2006 08 28

The Vol. 95, No. 1

IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS

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OPTIMIST MONDAY

2 sections, 14 pages

August 28, 2006

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www.acuoptimist.com

Twister and shout

Edwards parking lot paved before move-in

Ice cream meltdown

Third Rock Creamery experienced record-low sales this summer since many college students left in May, page 5

n Students were allowed to park in the newly paved parking lot Thursday, just in time for freshman and sophomore students to begin moving in.

Changing views

The opinion page has moved to section B this issue, and it will tackle topics like diversity, construction on campus and the Israel-Lebanon conflict, page 4B

By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor

SPORTS

BRIAN SCHMIDT CHIEf Photographer

Conner Snedden, freshman business major from Overland Park, Kan., and David Degge, freshman music education major from Allen, lean on each other for support during the doubles Twister game in Moody Coliseum during Welcome Week.

Familiar faces

This fall, the Wildcat volleyball team gains a new coach that played under former coach Brek Horn while attending ACU, page 1B

FEATURE

Fearless freshman

The Optimist staff chose its favorite pictures during Welcome Week to recap the incoming freshmen’s first week on campus, pages 4-5A

ONLINE Southwest scavenge

Watch an online video of the freshmen scatter through Abilene on a photo scavenger hunt during Welcome Week at www.acuoptimist.com

n Some of this year’s incoming freshmen said the sunrise and Candlelight devotionals, Moody Mornings and Twister were their favorite activities during Welcome Week, which ended Saturday.

By MICHELLE JIMENEZ Arts Editor

Before entering freshman experience the stresses of academia, they are given a time of fun and games in the form of Welcome Week.

From the traditional candlelight devotional to a large game of Twister, these new students were given a week to form bonds and build relationships.

But there’s one thing that shouldn’t be forgotten—they wore shirts bearing commitments to live a life that is “Beyond Belief.”

Behind every student organization and activity there is ACU’s mission to “educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.”

Welcome Week is no different.

TODAY’S FORECAST HIGH LOW 87 68

See

FRESHMEN page 6A

PARKING page 7A

Board of Trustees names Cornutt chairman KATIE GAGER STAFf Photographer

Rachel Pallotti, freshman animal science major from Somerbridge, England, holds her candle during the Candlelight Devo on Monday night.

Pledging process begins early n Students who want to join a social club this fall can meet for an informational meeting Tuesday in Hart Auditorium at 6 p.m. for men and 7 p.m. for women.

By LAUREN SUTTON and MICHELLE JIMENEZ Though rumors concerning change in social club pledging policies are untrue, students looking to pledge

a social club will have many events to choose from in the coming weeks.

An advisory committee made up of faculty, social club presidents and nonclubbers will evaluate social clubs within the core values of the university and implement change for the future.

An informational meeting will take place Tuesday in Hart Auditorium to dis-

n A board member since 1989, the Dallas businessman was selected as the chair-elect for the Board of Trustees; his five-year term will begin February 2007.

cuss the rushing and pledging process. Men wanting to pledge will meet at 6 p.m., and women will meet at 7 p.m.

To pledge, students must register on or before Friday at noon. Registration takes place to provide the clubs with information on who is rushing and to make sure prospective members meet eligibility.

“As a Christian institution, all student organiza-

tions need to evaluate their processes on a regular basis to ensure they are staying true to their Christian identity,” said Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of Student Organizations and Activities.

“Every academic department does a thorough selfstudy reviewed by people outside of ACU once every five years.

See

CLUBS page 7A

Editor in Chief

The ACU Board of Trustees announced Saturday that C.E. ‘Doc’ Cornutt was chosen as the new chair of the ACU Board of Trustees.

Cornutt will begin his fiveyear term after the next meeting in February. Until then, he will serve as chair-elect, said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university.

Don Crisp is the chair of Rosewood Corporations in Dallas and has been chair of the university’s Board of Trustees for three consecutive See

TRUSTEE page 7A

Community attends education building dedication

SPEED READS

n Four speakers including two administrators, a student and the superintendent of the Abilene Independent School District spoke at the dedication at 12:30 p.m.

Senatorial speech

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was the guest speaker for Opening Chapel on Monday.

He was sworn into the U.S. Senate in 2002 and since then has served on numerous committees.

Cornyn currently serves on five Senate committees, including Armed Services, Judiciary, Budget, Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship and the Joint Economic Committee.

See

By MALLORY SCHLABACH

Opinion and Arts Editors

WEATHER

Jordan Gay, senior psychology major from Austin, was one of the student directors for Welcome Week, and he said a goal of the week is to strengthen the new students’ faith.

“One of our goals was to challenge the freshman class, to make their faith real,” Gay said. “It’s an important challenge. It’s important to keep our focus on living lives that are worthy of the name we claim.”

From theme verse Ephesians 4:1 to the motto “Beyond Belief,” this year’s Welcome Week was not only structured to make the college transition easier for incoming freshmen but also to challenge them to live a life that goes beyond being a faithoriented Christian, Gay said.

Melissa Landry, senior accounting and finance major from Plano, said she agrees with her fellow student director.

“We are wanting students to go beyond the norm,” she said in an email. “We want to challenge students

Residents of Edwards and Mabee residence halls can now park a little closer to their rooms after renovation of the parking lot between the two dorms.

The pothole-filled parking lot received a much-needed asphalt face-lift after students faced an obstacle course trying to avoid holes while finding a spot to park.

Kevin Watson, associate vice president for Administrative Services, said workers began pouring asphalt

By JEREMY POND

Contributing Writer

brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Dr. Malesa Breeding was one of four speakers at the dedication of the Education Building, formerly known as the Burford Music Building on Saturday.

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Members of the ACU and Abilene communities came together Saturday to celebrate the dedication of the new Education Building.

Outside, in what ACU president Dr. Royce Money called “oppressive heat,” hundreds of people gathered to recog-

nize those that played key roles in the history of education at ACU and the construction of the new building.

Dr. MaLesa Breeding, dean of the new College of Education and Human Services, said the purpose of the new college was simply to train good teachers.

“This building is evidence of the university’s commitment to training excellent educators in a time when they are so desperately needed in the world,” she said.

In the past the building has served as a cafeteria and

Abilene Christian University

the Burford Music Center before the construction of the Williams Performing Arts Center. Renovations to turn it into the Education Building have progressed during the course of the year.

In its newest incarnation, the building will serve as the home of the new Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Department of Graduate Studies in Education and the office of the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

See

DEDICATION page 6A

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Monday, August 28, 2006

29

Calendar & Events Tuesday

7 p.m.

Big Country Tribute Dinner Honoring Bob Hunter Dr. Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, Texas state representative and vice president emeritus of ACU, and his wife, Shirley, will be honored at the Abilene Civic Center. Funds will be raised for ACU Welcome Center.

30

Wednesday

10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meet the Churches is Wednesday, August 30, in the Campus Center. Come meet members from local congregations in Abilene. For more information e-mail slc@acu.edu or contact Mark Lewis, 674-2867.

Police Tip of the Week The ACU Police department welcomes you back to campus and reminds everyone to lock their vehicles and keep all valuables out of sight.

31

Thursday

Last day to withdraw from classes for 100 percent refund.

Last day to register for classes.

Electronic Check-In Closes.

01

Friday

6:45 p.m.

Fall Dinner Theatre - Brighton Beach Memoirs The story of Eugene, a Jewish teenager growing up with his family in Brooklyn. Written by Neil Simon and directed by Adam Hester.

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 at jdj03e@acu.edu.

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:

00 70

Announcements This fall, ACU is beginning a new required check-in process for all students. During the first week of classes, Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, you must electronically check in to the university.

If you don’t check in, you will be dropped from all of your classes and lose your financial aid and any scholarships you have.

Check-in is simple. Just log in to myACU during the first week of classes and follow the directions on the check-in screens that will automatically appear. For more information, please visit http://www.acu.edu/check in.

Social Clubs - Rush week begins Monday, Aug. 28. Look in the Campus Center and at the online social clubs calendar for more information on dates and times. To pledge, you must meet eligibility requirements and register online. The deadline to register is Sept.

1 at noon. E-mail any questions to socialclubs@acu.edu.

Aug. 29: Social Club Prospective Member Information Night. All prospective members should attend this important information meeting in Hart Auditorium. Men will meet at 6 p.m. and women prospective members will meet at 7 p.m. It is strongly advised that anyone interested in pledging attend this meeting to learn about the rushing and pledging process. Important dates and deadlines will also be given at this meeting.

Synchronized Swimming Club - no experience needed. If you can swim 200 yards and are interested in fun, exercise and meeting new people, e-mail clm02e@ acu.edu for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities SALT applications are available in the Volunteer Center and are due by Sept. 8.

If you like to play chess, there is a great volunteer opportunity with the Taylor Elementary School Chess Club. It only involves about an hour per week from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Volunteers will assist the chess coach in supervising the students during the weekly after-school chess club meeting. For more information contact the Volunteer Center located in the Bean Sprout.

Volunteers are needed at Lee Elementary School on Thursday afternoons from 3:15 to 4 p.m. to help with the Scrabble Club. third, fourth and fifth graders use their spelling words to play the game of

scrabble and volunteers will assist them. For additional information contact the Volunteer Center in the Bean Sprout.

The Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association needs volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 9, beginning in the morning to help with its 2nd annual neighborhood cleanup. There will be a variety of clean-up tasks, and some residents may need assistance with their property. If you are interested in helping with this opportunity, contact the Volunteer Center in the Bean Sprout.

Service Expo - Sept. 57 in the Campus Center.

Meet agency representatives and learn about community service opportunities.

CAMPUS NEWS

Monday, August 28, 2006

Megan Lowe/Staff Photographer

McKinzie residence director Andy Zimmerman helps freshmen students move into their rooms on Aug. 19.

Residence life undergoes changes n Men and women now reside in Barret Residence Hall, a learning community for on-campus leaders, after writing extensive application proposals.

By LAUREN SUTTON Opinion Editor

ACU’s residence halls have undergone several changes during the summer months, including the incorporation of living and learning communities in Barret Residence Hall, the hiring of four new residence directors and renovations to several residence halls.

Barret’s living and learning communities are now open to sophomore men and women who go through the application process and complete service projects.

Students applied to live in Barret by writing proposals for how they would use their unique living environment to give back to the community. A committee then chose students for the residence hall based on these proposals.

With women living in buildings A and B and men living in C and D, the open structure of Barret allows student interaction. The hall consists of pods, groupings of four traditional residence hall rooms that feed into a one communal living area. These areas will be utilized to aid students in helping fulfill the ACU mission.

Each group of students sharing a pod is committed to the same focused goal. Proposals range from working with a child abuse activist center to using pods as a place for

prayer and Bible study.

“The proposals are out of this world,” said Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing. “They are wonderful. This is going to be great.”

Groups chose ACU faculty members to serve as mentors and help them fulfill their proposed goals. Coming from different departments across campus, 22 different faculty members will be involved in this process.

“I love the communal aspect,” said Bob Booth, residence director at Barret. “I love being in a setting where this kind of atmosphere can happen and where we can all be Jesus’ disciples together.”

Barret Hall is classified with McKinzie and McDonald residence halls as a living and learning community on campus because of the purposefully focused lifestyles of students living in the residence hall.

“Research shows that students learn better when they live and learn in intentional ways. Barret is our little experiment,” Barnard said.

Though they will be housed in separate buildings, both men and women will live in Barret to maintain equality. Barnard said because of the unique application and approval process, Barret will be a residence hall for leaders.

The university did not want to exclude a particular gender from such an opportunity.

Along with the changes

in Barret, several new residence hall staff changes have taken place.

With the rearrangement of two residence halls and the hiring of four new residence directors, Residence Life staff seeks to create a beneficial living and learning environment for each student.

“ACU is a fairly fluid campus that sees the importance of change and is capable of embracing that change,” said Angela Bearden, residence director at Morris Residence Hall. “I think these changes are good and beneficial to the students.”

New staff members include Aldon Wickliffe, residence director at Adams and Smith Residence Hall; Bearden; Kelly Sargent, residence director at Nelson Residence Hall; and Kevin Claypool, residence director at Edwards Residence Hall.

New staff members assumed their roles July 24 to get ready for the new semester.

Barnard said she is excited about the energy, experience and passions the new residence directors bring to residence life on campus.

“Residence directors influence the student culture in extraordinary ways and it’s my job to keep that together,” she said. “I feel like I’m directing an orchestra sometimes, and right now we’re making really good music. It’s exciting to sit back and watch it play out.”

E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu

August produces fewer graduates n Fewer students participated in August commencement compared to May and December graduations because of summer vacation.

By ATSUMI SHIBATA Page Designer

About 60 undergraduate students and 57 graduate students completed their degrees and graduated Aug. 11. June Black, graduation assistant in the Registrar’s Office, said the number of August graduation students has decreased since she’s

been at the university. Compared to May and December commencements, August commencement is much smaller and shorter.

“You don’t have quite as many participants because people are on vacation,” Black said.

The fewer number of graduates at August commencement is a normal happening.

Because summer isn’t a typical graduation time, there aren’t as many students, Black said.

PAST GRADUATIONS n December 2005: about 240 students graduated n May 2006: 492 students graduate n August 2006: about 117 students graduated n August graduations are smaller because it isn’t a typical graduation time

E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu

Page 3A

WELCOME WEEK

Page 4A

Monday, August 28, 2006

WELCOME WEEK

Page 5A

Welcomed ‘Beyond Belief’ EMILY SMITH Staff Photographer

LACI ADKINS STAFf Photographer

BRIAN SCHMIDT Chief Photographer

LACI ADKINS STAFf Photographer

BRIAN SCHMIDT CHIEf Photographer

Captions counterclockwise from top left: Mentor group leader Jason Allen, junior youth and family ministry major from Austin, poses as a banana during opening ceremonies Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.

LACI ADKINS STAFf Photographer

Second picture from top left: Bryce Robinson, freshman psychology major from Indianapolis, mows a lawn on Cockerell Street as part of his mentor group’s service project on Friday.

Third picture from top left: Freshmen and Welcome Week leaders yell and scream during the opening ceremonies on Tuesday.

Fourth picture from top left: Kevin Greene, freshman biology major from Colleyville, attempts to avoid loosing his flag during the intramural flag football championship on Friday.

Right: Freshmen and transfer students praise and pray during the Candlelight Devotional on Tuesday in the Beauchamp Ampitheatre.

Second from bottom right: Welcome Week group 25 leader Leah Walter, sophomore music education major from McGregor, tries to get the attention of group members during the opening ceremonies Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.

Top right: Transfer student Jason Creed, junior youth and family ministry major from Greensboro, N.C., paints a fence at the Ben Richey Boys Ranch with a sponge mitton as part of the transfer students’ service project on Friday.

KATIE GAGER STAFf Photographer

Middle: Freshmen participate in the solo round of Twister on Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.

BRIAN SCHMIDT CHIEf Photographer

Page 6A

Monday, August 28, 2006

FROM THE FRONT PAGE/NEWS

Oxford, Montevideo groups prepare for departure n Forty-five students depart Wednesday for their semesters abroad in Oxford, England, and Montevideo, Uruguay. A new online course will be offered.

By JEREMY POND

Contributing Writer

As students file into classrooms this week, their minds may wander to exotic locales and adventures in far away lands.

For the students in this semester’s Study Abroad program, those daydreams will become a reality.

Forty-five students will board flights Wednesday for semester-long study abroad sessions in Oxford, England, and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Thirty-five students are bound for Oxford while 10 are signed up for Montevideo.

Lauren Graham, Study Abroad coordinator, said while many aspects of the program have not changed, one addition has been made.

“This is the first year we’re offering the Message of the Old Testament course online,” she said. “It’s great to be able to offer it without

having to send a professor.”

When asked whether the recent discovery of a plot in London to blow up planes in mid-flight and the increase in airport security had any negative effect on attendance, Graham said she hoped it would not.

“It would be sad if it did,” she said.

“A semester’s worth of experiences is more than worth any potential hassle in an airport.”

The Latin American program has historically been the more difficult of the two programs for which to generate

interest. Though 20 students are already signed up to go in the spring semester, fewer than half of the 22 available spots were filled in the fall.

Graham said the reason for the lax attendance in the Latin American program often has to do with perception.

“People frequently associate Uruguay with dangerous areas like Columbia or Bolivia,” she said. “What they don’t understand is that Uruguay has a strong European heritage and is a very modern country.”

Lotefa Bartlett, senior

psychology major from Warren, Mich., said her experiences in Uruguay during the summer were “incredible.”

“It’s not something everyone needs to do,” she said.

“But if you’re willing to let go and push your boundaries, it can very rewarding.”

One particular trip stood out in her memory.

“We visited a place called Iguazu. At almost no other point in my life have I had so great a glimpse of God’s power,” she said. “When you are standing at those waterfalls under a full moon,

ACU patron Hunter to be honored n Bob Hunter, vice president emeritus at ACU, will be honored at the Big Country Tribute Dinner Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. The event is sold out.

By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief

After 20 years of dedicated service to the Abilene community and surrounding counties through his volunteer work and work in the Texas Legislature, friends and supporters are paying tribute to Bob Hunter and his wife Shirley.

Every two years since Bob Hunter began his political career in 1986, supporters and constituents from Taylor and Nolan counties have organized a community-wide dinner the summer after Hunter’s legislative session to raise funds for his re-election and to thank his colleagues for their work in the Legislature as well, said Sherri Statler, director of Christian Homes in Abilene and a longtime campaign manager for Hunter.

“I met Dr. Hunter in 1976 while a student at ACU,” Statler said in an e-mail. “I was asked to volunteer on his first campaign in 1986 and I’ve coordinated his campaigns, fundraising and other political activities

ever since.”

For this last tribute, at least 750 friends and supporters are expected to attend the Big Country Tribute Dinner at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Abilene Civic Center.

Tickets are sold out.

“Since Bob is retiring in January, this was just a good opportunity for his friends to say Hunter thanks for your 20 years of service,” said Dr. John Tyson, vice president for development. “I know the dinner will be well-attended.

Bob and Shirley have had a huge influence in the community. There is so much and so many that Bob has helped.”

Statler said ever since Hunter announced his retirement plans, people immediately began mentioning the need to thank him for his selfless dedication to his constituents.

“He wouldn’t hear of it and immediately dismissed the idea,” she said. “Only when someone suggested that proceeds from the event might benefit his beloved alma mater, ACU, did he acquiesce and agree to the event. The response from Abilene and

the Big Country has been overwhelming and is greatly deserved.”

All proceeds from the tribute dinner will be donated to the ACU Welcome Center, which was named after the Hunters by the Board of Trustees in February.

Construction for the Welcome Center, which will be located adjacent to University Park apartments, is expected to begin sometime in 2007, Tyson said.

He said the date is approximate and depends upon finances. The Welcome Center, which will include a large, multi-purpose lobby, conference center, theatre, hall of honor and meeting rooms, will cost close to $14 million to build, $8 million which has already been committed, Tyson said.

While many will honor the Hunters with donations to the Welcome Center, others will honor them at the tribute dinner.

Statler said after the buffet dinner, the Abilene Community Band will perform and Dr. Delores Washburn will make a tribute to Shirley Hunter.

Mayor Norm Archibold; Republican Congressman Randy Neugebauer; Howard Payne University president Dr. Lanner Hall; and State Reps. Jim

E-mail Pond at: optimist@acu.edu

Belting it out

Keffer and James E. “Pete” Laney will make presentations, in addition to a video tribute and response from Hunter.

In Hunter’s 20 years of service, he has created and contributed to many events, organizations and legislature that benefit Texans.

As a Texas state representative, Hunter created the Texas Equalization Grant, which has distributed more than $1 billion to students that attend private universities in Texas.

“That is a significant amount of money to go towards students,” Tyson said. “Think of the hundreds of thousands of students that have benefited from this program.”

Hunter has served on numerous boards in the Abilene community in the 50 years he and Shirley have lived in Abilene, including the board of directors for Meals on Wheels, Day Nursery in Abilene and the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

Hunter, who serves as vice president emeritus of ACU, was also the creator of Sing Song.

An additional reception for the Hunters is planned for Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in Dallas.

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

hearing that water, knowing you are part of a group that worships the God that made it, that is incomparable.”

Bartlett said she failed to anticipate the workload involved in a Study Abroad program.

“I figured most of our course expectations would be experiencing the culture,” she said. “While you do experience a whole lot, a lot of time is spent in a classroom and in your own rooms doing homework just like any other semester.”

Emily Smith STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jessica Wallers, freshman vocal performance major from San Antonio, sings the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Dedication: New college becomes reality for ACU Continued from page 1 Emily Culp, senior education major from Austin, spoke of why she decided to become a teacher, emphasizing the relationships she will build.

“I love little children,” she said. “And teachers are given time each day with young children.”

Culp also said the new building would serve not only as an encouragement to those preparing to teach, but also to those that are already teaching.

“Today, ACU is making a public statement that teachers are valued,” she said.

Also present at the dedication was Abilene Independent School District superintendent David Polnick.

“In my 35 years in education, one thing has not changed,” Polnick said. “And that is the need for qualified excellent teachers.”

Polnick also stressed the relationship between AISD and ACU, pointing out that 34 percent of AISD employees that hold at least a bachelor’s degree earned their degrees from the university.

Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said that the day of the Education Building dedication had been a longtime coming.

“We’ve dreamed of a College of Education for some time,” she said. “Today we’re seeing that hope come true.”

E-mail Pond at: optimist@acu.edu

Freshmen: Welcome Week proves helpful Continued from page 1 to find God’s calling while they are here and to seek Him in a deeper way.”

Welcome Week is a tradition that has been reproduced for years, allowing all classifications of the student body to bond and reminisce as one. It allows students to become accustomed to the college life at ACU and also helps in making them feel welcomed.

A variety of activities are provided free of cost for new students and those helping with Welcome Week. Candlelight devotional was an experience most freshman considered the highlight of the week.

“It’s one of those senti-

mental things that everyone talks about,” Melanie Dunbar, art education major from Winston-Salem, N.C., said.

The sunrise devotional was also a favorite for freshman Jessica Casella, undeclared major from Houston.

“The sunrise devo was just such a sweet moment just being there right when the sun came up and seeing everything come alive,” Casella said.

Johnny Kimani, freshman sports medicine major from Kenya, enjoyed the opening Moody Morning the most.

“That day was like so loud and it was crazy,” he said.

“I’ve never seen something like that.”

E-mail Jimenez at: mmj04b@acu.edu

Monday, August 28, 2006

Page 7A

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Clubs: Rushes start Parking: New lot relief for freshmen one week earlier Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1 As social clubs are evaluated, this may or may not include changes for pledging in the future.”

As for this year, social club events have already begun.

Women’s social club teas, a pre-pledging event in which women interested in pledging meet with social clubs and make acquaintances, occurred on Sunday.

Rushing for both men and women’s social clubs begins the first week of school. In previous years, rushing began the second week of the semester, but because the semester is starting later than usual, rushes were pushed back to begin a week earlier.

Shannon Lair, junior edu-

cation major from Apple Valley, Minn., looks forward to meeting the girls who are interested in pledging women’s social clubs this year.

Lair, a social co-rush director for Sigma Theta Chi, said she is excited to get to know the new pledge class because she loves welcoming new girls into her club.

Westbrook said pledging is a great way to meet new people and get involved on campus, but it’s not the only way to get involved.

“I always encourage students to search their hearts and pray about whether or not pledging is the right thing for them at the time,” she said.

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

Tuesday. Thursday evening the parking lot was opened to students and new lines were painted.

The opening of the parking lot was a welcome sight to freshmen in Mabee Hall.

“I’ve been here before and it was all jacked up,” said Adrian Dennington, freshman biology major from Austin.

“I had to park in Barret this week, but now I can park 20 feet from the door.”

With the parking lot closed for much of Welcome Week, many freshmen received tickets for illegally parking in the faculty parking lot by Brown Library. The first weekend of Welcome Week had new students and parents packed into a small amount of space for the

number of people trying to get moved into the residence hall.

“I’ve been parking in Barret and getting tickets over here (in the Brown Library parking lot),” said Phillip Jennings, freshman undeclared major from Austin. “I guess I’ll park at Barret if it’s full or just leave my car in the new place so no one takes my spot.”

Only freshmen occupied the lot for the first two days, but the arrival of sophomores in Edwards Hall will force some into other parking lots, like the one by Barret Hall.

When sophomores help fill the parking lot, the Big Purple parking lot located by the old intramural fields will be their second-choice.

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

Trustees: Board chooses new chairman Continued from page 1 terms.

“I’ve served 15 years on the board after being re-elected, and it’s been a great experience,” Crisp said. “Most people who want to serve on the board want to because they

love ACU, so it’s an honor when you are chosen to be on it. It was an honor for me to be chosen by my fellow trustees to lead them.”

Crisp said the main duties of the Board of Trustees are to select and support the president of the university as

well as monitor him while in office. It also creates policies the president will implement.

Cornutt, 1970 alumnus with a degree in business administration, was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1989. He is the chief executive officer of Argent Prop-

erty Company, a commercial real estate business.

He resides in Dallas with his wife Linda and their three children. He is currently the co-chair of the Centennial Campaign.

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

Page 8A

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Monday, August 28, 2006

Monday, August 28, 2006

SportsMonday

Page 1B

Softball team finishes with exceeded expectations n The ACU Wildcat Softball team completed the 2006 season with the most wins in the program’s history, 42. They finished first in Conference with a record of 18-4.

By ASHLEY MOORE Sports Writer

The ACU softball team ended the 2006 season with many goals achieved.

The women earned first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division for the first time and runners-up for the

Softball LSC Post-Season Tournament.

The Wildcats set a school record for victories, ending their season at 42-19. The team’s conference record was 18-4.

Coach Chantiel Wilson received Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The 2007 season will mark her fourth year as head coach. She has helped the team accomplish many goals in her time at ACU but gives credit to her assistant coaches and players who have

helped make her job as a coach enjoyable.

“It’s a flattering honor,” said Wilson. “However, it is a tribute to the hard work by my assistant coaches and to the players who achieved the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the year.”

Jennifer Leal earned the Pitcher of the Year award, as well as a place on first-team All-LSC South. Leal finished 27-8 on the season and added to her 49 career wins, the second-best career total in the

program’s history.

Finishing 3-2 in the LSC Tournament, the Wildcats did not receive an entry into the Division II Regional Tournament but instead waited on and eventually obtained an atlarge bid from the conference.

After gaining admission to the regional tournament, the Wildcats fell 1-2, ending their season against defending regional champions St. Mary’s.

ACU senior first baseman Jenna Daugherty was the only Wildcat named to the post-sea-

Second Time Around

son all-tournament team.

The Wildcats are expecting great things this season, bringing back nine players as well as 11 newcomers.

Coach Wilson is anticipating a big season for all five of her returning seniors. Junior Jessica Johnson, two-year veteran, will also be returning to the field.

Johnson received All-American honors as a sophomore.

Newcomers include freshman Courtney Clark, Texas High School Class A State Player of the Year, and NFCA Junior

By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor

brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

n Newly appointed head volleyball coach Kellen Mock returns to her alma mater to take over the reigning LSC volleyball champions.

By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor

Twenty-three year-old head volleyball coach Kellen Mock understands the method of play to which the backto-back Lone Star Conference Champion volleyball team has grown accustomed.

And why wouldn’t she?

After playing under the program’s winningest coach for four years, being third on the all-time digs list and team captain of the first conference champions in the history of the program, Mock is eager to begin her chapter as the program’s head coach.

Brek Horn resigned as head coach in May to spend more time with her family, leaving the program’s future up in the air.

Under Horn’s leadership the program evolved from

Volleyball a middle-of-the-road team to repeat champions and national contenders. Horn’s final season at the helm was the program’s most successful to date, finishing 33-4 and No. 12 in the nation.

Filling her shoes won’t be easy.

Rather than being intimidated by the reputation Horn established for the program, Mock is motivated to continue the tradition and do things right.

“I think it is a good thing to be coming in at this time,” said Mock. “We have national respect and we are itching to continue the success we’ve had up to this point.”

When athletic director Jared Mosley and ACU vice president Dr. Gary McCaleb received the task of replacing seven-year coach Horn, age and experience were the last things on their minds.

See

Mock page 5B

brian schmidt FILE PHOTO

Mock finished her college career with 1,510 digs. She is third on the career digs list and fourth for most single season digs (522) in the record books.

E-mail Moore at: aem03e@acu.edu

Baseball comes up short in ‘06 nThe Baseball team finished second in the LSC and failed to advance to the Division II College World Series, despite a winning record of 44-18.

New head coach Kellen Mock directs redshirt freshman Krystine Cethoute, freshman Erica Dickinson and sophomore Erin Curry during practice.

College All-Americans Tayler Wilson, Ashley Bailey, Kim McDonald and Jamie Ledford.

“We are excited about the new players coming in to complement the returning players from last year’s south division championship team,” said Wilson. “This is a very competitive group, and we do not have any doubt how much this group wants to win.”

While the ACU community was ankle deep in its summer plans, head baseball coach Britt Bonneau put the finishing touches on his tenth-consecutive winning season.

Despite finishing second in the conference behind rivals Angelo State and failing to advance past the regional tournament, the Wildcats finished the season with their second-best record to date at 44-18.

Their final game of the season was a 5-4 loss to Southern Arkansas in the NCAA Division II South Central Region tournament. Although ACU was the host of the regional tournament, they were unable to advance to the College World Series after losing to West Alabama and Southern Arkansas.

Regardless of the bad taste left in the Wildcats’ mouth at the season ender, Bonneau is proud of his team’s overall success and is optimistic of the program’s future.

“I’ve really got to tip my hat to the seniors last season,” Bonneau said. “They knew they had to help the freshmen get adjusted and play well, and not only did that help us win last season, but it will help them succeed this year as sophomores.”

One of those seniors who permanently secured his spot in both ACU’s record books and the memories of ACU baseball fans is LSC player of the year, NCAA Division II all-South Central Region performer and second team All-American selection Joel Wells.

Wells is the first Wildcat slugger to receive a Second

Baseball Team All-American selection and broke three and tied one of ACU’s records last season.

In his final season, Wells shattered the previous singleseason home run record of 12 after hitting 18 out of the park in 2006. Three of those 18 came in one game against Tarleton State April 1, another ACU record, and Wells finished his career with a total of 26 home runs to tie former wildcat Brad Massey.

Well’s completed the season with Wells a .395 batting average and 70 RBI, the second most in the program’s history.

Wells’ accomplishments were recognized at the highest level when the New York Mets drafted him in the 21st round of the MLB amateur draft. Although surprised and honored to be selected, Wells deferred his shot at the major leagues to pursue a career in medicine at Tulane Medical School.

The hopeful surgeon was the fourth player in ACU history to be drafted and the first baseball player from ACU to receive the NCAA post-graduate scholarship to help his attendance at Tulane.

“Twenty-three guys got to watch a kid have one of the greatest years that anyone has had in our program’s history,” Bonneau said. “I always told him he had the potential to do great things, and that is exactly what he did.”

Despite losing a player of Wells’ caliber, Bonneau is confident the players returning and the newly

See

Baseball page 5B

Men’s track wins at nationals, women finish in 2nd n The track & field team competed at the D-II National Championships in Emporia, Kan. The men won their 28th national title, while the women came in second.

By BRIAN HOLLAND

Assistant Sports Editor

The men’s 2005-06 track team captured the Outdoor Division-II National Championship this summer, exemplifying character.

On the women’s side, Trina Cox, senior from Santa Rosa, Calif., posted the only individual win by a lady Wildcat in the steeplechase, but the women contended for their own national title via a gutsy team effort. In the 1,600-meter relay, the team ran its fastest season time, but came up short by .35 seconds to assume second place. The lady Wildcats would also come in second in the sprint relay and add three fifth-place finishes, one fourth-place finish and one fifth-place finish in individual races.

Track & Field The women chased Lincoln to the last event of the meet before falling 93-86.

It was the second time the lady Wildcats placed second to Lincoln this year and finished the lady Wildcats season but ensures plenty to look forward to.

With only five of the 27 athletes leaving after the season and an incoming recruiting class labeled by Hood as one that should raise expectations from last year, the lady Wildcats don’t appear to miss a step.

The men’s team would battle through the conditions to come up just a point-anda-half short behind St. Augustine going into the last event of the meet. Senior pole-vaulter Cory Aguilar gave the Wildcats four points in the final event to lift them to an 80-77.5 win over the Falcons and seal the men’s fifth national championship in a row. Although it was the

ninth in eleven years, it was the first with ACU for firstyear head coach Don Hood.

“Cory is just a clutch guy,” Hood said. “The pressure was tremendous; it was fun, but it was the longest three or four days of my life.”

With scores so close, every event and team member was pivotal to the Wildcats’ win.

Bobby Tatum, football transfer from University of Texas, stepped in to anchor the 1,600-meter relay and posted the fastest time among the four Wildcats with a time of 46.4.

Nicodemus Naimadu, junior from Kenya, capitalized on his two specialty events, winning the 5,000-meter and the steeplechase, becoming an individual winner at nationals for the eighth time.

True to the team-first concept Hood emphasizes, senior Delt Cockrell, who accumulated severe blistering on his feet and was in pain See

Track page 5B

BRIAN SCHMIDT FILE PHOTO

ACU sprinters Marvin Bien-Amie and Jordan Johnson played a large role in winning the men’s 28th NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. Seen here at the LSC championships at Tarleton State University.

Johnson’s 400-meter time of 46.24 seconds helped add to the Wildcats’ championship score at Emporia, Kan.

Page 2B

Monday, August 28, 2006

CAMPUS NEWS

Move-in crew

President travels to China to discuss Christianity n Ten Christian U.S. leaders including the president of the university and alumnus Max Lucado met with Chinese officials in August.

By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor

brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jason Allen, junior youth and family ministry major from Austin, and Brian Leppla, sophomore political science major from Houston, volunteered with the move-in crew in Gardner Hall on Saturday.

in

C hief

Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, traveled to China this summer and met with Chinese government officials along with nine other Christian leaders from the United States to engage Chinese officials in informal dialogue about Christianity.

“A delegation of 10 conservative evangelical Christian leaders went to China on a mission of goodwill,” Money said. “We went to convince the Chinese leaders that they had nothing to fear from followers of Jesus.”

On July 31, this group along with members from their families left the United

States for Beijing, China, for an eight-day trip filled with meetings with senior Chinese government officials, members of the Chinese Communist Party, the director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs and several others.

“We were unsure of what to expect when we boarded the plane for China,” said Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of spiritual formation and a member of the delegation. “The day before we left we had heard from our contact in China that all of our meetings with the Chinese government had been canceled.”

By the time the group had arrived, though, the meetings had been set up again, and the group began discussing Christianity and how it coincided with Chinese laws, Barnard said.

The group, put together

by John Bentley, founder of Harmony Outreach, a

foster home for physically handicapped children in China, and his wife Lisa, ACU alumnus, consisted of Money and Barnard; Rick Gregory, vice president of Dallas Baptist University; John Bethany of Focus on the Family; Gary Smith, senior pastor at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington; Rick Atchley, senior minister at Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth; David Llewellyn, legal scholar from Sacramento, Calif.; Bob Russell, former senior pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., Steve Green, literary agent and executive director of UpWords Ministries; and Max Lucado, author and senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio.

Barnard said the discussions centered around the delegation’s wish to share the message of Jesus in a lawful and acceptable way.

Much of the discussion

was led by Lucado, who spoke of shared values like family, marriage, leadership, personal integrity and character.

While Christianity is not technically prohibited in China, it is subject to regulation. Christians are required to register their religion with the government, but many Christians opt to be unregistered, Barnard said.

“We realized that the world is very, very big and that God is working mightily there in ways we don’t think about,” Barnard said.

He said the group is working on possibly meeting in the summer of 2007 in China again to discuss more topics with the Chinese government such as leadership and working with the AIDS population.

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

Monday, August 28, 2006

Page 3B

CAMPUS NEWS

McNair Scholars Program prepares students for grad school n McNair Scholars Program provides valuable learning experience to help undergraduate students prepare for grad school.

By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief

Maria Rojas spent her summer deciding if China would ever become a democratic nation.

She read scholarly articles, poked holes through researchers’ theories and decided that China could be democratized in the future.

Rojas, senior management and public service major from Dallas, was one of 20 students who remained in Abilene this summer as a participant in the McNair Scholars Program, an 11-year-old program designed to help students succeed in

graduate school.

The program helps undergraduate students learn research and research writing techniques, participate in professional conferences around the U.S., visit graduate school programs and develop leadership qualities.

The program is a nationally recognized program that was created in honor of Ronald E. McNair, the first black astronaut who was killed in the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986.

“The program provides valuable learning experience,” said Jason Morris, director of the McNair Scholars Program.

“It gives students enriched learning about topics that you wouldn’t normally receive in an undergraduate class.”

The federally funded program is open to students who

are the first in their family to go to college and whose income level is lower, Morris said.

“We’re seeking students who want to receive a PhD. degree after they’ve graduated from here,” Morris said.

For Loraine Salazar, this was

“If you’re interested or even thinking about going to grad school, this is the experience to have.”

Loraine Salazar, senior marketing major from Abilene

the perfect program to help her prepare for graduate school next fall.

“If you’re interested or even thinking about going to grad school, this is the experience to have,” said Salazar, senior marketing and management major from Abilene.

Third Rock looking for more student business nThird Rock Creamery had slow business during the summer and expects the business to be back to normal as the school year starts and warm weather continues.

By ATSUMI SHIBATA Page Designer

Third Rock Creamery is getting back to normal from its slow summer business.

Business was affected by many students leaving town for the summer, said Doug Clement, manager of Third Rock Creamery.

Clement worked until noon every day during the summer, and he said there were a few days that he didn’t see any customers during his shift.

Before he began working at Third Rock Creamery, he worked at neighboring restaurant Subway, where he had experienced slow summer business.

Phyllis Chill, senior international studies and Spanish major from Ann Arbor, Mich., has been working there since its opening in January. She worked during the summer and said even though they didn’t have many ACU students, high school students gave the business many sales this summer.

Business at Third Rock was cut in half during the summer.

“We were not expecting to make as much money as during the semester,” Chill said.

“So it wasn’t a surprise how slow it was.”

Saturday before the Welcome Week was the first busy night, Chill said. Welcome Week has restored business to the ice cream parlor.

Chill said she has already heard a lot of good things from freshmen.

“We are excited about the school year starting and get-

Salazar worked with mentor Dr. Laura Philips, adjunct professor of management, looking at traits and characteristics of successful business managers.

“Dr. Philips was very helpful in helping me collect data and analyzing it afterwards,”

Salazar said.

Salazar said she was able to develop a survey and poll more than 150 managers and employees about certain characteristics successful managers tend to have, and have employees rate their managers and then managers rate

themselves.

“It was so interesting because there was a lot of skewed data,” she said. “Managers rated themselves much higher than what their employees did. Now I know what characteristics people want and need and can use that to my own benefit.”

Students who complete the summer research project will receive a stipend for their work.

“You’re basically getting paid to learn for the summer,” Rojas said.

Salazar agreed and said the program offers financial benefits that allow participants to work less and focus on the research during the summer.

The heaviest recruiting for the McNair Scholars Program begins during the fall semester, Morris said. Students interested

can apply online at www.acu. edu/academics/trio/mcnair or stop by Morris’s office in the Education Building, Room 113.

“This program really is a community of learners,” Morris said. “It’s a unique social environment and successful because we have such dedicated faculty willing to spend their summer working with students.”

Although it has been on campus for more than a decade, many students are unaware of the program, Salazar said.

“The McNair program is not very well known on campus, “ she said. “If people only knew what seminars, leadership skills and opportunities you have here, hundreds of people would be flocking to get in.”

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

President relocated for renovation n The president is working out of an office in the library until renovations in the Presidential Suite of the Administration Building are completed.

By DENTON JOSEY Page 2 Editor

emily smith/Staff Photographer

Taylor Bomar, freshman art major, watches as her ice cream is scooped out by a Third Rock worker on Friday. ting busy in here again,” Chill said. “It’s always fun to have tons of people here.”

Chill said they are planning on events this semester like live music and costume parties.

They haven’t decided detailed information yet, but it will be announced at the store when they do.

E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu

May 22, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, was relocated to an office in the library because of the renovations taking place in the Presidential Suite in the Hardin Administration Building.

Sharon Lindsey, executive coordinator to the president, said the president’s office hasn’t been renovated since 1990.

Executive secretary to the president Tevyan Condra said the plans changed after the work began.

“It started with new paint and carpet and grew from that,” she said. “Since it hadn’t been updated in so long there were several things that needed to be done.”

Until the renovations in the Presidential Suite of the Administration Building are finished, Dr. Money and his staff will continue to operate out of Chancellor Bill Teague’s office in the library while he works from home.

“The Teague family graciously let us move in,” Lindsey said. “It is just a temporary relocation; it is still the chancellor’s office. There were several different renovations on campus, so this was a good way to keep our office [staff] intact instead of going to several different locations.”

Jim Holmans, executive assistant to the president, said the renovations have taken longer than they thought it would.

“We’ve had several dates, but there have been some things they weren’t expecting and it just keeps getting moved back,” Holmans said. “Basically,

the facilities were out of date and needed to be updated.”

The plan, Holmans said, was to get a lot of work done while Dr. Money was out of the office this summer, but when he came back things still weren’t finished.

Holmans also said there have been positives that have come from the relocation. Meetings usually in the Presidential Suite had to take place around campus, so Dr. Money was able to interact a little more than usual. However, Holmans said they are anxious to be back in the presidential suite so he can be more efficient with his time.

The staff is looking forward to possibly returning to its renovated offices as soon as the second week in September.

E-mail Josey at: jdj03e@acu.edu

ViewsMonday

Page 4B

The ‘World’ awaits on ACU campus

The Issue:

ACU students often surround themselves with peers who look and act like them instead of engaging in cross-cultural friendships on campus.

Our view:

The college experience is enhanced when students establish cross-cultural relationships.

The solution:

Finding ways to interact and befriend students from different cultures on a regular basis will expand students world view.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Every year, a loud voice announces during opening Chapel the number of countries represented on campus, and the fall semester begins.

Every year, students from across the world parade around Moody Coliseum, signifying the unification of countries from Japan to Brazil to Madagascar. Still, every year thousands of students observe this tradition as they sit clumped around other like-minded students from their own cultural demographic.

“Change the world.” The catchy ACU motto seems fitting for a university that works hard to increase global awareness and ethnic diversity among the student population.

ACU stu- Students must take the initiative to make the most of n a t i o n a l i dents have ties are easthis culturally unique environment. had a histoily identifiry of making able here this motto a because personal lifestyle. students and staff. The Black they are not dispersed. InMany have committed to History Production and the stead, students eat and long-term work overseas, International Students’ As- spend time with other stuhoping to integrate and work sociation are only two of the dents that look and act like with various groups. Count- various ways the university them. less others have invested has sought to meld students College is a time for perspring breaks, summer va- from different social, racial sonal growth and learning. cations and entire semesters and cultural backgrounds.

Fortunately, ACU provides serving and studying other A variety of productions a more culturally diverse cultures. and student groups may fos- atmosphere than most stuStudents show little fear ter an understanding of the dents have grown up in. when it comes to traveling subcultures around campus, Students must take the the world and trying new but they often do not result initiative to make the most things. in lasting integration and re- of this culturally unique enBut are these trends be- lationships among students. vironment. ing put into practice daily The lack of cross-cultural Sitting with people of a here on campus? relationships on campus is different race during ChaThe Office of Multicultural apparent to anyone walking pel, going to a Thursday Enrichment promotes ethnic through the Bean after Cha- night Chai cafe or simply and racial harmony among pel. White, black or Asian, striking up a conversation

American media: Democracy at work As the Optimist staff strives for balance between opposing perspectives in each issue of the paper, an ever-increasing demand for objectivity within the American news media is surfacing, and they’re doing their Don’t Believe job relatively well. the Hype AmeriMitch Holt cans need to know their views and be able to spot biases in the news media.

This is an essential intuition which most people put to use whether they know it or not. America is a country of critics; it’s in our nature.

As some Americans have beef with the way the country “does democracy,” the news media seem to be making an effort to get it right.

Let me explain.

In a Washington Post article one of my distinguished professors recently threw my direction, the writer discusses an experiment in which 144 observers are shown six television news segments about a 20-yearold historical conflict in the Middle East.

In the segments, proArab viewers picked out 42 comments that portrayed Israel positively and 26 comments that portrayed Israel negatively. Pro-Israeli viewers picked out 16 comments that portrayed Israel positively and 57 comments that portrayed Israel negatively.

These numbers reveal that Americans are watching the same news and drawing opposing biases from it.

Granted this is just one experiment, I can attest to the accuracy of these results.

As the Arab and Israeli conflict coverage recently began hitting newspapers and primetime news again after several years of onand-off coverage, I saw what I thought to be an extreme media bias towards Israel.

When picking a side in

this conflict, I kept in the front of my mind the fruitful relationship between the U.S. and Israel. During more than 40 years of government construction, the Israeli’s have looked to our country for diplomatic support, financial and military help and mere inspiration.

Despite cultural differences, one might think Israel is striving to become the U.S. This in mind, I saw a one-sided, Israel-supporting American news media. .

It wouldn’t have mattered what the media said; my mind was made up about their biases.

Then I looked closer. I realized it’s a bit more twosided than I thought.

On both broadcast and print news outlets, I saw the virtual civil war going on within the Lebanese borders—a militant Hezbollah attempting to replace the current government by financially overpowering it.

All of this being done while shooting missiles into Israel and rapidly making enemies with Israel and the western world.

The portrayal of this side of the story jumped out at me just as I began having doubts about the news media’s objectivity.

Biases can be seen in both directions, but isn’t that democracy at work? It’s a good thing that the same news outlets are creating such a buzz in both directions.

But we need to look at the big picture. America is a melting pot of ideas, and we should be comforted that our news media are covering different perspectives, at least a good portion of the time.

Establish your opinions and stand by them. For when you maintain objectivity in observing the news, you might notice how well the media are doing, even if you don’t agree with their coverage 100 percent of the time.

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

Let Loose

Cole Williams

Don’t blame construction for tuition boost Construction never seems to end on campus, especially when it interrupts traffic flow and the simple task of getting from place to place. The never-ending projects also seem to put a dent in our pocketbook in the form of raised tuition. At least, that’s what we think.

In fact, there is more behind the sudden building of a new lake or jogging track on campus than what may seem to students like an impulse purchase by the university. The university and students’ money, has little or nothing to do with these things.

All of the construc-

Every campus project underway right now is funded by donations and special funds.

tion on campus looks like the cause of spiked fees and tuition, but not one penny is taken from tuition dollars.

Every campus project underway right now— the lake, new welcome center, jogging track and parking lots— is funded by donations and special funds.

The jogging track was donated to ACU and will be given as a gift to the campus in September.

Many people from the Abilene and ACU com-

munity have already put the track to good use, and even more will be seen on it now that school has started.

Some people may say the track is a waste of money that could be spent in other ways.

However, if money was never spent to aesthetically improve the campus, we wouldn’t have a campus that keeps drawing people and money back into the university.

Not only is the lake being built with donated

money, but is a requirement for water drainage issues if there are to be any more buildings placed on campus.

The new lake will also hold excessive water irrigation water.

Likewise, the track is already a success with runners, walkers, bikers, dog-walkers and rollerbladers.

With everything that ACU is adding to the campus, students should enjoy and take advantage of all that is being given to them.

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

In Your Words ACU makes me feel... excited to study in a Christian environment

glad to be here.

overwhelmed and tired of Welcome Week.

Cara Leahy

Brad Miller

Emily Barnes

freshman undeclared major from St. Louis

freshman undeclared major from Austin

freshman undeclared major from Atlanta

E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu

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

with a new ESL student are all ways that will help make ACU a place where diversity is not only accepted, but embraced.

Many students will leave Abilene realizing they missed the opportunity to be part of ACU’s culturally rich environment.

But perhaps a select group of students will challenge themselves to reach beyond the barriers of race and culture to enhance their global view and leave this formative period of life with a more complete picture of the world.

In addition to leaving ACU to change the world, use it as a cultural springboard to engage the world today.

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

Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach

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

Sports desk: (325) 674-2684

Lauren Sutton

Editor in Chief

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Monday, August 28, 2006

Page 5B

SPORTS JUMPS

Baseball: Recruiting class shows potential Continued from page 1B recruited transfers and freshmen will carry on the winning pattern of the last 10 years.

The new recruits include seven junior college transfers and three high school signees.

The role of shortstop and solid closer left open by recent graduate Ruben Rivera may be filled by shortstop J.J. Pacheco from Chabot College and righthanded closer Jameson Maj from Vernon College.

Also new to the Crutcher Scott Field mound are left

handers Matt Davis of Butte College and Taylor Chapel of Lake Highlands High School.

Bonneau may call upon newly acquired outfielders Matt Spotanski, Mike Elkerson, Corey O’Neill or Trent Kinnear to fill the outfield positions left open by last year’s graduating class. While in the infield, transfer Jared Votaw and freshman Justin Shults will add depth to the Wildcats’ defense as well, Bonneau said.

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

Track: First-year coach continues winning tradition Continued from page 1B BRIAN SCHMIdT FILE PHOTO

Former volleyball player Kellen Mock was named head coach and finds herself coaching players she once competed with like senior setter Malia Plumlee. Mock seen here watching Plumlee dig a ball during the 2004 season. Then Kellen Morrow, she led her team to the first Lone Star Conference Championship in the program’s thirty-three year history.

Mock: Former star takes charge Continued from page 1B According to Mosley, the two most important qualities the department looked for was an understanding of the ACU atmosphere and an openness to commit to ACU’s mission beyond the wins and losses of a season.

Both these qualities cannot be seen on Mock’s resume or coaching history, but rather through the memories and impressions she left behind at ACU as a student and athlete.

“It is different to be here not as a player,” said Mock “But it was easy to make the decision to come back because this place feels like home to me.”

Although Mock has only been at the controls for

couple of months, her commitment to God, ACU and the volleyball program can be seen through her service and leadership. These obligations can not only be seen through her actions but even through something as mundane as the office decorations that fill her new office.

Whether it is the miniature volleyball statue on her desk carrying insightful words from the apostle Paul, or the many framed pictures from her days as a player, her commitment is clear.

Mock’s familiarity with the program and existent relationships with players was a contributing factor in the hiring decision.

In fact, some of the girls she now calls players were

her teammates in 2004. One such player is co-pre season player of the year Abbie Lowry.

“At first it was a little awkward,” said Lowry. “But it has turned out to be really good because coach Mock knows what we’re going through as players.”

Mock pulled her coaching strategy from her memories on the court and past relationships she has had with coaches at all levels.

“I think the more positive and confident you can be the more the team reacts,” said Mock. “You always feel better as a player when you know the coach believes in you.”

Despite optimism at ACU for coach Mock’s leadership this season, the conference

will be a tough obstacle.

ACU was picked second in the LSC pre-season poll behind West Texas A&M. The doubts only inspire Mock to prove herself.

“Getting picked second is a positive thing and a motivator,” said Mock. “I think our girls are worthy and will prove they deserve to be picked first.”

If the volleyball team is worthy of a three-peat or if Mock is worthy of replacing Brek Horn is yet to be seen.

One thing is certain though, both the new team and coaches have their hearts set on that third LSC championship.

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

during the meet, ran in the 4x400-meter relay.

Picked after the preliminaries to finish fourth in the meet, ACU got its biggest lift from one of its youngest teammates. Freshman Jordan Johnson anchored the Wildcats’ fastest time of the season in the sprint relay and shocked the field and his coach to win the 400-meter race in a time .7 of a second faster than he had earlier ran, instantly gaining the respect of his team and his coach.

“Not many freshmen could do what he did,” Hood said. “I’d rank it in the top 2 or 3 [performances by a freshman].”

Proud of his players’ performances, Hood said he’s

excited just to have his first purple and white national championship.

“It feels good whether you win it by 100 points or by 2,” Hood said.

But both men’s and women’s teams shouldn’t see a drop-off in talent from last season. While Hood reserves his excitement, he can’t help but share his optimism in the future Wildcats.

“We really have a chance with these new [runners],” he said. “If everything pans out, this team could make last year’s team look average.”

With last year’s performance, the men’s and women’s teams and proven coach Don D. Hood appear to be treading on the right track.

E-mail Holland at: beh03e@acu.edu

Page 6B

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Monday, August 28, 2006