OPTIMIST THE
WEDNESDAY February 16, 2005
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 37 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Double trouble:
Hitting the high notes:
Losing steam:
The women’s basketball team struggled against WTAMU again this week. Page 8
The Abilene Opera Association will present La Fanciulla del West at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. Page 3
The Wildcats couldn’t hold on to their lead late in Thursday’s game. Page 8
Four chairs decide to step down Department chairs will pursue other interests at university, around nation By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Four department chairs will leave their positions at the end of the semester. Dr. David Wray, chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry; Dr. Robert McKelvain,
chair of the Department of Psychology; Dr. Waymon Hinson, chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy; and Dr. David Hughes, chair of the Department of Math and Computer Science, will step down in order to pursue other interests. McKelvain said he plans to take a faculty renewal leave next year and devote more time to scholarship and research. “It’s time. I’ve done this, I think, for 12 years,” he said. “We
have very capable people in this department who can provide leadership.” Dr. Richard Beck will replace McKelvain as department chair next year, McKelvain said. Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, selected Beck in consultation with the department. “Dr. McKelvain has been a visionary leader who has worked well with both faculty and students,” Durrington said in an e-
mail. “We will miss his leadership.” Although McKelvain will spend much of his time in research next year, he also plans to teach two courses. Through his research, McKelvain said he wants to understand more about how effective negotiation works. “I haven’t had the time to devote to scholarship,” he said. See CHAIRS Page 5
Wray
Hinson
Tickets available for most shows
ISA, Hispanos Unidos plan to participate in Sing Song next year By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Wilson said. “They asked me if we could win again because my sister directed, but that has died down. The purpose of Sing Song is friendships, making music and fellowshipping.” David Gilly, senior exercise science major from Abilene and GSP Sing Song director, concurs. “I feel like there is a lot of pressure, especially since we have been able to win the past few years,” he said. “I’m just really looking forward to Sing Song. It has been really stressful building up to it.” Gilly, who directed Sing Song for GSP in the past, said he feels the need to know the club members performed their best more than he feels the need to win again. “We work very hard in
The International Students Association and Hispanos Unidos dropped out of the Sing Song competition this year because of a lack of participation, but members expect to return prepared for the 50th Sing Song in 2006. Jennifer Fuentes, president of Hispanos Unidos and junior art major from Abilene, said she expects the organization to be in the competition next spring. “Our goal is to be there and to be ready for the 50th anniversary of Sing Song, which is next year,” Fuentes said. “I know a lot of people were disappointed that we had to drop out this year, but we really want to get people interested in doing it and getting ready before time.” Many who were interested will be able to participate in their class or social club’s Sing Song performance. A minimum of 35 members is needed to participate in Sing Song, and only 20 from Hispanos Unidos showed interest this year, although several members began planning early, she said. Debbie Ortiz and Erica Aguilar are two of those members. “We were ecstatic when we were invited to participate in Sing Song,” said Ortiz, junior social work major from Mesquite. “For weeks straight, we couldn’t stop talking about how cool this was going to be.” The women said they worked together to plan the organization’s Sing Song act. “We had themes and songs already picked out,” said Aguilar, senior communication disorders major from Big Spring. “The theme was in Spanish, but in English it translated to ‘Without Boundaries.’ We were doing Latin music
See DYNASTY Page 5
See GROUPS Page 5
Few seats left for final performance can be bought in ticket office By JESSICA GOEN STAFF WRITER
As this year’s Sing Song performance nears, the demand for tickets is rising. Kendall Massey, Sing Song director, said Saturday night’s show is almost sold out because “excitement is growing on campus.” The few remaining tickets for this performance are near the top of Moody Coliseum. Two purchasing options are available to the public: online purchasing and offline. Tickets may be ordered online at ACUtickets.com with a credit card. Patrons purchasing the tickets online will receive them in the mail. When visiting the Web site, Massey said to allow sufficient time for the ordering process. Parties ordering tickets offline have other options. They may order tickets by mail, over the phone or in person. Tickets ordered by mail require a completed downloadable mail/fax form addressed to the Sing Song Office. To purchase tickets by telephone, call the Ticket Office at Ext. 2648. Students may also purchase tickets at the ticket windows in Moody Coliseum after Chapel this week. See TICKETS Page 5
Mixed voice groups opt out of show
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
The men of Gamma Sigma Phi rehearse their Sing Song act Friday night during Moody Weekend. GSP and the women of Sigma Theta Chi will both attempt to win their respective divisions in Sing Song for the fourth year in a row during this weekend’s shows.
Social clubs go for four-year sweep Gamma Sigma Phi, Sigma Theta Chi have won past three shows By TIFFANY WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR
Three years of dominance in any competition is the stuff headlines are made of, and this year’s Sing Song could be fierce as two social clubs have won best overall the past three years. However, members from Gamma Sigma Phi and Sigma Theta Chi, who have won Sing Song since 2002, don’t necessarily see it that way. Jenna Lucado, Siggies’ Sing Song director, said although the club’s dynasty is stressed in some circles, it isn’t her focus. “I do think people talk about it,” said Lucado, junior
integrated marketing communication major from San Antonio. “It’s a matter of choosing what to focus on. Every year is different, and every year is a new prospect. I do believe people try to stress the dynasty, but our focus is here and now.”
about the production makes the long hours of practice worthwhile. “She’s made it not about winning so much, but having fun, getting to know each other and working together,” Wilson said. “If winning were the focus, the intentions would
“I do believe people try to stress the dynasty, but our focus is here and now.” Jenna Lucado, Sigma Theta Chi’s Sing Song director
Kara Wilson, sophomore social work, children’s ministry and Spanish major from San Antonio, said Sigma Theta Chi has been practicing about eight hours a week in the Hilton Room of the Campus Center. She said Lucado’s attitude
be wrong, and then it wouldn’t be so much fun.” Wilson’s sister, Kasey Wilson, directed Sing Song for Sigma Theta Chi in 2004 before graduating. “People kept asking me about that at first,” Kara
Massey sets goals for his second year Sing Song could return profit for first time since 1993 production By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Kendall Massey has two goals for his second year directing Sing Song: to make it through the weekend and to make money on the show. So far, he’s on his way to reaching both goals, but with the most stressful days still ahead of him, he said he sometimes doubts he will make it through. Sing Song hasn’t made a profit since 1993, Massey said. But he said he should be close
to breaking even this year. “I’m crossing my fingers,” he said. “If we would have hit our ticket sales last year, we would have broke even.” Tickets for the Saturday night show are almost sold out already, he said, and online ticket ordering also looks positive. Last year, only 630 tickets were ordered online, but as of last week, 622 had already been ordered. “This year, we do know for certain we are up on orders,” Massey said. Friday night, usually the least attended of the productions, faculty and staff can buy up to four tickets for half price, Massey said. “I believe in being a good
steward of the funds and resources they’re giving us,” he added. Massey said he also has more changes in store for Sing Song. “One of the big ones is we are adding the video screen to the back, and people are trying to take advantage of that,” Massey said. Many of the changes will be a surprise, but overall, Massey said this year’s Sing Song is different from past productions. “The song selection is very different,” he said. “Last year it was very glitzy and poppy, but this year it is more retro.” Massey said a lot of changes are happening for the good, and he wants people to realize
the show doesn’t have to be the same every year. “There’s a whole lot that hasn’t been done in Sing Song, even though we’ve been doing it for 49 years,” he said. One aspect Massey has been trying to emphasize is the addition of other campus groups to the production. Hispanos Unidos and the International Students Association will be expected to be a part of the show next year, even though both groups dropped out this year. Massey’s wife, Vivi Massey, who is in charge of design, costumes, hair and make-up, said she is also excited about the See MASSEY Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Kendall Massey, director of student productions; Josh Castle, sophomore vocal music education major from Overland Park, Kan.; Vivi Massey, director of Sing Song design, costumes, hair and make-up; and Kelci Young, junior integrated marketing and communication major from Spring Hill, Tenn., discuss Sing Song at Monday’s practice.
CAMPUS
DAY
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
16
Calendar&Events Wednesday
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Saturday
Women’s social club meeting, 810:45 p.m., Living Room.
Spring break preview weekend, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation regional training, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Room.
Hall of Fame lunch, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Hilton Room.
Siggies meeting, 8-10:45 p.m., Living Room.
Will-call tickets for Hall of Fame dinner, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Frater Sodalis raffle fund-raiser, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
The Mousetrap, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and performance at 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center.
Hidden Falls youth camp counselor applications, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Campus Center.
Sing Song, 2 and 8 p.m., Moody Coliseum.
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Thursday
Fellowship of Christian Athletes party, 9-10:45 p.m., Living Room. Town Hall meeting, 8-10 a.m., Hilton Room. Siggies’ Sing Song rehearsal, 810:30 p.m., Hilton Room. Frater Sodalis raffle fund-raiser, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Senior class Sing Song rehearsal, 910:45 p.m., Campus Center Faculty Staff Dining Room.
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Frater Sodalis raffle fund-raiser, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. The Mousetrap, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and performance at 8 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center. 8
p.m.,
Prayer meeting, 5-6 p.m., Hilton Room. Spring Break Campaign leaders meeting, 7-9 p.m., Campus Center Faculty Staff Dining Room. Lectureship-Alumni Day Luncheon, 12 p.m., Abilene Civic Center. Lectureship-Heritage Society Dinner, 5 p.m., Williams Performing Arts Center lobby. Lectureship-Zambian Vocal Group, 6:15 p.m., Moody Coliseum. Lectureship-Billy Wilson presents He Has Rescued Us, Moody Coliseum.
Friday
Sing Song, Coliseum.
Sunday
Moody
Lectureship-Friends of Pepperdine University, 8:45 p.m., Mabee Library Auditorium Lectureship-Rochester College Alumni and Friends, 8:45 p.m., Hilton Room. Lectureship-World Christian Broadcasting, 8:45 p.m., McGlothlin Campus Center, Living Room
Volunteer Opportunities
Healing Hands International is in need of volunteers to help repair donated bicycles before they are shipped to Zambia. Tools and parts are furnished. For more information, please contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Students in need of oncampus volunteer jobs can serve as ushers Sunday, Monday and Wednesday during Lectureship. For more information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.
Announcements An Inch of Rope will be performed by Eric Harrell, assistant professor of theatre, and Nathan Jerkins, senior theatre major. Performances will be Sunday and Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. in the Williams Performing Arts Center’s Culp Theatre. Admission is free. Thistle and Harp Small Group Chapel meets every Thursday in the Williams Performing Arts Center Room 213. Come celebrate, worship and fellowship with the Celtic Society of ACU. The Employment Expo will be conducted Thursday at the Abilene Civic Center. This Career Fair will allow students to consolidate weeks of sending resumes and interviewing into a single day. Employers will be looking for candidates with degrees and/or experience in business management, retail sales, accounting, finance, computer science,
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.
information systems, CAD-CAM, marketing, human resources, agriculture, farm and ranch management, horticulture, electronics, hydrology, environmental sciences, social service and criminal justice. The Junior Cheerleading Clinic is scheduled for Feb. 26 from 8:30 a.m.-11:30a.m. Participants, kindergarten through fifth grade, will perform during halftime at the Wildcat basketball games Saturday night. Before Wednesday the cost is $18. After this date, the clinic fee is $20. To register, contact Trish Mosley at 692-8075. Friends of ACU Library encourages adults to sponsor a student to the annual Lectureship dinner. Tickets are $12.50, and sponsors are encouraged to attend themselves to see the acclaimed Mark Twain impersonator, Cary Branscum.
Tuesday 02/08/2005 8:30 a.m. Parking violations on Coliseum Way. 9 a.m. Parking violations on University Church lot. 1:43 p.m. Refueled vehicle. 3 p.m. Fire alarm at Zellner Hall, faulty heater wire. 3:30 p.m. Service check of vehicle. 9:40 p.m. Parking violations at Nelson lot. Wednesday 02/09/2005 7 a.m. Service check of vehicle 9:30 a.m. Vehicle accident off campus reported after they left the scene, no report. 5:40 p.m. Report of two subjects asking for money at Campus Center. Contacted two females and explained campus solicitation policy, advised to leave property. 5:41 p.m. Skateboarders at Business lot. Non-students asked to leave. Thursday 02/10/2005 6:20 a.m. Service check of vehicle. 9:10 a.m. Located habitual violator in West Campus South Lot. Booted vehicle. 10 a.m. Parking violations at University Church lot. 1:40 p.m. Removed boot from vehicle at West Campus Lot. Owner paid fines. 2 p.m. Refueled vehicle.
4 p.m. Vehicle accident at EN 15 Street and Ave F. 4:30 p.m. Parking violations at University Park Apartments lot. 5:30 p.m. Placed barricades on ACU Drive. 6 p.m. Removed boot from vehicle in Business lot, owner paid fines. 6:55 p.m. Incomplete 911 at Zellner room 200. Misdial, all okay. 8:30 p.m. Removed barricades from ACU Drive. 9:20 p.m. Parking violations in Smith lot. 11:10 p.m. Suspicious subject at 800 East North 15 Street. Checked area, subject had already left. 11:28 p.m. Noise complaint at University Park Apartment, was quiet upon arrival. Friday 02/11/2005 4:10 a.m. Unlocked door at Smith Hall, card reader not working. 3 p.m. Fingerprinted student in the station. 3:45 p.m. Report of student stuck in the elevator at Don Morris Center. 4:50 p.m. Burglary of room at Mabee Hall. 6:30 p.m. Gave directions to subject at library. 11:10 p.m. Service check of vehicle. Saturday 02/12/2005 3 a.m. Foot patrol of main campus. 7:00 a.m. Service check of vehicle. 21:25 p.m. Parking violations at library lot. Sunday 02/13/2005 12:15 a.m. Traffic stop at East North 16 and Campus Court for driving without lights. 1:30 a.m. Turned off lights at Tennis Courts. 3 a.m. Foot patrol of main campus. 7 a.m. Service check of vehicle. 8:10 p.m. Medical emergency at McKinzie Hall. 11 p.m. Special patrol at Ave F and East North 16 Street.
Leftover Freshman Follies T-shirts on sale ‘School of Rock’ baseball tees return to market, cost $5 By SARAH SCHAEFER STUDENT REPORTER
About This Page
The Chicago Spring Break Campaign is looking for two men to join the campaign. The cost is $300. If you are interested, e-mail Melanie Morrison at mlm00k@acu.edu. G.V. Daniels has an urgent need for reading buddies to encourage and build a love for reading among elementary school students. Volunteer times are Thursday from 4-5 p.m. For more information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.
Police Log (edited for space) Monday 02/07/2005 9:15 a.m. Parking violations at University Church lot. 3:10 p.m. Criminal mischief at Sewell Theater. No offense, accidental damage. 8:20 p.m. Parking violations at library lot. 9:45 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Adams lot. 11:10 p.m. Assisted student with vehicle trouble in Mabee Lot 11:35 p.m. Suspicious subject at 600 East North 15 Street. Checked area, unable to locate.
Leftover Freshman Follies T-shirts were found in the Office of Student Productions and are now available for sale. Approximately 500 shirts were available for sale during the Freshman Follies show, which took place last September. The T-shirts have not been available for sale for months until the leftover
shirts were found. The shirts are now being sold for $5 each. The gray, baseball-style Tshirts have the phrase “School of Rock” scrolled across the front in red letters outlined in white. The ring of the collar is black. The shirts were designed for the two large chorus groups that sang musical numbers in between the residence hall acts. Katie Garcia, freshman integrated marketing communication major from Lewisville, said participants of Freshman Follies will not be interested in buying the rest of the supply of shirts.
“Everybody who was in the large chorus already got a shirt; it wouldn’t make sense to buy another,” Garcia said. Freshman Follies is an annual production the freshman class puts on every year. Freshmen students have the choice to participate in an act that each hall of every freshmen dorm puts together to fit with a general theme. This year, the theme was “The AC: Nothing’s Cooler.” Halls did different acts relating to campus life. The acts were medleys written by residents. The medleys contained three or four songs with lyrics about familiar situ-
ations students may encounter at ACU. Not only are acts the halls put on featured. Individual acts, the large chorus and a dance troupe with choreography by Teri Wilkerson, owner of Dance Discovery, are also presented during the show conducted in Cullen Auditorium. Freshman Follies will be Sept. 30-Oct. 1 next year. For more information regarding Freshman Follies, see the Web site at www.freshmanfollies.com. E-mail Schaefer at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Residence Life receives feedback On-campus students complete survey, want more personal space By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
In July, the Office of Residence Life Education and Housing received the results of a housing survey conducted last year, and the office recently finished conducting this year’s survey. Although Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, said she has not had time to sift through all the data from the survey, she is pleased with the results. “What I’ve learned is that we have a really excellent Residence Life Education and Housing program,” Barnard
said. “It’s what I hear from colleagues at our sister school, and this confirms that.” The last time ACU conducted the survey was in 2001, so few comparable data is available. However, after the results from this year’s survey arrive in July, the office can see where the program is heading. Resident assistants and residence hall directors administered the survey to about 1,500 students living on campus, Barnard said. Barnard said students indicated they were pleased with the RAs and security on the past year’s survey but displeased with the food service. “That’s no surprise,” Barnard said. “We always complain about food service.”
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What a day for a daydream
However, Barnard said she is eager to see if the food service rating rises in this year’s survey because of the addition of food service in Adams and Smith residence halls. “Personal space” also rated low on the survey, and Barnard said she hopes that will improve after students move into Barret Hall, which will have more defined community space and personal space. Colleges around the country use the survey, which costs $3,000, to provide housing feedback. “I get to compare with other schools,” Barnard said. “That’s always a positive thing.” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Rae Campanella, freshman undeclared major from Fort Worth, enjoys the 70-degree weather Monday as she lies stretched-out near Gardner Hall reading for her social science class.
University students, Red Cross reach out to victims of tsunami Abilene residents donate more than $30,000 to relief efforts By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Afternoon sunlight streams into Room 505, a small high school classroom lined with computers. Cardboard boxes cover the floor. Washcloths and hand towels of every color are tossed back and forth between the high school students, then folded and placed in one-gallon Ziplock bags along with hand-written prayers. Ten pharmacy technician students and Margaret Salisbury, their adviser, are packaging the last of the health and medical kits to be sent to victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Salisbury, a health-science technology teacher at Abilene High School, wanted her students to do more than just send money. Through her work as a nurse for the past 38 years, she has seen first-hand effects of natural disasters. “As I watched the early reports on the news, I became aware of how totally destructive nature can be,” Salisbury said. “I felt for those people left to fend for themselves, who had everything taken from them.” Salisbury and her students are among hundreds of Abilene residents who gathered in January to raise funds and collect supplies to send to the victims left in the wake of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia on Dec. 26. The tsunami’s waves wreaked destruction across Southeast Asia in a way that is hard to comprehend.
The equivalent of the destruction in Asia would be if everyone and everything between San Angelo and Weatherford were destroyed, and the citizens of Dallas and Fort Worth were missing. More than 240,000 people were killed after a 9.0 earthquake erupted off the coast of an Indonesian island. Today, thousands of people are missing, and millions are without homes in 11 countries off the coast of the Indian Ocean, according to worldpress.com. Members of the United Nations expect for it to take a decade for this area to recover. The cost: $1 billion. Make that $999,970,000 after Abilene’s contribution. Twelve-thousand miles away in the city of Abilene, the people began to hope, pray and raise money when news of the tsunami came. Abilene residents donated more than $30,000 with high school students contributing $3,500. Salisbury’s students responded by making 100 medical kits in three weeks. She introduced the idea to her students when school began again in January. Two thousand students at Abilene High collected enough supplies to send 96 health kits with the basic necessities needed to survive, four medical kits equipped with adult and children’s medicines and first aid supplies, and $1,400 for additional medical supplies the students could not possibly find in Abilene in three weeks. Originally, their goal was to collect enough supplies for 50 health kits and one medical kit. They were surprised when the students responded like they
did. “All of a sudden, it was like Bam,” said Larissa Smith, senior at AHS and treasurer of the school’s chapter of Health Occupation Students of America. “We had all of this money pouring in, and everyone wanted to help.” Students and faculty from homerooms, the student council, drama and science departments, cheerleaders and others involved at Abilene High helped by bringing supplies or collecting money in the cafeteria at lunch.
Universities reach into their pockets Across the city, students from three universities were also at work. College students collected more than $6,000 through collections taken during Chapel and on the campuses, through a benefit dinner for landmine removal and through a Christian concert to take place in March. Several weeks ago, the students at ACU raised $4,000 during Chapel to give to Healing Hands International, which will use the money to create medical kits and buy medical supplies. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said students responded well because they’re interested in helping others. The donation in Chapel helped students to contribute monetarily to the relief aid if they had not had the chance yet. Barnard also said students are continuing to pray for the efforts in Asia. Several students are planning to travel to the affected countries during the summer. One student has taken
the semester off to serve with his grandparents in Thailand. Meanwhile, McMurry University raised money at a benefit dinner at the beginning of February to go toward removing landmines from the stricken area. Adopt a Minefield, an organization that works to remove landmines from towns where civilians could be hurt, estimates between 45 and 70 million landmines are in 90 countries, including those affected by the tsunami. The money collected in Abilene will help Adopt a Minefield remove landmines from areas where tsunami victims are being relocated, said Dr. Tina Bertrand, assistant professor of political science and director of the model United Nations program at McMurry University. Families relocated to new regions of Asia may not be safe, Bertrand said. Many of these locations might contain landmines that moved when the waves hit. “As horrible as the disaster already is,” Bertrand said, “to have people think that they’re in a safe place after they have been moved away from most of the destruction of their home, into places where landmines are now floating freely and undetected, is a disaster waiting to happen.” Proceeds from the dinner and the more than $2,000 collected by the student council will go towards this effort. Down the block from ACU, students at Hardin-Simmons University have been collecting money in paint cans donated by Home Depot. The university also plans to have a Christian concert on
campus in March, with the opportunity for students and members of the community to continue donating, said Forest McMillan, director of the Student Development Office at Hardin-Simmons.
American Red Cross asks for help Citizens of Abilene have also been donating money to go to tsunami victims through the American Red Cross. In Abilene, the Red Cross raised $30,000 to send to the countries hit the hardest: Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives. People in the community donated money at several locations in Abilene, including the Mall of Abilene; others simply sent money to the Red Cross. “[Help has] been huge for the tsunami effort in Abilene,” said Aaron Vannoy, regional director of the American Red Cross. “It is due to the media frenzy worldwide. So many people were affected, and it was on the news 10 times a day for four weeks. “Abilene is always good about helping out where they can when they know of a need.” Help has also come from places besides Abilene. Internationally, more than $1 billion has been pledged to aid the Red Cross in meeting the costs of its relief programs for the next 18 months, and $236 million has come from America, Vannoy said. He said more than 9,000 volunteers are on the ground in Asia working to rebuild the countries, looking for lost family members and aiding the clean up effort. “A lot of the coastal areas are
completely rebuilding where they were wiped out,” Vannoy said. “Some communities are not back to 100 percent, but they are operating still. Others are so completely devastated that they are just now rebuilding.” Progress has been made through the American Red Cross, the largest volunteer organization in the world, and other organizations and countries around the world. In only 30 days, enough money had been pledged worldwide to cover the costs of the entire relief projects begun by the Red Cross. Millions of victims are being fed; 500,000 have received life-saving aid. Teachers are being trained in more than 100 schools to provide psychological aid to the students mourning the loss of classmates.
Moving Forward In time, the people in Southeast Asia will be able to return to a state of normalcy. Many will continue searching for their loved ones and many will be able to relocate in a rebuilt city. In Abilene, students of every age have learned a lesson of sacrifice and responsibility. “This was important to do personally because part of my faith is to be a doer of the Word,” Salisbury said. “As a teacher, it is important that the students don’t feel a sense of helplessness to be able to change the future. They can and will change the future.”
E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Seniors need to check grades, transcripts before graduation, registrar says Information meeting, CareerLink help students be prepared By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
University officials want to remind seniors not to let graduation take them by surprise. “Seniors need to take care of business,” said registrar Danelle Brand. “They need to check out their grades and transcripts and
resolve any issues quickly.” Seniors can check grades, transcripts and degrees online. Although many might think it is not worth the hassle, Brand said it is important to check everything before graduation. “We’re trying to avoid stressed-out seniors,” she said. “Far too many people come through my office thinking that they won’t be able to graduate because of an incomplete grade or something like that.”
Graduating seniors must attend the senior Chapel on March 16 at 11 a.m. in Hart Auditorium where they will receive packets of graduation information, make sure their preferred name is on the diploma and all other information is correct, Brand said. Many new features, like online degree audits, are being added to help seniors prepare. By next semester, students will be able to access their degree
plans, grades, major changes and transcripts without going through their adviser, Brand said. “This creates ownership for the students of their degree,” she said. “They are responsible for their academic career, and this is another tool to help them stay on top of where they are.” Another student convenience is the Department of Career and Academic Development, which offers work-
shops to help students with everything from resume writing to mock job interviews. CareerLink is also an important part of preparing students to graduate, said Dr. Jeff Reese, assistant professor of psychology and executive director of Career and Academic Development. CareerLink networks students and potential employers, giving both groups a convenient way to look at résumés and job offers.
To register for CareerLink’s services, visit www.acu.edu/careerlink, or stop by the lower level of McKinzie Hall for more information. “We want to make students aware of these services,” Reese said. “If students are more proactive, then they won’t be so overwhelmed in their last semester.” E-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
‘Girl of the Golden West’ arrives in Abilene this weekend Opera about California gold rush opens at Paramount Theatre By TIFFANY WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR
On Friday, Sunday and Tuesday, the Abilene Opera Association will present La Fanciulla del West, or The Girl of the Golden West by Italian writer Giacomo Puccini at the Paramount Theatre. “We have wanted to do this for many years,” said Jane Guitar, producer and artistic director of the opera. “Our stage director from New
Hampshire thought it would go well with this part of the country. “It reflects our lifestyle here in West Texas,” she said “Of all the places in the world, we’ve been told this opera would be most perfect for Abilene.” Puccini is the same writer who wrote La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly, operas that have been performed in Abilene in the past few years. The story is about the California gold rush of the 1840s. Although his other works have wielded the most fame, Puccini considers this opera to be his best work, according to Glimmerglass.com. Minnie, the
opera’s protagonist, is an entrepreneur who owns the Polka Saloon and teaches Bible lessons to miners. She falls in love with a good-hearted bandit named Dick Johnson and saves his life from the rough, villainous Sheriff Jack Rance, who is also in love with Minnie. “She goes to great lengths to save her sweetheart’s life,” Guitar said. The opera is sung in Italian, and English subtitles, translated by ACU music professor Gregory Straughn, will be projected above the stage. “You can understand what is happening without even looking at the subtitles,”
‘I think I can, I think I can, I think I can’
Guitar said. She said one reason students might want to attend the opera is because a few of their peers are performing in it. Travis McGuire, senior Biblical text major from Abilene; Kyle Orr, sophomore music major from Virginia Beach, Va.; and Zach TabersHess, sophomore vocal performance major from Abilene, are participating in the performance. Nick, the bartender, is played by ACU voice professor and tenor Samuel Cooke. “The show is full of men,” Guitar said. “It is a wonderful piece, full of beautiful voices. It shows that back then, not
By LAUREN WARE STUDENT REPORTER
Three Christian rock bands will perform in a concert Thursday as a part of Beltway Park Baptist Church’s concert series, designed to expose college students to Christian rock. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Falling Up, KJ-52 and Hawk Nelson will perform at Beltway Park. The concert is a part of the X 2005 Tour, which is designed to promote the CD of the same name, said Keith Dodderer, concert promoter from Beltway. The record companies Tooth and Nail and BEC Recordings produced the CD. “We basically price our
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
ance meets the goals of the Abilene Opera Association: “To promote opera appreciation in West Texas by locally producing professional caliber grand opera and to foster local talent, utilizing our professional means.” Tickets prices range from $5 to $50, and can be bought between 1 and 5 p.m. by calling 676-0648 or 67opera. “I just can’t tell you how beautiful the music is,” Guitar said. “It’s such a wonderful production; I just wish everyone in Abilene could see it.” E-mail Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu
Christian rock bands perform Thursday College students exposed to Christian rock at Beltway Park
Sing Song crew member, Jake Harbour, sophomore theatre major from Houston cuts pieces for one of the sets of stairs on the Sing Song stage in Moody Coliseum on Monday.
just in modern times, a woman could stand on her own without a man.” Minnie is played by Patricia Stevens, a performer from New York City. Sheriff Rance is played by baritone William Parcher, an international performer, and Dick Johnson is played by international tenor Drew Slatton. Students from HardinSimmons University will greet audience members at the door of the Paramount on white horses, and on the night of the premiere the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboy Band will play outside the Paramount Theatre doors. Guitar said the perform-
concerts to just cover our expenses,” Dodderer said. “We're more concerned about the ministry than the money. There are three missions: To reach the lost through good Christian music, encourage Christians through good music and expose young Christians to good Christian rock. “The difference between now and 20 years ago is that there is a Christian alternative that is as good or better than what’s out there,” Dodderer said. Dodderer said he came up with the idea to begin a concert ministry after listening to a conversation about music between his son’s baseball teammates. “I heard kids reciting lyrics to a song by Eminem, and I got to thinking that they probably shouldn’t be listening,” Dodderer said, “I asked myself what I was going to do
to help my children not be influenced by mainstream music and media.” Beltway began the concert ministry in spring of 2003 and sponsored the first concert the same fall. “I think there needs to be more opportunities like this. You don’t hear enough about Christian rock,” said Whitney Shott, freshman communication major from Houston. Beltway will sponsor another concert on March 17. Sanctus Real will perform, and Dodderer said he plans to book local artists. “I think these concerts are a good idea because it provides a safe and positive environment for Christian college students to fellowship with each other,” Shott said.
E-mail Ware at: optimist@acu.edu
History courses offered in Colorado Students can earn six hours of credit, travel to Primero, Colo. By SHELBI WATTEN STUDENT REPORTER
ACU faculty and students will explore the foothills of southern Colorado in a history course this summer. The three-week trip offers six semester hours, two upper level history credits, or the credits may be used as an elective. The trip is scheduled July 10-29 and is set in Primero, Colo., a vacant mining town that has been in ruins for almost a century. Dr. Lynn Burlbaw, a history education professor from Texas A&M University, will facilitate the trip alongside Dr. Vernon L. Williams, ACU professor of history. This is the first year ACU and A&M students will be working together in Primero. “This is no ordinary history class,” Williams said, “Our team this year will be doing a great deal of detective work along Colorado's front range.”
Among the team of students going this year are Zachary Alexander, senior biology major from Abilene, and Kevin Stone, junior history major from Abilene. Stone said part of the reason he decided to go on the trip is because he would like to do his graduate studies at Texas A&M University, and he will be working with A&M students and faculty on the trip. The cost of the trip is $1,995 plus tuition fees. Students will stay at an old miners’ hotel where single miners and school teachers used to live. The hotel looks like it did in 1910, which adds to the historical aspect of the trip, Williams said. The ruins of about 300 structures remain intact today at Primero, including houses, schools, churches, a YMCA, a clinic, a boarding house and several other buildings. Williams said they all give a glimpse of the community that once thrived in southern Colorado. ACU has been offering the history course since 1991, when Williams took his first group of students to Colorado.
One of the students from the original team happens to be Dr. Tracy Shilcutt, assistant professor of history. “Finding the artifacts, doing the oral interviews, and documenting the lives of the coal miners and their families really made history come alive for me,” Shilcutt said. No prerequisites are required, and the trip is designed for students without experience, so all majors are invited to apply. The maximum number of students who can attend is 20, with 10 from each school. Currently, A&M has its slots filled, but ACU still has room for four applicants. If ACU does not find 10 students, the slots will be given to A&M. Anyone interested in participating should contact Williams at : vwilliams@acu.edu or visit his office in the Administration Building Room 324.
E-mail Watten at: optimist@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Page 5
Groups: Some focus on next year Continued from Page 1 from the 1950s like Tito Puente and Richy Valens.” Both were disappointed when the organization had to withdraw. “It was very disappointing because we knew that our organization could have created an act like nothing seen before in Sing Song,” Ortiz said. “We hope that our members will see that creative doors are being opened for us, and that they’ll share in the excitement of stepping into something different.” Many of the members in
Hispanos Unidos are new to ACU this year and didn’t know about the excitement that surrounds Sing Song. Fuentes said the group is working to change that. “We want students to get involved and to be excited about Sing Song,” Fuentes said. “We are not typically known as a group that would participate in Sing Song, but everyone wants us there and is happy we are going to participate; it just hasn’t happened for us yet.” The organization wants to begin planning early for next year.
“Since it is the centennial, we are going to be involved,” Aguilar said. “We are having elections in March, and one of the offices will be Sing Song. We will have an early jump and be prepared for next year.” Fuentes said she’s also looking forward to next year. “As a group, we are real excited about the overall vision for Sing Song,” Fuentes said, “and for the relationships that will be built between all the groups on campus through Sing Song.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Massey: Pair anticipate weekend Continued from Page 1 changes coming to Sing Song. “There are so many things that will catch people by surprise,” she said. “We’re trying to adapt it to speak to a wider variety of people” Like many students on campus, the Masseys are both dreading the coming weekend and looking forward to it with anticipation. “I’m not looking forward to it,” Vivi Massey said. “But for
“This is something we do for the glory of God, so it’s worth it.” Vivi Massey, director of Sing Song design, costumes, hair and make-up
myself it’s the most exciting time of the show; it comes together right there in front of your face, all you’ve been working for.” Although the stress can be overwhelming at times, Vivi Massey said it is all a part of
her life. “We know what it’s for,” she said, “and this is something we do for the glory of God, so it’s worth it.” E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Patrick Massey, sophomore exercise science major from Durham, N.C., purchases Sing Song tickets for the Saturday afternoon performance from Tiffany Talley, senior communication major from Houston, at the Sing Song ticket window in Moody Coliseum on Monday.
Tickets: Sing Song seats available Continued from Page 1 All tickets purchased this week are held at the will-call booth for confirmation purposes. Tickets are priced according to seats classified as prime, premium and general. Prime tickets cost $16 for each
show, excluding Saturday’s 8 p.m. performance, which costs $18. Premium tickets cost $14 for each show, and general admission tickets are sold for $12. Showtimes are Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
For all other information regarding tickets, contact the ticket window in Moody Coliseum between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays or call Ext. 2648. E-mail Goen at: jag02b@acu.edu
Chairs: Four to resign this year Continued from Page 1
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Vivi Massey, director of Sing Song design, costumes, hair and make-up, talks to her husband, Kendall Massey, director of student productions, and Josh Castle, sophomore vocal music education major from Overland Park, Kansas, near the end of Sing Song practice Monday in Moody Coliseum.
Dynasty: Clubs look for sweep Kathrine Skidmore, senior interdisciplinary studies major “We work very hard in from Austin, is head choreograrehearsals,” he said. “I push pher for Siggies. them, and I look to the upperShe acknowledged the comclassmen to provide leaderpetition this year and said she’s ship.” realized other clubs also strive This Sing Song is Gilly’s last to win. because he is “We have had graduating. a blast being a “It isn’t “We’re definitely trying to win, but there isn’t part of this winabout me, but I ning team, but a dynasty mentality.” would kind of we also realize like our club to there are many Luke Reeves, club secretary for Gamma Sigma Phi come out on other clubs out top,” he said. there who have Gilly said he worked hard believes GSP will succeed this Club secretary Luke Reeves, and are really talented. year. Eighty men from the club junior human communication “We have a few tricks up our are participating in Sing Song, major from Abilene, said the sleeves, but you’ll have to see the most participants the club members haven’t focused solely the show to find out what they has seen in four years. GSP’s on winning. are.” theme is John Travolta. “We’re definitely trying to GSP member Jay Jones, jun- win, but there isn’t a dynasty E-mail Williams at: ior business management major mentality,” he said. tnt00b@acu.edu Continued from Page 1
from Granbury, said Moody Weekend was successful. “It went really well,” Jones said, “and we are confident that we’ll do well.” As far as competition goes, Jones said the club hasn’t really focused on it.
sion from administrative to other things,” he said. “I think I was born to be a teach“You can only do so many er and a healer, but I wasn’t things at one time.” born to be an administrator; I Dr. David Wray will also was just in the right place at have more time to give to his the right time.” interests next year. Dr. Jackie Halstead, profes“It’s been nine years since sor of marriage and family I’ve been in this responsibilitherapy, will replace Hinson on ty,” Wray said, “and I’ve June 1. developed Dr. David additional interests.” “I think I was born to be a teacher and a healer, Hughes will resign as chair Wray said but I wasn’t born to be an administrator.” of the Departhe has a pasment of Math sion for Dr. Waymon Hinson, chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and Computer “missional Science at the church,” the end of the concept that every Christian individual is a tion for us,” said Dr. Jack semester as well. “It’s my opinion that chairs minister and a missionary, no Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, in an e-mail. should be replaced every six matter their vocation. He said he has been asked “Dr. Wray and Dr. Hinson to nine years, and new people to do consulting for many have been incredible leaders. should be in the position,” congregations, which he They will be greatly missed, Hughes said. Next year, Dr. David Henwouldn’t have time to do as but I'm excited about what they will be doing as they dricks, professor of math and department chair. Wray said he asked to step transition back to full-time computer science, will take over the position. down last year, but Dr. Jack faculty.” Hughes, after eight years of Hinson said his appointReese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, asked him to ment was originally for only serving as chair, will teach full stay another year to make the three years, but it turned into time. “There will certainly be a transition smoother. A search nine-and-a-half. He said he wanted to make change,” he said. group has been put together to decide on a new chair this sure a strong faculty was in place before he resigned and spring. “It’s been an incredible wanted to be a part of the nine years doing this,” Wray reaccreditation process. With both goals met, he said now is said. Also stepping down in the a good time to step down. E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu “I’m ready to shift my pasDepartment of Bible, Missions and Ministry is Dr. Waymon Hinson. He will leave his job as chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and go on sabbatical next year to interview black farmers in the South who have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “This will be a huge transi-
VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
Chapel deserves respect from students
The issue: The Optimist has noticed increasing disrespect amongst students in Chapel.
Our view: Students need to be seated when Chapel begins and remain in their seats until dismissed. They should not congregate in the stairwell because it creates a fire hazard.
The solution: Students need to act maturely for the half an hour a day they spend in Chapel. Even if they object to being there, they should respect those who are worshipping.
February 16, 2005
The amount of ink used to print discourses on the woes of Chapel at ACU on our Opinion page has probably reached gallons by now. Nevertheless, the 30 minutes students spend together five days a week, some 30 weeks out of the year, is important and must be discussed. For the past weeks, members of the editorial board have noticed a striking trend in students’ respect during Chapel: the lack of it. We have seen students calling friends in other sections on their cell phones, waving at each other and marveling at the power of technology, others sitting on each other’s
God’s law should always be first Christians should honor God’s law first and the First Amendment second. Why? Because the First Amendment allows mankind the right to say things God’s law prohibits. Also, the First Amendment allows people to have attitudes God’s law condemns, and may I say, the Optimist Editorial Board and the student advisor should always allow God's law to govern what they print in the
students are able to vacate Moody more quickly, as some need to go to work or perhaps grab lunch before a noon class. Regardless of whether more card readers are installed, students need to be seated when Chapel begins and remain in their seats until the person speaking or leading worship dismisses them. The first song The Ministry sang Friday could barely be heard amidst the chatting of the students. This is disrespectful to those leading the worship and those in the rest of the student body who are trying to pay attention. Students need to act more maturely about Chapel and behave with respect.
laps or in the Students need to be seated when Chapel begins and Chapel and aisle. Still oththeir peers. remain seated until the speaker dismisses them. ers are leaving February is early and standthe time of ing on the stairs year when of Moody Coliseum waiting for taking place only a few feet tests and projects come due, the precise moment to slide away from them. events such as Sing Song and their ID cards and be the first This creates a fire hazard in Lectureship take up many stuones out of Chapel. This juve- Moody because students could dents’ time and preparations for nile behavior must stop. be injured trying to leave the Spring Break are underway. Optimist staff members leave Coliseum in case of an emer- Although these stressful times Chapel a few minutes early on gency. Shane Hughes, Chapel are taken into account when Wednesdays and Fridays in coordinator, said he has noticed analyzing somewhat lax behavorder to be at the paper stands the problem of students congre- ior, they are no excuse for stubefore Chapel is dismissed to gating on the stairs, and when dents not acting in an appropripass out the day’s paper. We he sees them, he asks them to ate and adult manner. One thing the university stand there and watch as stu- move because of the fire code. dents sit on the stairs talking on Students’ safety set aside, those could do to perhaps alleviate cell phones or with their friends who leave early and carry on the bottlenecking that occurs at during songs and prayers, not conversations on the stairs are card readers as students try to bothering to lower their voices demonstrating a great disre- leave, is install additional card or consider the worship still spect for the proceedings of readers. This would help ensure
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
YOUR VOICE Re: The Optimist, Feb. 9 “Christians should honor the first” by Jonathan Smith, editor in chief
Optimist. Ben F. See (class of ’59) from Abilene Submitted online on Saturday
Christians can’t disregard freedom Mr. See is right. As Christians, we should honor God’s law first. I hope he wasn’t suggesting, however, that we disregard the First Amendment, as it is one of the most precious laws we have to hang on to. We must be careful not to confuse “God’s law” with our own religion. I admire many religious men, like my grandfather, Martin Luther, James Dobson and George Bush, but I don’t want them to dictate my religion. Grandfather wouldn’t let me attend my current church because it’s not a church of Christ. Dr. Dobson wouldn’t let me watch SpongeBob Squarepants because of possible homosexual connections. Mr. See is a good, religious man, but I strongly suspect he would not want me taking line-dancing lessons. Do we really want to live under religious laws? I don’t. That’s why the First Amendment is so important. It protects us from religion and gives us the right to say
YOUR VOICE what we believe and live how we want to. When we crush the freedom of another’s religion or speech, we damage ourselves, and the destruction of our own freedoms is inevitable. God’s law is simply this: “… do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” and “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these …” (Matt. 22). The First Amendment is one of the most practical ways that we can, through the government, “do unto others,” “love our neighbor” and so follow God’s law. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” ~ Voltaire Melanie Knox Class of ’04
National Bathtub Party Day - Why not? I was dismayed when I found out I had missed National Pancake Week last week. When else can you celebrate eating delectable pancakes covered in a plethora of toppings such as: chocolate chips, whipped cream, syrup, peanut butter, Facing the blueberries and Facts other fruit? But more Mallory than celebrating Sherwood pancakes, who thinks of celebrating pancakes? I did a little research and found the celebration of the pancake dates back to when English settlers began to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Now it has evolved into its own week. According to the International House of Pancakes Web site, pancakes were the meal of choice because the flour, milk and eggs in the pancakes sym-
More than 300 other random and bizarre celebrated days have actually been verified as holidays. bolized life, innocence and rebirth in the settlers’ lives. They ate pancakes the day before Lent began because the ingredients were forbidden to eat during Lent season. Several centuries later, people around the world celebrate Pancake Day with pancake dinners, special pancake recipes and pancake flipping and racing competitions. Does anyone else wonder what other holidays are celebrated? Here is a list of my top 20 favorite holidays that we probably didn’t know existed. • Love your pet day—Feb. 20 • Stop smoking day—March 12 • No housework day—April 7 • Get a different name day— Feb. 13 • International goof-off day — March 22 • Be late for something day— Sept. 5
• Bathtub party day—Dec. 12 • Sarcastics Awareness Month—October • International dog biscuit appreciation day—Feb. 23 • Hot diggity dog day—July 10 • Dad and daughter take a walk day—July 6 • Happy birthday to the birthday song day—June 27 • Be bald and free day—Oct. 14 • Hug an Australian day — April 26 • Save the rhino day—May 1 • Take your pet to work day— June 24 • No socks day—May 8 • National hot dog month— July • International flirting week— Feb. 14-20 • Make your own holiday day—Mar. 26 Make your own holiday day? It is not as easy as it sounds. All of these days, plus more than
300 other random and bizarre celebrated days have actually been verified as holidays. Those creative souls (or maybe just those twisted and lonely minds) in our world have actually gone to the trouble of either being sponsored by an organization with a lot of money, or they have gone to their local congressman and had the holiday signed in Congress as a bill. Before anymore time passes, I urge each of you to contact your local congressman before March 26 and have your holiday passed into law. There is no guarantee that it will indeed survive, but if there is a “National If Pets Had Thumbs” day, then surely your day will make it. Write to Congressman Randy Neugebauer today: 500 Chestnut St . Room 819 Abilene ,TX 79602 Respond to Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
Clinton’s background makes him wrong candidate for U.N. relief Regarding Mitch Holt’s op-ed piece about Bill Clinton leading the tsunami relief effort: I accept the premise that there is more to William Jefferson Clinton than the sum of his sexual exploits— this is true. Like all presidents before him, his was a presidency filled with good and bad, and most reasonable people accept that idea. For the sake of space, I will pretend not to have noticed the author’s intended nuance suggesting that the investigation
into Bill Clinton’s felonious acts was much ado about nothing, and instead focus on the reasons Holt’s article gives us for why we should all be happy that our 42nd President is heading up the relief efforts in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Reason number one has to do with the “budget surplus” that was achieved under Clinton’s administration. In reality, our surplus was a projected one. It is important to note this colossal difference.
The second reason has to do with the Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. After careful and honest thought, I still am unable to determine how exactly this relates to Tsunami relief. In order to decide whether Clinton is the right man for the job of managing relief efforts in the developing world, shouldn’t we look at how well Clinton man-
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist Editorial Board and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist, its Editorial Board or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors
or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or less. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
of Rwanda was embroiled in a genocide that has since been labeled as one of the worst human tragedies the earth has ever known … Clinton ignored it. The number of people that died while the Clinton administration did nothing is estimated to be between 800,000 and 1 million, and millions more became refugees. Let’s also not forget about the failed peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and the tragedy of Mogadishu (see Black Hawk Down ).
YOUR VOICE Re: The Optimist, Feb. 9 “Clinton good choice to run U.N. relief” by Mitch Holt, staff writer
aged problems in the developing world during his presidency? In the mid-1990s the nation
OPTIMIST THE
Bill Clinton is not an evil man, and his public appearances with George Bush are good for our nation, but to suggest that Clinton is the best man for the job in Indonesia, or worse yet, to advocate his becoming the secretary-general of the United Nations is absolutely outrageous. Josh Massingill Sophomore political science major from Abilene
The Optimist Editorial Board
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SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Page 7
Baseball: Players shine on field
Women: Cats drop to fourth in division Continued from Page 8 better,” Lavender said. “We came out a lot more physical, a lot more aggressive.” The aggressiveness showed on both ends of the court. On Thursday, the Wildcats benefited from forcing turnovers, as the Greyhounds turned it over 26 times. ENMU also was held to just 29.5 percent shooting and had only one player reach double figures in points. On offense, ACU looked to feed the posts early and often. With Riles limited by foul trouble, Jamie Boles became the main beneficiary of the game plan and finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. “They really didn’t have an answer for Jamie, didn’t have anybody that could guard her,” Lavender said. King was held to just seven points in the game, but her one 3-point hit gave her 176 for her career, breaking the ACU career
record of 175 previously held by Anita Vigil. The Wildcats weren’t able to enjoy the victory long though, as Saturday’s game provided a wake-up call and dropped their record to 15-7, 6-3. Their attempt to put the bad outing behind them began Tuesday in San Angelo against Angelo State, and the Wildcats will travel to play Texas Women’s on Thursday and Texas A&MKingsville on Saturday. Lavender said they know what they have to do to put Saturday’s loss behind them. “It goes back to sticking to our original game plan, and that’s playing great defense, and executing offensively, being patient and being disciplined,” Lavender said. “We didn’t have any of those things on Saturday.”
E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Continued from Page 8
way you want, but you can’t give up. You have to just keep fighting and working to improve.”
Wells are hitting over .450 with 13 and 10 RBI, respectively. Barker is hitting at a .391 clip. Friday’s win featured another solid pitching performance from Ben Brockman, who is now 2-0 on the season and has not given up an earned run in his 11 innings pitched in those two games. Brockman pitched six shutout innings Friday before giving way to Justin Whitlock, who pitched a perfect seventh. Bonneau said the Wildcats also succeeded in pitching from Coy Polk in Friday’s loss, but the offense didn’t add much. “Coy, in the first game, had a good game; we just had a tough third inning, gave up four runs,” Bonneau said. “We did OK, just couldn’t get on the board.” The Wildcats had no such problems Saturday. Their offensive explosion was highlighted by an 11-run fourth inning, an inning where Wells and Walsh drove in a pair of runs each. Bonneau said the win also saw other key players’ bats come alive, including outfielder Cody Cure and shortstop Brenan Herrera, who had two hits each. The Wildcats will look to keep their offense success going Friday and Saturday with home games against Cameron. They will play doubleheaders on both days, with Friday’s action beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday’s at noon. Bonneau said two objectives of the games will be to find a consistent fourth starter and improve defensively. “We’re just going to use every weekend to try and get better and try to keep throwing new guys out there to see what they’ve got,” Bonneau said.
E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior guard Kierstan Barbee keeps her focus as she drives past Lady Buffs guard Suni Jo Petty and forward Celeste Stevenson during the 85-60 loss to West Texas A&M Saturday.
Track: 24 achieve new, better qualifying marks Continued from Page 8 placed fourth in the men’s competition with an indoor best and automatic qualifying vault of 16-10. The women’s distance medley relay greatly improved its qualifying time, winning the event in 11:53.83. Freshman Shauna-Kaye Thompson bettered her provisional time in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.85. Teammate Jessica Hunt also improved her time Saturday, running 25.01. Sophomore Brooklyn Hunt placed 35th in the unseeded division of the 400-meter dash, but her time of 56.67 was good enough to qualify her provi-
sionally for the national meet. Freshman Denise Morgan also improved her provisional time, placing seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 2:12.5. Angie Aguilar said she thinks this year’s women’s team looks as good as any she’s seen. “I think we’re pretty strong,” Aguilar said. “This is one of the first years I feel like we have a lot of depth. It looks like everybody’s ready.” Junior transfer Lucky Hadebe had a busy weekend, running the mile as the anchor leg in the distance medley relay Friday night, then winning the mile on Saturday with an automatic time of 4:05.56. Senior Ben Washington placed fifth in the champi-
onship division of the triple jump, posting a season-best and improved qualifying jump of 51-5. Freshman Vladyslav Gorbenko won the unseeded division of the triple jump with a 51-5 jump, which puts ACU triple jumpers in the top three positions in the nation. Sophomore Marvin BienAime shot to second on the national performance list with his qualifying time in the 200meter dash Saturday, finishing in 21.37. Wildcat Delt Cockrell also ran a good qualifying time of 21.79. Senior Marvin Essor was 12th in the 400-meter dash, but posted a fast provisional time of 47.87 to move to second on the Division II per-
formance list. Teammate Ricardo Johnson also improved his qualifying time with a 48.66 performance Saturday. The weekend’s new qualifiers bring the total number of automatic or provisional qualifiers to 32 — 17 men and 15 women. Murray called the Arkansas meet “one of the best Arkansas meets he’s seen” and said he attributes the weekend’s successes to hard work during practice. “They’ve all had great workouts,” he said. “They’ve been doing the work – it just paid off.” Cory Aguilar said he thinks the men’s team is in a great position at this point in the season.
“Coming out of the Arkansas meet with great performances, that gives us great confidence,” Aguilar said. On Saturday, Murray will take a handful of athletes to the Sooner Indoor Classic, where he said he hopes the rest of the Wildcat contenders will qualify for nationals. If they need another meet to do so, some athletes might compete in the Clemson Classic on Feb. 26. “Hopefully, everyone does well this weekend, and we don’t have to go [to Clemson],” Murray said. “Then we can train that weekend and get ready for nationals.” E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
Sports: ACU looks to athletic equality
Men: Three games left
Continued from Page 8
Continued from Page 8
ball team. “Since there’s not a collegiate women’s football program. You have a lot more males in athletics than females,” McCaleb said. Although volleyball provides an opportunity for women, it is a much smaller program than football. So far in the process, soccer seems to be the logical sport to
add, Mosley said. “It’s a bigger sport and would provide more opportunities for females who are interested in competing in athletics,” he said. “Soccer is a sport in our conference and in our area that schools are adding.” Both McCaleb and Mosley said many prospective students ask about women’s soccer at ACU. “Our indication is that the interest in women’s soccer and
golf is increasing,” McCaleb said. “More students each passing year are playing in high school.” Mosley said although a timeline has not been set for the implementation of a new women’s sport, a coach would most likely need at least a year to recruit before play begins. E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Division with three games left to play, including its last road game in Kingsville on Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Wildcats will return home Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 with contests against Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce. “I think we’ve learned a lot of lessons,” Thrift said. “Sometimes you work hard; it doesn’t always work out the
SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
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Freshman posts top world time
LSC South Standings current through 02-13-05
Men’s Basketball Team A&M-Commerce Midwestern State A&M-Kingsville West Texas A&M Angelo State E. New Mexico ACU
Div. 6-2 6-2 5-3 5-3 4-5 2-6 1-8
Tot. 19-4 14-9 14-9 11-12 11-13 9-14 8-16
Individuals and teams succeed at one of year’s biggest meets By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
Freshman Nicodemus Naimadu’s victory and indoor school record in the 5,000meter run Saturday highlighted a weekend full of new and better qualifying marks as the men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in the Tyson Foods Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday and Saturday. In total, 24 athletes posted new or better qualifying marks. Naimadu’s, however, was the only school record in the bunch. The freshman also set a class record, defeated a field of top Division I distance runners, and posted the top time in the world this year with his time of 13:41.08. Head coach Jon Murray said Naimadu’s performance came as a pleasant surprise. “I didn’t expect for Nicodemus to go down that low,” Murray said. “I thought he’d run 14-flat or something.” Junior Olha Kryv’yak led a group of Wildcat middle-distance runners to provisional and automatic qualifying times in the women’s mile
Women’s Basketball Team Angelo State West Texas A&M A&M-Commerce ACU Midwestern State Texas Woman’s E. New Mexico A&M-Kingsville
Div. 8-1 7-3 7-3 6-3 4-6 3-7 3-7 1-9
Tot. 20-2 16-7 12-11 15-7 9-14 10-12 9-14 5-18
Baseball Team E. New Mexico ACU West Texas A&M Tarleton State Angelo State A&M-Kingsville
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Tot. 2-0 2-1 2-1 0-0 0-1 0-2
Softball Team Texas Woman’s Angelo State ACU Tarleton State E. New Mexico A&M-Kingsville
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
February 16, 2005
Tot. 2-0 4-1 3-1 3-3 1-4 0-2
Friday night. Kryv’yak placed fourth in the Women’s College race with an automatic qualifying time of 4:51.91. Trina Cox was sixth for ACU in 4:54.98, a provisional time, followed by junior Addeh Mwamba in seventh with a provisional time of 4:55.65. The other highlight from Friday night was the men’s distance medley relay, in which ACU placed fourth with an exceptionally fast and automatic qualifying time of 9:40.55. Aside from Naimadu’s blistering 5,000-meter run, the men’s and women’s pole vaulters were the story of the day on Saturday. Sophomore Angie Aguilar won the unseeded division of the women’s pole vault with a personal best height of 12-8, followed by senior Val Gorter, who cleared the same height. In the championship division, senior Katie Eckley improved her provisional qualifying height with a vault of 12-2, good for 15th place overall. “I’ve been waiting on this,” Aguilar said of her personalbest vault. “I knew it would happen; it was just a matter of time. Hopefully it’ll keep going up.” Aguilar’s husband, Cory, placed fourth in the men’s See TRACK Page 7
Scores Thursday Women’s basketball ACU 72, Eastern New Mexico 53 Men’s basketball Eastern New Mexico 85, ACU 77
Friday Baseball Incarnate Word 4, ACU 0 ACU 9, Incarnate Word 0 Softball St. Mary’s 3, ACU 2 St. Mary’s 8, ACU 6
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
A.J. Porterfield, sophomore guard, battles with Buffs guard Jordanas Mejeras as he goes up for a layup during the 78-68 ACU loss Saturday in Moody Coliseum. Porterfield had five points including 1-1 from beyond the arc and two steals in the game. The men stand at 1-8 in the LSC South Division and have three games left to play, two of which will be held at home.
Men experience more disappointment
Wildcats follow big win with ugly loss Women defeat ENMU 72-53, lose again to WTAMU 85-60 By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
Saturday Baseball ACU 22, Incarnate Word 8 Softball ACU 9, Incarnate Word 6 Incarnate Word 8, ACU 7 Women’s basketball West Texas A&M 72, ACU 53 Men’s basketball West Texas A&M 78, ACU 68
Upcoming events in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Wednesday, February 16 SB: Panhandle State, 1 p.m. Thursday, February 17 SB: Diamond Dame Classic, 1 p.m. WB: Texas Woman’s, 7 p.m. Friday, February 18 SB: Diamond Dame Classic, 1 p.m. BSB: Cameron, 2 p.m. Saturday, February 19 SB: Diamond Dame Classic, 1 p.m. BSB: Cameron, 12 p.m. TK: Sooner Invitational, Norman Okla. MB: Texas A&M Kingsville, 4 p.m.
Six straight losses give Wildcats 1-8 record in division By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcat basketball team suffered another frustrating week, dropping two more Lone Star Conference South Division games at Moody Coliseum. Eastern New Mexico gained its second conference win over the Wildcats on Thursday with an 85-77 win, and West Texas A&M held off a late ACU run to hand the Wildcats their sixth straight loss 78-68 on Saturday. Hakim Rasul, David Baxter and Mauro Matai provided the offensive attack for ACU against
Eastern, scoring 29, 17 and 12 respectively. The Wildcats outrebounded the Greyhounds 4938, but it was their 23 turnovers and lack of offensive production from the bench—where they were outscored 25-7 — that aided the loss. ACU led 74-73 with 3:04 left in the contest, but couldn’t hit a field goal down the stretch as the Greyhounds closed out the game with a 12-3 run. “I think we’ve had trouble sustaining a full game,” assistant coach Brian Thrift said. “It’s not that we don’t play hard; we’ll have those two or three minute spurts where we’re able to score and we don’t get stops. But by the same token we’ll get stops but don’t score, and we don’t gain any ground.”
Matthias Kreig recorded a double-double against West Texas A&M with 16 points and rebounds, while Rasul added 20 and nine, but he fouled out with more than seven minutes to play. ACU—down nine at the half and trailed by as many as 14 in the second half—cut the lead to three with 6:38 remaining but were unable to continue the run. The Wildcats struggled from the field, shooting just 35.5 percent and only 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. Baxter, the second leading scorer on the team and 15th leading scorer in the nation, scored just nine points on three of 18 from the field. ACU is 1-8 in the LSC South See MEN Page 7
Wildcats achieve revenge Men crush team that beat them six times last year By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
After seven straight losses to the University of Incarnate Word, the Wildcats had seen enough. The team began a three-
game series with the Cardinals with a 4-0 loss on Friday. The loss came after UIW beat ACU six times last season. But the Wildcats rebounded for a 9-0 win in Friday’s second game and let loose Saturday with a 22-8 win. Saturday’s lopsided score was triggered by career days from Joel Wells and Chris Walsh. Wells had six hits, an ACU record, and five RBI.
There’s just something about West Texas A&M that throws the Wildcats off. On Saturday, the ACU women’s basketball team lost 85-60 to the Lady Buffs at Moody Coliseum, just one week after losing 80-55 to the same team in Canyon. “It was a repeat,” ACU coach Shawna Lavender said. “The good thing is we’ve played them twice now so we don’t have to play them again.” For the Wildcats, the loss told the same story as previous defeats — too many turnovers. This time ACU turned it over 33 times, turnovers which led to 37 WTAMU points. “It’s just the same old same old,” Lavender said. “Having that many turnovers, you’re not going to
win many games.” Stephanie Riles led the Wildcats in points with 24 but also led them with nine turnovers. When they did manage to get a shot off, the Wildcats still weren’t successful. ACU shot just 34 percent, including a combined 2-of-16 showing from starters Ashley King, Alex Guiton and Meredith Doyle. With below-average numbers for the second straight game against the Lady Buffs, Lavender said she suspects the issue might go beyond the basketball court. “We play scared against them, and we don’t play our game,” Lavender said. “We let them intimidate us and that’s a mental barrier we have to get over.” The Wildcats have faired much better against Eastern New Mexico this season. A week after nipping the Greyhounds by three at their home court, ACU won 72-53 on Thursday in Abilene. “That game was much See WOMEN Page 7
Walsh contributed his third homerun of the season and drove in six runs, one shy of an ACU record. Ryan Barker joined in the hit parade with a 4-for-4 day. “Those three are carrying us right now for sure,” ACU coach Britt Bonneau said. “They’re exciting to watch.” For the year, Walsh and See BASEBALL Page 7
Committee considers adding new women’s sport Administrators kick around proposal of varsity soccer, golf By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Student recruiters might soon have one more aspect of ACU to entice prospective students with: women’s varsity soccer or women’s varsity golf. “Soccer is a hot item right now, and there’s a lot of inter-
est,” said athletic director Jared Mosley. “We’ve had discussions about the possibility of adding women’s soccer and/or women’s golf,” he said. Mosley said administrators have been discussing the possibility of adding another women’s sport for several years. Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university, said a committee discusses the issue once or twice a year. “We’re closer to it now
than we were three or five years ago, but we’re not exact when that will be yet,” McCaleb said. Factors that would determine the final decision of the next sport to add are the availability and proximity of other schools offering the same sport, McCaleb said. Budget issues are also a concern, Mosley said. The budget would include scholarships, salaries for coaches and operational costs, such as traveling.
A main reason for the addition of soccer or golf is so the university can fulfill the requirements of Title IX, a part of the Education Amendment passed in 1972 that requires schools that receive federal funds give males and females equal opportunity to participate in athletics. McCaleb said the addition of women’s soccer or golf would balance out the footSee SPORTS Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior starting center Jamie Boles rises up to hit a shot between Lady Buffs defenders Celeste Stevenson and Keisha Monroe during the 85-60 Wildcat loss in Moody Saturday. Boles scored 17 points in addition to five rebounds and one block.