ACU separated genders in its swimming pool the day it opened.

Starting this year, both genders are allowed in the Gibson pool at the same time.

Is this a good thing? Yes. Oklahoma Christian University and Pepperdine University have allowed mixed swimming in their on-campus pool for years. So why has our pool separated genders for so long?

Student-made myths about the pools gender only swimming have circulated around campus for years, speculating that the pool donor would give money only if the pool prohibited mixed swimming. Students probably created this myth just to produce a chuckle out of the situation.

Regardless of myths, Gibson pool supervisors still offer gender specific times for the people who like and feel comfortable with them. The mixed swimming time was added because students were not offered enough swim time with just the gender specific times. Students now will enjoy more swim time because mixed swimming was added to gender specific times.

Dr. Lorraine Wilson, who is in charge of the pool, deserves thanks for this good decision and for meeting students wants and needs when it comes to pool time.