OPTIMIST
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OMA EVENTS The Office of Multicultural Affairs celebrates Black History Month with a game show and weekly movies.
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
Friday February 22, 2019
Volume CVIII, Issue XXI News
Sports
Four professors from the Department of Language and Literature, self-named Modern Ink, are presenting their writing to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 28 in the Cornerstone classroom............Page 2
Men’s basketball coach Joe Golding discusses his journey back to Moody Coliseum after playing point guard from 1994-98. He began as head coach in 2011.......................................................Page 6
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Feature Cyrus Eaton began as university chaplain last August after moving from Lipscomb. Despite a negative perception of Chapel, he plans to make it an important part of the student experience......................Page 4
Photo by MEDA BOW | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ABOVE: Seniors celebrate as they were announced as the overall winners of the class acts. They won first in vocals, entrtainment and choreography. BELOW: Chase Rogers, director of the Galaxy act, holds the men’s overall trophy as the Moonies sang their club song. Galaxy swept every category. (Photo courtesy of Keyshon China)
Galaxy, Ko Jo Kai, Senior Act celebrate Sing Song victory LAUREN FRANCO EDITOR IN CHIEF
The men of Galaxy, women of Ko Jo Kai and the senior class topped the competition to take home the Sing Song trophy in their respective divisions. The Moonies swept each category: vocals, entertainment, costumes, set and choreography. Chase Rogers, director of Galaxy’s lumberjacks act, said he was thankful for the opportunity to direct his club and sing on the stage with all of the alumni. “It wasn’t that we expected to win, we just knew we were going to do everything in our power to win,” said Rogers, senior English teaching major from Arlington. “It was only after the weekend that I realized how special of an act it was.” Rogers directed the Moonies last year as skydivers and participated his sophomore year in the cavemen act, both acts placing
second. He said last year on Saturday night, him and his co-director looked at each other and agreed there was no way they would lose again. “This is my first Sing Song win and it was so special to get it with my Nova class our senior year. We didn’t win as freshman either so it was this year or never. It’s a great way to wrap up our four years here,” Rogers said. “Moonies always win.” Galaxy took home its first win since 2016 as Galaxy Dads, making it the club’s 27th overall win. Directed by Halle Magee, senior biology major from Flower Mound, the women of Ko Jo Kai won for their second straight year, taking the trophy in set and entertainment and earning second in costumes, choreography and vocals. “Because the competition was so incredibly close this year, we had no idea if we were going to win going into the finale,” Magee said.
“The second our name was announced I felt the biggest sense of pride for all the hard working girls in our act. We all put so much into this act and it is amazing to see that dedication rewarded, especially two years in a row.” Magee said she tried to draw parts of the teaching style from last year’s director, Kayla Torp, including the balance of humor and intensity, and complimented her co-director, Hannah Roberts on her ability to make the hardest part more enjoyable. “I think it’s important to know when to make a joke and when to seriously call out mistakes because that brings a certain amount of mutual respect into practices.” The directors for each winning act are seniors, and each said winning Sing Song was one of the best ways to end their time on campus. “It’s so cool to be a part of big moments in ACU’s history and it’s definitely
been one of the highlights of my year,” Magee said. “We’ve been preparing since we got elected in October of last year, so winning after so many months of preparation and practices and seeing the effect it had on Kojies definitely makes every hard day worth while.” Ko Jo Kai improved to 19 overall wins, one away from being tied with Sigma Theta Chi overall. The seniors, directed by Jamie Warren and Jadon Reynolds, won first in choreography, vocals and entertainment, placed third in set, but did not rank in costumes. Warren said the seniors didn’t expect to win, as her and Reynolds were surprised at the turnout. “Initially we
were just in for fun and everything was a joke up until the last day,” said Warren, senior management major from Boerne. “Before the Saturday afternoon performance I asked the group before we went on stage, ‘we only have two more times to perform this, so what if we just try for today,’ and we won first in choreography. Then it was uphill from there.” Participating in the Ko Jo Kai act and directing the seniors, Warren had practice every night of the week except Friday and Saturday and had been working on the details of the se-
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nior act since before Christmas break. “Though it was a lot, I knew that this would be my last Sing Song, so I might as well enjoy it all while I still had the opportunity to,” Warren said. “We only practiced about six or seven times before show week. I can’t say we worked super hard all the time, but regardless of the outcome it paid off. “Something unique aout our group was that we had a good mix of people. We were represented by every grade level, almost every club, people that had done sing song all four years, and some that it was the first time. Winning is fun, but the most meaningful part was watching this group of wonderful people make memories together as a group, before we all head off in different directions in the upcoming months.”
Starters Friday, Maxwell dismissed from basketball team LAUREN FRANCO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MAX PRESTON SPORTS DIRECTOR
Redshirt juniors B.J. Maxwell and Jalone Friday were dismissed from the basketball team Thursday for “violating university policies and behavior inconsistent with the values of the university,” according to a university press release. Maxwell and Friday were
both starters for the team during the 2018-19 season. Friday leaves as the team Maxwell leader in scoring for the Wildcats at 13.1 points per game, while Maxwell averaged 9.2. Emerald Cassidy, public relations director for the university, said she could not
provide further details about the violation nor suspension. Sports information diFriday rector Lance Fleming said neither he, athletic director Allen Ward nor any of the coaches could comment further about the dismissal. Friday would not comment and Maxwell could
not be reached. “While we can’t comment on specific student discipline matters, we are committed to maintaining a learning community that reflects the standards guiding our mission and shaping our identity as a Christian university,” the university said in a follow-up statement regarding questions about a Title IX investigation. Friday was honored with Southland Freshman of the
Year after his redshirt season. He has been a part of the starting lineup each of the three years he’s been active. This season, he also led the team in blocks (22) and was one of three players on the team to have at least 300 points and 100 rebounds on the year. This is not the first time Friday has been disciplined. Last month, he was suspended for three away games for violating the team’s rules.
Maxwell posted a threepoint shooting percentage of 40.5 this season. He also led the starters in free throw percentage at 85.3 and was one of the other players to reach over 100 rebounds. Friday is a child and family services major from Oklahoma City, and Maxwell is a convergence journalism major from Austin. Maxwell also serves as a news writer on the Optimist staff.