2006 01 25

Vol. 94, No. 30 1 section, 8 pages

WEDNESDAY

January 25, 2006

www.acuoptimist.com

Hoop dreams

Renowned recital

Videos go online

The Wildcats struggle to keep playoff hopes alive after 0-3 start, page 8

A well known husband-and-wife pianist duo will perform Thursday, page 4

Optimist videos are now available to download for free on iTunes , page 3

DTs aim for spring reactivation n The women of Delta Theta said they would like to complete their required self-study of the club for reactivation in time to participate in spring rushes.

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Members of women’s social club Delta Theta are continuing their self-study this semester as they refocus their

club’s mission and goals and await reactivation later in the spring, in time for rushes.

Lindsey Jessup, DT president and senior Barnard human communication major from Bakersfield, Ca-

lif., said in an e-mail that the club’s main focus is on service projects and finding ways to serve the community. Jessup said DT’s deactivation period has been a time of reflection for members, enlightening them on what DT’s founding members wanted the club to be.

“Obviously, we needed to reevaluate a few things in our club, and I feel we, as a whole,

have achieved those desired changes,” Jessup said. “In researching Delta Theta, past and present, it has really let members speak out to what they want their club to be.

We have had so much alumni support through everything, and a stronger, more deeply rooted Delta Theta will come out of this.”

See

Delta Theta’s road to reactivation Campus Life officials deactivated Delta Theta in October after club advisers resigned because of internal conflicts with club officers.

Before reactivation, Delta Theta members must find new advisers and complete a self-study of the club’s history to refocus their mission.

CLUB page 7

Wildcats can meet in new Den n Barret Hall’s new coffee shop remains open weekdays from 7 a.m. until midnight, and students can use cash, Bean Bucks or meal plans to purchase items.

Student Reporter

Managing Editor

Coffee lovers have an additional place to commune over fresh coffee and warm pastries this semester with the addition of The Den, Barret Hall’s Java City coffee shop, which is adjacent to the residence hall’s office.

The Den, which had its grand opening Wednesday at 9 a.m., was aptly named for its decoration: a large mural depicting the story of Daniel in the lion’s den from Daniel 6. Jack Maxwell, chair of the Art and Design Department, painted the mural.

The coffee shop offers customers a variety of coffee choices including espressos, iced and hot beverages and Java City’s Javalanches, which are iced coffee drinks with add-ins such as caramel, vanilla and cookies n’ cream.

Unlike other locations on campus that serve coffee, The Den includes dining tables, a bar area overlooking Campus Court, black leather couches that surround a working fireplace and a plasma screen television mounted on the wall. For extra seating, customers can also use the classroom next door.

The gold-painted shop offers students a place to eat, drink, study and watch television, something Barret Hall residents are taking advantage of.

“The coffee shop is neat for people who live here because we can just walk down and order something,” said Kelsey McVey, sophomore Spanish and international studies major from San Diego and Barret Hall resident.

“Not many people know about it yet so it is a nice place to go and drink coffee and study.”

The coffee shop opened Jan. 17 with the beginning of

SHOP page 7

n Dr. Gary Tucker said directors expect a large increase in online class enrollment from last year’s 300 after the university added three new course options.

By LACI ARMSTRONG

By MALLORY SHERWOOD

See

School to offer seven online courses

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Lotefa Bartlett, junior psychology major from Detroit, and Heather Brown, junior English education major from Victoria, drink coffee and relax Tuesday on the couches in The Den, the new Java City coffee shop in Barret Hall that had its grand opening Wednesday.

This summer, the university will offer three new online courses. The new classes are educational Psychology, Macro Economics and Christianity and Culture. Other classes students can take are Fundamentals of Communication, Major British Writers I, Business and Professional Writing and Old Testament Survey.

Online courses give students an opportunity to spend their summers where they wish and still be able to take an ACU course to speed up Tucker graduation.

“It’s work intensive but a lot of fun,” said Dr. Gary Tucker, director of Distance Education.

Timpy Feller Tieman, Distance Education coordinator, said students can register for these classes like any other and they affect students’ grade point averages like traditional courses.

Tieman said students who need to drop for Summer I courses have until June 6, and for Summer II until July 11.

Last year about 300 students took the four available courses, and directors expect a big increase this year, Tucker said. He also said online courses during the summer offer great advantages. First, because the courses are online, students can take them anywhere in the world. And second is that students can build their schoolwork into their daily schedules rather than building their schedules around class lectures like during the school year.

“If the surf’s up and your buddy calls, then you can always check in and do your work that evening,” See

ONLINE page 7

Library addition to open next month n The new Library Commons area should be available Feb. 17, but students might have to wait several more weeks for library staff to move everything back in its place.

By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor

The university should complete the Library Commons and have it ready for student use on Feb. 17, said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources.

For now, however, students wanting to study might have

a difficult time in Brown Library, where tables and chairs have vanished, and shelves of books fill the once vacant aisles and crowd the sunlight out of the third floor.

The reason for the new arrangement is that one phase of construction is coming immediately after another, said Laura Baker, government documents librarian and interim Library Commons coordinator.

The government documents section of the library stands empty, awaiting reno-

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

vation into a new theology wing. Its previous contents now fill in the gaps between shelves, leaving little room for serious studying.

“We do have a few tables back on the third floor,” Baker said. “But the best place to study will be the basement.

It’s the quietest and has the most space.”

The second floor remains off limits for students, but during the Christmas holiday, workers completed about 25 percent of the construction on the Library Commons,

Nevill said.

The finished Library Commons will house a full service coffee bar, an area for the Writing Center, the Team 55 office and spaces where students can easily work in groups.

Workers still have to finish installing the floor, woodwork and electrical equipment. Construction on the coffee bar has not yet begun, and furniture needs to be moved in.

See

COMMONS page 7

Emerald McGowan/Staff Photographer

Don Fry, worker for Long Electric, works on the switching system for the electricity in the new Library Commons area on Thursday in Brown Library.

Abilene Christian University

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

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Calendar & Events Wednesday

Service Expo, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center.

Teacher Quality Grant, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m., Campus Center Hilton Room.

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Thursday

Service Expo, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center.

Study Abroad Summer II interest meeting, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center Hilton Room.

Announcements Third Day and the David Crowder Band in concert March 5 at Taylor County Coliseum.

Special student rate tickets are available in the CAB office from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact 674-2772 with questions.

The deadline for submissions to the Shinnery Review, ACU`s student-produced literary and art magazine has been extended to Feb. 8. Go to www.acu.edu/ shinnery to submit your poetry, short fiction, photography, and art.

World Wide Witness has enrolled 50 students for international internships but has many openings still available. For information and online applications go to www.WorldWideWitness. org.

Law School Scholarship applications are available to any graduating senior interested in attending law school at Pepperdine, Texas Tech or Baylor in the fall of 2006, and has already taken the LSAT exam. Scholarship application packets are in the Harding Administration Building Room 220.

Applications are available for the 2006 ACU Leadership Camps Staff. Students can serve as a camp counselor and lead young people ages seven to 18 to be

more like Jesus. Applications are in the Leadership Camps office in the Bean Sprout.

There will be a summer camp job fair in the Campus Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday.

Summer camp representatives from 20 different summer camps will be accepting applications and interviewing for summer staff positions.

Two Figure Drawing classes are looking for several male and female models to work Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-11 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-11 a.m. For more information, contact the Design department in the Don Morris Building Room 142 or call 674-2085.

The office of admissions is looking for a student translator to work 10-20 hours per week.

The student will work in translating documents from English to Spanish and other office duties.

The students must be fluent in both English and Spanish.

Previous experience in translation is preferable, but not necessary.

To apply, complete an application at http://www. acu.edu/img/assets/2188/ Application%20Only.doc and turn it into the Admissions office or mail it to ACU Box 29000.

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Friday

The Legend of Zorro, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

Purple Friday, 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Campus Center Living Room.

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Saturday

Baseball Banquet, 7-11:45 p.m., Campus Center Hilton Room.

Football Recruiting, 4-6 p.m., Campus Center Recreation area.

Volunteer Opportunities ACU Lectureship needs volunteers to work four-hour shifts for childcare. It also needs ushers for the theme lecture each night of lectureship. Male students are needed to serve communion in Moody following the 7 p.m. theme lecture.

WTC Council of Governments needs artists to paint in drawings (which are already in place) on classroom walls.

Meals on Wheels needs drivers to deliver hot, noon meals to 12-16 seniors and adults with disabilities.

The Alzheimer’s Association needs volunteers to distribute brochures and visit with

attendees at a health fair in the Abilene Civic Center from 9 a.m.4 p.m. on Feb. 16 in Abilene. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

The American Red Cross needs six to eight student to organize closets and the garage and to wash/wax Red Cross vehicles from 1-3 p.m. on weekdays. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

The Herald of Truth needs help in the office with shredding, folding and other office jobs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

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:

07 63

Police Log (edited for space) Jan. 16 Noon Vehicle accident at Barret lot, case #06-005 3:40 p.m. Locked WPAC Jan. 17 8 a.m. Report of vehicle alarm in south parking lot, Alarm was silent upon arrival 9:47 a.m. Maintenance to vehicle Noon Theft report at Mabee hall, case #06-006 1:11 p.m. Picked up recovered stolen bike from Abilene Police Department 2 p.m. Assisted Abilene Police Department with traffic stop at Will Hair Park on Ambler Avenue 3:15 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Gardner lot 3:31 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Gardner lot Jan. 18 12:45 a.m. Checked Sing Song Warehouse. Door was unlocked, secured.

9:41 a.m. Report of suspicious vehicle on Newcastle. Checked OK. 10:30 a.m. Jumpstart vehicle at 1400 Westheimer 7:03 p.m. Alarm at Campus Center.

Checked building. Checked OK. Jan. 19 1:55 a.m. Vehicle alarm at Gardner lot. Checked area all OK 10:30 a.m. Parking violation at McDonald lot 12:34 p.m. Parking violation at Edwards lot 9:41 p.m. Report of male subjects throwing eggs at Teague building.

Were gone upon arrival. WFF notified to clean up.

10:30 p.m. Unlocked courtyard of Bible building to let subjects out 11:15 p.m. Report of criminal mischief to vehicle in Gardner lot. Vehicle hit with paintball. No damage to vehicle, no report

Jan. 20 12:19 a.m. Suspicious subjects outside of Moody Coliseum.

Unable to locate.

8 a.m. Assisted Construction company with locating owners of vehicles to move 8:12 a.m. Found cell phone at Mail Center on Campus Court Road 8:23 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at Moody Coliseum 1:57 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Nelson lot 7:15 p.m. Traffic stop at East North 16th Street and Avenue F for driving without lights 10:20 p.m. Noise violation at East North 13th Street and Cottonwood.

Unable to locate.

Jan. 21 4:20 p.m. Foot patrol of Moody Coliseum 8:10 p.m. Traffic stop at Ambler Avenue and Campus Court for defective tail light 9:45 p.m. Vehicle accident at Judge Ely Boulevard and Ambler Avenue. No report 10:30 p.m. Traffic stop at East North 10th Street and Cedar Crest Road for defective tail lights Jan. 22 12:30 a.m. Gave juvenile ride home to 100 Cypress St 12:50 a.m. Escort from Gardner hall 1:30 a.m. Found several subjects inside of Gibson gym. Escorted out, secured building 2 a.m. Two students inside of WPAC, were asked to leave.

4:30 a.m. Assisted two subjects on East North 10th Street with locating a cab service 9:19 a.m. Assisted motorist with flat tire and Ambler Avenue and Judge Ely Boulevard Noon Unlocked Bible building 2:09 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at 1600 Hwy 351

ACU Police would like any student with any information about the ARAMARK cart stolen on campus in November and recovered this week in the alley near the Cedar Creek bridge to contact the ACUPD. A reward will be paid for pertinent information leading to those responsible for theft and damage.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Page 3

CAMPUS NEWS

OCAD helps with job hunt n The Office of Career and Academic Development, located in the lower level of McKinzie Hall, is designed to help students connect with future employers.

Watch the fingers

“If you want a job when you graduate, then you’re missing out if you’re not with CareerLink.”

Bradon Tharp, employer relations specialist for OCAD

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Students who want an advantage when beginning their job search should look no farther than CareerLink, an online job-search tool sponsored by the Office of Career and Academic Development.

Students who have signed up with CareerLink can access information regarding on-campus employer interviews and search for opportunities related to their major and chosen career field.

Students without a CareerLink account, however, have to rely on word-of-mouth to hear of interviewing opportunities, said Bradon Tharp, employer relations specialist for OCAD. Including alumni from the past two or three years, 2,331 students are signed up with CareerLink, and about 760 are students in the College of Business Administration. Many of the companies interviewing on campus are in the business field, but non-business majors shouldn’t feel they can’t apply for the interviews, or that CareerLink and OCAD have nothing to offer to them, Tharp said.

“Historically, unfortunately, most of the on-campus

interviews have been geared toward students in the College of Business,” Tharp said, “but that’s something we’re trying to change.”

Tharp said OCAD is working with various departments outside of COBA, talking with professors and learning what types of businesses students in their fields would be interested in interviewing with and trying to bring those

On the Web http://www.acu.edu/campusoffices/ ocad/careerlink.html

businesses to campus. Tharp said she encourages students to contact the office and let them know what companies they’d be interested in interviewing with.

Finding interviews on CareerLink is a simple process: after searching for interviews from the site’s main tool bar, students can click a “sign up” button and will be notified several weeks prior to the interview date, if they have been selected by the employer to interview. The employer selects most students who sign up for an interview, Tharp said, unless the employer is on a tight schedule.

Students can also connect with alumni on CareerLink, an advantage that other job search Web sites, such as Monster.com, don’t have.

All professionals on CareerLink are connected with the university, whether they’re alumni or have children enrolled, which means they’re more accessible and willing to talk with students, Tharp said.

“It’s not so much of a coldcall situation,” she said.

Despite efforts from its staff, many students are unaware of OCAD. “I feel like we’ve tried everything,” Tharp said. “Some students don’t know our office exists or know we can help.”

Located in the lower level of McKinzie Hall, OCAD has a program called Popcorn and Possibilities every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., a time designated for students to walk in without an appointment and ask questions about job searches, résumé writing and finding an internship.

“If you want a job when you graduate,” Tharp said, “then you’re missing out if you’re not on CareerLink.”

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

emerald mcgowan/Staff Photographer

Peggy Garrett, class of 1951, Heather Freeman, of Herald of Truth Ministries, and Crystal Graham, senior elementary education major from Stone Mountain, Ga., join the women of 11th and Willis Church of Christ on Saturday to make sewing kits for the fire victims of Cross Plains.

‘Optimist’ videos meet iTunes n Videos found on the newspaper’s Web site can now be automatically downloaded on iTunes for free after the viewer signs up for the podcast service.

By MITCH HOLT Staff Writer

Students can now watch Optimist video news segments for free on the digital media player, iTunes.

The Optimist began offering the news segments in the beginning of the fall semester on its Web site, www.acuoptimist. com. Now, with iTunes, people can watch Optimist videos more easily because they only have to visit the Optimist video Web site one time to subscribe.

From there, new videos will automatically show up on users’ iTunes.

Students can download iTunes for free from the Internet and, if connected to the university network, listen to other students’ music and upload their own music to the program, along with watching Optimist videos.

At the Optimist online video Web site, users have the option of a one-time download using QuickTime media player, or they can subscribe to iTunes.

Once they subscribe to the iTunes feature, each new video will automatically be downloaded to their iTunes whenever a video is posted.

“Subscribing through iTunes makes for an easier way for students to watch videos we work hard on each week,” said Dustin Reid, junior electronic media major from Rockwall and videographer for the Optimist.

Cade White, instructor of video and photography, said this new feature is an effort to make the department’s video index more user-friendly.

The project began last fall with short video reports on the Optimist Web site created by university video students.

The iTunes feature is a joint collaboration between the Optimist, Prickly Pear and PawTV, White said. Because of this feature, anyone, Macintosh and PC users alike, can now subscribe to these videos.

On the Web http://pricklypear.acu.edu/videos/

The Journalism and Mass Communication Department began the project because of the rapidly changing media landscape in society, White said. Media consumers want their information through a variety of technologies, he said, and many are using the Internet as their main information hub. New projects like Optimist videos on iTunes prepare journalism students for working in this new hi-tech landscape, he said.

White said the department considers the new iTunes addition as part of the natural progression to make the JMC department better.

“This is just another way for students to learn about the people and activities that make up their life at ACU,” White said. “And it’s another way for our journalism students to tell the stories.”

E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu

Page 4

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

CAMPUS NEWS

Graduates, students dig into world issues

Learning about a life of service

n Chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, mathematics, biology and physics graduates will meet for a Math/Science Conference this weekend.

By DANI LINTHICUM Opinion Editor

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Beth Byerly and Charlotte Reaugh, volunteers from Hendrick Hospital’s rehab program, H.E.R.O., talk to freshmen Sarah Capra, broadcast journalism major from Abilene, and Tricia McLaughlin, undeclared major from Abilene, during the first day of the Service Expo in the Campus Center on Tuesday.

Social club officers meet for lunch n Old and new social club officers met Tuesday for a luncheon that welcomed new officers and gave old officers the chance to pass on advice.

By LUKE HARRIS Staff Writer

New social club officers were welcomed into their positions Tuesday at an annual luncheon where old officers welcomed the new ones and gave them a little advice.

Mike Spell, adviser to social clubs on campus, said this luncheon has been going on for the past four years, with one in January for officers elected in December and another luncheon later in the year

for officers elected in the spring.

“The luncheon is specifically for the new officers to get welcomed in and to spend some time in training,” Spell said in an email.

Five social clubs attended the luncheon, including Alpha Kai Omega and Delta Theta, which had new sponsors as well as new officers attend the luncheon.

The luncheon took place from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thirty-five individuals who attended either replaced old officers or passed down their titles to new club members.

Gentry Rush, senior marketing major from Lewisville, was last year’s presi-

dent of Alpha Kai Omega and was greatly appreciative of this luncheon.

Rush said it was a good experience last year when the old officers were able to help her get into her new position, and Rush was excited to have the same opportunity to train the people who will be taking Rush over her position.

“It’s a really good time to spend with the girls who are going to be taking over, and I love Alpha Kai Omega,” Rush said. “So it’s good

to know that it is being left in good hands.”

The help Rush received from last year’s luncheon, “really did make a difference while being president this year.”

She said the advice she received helped make the year go by smoothly and helped her when she ran into problems. Rush said she hopes the advice she gave will be as good as the advice she received and the new officers will be able to look back and appreciate her like Rush appreciates and respects the officers of last year.

E-mail Harris at: dlh03a@acu.edu

This weekend, successful graduates of the mathematics, computer science, biology, chemistry, biochemistry and physics departments will join together to celebrate 100 years of math and science at the university.

Five keynote speakers, who are all alumni from the math and science departments, and many more distinguished alumni will speak about their adventures, trials and successes in their chosen field during the two-day conference.

“The conference will be a great opportunity to salute the work of faculty, staff, and students, as well as the achievements of alumni and retired faculty,” said Dr. Kim Pamplin, chair of the Math/ Science Centennial Conference committee.

Alumni working in many different fields will share about various aspects of their careers, both technical and personal. Attendees will have a chance to hear real-life stories from NASA, as well as discussions on the health issues that ride on the tails of Hurricane Katrina, wildfire dangers in California, the challenges of successfully bringing new drugs through the FDA and to market, among others.

“A lot of people don’t realize that every chemist is not in a lab coat with gloves and goggles,” said Pamplin, who is also chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “This is an awesome chance for students to see and hear about a wide range of real world, non-traditional career opportunities.”

Pamplin said this is a unique experience that even

On the Web

www.acu.edu/centennial/ events/sciences those who aren’t in math or science disciplines should consider attending.

“It’s great exposure,” he said. “I think that many people will find the subjects fascinating – it’s the kind of things that you don’t hear about very often in undergraduate work.”

Some history of the math and science departments will be on display as well, said Tom Lee, professor of biology and member of the conference committee.

“It will be really exciting to have so many alumni come back and share their experiences with us,” Lee said. “There is a heritage of science at ACU, and that’s

“I think that many people will find the subjects fascinating.”

Dr. Kim Pamplin, chair of Chemistry/ Biochemistry department

something to celebrate.”

Pictures from the last hundred years of math and science education, as well as posters created by students, will also be on display.

“This will be about relationships as well as information,” Pamplin said. “It will be a time to remember and to look ahead.”

The Math/Science Centennial Conference is scheduled to run from 9:50 a.m. on Friday to 3:50 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.acu.edu/centennial/ events/sciences.

E-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu

Husband-wife duo to play piano Thursday n World-renowned pianists, Du Huang and Xiao Hu, make up the Unison Piano Duo, which has performed across the United States and in China.

By MITCH HOLT Staff Writer

The Unison Piano Duo, a world-renowned husband and wife piano duo, will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, in the recital hall of the Williams Performing Arts Center in the fourth of five concerts in the Music Department’s Centennial Guest Artist Series.

The concert is free, open to viewers from the public and highly emphasized by the Department of Music as a worthwhile piano concert to attend.

Dr. Greg Straughn, chair of the Department of Music, said this musical opportunity is important to experience because it is a rare and wonderful opportunity to hear a duo piano concert, especially one of this caliber.

Du Huang and Xiao Hu, the two individuals who make up the Unison Piano Duo, have performed together throughout the United States, including Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York.

The duo is booked for upcoming engagements at centers for higher education all over the world. These include recitals and master classes at Central College in Iowa, Wuhan Conservatory of Music and Shenzhen

School for the Performing Arts, both in China.

Chris Pillsbury, junior piano performance major from Amarillo, said watching these artists perform is amazing because of the level of perfection they bring to their music.

“It’s inspiring to hear their work and how easy they make it look,” Pillsbury said. “They are simply amazing musicians. The concert is a good opportunity because of the connection that will take place between the musicians and audience members.”

Both members of the traveling group earned Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and, since 2001, have been

part of the music faculty at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

“They have consistently shown the highest aspiration and wonderful artistry as soloists and as a duo,” Straughn said.

During the concert in the university’s recital hall, the duo will perform pieces from composers such as Mozart, Haydn, Johannes and Brahms.

“I’m sure it helps that they are husband and wife,” Straughn said. “There is surely a connection between them that, like music, transcends words. This will be a spectacular concert full of great music.”

E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Student finds ‘Focus’ at institute n Jeremy Pond, junior broadcast journalism major from Wichita Falls, was one of two university students to attend Focus on the Family last semester.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor

Every year, two ACU students join 88 others from all over the country at Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. This year one student said his experience changed his plans and his life.

Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university and Focus on the Family facilitator, said Focus on the Family allows students to spend a semester in Colorado, which is similar to studying abroad. It differs in location. Instead of going to Montevideo or Oxford, students spend their semester in Colorado.

It also differs in that ACU professors are not teaching the curriculum. Focus on the Family has its own profes-

sors and is open to students coming from universities all over the nation.

Students come together at Colorado Springs where they take courses dealing with marriage, parenthood, and Christian worldviews.

Jeremy Pond, junior broadcast journalism major from Wichita Falls, said he went there looking for a fun time in Colorado Springs, and to get ahead in his curriculum.

He said he left wanting to work in ministry in efforts to support pro-life efforts.

A pro-life apologetic group came to the campus and presented some “logical” and “clear” information that collaborated with his personal beliefs.

He said he is usually argumentative by nature, but the information he received helped him understand his own passion for the subject.

“Abortion grated on me,” Pond said. “Maybe the reason I have this passion is why I want to do this.”

That is not the only thing

he learned at Focus on the Family.

“I think the most important thing I learned at Focus on the Family is the importance of community,” he said. “There is a community there unlike any that I had ever experienced.”

The 88 students at Focus on the Family split into two housing communities. Pond said the communities became close as they spent most of their time together and took all the same classes.

“I didn’t even realize how close our community was until the very last day there,” he said.

“I woke up feeling sicker than I ever felt in my life. I felt like someone was trying to cut their way out of my stomach with a knife,” he said.

Later that day, his roommate learned that his sister died in a car accident the day before.

Working through check-out in such a time didn’t seem possible, he said.

Page 5

Won’t you be my sweetheart?

Five girls from the complex came over, cleaned up the apartment and packed his roommate’s bags.

“Without the girls, there’s no way we’d be ready to check out on time,” Pond said.

He said that day reminds him of what a Chapel speaker once said, “When all is said and done, the only thing that will matter in the end is our relationships.”

Pond still keeps in touch with his roommate and a couple other friends from Focus on the Family.

Pond said he encourages more males to attend, as the female to male ratio was 68:18.

He also said Focus on the Family teaches valuable life skills that even his major could not equip him for.

“It doesn’t matter why you wanted to go initially,” he said. “Within the first week all that changes.”

E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu emerald mcgowan/Staff Photographer

Few juniors apply for Junior Scholarship n Five juniors applied, and only three were eligible for the award, which was created in 2000 by the graduating senior class as a chance to give back to students.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor

Out of the entire junior class, only five students applied for the Junior Scholarship this year. The applications were due before Christmas break and of the five who applied, only three were eligible to receive rewards.

Amanda Spell, coordinator of the Student Organizations and Campus activities, said participation numbers were not that surprising.

“It has been about three

years since the scholarship was offered,” she said.

The scholarship was created by the senior class of 2000 as a senior gift, a university tradition in which a class of graduating seniors find a way to contribute or give back to the university.

The scholarship hasn’t been offered recently because of a lack of increase in the stock market. Spell said the class invested the money into the stock market so it would gain interest and would increase its quantity so the scholarship can be given every year.

“It is difficult to just give all of the money away in one scholarship,” she said.

It can build on itself if it is invested.”

However, the scholarship is meant to be awarded each year, according to the scholarship application.

The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a junior

by March and the committee is still processing the applications.

Spell said the scholarship is awarded to students who are juniors going into their senior years in fall 2006 with at least a 3.25 grade point average.

The committee is also looking for students who demonstrate financial need.

Eligible applicants must have borrowed 50 percent of their tuition and have received less than 50 percent from outside sources.

The scholarship com-

mittee seeks active student body members. The applicants must be a member of at least two organizations on campus.

Another major part of the decision process is the student’s personal testimony along with the testimony of staff members of the student’s competency.

The scholarship committee of the Class of 2000 will review the essays, two recommendation letters, and other application contents as part of the decision process.

“I think that it’s really awesome that this is the way they chose to give their senior gifts,” Spell said.

E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu

Paul Harshman, junior marketing major from Austin, sings “The Sweetheart of Frater Sodalis” to his girlfriend, Lauren Hart, junior integrated marketing and communication major from Austin, on Friday.

Page 6

The Issue:

The activist group SoulForce plans to visit the university March 27.

Our view:

The university is taking the right stance on how students, faculty and staff should react to SoulForce.

The solution:

While we should not compromise our beliefs, we should treat the members of SoulForce with respect.

January 25, 2006

University responding well to SoulForce visit Despite some discomfort among students, SoulForce plans to visit campus March 27, and we have a choice as to how we will respond.

SoulForce, a religious activist organization, will tour the nation, visiting religious and military institutions to discuss its views on homosexuality.

According to its Web site, SoulForce selected institutions in which “bans on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender enrollment force students into closets of fear and self-hate.”

Administrators have responded by saying the right

things with who came to him in disJesus never walked away from the opportunity the right tone agreement about their to engage in discussion... ...why should we? and right atbeliefs. Why shouldn’t we titude. affirmed the university’s posi- do the same today?

Dr. Royce Money, president tion that an active homosexual Money quoted Dr. John C. of the university, made the lifestyle is wrong. It also set ex- Stevens, former president of right decision in telling faculty pectations for student actions the university, when he said: and students during the first during SoulForce’s visit.

“There are no subjects on week of classes this semester.

“I know we will treat them this earth, or in outer space, SoulForce’s arrival March 27 as Jesus treated people in His or in the metaphysical realm, will signal the end of 10 weeks day with kindness toward the which we cannot study on the of preparation for its visit by individuals who arrive here campus of a Christian instituadministrators and students. and a willingness to discuss tion of higher learning.”

No one will feel like this visit our guiding beliefs,” Money And yet people will want to was sprung on the campus, and said in an e-mail to campus. back down from this opportupeople will have had plenty of Jesus never walked away nity. They will want to respond time to plan their response. from the opportunity to en- with violence and anger.

Money’s announcement re- gage in discussion with those The university should not

Let Loose

Cole Williams

True confessions of a news addict My name is Mallory, and I am an addict. I can’t put my finger on the specific point in my life when I noticed it, but it’s out of control.

I’m addicted to news: hard Face the news, tragic news, hapFacts py news, Mallory any kind of Sherwood news, really.

All the descriptive adjectives have been mentioned in reference to people like myself: boring, sad, loser, but really it’s a fascinating world out there.

In the news this week the world’s strangest UFO was discovered, a shopping mall exists where lions work as security guards and the demand for flying squirrels as pets has reached an all-time high. That is, if one read Weekly World News while shopping at Wal-Mart.

Real weird news happens daily, although I may be the only one amused by it.

Despite the exaggeration these headlines demonstrate, weird news happens daily, although I may be the only one amused by it.

During Christmas break I completed an internship at a local newspaper near my home in Ohio. Each day surprised and greatly humored me with each assignment I received. Who would have thought a small, predominately Amish community where I worked would have such intriguing news?

Drug scandals and fires were among the few assignments I received, but more common were the odd stories that made people scratch their heads and wonder why they were so eager to continue reading.

I covered a middle school geography bee where seventh-graders answered questions about locations I

never knew existed, began my own cooking column, wrote about a family bluegrass band, covered a group of Amish traveling to the South to help rebuild coastal cities hit by hurricanes, questioned cheerleaders about performing in a college football bowl game, watched a high school band perform, interviewed a 12year-old boy about shooting a bear and interviewed a man who resembled St. Nick so closely that I slipped him my wish list as I left.

I’m sure I could find enough odd news in Abilene to satiate my strange hunger, but here is what happened around the world this week as found on msnbc.com: • In Tokyo Zoo a 3.5-inch hamster once intended as a snack, is now a bedmate with Acochan, a 3-foot rat snake. The hamster was

given to the snake as a snack in October when he stopped eating frozen mice, but he refused to eat the hamster. Since then the two have lived in the same cage, and the hamster takes naps curled up with the snake.

• A Corvette will be returned to its New York owner after it was stolen 37 years ago and sold around the country. Authorities said the stolen car was discovered on a Swiss transporter last week.

• In London, a pet parrot exposed the owner’s cheating girlfriend after it continually imitated the girlfriend saying, “I love you, Gary.”

The owner, named Chris, became suspicious and questioned the girlfriend.

Scroll through the news on the Web and see for yourself the crazy world we live in. Who knows, maybe you’ll become an addict, too.

E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu

cave to the pressure of these outside forces, regardless of how powerful or influential.

During the next nine weeks, we will discover if this campus can follow through with the expressed desire for respect and civil dialogue.

The university has this opportunity to prove that Christians can respond with respect and openness to ideas with which they might not agree.

We have a challenge before us: To hold to our convictions while still reacting as Jesus would — with grace and love.

How will you respond?

‘The West Wing’ fantasy world lives I live in a fantasy world. Bartlett and his staff tackIn my world, a man le issues such as taxes, named Josiah “Jed” terror, views on religion Bartlett is president. In and homosexuality, eumy world, thanasia, what a “proporw h i c h tional” violent response can be entails and how to balance g l i m p s e d a belief in absolute truths t h r o u g h while being Commander e p i s o d e s in Chief of the most powof TV’s The erful country in the world.

West Wing, The show raised the level I Am the when one of political debate in this of his staff country, as well as the voEnemy confessed cabulary.

Sarah to leaking Sorkin’s prose, which Carlson privileged could get anyone elected i n f o r m a - tion to a in my book, breathed reporter, Bartlett fired wit and intelligence into him immediately. When primetime and helped Bartlett withheld informa- make The West Wing one tion from the of the best shows public about on television, earnhaving mulThe show raised ing four straight tiple scleroBest Drama Series the level of sis, he took a Emmys. political debate censure from Some questhe Senate to tions remain unin this country, show he was answered, though, as well as the taking the and we’ll have to vocabulary. blame for his wait to see who is actions. elected to replace If recent political events Bartlett: democratic conmake you doubt the possi- gressman Matt Santos or bility of Bartlett’s actions, republican senator Arnold you’re not alone.

Vinick. The race looked in I’ve been addicted to The favor of Santos earlier on, West Wing, where Bartlett’s but now that the actor who finishing his second term, played his running mate for years now, thanks to a Leo, John Spencer, died Bravo Thanksgiving mara- Dec. 16 of a heart attack, thon in 2004. I’ve almost all bets are off. No matconvinced myself that ter who’s elected, though, President Bartlett is real, Bartlett will always be the as is his staff, which is a president I wished we pleasant alternative to our could have had. actual White House.

So, so long, West Wing.

But, after seven sea- You’ll live on through one sons, The West Wing has of the best inventions of been cancelled and will the last decade: TV on sing its swan song May DVD. And as long as my 14, the day after I gradu- DVDs don’t scratch and ate and sing mine (at least the player works, I can in terms of undergradu- always retreat to my fanate work). tasy world.

The show was a weekly retreat for many, especialE-mail Carlson at: ly liberals, as we watched skc02a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu

2006 Optimist Editorial Board Jonathan Smith • Senior journalism major from Tyler • Editor in Chief • Conservative views • Church of Christ

Mallory Sherwood • Junior journalism major from Orrville, OH • Managing Editor • Moderate to conservative views • Church of Christ

Dani Linthicum • Senior journalism major from Sprague River, Ore. • Opinion Editor • Conservative views • Nondenominational

Jaci Schneider • Senior journalism major from Central Point, Ore. • Copy Editor • Conservative to moderate views • Nondenominational

Sarah Carlson • Senior journalism major from San Antonio • Arts Editor • Moderate to liberal views • Church of Christ

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

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 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

Brian Schmidt • Junior journalism major from Austin • Chief Photographer • Moderate views • Baptist

Editorial and Management Board Jonathan Smith

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Page 7

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Club: Delta Theta ‘coming back with a bang’ Continued from page 1 Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, has worked with Jessup and DT’s other officers and members during the deactivation period and said in an e-mail that the self-study experience for DT has been invaluable.

“They will be a stronger and more viable club because of this process,” Barnard said. “I believe Delta Theta will make significant renewed commitments to their original charter, and they will have developed in

ways that might not have happened without this opportunity.”

Barnard said initiating a review process for all social clubs and organizations would be a great benefit to the group and help avoid them falling into modes of complacency and status quo.

“Any organization’s desire should be to continuously improve,” Barnard said. “Such improvement is impossible without adequate self-study and reflection.”

DT has a rich tradition at

the university, Barnard said, and needs to be vibrant and active on campus again.

Formed in 1925 and known

in 1932, and in 1943, the club adopted the name Delta Theta and changed its mission statement to “creating

“They will be a stronger and more viable club because of this process.”

Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life

as “Lucky 13,” the club was originally comprised of 13 girls who gathered weekly to tell ghost stories and whose mascot was a black cat. The name was changed to P.A.L.S.

a bond of spiritual and personal friendships.”

In 1990, DT was kicked off campus but was rechartered in 1996 by 13 sophomore women, an homage to

the clubs original charter members.

“As with all of our clubs,” Barnard said, “we need strong and committed leadership to lead, not only for a year at a time, but with a vision and commitment related to a long view of organizations. This requires reflection on the past, as well as engagement with alumni for a bright future. Lindsey is working hard with her officers to ensure a transition of leadership next year.”

Jessup said she is excited about spring rushes, which

will have even more energy than previous rushes, and sending a positive message to women on campus and showing them the true nature of DT. “Delta Theta is a club of strong, independent women who like to have fun,” she said. “In today’s world, girls need that strong support to help drive them to success.

“We are coming back with a bang,” Jessup said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Shop: Barret Hall coffee café opens Continued from page 1

the semester but is having a grand opening, which should include the shop’s other half of the menu: sandwiches and soups, said Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, in an e-mail.

The Den isn’t curBarnard rently open weekends but is open from 7 a.m. until midnight on weekdays.

McVey said the coffee is pretty good, but she mainly goes to get the cookies n’ cream Javalanche, a drink

she said she is addicted to, and she can pay for with her ID card.

“It makes sense to go there because you can use Bean Bucks and meal plans, and you’ve already essentially paid for it,” she said. “I love the cookies n’ cream thing because it has a slight coffee taste but mainly tastes just like a cookies n’ cream shake.

I don’t know what I’d get if they didn’t have this.”

Students interested in trying out the new coffee shop can attend the grand opening between 9 a.m. and noon Wednesday and try free samples for as long as they last.

EMERALD McGOWAN/Staff Photographer

E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu

Holly Mollan, a graduate student in accounting from McAllen, orders a frappuccino from Leslie Cox at the new coffee shop in Barret Hall on Thursday.

Online: New courses offered during summer Continued from page 1

Tucker said.

Most of the assessment for the online courses is done through a method other than testing. Professors give students different ways to demonstrate their learning, Tucker said. Students create projects, build portfolios and take mini quizzes throughout the summer to present their learning. Professors grade using rubrics, a grading scale

that defines their expectations, and students clearly know what is expected of them, Tucker said.

Students in the Business and Professional Writing class work as a team to produce brochures and other documents that are typical of a business. The Major British Writers class builds a portfolio of the papers they’ve written to demonstrate their learning.

In the Old Testament Writing course, students are given

a choice between a writing project, building a Web quest and writing a psalm about the things they’ve learned about the Old Testament.

“The courses are intense because the short term covers so much material, but we’ve found students really like them because of their flexibility,” Tucker said. “Students are usually more focused because they’re only taking one course at a time.”

The courses are text heavy,

but Tucker said professors try to minimize instructional reading through a highly interactive system. Students do some reading depending on which course they are taking, but much of the instruction is given through interactive maps, interviews and videos.

Students work in groups through instant messaging, e-mail and message boards.

Professors even have virtual office hours where they are available in a chat room for

questioning and discussion.

“These courses aren’t your mother’s courses — they’re designed for your generation,” Tucker said.

“We want to move away from the old view of online courses. We offer university level learning in an exciting and innovative way, instead of just pages and pages of text.”

Summer Online Courses • Fundamentals of Communication - COMS 111 • Educational Psychology - EDU 221 • Major British Writers - ENGL 221 • Business and Professional Writing - ENGL 326 • Macro Economics • Christianity and Culture - BIBL 211 • Old Testament Survey - BIBL 212

E-mail Armstrong at: optimist@acu.edu

Commons: Construction continues Continued from page 1

EMERALD mcgowan/Staff Photographer

David Killan, of Long Electric, installs a GFI wall outlet inside a cabinet in the new Library Commons on Thursday.

The budget for the project was $750,000 and came from the university capital and operating budget. However, construction costs have gone slightly over budget after planners had to bring two restrooms into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Nevill said.

“The ADA deficiency was not known during the original scoping and budgeting of the project,” Nevill said.

Eddie McFadden, physical resources manager of building maintenance, is manag-

ing the project.

“He has done an outstanding job of keeping a variety of vendor, trades, materials and audiences focused and moving in uniform direction,” Nevill said.

Although Baker said she has been told the finNevill ish date is Feb. 17, she doesn’t know if everything will be moved back in place by that time. So rather than make a premature

prediction of when the library will be back in full swing, she’s counting on everything being finished in two to three months.

“It’s been a problem,” Baker said. “We’ve lost about half of the library’s floor space.”

However, she said students are working through the problem.

“The Library Atrium is always open,” she said, “and there’s lots of places where people can ask for help to find books.”

E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu

Page 8

January 25, 2006 Standings

Men’s Basketball Team Tarleton St. WTAMU ACU

TAMU-K ENMU MSU

Conf. Overall 3-0 14-4 2-0 13-4 3-1 8-11 1-1 11-6 1-1 7-10 0-3 11-7

Wildcats win and stay near LSC leaders n Saturday’s 82-73 win against Eastern New Mexico places the Wildcats one game out of the conference lead with a 3-1 record.

By BRIAN HOLLAND Sports Writer

women’s Basketball Team Tarleton St. WTAMU

Angelo St. TX Woman’s ACU

MSU

Div. 4-0 3-0 3-1 3-1 1-3 1-3

Overall 12-5 14-2 12-5 10-6 7-10 7-10

Scores Saturday

woMen’s Basketball ACU 83, Eastern New Mexico 63 men’s Basketball ACU 82, Eastern New Mexico 73

Upcoming Schedule Thursday

woMen’s basketball ACU at TAMU-K, 6 p.m.

Men’s basketball ACU at TAMU-K, 8 p.m.

Friday

Indoor track ACU at Pole Vault Summit, 2 p.m.

Saturday

Women’s basketball ACU at Texas Woman’s, 2 p.m. indoor track ACU at Pole Vault Summit, 2 p.m.

• Home games listed in italics

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Freshman guard Cameron Holson is fouled while driving to the basket in Saturday’s 82-73 win against Eastern New Mexico in Moody Coliseum. Holson finished the game with nine points.

The men’s basketball team pulled within a game of the Lone Star Conference’s South Division lead Saturday night by clinching a win against Eastern New Mexico, 82-73. The win marked the first time ACU defeated the Greyhounds since 2001, and pushed the Wildcats’ conference record to 3-1.

The Wildcats got off to a quick start, going up 17-5 and 29-11 by nailing their first five 3-pointers to start the game.

Demarcquez Rembert, senior forward, led all scores with his careerhigh 33 points in just 32 minutes, also adding 10 rebounds. “[Rembert] has those nights where he can just go off,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “I thought it was a good matchup for us on the offensive end.”

Rembert scored 13 points in the first half but exploded down the stretch to ensure the Wildcat victory.

In the fourth quarter Rembert had a streak of 14 straight points, including a 3-point play that seemed to turn the momentum in the way of the Wildcats late in the fourth quarter.

“It’s what we needed toward the end; any big play always helps,” Rembert said. “When we all hit shots, it opens it up for me.”

While Rembert led all scorers, junior point guard Will Alexander led the defensive end. Though he only had three points and two steals on the night, Copeland said there’s more to Alexander than what ends up on a stat page.

“He’s our unsung hero, he does a

Men’s Basketball lot of stuff that doesn’t go down on paper,” Copeland said.

Alexander led a defense that only allowed 73 points, despite handing over 19 turnovers and held the Greyhounds to just under 34 percent shooting from the field.

Alexander’s defense has contributed to the Wildcat’s 3-1 record instead of 2-2 in conference play.

This season, coming after a 1-11 season that then was followed by the hiring of a new coaching staff, had given players hope that this still-young season will be different from the rest. The team is already moving up the ranks in the conference.

“We’re up there now, just one game out,” Alexander said.

Rembert is also optimistic about the rest of the season.

“A lot of people didn’t think we’d have a season like this, but we just believed in ourselves and worked hard,” Rembert said.

Though the Wildcats’ conference record is the best in years, the team is still just 8-11 overall and will face probably their toughest stretch of the season with road games at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State, along with a visit from rival Tarleton State.

“In my mind we still have to play the three best teams [Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern], so we’re fixing to go play them, and we’ll see how we do,” Copeland said.

The team begins their journey on the road Thursday at Texas A&MKingsville, but will return home to play Tarleton State on Tuesday.

E-mail Holland at: beh03e@acu.edu

Track teams qualify individuals, relays for nationals n This weekend at Texas Tech, the men’s and women’s track teams combined to qualify six individuals and two relay teams for the indoor national meet.

By STEVE HOLT Sports Writer

In their first meet of the season, the men’s and women’s track and field teams combined to provisionally qualify six individuals and two relay teams for the indoor national meet at the Wes Kittley Invitational Friday in Lubbock.

The women’s team qualified athletes provisionally in four events, along with the 4x400-meter relay team, which won its race with a time of 3 minutes, 56.34 seconds. Senior Trina Cox, the South Central Region champion in cross country, picked up where she left off, winning the women’s mile

Indoor Track & Field with a provisional time of 4:59.81. Keva Wilkins won the 400-meter dash with a provisional time of 57.0, while sophomore Shawna-Kaye Thompson won the 55meter hurCox dles with an impressive provisional qualifying time of 8.15.

In the women’s pole vault, junior Angie Aguilar won the competition Bien-Aime by clearing a provisional height of 11-5 3/4.

For the men, Marvin Bien-

Aime, the defending outdoor champion and indoor runner-up in the 200-meter dash, won that event Friday with a provisional time of 21.56. Sophomore Vladyslav Gorbenko was third in

his first season at the helm, said he came away from the first meet pleased overall with what he saw out of his Wildcat teams.

“We competed hard,” Hood said. “Usually that’s a

“That tells me we’re going to qualify a good crew of athletes.”

Don Hood, head track coach on his team’s performance this weekend

the long jump with a provisional qualifying mark of 23-6. The men’s 4x400-meter relay also had a successful showing Friday, winning its race easily with a time of 3:17.10, a time the team comprised of Montez Pride, Bien-Aime, Elton Garus-Oab and Delt Cockrell will easily improve on as the season progresses.

Head coach Don Hood, in

cop-out saying we didn’t run real good, but we tried hard, but we won a lot of events and were right there at the front of the events we didn’t win. So I was really pleased with what I saw.”

Hood added that the performance Friday is an indicator of both needed improvement and good things ahead.

“Our marks were above

average — I wouldn’t go near calling them great yet,” he said. “That tells me we’re going to qualify a good crew of athletes.”

But one aspect of Friday’s Kittley Invitational especially pleased Hood — no ACU injuries.

“Most importantly, we came out healthy,” he said.

“As long as you do that, you can live to fight another day.

That’s as good a position as we can be in right now.”

Hood will take a group of Wildcat pole vaulters to the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., and both teams will return to action Feb. 3-4 at the Frank Sevigne Classic in Lincoln, Neb. Look for a complete season preview of the men’s and women’s track and field teams in Friday’s Optimist.

National indoor meet qualifying times by individuals and relays • Trina Cox 1 mile • Keva Wilkins 400-meter dash • Shawna-Kaye Thompson 55-meter hurdles • Angie Aguilar pole vault • Marvin Bien-Aime 200-meter dash • Vladyslav Gorbenko long jump • Men’s 4x400 relay • Women’s 4x400 relay

E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu

Women’s first conference win a blowout n The women’s basketball team won its first conference game of the season Saturday against Eastern New Mexico, 83-63, improving to a 1-3 conference record.

By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor

Starting conference play with a 0-3 record, the Wildcats, the LSC South pre-

Women’s Basketball season favorite, need wins to keep their post-season dreams alive.

Those hopes are why senior Kierstan Barbee said the first conference win Saturday was “very big.”

Conference play is still in the early part of the season, but Barbee’s 14 points and

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Senior forward Haley Hammond defends Brittney Gillespie’s shot in the Wildcats 83-63 win. Hammond scored seven points and six rebounds.

16 rebounds in an 83-63 win against Eastern New Mexico helped give the Wildcats a first step toward getting back to a winning record.

Four other Wildcats scored in double-digits, led by sophomore point guard Alex Guiton with 20 points. Junior forward Lacey Blau and senior center Jamie Boles-Lord scored 11 each, and freshman Kristee Davidson added 10 points.

“The first conference win gives us confidence to go into the rest of the season,” Barbee said. “This conference is so tough; no matter who we win against, it’s a big deal.”

The Wildcats, who never trailed in the game, opened up a 37-17 lead after going on a 14-point run midway through the first half.

Coming from a 41-27 deficit into the half, Eastern New Mexico rallied to 48-39 with less than 14 minutes to play, but Kristee Davidson scored four points a steal to lead an 8-point run for the Wildcats.

With three minutes remaining, Eastern New Mexico came back to be down by 73-

63, but the Wildcats scored the final 10 points to close the game.

The win comes at an opportune time for head coach Shawna Lavender and her team. ACU travels to Kingsville on Thursday to play a Texas A&M-Kingsville team that has lost nine of its last 10 games, then the Wildcats play Texas Woman’s on Saturday.

“Our last three games were the three toughest games we’ve played all year,” Lavender said, referring to games against West Texas A&M, Cameron and Southwestern Oklahoma State. “But the two games this weekend are winnable games.”

Lavender said the key to this weekend will be getting her team to focus.

“But sometimes it’s easier to get them to focus on the road,” Lavender said. “All they have is a bus ride, no outside distractions like you can get playing at home.”

The Wildcats next home game is at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Tarleton State.

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

Freshman forward Kristee Davidson is fouled while making the shot and completes the 3-point play. Davidson finished with 10 points against Eastern New Mexico in the Wildcats 83-63 win Saturday in Moody Coliseum.