Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Opinion / Editorials / A call to students

A call to students

January 28, 2015 by Optimist Editorial Board

In the past several months, we’ve spent hours scanning Yik Yak for positive, comical Yaks to feature on the editorial page.

 

Us editors have seen good, pure comedy, as well as comments we could only hope came from somewhere outside the ACU community.

 

This past week, during Chapel’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., was one of the latter situations.

 

Negative Yaks targeted the black population of ACU and Chapel’s attempt to honor black history. Several students related Chapel to recruitment for the Black Panthers, claimed that black people already had enough in society (ie. The presidency of the United States) and did not need this time in Chapel, and yakked offensive racial expletives.

 

As a publication representing the student body, we in no way agree with these racist Yaks. And, as a publication serving the student body, we are calling you to hold each other to a higher standard.

 

At the beginning of the school year, we featured two letters to the editor arguing for and against our decision to publish Yik Yaks.

 

In his argument against Yaks, Jake Hall, senior education major from Springtown, said, “(The Yaks) are deadly to our atmosphere here, and if there’s anything I can say about the Optimist, it’s that you all have so much power when it comes to shaping the atmosphere on campus”¦more than you may realize.”

 

And while we continued to publish Yaks after Hall’s dissent, we do believe in the power of the Optimist, and are advocating for a change.

 

In the editorial explaining our use of Yaks, we provided three guidelines detailing our decision:

 

  1. To remind users just how far their messages may reach.
  2. To listen and be representative of all students on campus; the good, bad or ugly.
  3. To transform the social platform into a place where more clean, humorous or constructive posts make their way to the top of the feed.

 

So, to the people who posted those degrading Yaks:

 

  1. Classes are talking about your statements; offices are wondering how to reconcile the campus. Look and see how far your message has reached. Was it the message you wanted?
  2. You were heard, but your words were not appreciated. They did not represent the majority of the student body.
  3. Comments like these will never make their way to the top of the feed at the hands of our publication.

Filed Under: Editorials, Opinion Tagged With: Editorial, Opinion, Yik Yak

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

About Optimist Editorial Board

You are here: Home / Opinion / Editorials / A call to students

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257Retweet on Twitter 15219188327381442571Like on Twitter 15219188327381442578Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178Like on Twitter 152160708755345817819Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved

Posting....