The Optimist and social clubs have not enjoyed a pleasant relationship in the past, and as editor in chief, I hoped - naively, perhaps - this year would be different. Our staff already has received several complaints from club officers and members regarding Optimist content, so I entreat anyone involved in a social club to hear me out. I do not ... [Read More…]

How crickets make it all the way up to third-floor dorm rooms continues to mystify me. But they do. Consistently. And they always seem to find their way to my room. My freshman year, the crickets infested my Abilene experience from the day I moved in to well into the fall semester. I heard the first floor of Gardner Hall experienced a cricket ... [Read More…]

As a relatively social person, silence is an uncommon occurrence in my life. After class or work, I usually seek the company of friends, rather than choosing to spend a few hours relaxing alone. When I do have time to myself, I feel the compelling need to call someone, turn on music or create any kind of social distraction. I think my dislike of ... [Read More…]

I started reading at the beginning of kindergarten. It was a Sally, Dick and Jane book, and my mom says I pretty much taught myself. Reflecting on those early school days, I remember weekly class trips to the library, mandatory silent reading every day and listening to the teacher read stories while we sat in a circle and looked at the ... [Read More…]