I will listen A freshman offers to listen to anyone Features Page 5 vol. 102, no. 15
Wednesday, october 16, 2013
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
INSIDE NEWS A nutrition station has been installed in the Campus Center Page 3
SPORTS ACU Football beat HBU 69-12. Gabriel caught three TDs in the win
Page 6
NEWS An ACU biology professor discovered a new species of opossum Page 3
OPINION The editorial board proposes that the freshman class has two acts
garon goodspeed staff Photographer
King of Campus Court candidate JP Ralston, senior finance major from Plano, dances during the debate held in Hart Auditorium. Four senior men were nominated as Dukes to compete for the King of Campus Court. This is the second year of the competion.
Page 6
NEWS The DET club returns to campus after disbanding in 2007
DUKING IT OUT
Four senior men debate to become the second King of Campus Court Abigail runnels student reporter
Page 3
SPORTS Chloe Susset wins cross country meet in San Antonio Page 6
NEWS Students can now participate in a book cover contest for ACU Press Page 3
OPINION Marissa Jones shares the lessons she learned from James Bond Page 4
SPORTS Wildcat volleyball loses two hardfought matches on the road Page 6
ONLINE
The four Dukes chosen to vie for King of Campus Court debated Monday night in front of a large crowd. These four senior men were chosen by the Student Alumni Association out of numerous nominees to compete in the
Watch a recap of the ACU vs. HBU game on the Ken Collum show
acuoptimist.com
Alexander Brown
J.P. Ralston
helped organize the conDuke of Judge Ely Duke of 16th St. test from the beginning. senior accounting major senior finance accounting from Garland major from Plano “A lot more people applied and were interested Brock New Bryson Shake this year,” Adkins said. “It Duke of Ambler Duke of Teague Blvd. was a lot easier to market senior communication senior communication it.” major from North Richmajor from Abilene Adkins said one of the land Hills reasons for having the contest in the first place was because men would “That didn’t happen The King of Campus occasionally be voted into this year, now that we Court debate had very litthe top ten for the Home- have King of Campus see dukes page 3 coming Court. Court,” Adkins said.
Lawn, patio to be added next to Mabee Hall Melany cox online managing editor The area between Mabee Hall and the Don Morris Center will be transformed into a lawn and patio. Scot Colley, executive director of Risk Management and Construction, said the area was dug up for part of the loop line construction project, which began in mid-May and has reached completion. He said, for the most part, the area is shaded throughout the day and a patio would clean up that part of campus. He said the concrete patio will come out at the
back door and go down about 50 feet in length. The remainder of the space will be made into a lawn. Colley said part of the project will include installing a handicap ramp to the front entrance of Mabee. Construction will begin in a couple of weeks, he said. “The pipe stuff is all done,” he said. “All that’s in ground, that’s finished. But that last part, we’ve kind of pulled off and done a few other things that we needed to take care of. We’re working on those and we’ll get right back to that.”
ACU Construction will oversee the work. Colley said the project should be completed by Christmas break. “Hopefully it’ll provide a nice shaded area that’ll be a little more useful than the front patio on Mabee right now, because that one’s so hot,” he said. “It just stays in the sun all the time. There’s no cover. And it will make an area that’s not used kind of usable and provide hopefully a fun place to get together.”
Marissa jones editor contact cox at mkc09b@acu.edu
Construction workers pour concrete next to Mabee Hall in preparation for the new patio and lawn.
Les Mis set-up goes smoothly despite size James eldred
VIDEO
contest for its second year. The debate, hosted in Hart Auditorium, was to let the nominees have a chance to show the student body how much school spirit they possess and why they should be elected as this year’s King of Campus Court. Samantha Adkins is the assistant director of alumni relations and
DUKES OF CAMPUS COURT
staff reporter About 70 members of the cast and crew for ACU’s homecoming musical “Les Misérables” began technical preparations on Sept. 30 with the unpacking of the production’s set at the Abilene Civic Center. Adam Hester, chair of the theatre department and director for Les Mis, said the size of the musical’s set could be com-
pared to that of last year’s homecoming production. “The set for 42nd Street came in on one 18-wheeler truck,” he said. “The set for Les Mis came in two 18-wheelers - and both trucks were packed.” The set, rented from the Music Theater of Wichita in Kansas, is primarily made up of several heavy backdrops that remain on-stage throughout the production. Mobile pieces include tables, chairs, a bed, two staircases and the famous
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The set for 42nd Street came in on one 18-wheeler truck. The set for Les Mis came in two 18-wheelers and both trucks were packed.”
smoothly, Wheeler said. “The tech director from Music Theater of Wichita actually came with the set,” he said. “He helped supervise the conAdam Hester struction of it - because of Chair of the theatre department that, there really weren’t any major problems.” Another potential barricade in Act II. dealing with a loading challenge was averted Technical director An- dock, or maybe a huge because of construcdrew Wheeler said the ramp, but we didn’t have tion similarities between crew was worried about that,” he said. “We had to the Abilene Civic Center getting everything un- rely on people picking it and the Music Theater of loaded smoothly because up and setting it down.” Wichita, Hester said. of the set’s immense size. Despite concerns, the see les mis page 3 “Normally you’d be set went up quickly and
Abilene Christian University
Wednesday 10.16.13
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Wednesday
17 10 a.m.-1 p.m. LinkedIn Photobooth that in the Campus Center
Thursday
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11 a.m. Drenched/Immersed/Small group chapel
Friday
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11:30 a.m. Maker Lab Open House
Saturday
4:30 p.m. ACU Soccer vs. A&M-Corpus Christi 8 p.m. Homecoming Musical- Les Miserables
11:45 a.m. A Capella Chorus/University Chorale Fall Programs 12 p.m. ACU Softball vs. Midwestern State 2 p.m. ACU Football vs. Incarnate Word 7 p.m. ACU Volleyball vs. Incarnate Word
Chapel checkup To date:
Around Abilene
Remaining:
54 46 @acuoptimist
Oct.16
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
11 a.m. The Center for Contemporary Arts is hosting the Dirty Draw-ers Exhibit featuring artworks from professional, amatuer and student artists that participate in a Monday night class held at the center.
Mac Rowley’s “Cuba” Exhibit will be featured in the Bill and Alice Wright Photo Gallery at the Center for Contemporary Arts. The exhibit features images made in and around old Havana when the artist went as part of a people-to-people cultural exchange with Cuban photographers.
6 p.m. Destination Imagination is conducting a haunted house called “Runway of Terror” at 4886 Newman Road. Admission is $10 and food is provided.
8 p.m. Ghost tours are being offered at the Buffalo Gap Historic Villiage. Admission is $10. For more information call 325-572-3365.
The Optimist optimist@acu.edu Police Log Announcements The Career Center is hosting a LinkedIn Headshot Photo Booth 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 16 and Nov. 5 in the Campus Center. Students can recieve help setting up Linked-In profiles.
WesTex Connect, ACU Students’ Association and ACU Alumni Association are joining together to host a Fireworks Show at 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 18 on the Hunder Welcome Center East Lawn.
Students interested in creating animations or graphics are invited to join the Digital Entertainment Technology Club. Meetings are 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in room 201 of the Mabee Business building.
The ACU Printing and Leafwood Press are having a contest for students to design the cover of two books being released in Fall 2014. The winner will recieve $500 and their cover on the book. Contest entries will be accepted until Dec. 13. For more inAs a part of Homecoming festivities, COBA is hosting a study abroad trip University Park Apartments is hosting an formation, go to acupressbookclub.com/ there will be a carnival featuring inflat- in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicara- Open House event from 4-5:30 p.m. each blog/judgeabookbyitscover ables, a petting zoo, rock walls and food gua with Jarrod Brown, the founder day of Homecoming Weekend. Students from 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Williams of Mission Lazarus, on Jul. 27-Aug. 10. interested in living in UP are encouraged Scott Acton will be conducting a lecPerforming Arts Center North Lawn. For more information, email the Griggs to bring family and friends to check out the ture titled “The Telescope from Hawaii Center at griggscenter@acu.edu. apartments. to Beyond the Moon” at 6:30 p.m. on JamFest is from 6-10 p.m. on Oct. 18 in Oct. 17 in the Walling Lecture Hall of the East Lawn of the Hunter Welcome Men who want to study abroad can call Intramural Games start Oct. 21. Students Foster Science Building. Center. Stephen Shewmaker at 325-513-9240. must sign up by Oct. 16 on imleagues.com.
Volunteer Opp0rtunities Alliance for Women and Children is seeking volunteers to care for children on weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To learn more contact Toni Brown at 325-6775321 or info@afwconline.org. The Center for Contemporary Arts needs volunteers to greet patrons, answer questions about the gallery and answer phones. Volunteer opportunities are avaliable Tuesday-Friday between 11 a.m.and 5 p.m. and the second Thursday of every month for Artwalk from 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. For more information contact Jennifer Parks at 325-677-8389. Love and Care Ministries is looking for volunteers to help with sorting clothing, stocking their food pantry, assisting in prayers in their prayer room and serving food to the homeless. For more information, call 325670-0246. House of Faith is an organization that seeks to take Jesus to neighborhood children. Volunteers are needed to help with the various programs they do throughout the week. Backyard Bible studies are hosted Mondays and Wednesdays and a youth program takes place on Thursday evenings. The organization is seeking volunteers who can commit to a specific day a week. House of Faith lasts from 3-5:30 p.m. To volunteer or gain more information, contact Amy Jeffers at abj09a@acu. edu or call 832-331-5324.
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs such as helping in the kitchen and/ or doing yard work. Times are flexible and volunteers are needed Monday-Saturday. For more information contact J.D. Alonzo at 325-677-1408. Meals on Wheels Plus needs volunteer drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors and adults with disabilities Monday-Friday between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Training is provided. For more information contact Samantha Barker at 352-672-5050 or visit http://mealsonwheelsplus.com.html. The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to help sort and stock food and other items 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. Christian Homes & Family Services is seeking volunteers to do minor landscaping such as raking, trimming bushes, minor apartment repairs and general upkeep Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more informationcontact Shaylee Honey at 325-6772205 or Shoney@ChristianHomes.com.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters offers two volunteer programs. Lunch Buddies pairs volunteers with a little brother or sister to have lunch with once a week for 30 minutes. Lunch Buddies has a preferred time of 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Community Based program pairs volunteers with a little brother or sister that they will hang out with two to four times a month. Both programs require committment to the program for 12-18 months. To sign up stop by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters office at 547 Chestnut St. or contact Randy Woods at 325-674-3102. Volunteers are needed at the BCFS Abilene Transition Center for event planning and setup, assisting in teaching life-skills classes, accompanying transport, visiting homes and/or assisting in construction of facilities for assisting in the betterment of male and female youth ages 15-25. This opportunity is open each morning Mondays through Fridays. Students interested must contact Johnny Nguyen at 325-692-0033 or jnguyen@bcfs.net.
For additional volunteer opportunities visit: www. acu.edu/campusoffices/ccsl/ministry-service/volunteer-opportunities/
DET returns to campus Brian Sweet student reporter The Digital Entertainment and Technology club is returning to campus after disbanding in 2007 due to dwindling interest. Dr. Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology, was prompted to bring the club back due to the support of the rapidly growing DET major, and to help students from every discipline who have an interest in making films, animations or games. “We actually started it in 2007 but we didn’t have enough interest, primarily because there was not a DET major. Now we have a lot of students in DET the club is growing and there is a lot of excitement,” said Burton.
Meetings usually consist of some activity that is related to the field of technology: film, animation and game development. “Generally, a meeting is going to have a short little tutorial on something to do with digital entertainment technology,” said Burton. “In the last meeting we learned to put special effects in movies, like how something catches on fire or explodes without any real property damage. We will also cover things like making films, how to do animation or game development; a different topic each time.” The club plans on going to a convention called the Captivate Conference. “We are going to the Captivate Conference soon. It’s in Austin and it’s music, film,
animation and game development,” Burton said. “We have 19-20 people already signed up and going. We are very excited about this opportunity.” Rachel Magill, freshman DET major from League City, said she cant wait to learn more about technology. “I hope I’ll be able to learn how to work better with technology and be able to turn 2-D into 3-D art. I hope to learn different types of digital entertainment and be able to meet new people so that way we will be able to work together on projects,” Magill said. The Digital Arts and Technology club meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Mabee Business Building Room 201. contact the optimist at optimist@acu.edu
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wednesday 10.16.13
Health board installed in Campus Center Dystanie Douglas student reporter Eating healthy in the “World Famous Bean” and being unaware of the food’s nutritional value will no longer be a problem for students. The Aramark Food Company installed a nutrition heath board outside the Bean in the Campus Center. The purpose of the health board is to inform students about nutrition information not only for food in the Bean, but nutrition tips for home and advertisement for wellness activities happening on campus. The board is expected to positively impact ACU’s campus in a healthier manner and promote a healthier lifestyle on campus. “Having the board in the Campus Center will really help the students see nutrition information. There are pamphlets and fliers located there to not only help the students see the nutrition of the Bean food, but to help them get nutrition information for home,” said Jordana Haught, dining nutritionist. Haught said that she
hopes that the students on campus really take advantage of the board. “Students, a lot of the time, want healthy options, and I think that this board will be a good way for students to get nutrition information without actually having to talk to people and feel embarrassed,” Haught said. Although the nutrition board has only been posted for about a week, students have already begun to take advantage of what the board has to offer. Ellen Johnson, freshman business marketing major from Austin, said, “The nutrition board is a great asset to the Bean. It is very informative for me and I am glad that we have it.” The nutrition board is not funded by ACU. Aramark Food Company is requiring that the board be installed in every university that they are affiliated with. “We didn’t have to spend extra money for the board. It was something from Aramark that they required us to install,” Haught said. Haught said she thinks the board is a fun and excit-
ing way to encourage nutrition and healthy eating. She said she believes that with our society being so technological, it will help gain the attention of students. There are mixed emotions from students on campus about the nutrition board. Hannah Knight, sophomore psychology major from Midlothian, said, “I don’t think a lot of people know what the board is actually for. I personally haven’t used it yet. I think they should do a better job at advertising the actual board, and then maybe students will notice it more and take full advantage of what it offers.” Quentin Bryant, freshman environmental science major from Waco, has a more positive perspective. “I think it will benefit the campus in a very nutritional way. It’s a good idea to inform us on what we’re eating and getting ourselves into before we eat,” Bryant said. mary melisaa kiel Staff Photographer contact the optimist at optimist@acu.edu
Macie Cashion, junior nursing major from Cleburne, and Christal Carter, sophomore biochemistry major from Azle, test out the new nutrition board in the Campus Center.
ACU Press book cover contest offers cash prize Daniel zepeda sports editor ACU Press and Leafwood Publishers are giving students, faculty and staff the opportunity to design a book cover for two of their upcoming books. The “Judge a Book by Its Cover” contest is open mainly to the ACU community and promises a cash prize to the selected submission. “The contest is open to
all U.S. residents 18 and older, and we really hope several students from the ACU community choose to submit their designs,” said Ryan Self, publicist for ACU Press and Leafwood Publishers. “The winner will be given a $500 prize and the opportunity to be considered for the jacket design.” The winner’s design will be considered to appear on either “What Would Jesus Undo?” by Michael Boggs or “To an Unknown God” by
Jon Walker. Boggs’ book examines the barriers standing between God and the people he loves and ways that Jesus seeks to undo those barriers. Walker’s book asks deep questions and analyzes the dangers of Christians following a God they do not know. Both books are expected to be released in the fall of 2014. “The contest began in September and will run until Dec. 13 at midnight,” Self said. “We hope we can choose a winner during the Christmas
break. It’ll be tough because we already have gotten a lot of great submissions. We plan on announcing our decision by Jan. 17 and announcing the week of Jan. 27, a special week in chapel where we hope to raise awareness for ACU Press.” The contest is a new approach that ACU Press recently took in an attempt to connect itself to the ACU community. “We know there are a lot of talented students on campus
and we want to give them the opportunity to be involved in what we do over here,” said Philip Dosa, sales associate for ACU Press and Leafwood Publishers. “This is just one of the things that came out of discussions to connect with students on campus. Next semester we plan on having some of the authors who have been published through us speak at chapel and maybe even have a Q&A with them. We just really want to get more active and involved
with the community.” All entries must be submitted through contests@ acupressbooks.com. Submissions will need to fit the five and one-half by eight and one-fourth inch cover. All rules and information can be found at their website acupressbookclub.com, their Facebook page and Twitter account. contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
Biology professor discovers new species eric terrazas student reporter During the summer of 2010, a student expedition to Ecuador’s Sangay National Park led an ACU professor to discover a new species of opossum. The Northern Shrew Opossum will be making its scientific debut in the Oct. 2013 issue of the Journal of Mammalogy.
Dr. Tom Lee, Biology department chair and p r o f e s s o r, made the discovery of the lee Caenolestes sangay, or the Northern Shrew-Opossum. The opossum is described to be medium-sized (rat sized), with grizzled brownish back and a cream-colored to
pale grayish belly and is missing a chest area. The tail is bicolored with a very dark back and a warmer, drab brown bottom part. It has large long fangs that are slightly curved near the tip. The Ecuador project started in 2000 when Lee went to Ecuador with a friend who had been doing research in the Galapagos Islands. “As a child, I dreamt of going to South America, I told my mother I was
heading south and without hesitation she said ‘All right bye,’” Lee said. Lee said that to find these little creatures they had to trek roughly 11,000 feet up the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, near Sangay, Ecuador’s most active volcano and lies within the park’s boundaries. All specimens that have been collected were found alongside the RiobambaMacas highway, which runs
right through the park. “They live under thick fern, and to get to the spot where you can find them is quite difficult in itself,” Lee said. The new shrew-opossum has been captured both on steep slopes and in level forest-like areas. Lee said that the discovery shouldn’t be fully credited to him. He said that it was possible with the help of Amy Scott, an ACU student at the time, Carlos Boda who helped plan
the trip, and Santiago Bruneo, curator at the Catholic University of Ecuador. Along with others such as Miguel Pinto and Luis Albuja. “This just proves that Ecuador is an ecological hotspot, from which we can learn a lot about ecosystems and how they are affected by human activity,” Lee said. contact the optimist at optimist@acu.edu
Les Mis: Students sing, dance at Civic Center from page 1 “When you rent a set, the biggest challenge is that it’s built for a particular theater - when that rental goes out to another place, it has to be adapted to the theater you’re going to perform in,” he said. “Thankfully, the Abilene Civic Center is very close to the Music Theater of Wichita’s size.” Once the set was in place, work on lighting the set began. ACU hired freelance lighting designer Jim Elliot to illuminate the production.
“The set is wonderful, because it’s actually designed to be lit,” he said. “It’s got follow-spot positions [hidden spotlights onstage] built into it, so that gives a very unique place to light from.” Despite the versatility of the set, Elliot said it was no small task to light the whole production - there are about 300 lighting cues throughout the two acts. “It’s one of the more complicated sets I’ve lit,” he said. “I’ve lit a few opera sets larger than this, but it’s certainly right up there with
them.” Adding to the scale of the production are nearly 60 actors - including five small children - most of whom require individual microphones. “It’s one of the largest shows we’ve done in years,” Hester said. “This is just an enormous technical show.” “Les Misérables” will premiere Oct. 19 in the Abilene Civic Center.
contact eldred at jfe11a@acu.edu
Dukes: Senior men show off school spirit from page 1
garon goodspeed Staff Photographer
Brock New, junior communications major from North Richland Hills, addresses a question during the King of Campus Court debate in Hart Auditorium.
tle in common with either political debates or debates for Student Association elections. Moderators Grant Boone and Craig Fisher asked the Dukes numer-
ous goofy questions, including their favorite ninja turtles and what their ideal date would be. The Dukes were also encouraging an atmosphere of fun, with New dressed in a toga and Shake wearing a whoopee cushion costume. Audience participation in the form of tweeting questions for the candidates was requested. After about half an hour of questions, singing and dancing, the Dukes were asked to give one reason
why students should vote for them to be the King of Campus Court. Answers included, “If you don’t vote for me, you’re wrong,” and “Why not?” Beginning Monday night, students can vote online at www.acu.edu/ king. Voting will close Thursday night and the winner will be announced on Friday during Homecoming Chapel. contact the optimist at optimist@acu.edu
Opinion
Wednesday 10.16.13
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editorial
An appeal for two freshman Sing Song acts the issue The large freshman class means many freshmen won’t have the chance to participate in the class Sing Song act.
our take The freshmen should be allowed two Sing Song acts so more students can be a part of ACU’s biggest tradition.
Some have waited their whole life for the day they get to paint dramatized red cheeks and cartoon eyelashes on their face. Some have no desire to participate in a cult-like following of choreography and vocals. No matter your opinion on ACU Sing Song, every brighteyed freshman that arrives on campus deserves a chance to be included in
this ACU tradition. Not everyone wants to partake in the life-consuming event that occurs on campus every February, and that is okay. At least one person should remain unimpressed by contagions and costume changes. But freshmen who don’t have club acts to participate in should especially be given a chance to engage in what some
would argue is ACU’s biggest tradition. Unfortunately, as is the rule for all upstage acts, the freshman act can only have 100 students on stage. Ashley Crisp, junior speech language pathology major from Dallas, is a cochair for this year’s show. “With over a thousand freshmen this year, and seeing how many of them want to be involved, I feel bad having to turn so many of them away,” Crisp said. As of now, less than 10 percent of the freshman class will get to be involved in their class act. But by creating a new upstage act, a second act for the freshmen, the show would improve as a whole
and provide more opportunity for this large class. The addition of another act would not only increase the number of students involved, but would also provide the audience with more of what they came to see. The host and hostesses can make or break a Sing Song show, but they aren’t what hold the traditions of Sing Song. The audience f locks to Abilene every year to be entertained by their kids, their friends, their old clubs and old traditions displayed in silly costumes in the upstage acts, not the acts in between. A second freshman class act would increase the number of parents and
DAILY doodle dosage
relatives buying tickets, while also upping the entertainment value for the show as a whole. The traditional alternative for students who don’t make the cut for the freshman act is to be a freshman usher. While this is still a good way to meet new people and get to hang out in the infamous prop-filled holding rooms, the job of the freshman usher hardly maintains an ounce of the Sing Song traditions that are learned by being in an upstage act. As far as traditions go, the freshman act has been a contender for best overall show in the mixed voices division. This is
Ben Todd
mostly due to an abundance of freshman enthusiasm and spare time. A second act would add another tough competitor to the division. It would not split or dilute the talent their class has to offer, but rather create a marketplace where two shows strive to bring their best efforts to the competition. Giving more freshmen stage time and exposure is the next step in student involvement and Sing Song improvement. Let’s add a few more red cheeks and eyelashes.
contact The Optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
column
When passion isn’t enough THE ORRACLE MADELINE ORR MANAGING EDITOR
“Follow your passion.” It’s common advice for every soul-searching college student. If you stick with what you love, everything else will fall perfectly into place. But I’m starting to think maybe this isn’t always the case. To be honest, people who chase their passions scare me. It seems as if they trust so fully in the one thing they love that they often volunteer to jump overboard, clinging to their passion as their only flotation device. They have nothing else to keep them afloat. And when they lose it, they lose everything. Essentially, people who run on passion need a back-up plan or strategy for financial security. My main concern, however, is that these driven people understand success does not come from passion alone. Granted, this can differ depending on how you define success. But when I hear successful people talk about their lives and how they got to where they are, they talk about how hard they had to work. They talk about failures. They talk about late nights, cheap meals and perseverance. Sometimes they talk about how their passion helped them through it, but they know they didn’t get to where they are because of it. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal told
Column
Learning lessons from Agent 007 most famous spy in the world. So, if there’s any opportunity for a pun? Any opportunity at all? I take it. Lesson #3: If you crash your car, it will explode
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
MARISSA JONES EDITOR IN CHIEF
This summer, while most students were off on mission trip or internships, I had my own mission: I watched James Bond movies. Now, contradictory to what you may be thinking, this was not time wasted. James Bond taught me a lot about the world. Lesson #1: Bad guys are stupid and like cats James Bond taught me that it’s always easy to foil a villain’s plan. In the first movie, “Dr. No,” Bond is captured by the evil doctor, but escapes from his cell through a vent covered in chicken wire. Evil geniuses can never remember to properly secure a holding cell. He then dresses up as worker, walks around the evil lab and somehow makes the whole island explode by flipping a switch.
See? Easy. Easy as pie. Also, the ultimate super villain takes his f luffy white cat everywhere – on missions, to board meetings, to fight James Bond – everywhere. So now I’m fairly confident in my ability to defeat any villain. Lesson #2: Puns matter In the third film, “Goldfinger”, Bond pushes a incompetent villain into a bathtub and throws an electric heater in with him, instantly electrocuting him. Bond shakes his head and says, “Shocking. Positively shocking.” These painful puns are the life blood of early James Bond films, and they taught me the importance of a good pun. When used at the right moment, a pun can elevate you from a competent MI6 agent to the
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Bond’s one-liners always seem to work, even though they’re usually pretty bad. You’d think women would learn to stay away from him because most of his girlfriends are killed, but they never do.”
If you’re watching a Bond movie you can bet there will be a nail-biting car chase, and these chases almost always end with the bad guy driving his car off the road, which causes the
car to explode. This has turned me into a more careful driver. I mean, the thug’s car barely touches a tree and the whole vehicle goes up in f lames – no survivors, no remains. Lesson #4: Pick-up lines work He’s suave, he’s smooth and the ladies love him. Bond’s one-liners seem to always work, even though they’re usually pretty bad. You’d think women would learn to stay away from him because most of his girlfriends are killed, but they never do. I’m convinced dedicating my summer to watch these movies significantly improved my life and was not a waste of time. It’s practically like taking summer school, but for free. Maybe I’ll be productive again next summer and take lessons from Captain Kirk and Spock. contact Jones at MNJ10a@acu.edu
the story of Scott Adams, a commercial loan officer for a large bank who dealt with small businesses. His boss told him to never give loans to someone who is following their passion, they are a bad
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My main concern, however, is that these driven people understand success does not come from passion alone.”
bet. If someone’s passion is sports and they want to open a store for all things sport-related, their passion is not going to help them run a business well. Give the loan to a guy who is willing to grind it out over spreadsheets and work hard to make a business run, not the guy who loves his job. Having passion about life makes it more enjoyable. We need passionate people to inspire us. But if you’re clinging to the plan to just “follow” that passion, be prepared to pack along hard work and drudgery along with you. Discovering what you love is important. But don’t rely on it to make everything fall into place. contact ORR at MCO10B@acu.edu
hashtagACU Oct. 14 7:06 p.m.
Oct. 14 11:59 a.m.
@T_MOh55: 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue Yet still in class, are the kids of ACU” ACU doesn’t believe in holidays
@ChandlerMatlock
Oct. 14 8:17 a.m.
Clearly Christopher Columbus hated Abilene because it’s raining and I still have school today.
@salvatoreangela Oct. 13 2:46 p.m.
Oct. 13 12:40 p.m.
ACU has been invaded by small mailmen... or Boy Scouts, as some people call them.
@AviatorCHughes
“I hate this educational game. It takes the fun out of everything!!” SORRY I MADE CONSTITUTIONAL BINGO FOR YOU. #mydaywithboyscouts
@abbey_moses
Homecoming has started at the civic center! Full orchestra, full costumes, lights, smoke. I’m crying. Les Miserables sounds incredible.
@allybonneau Oct.10 11:35 p.m.
My tired scale goes from 1 to us government right now and I’ve gotta say I’m feeling pretty shut down #deaddogtired
@Brookelavender
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Can the flames offer me coffee instead of candy this week? #midtermweek
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Oct. 13 11:22 p.m.
Oct. 11 11:47 a.m.
To the mystery person who mowed my lawn: Thank you! If I ever catch you doing it again, I’ll run to you with a plate full of baked goods!
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HOLLY DONT HAVE MOTE THAN 1 CUP OF COFFEE A DAY STOP I DONT KNOW WHY YOU THINK YOURE MATURE ENOUGH FOR THIS. GAH.
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@overheardACU Can we sing “I See A Man?” Highways every Friday is getting old #ACUproblems #seniorprobs #stevenmoorediditbetter
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Oct. 13 1:34 p.m.
Our place is covered in glitter and homecoming week hasn’t even started yet... #flameprobs
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Why is the homecoming game going to be a white out when it’s suppose to rain all week? @acuoptimist @overheardACU
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featureS
Wednesday 10.16.13
I will
LISTEN Gabi Powell Features Editor
Reid Rivers, freshman vocational missions major from Juneau, Alaska stands in the rain, ready to listen to any student who stops by. | mandy lambright chief Photographer
or your rants, woes, confessions and worries, Reid Rivers is all ears. The freshman vocational missions major from Juneau, Alaska, can be seen standing in silence on the walkway between the Campus Center and the Brown Library, holding a cardboard sign with the offering: I will listen. Rivers took on the solo project, with sign out and ears ready, at the beginning of October. “Looking around at the world and inside myself, there’s a lot of pain and hurt,” he said. “As Christians what we tend to do is speak and preach and teach to that, and a lot of times that hurts more than helps.” So, like any good innovator, Rivers recognized a problem and created a means to fix it. “The Lord really laid it on my heart,” he said. ”Some people just need another person willing to listen. So that’s my goal,” he said. “To listen and show the love of God.” The idea came to Rivers after his family moved to Juneau this summer. Him and his sister became connected with a campus crusade group visiting the city for a summer project.
“One of their ideas had been doing a project with similar signs,” Rivers said. “They only did it in downtown Juneau for a day and that got me thinking, ‘what about on campus?’” Rivers said the cardboard comeand-go confessional has been an unexpected success, with crowds coming to him with their concerns and questions. “I’ve gotten everything from jokes to life stories to hour-long conversations,” he said. “Mostly questions like, ‘Why are you doing this?’ But one thing I’ve really noticed is, it takes a lot of courage for people to open up to a stranger. It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be.” Because listening doesn’t come natural, Rivers said. “I am more of an introvert,” he said. “Plus, I have never been a good listener because I usually want to ‘fix’ people’s problems, so I end up waiting for them to finish so I can share some of my ‘wisdom’ and end up not even listening.” But the task of telling a stranger is complicated, too, he said. “Opening up and revealing yourself leaves you ver y vulnerable and exposed,” Rivers said. “Especially
when the topic of discussion is your failures.” Rivers said we as humans, particularly the men, are hard-w ired to mask our shortcomings because we live in a culture that associates display ing emotions as a sign of wea k ness. “It takes a power greater than this hard-wired instinct to cause us to open up to one another,” he said. “When we are at the end of ourselves is when The Lord can truly take over and work beautiful things.” Rivers said the project has become equally ministering to him through disciplining him on how to communicate not only with others, but with God. “I take the burdens they have shared with me and give it to Christ, because it’s not my burden to hold anymore. In doing that, I have to consequently be in prayer with the Father. So I learn from it, too, you know, like, am I listening to God and what his will is for me?” Though Rivers is available to listen most ever y weekday after chapel, he has taken after-hours sessions as well. “Once or twice, someone has
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maggie marshall staff reporter
sought me out during class or in the dorm,” Rivers said. ”I am more than willing to listen or council at any time.” But how long can he keep up his sign-holding project? “Until the Lord tells me my task is finished,” he said. Rivers said he would like the “I will listen” ministr y to stay small, to keep value in the personal relationships. “Big organizations have good purposes and good intentions, but it becomes so hard to control,” he said. “I think you would lose intimacy.” But there are many ways students can similarly serve their peers, he said. “Don’t be too busy,” he said. “Be willing to stop whatever you are doing to interact with others, because, at the end of the day, all that matters are the relationships you make.” Rivers encourages students to use their God-given creativity, listening and watching for opportunities he provides. “Anything that takes you out of your comfort zone and allows God to do his work, because it’s all about Him,” Rivers said.
sports
wednesday 10.16.13
Soccer team splits tough road games brittney johnson sports reporter The women’s soccer team traveled to Natchitoches, La. and Nacogdoches over the weekend to face some of the toughest competition they have matched with this season. The Wildcats took on the Lady Demons of Northwestern State University Oct. 11 in Natchitoches, La. The ‘Cats came back from their loss against Oral Roberts, with a 1-0 defeat against NWSU. Natalie Thorneberry scored the single goal for ACU, leading to her fifth goal of the season. While the the Wildcats were playing at the top of their game, the Lady Demon’s struggled to keep a clean slate, as their defender Jackie Strug was issued a yellow card in the first half. Furthering the strug-
gle, midfileder Chelsea Schaefer also received a yellow card in the second half. Northwestern racked up a total of 11 fouls by the end of the match, while ACU had only five. Freshman Goalkeeper Kelsey Dombrowski continued to shine as she saved eight of 10 attempted goal shots. “There is no time to think about where that person might be shooting. When the other team has the ball I communicate with my teammates where they need to be,” Dombrowski said. “Every shot is a reaction. I don’t think to dive, I just do it.” Northwestern is now 3-3-1 and ranked No. 6 in the Southland Conference, with 5-8-1 overall in the season. Sunday, though, the Wildcats couldn’t maintain their winning pace. They fell 0-2 to Stephen F. Austin State University,
Jarred Schuetze staff Photographer Allie Vinson prepares to shoot from a set piece at the ACU soccer pitch.
putting ACU in the No. 4 position in the conference with 11-3-1 overall in the season. Dombrowski had five goal saves within the first half and gained her sixth of the match in the second half. She now totals
39 saves this season. The Ladyjacks’ defense was strong, keeping the ‘Cats from getting their ten goal attempts through. SFASU held on to their top spot at No. 2 and 6-10 in the conference, with
11-2-1 overall this season. “We played well against Stephen F. Austin, they were just a step better. They capitalized on mistakes we made and were, all around, very fit and physical,” Thorneberry said. “Their formation was very hard to defend, but we handled it the best we could.” This week, the Wildcats return home to match in their last home games of the season. Friday, the team will host No. 12 Texas A&M Corpus Christi at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch at 4 p.m. To end Homecoming week, the ‘Cats with face off against University of the Incarnate Word, ranked No. 10 in the conference, at 1 p.m. on Sunday. contact johnson at baj12a@acu.edu
Wildcats keep Huskies on leash matthew sloan sports director The ACU football team travelled to Houston to take on the Houston Baptist Huskies and had an offensive explosion, winning the game 6912. Wide receiver stole the show Saturday, catching seven passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of play. 71 of Gabriel’s 174 yards came on one play just before the half when he took a quick pass from John David Baker and took it all the way to the end zone. “We were running a double move with both of our inside guys and Taylor was kind of getting held up but I knew he was about to be open,” Baker said. “I put it up a little bit over the linebacker and then the rest is just vintage TG. He made guys miss and Darian Hogg threw a huge block and Darrell took out a couple of guys too.” Tight end Noah Cheshier also caught a touchdown pass in the game. Baker finished with 273 yards and four passing touchdowns to go along with 28 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. “I enjoy throwing them more than running them into the end zone because I get to see one of my guys make a play,” Baker said. “Whenever Taylor and Darian and Darrell and those guys get the ball in their hands they are exciting to watch, and I kind of get a front row seat to it.” Wide receiver Cade Stone also lined up in the backfield as both a running back and a wildcat quarterback for the first time this season and finished the game as ACU’s third leading rusher. Stone ran for
collin wieder
The opening season in the Southland Conference continues in its difficulty for Lady Wildcats volleyball. The team dropped its last two games at home against Lamar and Sam Houston State. Lamar defeated ACU in straight sets and Sam Houston defeated the wildcats in five sets. The ‘Cats played well in
sports editor The women’s cross country team finished second at the Incarnate Word Cardinal Invitational over the weekend. ACU was led by senior Chloe Susset who won her event, the 6K with a posted time of 22:30 minutes. The men’s side finished fourth behind third place Texas Pan-American. ACU finished with a score of 93, two points shy of third place. “Our team did a great
Soccer
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
SFA SELU ORU ACU Nicholls St. NSU UCA SHSU HBU UIW Lamar TAMU-CC MSU
6-1-0 6-1-0 5-2-0 5-3-0 4-3-0 3-3-1 3-3-0 3-3-0 3-3-0 3-4-0 2-5-1 1-6-0 0-7-0
11-2-1 11-2-1 10-4-0 11-3-1 10-3-1 5-8-1 6-6-2 5-7-1 4-8-1 9-5-0 5-9-1 2-11-0 5-9-1
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
UCA TAMU-CC SHSU NSU ORU SFA MSU HBU Lamar UIW NSU ACU SELU NO
7-1 7-1 7-1 6-1 5-2 4-3 5-4 4-4 4-4 3-5 2-7 1-7 0-8 0-8
15-3 12-7 10-7 10-9 13-4 12-8 12-10 9-11 6-14 8-9 5-14 5-11 6-14 3-18
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
ACU MSU SHSU Nicholls St. SELU UCA Lamar NSU SFA
0-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1
4-3 5-1 5-1 4-2 4-2 4-2 3-3 3-3 2-4
Volleyball
football
Clyde Gates had five catches for 36 yards as the New York Jets (3-3) fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) 19-6 on Sunday. Gates injured his shoulder and is out for the season. Danieal Manning had four tackles in the Houston Texans (24) 38-13 loss to the St. Louis Rams (3-3). Manning broke his leg and will be out two months. mandy lambright chief Photographer
Daryl Richardson had three carries for five yards and a recep53 yards and a score. eight tackles each to finish play.” Safety Lynn Grady, defen- tion for 18 yards as the Darrell Cantu-Harkless second in tackles. HBU’s offense only man- sive end Nick Richardson and St. Louis Rams (3-3) ran for a pair of touchdowns Safety Justin Stewart also aged 220 yards of total offense defensive end Kolby Rowe re- defeated the Houston in the win and so did Adrian made his first interception the entire game. ACU held the corded sacks in the game. Texans (2-4) 38-13. Taylor Gabriel stiff arms a Tarleton defender earlier this season in Frisco. Gabriel caught seven passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns last week in Houston against HBU. ACU won the game 69-12.
Duncan, who had 82 yards on the ground on 13 carries. Defensively, the Wildcats dominated the Huskies the entire game and never allowed HBU to get anything going. Linebacker Thor Woerner led the team in tackles with 10, including a tackle for loss. Safety Angel Lopez and linebacker Jesse Harper had
of the season, picking off an HBU pass and running it back 31 yards to flip the field and give the Wildcat offense a short field. “It felt good to get the pick,” Stewart said. “The quarterback was rolling one way and tried to throw across his body. I saw him loft it up and I knew I was going to have a chance to make the
Huskies to a measly 97 yards through the air despite holding a big lead most of the contest. “I think we played really well,” Stewart said. “Coach Dulin has been telling us to run to the ball and take care of the little things like we know how to do. Finally I feel like we played a complete game and the score showed it.”
The Wildcats will be back in action Saturday when they play their last home game of the year against Incarnate Word in their homecoming game. Kick off will be at 2 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium.
contact sloan at mes10b@acu.edu
briefings Student-Athletes of the month: John David Baker: 64.0 pass completion, 1,648 yards and 19 touchdowns this season for the football team.
Caley Johnson: 2.51 digs and 14 assists for all three sets but couldn’t and had 12 lead changes. and added a solo block of bounce back really easy we the volleyball team this quite finish against Lamar. The loss may have hurt her own. don’t take it lightly but just year. A lead in the final set dwindled as Lamar would go on a 6-0 run to end the game. Sam Houston State was a different story for the Wildcats as they forced the game to five sets against a solid Bearkat team. The wildcats hit better than the Bearkats at .167 to .150. The game not only went to 5 sets, but tied 27 times
against Sam Houston, but it was a moral victory considering the Bearkats are ranked No. 3 team in the conference. “Overall the team played well and we are playing new, tougher teams and we are growing and getting better,” Mock said. A big positive of the game was team’s 12 blocks to Sam Houston’s two. Junior Neely Borger’s 5 blocks led the way
“Our blocks that game were really good so we were definitely excited about that,” Mock said. The two losses dropped the team’s overall record to 5-11 and their conference record to 1-7. The first year for the wildcats may not look great in the wins and losses column but overall the team has played well in this season. Borger also added, “We
try to learn from it and carry it on to the next game.” The ‘Cats will be back in action this weekend against another Southland newcomer, Incarnate Word. They will be looking to get back on track in front of a loud homecoming crowd in Moody. contact wieder at cpw11a@acu.edu
Susset wins, leads Wildcats to 2nd daniel zepeda
standings
ex- factor
Volleyball handed hard-luck losses sports reporter
6
job of coming together and leaving everything out on the course,” senior Erik Forrister said. “We had a couple of personal bests from Taylor Ochs and Jesse Coats and just an overall great team effort. Everyone stepped up and finished strong.” For Susset, it is her second win of the season, as she also finished first at the Wildcat’s season opening Invitational 5K. She won the 6K by 21 seconds, before second place finisher Naraly Rodriguez of Texas-Permian Basin (22:51). It is Susset’s fourth consecutive top-15
finish of the season. “I am satisfied, but I am more excited about my teammate’s results,” Susset said. “For me, the biggest thing was to forget about being sick and just going out there and doing my best.” ACU finished second to UIW, who had two top 10 finishers and five players finish in the top 20. The Wildcats bounced back after a less-than-thrilling performance at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. There, the women’s team finished seventh, while the men’s squad secured the
tenth spot. “I think OSU was a wakeup call for our team, and the girls are getting more experience at racing against D-1 college schools,” Susset said. “That was our first 6k this year but we all ran smart taking a slow start and working our way up to the front.” The team will spend the week preparing for the NCAA Pre-Nationals that will be in Terre Haute, Ind. on Saturday. “Pre-Nationals will be a great experience,” senior Daniel Block said. “We’re only sending eight ath-
Whitley Lindholm: a defensive specialist for the soccer team, has appeared in every game this season. Thor Woerner: a defensive captain for the football team, 40 tackles, two interceptions and a sack.
Upcoming
Soccer hosts Texas A&M Corpus Christi at letes between the men’s 4 p.m. on Friday. and women’s teams, but for those of us that are going, I think it will be an excellent opportunity to run in such a high-caliber race. With the transition into Div. I, this is what we’re going to have to be able to compete in if we want to help bring ACU’s cross country program back into a prominent position in the nation.”
contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
Both men’s and women’s tennis squads will travel to the ITA regionals on Friday. Football takes on Incarnate Word on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium. Volleyball will play Incarnate Word on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Moody Coliseum.