OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY February 11, 2005
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 36 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Trapped like mice:
‘Life is like a box of chocolates’:
Winning ways:
The Theatre Department’s production The Mousetrap opened Thursday. Page 5
Candies by Vletas has hand dipped chocolate at its Abilene location since 1912, and students can also visit McKay’s and Russell Stover for candy needs. Page 5
The softball team split its first doubleheader this season and swept the second. Page 8
Congress votes not to impeach members
For love of the game South Africans relocate to ACU to pursue college education and tennis By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Through the slats in the window blinds, the tall, strawberryblond head of George Carstens can be seen bobbing with laughter as he leads a female friend in a South African dance. Behind him, barely visible through the thin streams of light drifting out into the dark night, sits Casper Steenkamp, his tan face and green eyes intent on the friend he is talking with. This is an unusual weekend for Casper and George, who spend most of their free time on the tennis courts, practicing, giving lessons or playing in tournaments. But in their time off the court, as intensity of the game disappears, the two laid-back roommates like nothing more than to spend time with their friends and
share something of their home with them. Dancing is one of those things. Since home is more than 2,000 miles away, they do what they can. Of course it helps that they live 20 feet down the hall from each other and know each other as well as family. George, tall and lanky with reddish hair and a ruddy complexion, looks nothing like Casper, who’s more compact with dark, curly hair and chiseled features; however, something about them makes it obvious that they’re more than just teammates. George, sophomore business major from Stellenbosch, South Africa, grew up in a mountain valley town outside of Capetown, the home of Casper Steenkamp, junior business major. The two tennis players first thought of each other as rivals when they met about 10 years ago, but after
About 75 percent of SA could have been eligible for removal from office EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Casper Steenkamp, junior business major from Capetown, South Africa, and George Carstens, sophomore business major from Stellenbosch, South Africa, grew up knowing each other and ended up at ACU together. attending the same high school for five years and playing on the same tennis team, they became best friends.
Getting here Now they’re all each other has
from home. If George yells something in Afrikaans while playing tennis, Casper understands. And no one else quite feels the thrill of watching a close Saturday afternoon rugby match as the two See TENNIS Page 4
By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
A week after no member of Congress protested proceeding with impeachment procedures against Williams Performing Arts Center Rep. Zach Tabers, the Students’ Association backed off its position Wednesday. More than half the members present voted against continuing with the proceedings to impeach Tabers for excessive absences. Tabers, who missed seven of 11 meetings last semester and all four official meetings this semester, offered a written statement explaining his absences. He mainly pointed to his participation in the A Cappella Choir, which practices at the same time as SA meetings, as the reason for his absences. He also wrote that he would make a more concerted effort to attend meetings and vote absentee for those he could not attend. SA’s Constitution says a member may be impeached if they do not attend 80 percent of See SA Page 7
Sing Song preparation weekend shortened EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Casper Steenkamp, junior business major from Capetown, South Africa, and George Carstens, sophomore business major from Stellenbosch, South Africa, decided to come to America to pursue a college education and tennis, something they said they could not have done in South Africa.
By MARY TAN STUDENT REPORTER
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but for many students, finding a date isn’t the point. “It’s not just for couples,” said
Adriana Clonts, freshman vocal performance major from Temple. “It should be a celebration of love and friendship, not just romantic love.” She said she plans to spend her weekend shopping with “other single friends.” Kaela Latimer, senior elementary education major from Amarillo, agreed with Clonts. “My idea of Valentine’s Day is celebrating it with people you care
about,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a guy-girl thing.” Many students said they do not feel pressured to go out on a date and do not have anything specific scheduled. Some plan to relax in their residence hall rooms or hang out with a group of friends, treating the weekend before the holiday like any other weekend. On the other hand, Daniel Sharp, senior physics major from
By CIANA HARDWICK STUDENT REPORTER
San Antonio, said he plans to cook dinner for his date this weekend. He said he is cooking because he wanted to, not necessarily out of obligation. “I’d rather do something because I decide to, not because there’s some impending holiday,” he said. For students like Joshua Lai, freshman communication major
Moody Weekend participants might actually be able to sleep some this year as a result of the schedule changes being planned. The event, which is a chance for club and class acts to practice their Sing Song performances, will begin Friday at 5 p.m. and end Saturday at 1:15 a.m. In an attempt to ensure the Friday night practice does not go long, two clubs will perform Wednesday night, and each act will have tighter time restraints. Each act will have a 40minute time allotment to practice, and there will be a five-minute break between the acts. Sing Song organizers made the changes largely because last year’s Moody Weekend, which went late into Saturday morning, said Jeffrey Rasco, Sing Song co-chair in charge of
See PLANS Page 7
See MOODY Page 7
Students split on Valentine’s Day plans Some plan special events for holiday, others continue as normal
Two clubs will practice early; groups will have five minutes less
Black History show coming to Cullen Cast, crew have worked on production since November By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
This year’s Black History production, Alae: The Roots are Deeper Still, will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium. The play was written last summer by Takisha Knight, sophomore English major from Lake Charles, La. The story fol-
lows a girl who realizes around the time of her high school graduation that she doesn’t really know her father and would like to get to know him better, said La Shae Sloan, director of Student Multicultural Enrichment and Student Services. The girl, Alae, decides to travel from New Jersey to Louisiana to live with her father for a while and learn more about him and his family. Sloan said the play will include dances and music native to Louisiana, and it will be “fun, entertaining and edu-
cational — that’s what we always strive for with the Black History production.” The cast and crew have been working since November, and three former directors, all alumni of ACU, have come back to lead the show: Courtney Jackson and Casaundra Johnson, both class of 2002, and Kim Roach, class of 2003. Roach said she had directed the production for three years before this year, and it’s different now because she gets to share Knight’s story through the play instead of
writing it herself. Sloan said more than 30 people are involved, and the directors have been instrumental in making sure everything runs smoothly. “They just know how to make this happen,” she said, “and they have the kind of spirit and energy where they motivate people in a loving way. It’s very much a gift.” Camile Jackson, senior family studies major from Abilene, has been involved in the Black See HISTORY Page 7
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Students from the Black History production act out an airport scene in Cullen Auditorium on Wednesday night during rehearsal. The production will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen, and tickets can be purchased in the ticket windows of the Campus Center.