I am not anti-AI. I’m not angry at or scared of it as a concept, but I do have one bone to pick. AI ruined my favorite punctuation mark. ChatGPT in particular has coined the em dash as its signature. Honestly, the word “signature” doesn’t quite get across how much the program uses em dashes. Put in any prompt, and an em dash will sneak into its ... [Read More…]
Grad student with cystic fibrosis wins scholarship, strives to make an impact
Andrew North was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 3 months old; he’s never known life without it. Now, in his late 20s and married, North has cultivated a fulfilling life despite facing adversity from the perceived limitations of his chronic disease. North is an ACU graduate student pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family ... [Read More…]
Flu season is closing in: How to stay healthy for the holidays
As Texas heat finally gives in and November gifts cooler weather, the holidays are right around the corner. But pumpkin spice lattes and sweaters aren’t the only autumn plans — flu season is right on our heels. Given the inevitable close quarters that campuses foster, flu season is prominent among college students. From doorknobs to stairwell ... [Read More…]
Running to keep up: How standardized testing fails students like me
In third grade, I stopped growing — no, not in height, but in reading, writing, math and just school in general. I felt miles behind, like I was running, stumbling, trying so hard to keep up with all my friends, but they moved with such ease, gliding through school. English is hard. It’s not phonetic. ‘Sounding it out’ isn’t really a thing, and ... [Read More…]
Texas rural hospitals await the budget cut storm
Ten years ago, inside Stamford’s small rural hospital, medical technology and equipment would beep and buzz alongside the sounds of rustling paper. Healthcare workers were kept busy while tending to patients. Today, the building is silent. The parking lot is empty, and the structure is hollowed out. It is single-storied and built with warm red ... [Read More…]
Powell cultivates a career of curiosity, chemistry
Those who study English and want to study Edgar Allen Poe, will read his works, Dr. Cynthia Powell said, and those who study art and want to study Picasso, will look at what he painted. “In my class, you get to study what God has made,” Powell said, as a professor in the chemistry and biochemistry. “We are studying God’s handiwork and that ... [Read More…]
Spiritual Life leads Dating Week on campus
The Office of Spiritual Life’s Dating Week began on Monday, premiering the series in Moody Coliseum with a sermon from vice president for Student Life, Ryan Richardson. The name and theme of the series have shifted this year to align with the Spiritual Life's Fall 2025 theme: Witness. “The heart and the hope remain the same to be in crucial ... [Read More…]
Take what you’ll eat: Help the Bean fight food waste
After Chapel comes to an end, you and hundreds of students flock to the Bean for lunch. Being so hungry after a long morning of classes, your eyes tend to be eager, building up an appetite your stomach can’t keep up with. Whether everything looks so good, making you feel like you just can’t choose, or nothing looks that amazing, so it’s better ... [Read More…]
Monarch butterflies rest in Abilene, prepare to go where they’ve never been
Monarch butterflies typically live a short two- to five-week lifespan — unless, that is, they’re flying to Mexico or California; then the 2,000-mile journey fuels their tiny bodies to sail the blue skies up to nine months longer. The North American monarch butterflies that float and flutter through Abilene in late September and early October are ... [Read More…]
Gallery: Monarch butterflies visit Abilene before their cross-continental journey to Mexico
After spending a warm spring and summer in the northern states and southern Canada, monarch butterflies venture south to California and Mexico for their overwintering period. The monarchs that flutter through Abilene are part of the group headed to Mexico. While waiting for the cool air to arrive, the butterflies will linger in West Texas, resting ... [Read More…]