In the spirit of Thanksgiving, while students are counting their blessings, here is a list of 10 things to be thankful for at ACU.

1. Starbucks in the Brown Library: The beautiful caffeine supplier to tired, free-time deprived and homework-hounded students. Without this heroic café, already-busy students would be forced to drive 14 minutes out of the way to the nearest Starbucks for an energy boost. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
2. The GATA Fountain: What is ACU without this iconic sewer-spewing centerpiece? Over the years, students have bonded over the tradition of dodging its milky brown spray on especially windy days.
3. Feral cats: The only way to get around the “no pets” rule in dorms. Simply walk out the front door of any dorm, or perhaps between the Bean and the Bible building where the precious felines reside, to receive all the warm fuzzies without the responsibility of an actual pet.
4. Chapel forums: Two words: life savers. Lets be honest here, without these lovely Chapel-credit redeemers how else would students achieve 55 credits? This is right up there next to the end-of-year Chapel survey (worth two credits).
5. Dr. Richard Beck: What will he be dressed as today? It’s anyone’s guess. Thanks for always keeping students on their toes, Dr. Beck.
6. The Bean’s cookies: Terribly, horribly delicious and addicting. Also, the most beloved way to gain that freshmen fifteen.
7. The loud guys on the top row of Chapel: No Praise Day would be complete without these guys screaming “Highways and Byways” at the top of their lungs and over-enthusiastically doing the motions.
8. The Piano Man: The man responsible for helping the Bean stay classy. Thanks to him, students feel like they are eating in a five-star restaurant daily.
9. Nancy in the Bean: Swiping students in with a smile since 2010.
10. The “ACU Difference”: Yes, it’s time for a cheesy one. All joking aside, ACU provides students with a tight-knit community it’s hard to find elsewhere.

No matter what sport, social club, dorm or even religion, students have a connection with one another. This connection shows every time students who have never met smile at each other on their way to class.

Whether students want to admit it or not, the ACU Community, with all its ups and downs, is quite magnificent. So, dear Christian college, we love you.