Feature Page 5
Playing abroad International athletes join the ACU family vol. 103, no. 32
wednesday, january 28 2015
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
Students count down to Sing Song
what’s INSIDE NEWS
rachel fritz
Students reach at-risk children in North Abilene
staff reporter With Song Song less than three weeks away, students are perfecting their vocals and dance moves for the half-century-old tradition. The student-run show will follow the theme, Countdown, ... ? Kirk Farrell, one of six co-chairs for this year’s show, has become familiar with the inner workings of Sing Song as he was also director of his class act as a freshman. “I really enjoyed being active in Sing Song,” said Farrell, junior youth and family ministry major from Richardson. “I didn’t want to direct again, and I thought being a co-chair would be a good learning experience.” Farrell has been working since the summer to prepare this year’s show and said it’s a lot different from being a director. “There was a lot of preliminary work,” he said. “We’ve been working all year long. It’s more big-picture busy, and there’s not as much direct work.” Farrell and his five fellow co-chairs have been working throughout the semester, and he thinks it will be well worth it in the end. “Sing Song week will be crazy busy, but that’s no matter what,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great
Page 3
SPORTS Men’s basketball increases losing streak to four
Page 6
OPINION Swimming for Fitness class evokes sink-orswim mentality Page 4
SPORTS Men’s tennis team struggles in DFW
Intramurals Page 2
Page 5 jarred schuetze chief Photographer
Chris Cope, senior biblical text major from Abilene, takes a jump shot in his first intramural basketball game of the season. Games started this week and will continue through February.
see sing song page 3
University closes in science centers’ funds
OPINION Racist yaks take anonymous social media too far
Page 4
abigail runnels crime reporter Ninety-two percent of fundraising for the Vision in Action Initiative’s science centers is complete, according to Jim Orr. Orr, vice president for advancement, said the university is waiting on $3 million to be committed. Regardless, though, he said the fundraising is doing well in the 11 months since the initiative began. “We’re really close to completing the funding on
that. Sometimes those last few dollars are some of the most difficult to raise,” he said. “ But at the same time, we’ve got a number of opportunities that we’re pursuing right now that we feel good about and are confident we’ll get to that finish line pretty soon,” he said. By Aug. 28, the Office of Advancement had fundraised $19 million for the science centers, in addition to the original $35 donation, and was 75 percent done, according to the Optimist. In the same article, the Board of Trustees policy
stated that in order to begin construction, the university would have to raise the complete funds of the project. However, the Vision in Action initiative’s funds were not committed in full before the renovation of Bennett Gymnasium, the exterior demolition of Walling for the Onstead Science Center and the construction of the track/soccer stadium. “Those two things were started before the fundraising for the total project had been completed. However, the funds for completing those portions of the project,
for which the ground has been broken, were already raised,” Orr said. “So was how the Board went about approving those projects.” Since then, through a multi-channeled effort of calling, sending letters, emailing and face-to-face solicitation, the office for advancement has drawn closer to the goal amount. “A lot of it is just making people aware of what you’re doing,” Orr said. “Fundraising is largely about making sure people understand what you’re doing, showing them benefits of the projects
and helping them to understand the impact it’ll have across campus and in the lives of our students.” As for the Wildcat Stadium and Anthony Field, Orr said fundraising is just shy of $30 million, but he and the Office of Advancement are continuing their hard work on the initiative. He said he is hoping to see the grand opening of Bennett Gymnasium soon, as well as the track/soccer contact runnels at anr11a@acu.edu
On-campus drug arrests recently increase
SPORTS Women’s basketball bounces back after tough opening in Southland Conference play Page 6
NEWS Abstracts being accepted for undergraduate research festival Page 3
abigail runnels crime reporter At least four students over the past several months have been arrested in campus dorms for possession of marijuana. According to ACU Police, two students in Mabee Hall were arrested in October; one student was arrested in Edwards Hall in November; and another student in Mabee
VIDEO Citizens and students gather to march in remembrance on MILK Day
Read more at acuoptimist.com
tributed to greater awareness by Residence Life staff and students,” Ellison said. “The other reason for this could be that marijuana use is becoming more prevalent among young people across the country. I’d say it’s probably a combination of both.” Dr. Bob Strader, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, said his staff is trained to identify the signs and smells of marijuana use as well as what to do if a resi-
dent might be in possession. “We are the most involved in noticing if students are using,” Strader said. After a member of the Residence Life staff makes a call to ACUPD, the decision has to be made whether to inform the dean of students, Mark Lewis, who will investigate and make disciplinary actions on behalf of the university, Strader said. Despite changing laws in some states that allow mari-
juana use for recreational or medical purposes, Texas continues to take a decisive anti-marijuana stance. If the amount of marijuana is less than two ounces, possession is a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by jail time of up to 180 days and a fine of up to $2,000. If the amount is between two and four ounces, possession is a Class A misdemeanor, which see arrests page 3
New graduate programs offered online madeline orr
what’s online
Hall was arrested on Jan. 9. Those students arrested have been taken by ACUPD to the Taylor County Jail on varying charges of possession. The students were later disciplined by the Office of Student Life for violating ACU’s drug policy, ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison. Ellison said while he can’t be certain, he attributes the upswing in drug-related calls on campus to two factors. “Any increase could be at-
editor in chief Sitting in the freshly renovated area on the top floor of the library, Dr. Stephen Johnson tells about changes happening in ACU’s graduate programs that go beyond the shiny wood floors and freshly painted offices. The graduate school is planning to launch new programs for online graduate degrees within the year. “We’re very excited about both the combination of new programs and some existing ones that we think are really high qualities that now can be offered to more students online,” said Johnson, dean of the graduate school. The graduate school
plans to launch online programs for a doctor of education in organizational leadership (pending SACS accreditation), a master in marriage and family therapy and an online certificate in medical family therapy. The Graduate School of Theology plans to offer some of its existing degrees online including a masters of divinity, a master of arts in Christian ministry and a master of arts in global studies, all of which are pending accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools. Additionally, an online master of business administration is in the proposal stage and expected to launch this fall. The MBA has yet to be approved by university faculty councils and the fac-
ulty as a whole. Johnson said ACU is distinctive in that it wants to give people the knowledge and skills they need to advance their career while also allowing them to grow in their understanding of their work as a response to God’s call. “Our aim is to identify and launch programs for a non-traditional or nonresidential adult learner,” he said. “It’s about extending ACU’s mission to include those students. Renovating the space in the library came as part of the campus-wide relocation of departments and offices during construction, but it also acts as a way to reposi-
erika bolado staff photographer
The graduate school office relocated to a recently renosee grad school page 3 vated space on the third floor of the Brown Library.
Abilene Christian University
Wednesday 1.28.15
28
29
wednesday
30
thursday
2
31
friday
saturday
10 a.m. Men’s tennis at Murray State
10 a.m. Men’s tennis at Bethel College
Women’s tennis outdoor tournament
5 p.m. Men’s tennis at Lipscomb University
3 p.m. Men’s tennis at Autin Peay
3 p.m. Dayna Coppedge senior recital
7 p.m. Women’s basketball at Houston Baptist University
7:30 p.m. Naomi Worley senior recital
4 p.m. Women’s basketball at Lamar University 6 p.m. Men’s basketball at Lamar University
Chapel checkup To date:
Around Abilene
Remaining:
12 60 @acuoptimist
Jan. 29
Jan. 30
Jan. 31
Feb. 3
7 p.m. Join The Big Country Astronomers Club for stargazing on the rooftop of The Grace Museum. This event is open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, this event is subject to cancellation.
9 a.m. Diana Kersey Ceramics Exhibit opens at McMurry University’s Ryan Fine Art Gallery. Kersey is a visual artist who works in clay, creating both studio pottery and architectural ceramics. Her work possesses a raw textural quality with earthy glazes. Kersey earned an MFA in ceramics from Washington State and a BFA From Texas Tech. She lives in San Antonio, Texas
10 a.m. Simple Fiction Writing Workshop at the Abilene Public Library. Published author Scott W. Rasco will conduct the first of four monthly workshops to provide a basic foundation that can be used by writers of any genre, or in writing for any reading level. For additional information, contact us at 325-676-6025.
11 a.m. “Plastic” at the Center for Contemporary Arts. Chase Turk presents stories about the ills of modern man with both words and images. Complex collages accompanied by descriptive prose carry the viewer through the gallery as the narrative unfolds. Admission is free.
The Optimist optimist@acu.edu Announcements The Shinnery Review is now accepting submissions of original works through March 1. Email all submissions to shinnery@acu.edu. The ACU Theatre winter musical is The Marvelous Wonderettes, a show about four girls in high school in 1958. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21 in Fulks Theatre with a talkback on Feb. 13. Tickets are $15. Abstract submission is now open for the Undergraduate Research Festival on
March 31. Submissions are due by Jan. A representative of the Fulbright Schol30. arship will be on campus Feb. 3 to answer questions about one of the nation’s Service Action Leadership Team is now most prestigious academic awards. This accepting applications for Spring 2015. major scholarship serves as a gap year Members meet weekly to serve in the between undergraduate study and the Abilene community. Visit facebook.com/ next step in your future. RSVP to katie. serveACU to apply. smith@acu.edu if you would like to attend the information session. Samaritan’s Purse is hiring for numerous domestic and international paid intern- ACU Project Merge presents Notes & ships. Apply by Feb. 28 at Joe on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Shore Art intern.samaritanspurse.org. Gallery. Coffee, good music and s’mores will be available for a good cause. Tickets
are $7 at the door. Springboard Ideas Challenge is a business plan competition. The college division grand prize is $10,000. Registration is due March 5 at 11:59 p.m. with a $10 registration fee Email griggscenter@acu. edu for questions or more information. A limited number of $20 student tickets to TEDxACU will be awarded in early March. Applications are due March 1. You can apply today at acu.edu/tedxacu/ studentapp.
Volunteer Opportunities Big Brothers Big Sisters “Lunch Buddy” program is looking for volunteers. Each volunteer is matched with an elementary-age child. Volunteers spend just 30 minutes per week eating lunch with their “little brother” or “little sister” at local elementary schools, while mentoring through the simple act of friendship. Participants can enjoy playing card games, reading books and visiting during lunch. Each volunteer can choose their own “lunch buddy day” that fits best with their schedule. The waiting list has 138 children. Contact Jamie Bearden at 325-674-3113 or jbearden@
bbbstx.org for more information. Communities in Schools needs 1020 reading and lunch buddies at Ortiz Elementary. Volunteers are needed anytime between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Contact Sheila Ashford at 325-671-4945 ext.5351 or sheila.ashford@abileneisd.org for more information. Friends for Life needs volunteers to work with the elderly and people with disabilities, focusing on those that don’t have family or friends to care for them.
Some live in nursing homes and some live independently. For nursing home clients, we have friendly visitation, reading to the blind, entertainment, playing games, help writing letters, special holiday recognition, adopt a grandparent and Gifts for Grannies and Grandpas at Christmas. For those living independently, we have minor household repairs, transportation to the grocery store or doctor appointments, running errands, reassurance calls, change light bulbs and mow lawns. Dates and times are flexible and able to work around students’ schedules. Con-
tact Cecilia Barahona at 325-672-2635 or cecilia@friendsforlife.org for more information. Girl Scouts is seeking volunteers to help make a difference in the life of young girls. Girl Scouts offers several flexible ways to volunteer. You choose how: a one-day event, six-week series or year-round troop! Volunteer positions are ongoing and varied. Contact the Michelle Lawson in the Girl Scout Office for current opportunities at 325670-0432 and mlawson@gs-top.org.
Intramurals
Intramurals bounce back with basketball THE VAGABONDAGE REC-COVERING SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND ADDICT
DANIEL BLOCK
And we’re back. The spring intramural season kicks off this week with Champs League basketball (insert Lil’ Bow Wow lyrics here). On any given night, the Rec is sure to be filled with players sporting sweaty headbands, armbands, shin-length shorts, maybe a compression sleeve or two and 23 different pairs of J’s (and that’s just the women’s league). Now, I’ll be honest, as a Canadian, basketball season was worthless to me because it always interfered with hockey season. In my mind, playing a sport where only half the athletes still had their front teeth appealed to me much more than one in which you essentially scored free points if someone touched you (more on that later). And yes, for those of you who refuse to go outside once
the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, I’m talking about ice hockey. In Canada, “ice” is always implied. Women’s Champ League Six teams will vie for the title in this season’s rugby – ahem – basketball league. Don’t let those sweet little smiles fool you. These ladies can throw ‘bows better than a Siggie at a bouquet toss. As far as the teams go, the usual suspects are at it again. Alpha Kai Omega, Ko Jo Kai, GATA and Sigma Theta Chi have entered teams, with Ko Jo Kai returning as defending champions. After the Siggies won f lag football, GATA won waterball and the Kojies won volleyball, I think for fairness’ sake the basketball championship
should be awarded to Alpha Kai. If the clubs seriously claim to be sisters in Christ, they need to share everything equally. Including intramural championships. Let’s face it; after not even entering a team in Champs League last year, Alpha Kai is going to need all the help they can get. The other two challengers will try to upend the social club supremacy. The Has-Beens and LEGIT are teeming with players with ball skills for days, and own a significant advantage in that the players won’t be doubling up ball games with Sing Song practices every night. Men’s Champ League With nine teams in the league this year, one thing is clear. Nearly every male at ACU not already on a university sports team believes he has the skills to ball with the best. If you accidentally wander into the Rec on game night, you’ll be sure to notice a few things.
First, the unbelievably high testosterone levels. Sticking ten sweaty men in a crowded area and having them try to put a ball in a basket is always a sure-fire method to bring out the best in people. Second, the complaining. Cries of, “He fouled me!” and, “Come on, ref!” will echo through the gyms for hours after the final buzzer sounds. Those ten men, who so bravely fight for position on the court are the same ten who are known to collapse as though shot if they feel a tap on their hands while shooting. Finally, excuses. My personal favorite is, “It must be windy in here,” most often said while the ball sails a foot wide of the hoop. Sub T-16 is the defending champion, but this will be tough to repeat this year. The team hasn’t practiced much, as the club has a policy of devoting the majority of its time to its Sing Song act. Cody Luttrell, captain of Sub T, knows his team’s expectations are tempered this year.
“Two of our team goals are to make at least one full court shot on the year,” Luttrell said, “and our other is to throw Parker Bow an alley-oop in a game.” Expect the Subbers to bring out their new secret weapon in the first game, Tanner “Spider-Man” Marlar. “Myth has it he has a secret spidey-sense that allows him to jump higher and attract the balls to his hands better,” Luttrell said.
may go down as the greatest intramural tournament of all time, the intramural sports department will present the inaugural Super Smash Bros. tournament. This is not a lie. Details are yet to be confirmed as to the gaming system used. Some people want N64, while others prefer Wii. One thing is certain. On Feb. 20-21, a battle that has raged over the last 15 years will finally be decided once and for all. Well, at least for 24 Upcoming Events hours. By the time the Super Spring intramurals will Smash Bros. tournament look slightly different is over, no one is going this year. to remember who won A dodgeball tourna- f lag football. No one will ment will take place Feb. care who won volleyball 24-26, hosted by the Stu- or basketball. Everything dents’ Association. There will be decided by the will be a men’s league and victor of Super Smash a women’s league, and Bros. Just imagine the tthe registration deadline shirt. is Feb. 20. Soccer season will follow basketball season, with Champ and Rec leagues for both men and women. Register by Feb. contact block at 25. djb13a@acu.edu And finally, in what
3
news
Wednesday 1.28.15
Research Festival begins accepting abstracts joshua deleon staff reporter The Office of Undergraduate Research is now accepting abstract submissions from all fields for the 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Festival on March 31. The Festival gives students a platform to present research in areas such as sciences, business, social sciences, the arts and humanities. In 2014, 166 students participated in the festival, giving 127 presentations – Some presentations had more than one student author. Thirty-four faculty, staff and administrators acted as judges for the Research Festival last year, while there were 61 faculty mentors for the students. Some took on both roles. One mentor, Dr. Ron Morgan, professor of history and chair of the department, has designed his Introduction to Global Studies course to work with the schedule of the Undergraduate Research Festival. His course “explores the nature of the contem-
porary world, with attention to major issues impacting global society,” said Dr. Autumn Sutherlin, director of undergraduate research and associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry. His students will take a research approach through the lenses of the many dimensions of globalization. “Each student, through participating in their group, with grow academically and learn collaboratively just as they will in a research group in the working world,” Morgan said. In Morgan’s course, he has prepared a multi-step research process with different stages and phases that will prepare students for the poster presentation at the research festival. The class of 30 students is divided into six groups that work together on one research topic of their choosing. Morgan encourages his students to offer critical feedback to other student researchers and develop better research, organizational capabilities and critical thinking skills. With help in funding
from the Honors College and Graduate School, Morgan and other staff and students continue to work hard to organize the festival. “I am really proud of the work undergraduate research students are doing,” Sutherlin said. This year, with the 16 faculty members that make up the planning committee and the 11 students of the student panel on undergraduate research, the Office of Undergraduate Research hopes to see the Research Festival continue to grow. “It has been really exciting to see the Research Festival grow over the last seven years not just in the number of students participating but in the diversity of areas represented at the Research Festival and the quality of student research and presentations,” Sutherlin said. Abstract submissions are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 30 to The Office of Undergraduate Research. For more information, visit blogs.acu. edu/researchfest. brittany jackson managing editor contact runnels at anr11a@acu.edu
Lyndel Lee helps move a new laser cutter into the Maker Lab through the front door of the Brown Library.
Students reach at-risk children at Abilene North elijah evans online manager Reach, a ministry run by ACU students, serves atrisk children and their families at an apartment complex on North Willis and Ambler. Caroline Thompson, senior accounting major from Cypress, started Reach a year ago in an effort to plug into and serve the local community. Reach serves Abilene North Apartments, which is behind Ambler Bingo. Bethany Jones, communications director of Reach, said the program
established a list of more robust and targeted goals for the spring semester. The grassroots ministry worked to establish a presence and build relationships during the first year of ministry. This semester, Reach plans to cultivate discipleship opportunities and continue to utilize small groups to initiate fresh growth and deeper relationships between children and mentors. Jones, junior advertising and public relations major from Oklahoma City, said she hopes small groups create a safe place for heartfelt discussion
“
It was kind of a mindset change for me; these kids just want to have friends to hang out with.”
set change for me; these kids just want to have friends to hang out with,” Callaway said. Reach occurs every Wednesday from 4-5:30 p.m. The first hour is zack callaway filled with fun activities senior accounting major from such as kickball, rope Round rouck jumping, chalk and rope climbing. After a group and mentoring for the boys don’t want to hang Bible story time, they older children. out with small, white break into smaller groups “With the little kids, girls.” for object lessons, activiit’s easy to connect with Zach Callaway, senior ties and crafts. Reach volthem- give them candy accounting major from unteers take older chiland they think you’re Round Rock, is leading dren to ACU basketball golden,” Jones said. “But the small group for older games and invite them with the older kids it’s boys this semester and to their houses for movharder, especially with was involved with Reach ies in an effort to foster the boys, because middle from the beginning. increasingly robust relaschool and high school “It was kind of a mind- tionships.
“That’s what we are really trying to do this semester, really get that connection with the older kids,” Jones said. The continuity and regularity of Reach is one of its best qualities, Jones said. It allows the volunteers to connect with the children and develop meaningful relationships. “You can see how much it means that you are taking time to listen to them tell you what they had for lunch,” Jones said. contact evans at ece12a@acu.edu
Grad school: Online programs begin this summer from page 1
are designed specifically for ACU students to tie tion the profile of the grad- their undergraduate expeuate school on campus. rience residentially here,” “While we want to ex- he said. “The commons tend ACU’s graduate school area allows us to be accesonline, we are equally com- sible to the students here mitted to a focus or profile and to partner with them of unique programs that in their career as they fin-
ish their undergraduate degree.” Katie Cranfill, senior Spanish major from Copperas Cove, plans to begin the masters in global studies online after she graduates in May. Cranfill said she is part
of a mission team moving to Peru, so the online program would work for her. “I obviously can’t do it on campus,” she said. “It’s cool because you can do it wherever you are and you can intern as a missionary while you’re doing the pro-
gram.” Johnson said the online programs would also help diversify and grow revenue for the university. “The way that we are approaching that is through these programs that are in our 2015 schedule to roll
out,” he said. “I think it’s one part of thinking about what it means to be a university in the 21st century.”
contact orr at mco10b@acu.edu
Sing Song: Co-chairs begin preparing in summer from page 1 show. I think people will really enjoy it.” Jaci Bonneau, freshman graphic design major from Abilene, stands in his shoes as director of one of two freshmen acts this year. Years past have feature just one freshman act, but because this year’s freshman class is so large, a second act was added to ensure fewer cuts were made and more could participate. “Sing Song should be a unifying experience,” Bonneau said. “Now we have two out of five chances to win. A win from them is go-
ing to be a win for us.” Bonneau was no stranger to the long-standing tradition of Sing Song. “My mom is a Kojie adviser,” she said. “I was in the children’s acts when they used to do those, and I was in a Kojie act as a cameo.” With her familiarity of the program, it’s no surprise that Bonneau was chosen as director. She welcomed the opportunity, though it wasn’t in her plans to do so. “I never looked at being a director because I wasn’t a music major,” Bonneau said. “But I’ve always enjoyed leading groups of people. The opportunity
just kind of presented itself.” Bonneau led a Freshman Follies Act last semester and realized she had a knack for leading large groups of people, regardless of her lack of musical background. “I recognized I didn’t have to be experienced to lead experienced people,” she said. The group of freshmen have been working to perfect their act. Bonneau came up with the theme after a comprehensive creative process. “I have a rule where I never use the first three ideas I come up with,” she
said. “If I can come up with it, someone else can.” After some brainstorming, Bonneau came up with an idea that was Sing Sing-worthy. Inspired by the show’s theme, Countdown, she settled on an act that will follow the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland through a rabbit hole lined with ACU allusions. “There will be 99 white rabbits up there,” Bonneau said. “It’s called ‘I’m late, I’m late for a very important date’ and will be about the rabbit being late to things that ACU students would go through if they were getting ready for a date.”
Originally, 100 rabbits were to perform in the act, but that 100th rabbit costume belonged to someone who can’t be replaced, Bonneau said. “The last spot belonged to Colby McDaniel,” Bonneau said. “We wanted to honor her spot by not replacing it.” McDaniel, a freshman music major from Fort Worth, died Dec. 21. Despite the sudden loss of their friend, the team continues to make the most of its first Sing Song performance. “We have themed practices,” Bonneau said. “Last
week, we had a pajamathemed practice and we all practiced in our pajamas. When it was national hat day, we had a Mad-Hatter themed practice, and next week will be ‘Party in the USA.’ I don’t want the eight hours a week that we practice to be dreaded; I want everyone to want to participate and have fun.” To keep things interesting, Bonneau has found a way to take her act’s theme beyond the practices.
contact fritz at ref11a@acu.edu
Arrests: ResLife sees drug arrests spike in dorms from page 1 marijuana stance. If the amount of marijuana is less than two ounces, possession is a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by jail time of up to 180 days and a fine of up to $2,000. If the amount is between two and four ounces, possession is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Possession of greater amounts is a felony, which can result in significantly greater jail time. Ellison said most student possessions in the dorms have been Class B misdemeanors, but some have been Class
“ A.
It is a crime in Texas, regardless of the amount”
jimmy ellison ACUPD Chief
“It is a crime in Texas, regardless of the amount,” Ellison said. “We’ve dealt with individuals from Colorado and California who claim that the substance is legal where they come from. But that doesn’t matter. We have to enforce whatever law is in place here.” ACU’s “zero-tolerance” policy is in accordance with local and fed-
eral laws, and a violation cording to the student could result in students handbook. losing scholarships or “ACU’s policy and federal assistance ac- the law are there for the
protection of students,” Strader said. “Following the law is the best way to live in community.”
contact runnels at anr11a@acu.edu
Opinion
Wednesday 1.28.15
4
editorial
The Yik Yak effect part II: A call against racial slurs the issue Yik Yak comments were disgustingly out of control during last week’s Chapel tributes to MLK.
our take Students who post those yaks have been heard across campus but their voices carry no weight.
In the past several months, we’ve spent hours scanning Yik Yak for positive, comical Yaks to feature on the editorial page. Us editors have seen good, pure comedy, as well as comments we could only hope came from somewhere outside the ACU community. This past week, during Chapel’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., was one of the latter situations. Negative Yaks targeted the black population of ACU and Chapel’s attempt to honor black history. Several students related Chapel to recruitment for the Black Panthers, claimed that black people already had enough in society (ie. The presidency of the United States) and did not need this time in Chapel, and yakked offensive racial expletives. As a publication representing the student body, we in no way agree with these racist Yaks. And, as a publication serving the student
body, we are calling you to hold each other to a higher standard. At the beginning of the school year, we featured two letters to the editor arguing for and against our decision to publish Yik Yaks. In his argument against Yaks, Jake Hall, senior education major from Springtown, said, “(The Yaks) are deadly to our atmosphere here, and if there’s anything I can say about the Optimist, it’s that you all have so much power when it comes to shaping the atmosphere on campus…more than you may realize.” And while we continued to publish Yaks after Hall’s dissent, we do believe in the power of the Optimist, and are advocating for a change. In the editorial explaining our use of Yaks, we provided three guidelines detailing our decision: To remind users just how far their messages may reach. To listen and be repre-
hashtagACU Jan. 27 2:23 p.m.
sentative of all students on campus; the good, bad or ugly. To transform the medium into a place where more clean, humorous or constructive posts make their way to the top of the feed.
So, to the people who posted those degrading Yaks: Classes are talking about your statements; offices are wondering how to reconcile the campus. Look and see how far your message
Biology professor: “I’m a nerdy scientist..According to my wife... Y’all don’t have to try to be cool in this class.”
@carlyyruth @CierraFay
Jan. 27 12:53 p.m.
Jan.25 8:51 p.m.
You know you’ve reached the top when you have ID access in the hall that separates Moody and the Rec. Started from the bottom...
Just overheard a Siggie say “I’ve dated a Gamma, time to marry a Moonie” #TSCM
@kirby_nicole
@totalsocialclub
Jan. 27 11:42 a.m.
Jan. 26 4:12 p.m.
life becomes better when you venture off campus. and when I say “life” I really mean “food”
“Count the Nose Rings” continues to be one of my main go-to cames as I wait for food in the campus center.
@joshmillsxc @lukeaschumann
Jan. 26 10:09 a.m.
The day that the @acuoptimist can print gifs is the day I’ll finally make into hashtagACU
Jan.27 5:38 p.m.
33 min of optimital hw time was wasted in walgreens drive thru. I doubt describing the back of the car in frontn of me will be on tmrw’s quiz
Column
A good bye farewell to sports
Some may not know I’m a student-athlete. Long before I was writing for the Optimist, I was out on the softball field taking ground balls and learning how to pitch a good change-up. Now, many know the emotional and psychological chaos of being a senior in college – almost being done with school, trying to figure out what to do next, worrying you’ll never be employed, etc. Well, I’ve got all of that going on, but lately, I’ve also felt the added terror of finishing my athletic career, forever. I don’t know how to not play softball. I’ve been doing it for more than half my life. It’s
So apparently the numbers on the toaster are minutes? I’ve thought for years it was a degree of toastyness
YikYak Fitness goals: be able to walk up the admin stairs without sweating
YikYak
YikYak
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.
All the athletes here can relate to this in every sport – if we didn’t find the game to be fun, we wouldn’t have built our lives around it. 1) My teammates. These women are not just in the trenches with me, they’re my sisters. We spend every day together, practice together, run until we puke together, travel together and have each other’s backs, no matter what. The thought of not having teammates ever again is the worst part of saying goodbye to this wonderful sport. Honorable mention: The calories. For the most part, college athletes can eat what they want and not worry about it. If I continue those habits after I’m done with softball, I can pursue a new athletic career in sumo wrestling. contact seidel at eks13b@acu.edu
When you feel like a drowned kitten THAT’S WHAT VAGABONDAGE SAID SAMANTHA SHE SUTHERLAND
When I was a kid, swimming was like a superpower. We could move through the water at seemingly break-neck speeds, hold our breath for unbelievably long periods of time and be transported to another world underwater. In the pool, I felt like I could do anything. But slowly, the taller I grew and the heavier I got and the less in shape I allowed myself to be, that superpower disappeared. Swimming devolved into standing in the shallow end or reading on the side. In the pool, I became a
published by the department of journalism and mass communication editorial and management board
boring adult figure who only served as an obstacle for the energetic young folk to swim around. This semester, I thought I could reclaim that superpower. I might have thought wrong. I picked Swimming for Fitness as my final exercise class – ignoring everyone who warned me how hard it would be. They must not have had the superpower as a kid. They didn’t understand. But as I gasped for breath and simultaneously inhaled chlorinated water during the manda-
tory 12-minute swim, I thought, “There is no superpower.” Because it turns out, I don’t really know how to swim – not properly at least. All of my memories of summers spent endlessly swimming and I never learned how to correctly free-style swim or any other stroke, for that matter. Instead of the graceful figure effortlessly cutting through the water I imagined myself as, I’m plugging through the water as inefficiently and noisy as an unhappy cat trying desperately to reach the nearest edge. As I’m getting closer to graduation, I can’t help but think that my experience with swimming provides plenty of unwanted metaphors for my future – swimming with the fishes
being the darkest. But the cliche of sink or swim, as painfully real as it is right now, probably best describes what will happen to the seniors in May and what happens during most transitions, really. This feeling of sink or swim during class is fairly disheartening – normal breathing seems impossible, proper strokes seem unlearnable and the superpower of swimming seems unattainable. But I’m hoping that, for the sake of my lungs and arms, this sink or swim feeling is a painful but forming phase that is necessary to go through to regain that superpower.
contact Jones at MNJ10a@acu.edu
Madeline Orr
catherine blakemore
jamie swallows
James Eldred
Kenneth Pybus
editor in chief opinion page editor
arts Editor
chief Videographer
Staff Writer
faculty adviser
paige otway
Ben Todd
cade white
brittany jackson
emily seidel Copy editor
Staff Photographer
Cartoonist
rachel fritz
abby runnels
copy editor
Page 2 Editor
Daniel Zepeda
Laura Benson
Sports director
newscast producer
managing editor
elijah evans online managing editor
jarred schuetze chief photogrpaher
linsey thut features editor
Visuals adviser
cara lee cranford advertising
collin wieder Sports Editor
Shera Niemirowski Sports multimedia director
Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
untarily yell and become violent. 4) The road trips. Free meals, free hotels, free transportation… you get the picture. We get to travel the South, see other campuses and bond in charter buses with Mean Girls playing on the little television screens. It’s not ideal to miss so many classes, but we manage. 3) The pride. Nothing will ever be as cool as putting on a jersey that represents something so much bigger than myself or my teammates. And getting to do that at a Christian university is a greater blessing than I ever could have anticipated when I was trying to get recruited. 2) The game itself. Baseball and softball have a bad reputation as sports that take a long time and don’t have much action. But it is so much fun to hit a homerun, strike out a batter or make a diving catch.
Column
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
been the focus of my entire existence since I began playing, and in about a week, I begin my very last season. While there are some things I will definitely be happy to be done with (6 a.m. lifting and conditioning), I’ve started to appreciate some of the things the sport has given me that I’ll miss most, and I’d like to share them with you before I begin my countdown to the end: 5) The competition. I’m a really, really competitive girl who will soon have no outlet for that side of myself. I’ll become like Monica in Friends, ruining every game for every person involved when I invol-
@AndrewCollins25
@mmj_marlee
contact The Optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Ben Todd
MARISSA JONES
Bikini season is just around the corner.. But so is Whataburger...
way to the top of the feed at the hands of our publication.
DAILY doodle dosage
Jan.26 9:26 a.m.
Ugh longboards
has reached. Was it the message you wanted? You were heard, but your words were not appreciated. They did not represent the majority of the student body. Comments like these will never make their
hannah little sports broadcast producer newsroom (325) 674-2439
sports desk (325) 674-2684
photo department (325) 674-2499
advertising office (325) 674-2463
multimedia desk (325) 674-2463
subscriptions ($40/Year) (325) 674-2296
5
Features
Wednesday 1.28.15
ALL FOR
SPORT Students represent more than the university in athletics
Left to right: Marco Bensley, Marina Guerrero and Gilherme Gesser pose with their country’s flags.
Emily seidel copy editor
A
college athlete’s career takes years to build to an elite level. It takes a spark to ignite a passion in a child to become great. It takes years and years of hard work – extra time on the field perfecting skills, lifting and conditioning to get into top shape, training the mind to endure as much as the body. And finally, it takes intense competition, which, no matter how much a body has been disciplined, presents the chance it will fail against someone more talented. Something pushes athletes to not only endure all theses obstacles, but enjoy them. Something innate makes them want to sacrifice time, sleep and a social life to be the best. Some athletes sacrifice more than others. At ACU – a school with almost 300 athletes – a handful left everything behind in their home countries to relocate to the United States and compete in the NCAA, the highest level an athlete can reach before going pro. arina Guerrero is a 20-year-old freshman from Banyoles, Spain. The 5-foot-3-inch runner just moved to Texas five months ago, one week before her first semester of college in America began Guerrero, a dual-sport athlete with long, light brown hair and sharp brown eyes, is new to the ranks of ACU’s most historically successful sport, track and field, and its fall companion, cross country. With a long list of international competitions under her belt, she was a huge recruit for ACU, although she says she was the one who contacted assistant coach Drew Graham about a spot on the team. Guerrero had always wanted to transfer to a school in the U.S. because she knew it would be the best education she would get. “I studied in a college in Spain for two years, but the schools have nothing in common compared to the ones in the USA. I talked to Texas A&M, too, but ACU is better!” Guerrero said academics are what drew to her to ACU rather than the new Div. I athletic program. School has always been her priority. Though older than most incoming freshmen, Guerrero said moving away from home was the hardest experience of her life. “When I was planning the trip, I was so excited and I never thought about that, but in the airport when I just left my parents, all the homesick feelings came to me suddenly, and I started my travel crying.” Still, she said moving to Abilene might be the best decision of her life. She said she has loved ACU from the moment she got here. Everything here is different and completely new to her. “I thought that the boots were only a myth, and also the fast food. Also, the guns in the shops, the huge supermarket, the extended land without nothing, no mountains…” In her two years of college in Spain, Guerrero was a biotechnology major and studied mostly biology. Here, she is in animal science: biotechnology and research, focusing more on animals, farms and agriculture – things she is not used to. On a brighter note, however, she says it is much easier to get good grades here. Though she has not yet had many opportunities to prove herself in Div. I athletics, Guerrero has been hard at work adjusting to the rigorous training programs. In Spain, she would only do long runs once a week. Here, she does them five or six times a week. Back home, her long runs were six miles; here, they can go up to 12. She has also started pool workouts and weightlifting workouts she never did before. Now, with two meets left before the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, she is in the best shape of her life. Though the transition was hard, Guerrero has found her place at ACU. She said she does everything with her teammates who have helped her through the culture shock and even assisted with translations. “I remember the first week that I was here that we went to Colorado with the team, and we spent like 11 hours inside a van, and I almost couldn’t say anything. But this is an added point in this adventure, to learn a new language.” Guerrero says this “adventure” in the U.S. will continue until she earns her undergraduate degree, after which she plans to move back to Spain and pursue a master’s in molecular biology.
Much like Gesser, Bensley has found familiarity and success on the tennis courts, though he said training here is much more fitness-oriented than it is back home. As a highly sought recruit and an accomplished veteran of International Tennis Federation competition, he has performed on a large stage against top opponents. He didn’t blink at the transition to Div. I of the NCAA; rather, his performance improved after the change. During his sophomore year, he won five of six Southland matches and finished second on the team with 16 singles victories. He also earned Second Team Southland Conference honors in singles. Bensley still has almost two years until graduation but said he might want to stay in the US when he finishes college – it depends on his girlfriend who doesn’t want to move to South Africa. He said if things work out between the two of them and he moves to the US, he wants to live in a bigger city. Until then, he is having the time of his life at ACU. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but more ups of course. That’s why I am still here. The experience has been amazing and unforgettable; best decision I have ever made.” few hundred feet away from the Teague tennis courts, the basketball team continues to prepare for conference games in Moody Coliseum. One man, No. 14, towers above his teammates at 6 foot 10 inches, one of the tallest basketball players in ACU history. While that kind of height can sometimes be intimidating, his friendly demeanor makes him more approachable. Aleksander Milosavljevic was born in Svilajnac, Serbia, in 1990. Though this is only his second year at ACU, he has experienced more American culture than most international athletes on campus. He is a “four-two-four,” or an athlete who attends one four-year university, transfers to a junior college, then transfers out to another four-year university for the rest of his undergraduate degree and NCAA eligibility. Texas is the third state in which he’s attended school in the US. After graduating high school in Serbia, Milosavljevic played his freshman year at Div. II University of Southern Arkansas before transferring to Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta. On first arriving in Arkansas, Milosavljevic said the culture shock was overwhelming and absolutely everything was different for him, especially the language which he is still learning. The major adjustment was made worse by the fact that he could rarely go home. “I was 19 when I got to the States, and back home I was already playing ball in other countries than Serbia, so I already lived three years away from home, so it was just another destination for me. The difference was that I was homesick because I used to go home once every month or two months, but now it was really hard to go home.” After earning his associate degree from Georgia Perimeter College (fact check in progress), he decided to finish his undergraduate studies at ACU because it was the Div. I program with the best environment, people, education and basketball program for him. Now in his senior year, Milosavljevic is not a starter, nor does he have the best stats on the team. But when the coaches put him in, he has a presence on the court that opposing players are not quick to dismiss. The court is where Milosavljevic feels most at home. He said when he got to Abilene it was “way harder up here; it is more physical and there is way more strength and conditioning than back in Europe.”But he quickly adjusted, and is now in the middle of his last season with the Wildcats. He hopes to return to a pro career in Europe after he graduates in May (checking). He is not entirely attached to the States, but he has found the success he needed to in his time here. “It is great here. Basketball is going well for me and also I maintain a good GPA which is important for me. And Abilene is small. It’s different from Atlanta, keeps me focused and gets me doing what am I supposed to do, and I like that.” College athletes have to possess a certain level of motivation to get them to the highest level, but it takes a special kind of person to leave behind an entire life for the love of a game. Guerrero, Gesser, Bensley and Milosavljevic share a special quality that may not measure their athletic performances, but certainly speak volumes of their character.
A
M
jarred Shuetze Chief Photographer
O
ther athletes were not as academically motivated as Guerrero when they chose a school in the U.S. In 2011, Guilherme Gesser came to Texas after planning for three years to attend school in the United States. Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Gesser was used to life in a big, beach city that Newsweek put on its 2006 list of “Top 10 most dynamic places in the world.” After spending the first 18 years of his life in such a lively city, Gesser packed his bags to attend college in Abilene. The 6-foot-1-inch senior, a top tennis recruit out of high school in Brazil, has light brown eyes and short brown, messy hair. He wanted to play tennis in college at an NCAA institution and got help from a recruiting company in Brazil that helped him contact coaches. Gesser said he started looking at colleges a bit late in the recruiting process and took the first offer that was made to him, though he had no doubt ACU was the right school for him. “I was attracted to the level of the tennis team, ranked sixth in the nation in Division II when I got here,” Gesser said. “Also, ACU is really good academically, and the business school is great.” Although his move to Texas was smooth and he had a few friends already studying here, Gesser said it was difficult to move to a different country on his own. He had to adjust to a different language while taking college courses and competing at a much higher level than he was used to. However, traveling through South and North America from the ages 1218 for international tournaments gave him enough exposure to other lifestyles and cultures to help prepare him for the move. “It is hard to move away from my fam-
“
year of college despite the move up to Div. I in the 2013-2014 season. He’s also had little difficulty transitioning in the classroom. During his junior year, he earned First Team Southland Conference All-Academic honors and made the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. In May, Gesser will complete his degree in management and marketing. He said if he has an opportunity to stay in the U.S. for grad school this fall, he will take it. “It has had ups and down, but it has been really nice here most of the time. I have learned a lot, and I hope I can use it moving forward.” wo spots above Gesser on the tennis roster is Marco Bensley, another international studentathlete who plays the same sport but went through a different transition in his move to the US in 2013 at the age of 19. A junior from Stellenbosch, South Africa, Bensley has an athletic build at 5 foot 10 inches with light, sand-colored hair. He experienced more culture shock than Gesser, having to adjust to little things such as food and accents as well as the language barrier he faced as a native speaker of Afrikaans. Since he only gets to go home over Christmas breaks, he has had to acclimate to the lifestyle here somewhat permanently, at least for college. “I was very overwhelmed by moving and playing here, start my new life and do my own thing. I miss my family a lot, though, when it’s summer and I’m not busy.” Bensley, who was ranked among top 10 players under 18 in 2012 and was the No. 1 high school player in 2011 and 2012, said he was being recruited by several schools in the States. But he’d heard
T
It is hard to move away from my family and friends, from my girlfriend and especially from the city where I am from. The only reason why it wasn’t really bad is because I am on the tennis team so it kept me busy and traveling.”
ily and friends, from my girlfriend and especially from the city where I am from. The only reason why it wasn’t really bad is because I am on the tennis team, so it kept me busy and traveling.” Tennis has been the one constant in Gesser’s life since his move; the game is the same worldwide. Training with the team has been fun and similar to his training style back home, and the only huge adjustment he’s had to make is switching from the clay courts in Brazil to the hard courts used in the US. Gesser’s success suggests his move has had no impact on his performance. He went from being All-Lone Star Conference his sophomore year in singles and doubles with Hans Hach to making First Team All-Southland Conference in doubles with Borja Cortés as a junior. His numbers have increased steadily each
Guilherme Gesser senior student athelete from santa catarina, brazil
about ACU from Casper Steenkamp, another South African tennis player and former Wildcat from several years ago, and contacted one of the coaches. He said somehow, things just worked out for him to come to Abilene. “Since I was small, I wanted to go to college in the States; it’s all tennis players’ dream,” Bensley said. “ACU looked and seemed really exclusive, and it is. Also, the Christian caught my attention. I was also looking at Fresno State. I was a pretty big recruit for ACU I would say, taking my previous accomplishments.” Bensley is a business management and marketing major and has enjoyed the difference in education styles between the U.S and South Africa. “School here is all online. Books are clearly going away. Back home everything is in books and paper.”
page design Rachel mallary
sports
wednesday 1.28.15
Women’s team rebounds vs. familiar foes collin thompson sports reporter The ACU women’s basketball team defeated the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, 78-54. The Wildcats then played longtime rival Angelo Sate Monday night and came away with a 70-55 win, improving their record to 10-8 overall. The team’s 2-5 Southland record has them tied for second to last in the conference with the Houston Baptist Huskies and just above the 0-7 New Orleans Privateers. “You know, any win in conference play is a special win,” said Julie Goodenough, head coach. “It’s such a great conference, and you face big challenges every night regardless of who the opponent is. So this is a big win for us.” Neither team is eligible for postseason play this season due to their division movement, but that didn’t stop the Wildcats, who now sit just half a game behind the Cardinals and Southeastern Louisiana in the conference. “Obviously, Incarnate Word is a big rival for us,” Goodenough said. “They
paige otway Staff Photographer
The ‘Cats bounced back after a pair of tough losses by winning against UIW and San Angelo State. made this jump to Div. I and to the Southland Conference
with us, so we would like to stay a little bit ahead of them,
and this was good to get a convincing win on them.” The team is coming off two heartbreaking home losses, losing 71-69 in overtime Jan. 17 to conference powerhouse Stephen F. Austin, who sit 5-2 in Southland play, and 6358 to 4-4 Sam Houston State University on Jan. 22. The team, which started the season 5-0 in Moody Coliseum, has since gone 0-4 at home before pulling out this win which coach Goodenough said shows the team is back to being comfortable on its own court. “Losing those two at home really sucked the life out of us,” Goodenough said. “I think it was a mental battle for us. You know, we knock shots down in Moody like crazy in practice, and in those games we struggled a little bit, so it was nice to see our girls take the pressure off a little bit today and just finish and knock shots down they know that they can make.” Goodenough preaches rebounding; more specifically, offensive rebounding. As a staple for the team, it was a large part of why the Wildcats overcame the Cardinals. Sophomores Sydney Shelstead, along with Lizzy
and Suzzy Dimba combined for 30 of the team’s 46 rebounds compared to UIW’s 37 total as a team. “Suzzy, Lizzy and Sydney I think are three of the best, probably top five rebounders in the conference, and it’s a real luxury to have all three on the team,” Goodenough said. “You know there’s a good chance at least two will have double-digit rebounds, and they were very intentional tonight on both ends of the floor.” With conference games scheduled until early March, Goodenough said she and her fellow women’s basketball coaches were impressed by the team’s performance against UIW and are looking forward to upcoming conference matchups. “I thought this was a great team victory,” Goodenough said. “Everybody played today, everybody had significant roles on defense, everybody scored, and I think that we just kind of settled down and had fun today as a team.” The team’s next game will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Houston Baptist University. contact thompson at cnt13c@acu.edu
‘Cats can’t overcome slow start Daniel Zepeda sports Director The Wildcats dropped their fourth straight game Monday night to Sam Houston State, 80-63, in Moody Coliseum. ACU only missed five shots in the second half, but it was not enough to catch up to the conference power Bearkats. ACU moves to 9-11 and 3-4 in conference while SHSU is now 15-5 overall and 7-1 in the Southland – good enough for second place. Junior Austin Cooke led ACU with 15 points, 12 in the second half, on 6-12 shooting and 3-6 from the threepoint arc. Senior Harrison Hawkins put in 13 points, all coming after halftime, on 4-6 shooting, including three threepoint makes. Freshman big man Christian Albright added 10 points on some impressive midrange jumpers and led ACU in rebounds with six. The Wildcats shot 54 percent from the field for the game, and an impressive 14-19 in the second half. The team went a perfect 5-5 from three in the second half and finished the game 8-16 from beyond the arc. Free throws were another story for the home squad. Entering the match-up with SHSU, ACU led the conference as a team in free-throw shooting, but made only 43 percent (9-21) Monday night. Sam Houston got off to a hot start, coming fresh off its only loss in the conference to Stephen F. Austin, and quickly jumped out to a 24-5 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half. The Wildcats battled, but still trailed 32-17 with less than seven minutes to go in the half. Going into halftime, ACU trailed SHSU, 45-25. The Wildcats shot 38 percent in the first half, while the Bearkats went into the break at 48 percent after keeping their percentage in the midto upper-50 percentile for the majority of the first 20 minutes of action. The second half would play out much like the first, with Sam starting off strong.
hannah little
The men’s tennis team traveled to Dallas last weekend to compete in the Brookshire Indoor Pavilion. The Wildcats were looking to have a successful dual season opener against Troy University and Southern Methodist University. On the first day of competition, the Wildcats suffered a 5-2 loss to Troy. Sophomore and Dallas
standings men’s basketball Standings
Team
Div.
SFA 7-0 SHSU 7-1 TAMU-CC 6-1 NSU 5-3 HBU 4-3 Lamar 4-4 UIW 3-3 ACU 3-4 SELU 2-4 NO 2-5 Nicholls St.2-5 MSU 1-6 UCA 0-7
Ovrl 17-3 15-5 11-8 10-9 9-8 10-10 11-5 9-11 5-14 6-10 5-12 7-11 0-18
women’s basketball Standings
Team
Div.
NSU 7-1 Lamar 6-2 SFA 5-2 TAMU-CC 5-2 MSU 4-3 Nicholls St.4-3 SHSU 4-4 UCA 3-4 SELU 2-4 UIW 2-4 ACU 2-5 HBU 2-5 NO 0-7
Ovrl 12-7 9-10 12-6 9-9 10-8 8-10 5-13 10-9 6-11 5-12 10-8 8-10 2-14
Who’s Hot Sophomore forward Suzzy Dimba had an impressive all around performance Suzzy Dimba for the Wildcats Saturday against Incarnate Word. Dimba scored 12 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and recorded six assists. Dimba has put together an impressive season so far, averaging 10.7 points per game and placing second on the team in rebounds per game with 7.8.
briefings Longtime ACU baseball assistant coach Brandon Stover has been promoted to Associate Head Coach, according to ACU baseball head coach Britt Bonneau Thursday afternoon. Athletic Director Lee De León has named Dave Kinard as the new Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations. Kinard comes from Boise State as the Associate Athletic Director and Executive Director of the Bronco Athletic Association from 2012-14. 84 student-athletes were named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. The Wildcats had 20 people with a perfect 4.0 GPA. The ACU baseball season features four Div. I The men’s basketball team has struggled against the Southland’s top competition this season. Offensively, the Wild- opponents in the top 25. cats are shooting just 42 percent during their four-game losing streak. Senior Harrison Hawkins leads the team with The ‘Cats will play TCU, 13.6 points per game. Texas Tech, Arizona State Two minutes into the cit hump, as the Bearkats five second-chance points, issue for the Wildcats on and Texas A&M. paige Otway Staff Photographer
second frame, the Wildcats faced their largest deficit of the game at 24 after a free throw by Sam Houston made it 49-25 Bearkats. The offense, which had largely been absent, picked up for ACU, as the Wildcats went on a 21-11 run to make it a 60-46 game with 12 minutes to play. Cooke and Hawkins led the charge with threes and penetrated the paint. However, the Wildcats could never find a way to overcome that 14-point defi-
would quickly push the lead back to 20 on a three-point make. As a team, SHSU shot 1226 from the three and made eight of those 12 in the first half. ACU would trail by 1720 points for the remainder of the game and would drop their second home game in a row. Head coach Joe Golding’s team struggled to secure rebounds and battle with Sam Houston’s big men. The Wildcats lost the battle on the glass, 34-22, and had just
compared to 14 given up to Sam Houston. Six Wildcats recorded three or more fouls, as most of them came from trying to corral Sam Houston’s 6-foot11-inch Michael Holyfield, who finished with 11 points and eight trips to the free throw line. Senior LaDarrien Williams, the third leading scorer for ACU, got the start but only put up three shots the entire game and finished with three points. Houston’s size was a key
both sides of the ball. The Bearkats had five players finish in double digits, and the conference’s best defensive team showed its strength, especially in the first half. The Wildcats will look to end this four-game skid on the road Saturday against Lamar in Beaumont. Lamar is 10-10 overall and an even 4-4 in conference, but are 8-1 at home. contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
Men’s tennis struggles in Dallas sports broadcast producer
6
native Nico Agritelley at the No. 3 singles position and freshman Paul Domanski at the No. 6 position contributed the victories of the day. The two young players swept their opponents as Agritelley won 6-0, 6-3 against Daniel Bustamante and Domanski won 6-3, 6-1 against Austin Racine. Three Wildcats were swept in straight sets as junior Marco Bensley won his first set 4-6, but then lost his other sets to Cyprian Owczarz 6-3, 6-3, to conclude his
loss in the match. In doubles, ACU partners Agritelley/Gesser, Proctor/ Domanski and Bensley/Adams each suffered losses to Troy. The Wildcats went on to day two of the tournament in high hopes of improving their performance from the previous day. However, not much improvement was shown as the Wildcats suffered six straight losses to SMU. SMU showed up and repeated what the team did
last winter as the Mustangs defeated ACU 7-0. This season the team came in with a 1-0 start after defeating UC Santa Barbara. In singles, though there were no wins, Agritelley and Bensley’s matches each went into five sets as the players put up a good fight. ACU’s lone senior Guilherme Gesser and Agritelley defeated Arturs Kazijevs and Markus Kerner of SMU 6-4 in doubles. That was the only win of the day for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back from their consecutive losses on the road this weekend. ACU will travel to Kentucky to take on Murray State, Lipscomb and Bethel and then travel to Tennessee to compete against Austin Peay State University. The Wildcats will return home Feb. 7 for their first home tournament of the season. contact little at hll12a@acu.edu
Upcoming Women’s basketball travels to Houston Thursday to take on the Houston Baptist Huskies. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. The men’s tennis team heads to Murray, Kentucky, to take on Murray State, Lipscomb, Austin Peay and Bethel College this Thursday and Friday. Track travels to Lubbock for the Masked Rider Open Saturday. Women’s and men’s basketball head to Beaumont for a doubleheader. The women play at 4 p.m. and the men at 6 p.m. Women’s tennis hosts the ACU Indoor Invitational this Saturday. The Wildcats tournament will last all day and includes opponents Prairie View A&M and Trinity.