Owen Simpson, Author at The Optimist

Turner, Preston named Mr. and Miss ACU 2020

May 7, 2020 by Owen Simpson

The Student Government Association announced the winners of Mr. and Miss ACU, Kaman Turner and Nancy Preston, early Thursday morning. Turner, senior marketing major from North Richland Hills, served as president of Frater Sodalis in 2019-20. He was also involved in the the Dean’s Student Council, the ACU Ultimate Team and the Red Thread ... [Read More…]

Philanthropy class distributes $50,000 in donations to local nonprofits

May 6, 2020 by Owen Simpson

ACU students in a philanthropy class distributed $50,000 in anonymous donations to various local nonprofits as part of this year's coursework. This is the fourth year for ACU to host a Giving Ceremony. Usually the reception is hosted at the ACU Mabee Business Building, but it was held over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the $50,000 ... [Read More…]

Reopening America: Antibody studies suggest a far less threatening enemy

May 4, 2020 by Owen Simpson

The past couple months, the media has shined light on how dangerous COVID-19 can be, but it seems they have failed to mention the latest developments and simply preyed on the fear of Americans. Looking back to March 3, WHO said the coronavirus death rate was 3.4%, around 34 times more lethal than that of the seasonal flu. With that given ... [Read More…]

Front Porch plans to reopen doors May 1

April 30, 2020 by Owen Simpson

Front Porch Coffee and Bakery has endured the trying times brought on by COVID-19 and now plans to open its doors Friday. Following Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to allow the stay-at-home order to expire Thursday, restaurants, stores, malls and theaters are allowed to reopen to 25% capacity. For Front Porch's owner Zach Sheets, it's an ... [Read More…]

Students eligible for $1.2 million of financial assistance from CARES Act

April 27, 2020 by Owen Simpson

ACU has been approved to receive $1.2 million of funding from the CARES Act passed by Congress. Students will have access to financial assistance from the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF). Dr. Tamara Long, vice president for enrollment management, has been tasked ... [Read More…]

ACU endowment plunges 10 percent in two months

April 21, 2020 by Owen Simpson

ACU's endowment portfolio has seen a 10 percent decline over the past two months, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the steep drop, Chief Investment Officer Jack Rich said he believes it won't create too many issues. "I do not see that our mission has changed because of the pandemic," Rich said. "We will continue to provide resources to ... [Read More…]

ACU hires Jerrod Cook as track and field head coach

April 13, 2020 by Owen Simpson

Jerrod Cook has been named ACU's new track and field head coach to lead the team in the 2021 season. This announcement takes place after former head coach Lance Bingham accepted the head coaching job at Liberty University. "It's a great honor," Cook said. "I'm very excited and feel extremely grateful to be able to be in this position. I'm ... [Read More…]

Dorrel, Wildcats prepare for new season during pandemic

April 3, 2020 by Owen Simpson

The gates may be closed at Wildcat Stadium, but the ACU football team is still busy at work in preparation for the upcoming season. During the COVID-19 outbreak, college football teams across the nation have been forced to cancel the remainder of spring practice and any meetings. Most ACU athletes have returned home to their families. During ... [Read More…]

Athletics battles eligibility, financial decisions amid COVID-19 crisis

April 2, 2020 by Owen Simpson

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a mark on the ACU sports community, but the Athletic Department is ready to take the challenge head on. The NCAA came to the decision to approve an extra year of eligibility for spring athletes, Monday. "First of all, I'm pleased the NCAA made that decision," said Allen Ward, director of athletics. "I think it's ... [Read More…]

What COVID-19 is called is insignificant

March 21, 2020 by Owen Simpson

Over the past several weeks, COVID-19 has been the talking point worldwide and has created new controversial topics. The majority of the left media have bashed Republicans and President Trump over calling COVID-19 the "Wuhan virus" or the "Chinese virus." There are two problems with this controversy. Firstly, the practice of naming a new ... [Read More…]