WEDNESDAY October 27, 2004
OPTIMIST THE
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 20 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Batted down:
No soliciting:
License to kill:
The Wildcat football team lost its Homecoming game to TAMU-Commerce. Page 8
Credit card solicitors were asked to leave campus when they had not received permission to be soliciting near the Biblical Studies Building. Page 3
Head volleyball coach Brek Horn looks to build a dynasty at ACU. Page 8
Centennial vision tops State of University speech President’s cabinet creates five expectations for centennial year By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
Dr. K.B. Massingill, director of the Adams Center, asked about 280 people at Monday’s State of the University Address in the Teague Special Events Center about the second century vision, “What will ACU be like for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren?,” as ACU approaches its Centennial Celebration next year and enters its 100th year of operation.
The president’s cabinet developed five expectations of the ACU community to help shape that vision, Massingill said. The university’s goal is for students to be engaged in learning inside and outside of the classroom, challenged to excel in analytical thinking and problem-solving, equipped to serve and lead in their communities, connected for life by the relationships built on campus and committed to stewardship to take care of the ACU community. “We are studying ways to improve the quality of life on campus and how to empower people to live in our communi-
ty,” said Dr. Sally Gary, assistant professor of communication. “Stewardship is really about taking care of the faculty and students, preparing them to leave this place and go further the kingdom of God as he intends.” With new teams called VISTA, faculty and staff can brainstorm how to put these goals into action effectively, Massingill said. “We are giving faculty the opportunity to volunteer and shape the future at ACU and to see the vision,” Massingill said. As the $150 million Centennial Campaign, the largest campaign in the history of ACU, launches its final year, nearly
$62 million has already been committed, said Dr. Royce Money, president of ACU. “The Centennial Campaign is just one of the exciting things happening in Abilene this upcoming year,” Money said. “It is a year of birthday celebrations. Abilene will celebrate 125 years, the Paramount Theatre will celebrate 75 years and Dyess Air Force Base will celebrate 50 years—all in 2006.” The Centennial Campaign and Second Century Vision were not the only items on the agenda Monday. With a successful year, ACU has had many See STATE Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, speaks to faculty members Monday for his semesterly State of the University address.
Barnard announces crest theft decision $1,400 in fines levied against club members, pledges involved BY JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, talks with Scooter Thompson, sophomore exercise science major from Knox City, following Stenholm’s question and answer session Tuesday in the Living Room of the Campus Center. Stenholm is running against Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, for Congress.
Bringing out the vote Congressional candidate says he struggles to draw young voters By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Debate ended on the floor of the U.S. Congress, and Rep. Charlie Stenholm, DAbilene, left the chamber frustrated with the discussion over provisions of a tax bill. After making his way back to his Washington, D.C., office, he sat down to return a call from a reporter. The reporter, unaware of the debate that had just taken place, asked what issues in the upcoming congressional election should be important to students. “I think one of the big ones is the one that we just had a vote on just a few minutes ago up here, and that’s whether we’re going to continue an economic program that has given us the largest deficits in the history of our country that students at Abilene Christian University are going to have to work and pay
With one week left to campaign, Stenholm visits with students
taxes on to pay the interest on this debt the rest of their lives,” Stenholm said, without hesitation. “I think the deficit spending we’re going through now is going to be a big issue for young people.” At least he hopes students are concerned. Stenholm knows that making the 19th Congressional District race between himself and Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, important to students and young voters is difficult. “The toughest challenge is to try to make this race relevant — having the issues for the future of the students become so relevant in their minds that they choose to vote,” Stenholm said. “We candidates are constantly striving for that magic bullet—that something that will cause young people to say, ‘Yeah, I’m interested; I want to be part of the system.’” Not for several terms has more money and effort been put into winning a congressional race in Abilene, which is now paired in
If all goes as he plans next week for Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, he might receive a belated birthday present. The Congressman is running against Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, for the 19th District, to be decided Tuesday on Election Day. Stenholm participated in a questionand-answer session in the Living Room of the Campus Center on Tuesday, his 66th birthday, with about 15 students and faculty in attendance. Stenholm was asked about a variety of topics, including his stance on the war in Iraq, his views of bringing back the draft and how he’ll help more students afford college and then find a job after graduation. District
See ELECTION Page 5
See STENHOLM Page 5
By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, released his findings and disciplinary actions over the weekend against the seven members and pledges of the Gamma Sigma Phi men’s social club involved in stealing the Frater Sodalis crest from the Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural Field. Among the consequences, a total of $1,400 will be collected in fines, including $400 from the club itself, and each student will pay a different amount ranging from $50-$500 based on their involvement in the theft. In a document detailing Barnard’s decision, Barnard said the university chose to handle all disciplinary action internally and not to file criminal charges against club members David Brunett, Landon Black and Jason Snider, and pledges Justin Briscoe, Chad Snow, Micah Moore and Matthew Zimmerman. The seven men were responsible for the theft of the $3,500 bronze crest from the newly updated intramural field across from Gardner Hall. The theft occurred Oct. 1 about 1 a.m., Barnard but ACU Police identified those involved and located the crest by 11 a.m. Barnard organized a panel of faculty, staff and students, chaired by Neal Coates, assistant professor of political science, to hear the case and make a recommendation on the disciplinary action. After hearing the sides of Gamma Sigma Phi and Frater Sodalis members, the panel cited violations of the Student Guide, including curfew policies, causing minor damage to university property, lying to a university authority, engaging in behavior which could cause physical harm to self and others, possession of stolen property and minor instances of hazing. Although all involved in the theft were members of Gamma Sigma Phi, Barnard said he did not believe it was a club-sanctioned event, and Michael Hunton, president of Gamma Sigma Phi and senior management major from Nashville, Tenn., even spoke against the act before it happened. See CREST Page 5
Wall selected as Homecoming queen ‘Shocked’ honoree chosen by students out of 10 nominees By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Nichelle Wall’s little brother Navonte felt honored to walk his mentor to the stage in Chapel Friday. And he felt even more honored to call his sister ‘queen.’ Wall, senior psychology ma-
jor from Abilene, was crowned as the 2004 Homecoming Queen during halftime of the football game Saturday. “I wasn’t expecting it, and I was really shocked when they announced my name,” Wall said. “My mom said I looked really shocked, like ‘oh my goodness, nah, that wasn’t really my name that was called.’” Wall’s grandfather, Tom Wall of Abilene, escorted her to the football field, and her younger brother Navonte Wall
walked her to the stage in Chapel Friday. “He was very excited,” Nichelle Wall said of her brother. “He considers me his mentor.” Of all the escorts, 11-yearold Navonte received the loudest cheers in Chapel. As the second oldest child in her family, Wall said she’s glad she can set an example to her seven brothers and sisters. She’s the first in her family to go to college and will graduate
in May. After graduation, Wall said she hopes to attend graduate school at ACU or HardinSimmons University. Eventually, she hopes to work with underprivileged children and begin a family. Wall said she was glad her family attended the football game to support her, and afterward they went out to celebrate. “My mom took me out to See WALL Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Linda Giddens, president of the Alumni Association, presents Nichelle Wall, Homecoming queen, with flowers Saturday afternoon.
CAMPUS
DAY
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
27
Calendar&Events Wednesday
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Venture Out T-shirt sales, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Counseling Center staff meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room. Prickly Pear distribution, Campus Center ticket windows, all day.
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Thursday
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Sigma Phi Phi chapel, 11-11:45 a.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.
Campus Life party, 12-2 p.m., Campus Center Recreation Area.
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Venture Out T-shirt sales, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Reservations Only, 6-7:30 p.m.
Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Faculty Women’s meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.
Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity information, Campus Center ticket windows, all day.
Upward Bound orientation, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Hilton Room.
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Saturday
Philharmonic Concert, 8 p.m., Civic Center.
Fall break.
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Venture Out T-shirt sales, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Spring Break Campaign leaders meeting, 7-9 p.m., Living Room.
Friday
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.
1
Sunday
Monday
Vector Marketing information, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Graduate School Open House, 3-6 p.m., Living Room. Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment food festival, 5-10 p.m., Hilton Room.
2
Tuesday
Presidential Elections. Tiffany Hamilton Run sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Guest artist recital, 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Spiritual Life coffee house, 9-10:45 p.m., Living Room.
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 Service-Learning Center for more information. Volunteers are needed for the I-CAN neighborhood Halloween Carnival Saturday from 610:30 p.m. Jobs include face painting, working at kids booths and giving out candy. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information. Communities in Schools
needs volunteers at Ortiz Elementary School to serve as mentors, tutors or lunch buddies. Help is needed Mondays through Fridays anytime from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. City Light Ministries needs volunteers to tutor elementary school students and to play games or read to them on Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information. Northern Oaks Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center needs volunteers to help with its Halloween Carnival Thursday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center for information. Volunteers are needed to help with after-school activities for 6th-8th grade students. Activities include helping with after-school snacks and possibly homework Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
47 23 Announcements
Alpha Phi Omega is conducting an information meeting from 7-8 p.m. Monday in the Hilton Room. Alpha Phi Omega is a national, co-educational, service fraternity focusing on service to the campus, the community and the nation. It is open to all undergraduate students. For more information regarding Alpha Phi Omega, contact Kelley at 8643267. There are a limited number of Collegiate Cards available in the Students’ Association office. Students who have not received one may pick one up while supplies are available. Sign-ups are taking place for the 3-on-3 basketball weekend tournament on Nov.5-6. The deadline will be Nov. 4 and the cost is
$35 per team. Tickets for FilmFest are available for purchase from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Online ticket purchases will be available as well. The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation is awarding fellowships in 2005 for master’s degree level graduate study of the framing and history of the U.S. Constitution. College seniors and college graduates intending to become secondary school teachers of American history, American government or social studies are eligible for the fellowships. Details about the program may be obtained from Mel Hailey, chair of the Department of Political Science, Administration Building Room 220 or by calling Ext. 2095.
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.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
School spirit at such a young age
Page 3
Music award winner stops in Abilene Camp gives concert at Beltway Park Baptist Church By SALLY STEVENS STUDENT REPORTER
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Caleb Carter, 8, gets his hand painted at Friday’s Homecoming Carnival by Katie Alfson, junior animal science major from Portland, Ore., while Charley Mutz, junior occupational therapy major from Dimmitt, looks on.
Credit card solicitors kicked off campus Police say students should be careful when giving information By JENNA LUCADO STUDENT REPORTER
A group of ACU students paid a high price for free T-shirts Thursday afternoon. About 25 or 30 students crowded around two fold-out tables between the Biblical Studies Building and the Campus Center where three credit card solicitors, who had not received permission to be on campus, were asking students to fill out credit card applications in return for T-shirts. Though the students may not have paid with cash, they paid the risk of entrusting the three credit card solicitors, two men and one woman, with personal information that could be exploited, said Danny Brooks, an ACU police officer. The applications, which resembled CitiBank applications, had spaces to put account numbers, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and more private information. The solicitors were also photographing student identification cards, claiming to need proof that the applicants were actual students.
“Photographing student identification cards are certainly not a standard practice in the credit card business,” said Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU Police. “If you give a stranger this information, you are giving away any privacy you have and opening your life to them,” Brooks said. “A smart criminal may use the information to steal from you.” Skepticism of the situation caused a female worker in the Campus Center to call the ACU police about the solicitors. The caller said that three credit card solicitors had been dismissed from San Angelo State University’s campus the previous weekend. She said she thought the three solicitors outside of the Campus Center might be the same people that approached the San Angelo campus. The call was then relayed to Brooks, who was patrolling the campus. He went to investigate the situation and confirmed that the solicitors had been dismissed from the San Angelo campus. He found that the people providing the applications were from Nebraska and were clear in the Texas and National crime information database, a system that gives security officials access to all warrants in Texas.
Brooks said that though their background information was clear, they were asked to leave because they had no permission to be on the ACU campus. The three left cooperatively. “These crooks know that by waving a free T-shirt or other complimentary gifts around, most college students will give them some information or sign a credit card application,” Ellison said. Students are advised to be aware of solicitors on campus and what they are trying to sell. Identity theft is a national epidemic, and college campuses are prime hunting grounds for identity thieves, Ellison said. “Solicitation is not allowed on campus without my approval,” said Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life. “Granted, some groups come on campus without first coming through my office. When we learn about them, we tell them to leave. “When students are approached, they should call our office to verify if we have allowed these solicitations,” Barnard said. “Generally, any solicitation allowed on our campus will be confined to the Campus Center.” E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu
When music award winner Jeremy Camp lost his wife of less than one year, he realized what was most important. “Music is not my life,” Camp said on his Web site. “Christ is my life. The only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus on this Earth, and as a result of what I’ve been through, I express even more the goodness of God and how faithful he is. “God’s doing a lot of restoration in my heart and in my life,” he said. This restoration is what motivates his Restored tour, according to his Web site. The tour includes a stop in Abilene at 7 p.m. Thursday at
Beltway Park Baptist Church. the Year. But it is Camp’s testimony Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased by calling concert that draws Adrienne Forpromoter Keith Dodderer at sythe, senior management 660-2477; 1,300 tickets are major from Wichita, Kan., to his concerts. available. “His willingness to follow Camp has been part of Beltway’s Live at the Park the Lord through so much more than concert minwhat I’ve been istry since its On the Web www.jeremycamp.com through made beginning last me want to lisyear, when ten to his more than 1,500 fans listened to Camp’s music,” said Forsythe, who music that was based on his heard him at last year’s conown experiences with God, cert. Camp’s testimony is the Dodderer said. Dodderer said Camp’s pro- story of how he was brought duction will be bigger this out of the fire still praising year and two other artists the faithfulness of God, will open for him: Adam according to his Web site. He remarried in 2003 and is now Watts and Building 429. Camp has a variety of the father of a baby girl. His Christian rock music from Web site also said that contemporary to edgy with a Camp’s concert tour is a celegood mixture of sounds, bration of God’s grace and Dodderer said. Camp won mercy. two of the Gospel Music E-mail Stevens at: Association’s Dove Awards, optimist@acu.edu including Male Vocalist of
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Paramount shows fewer classics Theatre plays more current films in effort to attract students By HAYLEY JONES STUDENT REPORTER
Ask college students if they know who Marilyn Monroe is, and they will likely say yes; ask them if they’ve seen any of her movies, and they probably couldn’t name even one. This is the kind of scenario the Paramount Theatre of Abilene is up against. From 1986-2002, the theatre showed 24 classic films a year, with up to 600 people attending each film. Today, 100 people are considered a crowd, said executive director Betty Hukill. Barry Smoot, artistic director at the Paramount, said college age students do not offer predictable support. “It seems classic films have lost their audience appeal for this generation,” Smoot said. Because of declining audience numbers, the Paramount has cut down the number of
classic films shown each year to six. “This generation is used to a rollercoaster ride experience in a movie, not the slow-paced feel that the majority of classic movies possess,” Hukill said. In addition to classic films, the theatre offers 12 independent or artistic films a year in conjunction with ArtWalk. The theatre also offers a patriotic film in July, a Christmas- themed film in December and a New Year’s film. “We are having to diversify in our film choices to bring audiences in and to keep the theatre open and running,” Smoot said. “Modern movies mean more revenue. We want younger audiences to be able to discover the Paramount Theatre.” The Paramount is classified as a “second run film house,” meaning it can only get films once they have been released on DVD. An eight-person committee is in charge of selecting the films, often driving to Dallas to preview the latest mainstream and independent films. “Our intent as a movie house
is to bring cutting edge films to Abilene, films that were never picked up by local movie theatres or were only shown for a week,” Smoot said. “Audience appeal also plays a big role in our film choices.” For Halloween weekend this year, Smoot said the Paramount is offering a special double feature, with the 2002 thriller The Ring and its traditional sell-out midnight showings of the cult classic The Changeling. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to have another option, for kids who can’t get out to see our midnight shows,” Smoot said. The Changeling will be shown Saturday at midnight and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The Ring will be shown Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for admission are $5 for adults and $4 for students. A student Movie Value Card can be purchased at the box office for $39, offering 12 ticket admissions. E-mail Jones at: optimist@acu.edu
Frats’ haunted house still closed For second-straight year, Frats’ Halloween fund-raiser won’t occur By SUSAN SPIVEY STUDENT REPORTER
Another Halloween will go by without Frater Sodalis’ haunted house fund-raiser, which had been an annual tradition before last year, said Taylor Rea, Frats’ fund-raiser and senior accounting major from Abilene. Rea said the reason the club will not offer its haunted house again this year is because it could not find an affordable location that meets city fire regulations. Until 2002, the Frats presented their haunted house in partnership with the Abilene Repertory Theatre, located in the Round Building in Rose Park, Rea said, and ART helped the club with costs, provided some materials and shared profits.
However, Rea said, the Frats can no longer use the ART building for their haunted house because it does not meet the requirements of a new firefighter code. The code was passed by the City Council three years ago and requires facilities to have a sprinkler system and a PA system, said Casey Salmon, senior business management major from Amarillo and 2002-03 Frats’ fund-raiser. The club was able to use the ART building in 2002 because it received a temporary license for amusement, Salmon said, but the license is no longer effective. Available facilities that meet the fire code requirements have proved too expensive for the club’s budget, Rea said. The club could have used the T&P Events Center on South First Street for a $7,500 fee, but the haunted house usually only raised $4,500 to $5,000, Rea said. Salmon estimated the prof-
its higher, at almost $6,000. Salmon said the haunted house usually drew 1,000 to 1,500 customers from the community every Halloween weekend. A “family time” would be geared toward younger children, but at later show times the club would offer scarier entertainment for high school and college aged students, Salmon said. “We were the only haunted house that was open,” Salmon said. “I think it had been going on about 20 years.” Frater Sodalis still has not found an approved fund-raising event to replace the haunted house, Rea said. The money raised would be used for intramurals and to pay off debts, as well as for the club’s basic expenses. “There’s nothing planned yet, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to do anything,” Rea said. E-mail Spivey at: optimist@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Page 5
Wall: Being chosen an honor Crest: Club has responsibility, too Continued from Page 1 eat and made me wear the crown everywhere I went,” Wall said. Although Wall said she never dreamed she would become Homecoming Queen when she began school at ACU, she said she appreciates the honor. “It wasn’t something I came in thinking about; I was just here for education,” she said. “It’s really special because the whole [student] body votes. It’s really an honor.”
Betsey Craig, coordinator of queen’s activities for Homecoming, said it’s exciting to be queen, but it’s an honor for all the women on Homecoming Court. “I was excited about any of them winning,” Craig said. She said Craig the tradition of Homecoming Queen is a neat ACU tradition that she enjoys being a part of, but not
all students get as involved as she would like. “You expect everybody to vote, but not everybody does,” Craig said. Wall said she had several people tell her they voted for her last week. “I was surprised,” she said. “I didn’t think that many people knew me. It was really a blessing.”
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Stenholm: Negativity rules race Continued from Page 1 19 includes ACU, HardinSimmons, McMurry, Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian universities. Stenholm was also asked to share his thoughts on the role Christianity has played in this campaign. Neugebauer’s ads claim Stenholm has voted for partial-birth abortion, same-sex marriage and flag burning, which Stenholm said is not true. “I said I vote my conscience; my opponent says he votes his Judeo-Christian beliefs,” Stenholm said. “What’s the difference? Where do you get your conscience if it’s not from your Christian beliefs? But because I chose the word conscience, that’s become a political issue, and to me it’s one in the same.” He said his faith plays a large part in his job. “There’s only 10 laws that I’m aware of that are unamendable, and that’s the 10 Commandments.”
He said this run for office has been a memorable one because some of the ads’ claims and the negative light in which he’s been portrayed. “This one is the meanest, the ugliest, the most misrepresentative campaign that I have ever been in,” he said, “but you just have to smile and take it and keep on plugging.” Stenholm also made appearances at Crown Cork & Seal, Mann Junior High and Cisco Junior College on Tuesday, and Newcastle High School and Ranger College on Monday. He said he speaks at schools to try to influence the younger generation. “I’ve always targeted schools, trying to get young people to be more involved in elections,” Stenholm said. “We’ve come through a period of time in which young people haven’t voted, but this time, I think we’re going to have the highest turnout of young voters nationwide that we’ve ever had. I want to
be part of the positive element of encouraging young voters to take a look at the candidates from the White House to the courthouse and get involved and start being involved in the political process because it’s your future we’re talking about.” Redistricting last year pitted the two incumbents against each other, and Stenholm said he can’t predict what will happen on Election Day. “I think this is basically a dead heat; it’s going to be a very close race,” he said. “… I’ve been very gratified by the early voting; it looks like we’re going to have a record turnout, and we believe that it’s a record turnout that’s going to work in our advantage. “We know we’ve got a tough race; in fact, the deck was attempted to be stacked against us. But I don’t believe it worked.” E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
Continued from Page 1 “Though I don’t find the club was not formally responsible for this, clubs in general need to understand that club is ultimately responsible for what it’s members do at some level,” Barnard said. “Clubs need to work harder to teach their members how to act and what is acceptable and what’s not acceptable. A community has to take responsibility for itself.” Mike Spell, director of judicial affairs and adviser of social clubs, said what troubled him the most about the situation is how groups justify pranks like this. “Something that individuals wouldn’t dream of doing as individuals, they decide that’s
OK as a group,” Spell said. “That’s where the idea of the responsibility of the social club comes in.” After the theft, Hunton said the club also took action against those involved, including one club member losing his position as an officer and one member being made inactive. Barnard said the fines levied against the men will go into an account that will pay back the ACUPD and Physical Resources for the time they spent on the case and reposting the crest. Because the act is considered a form of hazing, immediate suspensions could have been given; however, only deferred suspensions, similar to probation, were given. Although disciplinary action
within the university is typically not made public, Barnard said he wanted to send a message to clubs about the danger of pranks. Barnard said some might question why the pledges were being held responsible because they might have felt like they were in a position in which they had to cooperate with the theft. “That’s one of the inherent problems with the whole notion of pledging,” Barnard said. “The message I want pledges to understand is that they are freewill agents. They make decisions, and they can also decide not to do something that they know is clearly wrong.” E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
State: Enrollment at record high Continued from Page 1 records set, and several departments received academic achievements. The enrollment this year reached a record high of 4,786 students from 47 states and 66 nations. The Honors Program also reached a high of 461 students, up 90 percent since 1996, Money said. Enrollment is up in individual departments as well. Sixty students have been added to the College of Business and Administration program this year, 97 students have been added to the pre-med and predental programs, and the freshman Discovery program has had a reduction in undecided students as well, Money said. Academic achievements were spread out among the departments also. Accounting students who took the Certified Public Ac-
countant exam passed at a rate double that of national standards, Money said. He also said students who applied to law school were accepted at a rate of 95 percent to schools such as Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia and Vanderbilt, and physics undergraduates have been listed 1,134 times as coauthors on 27 published papers in the past three years. “I think you can see why so many national organizations have recognized ACU for overall excellence,” Money said. “For the third straight year, ACU was the only private university in Texas to be named one of “America’s Best College Buys” and “Best Christian Colleges.” Ben Zickefoose, associate professor of exercise science and health, was one of many faculty members who gathered in the Teague Center Monday. “My favorite part about
these State of the University addresses are the achievements, the positive facts,” said Zickefoose. “It says something about our departments, that they are doing something right, when our students are achieving more each year.” Dr. John Willis, professor in the graduate school of theology, concluded the speech by emphasizing the faculty’s role. “Why would anyone come annually to Abilene for Homecoming, like the one we just finished?” Willis asked. “Because you as faculty are building the bridge heart to heart, person to person, to last a lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind that ACU is home to those who come, and this story continues every day when we interact with our students.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Election: Political awareness still lacking in younger generations Continued from Page 1 District 19 with Lubbock. According to an Abilene ReporterNews article last week, Stenholm had spent $1.9 million on his campaign to Neugebauer’s $1.7 million. Redistricting efforts in 2003 pitted two incumbents against each other: Stenholm, a congressional veteran of more than 25 years, and Neugebauer, sworn into Congress in June 2003. Neugebauer signs can be seen in many yards in Abilene, a traditional Republican stronghold, which Stenholm has represented since 1979. Still, many Republicans have supported Stenholm, even though he is a Democrat. Originally from Ericksdahl, near Stamford, Stenholm now lives in Abilene. His hometown was sliced out of the district during redistricting. Despite the importance of the race, Stenholm said all candidates struggle with connecting with young voters enough to bring them to the polls. Neugebauer left requests for an interview unanswered.
Making this race relevant Stenholm said last year’s redistricting efforts in Texas should make young voters look at their leaders and how they run the government. In 2003, Republicans in the Texas Legislature redrew the lines so that more Republican congressmen will likely be elected. The new map split the old
17th District, which included “It’s pretty tough going right jobs to the Abilene economy, Abilene and San Angelo, and now in Iraq, but we’re there Hailey said. paired Abilene with Lubbock. now, and losing is not an “Every dollar that comes in At just under 200,000 people, option,” Stenholm said. “We to Dyess is multiplied in the Lubbock is the largest city in have to put together a game community,” Hailey said. “Very the new 19th District—about plan that ultimately helps the directly that affects the quality 85,000 more than Abilene. Iraqi people win their war of life for every university stuThe controversial redistrict- against terrorism so that they dent here in town.” ing plan has come under attack can have free and fair elections, even last week when the Su- and they can determine their Student apathy preme Court agreed to hear a future.” case regarding the legality of Although President George Regardless of the importance the effort to redraw the district W. Bush said during the debates of the issues, candidates know lines. that there would never be a mil- the record of voter apathy “That should get the atten- itary draft under his command, among young people with tion of young people in a way Stenholm said more young vot- which they must contend. that says, ‘What’s going on in ers ask about that possibility Kristi Allyn, Taylor County our government?’ ‘Who are our than many other issues. Dr. Mel elections administrator, said leaders?’ ‘What are they doing?’ Hailey, chair of the Political Sci- she has not seen any more and not just paying interattention to the 20-secest in “Vote for the candidate that would do what you ond TV commercials regiswould do if you were in that position.” that come on and show terthat I’m a good man, i n g Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, running for Congress in District 19 and I’ve done this and t o I’ve done that and I bevote lieve in this.” f o r For Stenholm, taxes and ence Department, said that al- this election compared to other spending were the first things though no direct draft exists, years during a presidential camthat came to mind when asked other issues remain. paign. Early voting numbers so what young voters should care “There are others who say far have increased, but she said about in the election. that the military, particularly she did not know if that was “I think that we ought to pay the [National] Guard, is being because of the congressional for [the debt] and not continue stretched pretty thin right race. to dig the deficit hole even now,” Hailey said. “Some of the Hailey said he has seen no deeper,” Stenholm said. “[Con- Guard members are saying, indication that students on gress] can borrow on it from ‘Excuse me, I thought we were campus have an increased ayour generation’s future, and I supposed to be done now.’ So wareness about this congresdiffer with that. I think that’s a there could be pressure build- sional election. political issue and certainly one ing up; one never knows.” “Learning about the indithat separates me and my oppoHailey also said how each vidual characteristics of partinent in this race.” candidate views Dyess Air cular candidates takes time, Other than taxes, Stenholm Force Base should be an impor- and college students have this said he believes young voters tant factor for voters. Both can- perception that we are so busy should consider the war on ter- didates have said they support with so many other things ror and in Iraq. Dyess, which brings money and that this is just one more
Abilene polling locations
thing on my plate.” Without much knowledge about Stenholm and Neugebauer and where they stand on issues, Hailey said young voters are likely to vote using different criteria. “My guess is that a lot of students will vote party rather than actually taking a look at particular characteristics of each congressman,” Hailey said. Hailey also said many students simply do not think about some of the issues important in a congressional race, such as health care, prescription drugs and social security, until they leave college and find a job. “You talk to students about prescription drugs, and their eyes glaze over, and they say, ‘But my mom and dad have my health insurance,’” Hailey said with a laugh. “When they get out of college they take a job, and they find out they’re working for an employer who does not provide health care insurance, then all of a sudden health care becomes a major issue. All of a sudden that person is hit between the eyes.” Even students who might be politically aware could find it difficult to become knowledgeable about a congressional race after moving away from home to go to college in a new district. “It’s hard when you’re a freshman who comes in, and you’re 18, and you’re away from home for the first time to jump
right into the middle of a congressional race,” Hailey said.
Finding that magic bullet As Stenholm said, many candidates struggle with discovering how to connect with young voters. Much of that burden Stenholm takes upon himself by talking to as many groups of young people and classes of students as possible, answering their questions. At some point though, Stenholm said he knows the vote is out of his hands. “You talk about the issues that are out there, and you answer the questions about how you feel,” Stenholm said. “Then it’s up to them.” To make sure young voters can make an informed decision about the race, Stenholm offers this advice: “Pay attention. Take a good, hard look, and vote for the candidate that would do what you would do if you were in that position.” To do that, Hailey said students should realize the civic duty they have and become informed about the candidates and issues. “It’s not by mistake that the Constitution starts out, ‘We the people,’” Hailey said. “And it means that we the people have some responsibilities to do, and that means more than just voting for presidential electors.” E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
The issue: The Congressional race between two incumbents, Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, and Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, will be determined in Tuesday’s election.
Stenholm right candidate for Abilene
For more than 25 years, Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, has represented Abilene and West Texas in the United States House of Representatives. Our view: Regardless of partisan politics, Stenholm has more Stenholm almost always has repexperience and seniori- resented the values of West Texas. ty in Congress. He The Optimist endorses Stenshows more care to holm for Congress in his race Abilenians and looks against Rep. Randy Neugebauer, past partisan politics to R-Lubbock, for the 19th Congressional District. the greater good of Stenholm has been in ConWest Texas. Stenholm gress since 1979. He is the rankis the best candidate for ing member of the House AgriculAbilene. ture Committee, and of 435 mem-
bers of Congress, full day of deWest Texas needs no more partisan Stenholm ranks bate on the politics controlling its fate. 27th in seniority. floor of ConNeugebauer gress one day was sworn into after an interoffice in June of 2003. He ranks Reporter-News reported that view was requested. 431st in congressional seniority. Neugebauer did not make time Neugebauer has made the When it comes to clout and for an interview to have his voice intentions of his campaign very influence on Capitol Hill, heard by the newspaper’s editorial clear: He will represent the Stenholm has the seniority to board. voice of President George W. make the voice of West Texans Requests for an interview with Bush and the Republican leadheard more clearly. Neugebauer by an Optimist ers of Congress — not the voice Stenholm has always shown reporter also went ignored. of Abilenians. Neugebauer has personal care for his Abilenian A public official who does not campaigned heavily using constituents. Thus far, Neug- cooperate with local media, even Bush’s name. Although politiebauer, whose hometown is when campaigning to be elected, cally expedient in decidedly Lubbock, has shown little interest will not effectively represent that Bush country, Neugebauer’s in reaching out to Abilene, espe- city in Congress. campaign becomes moot should cially to its media outlets. By contrast, Stenholm person- Bush lose the presidency. A recent editorial in the Abilene ally contacted the Optimist after a West Texas needs no more par-
Winters, Abilene a wonderland to some “I can’t wait to get out of for most age demographics. It’s the kind of place where Abilene.” I’ve heard all my friends say the front-page news is about the some variation of this phrase at upcoming chicken spaghetti least once while dinner that the Woman’s Club is I’ve been at col- serving before the football lege. It seems game. It’s also the kind of place that although ACU is a great where for fun on the weekends, school at which we drove 40 miles to the city: to obtain a Abilene. Yes, I had to come to this degree, most students, and dreaded town to shop at the Lori’s Story I’m sure some mall, watch a movie, go bowling employees, find and sometimes buy groceries. Lori it unfortunate Abilene was here for our enterBredemeyer that the school tainment and relief from smalltown life. is stuck in Abilene. So it makes me cringe someBut I grew up in this area, in Winters, a town of about 3,000 times when I hear people talk of people 40 minutes south of how much they hate Abilene, they can’t wait to graduate and here. get as far away as Students they can, and complain about how they’ll nevAbilene, with its It’s unfair to label er come back. mall, six theIt’s unfair to atres, dozens of Abilene, and West label Abilene, restaurants and and West Texas, hundreds of Texas, as uninas uninspiring. churches. spiring. We found We found fun in I grew up in a it. town with four fun in it. One of my restaurants that friends has actuconsistently ally said, “How stayed open: one that served American food, one did you grow up there? What a that served Mexican food, the horrifying life. No one cares Pizza Hut and the Dairy Queen. about Winters.” I don’t think so. Without No theatre, no mall, not even a Winters and Abilene, I wouldn’t Wal-Mart. The most exciting thing to be me, who’s not afraid of beedo on Friday and Saturday tles or crickets, whose favorite nights was to go sit on a tailgate country singer is George Strait in the parking lot of the Wes-T- and who has one of the most Go and talk about the recent distinct accents in the football game or the latest high Journalism Department. When I graduate in May, I school romance. Winters has one high school, won’t be tipping my hat to this one grocery store, one pharma- town and waving a grateful goodbye. I may not live in this cy and two traffic lights. area for the rest of my life, but And I love it. Winters is the kind of place I’ll certainly return because this where you can leave your car is my home. I’m proud to have grown up unlocked and running to go into the store for bread and in this place. milk. It’s the kind of place where E-mail Bredemeyer at: country, especially West Texas optimist@acu.edu or lmb00g@acu.edu country, is the music of choice
Are you planning to vote Tuesday? Why or why not? Bret Sosebee
senior marketing major from Denver
Daniel Barcroft
Take some time to catch a few Z’s Last week I exited Wal-Mart only to discover two people dismantling my car. I ran and got two security guards who, unfazed, joined in. After acquiring the help of many passers-by, the culprits had left me with nothing. The event Gray was so life-like it took me forMatters ever to realize I Warren Gray was dreaming. Now, I’m not a doctor or a sleep expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. OK, I didn’t do that either, but that’s not my point. My point is that I believe my crazy dream was brought on by a lack of sleep. And the real-life culprit—Homecoming. I’m quite sure that if you
“Yes, because I feel like it’s a privilege to be able to vote, and I think that my vote makes a difference.
Chase Webb sophomore undeclared major from Nashville, Tenn. “Yes, because Bush is really good-looking.”
“Yes, because my vote counts.”
Donna Ragland
Jeremy Rankin
Julie Barcroft
junior art major from Fort Worth
freshman business management major from Killeen
junior English major from Arlington
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
tisan politics controlling its fate. Partisan politics carved up Abilene’s old congressional district in the 2003 redistricting plan. It is the reason two incumbent representatives from very different communities now face each other in one district. Randy Neugebauer promises to bring dedication to the Republican Party, but he has not shown he will bring that same dedication to the people of Abilene. Charlie Stenholm has represented the people of West Texas and Abilene in Washington, D.C., not just one party. His constituents should return him to Congress to continue his independent leadership.
In My Words
“Yes. It helps me to make an influence in any way we can, and it makes me feel patriotic.”
In Your Words
“No, because I don’t agree with anyone who’s running, and I don’t want to support someone I don’t really believe in.”
October 27, 2004
or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@jmc.acu.edu
Maybe you slept through a whole day of classes, either in bed or in a desk. asked someone at this time last week what they were doing, you would get a litany of responses coupled with a sigh and an eye-roll. The musical, parade, JamFest, pledging, football game, 28-page paper for Optimist staff and many other Homecoming related activities filled the week to its fullest. With everything students were involved in last week, sleep didn’t seem to be one of the top activities. Morning classes were sparse, and classes in general seemed long and, minus the faint detection of snoring from the back, quiet. I was, comparatively speaking, not very involved with the various Homecoming activities and I was still looking for any small
window in which I could catch some Z’s. During one of these windows, my car was reduced to nothing. Another saw me take diving lessons while tethered to the back of a boat, and believe me, there’s not enough time to explain that one. The lack of sleep during Homecoming is a problem that affects different people in different ways. I’m sure you have your own story of how the week tormented you. Maybe you slept through a whole day of classes, in bed or in a desk. The good news is that there is an end in sight. With our inordinately long fall break upon us, and Thanksgiving just a short jaunt away, there is time
to catch up on your shut-eye and other things you might have missed before the dreaded sting of finals consumes us. So I urge you, take advantage of this time. In case you’ve missed it, next week two guys will square off in determining who will run our country for four years. Not to be overshadowed, two baseball teams are squaring off to decide who should run the sports pages for about four days. That’ll get you started. I’ll leave you to get caught up on the other events you missed during Homecoming week. But before you do that, get some sleep. And hey, look on the bright side; I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance. E-mail Gray at: optimist@acu.edu or weg02a@acu.edu
Republican offended by quote I would like to express my deep displeasure with Amy Perez, chair of the College Democrats, for her comment in Wednesday’s Optimist. For those who didn’t see it, the lines in the Optimist read, “‘I see the Democratic Party being more Christian than the Republican Party,’ Perez said citing Jesus’ teachings on helping the poor and the needy.” I’m not going to launch into all of the issues involved in politics and religion. Instead, I simply want to help Miss Perez understand Christians in the Republican Party, just like she feels people should be educated about Christians in the Democratic Party. Regarding
OPTIMIST THE
Christ’s teachings on helping the poor and the needy, never once did he say that it was Israel’s government’s responsibility to take care of the needy, nor did he ever say that it was Rome’s responsibility. Jesus Christ always laid the responsibility for taking care of the poor squarely on the shoulders of individual people. Similarly, Republican Christians believe that we should take care of the poor, but it should be an individual responsibility, not one that is mandated by the government. Does this make us less
YOUR VOICE Re: The Optimist, Oct. 20 Campus political groups encourage involvement by Sarah Carlson, copy editor.
Christian? I hardly think so, and I humbly request that in the future Miss Perez refrain from saying that I am less Christian because I believe this. Jeremy Pond freshman journalism major from Wichita Falls
The Optimist Editorial Board
Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abilene Christian University
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SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Page 7
Volleyball: Season ends Continued from Page 8 points in all three games. When you have 1,150 people yelling in their favor and only ten in our favor, it’s clearly their advantage. It’s nice to have a home crowd like that, and I hope that we have that, support here to reciprocate the way we’re playing.” ACU maintained the lead in several games, including game one when the team was two points away from winning the game, but EMU batted back each time in the close match. ACU actually statistically outplayed the Lady Zias with more kills (69-55), more digs (84-65) and a higher hitting percentage (.223-.172). The Wildcats rebounded on Saturday to defeat West Texas A&M in a close three-game sweep 30-28, 30-26, 37-35. Junior middle blocker Ashlee Motola led the Wildcats with a season-high 17 kills and a sparkling .353 hitting percentage. The match ended in a long 72 point game three. ACU took
the lead on a Bernhardt kill, and Lowry finished off the match with one of her 13 kills. “Winning the first game on the road is monumental,” Horn said. “We were down 28-25 in that game and ended up beating them. I thought that we distributed the ball well and got everyone involved.” The first-place Wildcats now begin a string of five straight home matches to close out the 2004 regular season. Texas A&M-Kingsville comes to town Thursday to play a 7 p.m. match in Moody Coliseum. On Saturday, Tarleton State will face off against ACU at 2 p.m. “I’m expecting a tougher match against Kingsville,” Horn said “It will be their first match of their weekend, and we will have to play solid volleyball to win. Somebody wants to knock you off when you’re at the top, and I don’t think any of matches the rest of the season will be easy.” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
Head coach Brek Horn encourages the volleyball team during the West Texas A&M game Sept. 30 in Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats won the match 3-0 (30-19, 30-22, 30-22). The team is currently in first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 21-7 overall record.
Horn: Coach looks to build dynasty Continued from Page 8
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior running back Rashon Myles runs through a hole during Saturday’s Homecoming game against Texas A&M-Commerce.
Football: Pride at stake Continued from Page 8 Gentry had nine tackles to lead the defense and junior defensive end Clayton Farrell had eight tackles including 3.5 for a loss. Senior place kicker Eben Nelson had a 44-yard field goal for ACU and Dillon Cobb caught Greg Wiggins’ only touchdown pass from seven yards out early in the third quarter. The final two games of the season will perhaps be the toughest of the season as they travel to Kingsville to play the No. 2 team in the nation in
Texas A&M-Kingsville. Kingsville is currently ranked No. 1 in the region as well. ACU will finish out its season with a home match up with Midwestern State who is currently 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the LSC South. They are ranked sixth in the regional poll and are in a good spot to make the playoffs. “I hope the team can find something to play for,” Gaines said. “They are strictly playing now for pride in themselves and pride in the team.” E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
administrative team. Horn directly oversees women’s softball, track and cross country. “My job as the Senior Woman Administrator is to be the female voice in the athletic department,” Horn said. Horn said the most important duty as the Senior Woman Administrator is to preserve gender equality. She said ACU does a good job of recognizing and upholding gender equality, but balance is still needed. For example, the ACU football team hands out more than 30 scholarships each year to male athletes. The women’s athletic programs do not include a comparable sport with that many scholarships. “I’m not mad because the football team has so many schol-
arships. I just want women’s athletics to have something to balance football.” Horn said she would like ACU to add another woman’s sport but realizes funding is not available. “Eventually I would like to see women’s soccer or women’s golf added to our athletic department,” Horn said. “The main reason is to equalize the scholarships for men and women.”
Building a Winner For now, her immediate goal is to win volleyball games. “I was very clear when I accepted this position that volleyball would still come first, but my goal is to be effective at both positions.” This year the team’s goal is to
gain a berth in the regional tournament; something the ACU program has never done. After that, she wants to consistently reach the regional tournament and win some games at the tournament. Finally, her obvious long-term goal is for ACU to win a national championship. “Hey, it took [former UCLA men’s basketball coach] John Wooden 12 or 13 years to win a national championship,” she said. Her players have similar goals and believe Horn can elevate this team to places it’s never been before. “She is perfect for this job because she understands the game so well and commands respect from us as players,” said junior volleyball player Amanda Slate. “She makes us work so hard, but we trust her because
she played college volleyball and she knows how to win.” Horn said the right coach doesn’t exist at ACU, but the right kind of coach does. “I love this sport, I love this team, I love the staff,” she said. “It makes it easier for me because I’m so competitive and want to win. I just believe hard work will result in winning.” A winning atmosphere is Horn’s new creation. Eventually, she hopes to make it mainstream for the Wildcat volleyball to be national championship contenders and to kill any doubts about ACU’s status as a national power. Maybe kill isn’t the right word because Brek Horn is not in the killing business anymore. She’s a creator. E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
SPORTSWEDNESDAY
Page 8
LSC South Standings Football Team Div. 1. A&M-Kingsville 4-0 2. E. New Mexico 4-1 3. Midwestern State 3-1 4. ACU 2-2 5. A&M-Commerce 1-3 6. W. Texas A&M 1-4 7. Angelo State 0-4
Tot. 7-0 5-4 6-2 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-8
License to kill
OPTIMIST
October 27, 2004
by Brian Roe
Volleyball Team 1. ACU 2. Angelo State 3. E. New Mexico 4. A&M-Kingsville 5. West Texas A&M 6. Tarleton State
Div. 6-1 5-2 4-3 2-4 2-5 1-5
Tot. 21-7 18-7 19-7 8-18 17-12 14-13
Scores Saturday Football Texas A&M-Commerce 37, ACU 17 Volleyball ACU 3, West Texas A&M 0
Upcoming events in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics)
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Wildcat volleyball coach Brek Horn instructs the team during a time-out in the game against St. Edwards University on Oct. 12. Horn began coaching at ACU in 2000. Thursday, October 28 VB: Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 30 VB: Tarleton State, 2 p.m. FB: at Texas A&MKingsville, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 2 VB: Angelo State, 7 p.m. Friday, November 5 VB: Incarnate Word, 6 p.m. WBB: Dallas Diesel, 8 p.m. Saturday, November 6 MCC: at NCAA II regional, 10 a.m. WCC: at NCAA II Regional, 10 a.m. VB: St. Mary's, noon
Volleyball coach Brek Horn brings love of game to ACU Coach Horn watches the volleyball float as the setter gently, softly bumps it into the air before her teammate violently slams it to the gym floor. She’s seen it millions of times before, but each time she watches intently, gazing at the contrast of a delicate set-up followed by a destructive kill. Volleyball is, after-all, a game of kills. A former volleyball killer for Angelo State University, ACU head coach Brek Horn is no longer in the termination business but rather the creation business, creating a name for her Wildcat volleyball team and
a new standard for ACU women’s athletics. Now she wants to create something even bigger: a dynasty.
Volleyball First Brek Binder attended Hereford High School and starred as an award-winning volleyball player. After graduating in 1992, she earned an athletic scholarship from Angelo State of the Lone Star Conference. During her freshman year at ASU, Brek helped lead her team to a LSC championship. She received numerous awards at ASU including academic all-Lone Star Conference, team MVP in 1994 and 1995 and the Nathan Jewelers Award. The award-winning standout graduated from ASU in 1996. Brek easily transitioned from
volleyball player at Angelo State to volleyball coach at Andrews High School. “I’ve always enjoyed playing so it was only natural for me to be a coach,” she said. “Volleyball is just something I love.” She accepted the position of junior varsity volleyball coach at Andrews High School the summer after she graduated from college. In 1998, she accepted a junior varsity coaching job at Gregory-Portland High School. While coaching there Brek met a man named Brandon Horn. She and Brandon began dating and soon were engaged. By 1999, Coach Binder became Coach Horn. In the spring of that year, Brek was became varsity coach at GP High School. Surprisingly, she never coached a high school game on the varsity level.
In May, Brek received a phone call from her sister, Brittney, a player on the ACU volleyball team. Britney said ACU was searching for a new head volleyball coach and Brek should apply. Though hesitant, Brek applied for the ACU job and was the new Wildcat volleyball coach by July. “I think I was the only one who applied,” she said jokingly. Although she was only 26 and lacked experience, Brek quickly found success at ACU, molding the barren Wildcats into a winning team that made the Lone Star Conference PostSeason Tournament in her first year. A year later, Brek led the Wildcats to a 29-6 record and posted the highest winning percentage (.829) in school history. ACU also reached the conference tournament semifinals for
the first time. Now in her sixth year as the volleyball head coach Horn has more than 100 wins. She led the team to post-season play in five of her six seasons, including last year’s 25-11 season. “She pushes us, she drives us, she makes us play tough mentally and physically,” said junior volleyball player Michelle Bernhardt. “She is a great coach because she gets the most out of her players and has such high expectations for us.”
Double Duties In addition to her coaching duties, Horn joins the director of athletics Jared Mosley and the compliance coordinator Robert Rubel on the ACU athletic See HORN Page 7
Men win 14th-straight LSC title, women win 4th-straight Men win without No. 1 runner; Mwamba wins individual title By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
Head cross country coach Jon Murray said he didn’t need senior Bernard Manirakiza Saturday. Funny, considering Manirakiza is the No. 1 ACU runner, a top contender for an individual national title, and the Wildcats were competing for their 14th straight Lone Star Conference Championship. But the Friday night decision to sideline Manirakiza, who has suffered with knee pain for a lit-
Cross Country tle over a week, didn’t stop the Wildcats from claiming another conference title. And they did it with a perfect 15 points, claiming the top five finishing positions in the race. “I don’t think it could have gotten much better,” Murray said of the conference meet, which ACU has dominated since it began. Junior Martin O’Kello crossed the line as the LSC individual champion, having covered the 8,000-meter course in 24:14.27. The win was the first of O’Kello’s ACU career, and Murray said he believes the
Ugandan will be a force in coming post-season meets. “He hurt his calf muscle at the Oklahoma State [Jamboree],” Murray said. “He looked great, very comfortable [on Saturday]. It’s good to see him back in it.” ACU freshmen Nicodemus Naimadu and Laurent Ngirakamaro placed second and third, respectively. Naimadu, who ran with O’Kello much of the race but was out-sprinted at the finish line, completed the race in 24:16.50. Ngirakamaro was third in 24:49.61. Transfer junior Lucky Hadebe placed fourth for ACU in 25:10.47, and freshman Vincent Morogah placed fifth in 25:27.55.
East Central placed second with 60 points, followed by Angelo State and Texas A&MKingsville. The women’s team claimed its fourth straight LSC title Saturday. ACU junior Adeh Mwamba took top honors in the women’s race in dominant fashion, winning the 6,000meter race by over a minute in 21:51.85. Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Veronica Rodriguez was the runner-up in the race, followed by Wildcat runners Olha Kryv’yak and Trina Cox. Kryv’yak finished the race in 23:12.04 and Cox finished in 23:22.42. Freshman Denise Morgan
By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcats hit the road and lost their first game against a Lone Star Conference South Division opponent Thursday, dropping three of four to Eastern New Mexico, before bouncing back and defeating rival West Texas A&M in a threegame sweep on Saturday. ACU completed the first ever season-sweep of the Lady Buffs, and the Wildcats remain in first place atop the LSC South Division with a 21-7 overall record and a 6-1 conference record. The Wildcats went into Portales, N.M., Thursday with a perfect record against LSC South opponents and had
Volleyball defeated Eastern New Mexico in Moody Coliseum on Oct. 2 in a close five-game match. The Lady Zias defeated the Wildcats 30-28, 25-30, 32-30, 30-28 in front of 1,147 EMU fans. Junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt led ACU with a game-high 22 kills and 16 digs. Junior middle blocker Amanda Slate added 16 kills, junior setter Lindsey Martin contributed 54 assists and 14 digs and freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry chipped in 15 kills. ACU head coach Brek Horn credits the large crowd for the Lady Zias as one of the deciding factors in the match. “I think that’s how they won the match to be honest,” Horn said. “Obviously it’s not the only reason, but they won by two See Volleyball Page 7
compete and be a contender in the meet. With Manirakiza back at the front for ACU, the time gap between the first and fifth runners would have been under a minute at the LSC meet, putting them in contention the rest of the season. “If we can do that in a 10K, that will put us right in the middle of things,” Murray said about the region meet, from which the top two teams will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships Nov. 20 in Evansville, Ill. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
No playoffs in sight for Cats this season
Team rebounds from loss, sweeps WT 3-0 Wildcats fall to ENMU, but win against WT keeps team in first
was the fourth Wildcat finisher, placing 12th in 24:52.92, while Mollye Stanford placed 16th in 25:01.43, rounding out the top five. “Our fourth and fifth runners ran better than they had, and compared to other meets, did very well,” Murray said. “They showed a lot of progress there. It helped make the score as low as it was.” Five men and three women earned all-conference honors for finishing in the top-10 at the meet. Both Wildcat teams will compete in the South Central Region Championships in Joplin, Mo., on Nov. 6, and Murray said Manirakiza will
Five turnovers, lack of ball control contribute to loss By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior defensive back Omar Tejada knocks down a pass in Saturday’s Homecoming loss to Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Wildcat football team didn’t come with their best before the largest crowd of the season in Saturday’s 37-17 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce on Homecoming. With the loss, ACU has virtually no chance at the post-season, and the LSC South Division Title is out of reach. ACU turned the ball over five times and only had the ball for 20 minutes of the game. The Lions from Commerce, however, had possession for 40 minutes. “I don’t care who you are, it’s hard to win ball games when you turn over the ball five
Football times,” Gaines said. “We didn’t play well enough to win and they did.” The Wildcats fumbled three times and threw two interceptions, which accounted for the extra time the Lions had the ball and resulted in Commerce running 86 plays to ACU’s 52. Junior running back Rashon Myles out-rushed Commerce single-handedly with 143 yards on 21 carries, while Commerce had a combined total of 132 yards. He also scored a touchdown for the third time in the last four games. The passing game for ACU couldn’t keep pace with the ground game, and the Wildcats were out-gained 241 to 74. Senior free safety Dawon See FOOTBALL Page 7