A cult classic: Outsiders observe Sing Song Opinion Page 4 vol. 103, no. 36
wednesday, february 11, 2015
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
Alumni office to honor Brantly, Mitchell
what’s INSIDE NEWS
baily wederich staff reporter
The Griggs Center gears up for annual Springboard challenge Page 3
SPORTS Softball struggles in opening tournament
Page 6
OPINION Linsey Thut has the Sing Song blues during her senior year of the show Page 4
SPORTS Men’s basketball drops eighth straight in Garland Page 6
FEATURE Baseball players welcome a special teammate on the field
COMEBACK
‘CATS
Suzzy Dimba, sophomore forward, takes it to the basket in the women’s one-point win over Southeastern Louisia at home on Saturday. See page 6 for full story.
Elise Mitchell (‘83) and Dr. Kent (‘03) and Amber (Carroll ‘06) Brantly will return to Abilene during Sing Song weekend to receive the highest honor ACU gives annually – Outstanding Alumnus and Young Alumni of the Year awards. “The criteria is timely recognition lifetime achievement that brings honor to the university through personal and professional excellence and service to the university, church or community,” said Jama Cadle, assistant director for alumni relations. “The only difference is that Young Alumni cannot be over 40 when they’re nominated.” Nominations are solicited from faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university. The nominees for each award go through an internal vetting process and then to the Alumni Advisory Board, made up of 32 alumni, for the final selection. Kent and Amber are the recipients of the 2015 Young Alumni of the Year award. Their front-line battle against the Ebola virus is worldfamous. Kent was treating Ebola patients in Liberia with Samaritan’s Purse when he contracted the virus himself, and Amber never left his side. The Brantly’s were chosen for the Young Alumni of the Year award because of their dedication and humility in their experience fighting the Ebola virus. “They’re just incredible people and bring the Lord into everything,” said Aubree Selinger, alumni relations officer. On Feb. 5, Dr. Kent Brantly spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast and President Barack Obama mentioned the Brantly’s in his speech there. “And he continues to advocate for a global response see alumni page 3
Two freshman acts compete for first time Dani Burrell student reporter Page 4
SPORTS Track and Field take off for meet in New Mexico this weekend
Page 6
NEWS English majors are invited to Making Literature Conference Page 3
what’s online VIDEO Local sweet shop prepares Valentine’s Day treats
Read more at acuoptimist.com
For the first time in Sing Song history, there will be two freshman acts in this year’s show. Jaci Bonneau, freshman art major from Abilene, and Madison Losher, freshman kinesiology major from Garland, have the opportunity of being a director for each act. “I never came into my freshman year thinking that this is something I
would do because I wasn’t a music major,” Bonneau said. Bonneau’s freshman act, titled Does Any Bunny Know What Time It Is?, started with 100 members, but with the recent death of Colby McDaniel, freshman music major from Fort Worth, the group is now at 99 members. “I wouldn’t feel right giving that spot to someone else after losing a member,” Bonneau said. “That spot was reserved for Colby.” Losher’s freshman act
is titled, Donut Worry, Eat Happy, and has 98 members. Having served as one of the Freshman Follies cochairs last semester, Losher was encouraged by upperclassmen to consider the role of director. After completing the interview process, Losher found herself interested in this big commitment. “If I got it, I got it; if I didn’t, I didn’t,” Losher said. “I ended up getting it, and it has been so great.” Two groups compet-
ing in the same classification would seem to spark a sense of competition, but for these two, all is fair in love and Sing Song. Both acts have displayed a sense of community and working together. “I was afraid at first when they announced that they were going to have two freshman acts,” Bonneau said. Though she was worried, Bonneau said she believes that if one of the freshman acts places in the competition, they all win. Both acts
have made sure to keep their groups in a mindset that they are one, despite what the roster says. “Naturally there’s competition, but me and Jaci are friends, and it’s all fun,” Losher said. However, competition with each other is the least of their worries. “Sickness is our biggest competition,” Bonneau said. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
CampusQuad app acts as digital billboard madeline orr editor in chief A new app available to students provides a visual information stream for campus events. The CampusQuad app launched last week when Chris Riley, vice president of Student Life, offered doughnuts to students in the Campus Center who downloaded the app, which is free for all ACU students. The social media platform encourages students to create events that are happening around campus for student organizations they belong to and for personal events or posts. The app allows users to upload images, use filters and effects, and to say if they plan to attend a certain event. Riley said that although various departments and offices on campus have already started using the app, he hopes CQ will be primarily used by students.
“CampusQuad promotes both virtual and actual student engagement,” he said. “And opposed to going to a website for information, the ads will go to student’s devices.” The app will not completely replace other methods in which announcements are made across campus. “Ads created in CQ can be uploaded to text, email, Facebook, Twitter,” Riley said. “Moreover, we are working to have the announcements posted on CampusQuad scrolling the TV monitors in the Campus Center.” Seth Montgomery, senior information technology major from Abilene, said it’s a place for students to connect with each other on a whole new level. “I’m used to using older apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yik Yak, Snapchat, Google Plus, iMessage, and Apple’s ‘phone’ app to communicate with people and figure out what the buzz is
jarred schuetze chief Photographer
The CampusQuad app allows students and faculty to post campus events. on campus, but Quad takes away the stress by giving me another option to choose from, an option tailored specifically to ACU,” he said. Other students have yet to utilize the app.
Abilene Christian University
“I downloaded the app, downloaded from the app but I haven’t opened it yet,” store on iPhones and Android said Jennifer Evans, junior devices. family studies major from Abilene. “I just did it for the contact orr at free doughnut, honestly.” mco10b@acu.edu CampusQuad can be
Wednesday 2.11.15
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wednesday
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thursday
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friday 6:30 p.m. Women’s basketball at Sam Houston State University
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saturday
Tyson Invitational track meet at the University of Arkansas
9 a.m. Women’s tennis matches 2 p.m. Sing Song
2 p.m. Softball versus Prairie View A&M University
8 p.m. Sing Song
4 p.m. Baseball versus University of Nevada 8 p.m. Sing Song
Chapel checkup To date:
Around Abilene
Remaining:
22 51
Feb. 12
Feb. 13
Feb. 13, 14
Feb. 14
5 p.m. ArtWalk at the Grace Museum. ArtWalk is an event led by the Center for contemporary Arts. For more information, visit www.center-arts.com.
7:30 p.m. Paramount Film Series presents Casablanca. Tickets are $6, $5 for students.
8 p.m. Don’t miss ACU’s 59th Annual Sing Song. The theme this year is “Countdown.” Visit acu. edu/singsong for times and tickets.
10 a.m. Eternal Threads open house. Features a Fair Trade world market with products made by women around the world, allowing them to earn a living. The open house will be at the Eternal Threads warehouse at 101 Walnut St.
@acuoptimist 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. Fri. and Sat. and Feb. 20-21 in Fulks Theatre with a talkback on Friday. Tickets are $15. Samaritan’s Purse is hiring for numerous domestic and international paid internships. Apply by Feb. 28 at intern.samaritanspurse.org. 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.
sponsibility as citizens of the world. A talk Building Room 250. If you enjoy poetry, back will take place after every perfor- come listen, share, and be ministered to Baker Heights Church of Christ will mance. Go to acu.edu/theatre for ticket by Christ-centered poetry. lead Thursday Chapel in Administra- prices and show times. tion Building Room 120. Join us as we Camp Olympia is looking for students dig deeper and discover the meaning of Need to practice interviews? ACU Career who love to be outside and want to be a some powerful words in Scripture. Center is offering mock interviews Feb. positive role model for children to work Are you free this summer and in need 23-27. Meet with ACU alumni and hu- this summer. Come to the Campus Cenof a job? Are you energetic, love being man resources professionals to network ter Feb. 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. around children, and have a passion for and receive feedback on your interview- to learn more. Jesus? Then ACU Leadership Camps ing skills. Visit acu.edu/careercenter for may be for you. If you have any ques- more information and to select a time. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, students will tions, we are located downstairs in the have the opportunity to meet with the Campus Center, Room 29. Apply online The ACU Undergraduate Research Fes- Dean of the Liberty University School of at acucamps.com/apply. tival is almost here! Come to Hunter Law. There will be a pizza lunch at 11:45 Welcome Center Tuesday, March 31, to p.m. in Hardin Administration Building V is for Violin will run Feb. 26-28 in Culp support undergraduate researchers dur- Room 219. All are invited, but please Theatre. Written by Brittany Taylor, an ing our 7th annual festival. call 674-2095 or email Carmen Price at ACU alumna, the play captures a closecjp11a@acu.edu with your reservation up view of a couple struggling to make Spoken Word Chapel will meet Tuesdays so we will be able to accommodate acsense of love, choice and personal re- in the Onstead Packer Biblical Studies cordingly.
Intramurals
Basketball ‘bows exchanged for Sing Song bows THE VAGABONDAGE REC-COVERING SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND ADDICT
DANIEL BLOCK
The Rec remains silent this week, one might even say it is lonely, without the dribbling of basketballs and tears of defeat to keep it company late into these warm winter evenings. In truth, the Rec’s older and bigger brother, Moody Coliseum, is stealing all the intramural glory this week with some event everyone seems to be fussing about known as Sing Song. It reminds me of this one time back in high school when I brought a girl home to meet my family. It didn’t work out between us, but I still see her every time I eat dinner at my brother’s house. She’s a great cook. Women’s Champ League I really wanted to write something good about GATA this week. Honestly, I did. But the team hasn’t done me any favors. After losing their first game by 26 and their second by 12, scoring 33 and 29 points respectively, the girls of GATA need to try a new offensive tactic. Maybe they could open their eyes when they shoot?
Alpha Kai Omega appears to be looking up to GATA in terms of offense (kind of hard to do when both teams are in the basement of the standings), but at least it kept its last game against league leader, The Has-Beens, within fewer points than a connect-the-dots puzzle for 3-year-olds. The Has-Beens, at 2-0, are tied for first with LEGIT. The two teams will play each other in the last game of the regular season, quite likely with first place on the line. The Has-Beens have faced seemingly easier competition so far, defeating GATA and Alpha Kai Omega rather handily. Team captain Kynzie Newman isn’t looking back but knows to watch out for future competition. “LEGIT and Siggies are the teams we have our eyes on,” Newman said. “Each team has quite a few athletes, and not only that, but experienced basketball players. Screens will be set the right way, instead of someone sticking their knee out while simulta-
neously bear-hugging you claiming it to be a ‘good’ screen.” Despite the stiff competition, Newman said former Wildcat soccer player Sarah Schoch is her team’s X-factor for winning games. “She can easily fool you with her giggly and innocent self on the court but she’ll knock [your] lights out,” Newman said. “We’ve all seen her get carded on the soccer field multiple times. Do not underestimate her ability to slide tackle someone on a basketball court.” Newman, a former Wildcat basketball player herself, explained her favorite aspect of women’s basketball. “Guys could swing at each other because of some call in the game but afterwards do their little bro handshake or hug and move on,” Newman said. “If a girl gets scratched by another girl, well, everything turns Purge-like. Anything goes and it gets creative.” Men’s Champ League The standings essentially mirror a delicious McAlister’s club sandwich, only with 9 layers instead of 13. The non-social club teams Skillz that Killz and Drain’n 3’s & Drink’n DPs, make up that top slice of premium wheat bread, leading the league
with perfect 2-0 records. The club teams are the delicious toppings in the middle, as Sub T-16, GSP and Galaxy claim the next three positions. Men of BSA and 300 represent the middle slice of bread, while Trojans at 0-2 ref lect the other ingredients. The Trojans don’t mind being terrible at basketball though since they’re still the Sing Song defending champions for three more days and are making sure everyone knows it. You can’t forget that bottom slice of wheat bread. It really wouldn’t be a club sandwich with Purple Reign bringing up the rear. The team has made fewer points than a debate team with a speech impediment and will need a serious lift to get back in contention. All in all, there isn’t much difference between the McAlister’s club sandwich and the men’s social clubs. One thing’s for sure, each is equally enticing to a Kojie.
guage until I attempted to decipher that page. I’m sure everyone’s laughing at me for my gaming ineptitude, but anyone who knows what those terms mean has no excuse not to register for the inaugural tournament. As of Tuesday, 19 people have signed up to compete. I know for a fact that there are more than 19 members of Frater Sodalis, so the number of registered competitors needs to at least double before the registration deadline on Feb. 18. Come on people, forget about Sing Song. True social club glory is on the line. If the fact that the tournament will be played on WiiU is a hindrance to some, gamers should realize that when it comes to championships, history doesn’t ask, “How?” It asks, “How many?” Did I mention registration is free? You’re going to spend your weekend playing any way, why not try to win a T-shirt while you’re at it?
Super Smash Bros
Sing Song
It’s going down, but no one’s yelling “Timber!” The official rules have been listed online for the Super Smash Bros. intramural tournament Feb. 20-21. As a journalism major, I felt I had a strong grasp of the English lan-
I know, I know, Sing Song isn’t an intramural sport. But the competition is just as fierce. Defending champions Kojies and Trojans have their work cut out for them to repeat. I hear Galaxy has a
strong basketball act, but if intramural success means anything, they could use some help. When is the last time they won anything at all? GSP’s remake of the 1980 Miracle on Ice will be tough to beat, and I don’t know anything about Frater Sodalis or Pi Kappa’s acts. Sub T will live up to their lack of expectations. On the women’s side, I heard Alpha Kai has more costume changes than Katy Perry at halftime of the Super Bowl. If they can pull it off, they’ve got a shot. But fail once and everything goes down the drain. The M&M Kojie act will try not to melt under the heat of competition, while the Siggies’ loss last year has them desperate to get back to a state of Sing Song relevance. GATA’s mice act might be cute at first, until people remember that mice are public enemy No. 1. I don’t know about Zeta Rho, and Tri Kappa Gamma had too much on its plate to stage an act. Get ready for a weekend full of bows, popouts, and red cheeks. It should be fun.
contact block at djb13a@acu.edu
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news
Wednesday 2.11.15
BSA celebrates first production of semester jonathan raitz student reporter About 200 people piled into Chapel on the Hill Sunday to participate in a celebration intended to encourage and enlighten people about becoming a champion in Christ. In conjunction with the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Black History Month, the Black Students’ Association conducted A Black History Service: the first part of what the student group’s president, Khamisie Green, refers to as an entirely new two-part production. “It has never been done in the past,” said Green, junior music education major from Odessa. “I wanted our cast to have the opportunity to come together and worship. I felt the best way to do that was to have our Black History production be two-prong.” The event is similar to last year’s Gospel Fest in which choirs and singers came from different parts of the state to perform but with an added a number of different elements, including a tagteam preaching style with a message centered around the story of David and Goliath. Prentice Ashford, director of OME, described the BSA production as one big praise
event. “What they wanted to do here was just worship together alongside people in Abilene,” Ashford said. “They wanted to find a way to reach the community, and they are real big on worship services.” India Wilson, sophomore marketing major from Plano, said the event was one-of-akind and uniquely impacted those who attended. “I think this event produced a good impact on the community inside and outside of ACU because it exposed people to another way to praise and worship,” Wilson said. “It brought a new culture and different way of doing things into the ACU bubble.” Green said BSA has been adamant about providing spiritual opportunities to its members and the ACU community. He expected everyone in attendance to be impacted and educated in a unique and positive way. “A lot of the time, we go and we worship, and everybody that comes is not really into it, but we’re expecting for those who attend this service to come expecting and to come wanting to participate and be involved in worship,” Green said. “We expect people to walk away feeling energized as well as empty because of how much they poured into
the service.” Daniel Burke, freshman marketing major from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the event was a good relection of BSA and its mission. “I really enjoy being a part of something that is different from my culture, so I get to learn and grow from the experience,” Burke said. “Khamisie wants BSA to be an organization that promotes black culture as well as brings unity.” This month and the event are intended to educate and encourage all who attend, and Green said he believes the impact from this Sunday accomplished that. “I felt like people walked out of here smiling, encouraged and ready for the week,” Green said. “And I feel like that is what church should be. We couldn’t call this a church service without leaving people empowered and encouraged.” However, Green did mention a few technical things he hopes to change in the future. Green, along with Jasmine Washington, sophomore music education major from Glenn Heights, and Samone Smith, sophomore Bible and political science major from Indianapolis, said they were extremely pleased with the outcome and they hope to provide longevity to this
jonathan raitz student reporter
Attendees participate at the Black Students’ Association’s Black History Service, the first part of the student group’s two-part production commemorating the month. event and others. “We were hoping for the best, we were planning for the best and we saw the best,” Green said. The second prong of
what Green called a “two- duction, a play written by prong” production will take Green. Tickets are $5 and are place Feb. 27 at the Para- on sale now. mount Theatre. BSA will contact the optimist at perform Unchained Memojmcnetwork@acu.edu ries: BSA Black History Pro-
Springboard prepares for student competition betsy smith student reporter Registration is open for the 2015 Springboard Ideas Challenge. Springboard Ideas Challenge is a mini-business plan competition facilitated by the Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy. There are two divisions: the community division with a grand prize of $20,000 and the student division with a grand prize of $10,000. The goal of this competition is to provide aspiring entrepreneurs of the West Texas community with the opportunity to win a significant amount of money that will help them start
their business. Applicants must be 18 years old, a permanent resident of one of the 19 qualifying counties that surround the Abilene area, or attending one of the colleges in the surrounding area. They must submit their business idea in the contest entry form online along with a $10 registration fee. A panel of judges will review the online applications, select the most creative ideas and decide which contestants move on to the next phase. The selected contestants will be required to submit a business plan and describe their concept to potential investors. “At that point, we create a 10- to 15-minute presentation where we pitch our
“
If you’re not excited or passionate about your idea, then you’re not going to put the work it takes to develpp a good business plan and presentation.
ideas in front of live judges,” said Jeff Johnston, 2014 graduate from Coppell. “The judges then follow the pitch with a Q&A about our plan.” After the challenge takes place, the finalists will attend an awards ceremony on April 9 where they will showcase their ideas and winners in each category will be announced. For the 2014 college division, the winning idea belonged to Morgan Hood, sophomore marketing major from Abilene.
Jeff johnston 2014 ACU grad
“My idea was ‘Float 2 Swim,’ a personal flotation device that teaches children the basics of swim lessons, such as the ability to float on their back, while keeping the child safe,” Hood said. Her first-place idea was awarded $7,500. She said she believes her winning idea was most successful because it was unique and caught the judges’ attention. Second place went to Rudy Garza, junior marketing major from Corpus
Christi, and Jason McVey, management major from Austin. They were awarded $3,000 for their idea “NovaScore,” a digital app concept to quicken the process of test and quiz grading campus-wide. Third place went to Johnston who received $1,000 for his idea “Sign Me Up,” a website where people could choose the size and color of their garage sale signs and then pick where each of those signs would be placed, all taken care of by the company. “Make sure your idea is something that you’re passionate about and really would love to do, maybe not immediately after college, but something that you could see yourself get-
ting into and enjoying,” Johnston said. “If you’re not excited or passionate about your idea, then you’re not going to put the work it takes to develop a good business plan and presentation. If I could give advice to anyone thinking about entering the competition I would say to do something you actually enjoy.” For more information or to register, visit http:// www.acu.edu/academics/ coba/gr iggscenter/students/springboard/ideas. Submissions are due March 5 at 11:59 p.m.
contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Students invited to Making Literature Conference emily studer student reporter Three students were invited to attend the Making Literature Conference at Taylor University Feb. 26-28 after submitting their own works of literature. Students that were accepted to the conference are Lexi French, senior English major from Palestine, Alyssa Johnson, senior English major from Wheeler, and McKinley Terry, sophomore English
major from Longview. Dr. Joe Stephenson, associate professor of English, and Al Haley, professor in the Department of Language and Literature, will accompany the three students to the conference. The department handled registration for the conference. Stephenson said students had to submit full papers, not just summaries, by Dec. 15 last year. “All papers were reviewed by a committee, and acceptance was very competitive,”
Stephenson said. Only three of the five submissions from ACU students were accepted. The students worked on their papers for months, talking the ideas over with Stephenson and Haley before sending in their final pieces. The students will have the opportunity to win prizes for their work. French said she put a great deal of time and effort into the piece she submitted and did extensive research and editing for it.
“I had intended to submit a piece I had been working on with Professor Al Haley for almost a year, but the piece ended up being too long,” French said. “Cutting my piece down that much became too difficult, so I ended up submitting a piece that I had only just begun working on last semester.” While at the conference, students and professors will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with nationally recognized presenters and students from many
different colleges and universities. Many of the presentations will be over various genres and topics of literature and writing. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to see how a research conference works,” Terry said. “It will give me the opportunity to explore my interest and see if academic research is something that I would enjoy doing in the future.” The students will share their submitted work with other students and profes-
sors at the conference. For some this will be the first time presenting their work for an audience outside of the classroom. “I am so excited to have the opportunity to present my work,” Johnson said. “I am passionate about analyzing the literature we read and the plays we see on a deep level, and I am so thrilled to have the chance to share this passion with others.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Carlisle honored by American Physical Society savanah silva student reporter Prestigious awards aren’t always a surprise for ACU students, but for senior Elizabeth Carlisle, her award from the Texas Section of the American Physical Society came as a total shock. “I thought I was disqualified actually, so when I found out I won, it was a surprise,” said Carlisle, a physics major from Centennial, Colorado.
Carlisle entered TSAPS’s 2014 Fall Presentation competition with her presentation of an algorithm that could be used in the commissioning process of the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr. Jessie Dowdy, professor of physics and assistant department chair, put into perspective how competitive this award was. “If ACU had a sports team win a regional title, it would be very similar in distinction to this award,”
he said. “Just like an athlete practices, Elizabeth spent months performing the research that formed the basis of her presentation.” Carlisle beat out undergraduate students from universities such as University of Texas, Baylor University and Texas Christian University. The competition took place in College Station and was open to all undergraduate students from any university or college in the nation. Many times, students
have mentors or advisers from their department, but Carlisle mainly did this on her own, Dowdy said. She did however, have help from Dr. Scott Acton of Ball Aerospace where she did a summer internship. This award brings additional attention to the Department of Engineering and Physics as they prepare to move into the recently renovated Bennett Gymnasium this month. “The award demon-
Alumni: Brantlys, Mitchell awarded at luncheon from page 1 in West Africa, reminding us that, ‘our efforts needs to be on loving the people there,’” Obama said. “He reminds us of what it means to really ‘love they neighbor as thyself.’” Elise Mitchell, Outstanding Alumnus of the Year recipient for 2015, is the CEO of Mitchell Communications Group and CEO of the
international Dentsu Public Relations Network. Some of her clients include Hilton Worldwide and Proctor & Gamble. Mitchell is part of the namesake for Morris & Mitchell, ACU’s studentrun Ad/PR agency. Students voted to name the agency in her honor after an initial contribution in 2010. Mitchell made a second gift in 2012 to endow the agency.
“Elise has given her time, her talent and her treasure to ACU,” Cadle said. “We ask our alumni to give one of those, and she’s given all three.” Mitchell said she is surprised and honored to receive the award. “Receiving this award is a huge honor for me and quite an unexpected one as there are so many outstanding alumni,” Mitchell said.
“ACU played a pivotal role in my life when I was a student, helping prepare me to live in a way that would honor God both personally and professionally.” The honorees will receive their awards Sunday at the Alumni Luncheon in the Hunter Welcome Center. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
strates, once again, that the ACU Department of Engineering and Physics prepares students for establishing the baseline of excellence in physics and engineering,” Dowdy said. “The students and faculty continue to win regional and national awards from our department.” The Fall Presentation winners received a $150 grand prize along with notoriety for themselves as well as their school.
Carlisle hopes this award brings more attention to the physics department. “I hope this puts our physics department into the spotlight and allows people to see how good this department is.” Carlisle said she plans to save the money and use some for rent. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Opinion
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Wednesday 2.11.15
editorial
Ritualistic behavior discovered in North America
A
nthropologists in the northern hemisphere recently discovered the ceremonies of a southern-located population. They found this particular tribe of people to have practiced and perfected a specific ritual more what they date as almost 60 years. According to records, the ritual engrossed more than 63 percent of the tribe, resulting in mass displays of tribal pride at least once a year. The fate of the remaining 37 percent of the tribe is unknown, as their voices were not documented in the newly discovered records. The situation mirrored Israeli disc-jockey behavior in what anthropologist Tim Craig noted in Ritual; the tribe used music to draw on a common habit with a uni-
fied atmosphere, creating a tribal identity in the collective experience. The same practice could be observed in the Incan construction of such wonders like Macchu Picchu and Ollantaytambo, where workers were said to have sung while moving and placing stones. The music, as seen in every example, distracted the participants from the mundane tasks of the ritual, and created a more engaging atmosphere. The participating members started the ritual as a community, giving their undivided time and energy to the ceremony. Elders would organize and advise, but the younger generations put the most work in, qualifying it as a social event. As time passed, though,
the ceremony became a competition between these members. It was not honoring of the blessings of the tribe any longer, but a bloodthirsty fight to the death between who could, for the lack of a better word, put on a better show. Anthropologists have only just begun identifying the turning point in the ceremony’s purpose. Once again looking to anthropologist Craig’s work, they came to the conclusion that the participants no longer exercised control over their rituals, but the rituals were exercising control over them. Though some participants were aware of this, as observed in depreciating notes scribbled on walls, they still felt pressured by the majority of the tribe to con-
tinue in an understanding silence of the evolving ritual. Over the years, countless hours were spent on this ritual. The entire tribe suffered a loss of productivity and even increased their health risks by ruining their immune systems with a lack of eating, sleeping and general hygiene. To the anthropologists surprise, though, they were not the first to discover this ritual-centered tribe. The ceremony was quickly discovered by a close-by community. Through a bartering system, the incoming communities convinced the tribe to allow an observance of this ritual. This incoming community wrote on the spectacle, calling it awe-inspiring, mysterious and terrifying. This
concept, defined by Philip Sherbert as a numinous experience, beckoned more distanced communities to travel and witness the event. As the popularity of the ritual grew, more and more participants became lost in it. To justify their means, anthropologists have discovered that members claimed it as a true community experience. They claimed their sacrifices were not important, only the fact that each member was sacrificing something together. Still, questions begging, “Why are we doing this, if not to please?” remain scrawled in the old ritual arena. Upon further investigation, the anthropologists were able to locate an existing member of the tribe. The
partaker said members of their time would even scoff at the event, they would each dread it every year. Talk of the event wavered between ecstatic mutterings to bitterness dissents. But they never thought of stopping the ritual, because it was expected. It was tradition. They coveted the event, they even cherished it. And for that, it was never brought into serious question. The tribe was located in the southern part of the North American continent. Located in West Texas, the members still practice their ritual today. The end is nowhere in sight. This is Sing Song. contact The Optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
DAILY doodle dosage
hashtagACU
Ben Todd
Feb. 9 10:16 p.m.
It’s not sing song week until I have glitter in my hair #kjksingsong2015
@sbeckendorff
Feb. 9 3:48 p.m.
The Gata fountain is running over again. Winter is officially over.
Feb. 9 11:13 a.m.
I KNOW I HAVE A MIRCOPHONE BUT I’M GOING TO YELL JUST IN CASE! #ACUChapel
@HendrySteven74 Feb. 9 1:01 p.m.
@thechadfontenot Feb. 7 8:06 p.m.
RIP to the perfectly good flannel I ripped up for the sake of sing song. A moment of silence please, everyone!
I just smiled at a cat to be friendly. I’m tired.
@marafleet @sjpybus
Feb. 9 3:56 p.m.
Feb. 10 12:54 p.m.
“It’s Valentines week.” Just kidding. It’s Sing Song Week.” -Rachel Riley #ACUdifference #SingSong2015
If you haven’t tripped and almost face planted on the bricks by the GATA fountain are you even a GATA
Column
Fighting the Sing Song blues
@Em_ily_95 @ysaowatarnpong
VIEWS VAGABONDAGE FROM GOODY SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND TWO-SHOES
Feb. 10 9:03 p.m.
Why professors give tests on Sing Song week I’ll never know.
Feb. 7 8:53 p.m.
Glad I finally have a reason to look like a hobo. ZOMBIES. SENIORS SING SONG 2015.
@feria_desiree
Last year, a tragedy occurred in my life. I must have lost my mind because I got the horrible idea to forego Sing Song participation this year. So when the Sing Song sign-up sheet came by in club this year, I let it go by, unsigned. And now I’ve got the Sing Song Blues. See, I’ve (more than) put my Sing Song time in over the past three years. Freshman year, I wore my bear costume with pride. Sophomore and junior years, I spent ridiculous amounts of time poring over mountains of sheet music as a section leader. I gladly
@bthouston11 Adult: What are you going to do after college? Me: *shrugs shoulders so hard arms fall off*
*im so exhausted* *checks all social medias-twice* *goes to bed*
YikYak
LINSEY THUT
YikYak Quick a visiting tour is coming, act like we know what we are doing with our lives.
YikYak
dressed as a TV remote and coffee cup in my club acts. And so I decided, my senior year, I was done. I’d like time to actually complete my homework and also avoid the inevitable strep throat that follows loud singing in a room with 50 other sick and tired girls. However, crazy as it sounds, I regret that decision. I see all the Sing Songers walking around campus like zombies, having bragging battles about who is sleeping less and who is going to fail their classes first. And I envy that. I miss hating my life and everyone in my act after
spending so much time together in hot, stuffy practice rooms. There’s honestly nothing like a room full of tired, fussy girls that can’t get their moves right at 10:30 p.m. The Sing Song Blues have really gotten to me, and the list of strange things I miss goes on and on. The sore face muscles from overdoing my Sing Song face? Check. The bruises from getting hit in the face, arms and legs during choreography practice? Oh, yeah. The skin breakouts from too much red paint slopped onto my cheeks? Of course. I’m so torn up about the whole thing that I’ll probably buy some cheap paint and break out my oversized red tulle bow from years past (because that’s the best part, right?) to try and patch up the SingSong-shaped-whole in my heart.
So to the tiny percent of campus that’s participating in Sing Song, I guess what I’m trying to say is, stick it out, and take it all in. All those people you can’t stand right now – like that girl that stands next to you and sings three octaves off-key, or the guy who can’t figure out the club move, like ever – will be your best friend on Saturday night after that last performance. The bad grades, sleepless nights and possibly even sickness won’t matter when you’re all up on stage singing your lungs out together. And to the rest of campus who thinks these Sing Song fanatics are crazy: They are. But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
contact Thut at LCT10a@acu.edu
Country music tune beats to an offensive drum FUNNY HOW VAGABONDAGE THAT WORKS SAMANTHA SUTHERLAND EMILY SEIDEL
“Somebody’s gotta wear a pretty skirt, somebody’s gotta be the one to flirt, somebody’s gotta want to hold his hand, so God made girls...” If you listen to modern country music at all, you’ll recognize those lyrics. They belong to RaeLynn’s hit God Made Girls, a song about
how pretty and sweet women are. It’s a catchy song for sure, but every time I catch myself singing along to it, I get annoyed. While that song is really cute, and I’m sure written with the best intentions, it’s actually pretty offensive. Among the reasons listed
for God creating girls: to be the one to cry, to let him drive, give him a reason to wash his truck, give him a reason to hold the door, to teach him how to dance, to drag him to church... and on and on it goes. I don’t know if you caught it. It’s really subtle, but it seems like this song is saying we’re here for our lives to revolve around men and make them polite while we sit there and look pretty. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but I challenge you to listen to that song and find one valuable trait Rae-
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try Song by Maddie & Tae, which calls people out for those kind of ideas, but I’ve never thought any of those lyrics were too disrespectful or serious enough for me to pay them much mind. What upsets me about God Made Girls is that it’s a woman singing it, and she’s not only playing into every stereotype about women but promoting it to others. I know the song is harmless and few people will take it seriously, but the idea of any woman reducing her identity to “wearing a pretty skirt” breaks my heart.
God made us for so much more than that. So the next time you hear that song, feel free to sing along and enjoy the catchy tune, but take the time to listen to what she’s saying and ask yourself if any of it defines your purpose. I’ll just be reading Genesis, looking for the part where God “stood back and told the boys ‘I’m ‘bout to rock your world.’”
contact Seidel at EKS13B@acu.edu
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Lynn gave women in this song – anything about intelligence, independence or hard work. Believing women are here for those other reasons is a dangerous mindset. But unfortunately, it’s one that seems to be in a lot of today’s country music. I grew up in California where you’re shunned if you admit you like country music, but I’ve always loved it anyway. I can normally get past the lyrics about women in cutoff jeans and bikinis and their “sugar-shakers.” I love Girl in a Coun-
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Features
Wednesday 2.11.15
Above: Tagen at the baseball field before practicing with the team.
Carol hoover guest photographer
it to
tagen the field Baseball helps one man get closer to his dreams emily seidel staff reporter
W
hen Tagen Reeves was 5 years old, he exhibited all the mannerisms of a professional baseball player. With a father who coached baseball, he took the game seriously. In his first career at bat in T-ball, he put one foot in the batter’s box and looked at the third-base coach who was cheering him on. Tagen just shook his head, refusing to take his first swing. The coach called a time-out to talk to him and soon walked back to the dugout laughing. Tagen got up to the plate, looked at the coach, and this time got what he had been waiting for – an official hitting signal, just like the professional players get. Thus began a multi-sport athletic career that has lasted more than 20 years. Now, at 29, Tagen has become as much a member of the Department of Athletics as his father, head softball coach Bobby Reeves, since coming to ACU in 2010. Tagen’s role, however, has been more impactful across campus, reaching not only athletes from every sport but also students, faculty and staff. Even other coaches throughout the Lone Star and Southland conferences know him well. What makes Tagen so popular is his enthusiasm, love for life and kindness toward everyone. These traits are biologically part of who he is. But they are also factors of a condition he’s had since he was born. As a special needs person, Tagen’s mind works differently. “From the time Tagen was born, we
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I looked at each other and said it didn’t make any difference. We were going to love him the way he was; even if they told us what was wrong, it wouldn’t change the way we feel.” Tagen never acted as if he knew he was different growing up. He attended public school in Shallowater and went through the life skills program where he was taught how to wash clothes, count money, shop at the grocery store and do a little bit of reading. Tagen enjoyed school, but growing up in a family of coaches and athletes, he developed a passion for sports at a very young age. He started with T-ball and peewee football and became very good, very fast. He eventually took his talents to the Special Olympics when he was 7. He has competed in baseball, basketball, golf, bowling, and track and field. Now he has dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals to his name – including last week’s gold medal in bowling – which makes him the most accomplished athlete in his family. Sports has always been how Tagen has best expressed himself, fit in and encouraged others. With a genuine belief that all his athlete friends are his siblings, Tagen can have an inspiring effect just by walking into the training room and greeting somebody with a “Hey sissy!” “Every time Tagen comes into the room, his face just lights up the whole world,” said Cara Hoover, junior catcher for ACU softball, “so whenever you’re having a bad day and he just comes up and tells you how much he loves you and gives you a big ol’ hug, it kind of just makes your day and makes you think of the world in a different perspective.” Bobby said Tagen had equal popularity when he was at Texas Tech, Lubbock
“We were going to love him the way he waseven if they told us what was wrong, it wouldn’t change the way we feel.”
had, like, seven or eight surgeries in the first two years of his life,” Bobby said. “His eyes were crossed, so we went in and cut the muscles to straighten his eyes out. He’s had tubes put in his ears about five times. He’d get a hole in his eardrum and they’d have to graft skin and close it.” Tagen showed signs of slowness growing up, and was always accepted and loved exactly the way he was. However, his parents still constantly, and fruitlessly, searched for medical answers to his unknown condition. “For the first five years of his life, we went to doctors to find out exactly what was wrong with him,” Bobby said. “One time, we went to Dallas, and they told us there was a guy in Minnesota they thought could tell us what was wrong with him since nobody had been able to tell us yet. But at that point, my wife and
Bobby reeves Head softball coach at abilene christian university
Christian, Harding University and Texas State while his father coached, but he never had the same kind of love, support and opportunity he’s had since coming to ACU. For instance, Tagen has wanted to be a professional baseball player his entire life, and head baseball coach Britt Bonneau has helped him get as close to his goal as possible, which helps the team out in the process. “He makes it known that he is a ball player and we must work hard every day to get better,” Bonneau said. “The ‘attitude, effort, everyday equals success’ saying is true with Tagen.” Tagen gets to practice with the team every day. He throws bullpens with the pitchers, takes hitting practice and fields balls with the infielders and outfielders, and gets to sit in the dugout with the
Right: Tagen encourages the players on the team and greets friends at a baseball game.
team during games. “Anyone that knows Tagen knows that he is your friend from the first time you meet him. Our new guys every year get to experience what it is like to have a true friend once they meet him. Those players that take the time to play catch with him or hit with him have developed very close relationships with him,” Bonneau said. When Tagen talks about ACU baseball, pride, and sometimes a little egotism, ring clear in his voice. “I’m a college athlete,” he repeats two or three times with a huge grin. He has been issued full team practice gear to wear on the field, but the prize moment of Tagen’s entire athletic career came in early October when the baseball team presented him with an official ACU
baseball jersey, marking his legitimate entry into the ACU athletic ranks. Now that he’s a real college athlete, Tagen said he’s waiting to get drafted to a major league baseball team. Until the day he actually gets to wear a Rangers jersey, though, he’ll continue to be an inspiration on campus as an example of selflessness, optimism and, most importantly, unwavering faith. “I know Jesus is always there for me,” Tagen said. “I play for him, I help him out, always love him. And I read the Bible every day. And I pray and I sing about him and love him. I care about Jesus.” page design Rachel mallary
sports
wednesday 2.11.15
‘Cats complete comeback vs. Lions collin thompson sports reporter The women’s basketball team defeated the Southeastern Louisiana University Lady Lions Saturday afternoon in Moody Coliseum, 75-74, increasing their record to 12-10 overall. The team’s now 4-7 Southland record puts ACU at fifth to last in the conference but at half a game ahead of Southeastern Louisiana (3-7). “Playing against a good team, you know it’s going to come down to the final second,” said Julie Goodenough, head coach. “We had an opportunity to win the game on the defensive end, and I’m just really proud of our players’ effort. I was really proud of us staying in the game until the final buzzer.” Sophomore forwards Lizzy Dimba and Sydney Shelstead led the team and collected double-doubles against the Lady Lions. Each scored 17 points and together combined for 28 rebounds compared to SELU’s 41 as an entire team. Despite leading for the last 11:14 of the game, the
Wildcats were never safe, having to get two stops at the end of the game against SELU’s two best players. Senior point guard Elizabeth Styles missed a jumper with eight seconds left and junior forward Nanna Pool, who missed a shot with three seconds, left after an ACU turnover on a travel call. “I’m proud of our players for finishing this one,” Goodenough said. “We’ve struggled a little bit to finish the close ones, and so to be able to finish this one on two back-to-back defensive stops was a big deal for our team to not to succumb to pressure, to follow through with the game plan and finish the game.” The Wildcats were down for nearly the whole first nine minutes but went on a 9-0 run over the next 2:41, gaining a lead they would never let go. “Down the stretch when we went on a run and took the lead, it was our defense that really gave us the extra offensive possessions,” Goodenough said. “I’m really pleased with our players keeping their heads up and playing smart down the stretch. When we got down, it
Team
Ovrl 20-3 19-5 12-10 12-11 13-6 11-10 12-12 7-13 6-16 9-13 9-15 7-13 1-19
Ovrl 13-10 15-6 12-10 12-10 11-11 13-9 12-10 6-15 12-10 7-14 9-13 5-16 3-17
Who’s Hot YAm saowatarnpong Staff Photographer
contact thompson at cnt13c@acu.edu
Junior Whitney West drives the lane for ACU. The Wildcats are 12-10 and 4-7 in the Southland Conference.
sports editor
Sophomore center Sydney Shelstead recorded her eighth doubleshelstead double of the season Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana. Shelstead scored 17 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, in the Wildcats 75-74 win. She has had a solid season so far for the Wildcats averaging almost a double-double a game with 12 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
briefings Junior Rosen Daniel was named Male Track Athlete of the Week by the Southland Conference after an impressive New Mexico Classic. Daniel ran a Southland best 400 meter race with a time of 46.78. It also placed him third in ACU’s history. He is the 14th Wildcat to be given the honor in the 2014-2015 sports season. ACU soccer Coach Casey Wilson announced the addition of 11 players to the soccer team Monday. Two players are transferring in and nine are coming from high school. Wildcat tennis played over the weekend. Look online at acuoptimist.com for Coach Bonneau will con- Texas Tech, Arizona State gram to have the young guys the recap. file photo
In thier second year in the Southland Conference, the ACU baseball team will look to build on its success in 2015. hits and one run. Zotyka had a 3.63 ERA and allowed only a .246 batting average against him. “We have some strong arms that are going to help us on those weekend series that we didn’t have last season,” Bonneau said. “We have a few guys that are coming off injuries as well that will help us as well, so the depth on the mound is definitely a bonus.”
tinue ACU baseball’s trend of playing top competition. The Wildcats played Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, Arizona State University, Arizona and Oklahoma in 2014. The 2015 season will be no different as it includes a difficult schedule for the ‘Cats with four opponents in the top 25. ACU will play TCU,
and Texas A&M. The Horned Frogs were last year’s Big 12 Champ while Texas Tech made it to the College World Series. Brandon Stover, associate head coach, said he thinks the experience of playing bigname schools will be good for the program and young players. “It was huge for our pro-
play against top competition last year,” Stover said. “It was great to put it together last year and win against Arizona who won a national championship a few years ago. We feel like if we play well we can beat anybody in the country.” contact wieder at cpw11a@acu.edu
Turnovers, threes doom Wildcats Turnovers plagued the Wildcats as the men’s basketball team was unable to stop the bleeding of their current losing streak with a loss to Lamar University Monday night in Garland. ACU’s 80-61 loss makes it eight losses in a row for the Wildcats who are 9-15 and 3-8 in the Southland Conference. The Wildcats committed a season-high 21 turnovers, 12 coming in the first half, that lead to 24 points for Lamar off of ACU turnovers. Junior guard Parker Wentz led the Wildcats with 19 points on 5-9 shooting. It was the first time Wentz, who is currently ACU’s second-leading scorer, finished a game in double digit scoring since his 29 point
Div.
Lamar 10-2 SFA 8-2 Nicholls St.8-3 NSU 7-4 TAMU-CC 7-4 UCA 6-4 MSU 6-5 SHSU 5-6 ACU 4-7 SELU 3-7 HBU 3-8 UIW 2-8 NO 1-10
Collin wieder
Daniel Zepeda
Div.
women’s basketball Standings
Baseball opponents include tough Div. I Top 25 schedule
sports Director
men’s basketball Standings
SFA 10-0 SHSU 10-1 NSU 7-4 TAMU-CC 7-4 UIW 5-4 HBU 6-5 Lamar 6-6 Nicholls St.4-6 SELU 3-6 MSU 3-8 ACU 3-8 NO 3-8 UCA 1-8
HISTORIC MATCHUPS ACU baseball will begin its season Friday with a threegame series against the Div. I opponents University of Nevada Wolf Pack. The team returns the bulk of last year’s roster from its inaugural Southland season. They hope to build off a tough 18-36 year that featured an impressive win over powerhouse Arizona. Offensively, the Wildcats lost all-conference catcher Seth Spivey, but return preseason second team allSouthland Conference infielder Aaron Draper and senior first baseman Tyler Eager. Head Coach Britt Bonneau returns for his 19th season with a career record of 689-360-1 in his time with the Wildcats. Bonneau said the team has a lot of experience because of the multiple freshmen that played last year. “It always helps to have some experience,” Bonneau said. “We obviously have some guys that we have gone to war with and been able to compete at a high level. These freshmen that are now sophomores have grown up a lot, and that should help with the new guys coming in.” The pitching staff brings back all but one pitcher from last season. Starting pitcher Garrett deMeyere and relief pitcher Ladgie Zotyka return to build on their success from last season. DeMeyere put together an almost perfect game last season in a 2-1 win against University of Texas at Arlington. He put in eight innings of work, giving up only four
standings Team
didn’t really faze our players. They continued trying to get stops on the defensive end, and that was rewarded with opportune shots on the offensive end.” Of the team’s 11 conference games this season, seven have been decided by two or less possessions, and the Wildcats won just two of those seven. In this game, the team’s first matchup of the season to be decided by a single point, the Wildcats showed they are growing as a team and learning how to finish close games against difficult Southland opponents. “It feels good; it feels great,” Goodenough said. “Whether you win by one or 21, a win is a win. I thought this was just an excellent example of a great team effort on both ends of the court. We know all these games are going to come down to the wire, and it’s good to be able to finish one, especially at home.” The team’s next game will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Sam Houston State University.
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outburst on Jan. 13 against Northwestern State. He was also 2-4 from beyond the arc and 7-8 from the free throw line. Junior forward Austin Cooke put in 12 points on the strength of 3-4 threepoint shooting and added a game-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Jade Little finished with a seasonhigh 11 points and senior guard LaDarrien Williams chipped in 10 points on 4-6 shooting and added five rebounds. Senior guard Harrison Hawkins, ACU’s leading scorer, failed to register a point in the loss to the Cardinals. Hawkins finished with 0-5 shooting, five turnovers in only 15 minutes of play. After receiving a technical foul early in the second half, Hawkins spent the remainder of the game on the bench.
Freshman guard Kevin Booze was unstoppable for Lamar. Booze finished with a career-high 35 points on 9-13 three-point shooting. His 35 points is the secondhighest point tally recorded by a player in the Southland Conference this season. Booze had 25 points in the first half, as he went 6-7 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of action. The Wildcats shot 9-24 as a team in both halves to finish the game at 38 percent from the field and 50 percent (9-18) from three. ACU was 16-20 from the charity strike, but sent Lamar to the free throw line more than their share. The Wildcats committed 13 fouls in the second half and allowed Lamar to reach the double bonus with 11 minutes left in the game. The Cardinals attempted 19 free throws in the second
half, making 14 of them. Lamar finished the game 2531 from the free throw line, 22-48 (46 percent) from the field and 11-19 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats and Cardinals came out of the gates red hot from the three point arc. Both teams combined to go 13-22 from beyond the arc in the first half, as most of the Wildcats shots early on were from three. ACU trailed 26-17 after a pair of made Cardinal free throws with 8:46 left in the first half. The rest of the half would end with ACU trailing between the seven and 12 point deficit mark, ending with a 40-32 Lamar lead at the half. The second half would begin in typical fashion for ACU, giving up an early run and watching the deficit swell. By the 12:27 mark in the second half, Lamar had
registered a 20-8 run to move ahead by 20 points, 60-40. The Wildcats shaved the Cardinal lead to 15 points on a pair of junior forward Duran Porter’s shots in the paint and Williams’ free throws, but ACU would never get close from that point on. Porter finished the game with four points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. The Wildcats were forced to play their game against the Cardinals on a neutral court in Garland, Texas because of Sing Song requiring the use of Moody Coliseum for this week. ACU will now get a week off before its next game on the road against the Sam Houston State Bearkats (195, 10-1) in Huntsville. contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
ACU track and field set multiple records and personal bests from their competition in New Mexico. Look online at acuoptimist.com for the recap. Be sure to follow @OptimistSports on Twitter and like the Optimist Sports Facebook page for more ACU sports news and updates.
Upcoming Women’s basketball travels to Huntsville Thursday to take on Sam Houston State. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Softball plays a double header Friday at home against Prairie View A&M. The first game is at 2 p.m. and the second is at 4 p.m. Baseball hosts Nevada for a three game series to start its season. First pitch is at 4 p.m. Friday. Men’s and women’s tennis travels to New Orleans Friday for a tournament against the Privateers.