Swing Cats brings two jazz bands to annual fall event Page 2
FEATURE
Friday, October 6, 2017 Vol. 106, Issue 07
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
DELTA THETA RETURNS TO CAMPUS Page 4
#PLEDGINGSZN CHRISTI LIM GRAPHIC DESIGNER Students pledging Gamma Sigma Phi men’s social club stand on the steps of the Amphitheatre on Bid Night Friday.
CALENDAR 10/6 •
Crowder concert at 7 p.m. in Moody
10/7 •
Football v. McNeese State at 7 p.m.
10/9 •
OMA’s Sundaes on Mondaes at 6:30 p.m.
10/10 •
Poetry Slam II at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Library
10/12 •
COBA Distinguished Speaker luncheon with Wendy Davidson
10/13 •
Swing Cats Fall Stomp at Elks Art Center
BOX OFFICE SEPT. 29-OCT. 1 1. Kingsman: The Golden Circle $16,935,565 2. It
$16,902,442 3. American Made $16,776,390 4. The LEGO Ninjango Movie $11,644,237 5. Flatliners $6,574,326
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DAYS UNTIL
HOMECOMING
NEWS
DOGS OF ACU Page 3
Athletes balance pledging and sports seasons
BY LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR
Although athletes tend to have busy schedules, some still decided to get involved through pledging this fall. Natalie Jackson, a sophomore track and field athlete, said she’s looking forward to pledging because, despite the time commitment, it energizes her and allows her to accomplish a lot. “Student athletes are the best managers of their time because we have multiple
practices, obligations and sporting events on top of academics,” said Jackson, a kinesiology major from Gonzalez. “The relationships that have already formed through rushing make the sacrifices well worth the extra effort. If you want something bad enough, you’ll make it happen.” Lee De Leon, director of athletics, said he wants athletes to get involved with the rest of the student body, whether through pledging or
other student organizations. “I think it’s extremely important for our student athletes to be a part of something bigger than themselves and bigger than just their teams,” De Leon said. “If they limit themselves in their college experience to just their sports, they’re really missing out. There are a lot of incredibly talented students outside of athletics that they need to know.” De Leon said he feels so strongly about this issue
because when he attended Notre Dame, he wasn’t a student athlete, but he had friends on the football team, one of whom inspired him to pursue the career of athletics director. He said spending time with people who were different from him helped his college experience. “I hope that our student athletes can grow by interacting with students who are different from them,” Lee said. “I just think there’s so much that
we can learn from other people, and I hope our athletes don’t limit themselves to learning just from their teammates.” On the other hand, some athletes don’t have the desire to pledge, but get involved on campus through other groups and events. Baylee Travers, the first baseman for softball, said club isn’t really for her because of money, scheduling, the idea of “fake friend-
grown more diverse with a rise in the number of black and Hispanic students. Clubs typically mirror the student population, Craig said, but the club diversity data will not be available until later in the year. Frater Sodalis sponsor Tim Yandell said he thinks about 25 percent of the club’s pledge class is ethnically diverse. He said the pledge class has students from Brazil, Thailand, Hong Kong and Africa. “We’re very, very cultur-
we love you and please love us’. And then most on my heart is look to Jesus, he is the solution to any problem people have.” Jaxon Goodspeed, senior youth and family ministry, finance and accounting double major from Farmer’s Branch said hearing Eubank tell his story was impactful. “I was in awe, hearing testimonies of God’s power like David’s is always inspiring,” Goodspeed said. “It’s awesome to hear about the way God is moving through people in war torn countries, spreading his word.”
SEE ATHLETES PAGE 2
Pledging numbers lower than rush turnout BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
More than 100 women dropped out of the rush process before Call Night. Although about 370 women registered to rush, only 279 women decided to pledge this fall. Tom Craig, director of student organizations and productions, said registration opened in April and many women changed their plans by the time Bid Night took place on Sept. 29. Craig also said busy schedules with work and
school or family reasons can also cause women to drop out of the pledging process.
“It is not an usual process to have some natural atrophy in those numbers,” Craig said. “Sometimes
other things come up in their lives and they change their mind.” Pledging numbers may change if students decided not to complete pledging, but 142 men are pledging and 279 women are pledging for a total of 421 students in the pledge process. This amounts to about 46 percent of the sophomore class, which has 904 students, although some of the pledges are juniors and seniors. During the last few years, the student population has
bassadors for Jesus and for us in conflict areas, where people have been attacked and people have been displaced, have been shot, are fleeing and sick and hungry,” Eubank said. “To go in and give help, that’s mostly medical, but also any other kind of material help that we can carry in. And to give love and to remind people that God hasn’t forgotten them.” Eubank, his wife, Karen, and three children, Sahale, Suuzanne and Peter work with 70 ethnic relief teams in conflict areas. The family started the Global Day of Prayer for Burma and the Good Life Club family out-
reach program, which Karen and Peter help facilitate. While Eubank is generally right in the middle of the action, his family is often times just several hundred yards behind him, caring for oppressed families and children. Karen said raising a family has been enhanced by their experiences in Burma and with the Free Burma Rangers. “It was a decision: how are we going to do this with our family?” Karen said. “But because we had already built so many relationships with these young leaders, which were now are brothers and sisters in Christ, it was natural to go
to their families, it was natural to go to their villages.” Eubank had previously known Larry Henderson from time spent in Thailand, and it was Henderson who invited him to speak at ACU. Eubank said when he gets to tell people about what he’s doing, people are often moved and he is thankful for their support. “Mostly it’s encouraging, people say good job and we’ll pray for you and it’s encouraging,” Eubank said. “I feel grateful that people want to listen, because people I care about like the Iraqis or the people in Burma will say, ‘Go back to America and tell the people
PHOTO BY CHRISTI LIM
Frater Sodalis vice president Nate Vela leads pledges, called Brats, in Bid Night activities.
SEE PLEDGING PAGE 2
Nonprofit helping ISIS victims visits campus BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR
With the same passion that launched him on his journey in 1997, David Eubank shared stories of his experiences as the founder and leader of the Free Burma Rangers at an ACU Missions event Monday. The Free Burma Rangers is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement working to bring help, hope and love to people in the conflict zones of Burma, Iraq and Sudan. In 2015, FBR also started relief missions to help Kurds under attack by ISIS in Iraq. “The purpose of the Free Burma Rangers is to be am-
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M
JMR13B@ACU.EDU
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FRIDAY | OCTOBER 6, 2017
Pledging: Numbers fluctuate after rushing Swing Cats Athletes: PLEDGES PER CLUB to host annual Some pledge, Fall Stomp others don’t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Baylee Travers, the first baseman for softball, said club isn’t really for her because of money, scheduling, the idea of “fake friendships,” and the fact that it isn’t a national sorority. “Softball has given me my best friends, who will stand beside me on my wedding day and memories that I will cherish forever,” said Travers, a senior special education major from Nevada. “I definitely think it takes a place of a sisterhood. It’s something special that I don’t think you could get in a social club because you literally bleed, sweat and have each other’s back.” The most significant pro for student athletes who pledge, according to De Leon, is that student body will be more inclined to go to games and cheer on the teams if they know them personally and build relationships through social clubs.
LMF14A@ACU.EDU
Frater Sodalis sponsor Tim Yandell said he thinks about 25 percent of the club’s pledge class is ethnically diverse. He said the pledge class has students from Brazil, Thailand, Hong Kong and Africa. “We’re very, very culturally diverse,” Yandell said. “We were chartered by a Japanese guy in 1943. That has to do with the very core of who we are and what we believe as Frats.” Frater Sodalis also took its largest pledge class ever with 35 new members. “The growth that Frats
has experienced in the last two years,” Yandell said, “happened because of the drive and the leadership abilities and qualities of our officers.” Along with changes to the pledging process and a review of pledging, Student Life also tried to double communication efforts to current and prospective members, Craig said. The review of pledging, overseen by Dr. Chris Riley, vice president for Student Life, will include focus groups with students, club sponsors, faculty, staff and alumni and a look at pledging for the university’s
sister schools. Craig said a Student Life team went to Lipscomb University for the school’s version of Bid Night. “We look at other schools to see if our process is serving our needs the way we want it to and to look at other opportunities that
we might not have realized to improve our process,” Craig said. “Reviewing our pledging and our club process is pretty normal. We do that every two years.”
ed. The measure passed, with 324 voting for and 148 voting against it. Dr. Chris Riley, vice president for Student Life, said in an email that the Senior Leadership Team decided not to implement the fee, but will still consider funding sustainability efforts through a different budget. “We did not feel the level of support warranted a new mandatory fee,” Riley said. Although the Genesis Fund seems to have stalled, Wildcats for Sustainability will still work on a recycling project, said Rebecca Soo, president of Wildcats for Sustainability. The group will start by putting recycling bins for just one item, such as
plastic bottles, in one or two residence halls. Barret Hall has already given approval if the the group moves forward on the project. “There have been many years of sucessful but then failed attempts at recycling,” Soo said. “This is the first club that is for the sheer purpose of sustainability not just for the environment, but for people.” The recycling bins will be marked with the Wildcats for Sustainability email, so when the bins are full, someone from the residence hall can email the group to send a volunteer to take the bin to a recycling center. “If the recycling works on campus, it’ll show people on
campus there are students who actually care about the environment,” Soo said. “A lot of people really care about the environment, they want to recycle and all that stuff, but then they don’t really do anything about it.” She said about 200 students are “solidarity members” of the club because they signed a form saying they agreed with Wildcats for Sustainability’s mission. The group is also working on helping the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences build a greenhouse for growing food.
BY JENNA WILLIAMS STAFF REPORTER
HRR13B@ACU.EDU
Group starts recycling plan after Genesis Fund fails BY HALEY REMENAR EDITOR IN CHIEF
Wildcats for Sustainability is trying to get recycling in several residence halls despite the lack of momentum for the campus-wide sustainability project, the Genesis Fund. Wildcats for Sustainability, which started last spring, worked with the Students’ Association to start the Genesis Fund resolution. The resolution would have enacted a $25 fee to all students and the money would be used to start campus-wide recycling, solar panel projects and other sustainability efforts. The resolution was put to a vote by the entire student body, but only 480 students vot-
HRR13B@ACU.EDU
Annual blood drive encourages students to donate
BY HANNAH JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER
The Alpha Chi National College Honor Society students are teaming up with Meek Blood Drive to accept blood donations from students and faculty from noon to 7 p.m on Oct. 19. The upcoming blood drive is affiliated with Hendricks Medical Center who will provide certified nurses and phlebotomists to draw
blood from the donors. “Alpha Chi usually tries to do a community service project every fall semester and we’ve done a blood drive in the past and it was successful,” said Julia Taylor, president of the Texas Psi chapter of Alpha Chi. “So we decided that we would go ahead and do that again for our project this semester.” Taylor, senior biochemistry major from Abilene,
said the blood donated at the event will be given to those in need of blood transfusions or are at risk of blood loss. Jeffrey Wooliscroft, a senior biology major from Abilene and vice president of Alpha Chi, said the organization is student-run. “We didn’t have professors reach out to any individuals. We didn’t have professors organizing the details, booking places that
are needed to be booked, and all the specifics of it,” said Wooliscroft. “It was students and officers reaching out at each step of the process to organize this with the individuals who run the blood drive.” Wooliscroft said the previous blood drive was successful and that there were so many participants that they could not receive everyone. The screening and
check-in area will be in the Honors College Classroom and the donations will take place in the Meek Blood Drive van, which will be parked by the library. Free cookies will be available and after each student gives their blood they will receive a free t-shirt and hat.
and older) is covered by ACU medical insurance, then there is no charge. “I believe it’s our job as the ACU Medical Clinic to promote health on campus,” said Cindy Gravitt, office assistant of the MACCC. “And this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that.” This year the MACCC is partnering with the ACU School of Nursing to administer the shots. Second-year nursing students under supervision from their instructors will be giving the shots, as well as the nurses from the MACCC. “I deliberately had an ACU nursing student so I could experience firsthand what that was like
and she did a fantastic job,” Gravitt said. The type of flu vaccination being administered this year is a quadrivalent, which contains the ability to immunize someone against four different strains, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This vaccination is also a dead virus, so it does not have the ability to replicate. “A lot of people think they can get the flu from the flu shot, it’s actually not true,” Gravitt said. According to the CDC, the typical incubation period for influenza is one to four days. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day
before symptoms develop and up to a week, days after becoming sick. The patients who claim to have gotten sick from the flu shot most likely did not give their bodies enough time to build up the immunity, even after receiving the vaccination. Gravitt said for this reason, the MACCC gives the flu shots during the months of October and November so immune systems will be ready well in advance for the peak of the flu season. According to another study done in the last 43 years by the CDC, the results indicated February as the peak month for the flu season, with December as a second. February at ACU is
also Sing Song season, in which Gravitt said she highly recommends any student planning to participate to get a flu shot now. She said last February the MACCC was “absolutely overwhelmed” and had to turn students away. The MACCC will host seven more flu shot clinics in various locations around campus until Nov. 2. “We’d love to have more followers so we can get information out and raise awareness about different issues both mental and physical,” Gravitt said, “and sometimes we have a lot of fun with our posts.”
OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
Campus clinic promotes shots in advance of “flu season” BY CHELSEA TWOHY COPY EDITOR
The clinic is running a social media contest to raise awareness about flu shots before flu season. If a student or faculty member receives a shot from the Medical and Counseling Care Center (MACCC) or one of the flu clinics around campus, follows the MACCC on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and then takes a selfie with their bandage on with the hashtag #ACUFluFighter, they will be entered into a drawing to receive a gift card donated by one of the local restaurants. Each shot is $25 but if a student or employee (or their dependents aged 12
CLT15A@ACU.EDU
Swing Cats is partnering this year with the jazz bands of ACU and Hardin Simmons University to conduct the annual Fall Stomp. The dance will take place from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 13 in the historic Elks Ballroom. Swing Cats is a club that focuses on teaching others the art of swing dancing while learning about the culture. “Fall Stomp is our big fall event where Swing Cats gets out into the community by having a big dance in a historic ballroom,” said Raiden Sawyer, vice president of Swing Cats. Sawyer, junior english major from Oklahoma City, said there will be a free swing lesson at 7 p.m. for students who are new to swing dancing. Following the lesson, the live music will start and participants can dance from 8 to 10 p.m. Dr. Cole Bennett, professor in the Department of Language and Literature, helped found Swing Cats 14 years ago. “What’s different this year is that the Hardin Simmons University jazz band is going to be there with the ACU jazz band for two hours of live music,” Bennett said. “The location, Elks Ballroom, has lots of historical significance. USO Club in World War II had dances in that same location. We are preserving the original function of the ballroom by dancing. We are more than just a dance club, we are a dance club who is interested in preserving the swing culture.” Sawyer said Swing Cats has about 100 members. The group participates in competitions, such as the Sundance Swingout in Fort Worth, and is planning to perform at Ethnos this year. “For Swing Cats the goal is to constantly create a community that pushes each other and creates us to be the best dancers and the best people we can be,” Sawyer said. “Our goal is to establish a community and help it flourish.” Students interested in joining Swing Cats are invited to attend one of the beginner lessons at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in the Money Recreation and Wellness Center, Studio B.
OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 09/27/2017 3:20 p.m. A staff member witnessed a driver strike their vehicle and flee. Investigation continuing. 09/28/2017 5:00 p.m. ACUPD responded to a fight in progress in a hallway of McKinzie Hall. Neither party wished to file charges or seek medical attention. 09/28/2017 12:50 a.m. Officers responded to suspicious activity at McKinzie Hall. Subsequent investigation revealed possible marijuana use activity. No evidence recovered, no charges. Referred to Student Life. 09/30/2017 11:50 pm. ACUPD received 3 calls re: loud party in the 2600 block of Rountree. The noise was quietened prior to officers’ departure. 911 CALL 3 ACCIDENT 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY15 ALARM 12 ASSIST 2 BOOT/UNBOOT VEHICLE 5 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 12 CART PATROL 1 CHECK BUILDING 312 CITATION ISSUANCE 1 CRIMINAL TRESPASS WARNING 1
DISTURBANCE DRUG ACTIVITY/OFFENSE ESCORT FIGHT FOOT PATROL FOUND PROPERTY HIT & RUN INFORMATION REPORT INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP LOST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE:
1 5 6 2 24 2 1 5 20 1
UNIV ASSETS MONITOR FACILITY/LOT MOTORIST ASSIST INFLATE TIRE MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK NOISE VIOLATION OTHER PARKING LOT PATROL
1 18 3 8 2 9 4 3 28
PARKING VIOLATION PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL RANDOM PATROL RECKLESS DRIVING REPORT WRITING STAND BY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SUSPICIOUS PERSON SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE TRAFFIC STOP
9 4 9 9 1 21 2 3 2 5 2
WELFARE CHECK TOTAL
1 590
POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK: Remember that Texting While Driving became illegal in Texas on Sept. 1st. Drive Now-Text Later
N E WS
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 6, 2017
Dogs of ACU
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What better time to get a dog than in college? This year at ACU there are some notable new and old faces on the block. You might catch yourself liking their pictures on Instagram, petting them as they walk the Lunsford, or playing with them at the intramural fields. When interviewed, a few dog moms and dads shared something special about their pets, the dogs of ACU.
Kelsey Morlan: “Her name is Peanut and the funniest thing about her is that she likes to sleep like a human. She has her pillow on her side of the bed, but as soon as I get in bed with her she snuggles up under the covers. Sometimes I’ll wake up in the morning and she’s laying on her back, paws all the way in the air, cuddled up right next to me.”
Taen Johnson: “On Facebook we have a Ko Jo Kai garage sale page where Kojies can sell anything from old merch, to furniture, to text books. I got a notification from it saying a friend had posted on the page. I don’t quite recall the quick inclination I had to open it right away but when I did I saw she was offering up a pretty rugged looking Pomeranian for free. I have never commented on a post so quickly, “ME.” When I went to meet him I discovered all his life he’d been an outdoor ranch dog … a Pomeranian. He was pretty poorly groomed but sweet nonetheless. We quickly grew together and he adapted to my life with flying colors. Often times he gets compared to a loaf of bread because he is so thick. Lenny got so much hype from all my friends so I made him an Instagram because he’s perfect. @lennythepompom”
Allen Martin: “Their names are Arwen and Galadriel, named after the elves from Lord of the Rings. Galadriel will completely ignore me when she’s mad at me, and Arwen doesn’t understand the concept of personal space.
Hannah Spillman: “Her name is Lotti and she’s a 10-year-old shih tzu. I will come home and find her in the same position that she was in when I left, but as soon as I get ready for bed she wants to play. It’s really strange but also really cute and hard to ignore.”
Race Terry: “Cole and I planned on getting a husky since we were 15 years old. We finally got Sarge sophomore year of college and he’s the best. When we first got Sarge, the vet actually told us he was part wolf, but we thought it was an added bonus. Since he was six weeks old, Sarge has been the most hilarious, cuddly, and talkative husky we could have imagined. So, of course I made him an Instagram account, @LifeofSarge, because everyone wanted to keep up with him. The most precious thing about Sarge is how excited he gets to see literally anyone. He immediately has a huge smile, tucks his ears back, and starts to howl. Come say hi to Sarge during intramural football, I promise you won’t regret it!”
Painting personalities: Student starts Bible decorating business BY LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR
“I can feel the earth tremble, beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves, and the fury in the pheasant’s wings, and there’s fury in a pheasant’s wings, and it tells me the Lord is in His temple.” Mary-Claire Marcear hummed along to “Calling Out Your Name” by Rich Mullins playing in the background, as her brush strokes graced the unusual canvas – the Bible. The peppy, brown-eyed, wavy-haired junior started her company, Boholy Bibles, the summer after her freshman year while staying with an elderly couple during an internship in Dallas. After painting Bibles for herself, she thought she could make them for other people as well. At first, she
crafted her business on the idea that she would paint and sell them, but it quickly became about the intricacies of testimony. “I painted a Bible earlier this year for a girl, and she was wanting to re-kickstart her faith,” Marcear said. “Her mom messaged me earlier this week and said, ‘I haven’t had a Bible since I was a little girl, but I’ve seen my daughter with her Bible that you painted and I’ve been so inspired and I want to get real about my faith.’ It was just so cool to see the impact that my Bibles are having on people and the people that surround them. God is just doing such cool things and he’s put this giant little miracle in my lap and I want to honor it the best I can.” Her personal leather-bound Bible is decorated with a buffalo, greenery and the phrase “bind
my wandering heart to thee.” Because the buffalo means so much to her faith journey, Marcear said it has become the trademark of her business. “I see buffalo in a similar way that I see my faith, with a really wild and free heart, but just strong and sturdy and steadfast,” Marcear said. “I see a lot of that imagery in the way that Jesus loves us and that relationship we have – free spirited. My business motto is ‘for free spirits who are free in the spirit’. I just think the buffalo represents that.” Despite competition with big name Bible-painting brands, Marcear said what separates her business from the “stock devotional industry” is how she tailors the art to the individual, using their testimonies to make her job more personal. Al-
though she started small, her business has grown internationally. In the past year, she has sent at least 100 total painted Bibles to California, New York, and currently has an inquiry from Australia. Painting each Bible can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the style and design. Marcear said the most intricate Bible she is working on currently consists of multiple birds around the cover. But some of the most interesting Bibles she has been painting will soon be filled with pugs and cacti, and one
with narwhals. Speaking of the future, the youth and family ministry major said she wants to pursue Bible painting as a career, furthering her business and building a community around it alongside writing devotionals and going to speak at conferences. Overall, her goal is to keep using an illustrated faith to build a relationship with Christ. “The whole reason behind it is to make your Bible something that you want to carry with you,” Marcear said. “Something that is essential for you to have on you wherever your
heart roams and if your Bible is something that suits your personality and spirit, you’re going to be more likely to dive in.” Marcear charges $100 per Bible and $25 for journals. Regardless of what clients desire, she charges a flat rate to give them freedom to express their personality without having to worry about being charged more. For inquiries, visit her website boholybibles.com or check it out on instagram @boholy_bibles. LMF14A@ACU.EDU
It’s that time of y ear again!
FALL / WINTER CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE
OCTOBER 6 & 7 HUGE SALE! Thousands of items! GREAT DEALS! Everything you need for children!
Gently used – children’s clothes, shoes, baby furniture, maternity, toys, games, books, DVDs, dress-up, holiday items, layette, and more.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6: 9 am – 6 pm SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7: 8 am – 5 pm Many Items
25% OFF!
Many Items 1/2
PRICE!
Located in the Round Building at the Taylor County Fairgrounds. No Entry Fee. Cash and Credit/Debit cards (with ID) only. NO PERSONAL CHECKS!
@DittosAbilene
www.dittosforkiddos.com
Work with me, fly for free. Do you have a passion for Customer Service? Love to travel? Want to learn more about one of the DFW Metroplex’s top employers? Join Southwest Airlines Leaders in the Hunter Welcome Center on Wednesday, October 11 at 4:00 p.m. to learn more about internships and full-time work at Southwest Airlines. Chris Monroe, ACU 1989 Graduate, Southwest Airlines Sr. Vice President Finance Laurie Barnett, ACU 1990 Graduate, Southwest Airlines Managing Director Communication and Outreach Katie Coldwell, ACU 2000 Graduate, Southwest Airlines Director of Communication Jeff Campbell, Former ACU Professor, Southwest Airlines Manager Corporate Finance
WITH COACH ADAM DORREL, GRANT BOONE AND HANNAH NULL
WATCH SATURDAYS @acuvideo
AT 11 AM ON K TAB -T V
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FRIDAY OCTOBER 6, 2017
The Lucky Women of
PHOTO BY EMILY GUAJARDO
D E LT Δ T H E T Δ
Twenty Biddies line up in "Biddie Fomation" as part the largest DT pledge class in a decade.
After years of fighting to recharter, the women of Delta Theta have returned both with class and hopeful visions for the future BY EMILY GUAJARDO ARTS AND FEATURES EDITOR
T
he women in black walk along the paved sidewalks of the mall area as small felt pins bounce off their ironed white shirts coated in starch. With black backpacks, shoes, tights and pencil skirts, Biddies line up at the corner intersection between the GATA Fountain and Brown Library. Slowly and quietly, each Biddie arrives and acknowledges the DT officers. Previously known as Lucky 13, a service community group, and later transitioning into DT, the women decided to recharter for more community, better opportunity and a more unique college experience. In 2011, DT became inactive due to the lack of sponsors. However, in the spring of 2017, Lucky 13 received approval from Student Life to recharter and began the process of electing officers and planning rushes for the following fall semester. There was now a new club on campus and they were ready to get started. Shelby Short, sophomore kinesiology major from Caddo Mills, was elected as the new president for the rechartered women of Delta Theta. Short said the rechartering of DTwas initiated when she first found out how much history was involved – the abundant amount of charity work and alumni that came out of it. “I heard about Delta Theta through family and friends who had attended ACU,” said Short. “When I visited with them and relived the history, I knew I had to learn more. After researching and delving into its history I soon
realized that Delta Theta was something I knew I just had to be a part of my ACU experience.” Short said the initial intent behind Lucky 13 – now Delta Theta – was to create lasting relationships between a small group of women and maybe say a ghost story here or there. “The purpose of Delta Theta is to create a bond of spiritual and personal friendship through the association with the girls at Abilene Christian University,” said Short. “It’s funny how you can live in community every day and still feel like you lack it. After starting Lucky 13 and being able to be Delta Theta, I first thought I wanted it to happen. Now that I am a part of it, I realized this is something I needed. Having girls behind me in every situation in life is the greatest feeling.”
A
s the 29 Biddies walk among the sea of red skirts, beige-collared shirts and yellow lunchboxes, each Biddie cannot be heard exclaiming a chant nor acknowledging any campus landmark along the corridors of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building or overflowed GATA Fountain. Just ask one secret and you’ll see that they prefer “baking” more than anything else. Proudly wearing the formal colors of black and white, each Biddie hopes to soon join this little club of women. Kristen McLarty, sophomore kinesiology major from South Lake, said she enjoys the smallness of the group.
(Far-left and right) Biddies prepare and present for Sing Song. (Top-center) The orginal Lucky 13 women of 1925. (Middle-left and right) orginal members of Delta Theta. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY THE PRICKY PEAR
“[Delta Theta] has given me a good group of commu nity that I can always rely on,” said McLarty.
J
ust like McLarty and Short, Leksi Vasquez, junior biology major from Wichita Falls, said one of main motives for getting DT rechartered was the abundant amount of alums that wouldn’t have any club to come home to. “Since we’ve been around since 1925, there’s like mothers and grandmothers and we’ve been getting a lot of people telling us that we’re so excited that you’re coming back,” said Vasquez. “We are very excited about the growth as far as student body goes. Since the freshmen classes are only getting bigger and bigger and with a bigger school comes more opportunities.” Vasquez said DT would still like to keep some of the community service acts it did when it was considered Lucky 13. Vasquez said they will continue to work with local retirement homes and veterans just to keep the aspect of community alive. “We are still hoping to grow in our service and we’re so excited to get the year officially started,” said Vasquez. As each day ends and the time hits 5 p.m., the women in black stroll on the paved swirling sidewalks with their white binders tightly gripped between their fingers awaiting the next day of Biddie allegiance to commence. EAG13A@ACU.EDU
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 6, 2017
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OP IN ION
CARTOON BY ERNESTO GUAJARDO
Put down your phones and actually pray THE ISSUE
Many people tend to take to social media amidst terrible events.
OUR TAKE
The Editorial Board believes that we need to step up and do more than update our social media. Take a moment and pray. Set down this paper and pray for the events that have consumed our nation, pray
for Las Vegas. Maybe even let go of your phone for the day and just be in thought for others; for the men and
women who laid their lives on the line for those concert-goers. Updating your social media means nothing when it doesn’t help an issue. Awareness can only be raised so much. We have seen too many people tweet about the events for popularity. In this way, we have become numb
towards heavy things that happen in our world. Yes, sometimes it is the only thing we can do to remain sane amidst the dysfunction, but it should not be a norm. We need to recognize that there is a certain point where awareness has spread and can be spread no more. Sorry to break it to you, but
your Facebook post about how gun control should be raised in light of the Las Vegas shooting does absolutely nothing. If anything, it divides the nation even more. We have become so consumed by the glowing screens in our hands that we forget there is a world around us; one that is affected by
what we say. Make an active effort to stop spreading the hatred more than it has already been spread, put down your phone and help. If you can’t help, pray. And when you can help, pray too. OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
If football doesn’t win, can ACU thrive at the D1 level? EXAGER-RAITZ JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR Senior convergence journalism major Bandera, Texas
It’s a question many alumni and students are asking, Can ACU excel at the Div. 1 level, even if football continues to struggle? Of course, the immediate answer is, absolutely. Or maybe it’s hopefully. But let me help you make a more educated decision. For the last 10 months everything has been centered around the new Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. Two games have now been played there, with a third on tap for this
weekend. The first game being a sellout, and the second a near-sellout. Tailgates have been brought back to campus and the atmosphere of game days has brought alumni in from all over. There have been other things built around campus that have garnered attention, but it’s safe to say the main attraction for recruiting, both academically and athletically; the main draw from community support and even a big contributor
to retention, has been the stadium. Beyond the stadium, many of the university headlines have also involved the football team. Whether it be about the new head coach Adam Dorrel, or the chance for a fresh start and bright future, the amount of coverage has been drastically skewed to begin the semester. And rightfully so. In the department of athletics, the football program plays a huge role. In the first two games alone, the team was paid 650,000 dollars just to show up. Now that’s no where near a season’s budget for the team, but it sure does make a nice dent. And of course ticket sales bring in a nice penny, and the exposure the program has gotten the university as
of late is hard to argue with. But is all of that effected by the wins and losses? At this point, one can’t honestly say, but even if the Wildcats lose every game the rest of this season, it doesn’t change the mentality of the university. Among the 14 varsity sports, there will be plenty of winning. The soccer team and cross country teams are among the best in their conferences and volleyball is up-andcoming. The women’s basketball team is twotime defending conference champions and the men have finished near .500 in conference play the last two years, despite playing in one of the toughest mid-major conferences. And don’t forget about
the softball team or tennis. Softball was 20-7 in conference play, and the men’s tennis team won a conference championship. Aside from sports, ACU has been on the map. While some might say it has never been known at this level of recognition, many would argue it has been for a while with so many great alumni leading innovation and excellence around the world. So I don’t think a few wins or losses for the football team is going to change that. As one of my colleagues said a few weeks ago, there are plenty of well known Div. 1 teams that have struggling football teams. If the university wants to continue to find success even at the Div. 1 level, it
Christian principles and LGBT policy Destruction from hurricanes in September 2017. North Korea’s nuclear threats. The NFL controversy. As we live our lives and seek safety and identity, we have our family roots and university community and hopefully a church home to shelter and guide us. Summit on the ACU campus aids in this by annually providing a focus on who we are in God through lessons from the Word. As we listened to speakers in special Chapels and classes, we were reminded that ultimately our identity is not that we are Wildcats. Nor is it that we are Americans. If you have put on Christ, then first and last you are a Christian and are led by the Spirit and by Scripture, as the Bible informs us. So whether we read from Deuteronomy (this year’s Summit theme book) or from Romans, we are built up and reminded as Romans 12 tells us, “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
Letter to the Editor BY NEAL COATES
“
That Summit theme talk proposed that churches treat LGBT relationships as they do heterosexual relationships.”
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” However, one of the Summit theme presentations, as recently reminded by an Optimist op-ed, asked us to consider our identity and relationships in a different way. That Summit theme talk proposed that churches treat LGBT relationships as they do heterosexual relationships. Part of the justification for this change was that these persons have simply decided to love someone of the same gender.
This is in contradiction to what God teaches for us. At this Christian institution of higher learning, many years of conversations and education and assistance regarding sexual stewardship have occurred. We realize that our students live in a sex-saturated culture, and in a country where the legalities regarding same-gendered relationships have changed and changed again. Over the course of the past year in particular, this topic has been examined by our board of trustees. The board has announced that it affirms the dignity of all people and recognizes that some persons
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or
invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
JMR13B@ACU.EDU
#acudifference
have same-sex attraction. The trustees have also stated their belief Scripture teaches that God intends for sexual relations be reserved for mar- @VANESSAJVELA riage between two persons of 10/3/17 3:01 P.M. different genders — a man just heard someone compare intense studying to “shotgunand a woman. The admin- ning a beer of information #acudifference istration has now facilitated the creation of a student @SHEA_FENDER support and dialogue group 10/3/17 8:17 A.M. on campus. I am confident It’s only 8:17 in the morning and I have already listened to the conversations at ACU re- a guy pass gas twice in the library and both were very loud garding sexuality will remain #acudifference respectful. Read Romans 1. Hope- @BECCASCHARDT fully you’ll read all the Book 9/20/17 5:34 P.M. of Romans. And when you A girl in class told our professor she was confused and come to Chapter 16, you’ll our professor said “why are you confused” and continued see the community of believ- lecturing #acudifference ers living out their encouragement and love for each other @VERONIQUE_ONE within God’s will at a time of 9/19/17 9:44 P.M. great turbulence, emperors, Plus side of working upstairs in the library, you can mumgladiators, and debauchery. ble/sing to yourself and no one will notice cause of the There was also slavery, un- noise #acudifference derage marriage, polygamy @TLYNJUFF and homosexuality. Let us remain on this cam- 9/19/17 1:13 P.M. pus, but more importantly professor: “don’t do drugs...actually, you know, rugs really in our lives, conformed to are okay.” #acudifference Scripture and confident in @LATHAMMADISON the God revealed there. 9/21/17 10:27 A.M. Well my professors scheduled 4 exams all in the same day OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU #acudifference
T H E
EDITORIAL AND LETTER POLICY
can’t stretch itself too thin in one area, but rather continuing to support the things it has done well for so long. And if the football program starts to gain national attention, then that is a huge advantage. But let’s not put all our money on the prettiest horse. If football doesn’t win, the stadium is not a fail, nor is the transition to Div. 1. ACU will continue to be excellent because of its Christian leaders and service. So before we try to blame any of the university’s issues on a turf field with cooling pellets, let’s make we’re doing what we can to live out its mission.
O P T IM IST
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6
SPORTS
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 6, 2017
Men’s rugby off to fast start
BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR
The Men’s Club Rugby team began competing under the department of athletics as a student organization just a semester ago, but has already found success this fall. The team is 2-0 overall, and 1-0 in conference after a 27-26 victory over Southern Methodist University last weekend. This win came off a 12-5 over Trinity University to open the season. Club President Juan Escobedo, who plays fly half which is essentially the team captain in rugby, said to see
the team at this point after all the hard work put in to get to this point. “We are 2-0 so far on the season and we plan on continuing a successful season through hard work and dedication on and off the pitch,” Escobedo said. “Also through every practice and hang out we get closer as a team and build our team chemistry, which helps connect players to passionately love the game of rugby.” Escobedo also recognized club co-founder Aaron Pokluda, who plays lock for the team, as a standout player in
the game against Trinity. The lock position is essentially a lineman in football, but is crucial in winning possession for the team in a scrum. Against SMU, Brian Switzenberg, who also plays lock earned player of the game recognition from Escobedo. The team hopes to play seven more conference games this season, which will take them into November. But no matter how the team performs, Escobedo said he enjoys seeing the players become unified. “Personally, I admire seeing the family grow and
LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Juan and Adrian Escobedo practice for an upcoming tournament.
love rugby and it’s only love that comes dedication and desire to grow as a team,” said Escobedo. The rugby team is back in action this weekend
against the Abilene Men’s Rugby Club.
JMR13B@ACU.EDU
Football returns home for No. 22 McNeese
BY MAX PRESTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The football team returns home this week to face a tough team in McNeese State a week after both teams had convincing wins over their opponents. The Wildcats come into the game with a record of 2-3 overall and 2-1 in conference, while McNeese has an impressive 4-1 overall record and a 2-1 Southland record. In the previous week, the Wildcats had a strong showing against Incarnate Word winning 45-20. Junior Quarterback Dallas Sealey led the way with three rushing touchdowns and one passing. This win over the Cardinals was also important, because the team pulled their first road victory since 2014. For McNeese, its team controlled Stephen F. Austin in a 35-0 victory last week. The Cowboys put up two touchdowns in the second and third quarter, including three being passes from junior quarterback James Tabary. Head coach Adam Dorrel said he has respect for the Cowboys. “McNeese is a great foot-
LAUREN FRANCO CONTENT MANAGING EDITOR Dallas Sealey scans the field for a reciever in Wildcat Stadium.
ball team, they’re not good, they’re great.” Dorrel said. “They’re great on defense and to me great programs play defense first. After that, their ability to run the football makes them tough.” The Wildcats have 1776 total yards of offense through five games, including 1342 passing and 434 rushing. Sealey has posted 1178 of
these yards passing the ball and 69 rushing. Senior wide receiver Troy Grant has hauled in the most yardage from Sealey with 304 on the season and a touchdown. Out of the backfield, sophomore running back Tracy James has ran for 210 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Wildcats have given up 1866 yards,
1044 of it passing and 822 rushing. Sophomore safety Bolu Onifade remains the leader in tackles with 40 and the safety along side him, junior Brandon Richmond, is right behind with 33. Tabary leads his McNeese program offensively with 1173 yards passing and 14 touchdowns through five games. Sophomore Justin
freshman Isa Sanabria and Christina Arteaga. Senior Forward Chantal Kinsey said the team won the game in most of the statistical categories. “We had the opportunities and we outplayed them. It was just getting the ball back into the net was the struggle,” Kinsey said. Central Arkansas scored the game-winning goal with less than five minutes left to play to give the Wildcats their second-straight loss. But on Sunday, the Wildcats looked like a totally different team, dominating the Lady Demons with a 6-2 victory. ACU’s victory raised its
record to 5-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Kinsey, who began her Wildcat career as a defender, is now playing forward and scored two goals to propel ACU to a 3-0 lead in the first half. She scored her first goal in the 29th minute and her second with 1:40 left in the first half, with a wellplaced ball. Junior Dylan Owens scored the Wildcats’ first goal of the game in the 15th minute with an assist from senior team captain Chloe Fifer, who placed the ball right in front of Owens. Three minutes into the second half, Baer’s second goal of the weekend, gave
ACU a 4-0 lead. Northwestern State managed to get two goals in the 59th minute and 83rd minute, right before the game came to an end, but it wasn’t near enough. ACU’s final two goals were scored by sophomore Samantha Vestal and freshman Christian Arteaga in the 68th and 82nd minute. Vestal escaped her defender and struck the ball into the net, while Arteaga displayed nice footwork and scored her fourth goal of the season. “We had a couple tough losses, Friday and the Sunday before that, but I think with this win we will keep building off of this and
Pratt leads his team out of the backfield with 386 yards and two touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Kent Shelby leads through the air with 233 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the Cowboys have tallied 2145 yards offensively, 1178 passing and 967 rushing, and have given up 1464 yards defensively, 1185 passing and only 279 rushing. Dorrel said that he’s ready to face a top-25 FCS team. “This institution in the Div. 1 era has never beaten a top-25 football program,” Dorrel said. “If you’re ever going to get to a point where you’re going to beat those people, you at least got to be able to talk about it. You have to use it in a positive way and not get your guys scared out of playing.” Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday and coverage of the game can be seen on Eleven Sports or heard on 98.1 FM.
MJP14B@ACU.EDU
Wildcats get back on track with 6-2 rout BY RACHEL POE SPORTS REPORTER
The Wildcats are back on the road this weekend heading to Corpus Christi after an offensive explosion on Sunday. ACU did split its matches last weekend, but ended on a high note with the win over Northwestern State. Last Friday night, the Wildcats battled hard and had a tough 2-1 loss to the defending Southland Conference regular-season champions, Central Arkansas. Senior Megan Baer scored her second goal of the season in the 36th minute, evening the score 1-1. She was assisted from
keep moving forward,”said Kinsey, “We are in a really good position going forward and that we have a lot of confidence now and hopefully will keep putting the ball in the back of the net.” The Wildcats will kick off with the Islanders Friday at 7 p.m., as they continue conference play. ACU defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4-0 last season. Baer will look to stretch her goal-scoring streak to three, as she scored in the game last season against the Islanders.
RKP15A@ACU.EDU
FOOTBALL MATCHUP PREVIEW 2017 SEASON
ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (2–3)
JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS DIRECTOR
20.6
POINTS PER GAME
34.6
86.8
RUSH YPG
193.4
268.4
PASSING YPG
235.6
23.8
POINTS ALLOWED
19.4
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
DAVIS DENTON SPORTS REPORTER
Football
Team
UCA McNeese Nicholls ACU SELU SFA SHSU NWSU HBU UIW Lamar
Ovrl. SLC. 3–1 4–1 3–2 2–3 2–3 2–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–4
Volleyball
Team
TAMU-CC SHSU HBU UCA SFA McNeese ACU UIW NWSU NOU Lamar SELU Nicholls
Team
2–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–3
Ovrl. SLC. 8–8 7–9 12–5 14–2 15–5 11–8 6–10 3–9 6–12 7–10 2–11 2–16 2–16
Soccer
5–0 4–0 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–4 0–3 0–4 0–5
Ovrl. SLC.
Lamar 9–3–1 4–1 4–1 UCA 7–6 McNeese 8–3–1 4–1 HBU 4–4–2 3–1–1 3–2 SFA 6–6 3–2 ACU 5–7 2–3 Nicholls 5–7 1–2–2 SELU 3–6–3 TAMU-CC 4–5–2 1–3–1 1–4 UIW 2–8 1–4 SHSU 4–7 1–4 NWSU 5–7
DORREL DAILY
“McNeese is a great football team, not a good team, but a great team. They’re great Dorrel on defense and to me great programs play defense first.”
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Soccer
Senior Megan Baer scored in each of the two games of the weekend, Baer hooking her goal against Northwestern State into the top left corner. Baer now has three goals on the year and is just one of the team lead of four, as well as one point off the team lead in points with nine. Baer had just ten points all of last season. With her two first half goals against Northwestern State on Sunday, Kinsey senior Chantal Kinsey is tied for second on the team with three goals on the year. Kinsey converted from playing defense in her previous three seasons, to adding to the ACU attack from the forward position.
Football
UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD (0–3)
MAX PRESTON
STANDINGS
TREVOR WYATT SPORTS REPORTER
The Wildcats earned a huge win last week over Incarnate Word, but the road doesn’t get any easier. They welcome the No. 1 defense in the conference fresh off its shutout of Stephen F. Austin. But call me crazy, I think the ACU offense has found its groove. The Cowboys are vulnerable through the air and junior quarterback Dallas Sealey eclipsed 300 yards last week for the first time this season. With both teams feeling good after convincing wins, this game should be a close one if the Wildcats can generate a good home crowd and cut down on penalties. I’ll give ACU the win on the leg of senior Nik Grau with a late field goal.
Sure ACU got a one-sided victory over Incarnate Word, but that’s like beating France in war, everyone is going to do that. McNeese is ranked 22nd in FCS and is coming off of a 35-0 win against SFA. The Cowboys have given up only 1464 yards, including only 279 yards rushing. This tells me that ACU will have to depend on the pass game all night, which is fine considering Dallas Sealey has passed for 1178 yards this season. However, I think that the McNeese defense is very tough and won’t break for an unpredictable ACU team. McNeese should stay ahead for most of the game and cruise to a win.
ACU wins big over UIW 4520. I thought the Wildcats played well both offensively and defensively, racking up 447 yards vs UIW’s 237 yards. McNeese will give the Wildcats their money’s worth after manhandling Stephen F. Austin 35-0, the Cowboys have racked up over 2000 yards of offense but they have struggled defensively allowing 1185 yards passing. An electrifying ACU passing game led by Dallas Sealey and a plethora of talented receivers will challenge the Cowboys. It’ll be a tight one but I see the Wildcats taking the win.
ACU played great football against UIW, and seems to have found their passing game, but they’re going against the best defense in the Southland Conference. They shut out SFA and have dominated every opponent they’ve played, save Nicholls State. I think ACU’s offense gets it done but I’m not sure how the secondary, even though they’ve shows signs of greatness this year, holds against McNeese.
FINAL SCORE: ACU 20 McNeese 17
FINAL SCORE: ACU 34 McNeese 27
FINAL SCORE: ACU 24 McNeese 20
FINAL SCORE: McNeese 34 ACU 24
Sam Denmark, a senior defensive captain, picked of the sixth pass of Denmark his career against Incarnate Word. In fact, it was his fourth pick in four games against the Cardinals. He had two in 2014, one a season ago and one last weekend. In each of those games the Wildcats picked up the win.
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