OPTIMIST THE
Swan Song FRIDAY
February 18, 2005
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 38 2 sections, 22 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Climbing the charts:
Work zone ahead:
‘Rock around the clock’:
See pictures of the six Sing Song hosts and hostesses performing in the show. Pages 6A and 7A
Although construction on Barret Hall is several weeks behind schedule, administrators say it should still be completed by Aug. 1. Page 12A
About 35 children will participate in this year’s Sing Song children’s chorus. Page 4A
Singing their
After three years, seniors prepare for last shot in spotlight
University cites Leeson with award
Pulitzer-winning photographer chosen as Outstanding Alumnus of Year By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
John Best doesn’t give himself credit for helping David Leeson win a Pulitzer Prize in photography. But he does credit Leeson with giving him his first gray hairs. Leeson, class of 1978, worked under Best at the Abilene ReporterNews in the early 1980s and will be honored Sunday by the Alumni Association as the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year at a luncheon at the Abilene Civic Center. Best, instructor of journalism and mass communication, will lead Leeson the benediction at the luncheon. He was chief photographer part of the time Leeson was staff photographer at the Reporter-News, and he said even 25 years ago Leeson was a driven photographer who worried him sometimes. “David was young, and he had already started covering and trying to do things that pushed the envelope,” Best said. “I was concerned about his See LEESON Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Members of the senior class perform their hillbilly-themed act during Wednesday’s dress rehearsal of Sing Song. This weekend will represent the last time many of the seniors will perform on the Sing Song stage, where some have been performing every year since they were freshmen. By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
They began as silly freshman. They competed fiercely with their clubs. Some became hosts, and others worked behind the scenes. Now they are saying goodbye. Six seniors, who have been involved in Sing Song for four years, are looking back on the experiences they’ve shared along the way. “It’s been an amazing experience,” said Ben Lazcano, senior youth and family ministry major from The Colony. “I’ve created a bond between friends and with brothers in club that you really can’t find in any other activity.” Lazcano began participating in Sing Song as a freshman in the class act. Since then, he has played a large role in helping the members of Gamma Sigma Phi to victory as a bass leader. This year, his club is setting a new goal: winning four years straight. Although they are looking to win, Lazcano said the triumph means less to him than the fellowship.
Inside the extra section Look inside this issue for an extra section with more news about Sing Song and Lectureship. It features: • Complete sports coverage from men’s and women’s basketball to baseball and softball, pages 1B-3B. • Information on the Freshman Ushers’ group participating in Sing Song with an ’80s theme, page 4B. • An article about this year’s Sing Song dance team and the numbers it will perform, page 5B. • A in-depth story about Dr. Mark Tucker, dean of Brown Library and information resources, page 6B. • A list of this year’s Sing Song judges and their judging criteria, page 10B.
“The actual event means nothing to me; it’s the community it requires, and what it means for the group to come together,” he said. “We are achieving something here that is greater than the win. To do this is not about merit or who is better, but to win, it really says something about the dynamics of your group.”
This year the seniors in GSP are stepping up to show more leadership, Lazcano said. “That is what it takes when you have a group with 40 sophomores,” he said. “We have such a young crowd dominating our group, so it takes a mature group of seniors to step up and be leaders to them.” Amanda Harris, senior hu-
“As goofy as the show concept is, it really unites each class that has passed through ACU.” Jeffrey Rasco, Sing Song co-chair and senior management major from Abilene
For Lazcano, the best memory was learning to come from behind. “In 2003, we were the Beatles, and we had lost the first two shows. Then we came back and won the overall on Saturday,” Lazcano said. “It tested what we were made of. We realized that we were the underdog, and we found out what it takes to be the best club on campus in Sing Song that year.” Now as a senior, he takes his role as a leader seriously.
man development and family studies major from Cedar Hill and assistant upstage manager has seen every side of Sing Song and said she loves it. She has worked behind the scenes and knows what it takes to perform with class and club acts. Her favorite memory of Sing Song was when she performed with her club, Alpha Kai Omega, for the first time. “It is different than participating with your class act
because you are part of a legacy,” Harris said. “You really get to bond and just goof off. You get to look stupid, but you know that everyone else looks stupid right along with you.” Harris said she is sad this is her last year to participate in Sing Song. Instead of focusing on it, she is excited to see how she meets the challenge of working on production staff and performing in two groups. She said she knows Sing Song is much more than students performing just to win. “As part of the production staff, we really get to see people using God’s gifts,” Harris said. “It is never about one person, but about using the talents we have been given to produce a show with fellow Christians.” David Gilly, Gamma Sigma Phi Sing Song director and exercise science major from Abilene, said he also loves Sing Song. Gilly led GSP to its win the past year, and he said he participates because of his love for music and because most of his friends participate. See SENIORS Page 5
Trustee board will discuss school’s future Centennial Campaign, student tuition, budget will be on members’ docket By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Fifty-four Board of Trustees will meet Friday and Saturday to make decisions about student tuition, the university’s budget and long range plans for the university. The re-election of Dr. Royce Money, president of the University, is also on the agenda for the annual meeting, said Dr. Gaston Welborn, vice president and general counsel to the university. “It’s the time in which the officers of the Board are elected, and the president is technically re-elected,” Welborn said. Don Crisp, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in an e-mail the Board of Trustees is the governing Welborn body of the university. It is responsible for hiring the president, setting policy, providing long-range guidance and giving feedback about academics, fund raising and campus construction, he said. See BOARD Page 5
Biblical Studies Building renamed Name change in honor of late trustee members: Packer, Onstead By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR
The Biblical Studies Building will be officially renamed the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building this weekend in honor of the late Lynn Packer and Robert Onstead. Both Onstead and Packer were Board of Trustees members and co-chaired a campaign in the mid ’80s to build a new Biblical Studies Building. In
seven months, the two men had raised $13 million. Packer died in 2001, and Onstead died in August. After Onstead died, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said he began discussions with Don Crisp, chair of the Board of Trustees, about ways to honor the contributions of the two men. “Mr. Crisp and I decided this would be an appropriate way to honor these two men who were very instrumental in us being able to have this fine facility,” Money said. See BIBLE Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Kenneth Russell, employee of FASTSIGNS of Abilene, works on the entrance of the Biblical Studies Building on Monday, the weekend before the building is officially renamed in honor of the late Lynn Packer and Robert Onstead, who were both trustees of the university.