Vol. 94, No. 19 1 section, 8 pages
WEDNESDAY
October 26, 2005
www.acuoptimist.com
Successful sweep
Forum for credit
Getting defensive
ACU runners win team and individual conference cross country honors, page 8
At least two Chapel forums are planned for the rest of the semester, page 3
The Wildcats defeat 19thranked Tarleton State, page 8
Student charged with murders Pledge season n Freshman Brandon Woodruff remains in custody after his arrest Monday and faces two counts of capital murder in last week’s death of his parents. By JONATHAN SMITH Editor in Chief
Police charged student Brandon Woodruff, 19, with two counts of capital murder Monday in connection
with the death of his parents last week, a Hunt County Sheriff’s official confirmed. Woodruff, freshman agribusiness major from Rockwall, was arrested late Monday morning in Texarkana, Ark., where, according to other news reports, his parents’ funeral was held and where family relatives lived. He is being held in the Hunt County Criminal Jus-
tice Center as he awaits trial with bail set at $2 million. Because of the ongoing criminal investigation and privacy concerns, the university would confirm only that Woodruff was a firstyear student, said Dr. Michelle Morris, vice president for University Relations. At the time of his arrest, Woodruff was considered a part-time freshman, and he
had participated in university events such as Freshman Follies. In e-mails sent Monday afternoon, the university asked faculty, staff and students not to release any further information regarding Woodruff to internal or external sources, which includes the media. See
WOODRUFF page 7
The anatomy of a study session
teaches new perspectives n With pledging activities behind them, some new club members said they are thankful for their newfound time-management skills, friends and memories. By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor
Pledging is over. Having seen and conquered, the newest class of social club members comes aboard with something more than club membership. Ashlyn Cosgrove, sophomore nursing major from Coppell, said she had her moments when the challenges of pledging were pressing. Of all the life lessons learned in the weeks of pledging Ko Jo Kai, Cosgrove said she would never lose the time management skills she gained as a result of the activities. Pledge classes are challenged by club members to abide by rules and participate in activities. Sometimes, Cosgrove said, the situations
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Josie Shepard, sophomore exercise science major from Tucson, Ariz., and Jason Harley, sophomore exercise science major from Houston, study for their anatomy quiz on Monday in the campus mall area.
Frats to haunt Buffalo Gap village n The Frater Sodalis men’s social club will partner with a club from McMurry University to create a haunted village this weekend in Buffalo Gap Historic Village. By MALLORY SHERWOOD Managing Editor
Shrieks of terror will fill the night as students and members from the Abilene community roam the countryside at Buffalo Gap’s Historic Village “Haunted Village” beginning Friday. Frater Sodalis, a men’s social club, partnered with Buffalo Gap’s Historic Village and a social club from McMurry University this year to produce the Haunted Village, a 30-minute tour across the Historic Village’s four acres. Dustin Marshall, senior
Library Commons area Reconstruction in the main floor of Brown Library will include: • a new entrance by the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence • a coffee shop • a copy center, modeled closely to Copy Stop • a group study area where students can gather around tables with computers and work on group projects • an art gallery in the atrium area that will also have a stage to allow students to have concerts and poetry readings and display their artwork • track lighting, which will place small lights around the area to create a different atmosphere
accounting major from Abilene and Frat member, said at least 50 members plan to perform for guests traveling through the Haunted Village. Marshall said this is the first time the club is not doing everything considering the club has put on its own
“I think it’s great we’re partnering with the Historic Village this year because it means less work for us,” said Jace Gallagher, senior finance major from North Pole, Alaska and Frat fundraiser. “It will be a much better haunted house than in years past.”
“I think it’s great we’re partnering with the historic village this year ... . It will be a much better haunted house than in years past.” Jace Gallagher, senior finance major from North Pole, Alaska
haunted house in the past. He said members from the Historic Village contacted the club this fall to see if they would help run the Haunted Village this year.
Gallagher said the members didn’t know exactly what they would be doing this year because the Historic Village wrote the script and is providing all the mate-
rials needed. He said the men will have a dress rehearsal on Thursday to see how the night will work. Throughout the evening, members from Frater Sodalis and the social club from McMurry will act out various scenarios that could be scary for some, Gallagher said. “It’s rated PG-13 this year, so unless your family is 13 years and older, I wouldn’t come,” Gallagher said. The Haunted Village will take place four nights, from Friday through Monday. On Friday and Saturday, the village will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight and on Sunday and Monday it will be open from 6 -10 p.m. “We close at midnight, but See
HAUNTED page 7
became very difficult. “But, there are 53 other girls going through the same thing you’re going through, who will always be there,” she said. “It’s hard to explain this to girls who are not in club, but your pledge class knows.” Cosgrove said she chose to pledge Ko Jo Kai because the women of the social club won her over. “They have a love for one another and God,” she said. “That’s something I felt I wanted to be a part of. “In the end, it’s all worth it as long as God is glorified,” she said. Charismatic club members drew some students to pledge, but others like Maher Saab, junior political science major from Abilene, pledged out of faith. After spending time in prayer, Saab knew he should pledge men’s social club Pi See
PLEDGE page 7
Hurricane Wilma cuts across Florida n The 21st named storm of the season crossed the state at Category 2 strength and could leave some state residents without power for a month. By MITCH HOLT Opinion Editor
The third major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast this year attacked Florida’s southern coast Monday, damaging homes throughout the state and leaving Floridians without basic necessities such as food, clothing, hot water and electricity. More than six million residents of the area in and around the Everglades were affected, while more than three million homes and businesses lost power as Wilma hit land at 6:30 a.m. The storm had 145 mph winds. After it hit land, the storm flew across Florida as a Category 2, damaging homes, businesses and roads as far south as Key West. The Miami airport, among 18 others, was closed
during the storm, said R. David Paulison, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in a CNN interview. According to reports, Florida Power and Light said it could be as long as a month before all in the state have power restored in their homes and businesses. Financially, Hurricane Wilma is the third most devastating hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast, trailing Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast in September, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Although the damage isn’t as extensive as Hurricane Katrina’s, Wilma left more than five times the number of people without power. President Bush said in a press conference that Florida Power and Light is doing its best to recruit out of state help and pick up the mess in a timely fashion, but it is expected to take quite a while. To help with the effort, MiSee
HURRICANE page 7
Commons area brings new library concept n Although talking, eating and drinking in libraries has been discouraged in the past, the new Learning Commons is meant to encourage students to do so. By RACHEL LAU Student Reporter
Last month, senior Kenny McGowan paid a visit to the Brown Library to help a friend with homework. He wasn’t sure where the entrance was. “That was probably the fifth time I’ve been to the library,” said McGowan, a biochemistry major from Ontario, Ore. “All the resources I need can be found on the Internet, and if I need a qui-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
et place to study, I have my room,” he said. Recently, some college libraries across the country have begun to steer away from the conventional concepts of a library to accommodate a new generation of college students. This Centennial year, the university is taking that step and creating a Learning Commons—a place designed to attract more students in this era by providing them excellent academic support.
Breaking all the rules What used to be a first floor that reflected a typical library—shelves of books, tables and computers—is now a
vast, empty space. This temporary change, however, is less drastic than changes the university will make. The renovated floor will entail ideas and resources many libraries have never seen before. “There are several sacred rules of a library, and we’ve broken those,” said George Saltsman, director of Educational Technology and parttime director of the Learning Commons. “We will have food and drinks and places where we encourage people to talk,” he said. “What’s the point of See
WORK page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
The ground floor of Brown Library has already been cleared as the university prepares to remodel the space to create a new Learning Commons area.
Abilene Christian University
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