From the Ground Up Soccer coach finding early success vol. 101, no. 9
INSIDE NEWS Campus Store creates Purple Card rewards program Page 3
friday, september 21, 2012
Sports Page 6
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
MAN IN PURPLE
res life
Desk managers adapting to changes
NEWS Increased enrollment affecting Bean, Campus Store
kara stutesman
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student reporter ACU resident assistants are adjusting to the recent changes made to their desk shift policies this year. R.A.’s no longer have to work desk shifts from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during the day, and their dress code has changed. “The big change for the people actually working the desk is that I wanted it to be an elevated since of welcome,” said Dr. John De-
NEWS Student, faculty return from Democratic National Convention Page 3
OPINION Voter ID Laws claim to prevent voter fraud, but is it even a problem?
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SPORTS Our sports staff predicts the outcome of Friday’s football game
mandy lambright chief Photographer Randy Harris, instructor of Bible, missions and minsitry, speaks on the last day of Summit in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.
NEWS WorldWide Witness sends students on mission trips Page 3
ONLINE
see managers page 5
Students’ Association
Class race ends after run-off lindsay palmer arts editor
Page 5
dr. john delony assistant dean of residence life
lony, assistant dean of Residence Life. “I wanted them to say hello to folks and not just shut the glass windows and do homework.”
SPORTS Sports Editor Edward Isaacs sounds off on Yunel Escobar’s mistake
I wanted it to be an elevated sense of welcome.”
After a run-off election, Colton McCoy was named sophomore class vice president. In the primary election, three candidates ran for sophomore class vice president. Colton McCoy, sophomore biology major from Grandbury and Jamie Gordon, sophomore political science major from San Antonio, went head-to-head in the run-off election. After the initial voting,
Gordon had received the most votes; however, her position as vice president was not secure because she had not received a majority of votes. “According to the constitution of the by-laws of the Students’ Association, in order for a student to get elected they must get 51 percent in support of their position,” said Dylan Benac, executive vice president of SA and junior political science major from Boerne. “Jamie had the most votes out of the initial election, but she didn’t have
51 percent of the votes.” As a result, a run-off was conducted between the two candidates. Gordon and McCoy went back to the campaign trail and asked their peers to vote again. After the runoff, McCoy was officially elected sophomore class vice president. McCoy received 82 of 148 votes cast, 55 percent of the total. “Colton will be a great vice president, I know he will,” said Gordon. “He deserved it, too.” Gordon said she ran for
sophomore vice president for the fun and the experience. She was shocked when she received the highest number of votes and would be in the run-off election. “I had no idea there would be a run-off,” Gordon said. ”The whole time I was not thinking I would win, I thought there would be a good chance Colton would win because he was our vice president last year.” McCoy said he noticed a big difference between running for election from last year.
“The competition and campaigning was a lot tougher,” McCoy said. After winning the election, McCoy began planning for the future of the sophomore class. “Last year we planned different events for the freshmen, including a slipn-slide,” McCoy said. “We want to continue that and incorporate some new events.”
contact palmer at lsp10b@acu.edu
Students’ association
NEWS Replay offers additional venue to watch Summit lectures acuoptimist.com
NEWS Honors students collaborate with CitySquare in Dallas acuoptimist.com
PHOTOS Go to our Flickr page for photos from social club rushes
SA hammers out fall groups budget of the meeting, the SA had allotted $42,778.11 to meet staff reporter the needs of the various clubs. The Students’ Association Joseph Austin, SA fimet with representatives nance officer, said many from numerous on-campus of his decisions regardgroups to propose, discuss ing funding were related and debate their budget for to each group’s respective the semester on Wednes- historical use of the money day. granted to them by the StuA record number of stu- dents’ Association. With the dent organizations request- exception of International ed funds from the SA this Rescue Committee, no semester with 57 groups group was awarded all of its requesting approximately requested money. $108,000 total. At the start “One of the main things
josh garcia
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One of the main things we try to do for every student organization is to really meet their priority needs.”
es and SA expenses and student wages. SA’s proposals were initially met with little opposition, but congress and student representatives came joseph austin into conflict over the budsa finance officer get for Hispanos Unidos, an active Latin American group with a large numthat we try to do for every and if they’re being good ber of members. Hispanos student organization is to stewards.” Unidos requested a large really meet their priority The budget also allocat- amount of money with a needs,” Austin said. “We’re ed funds to Homecoming, significant proportion to be trying to keep an account the “Welcome to Abilene” used for Entra a la Plaza, an of how groups have spent event, the Student Initiasee budget page 5 their money in the past, tive, collegiate cards, class-
student life
Pledging curfew to relieve students elizabeth weiss flickr.com/acuoptimist
VIDEO Watch highlights from the football team’s comeback win in Dallas
acuoptimist.com
student reporter Curfew times for pledging will be the same this year, although incorrect information has been passed around during the rushing process to some students. Curfew is midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on the weekends for sophomores who will be pledging. Mark Jackson, director of Student Organizations and Programs, clarified the rules for curfew during pledging.
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We want to respect our pledges and our club’s name by getting girls back on time.”
their activity is over for the evening, all activities cease for the remainder of the night.” The pledging process can be an enjoyable, but Bailey mcmath stressful time for stugata pledge mom dents. Senior Bailey McMath, speech pathology major from Missouri City “The biggest thing and GATA Pledge Mom, that we have mentioned said it should not be a to pledges is reminding complete deprivation of them to check in each sleep. night with the person at “We have scheduled their dorm that sits at activities at approprithe desk,” Jackson said. ate times to ensure that “If they are off-campus, pledges have more than they have no curfew, but enough time to get to their our clubs know that once dorms on time,” McMath
Abilene Christian University
said. “We know and understand the importance of curfew and we want to respect our pledges and our club’s name by getting the girls back on time.” Senior Blaine Smith, biology major from Keller and Gamma Sigma Phi president, also commented on complying with curfew this year. “GSP takes the pledging curfew seriously and plans to have our pledges back on time so that they can take care of their school work and sleep.” While some students may not be the biggest
fans of curfew during pledging, there are some who believe it is a good thing. Sophomore Alaina Williamson, digital entertainment major from Rockwall, sees the positive side of having a curfew. “I think that curfew during pledging is a great idea,” Williamson said. “It gives the people who are pledging a break from all the busy activities. It also gives them a chance to do homework and sleep.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
friday 09.21.12
21 friday
22 11:30 a.m. Scholastic Book Fair
saturday
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2 p.m. ACU Volleyball vs Angelo State U
5 p.m. ACU Soccer vs Eastern NM U
6 p.m. ACU Football at Angelo State U
sunday
2
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1 p.m. Men’s Coffee’s
monday
1 p.m. ACU Soccer vs West TX A&M U
7 p.m. Alpha Kai Omega Rush 9 p.m. Zeta Rho Rush
6 p.m. Entra A La Plaza 7 p.m. ACU Volleyball vs Tarleton State U 9 p.m. The Avengers in Cullen
Chapel checkup
40 56 @acuoptimist The Optimist
Announcements Students interested in joining The Wildcat Reign can sign up at thewildcatreign. com. The Wildcat Reign aims to provide students the ability to facilitate Wildcat pride on campus and serves as a linking point between students and Wildcat athletic events.
ACU Career Center is conducting mock interviews Sept. 18, 21 and 26. Sign up for an interview time by creating a CareerLink account on the ACU Career Center homepage. Dates and times can be found under the events tab on the CareerLink homepage.
ACU Speech and Debate Team is seeking new members interested in speech and debate. For more information email Dena Counts at dena. counts@acu.edu or text/call 325-428-6699.
Hispanos Unidos is hosting Entra A La Plaza Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. outside the Williams Performing Arts Center with free food, music and entertainment.
The Avengers will be playing for free with a student ID in Cullen Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. Homecoming Queen Nominations are Sept. 17-21 at www.acu.edu/queen. SBC Leader Applications are available for pick up in the Student Ministries Office. Applications should be filled out and returned by Sept. 24th.
The ACU Roller Hockey Club Team is accepting new members who are interested in playing roller hockey. For more information on the team, you can post on the ACU Wildcat Hockey Facebook page or email at acuhockey@gmail.com. ACU’s Speech-Language Pathology NSSLHA will be putting on a book fair Sept. 17-21, Monday-Friday at 11:30-4:30 and Tuesday at 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
optimist@acu.edu Police Log Police log 09/15/2012 1:10 a.m. ACUPD responded to a student’s report of an ongoing disturbance at The Residence at Heritage Park apartment complex. 09/15/2012 11:32 p.m. A student reported the theft of a backpack containing discs, a calculator and medicine from entrance to the Wildcat Disc Golf Course. 09/17/2012 2:41 a.m. ACUPD & AFD responded to a fire alarm at Edwards Hall. The alarm had been activated by bathroom steam. Weekly Stats For Week of Sept. 11-Sept 18, 2012 - Total Events: 258 911 Call 2 ACCIDENT 2 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 13 ALARM 8 ALCOHOL INCIDENT 1 ANIMAL CALL 3 ASSIST 2 BARRICADES 1 BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 25 CART PATROL 1
CHECK BUILDING 95 DIRECT TRAFFIC 1 DISTURBANCE 3 ESCORT 2 FOOT PATROL 3 FOUND PROPERTY 1 INFORMATION REPORT 1 INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP 3 MAINTENANCE: UNIVERSITY ASSETS 3 MEDICAL EMERGENCY 2
MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 7 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 7 OTHER 7 PARKING LOT PATROL 4 PARKING VIOLATION 6 PATROL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE: 4 PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL 9 RANDOM PATROL 6
REPORT WRITING 4 STOLEN VEHICLE 1 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 4 THEFT 2 TRAFFIC HAZARD 1 TRAFFIC STOP 15 TRAINING 1 WELFARE CHECK 3
Police Tip of the Week: Motorists are reminded to use caution while driving on perimeter streets around campus. Always yield to pedestrian crossings and watch for vehicles exiting campus parking lots and driveways.
Volunteer Opp0rtunities The Abilene Zoo is looking for volunteers to help with general labor such as grounds cleanup and painting any weekday at any time between noon and 4 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Ln. Contact Joy Harsh at 325-676-6487 for more information. Child Protective Services needs volunteers for clerical work as well as volunteers who can organize a playroom. Volunteers are needed on weekdays anytime between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Child Protective Services are located at 3610 Vine St. Background checks are required and are done at the center. Background checks usually are cleared in about two weeks. For more information call V. Danette Cummings at 325-691-8214. Abilene Hope Haven Inc. needs volunteers to provide childcare while parents are in class, any evening Monday-Thursday from 6:45 - 8:15 p.m. Abilene Hope Haven is located at 801 S. Treadaway Blvd. For more information contact Kathy Reppart at 325-677-4673 or visit www.abilenehopehaven.com/volunteer. Meals on Wheels Plus needs volunteer drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors and adults with disabilities Monday-Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Training is provided. A Chapel exemption is available if delivery time conflicts with Chapel. Contact Jessica Stewart at 325-672-5050 or email volunteer@mealsonwheelsplus.com. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is looking for volunteers to participate in Lunch Buddies. Bigs and Littles will enjoy lunch together at the child’s school once a week. Students can earn Chapel credit for each visit. Big Brothers Big Sisters is also looking for volunteers for its Community Based program. Bigs are matched with Littles in a one-on-one relationship and spend four to six hours per month together in the community. To sign up or learn more visit www.bbbstx.org or call 325-674-3113. The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to help sort and stock food and other items any weekday Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Food Bank is located at 5505 N. 1st St. For more information contact Janice Serrault at 325-695-6311 or abfoodbk@ camalott.com. HomeFront Apartment Ministries is looking for volunteers to serve the families withing the apartments surrounding the Mission Abilene church. For more information call Heath at 325-665-2489.
New Life Alliance is looking for volunteers to help with their after school program on Monday-Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. You will help with snacks, homework, crafts, games and other activities in addition to mentoring and building relationships with youth. Contact Ashley Kee at 325-672-1636 or e-mail akee@newlifehousing.com.
Access Learning Center is looking for volunteers to help elementary school kids with homework, reading, computers and games. The center is located at 2102 Ambler Ave. For more information contact Bret Hines at 325-670-9727. Call ahead to schedule a time to volunteer.
Center for Contemporary Arts needs a gallery assistant to greet patrons, answer phones, and answer basic questions about the Center and its programs. This oppotrunity is open Tuesday-Friday. The Center for Contemporary Arts is located at 220 Cypress Street. For more information contact Jessica Dulle at 325-6778389 or visit: http://www.center-arts.com/
The House That Kerry Built is looking for volunteers to assist in the day care of medically fragile children any day Monday-Friday from 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Contact Dave Kraly at 325-676-3104 or e-mail medicalmoose@ sbcglobal.net for more information.
Rescue The Animals is looking for volunteers anytime between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. They need help around the adoption center with general cleaning, socialization of the animals, helping potential adopters and other tasks. Contact Mindi Qualls at 325-698-7722 or email rescuetheanimalsvolunteers@yahoo.com. The center is located at 5933 S. 1st St. Young Life Ministries needs volunteers Mondays, Tuesdays and weekends from 6-9 p.m. Volunteers will hang out with kids, experience leadership roles, serve others and introduce students to Christ. Young Life is located at 1917 S. 6th St. For more information contact Chuck Rodgers at 325-676-1211 or email clrodg@wrproperties.com. Disability Resources, Inc. is looking for volunteers to assist developmentally disabled residence. Help is needed with activities, art projects, reading books, exercise activities, assisting with vocational training needs and other interactions Monday-Friday from 9 a.m-4 p.m. For more information contact Becky Moody at 325-677-6815 or e-mail bmoody@driabilene.org. Da’ Cipher 360, a program for at risk children, is looking for volunteers on Monday evenings from 5-8 p.m. at the Rose Park Activity Center, 2625 S. 7th St. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways including helping with set up, learning activities for kindergarten-3rd graders, tutoring 4th-8th graders, and assisting with clean up. Contact Alvina Scott at 847-333-7026 or email ams07b@acu.edu. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs including sorting and pricing items in the thrift store, helping in the kitchen and/or doing yard work. Times are flexible. Volunteers are needed throughout the week Monday-Saturday. The Salvation Army is located at 1726 Butternut St. For more information contact J.D. Alonzo at 325-677-1408 or visit www.satruck.com.
The National Center For Children’s Illustrated Literature is looking for volunteers to greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Help is also needed for special events like Artwalk and exhibit openings. The NCCIL is located at 102 Cedar St. For more information on times and dates contact Debby Lillick at 325-673-4586 or visit: http:// www.nccil.org/index.htm Breakfast on Beech Street is seeking volunteers to help set up, prepare and serve breakfast to homeless/lower income folks any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 5:30 a.m. or Tuesday at 5 a.m. B.O.B.S is located at First Christian Church on 3rd St. and Beech St. Service times must be scheduled in advance. To serve on Mondays contact Jody Depriest at 325-669-3312 or jody.depriest@gmail.com. To serve on Tuesdays contact Allen Daugherty at 325-660-6949 or ale.al@ suddenlink.net. To serve on Wednesdays contact Jane Harvey at 325-695-0092 or jharvread@aol.com. To serve on Thursdays contact Margaret Beasley at 325692-4149 or mbeasley5@suddenlink.net. To serve on Fridays contact Rachel Brown at rdb08a@acu.edu. The Christian Ministries of Abilene: Food Pantry is searching for volunteers to greet and interview neighbors, do computer entries, shop with neighbors, take groceries to vehicles, bag, stock and pick up orders on Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.11:45 a.m. The Food Pantry is located at 701 Walnut St. For more information contact Camilla Becton at 325672-1890 or email bammy0811@yahoo.com. Volunteers are needed to read to Taylor Elementary School students Monday-Thursday afternoons at UCC from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Enter through the south entrance. Contact C.G. Grey 325-668-2842. For additional volunteer opportunities visit: www.acu. edu/campusoffices/ccsl/ministry-service/volunteeropportunities/
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campus news
friday 09.21.12
Services
Campus Store introduces rewards program Josh Garcia student reporter This semester, the Campus Store initiated a new rewards program for its customers. Utilizing a free “Purple Card,” consumers can register online and earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards to the Campus Store. Officially dubbed the “Purple Card Rewards Program,” points are earned by showing the card and mentioning a phone number or Banner ID during a purchase. Additional points can be earned by
selling textbooks back to the Campus Store, or by making a purchase online while signed in to the account associated with the card. Additionally, being a member of the rewards program also entails receiving exclusive emails, in-store offers and sales throughout the year. “We really wanted a way to give back to our students and our customers,” said Rachel Elam, marketing specialist for business services. “It’s very popular with other retail stores, and other college stores have also been starting to
do it. So we just figured it was a great way to give back to students as they’re spending their money here.” Elam was particularly excited about the prospect of being able to give back to the community that supports the Campus Store. “We want to do everything we can to start creating that relationship and giving everyone on campus, and even off-campus, that special opportunity to interact with us.” Approximately 2,500 Purple Cards have been handed out to customers
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We really wanted a way to give back to our students and our customers.”
haven’t seen a reason to activate it.” Other students are excited about the prospect of a rewards program. “Everybody that I’ve talked to has had a posiRachel Elam tive reaction and they marketing specialist for business services can’t wait to redeem their points, so we’re excited about it,” Elam said. in the Campus Store since of the reward program’s Purple Cards can be the beginning of Passport. value, with only a little obtained in the Campus “We actually had to re- more than 600 having ac- Store and registered online order our Purple Cards so tually registered their card at campusstore.acu.edu. we can get more in stock,” online. Elam said. “We’ve given Hao Zhe, sophomore away almost all of our computer science macards.” jor from Kuala Lumpur, contact Garcia at However, some stu- Malaysia, said, “I’ve had jtg10b@acu.edu dents remain unconvinced the card for a week, but I
campus
Large incoming class forces reorganization Destiny Hagood Staff photographer Two of ACU’s popular facilities, the “World Famous Bean” and the Campus Store, have made significant organizational changes to prepare for the rush of incoming freshmen. The Bean and Campus Store serve hundreds of students, faculty and staff a day. With a 10 percent increase in freshman enrollment, these two locations have been forced to make
changes in order to accommodate a much larger number of students. The Bean has made several layout changes designed to improve employee work-flow and increase the speed of service, said Tom Arellano, senior food service director. “We went from three stations serving the home zone to four stations which shortened the lines pretty dramatically,” Arellano said. The Bean has also cleared out table spacing
in the dining area, which allows the students to sit closer to the windows instead of bunched up by the food stations. Students seem to approve of the Bean’s new layout, and the lines at lunch time move faster and faster each day. “The ‘World Famous Bean’ has improved a lot since last year. The workers are very attentive, welcome, and helpful. I enjoy the music and the people are always welcoming and kind,” said Gabrielle Thompson,
sophomore vocal major from Los Angeles. The Bean has also added music to its dining service to liven the atmosphere. “This year we wanted to change it up a little bit,” Arellano said. “The feedback has been really positive and the music draws people into the Bean.” The Campus Store is used to large crowds of freshmen and returning students. “Its not like anything we haven’t dealt with before, but we have been
working on customer service issues and some of the things in the front of the store,” said Campus Store Director Scott Harsh. The Campus Store changed their system from four lines to one big checkout line with four registers for easy service. “The new look has worked great,” Harsh said. “I never liked that set up, so when we finally got the opportunity to change, it removed a lot of stress.” The Campus Store has kept the book reserve ser-
vice to make it easier for students to pick up books without having to come into a congested store. “People don’t have to come down and find their own books when we go and pull them for them,” Harsh said. “Even if it’s 500-1000 orders, that’s 500 people that don’t have to come down here and add to the traffic.”
contact Hagood at dah09a@acu.edu
Election
Student, faculty participate in National Convention Josh Garcia student reporter Dr. David Dillman, director of the Jack Pope Fellows Program, and Rebecca Dial, president of the Students’ Association, participated in this year’s Democratic National Convention, conducted from September 4-6 in Charlotte, N.C. The Democratic National Convention is a gathering of members of the Democratic Party during which presidential and vice presidential candidates are officially nominated to run for office. Conducted every
four years, the convention was first organized in 1832. Dillman, professor of political science, has attended every convention since 1980, save the gathering in 1984. Dillman worked as a “speaker tracker,” which he explained as being part of the podium operation, including production, rehearsal and speech writing. Dillman helped get speakers through security into rehearsal to prepare them for their speeches, including on the night of their speech. “I think it’s an important part of the process,” said
Dillman. “Some of it may be sort of grunt work, but there are issues that arise, unusual situations that arise, that have to be dealt with.” Dillman worked extensively with this year’s keynote speaker, Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio. He also escorted Bev Purdue, governor of North Carolina, Arne Duncan, secretary of education and Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan. In the past, he has worked with figures such as Nancy Pelosi, former House majority leader, and John Kerry, Massachusetts senator.
Dillman stressed that politicians are often wrongly portrayed in a negative light especially to students. “Politicians, and the people in politics, are by and large good and decent people,” he said Dillman also briefly met with student Rebecca Dial during the convention and showed her some aspects of his responsibilities. Dial, senior political science and finance major from Lexington, S.C., was a member of the Credentials Committee and was one of nine Texas representatives tasked with finding any outstanding
delegation issues with the candidates. “It’s basically about choosing the delegates who get to represent the state,” said Dial, who had never attended the convention before. “It was a really good way to go and feel involved in the process.” Dial praised the atmosphere and the speeches as full of passion and high energy. The speech that impacted her most was the one given by the women of the House of Representatives. “All of the women who were representatives in the House came on stage and
spoke about what they’re doing. Seeing them all up there was really impactful to me as a woman.” While Dillman said he might not attend the convention again, Dial is eager to go back. “We have this huge group of people who are all fighting for the same causes and really feel passionate about the same issues,” Dial said. “I want to continue to be a part of that.”
contact Garcia at jtg10b@acu.edu
missions
WWW sends more than 70 students on mission trips Maggie Marshall student reporter Seventy-three ACU students took two months out of their summer to live in another country. Sent out by the WorldWide Witness organization, these students took part in camps, medical missions, volunteered at orphanages, aided in language learning and many other missions. Since the organization’s founding, more than 600 students have been sent around the world. Gary Green, missions coordinator of WorldWide Witness, co-founded the organization in 2001. “Our first year we sent students to 18 places,” Green said. “This year, we sent students to 29 places.” These locations include Chile, Croatia, Peru, Brazil, Zambia and Bronx, New York. Along with numerous locations, WorldWide Witness also has many different types of ministries to get involved in. “We’re always trying to open up a wider and wider range for our students,” Green said. Missions are often found in rural places, such as Zambia where students are involved in agricultural and refugee mission work. However, there are also missions in urban areas like France and in Eastern Europe where students minister to battered women and
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Living with the locals was a challenging yet rewarding experience in Brazil, because I got to learn the language and culture in a whole different way.”
Kyle Yarbrough senior accounting and financial management major from San angelo
human trafficking. And in Japan, students continue to give aid to earthquake victims. The offices for WorldWide Witness are found in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, but this doesn’t mean only Bible majors are involved. Out of the students who went on trips this summer, only 10 were Bible majors. Many of them were graduate students, education majors and biology majors. Not only did these students reach out and minister to people across the globe, but they were also touched during their missions. Kyle Yarbrough, senior accounting and financial management major from San Angelo went on a mission to Niteroi, Brazil. “The Brazilian people were loving and compassionate,” Yarbrough said. “Living with the locals was a challenging yet rewarding experience in Brazil, because I got to learn the language and culture in a whole different way.” Trevor Wait, senior biochemistry major went on a mission to South Africa.
“South Africa was an incredible experience where God revealed to me how truly prideful and selfish I was,” Wait said. The experience of each student is different, but many made friendships that will forever impact their lives and live in their memories. “I speak to my Singaporean friends every other day or so,” said Paige Berry, junior sculpture major. “I can’t wait to see them later this year.” Recruitment for these
trips begins in the fall when WWW begins speaking in classes and interest meetings. Screenings also begin in the fall to ensure health and wellness before the trip. Students cannot go into these missions unprepared. There is a spring course that counts for a three hour advanced Bible credit. In this course, students are grouped with others who are going on the same mission. Every week, the course focuses on a different spiritual discipline and fundraising tactics. After the course is completed, students are sent out to their fields in June or July. When students return, W W W does not leave them to face culture shock alone. “We really want to make sure you’re doing okay.” Green said. “We
like everybody to walk through a spiritual debriefing process.” Students take part in an evaluation of the program and a stress profile after their return. Green said the organization searched for a book to help with this process, but was unable to find one so they wrote their own. The book is to be sent to publishers soon and will aid students in spiritual ref lection and evaluation
of their trip. Green said, during recruitment each student is interviewed and asked questions about talents and passions and is then paired with the location where their abilities may best be put to use. Students from every department are welcomed and needed. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Opinion
FRIDAY 09.21.12
EVAN’s marks
Editorial
4
evan marks
Voter ID laws more hurtful than helpful the issue A push to implement nationwide laws requiring photo identification in order to vote is one of the biggest issues of this election.
our take While this should be something we aim toward in the future, enacting a law this close to election day will cause more harm than it will help.
One of the biggest topics of the upcoming election is the possibility of voter identification laws in attempt to curb voter impersonation. Voter ID laws are laws intended to make sure the voter is who they say they are. So in order to cast your vote at a polling place, it would be required to show a government issued photo identification. Democrats and Republicans seem unable to come to an agreement on the issue with the later looking to end voter fraud and the former worrying about disenfranchising legitimate voters. Currently, thirty-one states require some form of identification. Of those, 15 require any photo ID and five require one issued by the government. Here on campus, nearly everyone has a legal ID. But for many in the nation, that is not the case. According to a recent
study by Lawrence Norden and Wendy Weiser, there are currently 3.2 million Americans who do not own governmentissued photo identification. Of these, certain demographics would be heavily affected. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates 25 percent of African-Americans and 18 percent of seniors do not have identification. Requiring all voters to obtain a government ID may not sound like a big deal to most students, however, for many in America, it isn’t that easy. In order to get a government-issued photo ID, you must bring your birth certificate. And in order to get your birth certificate you must have a photo ID. This circular process makes it nearly impossible for those from broken homes or rural areas and others who don’t have copies of their birth certificate. With many laws, it
is expected that a small number may be adversly affected in order to do good. So here’s the real question: Is preventing voter fraud worth preventing the votes of up to three million entitled voters? The short answer is no. This isn’t because voter fraud is not bad. It’s because voter fraud is nearly nonexistent. Since 2000, over sixhundred million people have voted in three seperate presidential elections. A study by News21 reveals that during this same pe-
riod, there have only been 2,068 alleged cases of voter fraud. According to another study from the Brennan Center, voter fraud happens at a frightening rate of 0.0004 percent. It is just as likely as the polling place being struck by lightning as you cast your vote. Of this already small percentage, the majority of cases consisted of absentee ballot or registration fraud. Occuring outside of the polling place, none of these would ha ve
been prevented by a photo ID requirement. The law would only prevent in-person voter impersonation, of which there have been an incredible 10 cases in the last three elections. Requiring governmentissued photo IDs is something that we should aim for in future elections. Having more Americans with proper IDs would benefit more than the voting process. However, voter fraud is not nearly significant enough to warrant a
change in our system before election day on Nov 6. This is a problem that does not need to be fixed because it isn’t really a problem at all. In the end, voter fraud is something we should aim to eradicate, but disenfranchising nearly three million Americans to achieve that goal would be foolish.
contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
column
An open letter to those who don’t take the paper DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE
MELANY COX
I realize my target audience probably won’t read this, but I feel the need to address them any way. I’d like to take a moment to address everyone who refuses to pick up a copy of the Optimist after Chapel. Now, before anyone gets offended, let me explain myself. I understand that ev-
eryone has their reasons for not taking a copy of the paper. Maybe they plan to read it online. Maybe they’re environmentally conscious and want to save paper. Maybe they’re in a rush get to the Bean before everyone else. Or maybe they just don’t want to. The paper comes out every Wednesday and
Friday. On those days, the Optimist staff stands in the concourse of Moody Coliseum with stacks of newspapers waiting for Chapel to be dismissed so we can hand the papers out to the swarm of departing students, faculty and staff. Let me point out that while we are waiting we are hungry, our hands are getting stained with ink and we work extremely hard on each issue of the paper. We print it for you and we want it to be read. There are several methods I’ve seen peo-
ple use to avoid taking a copy of the Optimist. One method people use is to politely say “no thank you” when they are offered a paper. To those people I say “thank YOU.” Even though you didn’t take a paper, you did so politely and we appreciate that. The most common method is to avoid eye contact and ignore the person trying to hand you a newspaper. To this I say, no one appreciates being treated like a newspaper rack instead of a newspaper staff member. The least
you could do is say “no thanks.” There is one final method a few people use to avoid taking a paper, whether they realize it or not. They f linch. To these people I would like to very gently point out that the paper will not hurt them... and we don’t bite. There are several outlets, besides the newspaper, that allow you to keep up with the Optimist. There’s Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, the iPad and iPhone apps and, of course, the website. I
don’t like to brag, but we are the best source for on-campus news. And staying up to date with on-campus news is critical because, believe it or not, it does affect you. And to all the people who are reading this now because they accepted a paper after Chapel, I haven’t forgotten you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and my ink-stained fingertips.
contact COX at mkc09b@acu.edu
column
Society must open eyes to continued slavery CALL ME, MAYBE
LINDSAY PALMER
For years we have struggled against the oppression and bondage of slavery. We were told early on that slavery has been abolished. We have heard the words “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” engrained in our minds. But is that statement true? We know about human trafficking because we have been made aware through the many great organizations that come on campus and talk to us. We are made aware of human trafficking in
hashtagACU 11:53 a.m. Sep. 19 1:42 p.m. Sep. 20
Puddles: the ACU difference
@jace_daniel
Is it a new fad at ACU to break your leg and get a scooter?
@DannyFulton
other nations, but do not hear enough about those who are trafficked here in the United States. For years America has initiated war against human trafficking. We have pledged to end all those who suffer from human rights abuses and have asked other countries to do the same. However, we are failing to seek out the thousands who are victims and help them. We talk about one part of human trafficking but we have to understand that there are two different sides to this violation of human rights.
There is “Labor Trafficking” and “Sex Trafficking”. We know about sex trafficking but labor trafficking is slightly different. Labor trafficking is recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for labor or services using force. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation there are well over one hundred thousand children and young women being trafficked in America alone. The ages for those who are forced into this lifestyle range from as low as nine to 19. The average age for those
7:53 a.m. Sep. 20
6:11 p.m. Sep. 18
The day after Summit everyone on campus looks like they were mugged behind a dumpster
@HomileticLee
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.
published by the department of journalism and mass communication editorial and management board
Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
newsroom (325) 674-2439
who are trafficked is 11. Coming from a family of six kids with the youngest being eight, to think that she could be labor trafficked or sex trafficked is a revolting thought. The thing is, this could happen to any one of us or someone that we know. The FBI says that predators are no longer snatching runaway children and kids who have been abandoned. Instead they have developed more sophisticated and intelligent ways. They prey on childrens’ and teenagers’ weak-
nesses and they use people they know. Human trafficking in America is a scary subject that we would rather overlook because we don’t want to acknowledge it could happen to us. Now is the time to open our eyes and realize that once we get beyond our denial, we can decide to change.
contact PALMER at lsp10b@acu.edu
7:12 p.m. Sep. 17
I don’t get it when people with Lifeproof iPhone cases don’t put their iPhone in their drink at every meal.
@treytres3
Apparently “the beast of the field” referred to in the bible are the wild cats that run around ACU #ACUdifference
@jwardtenor
10:39 a.m. Sep. 20
Just feeding the real ACU wildcats pastries. Saving the world one stray at a time!!
@austinkilcullen
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news/sports
friday 09.21.12
#19 ACU (2-1) at Angelo State (1-2) Game Preview
Offense
Defense
PICK:
ACU
PICK:
ACU
Intangibles ACU PICK:
The ACU offense exploded the last thirty minutes of the Tarleton State game last week, and fans can expect more of the same in San Angelo tomorrow. Look for the offensive line to push around a Ram front four that has only accounted for
Despite the fact that the ACU defense is considerably banged up, they should have the edge in this game. Defensive end Nick Richardson has registered more sacks than the entire Angelo State team, and he’ll be busy again tomorrow.
The Wildcats will have momentum after a huge win last week, while the Rams are heading in a different direction. ACU has owned the Rams in recent years, and there is no reason to suspect that will change this season.
two sacks this season. Quarterback Mitchell Gale will have plenty of time to survey the field and find his outstaning recievers. For Angelo State, the player to watch is former blue chip recruit Jermie Calhoun, who played at Oklahoma before a devastating knee injury halted his career. Now Calhoun lines up in the Angelo State backfield, with a Division I pedigree and a chance to get back to his playmaking self. The ACU offense will clearly be the class of the game tomorrow night.
Safety L.B. Suggs suffered a broken thumb last week, but look for him to secure the back end despite the injury and continue to make big plays. For Angelo State, sophomore linebacker Rush Seaver will be carrying a heav y load. Seaver is leading the team in tackles and started half the games in his freshman campaign as well. Seaver is cleary the best player on a mediocre defense.
Ken Collums has superior talent at every position, so the Wildcats should look to dominant the entire game. Angelo State will come out trying to shock the world, but there is almost no chance of that happening this weekend.
Edward Isaacs
Taylor Langston
Matthew Sloan
Daniel Zepeda
The Rams haven’t had a conference game yet and will be looking to play spoiler in this one. I don’t see that happening. The ‘Cats have dominated this series for the last 10 years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. ACU will continue that streak on Saturday.
Blake Hamblin is among the few threats that the Rams pose. Beside the passing game, however, the Angelo offense and Jermie Calhoun will likely be held to very few points. Let’s call it a 24-7 win under ACU’s belt.
The Wildcats are better than Angelo in all three phases of the game, and it will be obvious after Saturday night. ACU will be rolling offensively, and defensively, the Wildcats should bounce back from last week with a big time performance in this Lone Star Conference matchup. Wildcats win big.
This week’s game against Angelo State shouldn’t have as much drama or be as close as the game at Cowboys Stadium. The Wildcats are much better in nearly every catagory and should have no problem in taking on the Rams this Saturday as we can all expect a big win from the purple and white.
Pick: ACU 24-7
Pick: ACU 45-17
Natalie Goin
After last week’s exciting comeback against Tarleton in Cowboys Stadium the Wildcats will have momentum going into San Angelo. The Rams have struggled against ACU for the last decade and their team lacks the talent of the Wildcats on both sides of the ball.
Pick: ACU 35-10
Pick: ACU 45-14
Ken Collums show continues this Saturday The Ken Collums Show will air at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday on KTXS. The show runs every Saturday during the football season at 10:30 a.m.
Pick: ACU 42-21
soccer
Casey: Coach utilizes diverse experience from page 6 mentor as a soccer coach. “My high school soccer coach really furthered my love for the sport,” Wilson said. “That was the beginning of his coaching career, and I felt that he had a lot of qualities even then that I could tell he was really going somewhere. He’s been an outstanding mentor to me as I have come back into the soccer world.” Ali Khosroshahin serves as the head women’s soccer coach at the University of Southern California, where he finished his 2007 season with a NCAA Division I national championship. “He is coaching at the pinnacle of the soccer world,
and it has been fun to see his success,” Wilson said. Wilson was the first and only coach in the history of ACU’s soccer program, which was born in 2007. Since then, the program has quickly been built from the bottom up, becoming one of the top programs on campus. “I did what I could to start this program well,” Wilson said. “We had to rebuild the softball program back up in 2004, and I saw this as another chance to start something new again.” In just five years, Wilson’s winning percentage is at an outstanding .662 with an overall record of 64-31-7 before the beginning of this season.
He has led the ‘Cats to 64 victories, four LSC Conference tournaments, two NCAA championships, and a conference title. “I have been blessed with having great help here with my assistant coaches,” Wilson said. “I couldn’t have built this program without them. I was fortunate to learn my strengths and weaknesses as a softball coach, and where I needed help in certain areas and that was beneficial in helping the whole program going forward.”
contact goin at nsg10b@acu.edu
curtis christian Staff Photographer
Sophomore midfielder Sarah Schoch clears the ball at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
Student life
Managers: Workers adjust to new policies Continued from page 1 In years previous, R.A.’s would talk with their friends, do homework and greet the residents they personally knew. Rebekah Perry, junior youth and family ministry and missions major from San Antonio and R.A. in Nelson Hall said, “It’s fun greeting everyone because before if I didn’t know them I didn’t want to weird them out. Now that it’s a requirement, they still look at me wierd, but I think
“
Some of the R.A.’s might be frustrated with the changes but in a year or so these changes will be the new norms.”
they feel welcomed into their dorm.” Another major policy change is R.A.’s no longer have day desk shifts. There is now an assistant director on call from 8-5 for the students who lock themselves
Lauren Land senior social work major from prosper
out of their room. “The desk manager shifts are not safety positions, but they are customer service positions,” said Delony. “These older policies assume that students don’t respect their place
Student life
Budget: SA settles after discussion Continued from page 1 event that has been conducted for over 20 years and will be organized again on Friday. Group representatives believed SA had not granted enough funds for the event to be successful. Wilson White, senior history major from Ozona said, “It got a little hot at times, the groups having budgeting issues, other groups wanting to take money from other groups.” Ultimately Jeff Arrington, associate vice president for Student Life, said Entra a la Plaza would go forward as planned af-
ter speaking with Byron Martin, interim director the Office of Multicultural Enrichment, by telephone regarding the deficit in funding. Hispanos Unidos, which has traditionally not performed fundraisers, may now consider ways it can raise additional funds on its own. The meeting lasted approximately two hours. Discussion also included the possibility of purchasing some requested items, but after cycling through the list of organizations and resolving the issue with Entra a la Plaza, the proposal was met with little debate and the budget
was passed successfully. “Overall, I think the meeting went well,” said David Sanderson, sophomore biochemistry major from El Paso. “I believe there are times that it was more tense, as all meetings are, because not every student group can get funded all the money. We got some good clarification between student groups, and I think all the money was spent well.”
contact Garcia at JTG10b@acu.edu
of living. We have experimented over the last few years with leaving the pool stuff out and what we’ve found is that students take care of their stuff.” The final major policy change is the R.A. desk shift dress code. Normally R.A.’s were able to wear pajamas, sweats and snuggies. Under the new policy, R.A.s are required to dress up for their shifts; even those working the 1-5 a.m. shifts must wear nice or professional clothing. Lauren Land, senior
social work major from Prosper and assistant director of Nelson Hall, said women now have to wear nice blouses with jeans or a dress, and men have to wear polo shirts and khaki pants. “I wanted them to dress like they would professionally so that they can act professionally,” Delony said. Perry said she understands the reasoning and doesn’t mind dressing up more than usual. “I think each decision
has a purpose behind it,” Perry said. “Dressing the part helps us be more responsible.” Though the R.A.’s have changes to get used to, they are all taking it in stride. “Some of the R.A.’s might be frustrated with the changes, but in a year or so these changes will be the new norm,” Land said.
contact STutesman at kas10a@acu.edu
sports
friday 09.21.12
6
standings
football
Wildcats look to Ram Angelo State matthew sloan sports reporter The Wildcats are coming off a fun-filled trip to Jerryworld, but this weekend they will pack their bags again and travel to San Angelo to take on the Angelo State Rams in a Lone Star Conference showdown. ACU is coming off of a thrilling come-from-behind win against Tarleton State, in which the ‘Cats erased a 10-point halftime lead in order to secure their first conference win of the 2012 campaign. “Not many people get
to play in such a big venue,” linebacker Thor Woerner said. “So it’s been a blessing for me. When Jerry opened that up to us, it was hard to put into words. It’s a lot of fun.” Wildcat fans came out in droves to support the purple and white in what could be their last trip to Cowboys Stadium in the foreseeable future. On the flip side, Angelo State has lost their last two games by double digits, including a 33-point drubbing at the hands of Valdosta State last week. The Rams have gotten the short end of the stick
against ACU recently, falling to the ‘Cats once a year for over a decade. “We are not looking past anyone,” head coach Ken Collums said. “We have to handle Angelo State. They are a well-coached team; they are big, strong and physical. They are going to line up and try to out execute you on offense and defense.” Defending LSC offensive player of the week Taylor Gabriel and the rest of the ACU offense should be able to move the ball against an Angelo State defense that gave up more than 40 points last week. Another matchup to
watch is the ACU offensive line against the Angelo State pass rush. The Rams have only registered two sacks on the season, so quarterback Mitchell Gale should have a clean pocket to deliver the football. The new-look ACU defense has played good football in the first few weeks, and should be able to put together another strong showing against a Rams team that has scored only one touchdown in each of the last two weeks. A Ram to keep an eye on is running back Jermie Calhoun, who played for the Oklahoma Sooners before a gruesome knee injury put
soccer
natalie goin asistant sports editor
Baseball athlete Yunel Escobar has been a controversial player before, but not like this. Last week, Escobar was apart of something that goes beyond baseball. The professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays was seen wearing a message on his eye black during a game last Saturday. The message was a gay slur printed in Spanish. It was originally found by a Jays fan who was taking pictures from behind
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soccer
ACU’s new student section, The Wildcat Reign, organized a White Out for Friday’s volleyball match. The event will include miniACU volleyball toss and a rafle for teamautographed volleyball. Raffle tickets cost $2 each and all proceeds will go to the MakeA-Wish Foundation. For Saturday’s match, the first 100 fans will receive a rally towel. Football moved up one spot in the American Football Coaches’ Association NCAA Division II Coaches’ poll released on Monday. The ‘Cats jumped to No. 19.
ex- factor Running back Daryl Richardson had a 53-yard run, an 18-yard catch and a two point conversion for St. Louis Rams against the Redskins on Sunday. He fumbled late in the fourth quarter after getting the first down. Richardson never fumbled in his three years at ACU.
mandy lambright chief Photographer
Casey Wilson is in his sixth year as the head soccer coach of the Wildcats. He was the 2011 Lone Star Conference and NSCAA South Central Region Head Coach of the Year. old and played until I was a senior in high school.” Wilson graduated from ACU in 1999 with a B.B.A. in marketing and later received his M.B.A. with an emphasis in entrepreneurship from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. Wilson moved back to Abilene in 2002, and his exwife Chantiel Wilson took over the softball program at
ACU. An alumni player for the ‘Cats, she was named head softball coach in 2005. Wilson helped out as her assistant coach, as well as being the program’s recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. “I enjoyed working in softball,” Wilson said. “That’s how I got into coaching. I loved every minute of it.” During Wilson’s career in the softball program, the
Wildcats made the national championship tournament four times, (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009) three LSC Tournament championship game appearances, and two LSC South Division titles in 2006 and 2009. “Being involved with the softball program the first few years I was a coach, I really found my niche,” Wilson said. “I found out how to run a pro-
gram well, especially at ACU. I kind of just took that model over to soccer.” Beginning in 2007, Wilson was working as both the head soccer coach and the assistant softball coach, and did both until 2010 when he decided to focus on soccer. Wilson credits his high school coach as his biggest
the Toronto dugout. The fan posted the picture on Flickr which started an uproar on the internet. Escobar, who is from La Habana, Cuba, was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday. According to the team, he will also be required to attend sensitivity training. It is estimated he will lose $83,000 as a result of the three-day suspension, which will hardly make a dent in his two-year $10 million contract. The Blue Jays held a team meeting on Tuesday to inform the other players
of Escobar’s punishment. Escobar recently spoke at a news conference through an interpreter. He apologized for the slur, but would not go into detail on why he did it, saying it was just a joke and was not meant to offend anyone. He admitted that the phrase is frequently used in baseball clubhouses and has no meaning. This is disturbing to me. Whether it was intended as a joke or not, Escobar had no right displaying something so offensive in public. I am a Christian and, as such, we are called to love one another unconditionally.
Escobar was not showing that kind of love. I think an appropriate saying for this incident would be “actions speak louder than words.” Escobar went on to say he has nothing against homosexuals and even listed some of his friends who are gay. We cannot know for sure what’s true and what isn’t in Escobar’s testimony. What I do know is if the phrase is used as frequently in clubhouses as he said it is, MLB has a huge problem. Why didn’t his teammates say anything? Did no one see it? Were they that oblivious to what was going on? I highly doubt it.
Wide reciever Clyde Gates made his first catch for the Jets on Sunday against the Steelers. The 10-yard catch led to a touchdown.
Upcoming Football will travel to San Angelo on Saturday for their third LSC game against Angelo State. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Soccer will have two home games this see casey page 5 weekend. The Wildcats take on Eastern New Mexico Friday at 5 p.m. and West Texas A&M on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
Blue Jays had no excuse for gay slur edward isaacs
Div.
briefings
column
gangnam style
Team
ENMU WTAMU his career in jeopardy. The speedster was one of ACU the top recruits in Texas, and TAMU-K is finally making his way back MSU onto the gridiron after more TSU than a year of rehabilitation. ASU “I think we’ll do fine because our guys are going to UIW compress the running lanes Commerce and get him to bounce the ball so he is running side- volleyball ways instead of north and Team south,” Collums said. The Wildcats will face off Commerce against the Rams at 6 p.m. ASU Saturday in San Angelo with a TWU chance to improve to 3-1. TSU WTAMU ACU contact sloan at mes10b@acu.edu TAMU-K ENMU Cameron UIW MSU
Kickin’ it with Coach Casey Head soccer coach Casey Wilson was a star in two sports in college, neither of which were soccer. Wilson grew up spending most of his time on the field, playing football, soccer and baseball at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, Calif. He also played club soccer for the Western Regional championship team, who finished the season 50-8 in 1989. In college, Wilson continued to be a multi-sport athlete, competing in both baseball and football. At Santa Ana College in California, Wilson was an All-American placekicker for the Dons football team. He also played on the baseball team for a year. Wilson then transferred to Central Michigan University to play on the football team. In 1996, Wilson set the school record for total PATs in a season. His record was untouched for over 10 years, until Rick Albreski made 48 PATs in 2007. “I was looking to transfer once my years of eligibility were over at Central Michigan,” Wilson said. “That’s when I transferred to ACU to play two years of baseball. I used all 10 semesters of eligibility that I had to play sports.” Wilson wouldn’t have even heard of Abilene Christian if it hadn’t been for his older brother. “My dad had inquired about ACU looking for a place for my brother to play football,” Wilson said. “He had done some research while I was up at Central Michigan. He then kind of mentioned it to me one day. We had a family friend who went to school here back in the 50’s so I was interested. I was looking for a warmer place to play baseball once I was done with my football career. And that’s just how I ended up here.” Hitting .300 for the Wildcats, Wilson was a member of Britt Bonneau’s 1998 baseball team. Bonneau is still currently serving as ACU’s head baseball coach. “I think I beat myself up a lot playing baseball,” Wilson said. “Baseball was something that I was always pressuring myself with, and soccer was kind of my release. When I played it, I loved it. I played starting at five years
football
Even though Escobar is known for writing both inspirational and humorous statements on his eye black, I bet at least one player or coach was aware of the situation. If it is widely used across professional baseball, the team must have known the meaning behind the slur. A true team is accountable to one another. The Jays don’t sound like that kind of team. Someone should have stepped up and told Escobar what he was doing was wrong, no excuses. contact isaacs at jei08a@acu.edu
The volleyball team has two home matches this weekend. The ‘Cats will play Tarleton State on Friday at 7 p.m., and Angelo State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. The men’s tennis team will play on the road Friday-Sunday at the New Mexico State Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M. The women’s tennis team heads to Lawrence, Kan. this weekend to play in the Kansas Invitational Friday-Sunday.