The Optimist Print Edition 9.23.16

WHAT'S INSIDE

NEWS

Students prepare to express themselves for a poetry slam competition in the Library.

Page 3

OPINION

The Editorial Board weighs in on the recent incidents of police violence.

Page 4

FEATURE

Chief Jimmy Ellison has been at the helm of ACU PD for 15 years.

Read his story.

Page 5

SPORTS

Volleyball player Jacey Smith leads the team in three different categories.

Pages 6

v

Friday, September 23, 2016 Vol. 105, Issue 06

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

GOOD VIBES ONLY

AUSTIN BROWNING STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Students and friends gather at the Nu Kappa Psi (Noble Kings) Rush at University Park. Noble Kings is the newest group to the social club scene and will accept their first group of pledges this fall. Pledging will begin Thursday, Sept. 29 with Cal Night.

Sing Song opens host applications

BY BRIANNA CLOSE STUDENT REPORTER

Auditions for Sing Song 2017 host and hostess will take place Oct. 10-11 with applications due by Oct. 6.

Tom Craig, director of student activities and productions, said about looking for host and hostess, “Obviously we look for people who have great vocal ability packaged with good stage presence.” For the first audition, Craig said, “What we tell them they have to prepare for in round one is that they have three minutes on stage. We ask them to prepare bits and pieces of two songs, preferably in two different styles.” Sing Song host and hostess hopefuls need to be able to show that they have a range of ability that sounds good with live music.

The ability of possible host and hostess to connect with the audience while on stage is a major element the panel of judges will look at.

The panel of judges is composed of music professionals from the community, therefore creating a blind audition, said Craig.

Sarah Yarbrough, senior marketing major from Farmers Branch, a 2016 SEE SING SONG PAGE 2

Twitter rivlary with SFA escalates

BY LAUREN FRANCO STUDENT REPORTER

This week, tensions between Stephen F. Austin University and ACU students rose when two hashtags on Twitter emerged as a “trashtalking” method for the upcoming football game Saturday evening.

In addition to the Wildcat Reign Twitter page (@ACUWildcatReign), a variety of ACU students tweeted the hashtag

“#thingsSFAcantdo.” The tweets ranged from showing school pride for chapel and campus cats, to targeting aspects of SFA. Students at SFA responded to “#thingsSFAcantdo” with their own hashtag, “ACUbuiltlike.”

Although this hashtag was directed more toward the students than the school, some ACU students said they enjoy the new online rivalry.

“I like the idea of the rivalry because it increases

interest in our sports,” said Colton Powell, sophomore finance major from Nashville, Tennessee. “We honestly need a rival.”

SFA students also said they were interested in this sudden rivalry, and thought it was normal to engage in the online banter.

“This is what makes college sports fun and SFA trash talks with the best of them,” said Isaac Niedrauer, a radio-television major at SFA. “Banter and trash

talk always makes it a little more interesting.”

However, not all students appreciated the hype of the hashtags. After an SFA student recognized by the Twitter handle @ColeAlbritton tweeted “#ACUbuiltlike Brock Turner,” ACU students began to push back.

“I admit that I laughed at a couple of the ‘#ACUbuiltlike’ tweets,” said Eboni Childs, a sophomore Biology major from Houston. “But there was one

tweet that made me extremely angry. Using rape as a means for making a joke will never be funny.”

Looking collectively at all of the tweets from both schools, Barrett Lewis, a junior management major from Abilene said he didn’t appreciate the Twitter rivalry.

“I think that the hashtag reflects badly on our reputation online, especially since this rivalry between SEE TWITTER PAGE 2

Broadway performer raises Theatre’s spirits

BY LAUREN FRANCO STUDENT REPORTER

The Department of Theatre raised money through a cabaret featuring Broadway actress, Jasmin Richardson.

The cabaret, a change from last year’s fundraiser, raised money in connection with the Lights Up! program, which was started by alumni about 10 years ago.

The Lights Up! program is structured to give students an opportunity to dream bigger and offer them new resources, said Dawne Meeks, Chair of the Theatre Department.

Because of this program and the annual fundraising,

the Theatre department is able to bring in guest directors, such as Jesse Galvan, to direct shows. Galvan, a Broadway director celebrated for his Tony Award nomination, currently resides and works in New York. Galvan uses Skype to consult with the cast of the ACU homecoming show, Man of La Mancha.

“We know we’re out in the middle of west Texas,” said Meeks. “But it’s pretty awesome for them to get a taste of Broadway right here at home on our campus.”

In addition to blessing students on campus, the fundraiser was able to reach out to students around Abilene

before the cabaret last Saturday morning. The students were invited privately as a follow up component to a camp called Summer Blaze that was coordinated

by Dr. Jerry Taylor’s church.

“A part that a lot of folks don’t even know about is that earlier in the day, starting at 10, the ACU Theater department is partnering with Dr. Jerry Taylor from the Bible program,” Meeks said.

Students attended a workshop taught by Alisha Taylor, senior musical theatre major from Abilene. She choreographed and directed SEE THEATRE PAGE 2

LAUREN FRANCO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jasmin Richardson was the special guest at the Theatre Dept.’s fundraiser event.

Faculty speak out on race issues in the church

BY ALLISON BROWN EDITOR IN CHIEF

Responding to recent incidents of police violence, 77 Church of Christ ministers and scholars penned a letter to church members expressing concern about racial issues across the country specifically within Churches of Christ. Several ACU faculty members and local ministers were among those who signed the document, which was published in the

Christian Chronicle in early September.

Dr. Doug Foster, professor of church history and signer of the letter, said it came about as a response to the deaths of multiple unarmed black men who were killed by the police.

“A number of members of Churches of Christ and other Christian bodies have been working on issues of racial unity in our churches and nation for some time,” Foster said in an email. “The

recent series of killings of black citizens and white police officers convinced many that it would be wrong for us as Christians to say nothing about this deep division and state a commitment to heal it.”

The letter takes on the history of Churches of Christ and its virtual silence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, points to racism and bigotry that emerged in the 2008 election of President

Obama and more recently the response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The writers acknowledge in some ways Churches of Christ have come a long way from the segregation of the ‘60s, yet “in other ways, we have not come far at all.”

“Once again,” the letter reads, “the nation finds itself in racial turmoil based, in turn, on persistent segregation patterns. And Churches of Christ reflect the same patterns of segregation that

W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M

prevail in the larger culture.

So the question cries out for an answer: How will we respond?”

The letter concludes saying, “as Christians we can – and must – do better.”

Those who signed the letter include several with ties to ACU, including board president Dr. Barry Packer, former president Dr. Royce Money and board member Eddie Sharp. Faculty members who signed include Dr. Mark Hamilton, Dr.

Christopher Hutson, Samjung Kang-Hamilton, Amy McLaughlin Sheasby and Dr. Joey Cope. Mike Cope, former minister at Highland Church of Christ, and current minister Jonathan Storment also signed.

Since its publication, Foster said he believes the message has been well received.

“While I am certain that some people have been unhappy about the statement, SEE LETTER PAGE 2

2

NEW S

Twitter: Wildcat Reign and SFA face off online CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SFA and ACU is somewhat manufactured and not organic,” Lewis said.

“Any hostility on Twitter can be misinterpreted and is ultimately not very effective.”

Austin Kilcullen (@ austinkilcullen), a punter for the Wildcats, tweeted, “Hopped on Twitter and saw ACU and SFA students going at it. Since when do we hate each other? I’ve played them twice and I was unaware.”

Kilcullen, senior advertising and public relations major from Clarksville, Tennessee, said, “What happens on Twitter in no way affects how games play out on Saturdays.

However, it does present an extra unnecessary distraction that both teams must overcome.”

Since ACU has made the transition from a Division II to a Division I school, SFA has failed to defeat the Wildcats in football.

In 2014, ACU overcame SFA 37-35, and in 2015, they won again 35-32.

“Based on the last two years, both teams will come out and be competitive for four quarters, regardless of what is happening on Twitter,” Kilcullen said.

ACU will travel to SFA Saturday, Sept. 24. There will be a watch party hosted by Wildcat Reign in BIBL 114 open to the public at 5:30 p.m..

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Theater: Workshop highlights African dance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the group of 25 in an African style dance.

“I was inspired, because African dance is somewhat of the root of other forms of dance. It is also a strong part of my heritage, and where I come from,” Taylor said.

After, the students headed downstairs to Fulks Theater to hear Jasmin Richardson speak about her journey with God on Broadway.

Jasmin Richardson sings to the group of about 25 kids in addition to ACU theatre students Jasmin Richardson sings to the group of about 25 kids in addition to ACU theatre students Richardson, a 2007 Theatre Department graduate, has played the lead role in Dreamgirls around the world. In addition, she is now the new face of Clinique cosmetics.

“Beyond the fact that she has an enormous talent, she has a beautiful capacity for truth telling on the stage,” Meeks said. “We are so incredibly proud to have her come back and join us for this evening of song and celebration.”

Richards discussed her journey with the students and got emotional while talking about her beginnings at ACU. “God grew me through my ability to be open and learn and fail,” Richardson said. “If he can do it for me, you can do anything.”

She also encouraged the group to appreciate the present. “The stories that God put in your heart, you have to tell them,” Richardson said. “Somebody needs to hear your voice and your perspective.”

Saturday evening, Richardson sang and gave her testimony to a group of 130

LAUREN FRANCO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Students, chosen by Dr. Jerry Taylor, learn an African Dance from Alisha Taylor.

attendees. She talked about her tours around the world in addition to how she was formed by her training and professors at ACU. Braden Clark, a junior acting major from Olathe, Kansas, attended the performance on Saturday evening to support the ACU Theatre Department

alumni and the Lights Up! program.

“Beside her astounding talent, she is genuinely one of the most radiant and delightful people I have seen perform. She personifies warmth on and off the stage, and I find that to be an important part of the business of performing,” Clark said.

After the performance, Richardson expressed thanks not only to the faculty of the Theatre Department, but also to ACU in general. She spoke of how each of the staff members grew her as a person and as an actress.

“They were very encouraging and supportive,” Richardson said. “I want to make sure I say thank you to ACU for having me come back. It was an honor.”

The cabaret, according to Meeks, was successful. Although she expressed thanks for the attendance and collaboration, Meeks said, “I realized this year during our fundraising process that the most important thing wasn’t about raising money; it was about community and connection.”

AKB12B@ACU.EDU

Letter: Church members acknowledge racism in report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the only responses I have received have been from people who are deeply grateful for it, most saying something like, ‘It is about time something was said publicly,’” Foster said.

When Amy McLaughlin Sheasby learned of the letter, she knew it was something she wanted to put her name on.

The letter was penned in

part by a mentor and former professor of Sheasby – Dr. David Fleer, professor of preaching at Lipscomb University, a Church of Christ-affiliated school in Nashville.

“When I saw an email from him saying here’s a letter we’ve penned, I figured I would agree with it because I knew who had written it,” said Sheasby, instructor of Bible, missions and ministry. “I took some time to read and medi-

tate on it and think it over and I was in.”

Racial reconciliation is an important matter to Sheasby that goes all the way back to her upbringing when her family adopted her black brother.

“There was a point that these conversations all became very personal,” Sheasby said.

“It shifted from a lofty theological idea of reconciliation to a down-to-earth necessity.”

Sheasby said she hopes to

carry the conversation into her classroom at ACU. “One of my passions as an educator is to equip my students to have difficult conversations, to think diligently, and to direct that thinking towards making a better world, and this conversation plays into that,” Sheasby said.

As the letter continues to be circulated, Foster echoed Sheasby, noting the importance of engaging the matter

on ACU’s campus.

“I don’t know how many know about the recent letter, but whether they are aware of that specific effort or not, such discussions must happen – even when unpleasant or uncomfortable – to allow us to open our hearts and minds to the transforming power of Christ,” Foster said.

AKB12B@ACU.EDU

Sing Song: auditions for host and hostess set to begin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Sing Song hostess said, “Being a hostess was a dream for me since middle school and the people I got to meet and work with through the whole process made it an incredible cou-

ple of months.”

For students considering to audition Yarbrough said, “Advice that I have is to not be afraid to really own your talent and command the stage.”

After Monday, Oct. 10, round one vocal auditions

students who receive messages for call backs will return the next day for round two. Craig said, “If you are called back for Tuesday night then there are more vocal exercises, and then there is a choreography section.”

Students who wish to audition should be in good standing with the university, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be considered a junior at the beginning of the 2016 fall semester.

Audition info forms are due by Oct. 6 and can be

picked up in the basement of the campus center. Students with any questions should email singsong@ acu.edu.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

POLICE LOG SELECTED ACUPD CALLS FOR THE WEEK 09/18/2016 8:45 p.m.

A student reported that someone burglarized her vehicle while it was parked in the South Lot by Sanders Intramural Field.

09/19/2016 8:49 a.m.

A student's front bike tire and rim were stolen off a bike locked at the Smith-Adams bike rack.

09/19/2016 10:35 a.m.

ACUPD and ACU Title IX administrators conducted a preliminary investigation of a sexual assault that occurred in another city.

INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP LOST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE UNIV ASSETS: CCTV MAINTENANCE: UNIVERSITY ASSETS MEDICAL EMERGENCY MONITOR FACILITY/LOT MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK NOISE VIOLATION

4 3 4 1 2 1 8 3 6 5

OTHER PARKING LOT PATROL PARKING VIOLATION PATROL VEHICLE: MAINTENANCE PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL PUBLIC SERVICE RANDOM PATROL REPORT WRITING SEX OFFENSE SUSPICIOUS PERSON THEFT TRAFFIC HAZARD TRAFFIC STOP

5 36 23 6

TRAINING WELFARE CHECK 911 CALL ACCIDENT ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 11 ALARM 1 ANIMAL CALL 29 ASSAULT 12 ASSIST 2 ATTEMPT TO LOCATE 3 BARRICADES 2 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 1 BURGLARY (MOTOR 3 VEHICLE)

5 2 9 3 33 5 2 1 1 1 2 13 2

BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) BURGLARY (STORAGE SHED) CHECK BUILDING CITATION ISSUANCE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF DISTURBANCE DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE ESCORT FOOT PATROL FORGERY FOUND PROPERTY HIT & RUN INFORMATION REPORT

2 1 353 7 1 3 2 1 40 1 3 1 5

INTOXICATED PERSON

1

TOTAL: 671 POLICE CHIEF TIP OF THE WEEK:

Don’t become an online fraud victim. Be wary of Craigslist deals where someone asks you to cash their check and return any excess proceeds to them.

WITH COACH KEN COLLUMS, GRANT BOONE AND HANNAH NULL

SATURDAYS AT 11 AM on KTAB-TV

N E WS

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

3

Students, faculty prepare for Poetry Slam competition

BY LAUREN FRANCO STUDENT REPORTER

Students will express themselves at a Poetry Slam competition Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the atrium of the Brown Library.

“Slam poetry is sometimes called spoken word poetry. But when you do it as a competition, it is called a Poetry Slam,” said Al Haley, professor of English.

The Slam will begin with a competition between students in Haley’s poetry workshop. Haley will pick three members

PHOTO BY DEANNA ROMER Students from Al Haley’s poetry class will present at a Poetry Slam Tuesday at 7 p.m.

from the audience to be judges. They will score each poet’s presentation on a scale of 1-10.

“The person that has the most points wins,” Haley said. “The audience is supposed to be very participator and yell to encourage the poet, even in the middle of the poem.

People know from the audience’s response, relatively speaking, how well they did.”

After the class competes, any audience member can perform in the open mic portion of the evening.

Haley said another common misconception of slam poetry is that it has to be about politics. But students in the class, English

323, think otherwise.

Madi Seawright, sophomore psychology major from Grapevine said, “You can write a poem about literally anything.

It doesn’t have to be super dramatic or emotional, although it can be. I personally believe that the best poems have a hidden meaning, for which you have to dive a little bit deeper to understand.”

Seawright said she will be presenting a poem called “Songbird,” about a woman in an abusive/ manipulative relationship.

“I’ve always been inter-

ested in Slam Poetry, but I never really thought I was the type to be able to do it,” Seawright said. “When I saw that we would be having a performance, I figured it was finally time for me to try it out and see if it suited my style.”

Dr. Steven Moore, associate professor of English and honors studies, is auditing the class and presenting a slam poem.

“It gives voice to your personal experience, it gives voice to all of those challenges and problems that we have in life,” Moore said. “I think if

we’re going to heal as a culture, we need to embrace more poetry. It is so powerful, and such an extraordinary way experiencing art at the finest level.”

Moore will be presenting a new slam poem on what some of us suffer through in life and dealing with brokenness in society.

“It will be a personal poem, but also its going to have an uplifting message for everyone,” Moore said.

OPTIMIST@ACU.EDU

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FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

We can’t let this become the new ‘normal’ “ THE ISSUE

After even more police killings over the last week, it’s easy to start to feel numb to the news.

OUR TAKE

We can’t ignore the issues of injustice unfolding before our eyes. While we may not have all the answers, acknowledging a problem is the first step in the journey towards peace.

In the last week, three deadly police shootings shook our nation. Events in Columbus, Ohio, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, came to us on our screens. Some of us were outraged, while others scrolled past the sight of yet another tragedy.

We believe these tragedies cannot be ignored.

We believe that justice, including the examination of our justice system, is not only a pillar of our nation, but a requirement for us as Christians.

Discussions about police violence and systemic rac-

ism in our nation frustrate us. Our editorial board struggled with whether or not to discuss it at all.

You may feel the same way, wondering about the backlash if you choose to say anything. You may be outraged, boldly posting or speaking about your intolerance for this violence.

You may choose to ignore the news, preferring cat videos or celebrity gossip.

Unless you’re currently a lawyer, police officer or politician, there’s probably little you can actually do about the problem.

But before you blow us

off as yet another voice in the frustrating argument, consider why we must discuss this issue.

First, we cannot accept shootings in the streets as “normal” events. This applies to police shootings, violent protests, and deadly gang violence in Chicago. If you ever seen videos of countries in the Middle East where violence is an everyday occurrence, you’ve probably thought, “Well, at least I don’t live there.” It’s not normal for us to see deadly beatings and shootings when we’re walking down the street.

But for some in the black community, this is becoming normal. We cannot accept that.

Second, we cannot accept police violence toward a specific race. No matter the situation, we must examine our justice system.

THE OPTIMIST EDITORIAL BOARD

Yes, every situation is different. Yes, police have rights and responsibilities to protect the safety of every citizen. Yes, police face difficult situations daily that we can never imagine and place themselves in harm’s way. But we must continue to evaluate our systems, rather than letting police off the hook. We also cannot let violent protesters off the hook. To do so would be to devalue justice.

When we pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag we

EXAGGERAITZ

@JON4849 SEPT. 19 11:22 A.M.

Something about watching an old lady stomp on a cricket while singing How Great Is Our God in chapel just makes my heart full

JONATHAN RAITZ SPORTS EDITOR Junior convergence journalism major Bandera

@BOWENARROW43 SEPT. 20, 2:32 P.M.

Colin Kaepernick has the spotlight back on him after it literally went out in Super Bowl 47.

Since that day he has put up less than admirable statistics. In fact, in 2015 he mustered a sub-par 78.5 QB rating and recorded seven total touchdowns to five interceptions in nine games. As a result, those stats have now earned him a spot behind Blaine Gabbert. And yes, in case you’re wondering, “who” would be the correct response to that statement.

But after taking a knee during the national anthem in the San Francisco 49ers’ opening preseason game, Kaepernick has worked his way back into the limelight.

And I’m scratching my head as to why.

There is no question, his

It’s amazing how productive you can be when your classes are cancelled because of Summit @LEAHJANE14 SEPT. 20 9:21 A.M.

ACU difference: spending the entire 1.5 hour of class discussing MLA format @BRICLOSE SEPT. 21, 2:18 P.M.

I’m trying to see how long I can avoid getting a parking sticker wihtout a ticket. Here’s to senior year. @AUSTINKILCULLEN SEPT. 21 1:31 P.M.

Hopped on Twitter and saw ACU and SFA students going at it. Since when do we hate each other?

I’ve played them twice and I was unaware. @D_HOWARD26 SEPT. 21 9:58 A.M.

Reeeeeally wish ACU students would leave SFA alone and let the players from each team do the talkin on Saturday

@SYDNEYDAWSONN SEPT. 20 10:54 A.M.

My heart truly goes out 2 the girls on the 3rd floor.

No 1 deserves to have their Tuesday naps ruined bc of construction.

1 like = 1 prayer

@SAWYER_FAITH SEPT. 22 11:04 A.M.

I might get on chapel probation this semester but i kinda have a peace about it

ACU Administration: “mmkay let’s see we have 4000 students this year so let’s do... 17 parking spaces. That should cover it.”

@LEXXWAL SEPT. 22 2:22 P.M.

is it too early in the school year to have a mental breakdown?? Asking for a friend.

to the person who made me look like a chump by not using your turn signal – you best believe i memorized your chinless goofy face.

@ACUWildcatReign bring back Harambe #thingsSFAcantdo

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

speed. But even with Newton you have to begin to wonder if the effectiveness of his 99.4 QB rating a season ago won’t wear out.

As a franchise, in today’s NFL you need a pocket passer if you want continued success. The durability and consistency of pocket passers are a safer pick and tend to hang around in the league for much longer than those scramble for first downs every fourth play.

Although you can get injured at any position on the field, staying in the pocket and letting your skill players do the work is much more likely to bring longevity and more success. Don’t believe me just ask nine of the last 10 Super Bowl Champion quarterbacks. Or better yet ask Colin Kaepernick, because the last time the 49ers dual threat sensation took a knee in the field of play was Nov. 8 of last season.

JMR13B@ACU.EDU

Athletes: aim for excellence “ NOTHING NEW WITH NULL

Let your excellence be what is noticed – not something you did wrong.

HANNAH NULL SPORTS PRODUCER/ANCHOR Senior convergence journalism major Flower Mound

At all the big schools around the nation, the students know the name of their starting quarterback.

They know the name of the All-American on the volleyball team, and they might sit next to the ace baseball pitcher in numerous classes.

These players are wellknown on the field and around campus; that fact goes for Abilene Christian University as well.

Whether it be Dallas Sealey, the starting quarterback, or Whitney Williams, the skilled tennis player by day and the pageant queen by night, they are names heard around ACU and the Abilene community.

Both Sealey and Williams

HANNAH NULL

have been noted for their Christian behavior shown outside of their competition.

Sealey was recently praised on Facebook for driving home Sharon Mize, a friendly Bean worker, after spotting her walking home late one night after getting off work.

Williams is a representative on the Student Advisory Committee. She uses her titles to spread God’s word on social media while always mentioning Wildcat athletics and the hashtag “#GOWILDCATS”.

As an ACU softball player, I’ve been taught to pretend like I have the letters “ACU” on my chest at all times because you never want to por-

T H E

EDITORIAL AND LETTER POLICY 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.

actions are covered under the First Amendment. And every other athlete who has chosen a rendition of Kaepernick’s original posture is operating 100 percent within their Constitutional rights. But no matter how hard he tries, Kaepernick can’t mask that he’s a bad NFL quarterback. And it is not his fault because the reality is a dual-threat quarterback has no place among the world’s best football players.

College is where these types of quarterbacks thrive and they always will, but in the NFL, when you have a defensive lineman that possesses the equivalent speed and strength of a rhinoceros, Kaepernick’s lanky stature stands little chance.

Of the 32 NFL teams there are seven are in the

middle of what I like to call the “It’s-only-a-matterof-time experiment.” This list includes the following teams: Cowboys, Seahawks, Panthers, Rams, Bucs, Titans and Bills.

Now your list may vary depending on what you consider a dual threat quarterback, but of these seven teams, only two of them made the playoffs in 2015.

The Vikings and Browns already had their experiment busted as Teddy Bridgewater and Richard Griffin III each sustained injuries likely to keep them out for the season. Even Russell Wilson, who has continued to manage to keep the Seahawks’ franchise afloat has dropped off as of late.

Wilson has put up incredible numbers in the past, but has scored a single touchdown through two games this season as durability begins to be questioned.

In retrospect, Cam Newton is the only dual threat quarterback in the NFL that passes the durability test because of his sheer size and

COLUMN

@LILYAUKER SEPT. 22 11:56 A.M.

@ALLENTMARTIN SEPT. 19 10:57 A.M.

OPINION@JMCNETWORK.COM

Double threat means double bust

@acuoptimist

@PHORREST SEPT. 22 1:23 P.M.

say “liberty and justice for all.” Justice, as a pillar of our nation, involves the power of the people to check and balance our authority. Without wading too deep into the social contract theory, we realize that as a people we have chosen to submit to our authorities and they have chosen to serve us.

As Christians, Micah 6:8 tells us to “do justice, to love mercy.” This applies to both our need for a just police system and our duty

to respond with mercy, not violence. Black or white, if you’re a follower of Jesus, you have to think about justice. Not to sound like a Core 210 teacher here, but if God calls us to justice, we cannot ignore injustices in our nation.

Our editorial board admits we don’t have all the answers. We can’t tell you what to do about shootings that happened hundreds or thousands of miles from us. However, we can bring this topic to the forefront of your minds and, just for a few moments, honor the lives that were lost. We welcome your ideas and hope you will continue this discussion with your friends, family and classmates.

COLUMN

hashtagACU

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

We cannot accept shootings in the streets as “normal” events... It’s not normal for us to see deadly beatings and shootings when we’re walking down the street. But for some in the black community, this is becoming normal. We cannot accept that.”

tray your school as less than it is.

I think that sometimes college athletes forget the prominence they serve to others.

They have fans and competition lurking all around, including online, and social media can be used as an incredible resource to interact with supporters, but it can also lead to trouble.

Each year we have a seminar reminding us of the fact that we are being watched by people because of the status we hold, and I think sometimes it’s easy to take that for less than it is.

Student athletes are viewed at a higher level, and should act that way as well.

At ACU, our mission statement says that we are expected “to honor Christ through excellence in Academics and Athletics”.

That phrase isn’t something we should look at once and never think about again.

Not only should we have the statement memorized, but it should be a rule of thumb.

Before we turn in an essay, we should make sure we are honoring Christ. When we step onto the field, we should go out to give Christ the glory. When we make a post on Facebook, we should think if what we are saying is actually a representation of Christ.

Being a student-athlete isn’t an easy job, but it is a rewarding one when the hard work gets noticed. So in my opinion, let your excellence be what is noticed – not something you did wrong.

HLN12A@ACU.EDU

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F E ATUR E S

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS ELLISON ACUPD Chief Jimmy Ellison appeared in The Beaumont Enterprise newspaper in 1992, when he was still a sergeant for the Beaumont Police Department.

A Transformational Chief Over 15 years, Ellison has turned ACUPD into a professional police force

BY ABBEY BOWLING ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR

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CU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison’s career as a police officer started out normal: as a patrolman straight out of the police academy in the mid ‘80s. At the Beaumont Police Department, he eventually worked his way up the ranks to sergeant and then transferred to the narcotics department before finally making the move to ACU, where’s he’s now in his 15th year of serving and protecting the ACU community. But since his days as a patrol officer at Beaumont, Chief Ellison has worked hard to implement strong leadership and effective changes that make the ACUPD not just normal, but exceptional.

But how did Chief Ellison even end up in Abilene, 500 miles away from Beaumont?

Mark Lewis, Vice President for the Student Engagement’s Office, played a role in convincing Ellison to make the big move to ACU. Before either of them

moved to Abilene, Lewis was a youth minister at the Westgate Church of Christ in Beaumont, where Chief Ellison and his family attended church. The two became good friends there for several years before Lewis came to ACU for grad school and ended up staying to work here. Then in 2001, there was a transition within the campus police department.

“The person who had served as chief of the department retired and was talking with the dean of students about who could we possibly invite to consider applying, and I thought about Jimmy.

I call him Chief now, that’s what I call him all the time, but back then he was just Jimmy,” Lewis said. “I don’t recall actually being a part of any of the interviews, but I was given the honor of being handed an ACU credit card and reservations to Perini’s.

My wife and I took he and his wife out to dinner and it was just old friends getting back together, but it also gave us an opportunity. I remember him looking at me and going,

“

CHRIS ELLISON SON OF CHIEF JIMMY ELLISON

‘So, what do you think about this job really?’ And I got to tell him about what it was like working at ACU and how I really thought it was a good thing.”

So, Chief Ellison accepted the job and moved to Abilene with his son, Chris Ellison, in August of 2001, while his wife and two daughters stayed in Beaumont to finish out the school year. For those first few months at ACUPD, they lived in apartment 711 in University Park.

“A 12-year-old and his dad, 500 miles from the only city either of us had ever called home,” Chris said.

“He worked harder than any other man in making sure that he attended every single middle school football game, helping with every science project even when I waited until the last minute to start, cooking the same meal for 4 months straight of grilled chicken breast on a George Foreman with mashed potatoes and Del Monte green beans – all of this while still going to work and making sure that he kept this campus safe and running while still raising it to the level that he wanted to bring it to.” hen Chief Ellison took over as head of the ACU Police Department 15 years ago, the police department looked quite a bit different than it does today – it was housed in half of the old WFF office building across from Nelson Hall and consisted of a few police officers, one security guard, a few poorly managed police cars and a golf cart, Chris said. Fifteen years later, ACUPD now has a fleet of fully-equipped vehicles and a fully-certified force with 24/7 patrol capabilities. Chief Ellison was also instrumental in

W PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS ELLISON Chief Jimmy Ellison and his wife, Kathy, in 1984 during his rookie year at the Beaumont Police Department.

If you were to go ask any of his officers, office staff, or student workers they would all say that he is an incredible man to work for. But most of all he is a family man...he will do anything for his family, and that family includes anyone who walks in and out of the station doors each day.”

getting the department more professional tools and tactics, including body cameras and tasers. When the Virginia Tech shooting happened in 2007, he took that as an opportunity to update his own department and train for active shooter and hostage situations. He and ACUPD also hold training seminars and real life training not only for other campus police departments, but for surrounding Big Country departments as well.

ACUPD Lt. Randy Motz, who has worked with Chief Ellison for five years, said a lot of the changes within the department happened before he started working here but he had still heard about everything Chief Ellison had accomplished – most notably transforming ACUPD to function more like a police department instead of just campus security.

“We’re sworn in under the Abilene Police Department and that allows us to go off-campus within a certain jurisdiction,” Motz said. “It helps us get to our students, faculty and staff off-campus and the nearby campus area, because obviously when hit your junior year you can live off-campus. It’s really a winwin situation, for both citizens and students because they essentially get twice the amount of police out in there area, APD and us. He was instrumental in that, so that was a big transformation.” ince Chief Ellison has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, he’s able to transfer his experience and knowledge to the younger officers within his department – even Motz, who also has 30 years of police experience, said he’s still able to learn things from his

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boss. Motz also said Chief Ellison has honed a department where they’re able to do police work within the ACU culture that maintains respect, dignity and grace for people.

“I’ve had lots of bosses in 30 years, lots of supervisors – he’s probably one of the best, if not the best to work for,” Motz said. “He treats all of us like grown men and women, he lets us do our job.

If we make mistakes, he lets us learn from them but he doesn’t lose his mind over it. I just know that he really knows how the university works, he knows the history, he knows a lot about law enforcement.

It’s a good feeling having him here, especially when things get a little bit tough.” hris said that people in Beaumont still talk about things Chief Ellison did while he was there – including an investigation that brought down corruption within the city government, which landed several city council members and the mayor in prison. He was also awarded Investigator of the Year while at the Beaumont

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Police Department, and since coming to ACU, he was the President of the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators in 2012.

“He is a chief that wants the face of his department to not be his own, but to be a collective face of his dedicated and hard working officers,” Chris said. “If you were to go ask any of his officers, office staff, or student workers they would all say that he is an incredible man to work for. But most of all he is a family man...he will do anything for his family, and that family includes anyone who walks in and out of the station doors each day. If being able to live in a two bedroom, on campus apartment for a year with his 12-year-old son 15 years ago says anything about a man and his pursuance of excellence, just go look through the second door on the right once you enter the ACU police station and you will see the face of that man.”

AKB12A@ACU.EDU

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS ELLISON Chief Jimmy Ellison speaks to a group of students on campus.

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S P O RT S

Soccer returns home after 4-0 victory

BY MAX PRESTON SPORTS WRITER

The soccer team plays its conference home-opener and first game at Elmer Gray stadium in almost a month when they take on Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana Friday and Sunday.

ACU heads into these games with momentum after a convincing 4-0 win in their first conference game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Senior midfielder Allie Gerner said the team is happy to be playing back in front of the team’s fans.

“Playing at home is always a really fun thing because we get to play in front of our friends,

professors and Abilene community,” said Gerner. “Last Saturday was a big win and a great start to conference, so I hope we can continue to play with the same type of excitement and motivation this weekend. We’ve been preparing for these conference games for quite a while, so now we just need to be able to execute.”

Four Wildcats have each scored two goals this season, including senior midfielder Leslie Snider, senior forward Natalie Throneberry, sophomore midfielder Chelsea Reedy, and freshman defender Shay Johnson.

Junior midfielder Chloe Fifer is currently tied for the lead in the Southland Conference with

five assists on the season. Fifer and Throneberry both lead the team with five points each.

Senior goalkeeper Sydney Newton has tallied 31 saves along with a 0.98 goals against average and a .838 save percentage.

“I would say that the team is excited to host the first conference home game of the season and we are hoping to keep the momentum going from last weekend into this one,” Newton said. “We have been trying to concentrate on not repeating the same mistakes that we saw in preseason while also trying to gain confidence as a team.”

For Nicholls State, senior midfielder Jess Coates is tied for the lead in the Southland

Conference with five goals while freshman forward Kristy Helmers is tied for the lead with Fifer in assists.

Freshman goalkeeper Roosa Hurmerinta has made 12 saves and has put up a 1.01 goals against average with a .750 save percentage. Nicholls State played to a draw against Lamar in its conference opener, and sits at 3-2-1 overall.

For Southeastern Louisiana, sophomore forward Sofia Olsson is tied in the Southland Conference as well with five goals and also leads the team with 11 points and 29 shots.

Four different players lead the team with two assists including senior forward Casey Peacock, sophomore defender

Christina Cutura, sophomore midfielder Vanessa Arzaluz, and junior defender Lauren Babcock.

Senior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash had played every minute for the Lions and has made a total of 53 saves. She’s also put up a goals against average of 1.41 and a save percentage of .803. SELU earned a 3-1 victory over McNeese State in its conference opener and sits at a record of 4-4-1 this season.

In 2015 the Wildcats defeated Nicholls 4-1, but fell 1-0 to SELU. ACU is 2-1 against each team since moving to Div. 1.

MJP14B@ACU.EDU

STANDINGS Soccer Team

SFA UCA SELU HBU ACU Nicholls Lamar McNeese NWSU UIW TAMU-CC SHSU

Div. Ovrl.

1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-0-1 0-0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

4-2 6-3 4-4-1 3-5 2-6-1 3-2-1 1-7-1 4-4 3-5 1-5-1 0-8 0-9

Volleyball Team

SFA TAMU-CC UIW HBU NWSU McNeese Nicholls UNO SELU ACU Lamar UCA SHSU

Div. Ovrl.

1-0 1-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1

8-5 6-6 4-9 8-7 5-10 4-11 4-11 3-9 1-11 1-14 0-11 6-7 6-8

Football Team

UCA SHSU SFA Nicholls HBU UIW SELU McNeese ACU Lamar NWSU

Div. Ovrl.

2-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-2

2-1 2-0 2-1 1-1 2-1 1-2 0-2 1-2 0-3 0-3 0-3

EX-FACTOR Charcandrick West finished with an average of over 10 yards per career as he tallied 61 yards on 6 carries against the Houston Texans. West also added one catch for two yards as he remains in a position battle with Spencer Ware.

LAUREN FRANCO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sophomore outside hitter Jacey Smith finished last season fourth on the team in kills and block with 199 kills and 54 blocks. This season Smith was tasked with filling the void left on the outside by Jennie Loerch, who left ACU eighth all-time in total kills. Heading into conference play Smith leads the Wildcats 157 kills, 182 points and 55 sets played.

Killer Instinct

BRIEFINGS

Outside hitter Smith takes over lead role in Wildcat’s offense

BY MIKAELA CLINTON SPORTS WRITER

Growing up in Wimberley, Texas, sophomore Jacey Smith developed a passion for volleyball through a camp at Wimberley High School, many years prior to playing for the team.

“Wimberley is known for volleyball, at least we used to be, so seeing those girls win state and go to state all the time is what I grew up wanting to do,” Smith said. “Ever since then it’s always been my favorite sport.”

The high school’s volleyball program has attended many state tournaments and won several state titles in years past, and during her years as a student, Smith helped carry her squad deep into post season as well as finding success in competition at the club level.

When she came to Abilene in the fall of 2015, Smith was unsure of what to expect. Head coach Jason Bibler moved her to be an outside hitter. Smith

was forced to work outside of her comfort zone.

“We have asked a lot of the girls to embrace a different role than last year or maybe than what they’re used to,” Coach Bibler said. “She is definitely in a different role, but she has really embraced it.”

Before changing positions, Smith had played middle blocker for most of her volleyball career. Though she is more comfortable as an outside hitter now with a year of experience under her belt, the transitions of becoming a collegiate athlete and a student, was a challenge that she had to overcome.

“For me I had to work way, way harder in practice just to learn that new position,” Smith said. “It’s been fun, but at the same time looking back on it, it was crazy.”

With so much change all at once, Smith said it was difficult to know what to expect.

She was soon following in the footsteps of senior Jennifer Loerch, who ended last season

ranked third in the Southland with 3.50 kills per set for the season and ended her successful college career with an eighth all-time at ACU with 1,369 career kills.

“They are definitely big, big shoes to fill,” Smith said. “But at the same time, Jenny had a lot of responsibility and this year we have other people who can share that responsibility so I don’t feel as big of pressure as I think she had.”

Now leading the team in kills this season so far and ranked 7th in the league with 2.94 kills per set, Smith is using her position as outside hitter to lead the team on the court. Bibler said that Smith is the kind of player that is willing to do whatever needs to be done to help out her teammates, and that she continues improve her own game.

“I think that limiting my errors and a lot more is what we can do and what I can do for the team,” Smith said. “We’re still working really hard, and we still have a lot of things we want

to do and want to accomplish.”

Smith said that there is still a lot ahead for the volleyball team as they enter into conference play, and is hoping to contribute as much as she can to help the team thrive. Players who are new to the team have taken note of Smith’s dedicated attitude and drive early on in the season, and look to her as one of the older players to follow.

“She does a good job with binding our team together,” Freshman middle blocker Marybeth Sandercox said. “She’s always a source of encouragement.”

Off the court, Smith is involved in Young Life and is studying kinesiology and recreation and sports management.

“Leading Young Life instead of being a student in Young Life is way, way different but it’s fun to go out and have fun with those kids and get to know them,” Smith said.

Smith said Young Life has impacted her positively as an individual off of the court. She

said it has helped her develop her leadership skills by talking to people, giving to others and building those relationships, as well as shaping her goals and plans for beyond college.

In the future, Smith plans on using her degree to possibly continue working with students, particularly athletes, and is looking into a career working with college athletics, sports camps, or professional sports teams. Smith said that she can’t imagine herself doing anything else.

“Sports has been my life for as long as I can remember so coming in trying to pick a major, that’s the only thing I really saw myself doing,” said Smith.

Smith and the rest of the women’s volleyball team began conference play Thursday against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, who is the defending league champions and play Incarnate Word Saturday in San Antonio.

MBC15A@ACU.EDU

FOOTBALL MATCHUP PREVIEW 32.3 165.0 310.0 475.0 Abilene Christian (0-3)

PPG Rush YPG Passing YPG Total Offense

Taylor Gabriel recorded his first catch as an Atlanta Falcon on Sunday. He finished with two receptions for 19 yards.

26.0 107.3 259.7 367.0 Stephen F. Austin (2-1)

Seniors Sydney Newton and Kelsie Roberts each earned player of the week honors after the Wildcats’ 4-0 victory over Texas A&MCorpus Christi.

Roberts scored her first collegiate goal and Newton made four saves and posted her sixth career shutout.

The women’s basketball team begins its season Nov. 11 against the University of Missouri.

The schedule will also include visits to SEC powerhouse Texas A&M and Big-12 powerhouse Baylor, Dec. 1.

UPCOMING Soccer looks to remain perfect in Southland play when they host Nicholls St. and SELU at Elmer Gray Stadium this weekend. The Wildcats are 2-1 all-time against each program.

Winners of the last two matchups, football hopes to extend its win streak over SFA to three games when it heads to Nagodoches to take on the Lumberjacks. ACU is 0-3 for the first time since 2002.