Young voters within higher education institutions are forming new chapters a part of the national Young Democratic Socialists of America to collaborate with peers on how to impact their communities and campuses. I believe the formation of groups with varying backgrounds and beliefs allows campuses to learn from each other and move forward. ... [Read More…]
Menstrual leave: a necessary step towards gender equity at ACU
ACU should grant excused absences for menstruation since it is natural and can impact physical and mental well-being. As a young woman who has navigated the challenging terrain of college life, I can testify to the often underestimated and embarrassing effects of menstruation on academic performance. My experiences, like those of countless ... [Read More…]
How faith develops for private Christian college students
Merriam-Webster defines faith as “something that is believed especially with strong conviction, especially : a system of religious beliefs.” Faith is a pillar of private Christian universities and its importance in students’ lives varies depending on their background. But, how do students in college actually seek to develop their faith? Over ... [Read More…]
Freshman Village putting too high a price tag on attendance
It’s no secret attending Abilene Christian University is an expensive endeavor. While average tuition at most private universities sits around $38,050, ACU tuition tops out at a whopping $41,500 per year, not including room and board or textbooks per year. This price also does not include housing, textbooks or a meal plan. The average room ... [Read More…]
Advice to the class of 2026: Take it slow
Every year, the start of the fall semester is plagued by flyers, emails, social media posts, tables and more filled with students promoting organizations and vying for new members. Oftentimes, these efforts to reel people in are targeted to freshmen, specifically through events like ACU Fest and Join Week. While these events are not a bad ... [Read More…]
Experiential learning needs to be more holistic for students’ sake
Experiential learning is the buzzword you hear the most from within the ACU community whether that be from departments, administration or the marketing team. ACU is advertised to be a small school with a tight knit community that provides more experience than any state school can and to some extent that is exactly right. However, when ... [Read More…]
Is Galaxy receiving special treatment while G*L*XY publicly breaks terms of suspension?
Updated Feb. 7, 2022: To the Optimist Editorial Board: Since December, ACU’s administration has been meeting with sponsors, officers and members of Galaxy to conduct intentional training around diversity, community membership and leadership. Galaxy’s infractions resulted from deeper cultural concerns that highlighted the need for ... [Read More…]
‘Watch Out for Wildcats’ campaign not a real solution to crosswalk safety
In one semester on campus, at least four students were hit by cars, and two of those incidents resulted in hospitalization. After the multiple accidents and consistent, fearful caution coming from students crossing the busy streets each day, surely the university would be working to take drastic measures to prevent this from happening. What did ... [Read More…]
Reduce and reuse so you don’t have to recycle
I get it – it’s hard to live a sustainable lifestyle in Abilene, Texas. There’s no bulk food store. There’s limited public transportation. And … There's no recycling. The sustainable lifestyle tips you read about in those aesthetically pleasing blogger’s posts just don’t work here. As frustrating as it is for those of us who want to be ... [Read More…]
Canned chicken, sleeping in a car and a National Parks cross-country road trip
Hiking in the shadow of the Teton mountain range, visiting hidden independent mountain book shops and long driving days through open ranges singing at the top of your lungs to Fleetwood Mac with the windows rolled down, all with your best friend, sounds like a dream. I lived it all, and a dream it was but I promise it was real. My best friend ... [Read More…]
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