The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Lauren Franco

Junior Sing Song act disbanded after members drop out

January 30, 2019 by Lauren Franco

For the first time in Sing Song history, a class act, the Juniors, was disbanded. The directors, Audrey Linder, a junior nursing major from Amarillo, and Elizabeth Coates, a junior psychology major from Round Rock, announced to their act via email on Jan. 25 that it would be in the best interest of all to cut the program. "Thank you both for ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News

Building Abilene: Betty&June brings refreshing atmosphere downtown

January 29, 2019 by Lauren Franco

As customers walk into her store to shop for trendy clothes and accessories, they are greeted by the calming smell of her "prunus" candle and a welcoming hello. Jessica Jackson opened her dream store, Betty&June, seven years ago after seeing the need for a new atmosphere downtown. GETTING TO ABILENE Though she lived in Raleigh, North ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Small group Chapel eliminated on Mondays

January 22, 2019 by Lauren Franco

The Office of Spiritual Formation canceled small group Chapels on Mondays in an attempt to cultivate community among the university. Cyrus Eaton, dean of spiritual formation and chaplain, said the decision was made to give students, faculty and staff a time to meet as a family. “We’re working toward adding value to everything we do by having one ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News

Gallery: Locals march in remembrance of MLK

January 21, 2019 by Lauren Franco

Locals gathered on Monday in celebration as they marched down the Martin Luther King Jr. bridge. In addition to the march, the Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce held a banquet in King's honor at the Abilene Convention Center. ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Multimedia, Photo Galleries

KACU cancels McAlister’s show amid criticism

January 17, 2019 by Lauren Franco

After reviewing Abilene City Councilmember Kyle McAlister's race-related remarks on Facebook, KACU decided it will no longer air his show, "NightSounds with Kyle McAlister." "We condemn these offensive statements," said Nathan Gibbs, general manager of KACU in a press release. "While he never said anything like this on the air, he still ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News

Breaking the Barriers: Bradford to become first black female paramedic in Abilene

January 17, 2019 by Lauren Franco

"I conquered the self-doubt, and now the sky is the limit." Set to be one of the only black female paramedics in Abilene history, Courtney Bradford will graduate in April, and test for her license in May. Courtney originally attended Prairie View A&M as a pre-medical biology major to become an anesthesiologist, but she became pregnant ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Student arrested on child pornography charges

January 17, 2019 by Lauren Franco

The Abilene Police Department Cyber Crimes unit, alongside ACUPD, arrested Jacob Hutchison for Second Degree Felony Distribution of Child Pornography and Third Degree Felony Possession of Child Pornography. Hutchison, a sophomore nursing major, targeted social media apps popular with teens such as KiK, TikToc, SnapChat and Dropbox for ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News

SGA cancels plans for awareness week

January 16, 2019 by Lauren Franco

Despite planning a new awareness week since November, SGA has decided to cancel the events. Executive president Ty Kelley said SGA planned to host an awareness, during which, each day, a topic trending in society would be highlighted, including mental health awareness, cultural awareness and sexual assault awareness. Each day was planned to have ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News

Theatre students prepare for the Big Apple

December 5, 2018 by Lauren Franco

Seemingly every day of the year, theatre students are preparing to play different characters in various shows both on and off campus. Next semester, 11 theatre students are testing their talents in New York City as part of the Tepper Program with Syracuse University. ACU students have been participating in the Tepper Program for eight ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: Features

Doctoral graduates represent university with new regalia

December 4, 2018 by Lauren Franco

The doctoral graduating class will represent ACU in a different, distinguished way, wearing new purple regalia at commencement. Eric Gumm, registrar of the university, said ACU has been using traditional gowns similar to other schools longer than he has been in his position. Previously, regalia was the same for both graduates and ... [Read More…]

Filed Under: News, Showcase

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • …
  • 22
  • Next Page »
You are here: Home / Lauren Franco

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
9 May

BREAKING: The 2026 teacher of the year is Dr. Clint Buck, assistant professor of accounting in the College of Business Administration.

Reply on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Retweet on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Like on Twitter 2053158226070257771 2 Twitter 2053158226070257771
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

BREAKING NEWS: James Bradshaw and Maddie Grace Fridge are the 2026 Mr. ACU and Miss ACU.

Reply on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Retweet on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Like on Twitter 2051110655172784350 4 Twitter 2051110655172784350

Optimist on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue Error: No posts available for this Facebook ID

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2026 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved