WEDNESDAY
September 28, 2005
Smash hit
Optimist
A women’s doubles team and Casper Steenkamp advanced to nationals, page 8
the
Vol. 94, No. 12 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Proud parents
International appeal
The Alumni Association named John and Jean Isom as Parents of the Year, page 4
The Wildcats lost to a Japanese collegiate all-star team 8-0, page 8
Work begins on film contest
Students party in the plaza
n Although five fewer groups began FilmFest projects this year, organizers said they believe groups are better prepared and more will complete their films. By TIFFANY TAYLOR Features Editor
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Members of Viva Mexico, a group that performs traditional cultural dances, perform during Entra a la Plaza on Friday by the GATA fountain. Hispanos Unidos organized the event, which translates to “enter the plaza,” to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Entertainment included a mariachi band, soft rock bands, dancers and food provided by from local vendors.
More than 300 attend celebration organized by Hispanos Unidos to correspond with Hispanic Heritage Month By BLYTHE THOMPSON Student Reporter
Food disappeared quickly as student attendance was better than expected for a celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, sponsored by Hispanos Unidos last Friday around the GATA fountain. Entra a la Plaza, the name of the fiesta, kicked off around 7 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m. with entertainment
that included a mariachi band from Lubbock, various soft rock bands from the university, dancers performing traditional Hispanic dances and free food provided by Abilene area vendors, such as Abuelo’s, La Popular and Mary’s Paleteria. More than 300 students showed up for the food, music and abundance of Hispanic culture that awaited them. To get food, students had to show up early. Maria
del Pinal, junior communication major from Fort Worth, said the food she was helping serve disappeared within the hour. The turnout was everything planners had expected, Hispanos Unidos member del Pinal said. Planners began organizing the event at the beginning of the school year, and the club would like to have this event every year, said Thomas Madrid, senior English major from
Abilene and member of Hispanos Unidos. Club members and students in search of a Friday night meal or evening out attended Entra a la Plaza. Korey Smith, junior psychology major from Wichita, Kan., said the food was great. “I wish they would do one of these every month with different cultures,” Smith said. Organizers chose Entra a la Plaza as the theme be-
By MALLORY SHERWOOD Managing Editor
Courtney Patterson spent Sunday playing on the playground and coloring with children. She had never met these children before, but they didn’t seem to care that she was 15 years older than many of them. Patterson, freshman business management major from Orlando, was one of more than 275 students trained by the Red Cross on Friday evening to work with the evacuees who moved from the Gulf Coast and Port Charles area to G.V. Daniels Recreation Center. She said she wanted to help because she is from Florida and knows what it is like to go through a hurricane.
“Last summer we had four hurricanes hit us, so I’ve seen what people go through, and I know what it feels like to lose property and your material things,” Patterson said. Patterson entertained BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer some of the children who Students listen to Red Cross shelter director Ronnie Broadus during arrived this weekend during the training session necessary for volunteers to work at a Red Cross her volunteer shift. Others evacuee shelter Friday in Hart Auditorium. More than 275 attended. work the registration table, clean, take care of infants Cross needed much help. “It’s been awesome. and serve food. Jon Strong, senior busiStudents have played She said the people are ness management major from with kids, changed friendly and thankful for a Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, was place to come, and they will one of more than 100 people diapers, registered wait it out until they can go who stayed after Chapel last evacuees, made beds, home. Friday because they wanted to set up cots, served food G.V. Daniels Recreation help. He said he was affected Center has about 130 cots by Chapel and felt he needed and so much more. inside its gym, covering the to get involved somehow. Without fail, every floor and leaving just enough Strong and some friends time I’m at the room for walking space. It of- attended the meeting Friday fers its guests a cafeteria with in Hart Auditorium and had a shelter, the adult a buffet line always stocked hard time finding a seat. He volunteers talk with food, a game room with said although the auditorium about how amazing billiard tables and televisions was packed and people had and a playground outside for to stand in the back, students our students are.” children. were attentive and listened to With so many people that Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life arrived in Abilene, the Red See SHELTER page 5
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
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Gulf Coast students hear from families
Red Cross trains students to help n More than 275 students attend a training session to prepare them to work with hurricane evacuees from the Gulf Coast staying at the G.V. Daniels Recreation Center.
cause of its Hispanic history. The meaning of the name, literally translated “enter the plaza,” comes from the Spanish background where small towns would come to the town’s plaza to greet, meet, and eat, del Pinal said. Del Pinal, who is a mixture of Spanish and Guatemalan background, said she would like to share Hispanic’s zeal
Amateur filmmakers are prepared to begin their projects for the university’s film contest, FilmFest, after learning the basics Sept 9-10 at FilmFest workshops. FilmFest organizers planned the workshops to provide the basics for the groups, whose levels of expertise in filmmaking varies. Organizers planned classes for every position in registered groups: producer, director, technical director, writer, production designer, and sound designer. Fewer contestants attended the workshops this year than last, but assistant coordinator Matt Maxwell said the numbers did not reflect a decline in interest. Last year, the first year for the film contest, 30 groups began the process, some not knowing the requirements and necessary work, said Maxwell, junior electronic media major from Abilene. Almost half dropped out before films were due. About 25 groups have signed up this year, and Maxwell said he thinks the students are better prepared and more likely to complete the project. “I just know the quality’s going to be so much better,” Maxwell said.
n After Hurricane Rita caused less devastation than originally forecast, students have begun to find out if their homes were damaged as families wait to move back. By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor
Hurricane Rita this weekend caused less damage to the Houston area than forecasters predicted and answered the prayers of several students. Chris Butler, junior nursing major from Houston, thought his mother’s house would be gone the next time he went home, but he said the storm didn’t damage it at all. “I figured that could happen because hurricanes are so unpredictable,” Butler said. Butler’s mother evacuated her coastal home to the Dallas area, where she will stay until at least Thursday. “All the water is contaminated,” Butler said. “On Thursday they’ll get the results and find out if they can go home.”
Abilene Christian University
Katy Hill, sophomore nursing major from Bridge City, said her home also survived the storm with little damage, even though the eye of the hurricane passed over her town, which is close to the Louisiana border. “My dad looked at it,” Hill said. “He said our house is fine, and there was no flooding; just a few trees blew down.” Hill’s mother left last Thursday for Mississippi to escape Rita, but her father had to stay in town until Friday afternoon because he works for an oil refinery. “When my dad was driving back to Port Arthur, where he works, he said it looked like someone took a huge chain saw and cut all the trees down,” Hill said. Although forecasters thought Rita might hit Galveston directly as a Category 4 hurricane, it downgraded to a Category 3 with 120 mph winds by the time it slammed See
HOMES page 5
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