OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY November 5, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 22 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Foxx shines as ‘Ray’:
Students anticipate all-night insanity:
Season ends Saturday:
Jamie Foxx portrays Ray Charles in the newly released film Ray. Page 4
X-box fanatics prepare, organize celebrations and late-night tournaments for the debut of Halo 2 on Tuesday. Page 3
The Wildcats look to post another winning season after playing Midwestern. Page 8
Graduate program awaiting approval
Four more years Bush officially seals re-election with insurmountable lead in Ohio Republicans extend control of House, Senate with four more seats By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
New master’s degree to be implemented in fall of 2006 By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
A proposal for a new Master of Student Affairs graduate program will go before the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Council on Friday and the Graduate Council on Tuesday for approval. The 39-hour program is a master’s in higher education with an emphasis in college student affairs and is designed primarily to prepare students for professional careers in colleges and universities, said Dr. Carol Williams, dean of the Graduate School. The program will be implemented in the fall of 2006. “I think it will be a go if those two councils approve it,” Williams said. “I’m hopeful that they will.” Williams said the idea for the program evolved over several years with different administrators and professors around campus
Many Americans thought the 2004 presidential election would be drawn out for months as it was in 2000, but by Wednesday morning, the country knew that President George W. Bush would serve four more years in the White House. “I was afraid it was going to be a repeat of the last election,” said Becca Lemons, junior speech-language pathology major from Houston. “I was relieved that it didn’t take that long.” By Wednesday morning, Bush
had won 274 of the electoral and made a concession speech However, New Mexico will most votes; he needed 270 to defeat his later that day. likely go to Bush. opponent, Sen. John Kerry, D“It’s good that we make sure “It’s more Republican than Mass. Kerry won 48 percent of the every vote gets counted,” said ever,” said Chelsea Heard, sophopopular vote to Bush’s 51 percent, Andrea Gallman, junior history more elementary education major or 3.5 million from Albuquerque, votes. N.M. “I’m excited “I’m not surthat it’s going for “I’m not surprised at all that Bush won, prised at all that Bush.” but I was surprised that it was so short.” Bush won,” said A larger percentDr. Caron Gentry, age of voters cast Dr. Caron Gentry, freshman industrial technology major from Abilene associate profestheir ballots in this sor of political election than in any science. “But I election since 1968, was surprised that it was so major from Sugarland. “Kerry according to cnn.com. About 120 short.” could have waited longer and million people voted Tuesday, just Ohio, with its 20 electoral stretched it out a bit, but that under 60 percent of eligible votvotes, became the deciding state would have prolonged the insani- ers. in the election Tuesday night. ty.” Gentry said she thinks people Although talk spread that Kerry As of Thursday, New Mexico, could tell it was going to be a close would send lawyers to Ohio to with 5 electoral votes, and Iowa, race. contest Bush’s win, he called Bush with 7 electoral votes, had not See ELECTION Page 5 to concede Wednesday morning been called for either candidate.
The eyes of Texas
See DEGREE Page 5
International students find holiday cheer Families sponsor students during Thanksgiving, Christmas breaks By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR
Celia Deeds is a host parent for international students for the first time. She said because her father was a preacher, they constantly had homeless people at her house. “I grew up never knowing who was going to be at my house,” said Deeds, administrative coordinator for Creative Services. “I grew up around that, and I missed it.” Because of that, the two students she sponsors and one additional student will spend Thanksgiving Day with her. Laura Blake, coordinator of International Student Services, said eight to 10 families have expressed interest in sharing the holiday with international students, but she doesn’t know how many she will need. “It depends on the number of students who See HOLIDAY Page 5
PAUL BRYAN/Contributing Photographer
Republican supporters watch election results come in Tuesday night at the T&P Events Center. Viewers were forced to wait until Wednesday morning to know that President George W. Bush officially defeated Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Parking lot blocked for construction Beginning of new residence hall causes some inconvenience By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Jeremy Gudgel, sophomore environmental science major from Andrews, works on Campus Court by Edwards Hall.
Students returned from fall break to find fewer available parking spaces and a section of Campus Court blocked off in preparation for construction of the new residence hall across from Brown Library. Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, said in an e-mail that Campus Court is briefly blockaded in front of Edwards Hall to run fiber and phone lines from Edwards to the new hall. He said the street will be blocked temporarily at other times this year as well. “We will be blocking the street periodically during the construction, but we hope to minimize the number of times as well as the duration,” he
said. “We should expect some parking at other places on cam- students, faculty and staff that disruption of traffic flow peri- pus, like the former Big Purple with any progress comes temodically. We will need to run Stomping Ground north of porary inconvenience,” he said. our water and sewer, irrigation, Edwards Hall. “Parking lot closures, intermithot and chilled water lines onto “This lot holds approxi- tent street closures and other the property.” mately 223 vehicles and is usu- situations will arise throughout The projected completion ally near empty, so it will defi- the course of this project. For date for the e v e r y o n e ’s new resis a f e t y, dence hall “With any progress comes temporary inconvenience ... please drive is Aug. 1, safely and 2005, and situations will arise throughout the course of this project.” cautiously Watson through Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU Police said conthis construction struction should bearea.” gin sometime next week. nitely hold all those who reguEllison said eventually, all of He said there have not been larly parked in West Campus the hassle during construction many problems with closing Central (parking lot),” he said. will pay off in the end. the parking lot across from the He said another option for “By this time next year,” he library, but it will not open parking is on Oliver Jackson said, “we will be enjoying a again until the hall is complet- Boulevard, which runs between new, state-of-the-art residence ed. the intramural fields and Gray hall, and the inconvenience of “It is somewhat more incon- Stadium. construction barricades will be venient for some,” Watson Ellison also added that stu- a distant memory.” said. dents and employees should be Jimmy Ellison, chief of ACU cautious with all the changes. police, said in an e-mail that “In light of this new conE-mail Bredemeyer at: students have alternatives for struction, I want to remind all lmb00g@acu.edu