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Pg. 5 Cultural Snapshots: Photo spread of the ‘Ethnos’ show
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 25 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com
Inside This Issue:
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Pg 4
Students put down razors for month of November
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New organization offers chance for students to knit
Knocked Out: Volleyball team loses in LSC Tournament finals
Sadies encourages ladies to enjoy free fun By Lezlee Gutierrez Student Reporter
Sadies Week is back again and offering sweet deals for all students this year. Women can put the books down and take their favorite men on free dates Monday through Friday, courtesy of the Campus Activities Board. “Its purpose is to provide the students the opportunity to shake things up a
little,” said Hannah Anderson, Campus Activities Board coordinator and senior elementary education major from Waco. “It was really fun last year.” The excitement began Monday at Smoothie King where students grabbed a free 20 oz. smoothie from 5-8 p.m. On Tuesday, students enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee at Tuscany’s Coffee Shop from See
Departments make effort to ‘Go Green’
No Cash Necessary Tickets for various Sadies Week events can be picked up after Chapel in the Campus Center. n Wednesday — Free kid’s burrito at Sharky’s Burrito Company n Thursday — Free round of bowling or minigolf at Prime Time Family Entertainment Center n Friday — Free screening of Dark Knight in Cullen Auditorium (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
Sadies page 4
Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Laura Lybrand, freshman communication major from New Braunfels, looks at her ticket for free coffee.
Breath of Fresh Education
Time to register brings stress for students
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By Elizabeth Spano Student Reporter
We feel like it’s our responsibility as a Christian university to take care of the planet.
Although ACU received a D+ in environmental sustainability, according to GreenReportCard.org, ACU’s University Purchasing and Physical Resources are making efforts to “go green” by encouraging staff, faculty and students to participate in various programs on campus designed to be environmentally friendly. Along with other ecofriendly initiatives, University Purchasing recently partnered with Staples to encourage the university’s staff and faculty to view catalogs online and minimize paper usage. “We feel like it’s our responsibility as a Christian university to take care of the planet,” said Geoffrey Klafter, the department’s purchasing assistant. “The less paper we have in use and the more [online usage], the better, as far as specific environmental impact.” To make this adjustment, faculty and staff are asked to order supplies from Staples using an online catalog instead of a printed one. While printed copies are still available upon request, this effort will ultimately reduce the university’s use of printed paper. University Purchasing, Physical Resources and students lead most of the environmental programs on
By Kelsi Williamson Student Reporter
With registration for the 2009 spring semester underway, the process already has provided its share of stress and frustrations for some students. “I was frustrated because I didn’t even know what it was,” said Jordan Overman, freshman undeclared major from Atlanta. “I just now figured out what I’m supposed to do.” Until last week, Overman said she was unaware she would have to take care of registering independently. She said she wished more information was provided to new freshmen about how the process worked, not just when it took place. “A lot of people in my U-100 were confused,” Overman said. Amanda Duke, sophomore social work major from Arlington, also encountered trouble preparing for the spring semester, but for different reasons. Duke switched her major more than a week ago, causing miscommunication over her advising code between her new and old departments. With this problem now fixed, Duke should register smoothly with the rest of the sophomores.
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:: Geoffrey Klafter, assistant in University Purchasing
campus. These include recycling bins placed around campus, paper shredding, battery and printer cartridge recycling, parking lot asphalt and water recycling and energy efficient lighting on campus. Other eco-friendly changes are being made on campus, including the use of biodegradable plates and utensils in eating areas and light bulb recycling. The university also is looking into the possibility of having a medium-sized wind farm to promote wind energy. “We are warming up to the issue to sustainability as part of Christian stewardship,” said Monty Lynn, professor of management and co-chair of the environmental taskforce. “We’re recognizing that our actions have an impact on future generations, as well as others living today.” See
Green page 7
Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Lauren Leone, junior exercise science major from Arlington, tests Whitney Johnson’s, senior exercise science major from Carrollton, metobolic rate in the Gibson Health and P.E. Center Wednesday.
See
Register page 4
Men hoping to re-charter Trojans club await decision By Linda Bailey Student Reporter
ACU male students looking to pledge a social club may face a new option next year as a group of 50 men work to re-charter the ACU club Trojans. “For us to come back and be on campus next semester, we would have to be recognized by the end of this semester,” said Matt Lambro, president of Trojans and senior interdisciplinary communications and
youth and family ministry major from Grapevine. To complete the process, the re-chartering Trojans wrote a paper consisting of an overview of where the club has been, where it is and where members plan to take it, Lambro said. They also wrote a new constitution for the club; met weekly for guidance with Mauri Westbrook, the coordinator of student organizations and activities; contacted many alumni for advice; found faculty advisers and looked for men inter-
aCU WeaTher
ested in placing membership. “A lot of the process was trying to find guys that wanted to join in an organization that wasn’t already formed,” Lambro said. “We have a lot of sophomores, which is good because it almost guarantees that the club will be active for at least three more years.” Lambro said he thinks the re-charting Trojans will offer a new face to social clubs if it recharters for next semester. “We wanted to create a club tailored to people who
More from the
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don’t have as much time,” he said. “We don’t have to limit ourselves to what has been done before.” Lambro said the re-chartering class is a group of energetic and diverse visionaries. “They are a group of guys who are very hard-working and optimistic in whatever they do,” he said. “They want to dream bigger and not just settle.” Another reason for re-chartering Trojans was the history behind the club that began in 1930, said Mike Miles, sergeant
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For us to come back and be on campus next semester, we would have to be recognized by the end of this semester.
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:: Matt Lambro, senior interdisciplinary communications and youth and family ministry major from Grapevine
at arms and senior Christian ministry major from Ann Arbor, Mich. “The Trojans have been in and out in the last 70
and 80 years,” Miles said. “There are more than 600 alumni, and I would like to See
Online Poll : Log onto www.acuoptimist.com or www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see weekly News casts and Sports casts from the JMC Network News Team and videos profiling various events and stories around campus and Abilene.
Trojans page 7
Are you participating in Sadies Week?
a. No, it is demeaning to women. b. Yes, I’m looking for a date. c. Maybe, it depends on the events. d. Of course, can you say free food?
acuoptimist.com Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::
Abilene Christian University
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Serving the ACU community since 1912
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Campus Day Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Calendar and Events
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Wednesday
8 a.m. The scholastic book fair inside the Campus Center 8 p.m. The Black Cornicopia sponsored by the student group Essence of Ebony Noon Sadies Week night #3 at Sharky’s Burrito
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Thursday
Noon Sadies Week night #4 at Prime TIme Family Entertainment. Participants receive a free round of mini golf or bowling, laser tag or go carts, an arcade card and a free drink.
The Medical Clinic is offering flu shots to students, faculty and staff Nov. 20 in the Campus Center Living Room from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shots also are available in the clinic Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular clinic hours. Shots are $25 and can be paid by using cash, check or by charging to a Banner account. A classes and student organizations competition will begin this week and will continue throughout the playoffs. The competition encourages school spirit by offering whichever class or organization with the most members attending the playoff game a chance to win either $500 or $1,000. When purchasing your tickets,include your class and one campus organization. The winning class will receive $1,000
to be used for whatever the class votes for. The winning organization with 49 or less members will receive $500. The winning Organization with 50 members or more will receive $1,000. At the end of the Wildcats’ run for the playoffs, the numbers will be tallied, and winners will be chosen. These are for advance ticket purchases only. Tickets can be purchased for $4 inside the Campus Center from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Students also can purchase tickets inside residence halls from 5-9 p.m. The GATA bake sale is continuing through Thursday. From 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. students can purchase a bag filled with homemade snacks and treats for $1.
Edited for space
Noon ACU football playoff game vs. West Texas A&M
Wildcat Preview Day 7:30 p.m. Free Movie in Cullen (The Dark Night)
6 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. St. Edward’s 8 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Huston Tillotson
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Saturday
6:45 p.m. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory will be performed in HardinSimmons University Van Ellis Theatre. For more info, call 670-1405.
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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.
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Friday
Watch videos for a special sportscast featuring the start of the men and women’s basketball season.
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Volunteer Opportunities The Salvation Army needs volunteers to assist with its “Angel Tree” booth in the Mall of Abilene. Help is needed to greet shoppers, record information and check in presents. The event is everyday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Nov. 21 and lasts until Dec. 14. Volunteers are asked to work two-hour shifts or longer.
Love & Care Ministries is sponsoring its annual Mission Thanksgiving donation project Nov. 21 at Arrow Ford, 4001 S. 1st St. Volunteers are needed to assist with donations that will be brought throughout the day to help clothe and feed the homeless. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Friday, Nov. 14
12:10 p.m. An officer booted a vehicle in Mabee Parking lot due to several citations.
9:15 p.m. Police found missing street signs in a student’s vehicle that was parked at Smith and Adams hall. Afterwards the signs were returned to the city.
Wednesday, Nov. 12 8:30 a.m. Someone reported a suspicious vehicle on Judge Ely Boulevard; after the police arrived, they were unable to locate anyone. 1:54 p.m. A person committed a hit and run accident in the University Church parking lot. 6:43 p.m. Students were shooting BB guns between McKinzie Hall and the Education Building.
Thursday, Nov. 13 1:05 a.m. Police stopped someone for disregarding a stop sign.
ACU for the International Rescue Committee needs volunteers to cook food and/or set up and work the Thanksgiving Dinner event that the group is sponsoring for about 60 refugee families Nov. 22 from 4-8 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room. For more information, contact Madison Saniuk at mbs04a@acu.edu. The Big Purple is raising money for it’s annual fundraiser the Noah Project, an organization which seeks to end family violence. The Big Purple will give these women and children a Christmas party with food and
10:30 p.m. Someone reported a noise violation at 1300 Westhemier, the officer checked out the situation and did not hear anything disruptive.
Saturday, Nov. 15 1:38 p.m. The ACU PD assisted the Abilene PD with a disturbance at 1200 Cedar Crest. Always report suspicious activity to ACUPD at 6742305 or 674-2911.
presents. Band members will be walking around campus with cans or buckets that are labeled “Christmas for Kids.” Annual Thanksgiving Meal Project - Join the Service Action Leadership Team for the 8th annual Thanksgiving meal project. The goal is to feed 100 families at a cost of $35 per family. Donations may be taken to the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center through Friday. Those wanting to help should meet in the parking lot between McDonald Hall and Sewell Theatre.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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Men stop shaving for cause By Brandon Tripp Videographer
It’s November, and all around campus grass and leaves are dying and withering away to prepare for the upcoming winter. But for ACU men participating in the annual ritual of No-Shave November, things are growing. Those participating shave on Nov. 1 and will not shave again until Dec. 1. For most men it is a time to avoid an irritating, inconvenient and sometimes painful event. No one can be sure how NoShave November began, but Lawson Soward, sophomore advertising/public relations major from Colleyville, offered this explanation. “I’m not sure how it started but I would guess guys did it to avoid the hassle of shaving,
and if you make up an event for it, you can justify not shaving,” Soward said. Levi Mawhirter, sophomore ministry major from Waco, said it also is a time to “prove how manly you are and a great excuse to look awesome.” “I didn’t know about it ‘til I got to college, and some guys just asked me if I was gonna do No-Shave November. I asked them what it was, and they said just grow your beard out,” Mawhirter said. Although No-Shave November normally is just a fun activity for students, a national organization that raises funds for various causes now exists for the event; this year it will gather donations for Save Darfur. “The Save Darfur Coalition’s mission is to raise pub-
Wrap Artist
lic awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and to mobilize a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of two million people in the Darfur region,” according to the Save Darfur Web site. The No-Shave November Web site, www.noshavenovember.org, provides ways for students on campus to send donations. “I think this is the perfect age to do it because you can actually grow a beard and you don’t have the standard of dress that you would after college,” Soward said.
E-mail Tripp at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Harlem Skate Night
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Matt Worthington, senior English major from San Antonio, and Natasia Jackson, senior history major from Cherokee, watch other students skate during Essence of Ebony’s “A Night in Harlem.”
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Noemi Palomares, freshman Biblical text major from Mission, wraps toys to give to the needy as part of the Intercollegiate Community Celebration service on Saturday.
ACU drama group GSP club members camp out in mall goes behind bars By Elizabeth Coffee Student Reporter
By Ruth Ramsey Student Reporter
Seekers of the Word, an ACU student drama ministry group, will travel to the Middleton State Prison in Abilene to showcase a 3045 minute set of skits on Wednesday. Seekers has gone to Middleton twice a year since 2002. Leslie Spainhower, senior youth and family ministry major from Antioch, Calif., has been a member of Seekers since 2005 and said she has traveled to Middleton more than five different times. Spainhower said the reason behind going to the prison is the relationship between Seekers and the prison chaplain. “Chaplain Mitchell does a Wednesday night service for the men at the prison every week,” Spainhower said. “We will be joining them for their Wednesday night service led by the inmates.” The entire Seekers group, more than 20 students, will participate in the prison performance. The proximity of the prison allows people from both ACU and various Abilene
churches to volunteer there regularly. Spainhower said she feels the skits performed by Seekers are a different way to present the Bible. “I don’t know if the prisoners need Seekers, but I hope God uses the skits to reach out to them,” she said. “The men we perform for choose to come and see us during the Wednesday night service, and many of them have been baptized since being in the prison. I hope and pray God uses us to bless the men there.” Members of Seekers also get something out of the time they spend at Middleton. “Every time we go to Middleton, we walk away blessed by the experience,” Spainhower said. “It is a great chance for us to worship with our brothers there, and we see the people in Middleton are sons of God; they need Christ’s love and redemption.”
E-mail Ramsey at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Seventeen Gamma Sigma Phi members slept in front of Chick-Fil-A in the Mall of Abilene Nov. 7 in order to receive a year’s worth of free food. The first 100 customers that showed up at 10 p.m. Friday for the grand reopening of Chick-Fil-A were given numbers and then required to camp out in the mall to obtain the reward. “We stayed up ‘til about three in the morning,” said Tyler Lewis, junior finance major from Houston. “We all brought our guitars. We were the life of the party.” Moms with their children, other ACU students and people of various ages were there, said Andrew Conway, junior interdisciplinary major from Nairobi, Kenya. Only 86 people showed
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We were the life of the party. :: Tyler Lewis, junior finance major from Houston
up at first, but the Gamma Sigma Phi members soon were able to fill the vacancies with a few phone calls, Lewis said. “That’s the wonderful thing about club; you do stupid stuff like that,” Lewis said. “It’s not about what you’re doing; it’s about who you’re doing it with.” The first 100 customers were not allowed to go to the Dippin’ Dots or Best Buy; however, Best Buy did provide Rock Band for them to play. Ghostbusters and a movie from the Indiana Jones’ series also were shown. “It was one of those times when you say to yourself, ‘This is what club is
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about,’” Conway said. “It’s something we can look back and remember with our buddies. We even gathered around the merry-go-round and sang the GSP song.” Among all of the festivities, the main sewer for the mall backed up, and the Chick-Fil-A’s restroom was unusable from 3 a.m. until morning, Conway said.
Earlier that day, the same group of Gamma Sigma Phi members received free food vouchers from Jack in the Box in honor of its grand opening. “It was a free food festival,” Conway said. Although the all-nighter was not a planned club activity, it was a good bonding experience for the members, Lewis said. “Because I was there with those guys, it was one of the highlights of my semester,” Lewis said.
E-mail Coffee at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT / CAMPUS NEWS
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Register: University suggests tips for registration process Continued from page 1 “It’s exciting because you get excited about next semester and the classes you get to take, but at the same time, it’s really time consuming,” Duke said. Luke Cochran, junior finance major from Round Rock, experienced his first registration difficulties Nov. 10 when he could not view a January short-course class that already had reached its maximum students. “I wish that the registration process was more clear with classes that are no longer available,” Cochran said. Cochran tried for 40 minutes to obtain the profes-
sor’s name who taught the class in order to send an email inquiring about forced entry. He said he finally contacted the teacher through a number of phone calls but has yet to get into the class. Bart Herridge, registrar and director of academic records, said the filled classes go offline in order to simplify the online registration process. “Sending back courses that are already full would only exponentially increase the amount of network traffic we get,” Herridge said. He said students can try a few simple ways to make registration less frustrating. “Be prepared,” Herridge said. “Know what classes
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Working for Winter
you are going to take ahead of time.” He also suggests visiting the ACU Registrar quick tips page on the registrar’s Web page. “This semester’s registration period has been, in my five years of overseeing this process, one of the least problematic on record (with the caveat that freshmen have yet to register),” Herridge said in an e-mail. “Anecdotally, we have had fewer support calls and less perceived frustration about technical glitches amongst students than in several previous years.” Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer E-mail Williamson at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Chelcie Beaver, a construction worker, works with Donald Rohde, senior athletic training major from Peaster, on building a fence around the Ice House Skating Rink on Tuesday.
Sadies: Local stores Flags may be mounted around Lunsford Trail provide discounts for students’ dates By Chelsea Hackney Student Reporter
Continued from page 1 6-10 p.m. Sharky’s Burrito Company will be giving away free kid’s burrito meals with drinks Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m. On Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight, students can hang out at Prime Time Family Entertainment Center for a free round of mini golf or bowling. They also can get one event such as laser tag or NASCAR simulation, an arcade card and a drink. The fun ends Friday with a free movie in Cullen Auditorium. The Dark Night will be shown from 7:30-10 p.m.
“I think it’s a cool way to actually take a guy out for a change,” said Andrea Reed, sophomore elementary education major from Abilene. “It’s fun and it’s free, so why not?” Sadies Week is an event offered every year to mimic the theme of a Sadie Hawkins dance. Women are encouraged to ask men to join them on free dates each night of the week. Tickets to all the events can be picked up after Chapel.
E-mail Gutierrez at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
If students are impressed with the Parade of Flags during Opening Chapel each fall, ACU’s latest landscaping proposal will turn heads. To improve the aesthetics of the campus and demonstrate the diversity of the student body. The administration plans to mount flags, which will symbloize each state or country represented on campus, on the light poles lining the Lunsford Foundation Trail. The flag project has been a collaborative effort between several offices, notably the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, as well as the Campus Visits Office, Physical Resources and the ACU marketing team. Mary Reyes, the project coordinator, said that in conjunction
with these departments, she was tasked with determining how to enhance the campus’ appearance. Development of this initiative has “changed the way we partner together,” she said. The flags are intended to be a statement about the diversity of the campus in line with the strategic initiatives for ACU’s 21st Century Vision, Reyes said. The Vision states that “by 2020, ACU will become the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, global leaders,” according to the ACU Web site. Specifically, the Lunsford Trail project will demonstrate that ACU is expanding its Christian influence worldwide and will continue to do so in the future, Reyes said. The display also will garner attention from prospective students.
With a total of 119 poles alongside the Lunsford Trail, the presentation will “quickly communicate a message about the diversity of the campus,” Reyes said. “We saw this done on other campuses, and it was a beautiful representation of the student body.” Reyes said the biggest issue was the sheer size of the venture. “It’s exciting. We can’t make it happen fast enough,” she said. “Who knew that each light pole had a number?” While no donor base existed for this undertaking, funds already have been set aside in the budget that finances plans intended to help ACU realize its goal. Reyes said the committee hopes the venture will be completed by the end of the calendar year, but many details still need to be
worked out, including how to actually hang the banners. Other questions yet to be answered deal with the size of the banners, which banners should go on which poles and whether or not to retain the country or state flags of graduating students. Reyes said she believes alumni flags should remain hanging on campus as a statement to former students that the university values the contributions they made while here. The flags should represent “who we have been and who we are,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize how diversified our campus is. We feel like these are things that provide another avenue for reflecting who we are.”
E-mail Hackney at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Students intertwine leisure, health in knitting group By Kimberly Wolford Student Reporter
A new organization can be found on campus for students who enjoy knitting or want to learn how to knit. Knitting in November is a response to Residence Life’s Health and Wellness initiative, said Jae Webb, residence director of Barret Hall, in an e-mail. Webb said knitting is a great way to increase dexterity in the fingers and hands and prevent arthritis in later years. Webb began the group to give the residents of Barret Hall an opportunity to learn a new and useful skill. He also said he wanted to provide them with a place to relax, while they still did something productive.
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Knitting is also a useful skill for creating clothing for yourself or for gifts to loved ones. :: Jae Webb, residence director of Barret Hall
Calee Varner, second-year graduate student in higher education from Amarillo and resident assistant in Barret Hall, said she thinks the knitting club is a good way for the men and women in Barret Hall to get to know each other while doing something fun. “Knitting is also a useful skill for creating clothing and accessories for yourself or for gifts to loved ones,” Webb said. People involved with Knitting in November primarily make wristbands, head-
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bands, coasters and scarves, he said. The club meets in the Barret classroom or in The Den on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Attendance ranges from four to eight people, depending on the night, Webb said. Posters for the group explain that those who do not know how to knit can learn and that supplies will be available at no cost. E-mail Wolford at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
November 19, 2008
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Culture Shocked Through dance, martial arts and music performance, ACU students shared bits of international culture with each other. Many students learned and performed traditional acts foreign to them, a testimony to the spirit of ‘Ethnos: Unity.’
Left: Chinese dancers perform a traditional “Feitian” dance. “Feitian,” separated and translated from Mandarin, means “flying” and “sky.” Above: Maria Fischer, junior political science major from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, demonstrates her Tae Kwon Do skills.
Photos by :: Zak Zeinert, chief photographer Above: Takumi Matsumoto, senior engineering major from Kawaguchi, Japan, performs in the Japanese act “Poetry of the Spirits.” Below left: Women from various ethnic backgrounds perform an “Asian Fan Dance.”. Below right: Lyudmyla Shandruk, graduate student from Abilene, dances Polynesian style in “Pate Pate.”
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November 19, 2008
City logo change ‘frontiers’ whole new waste of funding
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he City of Abilene revealed its new logo and slogan, “Abilene Frontiering” on Nov. 11. More than a year in the works, the new catchphrase will be implemented slowly across the city. Officials say full “roll out” could take years. In the meantime, Abilene residents have been able to mull over the change and its consequences, including the cost: $432,000 of taxpayers’ money. Some are excited by the change. Others hate it and wonder why change was necessary. We think it sounds familiar. The city hired North Star Destination Strategies a year ago to suggest a marketing label to replace Abilene’s
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...one might think $107,000 could buy something a little less recycled.
former catchphrase, “The Friendly Frontier.” For $107,000 they came up with “Abilene Frontiering.” “Frontiering” is not even a word. “Frontier” is a noun, which the English syntax does not allow to magically transform into a verb. Of course, there remains something to be said for coining catchy phrases in the advertising business, and word-invention even has its place at times, but one might think $107,000 could buy something a little less recycled.
ad that could have attracted unity among the community. But perhaps change— something desired across the nation these days—was the primary reason for the replacement. Truly, change tends to excite people, for good or bad. It gets people interested in city affairs. Maybe as long as the logo shows small improvements, its benefits will outweigh its costs. Unfortunately, that is an unlikely result. Beyond the community’s reaction to the logo, the meaning itself holds less potency than the previous slogan. “The Friendly Frontier” maintained positive connotations merely in the words it used. “Abilene Frontiering” simply
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Additionally, some city business owners already have indicated that printing the logo on small objects, like pins and buttons, will be difficult because of its design. Abilene Independent School District already has its own logo, did not adopt the City of Abilene’s previous catchphrase and does not plan to implement this one. While the school district has been independent of the city in such matters in the past, surely, $107,000 should have been enough to design an
The issue:
The City of Abilene recently announced its plan to alter the city catchphrase from “The Friendly Frontier” to “Abilene Frontiering.”
Our view:
The city slogan alteration is a laughable waste of taxpayers’ money.
The solution:
The City of Abilene should spend money on real city issues instead of reinventing the city’s already functional logo. is. It is not negative; it is not positive. It will not attract tourists unless they are misled into believing Abilene is still “frontiering,” in which case they will be sorely disappointed to see that we are all generally civilized and caught up with technology. The City of Abilene should take the $432,000 required
to implement “Abilene Frontiering” and use it to better the city’s actual conditions, not its catchphrase.
E-mail the Optimist at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Commericalism deflects true Christmas spirit “It’s the most… commercial time of the year.” Try substituting that for the traditional line in the carol, and you’ll find that, as much as you wish it didn’t, it fits. Bah humbug. But seriously, this is the time Your (A)Typical of year I Coffee Addict absolutely hate going By Lydia to Wal-Mart. Melby In fact, I think the only time of year I enjoy going to Wal-Mart is around Halloween because before Halloween, there’s a ton of wacky costumes to amuse yourself with, and on Halloween, there’s a ton of wacky people actually in costumes, and after Halloween, there’s a ton of left-over candy undergoing a price cut. But this is all beside the point. As much as I love Christmas (and I really do; I love it), every store and mall and business begins drowning anyone daring enough to enter their doors in Christmas commercialism the first day of November. I understand people like to decorate and I understand people are excited for the biggest (selling) holiday of the year, but come on — Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet. What about turkey? What about family? What about parades and football and lying on the couch wishing you hadn’t forced that third helping of pumpkin pie? What about your sisters waking you up at 4:30 a.m. to be competitive consumers on Black Friday? Thanksgiving has become the most marginalized, redheaded stepchild holiday of the year. But that’s sort of ironic, isn’t it? Considering what we did to the Native Americans that made Thanksgiving possible, maybe we shouldn’t really celebrate a holiday of smug gluttony. Ah, consumerism and genocide. Holidays make me just love being an American. But again, I digress. Frankly, I feel like I love Christmas in a theoretical sense. I love the warm, fuzzy feeling I get when I think of hot chocolate (although my family only ever bought the watery, sugar-free kind) and cold, frosty windows (although I grew up in San An-
Girls should take advantage of Sadies Week opportunities No solitary week during the entire semester strikes more frightening feelings of dread, disappointment and depression into the hearts of single men on campus than this week, Sadies Week. And for men sans a significant other, it The Fro Knows only reminds them of their pitiful chancBy Michael es of particiFreeman pating in the week’s fun-filled events. For example, did you know a typical single male ACU student has a greater chance of being struck by lightning three times in a row on a cloudless day than being asked out on a date during Sadies Week? Did you also know he has a greater chance of being assaulted by a duck in a clown costume than for a girl to give him a second glance? And did you know he
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Believe it or not, Sadies Week can be enjoyable for everyone...
has a greater chance of dating Elizabeth Taylor than dating an ACU girl during this week? Do these facts scare you? Well, they shouldn’t because I’ve been making all of them up — except for the last one. But these extreme sentiments can be felt by some single men during this harrowing week. Sadie Hawkins day, concocted by cartoonist Al Capp in 1937, represents one day during the year when many women take the initiative of
acuoptimist.com Log online to hear Freeman podcast his column.
Letter to the Editor ‘Christian’ marriage definition proves double standard I disagree with you. Marriage was created by God, but it is now regulated by the government. You can get married in a church before God, but
your marriage is not legal unless the government issues you a certificate making it so. As long as marriage is considered a legal matter, any citizen should be allowed to marry. If we try to regulate marriage based on which marriages we think would be recognized by God, then we should also redefine the stan-
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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inviting men on dates. At ACU the day has been stretched into a week where several local restaurants and businesses offer student discounts. Women should take advantage of this week. Perhaps you have your eyes on the nice, cute guy who sits in front of you in your Christianity in Culture class. You know who I’m talking about: the guy with the soft brown hair, dreamy, green eyes, infectious laugh, healthy tan and flawless smile, but who is too shy and socially inept to even look you in the eye when he passes you the attendance sheet. Well, this is your week to ask the poor sap on a date. This week, however, is not only for the bachelors and bachelorettes; couples also can get in on the fun. Perhaps your boyfriend is such a cheapskate
dard for heterosexual unions. Do you think God recognizes a marriage between an 18-year-old girl and a 90-yearold millionaire? What about adulterers? Furthermore, if marriage is only a “religious practice”, does that mean that we should deny matrimonial rights to atheists? On a personal note, I’m tired of homosexuality being the big issue that Christians feel we must unite to fight against. How often do
that he would make Ebenezer Scrooge look like a philanthropist. Well, Smoothie King, Tuscany’s Coffee Shop, Sharky’s Burrito Company and Prime Time Family Entertainment Center all are providing discounts on food and activities this week. So tonight, instead of being forced to hide in the trunk of your boyfriend’s car when he pulls up to the ticket booth at the drive-in movie theater, stay in the front seat and direct him to one of the four aforementioned places. Believe it or not, Sadies Week can be enjoyable for everyone, including the guys on campus who do not have the courage to talk to a girl during the other 358 days of the year. So, ladies, help make this time fun by asking a guy out because, after all, you don’t want the entire ACU male population to be living under distress and despair this week — that’s what Finals Week is for. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
we point the finger back at ourselves when we “have to” go out and buy the newest Coach purse or techno-gadget that comes out? I can’t believe what hypocrites we are that we would rather our children turn out to be a bunch of self-centered materialists than gay-sympathizers. With so much evil in the world, we have to choose our battles carefully. I think we’ve picked the wrong one here.
Lisa White
Optimist the
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tonio so I haven’t seen a lot of those) and Amy Grant’s Christmas carols blaring from the living room stereo (I do remember those!). However, every year I see all the stressed out people wondering how they’re going to find that perfect gift for eight different people and then wondering how they’re ever going to pay for those gifts. Focus on the Family recently published a list of stores Christians should or shouldn’t patronize, according to how they advertise using the word “Christmas” versus “Holidays,” and I can’t help but think, shouldn’t Christians be more concerned about what establishments support various charities and causes? Holidays should be about family and community, not money and entitlement.
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As much as I love Christmas (and I really do; I love it), every store and mall and business begins drowning anyone daring enough to enter their doors in Christmas commercialism the first day of November.
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I know I’m sounding cliché, but seriously, let’s all try to concentrate more on checking our rabid consumerism and maybe volunteer, donate some of your gifts for a kid that won’t get any or even just drop a nickel in the Salvation Army pot every time you walk by it. Appreciate the luck you’ve had in life so far and try to not take it for granted.
E-mail Melby at: lgm05e@acu.edu
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FROM THE FRONT / SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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Hockey: Nationals in sight Continued from page 8 sponsor. They covered other expenses including league fees. Everything else, like travel and weekend costs, was paid by individual players. The team is coached by John Andrews, an ACU graduate, who played on the team in the past. Ted Dickinson also has helped out a lot with the team. The team is led by Captain Philip Greer, assistant captain Jordan Dickison, Micah Embrey, junior managment major from Coppell, and other returning members of the team. “We have a good hybrid of players, which allows us
to play a variety of different playing styles,” Embrey said. “We played a 2-2 [two defenders and two forwards] on Saturday, then a 3-1 on Sunday. We also got to see how these different styles worked against different opponents.” “Ultimately, as captain, I just want to create a blueprint for next year and set up for the next person who is going to be captain,” Greer said. “I just want to leave knowing that 10 years from now that ACU will still have a hockey team.” The Wildcats will have their third tournament next
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weekend. They want to improve every tournament and put themselves in position to win the postseason Division II tournament and earn a bid nationals. “The team is about having strong relationships with other people you probably would not have met through any other way,” Embrey said. “We are all just a bunch of individuals who have come together for one cause: to play some hockey.”
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer E-mail Cantrell at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Kaela Mayes, junior English major from Vernon, and Brian Richie, junior history major from Houston, check out new football memorabilia available in The Campus Store on Tuesday.
Softball: Carl Winslow wins co-ed tournament
Basketball: Home opener Saturday Continued from page 8 we had Southern Indiana on their heels, and our defense made them take some bad shots,” Lavender said. In the second game, the Wildcat offense went cold, shooting only 26 percent from the field, while facing a St. Edward’s team that shot 41 percent on its way to a 66-51 victory over ACU. Maxwell-Lively put in another great performance for the team, scoring 18 points and collecting nine rebounds, while Kundmueller collected 10 rebounds. Lavender said she felt that her team played well to start the game but could not finish. “I felt that we hung around with St. Edward’s the first half. However, I feel the main turning point came when we scored only one point in [the]
Continued from page 8 kind of confusing but it was really fun. I played in high school, but it was my first time to play intramural softball. The refs did great, and the team came together and won. Intramurals are great because it is just fun, and there is no pressure.” Logan said the Kojies won because they played smart throughout the tournament. The outfield was great defensively, and the infield was their greatest strength, she said.
first eight minutes of the second half. We didn’t knock down shots when we needed too,” she said. Maxwell-Lively was rewarded for her outstanding performances during the two games by being named to the all-tournament team. Lavender said she felt the team’s ability to get the ball to Maxwell-Lively and the other post players was a bright spot in the loss. “Audrey did a good job of getting to [the] free-throw line 17 times on Sunday,” Lavender said. “Our team did a good job both days of getting the ball into the post players.”
Jozie Sands :: staff photographer
This year, the “World Famous Bean” began having “trayless meals,” which save a gallon of water per meal. The Bean also installed a pulper, which spins water out of food waste and allows it to be disposed of in a more efficient way. Although some of the programs require extra funding, the university believes that reducing its “footprint” on the present and future environment is worth the price. “Sometimes sacrifices need to be made because [some programs] may cost more, but we think that the positives from an environmental impact far outweigh any costs,” Klafter said. Activities such as the ACU Unplugged competition and Box-to-Bin program are designed to reward students for energy and water conservation in the residence halls. For ACU
Continued from page 8
Guard Kathryn Kundmueller looks to make a pass in Tuesday’s scrimmage. E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Unplugged, the 11 residence halls competed for the most energy saved during a 10-day period. Each residence hall’s energy usage was measured during the competition period and compared with the hall’s energy use in the previous fall, according to www.acu.edu/ green. The Box-to-Bin program encouraged students to recycle cardboard boxes used when moving in at the beginning of the school year. Recyclemania, another student-run program, asks students moving out of resident halls each year to donate unwanted goods and clothing and to recycle paper and plastic. “As future leaders of the planet, you need something to lead; it’s an important responsibility,” Klafter said. Lynn applauded the university for sustainability, but a lot of places exist for improvement. A more systematic recycling program is a necessity for both stu-
E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu
Volleyball: ACU wins final 12 of 13 matches
Green: University finds ways to recycle Continued from page 1
“The infield rarely let anything past them,” Logan said. “I am definitely looking forward to playing in the spring.” Carl Winslow, a co-ed team consisting of players from Gamma Sigma Phi and Ko Jo Kai, defeated UP Softball two games to none in the best of three co-ed championship series. In game one, Carl Winslow won 32-6, and game two was forfeited by UP Softball.
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I think it is important for students to become involved in environmental awareness. :: Tiffany Siegel, freshman elementary education major from Austin
dents and faculty to pursue, he said. The ACU “Go Green” video on www.acu.edu/green suggests many different ways students can contribute to a healthier environment. Some examples include using energy efficient light bulbs, turning lights off when leaving a room and using recycle bins to dispose of plastic, paper and aluminum. To request recycle bags and bins for specific areas on campus, e-mail recycle@ acu.edu. Bags of cardboard, plastics, glass, batteries and aluminum cans can be taken to the Hardin Administration Building, Brown Library or The Campus Store to be
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picked up and recycled. “I think it is important for students to become involved in environmental awareness,” said Tiffany Siegel, freshman elementary education major from Austin. Siegel said she tries to make it a point to turn off lights and be more aware of water and energy conservation in her residence hall. “It’s easier than many think,” Siegel said. “And it feels good to know you’re helping the environment by making simple adjustments to your everyday tasks.”
E-mail Spano at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
added 11 kills in the loss. Senior libero Amy Wilson had 20 digs to finish the season as the Wildcats’ all-time single-season digs leader with 586. The previous record holder was Ricci Wingett, who had 577 in 1993. Hines had a season-high 10 blocks in the final match. Moronu, Hines and Hutt were each named to the LSC all-Tournament team. The Wildcats finished the season winning 12 of their
final 13 matches, ending with an overall record of 26-9. This was head coach Kellen Mock’s first 20-win season of her career. “Overall, we had a successful season,” Campbell said. “Had it not been for the slump in September, the season would have been different. We went through a lot as a team and grew together on and off the court.”
E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu
Trojans: Social club still searching for members Continued from page 1 see that tradition continue and be able to share something with those hundreds of people.” Adam Tate, secretary of Trojans and biochemistry major from Abilene, said the group has weekly meetings that will allow things to run smoothly if they are recognized by ACU soon. He said the Trojans were following all
guidelines regarding the rechartering process. “The re-chartering Trojans are a group of guys dedicated to bringing the club back on campus and have done events to bring the group together and have fun,” Tate said. The group still is recruiting members.
E-mail Bailey at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu
SportsWednesday
Page 8
SCOREBOARD Standings Football Team ACU WTAMU Tarleton St. TAMU-K MSU Angelo St. ENMU
Div. 6-0 5-1 3-3 3-3 3-3 1-5 0-6
Overall 10-0 11-1 8-3 7-4 6-4 3-8 2-9
Men’s Basketball Team Tarleton St. ACU Angelo St. TAMU-K WTAMU ENMU MSU
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Women’s Basketball Team WTAMU ACU ENMU MSU TAMU-K Angelo St. Tarleton St.
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 1-0 1-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-2 0-2
ACU defeats Southern Indiana, falls to St. Edward’s By Jeff Craig Sports Writer
The women’s basketball team split its first two games of the season by beating Southern Indiana and falling to St. Edward’s over the weekend. The Wildcats traveled to Austin to compete in the St. Edward’s University Shootout tournament. They defeated the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles on Saturday 80-53, but on Sunday fell to the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers 66-51. Head coach Shawna Lavender said she saw both the good and bad from her team over the weekend. “Saturday we did a great job of controlling the game, Sunday we let St. Edward’s take control,” Lavender said. “We were timid and didn’t do a lot of
Basketball things we’d talked about. Overall I saw two different teams. I was very pleased with the way we played on Saturday against Southern Indiana but I felt that we didn’t have the same intensity on Sunday. We have to learn consistency.” In the Lavender first game, ACU put on a solid defensive performance, keeping Southern Indiana to just 53 points on 27 percent shooting. The Wildcats complemented their strong defensive performance with a solid offensive showing, shooting 46 percent from
the field on their way to a 27-point victory. The women also showed a hot hand behind the arc, shooting 42 percent from the threepoint line. Forward Courtney Laing led all scorers in the game, giving ACU 16 points off the bench in a solid 25-minute performance. Center Audrey Maxwell-Lively and forward Jody Meyer both collected nine rebounds, while guard Kathryn Kundmueller played the role of distributor, leading the way with five assists. Coach Lavender was pleased with her players’ individual performances Saturday and felt the team took control midway through the first half. “I feel the main turning point was about halfway through the first half; See
Basketball page 7
Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Forward Courtney Laing makes a pass during a scrimmage against McMurry. The Wildcats will play Saturday against St. Edward’s in their home opener.
Flying High
Ko Jo Kai, GSP win intramural softball
Scores Saturday
By Chandler Harris Assistant Sports Editor
Women’s Basketball ACU 80, Southern Indiana 53
Volleyball ACU 2, West Texas A&M 3
Monday Men’s Basketball ACU 99, Hillsdale Freewill Baptist 58
Upcoming Thursday Men’s Basketball ACU vs. Dallas Baptist, 7 p.m.
Saturday Cross Country NCAA Div. II Championship, 10:30 a.m, Slippery Rock, Pa.
Football ACU vs. West Texas A&M, noon
Women’s Basketball ACU vs. St. Edward’s, 1 p.m.
Men’s Basketball ACU vs. Huston Tillotson, 5 p.m. :: Home games listed in italics
NOTES n Tickets for ACU’s secondround NCAA Division II playoff game on Nov. 22 went on sale Tuesday. Tickets for the game will be $12 for adults at the gate and $10 for advance purchases, while student tickets will be $6 at the gate and $4 for advance purchases. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ACU athletics office at 674-6853 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. n Running back Bernard Scott is one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to the top Scott player in Division II. National voting will conclude on Nov. 29, and the top three finishers will be invited to Florence, Ala, for the presentation banquet on Dec. 12.
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer
Outside hitter Michelle Bacon (12) and middle blocker Shawna Hines (7) go up for a block against Texas-Permian Basin on Sept. 16.
Cats’ season finishes after loss in LSC championship By Chandler Harris Assistant Sports Editor
The volleyball season came to a close Saturday in Canyon with a loss in the LSC Championship game to West Texas A&M. The Wildcats defeated Tarleton State in the semifinals on Friday to advance to the championship. The team won the Tarleton State match 3-2 (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 11-25, 15-13). Sophomore middle blocker Shawna Hines led with a match-high 16 kills and seven solo blocks. Sophomore setter Ijeoma Moronu had 51 assists, 17 digs and three kills. Junior outside hitter Erin Curry also had a double-double with 11 kills and 22 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Jordan
Volleyball Schilling and junior outside hitter Michelle Bacon each added 10 kills a piece. But the Wildcats lost the West Texas A&M match 3-2 (23-25, 25-10, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11). WTAMU is ranked No. 3 in the nation and had lost just one set at home all season before the championship. Each set went back and forth as more than 1,100 fans looked on. The Wildcats appeared as though they might complete the upset in the fifth and final set as they clung to an 8-5 lead. Then WTAMU’s best player and twotime defending LSC Player of the Year middle blocker Laura Prinsen took over. In the first four sets,
Prinsen hit just .075 but in the fifth set she had four kills in the final 10 points, as WTAMU went on a 10-3 run to close the match. “We came out with a game plan in mind and executed it well,” said Lindsey Campbell, Wildcat assistant volleyball coach. “Our play in game one threw them off a little. We had opportunities to take the whole match, but WT is a strong, tough team that has been in that situation many times.” Freshman outside hitter Jennie Hutt (17 kills, 10 digs), Moronu (46 assists, 22 digs) and Curry (10 kills, 13 digs) all recorded double-doubles. Schilling See
Volleyball page 7
Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer From left, Ericka Dickinson, Britni Golden, Jennie Hutt and Jordan Schilling celebrate a point.
Gamma Sigma Phi and Ko Jo Kai respectively won the men and women’s 3-2 intramural softball tournaments on Sunday. Carl Winslow won the inaugural co-ed softball tournament. The tournament was played in a double-elimination format. The coed league had only two teams sign up; therefore, they played a best two-out-of-three series. Gamma Sigma Phi’s win constitutes its third softball championship in four years. It defeated Frater Sodalis, Victorious Secret and Galaxy to advance to the championship, where it beat Galaxy for the second time 26-11. Tim Brooks, senior accounting and finance major from League City, played left field for Gamma Sigma Phi. “We played pretty well and made all the right decisions,” Brooks said. “We also played a pretty solid defense, which helped us in the long run. Houston Runyan and Cory Moore stepped up and filled the shoes of Doug McFarlen and the other players we lost from last year’s team. It’s a really good feeling to win the softball championship and knowing that all of our hard work in practice paid off.” Ko Jo Kai defeated Delta Theta and Sigma Theta Chi to win the women’s league championship. The Kojies have now won two intramural championships this semester after intramural football earlier in the fall. Kinsey Logan, sophomore communication disorders major from Huntsville, played rover for the Kojies. “The tournament went really well,” Logan said. “The new batting strategy was See
Softball page 7
Wildcats bigger, better in eighth season of competition By Ryan Cantrell Sports Writer
n Head cross country coach Sam Burroughs was named the South Central Region Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association. Burroughs led ACU to its eighth Division II South Central Region championship in the last nine years. It was Burrough’s first season at ACU after joining the Wildcats from Iona College. n Senior Julius Nyango was honored as the top male athlete in the South Central Region after leading ACU to a 1-2-3-4 finish at the regional cross country meet.
November 19, 2008
Photo Courtesy of Micah Embrey
Forward Micah Embrey skates with the puck. The Wildcat hockey team is in its eighth season, while ACU is 3-4-1 through two tournaments this season.
The hockey team has begun its eighth season this year with one of its best teams in recent memory. The men’s team is a club inline team that competes in the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League. The team plays in a four-team division and currently holds a 3-4-1 record through two tournaments. “This is the strongest team we have had in quite a few years,” said captain Philip Greer. “We have a lot of returning players and we have a new goalie in his first year playing who has been incredible for us.” The team’s first two tournaments were at Faceoff in
Hockey Denton. In the next tournament, the Wildcats will play four games in two days, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Their season consists of 20 games or five tournaments. These 20 regular-season games are against other teams in their division: University of Texas at Dallas, Stephen F. Austin University and Austin College. Last season the SCHA Division II League had more teams than this year, but two teams moved up a division, leaving the Wildcats in a four-team race. After their 20-game regular season, the Wildcats will have a postseason division tournament. The winner of this divi-
sional tournament earns a bid to the national tournament. The team practices locally at Cal Young Park. The players have to practice outdoors on a concrete rink, which is different than the surface they play on during actual games and gives ACU a slight disadvantage. Along with practicing outdoors, the Wildcats also work out and train during the week. The team was established in 2000 and has continued to grow. This year the roster is the largest it has ever been with 15 members. They are supported as a club from the school, but this only covers basic team equipment. Shamrock Precision is the team’s corporate See
Hockey page 7