The Optimist - Sept. 5, 2008

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Pg. 8 Wildcat soccer team wins its first match of 2008

Friday, September 5, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 5 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

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New group aims to help students find ACU organizations to join

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‘Traitor’ humanizes Muslim extremists and their views on the ‘War on Terror’

Ex-ACU track athlete accused of steroid use in Olympics

University probes SA noose incident

M O C

By Michael Freeman Managing Editor

A noose was discovered in the office of Student Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins Wednesday, prompting the university to investigate. Watkins would not comment on the noose, but he met with Dr. Royce Money, president of the university; Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for student life; and other campus leaders Thursday to discuss what actions the university

! o o h a

Y As summer turns into fall, Brandon Oliver begins scouring the Internet, trying to find obscure facts about players in the National Football League. Oliver is one of the thousands of men and women across the nation who search for the next breakout player in the NFL. Why? So they can draft him for their fantasy football team. “I’m looking for the next Wes Welker,” said Oliver, freshman undeclared major from Waco. Like Oliver, many students will participate in a fantasy

football league this fall. The game is simple with each league comprised of eight to 14 teams and each person acting as the manager for his or her own team. A league commissioner sets a draft date during which all the managers draft current NFL players for their teams. Each week one team is pitted against another in a head-to-head matchup. Scoring is based on individual and team statistics from actual NFL games. For instance,

if a player on a team scores a touchdown, the manager earns six points. At the end of each week, the scores are tabulated, and the team with the most points is the winner. Much like in real football, managers can eventually progress to the playoffs and be crowned champions of the league. Oliver and his friends have been playing fantasy football for the past three years. Oliver said the most difficult part of the game is to know his own

Doors and sidewalks throughout campus will soon be littered with campaign signs and slogans, and that means only one thing: Students’ Association elections are here. Students will decide who will represent them in the Student Congress as SA elections begin next week. Elections for class senators, academic building representatives and residence hall representatives will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Students can vote in the Campus Center from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if necessary run-off elections will be Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Student Reporter

Managing Editor

Fair page 4

Fantasy page 4

By Sondra Rodriguez

By Michael Freeman If you recently have yearned for funnel cake, Ferris wheels or calf wrestling, then you are in luck. The 109th edition of the West Texas Fair & Rodeo begins Friday at the Taylor County Expo Center. This year’s fair, themed “Horns, Hides, Laughs and Rides”, will last through Sept. 13. The fair will open each day at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. General admission is $6 for adults and $3 for college students. Tickets for the rodeo will cost $12. “It’s a recreational thing,” said Ed Brokaw, professor of agriculture and environment. “Our club [Agriculture and Environmental Sciences club] is planning to get a group together to

biases. As a Dallas Cowboys’ fan, he would like to draft as many Cowboys as possible on draft day. But this is not a very good strategy, since all the Cowboys would have the same week off in which they would not score any points for him. “It’s tough because you have to draft guys on another team who play against the Cowboys,” Oliver said. Josh Anderson, sophomore See

Hit The Polls

Editor in Chief

Voting for Students’ Association senators and representatives will be in the Campus Center Tuesday and Wednesday: Days: Tuesday, Wednesday Time: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. :: Runoff Thursday if necessary

“Since every undergraduate student at ACU is a member of [the] Students’ Association, participation in congress is important,” said Sarah Pulis, student body vice president. Petitions signed with the signatures of students of the same classification or residents of the same academic building or residence hall See

Election page 4

Security increased in halls

Expo Center prepares for fair, rodeo

See

By Daniel Johnson-Kim

acuoptimist.com: Log on to see a video of how fantasy football affects student life in the residence halls.

Student Reporter

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

Students to vote in Congress elections

A league of its own By Tanner Knauth

should take in response to the incident. “We plan to pursue the matter as a responsible Christian community should,” Money said. The hangman’s noose has been used as a racist symbol in the past to invoke the memory of African-American lynchings during the Jim Crow era. Money said he will deliver a prepared statement to the student body in Friday’s Chapel.

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer A Ferris wheel is constructed in the parking lot of the Taylor County Expo Center for the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.

ACU WEAtHER

Students are banging on doors and stamping their feet in frustration because of a new residence hall policy. Exit doors will be locked 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the safety of students. This policy is very different from last year when doors were only locked during curfew hours. John Delony, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, said it is a positive change that was enforced to protect students. Anyone wanting to enter a residence hall must swipe his or her ID card at an outside card reader. If an ID card is forgotten or lost, Delony recommends calling a resident assistant or residence director for access to the hall. “The main benefit is stu-

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dent safety,” Delony said. “We’ve got the technology in place, and it doesn’t cost us any more money but it’s just another safety measure we can put out there.” David Degge, resident assistant in Edwards Hall, said he agreed with the decision. “Overall, it’s a positive change,” said Degge, junior music education major from Highland, Ill. “It’s going to be easier for the ResLife staff to ensure the safety of the residents and to regulate who is coming in and out of the dorm during visitation hours and freshman checkin; it just makes it flow more smoothly,” he said. Sophomores are expected to struggle the most with the new policy because freshmen have no prior residence hall experience. Jordan Johnston, sophomore Christian ministry major from Carrolton, said he

What should be the main purpose of the Students’ Association?

Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see Wednesday’s newscast from the JMC Network Newscast staff. This week’s webisode highlights SHADES’ tryouts and information on upcoming events.

Abilene Christian University

E-mail Rodriguez at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Online Poll :

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Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::

does not think the change was necessary. “I think the school feels safer for us, but we don’t feel any different,” he said. “We just have to do extra work now; we can’t cut through Mabee from Edwards anymore.” Johnston favored the former arrangement and thinks “it just makes more sense to lock the doors after a certain hour.” However, Degge remains confident the decision will benefit residents in the long run. “There will be frustrations,” he said. “But overall, it’s a smart move.”

a. Talking to the administration. b. Giving away free food. c. Hosting events for students. d. Representing the student body.

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Serving the ACU community since 1912


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Campus Day Friday, September 5, 2008

Calendar and Events

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Friday

Last day to request C/NC or P/F. 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. West Texas Fair & Rodeo 7 p.m. “Circle of Laughs” comedy featuring Chonda Pierce at Southern Hills Church of Christ. 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. ACU comedy Moonlight and Magnolias in Fulks Theater.

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Saturday

10:30 a.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo Parade in downtown Abilene. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Connecting Caring Communities Talent Show at the Paramount Theatre. Contact the Office of Multicultural Enrichment. 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. ACU Fall Comedy Moonlight and Magnolias

acuoptimist.com

Applications for SALT, Service Action Leadership Team, are available in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. This group of students organizes events throughout the year that engage the student body in service and work to establish relationships with the neighborhoods surrounding the campus. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. Interviews will follow from Sept. 8-10. New Collegiate Cards have arrived in the SA office. Collegiate Cards are available free to every ACU student. Students can receive discounts at local restaurants such as Rosa’s, Little Caesar’s and Sonic. The Collegiate Cards from last year have expired, so come down to the office and get a new one. The deadline to rank all men and women’s social clubs is Sept. 12 in the Campus Center’s Living Room. Come anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You must turn in your medical form, pledging contract and rush card at this time.

Monday

8 a.m. -11 p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo

8 a.m. - 11. p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo

5 p.m. - 9 p.m. World Refugee Day at Nelson Park featuring music, drumming and performances by refugees from more than 10 nations. Culturally diverse food samples, fashion show and children’s activities. For more information, call 675-5643, ext. 19.

12 p.m. - 7 p.m. The new “World Famous” Bean grand opening celebration will be in the Campus Center. Join everyone for giveaways, a chef showdown, Wii bowling tournament and talent showcase.

Online Newscast

Webcast

Check out a short newscast from the JMC Network on ACU ticketers, changes to Chapel and women’s social club teas this past Sunday.

Log on to www.youtube.com/ acuvideo to see a video about SHADES’ tryouts and information on its upcoming events.

Announcements The ACU Athletics Department will be hosting a 5K run to benefit the Cory and Lisa Stone Family Sept. 13. For more information, contact ACU men’s basketball coach Jason Copeland at 674-2913 or jason. copeland@acu.edu Mike Stanton, CEO of Inigral, Inc., will be on campus Monday through Wednesday to discuss and research possible ways to integrate Facebook into academics. Students can partner with other students, faculty and friends of ACU for a time of unified intercession for the campus on Mondays at 7 a.m. at Jacob’s Dream. For more information, see the Facebook group “The Holy Spirit Moves at Abilene Christian” or e-mail kdl04a@acu.edu. Students’ Association fall elections are Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have any questions, please drop by the SA office or call 674-2583.

ChapelCheckup Credited Chapels to date:

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The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to jmcnetwork@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at mab07d@acu.edu.

To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.

Volunteer Opportunities

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About This Page

Credited Chapels remaining:

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Meals on Wheels has an ongoing need for volunteers to deliver lunches. Delivery only takes approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours, and they do their best to assign routes that are close by. A brief training is provided, and if you are a student, a Chapel exemption can be given for one day a week if your delivery time conflicts with Chapel. If you are able to help, contact Mitzi McAndrew at 672-5050. Key City Kiwanis annual fish fry needs volunteers on Oct. 3 and 4 at the Abilene Civic Center. Help is needed Oct. 3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with cooking, serving, cleaning tables and trash pick up. Volunteers receive a meal ticket to eat meals while working. All proceeds benefit local organizations. The Taylor Elementary Chess Club is seeking volunteers to help with the club Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Volunteers do not need to know how to play chess. Sanctus Real Concert needs volunteers Sept. 14 to help with a variety of tasks from loading vehicles and providing security to selling merchandise anytime during the day from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. The concert will take place at the Paramount Theatre.

is needed to answer phone call requests for shuttle pick-ups, and 21-year-old drivers are needed to drive 15 passenger vans for the shuttle service (training required through ACU Physical Resources). Male students are needed to serve communion Sunday evening. Volunteers are needed to work the registration tables in the Teague Center. The Alzheimer’s Association is seeking volunteers to help in a variety of ways with its annual Alzheimer’s Walk at Nelson Park. The walk takes place Sept. 20, and help is needed from 6 a.m. to noon. They also need help Sept. 18 and 19 to haul tables to the park. An ESL teacher at Abilene High School needs volunteers to help in her class with one-on-one tutoring in core subject areas for non-native speakers of English. This can be done Monday-Friday anytime from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Find out volunteer opportunities by visiting the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center’s Web site at www.acu.edu/vslc and clicking on Volunteer Opportunities. For more information or to sign up to help, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.

ACU’s Summit (Lectureship), Sept. 21 – 24, needs volunteers for a variety of jobs. Someone

Drama ministry seeks new personalities By Brittany Brand Student Reporter

Just as the semester begins every year, so do the numerous tryouts for student activities. Students recently may have seen all the sidewalk chalk messages conveniently posted around the Campus Center; they advertise the upcoming tryouts for Seekers of the Word. Seekers is a student-led drama ministry group on campus that travels around the state and the Abilene community to spread the Gospel through their God-given abilities to act. They perform many

humorous and serious skits that explain God’s message. The members of Seekers write, direct and then perform all their own material. The content of their 30 to 45 minute performances not only helps spread the word of God but also deals with choices many people may be struggling through. Although they mainly perform in youth rallies and retreats, they also reach out to battered women’s shelters, prisons and other nonprofit organizations. “This semester we have four out-of-town trips planned to youth events around the state, a

performance at Middleton Prison in Abilene and, hopefully, a couple more intown performances,” said Leslie Spainhower, president of Seekers of the Word. Auditions for Seekers of the Word were Wednesday. Competition for positions with the group was strong. “We currently have 17 students in the group,” Spainhower said. “We generally get about 20 to 30 people auditioning, but we can only take a limited amount.” Devin Anderson, freshman broadcast journalism major from Kerrville, is one of the hopeful students planning on auditioning for Seekers of the Word.

“I really love acting; I have had tons of experience with it locally in Kerrville, but it has not been as spiritually fulfilling as I hope Seekers of the Word will be,” Anderson said. Anderson said it would be a great missionary experience to be a part of Seekers of the Word. “Seekers of the Word is a great way for my creative side to come out on campus in a Godly way,” Anderson said.

E-mail Brand at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu


CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, September 5, 2008

Send Me Lord links groups to encourage involvement By Lydia Melby Arts Editor

With almost 100 student-led organizations, social clubs and interest groups on campus for the 2008-09 school year, getting connected can be overwhelming, especially for students who are already involved in sports and other extracurricular programs. ACU, yet again, has added one more student organization to the mix, but this club, Send Me Lord, actually plans to help connect students with other organizations. “Send Me Lord is a community and campus unification service-based organization,” said Morgan Myrick, president of SML. “Our main goal was to try to include organizations, clubs and different departments that aren’t usually involved in community service … We want to recognize every organization and help freshmen and transfer students get in and get involved.” Send Me Lord will begin this semester with its first interest meeting Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in Room 120 of the Biblical Studies Building. Myrick said after the first interest meeting, SML will be able to get started on some of the many events it has planned for the year. “One of our biggest events we are planning on hosting is a big red carpet event where we recognize every student organization and social club and athletic department and give awards for each, like for what they’ve done in the community,” Myrick said. “It’s

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SHADES Stomp-a-thon

We’re trying to get other organizations to work together, to help other organizations, so one organization isn’t pulling all people in towards just itself when they could all be involved in more things. :: Morgan Myrick, president of Send Me Lord

also just to put it out there, in a fun way, what different organizations are available for students to get involved.” One of the major service projects already planned is the “Between Sundays” project Oct. 4, where the ACU football team will work with the Abilene Community and Schools program. Players involved will pair with children from the program and spend the day with them, coaching them in football and mentoring them; the kids also can attend the football game that night. “It’s kind of a way to bring the football world into the little kids world and get them connected in places where they wouldn’t normally be,” Myrick said. Other events planned include a “fashion and taste-test” show for the international students, surprise parties for both boys and girls’ residence halls and a car-bashing event for Homecoming. Around Christmas time, SML will adopt a unit stationed in Iraq and let the soldiers make a wish list it will use to create a

care package in appreciation for American troops. Myrick said the biggest problem SML encountered to date has been the issue of money and funding, “since the SA budget got cut pretty substantially this year.” Otherwise, Myrick said the biggest challenge she expected SML to face was “just getting everyone involved who is willing … because it’s easy to get overwhelmed, and then you feel like you don’t have time.” However, Myrick is confident SML will be flexible to accommodate every student’s interests and needs. “We’re trying to get other organizations to work together, to help other organizations, so one organization isn’t pulling all people in towards just itself when they could all be involved in more things,” Myrick said. “SML tries to come up with events that have times and interests that will be something anyone can do; we just want to be able to include everyone who is interested.”

E-mail Melby at: lgm05e@acu.edu

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Natasia Jackson, senior history major from Cherokee, steps to new choreography during the SHADES’ tryouts Wednesday.


FROM THE FRONT

Friday, September 5, 2008

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School receives makeover By Camille Vandendriessche Assistant Copy Editor

Four signs and several borders around flower beds were added to the campus during the summer. The work achieved by the Department of Physical Resources offered a refreshed place to new and returning students, but the biggest changes are still to come, said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources. “We are developing a master plan to develop the campus uniformly,” Nevill said. “An architect from Dallas (Christopher Miller) is work-

ing with us to design the future campus landscape; there will be a lot of change.” Nevill said both east and west sides of campus already have been renovated since last spring. He said the coming changes will involve two phases of reconstruction around the Campus Center, which will be achieved during the next two summers. Nevill estimates the two-phase project will cost a little more than $3 million. “It is terribly expensive; we have to do it in two phases,” Nevill said. “We’ll do it in the summer because we’ll

tear up areas that have lots of traffic.” Nevill said several other landscaping projects are being designed. One of them will consist of hanging banners on the poles along the Lunsford Walking Trail; these flags will symbolize all the countries and states that represent the student body at ACU. Neville also said another project is the expansion of Gibson Center to build a wellness and recreation center. E-mail Vandendriessche at: cxv06a@acu.edu

Kat Patton :: staff photographer Construction continues to dominate the landscape in front of the Bob Hunter Welcome Center.

Fantasy: 14 million people play Fair: College Student Day offers free admission Friday Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1 go to the rodeo.” The first discount day will be Friday, College Student Day, when college students will be admitted all day free with current college ID. On Monday the Fair will have Dollar Ride Night, and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., it will sponsor Cantastic Night, when students can receive free admission to the Fair for bringing six Coca-Cola cans. The West Texas Fair & Rodeo Parade will march through downtown Abilene beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Larry Hall of Lawrence Hall car dealership will be the grand marshal of the parade as dozens of marching bands, floats, classic cars and clowns make their collective ways through the streets. The Rodeo part of the

They’ll have several different shows. Some top quality livestock will come in here — some of the best in the country. :: Ed Brokaw, professor of agriculture and environment

Fair starts Tuesday and ends next Saturday. Events in Taylor County Coliseum will include tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, bareback riding, team roping and bull riding. Special exhibits also will be shown at the Fair. Artists Suzanne Starr and Anita Lane will present their calligraphy work Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Modern Living Mall. China painting demonstrations will be shown on Saturday, and the Abilene Wood Carver Club will have

a woodcarving presentation Wednesday. Livestock and food exhibits also will be set up throughout the week. “They’ll have several different shows,” Brokaw said. “Some top quality livestock come in here—some of the best in the country.”

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

business major from Austin, said he plays fantasy football as a way to reconnect with friends from high school. “We all play in a league,” Anderson said. “It’s just fun to get online and talk trash to your old friends.” Fourteen million people

play fantasy football every year, according to the executive search firm Challenger Grey and Christmas. Fantasy football has transformed into a national phenomenon. The Internet provides players the opportunity for live drafting from anywhere in the world as well as up-to-date statistics and scoring.

As fantasy football continues to grow, college students may use it as a means to relieve stress accumulated through the rigors of day-today student life. “It’s just fun,” Anderson said.

E-mail Knauth at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Election: SA gives students a voice Continued from page 1 as the candidates were due Thursday by 5 p.m. Each candidate was required to attend a meeting Thursday, in which the election rules were laid out. If elected, students must attend weekly Students’ Association meetings Wednesdays. The first SA meeting will be Sept. 17. Senators and representatives also will be required to work at least 30 minutes each

week in the SA office. Despite what some critics may say about SA, Pulis, who serves as the SA elections chair as part of her vice-presidential duties, said it is more than a resume builder. Pulis said the benefit SA brings to the ACU community is to act as a voice for students to correspond with the administration to ensure their views on various issues are known. Pulis pointed to a public forum SA sponsored in the spring when news broke

about the Mobile Learning Initiative, where students were able to ask questions about the initiative. Pulis said this year SA would work to mirror beneficial forums like the one last spring and actively serve as a voice for students. “The goal of SA is to be able to express concern and ideas to the administration,” Pulis said.

E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu


ArtsFriday

September 5, 2008

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‘Traitor’ offers doses of humanity Classical violinist

to appear at WPAC

By Blake Penfield Student Writer

Nazis and dinosaurs. Here we have two groups of people (Nazis are people, too) who always are portrayed as villainous, conniving sadists in film. In fact, with the exceptions of Schindler’s List and The Land Before Time IXXVIII, I cannot think of one film where a Nazi or a dinosaur is portrayed as a real, feeling human being. This is what’s happening with Muslims in our popular culture today. It began with the first Gulf War and only has been exacerbated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More often than not, Muslims are portrayed as contemptible people so filled with a blind religious zealotry that their relish for causing random death and misery is matched only by George Lucas’ relish for destroying my childhood. Traitor bucks this trend. Yes, it has Muslim extremists. Yes, it depicts terrorist attacks on innocents in the name of Allah and Jihad. But it also does a great deal to humanize these people and works to give some sort of plausible motivation to a theological philosophy that is completely foreign to most of our western minds. Traitor was written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, who wrote The Day After Tomorrow. But, don’t let that fool you—this one is actually pretty good, which is surprising given the film’s ho-hum trailer. Traitor explores interest-

By Katie Hoffman Student Reporter

Photo courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com)

Samir (Cheadle) encounters Omar (Said Tahgmaoui), the leader of an extremist terrorist cell, in ‘Traitor.’ ing territory that gives it an edge other films of this kind lack. The director gives us some pretty heavy themes— religious pluralism and tolerance, the juxtaposition of one’s duty to God with one’s duty to government and even some utilitarian versus deontological arguments about the sanctity of life. Not bad for the guy who wrote the tagline, “This year, a sweater won’t do.” Don Cheadle stars as Samir Horn, the devout Muslim son of a Sudanese Muslim martyr and an American mother. Though throughout the movie Samir is pursued by the FBI and deals with terrorists, he must ultimately reconcile his actions with the Koran’s teachings and Allah’s will. Cheadle does a great job building a bridge between the ideals of the Middle East and the culture of the West. He’s got an ability to telegraph a great deal of emo-

tional depth through his eyes and he uses the trait to tremendous effect in his portrayal of Samir. Guy Pearce also does a wonderful job as the southern good ol’ boy FBI agent. Pearce and Cheadle complement each other well in their scenes together. They both explore the symmetry between each of their characters’ religious convictions, which adds volumes of depth to what could have come off as a cheesy civics lesson in the hands of lesser actors. The score offers an interesting blend of Middle Eastern strings with a more western Bourne-esque style. The former does a nice job of setting the theme and slowing the pace, while the latter moves the action along nicely with a pulsing series of carefully calibrated aural delights. The cinematography highlights the seedy locales within

the different cities and contrasts nicely with the short snippets we get of more colorful scenery. The things going on in these cities are not pretty, and the camera makes sure we see that. Although the story has a few good twists and turns that keep you interested throughout the length of the film, pacing becomes a bit of a problem about three quarters of the way through the film. You’ll find yourself squirming in your seat while you wait for the film to reach its climax. A couple of plot holes in the film may detract from the story as well. However, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. The interesting and unique perspective married with strong performances makes an enjoyably cohesive narrative experience. E-mail Penfield at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Violinist Andrew Sords is opening the 2008-09 ACU Guest Artist series Monday at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Williams Performing Arts Center. Free to the public, this recital will treat audiences to melodies of classical music by composers such as Kreisler, Brahms, Mozart, Chopin and Dvorak. Dr. Gregory Straughn, chair of the Music Department, said he was excited to begin the series with Sords. “Each year we try to have four or five nationally-known artists or ensembles come to campus to perform,” Straughn said. “It has been several years since we’ve had a violin soloist, [but] the Music Department just hired a new violin instructor, so we can spotlight this important and beautiful instrument.” Sords, 23, is a Cleveland Institute of Music and SMU graduate who has been playing the violin since he asked his parents for lessons as a first grader. Performances in the Cayman Islands as well as at Hyo Kang’s Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea (home to violin legend Chee-Yun) garnered Sords in-

ternational acclaim. In 2004 and 2005, Sords won first place in the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition. By 2005 he had won the National Shirley Valentin award. Composer Kellach Waddle dedicated his Pulitzer Prize winning sonata to Sords, and this summer Sords was named concertmaster of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra in Ohio. “What matters is being convinced of an interpretation that serves the composer tastefully and conveys the artist’s feelings to the audience,” Sords said. His forte is to seemlessly meld complicated classical techniques into smooth tones and heartfelt passion. Kristin Brown, senior vocal performance major from Athens, said she planned to attend Sords’ concert because “any kind of musical exposure is going to help me as an artist.” Sords said he only plays music he believes in, whether it is Mozart or the concerto he commissioned two years ago from Evan Fein. “I want to make classical music as accessible as possible,” he said. “If the audience is moved, then I did my job.” E-mail Hoffman at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

MUSIC SCENE

ABILENE ARTS

n Thursday, Sept. 11: Country music singer Jack Ingram to perform at the Lucky Mule Saloon at 8:30 p.m.

n Thursday, Sept. 11: Artwalk features pianist Ric Richardson, new exhibits by Ford Farr, Mike Lanier and other Center Artist Members, live chalk art and more in downtown Abilene.


ViewsFriday

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September 5, 2008

Team55 surpasses customer service expectations T “

he iPhone initiative sparked all kinds of excitement, but the reality of the project’s complexity sparked something else in Team 55—responsibility. Distributing iPhones and iPod touches to almost 1,000 freshmen and providing those same students with quality customer service is no easy task. Technology Support Services and Team 55 met the project’s challenges head on with poise and class. TSS and Team 55 together put in more than 1,000,000 hours of preparation. Kay Reeves, director of Technology Support Services, said TSS met weekly with AT&T and Apple representatives months

Distributing iPhones and iPod touches to almost 1,000 freshmen and providing... quality customer service is no easy task.

before school started. The initiative’s launch was not without hurdles. News of the iPhone 3G’s release heralded the report that online activation was no longer possible. This meant AT&T employees needed to be available to assist students in registering their phones on distribution day. More than 30 AT&T representatives set up shop in the Brown Library, where students stopped after working through the iPhone

distribution line. Reeves expressed sincere thanks to the Brown Library’s staff for their cooperation on behalf of TSS and Team 55. Distributing the iPhones was merely the first step. Team 55 prepared a video, visually outlining and explaining the iPhone’s features. The video was played on a screen freshmen watched while waiting in line, and it was played continuously on Channel 55. Team 55 compiled the same

information from the video into booklets that were placed on every freshman’s bed and online at www.acu. edu/team55. Team 55 encourages students who are seeking assistance to consult the Web site before visiting the Pit Stop in the Brown Library. Students can find remedies for common issues online. Team 55 anticipated confusion and questions students might have the first week. More than 100 Team 55 employees, 60 of them students, roamed freshman residence halls, including Edwards Hall and McDonald Hall, for the entirety of move-in weekend. All employees received a week of

Lebensgefahr

fast food. And because most fast food chains come from the U.S., we commonly associate “fries” with America. According to several Web sites, France actually seems to be the alma mater of fries. However, French people tend to believe fries, originally called “pommes frites,” were invented by the Belgians, who still claim them. Indeed, restaurants in Belgium are famous for their fries, which they serve with buckets full of mussels. Delicious! Speaking of food, I am still amazed at how Americans love French toast. Sorry y’all, but many other European countries claim the invention of French toast; recipes and names vary

In Your Words

from one place to another. Medieval European cooks concocted French toast when they tried to feed their families with every piece of bread they could find. The Germans named it “arme ritter,” or poor knight, while the French called it “pain perdu,” or lost bread. Once in a while, my mom would cook French toast, using pieces of bread we would have thrown away because they were too hard; I must say the ones at IHOP taste nothing like my mom’s! Another so-called French specialty is the French dressing. Although it often refers to French-born vinaigrette (oil and vinegar), different recipes exist in the U.S. such as

“The sophomores, because we’re the best of both worlds.”

Which group do you think most deserves or needs iPhones next? acuoptimist.com View videos of student responses for the “In Your Words” questions online at a later date at www.acuoptimist.com

Carrie Tansey

Theater major from Fort Worth.

Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous

information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

ketchup and sugar or ketchup, sugar and mayonnaise. Nothing truly French… Interestingly, the French dressing possibly was named in the early 19th century after Lucius French, a founder of Hazelton, Ind. Because French disliked vegetables, his wife supposedly invented this dressing to make him eat salad. Many other culinary specialties are stamped “French” in the U.S. such as French dips (a beef sandwich dipped in beef juice), French beans (long green beans) and the mysterious French roasted coffee. While preparing my speech, I also discovered French drums, bulldogs and maids. I guess all are typically from France but I’m not positive. The only thing I definitely knew Americans called French was the kiss. The French kiss is actually world famous…and I can live with that!

“I think Team55 deserves iPhones, so they can help the entering freshmen when they have problems with their iPhones.”

Annika Ringle

Art major from Springdale, Ark.

E-mail Vandendriessche at: cxv06a@acu.edu

Jamelynn DeBrine

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“I really feel like everybody deserves them. There’s not just one specific group. Each group has their pluses and minuses.”

Psychology major from Arlington.

Optimist the

Our view:

The quality customer service Team55 continues to provide the ACU campus deserves commendation.

The solution:

Students and faculty should continue to take advantage of Team55’s expertise but should do so respectfully and graciously. training to prepare them for the freshman arrival. Although the initial rush has slowed, Team 55 will continue to staff its Pit Stop slightly more than usual. Reeves expects normal staffing to return in a couple of weeks. With 630 iPhones and 350 iPod touches distributed,

Many great presidents from the past wouldn’t last 10 minutes on CNN or FOX. Forget the Monica Lewinski scandal. President John F. Kennedy’s rumored affairs (true or not) would have given today’s media Self circus a carExamination nival with all those alBy Ryan Self legations of infidelity. Considering the amount of attention paid to presidential candidate John McCain’s health problems, it is hard to imagine President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his wheelchair, suffering from a potentially lifethreatening disease, would garner much support from voters in our present culture. Of course, viewers also would learn the fact that he married his distant cousin. The modern presidential campaign is one of the most grueling contests a human being can endure. With 24/7 news coverage of the candidates’ every move, with every sentence and phrase being scrutinized by political pundits, we now know more about those who seek the oval office than ever before. Naturally, that would be a good thing; right? Perhaps the opposite actually is true, since our leaders now have learned to edit to an extensive degree what they say, leaving us more in the dark when it comes to their genuine beliefs. Presidential candidates McCain and Barack Obama know a single sentence can severely damage their hopes for the presidency. Both have learned the hard way. Obama set off a firestorm on the blogs and talk radio stations when he was quoted as claiming residents of small towns “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them.” The quote was dissected, taken out of context and played all across the cable networks, costing Obama the state of Pennsylvania in the primary. McCain’s quote about spending “maybe 100 years” in Iraq had an equally negative effect. No sooner had the words left his mouth than his opponents pegged him as a warmonger. When something as trivial as

Pardon my ‘French’: Yours is all wrong ...my mom used to cook French toast...I must say the ones at IHOP taste nothing like my mom’s!

Team55 faces previously unheard of challenges with the implementation of the Mobile Learning Initiatives.

Team 55 had and continues to have a full plate. But if they persist in fulfilling their responsibilities as they have done already, students will have little need to worry.

E-mail the Optimist at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Media coverage nullifies presidential qualifications

By Alex York

Two years ago, as I started my first year at ACU, I was asked to prepare a speech for French Chapel, which takes place every Tuesday in the Hardin Administration Building, Room 133. I am not a big fan of Bible verses so, instead, I wrote Pardon Y’all’s a list of things French Americans call By Camille Vandendriessche “French.” Being from France, I must say most of these things make me laugh, even though sometimes they irritate me too. Let’s start with food and the funniest of all—the French fries! French people have no idea Americans call fries “French”. In France like in the United States, fries usually come with

The issue:

wearing or not wearing a lapel pen can cost politicians voters, candidates work extra hard not only to avoid offending but also to avoid revealing their true beliefs. Politicians who have been in office for years have a voting history that can come back to bite them when controversial issues resurface. This is why candidates with less “experience” (which has become a liability to some) and more charisma have risen so quickly in the ranks. Republicans may claim Obama is someone who falls into this category, but with the choice of Sar-

...our leaders now have learned to edit an extensive amount of what they say, leaving us more in the dark when it comes to their genuine beliefs.

ah Palin for vice president, they are equally offenders. Choosing someone with a year and a half of executive experience reveals they also are following the trend. Charisma and “freshness” are the new experience. It is discouraging if not downright scary to think men and women who are highly qualified yet are not photogenic or possessing an alluring on-air personality might fall to the wayside in a bid for the presidency. Meanwhile, those who are able to captivate an audience or cultivate a well-designed persona yet are lacking in true presidential credentials will rise to the top.

E-mail Self at: rcs06g@acu.edu

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SPORTS JUMPS

Friday, September 5, 2008

Page 7

Soccer: No. 6 Incarnate Word awaits Wildcats in San Antonio Continued from page 8 The Wildcats’ preseason ranking is seventh in the LSC but the ranking will have to be higher to advance to the postseason tournament. The top six teams in the LSC advance to the conference tournament at the end of the season. The Wildcats will be looking to prove the preseason polls wrong as the team begins its second regular season. “I think we definitely can exceed expectations,” Wilson said. “We have the talent and personnel to compete in this conference. I feel optimistic we can better our ranking and play with anybody.”

So far this year, the Wildcats have met that standard. Aside from their tie to Drury, ACU suffered a close 2-1 double-overtime loss to Missouri Southern last Friday. Although the offense did struggle against Drury with only one shot on goal, cocaptain Jordan Reese believes the Wildcats can create more opportunities. “We have made some formation adjustments that will hopefully create more offensive opportunities,” Reese said. “It’s crucial that we be aggressive in the air and on the ground on 50/50 balls (balls that either team can win).” Defensively, the Wildcats are

right where they need to be. “[The defense] works their tails off every game and never gives the other team an inch of slack,” Reese said. “Not only are our back four aggressive, but they’re smart with the ball and contribute to our offensive attack.” ACU seems poised to surprise people, including Incarnate Word, and will build off its previous games to try and beat the No. 6 team in the nation .

E-mail Gwin at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer The Wildcat soccer team will play nationally ranked Incarnate Word in San Antonio on Friday, looking for its second consecutive victory. The Wildcats are 1-1-1 in 2008.

Column: Cross Country: Cats Track: Ennis-London faces aim to defend titles claims of steroid involvement Solving Continued from page 8 Serge Gasore, Julius Nyango, Daniel Maina, Amos Sang and Cleophas Tanui. The women’s team will feature seven runners in a group that includes two All-Americans: Loice Cheboi and Winrose Karunde; and one senior: Hayley Garner. The ACU Classic will be a community-wide event this year with all three Abilene universities competing against each other for the first time. Brown described the ACU Classic as “a good social and family outing” and encouraged students to attend the event. The ACU Classic is not only a major Abilene social event but also a chance for students to see some gifted athletes perform. Coach Brown noted this meet has “some of the best cross country in the state and nation.” Senior cross country runner Julius Nyango said this year’s team is much stronger than in the past, even though the

ACU men have won the past two national championships. Nyango also hopes his fellow Wildcats will be present and cheer his team. “It’s good for fans to come watch and encourage us,” Nyango said. The ACU Classic will be held at Sherrod Park this Saturday. The women’s 3-mile race begins at 11 a.m., and the men’s 4-mile race begins at 11:30 a.m. Several high school races begin at 8 a.m. When asked to describe the ACU cross country program in one word, native Kenyan Nyango chose the word “dedicated.” It’s dedication that has ACU atop the polls yet again and looking to claim another national championship.

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Continued from page 8 thoroughbred because that’s what she looked like on the track. Nobody worked harder than her; I can promise you that,” he said. Ennis-London lived and trained in Abilene until fall 2007; but despite the connection to ACU, she has been gone from the track and field program for almost ten years. “I don’t feel like these type of situations where student athletes move on from our program impact the university at all,” Mosley said. “Obviously, we have obligations; we have to carry out with testing that the NCAA looks at, and so our concern is educating our own student athletes on those regulations and the expectations

athletes, making it a priority to educate the student athletes on the dangers. “I’m sure there’s probably been some positive tests over the history but I couldn’t elaborate on those; I would say that in our program it’s not an issue in the times we have tested,” Mosley said. “It’s our role as coaches and administrators to educate, and for the most part the student athletes understand that and the huge risk that could jeopardize their opportunity to play collegiately,” he said.

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

Volleyball: Wildcats look to remain undefeated in Colorado Invitational Continued from page 8

Brian Schmidt :: file photo Serge Gasore, Philip Birgen, Amos Sang helped the Wildcats win their 18th consecutive LSC title and second straight NCAA title in 2008.

we hold them to. Hopefully we can prevent any positive tests or links to drugs while they’re in our program,” he said. The NCAA has a strict policy against the abuse of illegal substances. The policy calls for a one-year ban from an athlete’s sport on the first offense of positive testing, while a second offense mandates a loss of scholarship and a ban from competing. “It’s a felony to have steroids or anything possession-wise,” Hess said. “Nobody since I’ve been here has tested positive that’s been tested.” While the cost of steroids deters many student athletes from using them, ACU takes its own steps toward preventing substance abuse among its

ball and putting it away on the first try when we get it to Ije (setter Ijeoma).” The team also will face tests of endurance and conditioning in Colorado. Not only are they playing four games in two days but they also will be competing at a much higher elevation than Abilene’s. “Playing in Colorado is difficult because of the different elevation, which makes it harder to catch your breath,” Mock said. “We have two girls on the team from Colorado who have played there in the past and should be used to it.” She said having to play

multiple games on back-toback days will benefit both the conditioning and the mental preparation of the Wildcats come conference play and, hopefully, playoffs. “The best part about playing these tournaments early in the season is that the players get to know each

other as a unit,” Mock said. “They tend to mesh well and gel on the court when they play multiple games in a short period of time.”

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

Upcoming Games Opponent

Date/Time

St. Edwards

Sept. 12, 12:15 p.m.

Incarnate Word

Sept. 13, 12:15 p.m.

St. Mary’s

Sept. 13, 4:45 p.m.

Texas-Permian Basin

Sept. 16, 7 p.m.

playoff problems for the BCS Continued from page 8 keep me interested through the All-Star break. The one solution to all of this, of course, would be a playoff system. That way, my Wolverines could play their way through the Big Ten, pull off a few upsets and slide in as a No. 4 seed in a 16-team bracket. After an upset of USC, Texas, Florida and LSU, they would be crowned national champions. OK, maybe that is too much of a miracle to ask, but at least give them a shot. Who wouldn’t love to see the Boise State’s of the world upset a No. 1 seed in a first-round matchup? Why shouldn’t the champion have to play three of the other top 15 teams in order to claim a true national title? The conference presidents say it is all about money; well, I am willing to venture a tournament of this magnitude would generate as much, if not more, revenue, excitement and pure fan enthusiasm as March Madness or the BCS. I am pleading with the powers at be: give fans like me something to look forward to past Labor Day and come up with some sort of a playoff system.

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu


SportsFriday

September 5, 2008

SCOREBOARD Standings Football Team ACU Tarleton St. WTAMU MSU Angelo St. ENMU TAMU-C

Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-1

Volleyball Team WTAMU ACU MSU SE Okla. TAMU-C

Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Cameron * 6 of 14 LSC Teams

Overall 5-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 2-1 2-2

Steroids linked to former ACU athlete By Grant Abston Sports Editor

The issue of steroids and human growth hormones remains a hot topic in the sports world, especially with the recent Olympics, but that issue really hit home after two Jamaican hurdlers were implicated in a steroid ring, including Delloreen Ennis-London, a former ACU national champion who competed from 1996-99 in the 55-meter hurdles and the 100-meter hurdles. Between June 2006 and February 2007, two shipments of Somatropin (Hu-

Div. Cent. Okla. 0-0 WTAMU 0-0 TAMU-C 0-0 NE St. 0-0 ACU 0-0 SE Okla. 0-0 Angelo St. 0-0 TX Woman’s 0-0 East Central 0-0 MSU 0-0 ENMU 0-0

there’s a lot of things that need to be confirmed and looked into,” said Jared Mosley, ACU athletic director. “The fact that it took place after her time as a student athlete makes it more of a personal issue for her and therefore could impact her professional career.” The documents Sports Illustrated found claimed two shipments, one of testosterone and one of steroids, were sent to Ennis-London’s teammate Adrian Findlay, who competed in the 400meter hurdles. As reported by sportsillustrated.com, Ennis-London’s

husband Lincoln London said his wife was competing in Switzerland and was unreachable for comment. London confirmed his wife had ordered the drugs in June 2006 after consulting a physician for medical purposes. He said she was away at a competition and never opened the package. “I’ve known her since I’ve been here and I worked with her some and her husband,” said David Hess, strength and conditioning coach, who is entering his ninth season at ACU. “I used to call her a See

Track page 7

Tasting Victory

Women’s Soccer Team

man Growth Hormone, HGH) and one shipment of Triest (Estrogen) were sent to Ennis-London, 33, at a Texas address, according to sportsillustrated.com. Ennis-London finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles at Ennis-London the Beijing Olympics and only .01 seconds away from claiming the bronze medal. “I don’t know that I’m in any position to comment at all. But at the end of it,

Overall 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-0 1-1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2 0-3

Scores Saturday Soccer ACU 0, Drury 0 (2OT)

Football ACU 44, Northwest Missouri State 27

Volleyball ACU 3, Findlay 1 ACU 3, New Mexico Highlands 0

Wednesday Soccer ACU 2, Texas Permian-Basin 0

Upcoming Friday Women’s Soccer ACU at Incarnate Word, 6 p.m.

Volleyball ACU vs. Dixie State, 10 a.m. ACU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic, 4 p.m.

Saturday Volleyball ACU vs. Montana StateBillings, 10 a.m. ACU vs. Fort Lewis, 2 p.m.

Cross Country ACU Classic, 11 a.m.

Football ACU has a bye week :: Home games listed in italics

Pete Koehn :: staff photographer The Wildcats scrimmage in preparation for the 2008 season. The Wildcats won their first game Wednesday, defeating Texas Permian-Basin 2-0.

Wildcats grab first win of season in Odessa By Austin Gwin Sports Writer

The Wildcats won their first game Wednesday in Odessa when they defeated Texas Permian-Basin 2-0. The Wildcats improved their record to 1-1-1 and now will travel to play their toughest opponent yet, nationally ranked Incarnate Word. The Wildcats jumped to a 1-0 lead with 13:47 left in the first half against Permian-Basin when the Falcons accidentally put the ball in their own net. The Wildcats got the ball on a breakaway before a Falcon defender tried to break up the

n Sam Burroughs was hired as the new cross country coach for the Wildcats Tuesday. Burroughs was the head cross country coach at Iona College in New York for the past three years. Look for more information on Burroughs in Wednesday’s paper.

Wildcat attack and accidentally slid the ball past the goalie to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. “As a whole, we will take the win but we didn’t play up to our standards as a team,” said head coach Casey Wilson. “Hopefully we can bounce back and play at a level we’re capable of because we play a top-five team [Friday] night.” That goal would be all the Wildcats needed as they kept the Falcons scoreless and gave up only three shots on goal the entire match. ACU added an insurance goal in the 79th minute when mid-

By Chandler Harris The Wildcat volleyball team will travel to Durango, Colo., Friday to compete in the Fort Lewis College Invitational. The team, which is off to its best start since 1994, will play four games

Volleyball in two days. The women will face off against Dixie State at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by a matchup against Palm Beach Atlantic at 4 p.m. later that day. Saturday, the Wildcats will compete against Montana

Intramural Round-up Fall sports Team Tennis Starts: Friday, Sept. 12 Sign-up Deadline: Thursday, Sept. 11 Cost: $40 per team

Football Starts: Thursday, Sept. 16 Sign-up Deadline: Thursday, Sept. 11 Cost: $275 per team

acuoptimist.com Check online throughout the year for intramural schedules

fielder Jackie Gentile scored off an assist from forward Lindsey Womack. The Wildcats now will travel to San Antonio to face No. 6 Incarnate Word on Friday at 6 p.m. Last season, Incarnate Word finished second in the Heartland Conference and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament before being knocked out in the Elite Eight. The Lady Cardinals are led by senior goalie Ashton Caffery who posted an 18-3-1 record with an astounding eight shutouts last season. Also returning is leading scorer Sarah Hernandez, Heartland Confer-

ence Freshman of the Year. Midfielder Lianah Flores will lead the Cardinals offensively after earning All-Heartland and Daktronics All-Midwest Region honors last season. The Wildcats played well Saturday against No. 12 Drury, holding them to a 0-0 tie, and will use that experience to try to knock off the Cardinals. “In the Drury game, we proved to ourselves we can play with any team at that high level,” Wilson said. “We do need to make some offensive adjustments to get Courtney Wilson better shots on goal.” See

Soccer page 7

College football teams need help surviving The college football season began last week, and for some teams, it effectively ended; or did it? Division I college football is unlike any other sport because it demands perfection in every game. One team that lost any glimmer of hope for the national championship title is my favorite team— Thoughts from the Michigan the Bleachers W o l v e r i n e s . Now, before By Chandler you start with the AppalaHarris chian State jokes, realize Michigan has a football program with the most wins of all time and has been a force to be reckoned with ever since my four-yearold self went to my first game at the Big House. Michigan lost Saturday to Utah, 25-23, losing its second straight opener and dashing any lofty dreams of a miraculously perfect season. Texas A&M fans also must be feeling my pain right now. The Aggies suffered a crushing 18-14 defeat at the hands of unranked Arkansas State at home Saturday. Both schools are known for strong football programs and two of the largest fan bases in the country, so should they pack it in after one game and call it a season? It depends whom you ask. On one hand, the past two BCS national champions have lost at least one game. In 2007, LSU became the first champion to lose two games in a championship season. On the other hand, since its inception in 1998, no team has lost its first game and gone on to win the national championship. How depressing is that for fans like me? I wait around all summer for college football to start, and then, before September even arrives, my favorite team is no longer in contention. At least in baseball the Rangers See

Column page 7

Undefeated volleyball team New coach inherits takes 4-0 record to Colorado grand expectations Assistant Sports Editor

News

Soccer

Page 8

Emily Jorgensen :: staff photographer Freshman outside hitter Aubree Vick gets ready for a dig in practice in preparation for the Fort Lewis College Invitational in Durango, Colo.

State-Billings at 10 a.m. The team will play its final game of the tournament against Fort Lewis at 2 p.m. Coach Kellen Mock said the team hopes to improve upon its 4-0 start. “Being on a streak is a great confidence and morale booster,” she said. “Realistically, what matters now is that we take our season one match at a time.” Mock said ACU has not played this weekend’s opponents recently, but historically, they are solid programs. “We are going to see some good competition this weekend,” she said. “I think each will play a different style of volleyball than we are used to, and we will have to adjust to each team as we play them.” Even though the Wildcats are undefeated, Mock said they can still improve in some areas of their game. “We want to earn more points with our blocks,” she said. “We block well as a team but we want to turn more of those blocks into points. In practice, we also worked on terminating the ball and putSee

Volleyball page 7

By Jeff Craig

Cross Country

Sports Writer

The Wildcat cross country team will begin the 2008 season with a new coach but with the same goal in mind: winning a national championship. The Wildcats hired Sam Burroughs, an assistant coach at Iona College for the past three years, to lead the Wildcats this season as the women look to win their eighth consecutive LSC title and the men look to win their 18th straight conference title and defend their national championship. “I feel they are positioned to defend their title,” said Abe Brown, hurdle and horizontal jumps coach. The men’s cross country team won its second

straight NCAA Division II National Championship last November behind Nicodemus Naimadu, who became the first athlete in NCAA history to win four consecutive individual titles in cross country. Naimadu was voted the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Male Athlete of the Year. The men and women’s teams begin the season ranked No. 1 in their conference, and both teams are focused on defending their respective Lone Star Conference titles. The men’s team has nine runners and five All-Americans: See

Cross Country page 7

2007 CROSS country All-Americans The men’s cross country team features nine runners and five AllAmericans. The women’s features seven runners and two All-Americans. MEN

n Daniel Maina, Nanyuki, Kenya n Serge Gasore, Kigali, Rwanda n Julius Nyango, Aldai, Kenya n Amos Sang, Eldoret, Kenya n Cleophas Tanui, Kobujoi, Kenya

WOMEN

n Loice Cheboi, Eldoret, Kenya n Winrose Karunde, Nyeri, Kenya


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