The Vol. 95, No. 4
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Remote class
Several departments on campus experiment with Quizdom, an electronic interactive program, page 3
•
1 section, 10 pages
WEDNESDAY
September 6, 2006
•
www.acuoptimist.com
Student, local resident involved in accident n The first injury on the Lunsford Foundation Trail occurred last week when a non-student biker ran into a student’s car as he was pulling into Edwards-Mabee parking lot. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
SPORTS
OPTIMIST
The Lunsford Foundation Trail claimed its first victim Thursday night. Police responded to a call at 6:45 p.m. at the entrance to the Mabee and Edwards parking lot at the 1900
block of Campus Court. The accident is the first on the jogging trail since construction started. According to the police report filed by the Abilene Police Department, Mark Cox, 49, was Ellison northbound on the trail when his bicycle collided with the car of Brad Walker,
freshman business management major from Kingwood, who was traveling north before entering the parking lot. Cox hit Walker’s front fender and went over the top and landed on the other side, hitting his forehead on the concrete. Cox was treated and released Thursday. Walker said his car received only a dent in the front fender. “I was driving pretty slowly, just going into the parking lot,” Walker said. “Then he nailed the front of
my car. It was a surprise.” Cox could not be reached for comment. Cox’s bicycle left an 18foot skid mark before hitting Walker’s car. Cox was transported to Hendrick Medical Center to treat the wound on his head. Police did not cite either the bicyclist or the drive at the accident scene because the driver was not at fault for the accident because the bicyclist hit the car, said Jimmy Ellison, ACU police chief.
The rebuilt Wildcat football team makes its debut at home Thursday against the University of Central Oklahoma, page 12
See
CRASH page 8
Spanish Web site launched for new students
When it rains, it pours
Fresh start
Walker said he attended to Cox until the ambulance arrived at 6:58 p.m. Walker said his only contact with Cox was in the ambulance before being taken to the hospital. “I was walking by and he was in the ambulance surrounded by people, and I said to someone to tell him that we’d be praying for him,” Walker said. Although the Abilene Police Department filed the
Stepping onto the field
The women’s soccer team began practicing this fall for its first season, which will begin in the fall of 2007, page 12
FEATURE
n The university launched a Spanish Web site in May which includes information about programs offered for prospective Spanish-speaking students. By JEREMY POND Student Reporter
Miraculous recovery
Sophomore Cody Veteto returned to campus this semester after recovering from a brain-injury after a skiing accident in February, page 7
ONLINE brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Robyn Foulks, freshman psychology major from Fort Worth, and Korie Darby, sophomore interior design major from Kingwood, share an umbrella as they walk across campus Monday in the rain. The steady rain on Monday totaled just under one inch, raising the year’s total to above average.
Dining Services improves campus food Unlikely storm
Students react to the wet weather Monday after a two-day storm moved into Abilene showering more than 1.5 inches of rain, at www.acuoptimist.com
WEATHER TODAY’S FORECAST HIGH LOW 81 59 SPEED READS Cellular connection
A Canadian company, EQO Communications, introduced a communication device that allows students to connect with friends they’ve met on Internet sites such as Facebook and My Space. Cell phones are used to show pictures, leave messages and post activities. Students can register online at www.eqo.com and upload the device to their phone. -UWIRE
n Healthier options were added to The World Famous Bean this semester including a vegan food line, more salad bar options and homemade Mexican food. By AARON BALLARD Staff Writer
Last spring, Dining Services conducted 1,800 online surveys, 421 Palm Pilot surveys and seven focus groups to gather student feedback about food on campus. After studying the responses, several changes
were made in the Bean and the Bean Sprout this fall. “A plan was put in place in the spring, and now it is coming to fruition,” said Anthony Williams, director of retail and purchasing, who oversees Dining Services. “This represents hours and hours of work.” One of the main complaints was that the Bean offered little in the way of healthy solutions. The Bean began addressing that problem last spring by adding more fruit and salad op-
tions, and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. “Seventy-five percent of respondents said the fruit was dramatically better,” Williams said. More changes were made this fall to create additional healthy options. Among them is an expanded salad bar with twice as many salad toppings and the option to put grilled chicken on salads. In addition, the wraps were combined with the hoagies so the old wrap line could become a vegan line. Gluten-
free deserts were added as well. Another major complaint was that the Mexican food didn’t taste good. “The problem was that the Mexican line consisted mainly of pre-prepared and frozen foods,” Williams said. “Now, ninety-five percent of the Mexican food is made from scratch.” Other changes in the Bean include improved pizza, an increased consideration for See
FOLLIES page 8
ACU has created a new Web site called ACU en Español to provide prospective students who don’t speak English with information about the university. The university hosted several focus groups and found a need to provide Hispanic students with a link to the university in their own language. Daniel Garcia, multicultural enrollment marketing specialist, said while the main thrust of the site was to provide a helpful tool to prospective students, it certainly was not limited to them. “Some of these students may have family members who prefer to receive some information in Spanish,” Garcia said. “ACU en Español is a great tool for prospective students to share information about ACU with their family.” The site was created in May for domestic use, with sites in other languages already available for those outside the country. The site hosts pages for academics, campus life, spiritual life, professional development and the history of ACU. Garcia and a group of students translated the site with See
SPANISH page 8
Follies sign-ups begin n This year’s theme for the freshman talent production is ‘What’s Next,’ and it takes place the last weekend of September and is orchestrated by Kendall Massey. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Students interested in participating in Freshman Follies, which will take place Sept. 2930, can now sign up with their halls to participate in the residence hall acts in this year’s “What’s Next?” themed event. Freshman Follies is a show-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
case of the talents of the freshman class, including musical acts from each residence hall floor and individual acts. Kendall Massey, Freshman Follies director, said each hall is responsible for electing a student director. All student directors will meet Sept. 15 and must have the name of their act, a T-shirt design, lyrics, music and a participant list, Massey said. Alyssia Ambrose, sophomore education major from See
SPROUT page 8
brian schmidt FILE PHOTO
Freshman women perform their hall act to the theme of “That 70’s Show.” last year during Freshman Follies.
Abilene Christian University
Serving the ACU community since 1912