OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY October 8, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 15 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Winter wardrobes:
Abilene’s artistic attractions:
Cats face winless Rams:
A winter clothing drive was organized to help the students from Madagascar. Page 3
Students looking for art-related activities have a variety to choose from in Abilene this month with ArtWalk and the Poets Corner. Page 6
The football team will play Angelo State at Shotwell Stadium on Saturday. Page 8
Some choose to quit pledging Number of those depledging slightly higher than last year By EMILY CHASTAIN STUDENT REPORTER
To depledge or not to depledge — that is the question students are considering as the month-long pledging period continues for social clubs. Twenty-three students have depledged this year as of Thursday night. Clubs sent out a total of 378 bids to potential pledges, said Mike Spell, director of judicial affairs and adviser of social clubs, in an e-mail. The term "depledging" means that an individual has decided to no longer participate in a social club and does not follow through with any more of the pledge process. That student usually talks with social club officers about his or her decision and is asked to contact the Office of Judicial Affairs as well. See CLUBS Page 7 Image courtesy of 2004 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Seeing the lights Gary Gaines’ road to ACU winds through West Texas By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
always fair to the kids. “Every coach understands his job is on the line,” Gaines said. “You’ve either just been fired or fixing to be fired.” The life of a coach brings different destinations, but through it all, Gaines said he always trusted that God would provide. Gary Gaines was born in 1949 in the small West Texas town of Crane.
Gary Gaines lives in a world few will ever experience. His resume includes district championships, playoff appearances and even a 1989 high school state championship. Even more surreal, the coach was featured in a best-selling book, Friday Night Lights and that portion of his life from 1988 will also be shown in the bigscreen version of the book. To d a y, though, Gaines Photo courtesy of CREATIVE SERVICES sits in his ofHead football coach Gary Gaines will be portrayed in the film fice reflecting on his own life. “Friday Night Lights,” which is being released this weekend. As a coach, Gaines moved from town to town Oil fields fueled the economy in every few years with wife and two Crane, but football fueled the lifeyoung children. blood of the community. Naturally, “I’ve been blessed so much with Gary Gaines played football. my wife, Sharon, and with my famSee GAINES Page 5 ily,” Gaines said. “This job it isn’t
‘Nice guy’ role was a relief for Thornton in ‘Lights’
ior off-screen don’t share the characteristics of ACU’s head football coach. Thornton and his former spouse Angelina Jolie were known By KYLE ROBARTS for wearing each other’s blood samSPORTS EDITOR ples around their necks and talking Among other roles, Billy Bob openly about their sex lives. Thornton has played a racist prison “He’s a good coach, he’s loyal to guard, a mentally his players, he’s challenged murderdedicated, depender and a vulgar, able, and reliable,” drunken Santa. senior linebacker And now he’s Gary Shawn Taylor said Gaines. of Gaines. “He Academy Award wants the best for winner Billy Bob his players.” T h o r n t o n Even with his (Monster’s Ball, diverse and risqué Sling Blade, Bad roles, Thornton Santa) will appear found coach Gaines’ in screens across ‘nice guy’ character America in Friday a relief as an actor. Night Lights as head “I had a feel for coach of the 1988 the kind of guy he Permian High was, and actually as School Panthers, an actor, I liked it also known as Gary better that he’s a Gaines. The film is nice guy because RALPH NELSON/2004 Universal Studios usually in sports based on the national bestseller Billy Bob Thornton plays coach movies, the coach is with the same title Gary Gaines in the adaptation of just intense 24 written by H.G. H.G. Bissinger's prize-winning hours a day, and Bissinger that book, “Friday Night Lights.” people don’t act like opens this weekthat,” Thornton end. said. “I’m glad that they didn’t tell For those who know Gaines, See THORNTON Page 5 Thornton’s past roles and his behav-
Congress votes not to change XO rules Students can run for executive office with 2.5 grade point average By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Students’ Association voted down an amendment to the bylaws that would have increased the required grade point average from 2.5 to 3.0 to run for an executive officer position. The amendment, which would have needed a twothirds vote from Congress, fell 20-23 with two abstaining. Senators Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major from Conroe, Brandon Smith, freshman political science major from Keller, and Missy Mae Walters, senior political science major from Abilene, See SA Page 7
Committee selects ten queen nominees Finalists chosen from pool of 279 nominated last week By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Ten senior women were kidnapped Wednesday night, taken to the Alumni Relations Office and notified they had been nominated for Homecoming Queen. Last week, students nominated 279 women to the Court, and students will vote for one
of the top-10 nominees for Queen from Oct. 13 to 15. The Queen’s Activities Committee of the Homecoming Steering Committee organized the kidnapping of the 10 women, said Betsey Craig, coordinator of Queen’s Activities for Homecoming. “It’s all kinds of fun and a surprise,” she said. The committee decorated the alumni office and prepared snacks for the women after the kidnapping. Jenny Fullerton, senior speech pathology major from
Garland, said she was surprised when the kidnappers came to her Sigma Theta Chi meeting. “Ten people dressed in black came knocking on my door,” she said. “It was intimidating, but it was funny. I was really shocked, but I’m really excited.” Laci Bills, senior exercise science and special education major from Sherman and vice president of Ko Jo Kai, also said she was surprised at the announcement. “I had no idea, but it’s such
an honor,” Bills said. “I just think it’s going to be really neat to be part of the Homecoming tradition. It’s something I’ll remember forever.” The women will take part in a Queen’s Tea the Friday of Homecoming Week, which will include the Coming Home Court — queen nominees from 10 years ago, Craig said. The nominees will be presented in Chapel on Friday and Saturday of Homecoming and ride in convertibles for the See QUEENS Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Excited Homecoming Queen nominees sit around a table and celebrate in the Alumni Relations Office after being brought together and notified of their nomination Wednesday night.