent years. He said some of the changes to scoring this year “evened the playing field” for competition this year. The changes included adding choreography and removing originality from the categories. “It’s a step in the right direction,” Tatum said. Ko Jo Kai last won Sing Song in 2014. The club’s act director, Kayla Torp, said she rewrote the act multiple times and the set designers even completely redesigned the set to put on a winning show. “We knew it was gonna be our year and we worked like it would be,” said Torp, a senior music education major from Waco. The Freshman Ushers won first place in every category except appearance. They were directed by Lauren Wertheim, global studies major from Abilene, and Abby Ware, undeclared major from Hurst. Ware and Wertheim both said both freshman acts were strong and they didn’t know who was going to win. “Everything was so close,” Wertheim said. “The other acts were so phenomenal too.”
LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Left to right: Freshman Pac-Man celebrate win in appearance category. Freshman Ushers celebrate winning overall. Sean Estes, GSP act director, holds up the winning trophy.
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4
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 23, 2018
OP I N I ON
Do we value traditions over our students? THE ISSUE
The university places more value in its traditions than students.
OUR TAKE
ACU should make the weeks of maor university events easier for students.
Our university thrives on tradition and Christ, but how often does it place tradition over the well-being of the students? Now that Sing Song is finally over, students are beginning to recoup from the intense stress and sleepless nights. It’s no surprise that students are far too sleep-deprived to function after Homecoming, Sing Song and other campus traditions. The problem arises when we consider whether or not university traditions should be valued more than the well-being of its students. Every extra-curricular activity is completely voluntary; however, there is an unwritten rule that every social club must participate in events such as the Homecoming Parade and Sing Song. Our Alumni and even many
students believe that one of the best things about our college is the four to five weeks of practicing for Sing Song, but they would also agree it is the most stressful part of their semester. Both Alumni and the university love our traditions, and we all want Sing Song to be the best it can possibly be. This, however, is only possible if we place more value on the well being of our students than our traditions. Forcing students to practice eight hours or more a week while also maintaining classes only hurts the quality of the performances and the mental health of the students. This is a problem that can only be solved by the university coming to a consensus that times of major ACU events need to be adjusted to allow
For many years, the ACU community has facilitated constructive and open conversations regarding what it means to be good stewards of God’s gifts, including sexuality. Over the past week, there have been online discussions regarding same-sex relationships and the university’s posture toward people who identify as LGBTQ. As a Board of Trustees, we have invested significant time in prayer, research and discussion on sexual stewardship over the past several years and previously provided the following guidance for our administration, and continue to
support it strongly as we move forward. We affirm the dignity and worth of every person as created in God’s image. ACU affirms the full humanity and dignity of all human beings, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We recognize there are individuals who identify as LGBTQ or who experience same-sex attraction within our community. We strive to love and welcome all individuals. We believe Scripture teaches that God intends for sexual relations to be reserved for marriage between a man and a wom-
CARTOON BY ERNESTO GUAJARDO students to get more sleep or even a day off from class. Certain professors even schedule tests the Friday of Sing Song. The issue could be easily fixed by canceling classes the Friday before a ma-
jor event or allowing for excused absences for students involved. These are all problems for the students and students only, but the university should set a norm that the week of homecom-
ing or Sing Song should be a lighter workload for students. Our university will continue to love Sing Song and all of our many other traditions, but by allowing for easier work loads the week of events,
we can begin to set the precedent that students’ health is valued just as much as tradition.
outside the ACU community have different interpretations of Scripture on same-sex relationships. Regardless of one’s perspective, we encourage all of our community members to engage this issue with Christian care and compassion. We condemn language and behaviors that communicate disrespect toward any member of the ACU community. For further context, we encourage you to read “For Such a Time as This: Identity, Mission and the Future of Abilene Christian University.” This report, released in 2012, continues
to guide our decisions as an institution, including the following: ACU prizes Christian unity as a high value articulating the Christian commitments that emerge from its heritage, yet welcoming the diversity inherent in that unity, respecting others who hold differing opinions, extending and receiving hospitality, and engaging all people with grace and humility. Thank you for your grace and understanding as we seek to follow God’s will. May God continue to unify us as we follow Him. - ACU Board of Trustees
EDITOR@JMCNETWORK.COM
Board of Trustees restates its position on LGBTQ “...we encourage all of our community members to engage this issue with Christian care and compassion” LETTER TO THE EDITOR an. We recognize this belief may conflict with the practice or vision of the larger culture. Yet we hold to the historic Christian perspective on this issue while being respectful of those who disagree with us.
We call for civility and respect. As a university, we encourage the vigorous pursuit of truth. As a Christian university, we believe the Bible is true and reliable. We recognize that Christians inside and
Response: Board statement is vague ONE IN A EMILLION EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR Senior Convergence Journalism Major San Antonio, Texas
While I understand the legalities, policies and common practices Christians should oblige when regarding the homosexuality topic filtering throughout the campus and social media, I would like to ask at what cost must our board firmly proclaim their stance on the matter. Just answer the question – do you or do you not support the LGBT community on campus? Throughout your letter, you begin with stating your abundant preparation by claiming to have prayed, researched and have had “discussion(s) on sexual stewardship.” Then, you proceed to explain your stance – and still explained, stood and proclaimed nothing to the common questions students still have regarding the university’s stance on the LGBT issue. Should
students remain in the closet when deciding to attend ACU? Should Christians learn and accept the notion that perhaps “praying the gay away” is the best method for homosexuals? Should students just accept the fact that homosexuality is not from God? Although I am sure your letter tried to explain why the board has chosen to remain silent and un-affirmed on either side, your letter created more questions than answers for our students, especially those identify as homosexual. It comes as no surprise that our Christian university redirects every concern back to the good book. However, this topic is yearning to be answered with a flat yes or no. When the letter states that you
strive to love and welcome all individuals, why do you turn the other cheek when asked what you support? When the letter explains how you “recognize this belief may conflict with the practice or vision of the larger culture. Yet [you] hold to the historic Christian perspective on this issue while being respectful of those who disagree with [you],” how do you expect students to feel when they read this letter, hear Biblical professors quietly affirm the LGBT community in class and still find that no one on the administration has the decency to sit down and say “I [blank] the LGBT students on campus.” As you stated, “[You] call for civility and respect. As a university, [you] encourage the vigorous pursuit of truth. As a Christian university, [you] believe the Bible is true and reliable. [You] recognize that Christians inside and outside the ACU community have different interpretations of Scripture on same-sex relationships. Regard-
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
EAG13A@ACU.EDU
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
less of one’s perspective, [you] encourage all of our community members to engage this issue with Christian care and compassion. [You] condemn language and behaviors that communicate disrespect toward any member of the ACU community,” yet you still choose to answer the question – what do you, the board members with families, friends and peers possibly involved with the LGBT community, believe? Like you, I strive to find the truth in every news story. I understand what is at stake when one of your members chooses to speak out. However, I can guarantee the student body wants a direct answer. This response to you is not made out of spite. Rather, I would like to be a soon-to-be alumnus of a university that isn’t afraid to state their opinion regardless of the consequences both on earth and in the everlasting life.
@acuoptimist
@rachescott 2/18/18 10:50 A.M. Let’s talk about the Zetas who were mighty, the Kios who were exceptionally kind, the Deltas who were comedic gold, The Gatas who were on point, the Siggies who were dedicated, the Kojies who worked hard, the Kappas, my Kappas. Im so proud of you all. Girl clubs love girl clubs. @DenverXVI 2/21/18 8:25 A.M. “Good morning to everyone except students with 8 AMs”- ACU @camillaklar 2/21/18 9:23 A.M. if y’all get any more salty, the roads will melt and school will be back in session, and i’m not about it. #sharegoodvibes @mckennabrooke34 2/21/18 9:13 A.M. Only took 3 years but ACU finally cancelled school because of the weather @BrookersM 2/21/18 8:04 A.M. new plan, no one show up for any classes and ACU will be forced to cancel
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FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 23, 2018
F E ATUR E
5
ANTHIA NIBIZI
NICKI DICICCO
CHANCEY SANDERS
Bodies of Work
PHOTOS BY EMILY GUAJARDO
For one of their last artistic showings, three seniors prepare their final pieces for the Center for Contemporary Arts gallery in downtown Abilene
BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR
into the piece.” While Nibizi still has time on her hands, other students are polishing their pieces before moving them into the gallery. Nicki DiCicco, art major from Franklin, Tennessee, said she hopes to bring action and awareness through her art work.
F
inishing the final touches on their pieces, three seniors prepare for their senior showcase at the Center for Contemporary Arts in downtown Abilene. With various topics and artistic elements, these women have mentally prepared themselves for the professional exhibition of their work over the past four years. Exemplifying the elegance found within the human body, Chancey Sanders, art major from Lufkin, said the exhibition of her work is meant to express the beauty found within the body. With paintings of bones, facial expressions and physical actions, Sanders said she is constantly looking for inspiration based on the people around her. “I have always been so fascinated by the human body,” Sanders said. “I think it’s so beautiful. Ever since Figure Drawing here, just learning about proportions, and because I’m a people person and the stories that go with people make me very fascinated about the body. Just by looking at people, I sometimes just stare because I just love facial features, and my art is kind of a way to study it, appreciate it and find the beauty in everybody in a very different way.” Growing up around the artistic realm, Sanders said she enjoyed seeing her father being an architect and found herself having raw talent of her own. Moving forward with her life, Sanders began taking art and photography classes. Enjoying the moral understanding behind photography, Sanders said she suddenly felt the urge to paint one of her photos. “One day, I really randomly told my mom ‘I want to paint one of the pictures’,” Sanders said. “And I really loved it. For my senior year of high school, I tried to get better at painting. I changed my major to painting, and it was something I really loved and wanted to have a more technique, style, and kind of get the formal class setting of it. It seemed like the right thing for me.”
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ith only a couple months away from graduation, Sanders said it is important for her work to be hung in different places – to get exposed no matter what gallery or city. “It’s something really cool to see your work on the walls of different places and get that exposure, get that appreciation,” Sanders said. “For me, putting my work out there is so intimidating and scary
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Paintings clockwise: Anthia Nibizi, Nicki DiCicco, Chancey Sanders
because I know that in the art world, there are a lot of things that are controversial, and not everybody likes the same things. I think it’s a constant fear for all artists that their work isn’t going to be liked or appreciated, but you never know until you do it.” While Sanders is counting down the days until her big reveal, other students are still preparing their pieces and statements. Hoping to find herself within her work, Anthia Nibizi, art major from Abilene, said her work is a representation of the struggles she endures as an African-American. Coming from a Burundian culture in the mix of the black community in the United States, Nibizi said she is still trying to figure out where she belongs – and she hopes to portray that in her work. “Lots of my work is about the black community and how I fit into that and my perspective of that, and also the African community and my perspective of that,” Nibizi said. “How at the same time, we celebrate different things but at the same time, we are sort of similar in how we treat ourselves, our image and kind of trying to find that in between. I never truly fit in one or the other.” Looking back, Nibizi is pleased with
how far she was come since her freshman year. Working closely with primitive art – known as the original style of African artists – and the common themes encircling the black community, Nibizi said she is trying to use both to portray a message of hope, confusion and self-identity. “The people who will be coming to my show are people who have known me from the beginning of when I started, and it’s a whole lot different,” Nibizi said. “I have grown so much, and it’s important for people to understand what I’m trying to say. Just for them to understand just a little bit of what I’m trying to put out.” Unlike most artists, Nibizi said she isn’t trying to persuade the viewer to consider a thought or topic. Rather, she wants people to see her within the painting – her confusion, frustration and trials. “I just want them to see my progression in art,” Nibizi said. “Depending on the piece you’re looking at, you’re going to get a different meaning behind it, and I want you to put your own meaning on it. I want you to put yourself into the piece. I want you to say ‘OK. This is Anthia’s perspective, but this is how I see it and understand it.’ I don’t really care if you can’t understand what I’m trying to say. I just want to know if you can put yourself
ollowing her topic of seeking help and guidance through sexual, domestic or verbal assault, DiCicco hopes her art will speak to those who suffer or have suffered from assault. “I am dealing with subject matter such as domestic violence, rape and those kind of violences and hidden issues people don’t talk about. And I’m trying to bring those to light,” DiCicco said. “I was thinking of adding religious undertones to it, like there’s hope and those areas of battling between beauty and ugly. I was thinking about the idea of seeking approval and just all of that.” Focusing on human hands as the primary indicator for her topic, DiCicco said each painting portrays a different set of internal issues people have every day including depression, abuse or violence of any kind. “I know people struggle with these things,” DiCicco said. “It’s not really treated, and I feel like people just tell them to just get over it. And I know people suffer from it and just everything happening in current events. And it just hits me. I don’t like it, and I feel like people need to hear about it, and it affects a lot of people.” Contrary to Nibizi, DiCicco hopes to stir action among her viewers. “I think these issues are important,” DiCicco said. “Maybe it’ll hit someone and make them change within them. Whether they’re someone who’s suffering with it and make them say, ‘Oh, man, I need Jesus,’ or hit someone who hasn’t really thought about it and will do something about it.” While each student brings her own talent, topics and subjects to the forefront of the gallery, these women are eager to stir up downtown with their ideas. Sanders said she hopes the people viewing any work in the gallery will find an appreciation for humans. Whether it be finding some of the needed exposure for potential clients, finding one’s identity or finding the avenue for serious conversations, each student has brought their own version of what it means to be taken as a serious artist.
EAG13A@ACU.EDU
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SPORTS
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Baseball looks to top Tigers
STANDINGS Men’s basketball Team
Ovrl. SLC.
Nicholls SELU SFA SHSU NOU Lamar ACU UCA McNeese TAMU-CC HBU UIW NWSU
18–9 18–10 22–5 17–11 14–12 17–11 15–12 13–14 9–15 8–16 6–21 5–19 3–22
12–2 12–3 11–3 11–4 11–4 9–6 7–7 7–7 6–8 5–9 2–12 0–14 0–14
Team
Ovrl. SLC.
Women’s Basketball Lamar 19–6 SFA 21–4 UCA 18–7 ACU 15–9 NOU 13–13 TAMU-CC 15–10 Nicholls 12–13 McNeese 11–14 SELU 7–19 HBU 8–16 NWSU 7–18 UIW 3–22 SHSU 4–20
14–1 13–1 11–3 9–5 9–6 8–6 7–7 7–7 6–9 4–10 2–12 2–12 1–14
Baseball Team LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Wildcats lead the overall standings after three-game sweep over Quinnipiac. BY TREVOR WYATT SPORTS WRITER
After a strong performance against Quinnipiac in which the Wildcats picked up a three-game sweep, ACU looks to keep the hot streak going against a struggling Texas Southern University team. ACU had strong performances from both pitching and offense and hope to take charge against a team that lost its last game 15-3 to Houston Baptist. All in all, the Wildcats are 3-0, and the Tigers are 1-3. The Wildcats have a
team ERA of 4.00 and a team batting average of .383. The team is led offensively by sophomore transfer right fielder Caleb Kyle, who is hitting .600 in three games. Also contributing offensively is junior infielder Robert Salazar, who is hitting .500 with two walks, and sophomore infielder Dalton Dunn, the savior of game two when he hit a game clinching home-run. He currently holds a .455 average with three walks. On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats have only two players who have
committed more than one error. This translates into pitching, as there have been only three unearned runs so far this season. The team’s pitching has shown strong outings as all of ACU’s starters have gone at least six innings and have given up three or less earned runs. It’s lead by a strong starting duo of senior Drew Hanson and junior Jonathan Nicholson, with junior Brock Barger rounding out the starting three. The team has had a questionable bullpen, but is strongly supported by senior reliever/closer Ca-
leb Dougherty. The right hander picked up a win in his lone relief appearance with a strong three-inning outing that consisted of six strikeouts and no walks. Texas Southern has questions on all sides of the ball, but is led by senior outfielder Kamren Dukes, who is batting .500 in four games played, and junior outfielder Christian Sanchez, who has slugged two homers and driven in five RBIs in four games while having a solid .467 average. The Tigers pitching has struggled so far with a team ERA of 7.68. The staff is
lead by junior starter Aaron Solis, the only pitcher on the team with a win, who is sporting a 4.50 ERA through six innings. On the back end of the game for the Tigers is senior reliever Seth Oliver, who has appeared in three games and has a 2.70 ERA through 3.1 innings pitched. The Wildcats will start the series, barring weather, in Abilene at 6 p.m. Friday. The series continues with games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. TMW13A@ACU.EDU
Wildcats face tough competition in Florida BY DAVIS DENTON SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcat softball team is no stranger to tough preseason competition and played yet another rigid tournament schedule, but came away with a 3-2 record over the weekend. The tournament began with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Wildcats won the back-andforth battle by driving in five runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Roos opened up the scoring with a Kelsey Goodwin fly out for a 1-0 lead, but ACU piled on two runs in the second inning. UMKC responded with two scores of their own to close the inning, but a three-run fifth inning propelled the Wildcats to a 7-6 win. Game two saw an 8-0 rout of Jacksonville State led by senior Brianna Barnhill. Barnhill hit a threerun homerun that gave ACU the 5-0 lead in the third and two base hits by freshman Briana Tijerina and sophomore Braegan Hamilton sealed the win. Hannah Null picked up her third win of the season, surrendering only two hits and striking out eight batters in
LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Wildcats discuss game plan at the mound before starting the inning. the shutout. An extra innings shootout saw a 10-9 win in favor of the Wildcats over Monmouth. Monmouth got out to a 9-0 lead, but senior Alyson Bishoff hit a sacrifice fly that opened the scoring for the ‘Cats. Hawks Pitcher Lilly Robles beaned two batters in the fifth that surrendered two more runs and two homers by Barnhill and Katelyn Belch brought the score to 9-7. The Wild-
cats added two runs in the seventh to force extra and finished with a sac fly in the eighth to take the win. Former Wildcat player and now volunteer assistant coach, Casey-May Huff was pleased with the outcome. “We ended up getting down pretty early in the game, but once we got to the fifth inning our bats started to show up,” Huff said. “Each girl in the lineup passed her bat and did
her job. We were able to stay composed and execute at the plate one pitch at a time.” After the 3-0 start solid defense by George Mason and Georgia Southern stopped the Wildcats in their tracks, the final two outings resulted in 5-3 and 6-2 losses. “We took the momentum from the win in game one directly into game two,” senior Holly Neese said. “We made great strides as a team from San Antonio to
Florida, but we still had two losses on the weekend which means that there is still room for improvement.” ACU was originally scheduled to Waco for the Baylor Invitational starting Friday, but the tournament has been canceled and the Bears will head to Abilene for a double-header with the Wildcats on Sunday. DMD14A@ACU.EDU
Golf regroups for HBU Invitational after finishing 14th BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR
After finishing top-10 in all four fall tournaments, the Wildcats ran into some stiff competition in their first spring tournament at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and came in 14th. ACU got off to a slow start in their first two rounds, as wet course conditions didn’t help. The team posted over par scores of 319 and 290, digging a hole for themselves early. “Mobile was a good learning experience,” junior Reagan Brown said.
“The conditions were tough with the course being as wet as it was. We’ve always been a good finishing team, and we did that again in Mobile. The first round was not our best, but we realized that we can hang with any one of those teams if we put together three solid rounds.” However, like Brown said, the Wildcats turned it around in round three, carding a 3-under-par 285 for the final 18 holes and a total three-round score of 894. Florida State took the tournament championship with a total score of 834, followed by tour-
nament host South Alabama, who finished 16 shots back with 850. Western Kentucky rounded out the top-three with team total of 858. Individually, for ACU, junior Garrett Glanton picked up where he left off in the fall, finishing as the top scorer for the Wildcats at 4-over-par and in 27th place for the tournament. Freshman Alex Clouse was not far behind in 35th and shot the lowest single round of any Wildcat with a 4-under-par 68. Sophomore Bryce Dooley carded a final round of 3-under to finish
at 8-over-par and junior Kade Miller finished with total scores of 233 and 237 respectively to close out the Wildcats’ five. Freshman Chase Allison and junior Cory Donnell competed as unattached competitors in the tournament. Allison recorded a 5-over-par 221, and Donnell finished with a 226. “All in all we know our capabilities, and we’re looking forward to getting it going this spring,” Brown said. ACU next heads to Houston for the Colin Montgomerie Invitational Feb. 26 and 27, hosted
by fellow Southland Conference competitor Houston Baptist. In 2017 the Wildcats finished in a tie for seventh as a team, competing against the likes of Southland competitors, Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin, Nicholls State and Incarnate Word, as well as last year’s champion Louisiana Monroe. The tournament will take place at the 7,169yard, par 72 Cypresswood Traditions Golf Course. JMR13B@ACU.EDU
ACU TAMU-CC SELU SHSU HBU NOU NWSU UIW Lamar UCA Nicholls McNeese SFA
Ovrl. SLC. 3–0 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–5
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
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Baseball The baseball team kicked off its season with a three-game sweep over Quinnipiac, and Kyle Kyle played a huge part in his squad’s strong start. Kyle hit for a .600 average over the three game span while also scoring six runs and knocking in three more. He was given Southland Conference honorable mention player of the week for his efforts. Hanson was brilliant in his first start of the season Sunday and gave the bullpen a Hanson rest as he pitched the full nine innings against Quinnipiac. He gave up only one earned run, while the second one was surrendered by an error. Hanson also sat down eight batters on strikes and had a .176 opposing batting average for the game. He also received Southland Conference honorable mention for his performance. Salazar also contributed to a big offensive performance by the Wildcats last weekend. Salazar He hit for a .500 average in the series and added three RBIs and a double. The baseball team will be back in action with a three-game series this weekend against Texas Southern University after the weather caused cancellations to the UTSA and Oklahoma matchups.
For more, check out ACUOptimist.com Or follow us on social media @OptimistSports