WEDNESDAY September 29, 2004
OPTIMIST
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
THE
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 12 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Wildcats on a roll:
Exercising their right to vote:
Follies finishes:
The volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight games Saturday. Page 10
Many students will be eligible to vote in their first presidential election Nov. 2, except most international students. Page 4
Today’s Focus page features a photo essay about this year’s Freshman Follies. Page 8
Weekend car wreck kills one student
Bid Night initiates pledging activities Asthma attack sends one to hospital during first night of pledging
Current senior treated at hospital, but ‘doing fine physically’
By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
Bid Night went smoothly with only one student going to the hospital, said Mike Spell, adviser of social clubs. “Things went well, from what I understand, from what I’ve seen, from people who were out and around,” Spell said. “Things went very well.” He said no major problems occurred, but one student went to the hospital because of an asthma attack and hypothermia. Several members of clubs have depledged since Bid Night, but Spell said he does not know an exact number. Clubs sent 230 bids to women and 148 to men. Spell said a group of about 10 members of Campus Life made the rounds Friday night, visiting all the social clubs at least twice to see if they could be of any help and make sure everything ran smoothly. Michael Hunton, senior management major from Nashville, Tenn., and president of Gamma Sigma Phi, said Bid Night went well and everyone had a good time. He said there were only a few injuries, but nothing out of the ordinary or serious. GSP has the largest male pledge class with 52 men, and Hunton said no one has depledged. “They’re great guys,” Hunton said. “They’re wonderful. I’m so excited about every single one of them.” Jenni Kripner, president of GATA, also said her club enjoyed Bid Night with a GATA See PLEDGE Page 9
By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Former ACU student Ugochucwu Anyanwu died in a car accident Saturday. He was 22. Anyanwu, known as Emmanuel, was driving a sports utility vehicle on North First Street when he was struck from behind. He was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected from the vehicle, said Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life. Jamie Cromwell, senior chemistry major from Pinehurst, was driving the other vehicle involved in the accident. Although she was treated at Hendrick Medical Center, Cromwell is doing fine, Barnard said. “She is doing fine physically, but she is hurting otherwise,” Barnard said in an e-mail. “I believe her to be a person of strong faith, with See WRECK Page 9
SA members to distribute discount card Students can get Collegiate Card from their Congress representative By SALLY STEVENS STUDENT REPORTER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Pledges of the Gamma Sigma Phi social club hold watermelons as current members stand to the side during Bid Night on Friday. Each year, Bid Night signals the beginning of the five-week pledging season. Many of the social clubs kept pledges out much of the night performing tasks and doing traditional club rituals.
Week to focus on wellness Brown bag luncheon, booths, Unstress Day planned as activities By ANDY JEFFREY STUDENT REPORTER
Improving the overall wellbeing of individuals in the ACU community is the goal next week for those involved in
planning Wellness Week. The seventh annual Wellness Week will begin Monday and run through Oct. 8. During the week, students will be challenged through guest speakers, wellness tests and even free massages to focus on improving all aspects of their lives. This year’s theme, “Passion for Life,” was “chosen as a
reflection of and a commitment to our passion for Christ,” said Helen Marshall, counselor in the University Counseling Center and Wellness Week organizer. “In being passionate about Christ, one must also be passionate about taking care of ourselves, spiritually, emotionSee WEEK Page 9
Wellness Week highlights (Oct. 4-8) Tuesday: Brown bag lunch in the Living Room of the Campus Center with Phil Ware, minister of Southern Hills Church of Christ. Wednesday and Thursday: Booths in the Hilton Room of the Campus Center with a chance to win prizes, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday: Unstress Day in the mall area with a dunking booth and a climbing wall, 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.
Representatives in the Students’ Association are distributing the 2004-05 Collegiate Cards to students this year, unlike past years when the cards were placed in student mailboxes in the Campus Center. SA executive officers wanted to use these free discount cards as an opportunity for the congressmen to meet their constituents. “It’s a service that SA provides to the students for their behalf,” said Layne Rouse, senior communications major from Midland and executive president of SA. “This year it was used as a training tool for the representatives.” Elizabeth Alvarez, international relations major from McAllen and SA’s chief development officer, said SA wanted to stop making the students come to them, and instead, start going out to the students. ACU students founded the Collegiate Cards program in 1999. These students started a discount card program “created specifically for college students across the nation that believes every student should experience the savings at See CARDS Page 9
Madagascar sends dignitary Secretary general for minister of education visits during Follies By DANIELE NTAHONKIRIYE STUDENT REPORTER
Faneva Randrianandraina, secretary general to the minister of education of Madagascar, spoke to the ACU Malagasy students on Saturday and got the chance to visit his son in the process. Dr. John Tyson, vice president for development, said this was a special visit. “Every time we have a guest, it is a good thing,” Tyson said. “But this is a just a personal visit to be with the
Malagasy students.” Malagasy students said they were happy Randrianandraina was visiting while they were performing a Malagasy act in Freshman Follies. “We will be very happy to see him because he is like our father,” said Moustafa Assany, freshman financial management major from Madagascar. “He replaces our parents. He took care of us before we came here, giving us advice. We will be very excited to see him again.” Randrianandraina was able to visit his son Haja Randrianandraina, freshman environmental science major from Madagascar, as well as all other Malagasy students. Randrian-
andraina said that the 24 Malagasy students are fortunate to be here because they were specially chosen. “I told the Malagasy students that it’s a privilege for them to be here at ACU and to have the opportunity to study,” Randrianandraina said. “They are all very happy to be here; all they have to do is to study, study.” When their countryman arrived, the Malagasy students were excited to see him. Lydie Rakotoarivelo, freshman communication major from Madagascar, said the Malagasy students were very happy to hear news from back home. See MALAGASY Page 9
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Members of the Malagasy students’ Freshman Follies act sing a traditional Malagasy song during the dress rehearsal for the show on Thursday. Faneva Randrianandraina, secretary general to the minister of education of Madagascar, was visiting the students on campus when they performed in the show.