WHAT'S INSIDE
NEWS
OMA invites all for multicultural discussions... and oh, did we mention lunch? Page 3
OPINION
FEATURE
Are you too cool for grad school? Maybe you are. But maybe a few more years is what you need. Page 4
Psychology professor Rachel Riley has spent the last several years learning that less is more. Page 5
SPORTS
Double or nothing: the Sheehy brothers find new spark as they reunite in doubles. Pages 6
v
Friday, October 14, 2016 Vol. 105, Issue 09
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
SWINGIN’
INTO FALL
LYDIA LAWSON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Last week, ACU Swing Cats danced the night away in the historic Elks Ballroom downtown at the annual Fall Stomp. Students spent the evening dancing and enjoying music from the ACU Jazz Ensemble. Swing Cats meets each Tuesday night for swing dancing lessons and practice in the Rec Center.
Beach volleyball, facilities on Athletics agenda BY JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS EDITOR
On Tuesday morning, director of athletics Lee De Leon announced plans for an exterior renovation of the Teague Special Event Center and the construction of a two-story tennis facility. On Thursday afternoon, De Leon followed that up with news of the addition of women’s beach volleyball as a 17th varsity sport. FACILITIES De Leon said while most
SA funds D.C. trip, freshens Campus Center BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Students’ Association passed bills to fund air fresheners in the Campus Center bathrooms and a scholarship for students traveling to Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration. Student Congress voted to take $150 from the congressional project fund to buy air freshener dispensers for the Campus Center bathrooms. Madeline Dayton, sophomore class treasurer, wrote and presented the bill after working with sophomore class president Julia Kennedy to find ways to improve the SEE CONGRESS PAGE 3
people are aware of the newly constructed Elmer Gray Stadium, the renovations to the softball and baseball fields and the ongoing construction on Wildcat Stadium, which is expected to be finished in time for the football team’s 2017 home opener against Houston Baptist, athletics has been quietly raising funds for these projects. The two projects will total close to $3 million, as the renovation of Teague is budgeted at $1.25 million and $1.6 million for the new tennis facility.
Teague has been the administrative home of athletics since 1997, but with the renovations, De Leon said it will be able to better accommodate administrative staff, coaches, student-athletes and visitors. Through the renovations, athletics plans to make Teague more closely resemble the eventual exterior of Wildcat Stadium and expand the lobby area. The two-story tennis facility will be built on the east side of the three main SEE ATHLETICS PAGE 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS The above rendering shows where the beach volleyball courts will be built. As pictured, the courts will replace the SRWC’s outdoor basketball court and grass area to house three competition-sized sand courts.
Hosts emerge after tough auditions BY MERCEDEZ HERNANDEZ PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
After multiple rounds of auditions and callbacks, Student Productions has selected the hosts and hostesses for Sing Song 2017. The hosts are: • Teonna Murphy, junior vocal performance major from Houston • Courtney Eubank, junior vocal performance major from Phoenix, AZ. • Shelby Werderich, junior marketing major from Spring • Ross Spears, junior psychology major from Abilene • Christian Fugar, senior kinesiology major from Cypress • David Martinez, senior kinesiology major from Clear Lake.
Tom Craig, director of student organizations and productions, said the group made the final cut because of their vocal talent and synergy as an ensemble. “As individuals and as a group, they sound amazing and have great personality on stage. The audience will love them,” Craig said. Craig said the cast will take the audience through series of emotions that will bring to life this year’s Sing Song theme, Fire and Ice. Martinez said he has wanted to be a Sing Song host since his freshman year. “I remember watching a friend, who was a senior hostess at the time perform on the downstage. Watching her perform and seeing how joyful the experience made her, I said to myself “I need to do this.” I knew I was going to audition the first chance I got, and thankfully it worked out,”
Martinez said. Murphy said she did not suffer from jitters after her audition because she left everything she on the stage. “I was very comfortable on stage because at that point it didn’t matter what the results were. I knew that I went on stage and gave it my best and
had a lot of fun,” Murphy said. Murphy also said she is thankful for the opportunity to perform as a hostess and encourages others to audition in the future if they feel led to do so. “When God has something for you, you just have
to be confident and go for it. Pray about it a lot, too, I’ve prayed throughout my journey and I feel like without my relationship with God it wouldn’t have happened,” Murphy said. MMH13B@ACU.EDU
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDENT PRODUCTIONS From left to right: Teonna Murphy, Christian Fugar, Courtney Eubank, David Martinez, Shelby Werderich, Ross Spears
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M