Vol. 94, No. 34 1 section, 10 pages
WEDNESDAY
February 8, 2006
www.acuoptimist.com
Strong start
New heights
Open season
The baseball team opened the season with four wins, page 8
Some students have begun rock climbing several times a week, page 3
The Wildcats’ team tennis season began last week at home, page 8
Campaign lacks $50 million n Administrators said reaching the $150 million goal by December will “be quite a stretch,” but fundraisers will continue to pursue that goal. By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor
Fundraisers have raised about two-thirds of their goal
for the Centennial Campaign but need to raise $50 million more to reach their goal by Dec. 31. The campaign, which began in 2001, has a goal of $150 million, said Brett Magner, director of development for the university. “As of right now we have a little over $100 million,”
Magner said. Since the early ’90s, the university has raised money with campaigns, Magner said. Every gift a donor makes counts toward that campaign’s goal. The Centennial Campaign divides into three categories: the annual fund, which is what helps run the university on a day-to-day basis; capital, which
includes building projects and library acquisitions; and an endowment fund, which provides reliable income and scholarships for the university every year through interest. Each category has its own goal and its own typical kind of donations, Magner said. See
FUND page 5
Magner
Lining up for some soul
Popular music attracts audience n The new course, which focuses on music during the 20th century, also will be taught during Summer I and maybe next fall. By LUKE HARRIS Staff Writer
Students are learning about the popular music of the United States in the new popular music course this semester. The new course is offered in one section in its first semester and, so far, the professor said it seems to be going well. Greg Bush, director of jazz studies, teaches the class and said students seem to be receiving the class well. The class is offered as a fine arts elective to all majors and is a study of popular music from the 20th century, starting from the early Bush 1900s until almost a decade ago. The course seeks to explain what music was popular and what social and political causes were behind the music’s popularity. “I really enjoy it, and I hope that the students are enjoying it as well,” Bush said. Bush said the class has 84 students and is taught in Walling Lecture Hall, which holds 150, but Bush said he believes the class has a very strong number considering it was offered on fairly short notice last semester. The class is listed as a special topics class this semester, but Bush said it is being worked on to where it will be offered as a music course. Emerald McGowan/Staff Photographer
See
David Galaz, junior international studies major from Elsa, serves food to students Monday during the Soul Food Festival, an event to celebrate Black History Month.
Ag department adds four tracks n Dr. Foy Mills Jr. said he anticipates the move could increase the department’s enrollment by almost 50 percent in a year and a half. By MALLORY SHERWOOD Managing Editor
The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department added four new tracks to its environmental science major this spring, a move the administration hopes will boost the department’s numbers in the future. “We anticipate by this fall, but more likely by the fall of ’07, that we will have 100 majors,” said Dr. Foy Mills Jr., chair of the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department. The department houses 68 total majors divided between environmental science, agribusiness and animal science. Mills said the track additions stem from a 10-year plan the department developed in 2002. “We took a look at where the current employment and projected employment opportunities were for our students,” said Dr. Kent Gallaher, associate professor of environmental science, “and wanted to craft the emerging technology with the emerging careers that would resonate with
our current and future students.” By fall 2006, students will be able to begin on the new concentrations, although students are already transitioning into the concentrations this semester, Mills said. Each of the concentrations, which are phase two of the 10-year plan, partner with a different department on campus, which will help the students with this major in the future, Gallaher said. “We’re reinventing the department Mills to make it stronger, more focused and flexible, so students can focus on specific career objectives,” he said. The concentrations, including Wildlife and Natural Resources Management, Outdoor Studies, Politics and Public Policy, and Field Technology, partner with the exercise science and health, chemistry, political science and biology departments, respectively. “Frankly, we had to face reality and envision what the future would be like when we reviewed our deSee
AGRICULTURE page 5
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Presidential, National Merit Scholarship change Effective immediately for all Presidential and National Merit scholars, scholarships can be used: • For nine consecutive semesters, instead of eight • For summer courses, including Maymester, between the first and ninth semester
MUSIC page 5
Scholarship rules changed n Presidential and National Merit scholars now can use their scholarship over nine semesters and for summer courses to give their schedules more flexibility. By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor
Presidential and National Merit scholars now have more
flexibility in the time frame of their educations. The scholarship recipients now will have nine semesters to complete their coursework and can take classes during the summer and have their scholarships apply toward their summer tuition. The changes will apply to all scholarship recipients
immediately, said Dr. Chris Willerton, director of the Honors Program and professor of English. “It will be a little more expensive for the school,” Willerton said, “but it will serve the students, and the flexibility is worth it.” See
SCHOLARSHIP page 5
University installs new bicycle racks n After the Department of Foreign Languages donated $7,000 for the cause, bike racks were put in by the Administration and COBA buildings and the Campus Center. By KATHERINE FLANARY Student Reporter
Students who ride their bikes around campus might have noticed new bike racks. A group of students circulated a petition on campus to have new bike racks located around campus. When the petitioning students approached Jeff Haseltine, associate professor of foreign languages and assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, he informed them the Foreign Languages Department was already donating $7,000 to the cause, said Bob Nevill, director of Physical Resources, in an e-mail.
“The beginning of the bike installations are credited to them,” Nevill said. Physical Resources received a request in the later part of November by Haseltine to put together a cost estimate to install the bike racks around campus. “Physical Resources received costs from several vendors and contractors, then put together an estimate that [Haseltine] and Melanie Booker, executive vice president of the Students’ Association could look at and decide where they wanted the bike racks to be installed first,” Nevill said. Nevill said the new locations of bike racks include the south entrance of the Administration Building, the east side of the Campus Center, the west side of the Campus Center and the See
BIKES page 5
Anna Carroll/Staff Photographer
Mitchell Halstead, junior youth and family ministry major from The Woodlands, unlocks his bike from the rack by the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building.
Abilene Christian University
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
08
Calendar & Events Wednesday
Shinnery Review submission deadline. Fortress Youth Development Center deadline for applications and interviews, all day, Campus Center.
09
Thursday
Shiloh Camp informational meeting, 6:45 p.m., Campus Center. Black History Production ticket sale, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.
Announcements The Annual Black History Production will show “At our Highest” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets are available at the Campus Center ticket windows for $4. Dennis and Emily Lowe, nationally known marriage and relationship specialists from Pepperdine University, will share their insight and strategies that to strengthen marriages with married ACU students Saturday evening at the Oakwood Trails. The evening includes a candlelit dinner for $5 per couple. For reservations contact Kurt Boyland at boylandk@acu.edu or the Counseling Center at 674-2626. Third Day and the David Crowder Band will be in concert March 5 at Taylor County Coliseum. Special student rate tickets are available in the Campus Activities Board 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 Wednesday. Go to www.acu.edu/ shinnery to submit your poetry, short fiction, photography and art. Applications are available for the 2006 ACU Leadership Camps Staff. Students can serve as a camp
counselor and lead young people ages 7 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. 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.
10
Friday
Black History Production “At Our Highest”, 7 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.
11
Saturday
Black History Production “At Our Highest”, 7 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.
Volunteer Opportunities The H.E.R.O. Program needs volunteers to help by walking along side a horse and helping support and interact with a client. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. 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. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. WTC Council of Governments needs artists to paint in drawings on classroom walls. Meals on Wheels needs drivers to deliver hot, noon
meals to 12-16 seniors and adults with disabilities. For more information contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. 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.
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:
17 53
Police Log (edited for space) Jan. 30 12:30 a.m. Report of female soliciting for money at Smith/ Adams lot. Subject was advised to leave campus. 9:47 a.m. Medical emergency at WPAC. Possible seizure 1 p.m. Maintenance to vehicles 4:58 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at 1300 Westheimer St. 6:40 p.m. Alarm at Teague building, checked and appeared OK. Referred to Physical Resources to check alarm system. 9:50 p.m. Vehicle accident at Smith/Adams lot. No report, exchanged info. 11:05 p.m. Possession of marijuana at Barret hall, case #06-016. Jan. 31 7:30 a.m. Foot patrol of the Administration Building 8:21 a.m. Assisted wrecker company with locating student’s vehicle. 12:51 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Bible lot 5 p.m. Statement taken from witness at Barret hall reference to case #06-016 11:45 p.m. Hit & run accident at Gardner lot Feb. 1 12:51 a.m. Checked WPAC building 2:20 a.m. Placed barricades in Bible lot 3:10 a.m. Placed barricades in Moody lot 3:15 a.m. Located driver of vehicle parked in barricaded area to move vehicle 9 p.m. Contacted unauthorized subjects playing basketball in Moody Coliseum. Subjects were asked to leave and did comply. 10:50 p.m. Report of a suspicious subject at Edwards lot, checked unable to locate Feb. 2 2:45 a.m. Door to field house of Abilene Christian High School was located unlocked.Checked the
building and secured door 7:30 a.m. Report of water leak at Cullen Auditorium. Maintenance notified 8:20 p.m. Report of suspicious subject in parking lot of University Park Apartments lot. Contacted subjects, they were visiting a student Feb. 3 12:36 a.m Retrieved barricades in Bible lot 5:05 a.m. Assisted Abilene Police Department with report of prowler at 500 Scotland Court, checked area unable to locate 10 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at WPAC lot 4:35 p.m. Fingerprinted student at the station Feb. 4 9:26 a.m. Medical emergency at Gardner hall, student with neck pains, refused transport 10:20 a.m. Medical emergency at Sikes hall, overdose victim transported to Hendricks Hospital 12:39 p.m. Report of disturbance at Gibson Gym. Contacted female from San Angelo State School, female calmed down and released to representative of school 2:17 p.m. Medical emergency at Sikes Hall, overdose no transport 6 p.m. Unlocked vehicle on ACU Drive North 8:09 p.m. Medical emergency at University Park Apartments, male subject was transported to Hendricks Medical Center, Feb. 5 4:30 a.m. Assisted Abilene Police Department with locating student 4:35 p.m. Alarm at Physical Resources, checked building no problem 4:51 p.m. Assisted APD on disturbance at I-20 & Loop 322. 5:12 p.m. Discovered open gate at Zoe Property on East North 10th St., checked OK, secured gate. 10:55 p.m. Escorted juvenile from Campus Center to the ACUPD for parent pick-up.
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Page 3
CAMPUS NEWS
Students rock climb around Abilene n Rock climbing gives many students the freedom to relieve stress, exercise their bodies in unorthodox ways and overcome their fear of heights.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/File Photo
Jordan Gay, junior psychology major from Austin; Jake Roseberry, junior management major from Troy, Ohio; and Chris Windsor, graduate student from Longview, plug their ears while a Habitat for Humanity worker attaches the wall they are supporting to the concrete slab on Sept. 30, 2005.
Men’s social club continues work on house n The Habitat for Humanity house that members of Gamma Sigma Phi began last spring is nearing completion, with a finish date set for March 1. By GARY RHODES S tudent Reporter
The Habitat for Humanity house that the men of Gamma Sigma Phi have worked to help build since spring 2005 is nearing completion. The house, located at 2966 Orange St., has been a project for GSP since spring 2005 when they played a 60hour softball game to raise more than $22,000 toward the building of the house. The club also participated
in the construction of the house during the fall 2005 semester. Club members spent Friday afternoons and many Saturdays working on the project, said Jake Roseberry, junior management major and service activities coordinator for GSP from Troy, Ohio. “This project and this house hit home with a lot of our guys,” he said. “They felt ownership, they wanted to follow it through.” Although the men from GSP have done much of the work on the house, they didn’t work alone, and many others have been working on the project during the Christmas break.
“We didn’t want it to be an exclusive thing,” Roseberry said. “We thought it would be better for Habitat if they opened it up to more people.” Despite not having as many workers on the house currently, Kevin Coleman, executive director for the Habitat for Humanity Abilene office, said the house should be done the first week of March. “A lot of the guys are tied down with Sing Song and other activities at ACU right now,” Coleman said. “They are working when they can.” Finding the time to work on the house has been one
of the challenges of completing the project. “For me, it was a bigger commitment than I thought it would be,” Roseberry said. “We worked nearly every Saturday on the house.” Roseberry said when the house is completed, GSP will probably be there to pray over the family and the house. Coleman said he enjoyed working with the men of GSP on the house. “They have an incredible spirit,” he said. “They brought forth a lot of help on this project.”
they take turns climbing up vertical rocks. “It’s a fun thing to do outdoors with friends,” he said. “That’s what originally attracted me to it. Once I started, I became more serious By MITCH HOLT about it.” Staff Writer Fore and Walker said in A group of ACU men rock climbing, the competigather several times a week, tion is against yourself. sometimes in one backyard, “Climbing is a great stress to take part in an up-and- reliever,” Fore said. “When coming sport: rock climbing. I’m stressed out, I enjoy doJosh Fore, sophomore ing activities that exert enerintegrated marketing com- gy and take my mind off of munication major from Fort things. Climbing completely Worth, said he goes rock does that.” climbing at several places in He said that he used to run Abilene and its outskirts. He and lift weights, but neither said most of the places he performed the stress-relievand his friends go are within ing task like rock climbing. an hour and Fore said the a half to two outdoor equiphours from “Climbing is a great ment retailer Abilene. where he works, stress reliever.” Fore started North AmeriJosh Fore, sophomore integrated climbing durcan Outfitters, marketing communication major ing the fall is about to start from Fort Worth semester becarrying climbcause several ing gear. He said of his friends his goal is to were into the make climbing sport. After that, it just be- gear more accessible to those came a part of him, he said. interested in the sport in the This group of men also Abilene area. gather frequently in a backOne thing that separates yard to climb, but not just climbing from other sports, any backyard. The group Fore said, is the equipment gathers to climb the climbing used. The fact that climbers wall that Will Walker, junior put their lives in the figuranursing major from Eugene, tive hands of their equipment Ore., built in his backyard is a rush in itself. with the help of some friends “Before I climbed I was last summer. afraid of heights,” Fore said. Walker said he enjoys the “It’s about conquering your community aspect of the body and your fears.” sport. He said it’s like taking a walk with friends, except E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu
E-mail Rhodes at: optimist@acu.edu
Positions available for Montevideo Study Abroad n Students who study abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay, will have the opportunity to experience a different culture and learn more about the Spanish language. By TAKISHA KNIGHT Page 2 Editor
Ten spots remain for the fall 2006 semester of Study Abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay. The deadline to apply is March 31. Lynette Penya, assistant professor of communication, and Rhonda Collier, on-site director of the Latin America program, will head this fall’s student venture into South America.
Penya said Study Abroad offers more than just classes and a trip abroad, it also offers an experience unlike any other. “Study Abroad is an experience of a lifetime, and it’s probably the only opportunity to live in another country for that extended period of time,” she said. “You’re able to broaden your experience and understanding of the world.” Though little known, Montevideo offers a variety of service opportunities, Penya said. The first time she attended a Study Abroad semester in Montevideo, she and her students conducted a fall break campaign in Santiago, Chile, where they worked with chil-
dren and encouraged people to get involved in the church. She said students learned a lot about the culture and realized how much people often take for granted. “I think you come to know yourself better,” she said. “Your culture becomes clearer to you once you see it juxtapose another culture.” Penya said the trip is not just for fluent Spanish speakers. “I wouldn’t see not knowing Spanish as a barrier,” she said. On a previous Study Abroad trip to South America, one student came and did not know a word of Spanish, she said. She seemed to have the most fun of
the group because she tried to communicate with the people any way she could, she said. “I think understanding and communicating with the same language is important but not most important,” she said. “You learn other ways of communication.” Penya recalled a seminar she once gave to a group of local pastors. During the seminar, her translator had to leave. Penya had to finish her seminar in Spanish on her own. She had to express her ideas in words that she said she would not use under different circumstances. She had little choice because her vocabulary was limited. Though students probably
Post-graduate employment job fair begins Feb. 23 n Big-name corporations looking to hire graduates will arrive in Abilene after Sing Song and give students the possibility to interview on-site. By ERIC GENTRY Student Reporter
For juniors and seniors nervous about post-graduation employment, more than 45 companies will be looking to hire from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Abilene Civic Center. This year’s West Central Texas Employment Expo will bring in several big-name corporations, including IBM, Capgemini Energy and The SherwinWilliams Company, all in search of students anxious to get their foot in the marketplace. “The difference this year is who’s coming,” said Matt
Boisvert, director of the Office of Career and Academic Development. “These are some huge companies.” Schools in the West Central Texas Career Consortium put on the Employment Expo every year, but Boisvert said the Office of Career and Academic development has been especially proactive in marketing this year’s event. “We have been aggressive in making contacts and working hard to develop those relationships,” he said. “Our students have a unique opportunity to connect with some real companies.” Boisvert said ACU will have a scanner working at the expo to copy and package student résumés to send to employers. He said some companies will conduct prearranged
interviews at the expo; however, for others, it is only essential that they dress professionally, bring a résumé and be prepared to shake employers’ hands. “This is an opportunity for students from all majors to just come and see what happens,” Boisvert said. “It’s not just an Abilene job fair. There are going to be jobs all over the world.” A preparatory career
workshop is scheduled for at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Living Room of the Campus Center “You’re never going to have this many companies in Abilene at one time,” Boisvert said. “This is an opportunity that you’re really missing out on if you don’t take advantage of it.”
E-mail Gentry at: optimist@acu.edu
will not come back from Montevideo speaking Spanish fluently, she said there is a good chance they will know more about the language than they did before the trip. Another aspect of living in a place with a different native language is that students have a chance to apply the communications curriculum. The curriculum becomes hands-on simply because of the nature of the Study Abroad Program, she said. To learn how to apply for Study Abroad Latin America visit www.acu.edu/academics/ studyabroad/latinamerica. E-mail Knight at: tnk03a@acu.edu
Study Abroad • Ten spots available • Directors: Lynette Penya, assistant professor of communication, and Rhonda Collier, on-site director of the Latin America program • Deadline to apply is March 31 for the fall semester • Students take 16 hours credit • Cost: tuition and room and board, same as at the university; Latin America program fee, $3,500 to $4,000
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Wednesday, February 8, 2006
CAMPUS NEWS
What was this artist thinking?
Students seek justice Chapel n Leaders in International Justice Mission and Awake 3:18 are planning a special Small Group Chapel focused on social justice to bring students together. By ANNA CARROLL Student Reporter
emerald mcgowan/Staff Photographer
Thomas Madrid, junior English major from Abilene, and Amy “Pockets” Neimeyer, senior math major from Midland, look at posters in the Campus Center on Monday.
Grad school scholarship available n Two university students will be nominated for The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship, which is awarded to about 65 students nationwide. By ANNA CARROLL Student Reporter
Seniors and recent graduates interested in attending graduate school can apply to become one of two students nominated by ACU for a scholarship worth up to $50,000 a year for up to six years. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will award about 65 scholarships to be used for graduate programs beginning in the fall. Students must be seniors or have graduated since 2001 and be entering a graduate program for the first time in the fall. Applications and more information are available online at www.jackkentcookefoundation.org. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be nominated by their undergraduate school’s faculty representative. ACU’s repre-
sentative is Dr. Chris Willerton, director of the Honors Program and professor of English. He accepted the position this year, making him the representative of four graduate scholarships including the Rhodes, Udall and Goldwater scholarships. Students must turn in applications to Willerton by March 1. With the help of three other faculty members, he will make a preliminary selection by April 1 and a final selection by April 17, according to a press release from Willerton. The final two nominations are due May 1, and the foundation will inform students of their award status in July, according to the foundation’s Web site. The faculty committee will judge applicants based on their potential to compete with the top students nominated by other schools in six areas: academic ability and achievement, unmet financial need, will to succeed, leadership and public service, critical thinking ability and appreciation for or participation in
the arts and humanities. Willerton said he has received inquires in the few days since the scholarship was announced. “I’m sure dozens of students will be interested,” he said in an e-mail. “But strictly speaking, we can’t measure interest until March 1 when applications come in.” Willerton gave three reasons why ACU encourages students to apply for major scholarships like this one; “the great prestige it would bring to the university, the need to assure gifted students that the university will support them in big-league ambitions and the benefits to academic culture by making the student body aware of world-class opportunities.” Jack Kent Cooke was the former owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Redskins. When he died in 1997, he left money to establish the foundation, which began in 2000.
E-mail Carroll at: optimist@acu.edu
Students might soon have one more option when it comes to picking a Small Group Chapel, but only if they can work out all the details. Roommates Brandon Smith and Donny Tapie are working to begin a Small Group Chapel that focuses on social justice. Both are officers with International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and oppression around the world. Smith and Tapie want to start a Chapel that will reach out to other groups on campus that also focus on social justice. “We want to challenge people to dive into what we should be doing as Christians,” said Smith, sopho-
“We want to challenge people to dive into what we should be doing as Christians.” Brandon Smith, sophomore political science major from Overland Park, Kan.
more international political science major from Overland Park, Kan., and special events coordinator for IJM. This Chapel isn’t meant to be a new club, said Tapie, sophomore biblical text major from Orlando, Fla., and chaplain for IJM. Rather, he said, it is meant to unite the existing clubs. “We both felt that there are so many groups for social justice such as IJM, Awake 3:18, and Service Action Leadership Team, and it seems like they were kind of divided and fighting for members,” Tapie said. “We thought it would be good to have one day for all the different groups to come together and focus and talk about social justice.” Smith and Tapie approached Mark Lewis, spiritual life director, and Jason
Morris, McNair Scholars Program, about becoming advisers for their Chapel, but progress came to a standstill when they found out that Chapel policy prevents them from meeting on Wednesday, Smith said. According to the current policy, small groups meet on Thursdays or Fridays, said Shane Hughes, Chapel coordinator, in an e-mail. Thursday is an option, but Smith and Tapie know that they would be competing with other small groups like IJM, Awake 3:18 and Spring Break Campaigns. Another option is to have it on Fridays, but that would compete with praise day, Smith said. Social Justice Chapel is on hold until a better time can be arranged. E-mail Carroll at: optimist@acu.edu
Romantic night out raises funds n A Sweetheart Dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday for couples will serve as a fundraiser for marriage and family therapy students traveling to Nigeria.
“I believe I’m immortal until my work on earth is done ... what better privilege than to get to spread God’s word across the globe.” Janelle Liggins, marriage and family therapy graduate student from Augusta, Ga.
By JAYME SMITH Staff Writer
On Saturday night, couples who want to experience a three-course catered meal, live jazz music, a silent auction and door prizes can attend the Sweetheart Dinner, where all proceeds will be donated to the Marriage Enrichment Mission Trip to Nigeria. The event begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m. in the Williams Performing Arts Center. The dinner is open to students, faculty and the community, though geared toward couples dating, engaged or married. “We’re hoping for around 200 people to show up,” said Tessa Iacono, marriage and family therapy graduate student from Trabuco Canyon, Calif. “In order for that to happen, we need to sell more tickets.” Besides dinner and a musical performance, a silent auction will take place and organizers will give out door prizes, including gift certificates to Starbucks, Target and Best Buy. The purpose of the fundraiser is to raise money for the university’s marriage and family therapy gradu-
ate student mission trip to Nigeria this summer. About nine students will leave for Africa on June 24 and visit for 10 days. “Our expenses are pretty much taken care of except for our plane tickets, which run about $2,500 a person,” Iacono said. “Even if you’re unable to make it to the fundraiser dinner, donations are still accepted.” While in Nigeria, the marriage and family therapy graduates will present a workshop called, “Passion, Purity, Purpose.” The missionaries will have the opportunity to teach God’s plan for sex and promote sexual purity to teenagers, as well as counsel adults. The workshop’s key verse is from 1 Corinthians 6:20: “You were bought at a price; therefore, honor God with your body.” The soon-to-be Nigerian missionaries have high hopes for the coming trip. “I’m excited because this will be a neat opportunity to put into practice what I’ve been learning, and I’ll also have the ability to reach more diverse people,” Iacono said. Others, like Janelle Lig-
gins, marriage and family therapy graduate student from Augusta, Ga., are contemplating the long plane ride. “At first I was hesitating—worried about school, handling everything and the eight-hour flight, so I lifted it up in prayer,” Liggins said. “I believe that I’m immortal until my work on earth is done, so I figure what better privilege than to get to spread God’s word across the globe.” The graduates are also writing letters to people they know to gain support for the Nigerian trip. However, the dinner fundraiser plays a large role in allowing the students to travel to Africa, Liggins said. The fundraiser “will increase awareness of our mission trip so we will gain more supporters and give us an opportunity to sow into our trip,” Liggins said. “To reap, you first must sow.” The Sweetheart Dinner tickets cost $35 per couple. To purchase tickets, e-mail tli05a@acu.edu or call (325) 518-9337. E-mail Smith at: jls04a@acu.edu
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Page 5
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Scholarship: Time frame now lasts nine semesters Continued from page 1 Willerton said the Presidential/National Merit Finalist Scholarship Board approved the changes in collaboration with the Provost’s office and Phil Schubert, vice president for finance. Willerton said the board realized many students would be better off taking summer courses or graduating in nine semesters, especially students
in leadership roles on campus who need to take fewer hours some semesters, students with double majors and students who study aboard. “It seemed to us there were hardships that we might be able to get around,” Willerton said. The changes will also allow more students to study abroad during the summers, Willerton said. In the past, the scholarship recipients’ tuition was not covered during the summer,
so taking summer courses was an expensive option. Presidential scholars receive half and full tuition scholarships from the university. They must retain high grade point averages, make due process toward their degrees, remain in good standing with the university, participate in the Honor’s Program during their freshman year, live on campus and complete community service hours.
The program was begun on an eight-semester basis, Willerton said, because university income goes down in the summer and most degrees only take eight semesters to finish. “We made this change based on our experiences,” Willerton said. Many students take nine semesters to finish their degrees or take summer courses because of illnesses, leadership positions and changing their majors.
“The purpose of the program is to bring gifted students here,” Willerton said. “And we want to treat them right.” The board had already made exceptions in the policy for two groups — education majors and students in the Accelerated Professional Career Track in Psychology program. Sarah Woodruff, senior interdisciplinary major from
Nashville, Tenn., is a Presidential Scholar who could have benefitted from the changes if they had been made earlier in her college career. She is taking 19 hours this semester, so she can graduate in May. “I would have loved to have the option of taking summer classes,” Woodruff said. “It’s too bad I missed out on that.”
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Fund: Collecting continues Continued from page 1 When people write checks to the university or make smaller donations, the money goes into the annual fund, which goes toward the operation budget. “It’s like a checking account for the university,” Magner said. Its goal is about $21.5 million, and it is divided into many smaller categories. So far, the university has raised about $18.4 million, Magner said, and that money pays for professors’ salaries, athletics, departmental budgets
and equipment. The capital fund has a goal of about $34.6 million and so far has about $7.4 million. This money pays for building projects, such as the Burford Center renovations and the planned Welcome Center. When people make donations specifically for certain projects, it goes into this category. Finally, the endowment fund has a goal of close to $94 million and generally receives the largest donations of the campaign, often through peoples’ estates, Magner said. The fund currently has $74.6 million.
With one-third of the goal still to be collected in one-sixth of the time frame, Magner said fundraisers will work hard to reach the goal by the end of the year. “Between now and then there will be many conversations with friends of the university and alumni,” Magner said. “We’re still shooting for [our goal],” he said. “It’s going to be quite a stretch, and it’s going to take a lot of concentrated effort from lots of folks and lots of prayers.” E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Music: Class offered again Continued from page 1 Greg Straughn, chair of the Music Department, said he is pleased to see that people are very involved in the class, and students seem to be enjoying it. Straughn and Bush had been floating the idea for the class for several semesters and were finally able to get it solidified last semester.
Straughn said the class is interesting because it shows a different view of music and shows why certain elements of music are popular and why different rhythms and pitches can make a difference in the popularity of music. The class already has been put on the Summer I schedule, and Straughn said he hopes it will be taught in the fall as well.
“We want to win friends for music and teach them to listen critically.” Straughn said. Although Straughn said he feels that it is important to know what the important elements of Rolling Stones’ music are; he also wants to have a Christian worldview in the class.
E-mail Harris at: optimist@acu.edu
Agriculture: Tracks created Continued from page 1
Anna Carroll/Staff Photographer
Tara Cargile, senior biology major from Farwell, chains her bike to the new bike rack outside the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building. New racks also were installed by the Campus Center and COBA Building.
Bikes: New racks added Continued from page 1 south area of the College of Business Administration building. The new bike racks do not seem to have anything to do with bike thefts, said Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU Police, in an e-mail; the lack of students locking their bikes does. “We had a significant increase [in bicycle thefts] from
the previous year, but still have far fewer bike thefts than most campuses,” Ellison said. “Part of the increase was due to more people failing to lock their bikes, part of the increase was due to off-campus elements coming onto campus specifically to look for bikes to steal. Bike thieves know that college campuses have lots of bikes and lots of unlocked bikes.”
Nevill said the administration takes note of trends on campus. “We are aware that there has been an increase with the use of bicycles on the campus in the past two years; this increased use was the driving force behind the addition [of the bike racks],” Nevill said. E-mail Flanary at: optimist@acu.edu
partment with the visiting committee in 2002,” Mills said. By 2012, all three majors will have changed to provide students with more opportunities, revamping the department and projecting it into the future, with the mission of the university at the heart, Mills said. The department, often stereotyped as the farmers’ major, produces graduates who serve in various fields across the world, Gallaher said. Some of the recent graduates include: Alaska’s state botanist, wildlife biologists, lawyers dealing with land transfers, money lenders, environmental engineers
who work with chemical plants, missionaries helping Brazilians farm effectively, and engineers who help clean toxic waste dumps. “I challenge students to take one of our intro classes and rethink their stereotype, including our majors,” Mills said. “We have a lot of ranchers and farmers, which are important, but our majors offer students a variety of career choices.” Gallaher said the majors are really just scientists who study science to solve problems. “We’re not just learning for learning’s sake,” he said. “We’re scientists, not just cows and sows.” Mills and Gallaher agreed they were excited for the future of the department
because of its vitality to the world. “As Christians, we have to realize God’s take on our role on earth,” Gallaher said. “He placed us here to be stewards of his earth; that means we have to take care of it for ourselves and for the future generations, too.” He said this includes everything from learning how to deal with climate control, nuclear waste plants, food supply, and how to keep God’s creation beautiful. “I get so much pleasure out of watching a beautiful sunset and looking at snowcapped mountains,” Mills said. “It’s just cool.”
E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Page 6
February 8, 2006
Cartooning freedom of expression The issue:
In September, a Danish newspaper printed cartoons that are considered offensive to Muslims. Violent repercussions for this offense have been felt from the Middle East to Europe
Our view:
Freedom of expression is one of our most cherished liberties, and we should not abandon it lightly.
The solution:
As Christians, we should respect our freedoms enough to take a stand for them.
What if a cartoonist drew a demeaning picture of Jesus? What if an artist did something obscene with a sacred Christian symbol, say, floating a crucifix in human urine? Oh, wait. That’s already happened. But oddly enough, the Metropolitan Museum of Art still stands, countless anti-Christian Hollywood producers continue to make their films, and artists use their corner on the market of free expression to demean God without any fear of retribution. Why “oddly enough?” Because apparently to Islamic extremists, a few satirical cartoons are enough to send rocks and petrol bombs through windows, violent mobs into the streets, and cut off trade with entire countries. In September, a Danish newspaper printed 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed, a practice sometimes forbid-
One word can change history — or Chapel All right, everyone who done, and I like attention, hasn’t embarrassed them- being outlandish and (hopeselves in front of thousands fully) funny. But I also like of people in Chapel, take to be respectful, intelligent a step for- and insightful. So, it bugged ward. me that instead of having Not so some good ideas and comfast, Cole. ments be appreciated, I had F o l l o w ideas ignored and got a barme back in rel of laughs all about one time a year word. I bet, aside from my ago to Jan. friends sitting (shocked) 27, 2005, at next to me, nobody rememThe Mouth of a Thursday bers what point I was trying Chapel in to make. Madness Moody ColiI didn’t think it would Cole seum, where have been such a big deal. a roundta- Earlier in that Chapel, someWilliams ble discus- one had said “boobs,” and sion on dating was taking nothing happened. But of place. The four people situ- course I should have known ated around a table on the better, like I should know floor spoke clichéd things a lot of other things. The from stereotypical points ignoring of my points for of view about dating; things a jolly good laugh by the like: “All guys are interested crowd was my own fault. in is a woman’s body” and But it still amazed me “Women are always attract- how one word caused so ed to bad boys.” After they much. Sure it didn’t start a finished their riot, but I’m discussion, the honestly surmicrophones prised they I learned something were passed still pass miout into the crophones for myself: crowd to gain Never underestimate out into the their thoughts crowd durthe power of the and insights ing 1838 smallest thing, even if chapels. on the clichéd, it’s just one word. commonly held But it beliefs that shouldn’t had been spoamaze me ken about dating. Plenty of that one word caused so guys said, “Ladies, you need much; not just because to find yourself a good man I’m often naïve about how who respects you,” which in people respond to certain every iteration got enthusi- things, but because people astic applause (because of can have extreme responses course every guy thinks he to almost anything. One is a “good guy”). word, one glance out of your However, what sent that eye, one little thing is often day down in infamy was all it takes to send people when one person said, into hysterics. among other things, “WomThink about the worst en, look for the guy who’s mistakes of your life, the staring at your face and not misunderstandings, the your ...” Well, I can’t say that hurt feelings. How often word here, so here’s how it are things like that caused was described in a column by just one thoughtless rein this very paper: “A slang mark, one malicious glance term for a woman’s breast.” out of the eye, one ignored Okay, now if you’re done phone call? Upon recolleclaughing, you get one guess tion, you’ll probably be suras to who said that in Chapel. prised how many. Heh, yeah it was pretty I doubt I imparted any funny, especially when the wisdom in Chapel that day, whole debacle was ridiculed but I learned something for by an opinion column in myself: never underestimate this publication the next the power of the smallest Wednesday. I was honestly thing, even if it’s just one pretty proud. That probably word. The repercussions doesn’t sound good, so let can be large. me put it this way; that incident was far from the most E-mail Williams at: embarrassing thing I’ve ever cww02a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
den by We should not antagonize other cultures simply for the sport s p e c t Islamic for Isof it; however, we don’t need to apologize for our opinions. l a w . lam.” Since But we then, dispute has raged about mally commendable. must wonder: is it respect that whether or not such a decision However, giving into de- drives such a statement, or fear? was ethical. mands from those willing to use They were not so respectful of Several newspapers around violence to control discussion the aforementioned work of the world have reprinted the and stifle debate is a betrayal of modern art, “Piss Christ,” nor cartoons, inciting even more our core values. Without free- have they shied away from close violence from the Islamic com- dom of speech, we have no de- scrutiny of other cultures and munity worldwide. At least four mocracy. If we hope to live in religions. people have already been killed harmony someday with peaceWhat would we do in this in these violent protests, trade seeking Muslims, we cannot al- situation? As Christians, what between Iran and Denmark has low extremism to prevail. is more important, to respect been cut off, and the destruction Islamic protestors are wav- others’ beliefs or to stand by our of consulates and other public ing signs that read, “Behead the rights? institutions are growing wide- Infidels;” “Europe: Take some We can do both. There is no spread. lessons from 9/11;” and “Free- reason to willfully antagonize Despite the violence that dom go to Hell.” These kinds of other cultures simply for the some Muslims have demon- threats should shake us from sport of it; however, we don’t strated, many Westerners still our lethargy and propel us to need to apologize for our opinseem unsure about their role in action. Dare we stand by and ions. this debate. They are afraid to watch them desecrate the freeThe First Amendment was seem insensitive or intolerant, doms that are the very corner- created to protect our right to and, from long attendance at stones of our country? freedom of speech and of the the school of “all religions are Some news organizations, press, and that includes carequal,” they wish to avoid giving such as CNN, have declined to toons, however inflammatory offense. Such empathy is nor- reprint the cartoons “out of re- they may be.
Cole Williams
What will be your Sing Song face? A scared high school senior slunk into the double gym in Moody Coliseum among hundreds of people he didn’t know in February 2002 on a mission for someone else. The sea of people wore pounds of stage Ask the m a k e u p Question and brightJonathan ly colored and sparkly Smith costumes. Ridiculously large smiles and wide-eyed gazes were plastered on these people’s faces. But not all the faces were smiling. Copies of the student newspaper opened to the arts page hung around the double gym. Unkind words scrawled in black Sharpie laced some of the pages. Big X’s placed through chunks of text. Images of the arts editor hung in angry effigy on the walls. This was my first true Sing Song experience. As a high school senior visiting my sister, a senior here at the time and editor
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
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Let Loose
Sing Song faces will infect campus next week, but what will those faces look like?
of the Optimist, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I stopped by the newspaper office that cold February night. The arts editor, Paul Anthony, had just published a review of Sing Song, critiquing each act and predicting each of the winners (with what ended up being almost deadly accuracy). It only makes sense — at least to the journalism majors — for the campus newspaper to review one of the biggest productions of the year for the school. Few bat an eye at reviews of other school productions. Several social clubs did not agree. For some of them, being called the second-place act by a college sophomore in the campus newspaper was a little too much honesty. And so they reacted angrily, and the defaced copies of the Optimist hung around the double gym portrayed an attitude about this goodnatured competition that school administrators likely did not intend 50 years ago. Unfortunately, when the
Optimist needed to contact a Sing Song participant backstage, no staff member felt comfortable walking into that lions’ den. So the job fell to the one person sitting in the office who no one on campus knew and wasn’t even a student yet — me. Needless to say, my first Sing Song experience did not leave me with warm, fuzzy feelings. It’s a wonder I ever stepped foot back in the Optimist office again after my first “assignment,” but it’s even more amazing that I desired to go backstage at Sing Song ever again. Only two years later, however, I was back in the double gym as a member of the Optimist. Last year, too, and I plan on being there again in another week. I have seen a drastically different mood the past two years at Sing Song than I did in high school. I have seen the camaraderie that develops between club members of a Sing Song act as they wearily wait for their final
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
We in the west have a responsibility to fight for our most precious freedom: the freedom of expression, for which so many before us have sacrificed their lives. A true democracy cannot survive without the freedom to criticize, to oppose, and even to argue and potentially offend. This is obviously sparse in the Islamic world, and without it, Islamic extremists will remain oppressive and militant, continuing to stifle all creativity, truth, and basic human rights. Like Europe in pre-World War II Germany, we can bury our heads in the sand, but this does not mean that the threat is gone. Far from it. The powers of hatred and bigotry will continue to grow whether we like it or not, so this is our chance to stand for liberty. If we truly love our country and its freedoms, we have no choice.
performance. I have watched members of all different social clubs come together to celebrate the end of a show. I have seen social clubs genuinely wishing other clubs good luck before they take the stage. Social clubs have had their better Sing Song faces forward these past couple years, and they need that streak to continue next week. In a year that has seen three clubs disciplined for pledging activities (two of which won’t be participating in Sing Song as a result), social clubs as a whole desperately could use some positive press. Sing Song faces will infect campus next week, but what will those faces look like? Will they be bitter faces that act out angrily at being called anything less than first place by the media or Sing Song judges? Or will the bright eyes and huge smiles reflect attitudes that truly enjoy the friendly competition as much as the camaraderie? You have one week to decide. E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
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SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Page 7
Track: Teams compete at University of Nebraska Continued from page 8 The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Bien-Aime, Pride, Elton Garus-Oab, and Cockrell improved its provisional time by three seconds Saturday, placing third overall with a time of 3:14.96. The distance medley relay team posted a new provisional mark with a winning time of 10:05. In the field events, senior pole vaulter Cory Aguilar broke his slump of not clearing the opening height by clearing 16 feet, a provisional height, to finish ninth. The men’s field event
athletes to watch this season, however, will be the Ukrainian tandem of Yevgen Pashchenko and Vladyslav Gorbenko in the long jump and triple jump. Friday, Gorbenko placed first in the triple jump with a substantial provisional mark of 51-3 ¾. Pashchenko added a provisional mark of his own in the triple jump, placing third with a mark of 50-6. The senior was eighth in the long jump with a provisional mark of 23-4 ½. On the women’s side, athletes qualified in five new events, along with one automatic qualifying mark. Ju-
nior Angie Aguilar improved her height in the pole vault past the automatic standard, clearing 12 feet, 10 ¼ inches to finish fourth in the competition. Aguilar made three unsuccessful attempts at 13 feet, 4 inches, which would have been a Division II indoor pole vault record. Trina Cox was the only event winner for the women, finishing the 5,000meter run in a provisional qualifying time of 16:58.55. In the same race, senior Olha Kryv’yak posted a provisional qualifying time of 17:16.36, placing third. The women’s distance med-
ley relay team – comprised of Kryv’yak, Jessica Hunt, Vanessa Whittle, and Cox – won its race with an automatic qualifying time of 11:49.56 Of all the events, the 400meter dash and 4x400-meter relay produced the biggest performances for the Wildcat women. Keva Wilkins ran a near-automatic provisional time of 55.77 in the finals of the 400-meter dash to finish second, while freshman Azraa Rounds was fourth in the event with a provisional time of 55.90. The women’s 4x400meter relay team – comprised of Kim Prather, Rounds, Hunt, and Shawna-Kaye Thompson
Softball: Five games in three days Continued from page 8 and didn’t allow any more hits than actual runs. The score was tied 4-4 until the bottom of the fourth when Wildcat Haley Morris scored off of Jessica’s Johnson’s line drive to left field. In the top of the seventh, the Lady Mustangs scored three runs off of three hits and again, the Wildcats couldn’t catch up. The first game Friday morning didn’t start out too well either. Southeastern Oklahoma State defeated ACU 5-1, scoring four of their five points in the first inning and the fifth and final run in the second inning. Each team made only one error each and Jade Wilson hit a homerun to center field for the
Wildcats in the fourth inning. Kristine Beristianos pitched the first two innings, giving up four hits and five runs. Vidalin came in at the top of the third and gave up only one hit. Sophomore Haley Morris said she’s not quite sure why the Wildcats started off so poorly. “There wasn’t anything really specific that we did horrible at; I think it was mainly just nerves and first game jitters that we all needed to get out of our systems. After we did that, we played well,” Morris said. “We were a lot more confident once we got going and finally started playing our game.” The fourth game against St. Mary’s finally ended the weekend’s losing streak. Scoring
Schedule: Wildcats need wins to qualify for LSC postseason play Continued from page 8 run when [Dawson] was out, but we just couldn’t,” Rembert said. The lead was whittled down to 11 but would go no further when Mauro Matai’s missed dunk and blocked shot would be converted down on the other end by Dawson with 8:56 left in the game. The loss thinned the Wildcats’ lead on Midwestern State to one game in the conference standings and has joined them in a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Lone Star Conference South with Eastern New Mexico. Now, the Wildcats get ready
for a showdown with conference leader Tarleton State in Stephenville this Thursday and then turn around for a re-match with the Mustangs in Moody Coliseum at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats have five games remaining, with three on the road. All five of the games will feature opponents still in contention for playoffs spots, including ACU. “We need [to win] three of these next five games,” Rembert said, “and four of them are very winnable.” Rembert summed it up when he said: “It’s there for us, we just need to capitalize.” E-mail the Holland at: beh03e@acu.edu
only one point, ACU came out on top with a 1-0 finale. Leal struck out six batters and gave up only five hits for the game. The one run out of six hits that ACU scored was a homerun by Johnson in the second inning. The final game was played Saturday against Delta State, and ACU pulled out a close win, 6-4. With only one team error for the Wildcats, it seemed to be anybody’s game until the very end. Vidalin pitched the first four innings, and Beristianos and Leal each pitched one. Delta State’s Statesmen and ACU both scored one run in the first inning. Johnson scored a run in the third, with Delta State firing back three more runs. The Wildcats waited until the fifth inning to return
anything, but it was then that ACU scored three earned runs to make the score a close 5-4. They earned one more point in the sixth to advance the lead by two. Delta State could not gain those last couple of points in the last inning, so ACU gladly took home another win. The Wildcats play in the West Texas A&M tournament in Canyon this weekend. “The first games are always rough because everyone is so anxious,” Morris said. “I think we will be a whole lot more prepared for our next tournament just because we will have had a few games behind us already, and we all feel more comfortable playing as a team.” E-mail Moore at: aem03e@acu.edu
– improved its provisional qualifying time to 3:46.44 amid heavy D-1 competition, placing fourth. Hood said he is pleased with where his teams are with two qualifying meets remaining before nationals. “We haven’t done any speed training yet, and the times will continue to fall,” Hood said. “I’m telling them if they’re not running their best yet, just wait. I think the best is yet to come.” So far this season, the men’s and women’s teams have combined to qualify 13 athletes and four relay teams either provisionally or
automatically for the indoor national meet. ACU will return to action Saturday at the New Mexico Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. “We’re hoping to qualify everyone else who has a chance at qualifying, so that we’ll have three weeks of real good training before nationals,” What I was as impressed with as anything were quality Pac-10 or Big 12 teams, and they beat many of them. That tells me that our talent level is right where it needs to be to continue winning. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
Tennis: Split teams do well at all locations Continued from page 8 “I was pleased,” Jones said. “To beat three Division I schools on our courts was real nice.” The Wildcat men opened their season with a disappointing loss to one of the best teams in Division I men’s tennis, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders won 5-1, with senior George Carstens picking up the lone ACU win in the match. The men rebounded in their next match-up against Prairie View A&M with a 6-1 victory. Although the final score does not imply it, ACU worked hard to beat the de-
fending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions. Five of the six singles matches went to three sets. The doubles play was also highly contested. “I’m really proud of the men,” Jones said. This week, the women take a three-day tour of Arkansas to play against Henderson State, Central Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist, Northeastern State and Southeastern Oklahoma State. The men go on the road as well as they face the University of Texas-Pan American and Lamar University this Friday. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Tarleton: Tough game next for ’Cats Continued from page 8 by scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds off the bench. The loss sets the Wildcats back in their attempt to make the LSC postseason tournament to a 3-5 record, but Lavender and her team know they are not out of contention yet. “We have to beat teams we’re supposed to beat right now, and it would help if we picked up a win over Tarleton or West Texas,” Lavender said. “With some of the games that we’ve given
“We have to beat teams we’re supposed to beat right now.” Shawna Lavender, ACU women’s head basketball coach
away, it’s good that we’re still in for postseason play.” The Wildcats will begin cycling through division opponents when they travel to Tarleton State on Thursday at 6 p.m. In the last meeting, the Wildcats played the division-leading TexAnn’s close, but came up short in a 70-64 loss. After Tarleton State, the Wildcats play five
more games until the LSC’s Post-Season Tournament: Midwestern State, West Texas A&M, Eastern New Mexico, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas Woman’s. The Wildcats went 3-3 against these teams in the first half of conference play, and are fighting two teams—Texas Woman’s and Midwestern State — for the fourth and
final spot in the postseason tournament. In the Wildcats three conference losses since Christmas break, the teams’ largest margin of defeat was the 6-point loss to Tarleton State. “We’ve played them once and haven’t really been blown out by anybody,” Lavender said. “The games that are scary are games that you won the first time. You want to make sure you don’t become complacent.”
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
Page 8
February 8, 2006 Standings
Men’s Basketball Team Tarleton St. WTAMU TAMU-K ENMU ACU MSU
Conf. Overall 7-0 18-4 5-1 16-5 3-3 13-8 3-3 9-12 3-4 8-14 2-5 13-9
Track posts qualifying marks in Nebraska n ACU’s track and field teams set 15 qualifying marks or times for the NCAA Division II national indoor meet which will be held next month in Boston. By STEVE HOLT Sports Writer
Women’s Basketball Team Angelo St. Tarleton St. WTAMU TX Woman’s ACU MSU
Div. 7-1 7-1 6-1 4-4 3-5 3-5
Overall 16-5 15-6 17-3 11-9 9-12 9-12
Someone once said, “Competition is the whetstone of talent.” The competition displayed at the Frank Sevigne Classic in Lincoln, Neb., Friday and
Track & Field Saturday certainly sharpened the performances of the ACU track and field athletes, who posted 15 new provisional or automatic qualifying marks or times for the indoor national meet next month. The men’s team boasted seven new provisional qualifying marks against the likes of Stanford, Nebraska, Minnesota, Xavier and Kansas, also gaining experience competing
on a banked 200-meter track that is like the one at the Division II Indoor National Championships in Boston. Head coach Don Hood said he has been impressed with the competitive spirit of his teams at the last two meets. “First of all, the key to running fast is competing. You don’t try to run fast, you try to win. You don’t try to jump far, you try to beat the guy next to you,” Hood said. “With the meets we’re entering, win-
Scores Softball Southeast Oklahoma St. 5, ACU 1 ACU 1, St. Mary’s 0 Baseball ACU 8, Henderson State 4 Women’s tennis ACU 6, Stephen F. Austin 1 ACU 7, Prairie View A&M 0 ACU 7, UT-Pan American 0
n The Wildcats fell below .500 in conference play Saturday with a 85-65 loss to Midwestern State. The Wildcats play at Tarleton State on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Saturday
Women’s basketball Midwestern State 77, ACU 72 (OT) Men’s basketball Midwestern State 85, ACU 65 Softball ACU 6, Delta State 4 Baseball ACU 9, Henderson State 11 (11) ACU 6, Henderson State 2 Men’s tennis Texas Tech 5, ACU 1 ACU 6, Prairie View A&M 1
By BRIAN HOLLAND Sports Writer
Tuesday
Upcoming Schedule Thursday
Women’s basketball ACU at Tarleton State, 6 p.m. Men’s basketball ACU at Tarleton State, 8 p.m.
Friday
Softball ACU at West Texas A&M Tournament Women’s tennis ACU at Henderson State, 10 a.m. ACU at Central Arkansas, 5 p.m. Men’s tennis ACU at Texas Pan-American 1 p.m. ACU at Lamar, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Women’s basketball ACU vs. Midwestern State, 2 p.m. Men’s basketball ACU vs. Midwestern State, 4 p.m. Indoor track ACU at New Mexico Invitational Softball ACU at West Texas A&M Tournament, Baseball ACU vs. Arkansas Tech., 1 p.m. (DH) Women’s tennis ACU at Ouachita Baptist, 1 p.m.
• Home games listed in italics
brian schmidt/Chief Photographer
Ryan Quidley barehands a bunted ball in the eighth inning of Saturday’s 9-8, 11-inning win over Henderson State. Quidley made the throw to first for an out and pitched two-thirds of the eighth inning, allowing no hits.
Clean Sweep n The Wildcat baseball team began the season at home by winning all four games, one against Alabama-Huntsville and three against Henderson State. By PATRICK LOVELESS Sports Writer
Last weekend, Wildcat baseball swept Henderson State in a three game series to bring its record to 4-0. With two comefrom-behind wins, the Wildcats showed they can overcome struggles that they may face again later in the season. Sophomore Chris Wiman had a stellar 1.00 ERA, allowing only three hits and two runs to be scored on him during his seven-inning shut down in game three against Henderson State. Senior Johnny Zepeda also was a big story for the Wildcats when he finished the weekend going 8-11 at the plate and scored three runs. In game one of the series
Baseball against Henderson State, the Wildcats had a six-run inning in the eighth to overcome a 4-2 deficit and to defeat the Reddies 8-4. The Henderson State mound had a complete shutdown after their starting pitcher, who held the Wildcats to just two runs and three hits in the first seven innings, left the game. In the first game of the double header Saturday, the Wildcats again had to pull themselves out of a hole late in the game. In the top of the sixth, Henderson State put together five runs to put the Wildcats down 7-2. Carlos Gonzalez and Johnny Zepeda answered, both with RBI singles, and Danny Williams came up big with an RBI triple to put the Wildcats down 6-7. In the eighth, the Reddies scored another run, to extend their lead to 8-6. Johnny Zepeda again batted in an-
other runner, and then scored himself when pinch hitter Stephen Miller knocked him in to tie the game at 8-8. Ruben Rivera came off of third base to pitch in the 9th. Rivera shut down the Reddies to take the game into extra innings. Henderson State could not get past the third-baseman-gone-pitcher and lost when Wildcat freshman Trey Watten knocked in Russell Pryor to end the game in the 11th inning. In the last game of the series Chris Wiman pitched a brilliant seven innings and was by far the star of the game. After breaking away in the fifth inning, the Wildcats never looked back. They closed out Henderson state in high fashion, defeating the Reddies 6-2 and finished a season opening weekend, outscoring their opponents by a combined 28-18 E-mail Loveless at: spl05a@acu.edu
Wildcats suffer another overtime loss n The Wildcats dropped to 3-5 in LSC South Division play after a 77-72 overtime loss at Midwestern State on Saturday and fall to fifth in the South Division standings. By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor
Ahead by two points with 13 seconds left and inbounding the ball, the last thing the Wildcats wanted was a turnover.
in 2005. Senior Delt Cockrell and freshman Montez Pride posted provisional times in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 48.24 and 48.45, respectively. Two-time track and field champion Nicodemus Naimadu finished second in the mile run with a provisional time of 4:08.68, while fellow distance star Philip Birgen was first in the 5,000-meter run with a provisional time of 14:46.09. See
TRACK page 7
Team faces tough stretch to end year
Friday
Softball ACU 6, Cameron 4
ning these races we’re in will qualify us for nationals. I want to develop a competitive spirit, and I felt really good coming out of Nebraska.” Junior Marvin Bien-Aime continued his fast start Saturday by posting a new provisional qualifying time of 6.85 in the 60-meter dash and improving his 200-meter dash time to 21.45. Bien-Aime was second overall in the 200-meter dash, the event in which he won the outdoor national title
Women’s Basketball But that’s what happened. On the inbound, sophomore point guard Alex Guiton caught the ball on the run and while trying to stop, dragged her plant foot and was called for traveling. “I thought she was bumped, but you’re not going to get that call,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. “All we had to do was get the ball in.”
Midwestern State’s Katie Robertson hit a jumper to tie the game at 65 and send it into overtime. “The game shouldn’t have come to one shot or possession,” sophomore forward Ashlee Barr said. “They shouldn’t have had that chance.” In overtime Guiton put the Wildcats up with an early 3pointer. With a minute left in the extra period, the Wildcats
led 72-71, but Midwestern State took the lead with the 3-point shot, and pulled away to take the 77-72 win Saturday night. Guiton led the Wildcats with 17 points, senior center Jamie Boles-Lord had 12, and seniors Ashley King and Kierstan Barbee had 10. Freshman Audrey Maxwell proved a productive backup to Lord See
TARLETON page 7
The Wildcats traveled to Wichita Falls on Saturday hoping to move above .500 in conference play and earn their fourth win, but instead they came back with their third straight loss, an 85-65 loss to Midwestern State. The Mustangs got out to a quick start, going up 19-6 with 11:25 and would extend their lead to as much as 15 points in the first half. ACU would storm back to cut that lead to just seven before going into the break. “They were running the floor and getting easy buckets,” said senior forward,
Men’s Basketball Demarcquez Rembert. “ We just needed to get back on defense, play harder and pick up the intensity.” A lay-up by Mustang center Eric Dawson and help from a tip-in by forward, Roderick Jacobs to start the second half ensured the Wildcats would never see a single-digit deficit for the rest of the game. Early in the second half, Dawson, the leading scorer for the Mustangs, came out with an injury, opening a window of opportunity for the Wildcats. Rembert, who led all ACU scoring with 25 points and five rebounds, said he believes the Wildcats had their chances in the second half. “We needed to make a See
SCHEDULE page 7
Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer
Jennifer Leal scores the first run off a Jessica Johnson single en route to a 6-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader against Cameron on Tuesday.
Softball begins year with top-10 victory n The Wildcats lost the first three games at the St. Mary’s Tournament before winning the final two, including a win against No. 10 St. Mary’s. By ASHLEY MOORE Sports Writer
The women’s softball team had its first set of games last weekend in San Antonio at the St. Mary’s Tournament. The women lost the first three of five games but pulled through to overcome the last two games of the series. The first game the team dropped was against Incarnate Word on Thursday with a score of 7-5. The Wildcats
Softball were ahead for the majority of the game but couldn’t pull it out when the Cardinals scored three runs in the sixth inning. Incarnate Word also caught many fly balls to help bring the Wildcats down. Sarah Vidalin pitched the first five innings, and Jennifer Leal finished out the sixth and seventh innings, allowing only one hit. Later that same day, the second game repeated the first, with a 7-5 defeat to Midwestern State. Jennifer Leal pitched the entire game See
SOFTBALL page 7
Tennis teams get off to successful start n The women’s tennis team began the year by posting a 4-1 record while the men start at 1-1 after facing Division I Texas Tech and Prairie View A&M in Lubbock. By MICHAEL FREEMAN Sports Writer
brian schmidt/Chief Photographer
Freshman Elizabeth Korinek stretches to return a volley in her win over Michele Scurry, 8-1, during ACU’s 7-0 win over Prairie View A&M on Friday.
The Wildcat tennis teams began the spring season last week with several victories: The women start the year with a record of 4-1, while the men begin 1-1.
Tennis Last Wednesday, the women opened their season with a 9-0 win over Eastern New Mexico, followed by a 6-1 loss to Texas Tech. On Friday, the women impressively defeated Stephen F. Austin, Prairie View A&M and the University of TexasPan American in the ACU Indoor Classic. Saturday, the men lost 5-1 to Texas Tech, but bounced
back with a 6-1 win over Prairie View A&M. “It was a good start,” head coach Hutton Jones said. In their first match on Wednesday, the Wildcat women dominated Eastern New Mexico, as ACU won nine matches without dropping a set. However, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, ranked 61st in NCAA Division I women’s tennis, downed ACU 6-1 later that day. Jones said the loss re-
vealed some needed areas for improvement, especially in doubles play. But the women recovered with a strong performance in the ACU Indoor Classic. The Wildcats tore through three NCAA Division I opponents, beating Stephen F. Austin, 6-1, and then swept both Prairie View A&M and the University of Texas-Pan American by the same score of 7-0. See
TENNIS page 7