2006 02 10

Vol. 94, No. 35 1 section, 8 pages

FRIDAY

February 10, 2006

www.acuoptimist.com

‘Something’ believable

See ‘Jane’ play

Doubling up

Something New dispels unrealistic notions of romantic comedies , page 5

The play Jane Eyre opens on campus Thursday, page 5

The softball team swept its double-header Tuesday, page 8

Cast prepares for premier n The Black History Production this year, “At Our Highest,” organized by Essence of Ebony, will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium.

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Two successful brothers must come to terms with their pasts and individual stereotypes in “At Our Highest,” the ninth annual Black History Production running at 7:30

p.m. Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium.

One is a rap star, the other a lawyer. Though both have risen to their highest point professionally, they both feel something is missing and must learn that success means nothing without unity with each other and within their culture, said Shelby Coates, director of the production.

“They both fall into these stereotypes and leave each

other behind,” Coates said, adding that both a lawyer and a rap star can be judged by their friends and family as either not amounting to much or selling out for money. “You can be just as successful no matter what side of the coin you’re on.”

Coates, sophomore broadcast journalism major from Clarksville, Tenn., auditioned for the part of director almost a year ago, presenting her story concept to the officers

of Essence of Ebony and La Shae Grottis, director of the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment, who selected her. Work began on the production in April, Coates spent the summer writing the script and by October, rehearsals began.

“At Our Highest” begins with a fight between the brothers and then goes back in time, examining the brothSee

SHOW page 7

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Daniel Brown, sophomore social work major from Houston, acts with Amber Smittick, freshman psychology major from San Antonio, during the Chapel teaser performance of the Black History Production on Wednesday.

Congress supports changing Bean times

Won’t you be mine?

n Congres passed the resolution almost unanimously Wednesday and will ask administrators to open the Bean for Sunday dinners instead of breakfasts.

By JONATHAN SMITH Editor in Chief

The Students’ Association Congress overwhelmingly voted to approve a resolution asking the university to open the Bean to students on Sunday night instead of Sunday morning.

Administration Building Rep. Maher Saab introduced the legislation, which passed 380 with one abstention, to Congress and has been working on the resolution since Christmas break.

“Many of you have probably had the headaches of trying to get food on Sunday night,” Saab said when presenting the bill during See

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Seniors Julia Nofsinger, speech language pathology major from Denver, and Daniel Kramar, special education major from Escandido, Calif., write Valentine’s Day greetings Wednesday in the Campus Center to their friends studying abroad. Valentines will be sent to the students in Oxford, England, and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Enrollment sees normal decline n The number of students on campus dropped by 276 from last semester to this semester after some left the university, transferred or graduated.

By MALLORY SHERWOOD Managing Editor

More faces are on campus this spring than last spring, according to the official spring enrollment numbers that were released last week

by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Lisa McCarty, assistant director of the OIRA, said 4,427 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled this spring, up from 4,418 in spring 2005. Fall 2005 enrollment was 4,703. Between the fall and spring semesters though, enrollment typically drops.

McCarty said although the number of enrolled stu-

dents dropped by 276 this spring, that this trend is normal between the fall and spring semesters.

“You have to factor in December McCarty graduation,” she said. “Our average decrease between semesters is

6.6 percent.”

This year’s enrollment dropped 5.9 percent between semesters.

This year between 230 to 240 undergraduates graduated in December, which is an average graduation class size, said June Black, degree audit and graduation specialist in the Registrar’s Office.

Spring enrollment statistics Spring 2006 enrollment: 4,427 Fall 2005 enrollment: 4,703 Spring 2005 enrollment: 4,418

By AARON BALLARD Staff Writer

After serving five months as the interim general counsel for the university, Slade Sullivan, J.D., has been named the new permanent general counsel for the university and The ACU Foundation. His first official day on

the job was Feb. 1.

“I enjoy my job because I love being able to help people find answers to their questions, explain the law, and help them solve problems and get things done,” Sullivan said.

The previous general counsel, Gaston Welborn Jr., resigned in September after serving 31 years in the position. Since then, Sullivan has acted as the interim general counsel.

“After five months of serving in this capacity on an

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

interim basis, the university decided that I was doing a good job and offered me the position on a permanent basis,” Sullivan said.

As general counsel for the university, Sullivan prepares and reviews legal documents and provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Trustees, the president of the university and his administration and all divisions of the university. In addition, he serves as staff liaison to the Purpose Committee of the Board of Trustees.

As general counsel for The ACU Foundation, Sullivan advises donors and friends of the university about planned giving and estate-planning matters and prepares legal documentation for gift transactions. In addition, he conducts educational seminars for donors and professional advisers.

“There is not a clear distinction between my roles for the foundation and for ACU in terms of time commitment See

SULLIVAN page 7

n Seventy-seven students attended the second annual event, which began the university’s observance of Black History Month in February.

By KELLINE LINTON Staff Writer

The Soul Food Fellowship on Monday opened this year’s Black History Month celebrations on campus.

“The fellowship was a way of introducing the month that was enjoyable for everyone,” said LaShae Grottis, director of Student Ser-

FOOD page 7

Filling the bank

Sullivan named general counsel n After serving five months as interim general counsel for the university, the Board of Trustees promoted Slade Sullivan to the position permanently Feb. 1.

Soul Fest celebrates Black history

See

E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu

SA page 7

Brian Schmidt/Chief Photographer

Teresa Escobedo, blood bank technician, attempts to draw blood from Therez Ephraim, counseling psychology graduate student from The Bronx, N.Y.

Abilene Christian University

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

Friday, February 10, 2006

10

Calendar & Events Friday

11

Saturday

Black History Production “At Our Highest,” 7:30 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

Black History Production “At Our Highest,” 7:30 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

Death By Space Laser, 7-10 p.m., Campus center Bean Sprout.

Mission to Nigeria Valentine’s Dinner fundraiser, 6 p.m., Campus Center Hilton Room.

Announcements The Annual Black History Production will be “At our Highest” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door for $4.

Dennis and Emily Lowe, nationally known marriage and relationship specialists from Pepperdine University, will share their insight and strategies to help 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.

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.

Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and Healing Hands International will sponsor the Seventh Annual Ag-Missions Luncheon from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Feb. 20 in the Zona Luce building Room 205. This is an information sharing meeting regarding worldwide mission efforts in agriculture, health and nutrition. The luncheon is open to faculty, staff and students. Call 674-2401 for reservations.

Summer internships are available at Dry Bones Denver, a non-profit ministry that works with homeless and runaway youth of downtown Denver. Summer interns will be involved in ministry on the streets (leading Bible studies, planning events for the homeless youth) and with the Elevations` groups. Interns must raise their own support. Visit www.drybonesdenver. org for details about the Elevations program. Internship supervisor, Robbie Goldman Robbie@ drybonesdenver.org will be in Abilene Feb. 17-19 for interviews.

12

Sunday

“Encuentro Latino” Latin America interest meeting, 7 p.m., home of Gary and Frances Green.

13

Monday

Sing Song ticket sales, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket window.

Volunteer Opportunities The City of Abilene Emergency Management needs 20 volunteers to act as victims in a simulated airport crash for a city/county wide exercise 8 a.m.noon April 5. A professional will add injuries to the volunteers with makeup, the fire departments will rescue them and transport them to the hospital and then back to ACU. Contact the director of emergency management by March 15 to volunteer. For more information contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center.

The Day Nursery of Abilene needs volunteers to set up, prepare, serve, and clean up during Day Nursery’s 14th annual Mexican Dinner fundraising event from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday March 25.

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 ServiceLearning 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 ServiceLearning 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.

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:

19 51

Friday, February 10, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT

Page 3

Page 4

Friday, February 10, 2006

CAMPUS NEWS

Oh, the things you can see

McNair Scholars seeks students n Students accepted into the McNair Scholars Program will complete an eight-week internship on campus and conduct research in their field.

By AARON BALLARD Staff Writer

ANNA CARROLL/Staff Photographer

Lauren Graham, Study Abroad Program coordinator, talks to Edith Navejas, freshman international studies major from Abilene, about spending a semester abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay during the fall semester while in the Campus Center on Thursday.

Students learn about fighting AIDS n Three members of Awake 3:18, an AIDS awareness group on campus, traveled to Taylor University to learn more about AIDS and HIV in Africa.

By JACI SCHNEIDER Copy Editor

Three students visited Taylor University in Indiana last weekend to learn more about AIDS and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.

David Altuna, sophomore biochemistry major from Austin; Denton Josey, junior journalism major from Eustice, Fla.; and Dab Tally, sophomore biology major from Malindi, Kenya, spent their weekend in Upland, Indiana

attending classes, listening to lectures and talking with other Christian college students from around the country about the AIDS epidemic and what they can do about it.

“We learned tons of stuff,” Altuna said. “We learned how multifaceted the whole problem is.”

Altuna said the conference encouraged the group, who are all members of Awake 3:18, an AIDS awareness group on campus, about their efforts to promote awareness on campus.

“Stopping AIDS/HIV isn’t something one person or one group can do,” Altuna said.

“There’s a variety of ways we can tackle the problem.”

The Students’ Association funded the trip, and the group said it plans to apply what it learned to its campus activities in several different ways.

Awake 3:18 is in the process of trying to organize a social justice Chapel with the International Justice Mission to bring students together on the subject of AIDS. “It’s about social justice and how we as God’s people are going to deal with that,” Altuna said.

The students also want to have a Chapel forum this semester or next about the epidemic.

Josey said the group is also working to plan fundraisers

for an orphanage in Malindi and is thinking about planning a trip to Africa during the summer.

Josey said the purpose of the conference was to “equip student leaders to go back to their campuses and help students fight AIDS and the stigma attached AIDS and problems other countries face.”

He said the conference helped fire up the group about its goals on campus, and Altuna agreed.

“We felt like we were part of the current and flow,” Altuna said. “We’re helping build momentum.”

E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu

Up to 20 students will have the opportunity to join the McNair Scholar’s Program this year and participate in summer research internships.

After Ronald E. McNair, the first black American to fly in space, tragically died in the space shuttle Challenger explosion, the U.S. DepartMorris ment of Education established the McNair Scholars Program in his memory in 1989. The program came to the university in 1995 as one of the federally funded TRIO programs.

The purpose of the McNair Scholars Program is to provide selected students effective preparation for doctoral education. To be eligible, an applicant must be either the first one in his or her family to go to college and have an income level as established by the U.S. Department of Education, or an applicant must be a member of a group that is traditionally under-represented in graduate education.

If those qualifications are met, then an application has to be filled out and turned in to the McNair Program, along with an essay and other documentation. A committee will

interview eligible students and admit them on a rolling admission basis.

“Students are not necessarily competing for spots,” said Dr. Jason Morris, director of the McNair Scholars Program. “We are more interested in finding students that fit the program.”

About 20 students are in the program, and about 15 to 20 new students are admitted each year, Morris said.

Once admitted, students get plugged into the curriculum right away and participate in the program until graduation. The program offers many opportunities, including research methodology preparation, a research internship, skill building seminars and preparation for graduate school admission, as well as many others.

In particular, research is at the heart of the McNair Scholars Program. During the summer, scholars take part in an eight-week research internship under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Once the project is complete, students present their results at state and national conferences and in presentations within the ACU community.

“This program is important for three reasons,” said Morris. “First, it helps students in underserved populations reach their full potential. Second, it serves as an avenue for students to conduct one-on-one research with a faculty mentor. But ultimately, the program is important because it prepares individuals for a possible future as a faculty member, either here or elsewhere.”

E-mail Ballard at: agb04b@acu.edu

Student helped fight Cross Plain’s wildfires in December n A Cross Plains broadcast journalism student recounts her family’s life-threatening experience with wildfires that hit the town on Dec. 28.

By DENTON JOSEY Student Reporter

Daley Anderson’s family lost a shed, a boat, their fence, and they used all the egg nog they could find to save their home in December.

Like many of the people in Cross Plains, the Anderson family gets their water from a well. When wildfires approached this winter, many people lost electricity and

therefore the ability to draw water from their wells, so without water the Anderson’s used whatever was available, such as egg nog, orange juice and even pickle juice to throw on the fire.

Though the Andersons saved their home, the smoke damage was everywhere inside the house. Their insurance company sent a cleaning crew and gave the Andersons $24,000 to repair the damages.

“I’m really lucky that our house was OK, but I’m more thankful that my family was OK,” said Daley Anderson, sophomore broadcast jour-

nalism major.

While the Anderson family was fortunate, on Dec. 28, 160 homes were destroyed and two elderly women died in a town of 1,063 people.

Several thousand acres were burned by the fires, said Cross Plains resident Myrna Mitchell.

“It’s hard when your house is standing and someone’s you care deeply about is gone,” Mitchell said. “You can’t help but feel a little guilty.”

Some welders were working on a fence line six miles from town, and the sparks caused the dry grass to catch

flame and then it “spread like wildfire” before the welders could get it under control, Anderson said.

The 40 mph winds changed direction three times, making things very difficult for the volunteer fire department in Cross Plains, Mitchell said.

Aid for Cross Plains came from 33 other fire departments, some from as far as Fort Worth.

“People’s efforts and God’s grace saved us,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, who has lived in Cross Plains for 30 years, said it was “an awesome fire” that reached a heat index of

2,000 degrees. It was “every person’s nightmare for small towns” Mitchell said.

“In ’94 a tornado came through, but it was nothing compared with this. The destruction was immense,” Mitchell said.

The downtown area of Cross Plains was kept safe thanks to the “miraculous job” done by the firefighters, Mitchell said. People have begun to clean up, build new homes, and volunteers feed people daily.

Businesses from the surrounding areas have sent food and donated money for the victims of the fire. An un-

named Abilene business even donated new beds for victims who lost everything.

“We’re bouncing back,” Mitchell said. “The community spirit is just awesome because God is helping people.”

Within the next few weeks, donation money will be distributed to victims by the fund set up at the Texas Heritage Bank where Mitchell works.

“God has seen us through it all,” Mitchell said. “Out of the ashes has come hope and promise that our lives will be even better.”

E-mail Josey at: optimist@acu.edu

February 10, 2006 Box Office Figures for the weekend of February 3-5, in millions. Total grosses in parenthesis.

1. When a Stranger Calls — $21.6 (new) 2. Big Momma’s House 2 — $13.6 ($45.7) 3. Nanny McPhee — $9.8 ($26.5) 4. Brokeback Mountain — $6 ($60.1) 5. Hoodwinked — $5.3 ($44.1) 6. Underworld: Evolution — $5.3 ($53) 7. Something New — $4.9 (new) 8. Annapolis — $3.4 ($12.9) 9. Walk the Line — $3.3 ($110.6) 10. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe— $3.1 ($281.9)

Today’s Movies Curious George (G) — starring the voices of Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore; directed by Matthew O’Callaghan.

A cartoon depiction of the inquisitive monkey and his friend, the man in the yellow hat.

Final Destination 3 (R) — starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman; directed by James Wong.

An unnecessary movie.

Page 5

Focus Features provides ‘Something’ to talk about

By SARAH CARLSON Arts Editor

Overview

Despite their predictability and happy endings that are dangerous to our mental and emotional well-being, we can’t help but be drawn to romantic movies.

Sure, romantic comedies are great for escapism, but no matter how many times TBS reruns Sleepless in Seattle, the likelihood of someone having a cross-country connection with his or her own Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan, only to meet on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day, is slim.

While Something New doesn’t have as grand a finale or a what-are-the-odds plot like Seattle, the film does paint a fresh face on a threadbare genre and manages to approach racial issues with integrity and believability.

We begin with Kenya McQueen (Lathan), the epitome of a single, A-type workaholic who wears suits on the weekend and focuses on climbing the corporate accounting ladder.

The color pallet of her newly purchased Los Angeles house consists of white, beige and tan, and she can easily recite a list of qualities she’s looking for in the perfect man.

Seeing Kenya as cry for help, one of her engaged coworkers sets her up on a blind date in hopes of initiating Kenya with a life outside of work. While standing awkwardly at her local Starbucks the next weekend, her blind date, Brian, approaches from behind and asks if she’s waiting for him. Upon

Something New PPP Rated: PG-13 (for sexual references) Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker, Donald Faison, Alfre Woodard Directed by: Sanaa Hamri Release Date: Feb. 3

seeing her date, she’s taken aback and probably considers bolting, but eventually agrees to sit down and talk, but not for long.

Is he unattractive? Hardly; he’s gorgeous. Kenya’s problem? Brian is white, and she is black. Brian seems open to the idea of inter-racial dating, but Kenya’s planned out life only involves finding her IBM­ — Ideal Black Man. After a rude departure, the two split ways.

Not too long after the disastrous blind date, Kenya and Brian run into each other at Kenya’s coworker’s engagement party at her parent’s house. Kenya compliments her friend’s mother on the beautiful landscaping, and she insists she meet her architect, Brian.

Though he’s not pleased to see her, he agrees to look at Kenya’s disheveled backyard and then to work for her.

Brian used to be a suit, working long hours at an ad agency,

Photo courtesy of www.somethingnewmovie.net

Kenya (Sanaa Lathan), left, and Brian (Simon Baker), right, embrace in Something New, the new romantic comedy from Focus Features, now in theatres. but found his life unfulfilled. As a child, Brian had been interested in botany and architecture.

He decided to make the switch to owning his own landscaping business when he realized he spent more time caring for the plants in his office than on any of his accounts. He hikes, has a dog, drives a loud truck and doesn’t mind dirt.

As Kenya’s new backyard begins to blossom, with Brian adding new flowers and fountains, so too does Kenya’s personality. Color creeps into her wardrobe and home décor as she lets her guard down and welcomes Brian and his relaxed nature into her life.

The answer to Kenya’s cry

for help, the two begin a romance that forces each to reconsider their preconceived notions of what their ideal relationship and partner is, as well as confront their individual prejudices against each other’s race. While Brian being the only white person at black gatherings is at times played for laughs, a serious, underlying tension runs throughout the film that forces the viewer to evaluate his ideas along with the characters.

Additional insight comes from viewing Kenya’s wealthy family and friends, all of whom have climbed to the top of their respective fields. Alfre Woodard is wonderful as Kenya’s

mother who only wants the best for her daughter but, in turn, has to consider whether her ideal vision for Kenya is what she really needs.

A Focus Features production and directed by Sanaa Hamri, Something New has more edge, style and believability than most recent romantic comedies and in truth disproves what most in the genre make you fall for: you don’t need to fly to the Empire State Building to find your “true” love. By moving past the silly notions of love and embracing life’s possibilities, you needn’t look further than your own backyard.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Brontë’s brooding moors brought to stage in musical ‘Jane Eyre’ n The Theatre Department’s Winter Dinner Theatre production of the musical ‘Jane Eyre’ opens at 8 p.m. Thursday and runs for three weekends.

By BLYTHE THOMPSON Student Reporter

Jane Eyre will draw back the Fulks Theatre curtains at 8 p.m. Thursday for her opening night.

ACU’s Theatre Department will perform the musical Jane Eyre for its winter dinner theatre production, which opens the same weekend as the 50th anniversary of Sing Song.

Show nights are Feb. 16-17, 24-25 and March 3-4 Tickets prices vary; playonly tickets cost $15, but to attend dinner and show, the price will be $27.

Dinner seating is planned to begin at 6:45 p.m., and will be catered by Briarstone.

For students interested in attending the play but lack the money, half- priced tickets will be available on a first

Jane Eyre • 8 p.m. Feb. 16-17, 24-25, and March 3-4 in the Fulks Theatre • Tickets: play-only are $15, dinner and show are $27.

For tickets, call 674-2787

come, first served basis only from 6:30 - 8 p.m. each performance night.

After beginning rehearsals in early January, the cast and crew are now packing practices in from 7-11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“Sundays are usually reserved as a day of rest,” said Ben Jeffrey, senior theatre major from Kansas City, Mo. To ready herself for the upcoming role of Jane, Juliette Moore, senior theatre major from Winter Garden, Fla., read the novel Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Brontë, listened to the music from the play and dutifully memorized the

script. Whenever the actress said she would hit a “brick wall” in production, Moore kept the novel close at hand to gain more insight into the scene.

Jane Eyre is a story about an orphaned girl who flees from an evil aunt and becomes a teacher. She falls in love with Edward Fairfax

Rochester, Jeffrey’s character, and plans to wed him but is met with his past mistakes that cause her to flee again.

After acquiring a large inheritance she reconciles with her true love.

Jeffrey and Moore are not new to the theatre, having a combined play tally of 22 previous plays. That number

does not include the plays where they have worked behind the scenes, which is required of every theatre major.

Even though this isn’t Moore’s first leading role, she said, “it’s definitely the biggest.”

Some may remember Jeffrey from last year’s Sing Song production when he performed as a host.

On the last week before opening night, practices increase with dress rehearsals and final anxiousness will set in among the whole cast and crew, Jeffrey said.

“It gets busy, and sometimes even frantic,” he said.

“But it’s always awesome.”

E-mail Thompson at: optimist@acu.edu

Page 6

February 10, 2006

Share the love this Valentine’s Day The issue:

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and rather then fall prey to shameless sappiness, we have taken the high road.

Our view:

Valentine’s Day is about more than over-priced cards and chocolate, surprising as that may be.

The solution:

Love conquers all.

An epidemic spreads and reaches epic proportions across the world each winter season. Surprisingly enough, it’s not the bird flu, SARS or mad cow disease. Instead it’s much worse: amnesia of the meaning of holidays, particularly Christmas and Valentine’s Day. As Tuesday quickly approaches, perhaps its time people realized that Valentine’s Day is not just a day where men and women spend oodles of money on frivolous cards, roses that will wilt in three days, and on chocolate that no one needs anyway. Instead, we should take a step back in time and see where the holiday began and how it should be celebrated.

Funeral a time to look ahead

Coretta Scott King, civil live in a country that, instead of rights leader and wife of the confronting wars overseas, conlate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fronts more important wars of died Monday, Jan. 30 in Mexico poverty and health care on its where she own soil. was seeking Lowery’s statements about further treat- social reform and Carter’s rement for ad- marks about racial inequality vanced ovar- in America received much apian cancer. plause from those in attenT u e s d a y dance. Those who truly know thousands of the meaning of caring for the of poor and breaking racial barriDon’t Believe supporters Dr. and Mrs. ers learn from active individuthe Hype King piled als like Dr. and Mrs. King. into the New Coretta Scott King spent her Mitch Holt Birth Mission- life helping the poor through ary Baptist attempts at social reform.

Church in Lithonia, Ga., to lay Throughout her life she led to rest the body of Scott King nonviolent protest marches for who, according to daughter the poverty-stricken and estabBernice King, was an “incredible lished non-profit organizations. example of Christ-like love and Scott King truly saw the imporobedience.” tance in taking Her funercare of and givScott King, an al, at times, ing a voice to the became a povoiceless. activist for nonlitical forum.

Criticisms of violent equality and It served the way Presiadvocate for the as much more dent Bush, also than reflecin attendance, poor, would have tion on her handled and is been pleased with life. It was also handling certain her funeral. an inspiring, issues – the war thought-proand the billions voking cerof dollars going emony that explored dreams to it, Hurricane Katrina and of social reform and political secret domestic wiretapping renewal.

– came up several times.

Scott King, an activist for How can someone bring polnonviolent equality and advo- itics and issues like these into cate for the poor, would have a funeral? been pleased with her funeral.

Well the answer is simple: The six-hour service included Scott King’s entire life was dehighlight speeches from Presi- voted to these issues, or at least dent Carter, President Clinton the ones that dealt with poverty, (who was appropriately wel- injustice and racial inequality. comed like a champ), current She would have been insulted President Bush and Rev. Jesse if her funeral didn’t serve as a Jackson and Joseph Lowery, time to learn – a time for truths advisers for the late Dr. King. to emerge and a charge of resil“We only have to recall the ience to be given to those with a color of the faces of those in passion for changing the socioLouisiana, Alabama and Mis- economic state of the U.S. sissippi to know that inequality Appropriately, the memoexists,” President Jimmy Carter rial to the fallen activist served said in his speech referring to its purpose. Now it’s time for his views on the racial inequal- supporters of the ideology of ity of Hurricane Katrina disas- Dr. and Mrs. King to serve their ter relief. purpose.

Lowery boisterously expressed Scott King’s passion for the down-and-out in a rousing speech during the service.

E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu He emphasized her desire to

In Your Words What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

The holisends to his valenValentine’s Day is a day to celebrate day, often syntine. If the receiver love, plain and simple. onymous with correctly guesses love, romance who sent the mysand single awareness, can be one billion Valentine’s Day tery note, then the lucky feltraced back to the Catholic cards will be purchased, with low will receive a candy egg Church’s feast day. This time females making up 85 per- on Valentine’s Day. Why can’t of celebration honored St. cent of all buyers. Besides a Americans begin a tradition Valentine and two other men, business boomer for the card like this that isn’t married to all martyred saints who were industry, Valentine’s Day also the billfold? killed, in the fourth century ranks as the No. 1 holiday for In Korea, men who didn’t for their beliefs. florists, which should be a no- receive a valentine in February The notion of celebrating brainer if you consider the fact gather April 14 for Black Day, Valentine’s Day as a romantic that florists produce 180 mil- a day where men count their holiday didn’t begin until the lion roses to sell that day. losses and eat Chinese-style Middle Ages. Now the tradition The United States isn’t the noodles in black sauce. has spiraled out of control into only country that has comDespite the quirky and often the red, white and pink bleed- mercialized another Christian sweet things that occur because ing holiday people around the holiday though. In Denmark, of the commercialized holiday, world celebrate each year. people swap poems and graek- Valentine’s Day was simply not The Greeting Card Associa- kebav, comical love letters meant to send men into fear tion estimates that more than that the sender anonymously for forgetting to order roses,

E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu

Let Loose

Cole Williams

Give a girl a flower, make her day Valentine’s Day my freshman year ranks with one of the best I’ve ever had.

My mom sent me a box of cookies, one of my guy friends ordered me flowers, and Blake gave me a tulip.

Blake was my February Much Ado crush, and About I wasn’t the only girl who Something found myself Jaci Schneider wishing the sophomore with the big smile would notice me.

I didn’t really know him at all; one of my friends knew him through her older brother, I sat near him in a class, and I had recently seen him drum with his band at a performance at the Paramount. I don’t think he even knew my name.

So when he handed me that

I didn’t really know him at all ... I don’t think he even knew my name. pink and orange tulip at the beginning of Basic News three years ago, amazement, joy and disbelief competed for top emotion in my mind.

“Thanks,” I said with confusion. “Where did you get this?”

Blake wouldn’t answer and took his seat across the aisle, but my professor looked my way with a grin and said: “Jaci, you never ask a boy that kind of question.”

So, forced into quiet submission by my interfering professor, I spent the rest of the class period trying to solve the perplexing puzzle racing through my mind.

Why would Blake give me a flower? I’d heard he had a girlfriend, and even if he didn’t, I wasn’t the kind of girl to attract the attention of cute sophomore drummers.

I wanted to believe he had

a crush on me, too, and this was his way of showing it, but even with my vivid imagination, I had trouble believing that. Then I figured someone must have been handing flowers out at the Campus Center for Valentines Day, and I just happened to be the first girl he saw, but even that seemed implausible.

Then the pieces started falling into place, and I thought back to fall semester.

My neighbor and friend in Gardner Hall had a crush on a guy she called “mystery man.”

I, bored one afternoon and feeling mischievous, made up an e-mail address, attributed it to this “mystery man,” and sent my friend a cheery note asking for a date.

I sat on my bed, doubled up in laughter, as I heard my friend tell our hallmates about

the e-mail. I only let her excitement last a few minutes, however, before telling her the truth, and honestly insisting that I never thought she’d fall for my silly prank.

But she did. And now she had gotten me back.

As class let out, I picked up the vibrant tulip, which already was starting to droop, and walked with Blake out of the building, coercing a confession out of him. My suspicions proved correct, and we laughed about the situation, while inside I burned with embarrassment.

I ran back to my room, where all my friends waited for me, trying to act innocent.

I tried to be angry. I tried to accuse my friends of treachery and evil deeds. But I couldn’t.

Blake gave me a tulip.

And now he knew my name.

E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu

“Go out with the girls and have fun!”

“Romantic dinner by candlelight ... followed by slow dancing.”

“Send a Valentine to the Study Abroad students”

“Sleep and Sing Song rehearsal”

Amanda Rhinehart

Chris Daughery

Kristen Benton

Erica Ray

freshman elementary education major from Plano

junior communication major from Abilene

freshman theatre major from Keller

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

force lonely men to eat black noodles or to point out the fact that you are still single.

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, plain and simple. Romantic love, brotherly love, love for your friend and roommate and just love for life in general. As the list for Valentine’s Day card recipients grows this weekend, remember that the day isn’t about candy, hearts and gushy romance. It’s not single awareness day or a lover’s holiday. Valentine’s Day is a day to show love to all mankind, regardless of race, sex, color, creed, and most importantly, availability.

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

junior social work major from Euless

Editorial and Management Board Jonathan Smith Editor in Chief

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

Sports desk: (325) 674-2684

Mallory Sherwood Managing Editor

Jaci Schneider

Dani Linthicum

Jared Fields

Christi Stark

Opinion Editor

Sports Editor

Advertising Manager

Brian Schmidt

Sarah Carlson

Kenneth Pybus

Chief Photographer

Arts Editor

Adviser

Copy Editor

Photo department: (325) 674-2499

Advertising office: (325) 674-2463

Subscriptions ($40/academic year): (325) 674-2296.

Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Friday, February 10, 2006

Page 7

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

SA: Saab proposes changes to Sunday meals in the Bean Continued from page 1 Wednesday’s meeting.

The answer, Saab proposed, is for the Bean to open for Sunday dinners, the only meal of the week the Bean currently is closed, instead of Sunday breakfasts.

Before members of Congress present the resolution to university administrators, Congress wants to receive 1,000 student signatures on petitions supporting the change in Bean hours. Members of Congress received the petitions to have con-

stituents sign two weeks ago and, as of Wednesday, had about 650 signatures.

Saab told Congress that administrators told him that receiving 1,000 signatures —more than 20 percent of the student body—sufficiently would show student support for the change.

Officers encouraged members to get as many signatures as possible before the next meeting.

When enough signatures are received, Saab said he would schedule a meeting with Cory Bourg, director of ARAMARK Food Service,

Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, and Anthony Williams, The Campus Store manager, to present the resolution and petitions.

Saab said earlier meetings with Bourg encouraged him that the change would be possible. “[Bourg] received it very well,” Saab said.

“He said if it can better server students, he’d look into it.”

Saab said Bourg told him the reason the Bean was

closed on Sunday nights now was so that workers would have a guaranteed time off scheduled for each week.

Congress also has begun the process of rewriting its constitution to make it more in line with Congress in its current form.

The constitution was written to govern a Congress much different than the one currently in office. Congress was reorganized three years ago when three administrative officer positions were added, and class presidents

and vice presidents were removed in favor of five equal senators.

Amendments have been added to the constitution since then, but executive president Justin Scott said amendments are no longer enough.

“We’re rewriting it because you can’t fix it with amendments anymore,” Scott said.

Officers should have a draft for members to begin looking over before the meeting in two weeks when the new constitution will be discussed. Should Congress

approve a new constitution, it will be put before the entire student body for approval in a special election later this semester.

In Wednesday’s meeting, Congress also approved the appointment of Jeremy Pond, junior broadcast journalism major from Wichita Falls, to the Don Morris Center building representative seat. He takes over for Rep. Brittany Groves, who resigned earlier in the semester.

E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu

Food: Soul Fest fed multitudes Monday Continued from page 1

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Quentin Taylor, played by Twaniel Spead, sophomore social work major from Dallas, talks with his girlfriend, Lisa Bellamy, played by Nichelle Wall, clinical psychology graduate student from Abilene, during the Black History Production Chapel performance Wednesday.

Show: Production begins Friday Continued from page 1 ers’ roots in a 1996 Memphis, Tenn., high school.

Coates said the play makes one think about their own prejudices, especially when they find themselves choosing a side and blaming one brother more than the other

for their divide.

“You get to sit in on their rises and falls, the good times and the bad,” she said. “It’s deep and also entertaining.”

Tickets cost $4 a person and children 10-years-old and younger get in free.

Special $2 group rates are

available for groups of eight or more, which includes social clubs.

Coates said she’s enjoyed her experience on the production and said being a director proved more challenging than she’d thought.

The cast members provided support and were all team

players, she said, and she’s looking forward to the end of the run so she can sleep.

“I have so much homework,” she said. “It’s so sad.

My teacher’s probably think ‘she never comes to class.’”

or physical location,” Sullivan said. “I will do work for both entities on an as-needed basis from my office in ACU Legal Services.”

Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree in human communication in 1995 and his master’s degree in the same field in 1997, both from ACU. He graduated

from Harvard Law School in 2000.

While in law school, Sullivan decided that he wanted to come back and work at ACU. “I love ACU, and I wanted to spend my career helping fulfill ACU’s mission,” Sullivan said. “I also grew up in Abilene and liked the idea of coming back home to work.”

In 2000, the university arranged for Sullivan to spend two years working at Thompson & Knight, a Dallas law firm, to gain experience in estate and gift planning before he came to work at The ACU Foundation in Sept. 2002.

Sullivan is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the National Committee on Planned Giving, and the Na-

E-mail Linton at: krl04b@acu.edu

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Sullivan: Alumnus added to legal counsel Continued from page 1

vices and Student Multicultural Enrichment.

The affair, which took place in the Hilton Room of the Campus Center, aimed for the pleasure of food and company and benefited from its second year in existence. Seventyseven students attended, surpassing last year’s crowd.

Eight students, mostly s o p h o mores and juniors, cooked the soul food, which attendees enjoyed.

“They Grottis put their souls into it,” Grottis said.

The spread featured jambalaya, fried chicken, catfish, macaroni and cheese, homemade corn bread, corn on the cob, a variety of baked desserts and even ox tails.

Shelby Coates, sophomore broadcast journalism major from Clarks-

ville, Tenn., cooked corn on the cob and brownies.

“It was really well done and organized,” Coates said. “The event had a variety of food and a lot of people. I hope they keep this up next year.”

Carnell Nealy, junior business management major from Houston, said she enjoyed the free event.

“I really liked all the food, especially the ox tails,” Nealy said. “They were very tender and delicious.”

Grottis said most people enjoyed the food.

“They came back for more, and it was already gone,” Grottis said.

The dinner began with an explanation of “soul food” and a time for fellowship at each table.

Students mingled and met new people.

“The event was a way to introduce people to something new—to good food and to people they might not have met before,” Grottis said.

tional Association of College and University Attorneys.

He has been married to his wife, Dava Lynn, for eight years, and they have three young children together. He and his family attend Highland Church of Christ.

E-mail Ballard at: agb04b@acu.edu

Black History Month Events • Feb. 10-11: Black History Production, written, performed and produced by students on campus • Feb. 27: Sundaes on Mondays, a monthly discussion led by students and faculty that will discus the topic: “What is racism?”

Page 8

February 10, 2006 Standings

Men’s Basketball Team Tarleton St. WTAMU TAMU-K ACU ENMU MSU

Conf. Overall 5-0 16-4 4-1 15-5 3-1 13-6 3-2 8-12 2-3 8-12 0-5 11-9

Women’s Basketball Team Div. Tarleton St. 6-0 Angelo St. 5-1 WTAMU 4-1 ACU 3-3 TX Woman’s 3-3 2-4 MSU

Overall 14-5 14-5 15-3 9-10 10-8 8-11

Scores Friday

Softball Southeast Oklahoma St. 5, ACU 1 ACU 1, St. Mary’s 0 Baseball ACU 8, Henderson State 4

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

Tuesday

Softball ACU 6, Cameron 4 ACU 17, Cameron 6 Baseball ACU 7, St. Mary’s 6 (11)

Upcoming Schedule 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.

Tuesday

Women’s basketball ACU at West Texas A&M, 6 p.m.

Men’s basketball ACU at West Texas A&M, 8 p.m.

Baseball ACU at Incarnate Word, 4 p.m.

• Home games listed in italics

Wildcats escape extra innings with win n The Wildcats gave up six runs in the eighth inning against St. Mary’s before picking up the winning run in the 11th inning of Tuesday’s 7-6 win to keep a perfect record.

By PATRICK LOVELESS Sports Writer

After a stellar week, the Wildcat baseball team not only extended its record to 5-0 but also jumped four spots to No. 6 in the Division II polls this week.

Tuesday night in San Antonio, the Wildcats faced another game with extra-innings in the

Baseball bout against St. Mary’s. With a commanding lead in the eighth, the Wildcats gave up six runs, and the Rattlers forced them to rely on strong hits in the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

In the first six innings, senior star Ben Maynard shut down the Rattlers holding them to zero runs. Brandon Moore and Andrew Dillman had difficulty stopping St. Mary’s late comeback push in the eighth, hitting three batters and walking two.

“We really need some se-

niors to be able to come in and throw strikes,” said Coach Bonneau on the eighth inning pitching implosion.

The Wildcats outlasted the Rattlers 7-6 in the eleventh inning, to protect their perfect record.

The Wildcats still stand at the top of the South Division of the Lone Star Conference and jumped up four spots and are now ranked No. 6 in the nation by baseballnews.com.

“Some of the teams above us lost,” Bonneau said, “and as long as we keep winning, we will keep going up in the rank-

ings.”

Bonneau said he knows it is nearly impossible to go undefeated in a season, and doesn’t expect to be near the top forever. However, the poll he wants to be on the top of is the one released by the NCAA in April, which determines who goes to the postseason tournaments.

To achieve this goal, the Wildcats will need to combine their good hitting with consistent pitching, Bonneau said.

For the Wildcats to keep winning, they need senior Johnny Zepeda to continue his offensive success in the line-

up. Zepeda was elected player/hitter of the week for the Lone Star Conference after his amazing play last weekend in the three game sweep of Henderson State.

“He is one of our best hitters,” Bonneau said, “He has matured a lot since he has been here, but he still needs the rest of this team to help him out.”

The Wildcats face Arkansas Tech this weekend in a double header that starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and plan to keep their win streak alive.

E-mail Loveless at: spl05a@acu.edu

Offensive explosion n The Wildcats picked up two more wins Tuesday in a double-header against Cameron, 6-4 and 17-6, to improve to 4-3.

By ASHLEY MOORE Sports Writer

In Tuesday’s home opener, the softball team beat Cameron in both games of a double-header.

The first game was close with a 64 final score. ACU was behind until the bottom of the fourth inning when Samantha Borgeson, junior catcher, hit a three-run homerun to bring the Wildcats ahead.

“It felt really good to start us off and get ahead” Borgeson said “We just got on a roll and kept it going.

The two girls who were on base also did their job and helped out a lot” ACU stayed in the lead through the end of the game, scoring two more runs in the sixth inning. Jennifer Leal pitched the first five innings and Sarah Vidalin finished the game.

Borgeson set the tone for the game, but other players contributed in a big way to the win, head coach Chantiel Wilson said.

“Nicole Deel’s two-run pinch hit double gave us the insurance runs needed to protect our lead as we gave up two runs in the top of the seventh,” Wilson said.

The Wildcats conquered the second game a little easier, coming out on top with a 17-6 win. The umpires called the game in the fifth inning because of the “mercy rule.”

Kristine Beristianos was starting pitcher, and sophomore Melanie Smith came in and “did an excellent job shutting down Cameron in relief of Beristianos,” Wilson said.

Senior outfielder Jade Wilson hit a homerun in the first inning to tie the score at one. The Lady Aggies earned four runs in the second, and ACU followed with seven more, leaving the Wildcats ahead for the remainder of the game. Jessica Johnson and Nicole Deel also hit one homerun each in the second inning.

Borgeson said the team had more confidence in the second game and made an effort not to give up.

“We kept our intensity going and didn’t let up at all,” She said. “We

Softball just kept trying to build off each hit every time.”

Coach Wilson said that her team is not one to give up. The women have a very solid batting line-up, and they played very well as a team in both games.

“We are not going to make any major changes this weekend,” Wilson said.

“We have been getting 13-15 players in the game, and that has been a good thing as they are getting more playing time as we head down the stretch.

“The key to our season is good, consistent pitching and avoiding injuries.”

ACU is playing in the West Texas A&M tournament this weekend in Canyon. Their record is now 4-3. The Lady Wildcats have a double-header at home on Wednesday, February 15 at 4 p.m. against Incarnate Word. brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

E-mail Moore at: aem03e@acu.edu

Left fielder Claudia Stephens tries to avoid the tag of third basemen Casey Seabolt in the third inning of the second game of Tuesday’s double-header against Cameron at Wells Field.

brian schmidt/Chief Photographer

First baseman Jenna Daugherty gets a single in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game in Tuesday’s double-header against Cameron.

Combine invite gives Manning opportunity to impress scouts n Danieal Manning continues to gain exposure from NFL scouts after declaring for the draft by being invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month.

By JARED FIELDS Sports Editor

If NFL scouts didn’t know who Danieal Manning was after the East-West Shrine Game last month, they’ll have another chance to see what he can do later this month at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The combine gives NFL personnel the chance to evaluate player’s

Football athletic ability and character.

“That’s the biggest thing besides the draft,” Manning said about the combine. “If they missed me at the East West game, then the combine is nationwide, and more people can see me.”

Manning said while the game helped him gain recognition from scouts, the practice during the week was most important. Scouts do not have official 40-yard dash times or other physical test results for Manning, so a good performance at

the combine could improve his NFL stock even more.

“They told me I did well in practice,” Manning said. “They don’t know where they want to put me; I just want to be able to play any position.”

At ACU, Manning played free safety, but in the Shrine Game he played cornerback, where he stayed for most of the game.

A defensive back and kick return specialist while at ACU, Manning has opted to skip his senior year of college and enter the NFL draft.

Performing against top players from the Division I level in

the Shrine Game sparked interest among NFL scouts.

Manning has hired Russell Hicks, director of operations for the Houston-based Coast 2 Coast Sports Management agency, as his agent.

“A lot of scouts projected him as a 4th round pick before the Shrine game but maybe bumped him to a 3rd round pick after the game,” Hicks said.

Manning knew Hicks before declaring for the draft in January. Hicks said he helps his clients in more ways than just dealing with football.

“I wanted to talk about life on and off the field,” Hicks said.

“I don’t concentrate on football but on life issues.”

Those include everything from setting up life insurance policies and taking care of money, to getting an education.

“He takes my mind off of the headache of meeting with everybody and things after football, like getting a degree,” Manning said. “I hope to have that before I finish playing.”

Since declaring for the draft, Manning has been busy with issues inside and outside of football. Three days a week Man-

ning works out with a trainer and runs and works with a defensive back coach at least two days a week.

On Saturday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. interviewed Manning. Kiper, along with many other draft analyst, have projected Manning to be drafted on the first day of the draft.

“He said I could go anywhere from a high 2nd round to 3rd round pick,” Manning said. “He doesn’t expect me to go on the second day, but if I do he’d be surprised.”

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

Track and field teams to get glimpse of top talent in Albuquerque Teams participating in Albuquerque Invitational • New Mexico • Arizona State • Brigham Young • Cal State Northridge • Houston • Adams State College (Colo.)

n The indoor track and field season continues for the Wildcats this weekend at the University of New Mexico in the Albuquerque Invitational.

By STEVE HOLT Sports Writer

Indoor action will continue for the track and field teams Saturday on the campus of the University of New Mexico at the Albuquerque Invitational.

Track & Field The Invitational will feature 13 Division I and II college teams that include the host New Mexico Lobos, the eighth-ranked Arizona State women, Mountain West Conference champion Brigham Young women, Conference USA men’s and women’s champions from Houston and Big West men’s champion Cal State Northridge.

Adams State College (Colo.),

the Division II national runnerup in 2005, will give ACU its first look at a challenger for the national championship.

Head coach Don Hood said the quality competition and other factors combine to make the Invitational a worthy meet.

“It’s a first-year track meet,” Hood said. “It’s a great track.

The facility is as good as any in the country, plus we get the opportunity to run at altitude.”

The Wildcat track and field

teams have qualified 12 athletes in 14 events, plus four relay teams, for the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, which will take place in Boston on March 10-11. Saturday’s meet marks the next-to-last chance for ACU athletes to post new qualifying marks or times, make improvements on previous marks, or qualify automatically for the national meet.

Hood said he would like every

athlete who has yet to qualify to do so this weekend.

“We’re going a little easier training this week to let them have more fresh legs going into this weekend,” Hood said.

Saturday’s action will kick off with field events at 9 a.m., concluding with the men’s 4x400-meter relay at 3:15 p.m., all at UNM’s new Convention Center.

E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu