OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY October 1, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 13 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Classic movie review:
Web site links students with careers:
Crossing over LSC:
Arts Editor Dee Travis reviews the black-and-white film Casablanca this week. Page 7
The CareerLink Web site allows students to post resumes and search for available job and internship opportunities. Page 5
The Wildcats play Lone Star Conference rival Southeastern Oklahoma State. Page 10
SA supports Opening Chapel flag Congress also creates committee to research student meal plans By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Students’ Association showed support for the controversial American flag displayed during Opening Day Cere-
monies in Chapel. Anxious to respond to a petition that circulated last week against the size of the flag, Congress passed a resolution showing its approval of the flag and its size. “Students from other countries do not have a problem with the flag,” said Mabee Hall Rep. Jeremy Pond, freshman journalism major from
Burkburnett, concluding that the student body as a whole would also have no problem with it. However, some members of Congress did have a problem with the resolution, questioning whether enough feedback from students had been collected to make that decision. Pond said he and other members had collected more
than 90 signatures supporting the size of the flag in a couple of days, about equal to the number of signatures collected last week against the flag. Accounting for the number of signatures from both petitions plus the number of Congress members at the meeting, about 250 students have had the opportunity to voice their opinion on the
flag—a number several members said was too low to have an accurate view on student opinion. Some, although they might have supported the resolution’s intention, tried to refer the petition to SA’s constituent relations committee to do more research and poll a more signifSee CONGRESS Page 9
SA agenda • Approved a resolution in support of the large American flag displayed during Opening Day Ceremonies in Chapel. • Unanimously approved the creation of a committee to study student meal plans and ways to improve them. • Appointed Adam Smith, junior youth and family ministry major from Whitehouse, as Biblical Studies Building representative.
A life changed By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Paul Goncalves easily blends into the crowds of students loitering campus; students would have trouble picking him out from a crowd of young men with shaggy hair and baseball caps.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Thomas Robinson, freshman Bible major from New York City, attacks Paul Goncalves, freshman biblical text major from Itu, Brazil, on the second floor of McKinzie Hall on Wednesday. Goncalves and his friends purchased the gorilla costume this semester because he said he wants to wear it to make people laugh.
Theme selected for homecoming Alumni Relations Office encourages students to ‘Go Wild with the Cats’ By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR
“Go Wild with the Cats” is the theme for Homecoming, which is Oct. 21-24, and Steering Committee member Kathleen Pina said preparations for the event are under way. “The alumni office picked the theme,” said Pina, senior political science major from
San Antonio. “They wanted to do something that is really inventive that we can have a lot of fun with.” The annual Homecoming Parade will be Oct. 23, and Stephen Moore, professor of English, and Susan Lewis, instructor of journalism and mass communication, were selected to lead the parade as grand marshals. “Steering Committee members were asked to nominate a male and female faculty member that demonstrate See PARADE Page 9
He’s similar to most young men his age; he fiddles around on the guitar, plays soccer in his residence hall hallway, and he’s still trying to find a church in Abilene to call his own. Like many freshmen, Paul, a freshman biblical text major, has a story. When asked by people why he chose to come to ACU, he can say because his parents and his sister came here. He can say because it’s a good school. But his story goes deeper, and it begins several thousand miles away in the cities of Brazil and in a different lifetime. Paul’s problem with pornography began before he became a teenager and continued for several years. He struggled with all types, but he said the real issue isn’t the pictures. “The problem is what it causes,” he said, “contamination of the mind — lust.” His parents brought him up in a church environment. He was part of a church-planting team in Brazil, but nothing ever clicked. “I grew up in the Church of Christ, but I wasn’t a Christian,” Paul said matter-offactly, in the same way he talked about his addiction to pornography. He’s not ashamed, but ready to let people know that he made it out alive. “The Lord brought me out of that,” he stated, without shame, without blinking eyes, without reddened cheeks. “When I was 16, the Lord found me,” he said. “I don’t believe any human being caused it.”
Paul said his conversion was a sudden event, a complete and abrupt turn, and even his family was amazed by the change in his life. “It was absolutely stunning,” said his sister, Ali Kaiser, a senior Bible major, but a freshman at ACU at the time. She said she heard about his baptism, but when she went home, she saw the full transformation. “Paul was a different person from the inside out,” she said. “I literally saw him go from the dark to the light.” Paul transformed from Ali’s sometimes-violent and jealous kid brother, to a cherished friend. He even walked Ali down the aisle at her wedding this summer because their father performed the ceremony. Paul explains the change simply as a work of God. “Hearing the Lord’s voice is a powerful thing,” he said. “I think that most people who have an addiction, whether drugs or alcohol or anything, they don’t believe that there’s hope,” Paul explained. “They think that’s who they are — it’s the greatest trick Satan ever played.” But he learned that the only way out was to give in to the truth of Christ. “Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free,’” Paul quoted from the Gospel of John. The power of Christ’s truth changed Paul’s life from an existence with no satisfaction to an “awesome adventure.” See GONCALVES Page 8
Voting Reminder
Memorial service planned
• The last day to register to vote is Monday. To register online, go to: www.rockthevote.com or www.delcareyourself.com
Student could face manslaughter charges for fatal collision
• Or pick up a voter registration form at the information desk in the Campus Center. Forms must be postmarked by Monday to be valid. • You will need to register to vote in Taylor County or request an absentee ballot for your home county. • To request an absentee ballot, go to your state’s official Web site or call your county clerk.
By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
A memorial service for former student Emmanuel Anyanwu is being tentatively planned for Thursday night in the Chapel on the Hill. Anyanwu, 22, died early Saturday evening in a car wreck on North First and Mesquite streets. He was partially ejected from his Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle after it was hit from behind. According to the Abilene Police Department accident report, Anyanwu died
at the scene. Jamie Cromwell, senior chemistry major from Pinehurst, was driving the other vehicle, a four-door Mitsubishi, and may face charges of manslaughter later this year. Both vehicles were traveling east on North First Street when the accident occurred. “I was on my way to work, brushing my hair – same road I take every single day,” Cromwell said. “It’s so random because it’s something you do every single day, then it’s just different.” Cromwell said the brush got tangled in her hair, and she dropped it. She bent down to pick it up, and when she looked up she saw the SUV
stopped at the intersection in front of her. “I knew I was going to hit him,” she said. When the two vehicles collided, Anyanwu’s vehicle flipped. According to the accident report, he was not wearing a seatbelt. “I saw it flip, and I started freaking out,” Cromwell said. After getting out of her car, she tried to help, but couldn’t get him out of the vehicle. Eventually, another car pulled up and called 911. An emergency medical technician also happened to drive by the scene and stopped to help. “It could have been seconds, See WRECK Page 8
CAMPUS Friday, October 1, 2004
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Calendar&Events Friday
Poetry Night tickets, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Campus Life party, 12 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center Recreation Area. Bible study group, 7-10 p.m., Living Room.
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DAY
Saturday
Poetry Night, 7:30 p.m., Java City coffee house.
Lindsay Webb senior recital, 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
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Sunday
Faculty-Senate meeting, 7-8:15 a.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.
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Wellness Week expo, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Tuesday
Wellness Week, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Hilton Room.
No events scheduled.
Brown-bag lunch with Phil Ware, Wellness Week, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
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SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Monday
Wellness Week, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Hilton Room.
Highland Church of Christ Widowhood Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
Campus Activities Board blood drive, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m, Living Room.
Poetry Night tickets, 5-7 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Volunteer Opportunities Covenant Place of Abilene, an assisted living facility, needs someone to tutor a student who wants to learn to read and write. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. The Noah Project needs volunteers to answer hotline calls and attend to shelter needs. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. City Light Ministries needs volunteers to tutor elementary school students and to play games
Social club officers meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Living Room.
or read to them on Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. People who enjoy children and are interested in this opportunity can go to the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for more information. Fashions for the Cure, a fund-raiser for Breast Cancer Awareness, needs volunteers to transport and set up a stage and help with decorations before and after a dinner and fashion show Monday through Wednesday. Contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center for information.
Wellness Week expo, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables. Homecoming Steering Committee meeting, 9:30-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.
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SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Southern Hills, Frasier’s Life Group, 7-8 p.m., Campus Center Recreation Area.
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Thursday
Wellness Week expo, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Wellness Week, “Passion for Life,” 11:30 a.m.-1:25 p.m., Hilton Room.
Wednesday
Wellness Week, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Hilton Room.
McNair speaker, 7-9 p.m., Hilton Room. International Students Association, 8-10:50 p.m., Living Room.
About This Page 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@jmc.acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.
To ensure that 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.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
28 43
Friday, October 1, 2004
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CAMPUS NEWS
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Friday, October 1, 2004
Students masquerade to a carnival theme at reduced price Saturday Honors Students Association event open for everyone By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
The annual Honors Students Association’s Masquerade is 6 p.m. Saturday at the Abilene Zoo, and students can choose to dress up or just enjoy the activities. Three bands will perform while students can play carni-
val-type games and eat cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones. Bethany Scroggins, junior psychology and English major from Hallsville, said the theme for this year’s Masquerade is like a circus, and with tickets at only $4, she said it is more affordable than previous years. “Tickets for the Zoo are usually $3,” Scroggins said, “so the $4 really is a good deal.” Students can dress up and participate in both costume
Football players honored Manning, Wiggins first to receive SA Person of the week award By RUBEN J. GONZALEZ STUDENT REPORTER
Danieal Manning has been honored a lot playing football, with honors such as Lone Star Conference Player of the week, Pre-Season All-American and First team all-LSC South Division last year. But after being honored with teammate Greg Wiggins as the Students’ Association Person of the week, Manning was most surprised. “I was shocked,” said Manning, sophomore exercise and sports science major from Corsicana. “There was a lot of good guys and a lot of good things happening that week, and for them to pick me out as outstanding is an honor.” Manning and Wiggins were honored for their performance in the Wildcats 31-14 upset victory over then No. 7 ranked Tarleton State. Manning had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown, along with a key interception in the second half. While Manning anchored the defense, Wiggins commanded the offense throwing for 127-yards and two touchdowns and leading ACU to its biggest win in recent years.
Layne Rouse, executive president of the Students’ Association and senior communication major from Midland, said this is the first year that the entire student body is eligible for the SAP of the week award. Previous eligibility for the award required that the student be involved in either the student Congress or the 16 recognized student groups. After the SA “Shake up” of 2003, the student Congress recognizes all groups on campus, thus allowing eligibility to everyone. Rouse said SA plans on honoring about 15 students throughout the semester, and he said he hopes that people can appreciate the service these students do. “We are looking for students that stand out,” Rouse said. “It is an award that goes out to somebody that has done something that is not necessarily repeatable every week.” For Manning, the award is special because, though it honors his play on the field, this award gives people who do not follow the ACU football team an opportunity to take notice of his hard work. “This ranks up there pretty high,” Manning said. “A lot of people are happy for me.” E-mail Gonzalez at: optimist@acu.edu
and mask contests, and Scroggins said she encourages students to go along with the Zoo theme and wear animal costumes. Dressing up is optional, though, and the Masquerade is open to everyone with an ACU student ID. Kaela Latimer, junior elementary education major from Amarillo, said people from outside of the ACU community can attend; they just need to be with an ACU student. The past two years, the
Masquerade has had more of a Renaissance theme, but Scroggins said they wanted to make the theme more comfortable because of its outdoor location. “It being at the Zoo, we thought the circus theme would be a little bit more fun,” Latimer said, “and the atmosphere just seemed appropriate.” HSA is funded through SA, but Scroggins said they did not receive all the money they requested, so this event will
You know what I mean?
help cover extra costs. The event is HSA’s main fund-raiser for the fall, with proceeds going to pay for the bands at the event, as well as the upkeep of the organization and events like Deep Dish Philosophy. HSA is not a part of the Honors Program, and Scroggins stressed that everyone can attend its events. She said they are looking for at least 100 to attend the Masquerade, and the Zoo location makes it possible for many to attend.
By LAUREN WARE STAFF WRITER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
Banner to be upgraded System makeover will give Banner Web a new look next year
Steve Hare, adjunct faculty in Bible, missions and ministry and campus minister for Highland Church of Christ, spoke at Thursday’s Chapel in Moody Coliseum.
“If more show up,” Latimer said, “that would be wonderful. It’s going to be a whole lot of fun.” Students can buy tickets for $4 in the Campus Center ticket windows or at the door at the Masquerade. “We just want to get people out there,” Latimer said. “We’re looking at providing some good entertainment for people.”
When students check grades in the fall of 2005, the Banner Web system will look completely different because of a network upgrade to Version Seven that will begin in January and continue through November. Version Six of the Banner system was installed in July to help make the transition in January easier. “It’s a pretty big upgrade,” said David Gibson, director of computing and networking services. “It will dramatically change what Banner does.” K.B. Massingill, chief information officer, said Banner Six allows students greater involvement with their information. “We want to be able to offer students more opportunities to serve themselves, and Banner Six does that,” Massingill said. Banner Six better protects student information and privacy,
Massingill said. “The government dictates a lot of what we do and don’t do with student information,” Massingill said. “Newer software allows us to do it even better.” The upgrade to Banner Seven that is scheduled to be completed in November 2005 will have a large impact on students, Gibson said. “It will allow data to be more real time,” Gibson said. “Banner is going to be an open application, which gives a standardized way of going into the system and getting stuff out. However, that doesn’t mean I can go into the lab and hack into Banner.” Banner Seven will be more web-based, Gibson said. “It is the first step in the process to go entirely to the web,” Gibson said. Gibson encourages students with likes or dislikes about the new system to contact Team 55. “Give us some information,” Gibson said. “Tell us what you think and why you think it. We always want feedback.” E-mail Ware at: lew03d@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, October 1, 2004
Page 5
Students have job, internship search resource on campus CareerLink works with potential employers to find a match By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
Students looking for jobs have a resource that many aren’t even aware of: CareerLink. “CareerLink makes the exchange between students and employers much more efficient,” said Matt Boisvert, director of career and academic development. “It puts us on par with the big schools.” Through the CareerLink
Web site, www.acu.edu/careerlink, students can post resumes and search available jobs online, and all job and internship opportunities sent to ACU are put on CareerLink. “In the past, I don’t think students knew the volume of jobs available,” Boisvert said. “Employers would mail job descriptions to us, we would put them in a big binder, and students looking for jobs would have to come into the office. This takes the binder and puts it online. At 2 a.m., a student can do a job search.” Boisvert also said students aren’t the only ones searching
on the Web site. “If a student chooses to allow employer viewing on their resume, employers can view that resume and others without necessarily posting a job,” he said. Boisvert said CareerLink was launched last fall for the College of Business Administration, but this is the first year it’s gone campuswide. “It’s still an infant,” Boisvert said. Other Web sites that serve similar purposes are available, but Boisvert said CareerLink has definite advantages. “The difference between CareerLink and Monster.com is
that at Monster.com you apply online, but then it goes into the big black hole; you never know when you’ll hear back from someone or if anyone even got what you sent,” he said. “The support team at the office of Career and Academic Development can help students more directly.” Another feature of CareerLink is the mentor search. Boisvert said 668 ACU alumni with accounts on CareerLink are willing to serve as mentors. “Students can search through the lists and contact a mentor about job advice or what it takes to be a Christian
ACU media outlets collect awards at recent convention Honors demonstrate that ‘convergence is working’ By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
The Journalism and Mass Communication Department garnered 24 awards at the Southwestern Journalism Congress Sept. 17 in Monroe, La. The awards were for ACU student media programs, the Optimist, Prickly Pear and KACU. Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, and three of ACU’s student media leaders traveled to Louisiana to attend workshops and an awards luncheon. Jonathan Smith, editor of the Optimist and junior journalism major from Tyler; Sarah Reid, editor of the Prickly Pear and senior electronic media major from
Abilene; and Jennifer McMichael, former Prickly Pear editor and senior journalism major from New Braunfels, attended the conference. Smith said he attended the convention because “it’s a good opportunity to see how others judge our work and to see what professionals [outside the academic world] think about our work.” SWJC is a smaller-based convention intended for student media leaders and sponsors, not entire production staffs, to see how they rank with other big league schools. “ACU has a smaller program than other members, yet we compete well and consistently; we’ve had a long history of it,” Bacon said. ACU is in competition with much larger schools in the Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana region, such as Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, Uni-
versity of Texas at Austin, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech and Baylor. The Optimist received third place overall behind the University of Oklahoma and UT at Arlington, which is good, Bacon said. She said that ACU’s broadcasting department unofficially led the competition after they tallied up the awards being given to each school on brochures, noting ACU took seven awards in this field putting them ahead of UT, Baylor and other strong schools. “There were big schools who were really strong in radio and others strong in broadcast,” Reid said. “ACU was strong across the board. It says a lot about the professors that [our] students have been taught to be strong at everything and that convergence is working.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Program helps grad school decisions Students conduct research, learn about post-graduate options By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
Ronald McNair, the first black astronaut to fly in space, had a dream and a vision. Eighteen years after his tragic death in the space shuttle Challenger explosion, his dream is being passed on to students at ACU. In his memory, the government set up a federal grant program called the McNair Scholars Program that is designed to help prepare lowincome, first-generation college students for doctoral education, and to produce students who complete graduate school to accept teaching positions at universities or research institutes. Jason Morris, director of the McNair Scholars Program, said 35-40 students are involved during the year, and from those 40 students, 20
students are selected in December to participate in a summer internship with a faculty mentor to research a topic of their choice. Each student participating in the McNair Scholars Program attends workshops and seminars geared toward community learning, strategies to applying to graduate schools and building portfolios. In the past, students have completed research on subjects from the architectural design of churches to the Roma minority in Hungary to researching limited Englishproficient students in Abilene. “If a student is considering going to grad school but isn’t sure, I would highly recommend being in the program,” said Nickalina Cooper, former McNair Scholar and senior elementary education major from Abilene. “It was very helpful because I’ve never done anything like that before. It really helped me see if I really want to go when I graduate.” Morris said students benefit from participating in this pro-
gram because of the knowledge they gain from conducting their own research study, it will look good on their resume, and those who are chosen to do the summer internship are paid a comparable amount for their work. When the internship is complete, students then have the chance to go to conferences across the nation to present their findings at universities in Colorado, California, Pennsylvania and Texas. Students present their findings orally or through demonstrations they set up, get a chance to connect with other students involved in the McNair Scholars program across the nation and to talk to representatives from grad schools, Morris said. ACU was granted the McNair Scholars Program in 1996 and joins a list of 170 colleges in the nation who offer this unique opportunity to their students. E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
practitioner in a given field,” Boisvert said. Also, he said some of the mentors are willing even to conduct mock interviews to give students practice. “A real success story of CareerLink is that an alumnus can post jobs directly online and it’s immediately available for students; that’s huge,” Boisvert said. Andress Boggs, senior business management major from San Antonio, said in an e-mail that CareerLink is an excellent tool for students and alumni. “It’s a great asset that needs to be tapped by all students,”
Boggs said, “and I am excited that CareerLink now services the entire ACU community.” Emily Tate, senior marketing and management major from Crowley, said in an email that CareerLink helped her get an internship. “I posted my resume in Fall 2003, and over Christmas break I got an e-mail asking me to interview for a marketing internship,” Tate said. “I would never have known this internship existed, but CareerLink allowed an employer to find me.” E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
Time to cram
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Jenny Dolan, sophomore psychology major from Abilene, studies with the other GATA pledges, or Flames, for a test that the GATA members are about to administer Wednesday in the Mabee Business Building.
Volunteers needed for fashion show Fund-raiser to help raise awareness of breast cancer By SHAVONNE HERNDON STUDENT REPORTER
Volunteers are needed to help with the first Fashions For The Cure fund-raiser Tuesday in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. The fund-raiser, sponsored by Abilene shops, Village Boutique and The Arrangement, will be a fashion show to raise money for breast cancer awareness and will benefit The American Cancer Society, Abilene Breast Cancer Aware-
ness and the YWCA. Sponsors have been planning the show for several months. Yanell Rieder, owner of the Village Boutique, said she hopes to raise $30,000 for the different organizations. “This event is a great experience for the Abilene area to have,” Rieder said. “Abilene deserves this.” Fashions For The Cure will be at 6:30 p.m. at the TNT Event Center on South 27th Street in Abilene. Tickets cost $30 and include free gifts, a style show, cash bar, cocktails, valet parking and food. Funding for this event comes from ticket sales, donations and underwriters, Rieder said.
Fashions For The Cure needs volunteers Monday through Wednesday to help transport stage equipment from the Civic Center to the TNT Event Center, set up the stage and help with decorations for the event. Students can earn volunteer hours by helping out with the event. Interested students should contact Rita Harrell in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Rieder said students should attend the fund-raiser to support breast cancer awareness and learn about cures of the disease. E-mail Herndon at: optimist@acu.edu
VIEWSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
Pledging good for some, not all
The issue: A month of social club pledging activities began last week.
Our view: Pledging can build community and relationships if carried out correctly. Pledging is beneficial for some students but is not for everyone.
The solution: The issue of social clubs has the potential to divide campus. Students need to respect the choice of others to pledge or not to pledge.
October 1, 2004
Women in colorful skirts and men in sharp suits. The pledging season is upon us. This year the six men’s and six women’s social clubs sent bids to 230 women and 148 men. For the next month, women in red skirts and lipstick will become commonplace, as will men carrying bricks around campus. Although some pledging activities seem downright silly, the Optimist understands they help build relationships and community among pledge classes. Clubs are commended for the job they do
wasn’t for them, building commuProblems occur when club members lose focus they made the nity; however, of the purpose of pledging. right decision sometimes activito depledge ties can go too far. rather than Problems occur when club members lose and decide whether it builds com- becoming an inactive member. The Optimist respects students focus of the purpose of pledging. munity or breaks pledges’ spirits. Some students benefit signifi- who do not wish to pledge. Many A fine line exists between community building and hazing, and cantly from the pledging experi- valid reasons exist for choosing it is up to current club members ence; however, some find that it is not to join a club. However, this to stay on the right side of that not right for them. It takes a lot of time of year can easily cause a line. Members, remember what it courage and determination for a division on campus—among was like to be a pledge and suffer student to depledge. These stu- roommates and even friends— through the experiences. Even dents have taken a leap by going over the pledging issue. Students though members may want through the bidding process; who pledge need to respect the pledges to go through the same instead of shunning the whole decision of those who choose not activities they went though, they idea of social clubs, they gave it a to pledge and vice versa. first should evaluate each activity try. When they decided that it Pledging should not get in the
Abilene can be fun, takes creativity Things to do in Abilene play in concert at various when bored, from personal parks. Come to Seabeck’s final experience: concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at 1. Cruising down Sayles Rose Park for free. 7. Running and screaming Avenue in the annual Cruise down the first floor of Mabee Night, which Hall with a friend, shaking was Saturday, noisemakers and yelling at while Abilen- guys to attend the bonfire-pep ians park a- rally for Homecoming, and long the sides thus getting chased out of of the street to Mabee Hall and halfway across watch vintage campus by the hall director I am the cars. More and a resident assistant. All in than a few the name of Freshman Action Enemy heads turned Council. Sarah Carlson for my ’85 Toy8. Burying my head into my friend’s shoulder during The ota Corolla. 2. Cruising Sayles and Ring at the drive-in theatre. It’s North First at night, checking a great place to cuddle under people out with the other blankets or sit out in lawn insane Abilenians who think chairs and enjoying a double feature, while cruising is norseveral Abilene mal. children run a3. Dancing round you yelling and singing with You can always “Chica! Chica!” friends in the 9. And finally, Windsor Hotel’s find something getting out of ballroom (above to do; you just Abilene! Road the Abilene Cofftrips to Austin, ee Co.). Just need to be a San Antonio, Tydon’t go upstairs into the residenlittle creative. ler and College tial area because Station kept the residents will things interesting call the police on and broke up the you, and you will monotony of the be forced to lie to the fuzz. semester. Yes I know, this is 4. Driving around and not a suggestion for someexploring Buffalo Gap, espe- thing in Abilene, but let’s face cially at night. A word of it, A-town can get old after a advice (and I was not a part of while. this): If when you are explorOK, so maybe you shoulding on foot you hear a coyote, n’t do all of these things, like and then another, and pretty running through residence soon you hear about 100 coy- halls you’re not supposed to otes surrounding you, run. be in, or else Campus Life will Run for your life. have issues with me. But you 5. Driving to San Angelo get the idea: You can always with my roommate to see find something to do; you just Garden State (if you haven’t need to be a little creative. seen it yet, trust me, it’s worth the drive). E-mail Carlson at: 6. Seeing my friends’ bands optimist@acu.edu or skc02a@acu.edu
Use rational ignorance and make choice
Homecoming is less than a month away; what are you doing to prepare? “My roommate is in charge of security, and I’m helping her and recruiting other people to help.”
Sean Feasel
Marie Nordman
freshman business major from Southlake
freshman political science major from Bridgeprort
“Nothing.”
“I’m getting my pledges motivated to build a float and win again.”
Derrick Wilson
Demetrius Collins
freshman accounting and Christian ministry major from Houston
senior exercise science major from Odessa
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist Editorial Board 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, its Editorial Board or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
In Your Words
“I’m getting ready for a football game—practicing!”
way of established relationships. Social clubs are a great way to meet new people, but the excitement of pledging can ruin old friendships. Although pledging builds community among club members, it has the potential to destroy campus community. Students need to be aware of different campus dynamics and respond with respect and understanding. Enjoy pledging while it lasts. When else will you have the opportunity to see women in bright yellow skirts carrying lunch boxes, and men wearing blazers to class?
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. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@jmc.acu.edu
I remember the collective gasps around the theatre when Michael Moore made the apparently stunning revelation in his film Fahrenheit 911 that U.S. congressmen and senators do not read most of the legislation they vote on. I wasn’t stunned. This made perfect sense to me. It Ask the hadn’t been, Question after all, two Jonathan weeks prior Smith that I was given the same advice. Don’t read the actual bills proposed in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, my internship supervisor in Washington, D.C., said. Ninetynine percent of the time it is a waste of time. Despite the fact that I was about to write an article about the proposed bill, this made perfect sense. Why read pages
So when I see examples of rational ignorance, they make perfect sense to me. and pages of the original when I can pick up everything I need to know from senators and congressmen debating the bill? The concept is called rational ignorance, and it is the economic idea that sometimes it is more profitable to remain ignorant than continuing to learn about a subject. Information has its costs; whether that is some sort of fee or my time. At some point the costs of gathering information outweigh the benefits that come from gathering more, so naturally that is where the gathering stops. So when I see examples of rational ignorance, they make perfect sense to me. But they don’t make sense because I have some acute understanding of rational ignorance—honestly, I hadn’t heard the term before this summer.
It makes sense because I’ve been privileged to experience it to its fullest the past two years, even without knowing the term, from students here at ACU—at least they think it is rational. “I don’t know how to go about registering out of state. If I knew how, I would.” That quote appeared in the Optimist Wednesday from a student as a reason for not voting. Word of advice: simply Google the phrase “registering to vote” or “absentee ballot” and droves of Web sites will appear giving exact instructions on how to register or get an absentee ballot mailed to you from out of state. That would probably take about a minute to learn how and maybe a couple of minutes to actually register to vote or
request a ballot. I’ll even allot a generous 10 minutes for you to fill out the ballot once you receive it. All told, you might have spent 20 or 30 minutes voting in this year’s election. You can’t tell me that it would have been a better half hour spent watching a rerun of Seinfeld or putting off a class assignment you weren’t going to do anyway. So if you have studied the facts, researched the issues and taken some time getting ready to vote—claim rational ignorance. There truly does come a time to simply make your choice on the information you have collected because researching more issues is unlikely to change that. If you have not taken the time to exercise your constitutional right to vote, do not claim ignorance—claim apathy, but there is nothing rational about that. E-mail Smith at: optimist@acu.edu or jvs02a@acu.edu
Turn campus from ‘rejection fest’ to ‘love fest’ Social clubs are a place people can go to be loved, accepted and heard. A safe place where friendships can be nurtured and discipling can take place. Where traditions are passed on, and lessons learned that will help members prepare for “the real world,” whatever that means, apparently especially if you plan to produce reality television. But my problem with social clubs is not in their focus or even in their pledging process. A big part of my problem is the rejection of others for the sake of being accepted by a new peer group. In my estimation, it is the
fear of rejection that drives social clubs. Social clubs are made up of people who are afraid that they will not find what social clubs offer outside it. It is the fear of rejection that motivates me to write this article. I don’t want my friends to pledge because I don’t want to “lose them” to a club. Those in social clubs and those outside it are equally guilty of rejecting the other out of fear. Those of us outside social clubs fear that we will lose our friends to activities and new friends, and it does happen. We must remember that our friends do not set out with the intention of
OPTIMIST THE
rejecting us. This time of year, ACU can become a place where people reject each other left and right. Your friend can’t go out because of pledging activities, so when he or she can go out, you ignore the call, beginning a vicious cycle that will kill relationships and eventually, turn ACU’s campus into a giant rejection-fest, with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let’s make campus an enjoyable love fest instead. Wash your roommate’s clothes while he’s out getting beat up. Make an effort,
YOUR VOICE even though you’re tired, to swing by your friend’s room after you get done pledging for the evening. These next few weeks don’t have to be a time that people come out scarred and hurt. Relationships don’t have to be sacrificed upon the altar of acceptance, but it’s our responsibility to be loving and mindful of the other. Josh Harris junior integrated marketing and biblical text major from Parker
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ARTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
October 1, 2004
The Box Office Figures are for the weekend of September 24-26 and are in millions. Total grosses in parentheses.
‘Casablanca’ gets better as time goes by -Classic Films‘Casablanca’ By DEE TRAVIS
1 The Forgotten—$21 (new) 2 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow—$6.66 ($25.5) 3 Mr. 3000—$5.09 ($15.4) 4 Resident Evil: Apocalypse—$4.04 ($43.5) 5 First Daughter—$4 (new) 6 Cellular—$3.66 ($25.1) 7 Shaun of the Dead—$3.33 (new) 8 Wimbledon—$3.32 ($12.1) 9 Without a Paddle—$2.35 ($53.5) 10 Hero—$2.24 ($49.2)
New York Times Best-Selling Fiction Novels Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list. 1/1/2 Patricia Cornwell, Trace 2/2/79 Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code 3/-/1 Sidney Sheldon, Are You Afraid of the Dark? 4/3/3 Susan Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell 5/4/52 Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven 6/6/38 Dan Brown, Angels and Demons 7/-/1 Jennifer Weiner, Little Earthquakes 8/7/19 Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, The Rule of Four 9/8/10 Carl Hiaasen, Skinny Dip 10/5/3 Julie Garwood, Murder List
Top-Selling Albums Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the chart. 1/-/1 Nelly, Suit 2/-/1 Nelly, Sweat 3/2/4 Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying 4/3/3 Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company 5/5/8 Various Artists, Now 16 6/6/9 Ashlee Simpson, Autobiography 3 7/1/2 Alan Jackson, What I Do 8/11/71 Maroon 5, Songs About Jane 2 9/4/2 Anita Baker, My Everything 10/12/26 Usher, Confessions 5
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ARTS EDITOR
Being an appreciator of cinema, I believe classic films to be very important. In many cases, classic cinema reflects the values of the culture and time in which it originated. Classic doesn’t necessarily equal ‘old’ and rarely equals ‘boring.’ I find that films that are still influencing viewers today often have great insight to offer. Therefore, the following is the first in what I hope to make a monthly series of classic film recommendations, and seeing as how I love no film more than Casablanca, I decided it was the perfect place to start. Great art that stands the test of time generally revolves around universal human values and emotions, and people of all ages and backgrounds are able to connect with Casablanca’s ideas of humor, excitement and romance. The backdrop of World War II gives the film ‘period picture’ status, but at the time of Casablanca’s release, it was all unfolding in the present. The Nazi Third Reich had torn through Europe, conquered Paris and had eyes set on England. At a time when the world was in desperate need of a hero, Casablanca delivered the antithesis: Richard Blaine, a film noir everyman who cares for no one but himself. The story tells of a city in French Morocco in the heat of WWII. From Casablanca, refugees can travel to America to escape German oppression. Unfortunately, exit visas are expensive, and most people simply die in Casablanca. Then there’s Rick. Rick is an American, run-
Today’s Movies Shark Tale — starring Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger; directed by Bibo Bergeran and Vicky Jensen The son of a shark boss (De Niro) of a crime family appears to have been killed, and Smith plays a fish who poses as the infamous killer, “Sharkslayer.”
ning a cafe and living in Casablanca by choice. When a beautiful, mysterious woman arrives at his door, Rick finds himself face to face with the only thing he seems to fear: his past. Casablanca’s screenplay, one of the greatest ever written, has an intriguing origin upon closer inspection. The script was based on a play written by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, neither of whom contributed to the screenplay. Three other men wrote the adaptation from stage to screen, meaning that there were ultimately five people whose ideas magically merged and are represented in the film. The witty banter between characters remains just as sharp as it was 60 years ago. Yvonne, a woman Rick has apparently been seeing, asks him, “Where were you last night?” Rick coolly responds, “That was so long ago I don’t remember.” “Will I see you tonight?” she inquires. “I never make plans that far ahead.” Louis Renault, one of the most memorable supporting characters in all of American film, later tells Rick, “How extravagant you are, throwing away women like that; someday they may be scarce.” When one considers the cast of Casablanca, it’s no mystery as to why the film flows so well. The leads, played by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, have a wonderful chemistry on screen, much of which stems from facial expressions. The film also has one of the greatest supporting casts of all time, featuring Peter Lorre, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Dooley Wilson; the list goes on. So many legendary actors contributed to the fabric of the picture that its legitimacy is never questioned; viewers are caught up in the concerns of the characters right from the start.
I Heart Huckabees—starring Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin; directed by David O. Russell (opening in select cities) A corporate loser hires two “existential detectives” to help get his life back on track.
Photo Courtesy of WWW.CASALINX.COM
Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) embraces Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) in ‘Casablanca,’ one of Hollywood’s greatest romances. concerning his nationality, Rick gives the famous response, “I’m a drunkard.” Louis Renault, played by the legendary Claude Rains, remarks, “That makes Rick a citizen of the world.” If the apathetic Rick Blaine could emerge as a triumphant hero amidst trying times, then hope exists for everyone. Some are quick to point out logical discrepancies in the plot, but the film is hardly a WWII documentary. Casablanca emerges as a film about romance and the human spirit. Everyone likes to imagine themselves being noble in the
end, as Rick is, by sacrificing their love for something greater than themselves. At the time of its release in 1943, Casablanca gave hope to a desperate world, and its messages of idealism and hope have lost none of their potency. It seems only fitting that the song made famous by the film is As Time Goes By; Casablanca will live on forever, waiting patiently for new generations to experience it. E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
Essence of Ebony to hold poetry reading Students from three universities invited for poetry at Java City By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR
Ladder 49—starring Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta; directed by Jay Russell When Phoenix is trapped in a burning building, he reflects back on his life while Travolta organizes a rescue effort.
One aspect of most great films is that they stand the test of time; they’re equipped to survive infinite viewings, and the difference is in the little things. In Casablanca, the walk-on actors make a significant contribution. The film is set in French Morocco but was actually a low-budget work filmed on an American backlot. If the authenticity of the film was going to stand up, the filmmakers had enough foresight to realize that American actors wouldn’t suffice. The full cast represents a hodge-podge of nationalities, so that actors with one or two lines not only speak with an accent, but look very foreign. One unsung hero of the film is its camerawork. There exists among many viewers today an irrational disdain for black and white cinematography. Perhaps they associate it with something outdated or far removed from them, but black and white can provide powerful contrasts. Probably the greatest examples of optimal use of black and white are Citizen Kane and The Third Man, films which couldn’t possibly exist and convey the same emotions in color. In Casablanca, the cinematographer knew how to cast shadows on the actors and set. Several scenes show characters’ shadows approaching before the characters themselves are seen. Black and white film creates an uncertain, intriguing backdrop, and the whole mood of the picture depends on it. Humphrey Bogart’s Rick has become an American icon not only because of his celebrated cynicism, but also because of his character’s gradual transformation into someone who cares. He occasionally utters his motto, “I stick my neck out for nobody,” strolling through his smoke-filled cafe without a care in the world. When confronted by a Nazi commander
Essence of Ebony is conducting its annual Poetry Night at Java City coffee house at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Essence of Ebony president Camille Jackson, senior family studies and human development major from Abilene,
said students from the three Christian universities in Abilene have attended the event in the past. “The event draws students from Hardin-Simmons and McMurry, as well as ACU,” she said. “Since Java City is right across from HardinSimmons, we should have more of their students there this year.” The event provides an opportunity for individuals to participate in poetry readings, and Jackson said a variety of poetry is presented. “Students can do individ-
ual or personal poems, but they can also read poems by published authors,” she said. Most students will recite poems that they create themselves, Jackson said. “We get a lot of personal poems about relationships,” she said. “They usually contain a lot of emotion and feeling. They’re very interesting to listen to.” Tickets will be on sale at the Campus Center ticket windows from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. “Students can buy tickets for $3,” Jackson said. “For $5,
you can get a ticket plus an entry in the raffle. The winner will get tickets to a Dallas Mavericks game.” Jackson said the event provides an excellent opportunity to share poetry and get to know other students. “It’s something fun and positive for students to do,” she said. “It gives people of all cultures and backgrounds a chance to express themselves and get to know each other.” E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS/FROM THE FRONT PAGE
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Friday, October 1, 2004
Adoption shares American culture Program connects families with international students EMILY CHASTAIN STUDENT REPORTER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Logan Hyde, freshman engineering major from Tulsa, Okla., Paul Goncalves, freshman biblical text major from Itu, Brazil, and Thomas Robinson, freshman Bible major from New York City, hang out in the Chicken Express on East North 10th Street on Wednesday.
Goncalves: Paul spreads God’s love Continued from Page 1 Almost instantaneously, the place he called home for eight years, Itu, Brazil, changed from a home to a mission field, and an after-school job at an English language school turned into an opportunity to share the love of Christ.
Growing up Paul grew up in Brazil. He was born in Abilene in August of 1985 and was whisked away to the city of Curitiba by his parents, Antenor, a Brazilian, and Phyllis, an American. The family spent about seven years church-planting in Curitiba, a “small” city of more than one million people in southern Brazil. Paul and Ali, both darkhaired and dark-eyed, attended Brazilian school but spoke English at home, leaving them fluent in English and Portuguese. When he was 8 years old, Paul and his family moved to Oklahoma for one year while his dad preached at the family’s supporting church. “When I was a kid, my dream was to come to the United States,” he said. But after spending the rest of his adolescence in Itu, southeastern Brazil, he says he’s “more Brazilian than American.” “I’m American, but I have a different perspective,” he added. Much of that perspective comes from the religious background of Brazil, where Paul says everyone is a nonpracticing Catholic. In a way, he says that makes it easier for him to share the news of Christ. “In Brazil, they have never really heard of the church,” he said.
Once Paul became a Christian, telling the Brazilian world about Christ came naturally. He said a change of attitude was all he needed. “Before I knew the Lord, it was like, ‘How can I gather up courage to tell people about Jesus?’” Paul explained. “After I felt his love, I was like, ‘How can I keep from telling about this?’” Marusia was the first person Paul saw come to Christ. She was the owner of the English language school where Paul taught. He was a natural teacher because of his fluency in English and Portuguese. They started a Bible study, and one month later she was baptized. “That was the first person,” Paul said, still with a little bit of awe. “The Lord
using the Bible, he agreed to work for half pay, Ali said. But for Paul, the English lessons were just a tool to do the Lord’s work. People started to take notice of Paul’s work at the English school. The Itu Church of Christ, a congregation of about 350, let the teenager preach. He even became the unofficial youth minister, a rare position in Brazilian churches. Paul was working with about 40 teenagers in the Itu youth group when he first met Mark Kaiser, senior social work major from Columbus, Ohio, who had come to Brazil to visit his girlfriend and Paul’s sister, Ali. Kaiser said he remembers Paul then, much as he is now. “I remember thinking he
“You pick your wife and get stuck with your inlaws, but he’s the one I enjoy being stuck with.” Mark Kaiser, senior social work major from Columbus, Ohio
brought her to himself through me.” Soon after Marusia became a Christian, Paul began a study with her boyfriend, George. Two months later he came to Christ. “He took a little longer,” Paul said, as if two months was a long time in which to change a person’s life forever. After George came his brother, Luiz. Then Aline and her husband and Marusia’s parents. He used the English lessons to get the discussions going. Sometimes he studied the Gospels in English, sometimes he used a Bible study book and sometimes just a discussion. In order to teach
was a very, very friendly person,” Kaiser said. “He really engaged people.” At ACU Paul has retained his friendliness, inviting his U-100 class to his sister’s home for dessert and never failing to greet an acquaintance he sees on campus. “I’m glad I’m living around him this semester,” Kaiser said. “You pick your wife and get stuck with your in-laws, but he’s one I enjoy being stuck with.” Over the years, Kaiser has gotten to know Paul and become part of his life, giving him insights into the confident freshman’s personality. “He enjoys arguments,” Kaiser said. “He gets random
ideas, and even when he knows they’re on the ridiculous side, he fights them. “I enjoy taking him down every now and again.”
Living in Abilene Since Paul moved back to Abilene in January he has spent his extra time working several jobs and adjusting to a new life. His wide and friendly grin could be seen all over the city, at Olive Garden, Cajun Cones and a cleaning business. He’s worked so many different jobs that he has trouble remembering each one. The extra time he’s had in Abilene has given Paul a chance to build relationships, which he loves. His love of people comes out in random forms, like wearing a gorilla suit around campus. His friends bought him the suit, which he plans to wear sporadically throughout the semester. “It wouldn’t make sense if I tried to explain it,” he said. “I like to see people laugh,” he finally attempted. “It’s my passion in life.” Since he began school at ACU, he’s had many opportunities to make his new friends laugh. “I’ve met so many people in the last two weeks, it’s not even funny,” he said. But he loves it. He loves the new faces and new relationships. “He’s in love with people,” Ali said. “His passion is to be with people.”
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
For international students looking for a home away from home, a program is in the works that can help. Laura Blake, coordinator of international student services, is developing a program that will allow international students at ACU to sign up to be “adopted” by volunteer couples and families. “It’s so the Americans can learn about international culture, and the international students can learn about American culture,” Blake said. She said although she realizes how busy both parties are, the adoptive families are expected to spend time with their student at least once a month and to call occasionally to see how things are going. Statistics have shown that most international students that study in the United States never enter an American home in the time they’re here, Blake said. “I think it’s important for any student to get to experience family life and not just
stay with their peers all the time.” Blake plans to conduct an orientation meeting for participants within the next few weeks. The program is open to any international students at ACU and any couples or families that choose to volunteer. Those interested should call Blake at x2821, or e-mail her at laura.blake@acu.edu. Moustafa Assany, freshman financial management major from Madagascar, said in an email that he signed up for the program because he’s interested in learning about the differences between a Malagasy family and an American family. In addition to wanting to know more about the American way of life, Assany said he’d like “to have a relationship with some persons who can give me good advice and direction.” Blake said she would like to see the program give international students a connection to the American way of life. “My hope is that the volunteers and students will connect and just enjoy each other,” Blake said, “and that once I get them started, they’ll take off on their own.” E-mail Chastain at: optimist@acu.edu
Professor’s article published in journal Gentry researched, wrote about women involved in terrorism DANIELLE LINTHICUM STUDENT REPORTER
When Dr. Caron Gentry was a student, she was granted what she called “the interview of a lifetime.” She was traveling to the Middle-Eastern country of Jordan to speak with Leila Khaled, a notorious female terrorist who hijacked an Israeli and an American plane in the ‘60s to give a violent voice to her cause. “She was very compelling,” Gentry said. Now an associate assistant professor in the Political Science Department, Gentry wrote an article that was published in the summer 2004 issue of the journal Terrorism and Political Violence, and she continues to be interested in the issue of female terrorism and what these women are fighting for. Through her writing and research, Gentry said she wants to “get rid of gender bias, both in terrorism and international relations.” In her article, “The Relationship Between New Social Movement Theory and Terrorism Studies: The Role of Leadership, Membership, Ideology and Gender,” she said female terrorists are usu-
ally portrayed as more irrational or emotional then their male counterparts. But, Gentry said she believes the only difference between men and women terrorists is that the women are more desperate. “They have seen so many of their men die that they feel they must speak their mind,” Gentry said. She said that simply by being active in terrorist organizations, these women are making a huge statement. Gentry said she does not believe Hailey terrorism is ever legitimate, but she said “in order to fix the problem, you must first understand the issues involved.” Dr. Mel Hailey, chair of the Political Science Department, said he found Dr. Gentry’s article to be well researched and timely. “Dr. Gentry gives new insights into the role of gender and terrorism,” he said. “She debunks some of the older notions of why females become terrorists and how their behavior differs from the male terrorist.” E-mail Linthicum at: optimist@acu.edu
Wreck: Cromwell to go before grand jury Continued from Page 1 could have been minutes. It seemed like an eternity,” Cromwell said. “I was crying, sobbing and apologizing, all the stupid stuff you do.” Cromwell was taken to Hendrick Medical Center but did not have any injuries. “Physically I’m fine,” she said. “My vehicle is totaled. His is fine, but he’s dead, and I don’t have a scratch on me. “I wish it were me instead of him.”
Because the accident resulted in a death, the police are testing Cromwell’s blood for drug and alcohol content. It could take up to six months to get the results back, she said police told her. “It’ll be negative,” Cromwell said. However, when the results come in, Cromwell will go before a Taylor County grand jury that will decide if the case should go to court. She could be charged with manslaughter. “The police told me ‘live your
life, do your thing’,” Cromwell said. “When (the test results) come back, I’m going to have to go through it all again.” Cromwell said the police told her she was reckless for looking down, but they also told her Anyanwu was not wearing a seat belt. Anyanwu attended ACU for one semester in the spring of 2001. Although he was originally from Nigeria, he lived in Abilene with his wife and her children at the time of his death. He was a student at McMurry and
the Shelton School of Nursing. The International Students Association will plan a memorial service with Anyanwu’s family, said Susanne Drehsel, senior interdisciplinary major from Heidelberg, Germany and vice president of ISA. Although Cromwell spent the week at home in Pinehurst, she said plans to be back in Abilene next week. She is on track to graduate in May. E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
JUMPS
Friday, October 1, 2004
Page 9
Volleyball: Team sweeps WTAMU in three Continued from Page 10 Slate led the Wildcats with a .370 hitting percentage, a game-high 16 kills and two digs. Martin posted a gamehigh 52 assists, junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt added 12 kills and 16 digs and junior middle blocker Ashlee Motola chipped in 12 digs and hit .400. “We played confidently and we dominated the net,” said head coach Brek Horn. “Our defense really made a difference.” The ACU defense challenged the Lady Buffs offense all night recording seven team blocks and holding them to a .066 team hitting percentage. ACU forced the confused Lady Buffs to use four timeouts while the Wildcats never called a timeout. Four Wildcats finished with double-digit digs: senior libero Kellen Morrow (22 digs), Bernhardt (16 digs),
freshman outside hitter Liz Snoddy (12 digs) and sophomore setter Malia Plumlee (11 digs). “Our defense played great against a very good team. We just played a allstrong around game,” Bernhardt said. Last night’s win was arguSnoddy ably the biggest in the history of ACU volleyball. Morrow said last night was a match she’s been waiting to win her entire ACU career. “Honestly this is a dream come true,” Morrow said. “Coming in as a freshman I heard about WT and we finally have beat them. We have to have to build off this momentum.” The Lady Buffs still own the lifetime series with ACU 40-6-1, but the Wildcats look
Match Notes Team Statistics
Individual Leaders
ACU 39 / .175
K/PCT
LCU 28 / (-.031)
6
SA
5
11
SE
5
63
Digs
63
9
Blocks
5
Attendance: 325
to knock off the reigning LSC South champions in 2004. “I want to tear down the stigma of West Texas A&M,” Horn said. “When I took over this program we were at the bottom, but after five years of hard work and dedication we are now one step closer to what I want to accomplish.” Horn said her immediate goal is to re-focus and prepare for Saturday’s match against
Kills: Michelle Bernhardt - 17 (.304 pct.) Amanda Slate - 7 (.130 pct.) Digs: Kellen Morrow - 18 Malia Plumlee - 18 Assists: Lindsey Martin - 35 Service Aces: Slate, Plumlee - 2 Time: 1:26
Eastern New Mexico. The match begins at 2 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. “The players should all be off their high from this game by tomorrow’s practice; at least they better be, ” Horn said. “We just have to enjoy this and then go on to the next thing. There are several more matches to play this year.” E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
Football: Win would help regional ranking
Country: International players adjust to culture Continued from Page 10 Naimadu. Freshman Vincent Morogah also is vying for a spot in the top five ACU runners. Having arrived less than a month ago, Naimadu and Ngirakamaro have yet to compete for ACU, and Murray said the OSU Jamboree will be the first test for the two African runners. “It’s going to be a good one to see where these new people fall into place. They’ve been working out very well,” he said. “These new guys have got to get adjusted to being in school, and in the U.S., and working out with the team. They just improve each time we work out together.”
On the women’s side, junior Adeh Mwamba is running well for ACU and should be a frontrunner Saturday. She’ll likely feel pressure from teammate Olha Kryv’yak, however, who has competed well in the first two meets. Depth continues to be a problem for the ACU women, however, as the times drop off significantly after No. 3 runner Trina Cox. “There will be a lot of good teams,” Murray said. “We’ll have a good idea where we stand in the region.”
Continued from Page 10
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Freshman outside hitter Allie Watts (left) and freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry celebrate after the women’s volleyball team defeated West Texas A&M for the first time in almost 11 years on Thursday. The Wildcats won 3-0 (30-19, 30-22, 30-22).
Senior starting quarterback Greg Wiggins changes the play at the line of scrimmage during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Southeastern Oklahoma State at Shotwell Stadium.
knows when it’s time to get to it, and if we communicate well, we can be successful.” Malunowe has contributed to the Wildcat defense with 16 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss in the team’s first four games. However, the defense will have to get tough Saturday as it has allowed 208.8 rushing yards per game which ranks 12th in the conference. “We preach the same things every week: execution, fundamentals, special teams ... our time of posses-
sion has been good, but we still aren’t as efficient as we need to be yet,” head coach Gary Gaines said. Though the Savages are in the north division of the LSC, the game still holds relevance to the Wildcats’ hopes of reaching the postseason. The top six teams in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region Poll determines who will make the playoffs, and currently Southeastern is eighth while ACU is 12th. E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
Golf: Players acquire experience Parade: Grand marshals named Continued from Page 10 “If you cut a shot here or there, we’ve got a shot to move up,” Campbell said. “We didn’t play poorly, but we didn’t play as well as we’d like to.” This year’s ACU squad has no seniors and lost its top player, Pierre Goethals, from last year’s team. “We’re gaining experience as we go along,” Campbell said. “I think this team has potential.”
Campbell is trying to get the team that experience against some tough competition. Northeastern State, the host and winner of the recent tournament, was seventh in the nation last year and returned a strong squad. On Monday and Tuesday the Wildcats travel to Phoenix to play in the Grand Canyon University Fall Invitational at Estrella Mountain Ranch. Campbell said there will be many teams there from California, all of whom can play.
“It will probably be the toughest field we’ll play all year,” Campbell said. Campbell says this young team can be pretty good, and keeps coming back to their potential. “We’re just trying to go out and get better with each event.”
E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Congress: SA to study meal plans Continued from Page 1 icant percentage of the student body. That motion failed, however, and regardless of dissenters, Congress passed the resolution 37-10 with four abstaining. Congress also unanimously approved the creation of a new committee to study the university’s contract with ARAMARK Food Services and determine what possibilities and suggestions could be made regarding student meal plans. Sen. Daniel Gray, sopho-
more social work major from Collierville, Tenn., who suggested the committee to Congress, said Tommy Butler, last year’s Biblical Studies Building representative who graduated in May, had studied meal plans last year, and Gray wanted to continue that work. He said he has heard several complaints this semester, specifically about the Bean more strictly enforcing its policy not to allow students to use two of their meal plans at a time to let another student into the Bean. “We might not completely
rectify the situation, but we can see what we can do for the students,” Gray said. He said he hopes the 11person committee can begin meeting as soon as next week to brainstorm possibilities about what it can do. Congress also filled a Biblical Studies Building representative seat, unanimously approving the appointment of Adam Smith, junior youth and family ministry major from Whitehouse. E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
Continued from Page 1 genuine concern for the student body as well as ACU,” said Samantha Adkins, coordinator of Alumni Programs. “Quite a few were nominated, but those two were at the top of the list.” Both Moore and Lewis said they were surprised with the news in their classes on Wednesday. Steering Committee member Mark Edwards, freshman youth and family ministry major from Houston, said Moore didn’t know what to say at first. “We told his class that we had something to tell them about their teacher, and Adkins he looked a little nervous,” Edwards said. “When we told him, he wasn’t even able to speak. He just laughed and smiled a lot.” The grand marshals will have special reserved seats at Chapel on the Friday of Homecoming, and they will be in the first car leading the Homecoming Parade on Saturday.
“When we told him, he wasn’t even able to speak. He just laughed and smiled a lot.” Mark Edwards, freshman youth and family ministry major
Pina said the originality of the theme will affect the floats that participate. “Because of the theme, I think the floats will be inventive and crazy,” she said. “It will be something different than ACU will have seen before.” This year’s festivities will feature a new event called JamFest Friday of Homecoming week. JamFest is a concert where both ACU bands as well as alumni bands will perform in concert for both students and alumni. “We had seven bands come to the interest meeting this past Tuesday,” Pina said. “It’s not specific to any one type of music. The bands so far have played about anything and everything. Students can still sign up by emailing Jennifer Fuentes.” The Steering Committee has been working on planning other events such as Homecoming Chapel and the announcement of the Homecoming Queen candidates.
The committee is also organizing a golf tournament. “The golf tournament is held on Friday of Homecoming week,” Pina said. “It benefits the V.W. Kelley scholarship, and it’s open for anyone who wants to join.” The annual Homecoming Parade will be held on Saturday of Homecoming. Pina said the originality of the theme will affect the floats that participate. A pre-game party and reunion parties will be held on Saturday as well. This year, the Homecoming Steering Committee has created a new spirit committee. “The spirit committee will be in charge of getting the student body psyched about ACU,” Pina said. “We’re going to have theme days along with spirit days that each class can compete in as well.” E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu
SPORTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 10
LSC South Standings Football Team Div. 1. A&M-Kingsville 1-0 2. Midwestern State 1-0 3. E. New Mexico 1-0 4. A&M-Commerce 0-0 5. ACU 0-1 6. W. Texas A&M 0-1 7. Angelo State 0-1
Tot. 3-0 3-1 2-3 2-2 2-2 1-3 0-5
Volleyball Team 1. E. New Mexico 2. Angelo State 3. ACU 4. Tarleton State 5. West Texas A&M 6. A&M-Kingsville
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Tot. 12-3 13-4 14-5 12-6 11-7 6-10
Briefs Women’s tennis team hits the road The ACU women’s tennis team will be all over the map this weekend. In an attempt to get all of the players some more matches, part of the team will head to Lexington, Ky., for the University of Kentucky Fall Invitational, and part will participate in the Texas Tech Red Raider Invitational in Lubbock. “Instead of getting two or three girls that don’t get to play much in one tournament, every one is going to get to play a lot,” ACU coach Hutton Jones said. Summer Beesley, Ashley Hawk-Caperton, Lana Pavlin and Rachel Taylor will play in Kentucky. The tournament is filled with household-name Division I schools: Notre Dame, Ohio State University, Purdue, Auburn, University of Michigan and host Kentucky. “We’ll win our share of matches,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t go up there if I didn’t think we could be competitive.” The other members of the team — Joy Israel, Meagan Brown, Holly Lindloff, Allison Tetrick and Lauren Yarbouh— will go to Texas Tech. The University of New Mexico, Air Force and the Red Raiders are some of the participants. The ability to split the team up and play two high-profile tournaments in the same weekend speaks to the depth that Jones is so fond of. This is the fourth straight weekend that the women have had a tournament, and they will be in action again next weekend in the LSC Individual Championships. Jones said he thinks all the work will pay off. — Warren Gray Sports Writer
LSC Volleyball Statistical Leaders Team: Hitting Percentage No. 2 (.221) Kills No. 1 (15.39 p/g) Blocks No. 3 (1.97 p/g) Service Aces No. 2 (2.23 p/g) Individual: Hitting Percentage No. 1 Amanda Slate (.358) No. 10 Michelle Bernhardt (.253) Kills No. 2 Bernhardt (4.61 p/g) Assists No. 1 Lindsey Martin (12.67 p/g) Digs No. 10 Kellen Morrow (3.94 p/g) - Kyle Robarts Sports Editor
Cats end losing streak to WTAMU
Golf team places ninth Youthful group looks to reach potential as season progresses By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
Volleyball team wins its first Lone Star Conference South game By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcats flung an 11year monkey forcefully off their backs Thursday night soundly beating West Texas A&M in a three-game sweep in Moody Coliseum. ACU demolished their rivals 30-19, 30-22, 30-22 in less than 90 minutes in front of 522 fans. “The fans were so loud we couldn’t even hear ourselves on the court,” said junior setter Lindsey Martin. “I really think our crowd got into their heads.” The Wildcats extend their win streak to nine games and improve their record to 15-5 overall and 1-0 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. Before last night, the Wildcats had managed to win only seven of the last seventyseven games against the Lady Buffs and had not won a match against West Texas A&M since Oct. 8, 1993.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Senior libero Kellen Morrow digs the ball in Thursday night’s victory over West Texas A&M. “We knew we had them blocker Amanda Slate. nated every aspect of the conafter the first game. This is just ACU, picked to finish sec- ference opener. a huge win in our first confer- ond behind West Texas A&M See VOLLEYBALL Page 9 ence game,” said junior middle in the pre-season poll, domi-
ACU’s young golf team finished ninth in the Northeastern State University Men's Golf Classic in Muskogee, Okla., on Tuesday. The Wildcats posted the fifth lowest score in the final round to move up a slot on the final day of the tournament. Curtis Harris, a sophomore transfer from Adam State University, shot a 71 in the third and final round. Only one player in the field finished lower than Harris in the round that ACU coach Mike Campbell described as the most difficult of the event, thanks to some tough pin placements. “He played really well,” Campbell said. “He had one of the best rounds of the day.” Even with the low round, two other Wildcats finished ahead of him overall. Kyle Byerly, 72-76-76, and Matt Samples, 73-75-76, both finished with a score of 224 and tied for 26th place. Harris, who shot a 78 and 76 on the first day, finished tied for 32nd. Zach Starnes and Carlos Alvarez finished out the ACU team, tying for 53rd and 58th place respectively. Campbell said the teams were bunched up pretty close all the way through the field. See GOLF Page 9
Morrow, Bernhardt honored ACU to face D-I foes ACU players named offensive and defensive P.O.W.s By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
A pair of Wildcats were honored for their play in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament last weekend in Abilene. Senior libero Kellen Morrow was named LSC South defensive player of the week, and junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt was named LSC South offensive player of the week for their performances last Morrow week. Morrow and Bernhardt will look to lead the Wildcats again when the team hosts Eastern New Mexico on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. Morrow had 63 digs (4.85 per game), six service aces, two kills and one assist in four matches last week. She posted
Volleyball 31 digs in a four-game win over three-time defending LSC North champion Central Oklahoma. Morrow leads the Wildcats with 248 games in 63 total games this season. She also leads the team with 3.94 digs per game. Bernhardt finished the week with 71 kills, 42 digs and six blocks during the fourmatch week. She also had her best game of the week against UCO, posting 23 kills and 21 digs. The Wildcats were dominant in the crossover tournament and have a 17-1 record overall since the tournament’s creation in the 1999 season. Bernhardt leads the team in kills with 295 and in kills per game averaging 4.61 a game. The Hereford native ranks in the top 10 in school history with more than 1,000 kills. Head coach Brek Horn said when a player is honored by the LSC, she announces it in practice. “It means something to a player when you are recog-
nized because it shows your hard work is paying off and others are noticing,” Horn said. Others are also noticing the Wildcats as the team has quietly improved its record to 14-5 this season. ACU, which was chosen in the preseason to finish second in the LSC South division, played its first conference match Thursday night against rival West Texas A&M. Horn said the match against the Lady Buffs was important, but so is Saturday’s match a g a i n s t Eastern New Mexico. “There’s a lot of hype around the West Texas match but it’s not the only match of the Bernhardt season,” Horn said. “Every match is important. If we beat West Texas but lost to Eastern New Mexico, we would still be 1-1. We can’t focus on only one match.” E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
OSU, Kansas, Arkansas among opponents for meet
Cross Country
By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will run against their fastest competition so far this season on Saturday, competing in the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The men’s team is ranked fifth in the national poll this week, but it will see its match this weekend against a field of Division I powerhouses, including No. 16 Arkansas, OSU and Kansas, among other teams. “It’ll be one of the best meets in the South and Midwest,” head coach Jon Murray said. The Wildcat men placed fifth at last year’s Jamboree, propelled by a second-place finish from Bernard Manirakiza and a fifth-place finish from Martin O’Kello. The ACU duo will look to dominate the competition this year
but will have to outrun some speedy individuals to do so. Murray said he expects last year’s runner-up to be running toward the front again this year. “I think Bernard is in the best shape I’ve seen him in since he’s been there,” he said. Arkansas has one of the top runners in the nation in transfer Josephat Boit. Boit finished 15th at last year’s Jamboree, competing for Cowley College, but he won the 8,000meter Missouri Southern Stampede last Saturday in 23:54.82, wearing Razorback red for the first time. Arkansas always has several others who place high to keep the team scores low at the big meets, but ACU’s depth got a kick-start with the late addition of a freshman runner from Kenya, Laurent Ngirakamaro. Ngirakamaro rounds out a top five that includes Manirakiza, O’Kello, transfer Lucky Hadebe, and freshman Nicodemus Naimadu. Freshman Vincent See CROSS
COUNTRY Page 9
Team faces high-powered offense Saturday SEOSU’s No. 1-ranked offense meets ACU’s No. 11-ranked defense By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR
Falling to 2-2 on the season may not have been what the Wildcats had in mind after upsetting the nationally ranked Tarleton State Texans,
but the team is ready to move on with its last Lone Star Conference crossover matchup Saturday against Southeastern Oklahoma State. For the second week in a row, the Wildcats will be facing a double-threat at quarterback. Steven Hinson, Eastern New Mexico’s quarterback, was not only a passing threat going into last
This week in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Saturday, October 2 MCC: at OSU Cowboy Jamboree, 10 a.m. WCC: at OSU Cowboy Jamboree, 10 a.m. VB: Eastern New Mexico, 11 a.m. FB: SE Oklahoma State, 2 p.m. Monday, October 4 G: at Grand Canyon Fall Inv., 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 5 G: at Grand Canyon Fall Inv., 9 a.m.
October 1, 2004
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Sophomore starting running back Mark Gaines runs behind blockers during drills Tuesday. The Wildcats will play Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday 2 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium..
Football week’s game but led the team in rushing as well for the season. This week ACU will face senior Drew Beard, who is a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is the Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman trophy award. Through four games this season, Beard is ranked first in the LSC for total offense. He’s compiled 1,348 all-purpose yards with 1,039 passing yards and 309 rushing yards. His 77.2 rushing yards per contest ranks him fifth in the entire LSC, which means Beard is currently ahead of nine team-leading running backs in the conference, though in most cases quarterbacks give their team yardage through the air. He has also accounted for 12 touchdowns with eight through the passing game and four on the ground. As a team, Southeastern outranks ACU in most categories. The Savages are second in scoring offense (35.2
PPG), first in total offense (448.5 YPG), seventh in scoring defense (24.0 PPG), fourth in both the pass and rush offense, and sixth in both the pass and rush de- Abilene Christian (2-2, 0-1) vs SE Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0) fense categoDate: Saturday Oct. 1, 2004 Time: 2 p.m. ries. The WildLocation: Abilene Stadium: Shotwell Stadium (15,000, turf) cats only rank higher in the Audio: KULL 92.5 FM or streaming audio at www.tsrnsports.com pass defense category; they rank third with Colors: Purple and White 171.8 yards per Coach: Gary Gaines (18-26, 5th season) game. The Savages struggle in a Colors: Blue and Gold few areas as Coach: Keith Baxter (20-14, 4th season) they rank 11th in the conference with 86 penalty yards powered Southeastern per game and are 12th in the offense. opponent third down conver“We hope to come out sions category by allowing strong defensively,” junior 39.7 percent successful defensive end Mark attempts. Malunowe said. “They have a The Wildcats will be look- great offense, but our defense ing to have Tarleton-like perSee FOOTBALL Page 9 formance against the high-
Game Preview
Abilene Christian (2-2)
SE Oklahoma State (3-1)