Three-in-a-row Women’s basketball team wins third straight vol. 101, no. 28
friday, december 7, 2012
Sports Page 6
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
food services INSIDE OPINION How to prepare for those preparing for the end of the world
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ARTS
Coffee shop to close its doors gabi powell student reporter Hold on to your mugs. Students will have one fewer on-campus source for coffee and scones as early as the beginning of next semester. Anthony Williams, chief business services officer, said official plans have not been announced, but in fact, The Den coffee shop
will close soon. “Traffic counts have dropped significantly over the last few years,” he said. “It has lost a lot of student demand.” As far as what will become of The Den’s space, Williams said he did not know. “I imagine since it’s part of a hall, ResLife will repurpose it.” Williams said The Den’s future was uncertain in Oc-
tober because the university is constantly evaluating and discussing the dining program. Within the past month, new discussions have led to the final decision to close the doors of this campus coffee shop. “When we recognize a location losing student demand, we want to find how to better serve our students and reinvest those resources,” Williams said. The Starbucks located in
the Commons of the library, not lacking in student traffic, has plans of its own. In merrier news, Williams said designs are being redrawn to update this always-popular student site. “Since the Starbucks opened in the Commons, we have not updated it and we are wanting to revamp it,” he said. Catering to the study masses, Williams said renovations to this location
Country star Aaron Watson entertains at ‘Mingle and Jingle’
contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
administration
Search committee submits one finalist
Page 3
SPORTS Men’s basketball team loses on last second layup again
staff report Another interim dean may be appointed to the permanent position soon. The search committee for the dean of the College of Education and Human Resources has recommended Dr. Donnie Snider as the only finalist for the permanent position. Snider has filled it in an interim capacity since this summer. Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the search committee, said the committee saw Snider as a clear favorite for the position based on the job description criteria. “We thought he was well qualified with having 10 years of experience in higher education and 30 years in secondary school experience,” Shankle said. “He was a good match for the criteria in the job description and a good fit for the university.” Shankle said the committee evaluated candidates by rankings that didn’t incorporate a set number of required finalists. “Anytime a search committee reviews applicants, they usually decide where a break in the ranking is and then bring those candidates in,” she said. “There was a clear break in the ranking, which led us to invite one candidate.” Ultimately, Dr. Robert Rhodes, provost, will make the final decision whether
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SPORTS Alum describes experience of voting for the Heisman Trophy Page 6
NEWS Athletics changes ticketing for events with ID sticker Page 3
NEWS Freshmen enjoy #RidculouslyChristmas Page 3
ONLINE NEWS SA wraps up semester with devotion to recycling acuoptimist.com
could happen as early as next spring or summertime, but fixed details will be in place within the next few weeks. Students still have time to go in for a last latte and pay their respects to the sixyear coffee and study spot staple.
mandy lambright chief photographer Team Big Air, a national dunk team, performs during halftime of the men’s basketball game Tuesday night during Christmas Slam.
see search page 5
University
NEWS Students run in Zombie 5K in Buffalo Gap over the weekend acuoptimist.com
NEWS Student Life Leadership Team honors outstanding seniors acuoptimist.com
NEWS 3-on-3 basketball tourney in Rec Center to benefit non-profit acuoptimist.com
VIDEO
Numbers rise after realignment dip 13 faculty members offset departure of 15 after cuts news to the university in his year-and-a-half as presieditor in chief dent. Hundreds of faculty and staff members listened Dr. Phil Schubert, president intently to his outline of a of the university, stood be- new budget plan that would fore a packed Hart Auditori- cut nearly $10 million from um last October, preparing the university’s budget, into give some of the worst cluding the elimination of
mark smith
acuoptimist.com
left the university in May, and nine more retired. But 13 new faculty members were hired before this semester. Dr. Robert Rhodes, provost, said some of the changes were planned, and some of the positions became open and needed to be filled. “Partly it is hiring individuals in critical areas,
and partly it is hiring in an area that wasn’t part of the budgetary adjustment and that was always a planned hire,” Rhodes said. “If there are areas where a position is opening up that we know we have other resources, we may leave that as a closed position. But if we know a position is opening that is a see faculty page 5
student life
Class project spurs Chapel petition McKinney, started “ACU Voluntary Chapel Elecstaff photographer tronic Petition,” a Facebook group, on Nov. 28. As of One student’s assignment Wednesday, the group has has turned into a petition 108 members. to change one of ACU’s lonThe Facebook group was gest lasting policies. created as a “next step” after Kelcei Young, sopho- meeting with “board memmore nursing major from bers” made up of fellow
brittany williams
Christmas Slam extends its hands to the community
10 faculty and 25 staff positions. “We don’t ever want to be in a situation where we have to eliminate someone’s job,” Schubert said in the meeting. “But it’s impossible to avoid eliminating positions in a budget realignment plan on a $10 million scale.” Only seven of those 10 faculty members actually
classmates. “It would be great if it became a reality,” Young said, “but I was doing it for an assignment.” Presented with an assignment to address a community issue, Young selected the Chapel attendance policy, pushing for various
changes in Chapel, including making attendance voluntary. Young has also approached Mark Lewis, assistant dean of Spiritual Life and Chapel Programs, about her proposed changes to the Chapel curriculum.
Lewis said that in the 14 years that he has been involved with Chapel, the idea of a voluntary Chapel has come up two or three times. According to the current Chapel policy, “The see petition page 5
This is the final edition of the Optimist of the fall semester. We wish each of you a peaceful and safe winter break, and we’ll be back with the first week of the spring semester. Merry Christmas!
Abilene Christian University
friday 12.07.12
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friday
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saturday 4 p.m. Student Association of School Psychologists - Demolish Domestic Violence Car Bash
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sunday
monday
All Day - Dead Day
All Day - Studying for finals
10 a.m. Big Brothers Big Sisters Basketball Tournament
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10:30 p.m. Midnight Breakfast
5 p.m. Women’s Basketball at Tarleton State University
6 p.m. Freshmen Action Council Christmas Social
7 p.m. Men’s Basketball at Tarleton State University 7:30 p.m. Christmas Vespers Concert at First Baptist Church
Announcements
Chapel checkup
DONE @acuoptimist The Optimist
Students interested in joining The Wildcat Reign can sign up at thewildcatreign. com. The Wildcat Reign aims to provide students the ability to facilitate Wildcat pride on campus and serves as a linking point between students and Wildcat athletic events. Registration for the Dallas Marathon is open at http:// www.dallasmarathon.com/ register-to-run/. The marathon will be Dec. 9 in downtown Dallas.
Connections Cafe is now open in the Business building. La Popular breakfast burritos and Mission Lazarus coffee are among many of the new items on their menu. ACU Leadership Camps is accepting 2013 camp staff applications starting Dec. 10 in Room 10 in the lower level of the Campus Center. Positions include counselor, first aid staff, office assistant, worship leader, videographer and photographer.
Reserve your Spring 2013 textbooks on the Campus Store website. There are no extra charges and your order is guaranteed to be accurate. Order before Dec. 31 and you will be able to pick them up the week before classes begin. The Career Center is accepting registrations for the Spring 2013 D!SCOVERY program. The deadline to sign up is Jan. 23, by 5 p.m. Contact the Career Center for more information.
Midnight Breakfast will be on Dead Day, Dec. 10 starting at 10:30 p.m. The grand prize drawing of $150 happens at midnight. Use your Meal Plan or pay $5 for entry. Big Brothers Big Sisters is having a three on three basketball tournament Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. in the Rec Center. Entry is $35 per team with all procees going to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Cash prizes will be given to the first and second place teams.
optimist@acu.edu Police Log Weekly Stats For Week of Nov. 6-Nov. 13, 2012 - Total Events: 243
Police log 11/27/2012 6:55 p.m. An ACU student reported a burglary that occurred at her off-campus Mesquite Square Apt while she was in the apartment. 11/29/2012 12 a.m. A WFF cleaning crew member reported an attempted robbery: an unknown suspect accosted the worker outside the Don Moris Center and demanded keys to the building. The worker did not surrender the keys, rather maintained possession of them while flee-
DISTURBANCE 1 ing across the mall area. 911 CALL 1 ELEVATOR RESCUE 1 The suspect fled in an un- ABANDONED VEHICLE 1 ACCIDENT 1 ESCORT 1 known direction. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY 11 FOOT PATROL 8 FOUND PROPERTY 2 12/01/2012 12:52 a.m. ALARM 4 INFORMATION REPORT 3 ACUPD & APD responded ASSIST 2 INVESTIGATION FOLLOW UP 4 to numerous complaints BARRICADES 1 LOST PROPERTY 2 about a loud noise party, BICYCLE PATROL 3 MEDICAL EMERGENCY 4 improper parking, and dis- BUILDING LOCK/UNLOCK 6 MONITOR FACILITY/LOT 1 orderly conduct at a house BURGLARY (RESIDENCE) 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: INFLATE TIRE 1 in the 2000 block of Mor- CART PATROL 2 MOTORIST ASSIST: JUMPSTART 4 row. The party was termi- CHECK BUILDING 104 MOTORIST ASSIST: OTHER 1 nated and the tenant was CITATION ISSUANCE 1 MOTORIST ASSIST: UNLOCK 8 issued a municipal citation CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1 NOISE VIOLATION: 1 for violation of the noise DIRECT TRAFFIC 1 ordinance. Police Tip of the Week: Enjoy the Christmas Break and travel safely.
OTHER 7 PARKING LOT PATROL 13 PARKING VIOLATION 9 PATROL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 5 PATROL VEHICLE: REFUEL 6 PROWLER 1 RANDOM PATROL 14 RECKLESS DRIVING 1 REPORT WRITING 10 ROBBERY 1 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 3 THEFT 2 TRAFFIC STOP 1 TRAINING 2
Correction
Volunteer Opp0rtunities The Center for International Education is looking for conversation partners for international students to practice English, conversations and cultural learning. Partners meet for one hour at a time each week at a location of their choosing. For more information contact Laura McGregor at 325-674-2821 or laura.mcgregor@acu.edu. St. John’s Episcopal School is seeking volunteers to paint metal playground equipment anytime Monday-Friday after 3 p.m. and Saturday anytime. For more information contact Rebecca McMillon at 325-695-8870 or flores@ stjohnsabilene.org. Center for Contemporary Arts needs a gallery assistant to greet patrons, answer phones and answer basic questions about the Center and its programs. This opportunity is open Tuesday-Friday. The Center for Contemporary Arts is located at 220 Cypress Street. For more information contact Jessica Dulle at 325-677-8389 or visit: http://www. center-arts.com/. The National Center For Children’s Illustrated Literature is looking for volunteers to greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Help is also needed for special events like Artwalk and exhibit openings. The NCCIL is located at 102 Cedar St. For more information on times and dates contact Debby Lillick at 325-673-4586 or visit: http://www.nccil.org/index.htm. The Christian Ministries of Abilene: Food Pantry is searching for volunteers to greet and interview neighbors, do computer entries, shop with neighbors, take groceries to vehicles, bag, stock and pick up orders on Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. The Food Pantry is located at 701 Walnut St. For more information contact Becky Almanza at 325-673-1234 or cmapantry@aol.com. The Christian Service Center is seeking volunteers to help assist with filling requests for items such as clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, etc. from the donation center, sort and organize donations and occasionally pick-up donated items. Volunteers are needed every weekday and the first Saturday of each month between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. For more information contact Roberta Brown at 325-673-7561 or robertabrown51@hotmail.com. For more information on the program visit http://www. uccabilene.org/ministries/csc.htm. The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to help sort and stock food and other items any weekday Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Food Bank is located at 5505 N. 1st St. For more information contact Janice Serrault at 325-695-6311 or abfoodbk@camalott.com.
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 The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs including sorting and pricing items in the thrift store, helping in the kitchen and/or doing yard work. Times are flexible. Volunteers are needed throughout the week Monday-Saturday. The Salvation Army is located at 1726 Butternut St. For more information contact J.D. Alonzo at 325-677-1408 or visit www.satruck.com. The House That Kerry Built is looking for volunteers to assist in the day care of medically fragile children any day Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Contact Keith Loftin at 325-672-6061. The International Rescue Committee is seeking volunteers to work with refugees who recently moved to the U.S., teaching English, helping with homework and mentoring. Contact Susanna Lubango to make an appointment at 325-675-5643. The Covenant Place of Abilene is seeking volunteers to lead singing and/or play piano for residents. For more information contact Ann Erwin at 325-793-1144. University Place is seeking volunteers to help with the resident birthday party for residents the third Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. For more information contact Linda Tijerina at 325-676-9946. The Abilene Zoo is looking for volunteers to help with general labor such as grounds cleanup and painting any weekday at any time between noon and 4 p.m. The Zoo is also seeking volunteers to help clean/feed animals, assist zookeepers and assist with educational classes any weekday any time between 12 p.m.-4 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Ln. Contact Joy Harsh at 325-676-6487 for more information. 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 information contact Shaylee Honey at 325-677-2205 or Shoney@ChristianHomes.com.
Hill Resources is seeking volunteers to encourage and entertain mentally delayed individuals Monday through Friday any time between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information contact Michelle Espinoza at 325-673-3346 or mespinoza@hillresource.com. The Oaks at Radford Hills is seeking volunteers to participate in activities, go on outings and provide social stimulation for residents any day at any time. For more information contact Michelle White or Sonia Serrato at 325-672-3236. Rescue the Animals is seeking volunteers to work at the adoption center doing a variety of tasks including cleaning, socializing and grooming the animals Monday - Saturday from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. For more information contact Mindi Qualls at 325-698-7722. Rescue the Animals is also seeking volunteers to take pictures and videos in preparation for the launching of their new website as well as maintenance of the site after the launch. This opportunity is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. For more information contact Kathy Walker at 325-677-7722 or rescuetheanimalsvolunteers@yahoo. com. St. John’s Episcopal School is seeking volunteers to paint metal playground equipment anytime MondayFriday after 3 p.m. and Saturday anytime. For more information contact Rebecca McMillon at 325-6958870 or flores@stjohnsabilene.org. The CAC Department is seeking volunteers to participate in Special Olympics, by helping mentally/physically challenged people play games and sports Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For more infomation contact Angel Seca at 325-690-5235. Breakfast on Beech Street is seeking volunteers to help set up, prepare and serve breakfast to homeless/lower income folks any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 5:30 a.m. or Tuesday at 5 a.m. B.O.B.S is located at First Christian Church on 3rd St. and Beech St. Service times must be scheduled in advance. To serve on Mondays contact Jody Depriest at 325-669-3312 or jody.depriest@ gmail.com. To serve on Tuesdays contact Allen Daugherty at 325-660-6949 or ale.al@suddenlink.net. To serve on Wednesdays contact Jane Harvey at 325-695-0092 or jharvread@aol.com. To serve on Thursdays contact Margaret Beasley at 325-692-4149 or mbeasley5@suddenlink.net. To serve on Fridays contact Rachel Brown at rdb08a@acu.edu. For additional volunteer opportunities visit: www.acu. edu/campusoffices/ccsl/ministry-service/volunteeropportunities/
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campus news
friday 12.07.12
Arts
mandy lambright chief Photographer
ACU alumni and country music star, Aaron Watson, performs at Mingle & Jingle on Sunday.
Mingle & Jingle rings in Christmas season and the Abilene community,” Long said. COPY EDITOR The event began at 7 p.m. with a visit from Santa at Jacob’s ACU hosted its first Mingle & Dream. Families from the comJingle Sunday, an event designed munity and even some ACU stuto celebrate the Christmas sea- dents were able to take pictures son and bring the Abilene com- and tell Santa what they wanted munity together. for Christmas. Tamara Long, director of adAfter visiting Santa attendees missions, said Mingle & Jingle could walk over to the lawn in was a collaboration across the front of the Bible building and entire campus. watch Dr. Seuss’s How The Grin“Student life and staff came ch Stole Christmas, which was together wanting to do some- projected onto a large inflatable thing that drew together ACU screen. Hot chocolate was also
ALIKAY WOOD
available. The event benefited Love & Care Ministries and those in attendance were able to donate unwrapped toys to the ministry. A large crowd gathered to watch the movie and then moved toward the stage when President Schubert spoke a few words of welcome and introduced Aaron Watson. Aaron Watson, an ACU alumni and country music artist, played a variety of music for the concert. Along with his own hits like “Barbwire Halo,” he played
athletics
Ticketing to sporting events changes tyler salter staff reporter A simple sticker on the back of your Abilene Christian ID card is the new “ticket” to get into all your favorite sports events here at ACU. It will work as an all-sports pass to grant you season access to all the games, and it is intended to be more efficient and user-friendly for the ACU student and faculty community. This new change has already been put into effect as of the Christmas Slam in Moody on Tuesday and will stay in effect for at least the rest of the school year. “It’s a new solution, and we will keep it for the rest of the year,” said John Houser, assistant athletic director of
operations. Houser, along with ID Services and several others, came together to put together this new idea. “The old way of getting tickets just wasn’t catching on,” Houser said. “There were too many complaints from the students, so we had to find this new solution.” Houser said they are still looking to improve the ticketing efficiency. “Ultimately, we are working toward getting a bar code on the back of the student’s IDs so they can just scan and go,” he said. As for the students, many of the think that this new sticker idea is much more convenient and beneficial to the community. “I think this new sticker
idea is much better,” said Alex Davis, freshman information systems major from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. “Why would I want to go through any hassle at all to get into some home games when I can just use my ID that I always have with me.” Josh Gentry, freshman Biblical text major from Spring, feels the same way. “I think this idea is much better,” Gentry said. “I was wasting time and money printing off tickets to get into games. I’d rather just swipe or show my card to get into any home games, rather than go through any process.”
contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
student life
Mabee turns ‘Ridiculously Christmas’ Audrey schaffner copy editor Freshman men and women gathered Nov. 29 during visitation for a Christmas party in the Third North hallway of Mabee Hall. “The party was called ‘Ridiculously Christmas’ and was put on by some students,” said Trenton Carothers, RA in Mabee and senior mathematics and finance major from Early. Matt Ruiz, freshman speech pathology major from Brownwood said the party was “a blast” and that about 135 students, both men and women, gathered in the hallway to dance, eat cookies and socialize. Two freshmen, Heath Beasley, freshman finance major from McKinney, and Hayden Free, freshman marketing major from Midland, who both live in Third North organized the party,
Ruiz said. Other students who were involved in the planning were Coleman Stapp, freshman finance major from Decatur, and Cord Dunham, Freshman psychology major from Keenesburg, Colo. “I thought it was going to be small, and it turned out to be huge,” Ruiz said. The party was highly publicized over Twitter, and Ruiz said that the hashtag #Ridicu louslyChrist mas was trending because so many people were talking about the party that began around 9:30 p.m. “Really, it was wild, for a non-alcoholic, nondrug college party, it was crazy,” Ruiz said. “All we did was walk through the hallways, everybody was dancing, drinking KoolAid and eating cookies.” But, dancing and cookies were only part of the celebration. Ruiz said he ran into a group of men who were headed to Walmart and Sam’s Club to buy supplies for the party and he
“
All we did was walk through the hallways, everybody was dancing, drinking Kool-Aid and eating cookies.” Matt ruiz freshman speech pathology major from brownwood
decided to join. The men pooled their money together and Ruiz estimated that about $400 was spent to fund the decorations, food, and drinks for the party—$84 spent on Kool-Aid Jammers alone. The hallways were decorated with Christmas lights and there was a formal lighting of the Christmas tree in one of the student’s rooms. “My favorite part was the Christmas tree because everyone brought their own unique ornament to decorate the tree,” Ruiz said. contact schaffner at als09d@acu.edu
several fan requests and invited children onstage to sing Christmas carols with him. Although fans were hesitant at first, after an invitation from Watson, they surrounded the stage, and some couples even broke into spontaneous twostepping. For the finale Watson sang a Christmas carol with ACU students. Watson said he was, “honored to be a part of the event.” A large crowd assembled for the concert; and the event was
extra special for the prospective students who had arrived for a Wildcat Preview Day and were able to experience a unique ACU event. The event marked the official lighting of the Christmas lights around campus and kicked off the Christmas season. Mingle & Jingle was a fun event and will hopefully become a ACU tradition. contact wood at akw10a@acu.edu
Opinion
FRIDAY 12.07.12
4
EDITORIAL
The faux-pocalypse: a preparation guide THE issue
EVAN’s marks
evan marks
With Dec. 21, 2012 quickly approaching, people are going to begin to freak out whether it is merited or not. (It’s not.) When this happens, you better be ready to take advantage of the faux-pocolypse.
our take The first step is to accept that the world will still be in tact on Dec. 22. Aside from that, just follow these steps for a more enjoyable pretend doomsday. As the Mayan calendar comes to an end and a sense of panic fills the air, many people are looking for tips for how to survive the end of the world. We would like to provide you, not with advice for the Armageddon, but with ways to survive the people who actually believe the end of the world is near. One in 10 people in the world believe the world is ending on Dec. 21. About 700 million people are going to act like Dec. 20 will be their last day of normal life. So we’ve come up with a few ways to navigate these people in a safe and possibly even fun manner. Make the most of these believers’ last day on earth. 1. Plan ahead. You might want to check out those Armageddon movies ahead of time to prevent being disappointed by their disappearance off the shelves in Hastings. Look for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Day After Tomorrow, The Road, Wall-E and, of course, 2012. These movies will help you set the right
kind of mood. 2. Be smart People preparing for the apocalypse usually go to one place: Wal-mart. They’ve got to stock up on those essentials. So avoid Wal-mart and other similar places on Dec. 20. Or if your cable is out, bring a lawn chair and enjoy watching the madness unfold. Even if you’ve never played the stock market, now is the prime time to start. Investing in weapon or ammunition companies will pay off once the world doesn’t end. With all of the believers buying survival equipment, these companies will profit, and so can you. 3. Take advantage of opportunities Don’t be afraid to use the end of the world as an excuse. Taking off work, not paying bills and doing exciting things all make sense if you believe the world is ending. Your boss will excuse your paranoia. And why not use this as an opportunity to go on that dangerous adventure your loved ones have denied. Go sky diving. Bungee-jump
off a cliff. Take a swim with some sharks. The world is your playground. But please, keep it reasonable. Remember the world is not actually ending. 4. Love is all you need The end of the world has given us a gift: the best pick-up line ever. Does
that pretty girl in your geology class slightly believe the end is coming? Then this is the prime time to ask her on a date. People are more willing to give love a chance when they believe their time is running out. They rearrange their priorities and realize love is all
they need. So be brave and go ahead and say, “I know the Mayans were wrong because I can definitely see our future together.” With these tips, hopefully you can stay safe and even benefit from the craze that will undoubtedly shake the world on the Ma-
COLUMN
yan’s doomsday. So from us at the Optimist, we are signing out– maybe for the last time. Good luck.
contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
LETTER
Lessons learned from this semester Coates: Inappropriate tweets DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE MELANY COX
After spending last semester studying abroad in Oxford, I thought I would have to adjust to a normal semester once I got back to ACU. Then I remembered there’s no such thing as “normal.” One of my favorite sayings is “Keep calm and carry on.” It’s the one that always appears on the red posters and has been recreated into a variety of phrases. Most of the knock-offs are pretty dumb, but some of my favorites include “Keep calm and call Batman,” “Keep calm and push 4 8 15 16 23
24” and, of course, “Keep calm and bazinga!” Many people are familiar with this phrase, but it’s been manipulated so many times, the origin has been lost. The phrase was used as propaganda by the British government during WWII to raise the moral of British citizens who feared Nazi invasion. I feel like this semester has been my own personal “blitz.” Along with making the adjustment to being back in the States, my workload this semester has been ridiculous. I’ve barely had
time to keep up with any of my friends and I hate the idea that I’m missing out on the full “college experience.” “Keep calm and carry on” has kind of been my personal theme this semester. I haven’t always been able to follow the “calm” part, but I think it’s safe to say I’ve carried on pretty well. I’ve learned that whenever times get tough, the only thing I can do is trust. The question is: who do I trust? Myself or God? In the past, I relied on God because I had no choice. There was no other way I could survive. This semester I tried to rely on myself and it was definitely an epic fail. I’m pleased to say that I’ve learned my lesson. Thanks, God. I know God won’t throw
anything at me that we can’t handle together. That thought gives me strength. We’ve only got a few more days of stress and torment until we are released for the holidays. The pressures of the past year have given me all the more reason to celebrate this Christmas. So here’s what I’ve learned from this semester: don’t let anything dampen your spirits. It’s not always easy to keep calm, but no matter what, carry on. And above all, trust God. Thanks for the lesson. Merry Christmas!
DAVID SINGER
Although I had often heard about the violence, competition and unadulterated athleticism, it wasn’t until Tuesday that I had watched my first ever waterball game. And to be honest, I’m sad I waited this long. Not only is it an ACU tradition, but it is easily the most exciting spectator sport that intramurals can provide. It has everything any fan looks for in an event: grunting, scoring, scantily clad athletes and a consistent threat of death. However, just like a freshman waterball team, there is great room for improvement. Here are some simple fixes that I think will elevate
the sport: First, there are the rules. We’ve seen a major rule change this year with the removal of off the ball contact. But the organizers are going about it all wrong. Instead of creating a more strict set of rules, I would like to see the league slowly move towards a more lawless game. At its core, waterball is a rough sport. Nothing I’ve seen in those choppy waters ever even approaches grace. And that’s what we love. So don’t hinder the players’ primitive pool instincts. Let these savage beasts out of their cage of regulation.
editorial and Letter Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing
personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published.
published by the department of journalism and mass communication editorial and management board
Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
newsroom (325) 674-2439
Dr. Neal Coates Chair of the Department of Political Science contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
hashtagACU Hyperbole is no doubt, THE MOST INEFFECTIVE LITERARY ELEMENT EVER.
contact COX at mkc09b@acu.edu
Waterball upgrades benefit fans WOAH! IS ME
should not simply be to communicate everything in the language of society but to use our influence and discretion to change it for the better. Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4 come to mind.
7:19 p.m. Sep. 26
COLUMN
The second major change takes a play out of Harry Potter’s book. Take the role of the Seeker, then put them in scuba gear and let them fight over a 30-pound dumbbell under water. The game at sea level will go on as usual, but spectators will be given the added pleasure of watching two students wrestle 15 feet below the surface. Although I don’t think it will ever happen, should one player manage to take control of the weight and maneuver it to their defensive wall it would result in an immediate victory. This opens the door for a new era of waterball, complete with more complex tactics. Many of these changes favor creating a more spectator friendly contest and the last is no example. Currently, us fans are
The Media have the power to decide what is news and of interest to their readers. I want to encourage your role at this Christian institution to continue using wisdom in this. Case in point is the hashtagACU section in the 12.05.12 Optimist which includes among the eight selections: OMG, private parts, prison rape, sexting and underoos. As a teacher I don’t allow base or crude words in class. Our goal
forced onto the second floor to peer down at the action. But as any person who has sat courtside at a sporting event knows, the closer you are to those sweaty, muscular brutes, the better. Opening up the pool deck to spectators creates a louder and more claustrophobic environment that will (hopefully) lead to more blood thirsty athletes. And take a hint from Sea World. Plexiglass walls aren’t just for peering into the shark exhibit. They would allow us to watch all the grabbing and punching and tearing that no doubt occurs inches below the top of the water. Oh, and we’d have a much better angle on the wrestling scuba divers.
contact SINGER at dis08b@acu.edu
12:39 p.m. Nov. 12
There’s no lady-like way to jump out of a car in a dress.
@davidisinger
@nataliegoin
9:01 a.m. Dec. 6
11:12 a.m. Dec. 1
We have single contractions. I re-invented double contractions last year. But triple contractions? Impossible, right? T’wouldn’t’ve. Bam.
@MarkSmith850
Someone in my apartments is making muffins. On a scale of one to junior high, how awkward would it be to just start knocking on doors?
@Twtrless_Mandy
7:56 p.m. Oct. 17
On Facebook, I’d like not so much a “Dislike” button as an “Eyeroll” button.
@oldpybus
1:41 p.m. Nov. 15
I will go slightly out of my way to step on a crunchy leaf. #autumn
@taylorlangston 11:21 p.m. Oct. 29
3:50 p.m. Nov. 21
I managed to spill a water bottle on myself and run over a squirrel at the same time #watchout
@Only1EdIsaacs
Problem: fire alarms won’t stop going off in the dorm. Solution: pump Skrillex so loud they blend right in. #dubstepredemption
@MarissaJo2
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news/sports
friday 12.07.12
men’s basketball
Golding brings in first D-I recruiting class matthew sloan sports reporter Christmas came early for men’s basketball coach Joe Golding, as he signed his first Division I recruiting class in December that will bring four new faces to Moody Coliseum. Two of the signings are incoming freshmen Michael Grant and Christian Albright. Grant is a 6’5” guard from McKinney and Albright is finishing up his senior year in Dallas. Grant will add substan-
tial size to an otherwise small group of guards, which will help provide length for a defensiveminded coaching staff. “Michael Grant can play either the one, two or the three for us,” Golding said. “He is a long and rangy athlete, and he can attack the rim. He has a huge upside and will continue to get better. He is a really good basketball player, and an even better kid, and that is what we are looking for.” Albright will be the largest forward on the roster next season, and is part of
the biggest group of players the Wildcats have added in recent memory. “Christian is a four-man that can step outside and shoot it well,” Golding said. “He can also score in the paint and he is a relentless rebounder. He is really a tough kid, and we think he has a chance to be a good player for us.” ACU will also be adding a couple of junior college transfers to the 2013 squad in shooting guard Mike Harmon and center Jacob Lancaster. Harmon is a touch under 6 feet tall, but will undoubt-
edly is a sharpshooter and add experience because of his two years of junior college basketball. “Mike is a very good shooter and a good person,” assistant coach Brian Burton said. “He comes from one of the best junior college programs in the nation, and that’s what we want, kids that are used to winning and come from winning programs.” Lancaster’s 6’10” frame will make him one of the biggest players in the Southland Conference as soon as he shows up for Welcome Week, and the coaching staff
believes he is a guy that can make an immediate impact. “Jacob is a great kid, he was homeschooled until junior high and did not start playing basketball until he started high school,” Golding said. “He can step outside and shoot threes, he is an excellent free throw shooter, and can also score inside.” “With what we do with our ball screen offense, it is really hard to guard when your big guys can step out and shoot,” he said. “He is a great Christian kid, and fell in love with this place when he got here.”
The men’s basketball team is currently above .500 and fighting hard to make the post-season tournament and push for a Lone Star Conference title. “Angelo State beat Tarleton State this week, so it is one of those years where everyone is beating up on everyone,” Burton said. “We just have to make sure that we are doing more of the beating up and less of the getting beat up.” contact sloan at mes10b@acu.edu
reslife
Handball makes intramural introduction katie greene page 2 editor Handball made its debut into the realm of ACU intramural sports on Saturday with the start of the men’s tournament. Handball is played in two halves of fifteen minutes each. The teams are made up of seven people.
One person on each team guards the goal, which is made up of the pads at each end of the basketball court. Throwing the ball into the goal from outside the women’s three-point line scores points. Players can dribble as much as they want and have three steps before and after starting to dribble. Both the men’s and women’s tournament were
double elimination. After the rules for this new game were understood, students got to enjoy the game itself. “After the first half of our first game it was so fun to see everyone click and get the hang of how the game was supposed to be played,” said Emily Bibb, senior psychology major and art minor from Abilene.
The idea for introducing this sport came from ACU students themselves. “We are always looking for a new sport and we have had a number of students say they thought team handball would be a good one to try,” Kyle Pinson, assistant director of Intramural Sports said. The game was featured in the 2012 summer Olym-
pics in London, which gave students the inspiration to propose the game for ACU. Students in the upcoming fall semesters will continue to get the chance to enjoy this new sport because of the positive reaction it received this season. “If I weren’t graduating this year I would definitely play again next year,” Bibb said.
The men’s tournament started on Saturday because there were more men’s teams, and ran through Thursday. The women’s tournament started Monday, and ran through Thursday.
contact greene at keg09b@acu.edu
administration
Search: CEHS committee recommends interim dean “We will interview him this week and then get facto appoint Snider to the ulty feedback,” Rhodes said. permanent position. He “Depending on their feedsaid a few steps need to be back, the committee will taken before he will make either recommend him as that choice. their selection or continue Continued from page 1
the search. I would expect they make a recommendation to me either next week right after the break. “ Earlier this week, Dr. Greg Straughn, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,
was appointed to the position permanently, effective Jan. 1. As one dean search nears its close, and another has already finished, only one other dean search remains. Rhodes said the search committee
for the dean of the College of Marissa Jones and Mark Biblical Studies is nearing the Smith contributed to this finalist-naming stage of its report. process as well. He believes that committee had a broadcontact the optimist at er pool of applicants, requirjmcnetwork@acu.edu ing more review time.
student life
Chapel: Assembly petition unlikely to yield results Continued from page 1 university desires that students engage Chapel as a significant experience in their educational and spiritual formation while attending ACU.“ “While I imagine that Chapel will remain a requirement
for students at ACU, I do believe that our Board of Trustees will provide the administration reasonable flexibility in how we approach Chapel towards spiritual transformation and development in our students,” said Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president of Student Life.
Thompson previously worked at a university who made the switch from mandatory to voluntary Chapel. Thompson said that immediately following the change, the attendance patterns were still fairly high, but it was not long before Chapel attendance
dropped off drastically. “Additionally, this change caused great division on the campus between those students who were deemed ‘real Christians’ and those who were not,” Thompson said. ACU’s Chapel policy, however, will not undergo any drastic changes any
time soon. “Our goal is always to listen to the concerns and ideas of our students, and to vet such recommendations through our mission, vision and values as a Christian University,” Thompson said. “Students are not penalized for respectfully expressing
their wishes. We do however, prefer that students come and simply talk with us about their ideas before taking a petition approach to the matter.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
university
Faculty: hires made after budget realignment cuts positions Continued from page 1 critical need or isn’t part of the budget realignment, that would be hired into.” Job eliminations and reductions in the budget realignment plan would save the university $2.7 million, the largest section of cuts. Each of the 13 new hires, though, was approved to fit in with the budget plan. But these faculty members weren’t fired, which is typically the result of poor performance. Rather, the position was removed. “For these faculty, it was a non-renewal of a contract because the need for the position had changed,” Rhodes said. Two of the faculty members no longer with ACU, Dr. Michael Winegeart and Dr. Foy Mills, left ACU to accept other positions – Winegeart at Lipscomb University and Mills at Sam Houston State. Dr. Billie McConnell left his faculty role to pursue a staff position in a different office within the university. Five faculty were on annual contracts, which the university chose not to renew. Schubert announced the voluntary retirement incentive program at the same time of the budget plan. As a part of the cost-cutting plan, the retirement program was offered to tenured faculty 60 years old and older who have served at ACU for 10 consecutive years. Seven faculty members retired at the end of last school year. Rhodes didn’t have much involvement with the hiring of all the new faculty because he began serving in the position in July. While he did with some, more often he worked alongside them in adjusting to the university. “Since I was coming in new, I was able to sit in on the new faculty orientation with these new hires because it is my first year too,”
NEW FACULTY HIRED IN 2012 Dr. Dale Bertramprofessor of marriage and family studies
Dr. Andrew Huddlestonassistant professor of teacher education
Jennifer Golding- assistant professor of management sciences
Kelly Knight- instructor of political science
Dr. Becky Hammackassociate professor and dean of the School of Nursing
Rhodes said. “I got to meet them and hear how they’re being welcomed to ACU.” Rhodes said after the budget cuts were made, needs arose in other areas,especially in the School of Nursing, which had planned growth. It will move into the Zone Luce Building during the winter break. “The only new positions were in nursing, which was a planned, budgeted program growth,” Rhodes said. “We also needed to find a new director of the School of Nursing, and Becky Hammack filled that role.” Rhodes said other faculty were hired because administrators knew they were excellent in their field and available. “Dr. Kyle Tippens is a great example of that,” Rhodes said. “The College of Business was interested in him while he was a doctoral student at Texas A&M and they kept in touch. A position was coming open for which they thought he’d be a perfect match.” Tippens, assistant professor of finance, began teaching at ACU without much experience in teaching finance classes. “I’m used to teaching more Bible classes through church, but this is different,” Tippens said. “There’s
Megan May- assistant professor of library Dr. Ron Morganprofessor of history (moved from Oxford)
a lot more preparation involved than I thought. But so far it’s been really good, I’m glad we’re here.” When the provost search committee named Rhodes a finalist for the position last spring, it also named Dr. Darryl Tippens, provost at Pepperdine University, as the other finalist. Kyle, ’92 ACU alum, is his son. Rhodes said the faculty variation, despite coming soon after the budget realignment plan, is standard. “You’re going to expect to have a certain percentage of fluctuation,” Rhodes
Dr. Kenneth Olreeassociate professor of engineering and physics and director of engineering
Dr. Matt Roberson- chair and associate professor of Music Dr. Marcia Straughninstructor in the School of Nursing
Rhonda Pupella- assistant professor in the School of Social Work Dr. Carson Reed- assistant professor and director of the Doctor of Ministry program, Graduate School of Theology
said. “We had a little less than 10 percent of turn over among faculty, which is pretty typical.” Rhodes said the university hired many faculty who he thinks will excel at ACU. “We have experienced individuals who have graduated from well-known institutions,” Rhodes said. “They’re exceptional in their fields and they fit our mission very well. I think it’s a great group of faculty joining us.” contact smith at mds10a@acu.edu
Dr. Kyle Tippens- assistant professor of finance
RETIRED FACULTY Dr. Fred Baileyprofessor of history
Dr. Perry Reevesprofessor of chemistry
Virginia Baileyassociate professor of library science
Dr. Carol Williamsassociate provost for online programs and professor of mathematics
Dr. Dave Merrellprofessor of English Dr. Paul Piersall- chair of the Department of Music
Dr. David Wrightassociate professor of management sciences
sports
friday 12.07.12
6
standings
women’s basketball
men’s basketball
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
MSU ENMU Commerce WTAMU UIW TAMU-K ACU TSU Cameron ASU
2-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-2 0-0 0-2 0-2
5-2 5-3 6-2 7-1 4-4 4-4 4-3 4-1 3-3 2-4
women’s basketball
Team
Div.
Ovrl.
ACU UIW TSU ASU MSU Commerce TAMU-K TWU WTAMU Cameron ENMU
3-0 2-0 1-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2
4-1 5-2 3-2 4-3 5-1 3-2 3-2 2-5 2-6 1-5 0-6
briefings Defensive Lineman Ryan Smith and defensive back Mike Wallace were invited to play in the 2012 All America Bowl. It will be played Saturday, Dec. 22 at Mall of America Field in the Minneapolis Metrodome. Gary Duncan, Caley Johnson, Travis Schuetze and Savannah Smith were all selected mandy lambright chief Photographer as the December Freshman guard Cemetra Jenkins dribbles past a defender in Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats dominated Texas A&M University-ComStudent-Athletes of the merce, 81-60 in the second annual Christmas Slam. The ‘Cats remain unbeaten in the conference at 3-0. Month in recognition of their academic achievements. They were chosen by members of the ACU Athletics Department. been sharing the ball well 11 deep which you don’t “Our goal was to be better defensive awaredaniel zepeda to keep everyone involved see on many teams,” said mentally focused for 40 ness were enough to put sports reporter in the scoring effort.” sophomore Paige Parlia- minutes,” said junior Sa- the nail in the coffin and Senior Julie Coppedge The Wildcats got major ment. “If we can keep that vannah Smith. “Basket- secure the win for the was named to the 2012 NCAA Division The ACU women’s basket- contributions from all over job up, then we will be ball is a game of runs. hometown Wildcats. ball team asserted their the roster, and had four difficult to shut down.” Even though Commerce “They rely a lot on their II All-South Central home dominance once Wildcats reach double figACU began the game had some runs, we as a offensive rebounding to Region Second again with a convincing ures in scoring. on a 28-11 run as they team were able to stay get easy put-back layups Team presented by 81-60 win over Texas A&M Juniors Mack Lank- were able to drive to the focused and ‘out run’ our and we tried to keep them the National Soccer Commerce at Moody Coli- ford and Renata Marquez basket and draw fouls opponent.” out of the paint and away Coaches Association seum for the second an- finished with 13 and 10 that sent them to the free Commerce got terrific from offensive rebounds,” of America this week. nual Christmas Slam. points, respectively, while throw line. defensive play out of their Kelsey Smith said. The Wildcats were led sophomore Sadie DickinFor the game, ACU shot guards and junior Amber “We know that they are It’s her second allby senior Kelsey Smith, son continued her stellar 40 free throws compared Carver had a big night for an aggressive team and region title of the who had a double-double play with 12 points. to 25 for Commerce. With the Lady Lions as she put they are also athletic so season.
‘Cats stay perfect in LSC
with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the win that gave the Wildcats a 4-1 record (3-0 LSC). “I am really proud of the way our team has been starting games,” Head Coach Julie Goodenough said. “The team has really
ACU finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field, including 25 percent (5-20) from the three-point line. As a team, the Lady ‘Cats also shot 80 percent (32-40) from the charity strike. “We’re a team that is
4:24 left in the half, ACU led Commerce 41-17 before giving up a 13-5 run in what turned into a track meet toward the end of the half. Commerce cut the deficit to 16 as the teams went into the break with a score of 46-30.
up 15 points and secured 19 rebounds (nine offensive) on the night. Despite their effort, Commerce was unable to keep pace with the high f lying Wildcats. Big plays from Kelsey Smith and Marquez, along with
we looked to them to try to block shots and reach on defense, we just took it to them and took advantage of their style.” contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
men’s basketball
Team upended on last-second shot with a skillful alley-oop, scoring a total of nine sports reporter points in the game, so far his best, after starting his Tuesday, the Wildcats season three games ago weren’t holly and jolly in against West Texas A&M the Christmas spirit af- University. ter losing another game The top scorers of the in the Lone Star Confer- night were senior guard, ence against Texas A&M Eric Lawton with 24 Un i v e r s i t y- C om m e r c e , points, junior forward 90-88 in the Second An- Cornelius Cammock nual Christmas Slam. with 14 points, senior The ‘Cats are now 4-3 center Steven Werner overall and 1-2 in their with 12 points, and freshconference. The team was man guard Parker Wentz, off to a great start in the be- with nine points. ginning, but lost momenWentze scored a nailtum in the second half. biting 3-pointer with 17 Senior forward Dosh seconds left in the secSimms scored the first ond half, to tie the game basket of the night, mo- up 88-88. ments later following Team Big entertained
brittney johnson
the ACU fans with an incredible acrobatic halftime; they also recruited the likes of Mr. Saint Nick himself to assist in one of the tricks. All throughout the night, there was prizes and chances to snag many Christmas goodies. Despite the team loss, everyone in attendance was reminded to be thankful and count their many blessings this holiday season. The wildcats will face Tarleton State University this Saturday.
contact johnson at baj12a@acu.edu
Upcoming
mandy lambright chief Photographer
Freshman guard Tyler Rogers streches for a layup in Moody.
Former Wildcat casts Heisman vote guest columnist I blew my chance. The chance to gather bribes from friends and even enemies who attended Texas A&M, Kansas State and Notre Dame. If you know anything about ACU tuition - and most of my readers know far too much about the subject you know I could use a sweet stack of cash right now. Instead, I cast an untainted vote for the Heisman Trophy. Sorry, I can’t tell you who earned my vote. That would get me in
trouble with the extremely wealthy members of the New York’s Downtown Athletic Club. No doubt, this was a fun process for someone who has followed college football since 1967. Back in those ancient days, I was an 8-year-old thoroughly confused by voters who handed the Heisman to a lightly talented quarterback from UCLA named Gary Beban over an immortal, and later infamous, running back named O.J. Simpson. Examining the past is nearly as much fun as watching games in the present. Actually, it’s more
fun if you’re talking about watching the current Cowboys. This examining of yesterday leads me to several troubling questions. How did Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung win the Heisman in 1956 over Syracuse’s Jim Brown? Brown is only the greatest football player ever to walk our earth. And, even worse, why did Miami quarterback Gino Torretta win the Heisman in 1992 over San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk? For the young people reading these words fortunate enough to have never seen Gino throw a football, let me assure you
Houston Texans defensive back Danieal Manning had three total tackles Sunday’s 24-10 win against the Tennessee Titans. Manning has 55 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles for the season. Rams running back Daryl Richardson rushed for six yards on three carries and had three catches for seven yards against the San Francisco on Sunday. St. Louis defeated the 49ers, 1613. Richardson has 457 yards and 85 carries this season.
guest column
David Ramsey
ex- factor
he was not nearly as talented as ACU’s Mitchell Gale. So, I took my vote seriously. No one wants to give this great honor to someone as unworthy as Gino. I would love to tell you my vote required an exhaustive process. It did not. I examined the statistics of the leading candidates – A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Kansas State’s Collin Klein and Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o – and then signed on with my secret password to the Heisman Trophy voting site. Five minutes later, tops, my first-ever Heisman vote was cast.
Again, the vote cannot be revealed. But allow me to express disagreement with several of my sports writer brethren. They say a freshman should not be given the highest honor in college football. And I ask: Why not? (David Ramsey served as sports editor of The Optimist in 1980-81. He is the sports columnist of the Colorado Springs Gazette. His sons, Luke and Caleb, are students at ACU.) contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
The men’s basketball team will face Tarleton State University on Saturday in Stephenville at 7 p.m. The women’s basketball team will also play Tarleton State on Saturday on the road starting at 5 p.m.