OPTIMIST THE
WEDNESDAY March 30, 2005
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Holding down the fort:
Candidates make case for office:
On display:
Residence hall directors try to find a balance between discipline and mentoring. Page 8
The Editorial Board interviewed each candidate for Students’ Association executive office and endorsed one for each position. Page 7
A freshman ran the secondbest 5,000-meter time in school history. Page 10
McBryde joins Housing
Professors to discuss human nature in forum Graduate Students Association organizes panel for Thursday By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
How can people who advocate destruction, such as Hitler and Osama bin Laden, and others who encourage love, like Mother Theresa and Ghandi, both exist in the world? Is there such a
thing as human nature, and if so, what is it? These and other difficult questions will be discussed in the Graduate Student Associations upcoming forum “Human Nature.” The two-hour forum, planned for Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hart Auditorium, features Randy Harris, instructor of
Harris
See FORUM Page 9
Morris
New coordinator ‘in charge of organizing all housing details’ By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Scott McBryde knows the Office of Residence Life Education and Housing well. After serving as a resident assistant and spiritual life assistant before graduating last May, he
became the administrative coordinator for residence life in January. “I’m in charge of organizing all the housing details,” McBryde said. “I put people in residence halls and supervise the potluck process.” He’s also an administrative assistant to Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing. He manages her schedule and prepares reports for Barnard,
My fellow students ...
Debaters place at national tourney STAFF WRITER
See DEBATE Page 9
By LACI ARMSTRONG STUDENT REPORTER
watch Hulk Hogan on TV all the time,” he said. JBL’s reign as WWE champion is the longest reign in more than a decade. He is a Sweetwater native and ACU class of 1989. During his years at the university, Layfield was a second-team allAmerican offensive lineman as
KACU-FM officials hope the phones will ring next week during their semi-annual pledge drive beginning Thursday. KACU, Abilene’s public radio station 89.7 FM, is asking listeners to call in and pledge money to fund the station. During the course of the pledge drive, which ends April 6, 100 guests from the Abilene community will come and tell what they like about the station in order to remind listeners why KACU is important and encourage them to pledge their money in support. “Public radio helps inform people, so it’s important to have members from our community come tell why they like KACU,” said Terri Peterson, membership director of KACU. In order to keep the radio station on air, KACU must raise at least one-fourth of its operating expenses during the pledge drive. KACU will air From the Top, which was recorded at the Paramount Theatre in February. The national broadcast of the show will go on air at KACU during the pledge drive on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. The From the Top performance features Revolution, a local fiddle ensemble composed of 14 violinists from Cooper and Abilene high schools that is led by Darcy Radcliffe, orchestra director for the high schools. KACU has approximately
See WWE Page 9
See KACU Page 9
Photo illustration by BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Executive president candidates Justin Scott, Jonathan Wactor and Keith Robinson spoke to students Tuesday night in Moody Coliseum during a debate and Chapel forum. Each candidate was posed five questions with an opportunity to respond to others’ answers.
SA executive officer voting begins STAFF REPORT Candidates for Students’ Association executive office had the opportunity Tuesday night to address students in the form of a debate and Chapel forum, which turned into less of a debate and more question-and-answer time. After a short introduction by Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, each of the five candidates had the chance to make opening statements.
Tyler Cosgrove, executive treasurer running for re-election, and Melanie Booker, executive vice president running for re-election, each responded to questions that mostly dealt with their time in office and what they had learned from it. Both Cosgrove and Booker are running unopposed. Executive president candidates Justin Scott, Jonathan Wactor and Keith Robinson then each had five questions of their own and a chance to
respond to the other candidates’ answers—of which no one took advantage. Scott stressed his desire to be about the work students find important through initiatives involving Project Abilene, meal plans and student parking. Wactor, having never served on SA, told students he wanted to be a new voice for the students to the administration, specifically mentioning improvements to the Campus Center as one
of his goals. Robinson, emphasizing his campaign slogan “New Horizons,” discussed his desire to build more community on campus through initiatives like encouraging more students to attend athletic and fine art events All candidates stressed a desire to continue service programs like Project Abilene begun by this year’s leaders. Students can vote online at my.ACU Wednesday through Friday at 5 p.m.
Wrestler cancels radio broadcast in Abilene Former student, WWE champion hosts syndicated show By BRANDON E. COOKS STUDENT REPORTER
A former student athlete who became a famous professional wrestler, radio talk show host and financial author can-
See HOUSING Page 9
KACU’s semi-annual pledge drive to run Thursday to April 6
By LAURA STORK The debate team placed sixth overall and third in debate against 71 schools in a national tournament in St. Louis on March 16-19. Andrea Schweikhard, junior communication major from Tulsa, Okla., and her partner Brandon Lemley, sophomore political science major from Abilene, placed third in the parliamentary debate and made it to the semifinals. Schweikhard and Lemley were undefeated in the preliminary rounds and won their first elimination round but lost in the semifinals. However, they received first place, or Top Superior, because they received additional awards based on how well partners debate in each parliamentary debate round. Schweikhard said she became involved with debate just for fun. “I took debate as a class last semester with Dr. Gary,” Schweikhard said. “I loved it so much that I let her convince me
McBryde said. Barnard said about half of McBryde’s job is supporting the work she does. “Everything from meeting with people about Barret Hall to our summer schedule to routine summer maintenance,” Barnard said. “Those are an example.” McBryde said although he faced a big learning curve in his
Campus radio station to raise money
Team earns sixth among 71 schools at St. Louis contest
Gasoline tips
Vol. 93, No. 45 1 section, 10 pages
celed his trip to Abilene last week. John “Bradshaw” Layfield, World Wrestling Entertainment champion for the past eight months, was set to arrive in Abilene to broadcast his nationally syndicated talk show The John Bradshaw Layfield Show in which he combines his love of politics, sports and current events.
Layfield’s plans to arrive in Abilene were canceled after an equipment malfunction. “I really wanted to come home because I haven’t seen some of my family in a couple of years,” he said. Layfield, who is known as JBL to the wrestling world, will showcase his talent during WrestleMania 21 on April 3. “He is certainly one of our
top superstars, and he is very charismatic,” said Kate Cox, manager of corporate communications for WWE. “As a WWE champion, he is extremely athletic, entertaining and has an incredible persona in and outside of the ring.” “This is more than I could’ve ever imagined,” Layfield said. “When I was at ACU, we use to sit in the dorms and
Gasoline prices fuel concern
As gasoline prices top $2 per gallon, drivers can take steps to improve their car’s gas mileage, according to the American Petroleum Institute Web site:
Price per gallon surpasses $2 in all states but New Jersey
• Have the vehicle tuned regularly. • Keep tires properly inflated. • Drive slower. • Avoid speeding up or slowing down rapidly. • Use the air conditioner sparingly. • Plan trips wisely, and run all errands at one time.
By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Theresa Smith stands behind the counter taking money from customers, who mostly only fill their cars halfway, coming through her station. Smith, the day-time gas attendant at Skinny’s gas station on the corner of Judge Ely Boulevard and North 10th
Street, said she hasn’t seen gas go this high before and sympathizes with her customers who come in complaining. Drivers across America have noticed the increase as prices have hit the $2 mark in every state except New Jersey. Prices are expected to stay at $2, simply because of supply and demand and taxes on gasoline. Today the price is $2.11. “There has definitely not been a decline in customers since this gas thing started,” Smith said. “People are just not filling their cars up very much
anymore. My average sale is $5 to $10.” Customers may continue buying gas, Smith said, but they also are complaining. “Most aren’t vicious about the prices rising; they just ask the questions we all do,” Smith said. “What are we going to do?” Students say prices are rising because of the war in the Middle East or disagreements with oil companies. Surprisingly, none of these See GAS Page 9
ROBIN WALLER/Contributing Photographer
Emily Vaughn, senior elementary education major from Fort Worth, pays for gasoline at the Shell station at the corner of Judge Ely Boulevard and North 10th Street, where gas was $2.11 per gallon. Gas prices have eclipsed $2 in all but one state across America.