OPTIMIST_2004-11-17

WEDNESDAY November 17, 2004

OPTIMIST THE

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Abilene Christian University

Vol. 93, No. 25 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Thriving on memories:

Sign up for Sing Song staff:

Tough competition:

Rita Harrell copes with her husband’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

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Students can apply for the Sing Song production staff this week, and interviews will be conducted with applicants Saturday.

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The men’s basketball team played two Division I schools this weekend.

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Employees receive one-time pay next month Supplemental payment to come instead of annual salary raise

By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF

In lieu of annual raises, fulland half-time faculty and staff will receive a one-time supplemental pay Dec. 1. Full-time employees will receive $750,

and half-time employees will receive $375, as long as they were employed by June 1.

Phil Schubert, vice president of finance, said he realizes the one-time payment will not replace annual raises university employees have grown accustomed to receiving.

“We take very seriously the fact that we didn’t give raises last year,” Schubert said. “We recognize we’ve lost ground

Rain leaves Sociology out to dry

with respect to competitive salaries.”

The university decided against giving raises this year when facing a possible $5 million deficit if nothing was done.

Dr. Schubert Royce Money, president of the university,

organized 13 teams to look for cost-cutting strategies for the university, and they suggested cutting pay raises this year.

“We couldn’t make longterm commitments to raises without knowing more about the financial direction,” Schubert said.

He said the one-time pay will cost the university about $700,000, but raises would have cost twice that. As a result

of the cost-cutting strategies, Schubert has said the university now has a balanced budget.

“It’s unfortunate we got there last year, but we had to deal with it responsibly,” Schubert said. “There are a lot of positive factors that converged and put us in a better situation.”

Some of those positive factors include a record fall enrollment, strong investments

and a growing endowment.

That allowed Schubert to increase the budgeted one-time pay amount from less than $500 for employees to the current levels.

Schubert said he has not heard much response from faculty since the totals were announced earlier this semester, and Dr. Ginna Sadler, chair See PAY Page 7

Conference champs set for regional tournament

Four classrooms in Administration Building flood during weekend

By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR

Sociology instructors opened their classroom doors in the Administration Building on Monday to find standing water, forcing classes to be canceled and the Sociology Department to modify schedules and find substitute rooms.

Rooms 100, 101, 102 and 103 and a storage room in the north wing of the Administration Building were affected by the water leak, said Dr. Bill Culp, chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work. He said all classes that were to meet in those rooms did not convene, and staff in the president’s office had to move files out of the storage room.

“Two of our classrooms will be out of use, See FLOOD Page 7

School sees no increase in flu cases Rector gives students with flu passes from class for one week

By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR

Despite the nationwide shortage of flu vaccinations, ACU has seen an average number of cases so far, said Dr. Tony Rector, medical director for clinical services.

He said the clinic has only treated about eight to 10 cases, which is about the same number as in the previous couple of years.

Because of the vaccination shortage, though, Rector is giving students with the flu passes to stay out of class for five to seven days.

He said he is doing this for two reasons: to give the students the rest they need to recover and to control the spread of the flu.

“If someone is essentially quarantined to See HEALTH Page 7

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Michelle Bernhardt, junior outside hitter; Ashlee Motola, junior right-side hitter; Sophia Kindred, senior middle blocker; Liz Snoddy, freshman outside hitter; and Lindsey Martin, junior setter, celebrate after winning the first game of the match 30-19 against Cameron University for the Lone Star Conference title on Saturday. The Wildcats swept the match 3-0, going on to receive a berth in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region tournament. See page 10 for more coverage.

Alumnus to represent Texas in Congress Former Harris County district judge elected with 55 percent of vote

“As a judge, I’ve done everything I’d wanted to do.

Now I’m ready to take on another endeavor.”

Ted Poe, newly elected U.S. Congressman representing Texas’ 2nd District

By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR

ACU alumnus and former Harris County District Judge Ted Poe was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 2 to represent Texas’ 2nd District.

Republican Poe ran and won against incumbent Democrat Nick Lampson from the old District 9 with

55 percent of the vote. Last year’s redistricting put Lampson in the new District 2, which included Humble, the town outside of Houston where Poe has lived for 27 years. Poe said the new district contained about 50 percent new constituents and 50 percent of Lampson’s, and the campaign ran smoothly.

He said he decided to run for Congress as a change of pace, having spent so many years on the judge’s bench.

“As a judge, I’ve done everything I’d want to do,” Poe said.

“I’ve tried all the cases I’d like to, and now I’m ready to take on another endeavor.”

Poe served as the district judge for 22 years, trying 25,000 cases and became famous for his creative sentencing of criminals through the use of shame as punishment.

Before his appointment as a Harris County judge, Poe served as chief felony prosecutor with the Harris Country District Attorney fresh out of the University of Houston Law Center, and he didn’t lose a case for eight years. In 1999, he helped write legislation allowing Texas judges to order public See POE Page 7

Haseltine shines at FilmFest Theatre major’s film wins five of nine awards in competition

By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Kelly Haseltine, senior theatre major from Abilene, speaks to the audience after her film, “As a Light is Lost in Light,” won the best overall film award at FilmFest on Friday with her teammates Amanda McGee, senior theatre major from Plano, and Amy Simpson, sophomore theatre major from Denver.

Kelly Haseltine was not even planning to attend FilmFest, much less winning four awards.

Haseltine, senior theatre major from Abilene, was scheduled to be at a play rehearsal during FilmFest. Walking on stage to receive her fourth award, Haseltine said, “I’m really glad I was able to come tonight.”

As a Light is Lost in Light, the film directed by Haseltine, won five of FilmFest’s nine

awards, including best entertainment film and best film overall.

“I was completely surprised and very honored that our film was so well received by the judges,” Haseltine said in an email. “My team brought incredible storytelling and artistic skills to the table, and I’m proud of their professionalism and talent.”

Haseltine also received awards for best director and best producer, and Amanda McGee, senior theatre major from Plano, brought As a Light is Lost in Light another award for best production design.

FilmFest was conducted at the Paramount Theatre and was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., but the event began 20

minutes late.

“People were lined up almost all the way around the block to buy tickets,” said Doug Darby, director of FilmFest and multimedia coordinator for the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence. “We began taking tickets out to the people in line, and we still got off to a late start.”

He said about 1,000 people attended the event.

“The event was an overwhelming success,” Darby said. “It far exceeded what I could have imagined.”

Eighteen films were entered into FilmFest in three categories, but only the three finalists from each category were shown.

See FILMFEST Page 7

CAMPUS

DAY

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

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Calendar&Events Wednesday

The Campus Store book sale, all day, Campus Center tables.

Faculty Senate meeting, 7-8:15 a.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.

Campus Life director’s meeting, 79:45 a.m., Hilton Room.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Tiffany Hamilton Run T-shirt sales, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Trojan Christmas raffle, 5-7 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

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Thursday

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Campus Center tables.

Tiffany Hamilton Run T-shirt sales, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Gardner Hall Thanksgiving dinner, 4-7 p.m., Hilton Room.

W Club induction ceremony, 8-10:30 p.m., Hilton Room.

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Friday

Purple Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Living Room.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Tiffany Hamilton Run T-shirt sales, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.

Town Hall Meeting, 8-10 a.m., Living Room.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables.

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Reservations Only, 6-7:30 p.m.

Faculty Women’s meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.

ACU Opera Theater’s Marriage of Figaro, 8 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

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Saturday

Chess Club, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Hilton Room.

Philharmonic Concert, 8 p.m., Abilene Civic Center.

ACU Opera Theater’s Marriage of Figaro, 8 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

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Sunday

Keegan Chumley senior recital, 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.

Monday

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Social Club Officers’ Meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Living Room.

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Tuesday

Thanksgiving Holiday begins after evening classes.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People bake sale, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center tables.

Volunteer Opportunities The counseling center needs a graphic design student to volunteer creative talents and services to assist with designing bulletin boards. The boards will function in the residence halls to provide educational information on different topics for students. If interested, contact Steve Rowlands at Ext. 2876 or e-mail rowlandss@acu.edu.

The Virginia Beach Spring Break Campaign needs campaigners. The group will work in the inner city with the homeless

and impoverished community. Email Jordan Swim at jas02f@acu.edu or Jordan Wesley at jew02h@acu.edu for more information.

Spots are still available for the Portland, Ore., Spring Break Campaign. The campaign will work with the Portland Urban Ministry Project. The price has dropped from $650 to $580, and fund-raising opportunities will be available. For more information, please contact Emily Vaughn at

eev00a@acu.edu or at 672-7530.

Wesley Court, a new retirement living center in Abilene, needs volunteers Wednesday to assist elderly residents with various tasks as they move into the facility.

Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m.6 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for more information.

The Service Action Leadership Team is raising money to purchase Thanksgiving meals for at least 50 families from Taylor

Elementary School. Each meal costs $45, and student donations are needed. Students are encouraged to bring donations of any amount to the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center by Friday.

Positions are still available for students interested in going on a Spring Break Campaign.

There will be a $25 sign-up fee.

Students may pay with cash, check or credit card. For more information, visit the Spring Break Campaigns Web site.

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

62 9

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.

Announcements Sing Song production staff interviews will be conducted Saturday. Students interested in participating on Sing Song production staff should sign up as soon as possible in McKinzie Hall, Room 133. Spaces are limited.

The Trojans Social Club is conducting a Christmas raffle fund-raiser. Prizes include a $500 gift certificate to the mall and $50 gift cards to other businesses in town. Tickets can be purchased for $2 from a Trojan club member.

Tickets will be available in the Campus Center ticket widows in the next few weeks. The drawing will be held on Dead Day at noon.

A Christian Ministry in the National Parks is looking for people to live, work and lead Christian worship and fellowship activities in various national parks. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia or any one of 34 other national park locations will be available for jobs next summer.

For more information, visit

www.acmnp.com.

Chris Tomlinson of ACMNP will be in the Campus Center on Dec. 3 to discuss these opportunities with interested students.

The Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment is hiring Cultural Student Advisers for the spring semester.

These student advisers are responsible for organizing cultural programs to educate the campus about diversity and organizing events like Sundaes on Mondays, the Tri-University Bash and activities for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Students interested in applying for one of these positions may pick up an application in McKinzie Hall Room 127. Applications are due Friday. For more information, contact La Shae Sloan at Ext. 6562.

The Shinnery Review, ACU’s literary magazine is accepting submissions for the 2005 edition. For more information, visit www.acu.edu/shinnery.

The deadline is Dec. 10.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Page 3

Classroom to be named Plans in the works to honor memory of Charles Trevathan

“It’s a hard adjustment because he had his own style, so someone else filling in is difficult.”

Briana Litton, sophomore speech-language pathology major from Tyler

By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR

A classroom in the Administration Building will be named in honor of Dr. Charles Trevathan, former instructor of sociology and social work, who died Oct. 12 of an apparent heart attack.

The university is also organizing an endowed scholarship fund in Trevathan’s name, which planners say they hope will be presented to the student body in Chapel before the end of the semester, said Jim Holmans, executive assistant to the president.

Room 103 in the Administration Building will be designated by administrators as the Charles Trevathan Classroom, said Dr. Bill Culp, chair of the Department of Sociology and Socialwork.

“It’s an honor conferred by the department and the university,” Culp said.

He said the classroom will help continue the love of teaching that Trevathan used in his classes.

“I can’t be Charles,” Culp said. “But we will honor his teaching legacy. I can apply this and try to teach with the same spirit he used. Alumni

can come back and sit in there. Some already have done this. They can remember him walking back and forth, sipping his Pepsi or coffee.”

He said the department is planning to dedicate the classroom at the beginning of next semester.

For now, Culp and Dr. David Gotcher, assistant professor of sociology and social work, are teaching Trevathan’s four classes.

“We felt like that would be the best way to allow our remaining faculty to focus on their courses,” Culp said.

Both teachers are personally teaching one class and organizing seminars for one other class.

“It’s an attempt to keep the same strength and for students to come out with the same outcomes,” Culp said.

Although the department has placed an advertisement for a full-time sociology professor, Culp said it is planning to cover courses with current faculty next semester.

“We certainly hope that a person of Charles’ quality is out there, but until God leads

that person here, the department will be supportive,” Culp said.

Apart from covering Trevathan’s classes and planning for his classroom, Culp said the department has begun adjusting to life without Trevathan.

“We’re all still dealing with it in our way,” Culp said.

“We’re trying to make ourselves available to our students. I’m very impressed with the willingness and capacity of students to accept.

It’s a quality that we have at ACU that’s missing in a lot of places.”

Briana Litton, sophomore speech-language pathology major from Tyler and student worker for the Department of Sociology and Social Work, said she’s seen both the department and students pull together.

“It’s a hard adjustment because he had his own style, so someone else filling in is difficult,” Litton said. “The department pulled together really well.”

E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu

Sing Song staff to be chosen Applications available this week, interviews to take place Saturday

By APRIL WARD PAGE 2 EDITOR

Students wanting to help plan and coordinate elements of Sing Song can apply to be on the Sing Song production staff. Applications can be picked up in McKinzie Hall, Room 133, and interviews will be conducted Saturday.

Kendall Massey, director of student productions, said the production staff gives students the chance to work together to organize the different Massey aspects of the show.

“The production staff is pretty much in charge of putting on the whole show,” he said. “It takes a lot of hard work to come together to put on this show.”

While exact numbers are not certain, Massey said 15 or 16 students will be needed to

serve on the staff.

“We may take a few more students than we did last year to be on production staff,” he said. “I felt like last year’s show went well, but I would like more people to help out.”

Massey said prerequisites are not required to be on production staff, and students with a variety of skills are encouraged to apply.

“We’re looking for lots of types of people,” he said. “It’s great if students have some previous production experience, but it’s not a requirement.”

Massey said being able to work with people is an important quality that production staff members should possess.

“We want people that are willing to work together and learn about each other,” Massey said. “They need to be able to handle stress well, too. All of them will have different skills to bring to the table that will help make the production a success.”

The production staff will be under the direction of the Sing Song co-chairs. Each production staff member will

have certain areas of the production to supervise.

“Two of the positions are the upstage and downstage managers,” he said. “One stage manager coordinates the clubs and classes. The downstage manager works with hosts and hostess, the children’s manager and the freshman ushers managers.”

Massey said the interview is important in determining who will get the positions.

“We put a lot of emphasis on the interview so it’s fair for everyone,” he said. “We have some people who may want to return from last year, but it all depends on how the interview goes.”

Although the job requires a lot of work, Massey said it is one most people enjoy.

“People that have done it before tend to want to come back because we have a really good time,” he said. “It really is a great experience, and it’s a lot of fun for everyone.”

E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Two members of Zatouichi perform a traditional Japanese dance at a dress rehearsal for the International Students Association culture show, “Ethnos: The Virus,” on Wednesday night in Cullen Auditorium.

Ethnos draws large crowds Director says culture show ‘more successful than expected’

By ANDY JEFFREY STUDENT REPORTER

The International Students Association produced its annual cultural show, Ethnos: The Virus, in Cullen Auditorium on Friday and Saturday, and both nights’ performances had large crowds, said Carlos Macias, Ethnos director and senior architectural graphics major from Torreon, Mexico.

“Friday night was FilmFest, and still the show was almost full,” Macias said.

“The Saturday show was not only full, but there were 80-100 people that could not get in because of the crowd.”

Students who attended said the show was very entertaining.

“I didn’t realize how many countries would be involved; I was very impressed by all the different cultures and how their performances all came

together,” said Nicole Sharp, sophomore business management major from Sundance, Wyo. She said the show was tied together through a Christian message that reminded students to be vocal about their faith.

“It was really neat to see how they incorporated Christianity into the show,” Sharp said.

Ethnos concluded with a presentation that showed the number of people in the world that have not heard the Gospel and how that number continues to grow every second.

Rachel Carter, sophomore nutrition major from Cincinnati, Ohio, said she was inspired by the message that was integrated into the show.

“The ending was very moving,” Carter said.

The show was even more successful than was expected, Macias said.

“Even before we began preparing for the show, we put

it in God’s hands and just said we were going to do our best,” he said. “He always goes beyond what we expect.”

Macias, who has now directed the show for three years, also praised those who performed in the show.

“The culture show is about the performers, and all of them put so much time into it, and it paid off,” Macias said.

He said some interest has been shown in increasing the number of shows in the coming years and letting more people in the Abilene community know about it, Macias said.

“We think this show will even do well in the community,” he said. “We know that this show will continue to grow. I think that it is possible that in the future, this show will be compared with Sing Song and Freshman Follies.”

E-mail Jeffrey at: optimist@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 4

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Abilene prepares for annual ‘Nutcracker’ performance The Abilene Ballet Theatre is preparing to perform once more

By JENNA LUCADO STUDENT REPORTER

Every year, when the Christmas season approaches, a bundle of squealing mice scurry in the backstage hallway of the Paramount Theatre.

“We call it the mouse tunnel,” said Nancy Gore, artistic director of the Abilene Ballet Theatre.

However, if one listens closely, one will notice that the

squeals are not that of mice but of little girls dressed up in mice costumes, waiting to prance on stage for The Nutcracker, the world-renowned Christmas ballet.

The Abilene Ballet Theatre will perform its annual Nutcracker performance on Nov. 19, 20 and 21.

The Paramount production is offering a discount for college students, with a ticket price of $10. A normal adult ticket is $15. Tickets go on sale Tuesday at the Paramount Theatre.

More than 100 dancers from the Abilene area are in the production. Three male

professional dancers — two from Ohio and one from Dallas — will also dance in the ballet.

The dancers have been practicing since September, spending hours during the week and every weekend to practice for the event.

Ballerinas were even practicing for The Nutcracker auditions at the end of August.

Auditions were open to any dance student who has danced ballet for at least three years.

The Nutcracker cast consists of dancers ranging from the 5and 6-year-old mice to high school senior girls who usually make up the lead roles of

the Sugar Plum Fairies, the Snow Queen and more.

“The girls with the lead dance roles have been working their way up from being the mice and angels to the soldiers and Clara. This year is their big to-do,” Gore said.

Gore said she has appreciated the kind and hard-working girls who are in the performance this year.

“They are genuinely supportive of one another,” Gore said. “There have been no cat fights.”

Though the attitudes may be positive now, she said it is possible that the mood may intensify come opening day.

Biblical lectures occur Thursday Lectures open to all, will focus on delving deeper into the Gospels

By LAURA STORK STAFF WRITER

The 18th annual Carmichael-Walling Lectures, which brings nationally known scholars to ACU to advance biblical knowledge, will take place in Room 130 in the College of Biblical Studies on Thursday, said Dr. Thompson, associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.

Dr. David Moessner, professor of biblical theology at the University of Dubuque Seminary, will give a lecture at 4 p.m. on Losing One’s Life: God’s Saving Plan for the World, and a second lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Gaining One’s Life: The Church’s Witness to the End of the Earth.

The overall topic for the lectures is Reading with the Ancients: Contemporary Gos-

pel Interpretation in the Light of Hellenistic Narrative Hermeneutics.

Dr. David Wray, chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry, said it is a blessing for faculty and students to hear world-class scholars address issues, such as this one, that are important to scholarship, missions and ministry.

He said these lectures will be beneficial to faculty, staff, upper division students and graduate students.

Thompson added that although anyone can come, the lectures are aimed at people who have an interest in the advanced study of the Bible.

Press releases have been sent to Hardin-Simmons and McMurry universities as well as ministers from the community, Thompson said.

“I expect professors, ministers and others who enjoy advanced study to come,” Thompson said.

Speakers who come to ACU usually have written important books that scholars through-

out the United States would read, Thompson said. On top of that, the lectures they give at ACU are usually published in journalistic-type magazines.

Moessner, who has also taught at Yale University Divinity School and Columbia Theological Seminary, is a specialist in the study of the Gospels within the context of ancient Judaism. His books include Lord of the Banquet: A Literary and Theological Investigation of the Lukan Trasvel Narrative, Jesus and the Heritage of Israel: Luke’s Narrative Claim upon Israel’s Legacy and Re-examining Paul’s Letters: The History of the Pauline Correspondence.

The Carmichael-Walling Lectures take place every year in November before the annual convention of biblical scholars, which this year will be in San Antonio from Saturday through Tuesday.

E-mail Stork at: las00f@acu.edu

Friday will be the longest performing day for the dancers, with two 55-minute performances for fourthgraders and an 8 p.m. fulllength show opened to the public.

The shorter presentations for the elementary school students are a cut, narrated version; the regular production lasts about two hours.

Up to now, the dancers have not practiced a run-through of the entire show.

“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle,” Gore said. “We practice little pieces at a time, and then we put it into the final picture on the Paramount stage with all

the beautiful embellishments.”

Embellishments include icicles in the Snow Queen scene, an ornamented Christmas tree that grows, and detailed, not to mention pricy, costumes, Gore said.

This year, two new $400 tutus will twirl around the waists of the Sugar Plum Fairies.

Gore said The Nutcracker is a good first ballet for people to see.

“The music is recognizable, and the story is easy to understand,” Gore said.

E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu

Where’s the Tolstoy?

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Alex Mityunin, senior political science major from Russia, looks at some of the books on sale in the Campus Center on Tuesday. The Friends of the ACU Library Book Fair will run through Wednesday.

Moody construction repairs leak Pipes across campus begin to leak hot water as winter approaches

By LAURA STORK STAFF WRITER

A 6-foot-deep hole has been dug on the south side of Moody Coliseum where it meets Gibson Health and Physical Education Center because of a hot water leak in Gibson, said Bob Nevill, director of Physical Resources, who noticed the leak when the hot water was turned on for winter weather.

Nevill said the construction won’t affect students because it is taped off and out of the way.

The once-exposed hole is now covered with dirt because the pipe has been fixed, said Dr. Lynn Luttrell, associate professor of exercise science and health.

Luttrell said other than hav-

ing to walk an extra 20 feet to another entrance, the construction hasn’t really affected him.

“One day I could hear some construction while I was teaching a class,” Luttrell said. “But those who were snoring continued to snore and those who were pretending to listen continued to pretend to listen.”

Susie Whitworth, administrative coordinator for exercise science and health, said she didn’t mind having the area taped off.

“The problem was a leak in a hot water pipe,” Whitworth said. “Without having it fixed we wouldn’t have any heat. I’m happy they are working here.”

Similarly, Reservations Only is also having problems with leaks.

Nevill said during the past year a persistent leak caused by incoming rain water forced Physical Resources to build a retaining wall on the south side

of the Campus Center to keep the water from intruding.

Physical Resources is now completing the retaining wall on the west side of the restaurant to completely stop water from getting under the building.

This construction should be completed within the next week, if the rain stops.

Nevill, who became the director of Physical Resources in September, said he wants to make sure students are aware of the construction taking place on campus and where it’s happening.

Once these projects are complete, Nevill said, the only construction that should be seen around campus would be the building of the new residence hall on Campus Court.

E-mail Stork at: las00f@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Page 5

Symposium conducted to reflect on ACU’s first FilmFest Students, faculty, judges met to discuss ups, downs of FilmFest

By TABITHA VAIL STAFF WRITER

Twenty-eight students gathered in the Living Room Saturday for the FilmFest Symposium to eat lunch and converse with two of the 10 FilmFest judges: Rob Gibbs, story artist for Pixar Animation Studios, and Randy Brewer, producer and founder of Revolution Pictures in Nashville, Tenn.

Once finished with lunch, Gibbs and Brewer were asked an array of questions ranging from the judges’ impressions of FilmFest 2004 to trends in the arts to the do’s and don’ts of entering the media business.

Gibbs admitted that he is not

an expert when it comes to the film industry but wanted to see more of a story approach to the films.

“The films need to have more structure with a protagonist, conflict and resolution,” Gibbs said. “Also, be aware of your audience and don’t take them for granted.”

Brewer agreed and in turn asked students to think of what professionals do.

“They have a three to four day shoot where they might shoot the exact same thing twice,” he said. “Also, let someone else watch it to get feedback. You have to be diligent.

Think in terms of a feature film; they screen it.”

Brewer reminded students, in an interview-oriented film, to “never use music with words while someone is speaking because [the audience] is visual, and they might know the tune and start singing it; they’ll

miss the message.”

Brewer said there was “something that was drawing [the judges] toward Kelly Haseltine’s winning entertainment film, As a Light is Lost in Light, because the overall music and lighting was interesting.” In remark to Bo Mechinus’s inspirational film, Chiaroscuro, Brewer said “it was a conceptually cool film.”

Doug Darby, multimedia coordinator and FilmFest director, asked what some trends are in the arts that might be challenging to adapt to. Gibbs, being a storyboard artist, said technology is taking the place of pencil and paper, which takes away a personal touch. Brewer said that technology has decreased film costs with programs like Final Cut Express from Apple. Movies such as Cold Mountain were edited by Final Cut Express.

“Kids like you know Final

Cut,” said Brewer, and that causes more competition. “It’s not the golden years of production where big name companies can keep prices high.”

Gibbs told students they need to keep up with new changes and ideas, and they shouldn’t fall in love with what they do because their ideas might not be used. He said Pixar is “not a place to have a big ego.”

Finally, Brewer and Gibbs discussed the do’s and don’ts to entering the media field. Brewer stressed that internships are great ways to become more familiar with the field but warned interns to not think they know everything because the market changes too quickly.

“Don’t do anything to burn bridges,” Gibbs said, because “people will pass you up. You might be seeing these people again.”

Gibbs told the students a

Club honors women for their character, academic standing

By DANIÈLE NTAHONKIRIYE STUDENT REPORTER

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Ed, Rosie, Anita and Elias Diaz of Abilene, watch the flood waters rush over part of the road in Will Hair Park on Tuesday afternoon. The park flooded after several days of rain.

New coffee shop caters to students

By HAYLEY JONES STUDENT REPORTER

Walking through the front door of The Main Thing might feel like walking into a home, but instead, a coffeehouse is in the place of a kitchen.

The Main Thing, located at South 11th and Jeanette streets, is a ministry that offers students an alternative hangout or study location. It has college nights every Thursday and Friday evening from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“We aren’t trying to compete with Java City or Starbucks, but we are hoping a few students will find this place more homey and desirable than a commercial study environment,” said owner Dale Scaief.

The Main Thing is a homestyle meeting facility equipped with a five-station computer network with high-speed Internet, couches, a large TV with VCR/DVD/Surround Sound, an air hockey table, snacks and flavored coffee from a Brazilian imported espresso machine.

Scaief said it provides a place for students to sit and relax, study, play games or just hang out in a comfortable, low-key environment.

Internet and computer access runs $4 per hour, while coffee is $2 and snacks are $1.

All proceeds go to support a Brazil 2005 mission team scheduled to serve the children at the Lar Efrata Orphanage in Embu Guacu, Brazil, which Scaief is leading.

“We are trying to raise enough money to sponsor three or four of the people going to serve the Lord in Brazil,” Scaief said.

students lingered in the Living Room to ask the judges more questions.

“I think a lot of us wanted to talk more about the films,” said Mechinus, sophomore digital media major from San Antonio.

“The judges were humble and admitted that paying your dues are a big part of the industry.”

The judges reminded students that they might have to work for free in order to network and find a job. They also reassured students that everyone in the business has had to make sacrifices.

It was “great to get insight from professionals in different fields,” said Haseltine, senior theatre major from Abilene. “In theatre, we hear a lot about networking and working hard; Randy and Rob seem to do just that.”

E-mail Vail at: txv02b@acu.edu

W Club inducts 45 new members

A river runs through it

‘The Main Thing’ thrives on its homey, student-oriented feel

story of when he was in college and couldn’t imagine working with the students in his animation classes. Consequentially some of his classmates worked their way up, and some became very successful.

Brewer challenged students to visualize where they want to be.

“You have to humble yourself, and you have to say, ‘I’m going to be a director.’ People might say you are good at something else.”

Brewer explained that it is OK to change plans, but the main focus is to have a tentative goal.

“If you’re shy, but creative, you need to find other people that share your vision; learn from them,” he said. “Networking is how you get in this business. It is good to be really good at what you do and have a great resume.”

After the symposium, a few

The name, The Main Thing, was chosen to signify the vision of how the facility would be used in accordance with Proverbs 3:5-6 of focusing on the Lord.

Helping children and others keep God as the main thing in their lives has become the foundation for which the mission, vision and values of The Main Thing would be developed, Scaief said.

Its mission is to provide a facility where kids can fellowship, gain knowledge, develop skills and use their abilities to enhance their personal growth and maturity.

“We have this building, and what better thing to use it for than for ministry to kids of all ages; with college nights we are expanding our ministry of fellowship to students,” Scaief said.

E-mail Jones at: optimist@acu.edu

The W Club, an ACU honor organization for women with a tradition of recognizing female students, staff and faculty members for their work, is inducting 45 members Thursday at 9:30 p.m. in the Hilton Room.

Amanda Spencer, graduate student in accounting from Marble Falls and president of the W Club, said women are

chosen for the club because of their Christian character, high academic standing and abilities in leadership and service.

She said the club promotes strong Christian women in the workplace and at home and requires that all members have grade point averages of 3.5 or higher and be nominated by professors in their departments.

She said this year’s group is the largest to be inducted into this 84-year-old organization.

The theme of this year’s induction comes from Proverbs 31-10: “A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

Spencer said the club hosts luncheons for the members once a month and chooses a role model, which can be a female professor or staff on campus. Spencer said the role model is honored in Chapel, at which time the club presents them with the plaque.

The club was founded in 1920 and had a large membership in the 1950s, she said.

However, club membership has declined in recent years, and Spencer said the club is working to help its organization grow.

E-mail Ntahonkiriye at: optimist@acu.edu

Gifts due for Angel Tree Project Project focuses on gifts for underprivileged children for Christmas

By KATHERINE FLANARY STUDENT REPORTER

Gifts for the Angel Tree Project are due Friday in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

The project is sponsored by the Service Action Leadership Team’s Christmas Committee and tries to get ACU students involved in assisting kids by buying them a few Christmas presents they might not otherwise receive.

Amanda Scott, senior interior design major from Conroe and chair of the Christmas

Committee, said in an e-mail that the project involves 80 children who are in the Wildcat Kids and Treadaway Kids programs.

The committee made forms for the children’s parents to fill out, picked them up and prepared the angels.

“The angels are simply paper cut-outs that have a list of the child’s sizes, favorites and a particular ‘need’ and ‘want’ item for Christmas,” Scott said.

The Christmas Committee will also collect the gifts and make sure they are sorted. They will be given to the appropriate Treadaway and Wildcat Kids partners to be delivered to the child’s parents after each group’s Christmas party.

“The instructions on the angel simply ask that the student spend a total of $20-40 on each child and try to get at least one gift that is wanted and one gift that is needed,” Scott said.

As of Saturday, the Angel Tree Project still had 32 angels left.

“I think this project is a great way to remind ACU students just how fortunate we are,” Scott said, “and also allows us the opportunity to give gifts to help others at a time of year when we remember that we were given the best gift of all, Jesus.”

E-mail Flanary at: optimist@acu.edu

VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST

Page 4

Pay raise cut unpleasant but necessary

The issue: Instead of an annual pay raise, employees will receive a one-time supplemental payment.

Our view: The lack of a pay raise, though not pleasant, is necessary to help the university face its budget situation.

The solution: Employees responded well to the cut, and the university is taking steps to make sure employees never go without a raise again.

November 17, 2004

Faculty and staff will receive a onetime supplemental payment Dec. 1 instead of an annual base pay raise. Full-time employees will receive $750, and part-time employees will receive $375.

Phil Schubert, vice president of finance, said employees had never gone without a pay raise during his time at the university, but financial pressures last year forced decisions to be made.

The university faced a deficit that could have reached $5 mil-

lion if steps As a result of last year’s cuts, the university ity.

The faculty weren’t taken. now has a balanced budget. and staff have Cost-cutting been underteams were crestanding during ated to reduce expenditures, and they recom- fessional Association salary aver- the financial pressures and have mended cutting the pay raise as age, the financial pressures of last accepted the payment without year pushed ACU’s salaries back much open complaint. Both one way to achieve that goal.

Schubert and Dr. Ginna Sadler, Schubert stressed the impor- to 95 percent of the average.

The university has not yet chair of the Faculty Senate and tance the university places on faculty salaries. He said the uni- achieved its set goal of at least associate professor in the Deversity desires to be at least equal reaching the averages. As it con- partment of Art and Design, said to the averages of other schools. tinues to work, the administra- they have heard little feedback After climbing within two or tion needs to continue to send about the one-time payment since three percentage points of the strong messages to employees it was announced earlier this College and University Pro- that their salaries remain a prior- semester.

Definitions create confusion for player

Daniel Barcroft

In My Words

Thanksgiving. A time to see scribed above.

In a roundabout way, my family. A time to watch football.

A time to shop. A time to visit father has thus taught me the your local Golden Corral for the true meaning, at least one of best turkey day them, of integrity. If only Ron Artest was so lucky as to have meal around.

Two years such an informative father as I. Artest, a star player for the ago, my family’s Thanks- NBA’s Indiana Pacers, recently giving tradi- asked for as much as a month tions took a off after spending too much turn for the time promoting a rap album he worse when co-produced. His coach, prewe all paraded dictably upset, suspended him Gray into Golden for two games and said Artest Matters Corral. I mean “compromised the integrity of Warren Gray to speak no ill the team,” seemingly choosing of Golden Cor- to define the word in an alternaral, nor of Red Plum, the tive way to my “Golden Corral” Chinese buffet we spent definition.

Maybe that’s the Christmas day at part that confused just a month later, but there’s just Obviously, Artest Artest. Maybe his family, too, is a something unnatu- was not blessed compulsive buffetral about having a waiter remind you with the fatherly eating bunch because Ron was lost. to “please get a advice on food “I don’t know new plate on each what that means,” trip to the buffet” consumption Artest told reporton Thanksgiving that I was. ers who asked aday. bout this confusThe festivities ing “integrity” sum up my family’s motto: quantity over quality. In word. “They probably expectmy grandmother’s younger and ed a little more, expected me more cognizant days, her three to play every game.”

After hearing that he didn’t eating places of choice were CiCi’s, Panchos and Home Style know what the word integrity Buffet. All were unique yet meant, they probably didn’t remarkably similar in that at expect too much more. But each buffet you pile as much as playing a game for eight months you can on one plate knowing a year for $6 million a year, full well you can go back as that’s not asking too much.

Artest went on to say that many times as you want. At he’d been “meaning to call (his) least that’s what we do.

Besides that, Home Style dad” to ask him just what Buffet feeds mothers for free on integrity meant. Obviously, Mother’s Day, which ended the Artest was not blessed with the annual “what to for Mother’s fatherly advice on food consumption that I was.

Day” discussion.

So Ron, if you’re reading this My dad, in sure denial of his deeply rooted family eating (hey, it’s possible), I think your habits, prefers not to qualify our coach was defining integrity as outings as feasting on quantity. “the state of being unimpaired; He likes to think of it as an inex- soundness or wholeness” or pensive way to feed a group of perhaps as “moral soundness; people, ensuring that they all freedom from corrupting influget what they want. He calls it a ence or motive.” And if you decide to take some time off for complete meal.

I suppose the dictionary Thanksgiving, check out Goldwould defend his conclusion en Corral. as “the state or quality of being entire or complete.” In other words, it’s eating with integrity, E-mail Gray at: at least as the word is de- optimist@acu.edu or weg02a@acu.edu

Don’t get mad, get creative and laugh Eventually we had to confess. The guilt got to us—and we wanted to use their scale, which we’d hidden under their towels.

Sure, I had fun listening to them discussing the mystery through the wall at night, but we finally decided Much Ado to tell them that we turned their About Something picture frames upside down, Jaci hid their reSchneider mote control on the window sill and rearranged their desk drawers.

The prank was silly, but my cohort and I had fun. My neighbors and I had even more fun planning the next prank — switching the bedding on our friends’ beds, so when they came in late at night, they didn’t

Pranks aren’t anything to throw a tizzy fit about, unless, of course, the pranksters go too far. know where they were supposed to sleep.

Some people say pranks are a silly waste of time, but I disagree.

Pranks help friends bond; they give you something to conspire about and something to laugh about later. Some of my best memories from my college years so far involve pranks.

Of course we weren’t laughing when my friend slammed her finger in a door freshman year in the excitement following a prank, and we spent several hours in the emergency room while she waited to get stitches. But now, we look back on that missed curfew with amusement, recalling the way Walgreen’s looks at 1 a.m. and the way my friend looked with

a bandage on her finger and, of course, the reactions of the victims of the prank.

This time last year, I was living in a house in Oxford with 17 people. We always had trouble keeping track of dishes in the three kitchens, but the girls began noticing a shortage of silverware. At first, the shortage wasn’t very evident; we just assumed someone had stopped doing dishes. One day, however, when we had only two forks remaining, someone went searching and discovered a cabinet full of silverware, cups and dishes in the boys’ kitchen.

They had pulled a creative prank; we had to give them points for that, but that didn’t keep us from stealing their mattresses that week. Luckily, we

went home shortly and didn’t suffer any major consequences.

Sometimes pranks can get out of hand. Some people just don’t know when to stop, and they can cause trouble for everyone. Pranks and practical jokes show camaraderie between friends; if someone pulls a prank on you, you know they think of you as a close friend.

But some people take pranks too seriously; they aren’t anything to throw a tizzy fit about, unless, of course, the pranksters go to far. But laugh about it first; make sure you have reason to be mad before getting angry.

If you have some good friends and are feeling a little bored, start brainstorming.

Think up something new to laugh about with your friends for years to come.

Respond to Schneider at: optimist@acu.edu or jrs02a@acu.edu

Students should be grateful for ‘Optimist’ I am not being paid to write this letter.

“Look at this,” called my roommate as soon as he walked in the door. “Look what I found!”

Taken aback, I slowly approached. “What is it?”

“I’m not sure,” he said, opening and closing it, inspecting its dirty, sloppy anatomy.

“I think ... I think it might be a ... a newspaper,” he hesitantly remarked with the voice you use right after a terrible smell overtakes the room, and you can’t breathe but are trying to communicate a point to those around you anyway. (You know the voice.

Guys use it when they clean out the fridge all the time.)

Sure enough, upon further

inspection, the slop masthead across the top of the page read The HSU Brand. After my near-death encounter with this journalistic disaster, I couldn’t sleep, so I began to contemplate. The Optimist comes under much ridicule and criticism on a consistent basis from all directions at ACU — the administration, the student government, the student body in general and, probably most telling, within its own infrastructure.

Criticisms range in their content, from “unfair representation” to “negative bias” to “positive bias.” But I have never heard the Optimist called sub par. And anyone who would call it so should read The HSU Brand or even the Abilene Reporter-News.

The reason the Optimist comes under such scrutiny from outside itself is because it is fully exercising the First Amendment in all its glory, actively reporting on campus life, leaving no stone unturned. The scrutiny from within is simply a masochistic striving for perfection. In the Optimist office, students sacrifice hours upon hours scrutinizing each issue, reviewing each story with a fine-tooth comb to find every little mistake, most of which we wouldn’t have noticed anyway, had it escaped the grasp of our ridiculously meticulous staff.

Just try to find a grammatical or structural error in this very issue. Try it. Good luck.

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

YOUR VOICE

In Your Words

OPTIMIST

“Not too good. I think I’ll be OK if I come to every one.”

How are you doing on Chapel credits this semester?

All this makes the Optimist the best collegiate newspaper in Texas. (Texas, by the way, has the most competing colleges in the nation for this honor.) Not the best private school paper in Texas.

Not the best NCAA Division II paper. The best, bar none. So the next time you grab the Optimist out of the hands of a tired-looking journalist after Chapel, say thanks, or at least try not to knock them over.

I am not being paid to write this letter.

Josh Harris junior Biblical text and integrated marketing major from Parker

THE

Disappointment should be expected in this situation, but this attitude of acceptance made the circumstances easier to endure.

As a result of last year’s cuts, the university now has a balanced budget. Schubert estimates cutting the pay raises saved as much as $700,000—still a steep price to pay for fiscal responsibility.

The Optimist joins the rest of the employees in hoping this never has to happen again, but the steps taken the past year have put the university in position to make sure it never has to.

Kristen Parker senior psychology major from Fort Worth

“I’ve got 51. I think I’m going to make it if I don’t get too lazy in the mornings.”

“Well, I did really horrible at the beginning, and now I’m scrounging for every credit I can get.”

Anya Kaladze

Magnus Turner

freshman psychology major from St. Petersburg, Russia

sophomore biochemistry major from Abilene

The Optimist Editorial Board

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abilene Christian University

Editor in Chief

Opinion Editor

Jonathan Smith

Jaci Schneider

Managing Editor

Copy Editor

Lori Bredemeyer

Sarah Carlson

Faculty Adviser Chief Photographer Brian Schmidt

Dr. Cheryl Bacon

Ad Manager Christi Stark

Optimist contact information Newsroom: (325) 674-2439

Sports desk: (325) 674-2684

Photo department: (325) 674-2499

Advertising office: (325) 674-2463

Subscriptions ($45/academic year): (325) 674-2296

Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Page 7

Pay: Salaries remain a priority Continued from Page 1 of the Faculty Senate and associate professor of Art and Design, said she has received little feedback.

“I think people are pleased to get a bonus,” Sadler said. “I haven’t received much feedback, so I guess that’s good.”

However, Schubert said he realizes how employees feel.

“We expected people to be disappointed — I’m disappoint-

ed,” he said, but added: “I’m encouraged we’re now in a stronger financial position to move forward.”

Schubert said faculty salaries remain a priority for the university. He said the university has a long-standing goal to be at least even with the salary averages from the College and University Professional Association. The university had been as high as about 97 percent of that average, but last year’s

financial pressure pushed that down to about 95 percent.

“We want to make a very strong commitment to our employees that we recognize we have not accomplished what we set out to accomplish,” Schubert said.

Schubert said he does not anticipate having to cut employee raises again this year.

E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu

Poe: Judge has ‘deep roots’ at ACU Continued from Page 1 notice of a crime in probation cases, with his punishments gaining national media attention from 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline NBC and National Geographic as well as international newscasts. He has also appeared on the FOX News Channel, MSNBC and CNN as a political and legal analyst.

Now a member of Congress and beginning what he calls his third career, Poe said he wants to focus on unnecessary government spending, a tax structure, which he feels is becoming increasingly unfair to the working middle class, terrorism, immigration and the costs of medical

health care.

“I want to stay as long as it’s necessary to make a positive difference,” Poe said.

Poe graduated from ACC in 1970 with a degree in political science and later was a member of ACU’s Board of Trustees from 1991-2004, stepping down after his election to Congress.

“I loved it; I loved serving on that board,” Poe said. “It’s a tremendous school … it is a unique institution.”

All four of Poe’s and his wife, Carol’s, children attended ACU, with three graduating and one later graduating from Harding University.

While he was a student here, Poe was the political editor for the Optimist, his class’

president twice and the president of the men’s social club Galaxy.

“I have deep roots with Abilene Christian,” he said.

Poe said he would encourage current students to choose a career where they can make a difference, but he warns that public service offers little monetary gain. Nevertheless, he said he didn’t become involved in service to earn money.

“Go and pick a career that you enjoy, but pick a career where you can make an impact with people — it’s all about people,” Poe said.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

Flood: Water continues to leak Continued from Page 1 which may take as long as the rest of the week,” he said. “So the other two will only have limited use because of cleanup efforts.”

Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, said in an e-mail that he is currently searching for the source of the leak.

“It appears that this is ground water, and it is seeping through the wall somewhere,” he said. “We are working to locate where it is coming in. Once we have isolated the location, we will have to dig down and seal the crack in the wall.”

The water continues to leak into Rooms 100 and 103, and Watson said it probably will continue to come into the building as long as it keeps raining and until Physical

Resources can find the source of the leak and seal it.

Bob Nevill, director of Physical Resources, said the dry weather probably concealed the crack.

“We do not know how the leak happened,” he said, “but the integrity of the wall could have been compromised for some time, and it has been dry enough that it was never revealed.”

Although no major damage has been done, Watson said the water has caused some minor damage to the walls and the paint, and Val Mascari, project manager for WFF, said his staff is working to dry out the wing.

“What we’re trying to do is minimize the amount of water that sets in the building to minimize what damage is being done,” he said. “This is a brand-new problem for

everybody; we haven’t experienced this before, but that’s what happens with an old building.”

Culp said he is trying to find alternative classrooms until the leak is repaired, and the department hopes to miss only the one class period that was canceled on Monday.

“It’s made a little bit more urgent by the fact that most of our classes lost meetings because of the death of Dr. Charles Trevathan,” Culp said, “so our faculty is trying to rearrange things to fulfill the competencies in the syllabi.”

He said classes will be notified by e-mail and signs in the Administration Building about changes to location and curriculum.

E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu

Health: Clinic giving sick passes Continued from Page 1 their room, they’re less likely to spread it to somebody else,” Rector said. “There’s a degree of exposure we have because nobody’s been immunized this year, so the potential for it to spread is greater.”

Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, sent a memo to department chairs about the passes.

“I wanted them to know that … the medical clinic is thinking carefully about what the student needs,” he said.

“It meant that anything the clinic recommended would be

well thought out.”

He said teachers can use their own discretion when deciding how to count the absences according to their syllabi.

Rector said he is only giving the passes to students with the flu, and he has not heard any reports of students having problems using them.

The flu season is still in its beginning stages, however.

Rector said it will be in full swing toward the end of November and the beginning of December. To prevent catching the flu, he said students should follow basic hygiene practices, like not

sharing utensils and washing hands frequently.

He said students should watch closely for flu symptoms: fever, body aches, extreme weakness and a strong cough.

If the flu is caught in the first two days, a pill treatment can affect the severity and length of the illness.

“It’s a balancing act, and it’s going to be imperfect,” Rector said. “I would ask students to try and get in as soon as possible.”

E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Josh Massingill, sophomore political science major from Abilene, receives the award for best inspirational film from Kendall Massey, director of student productions, at FilmFest on Friday night.

FilmFest: Project ‘a milestone’ Continued from Page 1 The winner of best informational film was Homeless, a documentary about how many homeless people live in Abilene. The award for best inspirational film went to The Dying of the Light, a film inspired by a poem by Dylan Thomas. The Dying of the Light was also recognized as having the best technical direction, and Josh Massingill, sophomore political science major from Abilene, received the award.

The award for best writer went to Cole Hufstedler, sophomore marketing major from Garland, for Lakeside Light, a film about questioning reality and finding what life is really about.

Kendall Massey, director of student productions, said he was extremely pleased with the success of FilmFest.

“You never know what will happen when you’re trying a new show for the first time, and I don’t think FilmFest could have gone better,” he said.

Massey said everyone who attended seemed to have a good time and that FilmFest will only get better.

“I felt like the audience enjoyed it and left having had fun,” he said. “There’s a lot of room to grow in the coming years. This first FilmFest is a good blueprint for the future.”

Darby said that while he’s excited about the success of FilmFest, he’s already planning improvements for next year.

“We’re going to continue to get feedback and make modifications,” he said. “We got good energy off of this, but we’re not just going to let it fizzle back to a cold ember.”

Darby said FilmFest was a collaborative effort that could not have happened without everyone’s help and support.

“The students, faculty and staff stepped up to the plate and turned a mere idea into something that succeeded,” Darby said. “You could feel that it was a milestone, and I think you’ll see it continue to grow and develop into something that makes a difference.”

E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu

FOCUSWEDNESDAY Cherished memories OPTIMIST

Page 8

November 17, 2004

Rita Harrell holds on to the ones her husband has forgotten STORY BY TIFFANY WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY EMILY CHASTAIN ually, or if a situation needed to be addressed, they would do so in a quiet way, but for the most part Dan kept to himself about the disease.

“We tried not to make it the focus of the times when we were together,” Harrell said. “We wanted to all keep having fun together as a family. We weren’t sure of how many more opportunities we would have to do that.”

Dan lived at home with Rita as his caretaker for four years before the disease reached a point of swift decline. During the fifth year of the disease, Rita made the difficult decision to move Dan into Windcrest Alzheimer’s Care Center, located near Abilene Regional Medical Center.

In the years after Dan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, his physical health declined as well. Rita said her husband’s once-toned physique has deteriorated, and he walks very slowly now.

But despite the harrowing effects of the disease, Dan’s faith flourished. Rita continued to notice the astounding courage of her husband’s spirit.

“Dan would never get angry; he would never ask, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ Sometimes he would Rita Harrell stares out the master bedroom window at her house in University Hills. She and her husband, Dan, moved to the smaller get frustrated when he couldn’t do things that he used house soon after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 54. to be able to do, but Dan was always so optimistic. He ita Harrell “Dan was so surprised. It completely shocked him. cian encouraged him is still so optimistic.”

Until several months ago, Dan still recognized his to take. Doctors knew brightens Even though it happened to his mother and other it was time to be test- wife. Now, he doesn’t react to her the way he used to, up nearly every time she speaks members of his family, he never thought in terms of ed more extensively and their visits lack dialogue, but not affection. Rita before a prognosis says her husband responds to her when she holds his of her husband, Dan. hand or pats his leg. could be reached.

As she relays stories it happening to him.”

She visits Dan two or three times every week and “I went into that about him, she smiles, and her youthful, Rita Harrell, administrative coordinator in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center office 90 percent sure believes that even though Dan doesn’t know her name, that it was Alzhei- he knows his God, and that is why he seems to be cerulean blue eyes mer’s,” Rita said, more peaceful than any of the other patients at the playfully deny her Coronado Nursing Center, where Rita recently moved age — 58. Her expression reflects her sincere generosi- “and I nearly fell apart when they confirmed it.

“Dan was so surprised. It completely shocked him. Dan in order to be closer to him. ty and controlled determination.

“Sometimes,” she admits, wavering a little as tears “I have learned to be thankful and to feel blessed in Even though it happened to his mother and other every situation,” Rita says, her smile broadening. “Dan members of his family, he never thought in terms of it form in the corners of those blue eyes, “I am unable to emotionally handle it, and I have to try and cut myself happening to him.” taught me that.”

Dan’s mother had passed away just three weeks some slack.”

Hundreds of students and faculty members are warmed by Harrell’s generosity as they pass her on the prior to his diagnosis.

The Harrells were familiar with campus or, more often, in her most familiar setting, the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center where she the symptoms of the disease because of his mother’s experience serves as administrative coordinator.

Visitors to the center are immediately greeted by with it, but they also knew that Rita’s myriad of family photos littering her desk, mak- every case of the disease is differing it apparent that her family is her priority. She tells ent. The couple knew they had to anyone who asks that 39 years ago she married the act fast in order to prepare for the man whose sweet, gentle spirit and godly values she toll it would eventually take on wanted her children—Jeff, 34; Kristy, 33; and Matt, their lives.

“There are no norms with Al31—to have.

However, Rita Harrell isn’t like most staff members zheimer’s, so there is no way of at ACU. As she desperately hoards away memories of knowing how quickly the disease her husband, Dan fights to remember simple daily will progress,” Rita said.

Rita said Dan understood the tasks like how to feed himself or how to sit in a chair.

In the Coronado Nursing Center, Dan Harrell, a for- importance of being logical.

“Dan was quick to make sure mer dentist, suffers from the brutal disease that killed his mother and two of his aunts, and after it robs him everything was in order: the living will, the finances, the legal matters. of his memories, it will most likely kill him, too.

His main concern was taking care Dan Harrell has Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of Amer- of our children and me because he ica, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disorder that knew he wouldn’t always be here to attacks the brain’s nerve cells associated with memory, do that.”

The Harrells also knew they had behavior and language skills.

Dan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven to prepare to tell the rest of the family about the disease. When Dan Rita Harrell holds a picture of her husband, Dan, from when he was able to visit the Vietnam years ago. He was 54 years old.

Rita said that at the time, she noticed two distinct and Rita told their sons, Jeff and War Memorial and find his friend’s name listed. indications that something was not right with her hus- Matt, they picked the most comIt helps her to remember the man Dan used to be. fortable venue they could think of. The family sat band.

“He used to pitch a tent in the backyard for campFirst, she said, Dan’s psychologist asked Dan to under the oak trees in their front yard and spoke for a have Rita call him to talk about Dan’s mental health. long time about what was about to happen to their outs. I love that about him. He would coach our kids’ Little League games, and he never missed anything Dan didn’t. She said he could have forgotten, but Dan father.

Rita said although her sons were obviously shock- they were involved in.” never forgot important things like that. She suspects And early in his career, he would take off at least ed, the men reacted rationally, like their father. She he was trying to protect her.

Additionally, Dan could not complete the series of later learned that her sons went home to their own one day a week, usually Friday, to spend the day with the kids, doing whatever they wanted to do. simple tests that his psychologist and the family physi- families “and completely fell apart.”

“Most men would take time off of work to spend Her daughter, Kristy, had a more emotional reaction time with their friends, pursuing their hobbies. Dan’s when they called her in her Terrell home.

“Kristy cried of course,” she said. “All of the kids main concern was to be with us.”

She smiles again, a physical testament to her were devastated; they all had such a great relationship courage. with their father.”

“The man in that hospital isn’t the man that I marRita said she knows her sons and daughter feel robbed of the opportunity to have their own children ried. The man that I married will be in heaven soon. I see that day as Dan’s rescue.” grow up with the grandfather they deserve.

Jeff, the oldest, said, “I wanted my dad here to teach my children about the God he taught me about.”

Never one to express discontent, Dan Harrell continued with life as normally as possible. After Dan and Rita told their children about the disease, they rarely spoke about it in a family setting again unless asked.

Sometimes Rita would talk with her children individ-

R

Rita Harrell looks at one of her husband’s books. Harrell said Dan used to be one of the most avid readers she knew, overflowing bookcases in their house with his books.

Rita Harrell’s glasses rest on the side table in her living room on a book that she read to her grandkids when they visited the previous weekend.

SPORTS JUMPS

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Page 9

Basketball: Cats to play St. Ed’s Hilltoppers in Austin on Friday Continued from Page 10 “It’s one of the things we really stressed,” King said. “Our defense was very intense; that won the game for us.”

King had struggled with her shot in the two exhibition games, but, despite going 0-2 from beyond the arc, she shot 58 on Monday and scored 10 points in the second half.

“In the first half, I was just kind of standing behind the three-point line, but I tried to get a little more creative in the second half,” King said.

The Wildcats’ offense improved in the second half as they shot 59 percent after the break and dished out 17 assists while scoring 55 points.

“We talked at halftime about making the defense work longer and about not making a ‘maybe’ pass but making a pass you know is going to get there,” Lavender said.

King said part of the problem was that they were trying to make the “perfect pass” in the first half but focused more on running the offense in the second half.

A big part of the Wildcats’ offense was the play of the posts.

ACU was without starting forward Stephanie Riles, who was held out with a minor ankle injury, but freshman Ashlee Barr stepped and contributed 13

“Our defense was very intense; that won the game for us.”

Ashley King, junior guard from Weatherford

points, five assists and three rebounds.

“Before the game she said, ‘I just want to play,” Lavender said. “I said, ‘Well good, you’re going to start.’ She did a great job.”

Jamie Boles was the other starter down low for the Wildcats and grabbed four boards to go with her 16 points.

The play of Boles and Barr, combined with Hammond’s effort in the post off the bench, allowed the Wildcats to dominate down low, outscoring the Lady Falcons 58-26 in the paint.

“We wanted to capitalize on some size advantages we had, and we did that,” Hammond said.

The Wildcats turned the ball over 21 times and committed 28 fouls in the game.

Laura Smith, though, came away with four of the Wildcats’ 18 steals in the game, and Kierstan Barbee led the team with five.

The Wildcats’ opening win Monday came on the heels of a 74-57 exhibition loss to the Southern Methodist University Mustangs. The Wildcats were

down only two at the half but couldn’t stay in it to the end.

“We pretty much stayed in the game until probably the last five minutes,” Lavender said.

“We were just really inconsistent, and we didn’t shoot the ball very well, especially in the first half.”

On Thursday, the Wildcats turned the ball over 28 times and were credited with just four assists. And though Lavender said she believes they may have had more assists on Thursday, she was pleased with the improvement on Monday as ACU had 32 assists to 21 turnovers.

The Wildcats’ two losses to Diesel and to SMU will not count toward their regular season record, so officially, the Wildcats are 1-0 going into this weekend.

The Wildcats will play in the St. Edwards Classic in Austin on Friday and Saturday, getting things started with a 2 p.m. game on Friday against Incarnate Word BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu

Wildcat sophomore guard Laura Smith puts up a shot in the second half of ACU’s 99-70 victory over the University of Texas-Permian Basin on Monday. Smith had two points and four steals in the win.

KYLE ROBARTS/Contributing Photographer

Wildcat senior center Matthias Kreig and Arkansas guard/forward Olu Famutimi catch their breath during a free throw at Friday’s 89-60 exhibition loss against the Razorbacks. The Wildcats will play next in the ACU Tipoff Classic this weekend in Moody Coliseum.

Wildcats: Three home games next on schedule Continued from Page 10 Western Kentucky University, whose last NCAA-tournament appearance was in 2003.

The road-weary Wildcats got off to a slow start, trailing 50-23 at halftime, and lost 89-60, but Pleasant said he was happy with the team’s performance in the second half.

“Their pressure really hurt us at the beginning,” Pleasant said. “It was tough to get

back, but we never slowed down, we never quit and in the second half I think we played them even.”

The team shot .464 from the field in the second half, an improvement from an 8-23 first half, and Western Kentucky outscored ACU just 39-37. The key statistic for the Hilltoppers was how they took advantage of 29 Wildcat turnovers as they capitalized on the miscues for 38 points.

Five players from Western Kentucky scored in double figures. Courtney Lee and Antonio Haynes led the Hilltoppers with 18 apiece, while Boris Siakam and Anthony Winchester added 12 apiece. Ty Rogers came off the bench to add 11 in just 20 minutes of playing time.

Rasul stepped up for the Wildcats against Western Kentucky scoring 21 points and adding 6 rebounds.

“He played well,” Pleasant

said. “They did a great job fronting him; they tried to keep it off him and him off the blocks ... he did a good job of adjusting and being able to score for us.”

The two losses won’t go on ACU’s record this season, and Tuesday night’s game with Rhema Bible College marked the team’s home and regular-season openers.

E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST

Page 10

November 17, 2004

Team earns first regional berth Wildcats to challenge St. Edward's in Friday quarterfinal FROM SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE A season of historic firsts continued for the volleyball team Sunday night when the Wildcats were invited to the NCAA Division II Southwest Region Tournament for the first time in school history.

The Wildcats (29-7), who have already won their first Lone Star Conference South Division title and overall conference title this season, go into the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the eight-team field. Top-seeded Nebraska-Kearney — the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion and topranked team in the nation—will be the host for the tournament, which will be played Friday

through Sunday in Kearney, Neb. ACU will open the tournament against a familiar foe in St. Edward’s, which enters the tournament as the Heartland Conference champion and the No. 6 seed in the field. The Wildcats and Hilltoppers will play Friday at noon in the quarterfinals.

The Wildcats beat St. Edward’s in three games (30-28, 30-19, 30-20) in the only meeting between the teams this season on Oct. 12 in Abilene.

“When we started this season, we had a lot of goals for our team, and one of them was to go into the tournament ranked in the top six in the region,” said Brek Horn, head volleyball coach. “They expanded the field to eight teams this season, but we didn’t want to be one of those bottom two teams and have everybody think we got in just because

they made the field bigger.

“Going in as the No. 3 seed is huge for us,” she said. “Our attitude right now is that we’re not just going there to be there; we’re going there to win it.”

The Wildcats have played four of the seven other teams in the field and are 4-2 in those six matches, including 2-1 against ENMU and 1-0 against St. Edward’s and Metropolitan State (Colo.). If the seeds hold in Friday’s quarterfinals, the Wildcats will take on Fort Hays State (Kan.) in Saturday’s semifinals.

The Wildcats suffered a 3-0 loss to the Lady Tigers on Sept. 3 at the Cal State-San Bernadino Tournament.

Eastern New Mexico, which lost to ACU in Friday’s LSC Post-Season Tournament semifinals, is the only other LSC team to have made the field. The Zias are the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4 Mesa State (Colo.) in the

first round.

The Wildcats earned the LSC's automatic berth into the regional tournament with a dominating LSC Post-Season Tournament championship game win over Cameron. ACU hammered the Lady Aggies, 3018, 30-25, 30-23, in Saturday night's final.

Freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry led the Wildcats with 16 kills, while junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt added 13 kills as she became ACU's career leader in kills with 1,471.

Junior middle blocker Amanda Slate had seven kills and seven blocks to give her 16 blocks in two matches as she earned LSC Post-Season Tournament MVP honors.

Bernhardt and junior setter Lindsey Martin were the other two Wildcats named to the alltournament team.

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry spikes the ball against Cameron on the way to a 3-0 victory and an LSC tournament championship.

Scores Thursday Women’s Basketball: SMU 74, ACU 57

Friday Men’s Basketball: Arkansas 90, ACU 56 Volleyball: ACU 3, ENMU 1

Saturday Men’s Basketball: Western Kentucky 89, ACU 60 Volleyball: ACU 3, Cameron 0

Monday Women’s Basketball: ACU 99, UTPB 70

Briefs Slate named LSC Player of the Year; six other Wildcats honored Junior middle blocker Amanda Slate was named the Lone Star Conference’s Player of the Year for the 2004 season.

Slate, who has helped lead the Wildcats to a 29-7 record this season, currently is among the top-10 conference leader boards in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and service aces.

She has accumulated 406 kills with a .324 hitting percentage, 58 service aces and 115 blocks.

Junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt and junior setter Lindsey Martin joined Slate on the LSC South Division all-conference first team, while four Wildcats were credited with honorable mention.

Seniors Sophia Kindred and Kellen Morrow, junior Ashlee Motola and freshman Abbie Lowry all received honorable mention from the conference.

Bernhardt leads the league with 525 kills, while Martin leads in assists with an average of 13.5 assists per game.

Kindred and Motola currently stand eighth and ninth respectively among the conference leaders in hitting percentage.

Lowry, who missed part of the season with an injury, has still managed to land third on the team in kills-per-game average with 2.72.

KYLE ROBARTS/Contributing Photographer

Wildcat senior guard David Baxter tries to get around Arkansas guard Ronnie Brewer during the exhibition game in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday, which ACU lost 89-60.

Arkansas, Western Kentucky display talent vs. Wildcats Exhibition contests help team prepare for regular season

By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER

The men’s basketball team got what they were looking for this weekend: experience.

The Wildcats took on two NCAA Division I opponents over the weekend in exhibition matches against Arkansas on Friday and Western Kentucky on Saturday. Both

Men’s Basketball games ended in losses for ACU, but head coach Klint Pleasant said he wasn’t discouraged.

“Overall, I thought it was a great experience. I don’t think we’ll play against any better players all year,” Pleasant said. “It was an opportunity for our players to work out some things, fight through some adversity and gear up for the season.”

On Friday, ACU came out

and surprised the Razorbacks from Arkansas. At one point they led by seven and went into halftime trailing the former national champs just 4336. The Wildcats held it together for a while in the second half, but Arkansas’ athleticism shined through, and the Razorbacks took over.

“I was proud of our guys’ effort against Arkansas,” Pleasant said. “I think we went in there, played hard and executed to the best of our ability against their personnel.

“We took it right at them again in the second half for the first 8 or 10 minutes,” he said. “Then we wore down — I thought we wore down mentally, emotionally, physically; we just gave it all we had for 30 minutes.”

ACU’s first half was fueled by a 7-10 performance from beyond the 3-point arc.

However, in the second half, ACU couldn’t duplicate, shooting 0-6 and .296 from the field.

In the end, junior guard Dionte Gill led all Wildcat

scorers with 13, while junior forward Hakim Rasuul chipped in 10 points. Senior center Matthias Kreig led the team in rebounds with six and added six points as well, while senior guard David Baxter scored nine points and recorded four rebounds.

The team drove through the night on Friday and into the early hours on Saturday to reach its next destination of Bowling Green, Ken. There they faced the Hilltoppers of See WILDCATS Page 9

Cats pass their way to first regular season win

-Kyle Robarts Sports Editor

Hammond’s 24, team’s 32 assists help Cats coast to 99-70 win

Upcoming events in Wildcat sports...

By WARREN GRAY

(home events in italics)

SPORTS WRITER

Friday, November 19 VB: at St. Edward's, noon WBB: at Incarnate Word, 2 p.m.

MBB: Cameron, 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 20 MCC: at NCAA II nationals, 10 a.m.

WCC: at NCAA II nationals, 10 a.m.

MBB: Wiley, 4 p.m.

VB: at Regional Semis, 5 p.m.

WBB: at St. Edward's, 6 p.m.

This year’s women’s basketball team is hoping to rely on quickness and pressure defense to control games.

The Wildcats hounded the University of Texas-Permian Basin on the defensive end en route to a 99-70 win Monday.

The Lady Falcons were forced into 33 turnovers, including 21 in the first half, and were never in the game. ACU jumped out to a quick 16-0 lead and led by as many as 34.

Head women’s basketball coach Shawna Lavender said

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Junior post Haley Hammond lays it in during Monday’s game.

Women’s Basketball she was pleased with the improvement the team made since losing two exhibition games to Dallas Diesel on Nov. 5 and then Thursday’s loss to NCAA Division I Southern Methodist University.

“Defensively, we played with a lot more intensity,” Lavender said. “That led to a lot of fast breaks and easy baskets for us.”

The Wildcats outscored Permian Basin 20-6 on the break and played unselfish ball in the open court, coming away with 32 assists on the night. Kristal Robeson led the team with eight assists and was also one of five Wildcats to score in double figures

with 13 points.

“Everybody contributed tonight,” Lavender said. “It’s fun when everybody comes through.”

In a team effort, ACU got 36 points from its bench.

Haley Hammond came off the bench and scored a gamehigh 24. Despite her scoring, which came on 11-13 shooting, Hammond said she was focused on the defensive end of the court.

“We knew we could come out and dominate in that area,” Hammond said.

Ashley King, who added 15 points and six assists in the game, said the team talked about getting after it defensively before the game.

See BASKETBALL Page 9