NEWS
WHAT'S INSIDE
Intramural log rolling hits the circuit in place of waterball. But what is it? Page 3
FEATURE
OPINION
Early voting is happening now. Our staff writers hit the polls and talked with Abilene locals. Page 4
Cultural Awareness Week is worth your time and your conversations. Read our thoughts.
Page 5
SPORTS
Athletics to honor former player Chuck Sitton with new stadium tower in his name Pages 6
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Friday, October 27, 2016 Vol. 105, Issue 11
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
HOPE‘16 ETHAN
CYNTHIA RANGEL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Down Syndrome teens Hope Martin and Ethan Etter spoke in Moody Chapel on Wednesday as part of Down Syndrome Awareness month. The two, along with their families, shared their stories in a memorable Chapel experience.
SA registers voters, encourages LGBT discussion BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Students’ Association registered about 336 students to vote at the beginning of October. Abbey Moses, executive president, was deputized to register voters in Taylor County. Most students registered in the SA office, but about 25 students registered through a voter registration tailgate at the football game on Oct. 8, and about 14-18 people registered through the Black Students’ Association. Moses also did voting drives with men’s social club Gamma Sigma Phi and women’s social club Alpha Kai Omega. According to Chris Riley, vice president of Student Life, Moses and Taylor Crumpton, senior class president, were the first students at ACU to become deputized to register voters. Moses said the high turnout could be attributSEE CONGRESS PAGE 3
Chapel guests share message of hope BY LAUREN FRANCO STUDENT REPORTER
Two teenagers with Down Syndrome spoke in Chapel Wednesday, Oct. 25 in honor of October as Down Syndrome Awareness month. Ethan Etter, a 17-year-old homeschooled student, and Hope Martin, an 18-year-old homeschooled student, spoke in Moody to draw awareness to the normalcy of people with Down Syndrome. Ethan and Hope were childhood friends before the Etter family moved to Florida. Cheryl Etter, Ethan’s
mother, said the better they got to know the Martins, the more it became a family goal for the two to have a voice. Because Hope wants to attend ACU and has friends and siblings who attend ACU, the families of the students submitted speeches to the Office of Spiritual Development. During the summer, they learned Ethan and Hope would be given the opportunity to speak and began practicing their speeches. “Sometimes people are scared of people with disabilities,” Cheryl said. “Angie and I have both felt like the more
we get our kids out there, the more people will want to love them like a normal, typical kid.” Angie Martin, Hope’s mother, said the families want Ethan and Hope to be an example of God’s image by sharing part of who they are. “They just have something really valuable and really beautiful to share with the world,” Angie said. “Its kind of a broadening experience for everyone. Certainly for them, stretching them, but the people in the audience too.” Allen Martin, Hope’s old-
est brother, said it’s good that the speakers have Down Syndrome as opposed to a speaker talking about Down Syndrome. “So often, we try to speak on behalf of people with special needs, assuming that they can’t do it themselves,” said Allen, sophomore English and political science major from Abilene. “In reality, they, like us, have plenty to say. I’m excited for Hope and Ethan to have a platform to do that, and I’m grateful to ACU for providing them with that.” Both families said they are looking forward to Ethan and
Hope communicating their unique messages and perspective of God to a welcoming audience. “I don’t know that everyone will see it or hear it, but those who are able to will see an aspect of God’s nature that maybe they wont see every single day,” Angie said. “For part of God’s nature, a little bit different perspective, to be revealed. I never know how he’s going to reveal himself, but he always does.” OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU
Pledging wraps up after three weeks “ BY EMILY GUAJARDO VISUALS MANAGING EDITOR
After three weeks of yellow skirts, red lipstick and bright green ties, the pledging process has officially ended. Tom Craig, director of student organizations and productions, said the university decided to shorten the pledging process to three weeks because it was an ideal pledge period for social club’s
to allow several experiences to be accomplished such as Homecoming while keeping the involvement for pledges confined to a narrower window than in the past. “Those three weeks are designed to culminate with Homecoming, allowing for clubs to capitalize on activities that benefit Homecoming to be part of pledging experience,” said Craig. During the three weeks,
Those three weeks are designed to culminate with Homecoming.”
TOM CRAIG DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
pledges go through a variety of club activities and punishments as part of the process like wearing oversized pledge pins, backward uniforms and
dozens of braids in girls hair. Punishments, although it sounds like hazing, are limited by Student Life. Craig said the limits have been set in order to protect pledges from further stress. “Limitations have been established for what clubs call consequences because, without limitations, we have seen prudent decision-making wane, and we run greater risks of distractions in classes
and Chapel and more intense stress for pledges,” said Craig. Craig said that while the methods used in pledging have changed throughout the years, the primary goals have remained the same: build unity, build relationships and educate potential members to the history and purpose of their club. EAG13B@ACU.EDU
Advising Center still looking to find its footing BY TAYLOR BUSH STUDENT REPORTER
Students are having different opinions and experiences with the new advising system while the Advising Center looks toward the future. This semester, ACU has officially transitioned to a centralized advising system. Over the summer, the ad-
vising team was finalized and students were assigned an advisor based on their declared major. Students received emails earlier this semester asking them to set up advising appointments to discuss registration for their spring classes. Nuria Hall, associate director of advising, said the hope moving forward for-
ward is that advisors are able to be more involved with students; not just working on what classes students will take but also working on the whole student. “We’re not just looking at getting you graduated, were looking at moving past that,” said Hall. Advisors are hoping to think through students resumes, internships, mental health
and many other things in partnership with on-campus resources. Reactions from students across campus has been mixed. Freshman and sophomores seem to be enjoying the system. “So far the advising center has been great! Everyone I have come in contact with was nice and helpful and didn’t laugh at my
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M
freshman confusion.” said Elizabeth Coates, freshman english education major from Round Rock, Texas. “This year, advising was much easier because my advisors were knowledgeable of the catalog and my degree plan. This experience was much smoother than it has been in the past because the advisors could focus only on advising…”
said Ruth Church, sophomore psychology major from Kansas City, Missouri. While freshman and sophomores seem to be enjoying the system, upperclassmen are struggling to adjust to change. “I am sure there are pros and cons to both systems, it was just inconvenient that it SEE ADVISING PAGE 3