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
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, November 15, 2006
15
Calendar & Events Wednesday
5 p.m. Students in Free Enterprise meets in the College of Business Administration Building Room 315.
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Thursday
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pill Packing Party for Zambia medical missions at Hillcrest Church of Christ.
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Friday
7:50 p.m. ISA Culture Show presents Ethnos: Twilight. Tickets are $4 in advance, $5 at the door.
What do Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill and Kanye West have to do with Jesus? Come find out Thursday evenings. “Jesus and the Hip-Hop Prophets” will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, Room 128. For more information, contact Matt Worthington at mrw03b@acu.edu. Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver lunch to those in need. This is a great way to serve in the Abilene community, and you can get credit if your delivery time conflicts with Chapel. For more information, stop by the Volunteer Center in the Bean Sprout. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) meets Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in COBA, Room 315 for those interested in sharpening business skills, entrepreneurial, leadership skills and service to the community. Girl Scout Troop #1550 needs young women who want to make a difference in young girls’ lives through Girl Scouting. The girls are from underprivileged homes, and they need positive Christian influences in their lives. Meetings are every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This program will end in May. For more information, please
contact Diltzie Andrews at 673-6379. Big Brothers Big Sisters, in conjunction with Communities in Schools, is starting an after-school program at Ortiz Elementary for students who need to improve their grades and have at least one incarcerated parent. Volunteers will meet with their student weekly at Ortiz Elementary for fun and educational games or activities. Now through Dec. 19, Tuesdays at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ortiz Elementary. For more information, contact Erin McMullen at 677-7839. The International Students Association presents the 2006 Culture Show Ethnos: Twilight. The show will be hosted in Cullen Auditorium Friday and Saturday. Tickets will be sold in the Campus Center’s ticket window and at the door. E-mail any comments or questions to Rolando Gutierrez at rxg04g@acu.edu. WorldWide Witness is now accepting applications for over 40 summer internships around the world. All majors are welcome. Apply online at www.worldwidewitness.org. For additional information, contact Gary Green or Wimon Walker at witness@bible. acu.edu.
Editor’s Note In Friday’s issue of the Optimist, the story “Dance, UP face SA scrutiny” has a quote which states that University Park is inhabited by mostly Presidential Scholars and athletes. However, more than 400 students live in the apartments and fewer than 100 of them are Presidential Scholars and athletes. Also, the story run in Friday’s issue is not the final version of the story. For the correct version, view the archives on www.acuoptimist.com.
Saturday
10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Ice House, Abilene’s only skating rink, opens. Day tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children. 7:50 p.m. ISA Culture Show presents Ethnos: Twilight. Tickets are $4 in advance, $5 at the door.
8:30 p.m. Jesus and the Hip Hop Prophets: Hip Hop, the Gospel and Living in a Racialized Society. Steven Moore is the guest presenter.
Announcements
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Credited Chapels remaining:
50 20
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.
ACU Police Tip of the Week Help prevent theft. Never leave backpacks or portable electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods or cameras left unattended in public places.
Volunteer Opportunities The Salvation Army needs volunteers to interview clients for Christmas assistance, verify proper documentation and determine qualification. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Salvation Army is located at 1226 Butternut St. For more information, contact Cecilia Barahona at 677-1408. Lee Elementary needs volunteers to play Scrabble with third, fourth and fifth graders every Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the cafeteria. For more information, contact Jennifer Clapp or Andy Blessing at 671-4895. YW-Care needs students with talent in athletics (all, especially football), the performing arts and any other special talent are needed to come and perform/ present their talent before elementary school aged children. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at elementary school campuses. For more information, contact Janelle Sands at 677-5321. Communities in Schools (Fannin Elementary) Volunteers
are needed to sit with a child at lunchtime to talk, give encouragement and mentor. Now through May 18, Monday through Wednesday and Friday, from 10:50 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. at Fannin Elementary. For more information, contact Sheila Ashford at 675-8659. Operation Thanksgiving needs volunteers for lunch being served on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, at the Abilene Civic Center. This event is hosted by the Veteran`s Service Office. If you can help, be at the north side of the Civic Center by 10:30 a.m., serving will begin at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Gary Pogrant at 674-1328. Contact ahead of time is not necessary. Ice Skating Coming to Abilene. Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of ways with the outdoor ice skating rink that will be coming to Abilene Saturday through Jan. 13, which will benefit Habitat for Humanity. If you are interested in helping, contact the Volunteer Center in the Bean Sprout.
Performers steel show with drum ensemble n Students played in a steel drum ensemble in Cullen Auditorium on Monday evening to perform music derived from the island of Trinidad. By SHARON RAPELJE STUDENTS REPORTER
The percussion ensemble performed Monday night in a steel drum performance in Cullen Auditorium. The concert is performed each semester by the percussion ensemble class, a class required for students who want to be in the band. The class is for no credit but serves as a practice time for the group. Nathan Lambert, senior graphic design major from San Antonio, said he first became interested after hearing the class play for the student body
in Chapel. Lambert said he has participated in the steel drum band for three years and they need the concerts to pay for the upkeep of the drums that need to be tuned each year. Dr. Allen Teel, associate professor of percussion and world music, said it derives from the island of Trinidad where the allied forces came to refuel their ships during World War II. The fuel was kept in 55-gallon barrels that Trinidadians turned into drums once they were discarded. While Trinidadians experimented with various types of musical instruments made from discarded metal, objects during the early 20th century, steel drums as we know them today developed in the 1940s. E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu
Police Log Edited for space
Monday 11/06/2006 07:41 am Incomplete 911 at McDonald Hall, misdial 08:08 am Removed bicycle from Edwards Lot for roofing company 09:29 am Unlocked vehicle at Sikes Lot 10:55 am Unlocked Bible Building 12:39 pm Report of suspicious subjects at University Park Apartments, located two subjects with landscaping company 15:25 pm Booted vehicle in Teague Lot for citations and unable to identify owner 16:30 pm Unlocked vehicle off campus 17:30 pm Removed boot from vehicle at Teague Lot 19:30 pm Unlocked vehicle at Mabee/Edwards Lot 20:04 pm Unlocked from at Foster Science Building 21:50 pm Theft of vehicle/gator at Crutcher Scott Field, case #06-212 Tuesday 11/07/2006 02:00 am Checked Business Building 07:40 am Traffic stop at 2500 Judge Ely for speeding 07:49 am Traffic stop at 2500 Judge Ely for speeding 07:57 am Traffic stop at 2500 Judge Ely for speeding 08:00am Traffic stop at 2500 Judge Ely for speeding 12:35 pm Assisted Abilene PD with disturbance at Ambler & Church 14:12 pm Medical emergency at Foster Science building, two workers burned, transported to Hendrick Hospital 15:10 pm Criminal Mischief report at Teague Lot, case #06-217 16:40 pm Unlocked vehicle at Nelson Lot 16:55 pm Hit and run accident at Powell Fitness Center, case #06215 17:25 pm Vehicle accident at 900 En 16th, case #06-216 20:02 pm Unlocked vehicle at Gardner Lot 22:20 pm Noise violation at Gibson, band playing outside, advised to shut down Wednesday 11/08/2006 07:53 am Traffic stop at EN 18th & Campus Court for disregarding stop sign 13:18 pm Traffic stop at Griffith & EN 10th for speeding 14:10 pm Medical emergency at Bennett Gym, case # 06-219 14:43 pm Assisted Abilene PD on a disturbance, 1300 Washington, unable to locate. 18:53 pm Jumpstart vehicle at University Park Apartments
20:30 pm Locked Moody Coliseum and Gibson Thursday 11/09/2006 01:28 am Assault at University Park Apartments, case #06-221 05:00 am Released subject from the elevator at Campus Center 15:00 pm Traffic stop at College & Campus Court reference to suspicious subject 15:39 pm Burglar alarm at McKinzie Hall, no problem alarm reset 17:00 pm Stolen bicycle at Campus Center, case #06-223 19:35 pm Theft report at Campus Center, case #06-224 Friday 11/10/2006 03:00 am Vehicle accident, Lunsford Trail at Teague Blvd. Vehicle stuck in mud. Subject arrested for public intoxication, case #06-225 04:00 am Incomplete 911 at Crutcher Scott Field, checked all okay 11:25 pm Unlocked vehicle at Chilis on Hwy 351 16:35 pm Criminal Mischief at Moody Coliseum, case #06-228 Saturday 11/11/2006 01:30 am Vehicle accident at EN 16th & Westheimer 02:44 am Report of shots fired at 600 EN 16th, contacted subject no weapon located 06:45 am Briefing at the Station 08:30 am Gave directions to visitors at Bible Building 14:24 pm Incomplete 911 at Edwards Hall, misdial all okay 14:35 pm Unlocked room at Administration Building 20:33 pm Vehicle accident at Big Purple Lot case #06-229 21:28 pm Unlocked vehicle at Gardner Lot 22:08 pm Loud music at University Park Apartments Building 8, unable to locate noise. 23:28 pm Loud party at 600 EN 23rd, advised resident to turn down music Sunday 11/12/2006 03:07 am Fire alarm at Library, building checked no fire, alarm reset 11:15 am Gave access to Chapel on the Hill 12:54 pm Unlocked vehicle at University Park Lot 14:10 pm Incomplete 911 at Elmer Gray Stadium, checked no one near phone 16:30 pm Assisted motorist at EN 10th & Loop 322 21:47 pm Checked in guns for safekeeping at the Station
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, December 1, 2006
Page 3
Feast of Sharing to entertain community with food, live music n Abilene’s second annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing will be conducted on Tuesday to feed about 6,000 hungry people and entertain them with live music. By PATRICK YGNACIO Student Reporter
The second annual H-EB Feast of Sharing will take place Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center; 1,400 pounds of glazed ham, 1,200 pounds of mashed potatoes and 80 gallons of gravy will be available for consumption. The dinner will be open to the entire Abilene community and hosted by hundreds of volunteers. The Feast of Sharing takes place in numerous communities in Texas and Mexico and are part of H-E-B’s continuous effort to combat hunger. The dinner will feature live music entertainment for all the
guests and their families. Six hundred volunteers ers Big Sisters, United Way of Last year 5,250 people were will be involved in presenting Abilene and the Chamber of fed at Feast of Sharing, said the dinner, said Dr. Thomas Commerce. As of Monday afMendy Huddleston, local H-E- Kim, distinguished professor ternoon, Huddleston said all B team leader admin and co- of economics at Hardin-Sim- the necessary volunteer posichair of the Feast of Sharing mons University and member tions had been met. Committee. At least 6,000 are of this year’s Feast of Sharing “Everybody that I’ve talked expected to attend this year. steering committee. In addi- to has been really looking forHuddleston said the food tion to preparing the plates, ward to it; they have shown up supply and in a huge way preparavolunteering,” “It was just awesome to see the whole community tions are Huddleston made possaid. “People pulling together in one place.” sible by two started calling Mendy Huddleston, co-chair of H-E-B’s Feast of Sharing Committee H-E-B trailin immediateer trucks, ly; they had eiwhich will ther heard of it arrive at the Civic Center on volunteers will be responsible or were a part of it last year.” Sunday. Huddleston said one for greeting, seating and serv“The community’s response truck will be delivering all ing the attendants. Other has been overwhelmingly posithe food and the other will volunteers will help with a tive in expressions of gratitude serve as a “mobile kitchen” children’s activity area fea- to H-E-B for its willingness to in which all the food for the turing coloring books and an put on this kind of massive efdinner will be cooked. Certi- appearance by Santa Claus. fort,” Kim said. “We’ve heard fied chefs that travel with the Among the volunteers will be many people say that this is trucks will begin cooking the members from various orga- one of the best things that hapevening they arrive. nizations such as Big Broth- pen in Abilene.”
‘Homer’ show to benefit Hendrick n Student band Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys will team up with Hendrick Home for Children and play Christmas songs to benefit teens.
be Christmas stories and refreshments. “Our whole motivation behind this is to benefit an organization in town that is doing a lot of good for chilBy JOHNNY BAUTISTA dren,” Holt said. “Growing Student Reporter up in a functional family, I Many Christmas fundcan’t imagine not having a raisers focus on providing family, and I can’t imagine toys for young children. what these kids are going This year Homer Hiccolm & through. I hope that by dothe Rocketboys has teamed ing this, we can bring joy to up with Hendrick Home for those kids who might not Children to host “Homer have as much joy as I do or for the Holidays: Toys for any ACU student.” Teens.” The Hendrick staff eThe benefit will be at 8:45 mailed the band and said, p.m. in the “Thank you Bean Sprout, so much for and music remember“We want to be able to benefit the community will start at ing our kids. and stand for something much more about 9:15 We have 29 important than music.” p.m. There teenage boys is no price and girls. Mitch Holt, senior print journalism major from Memphis, Tenn. for admisThe home sion, but the provides band and Christmas Hendrick strongly suggest Hendrick Home for Children for them, but when the combringing gifts for teens be- and asked if the band could munity helps out it really tween the ages of 13 and host a benefit for the youth helps with our children’s 18. of the home. self esteem.” Mitch Holt, senior print This isn’t the first time Several items of need journalism major from Homer Hiccolm & the Rock- for Hendrick teens are perMemphis, Tenn., said orga- etboys has teamed up with fumes, body lotions, jewelnizations often have “Toys Hendrick. Last year, the ry, earrings, girls and boys for Tots,” and many of Hen- band participated in a simi- socks, disposable cameras, drick’s teenagers end up be- lar benefit as part of Star- watches, cologne, Chrising overlooked. That is why bucks Coffee’s “A Not So tian CDs and DVDs, board they decided to focus on Silent Night.” games, AA and AAA battergetting gifts for teenagers. The band will perform ies and gift cards to movies “This isn’t going to be about 10 Christmas songs and fast food restaurant. just another concert,” Holt and encourages the audisaid. “As a band, we love ence to sing along. The playing at ACU, but we don’t night won’t be filled with want to do the same thing just music; there will also E-mail Bautista at: optimist@acu.edu
Last year Kim served as a greeter for the Feast of Sharing. Kim said he especially enjoyed seeing the expressions of gratitude on people’s faces as they arrived. Huddleston recalled the scene from the balcony in the Civic Center as the crowd enjoyed its dinner at last year’s Feast of Sharing. “It was very moving for me to see everybody from military to elderly, homeless and college students,” Huddleston said. “We just saw everyone there, and it was just awesome to see the whole community pulling together in one place.” The Feast of Sharing Dinners are the highlight of H-EB’s ongoing work to combat hunger, according to the H-E-B Web site. The tradition began in Laredo and Corpus Christi in 1989 and has expanded
in the years since it began. Twenty-seven communities throughout Texas and Mexico now take part in the dinners, which provide holiday meals to the hungry, the needy and the lonely.
information for H-E-B Feast of sharing n Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Abilene Civic Center n Number of attendees last year: 5,250 n Number of expected attendees this year: 6,000 n Number of volunteers: 600 n Glazed ham: 1,400 lbs n Mashed potatoes: 1,200 lbs n Gravy: 80 gallons n More food will be offered. E-mail Ygnacio at: optimist@acu.edu
Here comes winter
over and over. We want to be able to benefit the community and stand for something much more important than music.” Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys will play an allChristmas song set and began practicing in early November, originally planning to have a normal Christmas show but later decided to try to use that show for a good cause. Philip Ellis, drummer for Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys and junior business major from Van, contacted
brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ashley Brunette, freshman journalism major from Georgetown, and Brad Walker, freshman management major from Kingwood, make a snowman outside the Campus Center Thursday.
Page 4
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Third Rock: Business overhaul Continued from page 1
cake. Inside the store, small sporadically placed screens feature music videos, football games and edited movies or television shows. “If you have three dollars, you can have ice cream,” Smith said. This is roughly the same price as Cold Stone Creamery, where you can
get a small ice cream for $3.24 plus tax. Homemade ice cream flavors include banana, oatmeal cookie, peanut butter and cinnamon. New seasonal drinks include gingerbread, pumpkin pie and candy cane lattes. Consumers can get any ice cream flavor with a mix-in, which is a variety of candy, brownies
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Mitchell’s Biblical interpretation
or syrup mixed with any choice of ice cream. Consumer Robert McCall, junior youth and family ministry major from Austin, said he prefers “mint ice cream with crunch bar … it’s powerful.”
E-mail Potter at: optimist@acu.edu
Service: Last of semester Continued from page 1
on Grape Street and Hickory Street painting the Hendrick Friendship Houses. University Seminar classes also worked together at the Habitat for Humanity ice skating rink, Harrell said. “We were able to help so many in the neighborhood,” Harrell said. While Harrell said Service Saturdays could use more student volunteers, she said all of the Service Saturdays this semester were a complete success. Some students worked this weekend’s Service Saturday on their own, without being a part of a student organization or class. Courtney Holden, freshman Christian ministry major from Belton, went to her first Service Saturday, she said because she just wanted to. “I felt good after I did it,” Holden said. “I could have been sleeping, but I was doing something that was good.” This was Holden’s first Service Saturday and her
first time acting as a site coordinator. As coordinator, Holden made sure everyone had a ride to her site and actually showed up to work on Saturday. Of the eight students signed up to help, five in her group showed up ready to work. Holden and her group worked at a nearby house where an older couple needed help in cleaning their home. The group cleaned light fixtures and mattresses and did other little things that many students take for granted, Holden said. “It may not seem like a big deal to us, but it is to them,” she said. Her group spent a little more than an hour cleaning for the couple. “We didn’t even do that much. It’s just things that needed to be done,” she said. Veronica Smith, sophomore middle school math and science major from Plano and co-chair of the SALT Service Saturday committee, was also a site coordinator this weekend. Smith, with eight
other students, visited and played Bingo with residents at the Northern Oaks Nursing Home. As co-chair of Service Saturday, Smith worked with other committee cochairs in the student organization to plan and publicize the event on campus. She also touched base with the sites where students were working and made sure the amount of student workers needed matched the number of students signed up for a work site. “A lot of students get to go out and most that went out enjoyed themselves,” Smith said. Service Saturday is a program that offers students a variety of organized opportunities to volunteer on specified days, according to the SALT Web site. Students will have a chance to serve during next semester’s Service Saturdays.
KATIE GAGER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Margaret Mitchell, professor of New Testament and early Christian literature in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, speaks at the 20th annual Carmichael-Walling Lectures on Thursday.
GER: New courses meant to challenge Continued from page 1
E-mail Coates at: optimist@acu.edu
final changes will be made during Christmas break in time for the February vote so the new curriculum is ready for registration and faculty teaching the new courses will have time to prepare during summer break for the new courses. Members of the General Education Review Committee shared with faculty why they liked the new plan. “The integrated courses is the most innovative idea of the entire program. I don’t know how we’ll do everything yet, but it is a neat idea that challenges faculty to get outside of their field and learn something new,” said Dr. Wendell Willis, associate professor of Arrington Bible, ministry and missions. Dr. David Gotcher, chair of the Sociology and Social Work Departments, said he likes the curriculum changes for a different reason. “I like this notion of
cultural competence,” he said. “As students become more global, it is important to realize that different groups have different traditions. We need to teach them to recognize those differences and get along.” Dr. Jeff Arrington, as-
important to their major. “General education is a foundation for all majors,” Shankle said. “It is not something to get done before your real major courses.” Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university, gave the general education
“This curriculum can challenge the students to stronger intellectual and spiritual growth than what they are currently experiencing.” Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university
sociate dean of Campus Life and co-chair of the GER committee, said with this new curriculum, students would be introduced to higher expectations through the capstone courses. The capstone courses are courses that a student will take one time each year over a four-year period. “Over four years, the student is pressed to converge their discipline and faith into one discussion,” he said. The mindset behind the general education course changes is that students don’t view general education courses as
curriculum his approval. “The president and I commend and fully support the proposed curriculum,” he said. “A liberal education is meant to help prepare students for life through the career they choose. This curriculum can challenge the students to stronger intellectual and spiritual growth than what they are currently experiencing. We expect this curriculum to substantially enhance the majors of this institution.”
E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
MOLDOVA
Page 5
Moldova: Student comes to ACU for education, God to watch her grow and to baptize her and watch her faith grow afterwards,” Watson said. He said she didn’t talk during class very much, but wasn’t afraid to ask questions afterwards when something was weighing on her. “I know one of the things she is hungry for is being able to learn more.” Pruteanu said her favorite aspect of God’s love is “the way He forgives us and the way that everything is possible with him,” she said. “Each of us has a purpose for him, we don’t have to conform.” Her newfound ability to not conform was tested as she returned to Moldova.
Going Home
emily smith STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Before coming she said, “I thought of Texas as a plain place, like a desert with cactuses and cowboys. I was thinking I was going to live on a ranch with cows and stuff. I’m not really a big fan of cows.” Now she knows there’s more to Texas than the ranches. ”People are more casual here,” Pruteanu said. She likes that because “I’m a free spirit and I like to do what I want. People aren’t going to judge you.” She already spoke the language, as well as Russian and Romanian, but Pruteanu wanted to learn about the culture. Coming from the poorest nation in Europe, Pruteanu was eager to see the rest of America’s story. “You watch it in movies and everyone has money, cool cars and listens to hip hop,” Pruteanu said. “I just wanted to see what the real America is like.” Though differences in the standard of living in her hometown and that of Dallas were apparent, Pruteanu wasn’t too shocked. “I’m very flexible and adjustable. People get used to good things really quick.” She does notice some things that aren’t as common at home. Here “people have two cars for one family, drive everywhere, eat out all the time.” She sees the wealth around her, but it’s not a part of her life. Part of that is because of the family she lived with; they were more about substance and what God saw as important. Pruteanu lived with Tracy Buckelew and her family from August of 2004 until June of 2005. Buckelew said Pruteanu fit in well with the family and became like another daughter to her, another sister for the Buckelew girls. “They give each other a hard time like sisters, but I don’t know that they ever fought. I was just like a mom to her,” Buckelew said. Buckelew said she remembers the first time Pruteanu tried to drive. “She was driving on the left side of the yellow stripe,” Buckelew said. “And she liked to go fast, on the wrong side of the road.” Of all the customs Pruteanu had to get used to, Buckelew said hugging was new. “She didn’t like to hug when she came, that was foreign to her. I think that was part of falling in love with our church, finding out that Christians don’t even know you and they love you,” Buckelew said.
Knowing God, Enjoying God One of the Christians who showed Pruteanu love is her youth minister from the Maypearl church of Christ, Rodney Watson. As Watson taught the youth about God, Pruteanu listened attentively and began to learn things she never knew before. “You could always tell she was listening, she was absorbing, she was hungry for more,” Watson said. “I think her church there in Moldova was more of a social thing.” Indeed, the Eastern Orthodox Church she was raised in was very different from Maypearl. In Moldova, Pruteanu got up early so she could make it by 8 a.m. The expected dress for women was a skirt and head covering of some sort. She had to stand or sit on the floor for hours every time she went, and
many times she didn’t understand what was being said. Pruteanu said, “When I came here I went to a church of Christ and I was like, ‘Wow! It’s so liberal!’” The culture she lived in was religious and claims there is a God, so she prayed from time to time but never saw answers. When life isn’t all good, she said, it is hard to want to look for God. “For years I wondered what God was doing with my life if he was there.” In Ungenhi, Pruteanu said worship service usually meant listening to a choir sing, praying, tithing and listening to scripture often read in Slavic, a language only the older adults understood. “Here they explain it; there they just read it,” she said. As she explains it, the Eastern Orthodox Church is similar to Catholicism. Lighting candles is a staple of service and in place of the Catholic statues, icons or paintings adorn the ornate church buildings. One belief the Eastern Orthodox Church holds is the church building as a refuge for people to take solace. Displays of icons reflect the belief that images symbolize more than the identity of the person depicted. Buckelew said Pruteanu’s church at home seemed more concerned with being respectful to God and following the traditions; at Maypearl, Pruteanu received a lot of attention and was able to make friends. Here in America, Pruteanu said, “You have a church family, they care about you and you care about them.” Watson said Pruteanu was an integral part of the youth group at Maypearl, but he felt that at home Pruteanu never connected very well with church. “People just fell in love with Ana,” he said. “Ana is one of those people that just makes people feel good; she just has that knack.” “She craved our church,” Buckelew said. “It was something she never experienced before.” Something she had never witnessed before was the singing at Maypearl. “It’s more fun here because you can actually clap,” Pruteanu said. “Worshipping God should be something you enjoy, not something you have to do.” At Maypearl, Pruteanu helped teach 2-3 year olds in Bible class. One Sunday morning she had to teach the class alone and much to her surprise, the story was about David and Bathsheba. “I was like, ‘I’m never going to teach kids again!’ Yeah, the next week I taught again.” Teaching the kids helped Pruteanu learn more about God herself. She began to notice the things they taught in church actually happening in her life. “It helps to have Christians around you, they encourage you,” she said. “If you were by yourself you’d probably give up.” Ana spoke about God from the first day she arrived, Buckelew said. “There was a real powerful message one Sunday and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said she wanted to be baptized,” Buckelew said. Pruteanu was a bit surprised by the process though, Buckelew said. “She didn’t know it was total submersion.” Pruteanu decided to be baptized on Easter Sunday, Watson said. “It was a privilege
After 11 months in America, Pruteanu went back to Moldova for her senior year of high school. Things had changed, she said. Before Pruteanu left for America, she felt trapped in a role socially that she couldn’t get out of. Her friends, she said, wouldn’t have believed her if she said she wanted to change and that who she acted like wasn’t really who she was. In Moldova she played sports, spent time with friends and danced. She had plenty of friends to spend time with and she felt like her life was fulfilling at times, but after living in America and finding out more about God, she began to change. “People didn’t expect you to change that much in a year and then you come back with all the views of the world, new ideas and a different way of doing things,” Pruteanu said. When she went home people seemed uncomfortable with the new views she had. Relationships change when you are gone for a long time, she said, and you feel like you don’t fit in anymore, you don’t relate anymore with them. The main reason she didn’t relate anymore was because she changed while she was in Texas her junior year. In Moldova she lived a “normal life”, she said, but was around things she knew weren’t really helping her in life. “I’ve been to clubs and seen things- seen fights and shootings- at an age when I shouldn’t have.” Coming to Texas presented her with the opportunity to try out a new lifestyle; she knew one way of living in Moldova and she wanted to try something new in America. Over time, her life has started to reflect different choices. Her mindset became: “That was my life before here, now I can try another path,” she said. Half a year went by before she decided to take on the new lifestyle she was learning about. Being isolated from her old life is what caused the change, she said. However, when she returned to Moldova she went from having “a bunch of wild friends to having almost no friends.” After her senior year, Pruteanu had to decide whether she would stay in Moldova for college or return to America. Before returning to Moldova, she went to ACU for a college visit and chose it over Oklahoma Christian University, the other school she visited, because ACU had an international business program. Before she returned to Moldova, a family at Maypearl told Pruteanu they would sponsor her should she decide to go to school at ACU. After being in Moldova for a while, she thought about coming back to Texas, but didn’t know if the offer still stood. “We were in touch with her while she was back in Moldova,” the benefactor said. She had a hard time believing that offer was actually real. “I e-mailed her right away and said the offer was real.” “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Pruteanu said. “I wouldn’t have had the money to do this in my lifetime. I was like, ‘why not?’” What made coming back to America difficult was leaving her family. She was under the impression she would not see her family until she graduated, but she has since learned she will be able to go home and visit. The easiest part, she said, was “knowing I’m gonna be fine because it’s a Christian school.” The idea of going to a Christian school is actually what helped Pruteanu decide to come. “That’s why I came to ACU, because it is Christian. It is the only way I would grow spiritually.”
All over the map Watching her ride her bike to school, it is difficult to tell Pruteanu is from a former communist country. Her fashionably short hair reveals more of the expressive faces she makes. A former member of drama clubs, Pruteanu said people don’t have to talk to her to know what she’s thinking. “People don’t need to hear me speak, just read my face.” Many people Pruteanu has met are curious about her Romanian accent and ask where she is from. When the answer comes, so do more questions. Where is Moldova? Is that a ‘real’ country? “Most of the people ask you where you are from, where Moldova is,” Pruteanu
said. “And some people actually ask if it is on the map.” She respects American patriotism but is proud of her country. “I understand people don’t know where my country is, it’s small,” she said. However, sometimes she has to try not to lose patience with people who don’t seem to respect her country. “When you are away from your country you become more patriotic just because it is yours and there’s no one else to represent it,” Pruteanu said. “You are an ambassador for your country, kind of.” Before coming to ACU, Pruteanu spent three weeks with the Buckelew family, whom she calls two to three times a week. “I can see a huge difference in her since she’s returned,” Buckelew said. “To me, it was a huge humbling experience for her to go home and not have the same friends. She came back a quieter spirit.” After her time with the Buckelews, Pruteanu headed to Abilene to settle in and begin her second round of education in Texas. Now she would find a new community to live in, a new family of friends. Anneliese Middlebrook, sophomore nutrition major from Dallas, knows Pruteanu better than most people at ACU. The roommates get along very well, Middlebrook said, and spend plenty of time together, whether eating together or shopping together. On a weekly basis they go to a Bible study together. The Bible study consists of a group of about 13 people and for Pruteanu it is a non-negotiable part of her week. She has even scheduled classes around so her Thursday nights aren’t interfered with. “She’s made it a priority,” Middlebrook said. “She’s been every time,” Middlebrook said. “She enjoys it because she’s making friends with all the people here.”
A Model Future As her college career takes off, Pruteanu has more focus this time around in America. Living and learning here isn’t a game like it seemed to her in high school, when she didn’t take it as seriously as other exchange students did. “Now it is a choice that will influence my future. You don’t want to mess up your future.” Though she is taking it more seriously, she still finds time to have fun. She is a member of the International Students’ Association and is in the Ethnos Culture Show as a dancer in the Vietnamese fan dance. “Fan dance is very graceful and it is something you wouldn’t really learn otherwise just because we don’t have a dance class here at Abilene, but we probably should.” Pruteanu said she was raised in a culture where she had to fight for herself. At ACU she is discovering that she doesn’t have to do that; she is finding community with people from all around the global village. Every Friday at 6 p.m. she joins around 50 people regularly at the home of Art Green, a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ, for an international dinner. Students from many countries all around the world eat a variety of cultural foods and fellowship. Afterwards, a devotional begins that usually includes discussion with the students explaining customs from their home cultures. “I like the people who go there,” she said. “With some of them, that is the only time of the week when I see them.” And by ‘them’ she is referring to friends from Japan, Russia, Ukraine, China, parts of Europe and even Malaysia. “One of my good friends is Joni; she’s from Malaysia,” Pruteanu said. “A person from Moldova and a person from Malaysia, it’s pretty cool.” As the semester nears the end, Pruteanu reflects on how she has liked it at ACU; her list is not short. “I love my roommate very much. We became very good friends. I’m thankful for all the friends I’ve made. I like my classes, I like my teachers. I like the dorm I’m in. I like ISA because you get to know all the international students and they are all really cool in their own way.” She even likes the Bean. She said she has learned a lot of new things in Bible class and Bible studies and Chapel, but it hasn’t all been “bubbly excitement.” She is certain she has grown, but there have still been hard times. Through the hard times, Pruteanu keeps praying. Freedom to be who she wants to be is important to Pruteanu. At ACU, she said, life is different. “At home people have these assumptions of who I am and what I do because they knew me for years and years. Hanging out with new people, they are wanting to make friends, nobody will be like, ‘You didn’t used to be like that.’” She doesn’t want to be judged, especially based on assumptions. “I want people to know me for who I am.”
E-mail Josey at: jdj03e@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday Optimist
Page 6
November 15, 2006
Church leaders are humans with human problems The issue:
As students at a Christian university, we are told we should think critically, globally and missionally by the time we graduate and enter the world where we will make a difference. Although this difference will take place while we are at our jobs and in our families, it also means in our churches. Often, in preparing to leave Abilene though, we look only to how we can make a difference in our career path and leave the task of being the future church’s leadership to the Biblical text, youth and family ministry, and children’s ministry majors. This can’t be the case anymore. Everyone is called to lead the church, whether that happens in a megachurch, a back road country church or even a church that meets in a house. The question is, what should a church leader look like?
Those in church leadership struggle with human issues, just like many in the congregations they lead.
Our view:
All Christians should be leaders and keep an eye out for those who need someone to talk to. Elevating church leaders to a higher status creates a pressure for such leaders.
The solution:
Leadership can’t be taught in the classroom and is something that should constantly be developed by all Christians.
More than Men and women in leadership positions in our rior because a week ago, they are in a churches are humans, like the people in the Reverend position of Ted Haggard power, and congregations they lead. was fired congregafrom New tions and Life Church many question the sincerChristians in Colorado Springs, Colo., ity of the letter, it men- should be careful not elea mega-church with more tions several mistakes Hag- vate their leaders on a pedthan 14,000 members, af- gard made that could have estal that separates them ter a male acquaintance helped him fight his battle from the congregation. made allegations that Hag- against temptation. Haggard also writes: “The gard was involved in a In his letter Haggard public person I was wasn’t homosexual relationship writes, “Through the years, a lie; it was just incomplete. with him and had a meth- I’ve sought assistance in a When I stopped communiamphetamine habit. This variety of ways, with none cating about my problems, was a church scandal that of them proving to be effec- the darkness increased and shook both Christians and tive in me. Then, because finally dominated me. As a non-Christians to have a of pride, I began deceiving result, I did things that were church leader as promi- those I love the most be- contrary to everything I benent as Haggard admit cause I didn’t want to hurt lieve.” to a lifestyle he preached or disappoint them.” Leaders need to be held against so adamantly from Men and women in lead- accountable to someone. the pulpit. ership positions in our It wasn’t until Haggard In a letter read to his churches are humans, like stopped talking with othcongregation the Sunday the people in the congrega- ers about his struggle that after he admitted to a “sex- tions they lead. They just he began to slip into “sinually immoral” life, Hag- have a different calling ful” habits. As a leader, be gard asked for the congre- in life to spread the good prepared to talk with others gation’s forgiveness and news from a pulpit. Lead- about struggle in your life. love for the sinful lifestyle ers need to guard them- Find a group of people you he gave in to. Although selves against feeling supe- trust that can help keep you
Cole Williams
Let Loose
HD reveals abundance of beauty Nothing would be better than marrying a fat woman. This is what my television told me. I used to think television was a waste of time. I still do, but there is a little slice of redempFour Word tion in the Letter Pt. II form of the Denton Discovery Channel in Josey High Definition. Thanks to Discovery HD, it matters not what is on the screen; whatever is projected is captivating. You can see things better than in real life. All the dots assumed to be flies in any TV show or movie? In HD you can count each of the thousands of lenses on their eyes. So when I walked by the living room the other day, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the television. Today, my TV was telling me I would be learning about the Hima tribe in Uganda. To the Hima, big is beauti-
Single man after single man told the cameras what they were looking for in a wife: “I hope that I find a fat wife,” one man said.
ful. Fat is fantastic. Quantity is quality. To them, Kirstie Alley was more attractive before she lost that weight. The Hima brides have such an abundance of beauty that beauty is too small a word to describe them; try pulchritudinous. I know this because I watched Fat Fiancees; that’s the name of the show about the bountiful Hima brides. I am not making this up. This is what I learned from the show. I am certain there is more to this people, but Discovery was emphasizing this aspect. Unlike American culture, the Hima achieve plentitude without the McDonald’s value menu. I watched a young woman sit in a hut and chug gourds of milk under the stern eye of her grandmother. In a calm and quiet voice, the grandmother would speak to the lactose-embrac-
ing young woman, “Drink your milk. If you don’t, I’ll beat you.” Then the grandmother gave her a slight tap with the stick and turned to smile at the camera. The girl, looking distraught and quite full, kept drinking. I don’t know the exact amount that fits in the gourds, but they seem to hold a lot of liquid. Grandmother forced the young woman to drink about seven gourds a day. It seems like the Hima women spend as much time getting fatter as most women do trying to avoid it. Discovery also gave me a glimpse into the mind of the men seeking women. Single man after single man told the cameras what they were looking for in a wife: “I hope that I find a fat wife,” one man said. “There is no such thing as a fat woman who is ugly. Just as cows are not ugly if they are fat, the
same goes for women. In fact, women and cows are a lot alike.” What’s so cool about a woman worth her weight in gold if she’s only a size six? Why not a wife worth her weight in cows? The show went on to explain that a man’s status is improved by having a great wife. And by great I mean it like the Titanic was a ‘great’ boat. I wonder if, in their culture, the young men are told to look past the physical, because “one day your young and beautiful wife might get old and lose all that weight.” The nice thing about nonfiction TV is I usually think about what I watched and how it applies to my life. I’m not sure how learning about Ugandan tribes and their views of beauty helps me become a better person, but I guess expanding my horizons is good in and of itself sometimes. Leave it to the Hima; they know a thing or two about expanding things. E-mail Josey at: jdj03e@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
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
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Keep Christ within religious traditions As if everyone read- of the draw. ing this column didn’t alHow can someone who ready know, next week we does not believe in God celebrate Thanksgiving. possibly be thankful for With it any of these things? At l o o m i n g best, they can feel reon the not- lieved that they aren’t so-distant worse off, but that’s h o r i z o n , about it. people are The world has cheaponce again ened the celebration of asking the Thanksgiving because a g e o l d it has no other choice. A Ripple in question. Because they cannot the Pond “ W h a t comprehend the depth are you of what it means to be Jeremy t h a n k f u l thankful to someone Pond for?” other than “their lucky Before anyone stops stars,” those who do reading, fearing yet an- not believe in God have other person boring them replaced Thanksgiving to tears with half-forced with nothing more than a gratitude for things like meaningless festival givfamily and food, rest as- ing them an opportunity sured, that’s not where to gorge themselves once I’m going. a year. Tragically, nearly evSadly, Christians have ery Chrisbought into tian holiday it. Oh sure, has been so we give lip twisted and service to contorted God, but at The world has by the modour core, cheapened the ern secular how many meaning of world that of us are Christ can really doThanksgiving hardly be ing nothing because it has seen in any more than no other of them anythanking more. our lucky choice. Christmas stars that is now X-mas we aren’t or even just a worse off? “Happy HoliWe sit day.” Santa Claus has re- just one week out of placed Christ, and cheap that day. Soon, we will toys have replaced the be sitting around a table gift of eternal life. weighted down with one Easter is now about a huge turkey and a thoubunny. That’s right, a rab- sand and one different bit has replaced Christ. sides, and someone will Those oh-so-scrump- ask, “What is everyone tious Cadbury Eggs now thankful for?” dim our ability to recall I challenge everyone the death and resurrec- reading this; do not let tion of our Savior. this be just another year And Thanksgiving, the of luck or lip service. This word itself is almost a time, when the question is misnomer these days. posed think for a few minTo be thankful for some- utes not about what you thing implies our rec- are thankful for, but to ognition that someone Whom you are thankful. has done something for us. For so much of the world, things like family, life status and health, are E-mail Pond at: all determined by nothjlp04b@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu ing more than the luck
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
accountable in all aspects of your life. And listen to others. Be aware that no one is perfect and everyone will struggle in life. He also writes: “I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I’ve been warring against it all of my adult life.” As a leader, be honest with yourself. Know your limits and weaknesses, and know that you believe in a God that will fight with you through your temptations and pick you up when you fall. Leadership qualities are not things you can necessarily learn in class before you leave ACU; they are characteristics that make up the heart and soul of a person, and they’re the characteristics that will lead our churches.
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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Page 7
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
SPORTS JUMPS
Basketball: Men’s loss offers chance to learn, build Continued from page 8
unrelenting shooting 57 percent, including ten threepoint shots. UNM never gave the Wildcats a chance to catch their breath. J.R. Giddens, former point guard for the University of Kansas, once again led the Lobos offensively with 21 points followed by perimeter shooter Darren Prentice with 16 points. Leading scorers for the Wildcats were forward Philip Brooks with 13 points and forward Marcos Hubner with 10. Both leading scorers came off the bench. “We played a tough game. They have a good team. We can learn a lot from them,” Hubner said. The game commemorated the 40th anniversary of the University of New Mex-
ico’s historic home court, the Pit. ACU was the first school to challenge UNM in the Pit when it first opened its doors in 1966. UNM is ranked by the NCAA as one of the best home court teams in the league. In addition to being picked as fifth in the Mountain West Conference, UNM is projected to make it to the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. The Wildcats’ regular season begins with two games in a row this weekend in the ACU Classic. On Friday the Wildcats will go up against Hillsdale Baptist, and on Saturday the team will challenge Concordia. Look for a preview of both of these games on Friday.
E-mail Penfield at: optimist@acu.edu
brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Libero Liz Snoddy digs a ball against St. Edwards on Oct. 20. The volleyball team finished its season on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Southwest regional tournament. ACU lost to regional and Lone Star Conference champions West Texas A&M.
Season ends with loss to WTAM n The ACU volleyball team finished its season at 18-11 after losing to West Texas A&M in three games in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament on Thursday. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
KATIE GAGER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Forward Cam Holson lays up a ball during practice on Oct. 31. The Wildcats lost in an exhibition match to the University of New Mexico on Friday and will begin their season at the ACU Classic on Friday.
Despite ending the season with a loss to West Texas A&M, Kellen Mock is pleased with her first season as ACU’s head volleyball coach. “This was a great beginning,” Mock said. “I can’t say enough about how hard they have worked.” The ACU volleyball team finished the season at 18-11 after its three game loss to West Texas in the Southwest Regional quarterfinal match on Thursday. The loss was the Wildcats’ third-straight to West Texas and knocked
Club offers chance to compete n Todd Piersall and Daniel Townsend, presidents of the new ACU Ultimate Frisbee Club, started the team to compete against other schools in Texas. By CHRIS HANSEN Sports Writer
Ultimate Frisbee isn’t just for fun anymore. The newly formed Ultimate Frisbee Club hosts practices at the intramural fields Tuesday and Thursday nights at 9 p.m. The club has between 20 and 30 players so far and is encouraging people to join. You might think of ultimate Frisbee only as a fun game, but presidents Todd Piersall and Daniel Townsend are trying to take ultimate Frisbee at ACU to the next step. “We’re trying to offer a little more competitiveness,” Piersall said. “We want to compete against teams like the University of North Texas and do well.”
The club also faces challenges in organization, funding and learning the game. “One of our biggest concerns right now are people that are athletic and have ability,” Townsend said. “[They] don’t understand how different competitive ultimate Frisbee is from just playing a pick-up game with your friends.” “We want people to learn how to play because there is a lot of strategy in ultimate Frisbee,” Piersall said. Junior political science major Nathan McKenzie, Piersall’s roommate, is a Students’ Association representative and helped educate Piersall on how to receive funding from SA. McKenzie said Piersall is waiting a few weeks to turn in the paperwork because the appropriations committee is more generous later in the semester. Aside from asking for SA funding, the Ultimate Frisbee Club will seek other ways to
cover tournament costs and lights for practices. “We are probably going to take dues like any other club,” Piersall said. “Hopefully the dues will cover [costs].” Townsend said that the club will keep club dues low to encourage everyone to come and play. “Right now we want to encourage people to come out and not try to put a lot of pressure on them,” Townsend said. Piersall and Townsend said that there would be two teams—A and B—for different skill levels. “We don’t want to exclude anyone,” Piersall said. “Anyone who wants to play they are going to be able to play with us.” The Ultimate Frisbee Club will attend its first tournament at the University of North Texas December 2. Profits from the tournament will benefit Santa’s Helpers of Dallas. E-mail Hansen at: optimist@acu.edu
Volleyball them out of the tournament. “It’s not that we played poorly,” Mock said. “They picked up their level of play and the few times we struggled they took advantage of it.” West Texas eventually won the tournament and will move on to the Elite Eight with a 28-game winning streak. The Lady Buffs are 35-3 and won both the conference and regional tournament. “It sure makes us feel a little better that the team we lost to is going on to the Elite Eight,” Mock said. Although ACU did not win the Lone Star Conference tournament or move on as far as they did last season, Mock is pleased with the way her team played and said she would do little differently.
“We had a lot of expectations to live up to,” Mock said. “But there isn’t anything I would have changed. It will only make us stronger.” The Wildcats will lose two seniors, defensive specialist Malia Plumlee and middle blocker Nicole Killebrew, both of whom played well against West Texas A&M. Plumlee had seven digs and two aces while Killebrew recorded six kills and two blocks in the loss. Outside hitter Abbie Lowry led the Wildcats with nine kills against West Texas and finished the season with 475 kills and an average of 4.4 kills-per-game. Lowry was named the LSC Player of the Year and made the all-region team. Middle blocker Lauren Leone was second in kills with 277 and held the teams best hitting percentage at
2.87 and most blocks with 94, Setter Erica Dickenson led the team in assists with 1017, while libero Liz Snoddy led in digs with 452. ACU finished second in the Lone Star Conference behind West Texas and lost in the quarterfinals of both the LSC tournament and Southwest Regional tournament. “Our win-loss record really doesn’t show how well we truly played,” Mock said. “We went up against some tough competition and we put up a fight.” This season was the Wildcats’ eighth-consecutive winning season.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
SportsWednesday
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
ScoreBoard Standings FOOTBALL
Team
Div. 5-1 5-1 4-2 4-2 2-4 1-5 0-6
WTAM Tarleton MSU ACU Angelo St. ENMU TAMU-K
Team
Overall 10-1 6-4 9-1 8-2 3-7 3-7 3-8
VOLLEYBALL Div. 10-0 8-2 6-4 3-7 2-8 1-9
WTAMU ACU Tarleton St. TAMU-K Angelo St. ENMU
Overall 32-3 18-11 14-15 8-22 4-21 6-27
Scores Thursday VOLLEYBALL ACU 0, West Texas A&M 3
Friday MEN’S BASKETBALL New Mexico 91, ACU 54
Saturday FOOTBALL ACU 30, Midwestern State 46
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 80, Texas Wesleyan 56 (exhibition)
Upcoming Friday MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. HIllsdale Baptist, ACU Classic, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Incarnate Word, Austin, 6 p.m.
Saturday FOOTBALL ACU at West Texas A&M, Canyon, 12 p.m.
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Wildcats catch berth despite loss n The ACU football team made the NCAA Division II playoff for the first time in the program’s history despite losing its regular season closer to Midwestern State. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
The ACU football team finished its regular season with a loss, but head coach Chris Thomsen knew the season wasn’t over just yet. “I wasn’t really worried about it,” Thomsen said. “I knew we were in.” The Southwest regional committee announced Sunday that the Wildcats would play in the program’s first NCAA Division II playoffs despite losing to Midwestern State 46-30 on Saturday. “I was relieved,” running back Taber Minner said. “We’ve worked so hard and it’s paid off for us.” ACU received the last spot in the playoffs after securing the No. 6 seed in the regional rankings and will move on to play West Texas A&M in Canyon on Nov. 18. West Texas won its secondstraight Lone Star Conference championship and spot in the playoffs by claiming the No. 3 seed in region after defeating Tarleton State on Saturday. Thomsen said the level of competition ACU played against and its 8-2 overall regional record helped keep them in the top six. ACU beat out 9-2 Pittsburg State, who had one more win than the Wildcats and missed the playoffs by one spot. “We took care of business in eight ball games,” Thomsen said. “Our wins were simply against better teams.” Two of the biggest reasons the Wildcats were able move on to the postseason was their wins over West Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma. Both teams finished the season on top of their divisions in the LSC and West Texas completed its season with a conference best 10-1 record. “Anytime there is a team with 10 wins, you know they’re a good team,” Thomsen said.
brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Top: Wide receiver Jerale Badon catches a touchdown during the Wildcats’ 46-30 loss to Midwestern State on Saturday. Badon caught two touchdown passes and had 117 receiving yards. Bottom: Defensive end Jason Miller celebrates after tackling Midwestern quarterback Daniel Polk. The Wildcats made the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time despite losing to Polk and the Midwestern Mustangs.
Football In addition to ACU and West Texas, Midwestern secured its postseason position by obtaining the No. 4 seed after its win over the Wildcats. The Mustangs stamped their fourth-straight win and scored more than any other team this season against the Wildcats. Midwestern quarterback Daniel Polk, named LSC South Offensive Player of the Week, threw for four touchdowns and 205 yards, while running back Ulysses Odoms led the Mustangs in rushing with 155 yards and two touchdowns of his own. “They came out and played a great game,” said cornerback Corey Jordan. “They wanted it.” ACU quarterback Billy Malone was 25-47 and threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Two of those touchdowns were to
wide receiver Jerale Badon, who had eight catches for 117 yards. Wide receiver Chris Morris passed the century mark as well with 106 yards on eight catches. Morris also had the Wildcats’ longest reception of 32 yards.
regular season stats Total offense n 4,362 Rushing yards n 1,351 Rushing touchdowns n 22 Passing yards n 3,011 Passing touchdowns n 26 Total touchdowns n 49
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
CROSS COUNTRY ACU at NCAA II National championships
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Howard Payne, ACU Classic 8 p.m.
Exhibition prepares women for new season n The ACU women’s basketball team defeated Texas Wesleyan 80-56 in an exhibition match on Saturday.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at St. Edwards, Austin, 6 p.m.
By MICHAEL FREEMAN
n Home games listed in Italics
Online Editor
Intramural Round-up Upcoming n The intramural schedule seen on the Optimist sports page is not final and is subject to change. Any last-minute changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum.
Thursday MEN’S WATERBALL G-2 vs. GSP Danny Echols
brian schmidt CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Center Audrey Maxwell goes to the basket against Texas Wesleyan. Maxwell led the Wildcats with 18 points and five rebounds in the 80-56 exhibition in.
With the new season quickly approaching, the women’s basketball team hopes to be ready to play. And judging by Saturday’s performance, the Wildcats are ready. ACU defeated Texas Wesleyan University 80-56 in an exhibition match Saturday night in Moody Coliseum. “I thought the game this weekend gave us a good idea of where we are as a team and where we need to improve,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. ACU jumped out to an early lead and entered halftime with a 12-point lead, 36-24. Out of halftime, the Wildcats went right back to pounding the Texas Wesleyan defense, outscoring Texas Wesley-
Women’s basketball an 44-32 in the second half. Sophomore forward Kristee Davidson scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help the Wildcats to an easy victory over the Lady Rams of Texas Wesleyan. Davidson was 50 percent from the field, and her shooting performance epitomized the Wildcats’ night on the court. ACU shot for 54 percent (26-48), while Texas Wesleyan struggled and shot for only 27 percent (1865) on the night. Three other Wildcats put up big numbers in ACU’s shooting spree. Sophomore center Audrey Maxwell dropped 18 points and snatched five rebounds. Junior point guard Alex Guiton scored 13 points as well as passed out a game-high five assists. And junior forward Ashlee Barr put up 11 points. Although the Wildcats are fairly young this season, with only two
seniors on the roster, coach Lavender said that ACU has bonded well as a team. “Our team chemistry is good,” Lavender said. “It has been kind of fun coaching them. They are willing to do what it takes to win.” Because Saturday’s match was only an exhibition game for ACU, the Wildcats still have not technically played a game this year. However, the Texas Wesleyan counted Saturday’s game to its record. With the win, the Wildcats dropped the Lady Rams to 1-2 on the year. The Wildcats officially start their season on Friday when they take on the University of the Incarnate Word in Austin. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. “As long as we play good team basketball this weekend, we’ll do well,” Lavender said.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Frat 1 vs. Frat 2 Frat 3 vs. GSP-Zach Garza G-1 vs. The Steak
Online Waterball video
Watch a video about the ongoing intramural waterball season at www.acuoptimist. com. Waterball began on Nov. 6 and includes teams from men’s and women’s social clubs. For complete intramural scores and schedules visit: w w w. a c u o p t i m i s t . c o m
Cats’ lose against D-I team n The men’s basketball team lost an exhibition match to the University of New Mexico on Friday. The game was an exhibition match for the Wildcats. By BLAKE PENFIELD Sports Writer
The ACU men’s basketball team lost to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque on Friday. The 91-54 loss against the Division I UNM team marks the end of the Wildcats’ preseason. While the game was an exhibition match for ACU,
Men’s basketball it was UNM’s season opener. UNM Lobos’ starter Tony Danridge immediately set the pace for the game with a field goal that lead to an 8-0 run by the Lobos. Hitting seven of nine shots, the Lobos took a 15-3 lead. ACU’s Courtnie Ross attempted to drop anchor on UNM’s unrelenting offensive attack with a three-pointer. However, the Lobos barked back with two-consecutive three-pointers by bench player Darren Prentice.
At halftime UNM led the Wildcats 38-19, and ACU went seven for 32 in the first half. The Lobos shot 46 percent. “We came out a little tight early in the game,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “We started executing better as the game went on. Once we relaxed, we really started playing better in the second half.” While the Wildcats shot a better 12 for 19 in the second half, the Lobos were See
BASKETBALL page 7
Manning Tracker n Danieal Manning recorded two tackles in the Bears’ eighth win of the season. Chicago beat the New York Giants 38-20 on Sunday and moved to 8-1 and retained their first place standing in the NFC. Manning’s fellow rookie Devin Hester tied a NFL and team record after running back a missed field goal for a 108-yard touchdown. The Bears’ next opponent will be the New York Jets on Sunday. COURTESY OF Chicago bears