2005 11 11

Vol. 94, No. 24 1 section, 10 pages

FRIDAY

November 11, 2005

www.acuoptimist.com

Reefer

A jarring account

Home court advantage

Reefer, page X

The new film Jarhead examines life as a Marine during the first Gulf War, page 7

The Wildcats play in the Lone Star Conference tournament this weekend in Abilene, page 10

Texans vote to define marriage n About 77 percent of voters approved a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman during Tuesday’s election.

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Texas became the 19th state to constitutionally ban samesex marriage Tuesday during

Cracker Barrel begins hiring

its off-year election, where 77 percent of voters voted in favor of the ban and 23 percent opposed it.

Secretary of State Roger Williams said in a press release 18 percent of Texas’ 12.5 million registered voters participated, 2 percent higher than predicted and an increase from the 12.2 percent recorded in 2003. Taylor County also had an 18 per-

cent voter turnout.

“I, and everybody else, expected it to pass by big margins,” said Dr. Neal Coates, assistant professor of political science. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist in Texas to know this is a done deal.”

The ban did fail in one Texas county: Travis, home to Austin, where 60 percent of those voting opposed it.

House Joint Resolution 6, Proposition 2 on the ballot, states, “that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage.”

See

ELECTION page 8

Proposition 2 election statistics State election statistics: • 18 percent of Texas’ 12.5 million registered voters participated • 77 percent approved • 23 percent opposed • Proposition 2 failed in one county (Travis) out of Texas’ 254 counties Taylor County results: • Approved: 12,138 • Disapproved: 1,787

Directing a tradition

n Congress also tabled until next week legislation requesting student athletes not be required to take physical education courses as the university reviews core classes.

By TIFFANY TAYLOR Features Editor

n The restaurant is now looking to hire about 150 full-time and part-time employees for its new location on Interstate 20 and State Highway 351.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor

The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will open its doors Dec. 5, bringing homestyle meals and 150 new jobs to the community.

Cracker Barrel is located next to the new Wal-mart Supercenter past Dairy Queen on State Highway 351.

Kim Leedy, freshman missions major from The Woodlands, said she is a fan of Cracker Barrel.

“It’s great food, and it’s not too expensive,” Leedy said.

She compares the menu prices to restaurants like Chili’s.

Cracker Barrel serves meals made from scratch for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items include traditional country meals such as grits, meat loaf, cobblers and more. It also features a country store.

Paige Legan, freshman family studies major from Dallas, said she enjoys looking at the antiques at the store while waiting to be served.

Jim Taylor, Cracker Barrel spokesperson, said Cracker Barrel is looking to hire 150 full-time and part-time employees by the end of next week.

Students can visit the store and pick up applications to apply for any of the nine positions including servers, cashiers, retail and cooks.

“Cracker Barrel has been a very good place for students because of flexibility with schedules,” he said.

Employees receive weekly paychecks, paid vacations and 401 K savings plans.

He said they also have the opportunity for three pay raises in their first year of employment.

Cracker Barrel began hiring this week and will continue for the next two weeks, in order to allow time for a three to four-week training process. All positions are currently available, except for management.

Taylor said the company brings in trained and experienced managers to train the new employees.

Taylor said several levels of management run the stores.

Cracker Barrel is not just a part-time job, he said.

“We always believe that Cracker Barrel can be a career for everybody,” Taylor said.

E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu

SA votes against adding officer powers

Photo illustration by brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Matt Maxwell, junior electronic media major from Abilene, helped begin the FilmFest tradition last year and will serve as its co-chair for three years.

Matt Maxwell has helped establish FilmFest in its first two years

By TIFFANY TAYLOR Features Editor

Spotlighting the right person? Are the slides lasting too long? Who’s going on next? May I please have the card?

While other students sat in the seats of the Paramount Theatre watching FilmFest on Nov. 4, one student was in charge of directing the event.

Matt Maxwell, who has been a co-chair for FilmFest since its conception in 2004, took over directing responsibilities this year, despite having an already full plate.

He didn’t sleep for 2 days before the event and was sneaking short naps in between appearances onstage.

For a few months of the year, Maxwell eats, sleeps and breathes FilmFest, but Doug Darby, creative director for the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence and creator of the festival, said

Maxwell never stops thinking about it.

“We were at a wedding together,” Darby said, “and I look over, and Matt’s telling some woman to talk to Doug Darby about FilmFest.”

Discovering his talent Failed attempts to organize a film festival had already taken place by the time Maxwell was a sophomore at the university.

“I feel strongly that God brought Matt into the picture. He fit the role perfect,” Darby said.

However, Darby said it was risky to choose a sophomore as a co-chair, especially because he only knew Maxwell from Apple Club.

The task would have seemed daunting, Maxwell said, but his life had prepared him to be the creative half of FilmFest.

Throughout his childhood, Maxwell said he had been expected to be artisti-

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Maxwell and Robyn King, senior marketing major from Newark, announce the People’s Choice Award on Nov. 4 at FilmFest. cally talented because it was “in the blood;” his father, Jack Maxwell, is chair of the Department of Art and Design at the university, and his mother chairs the art department at Abilene Christian Schools. However, he found in high school he was

talented at photography.

During his sophomore year of high school, a member of his church wanted to create a presentation using pictures and film taken on a mission trip in Brazil. MaxSee

MAXWELL page 8

Efforts to improve a bill giving executive officers more power to control which legislation is placed on the docket were not enough to save the legislation, which failed to pass with a vote of four in support, 32 against and 11 abstaining.

The bill, which was written by Smith Hall Rep. Matt Worthington, initially gave executive officers the power to keep legislation they deem useless off the docket. After many members of Congress said they were against the idea of a bill taking rights away from Congress last week, Worthington reworked the bill.

The new bill called for a sentence to be added to the powers of the parliamentarian in SA’s Rules of Order. The addition would have affirmed the parliamentarian’s power to overrule a motion to suspend the rules during a meeting to allow a member to discuss legislation not on the docket. In effect, the parliamentarian could have kept legislation from being discussed in a meeting unless it was presented to him or her in time to be placed on the docket for that meeting.

The parliamentarian already can exercise this power, but the bill would have specifically stated the power in the Rules of Order.

However, changes to the bill were to change the minds of enough members who opposed last week’s version.

Foster Science Building Rep. Christopher Smith wanted Congress to table the bill indefinitely because he said the bill merely restated powers already given to chief development officer Erin Dimas, who also serves as parliamentarian, making the legislation inconsequential.

However, sophomore Sen. Brandon Smith said he thought Congress should vote on the bill, not table it indefinitely, even if they planned to vote against it.

“Some people feel this is a stronger rejection,’ Brandon Smith said, “but we should still vote because we want students to see we have a view on this.”

See

SA page 8

Coffee shop nears opening n University officials said they hope Barret Hall’s coffee shop, known as The Den, and the adjoining classroom will open

by Thanksgiving break.

By RACHEL LAU Student Reporter

Students will soon have a chance to walk out of a classroom through red French doors into a warm coffee shop with yellow walls, a fireplace

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

and a big screen television.

The long-awaited coffee shop, called The Den, is in Barrett Hall, and the university hopes to have it open by Thanksgiving break.

The Den will resemble the coffee shop Java City on Ambler Boulevard and will have food provided by ARAMARK food services. Students will be able to use their bean bucks and meal plans to buy food, according to the administra-

tive services office on campus.

A mural depicting Daniel in the Lion’s Den painted by Jack Maxwell, chair of the Art and Design Department, will cover one of the walls in the coffee shop.

One of the unique features of The Den will be the newly built classroom attached to it.

Faculty members will be able See

COFFEE page 8

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

University officials said they are targeting Thanksgiving break as the time for Barret Hall’s coffee shop, known as The Den, to open.

Abilene Christian University

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

Friday, November 11, 2005

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Calendar & Events Friday

The last day to withdraw from classes.

Friday Night Frenzy, 8 p.m. to midnight, Bean Sprout and recreation center, for freshmen only Pop Culture Potpourri and The Quest, OSME treasure hunt, 7 p.m., Onstead-Packer rotunda.

Spring Break Campaign sign-ups, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Shades ticket sales, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Sadies Week: Coldstone Creamery.

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Saturday

Sadies Week: Create-A-Date.

Shades ticket sales, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Spring Break Campaign sign-ups, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Verastegul Glow Birthday Party, 3-5 p.m., Campus Center recreation.

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Sunday

Nothing scheduled this day.

Announcements Lester Holt Centennial Speaker Series is rescheduled for Dec. 1.

The Intercollegiate Community Celebration is Saturday.

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 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the homes of faculty and staff from the three universities.

The Students’ Association wants spirited students to be Moody Maniacs—rally leaders at home basketball and volleyball games. For more information, visit the SA office or call Paul Harshman

at 738-4561.

Sadies Week is Thursday through Tuesday. Thursday is a free evening at Mr. Gattis.

Friday is a free Coldstone ice cream. Saturday is Create-a-Date, where students go on a date, document it creatively, and submit documentation for prizes. Monday is The Skatin` Place from 8-10 p.m..

(No ticket needed for skating.)

Tuesday is free Starbucks.

Four spaces remain to study abroad in Latin America next semester. There will be help available to work with student schedules and financial aid. Email Lauren Graham for more information, at Lauren.Graham@ acu.edu.

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Monday

IJM table, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center.

Sadies Week: The Skatin’ Place.

Vector table, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center.

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Tuesday

Sadies Week: Starbucks Coffee.

Vocals Ensemble Concert, 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center recital hall.

Volunteer Opportunities Students staying in Abilene for Thanksgiving have the opportunity to serve others, there will be three meals served on Thanksgiving day at different location. Volunteers at any of these would be very helpful. For a list of locations stop by the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center located in the Bean Sprout.

City Light Ministries will provide Thanksgiving breakfast at 336 Hickory St. Thanksgiving dinner will be provided by the Veterans Association at the Civic Center 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and by the Salvation Army noon-1:30 p.m. at 1726 Butternut St. For more information contact the Volunteer

and Service-Learning Center.

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.

Weekend Campaigns are open on the following weekends: Sunday through Nov. 18-20.

For more information, contact Jonathan Wood at 210-273-1466 or e-mail him at jrw02i@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.

Credited Chapels remaining:

57 13

Friday, November 11, 2005

Page 3

CAMPUS NEWS

Man, I hate needles ...

Indian purses bring hope to native women n Eternal Threads, an Abilene company, sells bags handcrafted

by Indian women in the United States to help support the creators and their families with income.

By KELLINE LINTON Staff Writer

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Brady Rector, freshman electronic media major from Abilene, winces as Albert Brown, blood bank technician for the Abilene Blood Bank, tries to draw blood during the blood drive Thursday in the Hilton Room of the Campus Center.

Colleges team up to serve Abilene n Students can serve the Abilene community with Hardin Simmons and McMurry universities on Saturday for the Intercollegiate Community Celebration.

By DENTON JOSEY Student Reporter

The university will team up with Hardin Simmons University and McMurry University to serve Abilene for the Intercollegiate Community Celebration on Saturday.

Similar to ACU’s Service Saturdays, the service project will match students from each of the three participating schools with needs in Abilene’s community.

Dr. Cole Bennett, director of the Writing Center and assistant English professor, helped coordinate the event for the second year in a row.

Bennett said in an e-mail that students will be “working in the areas near each of

the three universities, helping our neighbors with whatever needs have been identified by them. Some students will also be working in local non-profit agencies who always need our help.”

While the opportunity to unite the schools took careful planning, the focus of the day is on the community.

“Our goal is to support ongoing relationships and begin new ones with our local communities as well as serve together as a unified college force,” Bennett said.

“We want to send the message to Abilene that college students—as a collective whole—care about our neighbors,” Bennett said.

“Each of the three universities has its own neighborhood, and each has its own plans for establishing neighborhood relationships, many of which are ongoing and at different levels of

execution,” Bennett said.

“Some efforts lend themselves to combining together, and some don’t.”

Bennett said all the schools were willing to participate.

“We all three jumped in together. From the very first meeting this year, there was a great synergy.”

Each of the universities has busy schedules but because of planning that began at the beginning of the school year, the event is now ready to take place.

“We attempted it a number of times; the biggest problem is usually finding a date,” Bennett said.

It is difficult for coordinators to determine the level of participation, but the event has no limits on the number of volunteers.

Linda Carleton, coordinator of Neighborhood Programs at Hardin Simmons Univer-

sity, said she expects good participation.

“We’re hoping to have anywhere from 50 to 100,” Carleton said.

The schedule for the celebration has volunteers meeting at City Hall at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and a blessing from university leaders and then heading out into the community to meet and serve neighbors.

In the evening, faculty from the universities will have students in their homes for dinner and reflection on the day. As a conclusion to the activities, McMurry will host an afterdinner celebration for all taking part, Bennett said.

Last year the three colleges had a similar event, but bad weather affected the participation and influence, Carleton said.

E-mail Josey at: optimist@acu.edu

One woman excitedly bought her first cooking stove, leaving behind openfire cooking forever; another purchased a water buffalo to provide milk for her family; still another opened her first bank account, depositing her latest paycheck she has received in so many years. All three women, and countless others, have had their lives turned around by an Abilene company called Eternal Threads.

Eternal Threads is a notfor-profit organization dedicated to poverty relief in southern India.

Linda Egle, founder of Eternal Threads, will be the key speaker at Tuesday’s Chapel.

The company buys crocheted bags crafted by Indian women in drastic need of an income and then sells the bags in the United States.

These poverty-stricken women live in villages where their families make less than $1 a day.

Following Chapel on Tuesday, Eternal Threads will be set-up in the Campus Center to sell tote bags for $20-45.

The bags can also be purchased off the Web site at www.eternalthreads.com.

By crocheting the bags,

the women can earn an income and still stay at home to care for their children and cook meals, said Joyce Hailey, instructor of journalism and mass communication.

Each woman crafts about four bags every month. One hundred and twenty women are currently earning an income through this organization, enabling them to access health care and purchase nutritious food.

Eternal Threads uses 75 percent of the profits to pay the women and pay taxes and import duties. The remaining 25 percent goes back to India and Thailand to educate girls.

One hundred girls are now receiving an education because of generous donations.

The Eternal Thread policy states that this program not only improves literacy, but also can help girls avoid slavery, child labor, early marriages and sexual discrimination by landowners.

Eternal Threads is looking for volunteers from the Abilene community to help in the Healing Hands warehouse with unpacking and inventory. On Saturday or Monday, volunteers can help unpack the latest shipment.

The organization also has a great need for a businessminded person who can understand inventory control and Macintosh computers.

Anyone interested in helping with this ministry can e-mail eternalthreads@mac.com.

E-mail Linton at: krl04b@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 4

Cups of cheer

Friday, November 11, 2005

Outdoor Club will help Abilene n Students can join ACU’s first Outdoor club for $10 and help at the Intercollegiate Community Celebration, work at Abilene’s bike trail and go camping.

By DEMARCQUEZ REMBERT Student Reporter

EMERALD McGOWAN/Staff Photographer

Kayli Anderson, 11, and Paige Carpenter, 11, both fifth graders from Mrs. Huggins’ class at Abilene Christian Schools, put plastic cups in the fence outside of Elmer Grey Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Local chapter of NAACP will begin n Students conducted an interest meeting Thursday to begin a local chapter of the NAACP, an organization that fights for equal rights for all people.

By LAUREN HART Student Reporter

The ACU collegiate chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People met for an interest meeting Thursday hoping to make the organization more permanent on campus.

The NAACP is a national organization that fights for and pursues the advancement for all people, desiring equal rights and justice for every person, according to the NAACP Web site.

Nichelle Wall, clinical psychology graduate stu-

dent, is the president of ACU’s chapter.

“Our main goal is for people to be aware of our presence on campus. We are here for the people and their needs,” Wall said.

“We want people to know the facts about NAACP,” she said. “Most think that it is a group of African American students, but it is for everyone. The people that founded the organization came from many cultures and ethnicities, and we want to keep it that way.

“I am involved because I want to make a difference in the world, and this is a small way to do that,” Wall said.

Garry Washington, senior sociology major from Cleveland, said he found out about the interest meeting Thursday through an an-

nouncement online.

“I am going to find out what they have to say,” he said. “I want to benefit myself and the students on campus, not only African Americans, but also all others.”

Establishing the organization has been in the works for two years, and it took a lot of preplanning, said Dr. Debbie Williams, associate professor of English and a campus sponsor for the NAACP. Williams said the organization fizzled out last year because of a combination of not getting the word out to students and student leaders’ personal problems.

“Before giving up completely, we remembered the potential we had to reach out to those in need and to hear voices that need to be heard,” Williams said. “We decided

we would try one last time to get this going.”

Williams said she hoped to see a lot of students at Thursday’s meeting.

“I hope to see a lot of students come and ask questions and generate interest,” Williams said. “We want them to participate in the membership and start building up the chapter.

“There’s a possibility of a chapter that involves other universities in town. We need to get ourselves together first, then we will try this,” Williams said.

Wall agreed with Williams and said, “We want to bring the universities closer together and make a more powerful stand in unity.”

E-mail Hart at: optimist@acu.edu

Ministry internships open to students n Internships are available for all Bible, missions and ministry majors during the summer, as well as students of other majors who want to intern in ministry, too.

By MICHAEL KNUTZ Student Reporter

Students interested in an internship in ministry next summer should start planning this semester because sign-ups begin in January.

A list of churches that need an intern next summer will be available on the Center for Youth and Family Ministry Web site Jan. 1.

Churches will also visit the

Campus Center on Feb. 21-22 and will provide information and interviews for interested students.

Churches have been visiting the campus for about 10 years, but it has become much more organized over time, said Robert Oglesby, instructor of Bible and ministry.

Interested students will be able to post their résumés in a catalog to advertise to churches offering internships.

Although all Bible, missions and ministry majors are required to serve an internship before graduation, internships in ministry are also available to students from every depart-

ment. Oglesby said such students should stop by his office in Room 204 of the OnsteadPacker Biblical Studies Building before signing up for an internship in ministry.

Oglesby said he has witnessed students from other departments who served an internship in ministry deciding to serve God as a career.

Even if ministry is not a student’s decided career path, internships in ministry are a great opportunity for students to do something great for God, Oglesby said.

Internships usually pay from $250 and $275 a week, housing included, and typically last for a 10-week period.

Although most internships are for churches in Texas, opportunities are also available to intern at places like New York and Oregon.

About 60 students are expected to look for internships in ministry for next summer, and with so many possible opportunities, spots will still be available.

Oglesby said there is a strong need for women in ministry; therefore, any interested women are especially welcome to get involved.

Dr. Tim Sensing, associate professor in the Graduate School of Theology, said fewer women are in the program and they tend to serve internships outside the church.

Sensing said that women have the opportunity to work in church, youth or children’s ministries, but the majority of women usually choose missions internships.

E-mail Knutz at: optimist@acu.edu

The Outdoor Club is accepting member applications.

The fee to join is $10, and the membership lasts a year.

The club’s next activity will be to participate in the Intercollegiate Community Celebration on Saturday.

The group plans to work on the Abilene Bicycle Club mountain bike trail.

This is the Outdoor Club’s first semester on campus.

The club performs servicelearning projects and other community service activities, such as cleaning parks, and also goes on camping trips and is planning a ski trip during Christmas break.

So far this year, the Outdoor Club has visited two parks in the Abilene area to help clean them up. Members of the club removed greenbrier, a non-native overgrown plant, from the Abilene State Park for two hours on National Public Lands Day on Sept. 24.

“I love the outdoors because it’s fun to get out there and take risks,” said Brett Deaton, senior phys-

On the Web www.acu.edu/students/outdoorclub.

ics major from Stavnton, Va. “The beauty of the outdoors is great.”

More than 15 students are in the Outdoor Club, and more than 100 students have signed up on the clubs interest list.

“I love to get outdoors and get my hands dirty doing constructive things,” said Nikki Ballard, senior psychology major from Garland. “Now there is a club on campus that I can join and meet others who enjoy the environment like I do.”

The Outdoor Club also hopes to build a greenway.

A greenway is private land that has been reclaimed and made public again and a trail that connects two parks together.

“The greenways are great because not only is it a beautiful place and rebuilds nature, but it also helps a community to get outside and get to know each other,” Deaton said.

For more information about the Outdoor Club contact Dusty Vaughn at 665-8412 or e-mail him at gdv02a@acu.edu

E-mail Rembert at: optimist@acu.edu

Husband-wife duo will speak Thursday n Chair of the Art Department Jack Maxwell and his wife, Jill, will speak Thursday at the Centennial Lecture Series in collaboration with Grace Museum.

By GARY RHODES Student Reporter

Art Professor and chair of the Art Department Jack Maxwell and his wife, Jill, will be featured speakers in the third of four lectures in series featuring art from the Centennial Exhibitions on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The lecture series is a collaboration with the Grace Museum’s “Art Talk and Starbucks Coffee” series of lectures.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to take an existing program and to combine it with the beauty and diversity of the ACU Centennial exhibit,” said Dan Carpenter, marketing and public relations director for the Grace Museum.

The Centennial Art Exhibition has been on display in the Grace Museum’s main gallery since Sept. 24 and will remain until Dec. 31.

The works selected for the exhibition span from the 1920s to the present and also span many different art styles and mediums, said Jack Maxwell.

“People visiting the exhibition can expect to see a lot of variety, more than you might typically see in a show,” he said. “What this creates is a show where everybody can find something they like.”

Viewers will be able to see some differences in older and newer pieces, said Jill Maxwell, art teacher at

Abilene High School.

“The work now tends to be more of the post-modern kind of vent,” she said.

“They tend to be collage oriented.”

Jill Maxwell’s “Rahab” is one such piece, a mixture of collage, oil pastels and items such as an apron that belonged to a member of her family.

Another way in which the older and newer pieces differ is the inclusion of spiritual elements by the artist, she said.

“When Jack and I went to ACU, there was not so much of a push or a drive to be outwardly expressive of our spirituality,” she said. “I think the college students now days are much more spiritual.”

For Jack Maxwell, these spiritual elements emerge naturally.

“I think who you are just comes out in your work,” he said.

The past two “Art Talk and Starbucks Coffee” lectures have been successful, with more than 100 people attending the last lecture featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Leeson and painter Rolando Diaz, Carpenter said.

“We are seeing more people at these than we expected,” he said. “The exhibit is getting such intense marketing.”

One of the main attractions is that people can actually meet the artist whose work is being exhibited, he said.

E-mail Rhodes at: optimist@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, November 11, 2005

‘Listen to what I’m saying here’

Page 5

More parking will be available n More parking will be available for students by next semester with the completion of a new parking lot at University Church of Christ on EN 15th.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor

The University Church of Christ’s construction efforts could mean more student parking next semester.

The University Church surveyed the needs of the congregation in 2001 and decided it was necessary to expand the building. Part of this expansion includes the parking lot that it will share with students.

Dr. Charles Marler, University Church elder

in office, ACU professor emeritus and senior faculty of journalism and mass communications, said the church and the university found mutual ground in the project.

He said while the church needs funding for its construction project, the university needs the land to make room for more student parking options, which led to joint efforts by both.

While the paving of the lot will not begin until the building is complete, Marler said construction might be in progress by January.

The parking lot should be about the same size as the parking lot east of Universi-

ty Church, about a quarter of a city block, he said.

Seeing the team effort ACU and University Church have put forward reminds Marler of the relationship the two institutions have shared since University Church began in 1952.

“The cooperation between the church and the university has been close,” Marler said.

The church and the university rely on the spirit of community to come together in an effort to help each other grow again, Marler said.

E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu

Students can scavenge for treasure n The second annual Pop Culture Potpourri will feature a scavenger hunt to stations representing ancient cultures and Bollywood movies, too.

By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Dr. Abe Malherbe, Buckingham professor emeritus at Yale University, speaks on “Indispensable Intermediaries: Paul’s Co-Workers” in the first half of the annual Carmichael-Walling Lecture series Thursday in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building.

Leeson speaks at Chapel forum n Pulitzer Prize winner and alumnus, David Leeson, spoke last Saturday at a Chapel forum, challenging students to change the lives of the people they meet.

By NATHAN STRAUS Student Reporter

Pulitzer Prize winner David Leeson challenged students to change the lives of whomever they meet at the Chapel forum Saturday night.

Leeson, senior staff photographer at the Dallas Morning News and class of 1978, spoke in front of a full Cullen Auditorium, with overflow audience members watching his address on the screens in Moody Coliseum. He said the camera he carried had the power to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I would’ve laid down my life to serve and to make a difference,” Leeson said.

The event, which also served as a Chapel forum for students, included a

message from Leeson as well as a portfolio of some of his work: pictures he had taken in Iraq, Africa and around the world.

Cade White, instructor of journalism and mass communication, said the Chapel forum was typical work of Leeson.

“It was a great lecture, powerfully delivered, passionate and informative: pure David,” White said.

Cheryl Bacon, professor and chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the Chapel forum received a huge reception, only in part because students received three Chapel credits.

Bacon also said a reason for the Chapel forum’s success might be attributed to Leeson’s Pulitzer Prize award.

“David is the only alumnus from ACU and the first person from Abilene to receive a Pulit-

zer Prize,” Bacon said.

Bacon also said only a handful of people in the world earn a Pulitzer Prize.

Leeson said he attributes the success of his work to God. “For nearly three decades I’ve been used by God,” Leeson said.

White said Leeson is a larger-than-life personality with a history of experiences, but he is also a normal person with the same sort of struggles everyone has.

Bacon said people are drawn to hear about someone who is an eyewitness to so much history.

Leeson said the chance to change the world or even a single life is worth all the challenges.

“Maybe somewhere out there is a single photograph that can stop it all: War, injustice, social inequality,” Leeson said, “It’s worth a life given.”

E-mail Straus at: optimist@acu.edu

Students can travel back to ancient times to learn about different cultures Friday in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building.

The 2nd annual Pop Culture Potpourri will begin at 7 p.m. in the rotunda of the Bible Building. The seven multicultural advisers in the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment planned the event and hope for a good turn out.

The event will be a like a scavenger hunt, said Noel Cothren, junior art major with a teaching certificate from Albuquerque, N.M., and several ancient cultures will be represented.

“The idea behind it is to make people more aware of cultures around ACU and the world,” Cothren said.

“It’s kind of in Indiana Jones style,” she said.

Attendees will travel to different stations, representing such ancient cultures as Japanese, Indian, African, Mayan and Anglo Saxon, on a quest to find a treasure. The team that finds the treasure by completing the scavenger hunt will win a prize, Cothren said.

The event should last about two hours, Cothren said. The event is free and will include food and feature Bollywood movies, which are films made in India that include a lot of color and music.

OSME is planning the event to celebrate Global Awareness month, said Esmeralda Silva, sophomore

marketing major from Torreon, Mexico.

“We want to make campus aware of all cultures,” Silva said.

The planners of the event don’t know how many students to expect, but about 25 attended last year.

“We’re hoping for about 50,” Cothren said. “But we don’t have a set number.”

Silva said last year’s event went well, but the advisers have made changes for this year’s potpourri.

Both Silva and Cothren encouraged students to attend the event.

“First of all, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Cothren said. “And it will be a great time to meet new people and a good way to learn about other cultures and meet people from other cultures.”

E-mail Schneider at: optimist@acu.edu

Page 6

November 11, 2005

Recycle to end the wasteful cycle

The issue:

Students lead hectic and on-the-go lives, and it’s often difficult to discipline themsleves to recycle.

Our view:

If people took the time to recycle, the waste stream in American would greatly decrease. Recycling conserves resources that could be used in other ways.

The solution:

Recycle. Call the city of Abilene, ask for a recycling bin and get to it. Also, whenever on campus, students should throw empty bottles and cans into the nearest recycle bin.

Walking into any classroom on campus, one can see varieties of refreshment; from M&Ms to Mountain Dew to Big Macs to green tea, college students are often eating on the run.

But what do these students do with all of the wrappers, aluminum cans, bottles and other trash generated by the throw-away, convenience-driven culture in which they are living?

The only recycling center on campus in which bins are readily available is in ZonaLuce, the agriculture and environmental science building.

According to Don’t Mess With Texas, a state-wide antilittering campaign, one in three Texans admits to littering, and

residents’ tax However, College students are busy; however, dollars are used many students they should make use of the few to clean up the noticed the lack recycling bins we have on campus. mess, to the tune of recycling bins of $35.5 million a on or around year.

The average American campus. Team 55 employees According to a statisti- throws away seven and a half said that they would love to cal Web site of the Office of pounds of garbage every day, have more paper recycling in Solid Waste Reduction and which is compacted and bur- their labs, but they lack time Recycling, recycling should ied into landfills. As this waste and staff to devote to the efbe a serious concern. Before build-up grows, so do the pres- fort. the 1920s, 70 percent of the sures on America’s landfills, It is not difficult to help reU.S. cities ran programs to re- resources and environment. cycle, said Dr. James Cooke, cycle certain materials. During Despite the need for con- professor of environmental World War II, industry recycled servation and recycling, most science. and reused about 25 percent of students that we talked to “The city of Abilene will the waste stream. The nation’s admitted they hadn’t really provide all of the recycling composting and recycling rate thought about recycling or lit- bins you want, all with a single rose from 7.7 percent of the tering before and because of phone call,” he said. waste stream in 1960 to 17 our affluence as Americans, The city picks up recyclapercent in 1990. This rate has carelessness about trash is the bles at four locations on cambeen rising rapidly ever since. easiest option. pus every Wednesday morning.

British turkey day surprisingly tasty

Cole Williams

Let Loose

Thanksgiving. A time of in a formal gown and high memories. We all have them. heels. Fortunately, I decided For example, I have one to wear my Adidas shoes to about when my friends and the church and then change I tried to into my Ann Taylor stilettos. recreate an We opened the glass doors episode of to the cathedral-like church Friends. You and witnessed a transforknow, the mation. Round tables were one when scattered throughout the they de- room. They were covered in cide to play white cloths with candles lit Thanksgiv- and glass pebbles in various ing foot- shades of blue. The settings inGuest ball and cluded three plates, two glassColumn Joey and es and numerous utensils.

Monica Chandler The site warmed me from fight over the bottom of my soul. The Smith the Dutch low church lights and cangirl. Yeah, only there wasn’t dlelit tables invited us to relax. a “Gellar Cup,” and I ended The church invited an acaup ripping my favorite pair pella group to sing songs by of jeans right down the mid- Alabama, the Red Hot Chili dle—quite embarrassing for Peppers and other Ameria high school sophomore can hit songs while guests girl trying to impress boys. dined on pork, vegetables However, my favorite and red wine. We joyfully memory took place in a coun- sang along with the group. try where The keyThanksgiving A half-Korean girl note speaker isn’t celebratwas a young trying to bring ed the Ameriwoman from England to Texas can way. I was Texas, and my in Oxford, Engtable, in true just isn’t going to land, for Study Texan fashcome out right.

Abroad. Most ion, whooped of my chums encouragetook their holiday in Spain, ment for her. Oh, how we but my sister flew across loved all the eyes focusing on the pond to spend Thanks- these “colonists from Texas.” giving with me in Oxford.

I left England a few weeks For Thanksgiving, the later and brought the memchurch I attended puts togeth- ory with me. I keep trying er a Hog Roast in honor of the to recreate that ThanksAmerican students studying giving scene, so posh and in Oxford. The English twist classy. But it doesn’t seem on Thanksgiving is an upscale to work back in the states. event. Tickets are purchased A half-Korean girl trying in advance, dresses are bought to bring England to Texas and the jewels are out. Luckily, just isn’t going to come out my parents decided to send right. And I think English my sister to come visit—she pig is too much for the high brought my dress and gems. school boys I keep trying to The night was extreme- impress. They’d rather play ly cold, and as we walked football. And honestly, I don’t down the streets we could mind, as long as I’m wearing see our breath crystallize cotton pants this time around. before we walked through it. The walk from the Study Abroad house to St. Aldates E-mail Smith at: church was long, especially mxs02a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu

‘Poor Karl’ Rove deserves sympathy Poor Karl Rove. America has been unfair to him.

First, we hail him as “the architect,” the brains behind the Bush operation, and, after one minor mistake/ leak/violation of classified information, we feed him to the federal prosecutor.

I’m Pretty AdmitSure ... tedly, Valerie Tiffany Plame’s identity as a CIA Taylor officer was uncovered and published in a Time magazine story based on information he supplied. Everyone makes mistakes, though, and who knew that would ruin her career as a covert agent?

I for one believe every word of his “Oops! Did I do that?” defense. No wonder Patrick Fitzgerald indicted Scooter Libby, accused of lying to the prosecutor, and shied away from Karl.

Instead of going up against the poor guy and shoving all of his mistakes down his throat, we should applaud him for standing his ground and watch ourselves before we judge poor Karl.

As assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff and senior adviser, Karl is often kept out of the loop at the White House; he doesn’t play the political game.

Therefore, while he thought he was merely supporting the press and the people’s right to know, he was undoubtedly surprised to find some cynics believed his interview was a calculated attack on Joseph Wilson, Plame’s husband.

Unbeknownst to Karl, Wilson is a former diplomat who has been criticizing Bush for ignoring his report in Niger.

Evidently, Wilson traveled to Niger and reported it was “unlikely” that materials for weapons of mass destruction were being sold to Iraq.

Sadly, the president didn’t get this memo and confidently told the American people during the

State of the Union address that Iraq was attempting to create weapons of mass destruction.

If only Karl had known the White House was becoming annoyed with Wilson’s incessant talk of misinformation and faulty State of the Union addresses, then perhaps he would have shown more discretion.

Did Karl Rove purposefully slip and reveal Valerie Plame’s name to a reporter from a widely read publication in response to Joseph Wilson’s attack on Bush’s reasons for invading Iraq? Perhaps. But there are plenty of other ways to explain the information leak.

He could be telling the truth, you know. I know it’s hard for some people to accept, since they have such a need to distrust the government, but he really could be

All that is required is to bag up the contents of the bins and have them ready for pick-up.

“I believe that the way we treat the gift relates to how we think of the giver,” Cooke said.

“We need to value this creation and our creator enough to take care of it.”

College students are busy and some amount of waste can’t be prevented; however, we would like to urge everyone to think before tossing and make use of the few recycling bins on campus.

Then, all of the Cokes, Big Macs and munchies that we carry to class can find their way back through the system to be reused and rejuvenate the environment.

the loser in this situation.

Scooter, also responsible for informing reporters of Plame’s identity, thought the agent’s identity was common knowledge. Who wouldn’t make that mistake, since he actually received the knowledge from a reporter. Couldn’t a reporter have also told Karl?

Finally, The Giant Purple-People-Eater could have come to Karl dressed as a Time reporter and tricked him into revealing the identity of Wilson’s wife.

Instead of ganging up against the poor guy and shoving all of his mistakes down his throat, we should applaud him for standing his ground. Applaud President Bush for seeing through all the lies and resisting the calls to fire his right-hand-man. And watch ourselves before we presume to judge poor Karl.

E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu

Student filmmakers express concern about future FilmFests FilmFest is an event that, in its short two-year tenure, has already created quite a buzz.

Many students get dressed nice and attend the now-annual event at the Paramount each year. FilmFest is a special event, but could also use some improvement. FilmFest brings back alumni, high profile judges and gets a wide variety of students and faculty involved, and I believe this should institute a higher standard of films

Your Voice Letter to the editor in response to the second annual FilmFest. set by those in charge.

I’m mainly talking about quality of films. Standards are lowered when those in charge attempt to level the playing field by dumbing down the competition.

If you are good at what you do, should you not be rewarded for it instead of being handicapped by being required to use one editing program? If we are inviting high profile judges to our campus, I know we should be more concerned with the quality of the films shown.

Ironically enough, it’s quite possible that some of the winners may also have used illegal equipment. As an experienced filmmaker, I caught

myself questioning the integrity of some of the films on premiere night.

Another disturbing element of FilmFest is the editing of “questionable” content. I understand that editing intensely sexual or violent content might be in the best interest for ACU, however, unless the content is blatantly outside the bounds of a PG rating, you’re hurting the integrity of the film by removing parts that might be pivotal

to the plot or as simple as a small laugh.

I was involved in an exposition film, a wonderful category for professional feedback, if you are interested in becoming a filmmaker. A problem is that this year, none of the judges were able to see any films in this category. In fact, I had a brief conversation with judge David Leeson, and he didn’t even seem to know anything about an exposition category.

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.

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attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy.

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Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

It seems odd that we should be scheduling our judges for public luncheons and other appearances that we neglect why they are here in the first place—to watch and judge every film in the festival.

FilmFest, as I said, is a very special event. I hope the third year will address the mentioned concerns.

Dustin Reid electronic media major from Rockwall

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November 11, 2005 Box Office Figures for the weekend of November 4-6, in millions. Total grosses in parenthesis.

1. Chicken Little—$40 (new) 2. Jarhead—$27.7 (new) 3. Saw II—$16.9 ($60.1) 4. The Legend of Zorro—$10 ($30.3) 5. Prime—$5.1 ($13.3) 6. Dreamer—$4.8 ($23.8) 7. Good Night, And Good Luck—$3.1 ($11) 8. The Weather Man— $2.9 ($8.6) 9. Shopgirl—$2.5 ($3.5) 10. Flightplan—$2.3 ($84.4)

Today’s Movies Derailed (R)—starring Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen; directed by Mikael Hafstrom.

Family man Charles (Owen) quickly throws himself into an affair with a woman (Aniston) after meeting her on his morning commute. However, a criminal confronts the two and pulls them into his plot, putting all in danger.

Zathura (PG)­—starring the Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo; directed by Jon Favreau.

In what appears to be a rip off of Jumanji, Zathura tells the story of two brothers who are propelled into space and encounter huge obstacles, all from playing a mysterious game they found in their basement.

Directed by Jon Favreau (Elf), the film is based on the best-selling book by author Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote Jumanji. He might just be plagiarizing himself.

Page 7

‘Jarhead’ offers Marine’s view of wartime Jarhead PPP n Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx; directed

by Sam Mendes.

Rated R (for extreme language, some violent images and strong sexual content)

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

You don’t want to be a Marine.

Or at least I don’t. Glimpsing the world of the Corps through Jarhead, a jolting look at troops’ lives during the Gulf War, made the images of war I’m used to seeing on TV all the more real. The harsh realities they face and the vicious training they endure is finally presented unedited for the American public and is sure to make most squeamish. Nevertheless, putting names and faces to the reality of war is imperative when analyzing it.

Jarhead isn’t political, though it has ample room to be, considering its location is Iraq, the enemy is Saddam Hussein and the President of the United States is George H.W. Bush. But director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) wouldn’t take the bait to make the film into something it’s not: an opinion on the United States’ current dealings in Iraq.

Based on the book with the same name written by Marine Anthony Swofford, Jarhead

Ratings Key Excellent PPPP Good PPP Fair PP Poor P

follows Swofford, or Swoff, from basic training to Desert Shield to Desert Storm, chronicling his experiences and feelings and bringing a rarity to the screen: combat through the eyes of a troop.

Countless war movies have been made, each accounting certain battles, strategies, companies and personal missions of troops, but none quite compare to Jarhead.

The self-ascribed moniker “jarhead,” which refers to what a Marine’s head looks like when shaved, represents the film’s apparent point: to give you a glimpse at what it feels like to be a Marine, living in the desert across the world from family and trying to find entertainment while waiting for a war to start.

A third-generation enlistee, Swoff joins the Marines for reasons of which he’s not quite sure. He’s smart, and after boot camp, the Corps tags him as a possible sniper. Swoff endures rigorous training under the command of Sergeant Sykes (Jamie Foxx) who leads the scout/ sniper platoon, and teams up with Troy (Peter Sarsgaard), a die-hard Marine who brings a level head to the madness of war.

At first, Swoff would rath-

‘New York Times’ BestSeller List, Fiction Photo courtesy of www.rottentomatoes.com

Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list.

1/-/1 Predator, by Patricia Cornwell 2/1/2 At First Sight, by Nicholas Sparks 3/-/1 The Camel Club, by David Baldacci 4/-/1 Toxic Bachelors, by Danielle Steel 5/2/3 Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan 6/4/4 The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly 7/3/3 Consent to Kill, by Vince Flynn 8/9/2 Saving Fish From Drowning, by Amy Tan 9/7/5 Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire 10/8/3 A Wedding in December, by Anita Shreve

Marine Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) steps off a plane into the desert of the Middle East for Desert Shield in the new film Jarhead.

Photo courtesy of www.jarheadmovie.com

Troy (Peter Sarsgaard, left) and Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal, right) serve in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as snipers in the new film Jarhead, based on the book of the same title written by Anthony Swoffard (Swoff). er make himself sick, hide in the bathroom and read Albert Camus than serve. But, once given the opportunity to prove himself and become a sniper, he accepts the challenge and completes the training, only to be whisked to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield.

During much of the film, the Marines have nothing to do in the desert but wait for the war to begin, and the count of troops in the Middle East flashes on screen throughout. As the number of troops increases, so does the desperation of the Marines to find their one shot—one shot against the enemy that will reassure them that their time served was worth it. Finding the shot isn’t easy, and most of their days are filled with trying to stay hydrated, creating games to play among their friends and wondering if their wives or girlfriends will be faithful to them while they’re away.

Members of the platoon range from the shy types, who just want to go home, to the ignorant, who want nothing more than to kill for pleasure. Swoff and Troy both search for meaning and balance between the extremes while in the desert. Through this, both begin to lose their

minds because they actually have minds to lose.

They’ve been institutionalized by the Corps, learning a new code to live by down to the terms they use for everyday items. A shirt was now a blouse, a flashlight—a moonbeam, a pen—an ink stick, a bed—a rack. As their master sergeant had yelled at them during training, they were now green—dark green or light green—but green.

They’ve been trained to carry out a job, but the only job they have to do is sit and wait.

Jarhead explores how one of the biggest problems stemming from wars is the psychological effect it has on the troops. They are trained to be machines on the field, killing and defending themselves at all costs. Coming home, balancing what used to be normal and what they have been trained to think as normal, is a punishment most are not expecting.

Coming to terms with this struggle proved even harder when Desert Shield became Desert Storm, a war that ended in a matter of days and left many soldiers without their one shot. No sooner had they left for their first sniper assignment, Swoff and Troy return to hear of the victory and wonder what their time

had been good for.

The film’s biggest flaw is the wrap conclusion it brings when the troops have gone home. We don’t know what Swoff is doing now, but we do know he can’t get images of the desert out of his head or the feel of a rifle out of his hands. A character dies, but we don’t know how or why, and this time at home should have been developed more fully in the film to give the audience a better view of the tough transition from war to home.

Jarhead isn’t easy subject matter, and most studios didn’t want anything to do with it when the book was released in 2003 because of the political tie-ins and the extreme R rating. Mendes took a chance on it as his third film, and fans of American Beauty’s dark humor shouldn’t be disappointed.

Exceptional cinematography takes the viewer to the desert and conjures memories of seeing burning oil tanks on our TV screens.

While not perfect, Jarhead still finds itself among the most unrelenting and better movies about war and highlights of the year so far.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Theatre Department inspects ‘A Christmas Carol’ n The student-directed comedy ‘Inspecting Carol’ will run Thursday through Nov. 19 in Fulks Theatre at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

By ANNA CARROLL Student Reporter

The Theatre Department will present the play Inspecting Carol from Thursday until Nov. 19 in Fulks Theatre. This student-directed comedy will begin at 8 p.m. each night with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

Amanda McGee, senior theatre major from Plano, was chosen as director from

several students who interviewed for the position.

McGee will have the assistance of her faculty mentor, Dawne Swearingen, assistant professor of theatre.

“I’m just there as someone to ask questions and help problem-solve,” Swearingen said. She was assigned to the play as a faculty mentor when she joined the faculty in July, she said. Swearingen began the year as the director and choreographer for A Grand Night For Singing.

McGee ran auditions in one night instead of the usual two-night process and chose her 12-member cast

Tickets Tickets for Inspecting Carol are $12 for the 8 p.m. shows and $10 for the Saturday matinee. They can be purchased by calling 6742787 or at the door. from the 40 to 50 students who auditioned. Rehearsals began Oct. 24, and the cast will practice every weeknight for four hours until the show. Occasionally, the actors are asked to help build the set or work on costumes, McGee said.

“It’s a really fast produc-

tion. It’s a little shorter than we’re used to … but it’s completely doable,” McGee said.

The cast and crew had a little longer than three weeks between the first practice and opening night.

A panel of students chose the play, Inspecting Carol, last semester after reading and discussing a few plays.

The play is about a theatre company in the early 1990s that has performed the Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol, every year for 12 years. Problems arise when the company faces the possibility of losing its needed grant money. The

National Endowment for the Arts announces that they would withhold the money unless the company passes inspection. Mistaking a prospective but terrible actor for the inspector leads to irony and comedy.

Directing this play is not a part of any class for McGee; she just loves theatre, she said.

“I just wanted to expand my craft,” McGee said, “and directing is just another way to do that.”

E-mail Carroll at: optimist@acu.edu

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Page 8

Friday, November 11, 2005

Maxwell: Junior helped create FilmFest tradition Continued from page 1 well said he thought he’d try to make a film with the material given to him. After all, he did have this program on his computer called iMovie, so Maxwell sat down one day and taught himself the program.

Excited about the possibilities, Maxwell began filming weddings and created the slide show and film for ACU Leadership Camps.

Maxwell came to the university excited about a school he loved but disappointed the school didn’t offer a film or photography program. FilmFest filled that void.

The first show During the first year of FilmFest, Maxwell said his job was to create and edit video used to promote FilmFest. Because Maxwell was a student representative for Apple computers on campus, Darby gave Maxwell the task of setting up the computer lab and finding people to run it. Maxwell said he didn’t find his tasks too difficult and felt comfortable but wasn’t always confident when he compared himself to his co-workers.

“When I first started talking

with Lisa [Phin, co-chair of FilmFest last year], I was very intimidated because she was a senior, I was a sophomore. What can I bring to the table that she can’t already do?” Maxwell said.

But, Darby said Maxwell did more than just his duties. When Darby and Dr. K.B Massingill, chief information officer for the university, were creating the look of the awards ceremony, Darby credits Maxwell with ideas to make the presentation cleaner and more professional.

After spending time and becoming attached to the new film festival project, Maxwell said he was now constantly wondering if anyone would come and if the night would be a success.

“I remember that me, Doug and Lisa, until the very last day, were just praying saying, ‘God, please let them come. We want all the glory to be to you, but we want people to come.’”

The awards ceremony was delayed by 15 minutes because of the line extending down the street of people who had waited until the last minute to buy a ticket, Maxwell said.

“I was just amazed at how many people showed up,” Maxwell said. “We had to start the show 15 minutes later because

mand for a film outlet is so high, Maxwell said he thinks FilmFest could become the Sing Song of the fall.

“Even though it’s not a big deal, I hope that in a few years maybe it can be like Sing Song.

I can be like ‘I helped with the very first FilmFest. I contributed to something we can see to fruition right now.’”

Making a sacrifice

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Matt Maxwell, junior electronic media major from Abilene, presents the award for best producer at FilmFest on Nov. 11 at the Paramount Theatre. people were getting tickets at the door. But that was awesome. I’ll never forget that.”

Dreams of an established FilmFest had already been going through his mind. The de-

One point Darby wants to make clear is he has given Maxwell the opportunity to take a year off and create his own film, but Maxwell insisted he would rather continue being co-chair.

“Films are something I just love making. Why aren’t I making them for FilmFest? And I think it’s just because I feel so much more gratification from helping produce FilmFest and helping other people succeed in their areas — that that’s my joy right there.”

The interesting part of Maxwell’s decision, Darby said, is that he is giving up being spotlighted for his talents.

“If he wanted to he could go out there and win this thing.

Hands down. I don’t have a doubt,” Darby said. “Not because he knows the inside

track, but because I think he’s that talented.”

Entering FilmFest had been his intention, Maxwell said, but he would only do that if the festival had 10 years under its belt and didn’t need his support.

As an alumnus, Maxwell said he plans to come back every year for FilmFest, sit in the seats and enjoy being one of the few people who remember what it was when it began.

Finding a successor Maxwell’s senior year will be his last as co-chair, and he said it would be hard to leave and give his position over to someone else.

Constancy brought to FilmFest through Maxwell will lack after his departure, Darby said. To fill the vacancy he said he hopes Maxwell will be able to mentor someone, perhaps even a sophomore, who has the same enthusiasm for building FilmFest.

“Not to replace him, but to succeed him,” Darby said.

“I’m counting on him to help me fill that void. It’s almost like the prophets hand over their cloaks. You know. Elijah and Elisha.”

E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu

Election: Necessity SA: Core course proposal tabled debated by some Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1 Whether or not the constitutional amendment was necessary was a main point for dissention among voters. Samesex marriage is already banned in Texas through The Defense of Marriage Act of 2003.

Coates said the amendment was “absolutely necessary” because when the U.S. Supreme Court eventually considers the constitutional legality of same-sex marriage, it will look to states’ constitutions to see how many uphold a constitutional ban.

Massachusetts is the only state that recognizes samesex marriage, while California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont grant persons in same-sex unions domestic partnerships, civil unions or reciprocal beneficiary laws. Texas in now one of 19 states that constitutionally bans same-sex marriage, while 27 states have statutes defining marriage as between two members of the opposite sex.

Article IV, Section I of the U.S. Constitution states “full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.”

Because of this, Coates said, the Supreme Court will have to consider whether a samesex marriage created in Massachusetts will be recognized in a state that carries a ban on the marriage.

“It’s very important that as many states as possible speak up on this issue,” he said.

Others felt the 2003 law banning same-sex marriage was enough and amending the Constitution wasn’t needed.

“I personally did not think the amendment was necessary and personally thought it was not a well-worded amendment, among other things,” said Dr. David Dillman, professor of political science.

Both Coates and Dillman said they had not noticed an increase in student involvement for the vote but each had talked with a few students on the matter and raised the issue in their classes.

Dillman said it’s important for students to be involved in the voting process and pay attention to the issues.

“Whether it’s Social Security, health care or gay marriage,” he said, “that will shape the state of our national, and it’s important to be involved.”

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Brandon Smith also brought forward his own piece of legislation — a resolution suggesting changes to the curriculum. Faculty committees are working to update the university’s curriculum, Smith said, and this resolution would give students a chance to insert their opinion.

According to the resolution, SA would request that athletes should not have to take the university core physical education courses because their teams require so much physical activity

already. In the same vein, the resolution states that music and art majors should not have to take the university core fine arts requirement.

Having read the resolution, Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university, who is working on the new curriculum, spoke to Congress and said he was glad SA was tackling academic issues.

He said it is hard to know if the ideas will be a possibility because the university core classes might be changed in the new curriculum.

Physical education classes

based on content, such as Health and Fitness, teach facts that aren’t learned through team practice, VanRheenen said. In addition, the required exercise courses are for students, even athletes, to experience an activity they haven’t been involved in before.

“The idea is to broaden people’s experience,” VanRheenen said. “OK, they know football, or they know baseball, but to broaden their experience, wouldn’t it be good if they tried another experience?”

Every resolution is sent to the faculty senate, Smith said,

so by passing the resolution, Congress knows more faculty and administrators will see its opinion. SA executive president Justin Scott said he agreed with Smith.

“This couldn’t definitely have a great impact on what happens,” Scott said, “Don’t vote against it just because you think it won’t have a big impact.”

Congress tabled the resolution until next week because of concerns about its wording.

E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu

Coffee: New shop to open soon Continued from page 1 to reserve the room, so students can meet inside for class, said Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing. The room will also be available for night classes.

Barnard said her husband, Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of campus life, drove the idea of having a coffee shop in Barrett Hall, which was set up with more community-like spaces to

enhance community living.

Dr. Mimi Barnard said the coffee shop will be a convenient place for students to meet and hang out; it will also be the lobby for Barret Hall.

Mary Tan, sophomore English major from Singapore and one of the hall’s residents, said she’s excited about the The Den because she will be able to meet girls from other floors.

“We don’t have a social area right now, and there isn’t a

place for guys to hang out; we have no lobby, so if we have the café, at least there’ll be some place everyone can get together and chill,” Tan said.

Non-residents are also anticipating the opening of a new coffee shop on campus and on this side of town.

Nick Hester, junior electronic media major from Fontana, Calif., said he likes the idea of having the coffee shop at walking distance.

“I know during my freshman year, when we wanted to hang out with friends, there was nowhere on campus to go, especially if you didn’t have a car,” Hester said.

The completion of The Den should be soon. Next semester, students will have another choice, with the addition of another coffee shop inside the Brown Library.

E-mail Lau at: optimist@acu.edu

SPORTS JUMPS

Friday, November 11, 2005

Page 9

LSC: Wildcats try to defend title this weekend Continued from page 10 2004 season with a .266 hitting percentage and earned honorable mention all-LSC South Division honors.

Horn said while this weekend will be the final time for her seniors to play in Moody, she thinks that this will be a great end to their playing careers.

“I am confident that we are going to win this weekend, we’re going to be in front of our home crowd ,and that’s going to be an awesome end to their career, to win a conference title here in Moody,” Horn said.

“That part is sad because we’ll miss them, but at the same time they’ve helped

build the program that the younger kids are going to have to carry on, and that’s going to be the fun part.”

The “fun part” is still a year away, so for now the Wildcats will relish the postseason and the opportunity to play at home. “(Tuesday) I walked into Moody and it just feels real good,” Horn said. “We think we’re going to have a nice crowd on Friday night, and so we’re just real thrilled to be home, not crawling onto a bus.”

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

Senior rightside hitter Ashlee Motola attempts to dig the ball during practice Monday in the double gym. The Wildcats host the LSC Tournament this weekend.

Intramurals: Moonies win Continued from page 10 “Stephanie Maycock is an interception queen,” said Michelle Watson, junior family studies major from Abilene and Siggie member. Siggie player Stephanie Maycock had three interceptions, but that was not enough to overcome the 2nd Wind.

“Our girls played well, and we are proud of them,” Watson said.

The men’s game had a larger crowd than the women’s game. Fans packed the GSP’s and Galaxy’s side-

lines from end zone to end zone.

The Moonies controlled the flow of the game and came out on top. Galaxy members Scott Brooks and Ysmael Olvera scored rushing touchdowns and Matt Tietjan and Brandon Pope scored receiving touchdowns.

The longest play of the game was a long pass from Brooks to Pope, who was streaking down the sideline.

The Kinsmen ran the option and threw the ball effectively, but in the end the Moonie defense proved to

Contesting the shot

be too much. On a critical drive near the end of the game, Olvera intercepted a short pass over the middle to give the ball back to the Moonie offense.

Galaxy player Kris Drewery delivered the nail in the coffin on a reverse pass.

The play was a fake reverse run, and when Drewery pulled up, he hit Tietjan in the back of the end zone for the Moonie’s 4th touchdown.

Continued from page 10

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

E-mail McEntire at: optimist@acu.edu

Junior forward Lacey Blau goes for the layup against fellow forward, sophomore Ashlee Barr

Men: New season begins Tuesday Continued from page 10

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Senior forward Mauro Matai, from Maputo, Mozambique, catches the ball during drills in practice Wednesday.

T.O.: Eagles better off without Owens

Conference against North Division opponent Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3.

The Lone Star Conference’s South Division looks to offer the Wildcats a tough schedule, starting with the favorite to win the south, Tarleton State, who Copeland is picked by Street & Smith magazine as the top basketball team in the nation among Division-II schools. ACU is picked to finish last in the south, according to the league’s preseason poll.

“I think that a good goal is to get to the conference tournament,” Copeland said. “It’s extremely tough

though, it might be as tough as it’s ever been.”

Leading the way for the Wildcats this season will be one of only three returning players from last year, senior point guard Gabe Lombard, who will share the floor with junior point guard and transfer from Angelina Community College in Lufkin, Will Alexander.

“We need both those guys to step up every night for us to have a chance,” Copeland said. “We’re not over-talented; we’re going to be a blue collar team.”

With a new coaching staff and seven new players, this season presents plenty of obstacles for the Wildcats; however, this winter may prove to be a leap in the right direction for the Wildcats’ program.

E-mail Holland at: optimist@acu.edu

off the field when he’s upset. And in the words of Stephen A. Smith – “quite frankly” I don’t think Owens can do that.

You would think that this summer’s contract dispute and his one-week suspension from training camp – that set the stage for a pre-season drama that may have surpassed the Kobe vs. Shaq fiasco as the biggest soap opera in sports in recent memory - would be enough.

But not for Owens.

The Eagles have made the right decision, and though with Donovan McNabb’s injuries and lack of depth at the receiver position may put them in the place where they might not reach the playoffs this year, in the long run the team will be better off.

E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

Page 10

November 11, 2005 Standings Football

Team Conf. Overall 8-1 10-1 WTAMU Angelo St. 7-2 9-2 Tarleton St. 6-3 7-3 Midwestern 5-4 6-4 TAMU-K 5-4 6-4 ACU 4-5 4-6

New coach, players prepare for year n First-year head coach Jason Copeland begins the regular season Tuesday against Houston-Tillotson in Moody Coliseum.

By BRIAN HOLLAND Student Reporter

The basketball season will tip-off Friday night when the men’s basketball team travels to Denton to play North Texas in exhibition play. The team enters the season with virtually an entirely new roster, a new coach and a new philosophy.

“We’re trying to implement a system that will be successful in the long haul,” said new head coach Jason Copeland. “This year’s all about laying the foundation.”

Copeland, who last year was an assistant coach under his father at Lubbock Christian University, was named the new head coach at ACU on June 1.

After the basketball team finished last season 1-11 in conference and 8-19 overall under former head coach Klint Pleasant, Copeland says he hopes to turn the Wildcats around to a winning program again, despite the fact the team hasn’t had a winning season since 1998-99.

The Wildcats finish their exhibition play Monday night in El Paso against the UT-El Paso Miners, and then start their regular season schedule against Houston-Tillotson on Tuesday at Moody Coliseum.

The basketball team starts conference play in the Lone Star

Volleyball Team Div. ACU

10-0 WTAMU 8-1 TAMU-K 6-4 ENMU

3-7 Tarleton St. 2-8 Angelo St. 1-9

Overall 27-3 26-8 11-19 8-19 16-17 9-23

Scores Saturday

FOOTball Midwestern State 35, ACU 30 Volleyball ACU 3, Eastern New Mexico 0

Upcoming Schedule Friday

VOlleyball ACU vs. TWU, 6 p.m.

Saturday

VOlleyball LSC Tournament Final, 7 p.m.

• Home games listed in italics brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Junior forward Joshua Bigby, a transfer from Angelina Community College, works in the post during drills in practice Wednesday in Moody Coliseum.

See

Men page 9

Briefs Farrell named top defensive lineman in LSC South Division, three others named to LSC South first team.

Senior defensive end Clayton Farrell received LSC South Division Defensive Lineman of the Year after recording an LSC-leading 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. Farrell’s 28.0 career sacks is third on the NCAA Division II all-time list.

Farrell is joined on the LSC South first team by two fellow defensive players, junior safety Danieal Manning and junior linebacker Marcus Brown. On the offensive side, sophomore receiver Jerale Badon was selected on the first team.

Intramural flag-football ends season for teams n Intramural flag football ended for the men’s and women’s Championship League on Monday night. The men’s game featured Gamma Sigma Phi and Galaxy.

By KENNY McENTIRE Student Reporter

Two teams earned intramural flag football champion T-shirts Monday night — Galaxy won the men’s title, and 2nd Wind won the women’s.

Monday night students played in the intramural Champion League finals. The conclusion of the season began at 8 p.m. with the women’s game followed by the men’s game; both games took place on the new Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural Fields.

The men’s game was a show down of intramural powerhouses club teams Gamma Sigma Phi and Galaxy. The match up was hyped up, as it carried much weight, including the title “intramural champion.” Students were excited to see the two teams fight it out.

“You’ve got your Kinsmen, you’ve got your Moonies. What more could you want in an intramural flag football championship?” said Jace Jackson, junior exercise science major from Oologah, Okla.

The women’s championship game was between the Siggies and 2nd Wind. The crowd grew as the game went on, and so did the excitement.

See

Intramurals page 9

Wildcats ready for conference tournament n The Wildcats will play its first game of the LSC Tournament tonight at 6 p.m. as they try to repeat as conference champions.

By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor

The Wildcats enter Friday’s match with a 27-match winning streak. While winning seems to be old hat for the team now, this success was new just a year ago.

Last year marked the first time the Wildcats advanced past their own conference and into the regional tournament.

Besides making the regional tourMartin nament, the Wildcats had never won an LSC title either. However, after accomplishing both feats last year, this year’s team seems more confident, or at least knows what to expect.

Between planning a trip for more than two dozen people to travel to regionals and the pressures of preparing for such a big tournament, head coach Brek Horn said last year’s trip was overwhelming at times. But now Horn said she is more confident and prepared.

“I’m better prepared for what this year is going to be like because of last year,” Horn said. “This year we’re going, I know we’re going … so that makes it easier.”

Even though the Wildcats are a lock to make the regional tournament, team members say they are still focused on the Lone Star Conference Tournament this weekend.

The Wildcats first game will come against the winner between Texas Woman’s and Texas A&MKingsville. ACU has beaten both teams during the regular season this year, and all other teams in the

Volleyball tournament. Horn knows this, but doesn’t want her team to think it means this weekend will be easy.

“We’re not even thinking about, ‘well we beat this team or that team,’” Horn said. “I know that’s at the back of your mind, but at the same time we’re trying to prepare to play well and win this tournament.”

Senior setter Lindsey Martin said she knows her team is going to regionals but must remain focused on this weekend.

“Before we could think about our goals for regionals we have to say, ‘so far we’ve met all our goals for the season and we still have this weekend to finish strong,’” Martin said. “We have to keep our mind focused in.”

To keep their minds focused, the Wildcats will savor playing in Moody Coliseum after being on the road since Oct. 20. For Martin and three other seniors, the tournament will be their last chance to play in front of the home fans.

“We try not to think about it,” Martin said about the seniors’ final games in Moody. “All four of us try not to think about it.”

The four seniors are Martin, outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt, middle blocker Amanda Slate and rightside hitter Ashlee Motola. The four seniors have put up impressive numbers at ACU in their careers.

Martin surpassed the 5,000 assists mark, and Bernhardt topped 2,000 career kills earlier in the year, becoming the first tandem to play beside each other in LSC history.

Last year, Slate became the first Wildcat voted first team all-Southwest Region, LSC South Division MVP and LSC Post-Season Tournament MVP. Motola finished the See

LSC page 9

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Senior middle blocker Amanda Slate practices her serve during practice Tuesday in the double gym in preparation for the LSC tournament.

Letting agent do the talking not a good idea I’m not here to decide whether or not Terrell Owens’ apology was sincere.

Only he knows that, but the one thing I will say is Owens’ decision to let Drew Rosenhaus run his mouth probably hurt more than it Kyle’s helped.

Column Did you see the sad Kyle puppy dog Robarts face of Owens as he stood behind his agent who went on a rant

and continhe takes The part that really caught my ear was when ually told shots at his Rosenhaus compared Owens’ suspension to the press players and that of league substance abusers. how Owhis coaches ens felt? and continTo me this ues to behurts the credibility of Ow- same social consequences lieve that he is the messiah ens because most of the that a person who failed a of the team, even though words and apologies came drug test has. it has been a team in the from his agent rather than However, as bad as drug running for the conference his own mouth. use is, in many cases it championship game for The part that really doesn’t directly affect team three years in a row withcaught my ear was when morale. Maybe a couple of out him.

Rosenhaus compared Ow- SportsCenter stories that In 2004, the Philadelphia ens’ suspension to that of could possibly hurt the Eagles advanced to the Suleague substance abusers. team’s image might pop up per Bowl while Owens was Where I agree with Rosen- when a star player is sus- out with injury. haus is that maybe an ado- pended, but Owens’ behavThe Eagles have a choice lescent tantrum that Ow- ior continues to hurt the to make now, since Owens ens threw doesn’t have the locker room. The fact that took advantage of the right

to file a grievance through the players’ union. Will the team take a chance and let him back on the squad, or will it stick to its original decision to suspend him four weeks without pay and then deactivate him for the rest of the season?

The fact is, Owens is a great player. On the field, it’s hard to say that he hurts the team, but what the Eagles need is for Owens to play the remainder of this season and the remainder of his career as an Eagle with his mouth shut See

T.O. page 9