2005 10 28

Vol. 94, No. 20 1 section, 8 pages

FRIDAY

October 28, 2005

www.acuoptimist.com

Comedy on campus

A fresh start

‘Elizabethtown’ sinks

Traveling comedians will offer students a chance to laugh Monday, page 3

Bird gets his first start as quarterback against Texas A&M-Kingsville, page 8

Crowe’s latest box-office hit misses the mark with Garden State similarities, page 5

Sub T-16 suspended for two years Pulitzer n Men’s social club Sub T-16 is the third club this semester to be suspended or put on probation because of illegal or inappropriate pledging activities.

By JONATHAN SMITH Editor in Chief

The university placed the men’s social club Sub T-16 on a two-year suspension Oct. 13 after an investigation into alleged hazing violations during pledging activities.

Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said the suspension will mean Sub T will not be recognized or even exist as an official club on campus. It will not be able to participate as a club in activities such as pledging, intramural sports and Sing Song.

Barnard and Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU Police, who had been conducting the investigation into the club activities, met with Sub T to announce the suspension.

“Asking how the meeting

went would be like asking a bereaved family how the funeral was,” Ellison said.

“It was certainly not news that the Sub T membership wanted to hear, but they asked some good questions, vented some understandable frustrations and disappointment to Dean Barnard, but overall handled themselves as best as could be expected.”

Chad English, member of Sub T and junior management major from Dallas,

said the announcement came as a big surprise, and the club decided to appeal the decision to Dr. Royce Money, president of the university.

However, Barnard said Money announced Monday that he upheld the club’s suspension.

English said the club as a whole had not discussed what it would do now that it was suspended.

See

Social Club Suspensions • Women’s club Delta Theta was suspended in October for the fall semester • Men’s club Galaxy was put on probation for the academic year •Men’s club Sub T-16 was suspended for two years after alleged hazing complaints

HAZING page 7

winner to speak on campus n David Leeson, an alumnus, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004 for his photography in Iraq and will speak on campus and assist with FilmFest on Nov. 4-5.

By LAUREN SUTTON Student Reporter

Students will have the opportunity to see and listen to Pulitzer Prize winner and ACU alumnus David Leeson, who will visit campus to talk about his award-winning work, participate in a symposium and take part in FilmFest on Nov. 4-5.

After he helps judge films and present awards at FilmFest on Nov. 4, Leeson will participate in a symposium at 10 a.m. Saturday morning in Mabee Business Building, Room 115, which is open to students and faculty. At 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium, Leeson will talk about his experiences in Iraq and New Orleans, where he covered Hurricane Katrina. The theme of his talk is “The Future is Now,” and students are invited.

“David provides a really unique window into our world,” said Doug Darby, creative See

LEESON page 7

Students feel frustrated with registration BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Demetrius Collins, class of 2005 and former member of Gamma Sigma Phi, and Justin Scott, senior political science major from White House, also a member of GSP, applaud Kevin Christian, class of 2000, as he announces his candidacy for the District 71 Texas House of Representative seat Thursday at Region 14 Educational Center.

By LUKE HARRIS

Stepping out on his own n Kevin Christian, class of 2000, announced his candidacy for the District 71 Texas House of Representative seat to replace Rep. Bob Hunter, chancellor emeritus.

By JACI SCHNEIDER Opinion Editor

An ACU alumnus announced he will run for Texas State Representative for District 71 Thursday.

Kevin Christian, class of 2000, will campaign to fill the seat of Rep. Bob Hunter, chancellor emeritus, for the Republican primary election in March.

Christian graduated with a degree in political science from ACU before attending the University of Texas School of Law. While a student, Christian was a Pope Fellow, a member of the men’s social club Gamma Sigma Phi and worked for Hunter, he said.

Men from GSP attended Christian’s announcement Thursday to show their support of his campaign.

In Christian’s announcement, he said he knows what it takes to get the job done in Austin. He said he has the experience needed to serve the district.

“My experience has prepared me to be a good representative of West Texas values in Austin,” Christian said in his speech.

He said West Texans want someone who will support public schools, create jobs and economic prosperity, reform the tax system, conserve Christian values and bolster the Texas Equalization Grant.

According to Christian’s biography, he served as Hunter’s chief of staff and executive director for Gov. Rick Perry’s West Texas Office of Economic Development and Tourism. He also has a part-time law practice in

MSNBC anchor reschedules event n Holt, MSNBC anchor, will speak Dec. 1 as part of the Centennial Speaker Series after he postponed his speaking engagement on Sept.

22 because of the hurricane.

By MALLORY SHERWOOD Managing Editor

Lester Holt, MSNBC anchor, rescheduled his speaking engagement for Dec. 1 after postponing his original speaking date on Sept.

22, when Hurricane Katrina hit Galveston.

Holt was supposed to be the first speaker in the Centennial Speaker Series, but

will now follow Pat Summerall, former NFL announcer, who is scheduled to speak Nov. 8 and Dr. Kenneth Elzinga, professor of economics at the University of Virginia, who spoke on Sept.

26. Holt cancelled his arrival to Abilene after airports in the Gulf region were closed because of Hurricane Katrina.

Jennifer Ellison, Centennial activities coordinator, said the Centennial committee has asked Holt to follow the same schedule as in SepSee

HOLT page 7

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Staff Writer

Abilene.

Hunter announced earlier this month that he would not run for re-election for the office he has served in for more than 20 years because he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His term ends in January 2007.

Christian called Hunter a “mentor and friend,” and said he learned a lot from him while working in his office.

“Bob Hunter is the consummate statesman, and I am so thankful for my relationship with him,” Christian said.

See

n Registration causes students problems again this year, although changes have been made to make the system work smoother, Kevin Roberts said.

Students all over campus logged onto the Banner Web page from my.acu.edu to register for classes on past Wednesdays. Many logged on at 3 p.m., put in their course registration numbers and registered for the classes they wanted to take for the spring semester. Some students, however, were not so lucky. Some found it difficult to get the classes they wanted, and while others couldn’t even get past the first page.

Chris Lee, senior biology major from Abilene, said he was frustrated with the registration process at the university, and he said in four years of going to school here, he has never had a easy experience with the registration process. Lee said he knows it would be hard to have several people signing on at the same time to register, but he thinks as though the school, having given students a set time to register, should be more prepared.

RACE page 7

See

CLASSES page 7

Sing Song hosts announced n Rehearsals begin next week for the six students recently named Sing Song host and hostesses for the 50th anniversary Sing Song on Feb. 17-18.

By SARAH CARLSON

Upcoming Centennial Speakers • Pat Summerall, NFL broadcaster for CBS, on Nov. 8 • Lester Holt, MSNBC anchor on Dec. 1 • Kathleen Norris, awardwinning author, on Feb. 27 • Dr. Stephen Carter, a William Nelson Cromwell professor of law at Yale University, on March 30

Arts Editor

Will Smyth sat on the tailgate of his pickup truck, staring at his cell phone and praying it wouldn’t ring.

Smyth, senior youth and family ministry major from Fort Worth, had heard if you receive a phone call, it means you didn’t make it as a Sing Song host or hostess.

So he sat on his truck in the late hours last Wednesday night, until about 1:30 a.m.

when a car pulled up outside his house. People jumped out of the car, screaming at him and then kidnapping him.

Smyth had been chosen as a host, along with two other men and three women, for Sing Song 2006, titled “The 50th Show” and was off to meet his fellow hosts.

“I was shocked,” Smyth said.

The other hosts and hostesses are Crystal Hughes, junior human communication major from Frisco; Jenna Lucado, senior integrated marketing and communication major from San Antonio; Ragan Rhodes, junior interdisciplinary major from Fort Worth; Shannon Bailey, se-

Abilene Christian University

nior management major from Corsicana; and Josh Castle, junior music teaching major from Overland Park, Kan. Sing Song will be Feb. 1718, with one show at 8 p.m.

Friday and shows at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the first two shows range from $14-18, while Saturday’s tickets are $20.

Smyth said auditions for host last week went well, and he is excited to be working with the other hosts.

“I went into it to just sing from my heart and have fun with it, and it was a great experience,” Smyth said. “I love singing, and I love using what See

HOSTS page 7

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

Friday, October 28, 2005

28

Calendar & Events Friday

Purple Day begins.

Batman Begins, 7:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

Philharmonic Concert, 8 p.m., Abilene Civic Center.

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Sunday

FilmFest tickets on sale, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Encuentro Latino continental interest meeting, 7-9 p.m., Gary and Frances Green’s house.

Honors Program Masquerade sign up, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

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ABN Concert, 7-10 p.m., Bean Sprout.

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Saturday

Home football game, 2 p.m., Shotwell Stadium.

Monday

We Can Make You Laugh, 8-10 p.m., Bean Sprout.

FilmFest tickets on sale, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Honors Program Masquerade sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Campus Center ticket window.

Tiffany Hamilton Run will soldier on n Students support the family of deceased student, Tiffany Hamilton in a benefit run Saturday at 9 a.m. behind Adams and Smith residence halls.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor

Against all odds, the Tiffany Hamilton Run will begin, Saturday at 9 a.m. behind Adams and Smith residence halls Students can participate in the run for a $10 fee.

Last year, the benefit run fell well below the participation target.

According to an article printed in the Optimist on Nov. 10, 2004, Students In Free Enterprise leaders noted that the 200 runners they were hoping would participate turned out only 70 participants.

As a result, group leaders were not sure if SIFE would pull off another successful run.

SIFE organized the annual run three years ago after Hamilton died of pneumonia during her senior year at the age of 22.

Even as a daughter in a family of 12, Hamilton was active on campus.

SIFE was one of her student groups she participated in. The group organized a benefit run to help her family cover her

medical bills; expenses that her loved ones still struggle with today.

Camile Jackson, senior family studies major from Abilene, was a friend of Hamilton.

“She had a very outgoing personality,” she said. “She wasn’t scared of anything.”

Jackson said the first run was a success because everyone knew Hamilton either through the organizations she was involved in or through her brothers Derrick Hamilton and Jarrad Hamilton, both former ACU students who served and are serving in the war in Iraq.

Student groups worked together to raise funds, and one student organized a basketball tournament to raise money for Hamilton’s family.

SIFE leaders hope to have another enthusiastic response.

Maela Ramos, SIFE operations officer, said, she thinks there might be a better turnout.

Ramos, senior finance major from Abilene, said the project leaders are working on the run diligently this year and more advertising.

Participants also have a chance to win prizes and have refreshments.

E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu

About This Page 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 optimist@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.

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.

Greg Bush and the ACU Combo Jazz Recital, 8 p.m., William Performance Arts Center recital hall.

01

Tuesday

FilmFest tickets on sale, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Jazz at the Bean Sprout, 6-9 p.m., Bean Sprout.

Honors Program Masquerade sign up, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Campus Center ticket window.

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Credited Chapels remaining:

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Wednesday

FilmFest tickets on sale, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Honors Program Masquerade sign up, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Campus Center ticket window.

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Thursday

David Leeson and Rolando Diaz Art Talk and Starbucks Coffee, 6:30 p.m., The Grace Museum.

Announcements Dr Pepper cans commemorating ACU’s Centennial are now available. Six packs may be purchased in the Campus Store for $1.99, or cases of 24 may be purchased from Central Stores for $8.48.

Sing Song “THE 50TH SHOW” tickets are now on sale for the 50th annual ACU Sing Song. Visit http://www.acusingsong.com/ for more information.

Pat Summerall tickets are on sale for the Pat Summerall Centennial Speaker Series luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

For ACU faculty/staff, table sponsorships are $300, general admission tickets are $20, student tickets are $10, and student sponsorships are $10. Purchase tickets by calling 674-2622.

Homecoming T-shirts are for sale in the Alumni Relations Office. The shirts are $7 for adults and $4 for children.

Plan to attend the Fall 2005 ACU Graduate School Fair.

Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. in the Hilton Room of the McGlothlin Campus Center. Stop and visit with representatives from each of the ACU Graduate School Departments. Register to win one of two $300 ACU Graduate School Scholarships and other door prizes.

For more information please call 674-2656.

The Intercollegiate Community Celebration is Nov. 12.

Students from Hardin-Simmons and McMurry will join for a united day of fellowship and service with local agencies and neighborhoods.

The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with worship. Service projects are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner will be 7-8:30 p.m. at the homes of faculty and staff from the three universities.

The Taylor County Historical Commission is hosting their annual Fall Historical Marker tour from 1-5 p.m. Nov. 5. Participants will enjoy a guided bus tour of 15 or more current or proposed historical marker locations throughout Abilene, Buffalo Gap, Merkel and the county. The bus leaves Lytle Land & Cattle Company, 1150 E. S. 11th at Judge Ely Boulevard, at 1 p.m. and returns at 5 p.m.

Contact Commission President Jim Bucherie at 325-695-4250, Stowe, or Anita Lane at 325-572-3269 for more information about the tour.

For students needing notary services a Notary Public is available at the Information Desk at the Campus Center 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Notary services will no longer be available to students in any office on campus other than at the Information Desk at the Campus Center.

Volunteer Opportunities The Neighborhoods In Progress group needs volunteers to help with installing a sprinkler system in some neighborhood housing Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon until the project is complete. No experience is necessary, and all equipment is provided.

For more information, contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center in the Bean Sprout.

The GV Daniels Recreation Center Fall Festival needs volunteers to run game booths and help clean up from 6-10 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Justin Whiteley at 676-6443.

Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to work at their Halloween Carnival held at the mall on Monday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Karen Mendoza at 325-2010250 March of Dimes needs volunteers to help decorate, monitor the silent auction and clean up after a black-tie

fundraising dinner on Nov. 7 and 8. For more information, contact Jennifer Woodard at 672-0566.

Weekend Campaigns are open on the following weekends: Friday through Sunday, Nov. 4-6, and Nov. 18-20. For more information, contact Jonathan Wood at 210-273-1466 or e-mail him at jrw02i@acu.edu.

KGNZ, Abilene`s Christian radio station, needs volunteers to help answer phone lines and take pledges during their annual “Friend Raiser.” The dates are Tuesday through Thursday and times slots are anytime between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on those days.

Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

There will be an ACU Environmental Science Service Project on Saturday, November 5 at Lake Kirby.

Volunteers will clean up litter around the lake and recycle items. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for more information.

Friday, October 28, 2005

ACU awarded for racial harmony n The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities awarded the university for increasing the cultural diversity on campus in the past few years.

Page 3

CAMPUS NEWS

diversity efforts.

“As children of God, we need to understand and appreciate cultures and histories of other peoples,” VanRheenen said.

He said students’ roles

By ANDREA LUCADO in promoting diversity is to Student Reporter move outside their comfort Sing Song is not the only zones, get to know people harmony campus will sing from different backgrounds this spring. and enroll in courses and In March, the university seminars that address ethwill receive the 2006 Ranic issues. cial Harmony Award for the Dr. Royce Money, presifirst time. dent of the university, will Every year the Council accept the award on behalf for Christian Colleges and of the ACU community at Universities, the 2006 Inwhich is a ternational non-profit Forum on “As children of God, we need to understand and organization C h r i s t i a n appreciate cultures and histories of other peoples.” that supHigher Edports Chrisucation, Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university tian colleges which will be and universiat the Gayties, selects lord Texan the recipients of this award. minor in ethnic and women’s Resort in Dallas from March This year ACU was one of studies, a study program 30 to April 1. two universities chosen in in Crow Nation, Mont., and VanRheenen said he plans the nation. study abroad programs in to attend the forum with According to the CCCU Mexico, Central and Latin many other campus life leadWeb site its goal for schools America. ers and representatives from of higher education is “to Student organizations 100 to 150 schools. model the diverse body of such as the LYNAY group, a “It is encouraging to have Christ and to affirm the dig- purposefully diverse student outsiders affirm our work,” nity of all people as ‘image- service organization, and VanRheenen said. “We will bearers’ of the living God.” Culture Show, which is an continue to build on this Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, annual student-run produc- foundation, as we move into provost of the university, tion that displays the differ- the future.” said ACU deserves the Racial ent cultures on campus, have Harmony Award. also contributed the college’s E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu

Piecing together a picture

“Substantial changes have occurred in several areas, including faculty, curriculum and co-curriculum,” VanRheenen said.

According to the CCCU Web site, ACU has risen its percentage of non-white students from 18.3 to 20.2 in the past five years, and the university has hired 23 minority faculty members since 1997.

The university also has many academic programs encouraging cultural diversity. Some include a study program in urban Dallas, a

EMERALD McGOWAN/Staff Photographer

Kalyn Pierce, junior art education major from Menard, works on a sculpture at her apartment Monday.

Pierce’s sculpture is a quilted relief depicting her view of the Fall of Jerusalem.

Comedy group will make an appearance to spice up Halloween n Campus Activities Board scheduled ‘We Can Make You Laugh’ comedy team to perform Monday, ending with the much publicized audience participation.

By BRIAN SCHMIDT Chief Photographer

The Campus Activities Board will sponsor the appearance of a comedy group that claims “We Can Make You Laugh” on Monday, which is Halloween. CAB is trying to provide students with differ-

ent activities and, in the process, brings in a new type of comedy in which the audience is a crucial aspect.

Joe Anderson, Scott Piebenga and Adam Mollhagen make up the comedy team We Can Make You Laugh, whose main draw is a comedy game show, which offers $50 to participants pulled from the audience, if the team can’t make them laugh.

CAB intern Kayla Anderson, senior English major from Hewitt, said students had ex-

pressed interest in having comedians come to campus, and this group seemed a perfect fit. She said not only does the group offer clean, appropriate comedy, but also, its routine heavily involves students.

According to the comedy team’s Web site, http://kramerintl.com/wcmyl.htm, the two-hour show begins with a more traditional comedy hour with comedians and then ends with the game show.

Anderson said CAB has wanted to provide different ac-

tivities for students, in addition to its popular Free Night Out and monthly movies.

“Our goal is to offer unique entertainment because we show movies, and we always have a good response from that, but you can rent a movie and watch it with your friends,” she said. “We’re trying to offer students something that they can’t really do on their own, something they wouldn’t normally do anyway.”

Anderson said CAB sent out a survey at the end of last

semester to find out what activities students would be interested in having, and if this event goes well, CAB will bring in more and a larger variety of events.

“We’re always looking for new ideas that students will be interested in,” she said. “We just want to see how students like it first; all of these things, they can be pretty expensive to bring, so we want to make sure that students will actually take advantage of it and that it’s something that they actually

want to go to before we spend the money.”

The comedy show begins at 8 p.m. in the Bean Sprout and is free for students.

“I think it will be good because when you’re in college, you can’t really trick-or-treat or anything, so Halloween isn’t as big of a holiday as it was whenever you were a little kid,” Anderson said. “I think it will be good to have something fun to do.”

E-mail Schmidt at: bms02e@acu.edu

Page 4

October 28, 2005 Box Office

Figures for the weekend of October 21-23, in millions. Total grosses in parenthesis.

1. Doom—$15.5 (new) 2. Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story—$9.2 (new) 3. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit—$8.6 ($43.9) 4. The Fog—$6.7 ($20.9) 5. North Country—$6.4 (new) 6. Elizabethtown—$5.6 ($18.8) 7. Flightplan—$4.7 ($77.3) 8. In Her Shoes—$3.9 ($26.2) 9. A History of Violence—$2.7 ($26.3) 10. Two for the Money— $2.4 ($20.7)

Today’s Movies The Weather Man (R)— starring Nicholas Cage, Michael Caine; directed

by Gore Verbinski.

Cage stars as Dave Spritz, a weather man who is on top of his professional game but can’t seem to avoid the occasional Big Gulp or burrito thrown his way when his viewers don’t appreciate his false weather predictions.

Despite his success, his personal life is falling apart. His father is ill, he is divorced and he has trouble relating with his children. He can’t control the events in his life because, like the weather, life is unpredictable.

Crowe’s Kentucky-fried affair falls flat Elizabethtown PP1/2 n Starring Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer, Jessica Biel; Written and directed by Cameron Crowe Rated PG-13 (for language and some sexual references)

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Americans love road-trip movies. For some reason, the possibilities of setting out across the country with only a map and a mixed tape as our guides inspires us, not to mention the coming-of-age stories that are generally intertwined in the adventure.

We love the idea of new beginnings and not knowing what we will discover just around the bend of the country road we’re traveling. Jack Kerouac captured the experience of beatniks in the 1950s in On the Road, a novel briefly alluded to in Elizabethtown. The lead character, Drew, begins his own cross-country road trip and examines the homemade, complex map he’s been given by a new-found love interest, Claire. The map begins with a quote from Kerouac, no doubt an inspiration for writer and director Cameron Crowe.

Unfortunately for Crowe, his own tribute to the open road in Elizabethtown is squashed between other narratives, ranging from professional failings, the loss of a parent, father-son relationships, new love interests, finding one’s muse, dealing with grief, getting in touch with one’s roots, small-town family life, overcoming fear and, of course, coming of

Ratings Key Excellent PPPP Good PPP Fair PP Poor P age. All of these topics are touched on in Elizabethtown but are never developed.

Crowe had too much on his plate this time to create his usual crowd-pleaser or cult hit, leaving those of us who fell in love with his previous film, Almost Famous, or perhaps Jerry Maguire or Say Anything…, confused and disappointed.

Drew (Bloom) loses his career, his girlfriend and his desire to live in the first few minutes of the film where his voiceover discusses the differences between fiascos, failures and successes­— lines recently quoted so often by critics of the film that Crowe is probably regretting having written them.

Drew spent eight years designing an athletic shoe that ultimately cost his Nike-like company close to a billion dollars in losses. He is ruined, and as he plans his suicide, his cell phone rings: his father is dead, and his sister needs him to fly to Elizabethtown, Ky., to pick up the body and bring it back home to Oregon.

He then hops a plane, fully planning to kill himself once the task is done.

Being one of the few passengers flying from Oregon to Louisville, Ky., he attracts the attention of the flight attendant, Claire (Dunst), whose personality fluctuates as easily as her bluegrass accent, which is Dunst’s fault, not Claire’s.

She’s peppy, talkative and

being from the area Drew is traveling to, draws him a map and constantly gives him directions and advice.

He’s cordial and says goodbye once the plane lands thinking that is that, but it won’t be the last he sees of Claire.

He calls her after a long day of meeting his father’s side of the family, smalltown Kentucky folk, who know everything about him and seem much too cheerful after losing their loved one.

Drew calls Claire while juggling incoming calls from his sister (Greer), relaying stories of their mother’s (Sarandon) obsession with learning new activities to keep her mind off her grief, and his girlfriend (Biel), who dropped him as soon as his career floundered.

He escapes the hectic calls and talks to Claire all night about anything and everything, and the two meet halfway between their locations to watch the sun rise.

But, as Claire says while they share the picturesque moment, the relationship peaked on the phone, and their connection wasn’t as strong as they had hoped.

In between his encounters with Claire, Drew has to convince his father’s family on the idea of cremating his dad instead of burying him, which the Kentuckians are dead-set on. He helps make arrangements for the memorial service, all the while coming to terms with the fact that he wasn’t close to his father and can’t even cry about the news of his death.

Trying to relay the basic plotlines of Elizabethtown proves difficult because they have no consistency or logic to them. Drew’s relationship with Claire is endearing one minute and annoying the next, with a few awkward conversations in between—again, made awkward by the lack of acting, not the original design of the characters.

While the plotline is semiautobiographical, taking Crowe back to his own father’s death and small-town life in Kentucky, most of the

PHOTo courtesy of www.rottentomatoes.com

Claire (Kirsten Dunst, right) embraces with new-found love, Drew (Orlando Bloom), in Elizabethtown, the new film from Cameron Crowe. Claire is a flight attendant who meets Drew on his way to Kentucky after his father has died. The film opened Oct. 14 and has grossed $18.8 million. stories have either already been told in better films or do not make any sense. Garden State serves as a better example of a 20-something traveling home for a parent’s funeral, dealing with the culture he left behind and finding an eccentric and beautiful love interest, who changes his life. That plotline was probably what Cameron was aiming for, or should have been aiming for, but with no luck.

Elizabethtown falls flat in all aspects except the soundtrack, something Crowe can always be counted on for delivering. But Crowe can’t build his movies around his CD collection, no matter how great or inspiring the music is. If the

characters aren’t appealing, it doesn’t matter what music they are running around on screen to.

Drew’s lines in the opening voiceover can best sum up the film: “There is a difference between a failure and a fiasco. Failure is simply the non-presence of success. But a fiasco is a disaster of mythic proportions.”

Elizabethtown is not a fiasco—it’s not large enough or important enough to earn the title, and Crowe is too talented to reach that level.

It’s just the non-presence of success.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, October 28, 2005

Page 5

Group raises $2,200 for orphans n Members of Awake 3:18, who support the growing number of children orphaned because of AIDS in Africa, work to increase awareness of the epidemic.

By LAUREN HART Student Reporter

Awake 3:18, a new AIDS awareness organization on campus, collected $2,200 after a presentation in Chapel on Oct.19, for an orphanage in Kenya.

On Oct. 17 and 19, 243 students volunteered to wear orange T-shirts, each representing 50,000 children orphaned because of AIDS in Africa. The money raised will go to Malindi Hope for Orphans in Malindi, Kenya.

David Altuna, sophomore biochemistry major from Austin, is Awake 3:18 co-chair.

“The main focus of the club is not to raise money but to get people aware of the pandemic of Africa,” Altuna said.

“There is a suffering and dying world beyond our borders,” he said.

“Are we listening, or are we ignorant? This is a big part of what our club does.

“AIDS has no bias to who it selects. It’s not just the rich or poor. We

didn’t want to target certain people,” Altuna said.

Seeing these orange T-shirts sporadically throughout Moody Coliseum “reminds you it’s everywhere. Nobody can escape it,” Altuna said.

“Each T-shirt represents 50,000 voices. When you feel their cries it can be very convicting.”

Rachel Klick, senior broadcast journalism major from Fort Worth, is the student adviser for Awake 3:18 and said she is now aware of the problems and implications of AIDS. “Jesus said to love the widows and orphans. He didn’t have limits and we shouldn’t either,” Klick said. “You can make a difference. We won’t be able to save the whole continent, but we can save a village.”

The Malindi Hope for Orphans hopes to raise enough money to build an orphanage, so children can be fed, educated and have a place to go.

The main goal is “that their lives have been changed for the love of Christ,” Klick said.

Klick’s future plans for Awake 3:18 are for the group to work with social clubs, ACU organizations

and churches to get involved by sponsoring an orphan from Africa. She said she also hopes to increase the size and membership of the club and to maintain and expand campus awareness of AIDS. “We want so much to make a difference, but the eight of us can’t do this alone. We need the student body,” Klick said.

Kaylee Buxton, junior history education major from San Diego, was one of the 243 students who wore orange T-shirts last week.

“There are people out there that want to get involved and by wearing this T-shirt it gave them a visual of how to get involved,” Buxton said.

Buxton was asked in her night class to explain to her peers why she was wearing this T-shirt.

“I got the word out there. It’s in their minds, and now it’s their choice to get involved,” Buxton said.

Awake 3:18 will have an interest meeting Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the Living Room of the Campus Center, Klick said.

E-mail Hart at: optimist@acu.edu

Students clean up Kirby Lake n Four students will lead a service group to help clean Kirby Lake as part of their Environmental Technology and Science class.

By AARON BALLARD Staff Writer

On Nov. 5, a group of students will lead a service project around Kirby Lake as part of a class in an effort to clean up much of the litter polluting the area.

“This is a great way to help the community,” said Mayra Lara, freshman undeclared major from Abilene.

Lara and three other students in her group, Scott Cauthern, sophomore criminal justice major from Kerrville; Blake Champion, freshman undeclared major from Abilene; and Patrick Andrianony, sophomore marketing major from Madagascar, are leading the endeavor to clean up Kirby Lake, in conjunction with the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. The project will begin

at 10 a.m., and it will end “whenever we think we’ve done enough,” Lara said. “It will probably be a full day event.”

The group plans to pick up and throw away trash and recycle what they can.

They will use separate bags for plastic, paper, aluminum cans and glass bottles, Lara said.

The group does not know how many people to expect, but it would like to see 20 or 30 show up to help, Lara said. Flyers are being posted around campus and around the Abilene community to promote support.

“Anyone who wants to help us make Kirby Lake look better is invited to participate not just ACU students,” she said.

Those interested are being asked to sign up prior to the event so that transportation can be provided.

However, students can just show up if they please, Lara said.

The project is being done as a required part of their Environmental Technology and Science class, taught by Dr. Jim Cooke, professor of environmental science. All the students in the class are required to complete a service project in small groups either specifically for the ACU community or for the Abilene community.

The idea to focus on Kirby Lake sprang from a simple visit to the area one day by Lara. It turned out that she was in for an unpleasant surprise.

“The amount of trash really disgusted me,” she said. “So our goal with this project is to make the students more aware of what they are doing with their litter. There are trash cans available. Put it in the trash cans. If it can be recycled, go recycle it.”

E-mail Ballard at: agb04b@acu.edu

Taping things up is fun

emerald mcgowan/Staff Photographer

Andrea Lucado, sophomore English major from San Antonio, and Brittany Whitestone, freshman English education major from McKinney, tape posters encouraging students to submit poetry, prose or art to the Shinnery Review, the university’s literary magazine, in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday.

Survey gauges faculty morale n Changes were implemented during the past year to help boost faculty and staff morale in response to suggestions made by the Quality of Life Committee.

“I know that ACU faculty, staff and administration are great people who want to work together to achieve great things for Christ.”

Jonathan Stewart, co-chair of the Quality of Life Committee

By EMERALD McGOWAN Student Reporter

Next month, the university will gauge the effectiveness of policy changes when the Quality of Life Committee surveys faculty and staff.

The university implemented several changes over the past year to boost faculty and staff morale in response to recommendations from the Quality of Life Committee.

In addition to staff having the days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day off, on Oct. 1st, faculty and staff saw the first installment of a $4.5 million raise in their salaries, which will be implemented the next three years.

Other changes have included free use of the South Exercise Room and the Powell Fitness Center, free Interlibrary Loans, and a shared leave bank for employees to donate unused sick leave to colleagues who have suffered major illness and have used all of their own sick leave.

Although many of these changes might not be noticed immediately, the Quality of Life team

will conduct its annual survey in early November to measure the influence of the changes that have been made and find additional ways to improve conditions for faculty and staff, said Jonathan Stewart, associate professor of finance and cochair of the Quality of Life Committee, in an email.

“In general, the response to the team has been quite positive,” Stewart said. “ACU staff and f a c u l t y seem to appreciate [Dr.] MonStewart ey’s [president of the university] desire to continually improve employee working conditions.”

Stewart said faculty and staff will soon take a survey, and he hopes to see an improvement in morale after the changes that have been implemented during the past year.

The results of last year’s survey indicated ACU’s faculty and staff felt a strong commitment

to the university’s mission and were proud to work at ACU but had significant concerns about compensation and workload issues, Stewart said.

The issue that seems most important now is workload, said Dana Hood, associate professor of education and cochair of the Quality of Life team, in an e-mail.

Hood is new to the team this year and said she is impressed with the commitment of the team and the work done to improve conditions for faculty and staff.

Stewart attributes the success of the Quality of Life team to a combination of excellent past leadership, support from administration and commitment from Money to make ACU a great place for Christians to work.

“I’m optimistic we’re moving in the right direction,” Stewart said. “I know that ACU faculty, staff and administration are great people who want to work together to achieve great things for Christ.”

E-mail McGowan at: optimist@acu.edu

Page 6

October 28, 2005

SA needs to find issues to tackle The issue:

The Students’ Association has had three consecutive meetings in which nothing was accomplished. SA has only four meetings left in the semester.

Our view:

If SA is representing the student body, the group needs to be constantly confronting issues prevalent on campus.

The solution:

Students can be feeding campus concerns to members of SA, while officers can be thinking of issues to confront and keeping an open ear to student concerns.

The Students’ Association adjourned early Wednesday after only a few announcements, making it the third meeting in a row where no legislation was brought before Congress, and nothing was accomplished.

This semester, Congress members have presented and passed a total of three resolutions: to encourage Edwards Hall residents to not park in Mabee Hall parking spaces; to direct its Administrative Relations committee to look into the costs of intramurals; and supporting unity among women’s social clubs.

Not only do these resolutions lack any meat or substance to them, they do

Sea lion carcass is holiday keepsake My favorite Halloween grimace. story from my childhood “Dad,” Denver said, the starts peacefully, but any excitement oozing out of time you’re dealing with his voice, “are you thinkin’ dads and what I’m thinkin’?” younger Suddenly the Pacific b r o t h e r s , breeze was not so friendly, things be- and I began to sincerely come inter- wish that I had not been esting very born into a weird family. quickly.

You see, my brother had H u n - a skull collection. And what dreds of would be cooler than a real tiny cansea lion skull found on HalGuest dles lit loween, of all nights?

Column the beach, No sooner than had the c r e a t i n g idea formed, these mighty Dani f r i e n d l y men were galvanized into Linthicum a m b e r action. My dad is one of pools of light on the cool these guys who is always sand. I remember skipping prepared. You know, the up to the concrete walk kind who brings his entire that ran along the edge of toolbox to a wedding—just the beach, laughing with in case. my brother, Denver, about Of course, Halloween something that only the was no exception, and Dad two of us found funny. was back from the car in a H a l jiffy, carloween rying a A couple whispering night trasaw and ditionally sweet nothings to each a plastic included bag. Denother walked by—it my native ver’s face S o u t h e r n just didn’t seem right to was ruddy decapitate in the Califorwith exnian fampresence of young love. c i t e m e n t , ily taking while mine a walk on had gotten the beach after the fes- considerably lighter and tivities of All Hallows Eve. maybe just a tinge green.

Mom and Dad strolled Mom didn’t even bother along hand-in-hand, the to wait around, but with constant and comforting a muffled, “I’ll wait in the pacific breeze played with car,” she somewhat unmy fairy costume, and Den- steadily walked away. ver “bang-banged” at imagThe sky was beginning inary villains like the good to cloud over, and the cowboy he was. wind picked up. I hugged Little did we know how my pink sweatshirt and soon our tranquility would watched as Dad and Denbe swept away—in the form ver poised the saw above of a dead sea lion. the lion’s head.

“Look, Dad!” Denver “Wait!” I said, just as a cried, running up to the gi- couple walking hand-inant blubbery body, lying at hand and whispering sweet the tide line. “C’mon, Dani, nothings to each other this is so cool!” walked by—it just didn’t I took a minute to look seem right to decapitate over the creature before in the presence of young coming in too close, won- love. dering what appeal this “Okay, let’s do this,” dead thing had.

Dad said, as soon as they “Honey,” my mom said passed. So we sawed. And tremulously, “stay away. sawed. And sawed. Finally That’s so nasty.” we sawed through what felt But it was too late. Dad like miles of blubber, and and Denver were excitedly we had our prize. A sea examining what they con- lion’s head in a plastic bag. sidered a Halloween gift My brother treasured from the sea. that skull for years until “It must’ve just died it finally fell apart—but and washed up here,” my no matter. We will always dad said, smiling at me. “It have an awesome Hallowdoesn’t smell at all, girls.” een night story: our weird Mom and I tried to give a family and the dead sea reassuring, “Oh, we know, lion. we’re not grossed out at all” smile, but only sucE-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu ceeded in a fainthearted

nothing for SA is equipped to handle projects sent their can take on. About students’ well five projects are way; members just needs to follow through in the works right being, not to on ideas and represent students well. mention the now according to reputation of executive officers, SA itself. highlights of last year, when and because it will take time At this time last year, two Congress brought forth more to complete these and any of freshmen residence hall rep- resolutions and bills than the the ideas mentioned in the resentatives were in the pro- current Congress has, and it meeting, projects should have cess of adding the WB channel only has four meetings left already been in the works to to the campus’ cable, which in the semester. At this rate, be presented at coming meetwas added in early November students shouldn’t count on ings.

2004. At the same time the their representatives to pass The executive officers can WB was accomplished, Con- anything substantial before only do so much encouraging gress unanimously passed a the term is over. and prodding to members, bill recommending the uniAt the Oct. 19 meeting, as they have plenty of projversity to connect the Sikes chief development officer ects on their plates. Congress Hall and Williams Perform- Erin Dimas pleaded with Con- members should be in touch ing Arts Center parking lots, gress to continue to work with their constituents, learnwhich was accomplished in on projects and conducted ing what students would like the spring. a brainstorming session of to see done on campus and These two projects were the possible projects members taking the appropriate steps

Cole Williams

Let Loose

Men’s club apologizes for behavior As a pledge class, that which we have not sought to do, we have inadvertently accomplished through our actions. We do not deem ourselves higher than the spirit of Chapel, and by our actions we have spoken otherwise. We shamefully acknowledge our disrespect and rudeness when we decided to put ourselves above others.

Please accept our sincere apology, Mr. Randy Harris, for disrespectfully interrupting you from your lesson. We certainly did not intend to do so with our actions during Chapel.

Please accept our apology, student body and faculty, for distracting you from

Your Voice Apology letter from the GSP pledge class regarding its behavior during Randy Harris’ talk on Oct. 17. listening to the truth that was being presented.

And please accept our apology, those of you who were in the process of being changed and moved by the spirit of God. It is not our goal to be a nuisance and a stumbling block to others.

We truly want to strive to capture the heart of Christ.

However, we make our poor decisions, like everyone.

We are not attempting to

diminish responsibility. We humbly acknowledge our own humility and pray that you will forgive us.

Whereas some may not deem this a big deal, it is not up to us to determine the severity of the situation but to seek to amend wrongdoing.

It is our hope that Chapel would remain a time of worship and teaching that would serve as daily reminder of those who we are. Again, we apologize for our rash disturbance in Chapel.

May the Lord bless you this day.

E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

Luke Reeves President of GSP

Cancer survivor commends editorial Your editorial on cigar smoking was exactly on target.

I am a lung cancer survivor. I had smoked prior to the time I started to ACC in 1954, and I never smoked after that.

I developed lung cancer in 1998. When I found out that it was so bad, I went to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. When the doctors did exploratory surgery, I awoke to a great disappointment—the doctors said that my tumor in my lung was the size of a tennis ball and that I had cancer in my lymph nodes as well. The doctors told me, “It will probably be in your

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

On behalf of the members and pledges of Gamma Sigma Phi, we owe and wish to extend to you an apology for what happened on Oct. 17, during Chapel.

We behaved in a way that was completely disrespectful to every person in Moody. We distracted and disrupted and had no good reason for doing it.

Many have worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere in Chapel that is conducive to change lives.

We are sorry for what we did and will do our best to live with ACU’s mission in mind from here on out.

The Sibling Pledge Class 2005 Gamma Sigma Phi Men’s social club

Your Voice In response to editorial “Smoking popular but cancerous” from Oct. 26 issue of the Optimist. brain very shortly.” They would not remove the tumor or any of the cancer. They told me point blank that I was probably going to die within six months.

I went through a horrible period of radiation, chemotherapy and depression. I had radiation and chemo with good doctors in Abilene, and it

began to work.

It has been six years now and the doctors at Mayo tell me that I am in the 20 percent still living. The cancer brought on horrible pain, expense and lots of depression. I have gradually overcome most of the fear of the cancer coming back, but the fear is still there.

I visit the hospital sometimes, and I see people, sometime patients, standing outside smoking. I wish they could see my tattoos for radiation and the scars where I lost part of my lung and some of my ribs.

I have files of medical receipts

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

to represent them well.

Students should also seek out their respective representatives if they want to see any change on campus, which is hard to do considering only about half of Congress members were elected by their peers. The other half was appointed at the beginning of the year, making it hard for students to be aware of who their representatives are.

Those who were appointed should take extra steps to get their name out to their constituents.

SA is well equipped to handle any projects sent their way; members just need to take the initiative to follow through on ideas and ade-

for thousands of dollars of medical bills plus the hours of going to and from the doctors for treatment. To put it bluntly—smoking, or using any tobacco products, is stupid. If you smoke—quit. If you can’t and need help quitting—get help.

I am doing well now, and I walk three miles every day. I eat right, stay away from those who smoke and thank God that I narrowly escaped death.

Charles Anderson Class of 1954 Abilene

Editorial and Management Board

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Newsroom: (325) 674-2439

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Friday, October 28, 2005

Page 7

Hazing: Victims refuse to press charges Continued from page 1 Barnard said members would need to conduct a selfstudy of the club and its history during its suspension.

“The club will need to work with its broader membership to engage in a self-study surrounding issues of mission, purpose and practice,” Barnard said. “This self-study will aid the club in creating new traditions and practices that are consistent with ACU’s Christian principles and with Texas statutes on hazing.”

Texas’ hazing law states that organizations cannot en-

danger the mental or physical health of another who is seeking entry into that organization through ways such as physical brutality, extreme physical activity or subjecting someone to extreme mental stress, shame or humiliation.

Barnard has said he first heard in late September that some Sub T pledging activities might have violated the state’s hazing law. At that time, Barnard suspended Sub T pledging activities and had Ellison and the ACU Police begin investigating the activities because of the legal questions.

Although he could not dis-

cuss specifics findings of the investigation, Ellison said he was able to determine a reasonably accurate timeline and description of all pledging activities. He said that although some unspecified activities could have violated the law or univerBarnard sity policies, some events were within law and university policy.

Barnard said the investigation stopped Oct. 10 because

the potential victims chose not to file criminal hazing charges.

A victim of a potential crime must wish to file charges for a criminal hazing case to proceed.

“While it is true in this case that no pledges wanted to cooperate with a criminal case, Ellison I feel comfortable stating that had a pledge elected to file a complaint with us, based on what we learned in the investigation, I would have

filed the case with the District Attorney for their review and consideration,” Ellison said.

Ellison said he informed club members that potential victims could file charges up to two years after an event under Texas law.

Sub T was the third social club this semester to be disciplined by the university for pledging activities. The club’s suspension follows the women’s club Delta Theta being made inactive for at least this semester after club advisers resigned and Galaxy’s pledging activities being cut short when the club was put on proba-

tion for having an unapproved pledging activity.

“In order for club pledging to work, everyone needs to fully understand the applicable laws, university policies and especially the Christian principles and foundation that should be considered first and foremost in everything any of us do,” Ellison said. “If that Christian principle is truly considered first and foremost and guides all of our activities, policies and laws would never be an issue.”

E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu

Holt: Event tickets available

Teeing off

Continued from page 1 tember, but that he has been unable to confirm everything. Holt is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. in the Teague Special Events Center and to attend the sponsor reception following.

Other events he may attend are a campus tour with Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, an NBC

interview with Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university, and receiving the Lamp Award.

Ellison said once Holt informs the committee of his schedule and buys his plane ticket, then a more definite schedule will be made. She said he will be on campus on Dec. 1 for only a matter of hours.

Ellison said more than 400

people bought tickets prior to Holt’s postponement in September, and that those people would be contacted this week to see if they could still attend the event in December. She said those that still want to attend will be reissued a ticket at no charge and those who couldn’t attend would receive a refund.

Although the event has been moved to the end of

the semester, Ellison said she still expects between 400-500 people to attend.

Tickets can be purchased at the Alumni Office, by calling 674-2622 or by visiting the Centennial Web site at www. acu.edu/alumni/whatsnew/ rsvp or by clicking on the link at the Centennial Calendar Events Web site.

E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu

Leeson: Experience teaches students Continued from page 1 director of the adams Center for Teaching Excellence “Because he has the eye of a photojournalist, he is able to capture things and events in time that are pivotal to our society and to the human experience.”

Leeson, a staff photographer for the Dallas Morning News, won the 2004 Pulitzer

ANNA CARROLL/Staff Photographer

Andrew Cramer, freshman marketing major from Houston, plays campus with an oversized golf club outside Mckinzie Hall.

Hosts: Rehearsals begin next week Continued from page 1

On the Web www.acusingsong.com

God has given me. I knew if I didn’t get it, the Lord had something better for me.”

Smyth was in his freshman and sophomore class acts and said he is excited about having a larger role in Sing Song and in any university event, for that matter.

He said he is looking forward to bringing his family to campus next spring, so they can see what the university is about and learn about one of its biggest traditions.

Rehearsals begin next

week for the hosts and hostesses, and although Smyth said he isn’t sure what the show will be like, he said it will center on the 50-year tradition of the show, using songs the audience can relate to and adding a twist to familiar songs.

Tickets for the show can be purchased online at www. acusingsong.com.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Prize in photojournalism for his work in Iraq. Leeson was embedded with the U.S. Marines for 23 days in 2003. Though Leeson said he has never taken pleasure in a foreign assignment, each job has come as a duty to fulfill a job others didn’t want.

“The reason I think students benefit from Leeson is that we live here, and

we cannot experience the things that are going on around the world ... it is a chance for us to be able to not only get a glimpse of what he sees but to hear first hand how it impacted him,” Darby said.

Philip Muns, junior biology and missions major from Rockwall, went to school with Leeson’s children and said he remem-

bers Leeson photographing his high school football games. Muns said Leeson is an amazing man.

“Even if he’s not talking about his work in Iraq,” Muns said,” it’s always interesting to listen to David speak because he has so much wisdom.”

E-mail Sutton at: optimist@acu.edu

Classes: Sign-up requires patience Continued from page 1 “Every year I sit at my computer and press the same button for an hour trying to get a class. I have never been able to register at the time they say we can because it takes so long to get the classes,” Lee said.

However, there have been improvements over the years to the registration

process said Kevin Roberts, director of re engineering.

Roberts said are made improvements every year to the registration process and even though this is true, problems will still exist. Roberts acknowledges students have complaints and said, “Students can come down to the Depot and tell someone or even e-mail me at kevin.roberts@

acu.edu. I would love to hear suggestions on how we could make things easier for students.” Roberts said The Depot was doing everything they could to make registration run smoothly and without too many complications, but, “with 800 people hitting the enter key at the same time,” Roberts said it makes it difficult to go completely perfect. His

Race: Campaigning door-to-door Continued from page 1 Christian said he plans to run a “grass roots” campaign, and will go door-to-door and meet with people in their homes.

“The students at ACU and across this district will make a big difference in this election,” Christian said. “I really believe that.”

Dr. Neal Coates, profes-

sor of political science and a professor Christian said influenced him in his time at the university, said he looks forward to watching the campaign.

“ACU has a long history of representing people in this area,” Coates said. “It will be fun to watch Kevin run.”

Coates also said he’s proud Christian made the decision to run.

“It’s not very often that people in their 20s run for a district office,” Coates said.

“This will be exciting for him.”

So far, two other people have announced they will run for the office. Republican Rob Beckham and Libertarian Vanessa Harris.

E-mail the Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu

advice to students is to be prepared by making sure they have no holds on their account, and that they have their advising code and CRN numbers ready to go.

Roberts said this would make the whole process go a lot easier and there would be a lot less problems.

E-mail Harris at: dlh03a@acu.edu

Page 8

October 28, 2005 Standings Football

Team Conf. Overall 6-1 8-1 WTAMU Angelo St. 6-1 8-1 Tarleton St. 5-2 6-2 TAMU-K 5-2 6-2 ENMU 4-4 4-5 ACU 3-4 3-5

Win streak extended to 23 games n The Wildcats defeated Angelo State 3-1 on Tuesday and extended their win streak to 23 games. The team travels to San Antonio this weekend for two games.

By BRIAN HOLLAND Student Reporter

Volleyball Team Div. ACU

8-0 WTAMU 5-1 TAMU-K 4-3 ENMU

2-4 Tarleton St. 1-6 Angelo St. 1-7

Overall 23-3 23-7 9-17 7-16 12-14 9-1

Scores Saturday

FOOTball ACU 18, Tarleton State 7 Volleyball ACU 3, Texas A&M-Kingsville 1

Tuesday

Volleyball ACU 3, Angelo State 1

Upcoming Schedule Friday

VOlleyball ACU at Incarnate Word, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Football ACU vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 2 p.m.

VOlleyball ACU at St. Mary’s, 2 p.m.

• Home games listed in italics

Briefs Slate named LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Week after impressive weekend.

Senior middle blocker Amanda Slate received South Division Defensive Player of the Week after her performance in last week’s wins against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Slate totaled eight digs, 13 total blocks, nine service aces and 28 kills in the two games.

The No. 13 Wildcats extended their win streak to 23 games after winning 3-1 against Angelo State on Tuesday.

Slate leads the team in blocks, averaging 1.2 per game, and in attacks, with 4.12 per game.

Slate has 108 total blocks for the season, and 467 for her career, only four behind Lindsay DeHoff for second place on ACU’s career total blocks list.

It’s almost an hour before practice, but the sound of balls being fired onto the hardwood floor of an empty Moody Coliseum rings as volleyball players and coaches put in extra practice, knowing the pressure and dedication of being atop the Lone Star Conference’s South Division.

The volleyball team felt the pressure of a hostile crowd, a second-game loss and the weight of a 22-match winning streak in front of 1,210-person crowd during Tuesday’s win on the road against Angelo State.

“It was very stressful and very tense,” said head coach Brek Horn. “We felt the pressure, but we handled it well.”

After taking the first game of the match 30-17, the Wildcats struggled in the second, falling 30-28, marking the second straight match the team has surrendered a lost game.

“It was a wake-up call,” said sophomore libero Liz Snoddy. “It’s hard to go to another gym and beat a team in three games.” Snoddy posted 31 digs to lead the team.

In the third game, ACU came close to losing another

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Senior setter Lindsey Martin sets the ball for freshman Lauren Leone and senior Ashlee Motola during the Wildcats 3-0 win against Tarleton State on Oct. 20.

Volleyball game, but rallied to win 3331, and then won again to close out the Rambelles’ senior night, 30-25.

“Michelle [Bernhardt] and Amanda [Slate] didn’t put up the big numbers they usually do,” Horn said. “They were keying on Amanda … but Ashlee [Motola] played

very well and Liz [Snoddy] as well.”

Motola and Bernhardt both had 16 kills in the winning effort, while the season leader in kills, Slate, and Abby Lowry each added 14.

The volleyball team now looks ahead to more tough road games against St. Mary’s and Incarnate Word, Friday and Saturday in San

Antonio. If the Wildcats win these next two matches, they will be guaranteed home-court advantage for the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Standing in the team’s way is a confident St. Mary’s team.

“We haven’t won at [St. Mary’s] gym in a few years,” Snoddy said.

The Wildcats failed to win

on the road at St. Mary’s last year, but as Snoddy said, the team always goes into a game believing it will win.

As preparation for the tough road trip continues, the Wildcats hope to return home to a full crowd, as they play for their second straight LSC title.

E-mail Holland at: optimist@acu.edu

Basketball receives preseason honors n ACU women’s basketball team is picked to win the LSC South Division this year, and senior center Jamie Boles-Lord received preseason MVP honors in the division.

By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor

After finishing third in the Lone Star Conference South Division last year, the women’s basketball team is picked to win the division this year in the pre-season LSC coaches’ poll.

The Wildcats received 12 first-place votes and 145 total points in the voting from coaches, sports information directors and other media voters.

In individual voting, senior center Jamie Boles-Lord was voted South Division MVP, receiving eight votes to beat out Angelo State senior

Women’s Basketball Christina Johnson for the honor by two votes.

The Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the pre-season poll last year, and face a different situation to begin the new season.

“I think the girls took a little offense to that last year, and so this year I think the mindset is a different type of motivation,” said fourthyear head coach Shawna Lavender. “Instead of trying to prove people wrong about being picked fifth, they’re trying to prove to people that that’s where they deserve to be picked.”

Second in the poll is Angelo State, which received 131 points and four first-place votes after winning the division last year. West Texas A&M, which finished second

in the division last year, is third in the voting with 129 points and Tarleton State is picked to finish fourth with 103 points.

Midwestern State comes in at fifth with 73 points, Eastern New Mexico is sixth with 59, Texas Woman’s has 49 and Texas A&MKingsville is Boles-Lord picked at the bottom of the division with 31 points.

With the hype of being the preseason favorite, Lavender said she’s not too worried about the added pressure of being No. 1.

“I don’t put a lot of stock on the preseason polls as it is,” Lavender said. “It’s nice

to know that we’ve earned the respect of other teams by being considered one of the top contenders in the conference, but like I told our girls, it’s something you have to go out and earn.”

Boles-Lord returns for her senior year after averaging 13.9 points per game to lead the LSC South Division and led the league in field goal percentage, shooting .546 from the field. She also averaged 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

“She does a great job of getting everybody involved, and I think that’s what makes her such a good player,” Lavender said. “It’s not the fact that she can dominate anybody going one-on-one, but the fact that she knows how to get her teammates involved, and she doesn’t try to carry the whole load on her

shoulders alone.”

Boles-Lord won’t have to carry the load for the team with the return of two other starters from last year, senior shooting guard Ashley King and sophomore point guard Alex Guiton.

King has set three-point records and has improved her overall game, Lavender said, and Guiton will lead the team at point guard after a year of experience.

Lavender said being picked No. 1 is nice, but her team has to prove its ranking during the season.

“The end of the year is what’s going to matter,” Lavender said. “And if you don’t work hard every single day and get the job done in practice then it won’t happen in the games either.”

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

Change at quarterback for Wildcats against Kingsville n Redshirt freshman Nick Bird will make his first collegiate start Saturday against No. 21 Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas.

By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor

The Wildcats will play their home finale against No. 21 Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2 p.m. Saturday at Shotwell Stadium. ACU is coming off an upset of formerly No. 19 Tarleton State in Stephenville, 18-7.

The Javelinas come into Saturday’s matchup with the No. 1 defense in the Lone Star Conference, allowing 326.4 yards per game. Kingsville also boasts two preseason first team all-American players selected by d2football. com. Senior linebacker Deandrae Fillmore and defensive lineman Wilbert Martin lead the Javelinas’ defense.

“They’ve got two all-American guys who are good, and then they know how to get to the ball—they’re fast,” said sophomore offensive lineman Nathan Young. “It takes perfect execution, good technique, as big as they are.”

Fillmore leads the LSC in tackles, with 12.4 tackles per game, and in fumbles forced, with a total of four on the year. He is second in the league in tackles for loss, with 1.81 per game, behind ACU’s Clayton Farrell, who has 2.31 per game.

Football “They’re the best defense we’ve faced,” said ACU head coach Chris Thomsen. “[They are] big and strong up front and good in the secondary. They’ll be a big time challenge for us.”

However, the Wildcats have performed well against other highly rated defenses in the league. Texas A&M-Commerce is ranked second in the league in total defense and Tarleton State third, but the Wildcats have beaten both teams. ACU beat Commerce 27-18 in its third game of the season and last week defeated Tarleton State 18-7.

“You’re facing the top team and the top defense, and you gear your game plan to what you think you can do,” Thomsen said. “And we think we can do some things.”

One of those things involves giving redshirt freshman Nick Bird his first collegiate start over Billy Malone, who has started every game this season.

“We’ve just got to be smart with the things we do with him, not put him in a bad situation,” Thomsen said. “He did a good job last week protecting the ball—he’s shown he can do that.”

Another player who’s shown he can take care of the ball to Thomsen is freshman running back Taber

Minner, who has seen an increase in playing time and carries after senior Rashon Myles went down with an ankle sprain. Minner carried the ball 31 times for 158 yards in last week’s win with no fumbles. Minner will continue to see more carries if he continues to take care of the ball, and if Myles is injured.

Thomsen said Myles will be a game-time decision about his playing time. He is practicing this week, but still fighting through the injury, Thomsen said.

For the Wildcats’ defense, Thomsen said the main goal is to stop the run like last week. Javelinas running back Raymorris Miller rushed for 142 yards in their win against Eastern New Mexico, and quarterback Joey Pena threw for 246 yards, completing 18 of 22 passes.

“We have got to stop the run like we did last week and force them into third and medium and third and long situations,” Thomsen said. “Then see if we can put some pressure on them and force them to turn the ball over. That’s the main thing defensively, like we did last week.”

Saturday’s game is the Wildcats final home game and their final regular season game is at 1 p.m.

Nov. 5, at Midwestern State.

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

File Photo by brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Redshirt freshman Nick Bird runs the ball against West Texas A&M. Bird will make his first start in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Wildcats final home game.