OPTIMIST_2005-01-26

WEDNESDAY January 26, 2005

OPTIMIST THE

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Abilene Christian University

Vol. 93, No. 31 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Cooking with Lola:

‘Off the Charts’ is off and running:

In a groove:

Lola Molina now owns the Mexican food restaurant she has worked at for 25 years.

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Hispanos Unidos and the International Students Association will compete with classes in the mixed-voice category this year at Sing Song.

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David Baxter tied a school record with eight 3-pointers Monday night.

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Debaters qualify for nationals Alvarez garners two first places; Rouse, Smith also earn firsts

By TIFFANY WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR

For some, winning a debate tournament against Ivy League schools like the University of Notre Dame is just a dream.

For ACU’s nationally ranked forensic team, winning is a dream worth having.

And winning is exactly what happened when seven members of the team traveled to

Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark., the past weekend to compete with teams more than twice their size.

Brandon Smith, freshman political science major from Keller, and Elizabeth Alvarez, senior political science major from McAllen, won first place in parliamentary debate.

Alvarez also won first place in extemporaneous speaking, which qualified her for the national tournament, said Holly McFarland, the team’s graduate assistant.

Additionally, Layne Rouse,

senior communication major from Midland, won first place in communication analysis.

Jennifer Knaupp, junior communication major from San Antonio, and Shelby Coates, freshman social work major from Clarksville, Tenn., won third and sixth place, respectively, in persuasive speaking.

Alvarez, the team’s captain, attributed their success to team ethics.

“Most collegiate teams have what we call inner-squad competitions,” she said. “That means you are competing with other members of your team

for spots and scholarships. As you can imagine, that doesn’t do much to foster team spirit.”

She explained that at ACU, forensic teammates receive the same scholarship regardless of rank. They are required to put in the same number of practice hours and attend the same number of competitions.

Alverez’s partner, Brandon Smith, agreed that the strength of the forensic team lies in its ethical beliefs, and credited Dr. Sally Gary, assistant professor of communication and director

Forensics first places • Elizabeth Alvarez, senior political science major from McAllen, and Brandon Smith, freshman political science major from Keller, first place in parliamentary debate.

• Alvarez, first place in extemporaneous speaking.

• Layne Rouse, senior communication major from Midland, first place in communication analysis.

See DEBATE Page 7

More than 800 students denied door access, meal plans

Students travel to D.C. for inaugural

By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR

College Republicans experience inaugural address firsthand

By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR

Several ACU students joined the hundreds and thousands of Americans gathered in Washington D.C. last week to witness the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Five students from ACU’s College Republicans traveled to D.C last Tuesday to participate in the festivities. Tyler Cosgrove, junior finance major from Amarillo; Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major from Conroe; Billy Smith, sophomore marketing major from San Antonio; Missy Mae Walters, senior political science major from Abilene; and Hallie Roberts, freshman political science major from Fort Sumner, N.M., began planning their trip last April, Cosgrove said.

“It was a very patriotic week,” he said.

The group toured several memorials and sites in the city, attended the swearing-in ceremony, watched the President’s parade and met with senators Kay Bailey Hutchinson, RTexas, and John Cornyn, RTexas.

“I really enjoyed being around the excitement of the swearing-in ceremony,” Roberts said.

Along with the official See D.C. Page 7

New ID card system deletes records

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Lindsay Epley, senior marketing major from Midland, and Laura Roberts, marriage and family therapy graduate student from Odessa, play dominoes Monday with Marie Mann, a resident in the Christian Village. Students play dominoes at Christian Village each Monday.

Students hope for domino effect Group visits Christian Village residents each Monday evening

By MITCH HOLT STAFF WRITER

Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., a group of students makes the trek to Christian Village Retirement Community for dominoes and a good time.

Members of what has come to be known as the Domino Club have built strong relationships with the residents of Christian Village.

Nathan Gray, senior biology major from Memphis, Tenn., said the residents are often interested in the lives of each student. He said the students enjoy hearing updates about the residents’ families.

The residents bring cook-

ies and chips for the students, and the students try to bring their smiles, Gray said.

The club began as a part of the Students’ Association’s Senior Buddy program. Membership is casual and unofficial; anyone who attends can be considered a Senior Buddy.

ing is a regular occurrence during each Monday night domino extravaganza.

“While one might expect a game in this setting to be polite and sedate,” Gray said, “it’s not uncommon to hear threats or taunting from both students and residents.”

“Those of us who have found it to be a unique time with friends will continue to play ... as long as the calendar has Monday nights.”

Nathan Gray, senior biology major from Memphis, Tenn.

“We are constantly inviting other students to come,” Gray said, “in hopes that the domino hook will break the thin skin near their cheek and keep them coming back.”

Gray said that trash talk-

Although most of the students involved are college seniors, those who will reside in Abilene can continue the weekly event after graduation. Several regulars have already graduated.

Gray said he plans to

attend medical school after graduation and will not be able to attend Domino Club into his post-graduation days.

The tradition will only be carried on if new students join the club. The group is based on friendship and a willingness to spend time each week with the more mature in age.

“Those who do it for service hours or to fill some extracurricular requirement will come and go,” Gray said, “but those of us who have found it to be a unique time with friends, young and old, will continue to play as long as we’re here and as long as the calendar has Monday nights.”

E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu

More than 800 students were inadvertently removed from the ID card system last week, denying them from using meal plans and accessing buildings and computer labs.

Officials from the CS Gold card system’s parent company, Diebold, are working to find the problem and prevent it from happening again, said Eric Wallace, system programmer.

On Thursday at about 4:30 p.m., Wallace said he discovered that 711 students had been deleted from the system and then immediately reloaded with a different Wallace patron identification number (PID), making the cards ineffective.

“What happened was they (students) were deleted and immediately reloaded, and there’s no process that Diebold has to do that,” Wallace said.

“My concern is that this never happens again, and they don’t want it to happen either.”

Diebold officials said extra white space at the ends of the lines of imported data caused the system to be unable to read the information, so it assumed it was a mistake and deleted it.

As the technology department worked to restore the original PIDs to the cards, which would reinstate all the current student information to them and make them functional again, Wallace said 128 more students were discovered who had been deleted.

“I know to the people that were affected that it was a big hardship, and I’m sorry for that,” Wallace said.

To help alleviate the problem, Wallace said temporary cards were created for the resSee CARDS Page 7

Alumnus takes football coaching job Thomsen spent time with Wildcats as player, coach from 1993-2000

By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Chris Thomsen speaks at a press conference Friday after being named the head football coach. Thomsen is taking the job after Gary Gaines accepted the executive director of athletics position with Ector County Independent School District earlier this month.

The Gary Gaines’ era came to an official close on Friday when athletic director Jared Mosley announced Chris Thomsen as ACU’s 18th head football coach.

Thomsen might be the new head football coach, but he isn’t new to ACU. He spent time with the Wildcats as football player and coach from 1993-2000.

His undergraduate career began at Texas Christian University as a two-sport athlete in baseball and football.

After Thomsen’s junior year at TCU, he joined the Oakland Athletics’ organization and played minor league baseball for two seasons before coming to ACU to play football for his final year of eligibility in 1993.

Thomsen’s move to ACU not only benefited his career as an athlete, it also launched his coaching career when he joined as a graduate assistant in 1994 before former head coach Bob Strader made him a full-time assistant in 1995.

His experience at ACU was

one of the selling points for Mosley and the search committee that also included Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, and Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university.

“We wanted to seek someone who had a clear understanding of what an ACU education and what an ACU student athlete experience should be like,” Mosley said. “It was very obvious to Dr. McCaleb and me and the rest of the search committee that got to visit with Chris that he brings a great love and passion for the university and what we stand for.”

Mosley also emphasized that Thomsen fit the other criteria that the committee wanted to see out of the new coach.

He said they were looking for someone who could recruit, someone who would bring an exciting style of football and someone who had the ability to create relationships with players, the ACU community and the Abilene community as well.

Thomsen’s most recent stop in his coaching career before joining the Wildcats was Central Arkansas University — a team that went 8-3 last seaSee COACH Page 7

CAMPUS

DAY

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

12 59

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

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Calendar&Events Wednesday

Service Expo, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center.

Service Expo, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center.

Purple Friday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Living Room.

SAAB meeting, 6-7 p.m., Living Room.

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Saturday

Women’s social clubs meeting, 810:45 p.m., Living Room.

COBA’s Distinguished Speaker series, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Living Room.

Shades Show, 8 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.

Mathematics Conference for young women, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Hilton Room.

Academic Advising Forum, 3:454:45 p.m., Living Room.

Baseball banquet, 6-9:30 p.m., Hilton Room.

Siggies meeting, 8-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.

CareerLink workshops, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Brown Library computer lab.

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Black History rehearsal, 7:30-10 p.m., Living Room.

PreMarriage small-group Chapel, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Hilton Room.

Residence Life interest meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., Hilton Room.

Thursday

ISA’s European Chai Cafe, 9 p.m., UP Club House.

Women’s soccer club interest meeting, 11:30 a.m., Bennett Gymnasium.

Oxford Study Abroad interest meeting, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Mabee Library Auditorium.

FCA meeting, 9 p.m., Living Room.

Siggies Sing Song rehearsal, 810:30 p.m., Hilton Room.

CareerLink workshop, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Brown Library computer lab.

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Friday

Latin America Study Abroad meeting, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Mabee Library Auditorium.

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.

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Sunday

Sophomore Sing Song rehearsal, 2-4 p.m., Hilton Room.

Highland Among Friends, 6-6:45 p.m., Hilton Room.

Siggies Sing Song rehearsal, 7-9 p.m., Hilton Room.

Volunteer Opportunities

The International Rescue Committee needs volunteers to mentor refugee families that have recently moved to Abilene.

Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

Abilene Child Centered Educational Support needs volunteers to tutor children on computer skills weekdays from 46:30 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

The Beltway Boys and Girls Club needs volunteers Monday through Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m. to help with homework and play.

Contact the Volunteer ServiceLearning Center.

The Grace Museum needs attendants in the gallery and children's museum on Thursdays from 5-8 pm.

Police Log (edited for space) Monday 01/10/2005 3 p.m. Fingerprinted student at the police station.

Tuesday 01/11/2005 5:50 p.m. Report of skateboarders near Don Morris Center, subject left upon arrival.

7:55 p.m. Locked gate at West Campus South Lot. Wednesday 01/12/2005 1 a.m. Suspicious vehicle at Bible Lot. Contacted; all OK. 5:35 a.m. Report of suspicious subject at Gardner Hall. Subject was gone upon arrival.

1 p.m. Stand by at the library reference to emergency drill.

4:05 p.m. Fingerprinted student at the police station.

5:15 p.m. Medical emergency at McDonald Hall.

Thursday 01/13/2005 2:30 a.m. Noise disturbance at Gardner Lot. Vehicle with alarm sounding, unable to locate owner.

11:30 a.m. Criminal mischief case #05-003, Case open.

3:40 p.m. Theft of wallet.

Announcements Tickets are now on sale for the ACU Winter Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Call 674-ARTS (2787) for tickets. The box office, located in the WPAC, is open M-F 1-5 p.m.

Admission is $12, $25 with dinner.

The submission deadline for Shinnery Review has been extended to Feb. 4. Go to www.acu.edu/shinnery to submit your poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and art.

The COPPER Cap Program will be interviewing on campus on Jan. 28. The COPPER Cap Program is an Air Force-managed program designed to train college graduates. For more information go to www.acu.edu/career-

link or call the Office of Career and Academic Development at ext.

6400.

Camp Shiloh is now taking applications for summer staff.

For more information, go to www.shilohnyc.org or call (212) 737-8258.

Law scholarship applications for Baylor, Pepperdine and Texas Tech law schools for the 2005-2006 school year are now available in the Political Science Office, AD 220.

Application deadline is February 11 for Texas Tech and February 25 for Baylor and Pepperdine. For more information, contact the political science office at Ext. 2726.

Deadline for nominating a

2005 graduating senior for the V.W. Kelley Scholarship is Feb. 4. Criteria and the form are at http://www.acu.edu/alumni/award s/vw_kelley.html.

The budget has been approved by the student congress and individual organization budgets have been finalized. Go to http://www.acu.edu/students/sa for links to the different organization’s budgets. This is the specific amount granted by SA. If you have any questions come to the SA office and speak with Tyler.

ACU-Wide Super Bowl Party is Feb. 6 in COBA room 201.

Everyone is invited. Food and drinks are provided. Pre-game festivities start at 4:30 p.m.

7 p.m. Vehicle accident on ACU Drive.

9:20 p.m. Suspicious subject behind Moore House, subject was gone upon arrival.

Friday 01/14/2005 12:40 a.m. Suspicious subject at 800 EN 15th, referred to APD. 1:30 a.m. Assisted APD with suspicious subject at 1300 Washington.

Was given criminal trespass warning 3 p.m. Fingerprint student at the police station.

10:30 p.m. Criminal mischief at 1300 Washington, APD handled.

11:30 p.m. Noise violation at 1300 Austin, no violation upon arrival.

Saturday 01/15/2005 1:45 a.m. Suspicious vehicle on sidewalk of McKinzie Hall, all OK. 6 a.m. Suspicious subject at University Park Apartments, checked, all OK.

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

CAMPUS NEWS

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Pumped up to jump

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Members of the Sweetwater Intermediate School jump rope team perform during halftime of the ACU men’s basketball game against Angelo State University on Monday in Moody Coliseum.

Groups prepare for Sing Song International Students Association, Hispanos Unidos new to the show

By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR

With three weeks until showtime, the Sing Song production staff is hard at work building the main stage in Moody Coliseum, finalizing music arrangements and teaching the hosts and hostesses choreography.

“You name it, we’re doing it,” said Kendall Massey, director of student productions.

Massey said he can’t wait to reveal a few surprises in the show to the audience. One change he can mention is a giant video screen behind the Sing Song stage that can be used by each act as they see fit.

Additions to this year’s show, “Off the Charts,” is the International Students Association and Hispanos Unidos in the mixed voices category against the class acts, and Massey said both groups are excited.

“I’ve wanted them to do this for a while,” he said.

Most groups have been practicing their shows since the beginning of the semester, designing costumes and learning the arrangement of their act.

In previous years, various groups have won first place in the mixed voices category, but Gamma Sigma Phi and Sigma Theta Chi have dominated the men’s and women’s social club categories for the past three years.

However, Massey said he is glad to incorporate more groups into the event, and the goal should not be just about winning.

“The competition isn’t what makes a show good,” Massey said. “What makes a show good is how everyone works together.”

Katie Noah, junior English major from Midland, participated in Sing Song as a freshman but studied abroad in Oxford, England, during the spring semester of her sophomore year.

This year, however, she said she is ready to give her class act another shot. Her parents and grandparents are coming into town, and her sister is partici-

pating in a club act, so she said she decided to join the junior class act, even if the class doesn’t take the task as seriously as other groups.

“I hope it’s going to be a good show,” Noah said. “The show overall is going to be great. The hosts and hostesses are all stellar-talented people, and I’ve heard some great things about other acts.”

David Chisholm, junior interdisciplinary major from Memphis, Tenn., also plans to join the junior class act. He said he didn’t participate in Sing Song his first two years at school out of laziness, but he decided to join the junior act this year because he heard it is going to be funny.

“I think it is going to be a big joke and not a lot of work,” Chisholm said.

Performances of Sing Song will be Feb.18 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 to $18 and can be purchased online at www.acusingsong.com.

E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

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Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Women recharter social club Tri Kappa Gamma triples in size, mixes old and new members

from Tallahassee, Fla. Members of the new TKG met together for the first time Jan. 12 and attended a retreat the following weekend, “mainly just to give the girls a

By TIFFANY TAYLOR chance to get to know each STAFF WRITER other,” Sutherlin said.

At the retreat, the women Tri Kappa Gamma was of TKG participated in Kappa rechartered at the beginning of Corners, which gave members the semester by non-members a chance to learn about the in an effort to revive the club’s history, songs, current woman’s social club. events and personality. They The smallest woman’s will also participate in tradisocial club on campus, TKG’s tional Bid Night and pledging membership jumped from 13 activities to better to 44 this orient themsemester after selves with the juniors Cour“This is something TKG has been club. tney Varner, wanting for a long time.”

Currently, the Sarah Carlson club is working and Malinda Christy Gower, junior print journalism major from Allen to integrate the Shaver led a old and new movement to members.

Old recharter the and shocked when she heard members voted for the neclub.

“We liked the history and of the students who wanted to cessary offices of president, vice president, secretary and the alumni and the traditions recharter.

“A lot of us didn’t know treasurer before rechartering that TKG has,” said Varner, what it meant because rechar- in order to keep the club runEnglish major from Abilene.

Varner said she and her tering is sort of vague,” Fox ning during the process. After rechartering, Masters was efriends felt they could offer a said.

Fox also said she wanted to lected as chaplain, Shaver as fresh eye to rejuvenate the club and eventually build it up put an emphasis on using the social director, Carlson as histo be one of the larger clubs on club’s numbers for opportuni- torian and Varner as rush campus. The women spread ties to do more service activi- director.

In the future, Sutherlin said the word of the club’s recharter ties.

New and old members the club will take pledging by telling people around them in Chapel and other organiza- expressed a desire to make more seriously to make the TKG a viable option for wo- process more rewarding and tions. memorable. She also said the “This is something TKG men who want to pledge. “[We’re] just adding a- club is planning Kappa Krush, has been wanting for a long time,” said Christy Gower, ju− nother option for girls who the spring social, a formal in nior print journalism major really don’t feel like they fit April and spring rushes. from Allen and vice president into another social club,” said entering member Jessica Masof TKG. E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu “We had a whole lot of ters, junior English major ideas,” Gower said, but explained it would have taken a long time for the club to have reached its goals while moving at its own pace.

Dr. Autumn Sutherlin, assistant professor of chemistry and TKG adviser, said the huge entering number and the need to have a fresh start contributed to the decision to recharter.

TKG treasurer Tara Fox, junior physics and pre-med major from Nashville, Tenn., said she was excited, confused

SIFE teaches students to serve Group competes, focuses on helping others in community

By RACHEL LAU PAGE DESIGNER

ACU’s chapter of SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise, resumed the semester with an interest meeting Tuesday to recruit more students to participate, inform them about SIFE and show them how they can help others in the community.

“It’s for people who are interested in helping people,” said Dr. Phillip Vardiman, associate professor of management sciences and co-sponsor of SIFE. SIFE, a program in more than 1,700 college and university campuses throughout the world, promotes the teaching of the free-enterprise system so students can learn to make

Bringing down the Coliseum

a difference and develop leadership and communication skills, as well as social responsibility. This is ACU’s third year to sponsor the program, with an average of 40 student members annually.

Members are required to create projects that will teach and help people in their communities and even globally and then bring them to competitions. Last year’s SIFE members created “Enterprise City,” a mock city created to educate fifth-graders about the way businesses work and teach financial principles like writing checks.

Vardiman said SIFE is involved with various activities such as projects in Detroit where they worked with battered women’s shelters, and said membership is not limited to business majors. Both he and Dr. Ian Shepard, assistant professor of management sciences and co-sponsor of SIFE,

E-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu

said a goal of the program is to encourage students from other departments to participate in SIFE and to learn ways to reach out to society.

“We tend to think it’s business specific, but it’s degree and curriculum specific,” Shepard said. He added that SIFE is a great resource to make connections and internships and is a program from which many companies heavily recruit.

“It taught me about contributing to society through business principles,” said Ricardo Garay, senior management major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and SIFE member.

This semester, students will finish up their projects from last semester and prepare to present them in competitions in April.

E-mail Lau at: rhl02a@acu.edu

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Fans cheer in Section F of Moody Coliseum on Saturday during the men’s basketball game against Texas A&M-Kingsville, representing one of the largest student turnouts at a game this season.

Special collections receives grant Library uses money for Church of Christ project

By CIANA HARDWICK STUDENT REPORTER

Pull open the heavy wooden doors into the Special Collections Department of the Brown Library and you are greeted by the familiar dusty smell of old books.

The department contains thousands of rare and unusual books, ACU archives and items related to the history of the Churches of Christ.

Unfortunately, these treasures are confined to the department; the professor or student who wants to take advantage of them can do so only while physically within the boundaries of the building.

However, these boundaries will soon be obsolete.

Recently, the Special Collections Department received a $2,500 grant from the American Theological Library Association to digitize 200 of its photographs and slides of baptistery paintings. The project is already underway and is

scheduled to be completed by Feb. 15, 2006. The grant is being used to pay for labor and equipment, including a scanner and storage supplies.

When the project, titled “Here is Water: Baptismal Images from 20th Century Churches of Christ,” is completed, the images will be uploaded to the American Theological Library Association’s Cooperative Digital Resources Initiative Web site, where the files can be accessed for free.

Most of the images showcase the artwork of Blanche Perry, whose baptistery paintings were installed across the nation in Churches of Christ between 1935 and 1958. The images are an important part of Church of Christ history because they “suggest the cultural context of Churches of Christ at mid-century as they became numerous enough and prosperous enough to build permanent church buildings equipped with indoor baptisteries,” according to www.atla.com.

The Brown Library has plans to put the images on a local server with the help of the Abilene Library Con-

sortium staff, enabling the community to benefit from the project as well.

Carisse Berryhill, special services librarian, said she hopes this project will act as “training wheels” so that she and those assisting her can learn how to properly produce and manage digital archives.

“We are hoping this is a very small beginning of something that will turn out to be huge,” says Berryhill.

She also said she believes that digitizing the components of the Specials Collections Department will aid in the final accessibility stage, rendering it “more accessible to many more people, 24/7.”

For more information on the project or on the Special Collections Department, contact Berryhill at carisse.berryhill@acu.edu To access images already available on the Cooperative Digital Resources Initiative website, go to: www.atla.com/cdri/cdri.html.

E-mail Hardwick at: optimist@acu.edu

Pledging deadline Wednesday Bids given Thursday, Bid Night on Friday for spring pledging

By LAURA STORK STAFF WRITER

Male students wanting to pledge a social club this spring must rank the participating clubs – Delta Chi Rho, Frater Sodalis and Trojans – in the order of their choice in the Campus Life Office between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Bids for the clubs can be picked up in the Campus Center ticket windows between 4:30 and 5 p.m. on Thursday and on Friday, Bid Night will begin the second pledging opportunity for students this school year.

Mike Spell, social club adviser, said all social clubs have the option to take a spring pledge class.

“Basically, each social club

sets its own max; those are self-set limits,” Spell said.

“Any club can take a spring pledge class if they are interested.”

Will Smith, president of Frats, said he is excited his club has decided to offer spring pledging.

“We want to give guys who weren’t able to pledge last fall a chance to be a part of pledging and the social club experience,” said Smith, senior Christian ministry major from Marble Falls.

Chris Smith, junior business and computer science major from College Station and president of Delta Chi Rho, said his club rechartered last fall and is also looking forward to offering men a chance to pledge Delta Chi Rho this spring.

Spell said as of Friday, only seven students had registered to pledge.

“Frats have set a lower cap

[for spring pledging], basically saying if we don’t have 10 guys that are interested in pledging us and if we don’t offer bids to 10 guys, then we won’t go through with our pledging,” Spell said.

Delta Chi Rho and Trojans, on the other hand, will pledge however many guys get a bid, Spell said.

Every student who has registered to pledge and has ranked the clubs will receive a bid to a club on Thursday.

“One of the things spring pledging does is it makes pledging available to some of our athletes who during the fall semester weren’t able to pledge,” Spell said. “It’s a good opportunity for them to get involved in ways the couldn’t normally.”

E-mail Stork at: las00f@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Page 5

Intramurals to add new sports Dodgeball, paintball to be played as special events on weekends

By LAUREN WARE STAFF WRITER

When Danny Kittley, director of intramural sports, helped organize an intramural office in 1988, he had no idea that intramurals would become an activity involving three-fourths of the university.

“We’re real proud of our numbers,” Kittley said. “Every year it seems like we get two or three more teams than the year before.”

Spring intramurals began Tuesday with five-on-five basketball. Forty teams signed up, three more than last year.

Increased participation in intramurals led Kittley to add dodgeball and paintball as special event sports. The new

sports will be played as weekend tournaments, although no date or price has been set.

“We have a lot of interest in dodgeball, so we’re getting it started as a tournament and maybe work it in as a full time sport next year,” Kittley said. “I think dodgeball is here to stay, personally. Really, I just play what the kids bring to me. If there isn’t at least 30 to 50 kids interested we can’t take the time to do it.”

Many teams are not comprised of social clubs, and some teams have been around for three or four years, Kittley said.

“There’s about five of us that play regularly and we get other guys to play with us,” said Bo Stevens, junior Bible, youth and family ministry major from Lilburn, Ga. “It’s about making friends.”

In addition to playing on a team, students can officiate intramurals, which means they

Upcoming sports •Softball- Sign up by Feb. 24. Season starts Feb. 28.

Cost is $100 per team.

•Indoor Soccer- Sign up by Feb. 24. Season starts Feb. 25. Cost is $110 per team.

Sign-ups are located in Bennett Gym, room 103.

help with school games on campus and in the community.

“I do seventh grade basketball games on Thursday nights at the middle school,” said Kallie Moore, freshman elementary education major from Abilene. “It’s just fun to meet people, and it’s a good way to start to get involved.”

E-mail Ware at: lew03d@acu.edu

Meetings spread awareness Islamic Group looks to build relationships with refugees in area

By TIFFANY WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR

Missions coordinator and Bible professor Dan McVey takes his interest in Islam seriously. So seriously, in fact, he takes it to lunch.

McVey, who teaches a class titled Introduction to Muslim Evangelism, meets with students interested in learning about the religion during lunch twice a month to share prayer requests, discuss Islamic culture and, of course, eat.

The group met from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday and plans to meet at that time every other Thursday for the rest of the semester. Anyone can join the meetings, McVey said.

Students bring a brown bag lunch to the Islamic interest meetings, where they watch DVDs or have guest speakers.

McVey said that although the format is not always the same, the purpose of the meetings is: to enhance awareness of the Muslim religion in order to better evangelize.

“Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States right now,” McVey said, adding that although Abilene does not have a formal mosque, some Abilene citizens will become more aware of Islamic influence in the community because Abilene was one of two Texas cities chosen to resettle Muslim refugees.

“There is a lot of publicity that we get about the Islamic world,” he said. “Unfortunately, what we hear is not always correct. We need to understand these people and pray for them. Hopefully, we can get the gospel to them.”

McVey said he has high expectations for the small group, which began in 2004.

He said he wants to continue to invite guest speakers to the meetings, and he hopes to

Let me entertain you

build relationships with the Muslim refugees whom the International Relief Committee is relocating to Abilene from Uzbekistan.

“The IRC needs volunteers to help these families,” McVey said. “They have been kicked out of their country with no place to go. The IRC gives them a place to live and jobs to get started in life. After that, they are on their own.”

Last semester, participants in the group met Mehmet Hasemir, a Muslim living in Abilene who converted to Christianity many years ago.

They also heard from several missionaries.

“Muslims live here,” McVey said, “so it is important to reflect on them as people. Don’t just think in terms of conflict and war. Take time out to learn how to interact with them in a positive way.”

E-mail Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

The ACU Jazz Band performs during dinner at Invision, the Students’ Association’s student leadership workshop. The event was conducted in the Williams Performing Arts Center on Sunday.

Online classes offer freedom Students will have two new courses to choose from this summer

By LAUREN WARE STAFF WRITER

This summer two classes, Business and Professional Writing and Fundamentals of Communication, will be added to the online courses students can take for credit.

“It gives [students] the flexibility to work in the summer and maybe do their class at night” said Carol Williams, assistant provost for research and service.

George Saltsman, director of educational technology and distance education, said he would like about 400 students to enroll in the summer online courses. Last year about 120 students completed Messages of the Old Testament or Major British

Writers online.

“I couldn’t believe that British lit could be fun, let alone British lit online, but it was really fun,” said Jackie Hughes, senior electronic media major from Grand Rapids, Mich.

Enrollment is the same as registering for a regular class on Blackboard. Administrators coordinating the Internet classes have made the classes more flexible than in the past, allowing students to do multiple assignments at once.

A DVD with course materials comes with each class, and Team 55 evaluates students’ computers before the class begins to ensure they will be able to complete assignments.

“You have to go on every day,” Hughes said. “It’s not a blow-off class; it’s a lot of work. You have to do a lot of reading, but when you’re reading other people’s messages, it’s easy to get con-

sumed in it, too.”

The professor has complete control over what goes on in the class.

Students do not take traditional tests. Instructors are encouraged to look at alternative ways to evaluate students’ understanding of the course material, such as a project.

“We had to write a paper, and I think it’s a good final because it’s still analyzing what you’ve learned,” Hughes said.

“You’re going to spend a lot of time doing things but no time in a classroom,” Saltsman said. “It’s all self motivation; you’re not going to have a teacher telling you to do things. You’re going to have to have self discipline.”

E-mail Ware at: lew03d@acu.edu

VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST

Page 6

High school clubs should be allowed

The issue: The Abilene School Board will not allow non-curricular clubs to meet on campus, but it is considering changing the policy.

Our view: Students should have the opportunity to gather in clubs to grow in leadership skills and diversity.

The solution: All clubs should be allowed to meet on campus so students can make their own choices about whether to attend.

January 26, 2005

Members of the Abilene Independent School District Board of Trustees are discussing the possibility of allowing non-curricular clubs to meet on AISD campuses again, after hearing public opinion on the matter Monday.

The school board forced the clubs off campus last spring after a group expressed interest in beginning a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Cooper High School, according to a story in the Abilene Reporter-News. Now, the school only permits clubs directly linked to curriculum to meet on campus.

The school board should con-

Daniel Barcroft

In My Words

United States needs to find more unity Ascending the stairs from ways is completely distasteful.

In this time of unrest and the Bean Sprout after bowling class Thursday morning, I transition, shouldn’t we be climbed the last few steps to coming together as a country? the main level of the Campus You don’t have to agree with Center only to our president, but you should find a crowd wish for him and our country of people en- the best. We have too many t r a n c i n g l y battles to fight on our own soil viewing the to be letting election results, p r e s i d e n t ’s which we no longer have any i n a u g u r a l control over, divide our counspeech on the try even further.

I understand the temptation overhead teleDon’t visions.

I to be incredibly apathetic Believe the heard one girl about things taking place in c o m m e n t our country, especially when Hype about Bush to the person for whom you voted Mitch Holt the girl next isn’t in office, and our current to her, “Isn’t he just the cutest president’s wisest, most able member (Colin thing ever?” Then there was cabinet that group of husky 200 plus Powell) has resigned.

The hardest lbs. fellows I We have too many thing about overheard. “Boy, am I glad those battles to fight on being in another country during a liberals didn’t our own soil to U.S. presidential win,” said one election, besides of them, as if be letting election the hassle of geteveryone around him mirresults divide our ting your ballot to a state in aculously agreed with his country even further. which your vote doesn’t matter, is profound statedealing with the ment. nagging assumpI couldn’t escape the hype, but what did I tions that ‘dem foreigners (sarexpect? I’m in Texas. Better yet, casm) pin on you simply I’m in Texas during the inaugu- because of the country in which you live. That’s what I ration of a Bush.

Although the aforemen- dealt with last semester. Many tioned comments that I seem to individuals I talked to while I hear every day are frustrating was living overseas see the and narrow-minded, they are United States as a powerful yet not as disheartening as some of divided country. I can’t help the remarks I’ve heard from but agree.

The election is over. Move people on the opposite end of the political spectrum as of on, continue to stand up for late. To say that you believe the your beliefs, but don’t forget country made a huge mistake that unity should be a priority. by re-electing Bush is one thing Unity should be a priority. and undoubtedly debatable, but to wish on him a bad presidency simply to show the conRespond to Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu servatives the error of their

Acceptance comes despite questions An 11-year-old boy full of life, laughter and promise is dead after a terrible automobile accident. Brody Bourland was in the sixth grade at Franklin Middle School. A week has passed since the vehicle he was travUnveiling eling in rolled on I-20, injurthe Mask ing seven other Mallory p assengers.

Sherwood Questions linger in the minds of all who have heard of his death.

Why God? Why a boy who probably still had homework to finish for Monday, an unmade bed at home and parents and brothers awaiting his return?

How does one explain to a young boy his brother won’t be coming home? How does one console the kids who watched helplessly from behind, or the other passengers in the suburban who couldn’t say good-bye to their friend?

These questions will remain unanswered. They are left to torment and challenge us. Jim

These questions will remain unanswered. They are left to torment and challenge us.

Hinkle, youth minister at Highland Church of Christ shared this thought Sunday, “This is not the way it was supposed to happen, but God has not abandoned us. ” God has not abandoned us?

How do you explain that as friends and family trickle onto the stage to light more than 100 candles in memory of Brody?

Where was God? When I thought about it, I realized that of course God was there. Death will never make sense to us fragile humans.

Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family wrote in his book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, “If we truly understood the majesty of the Lord and the depth of his love for us, we would certainly accept those times when He defies human logic and sensibilities. Indeed, that is what we must do. ” In an attempt to try to accept Brody’s death, I want to share what Hinkle called

“Emmanuel moments” on Sunday, regarding the accident.

First, on the last day, the morning the group traveled back, Brody was one of many young adolescents who publicly dedicated his life to Christ.

Second, after the accident occurred, two of the boys who lay in neck braces on the side of the road were able find comfort in the fact they would be there for each other no matter what.

Third, two of the teens who were released from Hendrick hospital, were able to attend Brody’s funeral and be hugged and loved on by Brody’s parents.

Finally, the group of friends who helplessly watched from the vehicle behind the SUV, have formed a bond and understand more than most people what it is like to be in a community of believers.

God has not abandoned us.

He did not abandon those involved in the accident, he has not abandoned Brody, and he

will not abandon those left behind who love and miss him.

Many members entered church grieving on Sunday, but probably left with a renewed feeling of hope. I know I did.

Brody Bourland may not still be with his family and friends here on earth, but he most certainly has entered into his heavenly home.

An e-mail I received from a friend last week who attended Brody’s funeral contained a conversation between Brody’s younger brother, Brock, and someone else who attended the funeral.

Brody's last purchase was a Notre Dame four-leaf-clover hat for Brock. He has yet to take it off, even for the funeral.

Somebody told him that the hat must not have been too lucky, but Brock responded by saying that his older brother was the luckiest, because he is now with Jesus.

Brody has not been abandoned and neither have we; Brody is now with Jesus.

Teams could play better with more fans Thank you so much for this article. I sometimes feel like my sister and I are the only ones yelling at the boys’ basketball games. And my husband, when he gets to come.

I, too, was at the Arkansas game, and I had the same thoughts you did. I know the old argument on both sides: If the team did better, the fans would show up; if the fans came to the game, the team would do better.

I think in this instance, the basketball team has improved over the past three years, but I’ve not seen the fans improve

YOUR VOICE

Respond to Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu

In Your Words How do you think President Bush will do in his second term?

“He’ll probably do well; he initiated some things in his last term that could turn out well with a continuation of efforts.”

“I think he’ll look back and see his mistakes and successes and try to improve on that—work more on foreign relations.”

“I think he will do good, and I think the economy will go up.”

“I don’t necessarily agree with a lot of decisions he’s made, so hopefully it will be a little bit better than the first.”

Dusty Vaughn

Ariel Marrs

Portia Andrews

Brad Chapman

junior biology major from Nashville, Tenn.

freshman biochemistry major from Bronte

senior communication major from Dallas

freshman business management major from Mesquite

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

The board should not penalize students in non-curricular clubs because it’s afraid of what will happen if a Gay-Straight Alliance club is formed. Having the organization on campus could teach students the importance of having an open dialogue about differences instead of giving the impression that homosexuality cannot be spoken about.

The school board has not made a decision yet; it will conduct another meeting Feb. 14 to hear more public opinion. But the members should recognize that by outlawing non-curricular clubs, they only hurt the students.

Omega, the sider how this The board should not penalize students in clubs key Chess Club or policy is detribecause it’s afraid of what will happen. the Synchromental to stunized Swimming dents and allow Club. All of the clubs back on these organizations, and many campus. across campus.

Also, students don’t have the more on ACU’s campus, would These clubs now have to cope with declining membership, find- opportunity to grow, mature and have been forced off had they existed at Abilene High or ing a new place to meet and meet different people.

Students at ACU wouldn’t be Cooper. arranging for transportation.

The students also could be at a Before the ban, for example, able to exhibit their diversity as the clubs could meet in the cafe- well without Essence of Ebony, disadvantage after high school beteria after school. Now, leaders Hispanos Unidos or Shades. They cause employers and schools foand officers have the extra burden wouldn’t have as many chances to cus on hiring and recruiting wellof locating an off-campus loca- serve without Habitat for Hu- rounded people, those who have tion, while members, and some- manity, Wildcat Kids or Senior participated in a variety of activitimes parents, have to drive out of Buddies. And they couldn’t culti- ties. Involvement in clubs looks the way to get there instead of stu- vate their skills and hobbies to the good on a résumé and displays dents just being able to walk same degree without Alpha Hoc- leadership and diversity.

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

Re: The Optimist, January 14 “Students should support sports” by Kyle Robarts, sports writer

much. Maybe that would help the basketball team some.

It would be fun to see what would happen. At any rate, I again thank you for your concern and the article.

Anita Bissett from Brownfield

The Optimist Editorial Board

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

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

FROM THE FRONT PAGE/CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Page 7

Debate: Practice time-consuming Continued from Page 1 of debate, for their focus.

“As representatives of a Christian school, we are under a microscope when we go to tournaments,” Smith said. “Dr. Gary has put that focus on us.

She tells us it isn’t about the trophies; it’s about how we compete.”

Smith said he is already preparing to attend two national tournaments this semester—Pi Kappa Delta, a society for debaters, and the Novice Nationals.

“Debate takes a lot more time than people think it does—usually twenty hours a

week,” he said.

Alvarez confirmed, adding, “Tournaments are long and exhausting. We drive all day before we arrive at our hotel late at night. We wake up early … and debate until late, sometimes midnight. Then we wake up at 6:30 in the morning and do it all over again.”

However, Alvarez said she believes in the benefits of debate.

“Debate sharpens your research abilities. It increases your ability to be quick-witted.

It builds confidence, polishes speaking skills, fosters team spirit, good stuff like that.”

Because this is Alvarez’s last

semester in debate before graduation in May, she said the tournaments are bittersweet.

“I want my team to continue without me,” Alvarez said.

“I want them to love debate as much as I do, love each other and continue the tradition of the team. I would like to be missed when I go, but I really hope that my team will be able to do everything that they are doing now and more.”

The team competes again Feb. 11 at Oklahoma University.

E-mail Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu

Cards: Switch caused problems Continued from Page 1

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Chris Thomsen, who was recently named head football coach, comes to ACU from Central Arkansas, which was 8-3 last season and No. 1 in the nation for points scored per contest.

idence halls and computer labs to use during the weekend so that students could still access them.

K r i s t y Strickland from technology support said a few students Strickland called with

questions or complaints, but the response was not overwhelming, and all the cards should be working again.

The university switched during the Christmas break from the old ICAM card system, which had been used for more than 10 years, to the CS Gold system. Wallace said the new system is more robust and can be expanded more easily for future needs, and it uses students’ Banner ID numbers instead of Social

Security numbers.

“All in all, there have been some problems, but not as severe as could have been,” Wallace said. “We’ve were able to do a lot of things in the conversion that helped the campus, and of course, any time you have a changeover there’s going to be things that slip through the cracks.”

E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu

Coach: Thomsen alumnus of ACU Library looks for new concept Continued from Page 1 son and ranked No. 1 in the nation in points scored at 38.1 per contest. Thomsen coached the offensive line coach at UCA where two of the team’s running backs rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and the team’s quarterback, Zak Clark, threw for 251.1 yards per game.

If Thomsen is able to duplicate these kinds of numbers at ACU, it could lead to the exciting style of football that Mosley spoke of. Last season under head coach Gary Gaines, the Wildcats only produced 22.2 points per game and passed for just 151.6 yards per game.

Junior punter Chase Fishback said the team is glad that the anxiety of finding a head football coach is over. Fishback

also said the team is looking forward to playing under Thomsen.

“I’d like to see him be as much of a leader as coach Gaines was,” Fishback said. “I’d like to see a more dynamic offense … something where we can put more points on the board and increase the fan support at home.”

Mosley also said he wanted to bring in a coach that would return ACU’s football team to national prominence. ACU’s last trip to the national post season was in 1977 when the team won the NAIA national championship.

Twenty-eight years later, Thomsen said he is ready to make Mosley’s wish a reality.

“Make no mistake. If I didn’t think we could win here, if I

didn’t believe we could win, I wouldn’t be here,” Thomsen said. “I come from a program that has taught me a lot about pushing the envelope and doing everything you can to get to a national level.”

When Gaines left the team Jan. 7, he said the thing he would remember the most at ACU was the relationships he formed while he was here.

Thomsen, like his predecessor, echoed those sentiments.

“The things that I remember most at ACU are the relationships with players, coaches, players’ parents and teachers,” Thomsen said. “I think that’s the thing that endures the most in coming to a place like ACU.” E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

D.C.: Students partake in event Continued from Page 1 presidential events in D.C., the group witnessed many acts of protest.

“Seeing the protests there was a learning experience,” Roberts said. “Living down here, you only see one side, and I think it’s important to know that in a democracy, there are lots of sides.”

Roberts said her spot on the parade route was in the midst of many protesters, and after she left the area, the police used water cannons and tear gas on the crowd.

“It was really crazy and a little bit scary at times,” she said.

Cosgrove, however, viewed the parade from a different location and witnessed someone throw a snowball at the President’s motorcade. He also

saw a group of protesters giving the Nazi salute to the president and some of the armed forces.

“Besides that, the protesters I was around didn’t do a whole lot,” he said.

Cosgrove also attended one of the inaugural balls, the Independence Ball.

“It was hilarious because a lot of the main streets were shut down, and women in minks and men in tuxes were carrying their luggage through the slush,” he said.

Megan Holmes, senior political science major from Coppell, also attended the inauguration, but as a volunteer.

“It was incredible,” Holmes said. She said she helped seat people at two concerts, helped people park their cars at the Constitution Ball and attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Holmes spent last semester as an intern in D.C. with the American Cities program through the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.

“It was the perfect end to the election process,” she said. “I saw the whole election process firsthand.”

“Just being in the city during that time is really different,” she said. “The whole city shuts down.”

Holmes said she recommends that everyone interested in politics should visit D.C. and try to attend an inauguration, and Cosgrove agreed.

“It was one of those experiences I’d encourage everyone to do,” he said.

E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu

with technology and allowed to encourage the building of relationships, because relationships with people are what makes Christian education what it should be.”

By DANIELLE LINTHICUM Tyler King, senior interior STAFF WRITER design major from Abilene, is Big, comfortable chairs are one of the students working on arranged in twos and threes, the library redesign. inviting friendly conversation.

“I’m really excited about the Soft lighting illuminates stupossibilities,” she said. “I think dents who are talking, laughing it will turn out really nice.” and reading to the sound of live Administrators realize the music, and gentle typing on the remodel will be a challenge; computers is scattered throughhowever, Saltsman said whatevout the room. er it takes is Sounds worth the eflike a Starfort.

Fifty “On weekends ... the library is deserted. bucks or thousand to Barnes and 75,000 books We want that to change.”

Noble, right? will probably Wrong. have to be George Saltsman, director of educational technology The atmoved and an mosphere entire floor might soon rearranged for come to an area of the Brown media consultant and Kinko’s- the renovation.

Library called the Learning type copy center within the Work probably won’t begin Commons, administrators said. Learning Commons. until summer because of the “I would love for this to be“I hope to see students size of the project, Saltsman come the coolest coffee shop in hanging out, working on proj- said.

Abilene,” said George Saltsman, ects together, eating, having a “It will be mess,” he said. director of educational technol- cup of coffee, maybe even “I’m expecting to have to ogy and an overseer of the proj- bringing in live music,” repaint, tear up carpet, the ect.

Saltsman said. whole works to accomplish the “On weekends, bookstores “We want to help students effect that we want. and coffee houses are packed succeed, and the library is cru“Honestly, as long as we can with college students, but the cial to that,” said Mark Tucker, get rid of the lime-green furnilibrary is deserted,” Saltsman dean of library and information ture, I’m happy.” said. “We want that to change.” research.

E-mail Linthicum at: Two groups of pre-architec“The Academic Library del01a@acu.edu ture and interior design stu- needs to be seriously injected

Officials discuss ideas to allow more relaxed atmosphere for studying

dents are developing ideas based on their peers’ opinions of the project.

“Nobody will know more about this than students,” Saltsman said. “Their opinion is very important.”

The type of library that prohibits food and discourages loud talking does not benefit today’s scholastic environment, Saltsman said.

The new area will be student-centered, he said. Administrators plan to have a writing center, Team 55 station, multi-

FOCUSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST

January 26, 2005

The

Whole Enchilada

B

uffalo Gap, located south of Abilene, isn’t much like the surrounding areas. Some would argue it isn’t like anywhere else in the world.

Ancient pecan trees line the streets and cast their thick branches protectively over the winding road. Here, porch lights are left on all night, casting a friendly, welcoming glow. Most residents of the small town, which boasts a population of 463, know each other by first name. White-picket fences are a household staple rather than a quaint accessory.

Buffalo Gap is where Lola Molina, proprietor of Lola’s Mexican Food Café, has called home for the past 25 years. It is the setting of the biggest events in her life: where she met and married her husband Oscar, where her two kids—Megan, 11, and Eric, 9—were born, and where she worked at her first job at a little café called Judy’s.

Today that café, where she started out as a dishwasher and waitress, belongs to her. ola came to Buffalo Gap from Zacatecas, Mexico when she was 13 years old. After taking one look at land rich in buffalo grass and abundant varieties of trees she decided she never wanted to leave Buffalo Gap. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.

At the time, Lola was traveling with her uncle, Javier, who lived in Buffalo Gap. She was searching for her father, who had recently moved from Mexico to Dallas. To provide the money necessary for their travels, she worked as a maid and continued working even after she found her father.

Lola was walking to work when she met Judy Nalda, who had recently started her restaurant on a street near where Lola lived with her uncle. Nalda stood outside her restaurant inviting people to come in and sample the authentic Mexican cuisine. She hired Lola on the spot.

“My uncle didn’t want to let me work there,” Lola admits.

“He told Judy that I could only work at the restaurant for two weeks.”

“And I am still here,” she adds with a laugh.

Lola became the owner of Judy’s when Nalda decided to move to New Mexico to be closer to her own family.

“She just gave the place to me,” Lola said.

“She loved me and I loved her. She didn’t want me to suffer because she practically raised me. She considered me her daughter.”

The friends still speak on the phone and Lola made sure the environment of the restaurant still hints at memories of its former owner. In fact, the only thing that changed about the restaurant was the name—from

L

Judy’s to Lola’s. alda, who taught Lola about running a café before turning the business over to her friend, began the restaurant after a difficult divorce. Some patrons credit Lola with the clever yet harsh “House Rules: Guidelines for Survival” painted on the walls of the restaurant. One of the rules in particular, number eight “MEN WAIT ON WOMEN HERE!!” causes the most speculation among guests. However, Lola is quick to explain that the rules are Nalda’s legacy, spawned by her bitterness toward her exhusband.

Lola’s own relationship with men was rocky before she met her husband, Oscar.

Her father left her mother and ten children in Mexico, promising to send money and begin a life for them in Texas.

When Lola’s mother had stopped hearing from or receiving money from her husband, she encouraged her oldest daughter to find him. When Lola finally did, he told her to go back home and he would send money. The rejection was devas-

N

because she is trying to diet.

“Sometimes in Mexico we used these Coke-bottle references to talk about our bodies,” she said. “Well, I don’t want to be a three liter. I want to be a 20 ounce.”

Nevertheless, Lola can’t help but sample some of her favorite recipes. She says the restaurant specialty is the green enchiladas.

But her personal favorite is the Navajo fry bread.

“We are the only place in the area to have it,” she said.

She isn’t very secretive about her recipes. Every year, Lola proudly displays the special ingredients to the restaurant’s main meals in the community cookbook “Tastes from the Gap.” Anyone can buy the book in the Buffalo Gap Town Hall.

She also isn’t too shy to admit the other restaurants she likes.

“I love pizza, Chinese food, Abuelo’s. Oh, and Grandy’s.”

Upon first impression, some would have a hard time believing this tiny Mexican woman could have an appreciation for Chinese. Lola said she loves it.

Lola is not very impressive in stature. She barely clears five

“If you have a bad outlook on life, go sit on the porch until you can change it!”

Fifth rule on wall of Lola’s café

tating, but it inspired Lola to apply for her visa and stay in Texas, a feat she accomplished when she began working at the restaurant.

“I was looking for love from my father, not money,” Lola said. t wasn’t until years later when Molina met Oscar at a party that she started to trust men again.

“My mom saw my dad and loved him at first sight,” Eric Molina, a student at Jim Ned elementary, boasts. “Of course, she’d had too many margaritas.”

Eric says that his mom was so desperate to meet his dad that she followed him anywhere— even into the men’s bathroom.

“My dad always jokes that he chose my mom because she was persistent. And brave enough to follow him into the boy’s restroom.”

“Yes, and look where that persistence got me: two monster kids!” she teases back.

The family of four lives less than a mile from the restaurant.

When Megan and Eric aren’t at school or helping their mother at Lola’s, they are playing one of the many sports they enjoy— basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey. Their dad coaches their Little League games.

The family attends Buffalo Gap Baptist Church.

Oscar Molina works at the Mrs. Baird’s bakery on South Treadaway. Lola admits her husband brings home more baked goods than she does, but she tries to discourage him from doing that

I

feet. Her hair is short and mostly dark brown, although in the front—the section that she touches often—it is oddly tinted with a shade of red. Her thick Mexican accent, a remnant of her days in Mexico, is one of her most prominent features next to her smile and her boisterous laugh. hen Lola came to the United States she enrolled in an English as a Second Language class at a local church. However, she quickly dropped out of the program when she discovered an alternative way to learn English: television.

“I learned how to speak English watching The Dukes of Hazard and Dallas,” she said. “I had my tutorial twice daily.”

She bought an English/Mexican dictionary to keep the confusing words straight. Although she still struggles with some elements of the English language, Lola believes her method was more successful than any other she could have tried.

“Judy and I would get in an argument and BOOM! All of the English words I would learn on those shows came out,” she said.

Lola said she also had help from friends. Sometimes, when Nalda would ask her to take orders over the phone she would call a friend on three-way and have the friend take the order in English and then translate it to Spanish for her.

“Maybe I should have stayed in school,” Lola said. “When I

W

Lola Molina displays a sample of her food in front of Lola’s Mexican Food Cafe. was my kids’ age I wanted to go to college, which is why I have already saved enough money to put my own through college” Lola says that her top priority is to see her children be successful in school. She hired private tutors for her son and daughter and often scolds her son when he lets his grades drop.

“One time he got into trouble and the principal called me to ask me what he should do. Of course, he knew me very well— everyone around here knows us well,” she said. “That is why I would never leave this place.”

Although, Lola admits that sometimes the adventurous spirit that brought her to Buffalo Gap tempts her to leave for other enticing lands.

She specifically recalls a time when a real estate agent from Memphis ate at her restaurant when he was in town visiting relatives. She said he was so impressed he offered to move her and her family to Memphis.

He would provide a house and a building for a new restaurant there and she wouldn’t have to pay him back for two years.

Ultimately she decided to stay where she was instead of uprooting her family from their comfortable life.

After all, she knows her children are getting a good education here and that is what is most important, she said.

“Jim Ned is a wonderful school.”

Sometimes Lola still experiences days when she wonders what it would be like to live somewhere else or do something else for a living, but she says she is not easily discouraged.

When times are hard she needn’t do more than look at her wall for a quick dose of perspective.

The fifth rule on the wall reads, “If you have a bad outlook on life, go sit on the porch until you can change it!”

When she does, she sees the ancient pecan trees, the welcoming porch lights, and the white-picket fences. She knows she is home.

Molina covers an entree with cheese to be given to a customer.

Lola kneads the dough for her personal favorite entree, Navajo fry bread.

Pictures by Eyakem Gulilat Story by Tiffany Williams Design by Mallory Sherwood

Molina sits in front of the “House Rules: Guide for Survival” displayed on the wall.

Molina laughs with customers Jase Rhoden, John Starnes, and Colt McCoy, all seniors at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola as they eat lunch on Tuesday.

Molina rolls dough in her kitchen as she listens to Latino music.

Page 5

SPORTS JUMPS

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Track: Next meets to be in Lubbock

Women: Best start in LSC South since 1999 Continued from Page 10 The Wildcats’ inside game was even more welcome on a night when their perimeter game was lacking. Leading scorer Ashley King was held without a field goal in the game, finishing with four points from the free throw line. Fellow outside starter Meredith Doyle was held to just two points as she was plagued by foul trouble most of the night.

“A lot of people are guarding our shooters pretty tight, and we haven’t been shooting the ball great,” Lavender said.

With key players struggling, the Wildcats turned again to Barbee. The division’s player of the week finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Barbee’s three steals on Saturday led an ACU defensive effort that forced the Javelinas into 24 turnovers. TAMU-K was led by Dely’La Hoodye’s 16 points and Kaipresha Price’s 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The win was ACU’s eighth in nine games and improved its record to 12-4, 3-0 in the LSC South Division. It also ensured ACU of its best start in LSC South competition since 1998-99, when the team began 7-0 on its way to a conference championship. The Wildcats will hit the road Thursday for a matchup A&Magainst Texas Commerce.

E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu

Continued from Page 10

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Junior center Jamie Boles battles under the basket with a Lady Javelina defender during the ACU 76-66 win Saturday.

Robarts: Fed up with professional basketball Continued from Page 10 which most games the scores end up 3-2, or even worse, a tie, I get to hear Dick Vitale overreact over a great layup, or I get a chance to see an upset as an unranked school knocks off a powerhouse.

I used to be an NBA guy.

The league was fairly easy to follow with 30 teams or so and around 350 players, whereas college basketball has more than 100 teams and more than 1,500 players coming in and out every four years making it tough to keep tabs on.

But I’m fed up with professional basketball right now.

I’m sick of the Latrell Sprewells who can’t seem to find enough change left over to feed their families with a $17

million a year contract.

I’m sick of a system where we expect players to behave themselves and not throw punches when the league pays players three, four and sometimes five times what their coach pulls down in a season.

I’m sick of the soap operas that the Shaq and Kobe era have had because of their selfishness, and knowing that if they had just swallowed themselves they could have won about a hundred championships.

I’m sick of the no defensin’, mix tapin’ thugs who think because they’re pushing seven-feet tall that it’s something special when they throw down a dunk that only requires about a 12-inch vertical.

Ever since the departure of

Page 9

Michael Jordan, the energy of the professional game has lost its luster with me, and that is what I think has drawn me back to the college game.

Where else can you group together literally thousands of undergraduate students in the same sections who are truly passionate about their team and go insane with every scored bucket, every blocked shot, and every bad call the referee makes? Students at Duke University literally camp out on the lawn in front of Cameron Indoor Stadium the night before game day just

so they can be on the front rows of the student sections for the game.

On most Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, if you don’t see me watching ACU’s own Joe Carr toss the alleyhoop to Hakim Rasul or watch our ladies pull off an upset on some overrated team from San Angelo, you can bet that there’s a game on somewhere that I’m watching.

And hockey, I couldn’t love you more.

Respond to Robarts at: optimist@acu.edu or kdr00c@acu.edu

sional height of 12-5, winning her event. Newcomer ShaunaKay Thompson won the 200meter dash with the nation’s top time, 24.61. Teammate Jessica Hunt also posted a provisional time of 25.34 in the event. The women’s 4x400-meter relay team also ran a provisional qualifying time of 3:52.2.

In Fayetteville, the men’s distance medley relay team (with legs of 1200, 400, 800 and 1600 meters) placed third overall with a provisional time of 9:50.26. This season will be the first to include the DMR on the schedule at indoor nationals. Newcomer Lucky Hadebe ran a provisional qualifying time in the mile, placing eighth in 4:12.1.

Senior Marvin Essor was eighth in the men’s 400-meter dash, running a provisional time of 48.36.

Brooklyn Hunt, twin sister of Jessica, ran 25.26 to qualify provisionally in the women’s 200-meter dash, while the

women’s distance medley relay squad posted a provisional time of 12:17.93.

Head coach Jon Murray said the first two outings were as good as any opening weekend he’s seen in the last several years.

“It was a good opening for us. We had some real good stuff there,” Murray said. “It was great to have a low-key one in Lubbock and a little bit better one for some of our guys in Arkansas.”

Murray said he expects athletes to improve on times posted this weekend through hard work at practice.

“If we get good weather, more workouts, more chances to compete, we should improve from where we are,” Murray said. “It’ll all come together by nationals.”

The Wildcats will be in Lubbock the next two weekends for the Red Raider Classic and the Red Raider Invitational, respectively.

E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu

SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST

Page 10

LSC South Standings current through 01-24-05

Wildcats win first game in LSC South Cats beat Angelo State 101-94, move up two spots in LSC South

Men’s Basketball Team A&M-Kingsville A&M-Commerce Midwestern State West Texas A&M ACU Angelo State E. New Mexico

Div. 2-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 0-3

Tot. 11-6 15-3 10-8 8-10 8-10 8-10 7-11

By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER

Women’s Basketball Team ACU West Texas A&M A&M-Commerce Angelo State Texas Woman’s E. New Mexico Midwestern State A&M-Kingsville

Div. 3-0 3-1 3-1 2-1 2-2 1-3 1-3 0-4

Tot. 12-4 12-5 8-9 14-2 9-7 7-10 6-11 4-13

Upcoming events in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Thursday, January 27 WBB: TX A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m.

MBB: TX A&M Commerce, 8 p.m.

Saturday, January 29 WBB: Midwestern State, 6 p.m.

MBB: Midwestern State, 8 p.m.

Thursday, February 3 WBB: Eastern New Mexico, 5:30 p.m.

MBB: Eastern New Mexico, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 5 WBB: West Texas A&M, 6 p.m.

MBB: West Texas A&M, 8 p.m.

Track meets opening weekend success 13 individuals, three relay teams qualify for championships

By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER

The ACU men’s and women’s track and field teams barnstormed meets in Lubbock and Fayetteville, Ark., Friday and Saturday, qualifying 13 individuals and three relay teams for the 2005 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships. Seven men, one woman and one relay qualified in five events at the Wes Kittley All-Comers Meet at Texas Tech, while four athletes and one relay qualified provisionally at the Razorback Invitational.

The meets were the first of the season for ACU, which will defend its men’s indoor title.

The women’s team will look to improve on its fourth-place finish indoors in 2004.

A complete season preview will appear in Friday’s Optimist.

At the Lubbock meet, named for longtime Wildcat coach Wes Kittley, seven men qualified in five events. Senior Ben Washington won the triple jump with a distance of 50-0 1/2, which was a nation-best and provisional qualifying mark. Senior Cory Aguilar also won his event, the pole vault, with a provisional height of 161. Junior Delt Cockrell finished well in the 400-meter dash, winning the event with a provisional time of 48.66.

Newcomer Vladyslav Gorbenko placed second in the men’s triple jump, posting a provisional mark of 48-0.

Two Wildcats posted some of the nation’s top times in the 200 meters, an event just added to the indoor national meet this season. Sophomore Marvin Bien-Aime and Elton GarusOab placed second and third, respectively, in the men’s 200meter dash, with respective provisional times of 21.34 and 21.55.

For the women, pole-vaulter Angie Aguilar cleared a proviSee TRACK Page 9

January 26, 2005

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Senior guard David Baxter drives past Ram defender Royce Hall on his way to the basket during ACU’s 10194 victory over Angelo State in Moody Coliseum on Monday. Baxter had 44 points in the game, one short of the ACU record for most in a game, and eight 3-pointers, tying the school record for most in a game.

David Baxter was feeling it.

The senior guard took out his frustration of a six-game losing streak on Angelo State Monday night as he lit up the scoreboard for 44 points in ACU’s 101-94 victory at Moody Coliseum.

The win provided the Wildcats with their first Lone Star Conference South Division success and the team obtained revenge on Angelo State who handed ACU an 8985 loss on Jan. 18 in the LSC South Division opener.

Baxter’s eight 3-pointers tied him with Hunter Cooley (‘94) for the most in school history, and his 44 points was the second highest in school history behind Jim Reynolds’ 45 set in 1963.

“Everyone on the team showed character tonight,” Baxter said. “We did some soul searching after coming out flat against [Texas A&M]Kingsville. Nobody wanted to feel that embarrassment again.”

The Rams made the Wildcats uncomfortable at times in the second half as the Wildcats’ 20-point-haltime lead was cut to one with 6:07 left when the Wildcats led just 78-77. The second-half charge led by Angelo’s Jermel Brooks — who had 23 of his 25 points in the second half — wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

“We told the players at the half that they had to understand that there were 20 minutes left to play,” head coach Klint Pleasant said. “We knew they would come out with nothing to lose; kind of like we did against Tarleton earlier in the season when we were down 19 at half. But even though [Angelo] was able to cut the lead to single digits, I always felt we were in control.”

ACU was able to hold off the rally with an 8-2 run that began after the media timeout with 4:35 remaining and was highlighted by Baxter’s steal from Angelo’s O’Neal Mims which he followed with a

Barbee dominates off the bench Junior guard helps Cats to a 3-0 start in LSC South Division

By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER

The women’s basketball team began Lone Star Conference South Division play with three games last week and, with help from an award-winning week from Kierstan Barbee, won all three games.

Barbee averaged 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals during the week to earn LSC South Division Women's Player of the Week honors.

The junior guard’s most impressive outing came in Thursday’s 71-61 win over Texas Woman’s University.

Barbee provided a spark off the bench for the Wildcats, pitching in 23 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, all team highs.

“I just went out there to pick up the team,” Barbee said. “Our starters came out very intense, so it is kind of hard to add to that. The other team talked a lot of trash, and I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll do this, you do your thing and we’ll see who comes out ahead.’”

Aside from her offensive aggressiveness, Barbee played tough defense on TWU’s Matalya McBath, holding the Pioneers’ star guard to six second-half points after she poured 17 in the first half.

“In the first half, we let her play like an All-

American,” said Shawna Lavender, head women’s basketball coach. “In the second half, we really shut her down. Kierstan played great defense on her.”

The Wildcats followed the win with a 76-66 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday.

Jamie Boles, who led the charge with 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the game, said the fatigue of playing three games in five days showed in the first half, but the effects were less evident after the break.

“We were just trying to be physical with them,” Boles said. “I think they were more aggressive with us in the first half.”

Boles led a n o t h e r down-low assault for the Wildcats, who have l a m b a s ted Boles teams of late in the post. Stephanie Riles, the other ACU starting post, helped the Wildcats’ cause with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Wildcats also out-rebounded the Javelinas 41-33, further evidence of their dominance down low.

“In the second half, we started attacking more, started getting the ball to Jamie (Boles) more,” Lavender said.

“We talked at halftime about getting the ball inside more.

We were taking some bad shots, so we started being more patient on offense.”

See WOMEN Page 9

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Junior guard Kierstan Barbee hits a layup over Lady Javelinas defenders during the 76-66 Wildcat victory Saturday in Moody Coliseum. Barbee came of the bench for 16 points, adding to her LSC South Division Player of the Week numbers, as she averaged 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals in the first week of division play for ACU.

cross-court pass to Hakim Rasul whose layup on the break gave the Wildcats an 90-83 advantage.

Rasul — the nation’s fourthleading scorer as of Monday— finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds giving him his 11th double-double of the season.

The deciding factor for both teams was free throws.

ACU was 24 of 28 with Baxter hitting all 14 of his attempts and eight in the final 0:51 that kept Angelo’s final comeback efforts at bay. Angelo State struggled, however, hitting only eight on 19 attempts.

Pleasant said that hitting free throws down the stretch was significant on Monday and said that he hopes that will continue throughout the rest of the season.

“We told the players that there are two things they need to do the rest of the season,” Pleasant said.

“They need to hit their free throws and make their Rasul layups.”

Monday’s win came off of a disappointing 92-78 loss against Kingsville on Saturday afternoon. The Javelinas shot 57.6 percent from the field compared to the Wildcats’ 44.6 percent, and ACU’s 19 turnovers plagued the team in a game where it never led.

Rasul led the squad in scoring with 27 points and six rebounds while Baxter added 17.

At 1-2 in the LSC South, the Wildcats will take to the road for the next four games including Thursday’s contest with Texas A&MCommerce — who is ranked No. 10 in the nation — and then head to Wichita Falls for a game with Midwestern State.

“I look forward to see how our guys match up with [Commerce],” Pleasant said.

“It’s good that we’re entering the game with momentum and hopefully we’ll be ready to battle them on Thursday.”

E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu

College ball: true passion I officially love hockey. Well, not exactly.

I can honestly say that I have never watched a hockey game from start to finish, I can’t name all the NHL teams, nor am I familiar with more than just a handful of marquee players; Kyle’s and my idea of good hockey is Column Kyle Robarts E m i l i o Estevez’s 1992 flick The Mighty Ducks.

But I’ve become a true fan.

The NHL is currently on lockout; they haven’t played a single game this season because the owners and players’ union cannot come to an agreement, and the former great Wayne Gretzky has been quoted saying that the lockout could last years.

So why have I become a huge hockey fan when they haven’t even taken the ice this season you ask?

Because according to Monday’s issue of Sports Illustrated, hockey’s bickering has led to ESPN’s televising of 18 more college basketball games that wouldn’t have been televised otherwise. How could hockey be any better?

Instead of watching toothless men flutter about an iceskating rink with sticks in See ROBARTS Page 9