acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
Melodic Weekend, page 4
Monday, February 7, 2011
Vol. 99, No. 33
1 section, 6 pages
SNOWED IN
Heavy snow and ice shuts ACU down for four consecutive days
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
An ACU student walks across the snow-covered campus after ACU was blanketed in almost four inches of snow last week.
Students face winter weather Cancellations affect classes STAFF REPORT
Four consecutive snow days filled ACU’s campus with students enjoying winter activities like sledding, boarding, hockey and even body surfing through the ice and freezing temperatures. Tino Angadicheril, freshman chemistry major from Arlington, purchased a five-foot long roof shingle and used it to body surf down the hill behind Smith and Adams Halls. “We tied it to the back of a truck and went sliding behind it,” Angadicheril said. “It was a lot of fun until we hit a puddle and got soaked.”
Abbie Boyd, freshman elementary education major from Austin, also braved the cold. “I love the snow,” Boyd said. “I’ve been sledding and played on the soccer field in the really deep snow. In Austin, we never get anything like this.” Bobby Brown, junior biology and psychology major from Orange County, Calif., was among many students to aid stranded motorists. After returning from lunch with Patrick Casey, junior marketing major from Fort Collins, Colo.,
STAFF REPORT
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer see ICE page 4
Students push a car stuck in an icy parking lot.
Last week’s snowstorm will affect classrooms across campus long after the snow and ice melt. Inclement weather and hazardous road conditions forced the university to cancel classes for four consecutive days last week. Dr. Jeanine Varner, provost, said canceling classes for four days in a row was unprecedented “Everybody I’ve talked to doesn’t remember this happening before, even those who have been
here a long, long time,” Varner said. Varner said despite the canceled classes, no days will be added to the end of the school year or subtracted from spring break. “I think the impact is that each faculty member will have to make adjustments to his or her syllabus,” Varner said. “I don’t believe we can add any days or affect spring break because people already have plans or have bought tickets.” see WINTER page 4
WORLD
Egyptian protests impact campus community Linda Bailey Editor in Chief
Clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators turned violent in Cairo, Egypt, this week. News networks have reported seeing groups hurling stones, fire bombs and a multitude of other objects amid rapid gunfire.
Most of the ACU community only watches this news from a distance. But for ACU’s only Egyptian student, Lily Assaad, the conflict hits closer to home. Assaad, sophomore management and psychology major from Cairo, said her parents and much of her extended family, who are living in Cairo, are doing fine despite the outbreak of violence in the city.
curfew on residents, mandating that they must be in their homes between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. Initially, after hearing about the conflicts, Assaad said she was worried when she hadn’t heard from her parents. But as soon as the Internet came back on, they called her and told her they were fine, relaxing in their building. “The Lord, in crazy situations,
website
inside arts Abilene’s downtown coffee shop, Monks, is kicking off their spring concert season. Each Friday, the shop will host a different performer. page 3
Protests in Egypt erupted last month, with many Egyptians angered by the country’s poor economic conditions and President Hosni Mubarak’s plans to name his son Gamal as his successor, according to The Telegraph. Violence in Egypt escalated last week as the Egyptian government blocked Internet access in the country and imposed a
opinion The editorial board commend Dr. Schubert’s push for faculty and staff to regularly attend Monday Chapel. page 5
has always taken care of my family,” Assaad said. “When things seemed ridiculous, he saved us every time, so for nothing else but that, I’m not worried.” Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science, said the events in Egypt are momentous enough to fill a chapter see PROTESTS page 4
weather photo gallery Find more photos and video of ACU’s snow-covered campus on our website, acuoptimist.com and our Flickr account, flickr.com/ photos/acuoptimist.
Abilene Christian University
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
50° 35°
58° 16°
29° 15°
2
Campus Monday, February 7, 2011
07
Day
calendar & events
Monday
Advising period for summer courses begins
08
11 a.m. Chapel with guest speaker Michael Johnson in Moody Coliseum 1:05 p.m. Baseball vs. Incarnate Word 3 p.m. Chapel forum with Michael Johnson in Cullen Auditorium
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
11 a.m. Campus Conversations begin (locations vary across campus)
11 a.m. Chapel with guest speaker Joy Eggerichs in Moody Coliseum
5:30 p.m. Women’s basketball vs. West Texas A&M University
2 p.m. Chapel forum with Joy Eggerichs in Cullen Auditorium
10
Thursday
11 a.m. Small Group Chapels (locations vary across campus) 8:15 p.m. Freshmen Devo at Chapel on the Hill
7:30 p.m. Men’s basketball vs. West Texas A&M
Police Log Edited for space
Tuesday, Jan. 25 1 p.m. ACU Police officers received a report that five tables and 20 chairs went missing from Sikes Hall.
arrived, but the fight had ended, and the individuals had dispersed.
Saturday, Jan. 29 9:37 p.m. The Abilene Police Department requested the ACU Police DepartWednesday, Jan. 26 10:10 a.m. ACU Police re- ment handle a loud noise ceived a report of a bicy- complaint at University cle theft. An online report Park Apartments. Officers was filed to the Abilene made contact with the tenant and issued a warning. Police Department. 2:38 p.m. Someone re- 1:09 a.m. The ACU Police ported graffiti in sev- Department assisted the eral restrooms of Moody Abilene Police Department with a burglary in progress Police A Coliseum. log of theACU ACU Police Deon the 600 block of Harwell are following up with a partment’s daily activities will Street. A computer and 32possible suspect. be printed on this pageinch oftelevision were stolen theFriday, Optimist. The first Police from the residence. Jan. 28 Log appear Friday. 1:22will a.m. The Abilene Police Department re- Report all suspicious acquested assistance tivity to the ACU Police from the ACU Police Department at 674-2305. Department for a flight in progress on the 2700 block of N. Judge Ely Boulevard. ACU officers
Weekly Stats Jan. 25-Feb.1
5:30 p.m. Women’s basketball vs. Angelo State University
1 911 Call 1 Alarm Call 1 Animal Call 1 Attempt to Locate 4 Boot/Unboot Vehicles 10 Building Lock/Unlocks 30 Check Buildings 3 Criminal Mischief
7:30 p.m. Men’s basketball vs. ASU 8 p.m. ACU Choral Concert at the Recital Hall
1 Disabled 3 Motorist Assist: Other Vehicle 1 Domestic 12 Motorist Assist: 1 Disturbance Unlocks 1 Found Property 2 Noise 1 Hazards Violations 5 Parking Vehicle 4 Hit and Runs Violations 2 Lost Property 1 Random Patrol 1 Medical 2 Suspicious Activities Emergency 7 Motorist Assist: 7 Thefts 4 Traffic Stops Jumpstarts
follow us on Twitter: @acuoptimist // become a fan on Facebook: The Optimist
announcements Married Students Retreat Registration for the Married Students Retreat now is open. The retreat is Feb. 11-12 and is $65 per couple. Register at www. acu.edu/retreat or contact Steve Eller at steve.eller@ acu.edu or the Counseling Center at 674-2626.
Table Tennis The ACU Table Tennis Club is hosting a free Table Tennis Tournament at 10 a.m. on Feb. 12 in the Campus Center Living Room. Students do not need to own their own paddle to participate. For more information, contact Benjamin Hayes at bph08a@acu.edu.
Civil Rights Tour Students can receive academic credit during Summer Session I by joining the ACU Freedom Ride on May 15-21. The seven-day, 1,800-mile guided bus tour will visit significant sites of the American Civil Rights
Movement. Registration is Feb. 23. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Beck at beckr@ acu.edu, Dr. Jennifer Dillman at jennifer. dillman@acu.edu, Dr. David Dillman at dillmand@acu.edu or your academic adviser.
Chapel Checkup 15 58
Credited Chapels to date
Credited Chapels remaining
volunteer opportunities The Dyess Youth Center needs help with a Ping Pong Exhibition from 4-6 p.m. every Friday. Volunteers will preside over tournaments and help with an exhibition for the students. Transportation will not be provided, and volunteers cannot have any sexual assault charges or charges pending. For more information, contact Sheri Frisby at 696-4797, or e-mail sheri. frisby-@dyess.af.mil.
Breakfast on Beech Street Students can help set up, prepare and serve breakfast for the homeless at First Christian Church on Third Street and Beech Street. Serving time is 6:30-7:15 a.m. on Monday-Friday. Visit www.fccabilene.com for more information. National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature Students can greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell
books and welcome visitors from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays-Saturdays. For more information, contact Debby Lillick at 6734586 or visit www.nccil.org. The Center for Contemporary Arts needs a gallery assistant to help with exhibit setup and preparation. The work can be done any time 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Call 677-8389 or e-mail info@ center-arts.com.
Arts
February 7, 2011
Page 3
Melodic Weekends Local hotspot launches spring concert season
Abilene Events THURSDAY ArtWalk - Journey To Freedom 5 p.m. 220 Cypress St.
THURSDAY Daddy/Daughter Date Night 6 p.m. Abilene Civic Center
Sandra Amstutz
FRIDAY
Arts Editor
Monks Coffee Shop was filled to the brim with ACU students and Abilene locals on Jan. 29, ready for a free concert by The Light Parade, comprised of ACU alumni Alex Howard and Kara Dubose. The duo joined for the show by Panther City Band and Blinded By Bears. A crowd of people gathered outside of the Monks storefront, grabbing some fresh air as people worked their way in and out of the busy coffee shop. Joshua McQueen, booking manager of Monks and sophomore management marketing major from Abilene, said more than 150 people attended the event. “I thought it went great. We had a ton of people show up,” McQueen said. “Worrying that the fire marshall will come is always a good problem to have.” McQueen had been trying to get The Light Parade to open for one of the larger events later in the semester. When scheduling conflicts didn’t allow that to happen, he decided to book them as the headliners for the January show. “I felt like the show was a lot of fun, a great big, sweaty mess,” Howard said. “Throw in tons of people, add a few technical issues and mix in nervous energy, and it makes a really fun and exciting night.” Howard noted that playing at Monks always will be different than playing a show in any other town. “Playing an Abilene show is definitely different because instead of creating a connection with a stranger in an audience, you’re performing to a connection that already exists,” he said. To market the show, McQueen gave raffle tickets to anyone who would use their mobile device to “check-in” at Monks on Facebook. Raffle winners received Monks T-shirts, mugs, coffee and a yet-to-be-released CD by The Civil Wars. McQueen said this will be the first of many great musical performances this spring season at Monks. “We are really excited about some big acts coming in,” McQueen said. “We have both Andrew Belle and The Civil Wars, who were No. 1 on iTunes this week, coming in March. We plan to fill the season with shows that vary
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers 7:30 p.m. Historic Paramount Theatre
ACU Events MONDAY ACU Choral Concert 8 p.m. Recital Hall Williams Performing Arts Center
FRIDAY Eurydice 7:30 p.m. Fulks Theatre Williams Performing Arts Center
App of the Week Pocketbooth Photography
HHHHI
Pocketbooth allows its users to take their own photostrips without having to find a photobooth. This app works with all versions of the iPhone and the 4th generation of the iPod Touch. iPhone 4 users can use the app with both the front facing and rear cameras. The photostrips can be customized with different coloring effects and pose options (3 or 4 poses). The app even has a fun vintage interface designed to look like a 1950s Model 11 Photobooth. Photostrips can be shared through email, Twitter and Facebook. The app also is enabled with AirPrint for users with a compatible device and printer.
New Releases IN THEATERS SANDRA AMSTUTZ // Arts Editor
Michael Perkins of Blinded By Bears from Abilene performs at the Monks Coffee Shop 2011 opening concert.
The Roommate Feb. 4
(Screen Gems)
Sanctum
in price and genre.” In addition to these shows, Monks will host weekly events. “We have open mic nights, a Monks staple, on Thursday nights and a new local musician performing a free show on Friday nights,” McQueen said. Those interested in performing on one of these Friday nights can contact McQueen at bookingmonks@ gmail.com with their name and links to their music. “We really want Monks to become a home for quality music and still be a place that local musicians can come to perform and grow,” McQueen said.
Feb. 4
(Universal)
Waiting For Forever Feb. 4
(James Keach)
Ranchero Feb. 4
(Indican Pictures)
The Other Woman Feb. 4
(IFC Films)
DVD Paranormal Activity 2
Feb. 8
(Paramount)
Life As We Know It (Warner Bros.)
For Colored Girls Feb. 8
(Lionsgate)
You Again
Feb. 8
(Disney)
My Soul To Take (Rogue) contact Amstutz at
sla07a@acu.edu
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
Monks Coffee Shop, located on 233 Cypress St. displays its hours on a homemade sign.
Feb. 8
(Focus)
Feb. 8
(Paramount)
FILMFEST
FilmFest meeting considers changes Staff Reporter
Students attended an interest meeting two weeks ago, to discuss the seventh annual student film competition, FilmFest. This year’s competition, which will challenge participants to tackle the issue of identity, will include changes to the control element and the judging process. Members of the competition board met with potential directors, screenwriters and musicians to discuss the changes. Third year co-chair Christina Johnson, senior English and professional writing major from Dallas, said changes in judging will mark a significant difference from last year’s competition.
“This year, we’re having the script judged separately and the film itself judged for screenwriting,” Johnson said. “When the participants turn in their scripts, we’ll immediately forward them to the judges, and they can already have that judged.” Johnson said the theme Identity came to her during a church service. “As college students, identity is what we’re all really trying to find,” she said. “We are all on this four-year, personal journey and really in this in-between time, and we really wanted a theme that everyone on campus can relate to.” The competition started on Jan. 28, when the FilmFest board released the control element, a required line of dialogue all films must contain, via its Tumblr account, acufilmfest.tumblr.com.
Those wishing to participate must complete an application and pay the $45 entry fee by Feb. 11. The fee will provide contestants with a t-shirt and ticket to the premiere night at The Paramount Theatre on March 25. As a new addition this year, groups may choose one of two dates to turn in their final piece. Judges will accept work on March 11 and 21. However, entries will be issued a $20 late fee on the latter date. Johnson said the extra date will be helpful for students going on spring break campaigns who still want to participate or for those wanting extra time to film. “I think to capture a film in three to five minutes is difficult, and it’s a struggle for a lot of people because you just want to tell so much back story,” Johnson said. “But really,
you’re telling a climactic moment in a character’s life or plot. That’s what we’re looking for.” Entries may be anywhere from three to five minutes long and may enter in only one category. The short film also must reflect the university’s mission and policies. “One thing to keep in mind is that this is not an avenue to film something that’s not in accordance with ACU policy,” said Tom Craig, director of student productions. “We want everything to be kept within the guidelines of ACU.” About 15 awards are given out, and a grand prize will be awarded for Best Picture.
Feb. 8
It’s Kind Of A Funny Story Middle Men
Marissa Ferguson
Feb. 8
Tamara Drew (Sony)
Feb. 8
MUSIC Esben & The Witch Violet Cries
Feb. 8
Emily Arin Patch of Land
Feb. 8
Nicole Atkins Mondo Amore
Feb. 8
Cut Copy Zonoscope
Feb. 8
Lionize Destruction Manual
Motorhead
The World Is Yours
Feb. 8 Feb. 8
Thompson Square Thompson Square
Feb. 8
Teddy Thompson Bella
Feb. 8
Yanni contact Ferguson at
mlf10a@acu.edu
Truth Of Touch
Feb. 8
FROM FRONT/SPORTS
February 7, 2011
Page 4
ACADEMICS
Winter: University will not add school days Continued from page 1
“We can’t make up the actual time, but the material doesn’t Varner said faculty members all have to happen during might have to rework their class time.” Dr. Phil Schubert, presisyllabi, cut content from their classes or require more out- dent of the university, said faculty should take this as an side work. “They may have to change opportunity to work together an assignment or a project, or as they try to figure out how they may want to put more to work through the time off material online,” Varner said. from school.
“Be flexible. I know it’s hard in times like this,” Schubert said. “Everyone grows impatient as the uncertainty of schedules grows. As we work through this in the next couple of weeks, in terms of trying to handle what we’ve just been through, just try to be patient.”
WEATHER
Dr. Kim Pamplin, chair of the Faculty Senate, said the biggest challenge for faculty would come from determining where to make adjustments in curriculum. “Some classes are prerequisites for other classes, and they need to cover as much as they can,” Pamplin said. “There are other classes
where that class is not a prerequisite, so maybe if we cut a chapter out, it is not going to affect how a student performs in the next class.” Pamplin, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said his advice for faculty was to be fair. “We lost a whole week. I would hope that we will all
try and be fair with students,” Pamplin said. “In some cases, it may be acceptable to ask students to do more outside work. In other cases, that may not be possible. My advice to the faculty members is to be as fair a possible.” contact Optimist at
optimist@jmcnetwork.com
STUDENT LIFE
Ice: Snow provides break Protests: Egyptian conflict affects student, her family Continued from page 1
Brown noticed a letter carrier struggling to free his car from the snow. “We thought of the story of the Good Samaritan and figured this was our opportunity,” Brown said. “It’s always nice to help a stranger out rather than peg someone in the face with a snowball.” Casey said that as a native of Colorado, he is used to similar weather conditions causing problems for motorists. “You’re always thankful when someone does that for you, so I just tried to return the favor,” Casey said. Brown said he and Casey used some of the packages and cardboard boxes from the mailman’s load to create greater traction for the tires. The mail carrier was able to return to business after 1015 minutes. “When we first saw him, he seemed pretty helpless at that point,” Brown said.
“Being a mailman, he’s just lucky there weren’t any stray dogs around.” For Emily Larimore, senior psychology major from Weatherford, the snow day brought more frustration than fun. The roof of her off-campus apartment collapsed due to the heavy burden of snow. “I never imagined it happening to me,” Larimore said. “I didn’t know who to call. It was the last thing I ever expected to happen on my snow day.” The roof is believed to have collapsed late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Larimore, who was over at a friend’s house, came home Wednesday to find her bedroom and hallway covered in white blankets of roofing insulation, her possessions completely ruined. “It’s really hard,” Larimore said. “It’s easy to say possessions don’t
matter, but you still need basic things to live. It’s just been a big downer for the day.” After speaking to local firefighters, Larimore was instructed to leave her flooded apartment immediately to avoid any danger caused by exposed wires. Larimore said she is most concerned about receiving coverage from her insurance company. She said the company would not be compensating her for her losses because of complications in switching coverage from her previous dorm to her new apartment. “It was just a God thing that I wasn’t there or my dog,” Larimore said. “The roof fell directly on my bed and Bailey’s bed too. If we were sleeping, we would’ve been hurt.” contact Staff at
optimist@jmcnetwork.com
Continued from page 1
‘‘ ’’
in a book on the history of Egypt. “People are saying, to a 30-year power, that we’ve had enough,” Coates said. “This is a continuation with what started with the United States and the Declaration of Independence, saying that just because you are born into monarchy, you don’t get to be king forever. People get to decide ultimately what is right.” Assaad said she cares more about how her friends and family in Egypt are doing than following the politics of the situation, but she still understands what’s going on. “I don’t have an opinion on what is going to happen, but I think that Egypt as a nation has a right to have a democracy, and I don’t think that what they’re doing is unexpected,” Assaad said. “If you had been under a dictatorship for 30
Things are faster, and things are better when you can communicate widely. DR. NEAL COATES // chair of the Department of Political Science
years, you’d probably want a democracy too.” The conflict in Egypt should remind students that social media works, Coates said. Not only has Assad been able to communicate with her parents now that the Internet is functioning, but protesters are able to spread information to each other, and journalists are able to report what’s happening. ACU students can see this in their own lives through the iPhone and iPod distribution, Coates said. “Things are faster, and things are better when you can communicate
widely,” Coates said. Coates also encouraged ACU students to use social media to reach out to English-speaking Egyptians and, in appropriate ways, talk to and encourage them. “It’s important that we remember, as Christians, we aren’t passive observers of the world,” Coates said. “We actually have a calling to convert others, and when people in Egypt find out there are Christians in Abilene who are praying for them, it has a big effect.” contact Bailey at
ljb07a@acu.edu
ATHLETICS
Snow: Storm forces rescheduling against Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches have been Basketball players weren’t canceled. Both matches the only ones affected by would have seen the Wildthe snow, however. The cats playing a Division I women’s tennis team opponent as a warm-up to originally was slated to their spring season. The baseball team saw play against Sam Houston this weekend in Hunts- its season opener moved as ville. That match and one well. Crutcher Scott Field Continued from page 6
was supposed to have its first action of the season on Tuesday. Instead, the ‘Cats game against Incarnate Word will have to wait until March 1. Head Coach Britt Bonneau was frustrated with the ice out that has brought campus to a halt.
“Our guys are getting very anxious,” Bonneau said. “They were bummed when we had to move our games, and rightfully so. No one likes being cooped up.”
contact Gwin at
agg07a@acu.edu
TENNIS
Season: ’Cats look for spring success Continued from page 6
‘‘ ’’
of 582-197, he’s working for a repeat of last year’s success. Throughout the season, He hopes to coach the womthe Wildcats will face ten en to an LSC Championship repeat this season. Division I opponents. “Coach Jones makes sure Rounding out their season, they will take on top- we glorify God whether we ranked Division II schools win or lose and he makes it Columbus State, Alabama- a lot of fun,” Kelley said. Emily Conrad, freshBirmingham and Samford man from Oklahoma City in the southeast. Hutton Jones has coached is enthusiastic about her the men and women’s tennis first spring season at ACU. “I am trying to build teams at ACU for 14 years now. With an enviable record chemistry with the other
FOOTBALL
Coach Jones makes sure we glorify God whether we win or lose. HANNAH KELLEY // sophomore women’s tennis player
girls. Our team is great, so take place in Orlando, Fla. The Wildcats’ first home I am really excited.” The Wildcats finished in match is on Friday against eighth place last season at Tarleton State. the National Championship tournament. This year contact Jefferies at blj10a@acu.edu the NCAA Tournament will
Recruit: Thomsen lands successful recruiting class Continued from page 6
year’s class including 6-5 offensive lineman Conner Keeton out of Corpus Christi. Keeton was a first team all-district player in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons for the Carroll Tigers. The class is highlighted by Division I prospect Jon Parker out of Carson City, Nev. Parker, who gave his verbal commitment to ACU last week, turned down three Div. I schools, including Nevada and Arizona to come play for the Wildcats. Parker at 6-4 and 235 pounds was first team all-
region as a defensive end and was an honorable mention selection at the running back position. Despite those honors, the versatile Parker is slated to be the back-up tight end behind returning starter Ben Gibbs. Parker caught 11 passes for 108 yards in his senior season for Carson City High School. A familiar name appeared on the ACU list of signees on Wednesday. The Wildcats signed free safety Vincente Cantu-Harkless, the brother of Darrell Cantu-Harkless. Vincente, was a two-time first team all-dis-
trict player at Austin Crockett High School and was selected as the district defensive MVP at the conclusion of the 2010 campaign. He finished his senior season with four interceptions, four forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles. In addition to the high school seniors who signed Coach Thomsen signed Div. I transfer Rob Boyd from Sam Houston State and Jamaine Sherman a transfer from Scottsdale Community College in Ariz. contact Tripp at
bjt07a@acu.edu
Opinion
Page 5
February 7, 2011
EDITORIAL
Faculty Chapel attendance creates unity Faculty and staff have taken over certain sections of Moody Coliseum on Mondays after a push from the president, but we don’t mind having them there. Phil Schubert asked faculty and staff to regularly attend Monday Chapel at the beginning of the semester. This change may make finding a seat on Monday more difficult, but this effort to create a greater sense of community among everyone at ACU
is a worthy endeavor. The president gave faculty and staff permission to close their offices for 30 minutes on the first day of the school week to join the rest of the ACU community in Chapel, leaving them few excuses for not attending. This is a simple and well-planned solution, making it as convenient as possible for faculty and staff members to attend Chapel – a tradition as old as ACU itself.
Students also should make it a point to attend on Mondays and take advantage of this opportunity to listen to topics with faculty and staff – especially considering this change came partly from student opinions. Chapel Guy Mark Lewis noticed, while reading last semester’s Chapel surveys, that many students were requesting more Chapel attendance and participation by members of faculty and staff.
Schubert’s expectation for faculty to attend on Mondays makes the students’ desire attainable. Students, faculty and staff shouldn’t take his gesture lightly. They should appreciate Schubert’s directness, keep in mind the importance students place on faculty and staff attendance and show up with a smile. This well-formulated change, if taken seriously, has the potential to create
By Morgan Davis
The Funny Funnies
the issue
President Schubert announced his desire for faculty and staff to attend Monday Chapel alongside students.
our take
Faculty presence creates the opportunity for conversation and cohesion with a shared experience. deep dialogue between faculty, staff and students, expanding the Chapel experience out of its traditional 30-minute time frame and into the classroom. Although some faculty and staff members may disagree with being told
to attend Chapel once a week, they should at least be relieved they aren’t required to wait in a seemingly endless line to swipe in and out. contact the Optimist at
jmcnetwork@acu.edu
COLUMN
Workers press on despite cold
Homeskool Validictorian
were carefully crafting snowmen and haphazardly launching snowballs, some individuals pressed on with the same diligence they exhibit every day. ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison and his officers were hard at work, cleaning up accidents and keeping our new-found winter wonderland safe. Employees in the “World Famous Bean” braved the slick roads of Abilene to come to work, so students could have a warm place to eat and fellowship. ACU’s physical resources and groundskee-
By Jeff Craig
COLUMN
Etiquette rules still apply to texts Rounding the Bases By Brandon Tripp
Electronics are replacing everything. Machines now check out customers at Walmart, letters are becoming an archaic form of communication and texting is replacing faceto-face conversation. Tripp Since we, as a society, have some generally accepted rules of etiquette regarding face-to-face conversation, I think it’s high time we lay down some rules for texting. No. 1: Don’t text and drive. This rule goes without saying, studies have shown that those who text while driving are up to 30 percent more likely to end up in an accident. According to the University of North Texas’s Health Science Center, texting was responsible for 16,000-plus deaths over the last five years. You can wait to tell your friends the score of the
Cowboys game afTexting is responsible for 16,000-plus ter you get where you’re deaths over the last five years. You can going. wait to tell your friends the score of the Number Cowboy’s game after you get where two: Just because they you’re going. haven’t texted you back after three minutes, don’t think their frustration. Lastly, a call back; not a text they were trying to reply saying, “What’s up?” Just they want another text. This is the No. 1 pet to your text while driv- because you don’t feel peeve of 75 percent of ing and are unavailable comfortable talking to me ACU students, according at the moment because over the phone doesn’t to a nonscientific survey they are unconscious in mean you don’t need to learn how. conducted by me consist- the hospital. No. 5: Please stop over No. 3: Use your words ing of my roommates and using emoticons :P, okay? please. a few friends. There is really no need Don’t think that beThere exists a few possible explanations if cause you put the letter to use them after eva person doesn’t imme- “u” in place of the actual ery statement. Your text diately reply. First, they word, it buys you points. should be able to comdidn’t get the text be- I can’t tell you how many municate whether you’re cause they were sleeping times handwritten pa- smiling or sticking your or otherwise occupied. pers have included “r” tongue out after you said The solution to this prob- in place of “are” and “u” what you said. If it does lem is not to text them in place of “you.” God not, try rephrasing your two minutes later asking gave us complete words; sentence. If we all can learn to if they got your previous it would be an insult to text. The correct answer besmirch his gift out of abide by these general texting rules, we all can is to be patient; they will laziness. No. 4: If you receive a live in a happier place get around to it. The other possibility is that they phone call from me, don’t with less of this “;)” and more actual words. don’t want to text you text me back. It is a generally safe asback right then. If you think this might be the sumption that if I took the case, continuing to text time to call you instead of contact Tripp at bjt07a@acu.edu them will only increase text you, I actually want
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 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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Last week’s weather was, well, un-Texas like. Believe it or not, the good folks in New York City, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia saw warmer weather Craig this week than Abilene. Snow and sub-zero wind chill factors have turned Abilene into a bone-chilling, frozen wasteland. In fact, the Green Bay Packers had to move their practice inside in As we were preparation for carefully crafting the Super Bowl in Arlington to stay snowmen and out of the elehaphazardly ments – and if the launching Packers think it is cold, then it must snowballs, some really be nasty individuals pressed outside. on with the same Roads and sidewalks blenddiligence they ed together to exhibit every day. form one big, slippery white path. Cars that were lucky enough to not be ping teams worked tirestuck in their driveways lessly to clear sidewalks, slid around like butter in so folks who thought they knew how to walk a skillet. On Wednesday, I on the ice did not hurt watched my roommate themselves too badly. For ACU’s students, the attempt to cross an icy sidewalk in his cowboy winter blast of 2011 was a boots, only to face- good chance to relax and plant onto the iced-over rewind. For others, it was concrete. As we helped just another day at the ofhim up off the ground it fice. ACU’s students and became perfectly clear – faculty may get all the attention, but it’s individuwe are winter novices. Yes, this is undoubted- als like Chief Ellison and ly restating the obvious. his officers, who work The dozens of cars that behind the scenes, who were stuck around cam- make ACU successful. pus served as evidence of It’s people who keep our sidewalks clear and our our icy ignorance. Fortunately, the bellies full who are the high-brass leadership backbone of this instituat ACU recognized our tion. Without them, ACU incompetency and can- would not be ACU. celed classes last week. I’m certain they did it for our own good. contact Craig at jrc07d@acu.edu However, as we
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Page 6
Standings
FOOTBALL
Sports
February 7, 2011
MEN’S BASKETBALL Team
Div.
Ovrl.
Tarleton St. 6-1 UIW 4-3 MSU 4-3 ASU 4-3 ENMU 4-3 WTAMU 4-4 TAMU-K 2-6 ACU 1-6
15-4 15-4 16-5 8-11 9-10 17-4 7-13 9-10
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Team Div. Ovrl. Tarleton St.7-0 WTAMU 6-2 4-3 ACU Angelo St. 4-3 3-7 UIW 2-5 MSU ENMU 2-5 TAMU-K 1-7
17-2 13-8 7-12 11-8 6-12 6-13 4-15 3-17
Briefs n Chris
Thomsen and his football staff have announced their 2011-12 recruiting class, one that includes 25 high school players and two transfers. These players all have signed binding national letters of intent to play for ACU.
n Tickets
for the Lone Star Conference Basketball Championship now are available for purchase. The tournament will take place March 2-6 in Bartlesville, Okla. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased through the ACU athletics office or on www.lonestarconference.org.
Player Profile Aaron Oliver, senior outfielder from Los Angeles, is looking to build upon his stellar junior season Sunday as the Oliver ‘Cats open up their season. A first-team AllAmerican and South Central Region Player of the Year, Oliver hit .405, had 14 home runs, 65 RBI’s, 102 hits, 27 stolen bases and 79 runs scored, all of which were team highs last season.
n
Super Bowl unites America Rounding the Bases Brandon Tripp It is the biggest sporting event of the year. More than $55 million are spent on this one day, every year, for food alone. That doesn’t include the billions of dollars spent by advertisers trying to come up with the cleverest comTripp mercial of the year. The Super Bowl truly is the one sporting event that can attract all walks of life. From the commercials we all love to the halftime show for which music lovers wait each year, this is an event people can rally around annually. Last year, more than 106 million Americans watched the most rec-
ognizable sporting day of the year, almost one-third of the population. The average NFL playoff game draws about 45 million viewers, that number more than doubles for the Super Bowl. People who wouldn’t be caught dead watching a football game at any other point during the year tune in this one Sunday night to take part in the American experience, and it shows in the money and time spent on advertising by all kinds of advertisers. Every year, companies like Etrade, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, GoDaddy. com and even Angry Birds get in on the action to have the most memorable commercial of the year. In fact, each new year is not just a competition among other businesses’ commercials from that year, but also a competition to see how well your 30 seconds measures up against
men’s and women’s basketball teams will play Angelo State University on Monday. Gameplay starts at 5:30 p.m. with the women’s game.
n The softball team will
play Angelo State and St. Mary's on Monday, starting at noon. n The
baseball team will play a double header against Incarnate Word on Monday, starting at 1 p.m.
Ex-Factor n Former
offensive tackle Trevis Turner will play in the NFLPA AllStar game on Saturday in San Antonio. This will be Turner’s scond allstar game this year.
primarily consisted of college bands. But in 1993, that changed for good when Michael Jackson entertained the millions who tuned in to watch that year. For some people, the music is the reason to watch the game. The Super Bowl also gives us a pretty good game most years. From the Titans coming up one yard short to the Patriots taking down the greatest show on turf before reeling off two of the next three, it’s really about the football. We all want to see the New York Giants take down the undefeated Patriots. From food, to commercials – and oh, by the way, the football game – the Super Bowl is the greatest sporting event in the world. contact Tripp at
bjt07a@acu.edu
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Jones preps team for spring campaign Brenna Jefferies Sports Reporter
Upcoming n The
the other greats in history. Ads like the Budweiser frogs, the Pepsi commercial with the geese, Mean Joe Green, the Jordan and Bird McDonald’s battle and Cat Herders, just to name a few. Commercials are the reason the Super Bowl has managed to have such a reach with such a wide variety of audiences. Another reason to love the Super Bowl is the food. Everyone loves Super Bowl food – and lots of it. A 2006 study estimated that Americans consume 15,000 tons of chips, 4,000 tons of popcorn and more than 12 million pounds of avocados on Super Bowl Sunday. That means, for every person watching the game, viewers eat six feet of chips. What’s more, everyone loves a good musical interlude to hardhitting football. Until the 1990s, the Super Bowl halftime show
FILE PHOTO //Heather Liephart
Senior Lauren White returns a volley at practice last season. The women’s team is preparing for its first match of the spring season against Tarleton State on Friday.
ACU’s women’s tennis team is aiming for another trip to the National Tournament after being crowned Lone Star Conference Champions last season. To prepare the team for conference and nationals, the women’s spring schedule will be competitive and grueling, with matches against four Division I opponents in a mere five days. Both the ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams will travel to Las Vegas during spring break for the Las Vegas Invitational, where teams from all divisions will be competing. Cassie Carver, junior from Oklahoma City, expects her
team to advance at least to the sim-finals of nationals this year, she said. “I think this is the best team we have had since I have been at ACU,” Carver said. “Individually, I would like to go undefeated and do my best at my position in doubles.” Hannah Kelley, sophomore tennis player from Richardson, echoed Carver’s hopes for the season. “We will be playing some tough teams this year, but we have a great chance at nationals,” she said. The home schedule of the Lady Wildcats consists of Louisiana-Lafayette, Tarleton State and New Mexico Military Institute, along with a few others. see SEASON page 4
ATHLETICS
FOOTBALL
Athletics stall for ice out
Wildcats reload on signing day
Austin Gwin Sports Editor
It has been a mixed bag of emotions for ACU athletes during this “winter wonderweek” on campus. Like all students, athletes have been out of school, but they also haven’t been able to compete on their respective fields and courts. Both basketball teams had away games against Angelo State University pushed back from Tuesday to Thursday and then to Saturday. Additionally, the home game that was supposed to be played
on Saturday against the same Angelo State teams has been pushed back to Monday. This results in an odd scenario in which the Wildcats will play the Rams twice in 48 hours. The first match-up of the two schools on Saturday ended uncharacteristically of how the season has gone so far. The men’s squad finally won its first conference game of the season, breaking a six-game losing streak. The 74-71 overtime win over the Rams was the first in more than a month for the Wildcats. Guard Zach Williams led the ‘Cats with 19 points in the game, including five
crucial points in the extra period. Forward Ben Warton added 11 while Guards Preston Davis and Marcus Washington each had 10. It was a different story for the women’s team. A 67-63 loss to rival Angelo State breaks a three-game winning streak, and drops ACU in a tie with Angelo for third in the Lone Star Conference. Monday’s rematch in Moody Coliseum will be the biggest game of the season for both teams as the winner will have the upper hand to move on to the LSC postseason tournament. see SNOW page 4
ceiving core that will have to fill some big shoes next Sports Director season, replacing five seAnother year, another sol- niors including: Edmund id recruiting class signed Gates, Chris Fowler, Kenby ACU Head Coach Chris drick Johnson and RayThomsen. The Wildcats mond Radway. The receivers signed by signed 24 high school seniors to letters of intent ACU average 6’1” and 190 on Wednesday and two pounds, four inches taller than the average of 5’9” and transfer players. Of the 26 signees, six slightly heavier than the 188 are listed as wide receiv- pound average of the receivers, the most of any single ing corps last season. ACU also nabbed three position signed by the Wildcats so far this year. offensive linemen in this Those six wide receivers see RECRUIT page 4 will become part of a re-
Brandon Tripp