The Vol. 95, No. 20
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OPTIMIST FRIDAY
1 section, 12 pages
IN THIS ISSUE
Student search
The student directory is available for purchase for $10 and can be charged to an account, page 4
Students have the opportunity to gain six extra Chapel credits this semester through forums and an online survey, page 3
By JEREMY POND
By JEREMY POND
The chair of ACU’s Political Science Department did not begin his career as an educator but as a petroleum land man. Dr. Mel Hailey said while the career was lucrative, the strain of doing the exact same thing day after day began to wear on him. “In the back of my mind I had always wanted to teach,” Hailey said. “I soon found that every day in the classroom was different than the one before it.” Despite teaching countless students the intricacies of the governmental system and assisting various politicians with their campaigns, Hailey said he never really considered running for office. That changed when some friends approached him after Dr.
Susan King is no stranger to hectic environments. King has worked for years as a registered nurse. From her time in Houston heading one of the largest surgical suites in the world to her current position as co-owner and director of nursing at the Elm Place Ambulatory Surgical Center, King has long been acquainted with the long hours of running to and fro to hold things together. It should be no surprise then that she thrives on the stress and action of running her campaign for the District 71 state representative seat. Even so, King said it does require more time than she had expected. “My days are starting around 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, which I never would have believed,” she said. Before beginning her campaign, King had already served
Student Reporter
Election debate
District 71 candidates Mel Hailey and Vanessa Harris debated in the Hilton Room on Thursday, page 9
FEATURES
Making a difference
Sweet dreams
‘Science of sleep’ creates a dreamlike world through the stop-motion animation but lacks quality characters, page 7
SPORTS
www.acuoptimist.com
Hailey vs. King
Extra credit
ARTS
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The race to Austin
CAMPUS
ACU students change several Abilene children’s lives through Big Brothers Big Sisters, page 6
November 3, 2006
See
Student Reporter
HAILEY page 8
See
District race boasts of campus campaign leaders n ACU alumni, faculty guide the two main candidates in the District 71 race that will fill Rep. Bob Hunter’s position. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
The phone rings and interrupts a conversation the group of women is having about which list of supporters to call next. Robyn Wertheim answers because she’s closest. “Hello, Susan King’s headquarters.” A minute later another phone rings. Wertheim apologizes and puts the first caller on hold as she reaches across the desk to grab the second phone. Wertheim, King’s coordinator for signage and events, smiles before
grabbing the phone and asks if she can call back. On the other side of town, volunteers for her opponent, Dr. Mel Hailey, step up the competition a notch as students arrive to call supporters. Dr. David Dillman, associate professor of political science and Hailey’s campaign manager, searches the piles on papers on his desk for the updated list. Students pop in and out of his office, some wanting to talk about a paper due, some wanting to sign up to help in the final days of the campaign. The flow through his office slows enough that he can shut the door as he explains the most important thing he contributes is keeping Hailey and the
campaign team focused. “We can’t get distracted in this race, so I keep him focused and he keeps me focused,” he says with a smile. Five days remain in the campaign to send a representative to Austin and the pressure is building as support pours in for both King, the Republican candidate and her main opponent, Dr. Mel Hailey, chair of the Political Science Department and Democrat candidate. Although the nature of campaigns is unusual in itself, this race is unique in that several main staff members on each King and Hailey’s campaigns have strong ties to ACU, not including Hailey. See
KING page 8
Voters to decide on two key issues Dillman
n Voters can influence the City Council’s decision to implement a city-wide smoking ban in Tuesday’s election, or vote to freeze taxes for seniors and the disabled. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Coates
Ashby
CAMPAIGNS page 8
The City of Abilene Special Election section will ask voters to vote on two issues Tuesday: the smoking ban and the disabled or senior tax freeze. If implemented, the tax freeze will limit taxes imposed on disabled people and people older than 65, “even if the tax freeze raises the tax rate for other tax payers or reduces services in the City of Abilene,” according to official ballot wording at www. abilenetx.com. The Web site also project-
ed the impact the tax freeze would have, estimating an increase of half of one cent per $100 in property value for those who are not affected by the tax freeze. Dr. Neal Coates, professor of political science, said the impact of the tax freeze “is negligible” for those younger than 65. Coates said most students probably aren’t considering the issue because “most college students don’t think forward 50 years.” In his Oct. 1 column in the Abilene Reporter-News, Ken Ellsworth argued the freeze “would cap the taxes based on property values of the elderly and disabled who are upper middle class or wealthy—those who can See
ISSUES page 8
ACU’s third FilmFest premieres Friday downtown Weekend play
The Wildcat volleyball team will play in the Lone Star Conference Tournament this weekend, page 12
n In its third year, FilmFest will incorporate changes such as a red carpet pre-show before the main event where film producers, directors are interviewed. By LAUREN SUTTON Opinion Editor
ONLINE Whole new ball game The men’s basketball team began its season Thursday, view how the team prepared at www. acuoptimist.com
While students can show up at the Paramount Theater Friday night and view independent short films submitted by their peers, FilmFest continues to evolve into a beneficial event for all who are involved. “It’s still a new process we
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
are trying to develop,” said Doug Darby, FilmFest founder and executive director. “We’re trying to accommodate everybody, but we are still developing at this point.” A major change that has been made to FilmFest is the 6:30 p.m. pre-show where students can attend a red-carpet event in front of the theater. All those involved with FilmFest will be featured as Kendall Massey, director of student productions, spotlights filmmakers and actors through interviews. Matt Maxwell, FilmFest student director, said
this event is geared to bring importance to students. “It’s about what the students want,” Maxwell said. “They are taking this on.” The FilmFest premiere will take place as it has the past two years. At 7 p.m., the top three films in the four designated categories: entertainment, information, experimental and music video, will be showcased. Nine judges, all of whom work with digital media in some capacity, will award filmmakers, and this year, a new award will be given to best actor and actress.
Darby said the judges add an interesting dynamic to FilmFest. “We’ve got this weird, eclectic group which adds value,” Darby said. Students can meet with the judges at the symposium on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Living Room of the Campus Center. During the symposium, judges will talk about the entered films as well as lead an open discussion about media and the film industry. A second viewing of the films will take place Saturday
Abilene Christian University
at 1 p.m. in the Living Room. All 21 of the entered films will be shown, and this event is an opportunity for all filmmakers to present their work to family and friends. Students can preview the films on Channel 14. Darby said the events involved with FilmFest have been a plan all along and part of developing this event. “The changes we have made are reflected in the quality of the films,” Darby said. “It is solidifying this event. E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
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