Strummin’ Solo Student works toward musical future
vol. 100, no. 11
friday, september 30, 2011
Arts page 5
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
destiny hagood staff Photographer Lauren Lockyer, freshman graphic design major from Winter Springs, Fla., holds a Monarch butterfly in the area surrounding the McGlothlin Campus Center. Millions of Monarchs have begun their journey to Mexico, with Abilene as a stopping point in between. The Monarchs migrate from Canada to Mexico, a 3,000 mile trip.
university
Registrar floats death for dead day jozie sands opinion page editor Changes proposed to the finals schedule allow students to take fewer exams each day and have more time between exams by eliminating Dead day. Any changes approved by the University Undergraduate Academic Council and provost would not be implemented until the Spring 2012 semester, at the earliest. The proposed finals schedule is still being modified, but as it stands the schedule allows a full two hours for each testing
period, increases the break between exams to 30 minutes, adds an hour break each day for lunch and eliminates Dead day. This is the first revision suggested to finals week in at least 30 years. The UUAC requested that the schedule be evaluated during a regular policy review. Bart Herridge, registrar and director of academic records, crafted the new schedule after consulting universities in the area and ACU’s sister schools. Out of the schools Herridge benchmarked, ACU is the only university that cancels an entire day of classes during the week
of finals. Some have a “dead week” where classes still meet, but exams are not given. “The original intent for dead day was for faculty to be in their offices so students could come by before finals began and ask questions, develop concepts or whatever they need to do to get ready for a final exam,” Herridge said. “Anecdotal evidence suggests that this doesn’t happen anymore.” The current finals schedule is stressful for students and faculty, said Herridge. It only allows students fifteen minutes to change classrooms, crams
as many as three exams into a day and rushes faculty to get grades in by the following Tuesday. “The purpose of finals is not to measure stress, it’s to measure performance and mastery of the learning outcomes of a course,” Herridge said. “That’s better demonstrated in a situation where students have one or two finals a day than when they have three or more.” Adding a day to the finals schedule decreases the likelihood that a student will have to cram three or four exams into the same day, Herridge said. It also allows for an empty
hour during each day for students to eat lunch or do last minute studying. The changes are unnecessary, said Desmond Brown, sophomore computer science major from Houston. Dead day is needed so he can become fully immersed in studying and groups can meet more easily since no one has class. “We need dead day for the extra studying, and two hours in a class isn’t needed if you are prepared for the test,” said Brown. contact Sands at jgs07a@acu.edu
Wednesday’s front page article on block tuition was incomplete. The conclusion of the story, as well as a few other stories, were not provided due to an error by the printer. We apologize for any confusion. These articles may be found at acuoptimist.com
homecoming
‘Excessive campaigning’ nullifies nomination votes Marissa ferguson online editor Citing “excessive and aggressive campaigning,” the offices of Alumni Relations and Student Life have voided all Homecoming Court nominations made before Wednesday and extended the deadline until Friday. In an email Wednesday, the alumni office urged students not to campaign or block vote, two things commonly practiced by social clubs. Samantha Adkins, senior alumni relations officer, said the insistent campaigning during the first part of the week was difficult to miss. Although social club pledge
were the most obvious campaigners, she said, non-club members campaigned excessively as well. “It was getting just a little out of hand,” Adkins said. It has happened on many levels over the past 15-20 years, but for some reason it just became more visible this year.” Excessive campaigning may include but is not limited to making Facebook groups, passing out fliers, block voting, voting more than once or collecting student’s banner numbers to place nominations. The last item is subject to penalties laid out in the Student Guide. GATA president Morgan Myer, senior psychology major from Richardson,
said her club did only what has been done in years passed and had pledges change their profile pictures on Facebook. “We’re really having to go through our handbook and make sure everything is OK because now [Student Life] is cracking down,” Myer said. “Instead of going by what people did years before, we now have to go through all that fine print.” After deciding to discard the nominations, Student Life is following up with individuals and organizations who violated the nomination process, said Dr. JeanNoel Thompson. “I feel very comfortable in how we’re addressing it as an office, and I feel that
those we are talking to are being extremely responsive in understanding the importance of making sure there is complete integrity in such a process,” said Thompson, vice president and dean of student life. He would not name the individuals and clubs being contacted. “We’ve approached those that we feel were inappropriate in this manner, and they’re responding in the way that we would hope they respond.” Thompson said he is most concerned about the possibility that students shared their banner number. “The potential identity theft side of that is that, unfortunately, bad things hap-
pen when somebody else has your information,” he said. “That’s something, as a staff, we’re talking about. How do we get our hands around perhaps what might be a broader campus-wide student issue. We will certainly address that.” Adkins said the aggressive campaigning is not unfair, but unbecoming of Christians. “Homecoming nominees should be somebody that the student body sees as a person who represents ACU well – that they stand up for what we believe in,” she said. “I think with aggressive nomination, it just looks like it’s all about the crown, and that’s not how it should be.” Since the new nomina-
tion process has been enacted, Myer said she hopes to see a broader range of people selected. “I’m hoping that people can nominate people from all different groups instead of just the largest groups on campus getting the people out there just because they have the most numbers,” Myer said. “I hope other students will get the chance to get on Court that maybe wouldn’t have with the old process.” To cast your nomination, visit acu.edu/queen by 5 p.m. today. The Court will be announced in Chapel next Friday. contact ferguson at mlf10a@acu.edu
inside sports
opinion
video
news
Women’s soccer hopes to continue their 13game winning streak
Read why Dead Day is such a vital part of finals week
Follies helps to build community and friendship among freshmen
SA discusses block tuition with Kevin Campbell on Wednesday
acuoptimist.com
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Abilene Christian University
Friday 09.30.11
30 Friday
01
Saturday
4 p.m. ACU Women’s soccer vs. Texas Women’s University
02
6 p.m. ACU football vs. Western Oregon at Shotwell Stadium
Sunday
2
03
1 p.m. ACU Women’s soccer vs. A&M Commerce
5 p.m. Homecoming Queen nominations online
Monday
11 a.m. Chapel: SpiritFlesh series with Bryan Evans in Moody Coliseum 2 p.m. Makeover Mondays in the Campus Center
8 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Swing Dance Concert in the Windsor Hotel Ballroom
announcements
chapel checkup
Nominations for Homecoming Queen will end Sept. 30 after 5 p.m. Nominations can be made at www,acu.edu/ queen. Nominees will be announced Oct. 7 in Chapel.
Chick-Fil-A located at the corner of Southwest Drive and Clack Street. A portion of the profits will be donated to the club to help them prepare for their upcoming season.
The Faculty vs. Student Wheelchair basketball game will take place on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. Admission is free. For more information contact Bryan Evens at bse08b@acu.edu.
ACU’s homecoming musical, The King and I, will be shown Oct 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Abilene Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling 325-674-2787 or online at acu.edu/theatre.
A fundraiser for the Wildcat Hockey team will take place Ring and graduation anOct. 12 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the nouncement sales will take
place Oct. 24 - 26 in the Flu shots will be available Campus Store. in the Medial & Counseling Care Center for $15. The Me Addiction Tour featuring comedian Bob Smiley, Makeover Mondays will take speaker Reg Cox and wor- place in the Campus Store evship leader Phil Joel will take ery Monday from 2 p.m. - 4:30 place in the Hunter Welcome p.m. Students can stop by to try Center on Oct. 28. new beauty products or consult with the staff members. ACU Upward Bound is now hiring tutors to serve the students of Blood, Sex, Sweat & Dirt, a AISD. Contact the Academic De- Chapel Forum hosted by the velopment Adviser at 325-674- ACU Social Justice Clubs, 2514 or visit the office located in will take place in the Onthe Brown Library. Tutors will be stead-Packer Biblical Studpaid. For more information visit ies Building Room 144 Tueswww.acu.edu/upward_bound. days at 11 a.m.
25 46 @acuoptimist The Optimist optimist@acu.edu
Police Log
Weekly Stats for Sept. 20 - Sept. 27, 2011
09/20/11 3 p.m. THEFT: An ACU student notified ACUPD that someone had been stealing lug nuts off of cars in the Mabee-Edwards parking lot. The student said that two or three other cars in that lot had at least one lug nut missing. 09/20/11 7:45 p.m. MEDICAL EMERGENCY: An ACU student injured his leg while participating in intramural football; he was transported by ambulance to Hillcrest Medical Center. 09/21/11 8:18 p.m. DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE: ACUPD responded as backup to APD at a domestic disturbance call in the 500 block of EN 18th Street. 09/22/11 10 p.m. NOISE DISTURBANCE: A resident on Washington Blvd. reported loud noise (pledging activities) in the University Church of Christ parking lot. An officer arrived in less than 5 minutes and found no one in the lot. 09/23/11 10:50 p.m. SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: ACUPD investigated a report of someone in a citizen’s house in the 1600 block of Cedar Crest. Officers found the house to be in order. 09/24/11 1:15 a.m. NOISE VIOLATION: ACUPD assisted APD at a large party noise violation call in the 1100 block of Westeimer. A noise violation citation was issued to the tenant. 09/26/11 9:39 p.m. ALCOHOL VIOLATION: ACUPD investigated an intoxicated female student at Gardner Hall.
911 Call - 4 Accident - 4 Administrative Activity - 6 Alarm - 1 Alcohol Incident - 1 Animal Call - 1 Assist - 4 Attempt to Locate - 1 Bicycle Patrol - 2 Building Lock/Unlock - 13 Check Building - 12 Criminal Mischief - 1 Direct Traffic - 2 Disturbance - 2 Domestic Disturbance - 1 Found Property - 1 Improper Photography or Video Recording - 1 Investigation Follow Up - 12
Lost Property - 6 Medical Emergency - 3 Monitor Facility/Lot - 2 Motorist Assist: Jump-start - 5 Motorist Assist: Unlock - 10 Motorist Assist: Other - 3 Noise Violation - 2 Other - 7 Parking Lot Patrol - 2 Parking Violation - 1 Patrol Vehicle: Maintenance - 4 Patrol Vehicle: Refuel - 4 Random Patrol - 1 Report Writing - 2 Special Assignment - 2 Suspicious Activity - 1 Theft - 2 Traffic Hazard- 1
Police Tip of the Week: Keep your Debit/Credit cards in a secure place and never keep your PIN numbers with your cards or in your wallet.
Volunteer Opp0rtunities Eternal Threads need volunteers at 101 Walnut St. to help unpack, count and tag inventory Sept. 28 Sept. 30 anytime between 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. For more information contact Pam Early at 325-672-6000 or email pam@eternalthreads.com. The annual Putt “Fore” Children Miniature Golf Tournament needs volunteers on Oct. 1 between 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. This event will take place at Prime Time, located at 4541 Loop 322. Volunteers will help set up for the event, register teams, act as course monitors, decorate tables, pass out goody bags and help with clean up after the event. Contact Shelia Cory at 325376-1110 or email scory@daynurseryabilene.org.
lunch. The church is also looking for volunteers to help with Trunk-Or-Treat on Oct. 29 from 6 - 9 p.m. at the church building located at 3250 Beltway South. Volunteers will help with setting up booths, running the booths, face painting, and games for the kids. To help with either event contact Emerald Lemmons at 325-370-1327 or email emeraldlemmons@gmail.com. HERO is looking for volunteers to walk alongside a horse while supporting and assisting a client Oct. 4 - Nov. 17 in one hour shifts from 1 - 5 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. Contact Beth Byerly at 325-660-3465 or email herocoord@netzero.com for more information.
Wildcats for Sustainability, in conjunction with Keep Abilene Beautiful, needs volunteers to help with an Adopt-A-Creek clean-up on Oct. 5 from noon to 3 p.m. This will take place at the creek on S. 14 and Elmwood streets. Volunteers need to wear shoes and clothes that they won’t mind getting dirty. For more information contact Samantha Saldivar at 325-514-1127 or email saf09a@acu.edu.
Rescue The Animals is looking for volunteers anytime between 1-5 p.m., Monday through Friday afternoons. 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 South 1st St.
Cancer Services Network needs volunteers on Oct. 6 between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to help unpack chair covers, confirm number with packing list, place covers on 540 chairs, unload auction items and help with other tasks for their auction event. This will take place at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th St. Contact Nancy Estes, 325-672-0040 or email nancyestes@cancerservicesnetwork.org.
Meals on Wheels Plus needs volunteer drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors and adults with disabilities Mondays - Fridays between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Drivers must be at least 18 -years-old and have a valid drivers license. Training is provided. A Chapel exemption is available if delivery time conflicts with Chapel. Contact Jessica Stewart at 325-6725050 or email volunteer@mealsonwheelsplus.com.
The AISD Early Childhood Program needs volunteers to work in the children’s area Oct. 13 from 3:30 - 7 p.m. This includes air castle supervision, face painting, etc. Program will be at the Abilene Civic Center located at 1100 N. 6th St. For more information contact Mary Mcleod at 325-794-1368 or email mary.mcleod@abileneisd.org.
The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature is looking for volunteers to work Tuesday Saturday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1 - 3 p.m. Volunteers will greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Help is also needed for special events like exhibit openings. The Center is located at 102 Cedar St. For more information contact Debby Lillick at 325-673-4586 or visit the NCCIL website.
Volunteers are needed to help the Abilene Volunteer Weatherzation Program on Oct. 22 from 8 or 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The group winterizes homes of 40 -50 elderly, disabled or low income families. Many tasks are associated with this project. No experience is necessary. Contact Stacia Ellison at 325-668-2062 and leave a message or email stacia.ellison@dads.state.tx.us. The Oakridge Church of Christ is looking for volunteers to pass out flyers to their neighbors on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. to spread the word about their Trunk-Or-Treat. Volunteers will meet at the church building located at 3250 Beltway South for coffee and hot chocolate. Heph’s Burgers will provide
Noah Project Inc. needs volunteers to help answer hotlines and do other office work any weekday at any time depending on the volunteers’ schedule. Training will be provided. For more information contact Yvonne Myers at 325-676-7101. Breakfast on Beech Street is looking for volunteers to help set up and prepare and serve breakfast to homeless/lower-income visitors any weekday. Event begins at 5:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 5 a.m. on Tuesdays. Serving time is 6:30 - 7:15 a.m. B.O.B.S is olacted at First
Christian Church on N. 3rd St. and Beech St. in Downtown Abilene. For more information visit the First Christian Church website. 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 to 4 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Lane. Contact Joy Harsh at 325-676-6487 for more information. 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 email medicalmoose@sbcglobal.net for more infomation. The Betty Hardwick Center is looking for volunteers to participate in Special Olympics by helping mentally/physically challenged people play games such as basketball, track, and/or bowling Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Center is located at 801 Cypress St. Contact Angel Seca at 325-690-5235 for more information. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs including sorting items in the thrift store, helping in the kitchen and/or doing yard work. Time is flexible, and help is needed 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. 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 325-6774673 or visit the Abilene Hope Haven website. Abilene Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has various opportunities for volunteers ranging from visiting with residents to helping with BINGO. Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 2 - 3 p.m. The center is located at 2630 Old Anson Road. For more information contact Rita Raymond at 325-673-5101 or email cameron.grad@ hotmail.com. 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.
3
campus news
friday 09.30.11
local
Beltway service relocates to Paramount Keyi Zhou student reporter Beltway Park Baptist Church has moved its Wednesday night college service to downtown’s Paramount Theater to be closer to students. About 250 people attend the Beltway Church college service every Wednesday evening, said Jeremy West associate college pastor at Beltway. Around twothirds are ACU students.
“Distance was our biggest problem,” West said. Most students needed to drive for 20 to 30 minutes to attend the college worship on Wednesday nights, and the gas and time spent traveling were a problem for students, West said. The new location is much closer to Abilene’s three college campuses. He expects the change to enable the church to reach out to more students from all the universities in Abilene.
Drew Dixon, senior Bible major from Sugarland, said proximity wasn’t the only benefit to the new location. “It is closer but to worship at a beautiful and antique theater is also very exciting,” Dixon said. The college service is kicking off a four-week series on different kinds of relationships, including dating, friendship and the interaction with people in authority. The door is open to everyone who wants to attend. The services are
also available as free podcasts through iTunes. The service will take place at the Hunter Welcome Center on the ACU campus next Wednesday. The administrators said they felt the move was worth it even though transporting the band equipment every week added more weight to their shoulders. Keith Roberson, the college pastor, said the move was a wise decision and would be beneficial. “We are unbeliev-
ably excited that we get a chance to move downtown and can be closer to students,” Roberson said. One problem may occur – students might be alienated from the church because they will be worshiping far away from the church body, Roberson said. “But since people are going to the church every Sunday, I don’t think it will become a major problem,” Roberson said. The mission statement of Beltway Park Church
college service is to encounter Jesus, embrace the church and engage God’s mission. Besides the Wednesday worships, college students can also be involved in life groups. “We try to be authentic and real,” West said. “We want to live out the Kingdom’s value, love God and other people and to reach out.” contact zhou at kxz08a@acu.edu
CHAPEL
Sing Song tryouts lure host, hostess hopefuls christianna lewis copy editor
destiny hagood Staff Photographer
Monarch butterflies take over ACU campus for a couple weeks every year. Students take a break between classes to enjoy the visitors.
CHAPEL
Leadership Summit to prepare life-long leaders zane goggans student reporter The upcoming Leadership Summit will help students better understand the calling God has on all aspects of their lives. Leadership Summit is a one-week course juniors and seniors can take in the first days of January in central Colorado. Guest speakers, teaching sessions, films, reflection and small groups are incorporated to help students discover how God made them and His calling for their lives, according to the Leadership Summit page on the ACU website.
“We tend to focus on leadership in business, the home, the church and all aspects of your life,” said Dr. Richard Lytle, dean of the College of Business Administration and associate professor of marketing. “God has a call on your whole life.” Lytle, Assistant Dean Tim Johnston and Assistant Professor of marketing Michael Winegeart started Leadership Summit 14 years ago. Guest speakers in the past have included John Aden, Wal-Mart senior vice president of international operations, Gary Skidmore, president of HarteHanks Direct Marketing and Charlie Paparelli,
president and founder of Paparelli Ventures. Lytle keeps a large list of potential speakers, but said the current list will not be made public at this time. The theme for Leadership Summit typically is adjusted based on the speakers who attend. The course includes cabin lodging in the snow-covered Rocky Mountains at Frontier Ranch in Buena Vista, Colo., in the midst of 14,000foot mountains mimicking the places Jesus and Moses where would retreat for reflection and prayer. According to the website, many people have claimed Leadership Summit as the most spiritually significant
experience of their lives. “We’ve heard that for 14 years. It’s a unique experience to radically change the way you look at God,” Lytle said. This year’s Leadership Summit will take place Jan. 4-9 and will cost about $620. Students who would like to gain three credit hours from the course are required to pay regular tuition rates. The latest interest meeting took place on Wednesday. Another interest meeting will take place on Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. in Mabee Business Building, Room 301. contact goggans at zdg08b@acu.edu
campus
Expiring Pepsi contract sparks debate bethany morgan student reporter University Purchasing is engaging in one of America’s great debates – Pepsi or Coke. The university’s 10-year contract with Pepsi, which excludes the sales or promotions of competitor beverages on campus, will be up this spring. ACU will decide between re-signing its contract with Pepsi or beginning a new contract with Coca-Cola, said Anthony Williams, chief business services officer. “We’ve had conversation with both Coke and Pepsi and we are in the process now of just trying to gather data to identify which one the university will be going forward with,” Williams said. Students have a wide variety of opinions when it comes to their beverage preferences. Some students would be in favor of keeping the contract and having Pepsi products available on campus, including Chelsea Jackson,
junior elementary education major from Nocona. “I love having Pepsi products on campus just because I’ve grown up with their drinks,” Jackson said. “Pepsi is the new water.” Ashley Beddingfield, junior graphic design major from Nocona, took the opposite opinion. “Pepsi is a pathetic claim to compete with Coca-Cola,” Beddingfield said. “Diet Coke rocks my socks off.” However, many students do not have a preference when choosing between Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Jessica Salas, junior marketing major from Waco, is indifferent to the logo on her beverages. “I really don’t have a preference of any drinks on or off campus,” Salas said. “Pepsi and Coke taste the same to me.” Neither Pepsi nor Coke are the drinks of choice for some students, including Cody Singleton, junior business management major from Lampasas, who is not a soda drinker. “I do not care that we have a Pepsi contract over
Coke because I do not drink or prefer either one of them,” Singleton said. ACU’s contract with Pepsi allows for the sale or promotion of any products from Pepsi Cola, on campus. The beverages included are all soft drinks, juices, bottled water and sports drinks. The contract’s impact on choices beyond Coke or Pepsi cause mixed emotions in
some students, including Catherine Narvaez, junior sociology major from San Antonio. “Although I like the taste of Coke over Pepsi, I do like the healthy drinks Pepsi has on campus, like Life Water and the Naked smoothies,” said Narvaez. contact morgan at bem09a@acu.edu
About 40 students have signed up to try out for a spot as a host or hostess at the upcoming Sing Song, said Tom Craig, director of student activities and productions. Five to seven of these students will perform the opening and intermittent musical acts at ACU’s annual production. These auditions are an opportunity for students to let their voices be heard, said former Sing Song Hostess Callie Massey, senior music education major from Harper Heights. Students who have signed up for audition will perform two songs – one assigned and the other of the student’s choosing – and be evaluated by a panel of 12 judges who represent some of ACU’s staff and professionals unassociated with the university, Craig said. The closed auditions will take place Monday in Cullen Auditorium. Massey said she practiced her songs what seemed like 20 times a day before her audition. She chose the high, fast song “Take Another Little Piece of My Heart” preformed by Faith Hill, as her second song. She said she wanted to sing for the sake of performing music and disregard the fact that she was being judged. “It was a good sign when I got on the stage and did my upbeat song and saw that they sat back and put their papers down and just enjoyed the song,” Massey said. The songs that students choose to audition with have a great influence over the songs they are given
to perform at Sing Song, Massey said. She was given the jazzy gospel song “Operator,” performed by Manhattan Transfer, because of her audition. Some students will receive a callback and return to Cullen on Tuesday to be evaluated on choreography and chemistry between the other hosts and hostesses, Craig said. The callback was the most terrifying part of the audition, Massey said. Massey did not know how to dance, but would not let that handicap get in her way. She said she worked to stay animated and interesting even if she messed up her moves. Students should not let their dancing ability worry them because the choreographers work with whatever skill level the students have, Massey said. “Presentation does have a lot to do with it,” Massey said. “Get out there, entertain, and have fun! That’s the important thing.” The deadline to sign up for auditions passed Wednesday, Craig said. Auditioning students will know whether they have been selected by next Wednesday. Massey said Sing Song was an opportunity for her to display her talents in a way that no other venue has. She doesn’t remember the show itself, but the relationships and backstage memories she made during the production have stayed with her long after she took her bow. “I heard that [Sing Song] was life changing,” Massey said. “It was.” contact lewis at cll09a@acu.edu
news
friday 09.30.11
4
Student’s Association
Enrollment office sells SA on block tuition farron salley news anchor The Students’ Association Congress dissected the new plan for block tuition and grilled Chief Enrollment Officer Kevin Campbell about it during Wednesday’s meeting. “It is a pricing model that enables students to pay one flat rate for a block of hours,” Campbell said. Most private universities are already on a flat rate model of tuition, Campbell said, and the new block tuition will help the university no longer be get in on this trend. The
plan, set to begin next fall, will equate to a 5.9 percent increase in tuition, which is the lowest for the school in more than a decade. Under the new tuition, students have the opportunity to take anywhere between 24 and 36 hours, all for the same annual price of $26, 770. The total allotment of 36 hours can be spread among fall, spring, summer and January short courses. Further, the block tuition includes Study Abroad, should a student decide to extend her learning overseas. “One thing I do want to reiterate is we are not trying to pressure students
into taking 36 hours,” Campbell said. “What we’re saying is for 30 hours you’ve broken even, at 31 you’ve benefitted and at 36 you’ve maximized.” SA vice president Julianne Hart, senior political science major from Austin, asked Campbell about the inherent loss to seniors who need fewer than 30 hours to graduate. Current sophomores and juniors, upon entering their final year, can be refunded for every hour less than 15 they are enrolled in. If a student is no longer full-time (fewer than 12 hours) the hourly rate will be $892. But, in an attempt to make sure students use
the full block tuition plan, Campbell explained that graduate courses taken at ACU while a student is still an undergrad will be covered. Also, he said more classes, especially those offered online will be assessable over the summer. Every hour more than 36 a student enrolls in will cost $450. SA President Connor Best said he believes the new tuition plan is an improvement over the current plan. “Students who otherwise could not attend ACU will, hopefully, be able to come and take the full 36 hours per year while only
paying for 30 hours and graduate early,” Best said. Also during Wednesday’s meeting, SA granted $750 for students to attend conferences, including $300 to Upsilon Pi Epsilon for four students going on a conference in Dallas and $450 to a student going to Pittsburgh for the Student Social Work Association. Two other groups requesting a total of $2,290 for conferences will be addressed next week. The final day to submit conference requests is Sept. 30.
There were several representatives that did not attend the meeting. The names are as follows:
Marc Gutierrez WPAC Rep J.P. Ralston COBA Rep Katy Morrical Off Campus Rep Jeremy Seal Off Campus Rep Josh Gill Off Campus Rep
contact salley at fls08a@acu.edu
Organizations
Swing Cats’ Fall Stomp offers show, lessons Meagan Freeman student reporter ACU’s swing-dance club invites the public to watch the club’s classic moves to the rhythm of big band music at the ACU Swing Cats’ Fall Stomp on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Windsor Hotel ballroom. “There are not many op-
portunities in Abilene to experience live swing music from a big band, so if people want to hear some great swing tunes and witness pre-WWII dancing, Fall Stomp is the place to be,” said Cole Bennett, sponsor of the ACU Swing Cats. The ACU Swing Cats was created in 2003 and exists to study, sustain and promote the culture of swing music
and dance culture, said Wyatt Oden, president of the ACU Swing Cats and senior finance and accounting major from Bulverde. The Swing Cats will use the Fall stomp to engage the public, raise donations and train new members, Bennet said. The audience will not only be able to watch the action, but to join in it as well. The Abilene Swing
Dance Society will offer free dance lessons beginning at 7 p.m. for those who would like to test their swing dancing skills, Oden said. “Fall Stomp is is a fantastic opportunity to really show people what we’re all about and how much fun swing dancing can be,” Oden said. Admission to the event is free and open to the pub-
lic. The Fall Stomp sponsored by the ACU Jazz Big Band and Abilene Swing Dance Society. Donations will be accepted and all proceeds will benefit the ACU Swing Cats. Bennett said the donations will go towards sponsoring Swing Cats members participation in local workshops so that members will not have to pay an entry fee.
The Swing Cats offer members valuable opportunities, Bennett said. “Our members travel to local workshops in DFW and Houston where worldclass instructors teach master classes to learners,” Bennett said. contact freeman at mkh05a@acu.edu
construction
Campus construction concludes, future possibilities considered jake bell student reporter With the completion of the loading dock at the McGlothlin Campus Center, campus construction has reached its conclusion. The dock’s renovation was to improve the view from the front door of the new Royce and Pam Mon-
ey Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The bulk of the plan was adding plants and flowers to the area, which was difficult considering we are in the middle of a drought and winter is also right around the corner. Zane Dennis, Executive Director of Facilities and Campus Development, said that since the project was started in the middle of the
summer it was hard to plant everything they wanted but the landscape project will be full force in the spring. Other than improving landscape around campus, there are are no future plans of construction on campus. “It’s kind of a boring time right now,” Dennis said. “We are looking at a lot of things, tossing around three or four ideas of potential projects.”
Dennis mentioned remodeling a bathroom in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies building since the landscape project has slowed down. Dennis said that the high amount of campus growth in the past three or four years “wasn’t planeed it just kind of happened that way, everything just fell into place.” Many of the challenges Dennis faced in his work
arose out of the difficulty of preserving that age while expanding and improving campus facilities, he said. When some of the campus buildings that dated back to 1929 needed renovations, Dennis and his team had to find a way to merge the old constructions with new additions. The team visited the campuses of the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame
to see how those universities built in and around their historic campuses. Dennis talked about how he thought ACU’s campus compare to other schools in the state and also around the country. “I think our campus is like a lot of other universities. It has age to it.” contact salley at fls08a@acu.edu
5
arts
friday 09.30.11
“Soul searching is how I find the words and notes to present what I am trying to say.”
Owsley seeks to further music career in Boston
david singer arts editor
David singer arts editor As a child, Colton Owsley always knew that he wanted to pursue a career in music. But his path to ACU and his own musical voice was never that simple. “My family wasn’t very supportive of music so it was kind of hard to get playing,” said Owsley, a junior music major from Naples, Florida. However, what began as a simple interest in listening and singing along with the radio eventually led Owsley into pursuing his passion. “I started playing piano when I was younger and eventually got a guitar and started playing and writing folk music, playing in punk bands and different stuff like that,” he said. Owsley’s admittance to ACU was surprising even to himself. “I didn’t think I would get in,” Owsley said. “I had been out of high school for a few years an I was actually living
on the street for a while.” After applying just a week before the fall semester in 2009, Owsley was accepted. “God really opened up a lot of doorways for me through allowing the money, allowing the time, allowing everything,” he said. Owsley has played in multiple bands and also worked as a solo artist. For many who have listened, he has a very individual and recognizable style and voice. “My influences would definitely be folk music,” Owsley said, “but I integrate classical, flamenco, jazz, bossa nova and a lot of different styles.” Here at ACU, Owsley studies classical guitar but performances show a much broader range of genres. “I really love all styles and try to incorporate them within a folk setting,” he said. Owsley is not only an instrumentalist but also a songwriter. “[My lyrics] are heavily influenced upon matters of the mind and soul and
The 7th Annual SOLID Groove Music and Arts Festival will take place from Oct 7-9 at Play Faire Park. The three-day event will feature 26 acts on two stages and will benefit area firefighters. Local musicians will play each day, artist booths will sell arts and crafts and kids can play in the bounce castle.
asking deeper questions on matters of existence and spirituality and embodying that within the Lord’s wisdom and truth,” Owsley said. Verses like “and oh my love she had an epiphany/ about the man, the man she saved/and humbled by human nature/circumstance and a violent brain” from his recent song, “Awakening”, embody the truly personal nature of his lyrics. “Soul searching is how I find the words and notes to present what I am trying to say to the masses,” said Owsley. This year, Owsley was able to spend three months at Berklee College of Music’s summer program in Boston. There he was able to take instrumental, vocal and writing classes as well as private instruction for credit. Owsley furthered his musical ability in many ways, but the true benefit of the experience was connections. “I made a lot of neat connections with different
people from around the world,” he said. “People who know people within the record industry as well as other musicians who are starting their careers. In the future there are possibilities with every student and friend I made up there.” After his summer in Boston, Owsley has decided to continue his education at Berklee College of Music. He will return in the spring when he intends to pursue a degree in classical writing and production. Owsley’s music can be found on MySpace, Facebook and Band Camp. Future shows include the Abilene Public Library on Oct. 18, the National Food Center on Oct. 28 and a set during the Solid Groove Music Festival on Oct. 7.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 7 p.m. Walker Lyle 8 p.m. Old Banner 9 p.m. Colton Owsley 10 p.m. 7 Stories
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 1 p.m. Blinded by Bears 2 p.m. 3 Shades Blue 3 p.m. Tony Barker 4 p.m. Yan Hartman Project 5 p.m. Meatball 6 p.m. Twyla Foreman & the Reserves
Day passes range from $6-10 and a three-day pass can be purchased for $15. Tickets can be purchased at Relics (1292 North 1st St.) or at Play Faire Park. For information or to sign up for booth space call Doc at 325-672-2977.
david singer arts editor
contact singer at dis08b@acu.edu
TOP: As a singer-songwriter, Owsley’s go to instrument is the acoustic guitar. ABOVE: After playing JamFest last year, Owsley will return again this October.
7 p.m. Slim Chance & theSurvivors 8 p.m. Los Smokin Blues Primos / SOLID 9 p.m. Lance Richburg 10 p.m. Hunters & Gatherers
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9th 2 p.m. Daniel Mathis 3 p.m. Sherry Ball Luster 4 p.m. Brenton Dowdy 5 p.m. Ignite 6 p.m. Kirk House 7 p.m. Catclaw Creek 8 p.m. Soul Church
Fall shows fight for spot in your night With so many shows beginning their fall seasons, its hard to tell which are worth your time. We tell you whether you should ditch it, try it again next week or give it a spot in your weekly planner.
Community 7:00 - THU - NBC
modern familY 9:00 - wed - aBC
KEEP IT - The first two episodes prove that it continues to be one of the cleverest shows on TV.
KEEP IT - The comedy is very well written and the variety of developed characters is easily relatable.
Courtesy wikipedia
glee
The OFFICE
8:00 - Tue - FOX
8:00 - THU - NBC
Courtesy wikipedia
Courtesy wikipedia
new girl
castle
TRY IT AGAIN - A new boss (Andy) and a new character (James Spader) give it a chance but the lack of Michael Scott could soon prove costly.
KEEP IT - If you enjoy the music, Glee brings pop culture and covers together in an entertaining fashion.
10:00 - MON - ABC
KEEP IT - The show combines humor, drama, crime and romance into an entertaining hour. Courtesy wikipedia
9:00 - Tue - FOX whitney
TRY IT AGAIN - Zooey Deschanel plays her normal character in this witty new sitcom but the plot is used and the jokes can push on cliche. Courtesy wikipedia
Courtesy wikipedia
criminal minds 9:00 - wed - cbs
8:30 - THU - NBC
DITCH IT - The laugh track is the only way to know there was a joke, all of which are pretty stale. Courtesy IMDB
KEEP IT - In its seventh season, the show has proven itself as one of the better criminal dramas. Courtesy wikipedia
opinion
Friday 09.30.11
6
Editorial
Finals proposal threatens dead day The university is considering expanding the finals schedule to a full week instead of the current fourday arrangement. The Monday break students fondly call dead day is on the chopping block. The proposed schedule allows a full two hours for each testing period, increases the break between exams to 30 minutes and adds an hour break each day for lunch. This is accomplished by eliminating dead day. Dead day is worth saving because it has remained
popular with students over the years. Rich traditions are associated with it and it affords an extra day of exam preparation for students interested in using it as such. Dead day offers flexibility to students struggling with their current exam schedule and a day of rest to students weary after a long semester. For many, dead day has been a customary element in the conclusion of the semester. Many groups plan holiday parties and get-togethers for dead day rather than squeeze those events
into the already overloaded weekend before. The staff in Chambers, for example, has a traditional dead day croquet match every year that is not to be messed with. Students who need plenty of serious study time can use dead day to go through their notes and study guides again. Students have space for cramming instead of rushing through the material over the weekend, thus preventing them from having to sacrifice church on Sunday. Dead day is perfect for
those who don’t wish to cram or just want to relax. Everyone is already hyped up about the holidays and ready to do something exciting with friends. Dead day opens an opportunity for fun before everyone splits after exams. The university could possibly be setting us up for disaster by rushing into exams. We believe a free day is beneficial in gathering one’s intellectual composure. There are situations for some students where too many exams fall on the
the issue Proposed changes to ACU’s finals week would nix Dead day and add another day of testing.
our take We like having a day to choose whether we study or spend time with our friends before the holidays begin.
same day, but dead day is available to help with rescheduling needs. Students who complain that exams are too congested could always appeal to take an exam on dead day if they need to without affecting the rest of the student body.
Exam week is rough on students, so why prolong the suffering? Four days is long enough. Don’t take away our dead day. contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Oh Dear, Christian College
Ben miller
hashtagACU 9:46 p.m. Sept. 28
I found the butterfly lair. They have got to be planning some kind of attack. #beready #ACU
If national geographic were to do a show on monarch butterflies and stray cats, #ACU would be the prime filming location.
@a_morrisonman
@paulvalamides
3:27 p.m. Sept. 28
column 12:54 p.m. Sept. 26
I was just legitimately startled by a butterfly. Well, the shadow of a butterfly. It’s not like I’m a crazy person. #acu
Multi-tasking boosts self-importance well, this is awkward
mark smith
@bdill12
I can’t do it. I just can’t. It would’ve been pretty dang funny, though. #ACU to get your tweets printed in the Optimist. In my last column, I was debating what to write about for this column. But I am dating someone now (sorry ladies, I know the above face is irresistibly sexy), meaning everything I would’ve said about girlliving room into a Best Buy, friends has since become my bedroom into a Wal- irrelevant and basically ilWHOA! IS ME mart and my bathroom, legal for me to say. DAVID SINGER well, it is still just a bathIt would’ve been so good room. And I am still shar- though. ing it with three guys. My other potential subThe worst part about on- ject was multi-tasking. line shopping is that money Therefore, I must. In the world today multiThe internet is one of the major), shopping has now never physically leaves my defining tools of our gen- been revolutionized by the wallet and I never have to tasking is a necessary evil. eration. For years now it internet. Never before have lift a finger to swipe a card. There’s not enough time in has helped people to learn, we been able to buy boxers Checking my bank account the day to get everything just puts big bold numbers done without doing it all communicate and view while in just our boxers. Ebay lets my competitive on screen that disappoint at the same time. their friends summer vacaside battle to pay six bucks for me about as much as the People talk on the phone tion pictures from 2007. But the world wide web a ceramic Betty Boop. Urban lazy river in the Rec Cenbrings many dangers Outfitters convinces me that ter. Fifteen feet is not long to our screens. Online once I pull that green striped enough for me to get comgames let you put bullets sweater over my head I will fortable in an inner tube. But really, internet shopin a zombie’s cerebrum or have the jawline of a hipster lose $1,200 to a 15-year- model. Etsy enables me to ping is completely worth it. shop for vintage and hand- The convenience of clickold in Blackjack. There is always some- made things without hav- ing a button to get stuff and One of the benefits of comthing to watch, whether it ing to dig through some old the excitement of waiting ing to college is being in a for the mailman may just community of adults. A place is F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (The One lady’s garage sale at 7 a.m. My personal weakness, barely outweigh online where everyone treats everyWhere Phoebe is Unrealistically Dim) or the most Amazon Prime, gives me shopping’s addictive and one else like an equal, and recent Ryan Gosling film free two day shipping on expensive nature. for the most part the cliques I can put packages in and “cool kids” of high (he is putting them out like everything. Let me tell you, hotcakes). Cat videos are knowing that you can buy my mailbox, clothes in my school disappear. Yet, with uploaded to YouTube faster something and have it at closet and zeros in my bank the start of another pledging than you can watch them your door in two days for account. But I can accept year some of the disturbing while eating cereal in bed. free is a dangerous game. that as easily as I can accept parts of high school social I question those charges. Now to just hierarchy are making a deHowever, the true haz- Sometimes ard of the internet is shop- whether I should go to the wait five to seven days. but on ACU’s campus. On ping. Created thousands of grocery store because, hey, Wednesday, Sept. 28 in chayears ago by Neanderthal I can have those Golden pel the pledges of one womwomen attempting to find OREO’s and microwavable en’s social club went from contact the singer at the best deals on animal pizzas delivered to my door. sitting together to actually dis08b@acu.edu The internet turns my hides (NOTE: not a history reserving a section of chapel.
column
Cyber shopping proves a slippery slope
while driving. People text while driving. People eat while driving. People, women mostly, apply makeup while driving. People do a lot of things while driving. I set up my laptop (her name is Gina) so that I can view my web browser, iTunes and email all at the same time. When I’m writing in a Word document I can access all three of these applications with one click. This may not be completely necessary but it helps me feel important. What else would I do during classes other than homework for other classes? Well, along with checking Facebook and ESPN? How many different electronic devices do you own? I saw a woman the other day at Starbucks who
was drinking coffee with her laptop, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Blackberry and f lip phone (do they still make those?) laid out in front of her. The crazy thing was it seemed as though she was using all of these for something. I feel like such a creeper. Why did I tell you about this? But seriously, that’s a lot of stuff. Was she really that busy? Hot dang. I’m not preaching that you should be less busy and you should take time out of your day to spend time with yourself and slow down your hectic life or any of that cheesy stuff. I like being busy. I feel important and cool. Sometimes it begins to feel overwhelming, but it’s better than being bored. I haven’t decided what my next column will be about. Guess you’ll just have to be surprised. contact smith at mds10a@acu.edu
Letter
Perkins: Social Clubs spawn juvenility
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
Complete with a printed sign these pledges were literally saying, “No, you may not sit here” in a way that was oddly reminiscent of the high school lunchroom. While it was one thing for clubs to require pledges to sit together during chapel, creating a visual distraction in itself, it is quite another for them to block off seats to ensure non-pledges don’t sit in a designated area. Especially considering the purpose of chapel is to unite as an ACU community, this kind of behavior creates division and
increases the tension some students feel towards the exclusive and exclusionary nature of ACU social clubs. As a community of educated adults, I think it’s time we all started acting like one and leave the activities of pledging for more appropriate venues. Jared Perkins, Senior Political Science Major contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
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7
sports Jumps
FRIDAY 09.30.11
Western Oregon (3-0) vs.#11 ACU (2-1) Game Preview
Offense
Defense
PICK:
ACU
PICK:
ACU
Intangibles
PICK:
ACU
Finally Mitchell Gale and the offense clicked last week against Angelo St. Gale looked comfortable in the pocket and made many nice, sharp throws to his receivers. This is the ’Cats offense many expected to see to start the year.
Two critical interceptions by the Wildcats D last week carried them to a huge home victory. The defense has struggled though in the first quarter of every game this season, so it needs to get off to a strong start.
The Wildcats get a second straight home game while the Wolves will travel for the second straight week. Not only that, but this week they will be traveling over 2,000 miles to Abilene from Monmouth, Ore.
Don’t be too quick to count out Western Oregon’s offense, however. They have a wide receiver in Trevor Gates who is built like Wes Welker of the New England Patriots and plays like him too. Last week in the Wolves 56-0 win, Gates caught seven passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. The Wolves also might run multiple quarterbacks behind center throughout the game, so the ACU coaches will have to be ready for many different looks.
The Wolves defense has been lights out lately, allowing seven total points in two games. Last week’s shutout was against a weak offense, but anytime a team is kept from scoring a point through 60 minutes, it is noteworthy. The Western Oregon offensive line is loaded with talent so the matchup to watch will be if ACU defensive end Aston Whiteside can get to the Wolves quarterback.
Not only will the 2,000 mile journey be tough on the Wolves, but they traveled over 1,000 miles for an away game last weekend. It is the first time that the two teams have ever met, so both will be at a disadvantage when it comes to looking at tape. Familiar hot temperatures will give ACU an edge against a team that routinely plays early season games in the fifties and sixties.
Austin Gwin
Bryson Shake
Edward Isaacs
Natalie Goin
Cody Weems
Matthew Sloan
It might be easy to overlook Western Oregon as another directional non-conference school that ACU should take care of. However, fans should be wary of the Wolves as they could surprise some and play well. The ’Cats have looked suspect at times this season and don’t need to lose their focus against a strong defensive WOU team.
The Wildcats are still looking for an identity in this year’s squad. The team has had sporadic bits of great play and some that are not as noteworthy. Daryl Richardson will get a heavy dosage of the offensive load, and Mitchell Gale’s success will depend on the ’Cats rushing attack. If ACU establishes the ground game and limits penalties, white, the team will be victorious.
The Wildcats got a win they desperately needed last Saturday. Western Oregon isn’t a conference foe, but this doesn’t mean this weeks game isn’t important. The ‘Cats need to maintain their momentum and shouldn’t let WOU be a trap game. I think ACU will pull out another home win behind a strong performance from Gale.
After last week’s opening home game against Angelo State, it’s safe to say that the Wildcats are back on track for a successful season. While Western Oregon may be written off as a non-conference schedule filler, they surprisingly have some game. However, if the Wildcats maintain focus and play up to their full potential, I fully expect a second victory at Shotwell.
ACU should be favored to win this one, but don’t be surprised if the Wolves make a game out of it. WOU has a solid rushing game that will be difficult to contain. ACU definitely has the ability to put up big numbers in this one, but will need to be balanced and eliminate mental errors in order to pull off a victory.
For the second consecutive week, an undefeated team will be coming into Shotwell with hopes of making a statement win against the Wildcats. Look for ACU to focus on playing a clean game, and fixing the penalty issues that have plagued them so far this season. ACU is too talented to lose this game, and should improve to 3-1 against Western Oregon.
Pick: ACU 24-14
Pick: ACU 21-13
Pick: ACU 31-16
Pick: ACU 28-17
Pick: ACU 31-17
Pick: ACU 27-17
cross country
Wildcats excited to compete in OKC Jamboree kristin goodspeed sports reporter Junior Alyse Goldsmith heads back to Oklahoma State, but this time she will run as a Wildcat against her former Cowboy teammates. “I think I’m ready for the meet,” Goldsmith said. “I’ve been running on that course since my freshman year.” The men and women’s cross-country teams will compete again in the 75th Cowboy Jamboree Saturday in Stillwater, Okla. ACU will go up against
Division I schools including the likes of Kansas State, the University of Michigan and the winner of last year’s meet, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Several teams from the Lone Star Conference will also compete at the Jamboree alongside ACU. Head Coach Chris Woods said the meet will give the men and women an opportunity to see how they stack up against other teams in their conference and will serve as both a measuring stick and indicator for where his team in comparison with some of the best schools in the nation.
“
Being a successful runner is all about mental fortitude and stamina.” chris woods head coach acu cross country
As a coach, Woods gets a better picture of what both teams need to work on as a result of meets early in the season like the Cowboy Jamboree. The meet, which will take place on one of the most challenging uphill courses in the nation, will also display how the run-
ners are doing this time of year, according to Woods. This meet will mark the Wildcats’ first time to run a 6K in this early season. Woods said the women’s team has a couple of runners who he expecting to contribute much to the team as a whole. “Alyse Goldsmith and Chloe Susset are two girls I think should qualify for Nationals individually,” Woods said. “At the rate Alyse has been progressing, I think she can reach her goal of being a crosscountry all-American by the end of this season.” Additionally, Goldsmith
volleyball
Tourney: Team “not worried” cord is 8-7 (4-3 in the Lone Star Conference). ACU Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are is hitting the road after splitting two home games 6-5 this season. Freshman Haley Rhoads with West Texas A&M Unifeels the Wildcats shouldn’t versity and Eastern New be worried about Friday Mexico University. The Wildcats are 7-9 and Saturday. “We’re going in there combined versus their four thinking there’s nothing opponents this weekend. Washto lose so I feel like were Nebraska-Omaha, going to do a good job,” burn, Emporia and Truman. ACU is 1-3 when facRhoades said. The ‘Cats’ season re- ing Washburn, a club who from page 8
spoiled the Wildcats’ chances of getting past the regional semifinals last year. The Lady Blues went on to reach the national championship, but lost to Central Missouri. Emporia State also played Central Missouri in the 2010 regional tournament and was defeated. The ‘Cats are 4-2 against the Hornets. One of these victories was an exciting upset last year when ESU was ranked No. 11.
soccer
Streak: ’Cats seek revenge vs. TWU from page 8 the Pioneers in goals (2) and shots (23) followed three players with one goal apiece. The Pioneers average 0.62 goals per game while allowing 2.25. Texas A&M-Commerce (4-3-1, 2-1-1) enters the match Sunday following a 3-0 loss to Incarnate Word. The Lions average 1.5 goals per game while giving up 1.75 to opponents. The Texas A&M-Commerce offense is led by freshman Jade Bell, who has 12 points on the season. Seven Lions players have scored this season. “Losing to Texas A&M Commerce last year was really painful,” Carpenter said. “I’m really excited
“
Losing to Commerce last year was really painful. We are ready this year. andrea Carpenter sophomore forward acu soccer.
to see how we come out against them because we are ready this year.” The ACU defense has shined bright this year, and garnered well-deserved recognition. The unit has allowed three consecutive shutouts and five on the season, while only giving up 5 shots per match. Senior Lyndsey Womack and Elliott London were selected as the LSC’s Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.
London has helped maintain a perfect goalsgoals against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000) through eight starts. London is one of only three goalkeepers nationwide to boast a spotless GAA. The Wildcats remain on top of the South Central Region and are the only LSC team ranked nationally. ACU averages 2.62 goals per game and allows only 0.50. Junior Krysta Grimm leads the Wildcats with 13 points and is flowed by Carpenter, who has 12. Ashley Holton is a close third with eight on the year. contact shake at bxs09a@acu.edu
In the last five years, ACU has participate in the Washburn tournament twice. In 2010 the Wildcats went 3-1 losing only to, then No. 12, Truman State. In 2007, the ‘Cats struggled in the tournament. It won one of four games. The three losses were to Washcontact isaacs at jei08a@acu.edu
said she has been focusing more on running mileage and decreasing her pace. “People have a misconception about running,” Woods said. “You have to run correctly, do plyometrics and core training in order to be successful. There’s more to it than just waking up to go for a run.” Woods also said that people have to run with an objective or a goal, and use that as motivation during the journey when the going gets tough. “Each workout and race, we have an objective,” Woods said. “That’s what makes it special
when these young ladies and young men go as far as they have.” “Being a successful runner is all about mental fortitude and stamina, and that is what we try to instill in our runners,” Woods said. Woods said both teams feed off support from Wildcat fans, and that always helps. “We don’t want to let any students or faculty members down,” Woods said. “We appreciate all the support from the past and the support to come.” contact goodspeed at klg08a@acu.edu
sports
friday 09.30.11
8
tennis
Wildcats seek repeat wins in Mo. natalie goin sports reporter The men’s and women’s tennis teams will compete at the USTA/ITA South Central Regional championship tournament in Springfield, Missouri this weekend. Both of last years defending singles and doubles champions from ACU will be returning in this year’s tournament. Hans Hach and Julia Mongin have every intention of defending their titles. The 2010 tournament not only marked Hans Hach’s first ITA appearance, but also his regional win. The red shirt freshman had no problem climbing to the top, easily upsetting No. 1 seed Malcolm Harrison of Northwest
6-3, 6-3 in the championship match. Hach didn’t lose a set in six singles matches and never lost more than three games in any set. Hach said he looks forward to this year’s tournament, hoping to repeat the same results he attained last year. “It was my first time to play, and it was a great experience,” Hach said. “I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself after last year. I feel very confident going into it, and know that I can do it again. Last year Hach and his doubles teammate Bryan Joiner also proceeded to the finals to beat Edward Boone and Mick Walter of St. Edwards. The pair came back from their opponents’ 4-2 lead forcing a tiebreaker
“
We’ve been competing against a lot of DI schools, and it has really prepared us.” nick plum Senior tennis player from dallas.
in which they clenched the championship title. Hach said he believes that he and his new doubles partner Nick Plum are capable of winning doubles this year as well. “It’s a really hard tournament with a lot of matches, but I feel good about playing with Nick,” Hach said. “We’ve been competing against a lot of DI schools, and it has really prepared us.” Two weeks ago, the duo of Hach and Plum beat not only beat a doubles pair from the University
of Texas, but also a team from Boise State. They made it all the way to the quarterfinals where they lost to a team from Tulsa. The women’s team also has a history of success in the ITA regionals. Julia Mongin entered last year’s women’s singles tournament as the No. 2 seed behind her doubles teammate, Jaclyn Walker. The duo made their way to the final match, beating a Midwestern pair in a 6-2, 6-3 battle to capture the regional championship title. This victory over the Mustangs was the ninth time in fourteen years that a Wildcat pair has won the doubles championship at the ITA regional tournament. Mongin then surprised everyone with a 6-3, 6-3 upset over her senior team-
mate Walker to capture the third ITA singles title in Hutton Jones’s fourteen years as the head coach. After Julia’s impressive appearance in Indiana’s Hoosier Classic last weekend against all Division I athletes, it would not be surprising to see her win the entire regional tournament again this year. “I just try to play hard and to remain competitive,” Mongin said. “If I stay positive about the game, I expect to play well. The USTA/ITA South Central Regional championship tournament will begin Thursday morning in Springfield, Missouri, and proceed until the championship rounds on Sunday.
standings football
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
MSU ACU WTAMU UIW TSU Angelo St. Commerce TAMU-K ENMU
2-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-1 0-2 0-2
3-0 2-1 2-1 1-3 1-3 3-1 0-3 2-2 1-3
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
ASU WTAMU TSU Cameron ACU UIW TWU TAMU-K MSU
7-1 7-1 5-1 4-3 4-3 5-4 3-4 3-6 2-5
15-1 13-1 9-5 6-5 8-7 9-7 3-9 6-8 6-6
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
ACU ENMU Commerce UIW ASU WTAMU MSU TWU
3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-2 2-3 1-2 0-4
7-0 4-3 4-3 4-1 3-6 5-4 3-2 0-6
volleyball
Women’s Soccer contact goin at nsg10b@acu.edu
soccer
briefings The ACU football team fell to No. 11 in the American Football Coaches’ Association national poll released Monday. The Wildcats fell to No. 11 despite beating Angelo State. ACU golfer Alex Carpenter has been invited to play in the Western Refining College all-America Golf Classic on Nov. 21-22 in El Paso. He is the first Wildcat golfer to be picked for the event and will be the only NCAA Division II player in the field.
destiny hagood staff Photographer
Junior defender Lexi Stirling runs past a Dallas Baptist player earlier this year. Stirling, a Littleton, Colo. native, is one of the anchors on a Wildcats defense that has posted three straight shutouts against opponents and allows 0.5 and 5 shots goals per game.
No. 4 ’Cats hope to ride momentum train bryson shake sports editor The No. 4 ACU women’s soccer team season could not have started much better than it has so far. The team has jumped 17 spots in the national rankings, has yet to lose, and boasts one of the best all-around teams in the nation. Moreover, the team is riding a 13-game conference-winning streak that has carried over from last year. That streak, which began toward the end of last season, started as a
result of a 1-0 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in October, which the team will host at 1 p.m. Sunday. “Commerce has a great team this year. They will be solid and very physical all around,” Head Coach Casey Wilson said. “But we will be ready to play them. Our girls are smart and know what happened the last time we played them. That will serve as motivation for this match.” Sophomore forward Andrea Carpenter echoed Wilson that the team will have to prepare itself for this match.
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will have to battle Texas Woman’s Friday at 5 p.m. in the first game of their five-game home stand. The Pioneers sit in last place in the Lone Star Casey Wilson Conference at 0-4 in conhead coach ference play. But the team acu soccer. has consistently proven to be difficult competition “Commerce is a very for the Wildcats. In their most recent physical team,” Carpenter said. “We need to be ready meeting last year, the Piofor a really rough game neers rallied twice to tie and for the physicality the score late in the game that they will bring to the before eventually falling 3-2. Andrea Carpenter table.” But before the Wildcats recorded her second hat step onto the soccer pitch trick in that match. “Texas Woman’s is a against Commerce, they
Our girls know what happened the last time we played [Commerce]. That will serve as motivation.”
solid team, and we just need to come out and put them away early,” Carpenter said. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 3-0-1 against the Pioneers. All three wins have been decided by one goal. “Texas Woman’s always comes ready to play. They’re an aggressive team and always find some way to give us fits,” Wilson said. “The team is very well coached and will be prepared.” Brittany Martin leads
Tourney offers tough opponents assistant sports editor The Wildcat volleyball team will test its luck in the sixth-annual Washburn Regional Crossover tournament Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1. The tournament takes place in Lee Arena on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. The ‘Cats will be up against four teams: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Washburn University, Emporia State University and Truman State University. Head Coach Kellen Mock said the road ahead isn’t going to be easy. “We’re facing four opponents this year that are perennial powerhouses, Mock said.
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[This weekend] gives us an opportunity to play the highest caliber teams we can get our hands on.” kellen mock head coach ACU Volleyball.
“These are highly competitive squads both nationally and regionally.” “This gives us an opportunity to play the highest caliber teams we can get our hands on. The girls should grow and learn a lot from this,” she said. These are not the only teams competing however. This year there are 10 clubs and 20 matches spread out over two days. The Wildcats first face Nebraska at Omaha on Friday at 2 p.m. Nebraska-
EX- FACTOR Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox had his biggest game of the season Sunday, Sept. 25 against the Packers. Knox caught four passes for 84 yards, the longest of which was a 40 yard pass. He now has nine receptions for 189 yards and zero touchdowns on the season. The Bears lost, 17-27.
Bengals running back Bernard Scott had an almost identical game compared to last week. Scott rushed for ten yards on two carries and had see streak page 7 zero touchdowns in the Bengals loss to the 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 25.
volleyball
edward isaacs
The ACU women’s soccer team moved up to No. 4 in the NSCAA’s national poll released Tuesday. The team rose four spots from last week’s No. 8 ranking. This ranking is the highest in the program’s history.
Omaha is an NCAA Division I school. The Mavericks are having a tough first season in DI. The team is 2-13 overall and has lost five in a row. For the second match, ACU plays No.5 Washburn at 6:30 p.m. later that evening. The Lady Blues are playing stellar volleyball. Washburn has seen defeat only once this season (12-1). ACU begins Saturday against another team in the AVCA DII Coaches Top 25 poll. Emporia State is ranked 25th with a 7-4 record. The Wildcats will close out the tournament in Washburn at 3 p.m. on Saturday versus Truman, who just recently dropped out of the AVCA DII Coaches
Danieal Manning, Texans safety, had two solo tackles and one interception in a loss to the Saints on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Upcoming The volleyball team plays in the Washburn Regional Crossover Tournament in Topeka, KS starting Friday, Sept. 30. Women’s soccer faces Texas Women’s at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch on Friday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. They then play Commerce at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2.
mandy lambright staff Photographer
see tourney page 7 Freshman Sara Oxford attempts a kill in Moody Coliseum.
Football goes up against Western Oregon at Shotwell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.