OPTIMIST THE
WEDNESDAY November 10, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 23 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Big tent revival:
Signing up for spring service:
Set for the kill:
Love and Care Ministries began its Tent Revival series Sunday. Page 5
More than 400 students signed up to participate in a Spring Break Campaign in March, and 100 more are expected to join. Page 7
The volleyball team begins play for the conference title Friday. Page 10
Congress sponsors veterans’ reception
FilmFest Premiere Night nears Paramount Theatre to house showcase of films on Friday By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
ACU’s first film festival, titled FilmFest, will take place Friday at the Paramount Theatre and will feature 20
films made by 86 students. “FilmFest has allowed students to apply their gifts in unique ways,” said Doug Darby, multimedia coordinator for the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence and organizing chair of FilmFest. The theme for the festival is “Light,” and Darby said the theme leaves room for broad interpretation.
“Not only does the theme allow for a variety of different ideas, but it’s also tied to the creation and our faith,” Darby said. Darby said the theme is broad because he hoped to draw a wide range of students. He also said the contest rules were designed to not isolate anyone. “We wanted everyone to be
in able to participate FilmFest,” Darby said, “not just [journalism and mass communication] students with video experience.” Darby said one way this was accomplished was by requiring all films to be created using iMovie, a user-friendly video editing program. See FILMFEST Page 8
Students will have opportunity to thank those in military
Seniors to vote on gift options
By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR
Many remembered Hamilton and what she meant to them. “She always had a big smile; always happy,” said Shannon Bailey, senior business management major from Corsicana. “Tiffany was so giving and volunteered for about anything that needed done. She loved to sing and had a great heart.” Students in Free Enter-
In honor of student veterans and those currently serving in the military, the Pope Fellows are conducting a reception Thursday for Veterans Day. Sponsored by the Students’ Association, the reception will be a time for students to thank and honor students who serve or have served in any branch of the military. Mel Hailey, chair of the Political Science Department, came up with the idea for the reception, and SA vice president Melanie Booker, junior political science major from Sugar Land, did much of the planning for the event and searched to find out which students had served in the military. “Putting the list of students with military service together was very difficult,” she said. “I went through the registrar’s office, the Political Science Department and talked to a few people I know.” She said the student body was called upon for help as well. “Dean Barnard’s office sent out a mass e-mail to all ACU undergraduate and graduate students asking if they were military personnel,” Booker said. “If they were, we asked them to send us their name, mailing address and the capacity they served in.” By the time the list was completed, 50 students were found, and invitations were sent to each of them. While the reception will honor the military veterans, the entire student body is welcome to attend. Booker said many leaders on campus and in Abilene will attend the event. “We sent out invitations to
See RUN Page 8
See VETERANS Page 8
Light poles, jogging track, scholarship fund among choices By JULIA REID ONLINE EDITOR
Seniors have the opportunity to vote for their class gift until the end of the day Wednesday. All seniors received an e-mail last week from the senior senators asking them to vote on the class gift. Throughout the semester, seniors have submitted ideas for the senior class gift. Ideas also came from unfinished campus projects. The senior senators have taken those suggestions and have narrowed them down to three choices. The gift Seniors have could buy three options to five light choose from: poles that would be • Five light placed in poles to place around campus the darker a r e a s • Help pay for around the jogging campus. track The poles would each • The Charles have a Trevathan plaque statEndowed ing that it Scholarship was a part Fund of the class gift. The gift could also go to help pay for a lighted jogging track, which is a part of the Centennial Campaign. The third option is to donate the money to the Charles Trevathan Endowed Scholarship Fund. Kristi Thaxton, Development Programs manager, has been helping the senior senators plan the class gift. Thaxton works with the Senior Experience Program, which gives seniors the opportunity to give back to ACU through their class gift. Through the program, seniors who donate $100 or more to the class gift get their name engraved on a brick on the Alumni Walk, located between the Campus Center and the Biblical Studies Building. “[Seniors] should have a voice in their contributions.” Thaxton said. Jeffrey Rasco, senior business management major from Abilene and a senior class senators, said it lets seniors show their appreciation for ACU. “It’s a chance for seniors to give back to the campus in a small way,” Rasco said. “It’s a chance to leave it better than they found it.”
Senior gift
E-mail Reid at: optimist@acu.edu
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Runners begin the Tiffany Hamilton 5K Run, which led them around parts of campus and through Will Hair Park on Saturday. Thirtyone students and Abilene residents participated in the run, and about 40 more donated money to the cause.
Students run for Hamilton family About 70 participate in cause by running, donating money By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
Thirty-one students and members of the community gathered at Elmer Gray Stadium on Saturday morning to remember and to participate in the Tiffany Hamilton
5K Run in honor of former ACU student Tiffany Hamilton, who died Sept. 3, 2003, after a long battle with pneumonia. This is the second year for the race and may be the last, said project co-leader Jessica Sjolander, senior marketing major from Mt. Vernon, Wash. Sjolander, who had hoped around 200 people would participate this year, said only about 70 people participated
or donated money. Many friends were there to support her though. “Tiffany was a good friend of ours,” said Thurmond Metters, senior psychology major from Houston and member of The Group, which sang before and after the race in memory of Hamilton. “We would do anything to support her and her family. She was a great girl; real giving and spirited.”
Justice tells chief concerns Texas Supreme Court chief justice speaks at Chapel, luncheon
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson speaks during Chapel in Moody Coliseum on Monday. Jefferson also spoke to faculty and staff at a luncheon and to the Lynay student group.
with students and people in the Abilene community. “I love visiting with students just to let them know of the possibilities with their lives,” Jefferson said. “I’m no different from any of them. If you prepare yourself, you’ll be given the opportunity to succeed.” Wallace and Rhonda Jefferson said they never thought they would end up where they are today. “You never imagine your life
Court in 2001. In Chapel he spoke about his great-great-great-grandfather, Shedrick Willis, who was a slave owned by a district court judge By JACI SCHNEIDER in Waco. As the first black perOPINION EDITOR son to serve as chief over the Chief Justice Wallace Texas Supreme Court, Jefferson Jefferson of the Texas Supreme said the story shows the strides Court and his wife, Rhonda our nation has taken. Lewis Jefferson, visited campus “It’s a great story for our state Monday. and the nation in that in a very Chief Justice Jefferson spoke short span of time in world hisin Chapel, met with faculty and tory, you can go from slave to community memleader of the third bers in a luncheon branch of governand met with ment in the state “If you prepare yourself, you’ll be Lynay on Monday of Texas,” Jeffergiven the opportunity to succeed.” afternoon. son said. Rhonda JefJefferson said Wallace Jefferson, chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court ferson graduated he wants students from ACU in to know that the 1988, so when decisions they Jefferson was appointed to chief like this,” Rhonda Jefferson said. make today can affect the rest of justice, Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice “God has a plan for your life. I’m their lives. He addressed Lynay president of the university, invit- just so grateful.” on strategies for success in life. ed him to visit campus. Wallace Jefferson graduated “It’s nothing beyond the “It’s just an opportunity for from James Madison College at basics,” he said. “Study hard, get people here in Abilene to get to Michigan State University and the best grades possible, don’t be know him and hear from him from the University of Texas satisfied with mediocre results. and get to see that he has a School of Law. He began his “It begins to open doors connection with ACU,” own law firm in San Antonio McCaleb said. before Gov. Rick Perry appointE-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu Jefferson said he’s glad to talk ed him to the Texas Supreme