Vol. 94, No. 27 1 section, 8 pages
WEDNESDAY
November 30, 2005
www.acuoptimist.com
Slow start
Midnight snack
Grand finale
Turnovers last week pushed the Wildcats’ record to 1-2, page 7
Midnight Breakfast will be Monday in the Bean beginning at 10:30 p.m., page 3
The volleyball team made it to the Regional finals but lost to the nation’s No. 1 team, page 7
Flu shots suggested for students n Students, who run a higher risk of infection because of close living spaces, faculty and staff can receive the vaccination for $15 from the Medical Clinic By MONICA SMITH Staff Writer
College students nationwide are encouraged to get
Sing Song tickets on sale
their flu vaccinations. Because of living in close quarters such as residence halls, apartments and eating in large cafeterias, students run a higher risk of infections, such as the flu, which spread easily. Also, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site, many college
students experience a drastic change in eating and sleeping habits when school begins, which could lead to a weakened immune system. Despite these risks, some students are not worried about being infected. Chad Carnes, senior business accounting finance major from Tracy Calif., doesn’t plan on
getting the flu vaccination. ““I don’t want to spend $15 on something I only might need,” Carnes said. The ACU Medical Clinic provides flu shots for students, faculty and staff. The flu shots cost $15, and no appointment is necessary; howSee
Flu symptoms According to the Medical Clinic Web site, flu symptoms include: • fever and chills • headache • aching muscles • fatigue • loss of appetite • dry, hacking cough • nasal congestion • drainage • sore throat.
FLU page 7
Here comes Santa Claus
Page 2 Editor
ACU Police officials attribute a sharp increase in bicycle thefts this year to students leaving bikes unlocked. Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU Police, said 15 bikes have been stolen this year. Only eight bikes were reported stolen this time last year. Ellison said he hasn’t noticed a pattern to the bike thefts. “The fact that they are random in both time and location, it is probably what we call in the police world ‘a crime of opportunity,’” he said. “If it were premeditated, we would see bikes stolen in rashes rather than in random order”. Jeffery Navarro, sophomore accounting major from Dallas, said he has seen students take bikes that are not theirs, but they do not intend to steal the bikes. Instead, they Ellison borrow them. Navarro said he uses his younger brother’s bike on campus. To keep it from getting stolen, he uses a quality lock with a lifetime warranty. As bike transportation gains popularity with students who live too far from campus to walk and too close to drive, the campus becomes more vulnerable to bike theft. Bo Stevens, senior youth and family major from Atlanta, Ga, said he purchased a bike a couple months ago for that reason. Though it seemed like a good idea, Stevens said he has had a number of friends that have had bikes stolen. One friend reported it and the cops found it at one of the usual places. The police usually check pawnshops for stolen bikes and abandoned bikes. The average bike is usually abandoned on campus, however. “Sometimes students just take the bikes and ride them
By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor
See
SING page 7
n ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison said 80 percent of stolen bikes were not locked, and one student said he knows students who ride unlocked bikes across campus and leave them. By TAKISHA KNIGHT
n One-third of the tickets for the final show Feb. 18 have been sold for the 50th annual production, which is still more than two months away.
Although Sing Song is still more than two months away, organizers have sold more than 800 tickets for the final show. Kendall Massey, director of student productions, said more than one-third of the tickets have been sold for the Feb. 18 performance, not including the tickets that hosts and hostesses and co-chairs will request. “We’re going to be full pretty quick,” Massey said. However, Massey said people will enjoy any of the three 50th shows. The 50th show will have a nostalgic theme, he said, and will include more video than in the past. “ I t ’ s about the s h o w — I t ’ s about Sing Massey S o n g , ” Massey said. “It will be very different from what [audiences] are used to.” Sing Song will feature a few more differences this year. Sub T-16 will not be able to participate in the show because the club was suspended after hazing allegations earlier this semester. “A lot of people will miss them,” Massey said. “The show will miss them.” Massey and the co-chairs also are trying to involve the International Students Association and Hispanos Unidos in the show. Although Massey said he doesn’t think ISA will participate this year, Hispanos Unidos might be involved in an act like Shades Step Squad performed last year; the group performed while the hosts and hostesses sang. Massey said Shades should participate again this year. The themes for the class and club acts for this year’s show come from acts in Sing Song’s past. Directors have chosen their themes, and must turn in song lyrics before leaving for Christmas break, Massey said. Currently, Massey and his three co-chairs are making sure everything is organized for next semester, when rehearsals and preparations
Bicycle thefts double in fall
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Elementary students from Abilene Christian School perform their annual Christmas presentation during Chapel on Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.
See
BICYCLE page 7
Campus upgrades technological offerings n As students’ use of technology on campus grows, the university has responded to the trend with initiatives such as the Library Commons and smart classrooms. By EMERALD McGOWAN Student Reporter
Every morning, Eric Lemmons wakes up to the sound of his cell phone. He jiggles the mouse on his computer to see what time it is, then goes about the rest of his morning routine. Before leav-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
ing his apartment, he checks his e-mail one final time, then heads to work. Lemmons, junior Christian ministry and communication major from Tucson, Ariz., works for Team 55, ACU’s student technology support service. After helping students solve their computer problems, Lemmons grabs his laptop and heads for class. “Just about everything I’m doing unless I’m eating, sleeping or with my girlfriend
is done on a computer,” Lemmons said. Like Lemmons, students across campus are increasingly using technology. In response to this trend, the university seems to be devoting Tucker more time and resources into increasing student accessibility to
technology. If looking only at student results, a list comparing the grade point averages of graduating seniors since 1960 shows only a slight positive increase in performance beginning in the mid 1980s, when current technology was introduced on campus. Despite these inconclusive findings, ACU continues to promote student use of technology. “The important thing to remember is, technology is
Abilene Christian University
nothing more than a tool,” said Gary Tucker, director of distance education. “Students use technology, therefore we teach with technology.” Tucker said the key to understanding how to use technology to improve student achievement lies in the way the human brain works. Humans learn holistically, Tucker said, drawing information from every experience they encounter and are incredibly See
TECHNOLOGY page 5
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