The Optimist Print Edition: 11/04/2009

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Optimist the

Vol. 98, No. 21

The Best Medicine

PAGE 5 1 section, 8 pages

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

acuoptimist.com

BREAKING NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, DISCUSSION AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT TECHNOLOGY

University vies for Trike spot Christianna Lewis

termine which sites – and universities – will be next Contributing Reporter on the map. The Google Trike conThe new Street View Trike test was announced on is bringing previously inaccessible sites to Google the official Google blog Earth. ACU is battling for Oct. 16 and lasted until nomination in the nation- Oct. 28. Any user could wide contest that will de- suggest a location for the

Google Trike’s next visit. The nominations fell into six categories, including landmarks, theme parks and university campuses. Google will review the requests and open the vote on the final nominees Nov. 11th.

Following Google’s announcement, ACU began calling for alumni, faculty and students to vote to “put ACU on the map.” Links to the nomination site were posted on the ACU Web site, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. The

response was encouraging, said James Langford, director of web integration and programming. “We’re just trying to get to the second round,” Langford said. see TRIKE page 4

Photo courtesy of BLOG.DK.SG

FILM

ACADEMICS

Festival to show foreign films Bailey Neal Contributing Reporter

it as a field of study. Two years later, the Center for the Study of Aging opened; it was renamed the Pruett Gerontology Center in 1994 in honor of Zack and Geneva Pruett, who provided a $1.5 million endowment for its creation. Austin Holt, junior biblical text major from Granbury, said he thinks the gerontology courses will benefit him in his future

The Paramount Theatre will present a collection of 21 films, each less than 20 minutes, as part of the 11th annual 24fps International Short Film Festival on Friday and Saturday. In a little more than a decade, the short film festival has grown from a local competition used to celebrate Halloween to a largescale operation, said Barry Smoot, artistic director for the Paramount. He says in its early years, the competition received few entries, and those were from only Abilene and the surrounding Texas communities. The selection process for entries was the same this year, but the selections from which to choose were not. “We take the field of submissions and narrow them down to 20 to compete and be screened for the public,” Smoot said. “We ended up this year with 21, we had such a hard time cutting them down.” 24fps is open to any student or independent filmmaker worldwide, according to the 2009 24fps

see PRUETT page 4

see FPS page 4

JOZIE SANDS Chief Photographer

Alyssa Matthews, senior family studies major from Kansas City, Kans., looks over an assignment in Dr. Charlie Pruett’s adult development and aging class.

Pruett Center offers gerontology certification Ben Warton

service administrative coordinator for the Pruett Gerontology Center. Contributing Reporter Courses can be taken as electives and include Sociology and Aging; Exercise and ACU now offers graduate and undergraduAging; Death Education; and Adult Developate certification in gerontology for students ment in Aging. interested in how we age. Gerontology is the study of the social, The courses offered to gain certification are designed to coincide with multiple ma- psychological and biological aspects of agjors, including sociology and family studies, ing, Brokaw said.. ACU has been involved with gerontology social work, psychology, communications, Bible and exercise science, said Jan Brokaw, since 1984, when the university first added

SPRING BREAK

Students register for domestic, international campaigns Brittany Brand Contributing Reporter Spring Break Campaign signups began this week offering students 16 national and four international campaign destination choices for the holiday break. The registration process began Monday and

will continue through Thursday. Registration is accomplished through a lottery system, and lottery tickets are available to interested students immediately after Chapel throughout the week in the Campus Center. Students are then

Forecast Wed

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time designated on their ticket number. I like to travel and see how God is However, a lower lotacting in different places. tery number does not BEN ROGERS guarantee and earlier Senior finance major from Athens signup time. Series of tickets will be selected required to visit the SBC ens, said students will at random; for example, Web site to register with be allowed to register for 001-050 might be the sectheir desired SBC location ond troup to sign up, said their lottery number. Ben Rogers, senior fi- in the Campus Center on Daniel Burgner, an SBC nance major from Ath- Thursday based on the committee member.

Inside Thu

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SPECIAL EFFECTS OR gritty drama might appeal to your edgy side, but try rewatching a film you loved as a child. You might enjoy it more than you did 10 years ago. Page 6

According to the SBC Web site, spots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis with preference given to current students. The campaigns to Denver and Guatemala usually fill up fastest, Burgner said. The trip to Guatesee SBC page 4

Online WILDCAT FOOTBALL kept its playoff hopes alive with their 47-35 win over A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, despite Kingsville blocking three of the Wildcats’ punts. Page 8

VIDEO

LOUD+CLEAR

Did you vote in the Google Trike contest? a. Of course. Let’s put ACU on the map. b. No. What a waste of time. c. What’s a Google Trike? Frater Sodalis Haunted House

Visit acuoptimist.com to join the discussion.


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Campus Day Wednesday, November 4, 2009

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

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WEDNESDAY

3 p.m. Spring 2010 Registration: Juniors

5

THURSDAY

5:30 p.m. Spring Break Campaign Signups

6

3 p.m. Weekend Campaign: Houston 6 p.m. Christmas Carousel at the Abilene Civic Center

Texas Hold ‘em Tournament at the Mall of Abilene

7 p.m. 24fps International Short Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre

7 p.m. ACU Volleyball vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville 7:30 p.m. Inspecting Carol at the Abilene Community Theatre

7:30 p.m. Inspecting Carol at the Abilene Community Theatre 8 p.m. Wildcat Hour

8 p.m. The Tony Barker & Meatball Acoustic Jam at Strawberry’s

Announcements The Christmas Carousel will take place from noon-5 p.m. Nov. 5-8 at the Abilene Civic Center. There will be a sale of holiday gifts, sponsored by the Junior League of Abilene, which will benefit numerous charitable causes. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens.

take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 6-7 at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $6. There will be 11 shows Nov. 6, and 10 shows will play Nov. 7. For a list of movies and showtimes, visit www. paramountabilene.org/24fps/. To order tickets call the box office at 676-9620.

A blood drive will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 9 between the Administration Building and the Brown Library.

A Texas Hold ‘em Tournament will take place 6 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Mall of Abilene. Tournaments are held every Thursday night at 6 and 9 p.m. The tournament is free, and prizes are given for first place winners.

Inspecting Carol will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5-7 at the Abilene Community Theatre at 801 S. Mockingbird Lane. Tickets are $8 for students. Call the box office at 673-6271. The 24fps International Short Film Festival will

The Tony Barker & Meatball Acoustic Jam will take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Strawberry’s Bar and Grill. Call 232-6571 for more information.

Wildcat Hour will take place from 8-9 p.m. Nov. 6 all around Abilene. Wildcat Hour encourages participants to turn off the lights for one hour in an effort to conserve energy. Country singer David Newbould will perform at 7:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at Playfaire Park. Tickets are $5. Jody Nix and The Texas Cowboys will perform at 9 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Firehouse Bar and Grill. A holiday recipe swap will take place at 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library. A cooking instructor will also provide some healthy tips. The event is free. A book signing by illustrator Connie Weeks and author Debbie Reese Potts will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 4. They will sign copies of their

The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@jmcnetwork. com. To ensure an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. Christmas Carousel at the Abilene Civic Center

6:30 p.m. Team Quest in Hart Auditorium

About This Page

children’s book, Ocean Surprises, at the Texas Star Trading Company. They will be accompanied by Texas first lady Anita Perry. A live broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s Turandot by Puccini will take place at noon Nov. 7 at the Century 12 Theatre. A spiritual-experiences discussion will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Main Branch of the Abilene Public Library. Call 214-929-3872 for more information. A classic vehicle show will take place from noon-4 p.m. Nov. 7 at Elmdale Baptist Church. Registration for a car is $10, and there will be free hamburgers and hot dogs. Call 672-5527 or 518-8146 for more information.

Chapel Checkup

Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:

52 19

Volunteer Opportunities The Salvation Army needs volunteers to help shoppers select Angel Tree toys, keep Angel Tree records, label items and receive gifts. Contact Cecilia Barahona at 6771557 for more information.

nity. Breakfast is served from 6:30-7:15 a.m. Volunteers must arrive at 5 a.m. Tuesdays and 5:30 a.m. during the rest of the week. For more information, visit the Web site at www.fccabilene.org/outreach.html.

The First Baptist Church needs volunteers to reorganize and rearrange supplies and educational materials in the children’s department. Volunteers are needed 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12-31 at the First Baptist Church at 1333 N. 3rd St. Contact Cassie Irwin at 675-8106 for more information.

Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to deliver hot meals to seniors and adults with disabilities each week. Volunteers may work once a week, Monday-Friday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact Elisabeth Rodgers at 672-5050 for more information.

The Salvation Army needs volunteers for the Christmas Angel Tree Project. Contact Cecilia Barahona at 677-1408 for more information. Abilene Adult Day Care needs volunteers to help call Bingo. Volunteers are needed every Monday at 1:30 p.m., except the third Monday of the month, when volunteers are needed at 10:30 a.m. Contact Donna at 7933519 for more information. Christian Service Center needs volunteers to fill requests for clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, etc. from the donation center. Volunteers may work Friday or Saturday from noon-4 p.m. Contact Jim Clark at 673-7531 for more information. Literacy teachers are needed at the International Rescue Commitee. Volunteers will help refugees learn to read and write. All volunteers are required to attend an IRC orientation and a literacy workshop and must commit to two to four hours per week for three months. Breakfast On Beech Street needs volunteers to prepare and serve breakfast to homeless and low-income members of the Abilene commu-

The International Rescue Commitee needs volunteers to set up apartments before refugees arrive. This includes shopping for household supplies, assembling furniture, and putting away kitchen and food items. All volunteers are required to attend an IRC volunteer orientation and must be available during weekday afternoons. Reliable transportation and ability to perform minor physical labor also required. The College Heights Friendship House needs help with children’s activities from 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 8296514 for more information. The Noah Project needs volunteers to cover the domestic violence crisis hotline Monday-Friday between 6 and 10 p.m. Contact Yvonne Myers at 676-7107 for more information. HERO, Hendrick Equine Rehabilitation Opportunities, is in search of volunteers to walk or jog alongside a horse to support and assist clients with challenges. Requires at least one hour per week. Sessions run Sept. 29 through Nov. 19.


Campus News

November 4, 2009

Page 3

HEALTH

Awareness ‘On the Go’ Emily Loper Contributing Reporter The Susan G. Komen On the Go trailer set up shop in the mall area Friday to educate students about breast cancer and encourage action in the fight against it. Janelle Benuska, Komen On the Go staff member, said the tour started in New Jersey and traveled down the East Coast to its final stop in Abilene. She said its goal is to educate youth about the untruths of breast cancer. “It is a common myth that breast cancer only affects women over 40,” Benuska said. “That’s why detection is key.” Benuska said the main feature of the pink trailer is its interactive computer curriculum. The eight to 10 minute program gives students general knowledge, as well as many little-known breast cancer statistics. Upon comple-

tion of the program, participants were given a free drawstring bag containing more information about breast cancer and entered into a drawing for a free iPod Nano. The Susan G. Komen foundation sponsors national and local events raising money for breast cancer research throughout the year. The Komen foundation’s two most popular events are its Race for the Cure, a 5K walk or run, and the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60mile walk. Benuska said the tour focuses on college campuses. About 200 students complete the curriculum on each campus, and others stop by throughout the day to pick up information pamphlets. “People always learn something new from the video curriculum, as well as from the stories of those whose lives have been touched by breast

cancer,” Benuska said. Amanda McAdams, junior social work major from Tyler, said the pink trailer caught her attention as she walked to class Friday morning. In her free time after Chapel, she decided to brave the long line and watch the presentation. McAdams said she knew a little about breast cancer before she entered the trailer but was shocked by some of the statistics included in the program. “I always thought most of the women affected by breast cancer had someone in their family who had been affected,” McAdams said. “The curriculum talked about how women with no affected relatives are just as susceptible.”

JOZIE SANDS Chief Photographer contact Loper at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Heather Green Wooten (’80) signs copies of her book, The Years of Polio in Texas, in the McGlothlin Campus Center on Monday afternoon.

LOCAL NEWS

Christmas Carousel fundraises for community Jill Dougher Contributing Reporter The Junior League of Abilene is ready to start spreading Christmas cheer at the 29th annual Christmas Carousel. “A Heavenly Christmas!”, the theme for this year’s event, will take place from Nov. 5-8 in the Abilene Civic Center. Customers can kick off holiday shopping as they peruse booths sponsored

by more than 100 merchants. Other activities include a style show, a grand gala and breakfast with Santa. According to the Junior League’s Web site, the merchants may vend anything from clothing and jewelry to children’s items, food and photography services, guaranteeing shopping and entertainment for all ages. A committee of 30 wom-

en spends a year planning and executing the event. Allison Cowling, Christmas Carousel chairman, said she expects about 10,000 visitors at the event. “This event is our sole fundraiser,” Cowling said. “Last year, we raised over $100,000 to give back to the community.” The Junior League strives to serve the children in the community and to promote volunteerism, the

Web site states. The money raised is used for grants, hygiene packages for elementary schools below the poverty line, funds for Child Protective Services and various other projects. “It’s fun for the public, but we don’t want people to forget that this is a charity event,” Cowling said. “The money is going right back into the community.” General admission to enter the market hall is $5

for adults and $3 for senior citizens. Children 12 and younger enter for free. Katie Shipley, a junior speech pathology major from Dallas, said she is excited about the upcoming event. “$5 isn’t that expensive, especially since I’d be getting a variety of different booths,” Shipley said. “The fact that they donate money for charity is even more of an incentive.”

Regardless of whether she does any Christmas shopping at the event, Shipley said simply attending has its rewards. “Even if I end up not buying anything, at least I’m still a part of the process of giving back,” Shipley said.

contact Dougher at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

MINISTRY

Halbert Institute seminar sparks interest in missions Casey Oliver Contributing Reporter The Halbert Institute for Missions, in a joint effort of Bible faculty and students will present Team Quest on Thursday, a short to pique interest in university-supported missions opportunities. Dr. Sonny Guild, director of the Halbert Institute, said the goal of the meeting is to educate the ACU community about teams already in the mission field or planning to go. “There’s going to be a showing of a documentary made about one of our teams that’s currently in Tanzania, Africa,” Guild

said. “Our team that is going to leave soon for Zambia, Africa, will also be introducing other teams preparing to leave.” There are several teams training through the Halbert Institute, and this meeting is a good opportunity for students to be introduced to members of those teams and hear their plans of action, Guild said. There also will be a food tasting with several foods from around the world to give students a glimpse into the fields the mission teams will be entering, he said. Shelly Tarter, junior theatre and technical design major from Shallowater,

said studying abroad increased her global awareness and she is looking forward to hearing others’ stories from the field. “I really enjoy getting to share my experiences abroad, and I think it’s awesome that these missions teams will be sharing with others, as well,” she said. “ The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Hart Auditorium and the lower rotunda of the Biblical Studies Building. All students are welcome, and signups are not required. contact Oliver at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com


From Front

Page 4

TECHNOLOGY

November 4, 2009

SPRING BREAK

Trike: Chance SBC: Students travel to serve riding on votes Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

Google was not specific on how the locations will be evaluated, but Langford said the number of requests likely will influence the choice of nominees. Langford said he believed the response was enough to increase ACU’s chance of reaching the final round. “One thing that might help is that we’re on the Customer Advisory Board for Google Apps; but we’re also in the middle of West Texas,” Langford said. “They might choose larger campuses next.” The competition not only offers ACU good press, Langford said, but gives people worldwide an opportunity to visit the campus from the comfort of their own homes. Though ACU already has a 3-D map of its campus available on the Internet, the Google Trike would capture 360-degree photographic views all over campus, allowing the viewer a much richer experience of the university. This would be a great tool for potential students, as well as alumni who haven’t been able to see the campus’s changes over the years, Langford said. The Google Trike is a tricycle mounted with nine cameras designed to capture panoramic images of locations out of reach of the Street View Cars. It has

already captured several famous locations, including LEGOLAND California, Santiago State University and several historic sites in Europe. However, this competition offers the public its first opportunity to decide which new locations can be visited on Google Earth. If ACU is chosen as the Google Trike’s next destination, the visit – and launch party – will be planned and coordinated by the five ACU Google ambassadors. The ambassador project is one of several indications of ACU’s uncommon relationship with Google, said Lead Ambassador Joshua Archer, sophomore information systems major from Southlake. ACU’s partnership with Google may give ACU a competitive edge in the nomination stage of the contest, he said. “I think we have a really good shot at it,” Archer said. “A lot of schools don’t have what we have.” Students will be able to vote on the finalists at www.google.com/trike Nov. 11. To find more information about the Google Trike and the competition, Archer said students can “Google it.”

contact Lewis at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

mala is a medical mission trip offered through the premedicine program; it requires a separate application. Seattle is the largest campaign with 26 spots available. The other campaigns have room for 10-20 people. Burgner, senior political science major from Yorba Linda, Calif., said the trips are not limited to undergraduate students. Faculty, graduate

students and even those who do not attend ACU may participate. Burgner will lead the campaign to Honduras this year. “SBC really are an act of ACU to create leaders to spread the word of Christ,” Burgner said. The campaigns are about service, and campaigners do “everything from building churches to entertaining children to feeding the homeless and spreading the love of Christ by serving others and shining his light into a darkened world,” accord-

ACADEMICS

ing to the SBC Web site. “I like travel and seeing how God is acting in different places,” Rogers said. Rogers, a senior finance major from Athens, will be leading a campaign to Boston this year. The international campaigns will travel to Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The campaigns within the nation include: Boulder, Colo.; Chicago; Corpus Christi; Denver; Huntington Beach, Calif.; Boston; Houston; New Orleans;

Manchester, N.Y.; Seattle; Patchogue, N.Y.; St. Paul, Minn.; Atlanta; Miami; Salem and Washington D.C. Campaigns vary in price, ranging from Houston at $250 to Nicaragua at $1450. For more information visit www.acu.edu/sbc.

contact Brand at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

FILM

Pruett: Courses FPS: Paramount open to all majors presents shorts Continued from page 1 “I want to go into ministry when I’m done with college; so, I think that taking gerontology courses would greatly increase my ability to minister to people,” Holt said. “Knowing about people of all ages and how they think is something that is very important to my career.” Ministers, counselors and directors of community programs for older adults or researchers and teachers in gerontology would profit from the certification, Brokaw said. Along with academics, the Gerontology Center focuses on service and leadership within the community.

“We assist churches throughout the nation with developing ministries with senior adults, training workers to serve as senior adult ministers and hosting educational conferences and seminars around the country,” Brokaw said. Students also participate in developing and conducting research projects, professional and continuing education.” For more information about the gerontology program, visit the center’s Web site at www.acu.edu/academics/cas/gerontology.

contact Warton at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Continued from page 1

rules and guidelines. This year, the film competition did not receive any submissions from ACU students but received a total of 437 film entries from all over the world. “There’s a film in the competition from Slovenia; I mean, I had to look up where Slovenia was,” Smoot said. “The entries start coming in from Texas and go all the way across the U.S., to Canada, to Mexico … then places like Iran and Japan.” Smoot said the first 11 films will be shown Friday night, and the remaining 10 on Saturday night. Awards will be given after

the last short film. Three cash prizes are given to the top three films, and another cash prize is given to the film that receives the Horizon Award, which is granted to the most promising student film. A free screening of four films by teenage artists will take place at the Paramount Theatre as part of ArtWalk on Thursday, and 24fps is presenting a Young Filmmaker Showcase on Friday. Tickets to the film screenings are $6 each night. Those interested can find more information about 24fps at www.paramount-abilene.org/24fps. contact Neal at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com


Focus

November 4, 2009

Page 5

LEFT: Dr. Ellen Little cares for a baby in Africa during her time as a missionary. Little said she sees similarities between her ministry in Africa and as the doctor at ACU’s medical clinic. BELOW: Little works at an eye clinic in Africa as a missionary. Little said differences between African and American cultures were apparent immediately upon returning to the United States.

Photo courtesy of DR. ELLEN LITTLE

put a

Photo courtesy of DR. ELLEN LITTLE

Little love in your

art

Cara Leahy Features Writer

Clinic doctor administers Gospel message with medical remedies Dr. Ellen Little knows what it means to be called by God. As a medical missionary who has spent time on at least three continents, Little, physician and medical director of the ACU Medical Clinic, has spent years serving “the call.” “I majored in premed and Spanish,” Little says, “But I always had an interest in missions.” Little went to medical school at Texas Tech University, and while in her residency training, made the decision to move to Uganda. “I was praying to God everywhere I went, teaching people the role that God plays in our health,” she says. “I lived there eight years working as a missionary doctor, doing health teaching and Bible teaching.”

Global Gospel While there, Little says, she saw many people suffering from malaria, and she came into contact with cultural beliefs that often conflicted with her own Christian beliefs. Many people believed curses caused sickness, she says. But, rather than blatantly refuting their cultural beliefs, Little says she worked to help

her patients transcend them through an understanding of God as a force bigger and more powerful than any curse. Some also considered infertility or a lack of male children a curse or a “woman’s issue,” something Little saw as an opportunity to use Biblical stories to connect with her patients. She referred to the story of Abraham and paralleled his desire for children with a family’s desire for sons. Little also told of God’s request for Abraham to sacrifice his son, asking families if perhaps God was testing them in a similar fashion. “There are a lot of ways things are written in the Bible that connect in a way science could not to the African mind,” Little says. The spiritualism of their culture made Biblical stories something easily understood and shared, Little says. And her goal was to use that strong belief in the spiritual realm to better communicate the true nature of God. “God is more powerful than Satan,” she would say. “Good is more powerful than evil.” Little’s work with the people of Uganda was strength-

ened by her home church, the Kampala Church of Christ. Church leaders worked with Little to find a common ground on which to connect with the people and explore the primary issues making patients sick. While living there, Little continued traveling throughout the continent, aiding children in Kenya and patients in Sudan before returning to Uganda. “There’s a lot of HIV/AIDS in Africa and Uganda,” Little says, her voice catching. “Some were friends … there were a lot of sad stories.”

No Place Like Home Despite Little’s obvious concern for the African people, she seems to radiate a sense of joy. She maintains her work in Africa was rewarding, but it was with equal pleasure Little responded to the call to return to the United States. “I’d always says that if I was going to move back to the United States, I’d want to work at a Christian school,” Little says. “There was a calling – a literal calling – to come back here.” The call, Little says, was from a friend who knew of

Little’s desire to work at a Christian school and had heard of an opening at ACU. That phone call led Little to Abilene, where she accepted the position she fills today. The differences between African and American cultures immediately became apparent, Little says. Variances ranged from the fastpaced American lifestyle to hearing English spoken as a primary language as opposed to African dialects. However, Little felt she had entered a position where she could have an equally strong impact on people’s faith. “I have a chance to see students grow in their faith and be with them at what I feel is a critical juncture in their spiritual lives,” Little says.

Prescribing Love The chance to make a difference was a privilege she welcomed in her new occupation. Little noted she, as well as other doctors in the clinic, occasionally plays the role of mentor to students, guiding them in their spiritual walks in addition to attending to their medical concerns. This dedication to students is something Little is known for and something her colleagues have come to see as an integral part of her ministry. Michelle Drew, the family nurse practitioner at the Medical Clinic, has known Little for 10 years. In fact, Drew’s arrival at the clinic came at Little’s urging, Drew says. “What makes Ellen so special is that she ‘walks the walk,’” Drew says. “Her whole medical career hasn’t been about being a doctor who happens to be a Christian; it’s about having a vocation that could fit in to her life as a Christian and the service that she’s committed to in her walk with God.” She also noted Little always offers to pray with students and patients, and even those who decline her offer receive prayers on their behalf. Her concerns, Drew says, extend beyond physical ailments to the spiritual health of her patients. As an Abilene native and ACU graduate, Little is well-equipped to handle the problems patients may lay at her feet, Drew says. “She’s already been where they are at now,” Drew says. “She can empathize with the challenges students are facing right here, right now, because she’s been there and done that. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s a great doctor, and she’s an amazing woman

of God.”

Just Part of the Job As for Little, she says her focus on students is all part of the day’s work. “It’s part of my job to pray with patients, “ Little says. “It’s not boring. It’s fun work, what I do.” Regarding her interest in medical missions, Little says she hopes to attend Spring Break Campaigns and already is planning a trip to Uruguay next June. Little also is looking into doing premed and prehealth trips, with the intent of comparing and contrasting health care delivery in other countries to that in the United States. She says travel has been and will continue to be a significant part of her life. “I’ve been to about 25 countries – do you want me to name them all?” Little says, laughing. “I’ve been to a medical women’s conference in Thailand. I spent eight years in Africa. I went to Europe as a sophomore in college. I’ve been to Central America – you name the country, I want to go. Any place, I want to go there too.” However, Little emphasizes her love for travel is a passion God utilizes to help spread the Gospel.

Contagious Passion “I love travel, and that’s great, but I think God does lead us in those areas where we have a passion.” she says. That belief, she says, is something she wants to share with ACU students, along with her desire for students to go out and pursue their own passions. “I just encourage people,” Little says. “If this is where you see yourself, just go out and do it. Don’t talk yourself out of doing things just because you think you should do something practical.” Beyond that, Little says, finding the place God wants to use you is a combination of passion and prayer. “Sometimes there is something that resonates with your heart,” Little says, “and you find it – that calling – through prayer.”

contact Leahy at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com


Opinion

Page 6

EDITORIAL

November 4, 2009

Kid flicks offer meaningful message but risky adventures teach them to swallow their pride for Andy’s benefit, and after some shady business with a bully and a rocket, find they can be friends in spite of themselves. In The Jungle Book, Mowgli is raised and befriended by wolves who begin a quest to return him to the man village when they discover Shere Khan is in the jungle and threatening Mowgli’s safety. They meet some bumps along the way when Mowgli decides he wants to stay in the jungle, but in the end, Bagheera and Baloo encourage him to go back where he belongs. Growing up is the theme of many kids’ films. In The Lion King,

lows five lucky kids to take a tour of his chocolate factory, but they all seem to fall short of his standards. Augustus Gloop plops into the chocolate river and is sucked up a tube; Violet Beauregarde chews the untested piece of chewing gum after she is warned against it and balloons into a giant blueberry; Charlie breaks the rules but experiences the power of forgiveness when he owns up to his mistake. Most kids remember Woody the cowboy doll looking sadly at the name Andy scribbled across the bottom of his shoe in Toy Story. When Andy gets a new toy, Buzz Lightyear, Woody faces issues of jealousy and insecurity,

At some point in life, people cross the line from Gratings to blood, guts and bad language. You know those kids who go to college and overdose on Rrated movies and then talk about how cultured and artistic they are. They turn up their noses at the latest Pixar movie, and you can’t even breathe the words Beauty and the Beast without getting a ridiculing. The problem with putting aside childish things is that you miss the valuable lessons hidden – or obvious – in classic children’s movies. As a silly and mildly frightening example, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory presents a strong, although sugarcoated message of integrity. Wonka al-

Simba feels guilt because of his father’s death and runs away. As he gets older, he is faced with the decision to return and accept responsibility for the dismal state of Pride Rock or stay with Timon and Pumbaa, living carefree in the jungle. Simba eventually decides to take his place as king – with a little help from his cloudfather and a crazy monkey named Rafiki. In Mary Poppins, Jane and Michael are used to taking advantage of their nannies by playing pranks and getting into trouble, but Poppins manages to gently whip them into shape without stifling their creativity. The adults in the movie laugh so much they

Ataraxia

By Jordan Blakey

THE ISSUE

Adults can easily brush off children’s movies instead of giving them a chance.

OUR TAKE

Children’s movies are not just for kids. They have real themes and meanings for adults, too. are flying in the corner of a living room. Jumping into paintings, dancing on rooftops and flying kites, the children and their stiffupper-lip father make a compromise on the correct way to act and learn to relate to each other. Children’s movies are not shallow. They help us hold on to that spirit of imagination and creativity. R-rated movies can be great, but they are not the only ones

at the theatre. You are never too old or mature for a kid movie. Keep an open mind, and remember you can find depth if you’re looking for it – even in a movie with talking animals, dancing chimney sweeps or Oompa Loompas.

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COLUMN

Young-timer tells old tales Bread with Tomato Colter Hettich

COLUMN

Religious freedom expands Christianity Self Examination Ryan Self The cities of Europe are littered with cathedrals. They are impressive, imposing, centuries old and most d a y s , close to empty. These stonecarved buildings, with their Self ornately carved gargoyles and striking stone towers and buttresses, are a monument to Europe’s deeply religious history. It is a history filled with inquisitions, reformations, revolutions and centuries of religious leaders closely aligned with those in power. While it would seem religion’s prominent role in government helps religion to thrive, history tells a different story. There are religious references everywhere in Europe. Besides the many cathedrals that line the streets, there are countless references to religion in daily life. The streets

themselves are reminders of Europe’s religious roots. There are hundreds, if not thousands of roads in Western Europe that begin with Saint or have some religious affiliation. Despite all this exposure to religious symbols and street names, religious affiliation in Europe is starkly low compared to religious affiliation in America. According to a study by Vexen Crabtree, only 6 percent of Britons attend church on a weekly basis. Only 12 percent of the population in France – a country the history of which involves more than a few grievances against the power-hungry Church – attends church more than once per month, according to the U.S. Department of State. Even in Italy, the home of the Vatican and numerous religious monuments, weekly attendance at religious services hovers around 15 percent, according to the Telegraph. America’s founding fathers, in response to the abuses of power by the monarchies and religious leaders in Europe, sought

Freedom of religion, not the injection of religion into every level of government and daily life, has allowed Christianity to flourish here in the states. to place a clear division between church and state. Freedom of religion, not the injection of religion into every level of government and daily life, has allowed Christianity to flourish here in the states. The problem in America is not that those who identify themselves as nonbelievers have never been exposed to Christianity. It is, perhaps, the fact some have been overexposed to a cheap, commercialized version that is not appealing. The solution to this problem is not more prayer in schools or more nativity scenes in front of city hall. The presence of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse is a comforting idea, but the removal of these commandments from the premises does not mean all morality leaves with them. The moral and ethical principles of the people

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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

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we elect are the concern, not the religious symbols and monuments that surround them. Christianity, if we believe it to be true, should be able to flourish without government intervention. Government protection, yes, but the freedom rather than the endorsement of religion that has allowed American religiosity to become what it is. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, ‘tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.”

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Stories beginning with, “In my day … ” or “When I was just a little twerp … ” are always good for a chuckle; but often, I give them the poorer half of my divided attention. Hettich When I turned on the TV Sunday afternoon, I choked at the sight of Brett Favre throwing against the Green Bay Packers. In my day, my younger brother threw on his new No. 4 Packers’ jersey Christmas morning and didn’t take it off for weeks. As I stood in front of that 46-inch, HD-beaming flat-screen, I realized I had a few in-myday stories for today’s little twerps. In my day, Brett Favre was every Cheesehead’s idol. Today, Lambeau Field’s faithful boo the quarterback they once adored, snow or shine. In my day, Arnold Schwarzenegger roamed a post-apocalyptic world as mankind’s only hope, a renegade robot-ransacker. Today, Arnold roams the American desert looking for California’s economy. When you see the Governator standing calmly at a podium, just know he harnesses the power to splinter it with his bare hands. In my day, talking to anyone outside a moving vehicle required a bag phone: a corded phone, securely attached to a nylon bag, powered by the ciga-

rette lighter. Today, a bag phone is almost as handy as a torch. In my day, memory cards didn’t exist. We didn’t save our progress. “Game over” actually meant your game was over. And if your game froze, there was no scratch on the disc – there was no disc. You merely needed to blow inside the cartridge through your shirt and slap it back into the console. In my day, connecting to the Internet summoned an electronic orchestra. I can only compare the 10-15 second symphony to the sound of a lawnmower running over a tennis racket, complimented by 20 forks grinding on a slick dinner plate. In my day, random statements of fact could not instantly be verified by 3G iPhones. We argued. Indefinitely. If our bag phone had service, we’d call our friend. Connecting to the Internet took too long and gave you a headache. Today, thanks to 3G and IMDB, you don’t have to remember that actress’s name or that movie she was in. You will have your own “in my day” stories before you know it; so, let the old-timers share theirs. You’ll learn a thing or two and just might make an unlikely friend in the process.

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From Sports

November 4, 2009

Page 7

FOOTBALL

Win: ACU keeps playoff hopes alive Continued from page 8 ryl Richardson barreling through the line from 1 yard out. On their next possession, ACU was forced to punt. The punt was blocked and returned 22 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The Wildcats answered with a 70-yard drive, resulting in a field goal. Kingsville quickly answered on the opening drive of the second quarter, going 90 yards on six plays for a touchdown to take their only lead of the game, 14-10. After a Reggie Brown touchdown, Craig Harris intercepted Kingsville quarterback Billy Garza. Five plays later, Richardson got his second touchdown of the game to give the Wildcats a 24-14 lead. That was the last score of the half, and the Wildcats took a 10-point lead into the locker room. Kingsville started the second half with the ball, but ACU forced them to punt. On the fourth play of the next drive, ACU threw a short pass to Edmund Gates, who eluded a defender and raced down the field

JOZIE SANDS Chief Photographer

Wildcat safety Tony Harp is escorted by his family before the Texas A&M-Kingsville game. Harp was one of twenty seniors honored on Senior Day.

for a 72-yard touchdown. This was the longest ACU pass play of the season. Later in the quarter, Mark Sprague hit a booming punt that pinned the Javelinas on their 6-yard line. The Wildcats dialed up a blitz, and Fred

Thompson sacked Garza in the end zone for a safety, making the score 33-14. “I thought he threw it,” Thompson said. “Coach called a good play. It opened up, and my eyes got real big. I just threw my hands up and jumped

on him.” Justin Andrews added a score on the next drive, catching a 5-yard pass from Gale. Brown put the game away late in the third quarter with his second touchdown of the day. The Wildcats went into the fourth quarter with a com-

OPINION

manding 47-14 lead. Kingsville mounted a comeback in the fourth, scoring 21 points, but they still fell to the Wildcats by a 47-35 score. The Wildcats will face one final road test against Midwestern State in Wichita

Falls. The Mustangs are ranked sixth in the region and the Wildcats fourth.

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SOCCER

LSC: ACU No. 4 seed in tournament Streak: Wildcat win could propel ’Cats to playoffs Continued from page 8

Because of Friday’s loss against Midwestern in the last regular-season game, the Wildcats didn’t get the first round bye they were looking for in the tournament. ACU is now the fourth seed; Central Oklahoma still leads the conference, followed by West Texas A&M and Midwestern. The Wildcats have a good chance at going far in the tournament, with only six losses in the entire season. Shots on goal, however, are a key factor for a win – the Wildcats’ only losses came when their opponents’ shots on goal outnumbered their own. If the ladies keep playing how they have been, though, it might be wise to put your money on them.

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TEAM RECORD

OVERALL 10-6-2

CONFERENCE 5-3-2

HOME 8-1-1

AWAY 2-4-1

NEUTRAL 0-1-0

Offensive MVP

Courtney Wilson led the Wildcats with five goals during the regular season. Wilson is also the alltime leading goal scorer for the Wildcats with 17. Honorable Mention: Lyndsey Womack Courtney Wilson

Defensive MVP Crissy Lawson put together another successful campaign for the Wildcats. Lawson allowed only 13 goals all season and recorded six shutouts. Honorable Mention: Alyson Thomas Crissy Lawson

Clutch Player Freshman Julie Coppedge only scored four goals for the Wildcats but made all of them count – each goal was a game winner.

Julie Coppedge

Continued from page 8

son this week with two games at home. Their 16-home game winning her season high in as- streak – and their playsists with 52, only seven off chances – will be on the line when they face shy of her career high. A&M-Kingsville Shawna Hines, Mi- Texas chelle Bacon and Lauren on Thursday and TarleLeone had double digits ton State on Saturday. in kills with 12, 11 and 10, respectively. Hines, who leads the nation in blocks, added six more to contact Gwin at her commanding total. agg07a@acu.edu The win came after a blowout by the ACU women Thursday. The ’Cats made quick work of the East Central Tigers in a match that lasted only 65 minutes. The Wildcats committed just eight errors in the entire match en route to a 3-0 victory. The Wildcats will finish up the regular sea-


Sports

Page 8

Standings

November 4, 2009

FOOTBALL Ovrl. Div. Team Tarleton St. ACU MSU TAMU-K Angelo State WTAMU SE Okla. TAMU-C Central Okla. NE State ENMU SW Okla. East Central

7-1 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-3 5-3 4-4 4-4 3-5 2-6 2-6 2-7 0-8

9-1 8-2 8-2 8-2 6-4 5-5 6-4 4-5 3-7 2-8 2-7 2-8 0-10

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

ACU students celebrate a defensive stand by the Wildcats that resulted in a safety against the Javelinas.

FOOTBALL

Wildcats win pivotal game

VOLLEYBALL Ovrl. Div. Team 12-0 WTAMU 10-1 ACU Angelo State 8-3 TAMU-C 7-4 6-5 TAMU-K 6-5 MSU 5-6 SE Okla. Central Okla. 5-6 East Central 5-6 Cameron 4-7 TX Woman’s 4-7 Tarleton State 4-7 2-9 SW Okla. ENMU 0-12

29-3 25-5 16-13 23-8 17-10 10-22 21-13 14-15 14-19 16-11 14-16 10-19 5-27 5-22

WOMEN’S SOCCER Div. Ovrl. Team WTAMU Central Okla. TX Woman’s MSU ACU TAMU-C SW Okla. Angelo State ENMU East Central NE State

7-2-1 7-3 6-3-1 6-4 5-3-2 5-5 4-5-1 4-6 4-6 3-7 1-8-1

Ryan Cantrell Assistant Sports Editor

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Quarterback Mitchell Gale steps up to throw in Saturday’s game against Texas A&MKIngsville. Gale completed 24 of 34 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

13-2-2 13-6-1 8-8-1 12-4-2 10-6-2 10-8 7-10-2 10-9 9-10 6-8-2 5-11-1

Scores THURSDAY Volleyball ACU 3, East Central 0

FRIDAY Soccer

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Linebacker Arthur Johnson runs for a Wildcat first down after recovering a blocked punt by the Javelinas.

ACU 0, Midwestern State 3

Women’s Basketball ACU 81, Lubbock Christian 61 (Exhibition)

SATURDAY Football ACU 47, Texas A&M-Kingsville 35

Volleyball ACU 3, SE Oklahoma 1

Upcoming THURSDAY Soccer ACU at Midwestern State, 2:30 p.m.

Volleyball ACU vs. TAMU-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY Soccer LSC Semifinals

SATURDAY Football ACU at Midwestern State, 1 p.m.

Cross-Country NCAA Division II South Central Regional, 10 a.m.

Volleyball ACU vs. Tarleton State, 2 p.m. . HOME GAMES LISTED IN ITALICS

Briefs n QB Mitchell Gale was named LSC South Offensive Player of the Week and LB Fred Thompson took home LoneStar Conference South Defensive Player of the Week.

OPINION

The Wildcats rebounded from two consecutive losses to defeat Texas A&M-Kingsville 47-35 Saturday. The win kept the Wildcats’ playoffs hopes alive going into the final week of the season. “It started out with the offensive line,” said Head Coach Chris Thomsen. “They didn’t play well last week, so they wanted to come out and prove that they were a better group than that. We want this to be a start of a long season.” Mitchell Gale came out strong and led the Wildcat offense, which struggled last week, to 47 points, its highest total since hanging 58 on Fort Lewis in the second game of the season. “The difference was our preparation,” Gale said. “We came back hungry Sunday after we

GAME BREAKERS The Optimist picks players of the game and the play of the game. n Offensive Player of the Game: QB Mitchell Gale, 24 of 34 for 289 yards, 2 TD's n Defensive Player of the Game: LB Fred Thompson, 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles n Play of the Game: On ACU’s first drive of the third quarter, Gale connected with Edmund Gates on a 10-yard out. Gates was able to shrug off the corner trying to make the tackle and was then able to speed past the remaining defenders for a 72-yard touchdown. The touchdown was ACU’s longest pass play of the season.

watched film. We knew what we did wasn’t us and just had to get that fixed. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we came out focused and determined to right the ship.” ACU started the game with an 11-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, ending with Darsee WIN page 7

Breaking it down

Defensive pressure leads to safety for ’Cats

Tanner Knauth

the left guard and left tackle. Before the snap, linebacker Casey Sports Editor Carr walked over the left guard, Texas A&M-Kingsville had the showing blitz. Linebackers Fred ball at its own 7-yard line. Thompson and Kevin WashingKingsville was in a shotgun ton were lined up over the left formation with three wide re- tackle, also showing blitz. ceivers to the left and one to What Happened the right. Running back Fred Winborne was in the backfield with quarterback Billy At the snap, Marvin Jones Garza. This was a formation rushed the QB, causing both the Javelinas ran several the right guard and the center to try and block him. Bryson times Saturday. ACU countered by having Lewis bull-rushed the guard defensive end Aston Whiteside and began pushing him into line up over the Kingsville right the backfield. Kevin Washingtackle. Defensive tackle Marvin ton engaged the left tackle beJones lined up over the center, fore dropping into short zone and Bryson Lewis was between coverage along with Casey

Carr. Thompson looped inside of Lewis – RB Fred Winborne tries to come over to block Thompson but was unable to get to him because Lewis had driven his man into the backfield. Because Jones and Lewis did a good job of occupying the interior lineman, Thompson was able to go untouched to the quarterback. To make matters worse for the Javelinas, Aston Whiteside was able to beat the RT with a phenomenal speed rush to help bring down Garza for the safety.

a spread formation, the Wildcats countered by overloading – rushing more defenders than the Javelinas had to block – the right side of the defensive line and showing blitz. This caused Garza to get rid of the ball quickly on his “hot” read. However, because Washington and Carr dropped into coverage where Garza wanted to throw, the QB had to hold onto the ball, giving the defenders plenty of time to get to him for the safety.

The Concept When the Javelinas came out in

VOLLEYBALL

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OPINION

Lucky No. 13, Wildcats Season ends, LSC extend winning streak tournament begins pushed the Wildcats’ Austin Gwin record to 25-5, includAssistant Sports Editor ing 10-1 in conference The Wildcat volleyball play, and will probably team came from behind vault them into the top to beat Southeastern six in the region. Only Oklahoma State 3-1 in the top six will make ACU’s biggest win of the the playoffs, so ACU needs to move up if it season Saturday night. ACU was ranked sev- wants its season to conenth in the region en- tinue past this week. ACU fell behind early tering the match, and Southeastern sat in in the match, losing the tenth place. The victory first set 25-22, but excel-

lent hitting percentages in the second and third sets gave the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage. In the fourth and final set, the ’Cats wrapped up the victory, thanks to eight kills by Jennie Hutt. Hutt totaled 18 kills for the match, matching her season high. Setter Ijeoma Moronu also met see STREAK page 7

Sam Bartee Sports Reporter

It’s the end of the regular season for women’s soccer, and the Wildcats finished on top. Head Coach Casey Wilson praised the talent on this year’s team – a talent that has showed. The chemistry on the front line never ceased to impress opponents and fans, tallying 22 goals

this season. Junior Courtney Wilson was the leader in goals this season with five, while senior Jordan Reese led the stats sheet with four assists. The Wildcats ended their season 10-6-2 and 5-3-2 in the Lone Star Conference. Now, it all boils down to how they play in the tournament against Midwestern State on Thursday. see LSC page 7


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