OPTIMIST_2004-10-22 by ACU Optimist

OPTIMIST THE

FRIDAY October 22, 2004

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Abilene Christian University

Vol. 93, No. 19 2 section, 28 pages www.acuoptimist.com

Serving the ACU community since 1912

On the issues:

Cartoons through the years:

Going great lengths:

See where President George Bush and Sen. John Kerry stand on political issues. Page 7A

A special opinion page looks at Optimist cartoons from the past few decades during Homecoming and election times. Page 11A

Cross country star Adeh Mwamba has come a long way from Zambia. Page 15A

Leaders plan second floor of Campus Center Congress creates committee to study options for addition By EMILY CHASTAIN STUDENT REPORTER

The Students’ Association has created a committee of four students to work on the idea of adding a Center for Student Involvement on to the Campus Center as part of the

Centennial package. The group of students, referred to as the CSI committee, will be responsible for gathering ideas, research, getting students involved and interested, and focusing and presenting their ideas to the administration. SA president Layne Rouse, senior communications major from Midland, will work with the committee members to come up with ideas for the

expansion. Rouse said he envisions the Campus Center as the one single place where students can come to do everything. “The Campus Center already attracts student Rouse life anyway, and I think the opportunity to

just explode the campus center into a student life haven is awesome,” Rouse said. “The administration wants to put in more meeting space; that’s a legitimate need on campus. I feel Rich that we’re missing a huge opportunity if

that’s all we do.” According to the Development office, renovation and expansion to the Campus Center is a proposed part of the Centennial Campaign. Early estimates for the project are roughly $3.3 million. Dr. Jack Rich, executive vice president of the university, said no planning for the building has been completed yet and probably won’t happen for at least another six

months. “We have concepts more than plans,” Rich said. “We realize that at some point, an expansion would be an appropriate step to meet some of the needs we currently have.” Rich said the Campus Center lacks sufficient meeting space for students and other special interest groups. The Campus Center, conSee CENTER Page 12A

Committee selects Sing Song hosts Six upperclassmen chosen to be featured in annual performance By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Gary Varner, associate professor of theatre, prepares the stage at the Abilene Civic Center on Thursday afternoon before the opening of the Homecoming Musical, “Kiss Me, Kate,” on Friday. Varner says he wears “several hats” in the Theatre Department, and he is involved with the show’s technical aspects.

The show will go on Gary Varner juggles many jobs as professor in Theatre Department By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR

Gary Varner sits in an old chair backstage of the Abilene Civic Center, patting his foot and checking his cell phone for the time every few minutes. He takes his baseball cap off every now and then to scratch his head and smooth down his short, graying hair.

Pausing for a moment from working on the lighting for Kiss Me Kate, this year’s Homecoming Musical, he tries to explain his actual job description. “I wear several hats,” Gary said, to explain the many roles he has in ACU’s Theatre Department. “I wear the hat of TD, which is technical director, which means that I am responsible to help arrange all the technical aspects of the show, except for costumes. I’ll make sure that the lighting’s there, that the sound is there, that the set is designed. All those things I put together, I may not do

them, but I have to supervise it.” Other hats Gary, associate professor of theatre, has trained himself to wear are that of director and professor, working with improvisation, storytelling and stage combat in most productions, areas in which he specializes. In his ninth year at ACU, his problem isn’t only that he wears too many hats and works too many jobs; it’s that he doesn’t know how to stop. “I think I’ve trained myself to take on all those jobs, and I don’t know how to stop it, so that’s something that’s been hard,” Gary said.

Production of the Homecoming Musical begins as early as the spring semester, and the closer opening night gets, the busier he gets. He works 70 to 80 hours a week in the home stretch before the first curtain is raised Homecoming weekend, seeing his family for about an hour a day. Luckily, he said, Travis Eason was hired as a full-time technical assistant to help with the workload. Because he doesn’t know how to step back and not put all his See VARNER Page 12A

Centennial fund raising continues About $62 million of $150 million campaign goal has been collected By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR

Fund raising for the Centennial Campaign is still underway, and about $62 million of the $150 million goal has been met. “It seems that in many sectors, the economy is improving,” said Dr. John Tyson, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. “Excitement is building as we get closer to the Centennial year, so people are becoming more interested in talking about gifts to the university.” An anonymous donor chal-

lenged ACU last year to raise $250,000 for the Centennial Annual Fund by the end of the fiscal year, and the goal for the annual fund was surpassed by about $250,000, Tyson said. Because the university met the goal, the donor matched it. The donor has issued the same challenge this year with the same incentive; if the university can raise another $250,000 by May 31, the end of this fiscal year, he will match the amount, dollar for dollar, and donate another $250,000. Brent Magner, director of the Centennial Campaign, said incentives like this challenge increase the donations others make. “Any time you can make a gift and know that you can make a bigger impact, it’s a very

encouraging thing,” he said. Magner said the Centennial Annual Fund is one component of the Centennial Campaign. Money from the Annual Fund will finance projects to be completed the same year the money was given. Another component funds various endowments in each college. The money collected for the third component of the Centennial Campaign will be used to fund many projects, like renovations on the Burford Music Center for courses in the Department of Education and the converged media newsroom for the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. Another project the campaign will fund is the construction for a new Welcome Center.

Three hosts and three hostesses were selected for Sing Song 2005 after auditions Oct. 1112, and they will soon begin preparation for the February event. Students chosen are Darren Curry, senior marketing major from Sugar Land; Nathan Lollar, junior Bible major from Tucson, Ariz.; Ben Jeffrey, junior theatre major from Kansas City, Mo.; Lara Seibert, junior theatre major from Grapevine; Holly Whited, junior vocal performance major from Dallas; and Kelci Young, junior integrated marketing and communication major from Springhill, Tenn. “It was a very tough competition this year,” said Kendall Massey, director of student productions. “There were several who gave great auditions and didn’t make it.” The audition required students to perform a three-minute solo piece as well as show their dance capabilities in a choreography portion of the tryout. “It was pretty intimidating because every person there had incredible talent,” Lara Seibert said in an e-mail. “It was also one of the most enjoyable auditions for that very same reason.” Massey said he hopes to expand the boundaries of Sing Song, and one new feature this year will be an album recording of the hosts and hostesses. The recording will have about seven songs and will go on sale a few weeks before to Sing Song. Holly Whited said in an e-mail that she’s excited about the recording. “Getting into the recording studio with the other hosts and hostesses is going to be amazing,” Whited said. “They’re so talented; I can’t wait to work with them.” Massey said he believes in the importance of fellowship and relationship between the hosts. “The chemistry of the group is just as important as the talent on stage,” Massey said. Massey said relationships are the key to getting everything else right. “I know that God will take care of the show; we just need to take care of each other.”

The building will also house classrooms for the College of Arts and Sciences. Renovation plans are still in the preliminary stages, Tyson said. “We’re actively seeking some lead donors right now,” he said. “We’re wanting to have it open as soon as we can get the funds secured and can get the building built.” Tyson said he does not know when the renovations or the other projects will be completed. “Fund raising is more of an art than a science,” he said. “Sometimes projects captivate people, other projects take a longer time to really develop. Timing is very important.” E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu

E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu

Special Homecoming section Look inside this issue for a speHOMECOMING cial Homecoming section with FRIDAY

October 22, 2004

Department of

news about the weekend. It features:

Journalism and

ACU

Mass Communication

Abilene Christia

n University

Friday

‘Go wild with the

Weekend ActivCaitits’es

Saturday

• In-depth coverage of Saturday’s football game against the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions

• A sports feature story on the football team’s Danieal Manning • News and information about many of the events and preparations for Homecoming

THE

ist.co

community sinc

• Fall Preview Weeke • Chapel and Openin nd for prospective students, 8 a.m., Hilton g Ceremonies, Room of the Campu • Homecoming Golf Classic, noon, 11 a.m., Moody Coliseum s Center • Queens Tea, 3 p.m., 1209 Saddle Diamondback Golf Course • Friends of ACU Lakes Drive. By invitation only Library, Friend of the Year Recept • Homecoming Carniv ion, 3:30 p.m., Brown Library • Chemistry, Biolog al, 5 p.m., mall area near the GATA fountain y, Physics, Math • 18th annual and Computer Chemistry Circus Science recepti on, 5:30 p.m., , 6:30 p.m., Foster • JamFest, 7 p.m., front foyer of the Science Buildin behind Zona Luce Foster Science g, Walling Lectur • Physics Depart Building e Hall ment open house, • Musical, Kiss 8 p.m., Foster Scienc Me, Kate, 8 p.m., Abilene Civic Center e Building , 1100 N. 6th St. • Club breakfasts, 6-8 a.m. • Frater Sodalis ribbon-cutting ceremony, 8 a.m., • Fall Preview Weeke Larry “Satch” Sander • Alumni and Friend nd for prospective students, s Intramural Field 8 a.m., Living s of Family and Room of the Campu Consumer Scienc Campus Court s Center es reunion coffee, • W Club coffee, 8 a.m., WACU 8:30 a.m., Mabee Museum, 1602 • Homecoming Library Audito rium Parade, 9:30 a.m., around campu Street by Gardn s beginn er Hall and ending • Homecoming on Campus Court ing on E.N. 16th Chapel, 10:45 by Edwar a.m., Moody Colise ds Hall • ACU Letterm en/Wildcat Club um barbecue party, of Shotwell Stadiu 11:30 a.m., south end • A Cappella Choru m s concert, 11:45 a.m., Williams Center, Recital Performing Arts Hall • COBA reunio n reception, 11:45 a.m., Mabee Busine • Communicat ion and OHRD ss Building, Room alumni recepti 134 Center, Room on, 11:45 a.m., 134 Don H. Morris • Department of Exercise Scienc e and Health alumn Health and P.E. i reception, 11:45 Center, Room 233-34 • Gerontology a.m., Gibson alumni barbec ue, 11:45 a.m., • Journalism and Christian Village Mass , 633 E.N. 19th a.m., Don H. Morris Communication and studen St. t media alumn Center, Room i reception, 11:45 • Speech-Langu 108 age Pathology and Audiology Morris Center, majors reception, Room 117 11:45 a.m., Don • Students’ Associ H. ation reunion, 11:45 a.m., Campu • Young Alumn us of the Year s Center, Bean reception, 11:45 Sprout Performing Arts a.m., atrium of Center the Williams • Pre-game party, noon, north end • Football game of Shotwell Stadiu vs. Texas A&MCommerce, 2 p.m., m • Agriculture and Shotwell Stadiu Environmental m Sciences Aggie • Class Reunio Barbeque and ns receptions, Awards Banquet, 5:30 p.m. Golden Annive 5 p.m., Hillcre rsary (classes of st Church of Christ 1954 and previo Class of 1959, us), Living Room of the Campus Center Hilton Room of the Campu Class of 1964, s Center Williams Perform ing Class of 1969, East Dining Room Arts Center of the Bean Class of 1974, Hall of Servants, Biblical Studie Class of 1979, s Building Teague Special Events Center Class of 1984, Atrium of the Mabee Business Class of 1989, Building 774 E.N. 13th St. Class of 1994, T&P Event Center , 901 N. 1st St. Class of 1999, Bean Sprout • Frater Sodalis Alumni vs. 2004 Brat Class , 7 p.m., • Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, 8 p.m., Larry “Satch” Sander • Reunion worshi Abilene Civic Center p services, 8 a.m., s Field , 11 N. 6th St. • Musical, Kiss various locations Me, Kate, 2 p.m., Abilene Civic Center, 11 N. 6th St.

• A Homecoming schedule with a listing of the weekend’s events

• Pictures and information about this year’s musical, Kiss Me, Kate

OPTIMIST SECTION B

www.acuoptim

Serving the ACU

Sunday

CAMPUS Friday, October 22, 2004

Calendar&Events Friday

FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Sing Song ticket sales, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables. International Students Association Culture Show tickets, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Yearbook pick-up, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

DAY

Saturday

Sunday

Homecoming. Spring Break Campaign leaders meeting, 7-9 p.m., Living Room.

Monday

Friendze jewelry sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center tables. Online course registration, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Homecoming. Sing Song ticket sales, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Yearbook pick-up, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

A Capella Homecoming concert, 11:15 a.m., Williams Performing Arts Center, Recital Hall.

Sundaes on Mondays, 7-10 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.

SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Tuesday

Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center Online course registration, 10:30 ticket windows. a.m.-2:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Counseling Center staff meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Faculty-Staff Campus Activity Board Free Night Dining Room. Out ticket hand-outs, 11:30 a.m., Campus Center ticket windows. FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Thursday

Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Free Night Out.

Sigma Phi Phi chapel, 11-11:45 a.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.

SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Wednesday

FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers are needed Tuesday and Thursday each week to sell FilmFest tickets from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Campus Center ticket windows. Volunteers are needed at the show Nov. 12 to sell tickets before the show and to serve as ushers. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information. Hendrick Hospice Care needs volunteers to help with Light Up a Life Christmas Tree at the Mall of Abilene from Nov. 22 through Dec. 23. Volunteers are

needed for a variety of shifts during the day and night to take donations in honor or memory of friends and family members. Contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center for more information. Volunteers are needed for the I-CAN neighborhood Halloween Carnival Oct. 30 from 610:30 p.m. Jobs include face painting, working at kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; booths and giving out candy. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information.

Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:

44 26

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 3A

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 4A

Friday, October 22, 2004

Professionals to judge FilmFest

A little dab here...

Eight of the 10 judges graduated from ACU

“The more we can leverage our alumni, the more bridges we can build.” Doug Darby, multi-media coordinator for the Adams Center

BY APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Erin Wilson, sophomore English education major from Austin, and her cousin, Jessica Wilson, senior marketing and management major from Katy, are decorating a sign for Homecoming.

Ten renowned professionals from various fields of education, industry and entertainment have been selected to judge FilmFest 2004. Doug Darby, multi-media coordinator for the Adams Center of Teaching Excellence, said judges will include many notable ACU alumni. “During the initial phases of FilmFest, we put together a committee made up of members from various departments around campus that could contribute to and benefit from FilmFest,” Darby said. “We got names of alumni in different fields and decided to target many with wide ranges of expertise in many fields.” Alumnus Randy Brewer of Revolution Pictures in Nashville, Tenn., was among those selected. Revolution Pictures has worked with artists including Faith Hill and Point of Grace. Darby said the company deals with many types of music, including country, rap and contemporary Christian. “Revolution Pictures does music videos and television work as well,” Douglas said. “Brewer has won Billboard

awards and been nominated for MTV awards. He’s even looking at the new Williams Performing Arts Center as a possible place to shoot a music video here at ACU.” Martin Perry is another alumnus selected to judge. “Perry has produced and directed many television productions,” Darby said. “He did ACU’s Centennial Campaign and was also involved with the award-winning Learning to Serve campaign before that.” Two non-alumni were also chosen to judge. Ron Gibbs is a storyboard artist with Pixar Animation Studios. “As a storyboard artist, Gibbs has worked on movies like A Bug’s Life, both Toy Story movies and Monsters Inc. He has a lot of experience and awards under his belt.” People outside the entertainment industry were also chosen to judge. Larry Johnson, corporate executive officer of New Media Consortium was chosen to judge as well. “New Media Consortium is an international organization of 150-200 universities, museums and high tech corporations that have joined

together to provide innovation in education,” Darby said. “Johnson has also served as a provost, professor, dean and president at the collegiate level.” Eight of the 10 judges will be present at FilmFest, and Darby said students will have an opportunity to interact with the judges after FilmFest. “The people we’re flying in will be at a luncheon the Saturday after FilmFest,” he said. “The luncheon will be a think-tank experience to offer people a chance to interact with these professionals and ask them questions.” The luncheon will be held at the Adams Center for $15 per ticket. While seating is limited, Darby said it would be an excellent opportunity for students to network with these alumni. “The more we can leverage our alumni, the more bridges we can build through networking for students,” Darby said. “Opportunities like this provide even more value that we can get from this experience.” E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 5A

Radio station exceeds pledge goal KACU raised $35,330 during pledge drive to fund programming KELLY DENNIS

“One lady said she leaves [KACU] on all day because she knows it is wholesome music and news.” Leigh Ann Le Bus, junior integrated marketing and communication major from Longview

STAFF WRITER

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Ashley Taylor, freshman English education major from Kemp, answers the phone and takes a pledge during the last minutes of the KACU pledge drive on Wednesday in the Don H. Morris Center.

KACU’s annual fall pledge drive, which began Oct. 14th and ended at 4 p.m. Wednesday, raised $35,330, exceeding the goal of $35,000. “I love pledge drive time, not just because of the food,” said Marla Flippin, senior electronic media major from League City, as she took a bite of one of the cupcakes provided to KACU’s pledge drive volunteers. When KACU began broadcasting from National Public Radio 18 years ago, the station implemented the pledge drive to raise the necessary funds. “Our programs are not

free,” said Terri Peterson, membership director for KACU, “It costs about $65,000 per year for programming.” When planning for this year’s fall drive, Peterson met with development director Kim Seidman and program director John Best to decide on a theme. They chose “The KACU Custom Blend” because of the relationship between coffee and radio. “Public radio is a blending of entertainment and news and music,” Peterson said. “The kind of music we play you can’t hear anywhere else in Abilene.” Flippin said she thought

the theme was an appropriate choice. “We drink a lot of coffee, and not just during the pledge drive,” she said. “Almost everyone that works here is a coffee drinker, and a lot of people listen in the morning and drink coffee as well.” Besides raising money, the pledge drive provides opportunities for the station to interact with the public. For her fifth and final pledge drive, Flippin hosted live from Java City and from Artwalk on Thursday night. Flippin said she is thankful for the opportunities such as the pledge drive that have

given her the advantage of sophistication and experience in her news delivery. Leigh Ann Le Bus, junior integrated marketing and communication major from Longview, also participated in the pledge drive by volunteering to answer phones. “I’ve heard things about KACU from the people that I have taken calls from,” Le Bus said. “One lady said she leaves [KACU] on all day because she knows it is wholesome music and news.” Now that the drive is over, the station will spend the next six weeks sending gifts and statements to the donors and recovering from the frenzy. Then KACU will begin planning its next pledge drive, which will occur sometime after spring break, Peterson said. E-mail Dennis at: kmd03a@acu.edu

Spiritual life assistants helpful for some residents, not all Feedback on residence hall leaders both positive and negative By MALLORY SHERWOOD STUDENT REPORTER

Bonnie Buchanan was by Rebecca Venable’s side the entire night. The night Venable’s dad died last year, Buchanan found Venable a ride to the airport at 4 a.m. to fly home to Colorado, and she sent letters and e-mails everyday to support and encourage Venable during the week of her father’s funeral. Buchanan, junior art major from Lubbock and spiritual life assistant in Morris Hall, is one of 15 SLAs spread across campus in the freshman and sophomore residence halls. The SLA program has re-

ceived both positive and negative reactions from students since it began placing students in positions as peer leaders and mentors in freshman and sophomore residence halls three years ago. “You don’t see a lot on campus with the spiritual life assistants because it was never intended to be a center-stage spotlight, a ‘look at us, we are SLAs,’” said Mark Lewis, director of spiritual life and student Barnard ministries. “The intention of having an SLA was to enhance the spiritual focus that we seek to maintain in the residence halls.” Jon Carroll, sophomore English major from Abilene

and SLA in McKinzie Hall, even know who their SLA is. the residents, but common said, “We are here to help “They are good if people sense is going to say that the with any issue going on, from choose to use them, but really, closer the resident is geofamily issues at home, girls, they are underused,” said Eli graphically to the SLA, the school, theological questions, Rickman, sophomore political more impact they are going to anything.” have on Venable, sophthem,” omore interdisciL e w i s “They are good if people choose to use them, plinary major said. but really, they are underused.” from Longmont, T h e Colo., labels heradminisEli Rickman, sophomore political science major from Grapevine self as biased, but tration is she said she is pleased fond of SLAs and at the has been influenced by them. science major from Grape- response to the SLA’s outreach “Bonnie was my SLA last vine. in the dorms, Lewis said. year in Gardner, and she Lewis contributes the lack “Is it effective? Yes. Being prayed for me, sent me letters of communication to two fac- able to measure that and and was constantly checking tors: Either SLAs have not had quantify it is challenging up on me,” Venable said. the time to connect with all of since we are talking about “I really don’t know if any- the residents on their hall, or their goal is to help Christ be one else would have done that students simply do not under- formed in students,” Lewis for me had it not been for her. stand what is going on in the said. This is what Bonnie is to me: residence hall, regardless of “What we can measure is a living, loving walk of Jesus.” how many times it is an- events. Are our Bible studies Despite Venable’s experi- nounced. being attended? Yes. The SLA ence with Buchanan, many “It is the SLA’s responsibil- is responsible to make sure students have said they don’t ity to get out and be among the word of God is being stud-

ied in an informal setting, and this year we have Bible studies taking off left and right.” Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, said these student positions, including the assistant director, resident assistant and SLA, are highly influential. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say that I believe their roles are critical for the culture of our university,” Barnard said. “Because they live with them, they know the students in ways that faculty and professional staff do not. They are on the halls late at night, encouraging their residents, playing and laughing with them, praying for them, assisting them in so many ways.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu

ELECTION

Page 6A

Friday, October 22, 2004

Many students unacquainted with the issues Busy schedules cited as a common reason for not voting, keeping informed STORY By JACI SCHNEIDER In the last presidential the economy as two major “College students need to vote so it becomes a habit, like safe driving or eating your election, most current colissues that students lege students were just should address. vegetables. It makes us all better citizens and makes our democracy healthier.” learning how to drive and President George W. studying for the SATs, but Bush and John Kerry both Dr. Neal Coates, assistant professor of political science in less than two weeks, oppose terrorism, Coates they will have their first said, but they will have “If students care about war, the economy – deci- different approaches on how to address it. opportunity to help choose the leader of the United sions made either by the president or Congress – or States of America. While Bush has said America should stay in Iraq as Getting involved in politics can be intimidating, where this country is going to go, they should get out long as needed, Kerry has said he can have troops out especially for college students too busy studying for and vote.” Coates said. of the country in a year, Coates said. The issue will In the 2000 presidential election, only 36 percent of affect students with friends and family members who tests, playing sports and having fun with friends to U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 voted, may be fighting, but it will also affect everyone in the keep up with the latest breaking election coverage. “Getting your hand around all of it can be tough,” according to the Census Bureau, the lowest turnout of future in the way America continues to deal with dicsaid Dr. David Dillman, professor of political science. any age group. tators and terrorism. Registering to vote is a simple process, and many A survey conducted by Declare Yourself, a nonpar“Clearly it should be a concern,” Dillman said. He tisan, nonprofit campaign to encourage voting, found organizations try to make it as easy as possible for col- added that another question to ask is: “Will your genthat most young people don’t vote because they feel lege students to register and learn about the issues. eration be less free than ours? Web sites like www.rockthevote.com and www.declareyuninformed about the candidates and the issues. “It [terrorism] will affect us, not only in security, Learning about issues takes time. Figuring out ourself.com are specially made to encourage college but in trade-offs, in terms of civil liberties,” Dillman which of the six candidates would make the best pres- students to make their voices heard. said. ident takes more than watching a few political comStudents don’t make up a large portion of the votThe second big issue, the economy, will also affect mercials and reading the morning news for a couple of ing population, but they should vote anyway, Coates the future lives of students, especially students prepardays, said Dr. Neal Coates, assistant professor of polit- said. ing to graduate and enter the job market. According to ical science. “College students need to vote so it becomes a the Declare Yourself survey, young people ranked jobs “We all have to be aware of the different positions habit, like safe driving or eating your vegetables,” he and the economy as the second most important issue; that the candidates might take; if we only spend a few said. “It makes us all better citizens and makes our 79 percents cited the economy as very important, and minutes watching the news, we won’t get the whole democracy healthier.” education was the only issue ranked higher, with 87 picture,” Coates said. “You have to watch TV and read According the Declare Yourself survey, 77 percent percent. the news over a period of time.” of registered voters aged 25-29 registered when they “When you guys hit the job market, there will be a According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the No. 1 rea- were 18. The survey concluded that the sooner voting debt that may be a burden,” Dillman said. “Your genson people don’t vote is they are too busy; 21 percent becomes a habit, the harder it is to break. eration could be paying it off the rest of your life.” of registered non-voters reported that they didn’t have Rather than blindly choosing the better-looking Although people may find it difficult to determine time to vote in the 2000 Election. candidate of the bunch, students should decide what what exactly Bush and Kerry say about taxes and the “Think of all the things you could be doing instead their priorities are before voting. economy, the issue is worth investigating. of voting,” Coates said. “Wouldn’t you rather be play“People are going to have different perspectives,” “They’ve both [Bush and Kerry] not yet seriously ing flag football? I did that when I was a student.” Dillman said. Those perspectives will affect what they dealt with that issue because it’s such a tough issue,” ACU student, Brian Lord, had stuff to do, too, think is important in a candidate. Students should ask Dillman said, “but it’s a concern that will affect students. Coates said. “But he was called up by the president to themselves two questions when considering how to “You can know generally what these guys are going serve in Iraq.” vote, Dillman suggested: How do the issues affect me to do, but not terribly specifically,” he said. “The Lord, a Marine Reserve and sophomore political personally? And what would make the United States a American people need to ask some questions.” science major from Winder, Ga., served in Fallujah, better society? Becoming informed is something students need to Iraq, for about seven months, Coates said. “There would be some economic issues that I might work on, Coates and Dillman said. Issues affect them “What better things did he have to do? He could support because I might get a good tax break,” because they’re getting ready to enter the real world have played flag football or taken a nap,” Coates said. Dillman explained, “but in the best interest of the and experience the results of the election. Although not all students need to serve their coun- United States, I might oppose it.” “If college students really sat down and thought try by fighting in a war, they can serve by casting their Although many issues relate directly to students, about it, they’d realize a lot of issues affect them,” vote. both Dillman and Coates named the war in Iraq and Coates said. “So they need to get out there and vote.”

Each state is listed, followed by the candidate who leads in that state’s polls and the number of electoral votes the state has. This information was taken from the Cook Political Report, a non-partisan online analysis of electoral politics. Alabama - Bush - 9 Alaska - Bush - 3 Arizona - Bush - 10 Arkansas - Bush - 6 California - Kerry - 55 Colorado - Undetermined - 9 Connecticut - Kerry - 7 Delaware - Kerry - 3 District of Columbia - Kerry - 3 Florida - Undetermined - 27 Georgia - Bush - 15 Hawaii - Kerry - 4 Idaho - Bush - 4 Illinois - Kerry - 21 Indiana - Bush - 11 Iowa - Undetermined - 7 Kansas - Bush - 6 Kentucky - Bush - 8 Louisiana - Bush - 9 Maine - Kerry - 4 Maryland - Kerry - 10 Massachusetts - Kerry - 12 Michigan - Kerry - 17 Minnesota - Undetermined - 10 Mississippi - Bush - 6 Missouri - Bush - 11 Montana - Bush - 3 Nebraska - Bush - 5 Nevada - Undetermined - 5 New Hampshire - Undetermined - 4 New Jersey - Kerry - 15 New Mexico - Undetermined - 5 New York - Kerry - 31 North Carolina - Bush - 15 North Dakota - Bush - 3 Ohio - Undetermined - 20 Oklahoma - Bush - 7 Oregon - Kerry - 7 Pennsylvania - Undetermined - 21 Rhode Island - Kerry - 4 South Carolina - Bush - 8 South Dakota - Bush - 3 Tennessee - Bush - 11 Texas - Bush - 34 Utah - Bush - 5 Vermont - Kerry - 3 Virginia - Bush - 13 Washington - Kerry - 11 West Virginia - Bush - 5 Wisconsin - Undetermined - 10 Wyoming - Bush - 3

Electoral College a foreign concept to some By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR

When voters cast their ballots Nov. 2, they’re not voting for the president of the United States. They’re choosing electors, who will meet to choose the president more than one month later on Dec. 13. The Electoral College is as old as democracy in America, but few citizens actually understand how it works. “I remember it,” said Courtney Francois, sophomore criminal justice major from Dallas, “but I don’t remember anything about it.” Ana Clonts, freshman vocal performance major from Temple, said she, like most people, learned about the Electoral College in high school but doesn’t recall exactly how it works. “I did it way back of the beginning of high school,” Clonts said, “and I’m not even interested in politics.”

Solid Bush Solid Kerry Partisan Leaning Battleground States

As most students learned in school, the founding fathers didn’t agree on how their president should be elected; some wanted Congress to pick, and some thought the people should decide. To compromise, they laid out the rules for Electoral College in Article II, section 1 of the Constitution. Each state has a set number of electors; the number equals the number of the state’s U.S. senators (2), plus the number of its U.S. house representatives, which is different for each state based on population. On Dec. 13, the electors will meet in the state capital and will vote for the president based on the majority vote in the state. Although Electors usually choose the majority’s pick for president, they are not required to. “I think that pretty much sucks,” said Jason Grassie, freshman undeclared major from Roswell, N.M. “I think that as a democracy, the

people are the ones who should elect the leader of the nation.” Grassie isn’t alone in his disapproval of the system. Much of the American public became critical of the Electoral College system after the 2000 election, in which Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush won the electoral vote. “I thought that was kind of ironic,” Grassie said, “and it seems like it’s not fair.” To win the election, the candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes, 270 of 538. In 2000, George W. Bush received 271. Analysts have already predicted that a majority of Texans will vote for George W. Bush this November. All 34 Electoral votes should then be cast for Bush. However, states like Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are still undecided, leaving 27, 20 and 21 Electoral votes up for grabs.

ELECTION

Friday, October 22, 2004

On the issues

Page 7A

With the presidential election less than two weeks away, President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., are finalizing their campaigns and reiterating their stances on certain issues, Bush claiming experience and Kerry calling for a change. Here is a list of issues at the forefront of the election and where each candidate stands; it is compiled from cnn.com as well as each candidate’s campaign Web sites. ~ information compiled by Sarah Carlson, Copy Editor

Political Issue

George W. Bush

John Kerry

Social Security

Supports allowing people to have the option to invest some Social Security taxes in stocks.

Opposes privatizing Social Security.

Abortion

Opposes except in cases of rape, incest or to save a woman’s life.

Supports a woman’s right to an abortion; planning resources.

Health Care

Favors improving current system over government-based system, allow citizens to own and control their own health care through health saving accounts; lower prescription drug costs.

Wants government-based system funded by reversing tax cuts; lower family premiums on health care by up to $1,000 a year; lower prescription drug costs.

Economy

Provide $500 million for jobs for the 21st century to help educate and train workers in schools and community colleges; maintaining minimum wage by increasing education.

Tax cuts to businesses; increasing minimum wage to $7 over several years.

Education

Strengthen Head Start Program;, promote literacy; provide $250 million annually to extend state assessment of student math and reading skills.

Establish National Education Trust Fund to ensure schools get funding they need; back No Child Left Behind; “School’s Open ‘Til Six” program offering after-school opportunities for 3.5 million children; fully refundable College Opportunity Tax Credit on up to $4,000 on each year’s tuition.

Stem Cell Research

Opposes, but allowed limited funding from government for research on already existing lines of stem cells.

Supports.

Tax Cuts

Signed two tax-cut bills during term, probably more for middle class; working to make his tax cuts permanent.

Repeal tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year enacted during Bush presidency; cuts for middle class; increase child tax credit.

International Policy

Initially opposed United Nations involvement in reconstruction of Iraq, wants a more unilateral policy saying U.S. security should not be left to other nations; more than $1 billion proposed for reconstruction of Afghanistan; “Road Map” plan for peace process in Middle East.

Involve other nations more in reconstruction of Iraq for a more multilateral policy working with the United Nations and NATO; boost international efforts to secure peace in Afghanistan, beat al Qaeda; improve social, economic, political conditions in Middle East.

Supports.

Backs letting act expire without congressional approval.

Patriot Act War in Iraq War on Terror Osama bin Laden

Authorized war because of weapons of mass destruction based on CIA intelligence, now says it was worth it to oust Saddam Hussein regime.

Supported the war based on CIA intelligence Congress voted on, later said Bush misled nation, voted no for $87 billion to fund operations.

Favors strong action against terrorists.

Said in March 2002 he’s not concerned about bin Laden orchestrating an attack because he is in hiding.

Osama bin Laden is the priority, would have made him so over Saddam Hussein.

Gay Marriage

Backs constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Against same-sex marriage; backs benefits and rights for samesex couples.

Gay Adoption

Opposes gay adoptions.

Supports adoption by gay men, women.

Supports the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Favors allowing gay men, women to serve openly in the military.

Gays in the Military Environment Death Penalty Hate Crime Legislation Gun Control

Clear Skies Initiative to reduce power plant emissions; caps on emissions of Mercury; Farm Bill Conservation programs; favors opening Arctic refuge for gas and oil exploration; develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells for alternative fuel.

Opposes oil exploration in Arctic refuge; reduce dependence on fossil fuels; push hybrid cars and hydrogen fuels.

Supports.

Opposes.

Opposes expanding federal law to cover sexual orientation.

Expand federal legislation to include sexual orientation.

Protect gun makers from lawsuits; let ban on semiautomatic assault weapons expire.

Close gun show loophole; require child safety locks; didn’t want ban on semiautomatic weapons to expire.

ARTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST

Page 8A

The Box Office

Old 97’s please fans with return to past By JEFF GIDDENS

Figures are for the weekend of October 15-17 and are in millions. Total grosses in parentheses. 1 Shark Tale—$22 ($119) 2 Friday Night Lights— $12.2 ($37.8) 3 Team America: World Police—$12.1 (new) 4 Shall We Dance—$11.8 (new) 5 Ladder 49—$8.5 ($53.7) 6 Taxi—$7.89 ($23.9) 7 The Forgotten—$6.01 ($57.2) 8 Raise Your Voice—$2.76 ($7.9) 9 The Motorcycle Diaries— $1.76 ($5.75) 10 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow—$1.22 ($35.9)

New York Times Best-Selling Fiction Novels Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list. 1/1/3 Stephen King, The Dark Tower 2/6/3 Philip Roth, The Plot Against America 3/3/5 Patricia Cornwell, Trace 4/4/82 Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code 5/8/4 Sidney Sheldon, Are You Afraid of the Dark? 6/2/2 Laurell K. Hamilton, Incubus Dreams 7/7/55 Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven 8/10/3 Maeve Binchy, Nights of Rain and Stars 9/9/2 Sophine Kinsella, Shopaholic & Sister 10/5/6 Susan Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

October 22, 2004

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

-Album ReviewOld 97’s Drag It Up The Old 97’s might be the world’s greatest bar band done good. Mastering a variety of styles, including furiously twangy rock and roll, Britishinfluenced pop and straight ahead country and western, they have managed to accumulate quite an eclectic fan base. Lead singer Rhett Miller’s charming stage presence hasn’t hurt them, either. But underneath his “really really really ridiculously good looks” there lies a heck of a songwriter, supplanted by his bassist Murry Hammond, who has always contributed a few tunes per album. Many fans worried about the band when Miller released a solo album two years ago, The Instigator, which sported a seriously spooky cover photo closely resembling a Gap advertisement. Miller always pledged allegiance to his bandmates, saying that they were doing their own thing and would return as the Old 97’s in good time. Drag It Up finds the band back in classic form, with a raw sound and familiar heartbreak songs. The majority of the album was recorded live in an old New York cathedral, converted into a recording studio and adding massive amounts of reverb to the whole project. Lead guitarist (and occasional singer) Ken Bethea describes the experience: “We stood in a giant echo-ey church and stared at each other. We stood in a tiny 8x8 room and stared at each other. We sang about satellites, stars, moonlight, cavities, death, cheating, Texas, friendship, parenthood,

Album Rating 79 out of 100 This isn’t comparable to a 79/C on a test, but instead means the album falls in the top 21% of all existing albums.

God and storms.” With this album, they not only return to their roots, but show creativity as well as an unwavering sense of band democracy. Leadoff track Won’t Be Home sets the tone for the album, as drummer Philip Peeples counts off the song before Bethea’s buzzsaw guitar cuts through and the 97’s get to business. Miller quickly shows his classic witticism, never afraid to throw out a line like “Now I’m on Wounded Knee, and we’re at Waterloo”. The song also features Hammond’s signature high lonesome background vocals. Moonlight is the second, echo-drenched track, initiated by Miller’s warning: “I shouldn’t bring up what I can’t put down.” The song deals with the girl left behind, and seems to be Rhett Miller’s answer to “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tail. Admit it, you remember that movie. Borrowed Bride is a good old cheatin’ song in which Miller predicts a doomed relationship that “comes apart at the seams, it seems.” Hammond’s first contribution “Smokers” features the album’s title, as well as some downright raunchy guitar tones. The 97’s inventiveness is showcased, opting for a processed vocal solo rather than a standard guitar break. Coahuila, Ken Bethea’s first ever songwriting and vocal contribution initially came off as a joke, but is solid proof of the Old 97’s adherence to band democracy. Although they have one of the nation’s most accomplished and recognized songwriters in Rhett Miller, they are

Photo courtesy of WWW.OLD97S.COM

The Old 97’s strike a pose in Times Square in New York City. After the lead singer produced a solo album that concerned some fans, the Old 97’s are back in a big way with “Drag It Up.” not above letting anyone in the band make a contribution, even if that contribution is a mariachi song that mentions microwaved chicken ravioli. Valium Waltz is a mindbending, swirling song about a selfdestructing girl, namely, the daughter of the mayor of Marble Falls. No Old 97 fan seems to mind when Murry Hammond takes lead vocals, as he does on “In the Satellite Rides a Star.” His pleasant voice is accompanied in this nice loping ballad by Miller’s fantastic harmony. Blinding Sheets of Rain rides slow country shuffle while mourning a lost love, weighed down with the saddest pedal steel in all of Texas. The first single from the album is The New Kid, a rare Hammond/Miller collaboration laments our replaceable society over a classic bouncing country beat. The band really starts to click with Bloomington, a lighthearted ditty about the women of said

city, Indiana, where Miller manages to squeeze the rhyme from “husbands” and “substance”. That song leads into the album’s highlight, Adelaide, a name that was seemingly made to roll off Rhett Miller’s tongue. Here, he and Hammond do their best Simon and Garfunkel, putting their voices together for a gorgeous song about yet another departed lover. The song also includes Miller’s best line on the record: “Her eyes are all but fixed upon her coffee cup/ Looking down, she tells you things are looking up.” This juxtaposition is classic Rhett Miller, who has the confidence to move from such well written wit to name dropping “player haters” and “inline skaters” in the next song, Friends Forever. Philip Peeples’ driving beat reinforces a song mockingly reminiscing on those

who consider high school relationships to be eternal. The album closes with No Mother, a beautiful, sad song about mothers who outlive their sons, graced with gentle piano and a glorious solo section of accordion and voices. As the Old 97’s have progressed from the Clash meets Cash sounds of Too Far To Care through the straight-ahead pop of Fight Songs, they have made new fans with new sounds and alienated old fans who crave tradition. They touch on many musical aspects of past records, all filtered through a raw recording that strangely enough sound quite fresh. Rhett Miller and his band prove to retain their knack for crafty sad country songs disguised as playful pop ditties. Drag It Up is a welcome return for such a talented band. E-mail Giddens at: optimist@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Nothing says ‘Homecoming’ like streamers!

Page 9A

Internet access extends its reach ACU provides Internet access, even for those who live off campus By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR

Off-campus students and faculty can get free dial-up Internet access overseen by Team 55 along with students who live on campus. “We want to provide Internet access at no charge to all students, faculty and staff,” said Jim Trietsch, assistant chief information officer at the Center for Teaching Excellence. He said ACU has offered access off campus as long as it

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Basilio Rocha, freshman business marketing major from Houston, hangs streamers in the Campus Center in preparation for the 2004 Homecoming celebration.

SAAB tackles tough race issues New multicultural organization focuses on how to achieve success By SHAVONNE HERNDON STUDENT REPORTER

In its first active year of becoming an organization, ACU’s Student African American Brotherhood, or SAAB, is fulfilling its role as a multicultural organization whose mission and goal is to provide African-American males the opportunity to gain knowledge on how to become better educated, financially stable, empowered and all around successful, said Stacey Jones, senior interpersonal discipline ministry and psychology major from Vallejo, Calif. “SAAB tries to deal with

issues concerning racial profiles, affirmative action, topics that impact the AfricanAmerican male — that teach and empower the male,” Jones said. “It adds value to ACU as a whole; we focus on academic achievement, campus conduct and Chapel attendance.” The organization meets at 5 p.m. every Thursday in the Living Room of the Campus Center under the leadership of Terry Johnson, graduate student from Midland; Dr. Tony Roach, minister of Minda Street Church of Christ; Dr. Jerry Taylor, professor of Bible and minister of North 10th and Treadaway Church of Christ; and Anthony Williams, manager of the Campus Store. SAAB organizers plan to become involved in the Abilene community as well as on

campus through different activities. “There aren’t any black organizations that teach the African-American male how to be successful in order not to fall into the cracks,” Jones said. Jones said SAAB will serve in the community with lunch buddies, mentoring young African American males in the Abilene area. He said the group also plans on hosting Chapel forums to educate students on issues concerning African Americans at ACU. “We want to turn our men from the negative direction of life to the positive,” Jones said. “God calls his men to be responsible, educated and better Christians.” E-mail Herndon at: optimist@acu.edu

has been available on campus. Students can find instructions on how to get free Internet access on Team 55’s Web site: http://www.acu.edu /technology/team55/dialup.html. He said students can also call Team 55 for help at Ext. 5555, and faculty and staff can call 738-4357. Trietsch said ACU maintains about 70 modems for student and faculty access. “This seems to meet ACU’s need without anyone getting a busy signal on a regular basis,” he said. The Internet offered is dialup access into 56k modems, Trietsch said. “It will not be as fast as a

cable modem or DSL access but is sufficient for checking e-mail and minimal web browsing,” he said. However, some students opt to pay for faster Internet access not offered by ACU. Bethany Powell, senior chemistry major from Abilene, said she and her housemates share DSL access. “We decided that for $5 a month extra, it was worth having the faster Internet,” Powell said. “Also, this way we can all be online at the same time without having more than one phone line.” E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu

New Honors option available Honors students may now graduate without capstone project By ANDY JEFFREY STUDENT REPORTER

The Honors Program is offering a new third option for students hoping to graduate with honors program distinctions. The name of the new option is General Honors, and it is available to all students in the Honors Program. In the past, the Honors Program has offered students two ways to graduate with honors: University Honors, which takes 30 semester hours or Departmental Honors, which requires 12 semester hours to complete. Both programs require a capstone project, usually a research project or internship, during the student’s senior year. General Honors gives students who would like to stay in the program the opportunity to do so without having to com-

plete a capstone project in their senior year, said Dr. Chris Willerton, director of the Honors Program and professor of English. “Often these students are in departments that are awfully busy in the senior year, and they have to cut something so they cut the Honors Program,” Willerton said. One reason the Honors Council decided to instate a General Honors track is to retain students who would stay in the program for three years and then drop out rather than complete a capstone project. “The General Honors track has been added for people who love interdisciplinary courses and love the exciting work in honors classrooms, but who don’t want to do honors research in their major,” Willerton said. Many Honors Program students have yet to hear of the new track being offered. Therefore, plans are underway to inform those in the program of the new option.

All Honors Program students will be notified of the new track through mail and e-mail, said Stephanie Smith, administrative coordinator of the Honors Program. “By the end of the semester we want students to be aware so that they can make plans for it,” Willerton said. The decision to add to the program came from focus groups and the Honor Program’s self-assessment. “We decided this should become a permanent option,” Willerton said. “It fits the honors purpose of broadening people’s minds.” Kaela Latimer, senior elementary education major from Amarillo and Honors Program student, said it’s a very good track that Honors students will be interested in. “It provides you a way to get an honors experience without having the pressures of a capstone project,” Latimer said. E-mail Herndon at: optimist@acu.edu

VIEWSFRIDAY OPTIMIST

Page 10A

Supreme Court makes good decision

The issue: The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case regarding the 2003 Texas redistricting plan.

Our view: The Court made the right decision to hear the redistricting case.

The solution: When deciding the case, the Supreme Court should keep in mind the division caused the last time the districts were redrawn.

October 22, 2004

The Supreme Court of the United States agreed this week to hear a case next year regarding the 2003 Texas State Legislature redistricting plan. The case will focus on the legality of the redistricting plan. Some have made such complaints as minority groups being split up in order to minimize their voice. In March of 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a newly redrawn map for Congressional districts after two previously failed attempts. Due to the way many of the districts were redrawn, dis-

tricts with Dem- Legislators should remember the division caused by race between ocrat represenRep. Charlie the redistricting efforts of 2003. tatives now will Stenholm, Dbe paired aAbilene, and gainst incumRep. Randy bent Republicans. Republicans duties—checks on other parts of Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, the stand to earn several seats in the government. Supreme Court’s decision could The Optimist hopes that the be heard in time to be a factor Congress because of redistricting. The Supreme Court made the outcome of the case will force the in the 2006 race. proper decision about looking at state to fix the disaster that is the Should the ruling force Texas a controversial case that could 19th Congressional District — legislators to go back to the map have a significant effect on the now comprised primarily of Abi- to redraw the lines for the third makeup of Congress. lene and Lubbock. These are two time in five years, legislators Regardless of how the court very different communities that should remember the division rules, the Supreme Court rightly deserve different representation caused by the redistricting efforts decided to investigate the legality in Congress. of 2003. of the redistricting efforts, perFew events in recent Texas hisAlthough the case will not be forming one of its most important heard in time to affect November’s tory have so effectively divided

Daniel Barcroft

In My Words

Gazing back, looking forward About 100 years ago, A.B. erful, worldwide network of Barret—a 27-year-old preach- alumni and friends. er—was driving in a buggy Our 86,000 former students over dusty, deeply-rutted West now live in every state and 109 Texas roads, countries, and the combined e a r n e s t l y effect of their Christian lives seeking indi- on this world has an immeasviduals to urable impact. help him beSome of the alumni visiting gin Christian campus this weekend graduatcollege. ed last year, and their ACU Barret was experience is fresh in their s u c c e s s f u l , memories. Others graduated and on Sept. many years ago, and their Guest 11, 2006, 25 thoughts of ACU may have Column students at- dimmed somewhat as they Dr. Royce tended classes moved on with their families Money in an unfin- and careers. ished brick building at But I believe that through Childers Classical Institute— the years, ACU remains in the now Abilene Christian Uni- hearts of our alumni — enversity. During Opening Chap- couraging them, inspiring el a crowd of more than 200 them to lead and to serve, sang All Hail the Power of Jesus’ reminding them that their lives Name, and that hymn has been make a difference. sung at every Opening Chapel Many of my former classsince. mates will be ACU has Through the years, joining me many traditions, on campus ACU remains established this weekend through its 99 for our 40th in the heart years of operaclass retion, including union — the of our alumni. daily Chapel, declass of 1964. votionals, Spring I can’t wait to Break Campaigns, Sing Song see everyone, and to remember and Homecoming Musicals. the good times we had as stuThese traditions make this dents and the traditions we place special and unique. shared. Next August, ACU will But more importantly, I begin its 100th year, and we look forward to hearing how will launch a year of Cen- they have lived their lives. tennial Celebration. We hope Who have they become since you will be on campus for they left this campus? How many of the great events, have they lived out the mission including academic confer- of leadership and service ences, guest speakers, a throughout the world? Philharmonic pops concert When A.B. Barret started a featuring popular numbers tiny Christian school in West from Homecoming Musicals Texas in 1906, I’m not sure he and an alumni art exhibit at could have imagined what a The Grace Museum in down- wonderful place it would town Abilene. become nearly a century later. This weekend, the tradi- But I know that if he met our tions continue as our Alumni students today, and the alumni Relations Office has many we welcome back this weekactivities planned for our stu- end, he would believe that his dents and alumni, and I hope dream had been fulfilled. you have an opportunity to meet one another. It’s so valu- Dr. Royce Money is president of the able to our current students to university and may be reached by ebe connected with ACU’s pow- mail at moneyr@acu.edu.

Vote for best candidate goes to ... Kerry brings change May 1, 2003. President Bush landed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq behind a “Mission Accomplished” banner. Since then, as of Monday, 963 American I am the soldiers have Enemy died in Iraq and since Sarah Carlson 1,102 March 2003. The number of Americans wounded is 8,016. Now I am not blaming Bush for their deaths; I am simply asking why. Why were we in Iraq in the first place, and why are we still there? Changing your mind or admitting you are wrong is not a bad trait to have, rather a virtuous one. Bush seems so concerned to alter the focus of the war, whether it is weapons of mass destruction or Saddam Hussein’s regime or the liberation of the Iraqi people. I support and respect the troops in Iraq, but I would not think any less of Bush if he admitted he might have rushed into the Iraq war and not have paid enough attention to Osama bin Laden, the real perpetrator behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. An arrogant “we’ve been here for four years, we know what we’re doing, don’t ask questions” mentality simply won’t cut it. It is important to constantly seek the truth and learn from mistakes when trusting author-

Why were we in Iraq in the first place, and why are we still there? ities on matters, instead of trying to make what you want to be true true. Considering America’s standing with foreign nations, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., will be an asset to the country in improving relations and going after bin Laden, and the nation will not be vulnerable if the presidency shifts during wartime. Kerry wants to protect the rights of same-sex couples through unions, not marriages, and he also voted to add sexual orientation into hate crimes legislation. Kerry wants to close the pay gap between men and women—women earn 77 cents to a man’s dollar—to improve after-school care programs, raise the minimum wage, repeal tax cuts for the wealthy and improve financial aid for students. I consider myself a moderate, and both Bush and Kerry make points and have stances I agree with. That being said, I cannot in full conscience vote for Bush because I don’t trust his administration’s elitist stance on the war and the use of Christianity as a tool to hook conservative voters. It’s time for a change. Respond to Carlson at: optimist@acu.edu or skc02a@acu.edu

Bush shown steady Supporting George W. Bush for president. It almost seemed like an unfortunate assignment at first. No matter what points I make, many will believe, “No surprise there — someone from Abilene Christian University supporting President Ask the Bush’s re-elecQuestion tion.” But there is Jonathan nothing too Smith unfortunate about supporting the best man on the presidential ballot this year. Bush has shown the ability to lead the nation through crisis and into war. Whether voters agree with the war does not change the fact that our troops are there. Constantly berating the cause will not help Kerry pull troops out of Iraq any sooner, regardless of his plan. Resolute leadership and continued support for the troops with needed funds like Bush has shown will lead to a free and independent Iraq. The man who is elected in November will be the first president under which most college students truly pay taxes. A look at tax policies between Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., leaves little doubt about who I want to see supporting tax bills before Congress. The contrast is stark. Bush believes people should have more of their money to decide how to spend. The mantra of

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

or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or less. 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

Bush has shown the ability to lead the nation through crisis and into war. liberals like Kerry has long been that the government can better decide how to spend private citizens’ money. Bush’s tax policy makes sense for the American economy. Citizens are more apt to put money into a growing economy if they have it to spend themselves, and Bush’s tax cuts, which he now wants to make permanent, have done that for the American people. With Bush, voters know exactly what they get. With Bush, voters can vote for the man, instead of simply a plan. Bush does not have to constantly remind voters he has a plan because his plan is more than words from the podium of a debate. The past four years are his results and his plan — a plan he is unlikely to flip-flop on. Like it or not, Bush has strong convictions, and I’m not talking about religion. So many other issues define this campaign, Christians need not proclaim whom they feel God has ordained as president. A look at the economic and social issues shows that four more years of George W. Bush is the direction this nation needs.

In Your Words

OPTIMIST

“People coming to see me.”

What is your favorite part of Homecoming Weekend?

Austin Burnett sophomore nursing major from Lubbock “There’s so many different activities to go to. The parade is my favorite.”

“I like the lights on the bell tower.”

Respond to Smith at: optimist@acu.edu or jvs02a@acu.edu

THE

the Texas Legislature as redistricting. Democrat representatives went as far as leaving the state to avoid a vote on the Republicanfavored map. Instead of proposing another gerrymandered plan heavily favoring one party, lessons should be learned from that experience. Whether that will be required of the Texas Legislature remains to be seen. However, by simply agreeing to hear the case, the Supreme Court has taken a necessary step in making sure all citizens are fairly represented in Congress.

Erin Mills

Krystal Burgess

sophomore business management major from Abilene

senior speech-language pathology major from Houston

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VIEWSYESTERDAY OPTIMIST

October 22, 2004

Page 11A

Guest Cartoon

Oct. 30,1964

Oct. 22, 2004

Glo Coalson

Mark Cullum, Class of ‘85

See you in the funny papers ... A picture is worth a thousand words and so is a cartoon. Take a look at cartoons from ACU’s past. Not much has changed over the years: Students still complain about Bean food, exercise science uniforms, loans and displaced seating in Chapel, and although the candidates have changed, the political battles rage on. — Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

Oct. 26, 1979

Sherilyn Greer

Nov. 13, 1984

Nov. 9, 1979

Nov. 21, 1961

Sherilyn Greer

Patty Thomas

Mark Cullum

Oct. 30,1964

OPTIMIST

Glo Coalson

THE

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Page 12A

Friday, October 22, 2004

Varner: University helps professor turn theatre into family affair Continued from Page 1 efforts into his job, transitioning from one show to another can be difficult. “It’s funny,” Gary said, “opening night, if I’m real involved in the show, is a real exciting time, and then closing time is hard because I’m getting geared up for strike. Then usually, the week after a show closes, I go through a very down time where I just feel kind of depressed, and it’s because I’ve expelled so much energy and then suddenly there’s nothing to put it on. “You’ve been so geared toward work you don’t know what to do. But then life starts catching up with you.” The production of Kiss Me, Kate has been atypical for Gary in that the set was rented from a company in New York, and a friend of his from Tulane University was hired to help design and install lighting, said Eric Harrell, associate professor of theatre and director of Kiss Me, Kate. But normally, he said, Gary has plenty of work to do. “We couldn’t do what we do without all of Gary’s continuous work,” Harrell said. “We’re thrilled we’ve hired a full-time position to help Gary. He finally got that help he has so desperately needed.” Gary has directed five shows at ACU, including two children’s shows, The Two Gentlemen of Verona for the annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in 2000, and two Dinner Theatres, most recently The Nerd in fall 2003 and Barefoot in the Park in August and September of this year.

What helps keep him motivated, he said, are his students. “I just really like their personalities,” he said, “and theatre people are fun to be around when they’re really good students, and they enjoy what they do, and that creative burst that they get — that’s just fun to be around.” Gary and his wife, Ann Varner, financial aid adviser, moved from Durant, Okla., with their four children to Abilene in 1996 for Gary to start his career in the Theatre Department. Gary said the

church is our life, and I think we try and make that a distinction.” Harrell agrees and emphasized the importance for theatre students to be grounded in their faith before entering the business, which is not always receptive or supportive to people with Christian lifestyles. “Our role is to prepare students for a variety of options in theatre … and helping students use their gifts to God’s glory,” he said. Gary’s daughter Cari, second eldest of four children, is a

“Theatre’s our job, but our faith and church is our life.” Gary Varner, associate professor of theatre

Christian environment at ACU is what first attracted him to his job, as well as his passion for theatre and belief that before people enter the business, they must be grounded in something greater than themselves and their profession. “Theatre is a hard business,” Gary said. “To be able to come and work here in a place that has a very strong moral worldview was just very important to me, and I knew some of my children would want to follow in my footsteps, and I just felt like this was the kind of environment I would want them to learn about theatre. “I always tell [my students] that one of the things I think we teach at ACU is that theatre’s our job, but our faith and

freshman theatre major. Even though some days go by where father and daughter don’t see each other, he said he is proud of Cari and her decision to attend ACU. His oldest, Courtney, is a junior English major, and one of Gary’s greatest joys is watching his children grow while attending ACU. “For most of my life, I’ve been fortunate to watch people come to college, and I get to watch the change that happens to them in college,” he said, “and I’m just so excited that my girls are on campus because I get to watch it with them, and I would really hate it if they were on another campus and I didn’t get to see that.” Courtney Varner said she has enjoyed growing up having Gary as a father. Because

her dad has taught for so many years, college students were always in and out of the Varner household, and she said people always knew him before they knew her, Gary being the outgoing type of person who even says hi to strangers in the grocery store. “I was always known as Gary Varner’s daughter,” she said. “When I was younger I thought it was annoying, but now I’m proud and thankful that I’m associated with him.” Gary said he would love for his two youngest, Jeremy, 16, and Matt, 13, to come at ACU as well, especially if they want to be involved in theatre. “I believe in our department enough that if they wanted to continue in theatre, then I want them to go to school here because I really want them to have a solid base to go out into this business,” he said. All of the Varner children have been involved in an ACU theatre production, whether they performed in it or worked backstage. Most recently, Matt had a role in The Nerd last year and Jeremy performed in and Courtney was the stage manager for Taming of the Shrew. “It’s kind of the family business,” Courtney said. “It’s just an easy and natural transition.” Courtney was involved in theatre at Abilene High School but chose not to audition for ACU’s Theatre Department, adding she felt a slight amount of pressure to follow her father into the profession. “I think that’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to major in theatre,” she said. “I wanted

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Gary Varner, associate professor of theatre, works on the set of “Kiss Me, Kate” backstage at the Abilene Civic Center on Thursday. to do something on my own completely. I can only do two things — theatre and writing. So I chose writing.” Nevertheless, Courtney said she has learned a lot about life watching her father and growing up in the theatre and enjoys her family’s dynamic. Finding a balance between his work and his life helped him deal with the pressures of his profession. Gary still always has something to do. His day is filled with interruptions and ques-

tions, and he always has a project to work on. As he grows older, he finds he is less willing to give the amount of time his jobs require, he said, so he gets tired easier than he used to. But that isn’t stopping him. “We just work until we can’t work anymore,” he said, “and then we let the actors come in and start their job.” E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Center: Addition ‘still not a certainty, but a good possibility’ Continued from Page 1 structed in the 1960s, has had the interior, basement and dining areas renovated, and an addition now would be the first actual expansion to the building. Original plans for the Campus Center included a second story on top of part

of the existing structure. Because the Campus Center was designed with that in mind, Rich said possible expansion “would probably just go up to a two-story building, but it could stretch potentially out into the mall or back toward McKinzie [Hall].”

Rich said expansion is still not a certainty, but a good possibility. “It is in our master plan, which makes it more likely that it will happen than otherwise,” Rich said. Brent Magner, director of development, said the priority for renovating and expand-

ing the Campus Center with the money from the Centennial Campaign falls behind building a new education building and a new academic and alumni welcome center. “But whether it gets done by ‘06 or 2010, it’s still a priority,” Magner said. Rouse said he would like to see the CSI committee fi-

nalize the ideas and organize student feedback into presentation form by the end of next semester. As one step in the process, Rouse said he and committee members would like to send a panel of students to other universities to gather ideas and figure out what works for them. Rouse also said that basically the only power he and

the committee have is to generate ideas and interest, but he hopes that the administration will be flexible in working with him. “If we don’t jump on the back of this opportunity now, we’re going to miss it,” Rouse said. E-mail Chastain at: optimist@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 13A

Drummers to play in San Antonio Band to join business association to liven up conference By RUBEN J. GONZALEZ STUDENT REPORTER

The 20th annual Christian Business Faculty Association Conference was looking to add an international flavor this year. Enter the ACU Steel Drum Band. Complete with a three-ring binder full of musical pieces, the band is set to bring the vibrating sounds of calypso to the ears of more than 400 Christian business faculty who teach on the college and university level when the conference begins Thursday at the historic San Antonio Sheraton Gunter Hotel. “It’s a blast to perform music that audiences always love to hear,” said Dr. Allen

Teel, professor of percussion and world music. “And the ensemble members definitely enjoy making this music.” Monty Lynn, acting dean of the College of Business Administration, is the 2004 conference director, and the theme is “Just Business: Christian Perspectives on Marketplace Justice.” Teel said COBA will sponsor the trip, and only 12 of the 20 members in the steel drum band would attend the performance in San Antonio. The band, ranging from freshmen to seniors with various majors, rehearse two times a week in preparation for this event and other performances, including its percussion concert on Nov. 8. For Casie Hardin, sophomore music education major from Abilene, the rhythmic beats of Calypso are among her favorites. Hardin said that playing

the steel drum is relaxing and evokes more emotion while performing compared to the traditional marching band that is more strict and played together with exact time. “I don’t know what it is,” said Hardin, who is also the band’s pit section leader. “It’s just interesting music because it’s not what we normally hear. It’s not normal like pop music or country or anything we are normally surrounded by.” For Hardin, this performance is also a chance for a much needed getaway. “We’re always excited to play for people,” Hardin said. “But at the same time, it will be great to get out of Abilene and do something we enjoy while we’re representing ACU.”

E-mail Gonzalez at: optimist@acu.edu

COBA preparing for conference ACU Department of Business to organize national meeting By HAYLEY JONES STUDENT REPORTER

Business professors from schools across the nation will be meeting at a conference organized by ACU to discuss teaching from a Christian perspective. For the first time, the College of Business Administration will be host for the 20th annual Christian Business Faculty Association conference in San Antonio on Oct. 28-30. To increase attendance for the conference, COBA paid attention to marketing efforts, with the result being 275 people and 40 spouses planning to attend, said Dr. Monty Lynn, acting dean of COBA. The CBFA conference has never had more than 180 people attend in the past. The CBFA was created 20 years ago and is the largest protestant business professors’ organization today. ACU has

been a member for the last five years. By organizing this year's conference, “ACU is put in the forefront, giving over 100 schools from California to Massachusetts the opportunity to get further acquainted with ACU,” Lynn said. According to the CBFA Web site, its mission is to “progress in our understanding, application and teaching of Biblical truth as it applies to the various Lynn disciplines in business.” This year's conference theme is “Just Business: Christian Perspectives on Marketplace Justice,” exploring the idea of what it means to act justly in economic dealings. The conference will include presentations of invited speakers, the sharing of ideas in concurrent sessions, a corporate tour, cultural tours, worship, a

Alumni honored

book exhibit area and periods of fellowship. “By attending, business professors have the opportunity to sharpen one another in the sharing of ideas and to meet people doing the same job of trying to integrate faith in the business world,” Lynn said. Those attending the conference are 16 ACU business professors, including Lynn, five staff members and a few spouses, Lynn said. The conference costs $260 to attend, which includes all meals, a CD of all papers presented and CBFA dues for a year. Lisa Estrada, COBA budget and special projects manager and conference organizer, began planning for the event along with six other COBA staff members a year and half ago. “After the hundreds of hours spent on thousands of details in preparation for the event, we are ready for this thing to happen,” Estrada said. E-mail Jones at: optimist@acu.edu

Brian Schmidt/Staff Photographer

Loren Halifax, 1991 graduate of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, accepts a model of the Gutenberg press from Kenneth Pybus, assistant professor of journalism, at the Gutenberg Dinner Thursday night. Halifax was honored for her achievement as a broadcast journalist in Kansas City, Mo.

Students of all shades step in Shades step group growing in talent, accomplishment By KELLY DENNIS STAFF WRITER

One purpose of Shades, ACU’s step organization, is to represent racial and ethnic harmony among people of all races and nationalities, and the group has accomplished that more than ever this year, said Marie Thomas, adviser for Shades. With a fairly equal ratio of black and white students, the organization also includes Asian, Hispanic and Irish members. “This year, more than ever, it’s actually Shades; there are all different shades

of people,” Thomas said. Like many new members this year, Thomas’ first experience in stepping was when she participated in Shades while in graduate school. Head Captain Emanuel White, junior psychology major from Fort Worth, has been a member since his freshman year and said he is thankful for the organization. “Shades is kind of like a family; a lot of my close friends are from here,” White said. He said because of the amount of time spent together during practice, members tend to gravitate toward each other, but they are still able to maintain relationships with people not involved in Shades. White said he is impres-

sed with the increasing interest in Shades and the amount of talent within the group this year. So far, it has already had one appearance outside of Moody after Chapel. Upcoming appearances include a performance in the Culture Show, its Fall Show in November and special routines for Homecoming. The group will perform in the Homecoming parade, and White said the group hopes to do something new this year in addition to its traditional parade performance, one possibility being performing on the lawn outside of the Campus Center after the parade. E-mail Dennis at: kmd03a@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 14A

Friday, October 22, 2004

Alumni Relations director settles into role, makes changes to Homecoming Peck increases student involvement in Homecoming plans By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR

Amber Peck said her second year as director of Alumni Relations is going well. She said her second year as a leader is easier because she learned from her first year. “You learn what went well, so you can continue on to capitalize,” Peck said. “You learn what didn’t go well, and what you need to change.” This year is different from last year, however, because instead of a team of five to plan Homecoming, 11 people are helping. In addition to the same

five from last year, she has three student workers and three alumni outreach officers from the former Office of University Relations. During the year, each person has specific duties, but Peck said Homecoming is different. “Everybody does everything,” she said. “All hands on deck. Whatever needs to be done, everybody has jumped in and pitched in and done it.” One thing Peck said will be different this year is JamFest, a concert comprised of student bands and performers. She said Alumni Relations teamed with the Students’ Association to put on JamFest rather than the traditional concert. “It is a student-driven thing,” she said. “It’s kind of exciting for us. We’ve always wanted to figure out how we can keep the

students on campus. This is not a weekend for them to necessarily go home. Homecoming is just as much for them as it is for alumni who come here.” She said she and her staff want more students to become involved in the Homecoming festivities. She said usually only students involved in social clubs are involved in Homecoming. “It’s a niche that we haven’t yet carved out and figured out,” she said. “Exactly what is it students want, the people who aren’t involved in social clubs. That is a niche that we want to improve or add something new that will appeal to them.” One way to get involved is through volunteer opportunities, said Jama Cadle, Alumni Events coordinator. She said she still needs volunteers to help

with anything from decorating residence halls and campus sidewalks to being clowns at the carnival Friday and helping with childcare Saturday. “We need students to talk it up and get excited,” Cadle said. Students interested in volunteering should call Cadle at the Alumni Relations Office at Ext. 2622. Peck said she is always open to student ideas on how to get other students interested and involved in Homecoming. Peck said they did learn lessons from last year, just like they learn lessons every year. For instance, this year she said they would have more food and drink stations at the Homecoming Carnival to prevent the long lines they had last year. “Every year, we go back and

we look at what things looked like,” she said. Peck said last year went pretty smoothly. Though it was her first year in her position, she had been planning Homecomings for five years. “As far as the weekend goes, Homecoming last year was a huge, tremendous success last year, so it’s hard to pinpoint any one colossal error that hurt us,” she said. “But, in that regard, we always look at everything we do every year at Homecoming and say, ‘How do we make it better?’” In two weeks she and her staff will begin to plan for next year’s Centennial Homecoming, she said. They want to make the parade and pre-game party larger than ever and are considering a special concert for the event. “Next year’s Homecoming

will look a lot different probably from any Homecoming that we’ve done,” Peck said. “There will be some exciting surprises.” She said she and her staff have been working non-stop for months and are excited about Homecoming. “Homecoming isn’t just this easy thing to put together,” she said. “It takes months and months of planning, but I feel that I have one of the best teams that we’ve ever had to pull off an event of this size and magnitude. I really hope that the campus and the alumni come back and enjoy themselves because that’s why we do it.”

E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu

WWII brides’ stories of love & desertion focus of award-winning documentary Student’s war-bride documentary to premiere overseas By BRIAN BAH STUDENT REPORTER

Few people know about the controversy of British wives whom U.S. soldiers left behind after World War II. One ACU student is telling the British-war-brides stories of abandonment, deceit and true love that these women

went through. Sarah Reid made an awardwinning documentary that will premiere next semester in the 306th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thurleigh, England. “It was a huge controversy that most people don’t know about World War II,” said Reid, senior electronic media major from Abilene. “When the war ended America brought all its boys home and left these brides behind.” During World War II the small villages in East Anglia, the

area north of London, were small farming villages with only 50 or 60 people. All that changed one day when many U.S. bases, containing 3,500 U.S. soldiers each, were established across the region. This led to a feeling of awe and gratefulness in the British that caused many British women to fall in love and marry many of these U.S. soldiers, Reid said. Problems arose when the U.S. soldiers were brought back after the war and their brides

were left in Great Britain. When brides made it over to the U.S. more problems arose. Some of the wives couldn’t find their husbands and some were even told they were not wanted and to go back home. “It’s was a horrible event, but yet some really great love stories came out of it,” Reid said. “That’s what I tried to focus on more than the negativity; these wonderful love stories and these brides that still live in Texas.” The documentary was made for one of Reid’s classes,

advanced historical documentary production that is taught by Dr. Vernon Williams, professor of history. Williams had high praise for the documentary. “It is one of the most significant student productions done under my watch,” Williams said. The 45-minute documentary won two first places in both editing and videography at the South Western Journalism Conference. Reid spent 45 hours just on

editing the piece, not including the months of pre-production. However, Reid said it was worth it. “Documentaries tell stories of ordinary people, and I feel like that’s really important,” Reid said. “That’s why my heart is drawn to documentaries. People have extraordinary stories, and I feel like we can learn from everybody’s stories.” E-mail Bah at: optimist@acu.edu

CROSS COUNTRY FEATURE

Friday, October 22, 2004

Great Lengths by Steve Holt photos by Emily Chastain

body change, be it ever so slightly. She soon found out that she was in her sixth month of pregnancy. “I couldn’t tell anything. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’” said Mwamba, who showed no outward appearance of her condition until late in the pregnancy. But on June 21, 2000, Mwamba gave birth to a girl, Harriet. Six months later, she began to train again.

American dream

Track star faced long journey, tough choices to come to America Adeh Mwamba has had to make tough decisions throughout her entire life. With whom to live when her father died. Whether or not to run, despite the jeers of her friends. Whether she should leave a newborn baby in her native Zambia to run in America. Which college to attend. Fortunately, the junior cross country runner has almost always chosen wisely, and that shows in the success she has attained and values she holds. Mwamba has finished as the first ACU runner at every meet this season, including a firstplace finish and two additional top-5 finishes at recognized national meets. Last spring she set a new school track and field record in the 5,000-meter run. She went on to become the first woman to win four events at the Lone Star Conference Track and Field Championships, establishing her place on a storied Wildcat team. “I think she’s probably one of the best female distance runners we’ve had,” said ACU head coach Jon Murray. “She’s got it all. She’s got great speed and great endurance.” But her individual success

began long before her accolades in an ACU uniform. Her childhood cross country and track and field résumé reads like a passport: World Cross Country Championships in Belgium and Spain at 11 and 13 years old, respectively; second place at the All-Africa Games in Zimbabwe at 15; first place in a halfmarathon in Swaziland at 17; and second at the Midnight Race in Angola at 18. Her best international finish was a sixth place finish in the 800-meter run at the World Track and Field Championships in Seville in 1999. She was 19. “I came to see that running is my talent,” Mwamba said. “I had a group of friends that tried to make me stop running. They’d say, ‘Why do you want to keep running? You are a woman. You won’t have kids if you continue running.’ But I didn’t pay attention to what they were saying.”

‘The hardest thing’ Off the running course or track, childhood wasn’t easy for the dark, rail-thin Mwamba. She was born September 3, 1976, in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia— a 10.8 million-person country so poor that the average family earns the equivalent of only $330 yearly. While the southeast African country is peaceful, it is consistently ranked close to last

among the countries of the world in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income. But Mwamba’s hardest times took place underneath her own roof. When she was a very young child, Mwamba’s father divorced her mother to be with another woman. Just two months into her father’s new relationship, the woman he’d started living with poisoned him to death. “It was a sudden death— maybe it was his time to go,” Mwamba soberly recalls. “It was hard for me.” Her mother had moved away, and Mwamba was left with no one to take care of her. Her grandmother soon took her in, educating her from the first grade through seventh grade. “She did everything for me,” Mwamba said. In 1990, Mwamba’s coach adopted the 14 year old, treating her “like one of his daughters.” It was under his supervision and expertise that Mwamba began to compete internationally, kicking off a career that made her one of Zambia’s premier female distance runners. But as on a cross country course, life has its ditches, barriers and challenges. Mwamba’s next challenge would be one she wasn’t expecting. She was competing and training vigorously in late 1999 and early 2000 when she began feeling her

In 2001 Mwamba was offered a scholarship to attend South Plains College in Levelland, a two-year college. Mwamba was torn. “When I received the scholarship, I thought, ‘This is the time I have been waiting for; I should go,’” she said. “But I looked at my baby and asked, ‘Should I leave my baby and go?’” The 25-year-old decided to enroll at SPC, leaving Harriet with the baby’s father. “He’s a good man — he understands my career — he said he’d take care of the baby,” she said. At South Plains, Mwamba became the nation’s premier junior college distance runner, claiming the 2002 and 2003 National Junior College Association of America cross country titles. In 2003 she was named NJCAA Female Runner of the Year. Mwamba’s accolades earned her recognition back home, as well. Originally employed as a cleric in the Zambian Army,

Page 15A Mwamba has been promoted steadily. Since she left, all because she wins races. After her first NJCAA championship at South Plains, Mwamba received word that she had been promoted to corporal. When she she won the 2003 title, she was promoted to sergeant. “So I’m Sergeant Mwamba,” she said, laughing. Upon completing her twoyear tenure at the college, Mwamba had yet another choice to make: Which four-year university to run for. She had her pick, including Kennesaw State (Ga.), Adams State (Colo.), and ACU. Upon recommendations from Zambians and a brother who had attended ACU, Mwamba decided to complete college running for the Wildcats.

ACU and beyond Mwamba had a successful spring competing for ACU in track in field, placing second in the 1,500 meters and third in the 5,000 meters. She even set a school record in the 5,000meter run. She is now the leading runner for the ACU women’s cross country team, which will contend for its 12th Lone Star Conference title on Saturday in Durant, Okla. Despite finishing in the top-5 at every meet this season, running at ACU has been somewhat of a transition. At South Plains, Mwamba got used to placing first. every time. “I’ve come to understand that in running, you don’t expect

winning every time,” Mwamba said. “In running, there’s losing and winning.” The principle applies to life as well, especially in Mwamba’s case. But the talented, cheerful girl who faced a seemingly losing battle from an early age has been a winner to this point, and she isn’t ready to give up anytime in the near future. “I really still need to run for my future,” she said. “If I really focus on training, my dream is that one day I will receive a gold medal. I see these athletes running and earning medals, and I ask myself, ‘Why can’t I do that?’” When all the cards are on the table, the most important thing to Mwamba is family. She aspires to succeed as a professional athlete not for her own recognition, but to support little Harriet, her grandmother, aunts and uncles. With that kind of motivation, Mwamba’s future is limitless. “That’s probably the unseen story with the international students,” Murray said of the family ties of Mwamba and many international athletes. “They come from such a faraway land. People don’t understand the difficulties they’ve had to overcome to do what they do.” So far, Mwamba has been able to do many things well. The only person capable of stopping Adeh Mwamba is herself. And that doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu

SPORTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST

Page 16A

Men, women picked fifth

LSC South Standings

Eastern New Mexico men and Angelo State women picked to win

Football Team Div. 1. E. New Mexico 4-0 2. A&M-Kingsville 3-0 3. Midwestern State 3-1 2-1 4. ACU 5. A&M-Commerce 0-3 5. Angelo State 0-3 7. W. Texas A&M 0-4

Tot. 5-3 6-0 5-2 4-3 2-5 1-7 1-6

Volleyball Team 1. ACU 2. Angelo State 3. E. New Mexico 4. A&M-Kingsville 5. West Texas A&M 6. Tarleton State

Div. 5-0 4-1 3-2 2-3 1-4 0-5

October 22, 2004

Tot. 20-6 17-6 18-6 8-17 16-11 14-13

Scores Saturday Football ACU 27, West Texas A&M 24

Thursday Volleyball ENMU 3, ACU 1 BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Briefs Athletes honored by LSC for performances Lindsey Martin was named LSC South Setter of the Week for the second time this season, Rashon Myles earned the LSC South Offensive Player of the Week for his 220 yard rushing performance, and Laurent Nigirakamaro was named the LSC’s Male Runner of the week after finishing second in the South Plains Festival. - Kyle Robarts Sports Editor

This week in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Saturday, October 23 MCC: at LSC Championships, 10 a.m. WCC: at LSC championships, 10 a.m. VB: at West Texas A&M, 2 p.m. FB: TX A&M-Commerce, 2 p.m. Thursday, October 28 VB: TX A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 30 VB: Tarleton State, 2 p.m. FB: at TX A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

Sophomore guard A.J. Porterfield fires up a three-point shot in Thursday’s practice session. The Wildcats’ first game is on Nov. 12

From ACU SPORTS INFORMATION The ACU men's and women's basketball teams have both been picked to finish fifth in their respective Lone Star Conference South Division races. The men finished fifth with 49 points, while the women finished fifth with 96 points. On the men's side, defending division champion Eastern New Mexico was picked to win the division with 10 first-place votes and 116 total points. Texas A&MKingsville was the runner-up with seven first-place votes and 100 total points, followed by West Texas A&M (93 points) and Midwestern State (61 points). The top four teams in each of the LSC's two divisions -- North and South - will each reach the post-season tournament at the end of the regular season. ACU received one secondplace vote, three third-place

votes, two fourth-place votes, two fifth-place votes, fourth sixth-place votes and six seventh-place votes. Texas A&MCommerce was picked to finish sixth in the poll, followed by Angelo State in seventh. In addition to the preseason poll, voters in the poll -- head coaches, SID and one media representative from each school -- also tabbed Texas A&M-Kingsville senior forward Robert Hamilton as the LSC South Preseason Player of the Year. Hamilton averaged 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds last year on his way to first team all-conference honors. On the women's side, defending LSC champion Angelo State was picked to win the division title in a close vote over second-place West Texas A&M. The Rambelles received 12 first-place votes and 164 total points, while the Lady Buffs received 10 first-place votes and 162 total points. Eastern New Mexico was a surprising third-place pick with 117 total points, followed by Midwestern State in fourth place with 100 points and ACU in fifth with 96

Basketball points. Texas A&MCommerce finished sixth in the poll (70 points), followed by Texas Woman's in seventh (51 points) and Texas A&MKingsville in eighth (32 points). ACU received three secondplace votes, two third-place votes, two fourth-place votes, 11 fifth-place votes, one sixthplace vote and three seventhplace votes. Angelo State senior center Natalja Tsurbakova was named the LSC South Preseason Player of the Year, easily beating out West Texas A&M senior forward Celeste Stevenson of Abilene Cooper, who was second in the race for that honor. Tsurbakova averaged a league-best 20.5 points per game in addition to 7.6 rebounds per contest. She was named LSC South Division Player of the Year and LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Year last year on her way to first team all-conference and all-region honors.

Cats finish 7th in San Antonio Teams compete for conference titles Wildcats shoot two best rounds of season at Rattler Invitational By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER

The ACU golf team saved their best for last, both at the Rattler Invitational and in the fall season. The Wildcats traveled to San Antonio and finished 7th at the Golf Course of Texas on Monday and Tuesday in their last tournament of the fall. In the final round on Tuesday, the Campbell team fired a team score of 284, a fourunder mark that eclipsed their previous low for the year by ten strokes. The previous low, 294, was set a day earlier in the same tournament. “We played really well; the best we’ve played in the fall,” ACU coach Mike Campbell said. Curtis Harris and Kyle Byerly posted the Wildcats’ best scores for the tournament. Each player shot an identical 75-73-71 to finish tied for 15th. Both Harris and Byerly said they were happy with the results even though they could have played better.

Golf

“It was one of those tournaments where my game wasn’t where it could have been ,but I scrapped and put together some scores,” Byerly said. “Nothing spectacular, just got the job done.” Harris said he would have liked to see a few more putts drop for him, but that he played well overall. “I hit the ball pretty decent,” Harris said. “All in all I was pleased.” Campbell and the Wildcat players have said all semester that this squad has potential, and Campbell said he started to see that in the final two rounds in San Antonio. “We’re definitely improving,” Campbell said. “If we can continue over the off-season and into next semester, we’ll be all right.” Harris said he too began to see that potential, and said it was just a matter of everybody playing well at the same time. Byerly agreed and said the team seemed more comfortable in their best two rounds of the season. “Most of us were playing pretty well; we were just having fun,” Byerly said. “It showed what we can do, that we can post some low scores. We know we can go out and do it now.” In the first round of the

tournament, the Wildcats combined for a score of 300, but no Wildcat shot higher than 77 in any of the three rounds. Two conference rivals the Wildcats are keeping an eye on, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northeastern State, finished four strokes ahead of ACU. Another conference foe, Cameron University, won the event. With the fall season completed, the Wildcats will turn their attention to the spring season. NCAA rules do not allow the team to officially practice golf, so the team will focus on fitness and will play some rounds on their own. Campbell said the team will run and lift weights three times a week as they look to build on the success in San Antonio and use it as momentum as they go forward. “It was a nice way to finish out the fall semester,” Campbell said. The Wildcats competed in four other tournaments this fall, including tournaments in Muskogee, Okla., Phoenix Ariz., and they played host at the Fairway Oaks West Texas Intercollegiate on Sept. 13-14 to begin the year.

E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams expected to win By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER

The men’s cross country team is expected to win its 13th straight Lone Star Conference Championship Saturday in Durant, Okla. The Wildcats enter the conference meet ranked No. 4 Murray in the nation, behind Adams St. (Colo.), Western St. (Colo.), and California State-Chico. The women’s team is unranked nationally but looks to be a favorite for the conference title, as they are the highest ranked LSC team in the South Central Region poll (No. 4). Junior and No. 1 runner Adeh Mwamba said she expects good things out of her team Saturday. “I think that as a team we are all ready,” she said. “Each and everybody is getting ready for conference, and as an individual, everybody is prepared to do good. All the

Cross Country girls are working hard to win conference.” She said the team’s main goal is still ahead, though. “Conference isn’t going to be a hard, serious meet – the main thing is nationals,” she said. Other teams expected to compete include Angelo State, West Texas A&M, Tarleton State, Eastern New Mexico and East Central. Last weekend, the men’s team took first and the women’s team took second at the Subway/South Plains College Cross Country Festival in Levelland. Freshman Laurent Ngirakamaro earned LSC Runner of the Week, after placing second in the fourmile race with a time of 19:23.9. Mwamba won the women’s race in 17: 20.8 over five kilometers. Should any of the Wildcat runners advance from the LSC Championships, head coach John Murray said they will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional meet in Joplin, Mo., on Nov. 6. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu

Lady Buffs look for revenge against ACU Cats look to start streak of their own against West Texas By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER

The Wildcat volleyball team looks to extend its perfect conference record on Saturday when ACU travels to Canyon to play rival West Texas A&M. ACU sits alone in first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 20-6 Kindred record, including a perfect 5-0 record against division opponents. The Wildcats soundly beat the Lady Buffs on Sep. 30 in Moody Coliseum for a 30-19, 30-22, 30-22 three-game sweep. The victory was the first over West Texas A&M since October 1993. “That was a nice victory but it’s always tough playing in their gym in front of 1,000 fans or so,” said ACU head coach Brek Horn. “I think we have the advantage having beaten them earlier this season. They are a little mad

Volleyball about it though.” Now the Wildcats seek to knock the Lady Buffs completely out of the LSC South Division race. West Texas A&M – currently fourth in the LSC South behind ACU, Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico in that order – are in danger of missing the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament for the first time in Horn’s career at ACU. The top-3 teams in the LSC South Division and LSC North Division advance to the PostSeason Tournament, which will be played at the home courts of the No. 1 seed in the North Division. The Lady Buffs own a 2-3 record in the LSC South Division and another loss could handicap any attempt to advance past ACU, Angelo State or Eastern New Mexico. ACU assistant coach Sarah Carthel – a former two-time NCAA Player of the Year for the Lady Buffs for helping them to a 1997 Division II National Championship before graduating from West Texas A&M in 2000 – said experience factors in the team’s lack of success this year.

“They are a really young team this year,” Carthel said. “Experience isn’t everything in volleyball but it is important.” Senior middle blocker Sophia Kindred admits West Texas A&M is a rival team, but it’s not the only rivalry. “I think we have more of a rivalry with Angelo State,” Kindred said.” Horn said a lot of the rivalry in the LSC stems from the coaching staff. Horn, a 1996 graduate of Angelo State, joins Carthel Bernhardt as a former standout player in the LSC. “It’s really about pride,” Horn explained. “Yes we have fond memories of playing at a particular school but when you come back in front of family and friends it makes you want to beat them even more.” Another almost invisible factor in the rivalry between ACU and West Texas A&M is ACU standout Michelle Bernhardt. The junior outside hitter graduated from Hereford High School – about 20 miles away from Canyon – and was extensively recruited by the

Lady Buffs. Ultimately, Bernhardt decided to attend classes and kill volleyballs in the purple and white of ACU. “People don’t understand it here, but when you were raised around West Texas A&M like Michelle was, WT volleyball is what you watched. Michelle grew up watching Sarah [Carthel] play,” Horn said. “Fortunately for us, Michelle chose to come to ACU over West Texas.” Bernhardt, the pre-season pick for LSC player of the year, leads the Wildcats with 396 kills and is second on the team with 290 kills. ACU will look to Bernhardt to lead them in the charge against the Lady Buffs. “Michelle actually plays better against WT. She’s handled the pressure very well,” Horn said. The battle at Canyon begins 2 p.m. Saturday. After the match in Canyon, the Wildcats return to Abilene for a five-match home stand beginning 7 p.m. Thursday when ACU hosts Texas A&MKingsville. BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

E-mail Roe at: kdr00c@acu.edu

Head coach Brek Horn has led the Wildcats to a perfect conference record thus far in the season and the Wildcats are currently 20-6.

FRIDAY October 22, 2004

HOMECOMING ACU

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Abilene Christian University

OPTIMIST SECTION B THE

www.acuoptimist.com

Serving the ACU community since 1912

‘Go wild with the Cats’

Friday

Weekend Activities

• Fall Preview Weekend for prospective students, 8 a.m., Hilton Room of the Campus Center • Chapel and Opening Ceremonies, 11 a.m., Moody Coliseum • Homecoming Golf Classic, noon, Diamondback Golf Course • Queens Tea, 3 p.m., 1209 Saddle Lakes Drive. By invitation only • Friends of ACU Library, Friend of the Year Reception, 3:30 p.m., Brown Library • Homecoming Carnival, 5 p.m., mall area near the GATA fountain • Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Math and Computer Science reception, 5:30 p.m., front foyer of the Foster Science Building • 18th annual Chemistry Circus, 6:30 p.m., Foster Science Building, Walling Lecture Hall • JamFest, 7 p.m., behind Zona Luce • Physics Department open house, 8 p.m., Foster Science Building • Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, 8 p.m., Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th St.

Saturday • Club breakfasts, 6-8 a.m. • Frater Sodalis ribbon-cutting ceremony, 8 a.m., Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural Field • Fall Preview Weekend for prospective students, 8 a.m., Living Room of the Campus Center • Alumni and Friends of Family and Consumer Sciences reunion coffee, 8 a.m., WACU Museum, 1602 Campus Court • W Club coffee, 8:30 a.m., Mabee Library Auditorium • Homecoming Parade, 9:30 a.m., around campus beginning on E.N. 16th Street by Gardner Hall and ending on Campus Court by Edwards Hall • Homecoming Chapel, 10:45 a.m., Moody Coliseum • ACU Lettermen/Wildcat Club barbecue party, 11:30 a.m., south end of Shotwell Stadium • A Cappella Chorus concert, 11:45 a.m., Williams Performing Arts Center, Recital Hall • COBA reunion reception, 11:45 a.m., Mabee Business Building, Room 134 • Communication and OHRD alumni reception, 11:45 a.m., Don H. Morris Center, Room 134 • Department of Exercise Science and Health alumni reception, 11:45 a.m., Gibson Health and P.E. Center, Room 233-34 • Gerontology alumni barbecue, 11:45 a.m., Christian Village, 633 E.N. 19th St. • Journalism and Mass Communication and student media alumni reception, 11:45 a.m., Don H. Morris Center, Room 108 • Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology majors reception, 11:45 a.m., Don H. Morris Center, Room 117 • Students’ Association reunion, 11:45 a.m., Campus Center, Bean Sprout • Young Alumnus of the Year reception, 11:45 a.m., atrium of the Williams Performing Arts Center • Pre-game party, noon, north end of Shotwell Stadium • Football game vs. Texas A&M-Commerce, 2 p.m., Shotwell Stadium • Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Aggie Barbeque and Awards Banquet, 5 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ • Class Reunions receptions, 5:30 p.m. Golden Anniversary (classes of 1954 and previous), Hilton Room of the Campus Center Class of 1959, Living Room of the Campus Center Class of 1964, Williams Performing Arts Center Class of 1969, East Dining Room of the Bean Class of 1974, Hall of Servants, Biblical Studies Building Class of 1979, Teague Special Events Center Class of 1984, Atrium of the Mabee Business Building Class of 1989, 774 E.N. 13th St. Class of 1994, T&P Event Center, 901 N. 1st St. Class of 1999, Bean Sprout • Reunion worship services, 8 a.m., various locations • Frater Sodalis Alumni vs. 2004 Brat Class , 7 p.m., Larry “Satch” Sanders Field • Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, 2 p.m., Abilene Civic • Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, 8 p.m., Abilene Civic Center, 11 N. 6th St. Center, 11 N. 6th St.

Sunday

Page 2B

FOOTBALL EXTRA OPTIMIST

Friday, October 22, 2004

Manning the ship

Danieal Manning’s grandfather told him the ACU Wildcat football team is like the iceberg that sank the Titanic. Though it may be clear who is visible and on the top, it took the base of the glacier to sink the ship.

story by Kyle Robarts photos by Eyakem Gulilat (left) Brian Schmidt (right)

Manning clearly makes his presence felt at the tip of the team’s iceberg with his performance and strong work ethic, but he refuses to accept all the credit. “I’m only at the top because of my teammates . . . I love this team, and I love being around my teammates,” Manning said. A 2001 graduate of Corsicana High School, he signed with Big XII Conference power Nebraska, but never attended for academic reasons. The sophomore strong safety and return specialist came to ACU in the spring of 2002. His great uncle, Alex Davis, who played running back for ACU in the 1977 season had an influence on Manning’s coming to Abilene. Davis was a part of the last Wildcat team to make the postseason as the ’77 squad won the Apple Bowl and is one of the many relatives of Manning, including his father, who have participated in collegiate athletics. The legacy of talent passed on to Manning now gives him the opportunity to showcase his talents on the field in hopes of a playoff return for ACU. However, Manning doesn’t let his success go to his head; he isn’t one to take it easy in

practice, nor does he rely purely on the talents he’s been blessed with. “The thing that impresses me most about Danieal is that he never puts himself above the team – he’s not a bragger and he’s humble,” said head coach Gary Gaines. Defensive backs coach Nathan Headrick said that even with all of Manning’s talent, his best feature is his work ethic. “Once I saw him run drills and go through practice, I knew that he was quick and had great talent,” Headrick said. “But the most impressive thing to me was the fact that he was an established leader on the team, and he hadn’t even played a snap.” Headrick joined the ACU staff in 2003 after spending two years at Texas A&M University as the defensive backs coach. “Everyone around here told me that I had a good player to work with, but after coming from Texas A&M where talent at the Division I level is so high, I didn’t really know how good he would be,” Headrick said. Manning’s freshman year proved he was worthy of the hype. He was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Freshman of the Year and was a third-team allAmerica selection. He racked up 56 tackles (4.5 TFL), led the conference with six interceptions, scored two touchdowns as a receiver, and had a kickoff return average of 36.9 yards that included a 97-yard touchdown return against Texas A&M-Commerce.

In 2004, Manning was a pre-season all-America selection by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, and he hasn’t disappointed the selection committee as his sophomore season is off to a fast start. At 4-3, the Wildcats’ success can be credited in large part to Manning. On special teams, he has been the nation’s leader among NCAA Division II teams in punt and kick returns during the course of the season. Opposing teams have caught on, however, and currently Manning doesn’t qualify for the leader board because he doesn’t have enough returns per game to qualify. Opposing teams make wise decisions when they choose to kick away from Manning; he was named the LSC South Division Special Teams Player of the Week two consecutive times after returning punts for 55- and 73-yard touchdowns against Northeastern State and Tarleton State respectively. Manning also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown against Angelo State as well as forcing, recovering and returning a fumble for the game-winning touchdown. ACU had trailed Angelo 25-15 with just over six minutes remaining before Manning rescued the Wildcats’ chances at a South Division title and their first playoff berth since 1973. For his performance against Angelo, Manning was named the nation’s defensive player of the week among NCAA division II schools. “He’s a threat every time he touches it,” Gaines said. “He’s See MANNING Page 3B

Wildcats aim for LSC South title son in a hole and will look to advance to the post-season for the first time since 1977. The final stretch of the season starts this week with the Homecoming game against Texas A&M-Commerce, who By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR comes into the game at 2-5 Three games. Three wins. overall and 0-3 in the Lone Two simple sentences that in Star Conference South Division. There are many scenarios that could put the Wildcats in the race for the south title or keep them out, but to make a long story short, the Wildcats have to win out and hope that Eastern New Mexico falls to either Texas A&M-Kingsville or Midwestern in the final weeks of the regular season. The Wildcats fell to Eastern on Sept. 25 28-21, and still have an undefeated Kingsville to face next week on their home turf. ACU will finish its season at home against Midwestern State, who is currently 3-1 in the LSC South Division. Commerce is first, however, for ACU and for the thirdstraight week the Wildcats will be facing a struggling team. The Lions’ statistics this season prove them to be onedimensional on both sides of the ball. They are currently 12th out of 13 teams in the conference in both rushing offense and rushing defense. However, they are effective in the passing game both on offense and defense as they are ranked second in the conference in each category. Rashon Myles, the Wildcats’ junior running back KYLE ROBARTS/Contributing Photographer Greg Wiggins drops back to pass against West Texas A&M in Canyon ,could match up well with Commerce. Myles is coming on Saturday. The Wildcats won 27-24.

Team still in hunt for the post season; 2-1 in LSC South

reality will be a much more complex task for the ACU Wildcat football team to accomplish. The Boston Red Sox just advanced to the World Series for the first time in 86 years after starting in a 3-0 hole to the New York Yankees. The Wildcats also began this sea-

off of a 220-yard rushing performance against West Texas A&M and currently averages 5.4 yards a carry this season. “Commerce is better than their record indicates,” head coach Gary Gaines said. “They run a similar passing game that we saw last week at West Texas, and they have good skill players.” Buster Faulkner, Commerce’s quarterback, has completed 65.7 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 2,052 yards, 10 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Junior defensive tackle Mark Malunowe said that one of the keys to victory this week will be getting pressure on the quarterback. “When you face a team that passes as much as they do, it’s a tough game for the defensive line,” Malunowe said. “The offensive line is constantly in a two-point stance, and that makes it tough to rush the quarterback. But we’ll do our best to provide pressure so that we can create some big plays on the defensive end.” Homecoming typically provides the largest crowd of the year with all of the out-oftown visitors. To younger players like freshman receiver Jerale Badon, Homecoming itself doesn’t have an impact individually, but the game does. “It’s just another game,” Badon said. “We just have to execute, no matter if it’s Homecoming, regular season or a championship.” To more experienced players like Malunowe, Home-

coming means just a little bit more. “There is so much support at Homecoming,” Malunowe said. “It feels great to run on the field and have that extra support, and it makes you want to play that much harder.” The south division race will become slightly more clear after this weekend’s games. Eastern New Mexico

will take on Kingsville Saturday in the battle of the unbeaten teams in the LSC South. However, many things can happen in three weeks that could stir up the standings, but like Badon said, the Wildcats just have to execute and take care of what they can control. E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

2004 Statistical Leaders Passing

C-A-I G. Wiggins B. Pierce

Rushing

Yds.

85-177-6 929 11-25-2 120

11 0

Car. Yds. Avg. TD R. Myles M. Gaines

94 88

Receiving

519 317

5.4 3 3.4 1

Rec. Yds. Avg. TD J. Badon D. Cobb

31 26

Tackles

400 12.9 3 312 12.0 4

Solo Ast. TFL Tot. G. Yeldell B. Henry

25 23

Kicking

18 20

2.5 6.5

43 43

FGM-FGA Long Blk. E. Nelson

8-12

Punting

No. Avg. Long TB C. Fishback

6 39.5

FOOTBALL EXTRA JUMP

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 3B

Manning: ‘Best since Wilbert’ turning heads around the LSC Continued from Page 2B explosive and I think his teammates enjoy blocking for him because they know that he has a chance to make things happen.” “There are two things that go through my mind [when returning a punt],” Manning said. “Number one: Field the punt. Then I see which way the defender is moving to make my first move because I will make the first move. “I tell my teammates to just get in the way,” Manning said with a smile. “I’ll tell them that most likely I’m not gonna fair catch it, and on kickoffs if it’s deep in the end zone don’t be surprised if I bring it out.” Getting in the way is all that he needs. At 5-11, 205, Man ning runs as quick as a 150pounder, but as strong as a 300pounder. Blocks are appreciated, but not always necessary when Manning puts on a series of east and west moves on the defense, spinning and stiff-arming his way down the field. His defense at the strong safety position has placed him among the top performers in the conference as well. When the Wildcats knocked off the No. 7 ranked Tarleton State early in the season, not only did Manning return a punt for a touchdown, but he added 11 tackles and an interception. In the comeback win against Angelo he had 9 tackles to go along with his defensive touchdown.

“He’s the best I’ve seen since Wilbert [Montgomery],” defensive coordinator Jerry Wilson said. Wilson has been around ACU football off and on since the early 70’s, so to pay Manning the compliment of being compared to Wilbert Montgomery is huge considering the former running back’s credentials. Montgomery finished his career at ACU and then went on to play professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions for nine years, and was a two-time Pro Bowler. The strong safety position in many ways is the quarterback of the defense. On offense, though the quarterback can change a play at the line, most of the time the team will run a set play. However, on defense Manning, as the strong safety, is vocal before every play because he has to read the coverage and decide how the rest of the defense will react to each play. “I have to make sure I communicate the call to the corners and linebackers to make sure they know what coverage to run,” Manning said. “I have the freedom, but it’s hard – I have to know where everybody else is and make sure we call the right play.” Manning’s had help from the veterans on the team. Manning said that Dawon Gentry has been one of his mentors since he arrived at ACU, and now as a sophomore, Manning’s strong work ethic on the practice field

and in games is rubbing off on the younger players. “He [Manning] is constantly working with the younger guys; reassuring them when they aren’t making plays and complimenting them when they make good ones,” Headrick said. Gentry’s influence has inspired Manning to do the same with the younger players on the team, and if Manning was forced to pick his prodigy, he’d go with freshman cornerback Corey Jordan. “No. 5, I like that kid – he’s feisty; he reminds me of myself a little,” Manning said. “No matter what, he fights and does what it takes to get on the field. He gives 110% all the times and is a team player. I think he’ll be a good defensive back for us,” Manning said. The coach/player relationships have had an effect on Manning as well. “Coach Headrick has become one of my favorite coaches since I’ve been in football,” Manning said. “He’s been patient with me, taking time to let me know what he wants from me at safety and what he wants for me to do for the team. I can talk to him on a coaching level, but I can also talk to him as a friend. “Coach [Colby] Carthel (linebackers coach) is my ace,” Manning said. “He recruited me, he kept my head up when I had to sit out a year because of NCAA regulations, and he’s been my dad away from my dad.”

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Sophomore strong safety Danieal Manning breaks the first tackle on his way to a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against Tarleton State on Sept. 18. Manning’s statistics and performances will continue to turn the heads of NFL scouts who could try to entice him out of the collegiate level after this season, but as of now Manning plans to be with the team through his senior season in 2006.

“You never know what the good Lord is going to throw out there in front of you,” Manning said. “But I always pray that it won’t happen (entering the NFL draft early), so I won’t be tempted. I want to graduate first.” As long as Manning stays around, there won’t be any com-

plaints from coaches or players as he continues to serve as the tip of the iceberg.

E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

HOMECOMING NEWS

Page 4B

Friday, October 22, 2004

Campus receives makeover for weekend visitors Physical Resources prepares university for Homecoming By RUBEN J. GONZALEZ STUDENT REPORTER

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Nicholas Schmidt, junior biology major from Amarillo, works for Physical Resources planting flowers on Oct. 15 as part of the department’s efforts to get ready for Homecoming Weekend.

Frats to dedicate field Club plans football game, ribbon-cutting at intramural field By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STUDENT REPORTER

On a cool evening in late September, the newly acquired lighting system came to life as about 250 people played and watched intramural games on the Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural Field. Tim Yandell, a sponsor for Frater Sodalis, remembered being at the field that night. “I thought, ‘Isn’t this great?’” he said. “It made me so proud to be a part of a place like ACU.” Current members, pledges and alumni of the men’s social club Frater Sodalis will dedicate the new facility this weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the first Frats Alumni vs. Brats (current Frat pledges) football game on the field. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday

after the Frats Homecoming Breakfast, and the much-anticipated football game will be Saturday night so that everyone can see the new light system, Yandell said. The main reason Frater Sodalis is having the Frats Alumni vs. Brats game is so the alumni can see first-hand the incredible gift they have given both to Frats and the entire student body, said Dustin Marshall, vice president of Frater Sodalis. “Walking up to the entrance of the field and seeing all the bricks with the alumni names on them and ones with some of the current members names on them is just incredible,” said Marshall, junior accounting major from Abilene. Larry “Satch” Sanders, cosponsor of Frater Sodalis for whom the field was named, said he is excited about the new facility and upcoming football game. “It’s just overwhelming to think about,” Sanders said. “This team of alumni covers

roughly 30 years of Frats and will be basically anybody I have ever played with.” Sanders said that the camaraderie that is shown through Frater Sodalis is the ACU difference. “There is 61 years of friends here,” he said. “I’m 52 years old and still have 22-year-old best friends. The camaraderie doesn’t come to an end.” Current members also feel this bond, both with Sanders and other alumni, said David Blacklock, intramural director for Frater Sodalis. “I think the field’s use with intramurals could not have been more appropriate,” said Blacklock, senior elementary education major from Missouri City. “Satch has played on a Frat flag football team for over 30 years and is loved and respected by all the brothers in club, both now and in the past.” E-mail Linthicum at: optimist@acu.edu

With plans for Homecoming expecting to bring a multitude of alumni and family to the campus this weekend, it has been a very busy time for a lot of people, perhaps none more so than the employees of Physical ResourNevill ces. “The Physical Resource staff dedicates at least 90 percent of its available time to preparing and working through the Homecoming event,” said Bob

Nevill, director of Physical Resources, in an e-mail. “We begin planning with other organizations on campus two or three weeks in advance of the event for the activity required and coordination of work effort.” Nevill said there is a process that needs to be maintained by those on campus needing assistance so that the Physical Resources department can make their commitments on time. “We meet with our staff and the Physical Resource managers several times before and during the Homecoming cycle to ensure that we are reacting to campus needs appropriately,” Nevill said. “We receive a very detailed list of needs by place, time and activity from the Campus Events office the week prior to Homecoming, which we use to aid in the definition of assets required and staffing.”

Nevill said Physical Resources has about 30 people dedicated to the support of Homecoming, and he acknowledged that they are just one part in the process that will make this year’s Homecoming memorable. Though his staff has continued to work hard, Nevill said it is all well worth it. “The staff in Physical Resources takes great pride in the campus: the way it looks, the way it functions, the way we create and recreate memories in our students and returning alumni,” Nevill said. “We truly believe in the mission of ACU and do all that we can to create an environment that students can be proud of as they go about God’s work.” E-mail Gonzalez at: optimist@acu.edu

HOMECOMING

Friday, October 22, 2004

Office of Admissions prepares for visitors More than 200 families expected to visit campus this weekend By NATHAN CRUMMEL STUDENT REPORTER

With Homecoming this week and all events leading up to the football game Saturday and the Homecoming Musical Friday through Sunday, the Office of Admissions has been preparing for its own big game — the recruiting game. Gretchen Etheredge, coordinator of Guest Services, said the Admissions office plans to receive more than 200 families for its annual Fall Preview Weekend, with even more

families visiting the campus separately, thus making the number of visitors higher. The weekend is designed to give prospective students a glimpse of life on the ACU campus in order to help make the college decision somewhat easier, according to the Fall Preview Weekend informational brochure. “Any time you have an event where ACU students are excited and have a lot of things to do, it’s a great time to have prospective students come and to be apart of that,” Etheredge said. “We have a great ACU community and any time that [prospective students] can see them at their best, it’s a great recruiting tool.”

Prospective students can attend classes, tour the campus and participate in a number of student activities taking place, such as the Homecoming Carnival, the JamFest concert and the pre-game football party. The weekend also features the College Dean’s Luncheon, which will allow prospective students to enjoy eating lunch with the professors and dean of the various colleges. Lauren Krieger, freshman music education major from Fort Worth, said the luncheon provides a great environment for students and professors to interact and for prospective students to learn about the education they can receive at ACU.

Page 5B

Have I told you the one about...

“The tour shows you what college life is like, especially if you haven’t been around a college campus,” Krieger said. “Talking to the faculty was probably the most helpful part of the tour. It solidified in my mind that this is where I wanted to be.” Etheredge also said the interpersonal contact on visits serves as one of the keys to recruiting. “The best way to recruit students to come to ACU is for them to get to know the current students and the faculty,” Etheredge said. “They are our best tool.” E-mail Crummel at: optimist@acu.edu

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Craig Smith, president of World Bible Translation Center, speaks at the Journalism and Mass Communication’s Gutenberg Dinner after being awarded with one of three Gutenberg Awards Thursday.

Club alumni meet for breakfasts to bond, bring back memories Club breakfasts bring current, former members together By TIFFANY TAYLOR STAFF WRITER

Saturday morning ACU’s social clubs will have club breakfasts for current and alumni. Breakfasts will be held from 6 to 8 a.m. so everyone can attend the Homecoming parade at 9:30 a.m. “I think it’s good to put

your best food forward when the alumni come back,” said Bryan Brokaw, senior marketing major from Abilene and vice president of Galaxy. “It’s good for them to come back and see the club is organized and looking good,” he said, adding that he believes club is a major part of alumni’s lives and memories. Sheila Hilton, a member of GATA during the 1970s, said club breakfast allows her “to see old friends and to help support current members.

“It’s good for them to come back and see the club is organized and looking good.” Bryan Brokaw, senior marketing major from Abilene and vice president of Galaxy

Some girls I met in club are still my friends after 25 years,” she said. Brokaw said he believes the breakfast reminds pledges and members that alumni are watching how the club conducts itself. Brokaw said a former Moonie

who is a successful professional will give a short speech at the Galaxy breakfast. Sigma Theta Chi vice president Jenny Fullerton, senior communication pathology major from Garland, said the Siggies have recorded a praise CD as a gift for those who

attend the breakfast. Fullerton said she believes the main thing to remember is that the old members just want to visit. The vice president of most clubs will organize the club’s breakfast. Fullerton said she sent out invitations to past members four to five weeks ago, along with arranging for the food, decorations, favors, and newsletter. She and the pledges will be at the Abilene Country Club at 5 a.m. on Saturday preparing, and said

the club is dealing with the expenses of the breakfast by requiring all attendees to pay $15. “It’s really good for pledges and members to see that older members care,” Brokaw said. “Whether it’s just 10, 20, 30 years after club, they still come back and want to meet members.”

E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu

iss Me, Kate

Page 6B

Homecoming Musical

October 22, 2004

Page 7B

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Petruchio (Ben Jeffrey, center) comes to Paduan in hopes of wooing the untameable Katherine in the musical rendition of “The Taming of the Shrew.” His fellow men join in toasting to his success.

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Lara Seibert, playing Lois Lane, is lifted into the air by Andrew Young (left), playing Bill Calhoun, and Jason Kennedy, playing an unnamed character, in “Too Darn Hot,” the dance number that opens the second act.

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

A gangster (Nathan Jerkins) who has donned a costume and snuck onstage during “The Taming of the Shrew” keeps Kate’s (Kelly Haseltine) hat just out of her reach.

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Bill Calhoun (Andrew Young) rehearses his number, “Bianca,” for the various female cast members backstage. Calhoun later performs the song for his reallife love interest Lois Lane (Lara Seibert), who plays Bianca in “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Cast shines in lighthearted musical Members say hard work pays off to present show at Homecoming By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Fred Graham (Ben Jeffrey) rekindles old flames when he remembers the past by singing “Wunderbar” with ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (Kelly Haseltine). The veteran actors have been cast as love interests in “The Taming of the Shrew.”

“A chance for stage folks to say, ‘hello;’” that’s how the opening song of the Homecoming Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, describes musical theatre. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Kate exists in the same happy-golucky vein as last year’s musical, Guys and Dolls. Many filmgoers recently gained insight into Cole Porter through De-Lovely, a film showing how Porter’s life influenced his work and vice versa. Despite his enormous popularity and undeniable genius, Porter lived a fairly sad life and filled his music to the brim with idealistic ideas of love to counteract the truth of his experiences. Some of the songs, such as Why can’t you behave?, seem to be reflections of his own wife’s constant inquiries. Ultimately, though, his Kiss Me, Kate is a show about having fun, and Porter’s songs make it pretty easy on the audience. The show centers on a group of actors performing a musical rendition of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The leads in the musical Shrew are Lilli Venessi and Fred Graham, two actors who are also ex-lovers. We immediately get the sense that old flames are still burning, though, and the two spend

the entire show coming to grips with the fact that they still love each other. In the meantime, their fierce quarreling begins to interfere with the stage production they’re in, and when two mobsters and a U.S. military general get thrown in the mix, it’s all the acting troupe can do to keep the production from collapsing. Porter’s score remains jazzy throughout and lends itself to some big dance numbers. Teri Wilkerson has been choreographing ACU’s Homecoming Musicals for years, but Kiss Me, Kate is more dance-intensive than most. Michael Miller, senior theatre major from Lufkin, describes working with her. “Teri makes it challenging and expects you to do a lot of work, but it pays off,” Miller said. “She doesn’t settle for what you think you can do; she makes you rise above it.” Being a senior, Miller said Kiss Me, Kate is a good note to go out on. “I love this school, but I’m ready to get out there,” Miller said. Ryan Massie, sophomore theatre major from Troy, Ohio, said he’s enjoyed acting in his first Homecoming Musical. “It’s been such a great experience,” Massie said. “It’s taken so much of my time, but it’s given me so much in return.” With any show as massive as the Homecoming Musical, there are inevitably some unsung heroes working behind the scenes to help hold it together. Ann Wood,

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Various men move to the beat in “Too Darn Hot,” “Kiss Me, Kate’s” largest number. It occurs when cast members of “The Taming of the Shrew” find themselves backstage during intermission.

senior theatre major from Nashville, Tenn., and stage manager of Kiss Me, Kate, describes her responsibilities with the show. “I’ve been working since before the first rehearsal,” Wood said. “I coordinate rehearsals with the actors, I’m at every rehearsal taking notes for the director and making sure everyone’s where they need to be; I’m basically the communication hub.” Wood said the show has come together wonderfully. “The cast has done an amazing job as have the unglorified backstage crews.” Wood also said they couldn’t have done it without the help of those involved. “We are using every person to their full potential this year.” Another behind-the-scenes worker is Jeannette Lipford, who has been the vocal coach for 33 Homecoming Musicals, including this year’s. “We give music to the leads to begin work before school lets out in May,” Lipford said. “We’re very fortunate to have talented students who commit.” Lipford also said ACU theatre holds itself to a professional standard. “I feel like we could challenge the validity of any Broadway show with what we do.” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu

Ryan Fonville (left) and Juliette Miller dance alongside Andrew Young and Lara Seibert in “Too Darn Hot,” the largest dance number in “Kiss Me, Kate.”

HOMECOMING NEWS

Page 8B

Friday, October 22, 2004

University office makes history by entering parade float For the first time, it’s not just clubs doing Homecoming floats By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER

Indiana Jones just entered Abilene - on a float that is. For the first time ever, a university office is entering a float in the Homecoming Parade at 9:30 Saturday morning to compete with 27 student organization floats. Matt Boisvert, director of the Career and Academic Development program, came up with the idea to create a float to enter in the parade competition. “We were brainstorming

what we could do for Homecoming to make a big impact and to get the alumni aware of what we do on campus,” Boisvert said. The float is based on the Homecoming theme, “Go Wild with the Cats!” with its own theme of “It’s a Jungle Out There,” referring to the transition between graduating from ACU and entering the career world, Boisvert said. Their Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-based float features a suspension bridge depicting the relationship alumni have with students to bridge the gap to help them find jobs and internships. “Floats are usually entered by student organizations, like the social clubs, the Aggie

club, Hispanos Unidos club and all the classes,” said Samantha Adkins, coordinator of Alumni Programs. “This is the first time I believe that an office has entered a float.” Undaunted by this fact, the Career and Academic Development office began building the float last week. “Although we may not compare to a social club’s numbers of around 100,” Boisvert said, “we still have a lot of enthusiasm for our office of four or five.” The office is building the float at the home of Cynthia Cooke, a career and academic advisor in the Career and Academic Development Office. “We’re probably going to

Fun explodes at unusual circus Chemistry Circus gives students hands-on experience with science By JULIA REID STUDENT REPORTER

As a student, Dr. Brian Cavett participated in the Chemistry Circus, which presents chemistry in a way that ordinary people can understand and appreciate, and he said he enjoyed the chance it gave him to bond with other students as they prepared for the circus. “There’s nothing like watching—as you blow another thing up—the kids’ eyes light up like, ‘Did I just see that?’ And to hear them squeal at each explosion,” said Cavett, instructor of chemistry. “It’s just cool. To be a part of that as a faculty member, I feel

blessed.” The 18th annual Chemistry Circus will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Walling Lecture Hall and will last for about an hour. Students in the Chemistry Club will present various experiments designed to entertain the whole family. Norm Archibald, mayor of Abilene, declared Friday Dr. Alvie Davis Day, so this year the Chemistry Circus is in honor of Dr. Davis, professor emeritus of chemistry. Cavett said Davis is a phenomenal teacher and a great man. Julia Armke, sophomore biochemistry major from Dripping Springs, participated in the Chemistry Circus last year and plans to participate again this year. “It’s a chance for us to demonstrate the concepts we’ve learned and still get to have fun ourselves and make

be putting in 80 man hours into this float in the next couple of days, but we shouldn’t have a problem staying the $250 supply limit set by the Parade Committee,” Cooke said. This year the six-member judging committee consists of Ann Varner, financial aid counselor; Debbie Williams, associate professor in the English Department; Steve Cunningham, vice president of First National Bank of Abilene; John Gonzalez, a representative from Wal-Mart and the final judge is a representative from United Supermarket. The float categories judged each year are best men’s club float, best women’s club, best

class float, best use of purple and best float overall. “Even if we don’t win in any category,” Boisvert said, “the point is that we got our message out to alumni.” Their message is to show alumni the opportunities they have to reach out to current students at ACU through CareerLink. “Alumni are a key piece of all of what we do,” Boisvert said. “There is a real opportunity for alumni to get connected at ACU that is not us asking them for money. An alumnus can provide career mentoring and contacts for internships and jobs. “To gauge whether this project has even been effective or not and if we do it

again will depend on if we have a surge of alumni sign up to be mentors on CareerLink to students,” Boisvert said. “We currently have 800 alumni involved, but would love to see the alumni rally around the idea of helping our students to double our number.” He said the office members also hope they can begin a trend for other university offices. “We like thinking outside of the box to create awareness about what we do,” Cooke said. “Hopefully we are raising the bar for other campus offices and services that are not just student driven.” E-mail Sherwood at: lew03d@acu.edu

Now there’s something you don’t see every day!

things explode or change colors,” Armke said. “It’s more fun for us because we finally get to apply what we’ve learned in lecture.” Explosions, color changes and chemistry using things found in a kitchen are among the things that you could expect at the Chemistry Circus. “We’re very dramatic about it,” Cavett said. “Blowing our CO2 fire extinguishers, making lots of noise. Ending with a bang- literally.” Both Armke and Cavitt agree that a favorite experiment is exploding balloons to music—an experiment that works better some years than others. “Expect anything,” Cavett said. “And wear earplugs.” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

E-mail Reid at: lew03d@acu.edu

Rachael Palmer (right), junior biology major from Big Sandy, and Marin Alvarado, senior mathematics major from Edinburg, enjoy a cross-campus ride on horseback.

HOMECOMING NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 9B

Friends of the Library to be honored at reception Friday Mogan, Palmer named as this year’s award recipients By ELIZABETH NEWMAN STUDENT REPORTER

Friends of the ACU Library, a library support group that works to enhance the Brown Library’s book collection, will honor two people who donated collections of books and periodicals to the library at a reception in the Library Atrium at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Dr. Joseph Mogan Jr., a retired English professor from Texas Tech University, and Dr. Joyce Palmer, an English professor at Texas Woman’s University, were selected as the FACUL’s Friends of the Year for their contributions to the library’s English literature and language collections. “People who have made a meaningful contribution to any worthwhile organization should receive credit for it,” said Virginia Bailey, reference librarian and vice president for publicity for FACUL. “I believe in credit

for people where credit is due. It’s a matter of appreciation.” The reception will be sponsored by FACUL, the Brown Library and the English Department and will center on the theme “Big Time,” which celebrates the library’s emphasis this year on expanding the English literature and language collections. At the reception, others can honor the two recipients by making donations to the library that will help buy books in the field of English, said Carisse Berryhill, special services librar-

Chorus, Chorale to give recital Performance also to showcase Williams Performing Arts Center By TABITHA VAIL STAFF WRITER

The A Cappella chorus and the University Chorale will combine after Homecoming Chapel to treat alumni to the premiere Homecoming recital concert in the Williams Performing Arts Center Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Dr. Michael Scarbrough, associate professor of music and director of choral activities, said he doesn’t remember how the tradition began, but it is a “wonderful chance for alumni to see what [the choral department] has to offer … plus it is a special thing to get back in touch with former students.” He will direct the A Cappella chorus on Saturday, which will perform five to six pieces,

including an opera that will be a part of its program in the spring. Saturday’s performance will allow the students to practice the piece in front of an audience before the choir travels to San Antonio in the spring for the Texas Music Educators Association conference. The recital is a chance to not only showcase the chorus but the building as well. Scarbrough said the Williams Performing Arts Center is a blessing. “We are so appreciative of [alumni] contributions,” he said. “We would love to have them experience it.” Kara Wilson, sophomore missions major from San Antonio, said the recital is a “really neat time for everyone to come together and share in a common love for music, singing and ACU. However, it is at one of, if not the most, inconvenient hours of the entire school year. People are exhausted and are not able to

give their best performance. The time slot has been an issue in my family for the last seven years.” The events are “packed on this day, but it has been done for years and years,” said Dr. Paul Piersall, chair of the Department of Music and University Chorale director. He said many people must hurry, but the program will last about 40 minutes, which he said will give the audience and singers plenty of time to attend the football game. The University Chorale is primarily a freshman choir, and it will feature two soloists Saturday. The program will close with The Impossible Dream from the musical Man of La Mancha. The concluding piece is the traditional The Lord Bless You and Keep You, when alumni can sing with students on stage. E-mail Vail at: txv02b@acu.edu

Court, Young Alumnus named at Chapel Homecoming Chapel a time of worship, presentations By BRIAN BAH STUDENT REPORTER

The Homecoming Queen Court and the Young Alumnus of the Year will be introduced during Homecoming Chapel on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. in Moody Coliseum. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, and Linda Giddens, president of the Alumni Association, will officially present Brandon Scott Thomas, class of ‘92, with the Young Alumnus of the Year award. “The main segments of this Chapel are the worship, the young alumnus award and the presentation of the courts,” said

Betsey Craig, coordinator of the Alumni Network and also coordinator of Homecoming Chapel. Jonathan Stites, class of ‘94, will speak during Chapel, and Stephen Bailey, class of ‘92, will lead the praise and worship along with Thomas. “The singing is always awesome in Moody,” Craig said. “We try to do a mix of old and new songs. Everyone loves the old favorites, along with singing some of the new favorites, too.” Homecoming Chapel is especially memorable for these returning alumni, she said. “It’s special to them,” Craig said. “It’s easy to take for granted when you’re here, but for those alumni looking back, that’s what everyone thinks, ‘I miss Chapel; that’s when I saw all my friends, and it was a great time to worship together.’”

Susan Clark, class of ‘76 and assistant professor of sociology and social work, said Chapel is more significant as an alumnus. “As a student, I liked Chapel probably as much as the average student, but now it’s become much more meaningful to me,” Clark said. Kyle McAllister, class of ‘89, will be announcing the Coming Home and Homecoming Queen courts. The queen will be crowned later in the day during halftime of the Homecoming football game. The grand marshals, Susan Lewis and Steven Moore, and the Homecoming Steering Committee will be introduced at Saturday’s Chapel as well. E-mail Bah at: optimist@acu.edu

ian and library liaison to FACUL. Mogan donated more than 1,200 books focused in medieval literature, history and philosophy from his personal library. Palmer, with her late husband, Dr. Leslie Palmer, gave 233 books and 157 periodicals to the library in 2001 and donated an additional 700 volumes and 96 periodicals after his death in 2003. While neither of the two recipients attended ACU, Palmer served on the Visiting Committee for the English Department

in 1993-1996 and in 1997-2000. Mogan was impressed by one of his former colleagues at Texas Tech University, Dr. James Culpand, along with one of his former students, Dr. Forrest McCann, both professor emeriti of English at ACU. He was led to donate his collection to ACU after seeing the effect the university had on them, said Gregory Straughn, president of FACUL. FACUL was organized in 1966 to support the library through fund raising and providing materials, and it has been honoring Friends of the Year for

34 years. Earlier this year, FACUL used some funds to upgrade the software on the computer at the disabilities workstation in the library, which provides enlargement capabilities, prints Braille and reads text for the visually impaired. “The goal of FACUL is to support the mission of ACU in teaching and learning by supporting the library,” Berryhill said. E-mail Newman at: optimist@acu.edu

Making an offer he shouldn’t refuse

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Staff Photographer

In this year’s Homecoming Musical, “Kiss Me Kate,” Nathan Jerkins and Ryan Massie play gangsters, and in this scene they are forcing Fred Graham, played by Ben Jeffrey, to pay his supposed debt.

Golf Classic benefits graduate students Event expected to attract about 90 participants By SHAVONNE HERNDON STUDENT REPORTER

Each year alumni and friends gather on campus to be a part of several Homecoming events, one of which is the Homecoming Golf Classic, which helps raise money for scholarships. This year, the Classic will be at the Diamondback Golf Club on Friday at noon. “This golf classic has taken place for 20-plus years at least,” said Mark Lavender, Alumni Outreach officer and coordinator of the Golf Classic. “A big majority of the participants are repeat players who always come back from previous years.” This event will benefit the V.W. Kelley Scholarship Endowment Fund, which allows

undergraduate students to receive money if they wish to stay at ACU to do their graduate studies. The Alumni Advisory Board selects two students for this award every year. The format of the Golf Classic will consist of a four-person scramble with a shotgun start, and participants can win prizes at the event. Should a player hit a hole-in-one on one of the two designated par 3’s on the course, then that golfer would win either a vehicle donated by Hanner Chevrolet or a motorcycle donated by Kent’s Harley Davidson of Abilene. In addition, players can win giveaways from more than 40 sponsors throughout the Abilene area. Donors make contributions to the event, which goes to offset the cost of the event, and the profits go to the scholarship, Lavender said. Under the leadership of Lavender, the event’s steering committee includes Spencer Ellison, freshman business ma-

jor from Van; Jaime Mauldin, senior political science major from Midland; and Tori Watson, junior integrated marketing major from Abilene. The Golf Classic has more than 60 participants signed up and looks to have about 90 by the time the event begins, Lavender said. All alumni, students, faculty and friends may attend this event; registration is $90 per person. The fee includes the participant’s green fee, a cart, practice balls, a meal and giveaway prizes, Lavender said. Participants can sign up for the event through Friday and can contact Mark Lavender for more information at Ext. 2622. “The purpose of this event is to get alumni and friends to spend an afternoon rekindling friendships,” Lavender said, “but at the same time raise money for the students.” E-mail Herndon at: optimist@acu.edu

HOMECOMING NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Page 10B

Thomas to be honored Saturday

Placing a path of paws

Young Alumnus chosen for ACU involvement, accomplishments By LAURA STORK STAFF WRITER

Brian Schmidt/Staff Photographer

Kayla Anderson, sophomore English major from Waco, tapes paper paw prints with the names and numbers of individual football players in a path between two doors of the Campus Center for the Homecoming Steering Committee.

Brandon Scott Thomas, class of 1992, will be recognized as the Young Alumnus of the Year during Homecoming Chapel on Saturday, with a reception in his honor immediately following in the atrium of the Williams Performing Arts Center. The Young Alumnus of the Year award recognizes professional achievement and/or distinguished service to ACU by an alumnus under the age of 40, according to the ACU alumni Web site. Jama Cadle, Alumni Events coordinator, said Thomas was not only selected for his involvement while at ACU but because of the many accomplishments he continues to make.

“He has a lot of ACU connections,” Cadle said. “Plus, he’s young, fun and has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time.” Thomas was vice president of his junior and senior class, a member of Gamma Sigma Phi, 1991 Sing Song host, Mr. ACU in 1992 and in 1995 was the vocal director for Sing Song. Today, Thomas lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Sheryl, and daughters, Maddie, 3, and Ella, 1. Thomas produces and sings with the ZOE worship group, which has seven independent records released and three nationally distributed releases. He has also twice performed with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans. “I am so honored, yet worthy of no award,” Thomas said. “It’s only what Jesus accomplishes through me that is worth anything.” Nominations for the award are collected throughout the

school year by the Alumni Advisory Board, a group of 36 alumni,who vote on the recipient around the end of August. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, then notifies the recipient, and the Alumni Association begins coordinating the event at which the recipient will be honored. “I’m glad that we honor our alumni in Homecoming Chapel,” Cadle said. “That makes for a large, captive audience for the recipient, and it’s good for the students to see what alumni are doing.” Thomas, who said he is overwhelmed by the recognition, said he wants to give any attention and glory he gets to God. “The award is special because I know it’s from a university I have loved all of my life,” Thomas said. “That is the greatest honor of all.” E-mail Stork at: las00f@acu.edu

Outdoor JamFest to feature student bands Fest sponsored by Multicultural Council to unite people By TABITHA VAIL STAFF WRITER

The second annual JamFest is at 7 p.m. Friday behind Zona Luce. The event was in the Bean Sprout last year and sponsored by the Multicultural Council to “unite people from different

backgrounds,” said Jennifer Fuentes, junior graphic design major from Abilene, who is producing this year’s JamFest. This year, however, the ACU Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor the event and will help unify the generations, Fuentes said. JamFest will feature artists that play a wide array of rock music—everything from alternative and melodic to mellow and acoustic rock. The returning artists from last year’s JamFest include Holmer Hiccolm and

the Rocket Boys, Clad in Scarlet, Tripp Mcneely and Fuentes. This year’s newcomers include The Machines, Poor Boys, Winner’s Circle, Monica Smith and Death by Space Laser. DJ Hance Taplin will freestyle during the performances and transitional periods. He also designed the JamFest logo on the flyers and the $10 T-shirts that will be sold during the event. Fellow DJ Fred Mata, senior industry technology major from Abilene, said he “will check it out” because he wants to “see the set up and the sound system they will have” at JamFest. JamFest will be conducted on two stages: one for a 6-7 piece band with a 15x15-foot back

JamFest What: Performance of student bands. When: 7 p.m. Friday. Where: Field behind Zona Luce. drop and one acoustic set with a simple wild purple backdrop. “Everything will be fully loaded with lighting,” Fuentes said. “We hope to have live footage along with big screens projected live by ACU's digital media [department].” E-mail Vail at: txv02b@acu.edu

HOMECOMING QUEEN NOMINEES

Friday, October 22, 2004

Laci Bills

Page 11B

Jenny Fullerton

Jenni Kripner

Hometown: Sherman.

Hometown: Garland.

Major: Exercise science/special education.

Major: Speech-language pathology with certificate in gerontology.

Major: Elementary education.

Activities: Sigma Theta Chi vice president and treasurer, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Kai honors, Sing Song, Wildcat Kids, ACU Leadership Camps.

Activities: GATA president, CAB intern, Kappa Delta Pi, Welcome Week Steering Committee and Campus Crew, Wildcat Kids.

Allison Sevier

Lydia Spies

Activities: Ko Jo Kai vice president, Spring Break Campaigns, Sing Song, Freshman Follies, Special Olympics.

Rosalyn Perry Hometown: Abilene.

Hometown: Springs.

Major: Elementary education.

Hometown: Glen Rose. Major: Biology/Bible.

Major: Marketing and management.

Activities: Sigma Theta Chi president, Homecoming Steering Committee, Spring Break Campaign, Welcome Week mentor leader, Wildcat Kids.

Moriah Steward

Sulphur

Hometown: San Antonio.

Activities: Ko Jo Kai president, Spring Break Campaigns, Sing Song, Marketing Club, Phi Eta Sigma, Welcome Week mentor leader.

Amanda Thomson

Nichelle M. Wall

Activities: Ko Jo Kai senior rep.,ACU Leadership Camps, Homecoming co-chair, Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association junior class senator, Sing Song, Welcome Week peer leader.

Misty Wilcox

Hometown: Fort Worth.

Hometown: North Richland Hills.

Hometown: Abilene.

Hometown: Bedford.

Major: Secondary education.

Major: Fashion merchandise, marketing.

Major: Psychology.

Major: Elementary education.

Activities: Sigma Theta Chi pledge mom, Wildcat Kids, Spring Break Campaigns, Sing Song, Service Saturday.

Activities: Ko Jo Kai pledge mom, Spring Break Campaigns, Sing Song, Phi Eta Sigma, Young Life Leader for Abilene.

Activities: ACU collegiate NAACP chapter president, Shades Step Squad captain, Psi Chi, Essence of Ebony, LYNAY, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Activities: GATA pledge mom and rush director, CAB intern, Wildcat Kids, Kappa Delta Pi, Welcome Week student director.

HOMECOMING NEWS

Page 12B

Reunion marks milestone Aggie Club’s gathering to honor department’s 60th anniversary By JENNA LUCADO STUDENT REPORTER

Dr. Ed Brokaw remembers the way the Aggie Club’s Homecoming reunion used to be. “We used to have a chuck wagon cook,” said Brokaw, professor of agricultural and environmental sciences. “We’d gather around wherever the chuck wagon was set up and have a campfire. He’d [the cook] spend all day barbecuing.” That was about 30 Brokaw years ago — the earlier years of the Aggie Club’s reunion, formerly called the Annual Homecoming Barbecue and Banquet. And though it may take on a slightly more formal setting compared to the old chuck wagon days, the banquet is still an evening of fellowship, storytelling and barbecue. This year the banquet will celebrate the Agricultural and

Environmental Science Department’s 60th anniversary. “This year is a milestone for us. We are recognizing the past, what’s currently going on and some of our dreams for the future,” said Dr. Foy Mills, chair of the department. Because of the anniversary, Mills said he expects a larger crowd compared to its average 200-person attendance. An estimated 300 students, faculty and alumni will attend. Also included on the guest list are past recipients of The Young Professional and Outstanding Aggie Alumnus awards that are given annually at the banquet to two alumni who have made contributions to their careers of agricultural or environmental sciences, families, churches and communities. This year’s recipient of the Young Professional Award is Jeremy Terry, a bank officer and owner of a farming and ranching operation in Roby. The recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award is Dr. Denise Sigler, a nutritionist from Gainesville. The evening also will honor 15 scholarship winners and announce two endowments as well as a challenge grant that the department received this year.

The challenge grant promises to match every dollar raised by the department up to $50,000. The money raised will benefit the students directly for professional development opportunities, including more guest speakers, seminars and national competitions. Mills said he hopes the banquet will “be an opportunity to promote and encourage alumni to participate in the fund raising” for the challenge grant. This year, the banquet also will include an anniversary slideshow and various room displays of Aggie memorabilia. One display will be an Aggie Club jacket from 1948, donated by a student’s grandfather who attended Abilene Christian College. Old photographs and trophies, as well as more current items, will be set up around the room for the guests to look at as a reminder of the 60-year history of the department. “This is a wonderful opportunity for reunion and reconnection,” Foy said. The event will be at 5 p.m. Saturday in the multipurpose room of Hillcrest Church of Christ, and dinner is $8.50. Reservations are not required. E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu

Lab to honor longtime professor Biochemistry lab to be dedicated to Dr. Alvie Davis By KATHERINE FLANNERY STUDENT REPORTER

The Chemistry Department will honor Dr. Alvie Davis at 6 p.m. Friday by dedicating Room 279, a biochemistry lab, of the Foster Science Building to him. “We are honoring Dr. Davis in this way because of the dedicated service that he has provided to our students, our department and the universi-

ty,” Dr. Kim Pamplin, chair of the Department of Chemistry, said in an e-mail. When Davis first heard about the idea a year or two ago, he said he was happy. “I was very pleased that they might do something like that,” Davis said. Davis has family members and other visitors coming in to see the dedication. “I would guess somewhere between 30 and 100 people will attend,” Pamplin said. “We invited all of our alumni ... but many of them live too far to come for this.” Davis has taught most of the courses listed under the

Chemistry section of the course catalog, and even classes outside of chemistry and biochemistry during his 45 years of service to ACU. “It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, though,” Davis said. Davis officially retired in 2001 but still continues to teach part-time, Pamplin said. “He is a great example of a Christian scholar who loves his students and the people that make up ACU,” Pamplin said. E-mail Flannery at: optimist@acu.edu

Friday, October 22, 2004

Preparing for the parade

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Homecoming Steering Committee members Vikki Chaffin, senior family and consumer sciences major from Haslet (right), and Ashlea Allred, freshman psychology major from Fort Worth, tie purple and silver ribbons to poles around campus to help get ready for and mark the route of the Homecoming Parade.

Group solicits student interest Steering Committee works to involve students, alumni

“The hardest thing we have is getting students excited [about Homecoming].” Jama Cadle, coordinator of Alumni Events

By SALLY STEVENS STUDENT REPORTER

Homecoming is not just for alumni; it’s also for students. This is the message the Homecoming Steering Committee is sending to the student body this year, said Jama Cadle, Alumni Events coordinator. “The hardest thing we have is getting students excited [about Homecoming],” Cadle said. “They have a misconceived idea that it’s just for alumni.” Each day this week, the Steering Committee worked to increase the spirit of students and get them excited about Homecoming, Cadle said. The Steering Committee

wanted to create high school spirit at the collegiate level, she said. On Monday, students could have their car windows painted, on Tuesday, purple streamers and bows were hung around campus, and on Wednesday, the Steering Committee used purple sidewalk chalk to inform students of Homecoming events. The building decorations went up on Thursday and on Friday, purple paw prints displayed the path of Saturday’s parade. This year, the Homecoming Steering Committee continually asked, “What can we do for the students?” Cadle said. One way they answered

this question was to schedule JamFest as one of the events. This will allow the students to participate and their parents and family to be part of it as well. “It will tie the generations together,” said Jennifer Fuentes, junior art major from Abilene. Students from the Steering Committee have been working with her to coordinate it with the other events, Fuentes said. “They have done an amazing job,” Cadle said. “It was the best thing we’ve ever done.” E-mail Stevens at: optimist@acu.edu