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Pg. 6 Take a spin around the rides at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 5 :: 1 section, 10 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com
Inside This Issue:
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The West Texas Fair & Rodeo will be in Abilene until Saturday
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Newly renovated ‘World Famous Bean’ officially opens for business
Executive Perspective: Guest column by Daniel Paul Watkins
‘An outrageous act’ SA noose incident sparks investigation By Michael Freeman Managing Editor
Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins said he went through a rush of emotions after he discovered a noose on his office chair around 12:35 p.m. Sept. 3. “It didn’t seem real,” Watkins said. “I didn’t believe that it was happening; that was my first reaction.” Immediately, feelings of shock, anger, hurt and revenge all crossed his mind, Watkins said. But then, he stopped on the idea of forgiveness. “I realized that although that was what my flesh wanted that it’s important to overcome that and react the way that God has called me to, out of love and forgiveness.” Watkins said. “Nothing positive would really come out of getting angry. My only hope for achieving anything positive is to react in love and progress from there.” Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, addressed the student body on the incident in Friday’s Chapel. “Whether it was intended to be a thoughtless and insensitive prank or whether there was more serious intent, I see it as an outrageous act, which flies in the face of everything this institution stands for,” Money said. See
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acuoptimist.com See an interview with Daniel Paul Watkins about the incident and his thoughts on the university’s reaction.
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer In Chapel Friday, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, called the noose in Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins’ office an “outrageous act, which flies in the face of everything this institution stands for.”
Students condemn act as hatred, wrong
Episode initiates class discussion
By Tanner Anderson
By Daniel Johnson-Kim
Page Designer
Students across campus say they are filled with rage and frustration after Wednesday’s noose incident, and they strongly desire to bring together ACU’s diverse community. What baffles and surprises many students is that such an action happened on a Christian campus. “I’m a little disappointed that it happened in ACU. It’s sad that something of that caliber and hatred took place here,” said Kelsey Evans, senior interior design major from Gresham, Ore. “Hopefully this will never happen again, and the community can come together and have a better Christian focus.” Although most may not agree with the action, it has created a small wound within
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It’s sad that something of that caliber and hatred took place here.
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:: Kelsey Evans, senior interior design major from Gresham, Org.
the ACU community, students said. Several people are disappointed to see such racism shown in this day and age, and others are upset there exists a fraction of students attending a Christian university who put race before religion. “I think our campus is smart enough to know that this action was caused by a See
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Courtesy Daniel Paul Watkins
SA Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins snapped a photograph of the noose he discovered in his deskchair in the Students’ Association office.
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As the ACU Police Department investigates the noose discovered in the office of Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins, faculty members speak out against the event. “I don’t think this incident captures what we are all about,” said Dr. Steven Moore, associate professor of English. “Whether you’re black or white, I think it affected all of us.” Moore said he and several faculty members he had spoken with were behind Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, and supported the decision to investigate the incident and treat it as a serious matter. “The investigation is being taken very seriously, and I trust exactly what Dr. Money
Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see Wednesday’s newscast from the JMC Network Newscast staff. In this week’s newscast: the Bean ribbon cutting ceremony, the noose incident, the West Texas Fair & Rodeo and the recent rain.
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said, and the faculty and staff I’ve been talking to also trust what President Money said in Chapel,” Moore said. Dr. Neal Coates, associate professor of political science, said he was shocked when he heard about the incident involving Watkins, senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va., whom he has had in class. “I was astounded that someone could be so insensitive to American History and how African-Americans have been treated in the past,” Coates said. Both professors said students in at least one of their classes discussed the event. “We try to be careful to explore issues of race and other issues that society suffers with,” Moore said. “I think
Class page 4
What action should be taken for the noose incident?
a. ACU should investigate. b. There should be open discussion. c. The culprit should be expelled. d. Forgive and forget.
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Campus Day Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Calendar and Events
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Wednesday
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Saturday
Friday
Fall 2008 Official Enrollment Announcement Celebration
8 a.m.-11 p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo
8 a.m.-11 p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo
Students’ Association Elections
5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. ArtWalk “ChalkWalk” will be in downtown Abilene. For more information, call the Center for Contemporary Arts at 677-8389.
7:30 p.m. ACU Fall comedy: Moonlight and Magnolias in the Fulk’s Theatre.
8 a.m.-11 p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo at the Taylor County Expo Center.
8 a.m. 5K Run for the Heart to benefit the Cory and Lisa Stone Family. For information, call Jason Copeland at 674-2913. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. West Texas Fair and Rodeo 6 p.m. ACU football game versus Texas A&M Commerce (home).
acuoptimist.com
Online Newscast
Webcast
Check out news briefs on the noose that was found, the West Texas Fair and Rodeo and highlights from the “World Famous Bean” grand opening celebration.
Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo for a deeper look inside the “World Famous Bean” grand opening celebration.
ChapelCheckup Credited Chapels to date:
11
Credited Chapels remaining:
54
Announcements Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood will have a cook-out Sept. 12 from 4 p.m.to 8 p.m. For more details, visit www.acuvahs.ning.com.
ACU for a time of unified intercession for the campus on Mondays at 7 a.m. at Jacob’s Dream. For more information e-mail kdl04a@acu.edu.
New Collegiate Cards have arrived in the Students’ Association office. Collegiate Cards are available free to every ACU student.
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.
Students can partner with other students, faculty and friends of
Volunteer Opportunities Meals on Wheels has an ongoing need for volunteers to deliver lunches. Delivery takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours, and it does it’s best to assign routes that are close. 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. Sears Methodist Retirement Center Assisted Living needs volunteers every day of the week from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Volunteers will assist with activities such as music, singing, games and crafts. The H.E.R.O. Program (Hendrick Equine Rehabilitation Opportunities) needs volunteers to walk or jog alongside a horse on which a child with physical limitations will be riding. No experience with
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.
ACU Police Tip of the Week
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horses is required. This is an eight week program beginning Sept. 30 and requires one hour per week. Volunteers can help Tuesday or Thursday afternoons between the hours of 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers will be required to attend a training session. 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.
Make a log of serial numbers to your valuables in case they are stolen. This way police can better track the items.
Police Log Edited for space
Monday, Sept. 1 3:35 p.m. A report of a vehicle with its motor running for several hours in the Williams Performing Arts Center parking lot; contacted the owner due to the dog in the truck. 7:55 p.m. Assisted Abilene police with someone smoking hookah in a vehicle at Will Hair Park. 8:53 p.m. A report of the smell of gas on the east side of Morris Hall; unable to locate the smell of gas. Tuesday, Sept. 2 7:15 p.m. Fire alarm at Teague Special Events Center; false alarm. 9:33 p.m. A report of a large gathering in the street at East North 13th Street and Avenue F Street. Wednesday, Sept. 3 2:00 p.m. Received report of threats in the Students’ Association office. Thursday, Sept. 4 8:35 a.m. Assisted Abilene police with a stolen vehicle at The Grove apartment complex. 12:20 p.m. Medical emergency at the Campus Center; student was choking and refused medical transport because he was OK. 12:35 p.m. Arrested subject at the Physical Resources Department for warrant. 9:20 p.m. Report of discharge of firearm at 600 College Drive; unable to locate.
Friday, Sept. 5 11:20 a.m. Report of trouble with salesman in the Biblical Studies Building; checked all floors, but the subject already had left the building. 11:40 a.m. Assisted Abilene Fire Department with fire call at the Hardin Administration Building. 2:25 p.m. Report of a suspicious package in a mail box. Saturday, Sept. 6 3:15 a.m. Assisted Abilene police with a fight at The Grove; one subject was arrested by Abilene police. 6 p.m. Contacted the residence director about a gun in Barret Hall. Sunday, Sept. 7 12:10 a.m. Contacted subject pushing a golf cart at Ambler Avenue and Campus Court; identified and released subject. 8:58 p.m. Report of skateboarders; contacted juveniles and instructed them to leave campus. 10:42 p.m. Report of someone breaking into a house at 2300 Campus Court; it was only a friend tapping on the window, and it broke. 11:55 p.m. Report of subjects on the roof of the Morris Center; they were gone upon arrival. Always report suspicious activity to ACUPD at 674-2305 or 674-2911.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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Fair brings music, fun, food By Molly Byrd Page 2 Editor
Students enjoyed funnel cakes, live music and rides all in one place at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo Saturday. Horns... Hides... Laughs & Rides is the theme for this year’s fair, which lasts until Saturday at the Taylor County Expo Center. The gates are open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and admission prices vary. Morgan Myer, freshman psychology major from Dallas, went to the fair for free with five of her friends Friday on College Student Day. Myer said the parking was convenient and the lines were not overwhelmingly long even with the large crowds. After buying tickets, she enjoyed refreshments and listened to live country music by the Tim Bosley Band. She said the fair would be an ideal place for a date and encouraged others to go if they wanted an inexpensive and fun option. “The Ferris wheel was my favorite ride because it was cool to see all the lights of Abilene at night,” Myer said.
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The Ferris wheel was my favorite part because it was cool to see all the lights in Abilene at night. :: Morgan Myer, freshman psychology major from Dallas
“Abilene is so flat you could literally see everything from the top.” Jace Rhoden, senior biology pre-med major from Buffalo Gap, said he had a different opinion about what made the fair fun. “The best part of the fair is watching the toothless hicks trying to make a buck with enormous show rats and good fatty food,” he said. Laurie Musgrave, freshman nutrition major from Colleyville, said she saw a man advertising a giant rat and she refused to go anywhere near it. Although she was disgusted by one booth, it didn’t keep her from enjoying the other shopping venues. She said she had attended other fairs in the past, and even though this one may not have had as many rides, she still had a good time. Students who attend the fair will hear different
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bands playing each night at the H-E-B Entertainment Pavilion and can try the many varieties of food and refreshments sold throughout the grounds. Sabra Mitchell, senior pre-med major from Tyler, said the best part of the fair was the food she bought. “My favorites were the funnel cakes and the strawberries on a stick,” she said. Students still can experience the festivities until Saturday night, and if they attend Thursday after 5 p.m., they can receive free admission with a donation of six Coca-Cola cans. Thursday is the last night discounted prices will be offered. For more information about times and events, students can call the Taylor County Expo Center at 677-4376.
E-mail Byrd at: mab07d@acu.edu
“Companion” to come to campus By Colter Hettich Features Editor
Those who cannot attend A Prairie Home Companion’s Oct. 18 performance at ACU need not worry. The variety show will be broadcast live from Moody Coliseum on more than 500 public radio stations, including KACU-FM. The administration wanted A Prairie Home Companion, (PHC), to perform a live broadcast two years ago for the Centennial celebration, but booking issues kept it from coming together; a PHC broadcast has been in the works for more than two years. As a public radio station, KACU must raise two-thirds of its budget. Terri Peterson, KACU membership director and business manager, hopes this event will serve as a significant fundraiser. “For a small, public radio
station like us, [PHC] is a huge thing,” Peterson said. As of Monday morning, KACU had 1,346 tickets for sale, although it sold out of the $50 tickets. The $70 seats are still plentiful, but Peterson said a limited number of the $25 tickets are still available. KACU advertised across Texas and surrounding states, especially in Tulsa, Okla. As arbitrary as it may seem, KACU focused on Tulsa for good reasons. The weekend after its Abilene appearance, PHC will perform in Tulsa’s Chapman Theater. The Tulsa show has already sold out, and Peterson said Tulsa fans of PHC have no problem driving to Abilene for one performance. “The Tulsa tickets sold out two weeks ago, and there are twice as many people there as in Abilene,” Peterson said. John Best, KACU-FM and
KUF-TV general manager, has seen the variety show live and is not surprised people would travel hundreds of miles to witness it for themselves. “Going to the show live is a great experience,” Best said. “When you’re there, people are entering and exiting the stage, just like you would imagine an old radio show.” Although guest musicians and the traditional format generally appeal to the older generations, Best said the timeless qualities of the show’s entertainment and humor rise above cultural trends. “You’re going to go for two hours and you’re going to laugh for two hours,” Best said. “And there are moments where you think you’re going to cry … The show has tremendous energy and is tremendous fun.” E-mail Hettich at: clh05d@acu.edu
Emily Jorgenson:: staff photographer Students from various organizations show their livestock Saturday at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.
FROM THE FRONT
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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Noose: Campus police continue search for culprit Continued from page 1 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 spoke for six minutes in Chapel on the seriousness of the event and the university’s stance on the subject. “This incident will not be tolerated by the university, regardless of intent,” Money said. “On behalf of ACU as its institutional leader, I condemn the act in the strongest language possible. I am embarrassed by it. Through the misguided act of a single person or small group of people, the reputation of the entire university is put in jeopardy,” he said. Watkins, senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va., has spent more than 15 hours since last Wednesday in various meetings with Money and other campus leaders to discuss what actions the university should take in response to the incident. The ACU Police Department is investigating the situation, but as of Monday afternoon, the police are without any leads as to who placed the noose in Watkins’ office,
said Jimmy Ellison, chief of the ACU Police Department. “One of the most unfortunate things about this is the unknown,” Ellison said. “Was this just a stupid, bonehead prank? Or was it intended as a threat? We’re going to treat it as an intended threat and investigate it as such. If it was something else, we need to know that.” The ACU Police Department received a report from Watkins about the noose at 12:55 p.m. Sept. 3. The noose was taken in as evidence, and the police began conducting interviews to find information on what happened before the noose was discovered. The Students’ Association offices were unlocked before the incident, and Watkins had not been in his office since the previous day at 4 p.m., Watkins said. “Because it is so hustle and bustle throughout that office, that makes it difficult for anyone to remember anything specific that may have been unusual that day,” Ellison said. After Money’s speech in Chapel, Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean of student life, prayed for unity and strength for the student body. Steven Moore, associate pro-
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I truly do from the core of who I am forgive whomever perpetrated this offense. :: Daniel Paul Watkins, senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va.
fessor of English, then spoke to the student body before leading them in singing The Greatest Command. “This is not what we’re about,” Moore said. “We are not about what took place.” After Chapel, Money addressed local media reiterating the university’s stance and plans to investigate the matter. “We have close to 5,000 people on this campus, and I can guarantee you that it doesn’t speak for us,” he said. Money could not comment on what the penalty for the perpetrator would be if he or she were apprehended, but he did say the vice president for student life would handle the punishment process. “I am angered that anyone in our community would treat anyone else in this despicable manner,” Money said. “To that person, I would encourage first and foremost repentance and the asking of forgiveness. Having one person in
our midst who has a mind to do such a thing is having one too many.” Since the intent of the noose remains unknown, the incident cannot be considered a hate crime as of yet. A hate crime is when a perpetrator targets a victim based on the person’s race, religion, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age or gender. However, hate crimes are not stand-alone offenses; they are enhancements to an offense, Ellison said. “We would reach out federally to the FBI if we were able to determine that there was some sort of a threat based on hate crimes,” Ellison said. “But we don’t have that yet.” Watkins said no matter what the police discover, he has no ill will against the perpetrator. “I truly do from the core of who I am forgive whomever perpetrated this offense,” Watkins said. “If you hate someone, it doesn’t just hurt them; the hatred that you
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have destroys who you are too. It’s a two-way street.” The noose was an independent item in Watkins’ office. No other associated threat or effigy was found on the scene. Nor was the noose left hanging in the office; it was placed in the seat of Watkins’ chair. Nevertheless, the administration views it as a serious offense and recognizes the university still needs to make progress in the area of race relations, Money said. “In the past decades, Abilene Christian has made great strides in racial harmony and equality for all people who come for an education here,” Money said. “Yet at the same time, something like this reminds us of how far we have yet to go. So the conversation will continue, and it will be positive and it will be peaceful.” About 13 percent of students enrolled at ACU are black. “I’m not surprised that racism exists on ACU’s cam-
pus, but I am surprised that such a blatant symbol of hatred would be so publicly displayed on ACU’s campus,” Watkins said. “Racism still is an issue on this campus, but I think the response the university has had and continues to have is a testament to who we are as an institution and how much we’ve improved on the past.” Money said so far he has witnessed nothing but student support for Watkins. “There were a lot more tears than there were angry voices,” Money said. “Everybody that I talked to is interested in moving toward a solution and improvement.” Watkins is beginning his first term as Students’ Association president, a position he was elected to by the student body last April. Before the election, Watkins served as Students’ Association vice president during his junior year and a senator during his sophomore year. “In the position that I am, not just as the student body president but as a Christian, I can’t just act for myself,” Watkins said. “I have to act for the student body as a whole and for the Kingdom of God as a whole.” E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Class: Faculty offer Students: Questions stir around incident discussion chances Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1 it’s healthy and important for ACU faculty members to address this issue with our students.” Moore said he has given his students time in class to convey their views about the incident. “I’ve talked about it in terms of allowing my students the opportunity to express what they’re feeling,” Moore said. “I think it is a good way, like Dr. Money said in Chapel, to use it as a teachable moment for our students.” Coates said his 9 a.m. University Seminar class discussed the event because it applied to the already scheduled lesson plan, and his students were vocal about their disapproval of the incident. “Overwhelmingly [the re-
actions were] that this is a bad act because of what it implied to the person who received the noose in his chair,” Coates said. He added that his freshman students said the act was an embarrassment to them as ACU students because “one student would be so insensitive to others and do that.” “This is absolutely not ACU,” Coates said. “But as one student in our U-100 said, ‘This is a reminder that when things happen that can hurt other people, we need to have a conversation denouncing those sort of activities.’”
E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu
tiny fraction of the student population, an imbecile who had nothing better to do,” said Keith Taillon, senior history major from Abilene. A hangman’s noose was discovered in the office of Student’s Association President Daniel Paul Watkins Sept. 3; the administration does not know who committed the act or how it took place. The Students’ Association’s offices do not have cameras, but the main speculation is an individual was able to enter the office while no one was paying attention. Since the incident, students have been looking for answers, justice and a broader understanding of social acceptance. Whether the incident involved one or more persons is not known; however, some think the majority of students on campus do not share the culprit’s viewpoints. “Honestly, it’s an eyeopener. We still have a lot of work to do; we have different mindsets and ideals that need to be addressed,” said Joshua Jackson, senior youth and family major from Wichita, Kan. Jackson is involved with many campus groups; he is the president of Students for African American Broth-
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, addresses the student body about the noose incident in Chapel Friday as the praise team sits and listens on the stage.
erhood and a member of Essence of Ebony and Lynay. Jackson said this negative act is an opportunity for students to come together and heal as a Christian community. He also saw the incident as an invitation to expand social tolerance and understanding across the campus. Jackson said Essence of Ebony is preparing future forums and events that will bring different cultures and backgrounds into the spotlight, like a forum where students can voice their concerns and ask questions about different situations on campus.
“Now that we’ve had this setback, we can cover all our bases and reexamine our ideals,” Jackson said. “It’s a chance for us to embrace different people, cultures and ethnicities as a whole, a chance to show that this action will not tear us apart and that it will bring us closer [together] in the end.” During the past week, Watkins has receive lots of positive support from both students and faculty. “Daniel has received tons of e-mails from faculty and students; some he doesn’t even know,” said Spencer Hemphill, Students’ Asso-
ciation treasurer and senior accounting major from Longview. Hemphill said the act had no negative impact on the Students’ Association’s upcoming plans. “If someone did this to bring negativity to ACU, they did not succeed. It was nothing more than a racist and hateful act, which will accomplish nothing,” Hemphill said. “The negative spotlight is on the perpetrator.”
E-mail Anderson at: tsa04a@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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Cameras may soon monitor popular street intersections By Kelline Linton Head Copy Editor
Students may think twice before running their next red light as the Abilene City Council considers a plan to install red light cameras in the future. City staff is examining ways to reduce red light violations around town. Drivers cause more than 500 accidents by running red lights in Abilene each year, according to police statistics. Lenka Wright, the communications and media relations manager for the city of Abilene; said, ongoing efforts to reduce this type of traffic violation include public education, traffic engineering, police enforcement and, possibly, the installation of red light cameras, Red light cameras automatically photograph vehicles that cross a stopline or designated stopping place after a traffic light shows red. Any vehicle entering the intersection above a preset minimum speed after the signal has turned red triggers the camera; many red light camera programs provide motorists with grace periods up to half a second. Cameras record the date, time of day, time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal, vehicle speed and license plate. Tickets are usually mailed to the owners of the violating vehicles, based on review of photographic evidence. The City Council started to place more emphasis on the deliberations for traffic cameras after Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.
conducted a traffic analysis study July 9 that looked at the frequency of red light running at nine different intersections around town. Redflex placed cameras at 14 sites, each for eight hours. During that time, a total of 121 red light running violations were caught on tape, according to the Abilene Reporter-News. The intersection with the most violations on that particular day was Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive/Industrial with 38, Wright said. Another traffic engineering study to focus on several signalized intersections will begin soon, and the results are expected in early 2009. The City Council appointed individuals to serve on the Red Light Camera Citizens Advisory Committee on May 8. When the new traffic engineering study is complete, the seven-member committee will review the results and the effectiveness of current efforts to improve intersection safety. If red light cameras are recommended, the committee will advise the City Council on the installation and operation of the photographic traffic signal enforcement system. “The study will evaluate several factors related to intersection safety, including signal visibility, pavement conditions, lane markings, crosswalk markings, signal timing, red light running violation rates and enforcement and operational issues,” Wright said in an e-mail. The study will focus on four to six intersections that will be selected based on their accident history
Possible Camera Locations n Buffalo Gap Road and Clack Street n Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive/ Industrial Boulevard n South 1st Street and Sayles Boulevard n Grape and North 10th Streets n South 14th and Barrow Streets n Treadaway and South 27th Street n South 14th and Clack Streets n South 1st Street and Pioneer Drive
and frequency of red light violations. Possible intersections for the study include Buffalo Gap Road and Clack Street, Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive/Industrial Boulevard, South 1st Street and Sayles Boulevard, Grape and North 10th Streets, South 14th and Barrow Streets, Treadaway Boulevard and South 11th Street, Treadaway Boulevard and South 27th Street, South 14th and Clack Streets, and South 1st Street and Pioneer Drive. Any intersection monitored by the cameras will have signs in place advising motorists of that fact, Wright said. Even if the committee suggests the use of red light cameras, the City Council will ultimately decide whether or not the installation of cameras would be an appropriate measure to take in the effort to reduce the occurrence of red light running, Wright said. “The aim is to improve safety on our roadways,” she said.
E-mail Linton at: krl04b@acu.edu
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer The Abilene Fire Department responds to a 911 call Friday to inspect the Hardin Administation Building after a smoke scare. Classes were canceled because of the 911 call.
Smoke scare cancels classes Friday By Colter Hettich Features Editor
Students with afternoon classes on the third floor of the Hardin Administration Building encountered caution tape Friday after firefighters responded to a 911 call made by an employee of the Student Success offices who witnessed smoke coming from an air vent. “They had been smelling a smoky odor for a few minutes prior to seeing the smoke,” said Jimmy Ellison, ACU chief of police. Two engines from the Abilene Fire Department’s Station 5 responded immediately along with two ACUPD units. Ellison said the engines arrived within minutes of the phone call. The smoke had ceased by the time engines arrived, but Ellison said the “distinct, burning odor” was still prevalent. “As a safety precaution,
we wanted to clear the floor, so firefighters could move about freely and not be disrupting classes,” Ellison said. “It seemed obvious there was some sort of electric motor that was burning and causing the smoke.” Ellison assured students, faculty and staff alike about ACUPD and AFD assessing the situation and deemed it appropriate to evacuate only the Administration Building’s top floor. “It wasn’t like smoke was billowing out into the hallways,” Ellison said. “Otherwise, we would have evacuated the entire building.” AFD followed emergency response protocol with a Ladder 5, a battalion chief and three engines: Engine 5, Engine 4 and Engine 3. Firefighters searched meticulously for the smoke’s source manually and using thermalimaging technology. Gary Forehand, Engine 5 lieutenant, and his crew use
the “point and shoot” imaging equipment to determine precise temperatures. “It tells us a lot about that anything that is operating at a temperature higher than normal,” Forehand said. “We use it to exclude just as much as we use it to identify.” Firefighters and ACU Physical Resources’ HVAC specialist finally discovered an air intake motor had burned out. Ellison said Physical Resources began repairs to the motor Monday. “It was just a mechanical malfunction that caused it to burn up,” Ellison said. “No damage was done to the building or anything else other than the motor.” Ellison said ultimately the event resulted in nothing more than “a few anxious moments that added a little excitement to a Friday afternoon.”
E-mail Hettich at: clh05d@acu.edu
September 10, 2008
FocusWednesday
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Lighting up the sky Photos by: Zak Zeinert, chief photographer
Top left: West Texas Fair and Rodeo patrons line up for the Ferris wheel, a timeless favorite. Top right: Don’t let your eyes fool you. The West Texas Fair features a smaller, child-friendly Ferris wheel which is immensely popular among the younger crowd. Center: The giant Ferris wheel, which stands taller than any other ride at the fair, can been seen from more than a mile away. Right: The sun sets on the 109th annual West Texas Fair and Rodeo. Above: Herds of fairgoers trample the Expo Center dirt. With names like “Cliffhanger” and “Tornado,” rides at this year’s fair are sure to deliver a thrill.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Page 7
Community talent show raises ACU welcomes new Bean $20,000 for Abilene residents By Daniel Johnson-Kim Editor in Chief
By Zak Zeinert Chief Photographer
“Tonight we’re here to celebrate community,” Mayor Norm Archibald told the crowd that gathered Saturday at the Paramount Theatre. “We’re here to celebrate the things that make us unique.” Archibald was addressing the audience that packed the stands for the first-ever talent show sponsored by Connecting Caring Communities, an Abilene nonprofit organization. The show featured singers, dancers, drama performances and even a Scottish bagpipe medley from the Abilene Pipers. Local schools also contributed their various talents, such as the Spurs dance team from Hardin-Simmons University and Revolution, a music group from the Abilene Independent School District. SHADES, ACU’s own step squad, also was scheduled to perform but did not because of a communication error. “There was just a miscommunication,” said SHADES’ member Tori Valadez, sophomore education major from El Paso. “They told us to be
there at 9 p.m., and that was when the show ended.” Archibald served as the master of ceremonies, although he frequently was interrupted between acts by The Culps, a comedic duo comprised of Leianne McMillan and Ben Johnson. Levi Mawhirter, sophomore Bible youth and family ministries major from Hewitt, was given a free ticket to the event and decided to attend. “I thought it was really neat to see a different aspect of the community that you wouldn’t normally see,” he said. “A lot of times we get so focused on ACU that we forget what else is going on in Abilene.” Lori Thornton, office finance and grants manager for Connecting Caring Communities, said the event’s purpose was to raise money and build community; the show earned a total of $20,000. “We wanted to bring people together in a fun event that would be good for family and kids,” Thornton said. Founded in 2005, CCC’s purpose is to make meaningful relationships with people and create safe and whole communities. The organization has three basic
strategies to bring communities together: the caring team, haven houses and friendship houses. The caring team works within the city to unite businesses, churches, civic groups and residents. “The Caring Team is a large and diverse group of caring partners, connected by a desire to care for others and help make the community a better place for everyone,” according to the organization’s Web site. Haven houses are homes that unite neighbors where they live. They sponsor block parties, help neighbors and offer friendship to whoever needs it. Friendship houses are homes built in vulnerable areas and occupied by CCC members. These members help to turn these impoverished neighborhoods into wholesome environments. According to the organization’s Web site, “they serve as a platform to bring resources for health, education and housing to residents.”
E-mail Zeinert at: zaz05a@acu.edu
The newly renovated “World Famous Bean” may have been open to students since the beginning of the semester, but the university made it official Monday. As students helped themselves to lunch, university officials, ARAMARK representatives and several others who played a role in the renovation of the dining facility gathered for the grand opening. A ribbon cutting ceremony was performed at noon, ACU and ARAMARK officials made remarks and former director of retail and dining James Fulbright rang in the launch of the new facility with an old dinner bell. In his speech about the new facility, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, explained how the construction was in line with the university’s 21st Century Vision, what he called ACU’s “roadmap to 2020.” “On point No. 3, it says to develop a unique Christcentered experience to draw students from the community, and this is a great start,” Money said. In addition to the formal ceremony, ACU Dining Services sponsored a talent show and Nintendo Wii tournament
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Billy Prude, freshman education major from Dallas, competes in a Wii tournament during the grand opening of the Bean Monday.
acuoptimist.com Log on to see a video of the grand opening festivities for the Bean Monday.
and gave away free T-shirts and gifts throughout the day. Adam Wells, senior missions major from College Station, heard his ticket number called during lunch and won $100 in Campus Cash. “This is actually why I came in here today because I don’t have any Campus Cash or Bean Bucks or anything,” he said. Wells said he was impressed by the newly renovated facility and would use his winnings to eat at the Bean.
Angel Herrera, regional vice president of ARAMARK Southwest Region, joined Money in commending the newly renovated facility, calling the dedication a “very important day for Abilene Christian University.” Anthony Williams, director of retail and campus stores manager, said the construction was a comprehensive plan that included input from focus groups, students and others. With everything now in place, he said the pressure was upon ACU dining services to use the facilities to continue to provide students with quality food and service. “Everything is in place; we just have to execute,” Williams said. E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu
Professor, students care for Zambians during mission trip By Brittany Vaughn Student Reporter
While the majority of students and professors enjoyed a much needed rest and relaxation this past summer, Dr. Neal Coates, professor of political science, geared up for a 10day mission trip to Zambia. Joining him were two ACU students, Katie Morin, senior biology major from Greeley, Co., and Coates’ daughter, Rebekah Coates, freshman undeclared major from Abilene. Morin traveled with Dr. Tony Rector, physician and former director of ACU’s
Medical Clinic, to Guatemala her freshman year and then to Ukraine her sophomore year. Morin said she had been longing to do mission work in Africa for some time and when she was informed a girl was unable to go for wound care on the Mumena Medical Mission and a spot opened up for her to go, she said it was “just another God thing.” Morin helped with wound care for two days during her stay in Zambia, working alongside Zambian nurses. “It was a very humbling experience; it was really cool too because it was like I was washing Jesus’ feet, only I
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It was like I was washing Jesus’ feet, only I was doing that through healing the people’s wounds. :: Katie Morin, senior biology major from Greeley, Colo.
was doing that through healing the peoples’ wounds,” she said. Neal Coates said the group served 2,400 patients in the 10 days they were in Zambia. “Zambians are lucky if they see one doctor a year; our service is invaluable to these people,” he said. Rebekah Coates had a different job than the rest
of the crew. She assisted with the children’s ministry activities and she said she “loved seeing the excitement on [their] faces when [she] gave them a coloring page; they cherished everything given to them.” Other participants of the mission trip were involved in planting churches, teaching the Zambians to raise
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sustainable gardens, teaching them leadership skills and, most importantly, helping people better their lives. Three other students, Whitney Mann, ‘08; John Ferguson, junior agribusiness major from Abilene; and Megan Lowe, ‘08; who all interned in Zambia this past summer also took part in leading Bible studies, as-
sisting with the medical mission and even welding. “God has called all of us to participate in mission work; if we aren’t yet, it’s high time we were,” Neal Coates said. If any students are interested in mission work, they should “seek God first and [really] pray about it,” Morin said. “If you feel led to go, God’s not going to leave you,” Morin said. “Just go and do it; you’re going to feel scared, but that’s OK because God’s always going to be there with you.”
E-mail Vaughn at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday
Page 8
September 10, 2008
Racial symbol reveals unacceptable prejudices R “
acism, stupidity, bigotry, immaturity, hatred— however one chooses to describe it, last Wednesday’s noose incident should not and will not be tolerated. Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins discovered a hangman’s noose in the chair he was elected to sit in by the students of Abilene Christian University. This act of disregard and disdain for the first black student to hold the office established to lead the student body has ripped off the scab covering the racial wounds of this academic community. For nearly six decades, this educational institution barred black students from attending the Christian campus, not because of any academic shortcomings, but because of the
The hangman’s noose—like a burning cross, swastika and other symbols of racism—represents a legacy of hate.
color of their skin. The first black student was admitted to Abilene Christian College in 1965, and since that historic day, this community has taken steps toward reconciling the social illness of segregation and prejudice that infected every corner of our country, supposedly founded on virtues of equality and freedom. The bravery of racial warriors like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, the “Little Rock Nine” and countless others changed our nation and this small Christian
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campus in Abilene. In 1999, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, publicly apologized for the injustice ACU took part in during the first six decades of its existence. And today, although room remains for progress on this front, more than 13 percent of the ACU student body is black. But all this progress was hindered and challenged by the actions of one or several fools who missed this vital history lesson. The hangman’s noose— like a burning cross, swastika and other symbols of
racism—represents a legacy of hate. Initially used as a means to kill, the hangman’s noose transformed into a tool to terrorize, harass, intimidate, torment and persecute. This tool has no place on any campus, Christian or not. This university’s students, administration, faculty, staff and alumni must not permit this act to go unpunished. We should gather together in public disapproval of this hate-filled attack on not only Watkins, but all the members of this academic community. Although this may seem like just an attack on one individual, it is in fact an assault on everyone claiming to represent the biblical ideals that define this university. Beyond religion, our
The issue:
SA President Daniel Paul Watkins found a hangman’s noose in his desk chair last week.
Our view:
Such acts are atrocious and have no place on any college campus, much less a Christian college campus.
The solution:
Students and faculty alike must come together in opposition of the racism still struggling to surface within the ACU community. common decency must drive us to recognize any act of injustice and prejudice that takes part on our campus. We must examine the racial relations of our community and expose anything that challenges a student’s right to equal treatment. Rather than sweep this under a rug or forget this act once authorities uncover a culprit, we must be col-
lectively conscious of what each one of us says and does. Whether it takes the form of a whispered comment, archaic joke or public attack, we must hold each other accountable and have the bravery to unearth the hidden prejudice and hate that still exists on our campus. E-mail the Optimist at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Reactions manifest mettle of challenged campus In America, freedom of speech is one of our most treasured and violated rights. While our generation lives decades after the tumultuous Civil Rights Movement, we face the challenge of proceeding. Should we shift the Conscientious campaign Conjecture for equality abroad By Laura and risk acAcuff cusations of meddling in foreign affairs? Or do we keep our marches at home? Whether local or abroad, how then do we judge what is and isn’t racism? To a certain degree, we have to balance our freedom of speech with sensitivity and appropriateness. The question of racism seems simple: actions based upon race constitute racism, whether or not well-intended or with good consequence. Murkier matters, however, cloud the eyes of justice. For example, when hate crimes garner more severe punishment than the initial acts, we judge perpetrators’ thoughts and feelings—commodities less determinable than clear actions. And when we do judge those thoughts and feelings, where is the line between free speech and punishable offense? I mean to make a case neither for nor against the punishment of hate crimes. It is a highly complicated issue, which is exactly my reason for using it as an example. My case is wholly devoted to freedom of speech. In light of recent events here on our ACU campus, we all are being forced to answer some of the above questions for ourselves, and we all will come to solutions as unique as our own individual personalities. These decisions must not divide us. Disagreements can be good, even constructive. For instance, despite the negative reputation of our bi-partisan government, its stubborn tendency toward disagreement forces compromise. If our politicians all agreed, we wouldn’t need them all to represent the country; we’d need only one, but that’s generally called a dictatorship, which indicates either a governmental monopoly or a uniform society, neither of which bode well.
SA President petitions for Christian love The noose has been a symbol of prejudice and oppression since the time of slavery. In conjunction with beatings, the burning of homes and racial segregation, it’s been used not only to subjugate but also to incite fear Guest in the hearts Columnist of men and women. It By Daniel is one of the Paul oldest and Watkins most effective tools of terrorism perpetrated by Americans, against other Americans. In the year 2008, with our society taking many strides toward equality, it has been widely assumed the use of such terrorist tactics was a thing of the past. This being said, you can imagine my shock when
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My first reaction was indignation and anger, but I soon realized as someone who claims to be a Christian, I must not hate any person.
Wednesday afternoon I walked into my office and found a hangman’s noose sitting on my desk chair. My first reaction was indignation and anger, but I soon realized as someone who claims to be a Christian, I must not hate any person. It’s my duty to respond with love when hatred is directed at me and to turn
acuoptimist.com Look online for an exclusive interview with SA President Daniel Paul Watkins.
In Your Words
“People get along, but they stick with their own racial groups for the most part.”
What do you think of the racial harmony on campus? acuoptimist.com View videos of student responses for the “In Your Words” questions online at a later date at www.acuoptimist.com
Mildred Gonzalez
Education & Children’s Ministry major from Nashua, N.H.
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
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the other cheek when someone slaps me physically and emotionally. Since Christ had the power to love even while being crucified on a cross, I have no choice but to do the same when someone confronts me with a noose. This is not to say I am forgetting what happened that Wednesday afternoon, for I never will. It does mean, however, I forgive the person or persons who carried out this hateful act. As an institution, we have made leaps and bounds to catch up to the biblical standards of racial harmony and equality since admitting our first black student in 1965. However, this
noose shows we still have a long road ahead of us in terms of racial reconciliation. I don’t believe most students support bigoted views of this kind, but it would be remiss of me not to say racism is still an issue on this campus. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you for the messages of encouragement, the prayers and the sympathy, but I plead with you not to let it stop there. Allow this situation to push us forward as a community, to critically examine who we are and who we want to be. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “There comes a time when silence becomes betrayal.” So in this moral crisis, let’s continue to speak with our words and our actions and truly love one another in the manner Christ has called us.
E-mail Watkins at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
“It could be better, but I can’t necessarily say that I have any complaints.”
“I’m just sad that there’s still both passive and active forms of racism at ACU.”
Samuel Palomares English major from Mission.
Mary Haralson
Business Management major from Arlington.
Optimist the
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The freedom of speech that empowers our government also grants us, as individuals, the freedom to disagree. When our campus begins to find some sort of closure and resolution from the Students’ Association noose incident, if we find our classmates’ conclusions to questions of racism offensive, we are under no obligations to accept them. However, if we are to preserve our own rights, we also must preserve theirs. No matter how much we disagree with our friends, we must remember their soapbox is as constitutional as our own. And no matter how strong our convictions, our right to speech is never a right to an audience.
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...our right to speech is never a right to an audience.
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Just as we have to let people talk, they must allow us the option of refusing to listen, and vice versa. As the legendary Billy Joel intones in his song My Life, “You can speak your mind, but not on my time.” We as a society constantly test and reaffirm the indistinct boundaries of our right to free speech. We keep trying because we know its worth. In the racial threat, prank or mere distasteful gesture made in the SA office, those lines were clearly crossed. Whether the guilty party meant the noose to symbolize a complaint or threat, we award the gesture that status only by interpreting and dwelling upon it as such. As a campus community, we cannot risk granting influence to what is essentially local terrorism, as cliché as that may sound. Instead, we should look upon it as a challenge to better ourselves as a group—a reminder that peaceful, nonthreatening means are always preferable to intimidation. We are better than a hatetwisted noose. And in the trying times of aftermath, our actions respecting each other will best prove that.
E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu
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SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Page 9
Soccer: Team will travel to Cedar Hill Continued from page 10
Emily Jorgensen :: staff photographer
Freshman Libero Kelsie Edwards and the Wildcat volleyball team travel to San Antonio Friday for three games.
Volleyball: Cats still undefeated Continued from page 10 digs and two blocks. Mock said the second and third sets against Montana State-Billings were the Wildcats’ best for the weekend. In the second set, the Yellow Jackets forced the team into extra points before the Wildcats put them away 28-26 with kills from Schilling and junior outside hitter Michelle Bacon. The third set looked as if ACU would run away with the game after an 8-0 start, but Billings charged back within two points, 17-15. ACU closed the game on an 8-3 run to clinch the match. In the final game, the Wildcats defeated the host team Fort Lewis College, 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-22, 2522). ACU had four players who hit at least nine kills, including Hutt, who scored
a team season-high of 17 kills. Moronu’s season-high 49 assists and Wilson’s 23 digs also helped lead the team to victory. With eight-straight victories, the Wildcats already have doubled their longest winning streak of 2007. “We have expected to do well,” said Mock. “Even more than wins and losses, I expect them to play at a high level. As long as we are able to control the ball on our side of the net, the opponents will struggle to beat us; we are performing extremely well, and I am so proud of the girls.” The Wildcats will head to San Antonio this weekend to play at St. Mary’s University Friday and Saturday against St. Edwards, IWU and St. Mary’s.
E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu
shots,” Wilson said. “A lot of the time we wait for the perfect shot instead of taking what we get.” On the other side of the ball, the Wildcats have played solid defense this season, allowing only three goals. The Wildcats also have limited two nationallyranked teams to only one goal apiece. “Every position on the field has a defensive role,” Reese said. “Playing aggressively and winning every 50/50 ball across the field is what will create more offensive opportunities.” With the defense playing well, the Wildcats hope to make a run in conference play starting later this month but will look to make adjustments and generate more offense. “We need to make adjustments to our formation to maximize certain players,
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We need to make adjustments ... so when conference play starts we can have a good feel of what we need to do
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:: Casey Wilson, head soccer coach
so when conference play starts we can have a good feel of what we need to do,” Wilson said. The Wildcats will play John Brown University Friday before facing Our Lady of the Lake College Saturday afternoon. E-mail Gwinn at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Practice Makes Perfect
Pete Koehn :: staff photographer The Wildcats will play Texas A&M Commerce Saturday at 6 p.m.
Cross: Men win team title; women second Continued from page 10 (22:27.03), Matt Upshaw in 27th (23:20.79), Bryce Eaton in 46th (26.17.16) and Casey Luby in 49th (27.23.38). “Our men, top to bottom, ran well,” Hood said. “We are better off this year than we were last year.” Hood also was pleased with
the women’s performance. Coach Hood was excited to see the new runners work with the team, the women place 1-2 and Garner’s 10th-place finish. “The athletes are very excited about coach Burroughs,” Hood said. “It’ll just get better from here.” E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Coach: Burroughs brings experience Continued from page 10 for the past three years and also served as Iona’s assistant track and field coach. He will fulfill the same role, coaching both cross country in the fall and long distance runners for the track team in the spring. Burroughs will inherit high expectations when he arrives at ACU, leading a men’s team that is searching for its 18th consecutive LSC title and third consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. The women are looking for their eighth consecutive LSC title, and both teams will enter the season ranked No. 1
in LSC. “One of the draws is that the quality of athletes we have is similar to the Division I level, and career wise it was an easy move to make,” Hood said, speaking about Burroughs’ move. At Iona, Burroughs built up an impressive résume after leading a team that posted three-straight top-four finishes at the NCAA Division I national cross country championship meet. His 2007 team finished runnerup to No. 1 Oregon at the national meet, losing by only 28 points. Iona’s men won threestraight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champi-
onships under Burroughs, who helped to extend the men’s streak to 17-straight MAAC conference championships. The women won their third-straight MAC title under Burroughs. “What’s really exciting about this program is the preseason ranking for men and women and getting to walk into a very good and successful environment,” Burroughs said. “I want to bring my New York flavor down here to Texas and I’m looking forward to working with the athletes and getting to know them better as we progress through the season.” Burroughs will be no stranger to the track and
field teams after seeing 31 male athletes and 25 female athletes claim individual MAAC championships the past three years. Burroughs also coached 13 individual, long distance qualifiers for the NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor track and field championships as well as 13 all-American athletes. Burroughs earned his Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology from the University of Buffalo in 2000 and competed for the school’s distance teams. In 2002, Burroughs earned a Master of Science in human performance from Buffalo. E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu
Tennis: teams win dual titles Continued from page 10 Hudson after the pair pulled out because of various injuries. “The tournament kind of gets us into the season and sets a good tone for the rest of the year,” Hawk said. “It’s always good to get started out on the right foot, and hopefully we can keep it up.” On the women’s side, junior Dina Pavlin led the Wildcats by winning the Flight 1 singles and Flight 1 doubles championship. Pavlin defeated ACU singles No. 1 player Irene Squillaci (6-3, 1-6, 10-5) in the finals to claim the individual championship. Pavlin teamed up with Sarah Drummond to defeat Squillaci and Jaclyn Walker in the Flight 1
doubles championship, 2-6, 7-6, 10-2. “Dina Pavlin is going to have to step up and play a bigger role this year,” Jones said. “She did a great job and upset Irene, and that just shows that we have got some depth, which I’m excited about.” The women played just as well as the men as they won all three singles flight titles and two of three doubles flight championships. Brian Joiner (Flight 2) and Brett Proctor (Flight 3) both claimed individual championships. Joey Farias and Proctor (Flight 2) and John Straht and Eldad Campbell (Flight 3) won doubles championships. Natalie Friend (Flight 2) and Callie Huey (Flight 3) won
individual championships, while Friend and Alexsandra Vucic (flight two) claimed doubles championships. “There will be tougher competition the next two weekends, and we will play different Division I tournaments,” Jones said. “As a coach, that’s how you know you’re getting better, and I’m excited for the opportunity to get to go and play at these Division I tournaments. The women will travel to play in the North Texas Mean Green Invitational Saturday, while the men will travel to play at University of Louisiana-Lafayette Invitational.
E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu
Brian Schmidt :: file photo Junior Dina Pavlin defeated ACU singles No. 1 player Irene Squillaci 6-3, 1-6, 10-5 in the finals to claim the individual title.
SportsWednesday
September 10, 2008
Running for No. 3
SCOREBOARD Standings Football Team
Div. 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0
Tarleton St. WTAMU ACU MSU ENMU TAMU-K Angelo St.
Overall 2-0 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 0-2
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
ACU MSU SE Okla. WTAMU Angelo St.
Cameron * 6 of 14 LSC Teams
Sports Editor
Overall 8-0 8-0 7-1 7-2 4-4 4-4
Women’s Soccer Team
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 East Central 0-0 MSU 0-0 ENMU 0-0 ACU 0-0 NE St. 0-0 SW Okla. 0-0 WTAMU TX Woman’s Cent. Okla. TAMU-C Angelo St.
Overall 2-0 3-1 3-1-1 2-1-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-3 1-2-1 1-2 1-3
Scores Friday Soccer ACU 0, Incarnate Word 1
Volleyball ACU 3,Dixie State 0 ACU 3, Palm Beach Atlantic 0
Saturday Volleyball ACU 3, Montana St.-Billings 0 ACU 3, Ft. Lewis College 1
Upcoming Friday Women’s Soccer ACU vs. John Brown, 1 p.m.
Volleyball ACU vs. St. Edwards, 12:15 p.m.
Saturday Women’s Soccer ACU vs. Our Lady of the Lake, 3 p.m.
Volleyball ACU vs. Incarnate Word,12:15 p.m. ACU vs. St. Mary’s, 4:45 p.m.
Football ACU vs. Texas A&M Commerce, 6 p.m. :: Home games listed in italics
News n Outside hitter Jennie Hutt earned LSC coOffensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Wildcats to its eigthstraight victory to start the season. Hutt had 82 kills, a .276 hitting percentage and 18 digs in four matches at the Fort Lewis Invitational. n Setter Ijeoma Moronu was named the Most Valuable Player at the Fort Lewis Invitational in Durango, Colo. Moronu contributed with 141 assists, 29 digs, 12 kills and 12 blocks.
acuoptimist.com Check online throughout the year for intramural schedules
Wildcats win titles in men, women’s divisions By Grant Abston
Volleyball Team
Page 10
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer The men and women’s cross country teams competed in their first meet of the season: the ACU Cross Country Classic. The men’s team, two-time defending national champions, won the tournament behind all-American Cleophas Tanui, who won the race; the women finished runner-up.
Defending national champions begin on top By Jeff Craig Sports Writer
The ACU men and women’s cross country teams opened their 2008 season with two individual victories Saturday at Sherrod Park during the ACU Classic. Backed by their No. 1 ranking, the men’s team dominated the competition while the women came in a close second. While assistant coach Abe Brown fired the start gun for all races, the women put on a good show in the 3-mile race, coming in second overall behind West Texas A&M. Despite fin-
Cross Country ishing second, the women claimed the top two individual spots after Loice Cheboi finished second and Winrose Karunde took the individual win with a time of 17:46.69. Karunde’s time also was almost 30 seconds faster than the second-place runner, teammate Cheboi, who finished in 18:14.97. Wildcat Hayley Garner finished tenth with a time of 20:23.44, followed by Lindsey Putman in 22nd (21:46.44), Kelsey Hilton in 23rd (22:00.07) and Suzanne Mahony in 32nd (24:55.29).
“It was good for my first competition to compete well, and I hope to continue training to improve,” Karunde said. The men’s 4-mile race was dominated by ACU runners, the two-time defending national champions. The Wildcats had five out of the top seven finishers and captured the team’s crown, beating runner-up South Plains College. ACU’s Cleophas Tanui claimed the individual championship. “It was a bit hot, but I do feel better now,” Tanui said. “After two miles, I felt a bit slow but I picked it up in the final two miles; I’m now looking forward to the
rest of the year and improving my time.” Don Hood, head track and field coach said, “I wouldn’t say it was a surprise; Cleophas is realizing his potential.” Despite losing Nicodemus Naimadu to graduation, ACU men’s team can reasonably aim at a third straight national crown. Tanui covered the 4-mile course in 18:49.27, followed by Daniel Maina in third (19:17.98), Julius Nyango in fifth (19:22.39), Amos Sang in sixth (19:29.90), Charles White in seventh (20:30.07), Jacob Schofield in 16th See
Cross page 9
Soccer team falls 1-0 in San Antonio By Austin Gwin Sports Writer
The Wildcat soccer team dropped another close match Friday night to nationally ranked Incarnate Word, pushing its record to 1-2-1 on the season. With about two minutes left in the game, sophomore forward Courtney Wilson ricocheted a ball off the crossbar following a corner kick by sophomore Ashley Simon. When the ball rolled away, so did ACU’s chances of sending the game to overtime. “We need to clean up our
Soccer game, make better passes and make better decisions,” said head coach Casey Wilson. “We played equal to a top-five team throughout the game, and we weren’t even playing our best.” The CardiWilson nals played up to their national ranking as they extended their record this to 2-0 this season. With ten minutes to play in
the first half, Incarnate Word got on the board when leading scorer Sarah Hernandez put a low shot in the corner of the net. That goal was all the Cardinals would need as goalie Ashton Caffrey shut out the Wildcats the rest of the game to help give UIW the victory. ACU came into the match looking to make some changes on the offensive side, but UIW’s defense proved to be too much for the Wildcats to handle. ACU’s offense has struggled so far this season, posting only three goals in
four games. “It all starts with creating chances,” said co-captain and forward Jordan Reese. “We didn’t have as many scoring opportunities Friday night as we would have had on a better day, and the ones we did have just didn’t go our way.” The Cardinals outshot the Wildcats 18-5 but only managed five shots on goal compared to the Wildcats’ three. The Wildcats know they must generate more shots in order to be successful. “We need to take more See
The Wildcat tennis teams opened their season with dominating performances, winning both the men and women’s individual and doubles championships in the 25th annual ACU WalMart Open. The Wildcats competed in different flights or groups and split up their teams from top to bottom. Sixty-four Jones men and 50 women competed in the tournament at ACU’s Eager Tennis Pavilion as well as McMurry and Hardin-Simmon Universities’ tennis courts. “On the men’s side, we have a few new faces and we dominated the tournament,” said head coach Hutton Jones. “I expected us to dominate because we were the strongest team and I felt like it was just the right mix. I felt like we should win most of the matches, and we did.” The men’s team did dominate the competition by winning three of four singles flight championships and three of four doubles flight championships. Junior Luke Hawk led the Wildcats by winning the Flight 1 singles and Flight 1 doubles championships. Hawk and his partner Brian Joiner won the doubles championship finals after easily winning the first two rounds. The two then defeated the ACU doubles No. 1 team of Juan Nunez and Ryan See
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TENNIS SENIORS The 2008-09 Wildcat tennis teams features nine seniors.
MEN
n Hutton Jones Jr. n Brett Proctor n Juan Nunez n Ryan Hudson n Joey Farias
woMEN
n Meagan Brown n Sarah Drummond n Irene Squillaci n Alexsandra Vucic
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Wildcats have best start to season since 1991 New coach Undefeated start 2nd best in ACU history
Volleyball
season with a .357 hitting percentage to go along with 25 assists, nine digs and seven kills while being named MVP of the tournament. Junior setter Erica Dickinson and junior defensive setter Amy Wilson led the team with 10 digs each. The Wildcats’ second win Friday came more quickly
Assistant Sports Editor
Freshman outside hitter Jennie Hutt led the Wildcats, hitting a season-high .300 with 13 kills on 30 attacks and just four errors. Hutt earned LSC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. Sophomore setter Ijeoma Moronu continued her great
The Wildcat volleyball team continued to roll through its opponents last weekend, winning all four of its matches at the Fort Lewis Invitational in Durango, Colo. The team is now 8-0 and off to its best start since 1991, when the Wildcats started 12-0. The Wildcats began the tournament Friday by defeating Dixie State 3-0 (2518, 25-22, 25-23) in just 75 minutes. ACU’s hitting percentage of .175 more than doubled that of the Rebels, who hit only .073. “We have improved since the last tournament and are playing better as a team,” said sophomore middle blocker Jordan Schilling. “It is a great feeling to know that we have gotten to 8-0 and haven’t even peaked yet. We can only get better from here.”
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Junior setter Ericka Dickinson gets ready for play in practice. The Wildcat volleyball team is off to its best start since 1991.
By Chandler Harris
than the first. They defeated Palm Beach Atlantic 3-0 (2521, 25-13, 25-11) in just 52 minutes. Once again Hutt posted a season-high with a .375 hitting percentage. Schilling hit .500 with seven kills and no errors, while four other Wildcats performed at least five kills. The Sailfish only had 30 digs to ACU’s 48 and were out-blocked 8-4. “I was really pleased with how the girls played,” said head coach Kellen Mock. “We have started to see a little higher level of competition. We want to continue to see better competition so that we can just keep getting better and better throughout the season.” Saturday morning, the Wildcats faced Montana StateBillings and won 3-0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-19) again. This victory gave ACU a 12-set winning streak, dating back to their match against Findlay. Schilling and sophomore middle blocker Shawna Hines led the team with 13 and 11 kills respectively. Three other Wildcats chipped in at least six kills in the winning effort. Moronu added 37 assists, eight See
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Burroughs welcomed by Wildcats By Grant Abston Sports Editor
The ACU Athletics Department team hired Sam Burroughs, former assistant coach at Iona College, as the new cross country head coach Tuesday after the Wildcats lost former head coach Derek Hood during the offseason. Hood coached the Wildcat men’s team to back-to-back NCAA Division II championships and also coached the Wildcats’ long distance runners on the track team. Hood resigned in June to pursue private business ventures. “[Sam] brings a lot of skills that are necessary to work at a place like Abilene Christian and he’s had great experience coaching top Americans and international athletes,” said track and field head coach Don Hood. Burroughs, a native of Albany, N.Y., was the assistant coach at Iona College (N.Y.) See
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