The Vol. 95, No. 23
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS
Island drums
The Steel Drum and Percussion Band performed its fall concert Monday in Cullen Auditorium, page 2
Student submissions
Students can enter original art, short stories, photography and poetry until Dec. 8 for the annual Shinnery Review, page 3
SPORTS
Playoff frenzy
The men’s football team will play in the first round NCAA D-II playoffs Saturday against West Texas A&M in Canyon, page 8
Final games
The Wildcat volleyball team’s season ended in the quarterfinals of Southwest Regional Tournament. The team lost 3-0 to West Texas A&M on Thursday, page 7
ONLINE
Wading for Waterball
Watch intramural waterball teams play in the ACU swimming pool online at www.acuoptimist.com
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OPTIMIST
1 section, 8 pages
WEDNESDAY
November 15, 2006
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www.acuoptimist.com
One hundred freshmen to test curriculum in fall 2007 n If faculty members pass the new general education curriculum this February, 100 incoming freshman will test the courses next fall. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
One hundred freshmen will test the new general education curriculum fall 2007 if the faculty approves the plan in a February vote. This pilot group will test the new integrated classes that combine three fields of study into one three-hour class with professors from various departments teaching all fields. The group will also test the new senior capstone class that will be required of all students their senior year. Following positive feedback from the group,
all incoming freshm a n in fall 2 0 0 8 will begin the n e w Shankle general education curriculum. In a meeting Monday, faculty met to discuss the proposed plan. This meeting was one of three final opportunities for faculty to weigh in and give committee members feedback. The final meeting will be Dec. 5. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English Department and chair of the General Education Review Committee, said See
GER page 4
Local creamery to be evaluated during break n Owners of Third Rock Creamery will attempt to make changes, save money to help the 11-month-old ice cream shop. By SARA POTTER Student Reporter
Third Rock Coffee and Creamery staff will meet during Christmas break to reevaluate what they need to do to keep the struggling business open. The business, only 11 months old, will be closely examined and ways to save money and improve the business will be discussed during the close, said Zach Smith, Third Rock manager and junior communication major from San Antonio. Smith and store owner Robert Lord, Houston resident, will perform the housekeeping duties. The duties at hand include fixing the pro-
jector and staining the heated deck, which displays nightly TV. The two will also sell costly machines the store could do without—such as a coffee bean roaster—to save money. In the meantime and in an effort to promote business, Third Rock employees hope to start a weekly movie night on the deck with discount prices. Also, as of two weeks ago, Third Rock employees began bringing in equipment to host an open-mic night every Thursday from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Anyone can play, “whether you play the kazoo or the harp,” Smith said. While participating in open-mic night, consumers can enjoy varieties of coffee, espresso drinks, homemade ice cream, bottled beverages, brownies and See
THIRD page 4
emily smith STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ana Pruteanu, freshman interior design major from Ungenhi, Moldova, qualified to first study in America after taking tests, writing essays and interviewing with people about her ability to adjust to different cultures.
A world away Ana Pruteanu left her home in Moldova to study 6,000 miles away By DENTON JOSEY Page 2 Editor
Moldova went through a lot of change to become its own country. It took Ana a lot of change before she would become whom she wanted to be, too. A quick glance at a world map and Moldova is easy to miss. About the size of Maryland, Moldova is small compared with its neighbors, Romania and the Ukraine. Here Moldova finds itself pulled between influences from the East and the West, between a history without its own identity and a vision of a promising future thanks to a relatively newfound independence. Scan the crowd at New Hope, the church she attends in Abilene, and Ana Pruteanu might be easy to miss. At 5
feet tall, Pruteanu is shorter than most of her peers at church. Here Pruteanu finds herself pulled between what she knew growing up in the city of Ungenhi and what she is learning in America. Here Pruteanu faces the realities of being on her own for the first time. At 19, Pruteanu is actually older than her country. Moldova found freedom from the USSR in 1991 by supporting Boris Yeltsin, who led a successful coup and became the first president of Russia. Soon after, the United Nations recognized Moldova as an official nation.
Coming to America Abilene is 6,000 miles from her hometown in Ungenhi, but Pruteanu is no stranger to Texas. On a whim, she took a test her sopho-
more year of high school that granted her a scholarship to study in America. Ana took the test so she could get out of classes that day. The tests examined her general knowledge, proficiency of English and ability to write essays. The test also included interviews testing her capability to adjust to different cultures. After she made the first round of cuts, Pruteanu remembered to tell her mother. “By the way, Mom, I might be going to America.” In August of 2004, Pruteanu joined an elite group of only 40 students from her country who won scholarships to study in America. They were sent all over America; Pruteanu ended up in Grandview. See
MOLDOVA page 5
WEATHER
Students serve others Saturday
DAILY FORECASTS Wednesday
n In the final Service Saturday of the semester, students served in 10 locations across Abilene, performing yard work and building the ice skating rink.
sunny/ high winds
HIGH 58
LOW 34
By SHELBY COATES Student Reporter
Thursday sunny
HIGH 66
LOW 44
WHITNEY LEININGER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Gabrielle Rojas, sophomore youth and family ministry major from Mineola, and Kristen Miles, sixth grader at Lincoln Middle School, staple astroturf on platforms at the outdoor ice rink on Saturday.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
More than 100 students dispersed into the streets of Abilene to participate in an early morning service opportunity. Through Service Saturday, students had the option to work at about 10 locations throughout the community
during the Service Action Leadership Team’s Abilene Community Celebration. The celebration marked SALT’s third and final Service Saturday of the semester. The Abilene Community Celebration had students working with several local agencies and serving in neighboring communities, said Rita Harrell, administrative coordinator of the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Students could sign up for certain work sites the week of Service Saturday in the Campus Center ticket windows.
Abilene Christian University
“Doing this we bring students together to serve together, and they can serve the community,” Harrell said. Several student groups and organizations come together to work on a specific project during Service Saturday, Harrell said. Men’s social club Galaxy worked in the Carver Street and Cockerell Drive neighborhoods, mowing lawns, cleaning yards and picking up trash, while men’s social club Frater Sodalis was nearby See
SERVICE page 4
Serving the ACU community since 1912