OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY January 21, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 30 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Joining ‘Good Company’:
Hoping bracelets provide relief:
Upsetting victory:
In Good Company breaks the mold of the typical comingof-age story. Page 5
The Students’ Association joined with Pepperdine University to sell bracelets to raise funds to send as tsunami relief. Page 4
The Wildcats defeated the No. 11 team in the nation, Angelo State University. Page 8
Two released from hospital after fatal wreck Five still hospitalized after incident involving Highland Church youth By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
A wreck Sunday afternoon involving a vehicle full of middle school children has deeply affected the ACU community after one boy died and seven others were injured in a
rollover. Members of Highland Church of Christ were returning from Winterfest, a youth rally in Arlington, when the wreck occurred at 2:45 p.m. Julie Folwell, 49, was driving west on Interstate 20 a little more than a mile west of Putnam when she ran off the road into the center median, then overcorrected to the right, said Bill Russell, senior state trooper who was at the scene. The GMC Yukon XL
rolled one and a half to two and a half times, and all eight passengers were wearing their seat-
his funeral service was Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Highland. He is survived by his
“The families feel greatly buoyed; they feel a wonderful lift of support in prayer from everybody.” Dickie Porche, an elder and involvement minister for Highland Church of Christ
belts, Russell said. Brody Bourland, 11, was pronounced dead at the scene, and
parents, Bret and Jennifer Bourland, and brothers Taylor Hill, 17, and Brock Bourland, 7,
according to his obituary. His father is an alumnus of ACU. Dickie Porche, an elder, administrator and involvement minister for Highland, said the church family and community have responded in an amazing way. “The families feel greatly buoyed; they feel a wonderful lift of support in prayer from everybody,” he said. “… Life is not normal for them right now. We’re thankful that those who
were injured are going to be better, but we just don’t lose sight of the fact that one family lost their child.” Porche said those injured in the wreck have suffered numerous injuries and are continuing to recover. Three passengers remain at Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth. A hospital official said the boys are in See WRECK Page 7
Committee presents core course proposal Faculty could vote on curriculum change by the end of this semester By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR
storm for a Center for Student Involvement—a central place on campus where students could go to find ways to be involved with the university. Right now, SA’s main focus lies on Sunday’s Invision, a dinner for student groups and leaders to meet together. Rouse said the theme for this dinner will also Rouse center around transition and helping student groups prepare to pass leadership to future classes.
Faculty were presented with three scenarios for changing curriculum before the start of the semester by the General Education Review Committee, which is reviewing the university’s core courses for the first time in 15 years. Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of Campus Life and chair of the committee, said the committee will receive feedback from faculty on the proposals in order to present a formal proposal for the faculty to vote on by the end of the semester. “We want the proposal that we vote on to be informed on the feedback we get over the next six weeks,” Arrington said. Core courses are mandatory for students regardless of their Arrington major, such as exercise science, Bible, history, science, English, math and communication, among others. Arrington said part of what the committee is evaluating are Student Learning Outcomes, or the skills, knowledge and values of students when they graduate in relation to the mission of ACU, and how the core courses are contributing to them. The proposals all vary in the courses chosen to remain unchanged and those that will be cut or added on to. Part of the proposals are calling for an enhancement of the quantitative reasoning and communication skills of students, to which Arrington said he has received positive feedback from faculty. “This is a very complex process,” Arrington said. “We’re looking at the broad base part of the curriculum that the faculty as a whole is responsible for.”
E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Lydia Spies, senior pre-physical therapy major from Glen Rose, waits to donate blood as Velma Barker, phlebotomy supervisor for the Blood Center of Abilene, prepares the needle Tuesday in the Hilton Room of the Campus Center. Students typically have several opportunities each semester to donate blood.
Students’ Association focuses on transition SA president Rouse says he is excited about what Congress accomplished By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Although the first Students’ Association meeting Wednesday passed without any official business, executive president Layne Rouse said he has plenty to be excited about. Looking back on his first semester as president, Rouse said he is proud of what Congress was able to accomplish for the students. “It’s been exciting to watch Congress catch a hold of the idea they can make a difference on cam-
pus,” Rouse said. To make his point, Rouse points to Congress members successfully petitioning to have The WB television station added to campus cable and working with the administration to have the Sikes Hall parking lot connected to the Williams Performing Arts Center lot. Looking to this semester, Rouse said Congress has at least one overarching theme—transition. “Congress is catching on to the idea that it’s not just a year they’re working on — they’ll be handing on the baton to future congresses,” Rouse said. Some of the main projects SA already is involved with will be projects begun but not completed
by this Congress. Rouse said SA is working on a plan to be involved with Project Abilene, in which students will be able to be involved with the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Although the actual project might not begin this semester, Rouse said SA should have a plan to present to students this semester. Rouse said he will also continue working with administrators to build the foundation for a leadership minor—an idea he began discussing with Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost, during the summer. Rounding out projects and goals for SA this semester, Rouse said Congress will continue to brain-
Thursday Chapel adjusted New format to include chance for questions, feedback from students By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
The Spiritual Life Core has finalized plans for Thursday Chapels that will tackle tough issues and present various points of view on each topic, said Mark Lewis, director of spiritual life. Lewis said the meeting will be less formal than regular Chapel and will “present different perspectives about those issues and then invite students to dialogue.” Students can still attend small-group Chapels, but the Thursday meeting in Moody Coliseum will be an option for students who are not part of a
small group. The Spiritual Life Core has compiled a list of possible topics, which includes sexual purity, same-sex attraction, abortion and euthanasia, among other things. Topics also will be chosen from student-submitted suggestions that coordinators collected in the first community-formation Chapel on Thursday. The theme, 18:38, will based on John 18:38 in which Pilate asks, “What is truth?” Lewis said the first 15 minutes of Chapel will be reserved for a panel to present various views on the day’s topic, and during the second 15 minutes, students will have a chance to ask follow-up questions or give their opinion on the issue. He added that the community-formation Chapels will allow the speakers to go more in-depth
than time usually permits during normal Chapel. “The hope is that as the audience is listening, they’re hearing their viewpoint or something close to it represented right there on stage,” Lewis said, “which will hopefully give them a sense of ownership in the process.” Todd Ormsby, member of the Spiritual Life Core and residence director of Adams and Smith halls, said one initiative is to challenge what students think and believe. “We really started thinking about how we can engage them (students) in a way that really our objective is not to tell them all the answers but to try to let them think for themselves … (and realize) ‘Oh, maybe everybody else on campus doesn’t See CHAPEL Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Stephen Moore, assistant professor of English, Bonnie Buchanan, junior studio arts major from Lubbock, Ashley Carr, junior interdisciplinary major, and Tim Inwood, senior interdisciplinary major from Rockwall, discuss their positions on lying in the new community-formation Chapel, which will include panel discussions.
CAMPUS Friday, January 21, 2005
21
Calendar&Events 24
Friday
Monday
Free showing of “Shark Tale,” 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.
Men’s baseball, 8 p.m., Crutcher Scott Field
Last day to request Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit for a class.
Economic Conference, 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., Teague Special Events Center.
Purple Friday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Living Room.
22
Social Club Officer’s Meeting, 56:30 p.m., Living Room. Black History Rehearsal, 7:30-10 p.m., Living Room.
Saturday
Women’s softball game, 2 p.m., Wells Field Men’s baseball game, 4 p.m., Crutcher Scott Field
23
DAY
CAB meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Hilton Room. Senior class Sing Song rehearsal, 9-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.
25
Sunday
SBC leader meeting, 7-9 p.m., Living Room. Sophomore class Sing Song rehearsal, 2-4 p.m., Hilton Room. Siggies Sing Song rehearsal, 7-9 p.m., Hilton Room.
Tuesday
Service Expo, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center Black History Rehearsal, 7:30-10 p.m., Living Room. Faculty Women’s Luncheon, 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Living Room.
Correction On the front page of the Jan. 14 issue, the story “Arrington moves to Campus Life as associate dean” incorrectly states that Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of Campus Life, will be responsible
for long-range planning in the office. The story should have read that Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said that Arrington will be mostly responsible for daily management in the office.
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.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
09 62
Friday, January 21, 2005
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 3
Departmental tutoring begins Students can receive instruction from their peers through program By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
A semester without the Learning Enhancement Center has not seemed to affect student retention rates, said Dr. Tom Winter, associate provost of the university. Although budget cuts forced the LEC to close last semester, the organization’s goal of retaining students through graduation has been continued through individual departmental tutoring. Instead of a centralized location and tutoring program, each department is now in charge of hiring its own tutors and scheduling the hours. The system provides tutors who can help students in their own departments with specific classes, said Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I think that it’s a good plan in the long run,” she said. Winter said departments will evaluate the success of the program at the end of this semester. “We distributed over $30,000 to departments for them to pay tutors and held some in reserve to help out in other areas,” Winter said, adding that summer tutoring is not included in that cost. Winter said the budget was reduced by not having a director or administrative assistants for the program. Dr. Donald Isenhower, chair of the Department of Physics, said he appreciates the addition of departmental tutors. “It’s a very positive thing, which will help offset the loss of the LEC,” he said. Although he said the tutoring has had a slow start, he has already noticed students using the tutors who wouldn’t have taken the time to visit the LEC in the past. “They didn’t want to bother walking over to the LEC, but
now the access is easier,” he said. It’s not only easier for students to be tutored, Isenhower said, it’s also easier for the professors to interact with the tutors. “It’s easy for [tutors] to stop in my office and ask questions,” he said. “And it relieves a lot of pressure from professors because I was doing a lot of tutoring myself before.” Durrington said it will take students a while to adjust to tutoring in their department buildings instead of the library, but most of the department chairs have said they feel it is working well. She said they have already recognized the need for additional reading tutoring for students who speak English as a second language, which should begin in the next couple of weeks in the foreign language department.
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Tutoring schedules College of Business Administration Economics Mabee Business Building Room 315 Monday 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday 6-10 p.m. Friday noon-4 p.m. Saturday noon-4 p.m. Statistics Mabee Business Building Room 318 Monday 1-3 p.m. Wednesday 1-3 p.m. Saturday noon-4 p.m.
College of Arts and Sciences Chemistry Foster Science Building Room 258 Monday 7-10 p.m. Tuesday 5-8 p.m. Thursday 7-10 p.m. Saturday 1-4 p.m.
Foreign Language Administration Building Room 133 Monday 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday 5-6:30 p.m. Friday 2-3:30 p.m. Journalism Don H. Morris Center Room 307 Sunday 6-10 p.m. Monday 6-10 p.m. Wednesday 6-10 p.m. Music Williams Performing Arts Center Room 246 Monday 3-5 p.m. Tuesday 4-5 p.m. Physics Foster Science Building Room 357 Monday 3-5 p.m., 7-10 p.m. Tuesday 3-6 p.m. Wednesday 2-5 p.m. Friday 3-5 p.m.
Psychology Zona Luce Room 104 Monday 5-8 p.m. Tuesday 5-8 p.m. Mathematics Foster Science Building Room 205 Monday 6-10 p.m. Tuesday 6-10 p.m. Thursday 6-10 p.m.
College of Biblical Studies Bible Biblical Studies Building Room 111 Monday 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday 4-6 p.m. Thursday noon-2 p.m. Greek Biblical Studies Building Room 122 Monday 7-9 p.m. Tuesday 4-6 p.m. Thursday 8-10 p.m.
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Friday, January 21, 2005
Residence Life applications for this fall due Friday in Campus Life Student positions available as RA, SLA, AD next semester By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Cami Brunts was not looking for the position as an assistant director; she applied to be a resident assistant in University Park apartments. However, she was asked to take the position of assistant director in A. B. Morris Hall, a sophomore women’s residence hall. Nearly six months later, Brunts, a senior exercise science major from Helotes, submitted a Residence Life application to keep her position in
Morris Hall for the 2005-06 school year. Brunts is one of 50 students who have applied for a Residence Life position. Applications are due Friday for all students interested in a position as resident assistant, spiritual life adviser or assistant director in freshman and sophomore residence halls and University Park apartments. Each year, the response from students applying for a position continues to grow, said Jake Sledge, Mabee Hall resident director and assistant director of Residence Life. “We’d really like to give each person that applies a job,” Sledge said. “It’s really a diffi-
cult situation because we get such a big response from so many quality applicants.” Students who apply will be interviewed by the resident directors in February and should know if they received the position by spring break, Sledge said. Christy Smith, sophomore undeclared major from Allen, applied for a Residence Life position. “I’m preparing myself for the interview,” Smith said. “I applied last year and didn’t get it, but now I know what to expect. I am going to walk in there with a plan and know that I am good for this job.” To be considered for a posi-
Invision workshop on Sunday Students’ Association conducting workshop for student leaders By LAURA STORK STAFF WRITER
A leadership workshop called Invision will take place Sunday in the Williams Performing Arts Center for student leaders on campus. Invision, which is a free event sponsored by the Students’ Association, is a follow-up to last fall’s retreat, Common Ground, said SA president Layne Rouse. “(Common Ground) is a starting point; Invision is the last rally call.” During the workshop, student officers or leaders will meet with other student leaders to see how their organizations are managed. “[The workshop] will be focused a lot on growing and learning from each other,” said Rouse, senior communication major from Midland.
“The focus is on transition this year. Recognizing that their time (at ACU) is short, students will learn how to make strong transitions.” SA vice president Melanie Booker said the focus is on transition so students can be confident about the future of their organization. Booker also said the workshop will have a spiritual aspect. “There is good work going on in these organizations that should be recognized,” said Booker, senior political science major from Sugar Land. Organizations that have submitted a budget to SA are required to send two people to the workshop. So far, 76 students representing 40 organizations have signed up for Invision, which will begin with dinner at 6 p.m. After dinner, the ACU Jazz Ensemble will perform. Joel Quile, director of ministry and development for Crosswind Ministry and associate campus minister for
Authority on lighting will lecture on Tuesday Creative lighting can improve mood and energy levels By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
Most people don’t think much about lighting in décor; however, designers say it is an important aspect of interior and architectural design. On Tuesday, Randall Whitehead, an internationally recognized authority on lighting design, will highlight its importance at 7 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium. Whitehead has 25 years of experience in light design and is an acclaimed author and speaker in Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the United States. Quality lighting has tremendous benefits and power, said Kitty Wasemiller, professor and interior design program director. “Lighting inspires and invigorates us,” Wasemiller said. “It helps with ambiance, enhances architecture and adds a lot of appeal to a home or business.” Whitehead will be speaking on how to make important lighting decisions based on a variety of factors, including technology, energy consumption and desired mood, Wasemiller said. “There is absolutely nothing
better than great lighting to set a mood and emphasize textures and colors,” said Steve Ellinger, an architect with CADCO Architects-Engineers Inc. in Abilene. “The past 30 years have seen lighting move from a basic necessity to a design element of its own nature. With today's technology in lighting, there is no end to the creative possibilities that exist.” Most home and business owners would like to have more creative lighting but do not know enough about it, Ellinger said. “My architectural practice uses creative lighting in all of our projects,” he said, adding that the result has been greater enjoyment of the architecture and design by clients and visitors alike. Even if students never considered lighting, simply attending the presentation and observing how Whitehead communicates his message allows them to learn, Wasemiller said. “Anyone who is interested in the presentation should feel free to come,” Wasemiller said. “Whitehead is a very good speaker and is entertaining and humorous, as well as informative.” E-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu
tion, applicants must meet certain criteria. Students in Residence Life are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.7 or higher. They can’t work outside of ACU because of the time commitment, and they must attend all meetings, training and orientation. In addition, they must have good Chapel attendance, and they must have completed 24 semester hours, Sledge said. RA’s also are required to be awake from 10 p.m. until midnight to get to know the residents, work four to eight hours a week in the hall’s office and plan three programs per semester for the residents, Brunts
said. The applicant’s personal character is a consideration to those conducting the interview. “We are looking for people who are self-motivated and who sincerely want to mentor Christian attitudes to students,” Sledge said. “We have a diverse and multicultural group and want to continue this tradition because it is something we value.” Brunts agreed these are qualities the applicants should have and said she sees them in the staff this year. “They have a love for the residents and dedication for their job,” Brunts said. Sledge said the positions are
important to the students because of the connections Residence Life workers make with students on an individual basis. “What happens outside of the classroom makes up over 50 percent of your college experience,” Sledge said. “Students need somebody who is there, who cares and someone who will listen, counsel and point them in the right direction. These students just genuinely care for the wellbeing of students.”
E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Students serve on MLK Jr. Day
Highland Church of Christ, will address the importance of transition and the future of their organizations, Booker said. During the last hour of the workshop, students will move into the band hall to provide more opportunity to move around and interact with each other. The workshop is expected to end at 8:30 p.m. Rouse said as long as Invision is serving and meeting a need on campus, SA will continue to conduct the workshop in the future. “The health of student involvement depends on leaders,” Rouse said. “As leaders of the student body, we find it is very important and necessary to help them in whatever way we possibly can.” Students can register for the workshop online at the SA Web site until Friday. BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Stork at: las00f@acu.edu
Yessi Flores, senior social work major from Eagle Pass; Dylan Carey, freshman biology major from Lubbock; Jordyn Luter-Jones, freshman nursing major from Houston; and Jessica Reyna, freshman undeclared from San Antonio pick up trash around campus for the MLK Service day on Monday.
Technology adjustments cause problems Door access, Chapel credit, meal plans affected by change By MONICA SMITH STAFF WRITER
Students encountered many problems with their ID cards during the first week of school because of the new card system installed during Christmas break.. Problems included difficulty obtaining meal plans and earning Chapel credit. The change occurred because the old system was not as user friendly as the current one,
and the company that provided the system could not supply necessary customer support because the system was outdated, said Kay Reeves, director of technology support services. The new system is an upgrade made by the same company, Die Bold. Reeves said she expects door access to buildings and residence halls will be finished soon. “We have not had the time to get building supervisors together to add student access to buildings,” Reeves said. “We have to do it individually, but I believe it is almost finished
now. Only one more building to do.” Problems should decrease when the new system begins to run. “Our hope is that eventually students will be able to change meal plans on their own,” Reeves said. “We are working toward software that will allow students to manage Bean Bucks, Campus Cash and meal plans and will integrate with Banner Web in order to work toward more self- help.” Trent Thomason, senior business management major from Greenville, said the number of students who requested
help from Team 55 was up from what is usually expected at the beginning of a semester. “The first few days were really bad,” Thomason said. “Everyone thinks when something isn’t working it’s [Team 55’s] fault, but really we’re more of a liaison to the technical administration,” Thomason said. “Any software implementation is difficult at the least. It’s never as easy as the salesman says it is,” Reeves said. E-mail Smith at: mxs02a@acu.edu
Tsunami relief efforts continue on campus SA selling bracelets of hope in February as fund-raiser for victims By VALERIE HANNEKEN STAFF WRITER
With tsunami relief efforts in beginning stages, students throughout the nation joined together to help victims and their families. Susanna Drehsel, Students’ Association chief communication officer, received an e-mail Jan. 13 from Pepperdine University asking for SA’s participation in a fund-raising project. Pepperdine’s plan involved
ordering bracelets resembling the yellow Lance Armstrong “LIVESTRONG”bands. Following the same design, the bracelets will be light blue with the word “hope” written around the bracelet in eight different languages. “They were trying to get more people involved in their project, so they e-mailed us and other Christian colleges,” said Drehsel, senior political science major from Heidelberg, Germany. Drehsel said the bracelet orders are being processed through Pepperdine. She expects to receive 2,000 bracelets in early February and
start sales immediately. Universities throughout California and other select schools are informed of the project and have been asked to help. “The bracelets are a venue for students to continue to contribute and make a positive impact on a world tragedy,” said Layne Rouse, SA president and senior communication major from Midland. With the help of the International Students’ Association, SA plans to sell the bracelets in the Campus Center, as well as advertise on my.ACU. Other marketing plans include making Chapel announcements and selling the bracelets
in residence halls and at local churches. “Our goal is to exhaust as many different avenues as possible on campus,” Drehsel said. The bracelets cost $3 each, and the proceeds will either go to a local Abilene affiliate or an organization that Pepperdine works with for fund-raising. Whichever organization is chosen, the money will go toward tsunami victims and their needs. “One cause, one world, one hope,” is Pepperdine’s theme for the project. E-mail Hanneken at: vlh03a@acu.edu
ARTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
January 21, 2005
Video/DVD Releases New Releases Friday Night Lights (PG-13)— starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tim McGraw, Derek Luke; directed by Peter Berg Based on the true story of the 1988 Permian High Panthers of Odessa and a book of the same name. It chronicles the lives of the players, the coaches and the atmosphere of a West Texas town and its love for football. The Forgotten (PG-13)—starring Julianne Moore, Dominic West, Gary Sinise; directed by Joseph Ruben Psychological thriller where Moore is grieving over the death of her son but is told by her therapist that she is delusional and creating memories. Catwoman (PG-13)—starring Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt; directed by Pitof Berry is murdered but brought back to life by a mysterious cat, becoming a superheroine and taking revenge on those would killed her.
The Box Office Figures are for the weekend of January 14-16 and are in millions. Total grosses in parenthesis. 1 Coach Carter—$29.2 (new) 2 Meet the Fockers—$22.5 ($234.3) 3 Racing Stripes—$18.9 (new) 4 In Good Company—$16.6 ($17.1) 5 Elektra—$14.8 (new) 6 White Noise—$13.8 ($42.9) 7 The Aviator—$6.4 ($51.5) 8 Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events—$5.3 ($112.4) 9 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera—$4.6 ($27.5) 10 Fat Albert—$3.8 ($45.6)
Grace and Quaid provide ‘Good Company’ By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR
In Good Company PPP 1/2
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger; written and directed by Paul Weitz Rated PG-13 (for some sexual content and drug references) Most coming-of-age stories follow a typical pattern: the young and naive lead character is thrown into a new situation or experiences new or dangerous things to become a ‘real’ man or woman in a trite and generally predictable fashion. In Good Company strays from this cookie-cutter format, but it remains a comingof-age story in the sense that its main characters all are forced to examine their lives, trying to find the ultimate importance in them and a reason to continue on. The film opens with comparative scenes of the lives of two men: Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) and Carter Duryea (Topher Grace). Dan is a 51-year-old advertising executive who wakes up early, comes home late and sacrifices whatever he needs to for the benefit of his loving family. Carter is a 26-year-old corporate whiz kid who schmoozes his way up the ranks of companies and is able to sell most any product to most anyone. As fate would have it, Dan is demoted from his position when the company Carter works for buys out the magazine Dan works for in a corporate takeover. Carter lands Dan’s job despite knowing nothing about advertising. Dan now works for someone half his age with no experience in the field, and the timing of the demotion could not have been worse. His old-
Ratings Key
PPPP PPP PP P
Excellent Good Fair Poor
est daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson), wants to transfer to NYU, which is considerably more expensive than her current school, and his wife (Marg Helgenberger) tells him she is pregnant with their third child, another mouth to feed who won’t be 21 until Dan is 73. Nevertheless, he puts on a good face for his family, taking out a second mortgage to pay for everything. Carter is all about the bottom line, focusing on increasing productivity of ad sales by 20 percent, firing employees he considers dead weight, charming those he meets to detract from his inexperience. Unfortunately for him, he is so focused on a larger goal down the road he can’t see what he has in front of him — a seven-month marriage falling apart. On his way home from buying a brandnew Porsche, his unhappy wife, Kimberly, tells him she’s leaving him, a breakup he later said he saw coming since their second date. He soon starts sleeping at the office and desiring companionship, eventually inviting himself to Dan’s house for dinner one night. He’s on the rebound but doesn’t know it, and this is where he is reintroduced to Alex, whom he met on an elevator his first day on the job. Carter sees the joy Dan has in his life with his family, as well as his passion for his business, and envies him. They learn to tolerate and even like each other, as they grow to depend on the other. Eventually, when Alex is off at school and Carter has moved into a new apartment,
New York Times best-selling hardback fiction novels Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list. 1/1/95 Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code 2/3/68 Mitch Albom, The Five
People You Meet In Heaven 3/-/1 Terry Goodkind, Chainfire 4/2/5 Michael Crichton, State of Fear 5/9/2 W.E.B. Griffin, By Order of the President 6/-/1 Barbara Taylor Bradford,
Unexpected Blessings 7/5/7 Nelson DeMille, Night Fall 8/6/6 Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler, Black Wind 9/-/1 Linda Fairstein, Entombed 10/7/6 Jimmy Buffet, A Salty Piece of Land
Top-Selling Albums Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list. 1/1/17 Green Day, American Idiot 2/2/10 Eminem, Encore 3/7/10 Shania Twain, Greatest
Page 5
Hits 4/4/3 John Legend, Get Lifted 5/3/10 Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Crunk Juice 6/10/7 Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway 7/9/43 Usher, Confessions 8/8/7 Jay-Z/Linkin Park, MTV
Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents: Collision Course 9/5/6 Ludacris, The Red Light District 10/11/11 Various Artists, Now 17
Photo courtesy of WWW.ROTTENTOMATOES.COM
Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid, right) shakes hands with Carter Duryea (Topher Grace, left), the corporate yuppy half his age taking over Foreman’s job as head advertising salesman in In Good Company. Carter will soon meet Dan’s daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson), adding more twists to the plot. the two are reunited and begin a romance that remains a secret for, of course, only so long. The intensity at the magazine culminates between Dan and Carter because of this relationship as well as the characters’ re-evaluation of what they think is important in life. They all are forced to be honest with themselves and with the ones they love, an act so simple they didn’t realize they had been overlooking it. The film rarely strays into the predictable except slightly with the romance between Carter and Alex, but even that is not a storybook love. Dan does make a semi-climactic speech at work to the head of the company about traditional methods of the job and integrity, but the moment does not escalate to the point of a slow clap. For the most part, In Good Company isn’t traditional and doesn’t supply huge resolu-
tions at the end as audiences would hope for, and that is what makes it worth watching. The only solution it does offer for life is simply to live it. It calls the characters to not worry about what they thought they would turn out to be in life, or wished they would be, but rather focus on who they are and accept it for what it is. If they aren’t being fulfilled, they should seek a different route, learning to be content with circumstances. Dan, Carter and Alex all change throughout the film, sometimes behaviorally and sometimes in more subtle ways. Writer and director Paul Weitz (About a Boy) pays close attention to detail, even in costumes and make-up, to express these changes. As she moves away from home, Alex transitions from baggy, “sporty” clothes with her hair pulled into a tight ponytail to dresses and lipstick. The casting department
seemed to take the actors’ careers into account for this project. Their development of actors is mimicked in the development of their characters, with all three trying to reinvent themselves. Quaid has made a comeback in recent years with the second half of his career largely outweighing his earlier years in terms of quality, Grace is transitioning from a comic television star into a leading man of film, and Johansson is reinventing herself into a leading lady and away from child-star roles. All three shine in the film, a story that cannot be categorized as either a comedy or a drama. In Good Company presents a realistic slice of life without agenda or overwrought predictability.
E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
VIEWSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
Let them be heard
The issue: The school board in Dover, Pa., voted to require science teachers to mention “intelligent design” in school, and the ACLU has filed a lawsuit to block the mandate.
Our view: Students should be exposed to both views in order to form their own opinion.
The solution: Evolution should be taught as a theory, not fact. Other viewpoints should not be silenced.
January 21, 2005
The school board in Dover, Pa., voted in December to require high school science teachers to at least mention the “intelligent design” theory as a possibility on the origin of life. Should this mandate pass the legal tests, it will be the first school district in America to make such a requirement. The intelligent design theory of life essentially states that with all the complexities of life and evolution, the origin of life would have required the guidance of an intelligent force. The American Civil Liber-
Although ties Union has With so many convinced they have the truth, what these debates already filed a harm is it to have the other side portrayed? begin in the inlawsuit to block terest of educathe new manting students, date. The Supreme Court ruled in a religious idea— a matter of they rarely stay focused on that 1987 that schools cannot make faith—should be presented as a goal. Many of the most ardent creationism part of the curricu- possibility in a science class. Before that debate will ever supporters of both theories lum. With the court’s viewpoint on separation of church and be solved, schools need to seem more concerned about state, that is unlikely to make sure what is currently silencing the opposing side theory is taught as theory. than the education of students. change. Their motives lead us to ask: Many have turned to the Scientists have scientific eviintelligent design theory as a dence for believing in evolu- With so many convinced they possibility for the classroom tion as the origin of life. That have truth on their side, how does it harm them to have anobecause some say that the theo- should be taught. Others have scientific rea- ther side portrayed? ry has its roots in science, not John Milton said it best in sons for doubting evolution. scripture. The debate rages on whether That needs to be taught as well. 1644 in Areopagitica:
Prez’s parties set wrong precedent
What do you think of the new Thursday Chapel format and the emphasis on small-group Chapel?
Stop talking and start signing checks Where can you go to find Catwoman, half the cast of Ocean’s Twelve and enough musical luminaries to fill an hour slot on MTV? If you were watching television last Saturday night, the answer would be NBC. Tiffany’s The station Litany and its affiliTiffany ates aired Williams “Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope,” a telethon that featured enough A-list celebrities to rival the Golden Globes, which took place the following night. The proceeds from the event went to the American Red Cross’ tsunami fund. The gaggle of stars—ranging from Capital One front man and comedian David Spade to willowy songstress Norah Jones—joined their powers to raise money, using whatever means necessary. Jay Leno even, reportedly, tried to auction off a telephone signed by several of the participating stars. But for the most
The elderly of Sri Lanka do not need you to sing them a song, Madonna. They need clothes. part, all celebrities had to do was show up, and the calls and money came rolling in. Over in our little corner of the world, we, too, have been doing what we can to help the people of South Asia. Last week, students donated more than $4,000 to Healing Hands International. Our donations might not seem like much in comparison to Brad Pitt’s mere presence on television, but we gave what we had. For some of us, it is the best that we can do. Students did more than just forego a new pair of sneakers to be able to afford to donate to the tsunami fund. Those of us who donated did so with gusto, despite the fact that most of us have to scrape together what we can just to afford to pay our bills. Everyone knows that universities are not the heartland of America’s wealth, but we did what we could. Why, then, are celebs glorified for their minor contribution to the relief effort? How come all it takes is for half of
Hollywood to show up at an NBC studio for the world to start talking about the tsunami again? And who told America that it is okay to let Tinseltown’s most luminescent stars tell us when we should and shouldn’t be humanitarians? In the wake of such a monumental disaster, I, for one, am ready to see celebrities put their money where their mouth is. The children of Thailand do not need lip service from you, Matt Damon. They need food and clean water and parents. The elderly of Sri Lanka do not need you to sing them a song, Madonna. They need a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs. The working-class impoverished of India do not need your sympathy, Diane Sawyer. They need your money, lots of it, and your prayers. They need your sincerity. For every millionaire celebrity who shows up on television with a sound bite about “donating to the cause,” there
“I think it’s a good idea to promote unity among small groups.”
“What new format?
are millions of people who could benefit from their generosity. You are arguing in your head with me right now, aren’t you? “But Tiffany,” you’re thinking, “hundreds of celebrities donated to the tsunami fund. Most probably did so privately.” Maybe, but I don’t see why people who seemingly cannot keep the inner workings of their sex lives out of the public eye would be shy about donating money to a worthy cause. Then again, I’m a cynic. I challenge all celebrities to stop talking and start signing checks. We all know they have the money; they flaunt it all the time on talk shows and movie premiers. It’s time for Hollywood to lead by example. And I challenge you, if you haven’t already, to donate money to aid tsunami relief; not because I told you to or because a celebrity told you to, but because you know that you should. After all, it really is more important than a new pair of sneakers. Respond to Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
“I like small-group Chapel.”
“I think people will pay more attention and get more out of it.”
Clint Askins
Tiffany Sims
Aaron Fry
J. Webb
junior youth and family ministry major from College Station
senior psychology major from Abilene
sophomore marketing and music major from Grandview
junior youth and family ministry major from Austin
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
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
“Celebrating Freedom, why not make a donation to Honoring Service” is the offi- an organization instead of cial theme for President dressing up in their finest to Bush’s inauguration, an event celebrate the general idea of with nine ex- something they consider t r a v a g a n t noteworthy? In a Jan. 2 interview with balls, heightened security The New York Times, Jeanne and a price L. Phillips, chairwoman of tag of $40 the 55th annual Presidential m i l l i o n — Inaugural Committee and making it the longtime friend of the Bush most expen- family, was asked this very I am the sive inaugu- question. The reporter asked ration in his- if she or the president had Enemy ever considered canceling Sarah Carlson tory. While the the nine balls and using the Commander in Chief ball $40 million to purchase bethonored about 2,000 of those ter equipment for the troops who either have served or are as an alternative way of honabout to serve in Afghanistan oring them. Phillips said they wanted to have or Iraq, the rest of the balls You would think a traditional set of events that cater to the the GOP would would focus on business elite. honoring peoSpecial donors want to scale ple serving the and corporate sponsors who down the event ... country, such as contributed policemen, maybe six balls anywhere from teachers and $100,000 to community volinstead of nine. $250,000 will unteers. have prime “How do any seats at excluof them benefit sive balls, such as a candle- from the inaugural balls?” light dinner attended by the the reporter asked. “I’m not president and the vice presi- sure that they do benefit dent. from them,” Phillips said. Inaugurations always have The reporter then asked how, been a time of pageantry, exactly, they are honoring except in 1917 for Woodrow them, to which Phillips said, Wilson before World War I “Honoring service is what and in 1945 for Franklin D. our theme is about.” Roosevelt during World War Lip service in the time of II. According to a CNN.com war and destruction doesn’t interview with Jim Bendat, cut it. The companies could author of Democracy’s Big have donated to organizaDay: The Inauguration of Our tions or charities in the presPresident, Wilson’s inaugura- ident’s name. More money tion was a solemn event that could have been donated for kept the parade but canceled the tsunami relief, the death the balls, while Roosevelt’s toll of which has risen to quiet inauguration took more than 212,000. And, place on a balcony of the while it is admirable that White House with no parade 2,000 soldiers were honored at the ball, money for equipor balls. In a time of war in Iraq ment could have been sent to and against terror, an unsta- the 150,000 troops who are ble economy and devastating serving in Iraq and the natural disasters, one would 17,900 in Afghanistan. For the president to honor think the GOP would want to scale down the event in those fighting his war, it keeping a level perspective should require more than a on what is appropriate. You ribbon worn or nice words know, maybe six balls instead said; it should require actions. of nine. If they want to honor individuals for their dedicatRespond to Carlson at: ed service or selfless actions, skc02a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
In Your Words
“Let [Truth] and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worst, in a free and open encounter?” Whether it is in the classroom or elsewhere, the best way for truth to win is to let all sides be heard, presenting each idea’s strengths and fallacies. No one is served when a particular viewpoint, popular or not, is silenced. When weighed against differing ideas, truth finds ways to win. In a free and open discussion, anything found not to be true can only strengthen what we believe.
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@acu.edu
OPTIMIST THE
The Optimist Editorial Board
Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abilene Christian University
Editor in Chief
Opinion Editor
Arts Editor
Faculty Adviser
Jonathan Smith
Jaci Schneider
Sarah Carlson
Dr. Cheryl Bacon
Managing Editor
Copy Editor
Chief Photographer
Ad Manager
Lori Bredemeyer
Tiffany Williams
Brian Schmidt
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
JUMPS/CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, January 21, 2005
Page 7
Wreck: Students can help families Continued from Page 1 good condition and have been moved out of critical care. They are: • Jon Westin Bennett, 11, is the son of Terrie Bennett, former development director of KACU, and Wes Bennett. • Chris Cope, 12, is the son of Mike Cope, instructor of Bible, missions and ministry and preacher at Highland, and Diane Cope. • Austin Lemmons, 11, is the son of Thom Lemmons, manager of ACU Press and HillCrest Publishing. His mother is Cheryl Lemmons, professor of music and piano accompanist. His sister, Heather, is a journalism major. Conditions of other passengers include: • Folwell, ACU class of 1976, is at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock and is in stable condition, a hospital official said. She is married to Larry Folwell. • Beth Johnston, 14, was released from Hendrick Medical Center on Sunday night. She is the daughter of Tim Johnston, assistant vice president for enrollment at ACU, and Tina Johnston.
“It’s been an amazing thing to watch the Highland family and community pull together.” Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life
• Chris Perkins, 12, was also released from Hendrick on Sunday. He is the son of Dr. Scott Perkins, associate professor of psychology, and Rachel Perkins, former of Academic instructor Advance. • Amara Childers, 14, remains in Hendrick and is recovering from injuries to her spleen and femur, her father said. She is the daughter of Dr. Jeff Childers, associate professor of Bible, ministry and missions, and Linda Childers. Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life, said everyone has really come together during this time. “It’s been an amazing thing to watch the Highland family and the community pull together and gather with the youth group kids and the parents and helping them walk through the pain,” he said. Porche said an “army of people” have been helping
the families since Sunday, but even students can help in small ways. There are “two things that may seem simple, but they’re very valid. One is they can pray for the family that lost a child, and they can pray for those kids who are healing and for their families. “Another thing ACU students can do that would be wonderful would be to write notes, send cards, both to the family that’s grieving and to the kids that are injured and to their families. That’s an important thing … that they continue to feel the support and the grace and love that people are sharing.” Messages can be sent to Jim Hinkle, youth and family minister, Highland Church of Christ, 425 Highland Ave., Abilene, TX 79605.
E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
New payment program begun Wildcat Pay to allow students, parents to pay bills online
“As consumers, we often have expectations that we should be able to do everything online.” Kevin Roberts, director of reengineering in the executive vice president’s office
By MITCH HOLT STAFF WRITER
The Financial Aid Office recently implemented a new method of payment called Wildcat Pay. The program allows students to pay their college bill online and is helping to continue the gradual evolution from snail mail to the Web. Kevin Roberts, director of reengineering in the executive vice president’s office, said Wildcat Pay has a few main components that will help students. “It allows a Roberts student to view and pay their statement online, grants access to other people so they can see it and make other payments, and gives them the option to enroll in the payment plan,” he said. Wildcat Pay gives students the option of paying their semesterly charges in the form of a four-payment plan, Roberts said. Students who
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
want to participate must participate in the payment enroll in the plan. If they plan but would like to particchoose not to, the entire bal- ipate in making payments ance of their account is due online,” Roberts said. the first month. “Others may want to enroll To sign up for the payment in the payment plan and then plan, students must click on give access to their parents so the Wildcat they can Pay link on make the On the Web my.ACU. In http://www.acu.edu/campusoffices/sfs/wildcatpay.html p a y order to do ments.” anything on R o the Wildcat Pay page, each berts said the new payment student must sign up using methods were created solely his or her Banner ID and pin in the name of better service. number. For those who are not comParents who wish to visit fortable conducting business the page must click on the online, the old method is still Wildcat Pay link from the available. main ACU Web site and sign “As consumers, we often in using their child’s Banner have expectations that we number and pin number. should be able to do almost “To make payments everything online,” Roberts online,” Roberts said, “a stu- said. dent can either use a credit “We hope that by giving card or create an automatic parents and students more debit to their checking flexibility in viewing their account.” records and making payments Any student can use [through Wildcat Pay], they Wildcat Pay, Roberts said, and will have fewer things to students are encouraged to worry about.” use components of the program because it is flexible. E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu “Some may not want to
Hakim Rasul, junior forward, hits a layup as he is fouled by Angelo State University forward Marlow Rockwell during Tuesday’s 89-94 loss to the Rams at the Junell Center in San Angelo. Tuesday’s game opened Lone Star Conference South Division play for the Wildcats.
Men: Team to take on Kingsville “One of things we’re trying to do is be in a position Matthias Kreig was 7 of 8 to win the game in the last from the field and scored 15 couple of minutes,” Pleasant points. said. “Hopefully we can get The Wildcats dropped a one or two of the close ones pair of games on the road last to go our way and the domiw e e k no effect withcan start o u t “Hopefully we can get one or two of the close ones to go our on the Rasul, winning way and the domino effect can start on the winning side.” side.” w h o was the KingsKlint Pleasant, men’s head basketball coach fifth v i l l e , leading through scorer We d n e s in the nation through the bench to provide support day, stands at 9-6 before its Sunday at 25.2 points per for Baxter with a double- Thursday match up with contest. Rasul went to double that included 25 Angelo State that marks the Tucson, Ariz., for the week to points and 10 rebounds. Javelinas Lone Star tend to personal family matThe Wildcats will attempt Conference South Division ters. Baxter, however, picked to snap their five-game los- opener. up the scoring slack with a ing streak with a home game 33-point six-assist perform- against Texas A&M ance in the loss Cameron, Kingsville on Saturday at E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu followed by a 30-point show- Moody Coliseum.
Continued from Page 8
Chapel: New curriculum to focus on prophets Continued from Page 1 think this way, and maybe this is the wrong way to address something.’” Lewis said he wants students to learn something about themselves and their community. “One of the hopes is that we’re launching students out of here more prepped to engage culture where it is,” he said, “to be able to talk to people about those sensitive issues, not in a
harsh and despotic manner, but in a Christ-like manner with some sense of knowledge about what they’re talking about.” In addition to a different format for Thursday Chapels, the new semester also brings a new theme and curriculum, “Message from the Prophets,” that was written by Dr. John T. Willis, professor of Old Testament. Shane Hughes, coordinator of Chapel, said the program will help students focus
on less-studied sections of the Bible. “We spend all our time in the New Testament on Jesus,” Hughes said, “and that’s good, but that’s not all of scripture. There are a lot of books that we don’t touch, and this gives us the opportunity to kind of look into those lesser-known parts, the parts that aren’t the trodden paths.” Also, Hughes said three Chapel forums have been
planned for the next few weeks. On Feb. 1, Gary Green will speak on “Sharing your faith” and will illustrate how to evangelize in a post-modern world. On Feb. 3, Jeanene Reese will talk about “Forgiving others, and on Feb. 24, special guest Mark Sterner will present “DUI: A powerful lesson.” E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
ing in the 86-81 loss to Southwestern, the No. 6 team in the nation. Junior forward Mauro Matai also had his best game as a Wildcat against Cameron as he came off of
SPORTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 8
Team effort scores for Wildcat basketball
LSC South Standings current through 01-19-05
Five players reach double figures in 83-69 win over Angelo State
Men’s Basketball Team Midwestern State Angelo State A&M-Kingsville E. New Mexico West Texas A&M A&M-Commerce ACU
Div. 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Tot. 9-7 8-8 9-6 7-8 6-9 13-3 7-9
By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
Women’s Basketball Team Texas Woman’s ACU West Texas A&M Midwestern State A&M-Commerce Angelo State E. New Mexico A&M-Kingsville
Div. 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-1 0-2
January 21, 2005
Tot. 9-5 10-4 10-4 6-9 6-9 12-2 6-8 4-11
Briefs Manning named to sixth all-America team As amazing as Danieal Manning's 2004 season was for ACU, his post-season awards blitz might be even more impressive. Manning—the Wildcats' multitalented sophomore— was named a first team allAmerica by Don Hansen's Football Gazette on Wednesday. Manning has been named an all-America by all six recognized NCAA Division II all-America teams, either as a defensive back or a return specialist. The Football Gazette named Manning an honorable mention all-America as a defensive back. -Lance Fleming ACU Sports Information
Wildcats picked to win LSC South in baseball Another baseball season is drawing near, and Abilene Christian finds itself in the favorite’s role yet again. The Wildcats have been tabbed to take the LSC South Division baseball title in 2005. ACU, which shared last year’s South Division crown with Texas A&M-Kingsville, received 13 of 16 first-place votes to finished well ahead of Tarleton State and TAMUK in the balloting of LSC head coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives. -Lance Fleming ACU Sports Information
Upcoming events in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Saturday, January 22 WBB: A&M-Kingsville, 2 p.m. MBB: A&M-Kingsville, 4 p.m. Monday, January 24 MBB: Angelo State, 8 p.m. Thursday, January 27 WBB: at A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m. MBB: at A&M-Commerce, 8 p.m.
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Wildcat junior center Jamie Boles puts up a hook shot over a Rambelle defender during the ACU upset over No.11 Angelo State, 83-69, in Moody Coliseum on Tuesday.
With two seconds to go and ACU’s win long wrapped up, Alex Guiton was still going strong. Guiton’s resounding block of Angelo State University’s Ashley King’s 3-point attempt put the finishing touches on an 83-69 Wildcat win over the 11th-ranked Rambelles on Tuesday. Her block was the exclamation point, but Guiton’s work throughout the game helped the Wildcats to victory. “She did a great job of pushing the ball and getting us out on the break,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. ACU was ahead most of the night before the Rambelles took a 51-48 lead with Natalja Tsurbakova’s 3-pointer. But Guiton scored the next seven points — book-ended by a coast-to-coast layup and 3pointer — to put the Wildcats back in front for good. Guiton finished with nine points and four assists in what was truly a team effort for ACU. Stephanie Riles led the team with 17 points and even got the best of ASU’s 6-foot-3inch’ Tsurbakova at times. “We looked to her a lot, especially when No. 45 (Tsurbakova) wasn’t guarding her,” Lavender said. “And when she was guarding her, Steph took it right at her and got to the free throw line.” While making Tsurbakova work on the defensive end, the Wildcats also held her to 13 points, almost six points below her season average of 18.9. The Rambelles also were forced into 23 turnovers. For the Wildcats, five players reached double figures in the game, and each contributed in other categories as well. Jamie Boles had 14 points and seven rebounds, Ashley King had 12 points and six assists, Meredith Doyle
posted a 12-spot in both the points and rebounds column, and Kierstan Barbee added 11 points and three steals. “It was just a team win,” Lavender said. “Everybody did a great job, did exactly what we asked them to.” The Wildcats have worked the team concept well recently, winning six of their past seven games. But coinciding with the team’s improvement has been the maturation of freshman point guard Guiton. “She’s done a great job of taking control of the games and really taking care of the ball, cutting down on turnovers,” Lavender said. Guiton attributed her recent success to getting accustomed to a new environment and a new team. “I think it’s just a matter of jelling with the team,” Guiton said. “I’ve had a lot of encouragement from my teammates.” Included in that sevengame stretch was an out-ofstate road trip last weekend in final preparations for the South Division opener against ASU. On the trip, the Wildcats defeated Cameron 57-50 but lost 79-67 to Southwest Oklahoma State. “Going on the road is always tough, especially up there in Oklahoma,” Lavender said. “We didn’t play that well, so at least coming away with a split was good.” Lavender said that coming off a loss helped the team play even hungrier against the Rambelles, a team that had lost just one game before visiting Moody Coliseum. “They had a lot built up going in to the game,” Lavender said. While looking to build on the ASU win, the Wildcats took on Texas Woman’s on Thursday and will play Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday. “We’re not going to adjust our game to anyone else,” Guiton said. “We’re just going to play our game.” E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Committee closes in on new football coach Team continues after resignation of head coach Gary Gaines By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER
If everything goes according to athletic director Jared Mosley’s plan, the Wildcats could have a new head football coach by the beginning of next week, with only a week to spare before high school signing day Feb. 2. The search committee, composed of Mosley; Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university and Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, has been visiting with prospects since former head coach Gary Gaines resigned, and Mosley said that getting a coach signed soon will put the program at ease as they move forward and look to the 2005 season. Meanwhile, the football team has begun offseason, and inter-
im head coach Jerry Wilson said business is going on as usual. “We’re preparing for next year just as if there had been no change,” Wilson said. “We have stressed accountability, class attendance and showing up to workouts on time, and the team has really responded.” Gaines’ resignation from the Wildcat program was official Jan. 7, when he took the job as athletic director for the Ector County Independent School District in Odessa, and after the initial shock, Wilson said the team has been optimistic. “Coach Gaines left the program in good shape,” Wilson said. “It couldn’t have been left any better, and the players are ready to show everybody that we’ve built something here and that we can continue to build no matter who comes in.” Mosley, a former basketball standout at ACU, went through a coaching change himself and said he empathizes with the
“No matter who comes in, we’ll be a better team because [Gaines] was here.” Jerry Wilson, interim head football coach
players. “I think the team is handling the transition well,” Mosley said. “I went through this process myself as a player, so I know that they are anxious about next year’s leader and what kind of man he will be, but the staff has done a good a good job of keeping the team moving as we are in the process of finding a replacement.” Gaines spent five years with ACU. He arrived in 2000 and guided a turn-around his last three seasons, as the struggling program has posted a 17-13 record since 2002. Gaines’ teams have produced two current allAmericans in defensive back Danieal Manning and defensive end Clayton Farrell, and last
season, former Wildcat quarterback Colby Freeman and former lineman Britt Lively were invited to the Cactus Bowl, an allstar game for NCAA Division II seniors. Lively went on to sign a free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams; however, he was forced to leave the team because of injury. In coach Wilson’s 26 years of coaching, the past 11 have been spent with Gaines. Gaines hired Wilson as an assistant coach in the spring of 1994 when Gaines took over a struggling Abilene High School program and helped lay the groundwork for predecessor Steve Warren and an Eagle team that had been in a 40-year playoff drought before 1999. Since that season, Abilene
High has emerged to become one of Texas’ most elite teams, now making the playoffs for six straight seasons. After leaving Abilene High in 1996, Wilson went with Gaines to San Angelo Central High School before coming to ACU in 2000. After so many years with coach Gaines, Wilson said he was disappointed at the news of Gaines’ resignation, but he recognizes the timing of the opportunity he had been given in Odessa, and said he agreed it was a good move for Gaines’ family. “No matter who comes in, we’ll be a better team because he was here,” Wilson said. “He was a great guy to work with, but we’re just going to try and continue to get better and improve from season to season and build off of what has been started here.” E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
Men lose another close one Four-point loss to Angelo State is fifth consecutive for Cats By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcat basketball team’s struggle to close out games continued on Tuesday night with an 89-85 loss to Angelo State in San Angelo. The loss makes it five straight for ACU, and four out of their past five contests were by a combined margin of just 12 points after losing to Southeastern Oklahoma State, East Central and Southwestern Oklahoma State by margins of one, two and five points respectively. The Wildcats also dropped a contest with Cameron 105-93 on Jan. 13 where they trailed by
just two points with nine minutes remaining. Head coach Klint Pleasant said he remains optimistic about the rest of the season and said his players don’t have their heads down. “We’re right there,” Pleasant said. “You sprinkle on a few points here and there and we have a completely different record. I think consistency is the main issue right now. … We play a fast game, so we’re going to give up points, but the key is to make the big stops at the end of the game.” The Wildcats led Anglo State by five points with 6:41 remaining, but a 10-4 Rams run that put them up 80-76 and lasted until just under three minutes in regulation was enough to keep ACU at bay for the remainder of the game.
Junior forward Hakim Rasul, who led the Wildcats with 32 points and 13 rebounds, made two free throws with 1:31 left to put the Wildcats within two points, but Angelo State quickly answered back on a 3-point field goal by Rashawn Childs that put the Rams up 85-80. In a final effort to salvage the loss, Matt Sutherland hit a three with just three seconds left to bring ACU within two points once again at 87-85. Senior guard David Baxter then quickly fouled Angelo’s Jermel Brooks, but Brooks sank both free throws and put the game out of reach. Baxter finished the game with 19 points and five assists to provide Rasul with offensive backup and senior center See MEN Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Wildcat junior forward Mauro Matai fights for a layup between two Ram defenders during ACU's 89-95 LSC South division opening loss at Angelo State Tuesday.