By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief You hold an historic issue in your hands. Yes, the one that you are likely dipping into the ketchup on your plate right now-it is a historic issue of the Optimist. Ninety years ago this month, Arthur Slater founded Abilene Christian College's first college newspaper and named it the Optimist. The name hails ... [Read More…]
Column Like I See ‘Em: Much is done to welcome ACU newcomers
By Steve Holt, Opinion Editor Welcome Week was a lot better the second time around. As a leader, that is. Frankly, I was pretty intimidated by Welcome Week my freshman year. Maybe it was the mixers and activities that forced normally shy people to mingle and talk to the other newcomers. It could have been the fact that I only knew one person-my ... [Read More…]
Where have driving manners gone on campus?
Why are drivers in the ACU parking lots literally some of the rudest drivers I have ever come across? One would think that drivers on this Christian campus would be polite and respectful of the right of way of other drivers. April 25, my husband and I were driving in the slip road, which runs parallel to Campus Court and is in the parking lot ... [Read More…]
Recent Optimist dress code article one-sided
The article in the Optimist concerning student dress code violations sincerely disturbed me. The arguments used by the Nelson Dorm Director reminded me of the arguments used by the Taliban for forcing women to wear birkas. Unfortunately, lust is a problem faced by both men and women, a point not addressed by your article. The photos accompanying ... [Read More…]
Standardized tests are valuable
Few students will ever earn a 1600 or 36, a perfect score on the SAT or ACT, respectively. Millions of high school students continue to take the college entrance exams, however, hoping to earn high enough scores for admission to a certain school. The recommendation of the president of the University of California could end that tradition for ... [Read More…]
Move past the past
I have seen the dialogues between CaSaundra Jackson and her columns and the letters of both Curt Baker and Kim Roach. I think some very pertinent points were raised by all parties in an attempt to understand Black History Month. Last Friday, when the responses to my friend Curt's letter were printed in the Optimist, Curt and I, along with some ... [Read More…]
Our history is together
I agree with Curt Baker's letter about Black History Month. I certainly think it is important to recognize all significant contributions to American history, whether they be by black people or white people. I really don't think, as Jackson suggested last week, that every other month of the year is devoted to white history month. The black people ... [Read More…]
‘Photo poorly reflects ACU’
To the Editor: While preaching at a small rural congregation north of here Sunday morning, I was approached by one of the members who was wielding a copy of the Abilene Reporter-News. I had been proudly proclaiming my belief in and allegiance to ACU when he showed me the front page. There I saw a young man pretending to be undressed for the ... [Read More…]
Optimist editorial is issue in letter
Dear Editor, As a member of the Students' Association, I was extremely disappointed to open the first issue of the Optimist for this semester, and what did I find but another article in the continuing series of editorials concerning Senate. The majority of the issues in the fall semester contained an editorial, and usually negative, I might add, ... [Read More…]
History Teacher Praises Optimist
To the Optimist staff, I want to commend the staff of the Optimist on the quality publication you're giving the readers on our ACC campus. It seems to me that the '61 Optimist has a policy of broad coverage, clear concise reporting, and yet offers opportunity for the reflection of opinion through the editorial page. Too frequently the ideal ... [Read More…]