WEDNESDAY April 6, 2005
OPTIMIST THE
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 47 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Coordinating community:
Students go online for summer courses:
Track team triumphs:
Shane Hughes works every day with all those involved in organizing Chapel. Page 8
More than 200 students have signed up to take at least one of four classes online from anywhere with Internet access. Page 5
The track and field team produced 19 new or improved qualifying times. Page 10
Scott elected by wide margin Booker, Cosgrove reaffirmed as vice president, treasurer By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Justin Scott defeated his opponents Friday in the race for president of Students’ Association against Keith Robinson and Jonathan Wactor. Melanie Booker and Tyler Cosgrove were re-elected to vice president and treasurer, respectively. Scott, junior political sci-
ence major from Whitehouse, cide, and they had the opportusaid he didn't expect the re- nity this year to choose from sults he received Friday eve- three good candidates,” Scott ning. said. “Both “I was pretty Jon and surprised that Keith are one candidate godly men, SA presidential election results: out of three was and they deable to get a sire to serve 60.6 percent • Justin Scott majority of the others. • Keith Robinson 22.5 percent vote,” Scott said. “I hope • Jonathan Wactor 16.9 percent He said he exthey can pected a runoff both find a Out of 1,019 votes election, but he place to was happy with serve. They the results. are leaders and are valuable to “In a democratic system, the campus.” people get the chance to deThe election took place in
Election results
the Campus Center on ballots Wednesday through Friday, and 1,019 students voted, said Patrick Leech, SA election campaign manager and junior history major from Tuscola. Leech said Scott garnered 60.6 percent of the vote, receiving 618 votes. Robinson received 22.5 percent of the vote with 229 votes, and Wactor received 16.9 percent of the vote with 172 votes. Leech also said Booker and Cosgrove were re-elected with Booker receiving 90.28 percent See SA Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Justin Scott, junior political science major from Whitehouse, speaks in Chapel on March 30 during the Students’ Association executive officer candidate speeches. Scott received more than 60 percent of 1,019 total votes to win the election as executive president.
Chapel leaders tackle issue of abortion
Taking pride in their work
Spiritual Life Core said students suggested issue be discussed By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
Lisa McCarty, assistant in the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, said Maymester and summer enrollment is up so far, although fall enrollment has decreased. The decrease could be because students wait until later in the semester to register, said Karen Griffith, records specialist in the Registrar’s Office. “You have to keep in mind that registration isn’t over yet,”
As discussion and controversy involving an individual’s right to live has dominated the news recently, Chapel coordinators have given students a chance to discuss issues of life in three consecutive Thursday services focusing on abortion. Although abortion remains a sensitive topic among Christians, campus officials said the university cannot ignore the issue. “As part of our [mission statement], we need to acknowledge that this is a critical issue within our culture and even within the body of Christ,” said Mark Lewis, adviser of the Spiritual Life Core and director of Spiritual Life and Student Ministries. “I don’t think we want to talk about it, but the fact is that we have people in the body of Christ who have been, who currently are and who will be affected by abortion.” He said the Spiritual Life Core, a group of students and advisers who make plans for 18:38 Chapel in Moody, realized students wanted to hear about the issue when they requested suggestions at the beginning of the semester. “It’s something that we started at moments praying about and at others avoiding thinking about because of sensitivities that are attached to the issue,”
See REGISTER Page 7
See CHAPEL Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Mabel, played by Heather Ketchersid, junior theatre major from Dallas, has her palm read by Pru O’Neill, played by Lindsay Speck, senior theatre major from Amarillo, in Monday night’s dress rehearsal of “Pride’s Crossing” in Fulks Theatre. “Pride’s Crossing,” the spring dinner theatre production, opens Thursday night and runs for three weekends.
Schiavo case poses ethical questions Students, professors grapple to answer right-to-life issues
Schiavo’s feeding tube was taken out March 18 despite efforts by her parents to appeal to courts and Congress. Schiavo died Thursday after 13 days without food or water. By SARAH CARLSON Dr. Perry Reeves, professor ARTS EDITOR of chemistry, said the case Less than a week after the reminded him of his own perdeath of Terri Schiavo, the sonal decisions about using scibrain-damaged woman caught entific means to keep a family in the middle of a legal battle member alive. between her husband and par“I think it’s an incredibly difents, professors and students ficult issue,” Reeves said. “I are left anathink the lyzing the ethwhole quesical and moral “People say God gives life tion is what issues in- and God takes life, but we are extraorvolved in the d i n a r y case and deintervene on that every means used termining to keep peoday. When should you what they ple alive? would want Was a feeddecide to intervene?” done in their ing tube own lives. Dr. Perry Reeves, professor of chemistry extraordiSchiavo nary means was in a peror not?” sistent vegetative state for 15 Neal Coates, assistant proyears while her husband, fessor of political science, said Michael, fought to have her the question of extending life taken off a feeding tube and has been magnified recently allowed to die. Her parents, Bob with the death of Pope John and Mary Schindler, fought to Paul II, who did not take any have her remain on the feeding extra means to prolong his life. tube. The case has been in the “The Terri Schiavo case is courts for more than a decade, only recently escalating when See SCHIAVO Page 7
No Optimist Friday
Initial registration totals slightly down
The Optimist will not publish Friday while several members of the staff attend the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference in Dallas. The paper will resume normal publication dates April 13.
Decrease could reflect more students waiting to register later in year By MITCH HOLT STAFF WRITER
The number of students who registered for fall classes has decreased since last spring’s registration period, but the employees of the Registrar’s Office said they still believe the registration process went smoothly.
Week aims to raise justice awareness Campus club plans prayer meetings, 5k run, concert By TIFFANY TAYLOR PAGE 2 EDITOR
Members of ACU’s International Justice Mission will attempt to increase students’ awareness of injustice around the world and raise money to support proactive Christian assistance of the oppressed during
IJM Awareness Week, April 18 through 22. The week will include daily prayer meetings at the GATA Fountain, the second annual 5K run and walk-a-thon, and a Jam for Justice concert featuring student bands. Squeezing so much into one week is an effective way to reach students, said Andrea Gallman, senior social studies major from Houston and cochair of IJM. “It’s good to bombard people
with it all at once, or they might ignore it,” Gallman said. Members of the IJM campus chapter have visited students in Bible and University Seminar classes, Gallman said, explaining IJM’s mission to be proactive in fighting social injustice and build a strong prayer community as support. IJM members will be manning a table in the Campus Center, explaining the purpose of their organization to any interested students. Interna-
tional Justice Mission is a Christian organization based in Washington, D.C., made up of lawyers and caseworkers who go into countries such as Cambodia and Kenya to seek out injustices, try the case of victims and prosecute the perpetrators. Sarah Carlson, junior print journalism major from San Antonio and IJM co-chair, said she hopes informed students See IJM Page 7
CAMPUS
DAY
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
54 17
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
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Calendar&Events Wednesday
Peer Leader training, 6-7:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
ACU Rodeo sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Fellowship of Christian Athletes party, 9-10:45 p.m., Living Room.
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Saturday
Shades practice, 2-4 p.m., Hilton Room. Office of Career and Academic Development luncheon, 11:30 a.m.1 p.m., Living Room.
ACU Rodeo sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Society of African American Brotherhood meeting, 6-7 p.m., Hilton Room.
Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center.
Spiritual Life coffee forum, 8-10 p.m., Hilton Room.
Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center.
Pride’s Crossing dinner theatre, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and play at 8 p.m., Fulks Theatre.
Pride’s Crossing dinner theatre, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and play at 8 p.m., Fulks Theatre.
Shane and Shane performance, 7 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.
Spades tournament, 5 p.m., Bean Sprout.
Shane & Shane ticket sales, 11:50 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Spades tournament sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Bonita Park recruiting, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center. Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center. Venture Out presales, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Friday
Pride’s Crossing dinner theatre, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and play at 8 p.m., Fulks Theatre. Golden Anniversary reunion, 7-10 a.m., Hilton Room. Pace Setters meeting, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Living Room.
Weekend Campaign sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center.
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Spades tournament sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Thursday
Golden Anniversary reunion, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., LIving Room. Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center. Spades tournament sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Venture Out presales, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Friday Night Frenzy for freshmen, 6midnight, Bean Sprout and Recreation Center. Texas Christian Schools Literary Tournament, 3 p.m., Campus Center.
About This Page The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local, social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@jmc.acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
Dodgeball tournament, 9 p.m., Moody Coliseum
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Sunday
Peer leader training, 6-8 p.m., Hilton Room. Shades practice, 9-10 p.m., Hilton Room.
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Monday
12
Tuesday
Leadership Camps staff training, 4-7:30 p.m., Hilton Room. Peer Health Education, 8:3010:30 p.m., Hilton Room. Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center. ACU Rodeo sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. ACU for Abilene sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. ACU rodeo, 6 p.m., Taylor County Expo Center.
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Wednesday
Academic Honors luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hilton Room. Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center.
Society of African American Brotherhood meeting, 9-10:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
ACU for Abilene sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Shades practice, 8-10:30 p.m., Living Room.
Venture Out presales, 11:30 a.m.1 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Gamma Sigma Phi Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Campus Center.
Business class marketing project, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Living Room.
ACU Rodeo sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Spades tournament sign-up, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus
Volunteer Opportunities ACU for Abilene will take place April 16. Students, staff and faculty will serve the ACU neighborhood and the Abilene community. Sign-ups will begin Tuesday in the ticket windows. Volunteers are needed to help build a Habitat for Humanity house on April 23. For more information, e-mail Bethany Allen baa02a@acu.edu. Volunteers are needed to man children’s activity bo-
oths during Founder’s Day on Saturday. Time shifts are 10 a.m.2 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. For more information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Volunteers are needed to be bus monitors, help with snack time, play games after school and help with homework after school as part of the Communities in Schools program. For more information, call Samanthan Manski at 672-8544.
Mayor participates in 5k run, encourages health Certificates given to runners who finish before Archibald By DANIÈLE NTAHONKIRIYE STUDENT REPORTER
The second annual Mayor’s Roundup 5k run/walk will take place Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Frontier Texas. Registration and check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the cost is $15. Joy Hedges, coordinator of the Mayor’s Roundup said the event is sponsored by the mayor of Abilene, the City of Abilene Wellness Committee, Frontier Texas and the Abilene Runner’s Club. Hedges said the first Mayor’s Roundup last year went well because a great number of people participated. “We are really excited; we think we’re going to have maybe 200 or more runners,” Hedges said. She is encouraging people from all ages to take part in this event and receive awards. Hedges said volunteers are also needed to help in the race. “The Mayor’s Roundup will promote health and get people to come out and support people being healthy,” said Mayor Norm Archibald. “It’s a 5k,
which is 3.1 miles for those of us who don’t know the metric system.” Archibald encourages citizens to run Saturday because he expects good weather. “It should be a beautiful day; the weather is looking really good: no precipitation, 83 degrees” Archibald said. “Come down and run or walk, get out and exercise and be able to meet some new people.” Archibald said awards will be given to participants who are skilled runners. “Get out and get going; don’t sleep until noon,” Archibald said. “Everyone who can outrun the mayor gets a certificate that says they outran the mayor in the mayor’s 5k run.” Archibald said he hopes ACU students will participate. “Those kids who run around the ACU campus should come down and sign up and get a T-shirt if they are the first to register,” he said. For more information, call 676-6246 or 437-2800 or go online to www.abilenetx.com.
E-mail Ntahonkiriye at: optimist@acu.edu
Announcements Friday Night Frenzy, a party for the freshman class, will be held Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight in the Bean Sprout and Recreation Center. Students can take part in karaoke, free bowling and other activities. Freshmen are encouraged to use a meal plan to eat in the Bean Sprout. The Freshman class formal will be held April 29 at the Civic Center in downtown Abilene. The attendance fee is $25, which pays for a T-shirt, pictures, dinner and two games of putt-putt golf. Mu Phi Epsilon is organizing an educational music fair for kindergarten through fifth grade students called Music and Me. The event will last from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the central lobby of the Williams Performing Arts Center.
A free craft fair and concert will be April 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Bean Sprout. Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys and Lightnings to Henderson will perform live music while students exhibit and sell their crafts. Students interested in selling crafts or art at the fair should contact Kelly Dennis at kmd03a@acu.edu. The ACU Peer Health Education Program is accepting new applications for Peer Health Educators. To pick up an application, go to the University Counseling Center at the lower level of McKinzie Hall. For more information, call Heidi Morris at Ext. 2063. New phone books are available in the Team 55 office, Zellner Hall Room 120. Old books may be brought in for recycling.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Page 3
Campaigners beautify camp Students bond during weekend campaign to HEB Foundation Camp
ory from the trip was the time of worship that followed the bonfire. “We were standing by the bonfire, singing praises till three in the morning,” she said. “It was completely By MARY TAN STAFF WRITER amazing, looking up and seeing the starry sky and being with people who wanted to Fifty students had the worship God.” chance to roast marshmallows The group left on Friday at in a 10-foot-tall bonfire last 3 p.m., traveled for three weekend during the largest hours to the camp, and Weekend Campaign of the returned on Sunday at 4 p.m. semester at the H.E. Butt Bartlett, who has been on five Foundation Camp in Leakey. campaigns previously, said “We had to use two clothes this was hangers, and the largest one guy even “Everyone was focused on helping to beautify the one she had foil covering his face camp. My team members and I did quite a number had been on. because of the “There heat,” said on some areas of brush with hand and buzz saws.” are usually Mandi Suttle, Lotefa Barlett, sophomore psychology major from Detroit only about senior biblical 20 to 25 studies major people”, from Wichita Falls. Fall, senior management she said. “Considering the Trevor Keele, freshman major from San Antonio and size of this campaign, it was very well-organized.” biblical studies major from co-director of the program. Two smaller campaigns Fort Worth, said it was the “We wanted [the volunmost memorable experience teers] to build relationships have been organized this of the entire trip. The volun- with each other, with Christ semester, one in New Orleans and the other in Mexico. The teers used brush they had in the center,” he said. Instead of working with groups evangelized through cleared from the trails at the camp to build the bonfire, people from the community skits and street ministry, and even then, had seven as they do on other Weekend among other things, said Fall. “Sending a group out of Campaigns, the volunteers buckets of brush left. on establishing the ACU bubble into street Lotefa Bartlett, sophomore focused psychology major from stronger bonds with one ministry is a great risk, but it’s a way to get people out of Detroit, said the volunteers another. “I really liked that they their comfort zones,” Fall had to do a lot of manual work, but everyone worked split us up into different said. “It’s a chance for us to groups, out of our usual circle see what God can do.” together to get the job done. “Everyone was focused on of friends,” Suttle said. “It got helping to beautify the camp- us working with other people site,” Bartlett said. “My team we didn’t really know very members and I did quite a well.” E-mail Tan at: mtt04b@acu.edu Bartlett said her best memnumber on some areas of brush with hand and buzz saws.” The trip was the first time Daniel Gambino, senior art education major from San Antonio, had gone on a Weekend Campaign to the HEB campsite, and he said more students should try to get involved. “You make friends working with people you don’t know and become closer to those you do know,” he said. Building those relationships was precisely the focus of the campaign, said Chris
Dodgeball fees support missions Highland Church of Christ’s fund-raiser includes youth, adults BY NATHAN STRAUS STUDENT REPORTER
Members of Highland Church of Christ will sponsor a dodgeball tournament Saturday in Moody Coliseum to help fund mission trips. The tournament will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Participants must put together a team and pay the entry fee to play. Audience admission costs $1, and the cost per player is $10. If a team registers by April 7, the captain of the team will be able to play for free. “There are four divisions that will play at separate times: middle school, high school, college and adult,” said Summer Fuqua, administrative assistant to youth at
Highland Church of Christ. Middle school teams play from 9 a.m. to noon, high school teams play from noon to 2 p.m., college teams play from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the adult teams play from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fuqua said participants can form co-ed teams in any division, but they must have at least two men and two women to be able to register. Teams can have six to eight players, and registration papers can be picked up and filled out at the Highland Church of Christ office on 425 Highland Ave. During the tournament, two teams of the same age bracket will play against each other for five minutes or until every member of a team has been struck by a dodgeball. Six people will be able to play at the same time on each team. “Depending on how many teams show up, we can do
either single or double elimination,” said Jim Hinkle, youth and family minister at Highland Church of Christ. He said he hopes several hundred people will compete in the tournament. While students may seem more inclined to compete, Hinkle said the most unknown division is the adult division. Hinkle said prizes would be given. Organizers are looking at medals for the younger division and are also trying to get various gift certificates to give to participants in older divisions. The money from the tournament will be spent on 20 mission trips, Fuqua said. The locations of the mission trips will range from nearby countries such as Mexico, to nearby cities such as Houston.
E-mail Straus at: optimist@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Construction progresses on the new Rosa’s Café on Judge Ely Boulevard after delays because of problematic weather and renovations. The fast-food Mexican restaurant is scheduled to open May 1.
Opening of new Rosa’s delayed Revised finishing date doesn’t lessen students’ anticipation By LAUREN WARE STUDENT REPORTER
Wet weather and delays in the renovation process have pushed the opening of the new Rosa’s Café on Judge Ely Boulevard from March 1 to May 1, said Joe Luera, district manager for Rosa’s Café. The opening of the restaurant comes right at the end of the semester, but Luera said he is not worried about having enough business. “The whole community knows the building is going to be there,” Luera said. “I think that over the summer it will give some of the locals a chance to come that don’t want to drive across town.” The new Rosa’s, located at 1026 N. Judge Ely Blvd., was once a Wyatt’s Restaurant and
then a Luby’s. Luera said the renovations will make the building look more like Rosa’s Café. “It’s been lots of interior restructuring,” Luera said. “Our start-up goal was March, but you really can’t tell about renovations.” Luera said managers will hire about 50 people, some of which will be hourly workers. “Come down to the other Rosa’s across town, bring a resume and fill out an application,” Luera said. The new Rosa’s will include a banquet facility not found in most Rosa’s, designed to attract college students, Luera said. “It’s nice that they would keep us in mind,” said Autumn Fredrickson, junior accounting major from Aurora, Colo. “There are three universities in this town,” she said. “I’m glad that they’re finally
using the space. It’s been empty since I was a freshman at least.” Fredrickson said she thinks the opening date will affect the amount of business at the restaurant. “They’d probably get more business if they opened up sooner,” Fredrickson said. “I would like to go because I’ve heard that they have amazing tortillas.” Most students welcome the idea of another fast food restaurant on the north side of town regardless of when it opens. “It will be open next semester so I’m not in a hurry,” said Paul Goncalves, freshman Biblical text major from Itu, Brazil. “I think it’s awesome. I wish more businesses would think about college kids.” E-mail Ware at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Schools conduct job fair
Silent reflection
Education majors to meet with district representatives By TIFFANY TAYLOR PAGE 2 EDITOR
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Erica Cooper, sophomore biblical text major from Corpus Christi, bows her head in Chapel on Tuesday during a time for prayer, worship and reflection.
Nature of humans debated Professors discussed issue during forum in Hart Auditorium By CIANA HARDWICK STUDENT REPORTER
Four professors from different academic disciplines discussed issues of human nature on Thursday at a forum organized by the Graduate Students’ Association. The professors represented the areas of theology, psychology, English and physics, and topics discussed ranged from the idea of humans as social beings to the proposal that sex is the most basic human behavior. The forum was held to discuss whether or not humans have an inherently good or evil nature, a topic that has been “dealt with differently by various sciences throughout history,” according to the program GSA provided for attending students. Hart Auditorium was about half full with students attending the forum, a turnout that Mark Wiebe, GSA vice president, said pleased him. Wiebe, graduate student from Watertown, N.Y., said he was glad to see many undergraduate students had decided to come to the forum, despite the fact that graduate students organized it. The moderator of the evening, Dr. Carley Dodd, professor of communication, spurred discussion among the professors and presented questions students in the audience submitted. Dodd gave each of the professors a chance to present his specific view of human nature based on his academic
field. Randy Harris, instructor of Bible, missions and ministry, gave a theological explanation of humans. Human beings need God; they “cannot be understood on their own terms,” he said. He also said humans are fundamentally relational and were created to live in a trust relationship with God. Dr. Richard Beck, associate professor of psychology, presented a view of human nature from his field’s perspective. Psychology professors teach the innate human nature that comes from genetics and evolution, but it is “difficult to characterize it as good or bad,” he said. Like Harris, Beck said humans are relational and are social beings; humans can transcend their innate natures through Christ, he said. Dr. Bill Rankin, assistant professor of English, spoke about human nature in relation to his field of literature. It would be poor writing for a character to be only good or only evil because “we want to see change and growth and complexity and transformation,” he said. Humans are capable of both good and evil and at “any moment we might choose either one or the other,” he said. But he also said that humans are on a continuum and can choose to move themselves to toward either good or evil. “Literature suggests that people can, in fact, overcome this evil,” Rankin said. Dr. Paul Morris, professor of physics, said he holds a more optimistic view of human nature, which is related to potential. Morris said physics shows every event being pro-
duced by a cause, which led him to ask, “Can we be responsible in a universe that seems to be deterministic?” If all events are the result of something else, it seems humans can’t make choices, he said. This makes it difficult for him to judge the human nature of others, he said. People who seem to have an evil nature could have developed it as a result of the situations they were placed in by life. He related this idea to what he called “moral luck.” “Why is Paul Morris in a good situation, when children die in poverty,” he asked. Because of his moral luck, he cannot judge others who were not born into such luck, he said. Further discussion on human nature was prompted when students submitted questions for the professors to answer. In response to one question, Harris spoke about humans having both flesh and spirit. “To not acknowledge either part would be the denial of my true humanity,” he said. The people who really wreck things are the ones who try to be God, he said. “You’re always a creature and you’re always in the image of God,” he said. After the forum Rankin said humans can move toward the good. It might not be a perfectly straight journey, but “what’s important is an overall trajectory toward the human connection with others.”
E-mail Hardwick at: optimist@acu.edu
Upper-classman education majors will join students from McMurry University and Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday at the Tri-University Teacher Job Fair. More than 90 independent school districts will be at the fair to search for teachers. Applicants who are currently or were formerly student teachers will take their resumes to the Civic Center, where representatives from school districts will set up booths from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Matt Boisvert, director of career and academic development. Representatives from independent school districts in Texas and New Mexico will attend the fair, said Jennifer Phillips, director of career services. “They’re from all over: Houston, Dallas, metropolitan areas, small towns,” Phillips said. She added schools are willing to travel the distance to Abilene because the Job Fair can offer choices from three different colleges at once. Phillips said the Job Fair was
originally held on the ACU campus. “We do it to help education students find teaching positions,” she said. Students should wear business attire, make a good impression with their attitude and bring their resume, she said, adding 95 percent of participants are seriously searching and some can even hire on the spot. Even though many representatives are required to obtain a school board’s permission before hiring a new teacher, representatives can unofficially tell a student he or she has the job or mention the student’s name to the school’s administration, said Donna in the Gee, professor Department of Education. “Even if you walk away and you don’t have an interview scheduled, at least now you know what’s out there,” Boisvert said. He said he believes an education major’s student teaching experience will ultimately be more important than any other factor in earning a potential employer’s approval. School systems can request a student’s placement files from Career and Academic Development Services, which include references and the cooperating teacher’s evalua-
tion of a student teacher, Gee said. Education majors attending the Job Fair need to make preparations, such as compiling a placement file and researching the attending school systems, Boisvert said. The Career and Academic Development Department’s staff schedules a meeting with student teachers each semester so students can learn how to compile their placement file. Research can be done online at the Job Fair’s Web site Triuniversity.com, where students can find charts listing every school district registered and what positions are most needed. Boisvert encourages students to take advantage of this resource. “It doesn’t hurt to read up on whose attending,” he said, adding students should read information from the Web pages of the participating school systems. The information may help students decide which school district they are most interested in. “I’d go in with a definite idea of what school districts to talk to, but don’t rule any out,” Boisvert said. E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu
City celebrates 124th birthday Abilene Preservation League prepares for Founder’s Day By MONICA SMITH STUDENT REPORTER
The Abilene Preservation League is throwing a birthday party for the city on Monday. The annual festival, previously known as Celebrate Abilene, is now called Founder’s Day. This year’s event will remember the 124-year-history of the city. Though the festival will be Saturday, the Abilene’s actual birthday is March 15. Ruby Perez, executive director of the APL, said the event will feature games, activities for children, food booths and entertainment. Events and exhibits will focus on Abilene’s past. “The old festival was more like a street festival or an art festival with booths,” Perez said. “This will be a historical approach to the festival. There’s going to be a recreation of Abilene’s first town lot sale.” Mayor Norm Archibald will lead the lot sale, which will represent the town’s first property ownership. Participants will be able to bid at the auction to win commemorative land deeds redeemable for special prizes. “The people who founded
Abilene built it on principles we still use today,” said Tom Craig, APL board member. Other exhibits are geared specifically to showcase the history of Abilene. A vintage car show will display cars from 1910 to 1920 and the ‘40s and ‘50s. Modern cars from the Abilene Police Department and Dyess will also be on display, “and that will focus on transportation as it evolved in our area,” Craig said. The railroad is central to Abilene’s history. Organizers gathered model railroad enthusiasts to create a display of the railroad, Craig said. In the afternoon, participants can win cash prizes at an afternoon barbecue cook-off. “Barbecuing has always been a major part of the people of Abilene,” Craig said. “Along with the railroad, Abilene was a cow town.” He said several cooks will set up camp before the event and dress up. Cooks can compete in five categories: brisket, ribs, chicken, beans and dessert. The public will be allowed to taste the various entries at noon with an $8 pass. They can also sample free birthday cake will given at 1 p.m. All-day entertainment will be provided on two stages, and a karaoke showdown will take place at 6 p.m., followed by
Founder’s Day details The barbecue cook-off is open to any team of nonprofessional cookers. Entry fees for the first category will be $50 and $30 for additional categories. For more entry information, call Janet at 665-3717. Karaoke showdown: For more entry information, call Ted at 793-9241.
street dancing and a country concert. Cooder Graw from Austin, Tommy Alverson and the Eli Young Band will perform. Grounds admission is free; however, the concert will cost $10, and participants will have to pay an entry fee for the karaoke competition. The party will be in downtown Abilene, at the intersection of North First Street and Cedar Street. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude when the concert has ended. Proceeds from the Founder’s Day festival will benefit APL. E-mail Smith at: mxs02a@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Page 5
Four summer online courses attract more than 200 students Those who sign up early will be entered to win an iPod By TIFFANY TAYLOR PAGE 2 EDITOR
The online summer program is including two additional courses this year. The new classes, which raise the total number of courses offered online to four, are Business and Professional Writing and Fundamentals of Communication. More than 200 students have registered for at least one online course. So far, students have signed up for more six-week courses than 12-week courses. The new Business and Professional Writing course has the largest registration number yet. Coordinators predicted the other new addition, Fundamentals of Communication, would also be popular, said Dr.
Gary Tucker, director of distance education. Drawings will be held for an iPod Shuffle MP3 player April 15 and April 29, and only students who have registered by those dates will be entered, said Timpy Feller, distance education coordinator. Feller said she believes students will want to register early to be entered into the drawing, even though an early deadline has not been set. Students can continue to register until the first day of class, Tucker said. However, he said students might need to allow a couple of days in order to download the required technology module to their computer. The module will alert students about programs needed to participate in the online course. Coordinators would like to have a 20-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Class size and teacher assignments will not be determined until the beginning of
“We have it set up to where, if an airplane crashed into Zellner, we have an outside backup.” Dr. Gary Tucker, director of distance education
classes due to the tendency of students to either register for or drop classes until deadline. Tucker said he chose classes he believes students will be interested in. “We try to identify courses that have a high degree of impact on students’ schedules that are not a part of students’ majors,” Tucker said. He said classes that are not specific to students’ majors are important because they cater to a larger body of students and because a growing number of students are attempting to double major and find it helpful to fulfill general requirements online. He said the program wants to provide “students with
courses they can take in the summer that help them with their scheduling long term.” Tucker said online courses are the same quality as regular university courses, cost the same amount as courses on campus and will look exactly the same on a student’s transcript. Dr. Debbie Williams, associate professor of English and returning online instructor, has similar beliefs about online courses’ quality. “Students may even learn more if they take the time to dig into it than they might in a lecture,” said Williams, who will be teaching Business and Professional Writing. She attributes the effectiveness of online
courses to the extensive use of audio and visual media. Communication and interaction is actually stressed more in online courses, and Williams said she enjoyed her interaction with the students. “My only regret is not being able to meet the students afterward face to face,” Williams said. Discussion boards are effective ways to keep tabs on who is actually participating in class requirements, Tucker said. He said he advises students against taking two courses during the same six-week accelerated semester. But the only scheduling restriction enforced by the university dictates that students can take a maximum of six hours online during one term. While students are required to prepare their technology, coordinators are preparing for the task of keeping several classes running online throughout the summer. Tucker said the
Fellowship Center should be finished in December By JEREMY L. POND STUDENT REPORTER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Steven Moore, assistant professor of English, lectures his Composition and Literature class in the sunshine on Tuesday afternoon on the lawn in front of the Adams Center. Moore let his students enjoy the spring weather as he read aloud to them.
Robots to appear on campus on dead day By SARAH SCHAEFER STUDENT REPORTER
Members from the university chapters of the Society of Physics Students and the Association for Computing Machinery will sponsor a robotics demonstration on dead day, May 2. This is the first time the clubs have hosted a robotics demonstration together on campus.
ACM received $700 and the SPS received $1,000 to fund the event from the Students’ Association. Students who want to attend the event will not have to pay. About 30 students are involved with the project, and they are divided into four teams. Each team will design a robot for the demonstration. “The main purpose of this event is to create an interest in physics among the students and to create a chance for the older and younger students to mix and work together,” said Larry Isenhower, senior physics major
from Abilene and president of SPS. Isenhower said the time of the event, which will take place on campus, has not been decided. Currently, about 20 members make up the university’s SPS chapter. Members pay $15 dues each year for the local organization. They are also part of a national chapter, and members are required to pay dues of $25. SPS is open to anyone, not just physics majors, Isenhower said. “The members are usually either interested in physics or interested in someone who is in
E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu
Church construction nearing completion
April lectures bring May finals
Physics students to show off their technological creations
server used for summer online courses has two back-ups in Zellner Hall and the precautions don’t stop there. “We have it set up to where, if an airplane crashed into Zellner, we have an outside back-up,” Tucker said. New online courses for 2006 have not been decided, although Tucker said he believes at least one of the two classes will be from the College of Business Administration, such as economics. Discussion is still taking place as to whether a fall online class will be offered. For summer 2005 course descriptions and schedule, go to the distance education Web site at www.acu.edu/academics/dist a n c e e d u c a t i o n / s u m m e ro n line/2005courses.html.
physics,” Isenhower said. Members of SPS try to reach out to high school students and create a greater interest in physics. Another goal is to have the older members of SPS create and complete the more advanced work on a robot before passing down the unfinished robot to the younger members for completion. For more information about the national chapter of SPS visit www.aps.org E-mail Schaefer at: optimist@acu.edu
Bare steel beams tower, holding up a roof yet unfinished. South of the University Church of Christ’s main building, a gray building stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the church’s tan-bricked facilities. Unseemly as these structures may be now, members of University Church of Christ are looking forward to the day the Fellowship Center will be completed and the new opportunities the changes will offer. The $4 million construction project has been in the works since 2001. So far, pledges and donations from the church body have successfully covered the costs, though church officials say they may have to borrow money later in the process if donations from members dwindle. Once completed, the 15,000-square-foot Fellowship Center will have a kitchen, bathrooms equipped with showers, four large classrooms and a gym large enough to accommodate the entire church body. Dr. Eddie Sharp, adjunct professor of Bible and pulpit minister at the church, said the new facility will offer countless possibilities. “We will finally have a place where we can host events for the entire church and have a place to put up local families in the event of
severe weather,” he said. Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of ACU and elder at University Church of Christ, said one of the nicest features of the Fellowship Center will be its versatility. “It can be an activity center for the youth group, as well as a place for our entire church body to gather for meals, special events, etc.,” he said. McCaleb said members are also very excited about the new covered drive area, noting the convenience a covered drop-off McCaleb point would offer for elderly churchgoers during periods of inclement weather. An elevator is also being constructed with the covered drive area to offer elderly and disabled guests easier access to the classrooms on the second floor of the main building. Linda Ezzell, member of University Church of Christ, said the construction is causing some inconvenience now because one of the main parking lots has been closed to vehicles. “But everyone’s been very patient,” she said. “It’s very exciting to see these new facilities take shape.” Church officials estimate that construction should be completed in early December. E-mail Pond at: optimist@acu.edu
Campus store expands selection to include cell phones, gift cards Students can also pay bills, cash checks for up to $200 By SARAH SCHAEFER STUDENT REPORTER
Cellular phones and gift cards are just several new items available for sale at The Campus Store. The store also provides cash checking. Cell phones have been on
sale at the store for approximately a month. Clay Rich, special student assistant and senior finance major from Abilene, sent students a survey about cell phones. Cingular was the chosen service provider because of the increased coverage the company provides and the rollover minutes that are offered through the company’s variety of cell phone plans. The store carries nine cell phone models, PC cards, charg-
ers and carrying cases. “I think it is great that The Campus Store is selling Cingular phones because of their free Cingular cell phone to cell phone minutes,” said Kasey Spain, junior art major from South Lake. “I think that Cingular will find success in sales at ACU.” Shoppers can also purchase gift cards for a minimum of $5; store workers have made the cards available since a week
prior to Sing Song. The gift cards are located near the registers in The Campus Store. Anthony Williams, director of retail and purchasing, said the store has considered selling gift cards for a while. Students can cash work and personal checks for a maximum of $200 at The Campus Store. Employees previously cashed no more than $50 but increased the limit due to customer demand and expectations, Wil-
liams said. “It is so convenient,” said Gentry Rush, junior marketing major from Lewisville. “Instead of driving across town to cash a check, I can walk across campus instead.” Patrons can also pay bills to Nextel, First Choice Power, Southwestern Bell, TXU Energy, AT&T, MCI and Texas Child Support through The Campus Store after the store partnered with Western Union.
The Campus Store is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. “We try to provide products that continually meet the consumer’s expectations: ACU students,” Williams said. “We need to make sure from a business standpoint that our product makes profit and is a good fit.” E-mail Schaefer at: optimist@acu.edu
VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6 The issue: For the next two weeks, abortion will be discussed again in Thursday Chapels in Moody Coliseum.
Our view: The Spiritual Life Core has done a good job of allowing serious issues to be debated in Chapel.
The solution: Students need to act mature and respectful of all the speakers so that these kinds of issues will continue to be addressed on campus.
April 6, 2005
Thursday Chapel moving in right direction Last Thursday, a new series on abortion began in Chapel. The speaker addressed an unusually quiet and respectful crowd as she gave facts and statistics about abortion. This Thursday, a pro-life representative from Christian Homes of Abilene will debate a pro-choice physician. The following week, a woman from Highland Church of Christ who had an abortion will share her experience with the Moody Coliseum audience and will take part in a coffee house dis-
for cussion in the This university should be an open forum for the dis- forum education and Hilton Room cussion of all issues and ideas, not only safe ones. discussion. Thursday evenThe Optiing. The Optimist hopes mist applauds the Spiritual Life versity, everyone shares the students will continue to Core and Mark Lewis for allow- same opinion. However, in a respond well to the topic by lising such a controversial topic community of this size, people tening to both sides of the are not going to have the same debate and remaining respectto be addressed in Chapel. Students showed their matu- opinions about anything, espe- ful of all the speakers. If sturity Thursday, as they remained cially not such a controversial dents show maturity regarding quiet, even when the speaker subject such as abortion. this topic, maybe important Allowing pro-life and pro- issues will continue to be spoke well past 11:30 a.m. At a Christian university, choice speakers to debate in addressed. In the future the students and faculty can easily Chapel shows that the Spiritual Optimist hopes to see difficult become complacent about con- Life Core understands the issues addressed in regular troversial national issues. Many diversity that exists on our Chapel and other forums on people might assume that campus. Instead of glossing campus. because this is a Christian uni- over it, the core has provided a Many issues are viewed as
Learning can be as fun as you make it It is the fastest spreading virus on campus since the flu hit in late February. Spring Fever. The damage: empty classrooms across campus, louder chatter than usual during Chapel and slipping grades across the Face the board. This column Facts is for all stuMallory dents who Sherwood could care less about finishing the semester strong, for all seniors itching to get out of class and away from Abilene for good and for the frustrated professors who can’t just skip class, although I’m sure they would if allowed. Consider this a pep talk from a self-proclaimed nerd. As many of my friends and roommates know, I am obsessed with doing my homework. I hate it, but I can’t change it. I have tried not writing down homework, but I still check the night before class just to make sure. I have tried to not study for a test and wing it, but
Did you know that on average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year? I panic at 1 a.m. and start to cram. I can’t help myself; I love to learn. I say all this as a disclaimer, but I forgot my little secret: Nerds are okay. It’s not a bad thing to be a nerd. It’s okay to learn. Don’t let the restlessness of spring stop you from learning. And by learning I don’t just mean going to class or doing homework. Learning is about experiencing things, it is about paying attention to things around you and caring. Learning expands into the crazy little things you do that no one knows about. It is the stuff Jeopardy is made of, and it is the dumb questions that only two people ever know the answer to. To explain, I am going to share the most random facts I can to enrich your learning for the day. There is so much crazy, useless, fascinating, yet interesting information you can discover by reading, listening to people and watching television.
In Your Words
Did you know that there are 12 ways to get out of Abilene and more than 470 stop lights to slow you down? Did you know that there are more than 193 countries in the world you can travel to once out of America? Did you know that more people visit the city of Paris than any other city in the world? Did you know that a snail can sleep for three years? Did you know that in every episode of Seinfeld a Superman is lurking in the background? Did you know that the average life of a baseball in the major leagues is 7 pitches? Did you know that it is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not down stairs? Did you know that the forefinger is the most sensitive finger? Did you know that March 18 was National Awkward Moments Day, when people around the world relived their most awkward moments?
“Yes, because I think the last pope was a good moral example. Even not being Catholic, I respected his example.”
Are you interested to see who the new pope will be?
Did you know that if you put a rat in cola, it will dissolve? Did you know that in California it is against the law to use your dirty underwear as a dust rag? Did you know that in Colorado it is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your neighbor? Did you know that on average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year? Did you know that the longest flight recorded for a chicken is 13 seconds, but that you can’t sleep with chickens in Clawson City, Mo.? Did you know that a cat’s urine glows under a black light? Yes, I know I am bizarre for knowing these random facts, but aren’t they interesting? I encourage everyone to learn something new every day, whether it is something as dumb as random facts, or something worthwhile that will help in the future. Learning is as simple or as hard as you choose to make it. That choice is up to you. Respond to Sherwood at: mes02a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
The stress is mounting. But more questions correctly than it’s not the nearing exam week incorrectly. Maybe at 21 years old I am or end-of-the-year projects causing this. No, teachers will just too far removed from a return more 14-year-old to understand graded papers how the mind of a ninth gradto my posses- er works in this day and age. Or, maybe more likely, the sion during the next four concept of right and wrong weeks, so one has become so distorted that thing is cer- none of us think we have the tain: The red right to say something even so ink will flow basic as a math equation is Ask the wrong. freely. Call me insensitive, but I But not Question find it more imperative to tell anymore. Jonathan A c c o rd i n g a fourth grader that four times Smith to an article on four does not equal 15 rather CNN.com, red ink for grading than extolling the child for is falling out of favor with knowing that two times four equals eight. teachers beOne of my cause of its negjournalism proative stigma and Don’t create a fessors once stress it places marked in big on students. generation of red ink on a One princistudents so used to paper I wrote pal in PittsI incorrectburgh even told receiving only pleas- that ly used the his teachers to grade in more ant-feeling positive word while. I don’t remember “pleasant-feelreinforcement that him telling me ing tones.” that I made Pen manuthey can’t take good use of facturers have active noted an in- occasional criticism strong verbs or that I crease in sales of of their work. correctly used a purple pens as semicolon. teachers emWhether he brace this new philosophy, as if the color of told me or not, I still have ink will inspire their students managed to feel secure enough in my abilities to use a to reach new heights. My questions remain: semicolon properly, but since What happens when purple then, I sure have not confused becomes synonymous with the words while and although. So, teachers, stick to red. error, and are we simply trading in one negative color to Let your corrections jump off the page. If you must, include create another? Should the trend continue, a nice encouraging note in a ACU is going to have to soothing hue of blue at the rethink its school colors or top or bottom of the essays. Don’t create a generation of face a dire hit to school spirit. I can envision hundreds of students so used to receiving sophomores, already bur- only pleasant-feeling positive dened by the stresses of pledg- reinforcement that they can’t ing a social club, fleeing the take occasional criticism of Homecoming football game’s their work. Some teachers might sea of purple shirts as flashbacks from their latest English accomplish this with red ink. Others with lime green. But essay torment their minds. Even more important than let’s leave purple alone. Otherwise, Homecoming the color of ink used to grade, some suggest that teachers will never be the same. should focus more on marking students’ correct work than their incorrect work. Those intentions might be good; however, it seems to me an awful waste of ink if a goal of education is to get to a Respond to Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu point where students answer
“Yes, I guess because it’s a big deal, and I don’t know the process or how they choose.”
“Honestly, it’s not too much of a concern to me. Since it doesn’t have much to do with my religion, I’m not too worried about it.”
“Yes, he’s one of the world’s biggest leaders, with millions of followers in the Catholic religion. His opinion affects governments all over the world, including ours.”
Jared Brockington
Candace Williams
Connor Bryan
Jon Grant
sophomore biology major from Friendswood
sophomore social work major from Garland
2001 graduate from Ruidoso, N.M.
freshman business management major from Austin
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
Crossing the thin, red line in education
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
taboo on campus, and students might feel too intimidated to make their voices heard. However, this university should be an open forum for the discussion of all issues and ideas, not only safe and church-related ones. It should provide both sides of discussion in honest and open dialogue, allowing students to make their own decisions regarding prevalent issues. Allowing open discussions in Chapel is an exemplary step to reaching that goal, and the Optimist hopes the rest of campus is able to follow the example.
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
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Page 7
SA: Other officer candidates to continue to be involved on campus Continued from Page 1 of the vote with 920 votes and Cosgrove receiving 87.9 percent of the vote with 896 votes. Layne Rouse, current SA president and senior communication major from Midland, said he was preparing to give the reins to Scott. “This whole position is about a continual process of casting the vision for the future,” Rouse said. Robinson, junior finance and management major from St. Louis, said he was disappointed he lost and does wish he could change something about the election. “I wish I had had more op-
portunity to sit down with the student athletes and advisers to talk about what we wish to change for next year and to get their opinion,” Robinson said. “I think the athletes could have helped as a rallying point around my campaign.” Wactor, junior political science major from Tuscan, Ariz., said he had never held office in SA before, but he is glad he ran this year. “Win or lose, I wanted to do something that would get students interested and something that could be remembered,” Wactor said. Wactor said after talking to Layne Rouse about the role of president and to others in-
volved, he became interested in becoming the voice of the people and wanted to win the presidency. But Scott is the student who will lead the student body next year. The first issue to tackle on Scott’s list is ACU for Abilene, which is April 16. Scott said he also wants to continue the process for Project Scott Abilene. During the summer, he said he plans to work with the executive officers to talk to adminis-
tration about some of the issues he mentioned during his election, such as parking and meal plans. He said the SA presidency is important to him because of the opportuniBooker ty it gives him to serve others and not himself. “It allows me to take up the concerns of others and to act out of Christian faith Cosgrove
on a daily basis,” he said. The losing candidates have made plans for next semester, too. Robinson said he plans to run for either senior senator or chief financial officer. “It’s really going to depend on what projects I want to be involved with next year,” he said. Wactor said he plans to take a different route than SA. Instead of running for junior senator in SA, Wactor said he felt God was calling him into service in the community and in smaller organizations. Robinson encouraged Scott to follow through with his plans and to accomplish what his goals are.
“Justin has good ideas for next year, and he challenged the student body to come and talk to him about it and just see if it gets done,” Robinson said. “I encourage him to make well on the promise and encourage him to keep up with the projects and ideas he has.” Rouse said Scott would lead the school well next year, and he has a great asset to use. “Justin’s biggest strength will be the team he is surrounded with,” Rouse said. “The team brings a lot of momentum. I hope they can continue to carry the student body.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Chapel: Abortion to be discussed in next two Thursday services Continued from Page 1 Lewis said. “Our greatest concern was a strong sense of need to be sensitive to people ... and not wanting to have this conversation and it simply lead to guilt or distress for anybody.” Last Thursday during 18:38, Holly Whitehead, executive director of Pregnancy Counseling Services of Abilene, presented facts on abortion, including what types of abortion are offered, how it affects the mother and the fetus, and how developed the fetus is at certain points in the pregnancy. This Thursday, a representative from Christian Homes of
Abilene and a local physician will present opposing views from pro-life and pro-choice perspectives. On April 14, a woman from the community will give her testimony about having an abortion, and that night in the Hilton Room, she will speak more in-depth about her experience during a coffeehouse discussion from 8 to 10 p.m. Steve Rowlands, director of the University Counseling Center, said the Spiritual Life Core approached him about possibly addressing the topic, and Rowlands agreed it was something the university was ready for and needed to discuss. “I think it’s a reality of the
culture that we live in that we have students that get pregnant out of wedlock or unexpectedly and are faced with the choice of whether to keep the baby or have an abortion,” he said. “So our silence doesn’t help them in that choice. “Our wish for every student would be that they remained pure and had a healthy dating relationship and sex wasn’t a factor in that,” Rowlands said, “but I think that many of our students struggle with that temptation and are having sex outside of the context of marriage. … The reality is there are girls who are getting pregnant and who are choosing to have
abortions. This is a hard topic, and I think we can’t stick our head in the sand about it.” Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said his office has engaged the campus about many controversial topics in the past, but not abortion. He said he would like students to “have a really good education about a topic and at a Christian university, to bring in the Christian perspective.” “I think if students don’t talk about it,” he said, “and if we don’t have forums and opportunities to explore truths and facts and good information, then people are left to make decisions perhaps in an uneducat-
ed way if they’re not seeking education. That can be dangerous.” Lewis agreed that one main objective is to raise awareness about abortion. “Part of our goal as we launch students out of here is to be versed in the stuff that our culture is dealing with,” he said. “And maybe a 22-year-old won’t have all the answers when they leave here, but at least they’ve been exposed to some of the arguments.” Rowlands said because students deal with abortion, he wants to make sure they’re comfortable approaching Christians on campus for support.
“The goal is that we can talk about this; it doesn’t mean that we endorse abortion, but … I wouldn’t want anybody leaving this community not feeling that they could be supported. “I think as Christians, none of us are perfect, and if we can’t support somebody else during a struggle or during a time when they’re dealing with something that has arisen out of a poor choice, then I think we’re falling down on what God’s called us to do—love and support each other.” E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
IJM: Events planned April 18-22 Schiavo: Moral questions remain Continued from Page 1
individuals rescued by IJM, making it hard for students to tune out the message. Students can meet every day after Chapel at the GATA Fountain and join IJM members in a prayer for those working for the organization, Carlson said. Events planned during IJM Awareness Week will reinforce the organization’s presence on campus.
than $300 given last year is the money some people spend on a will see IJM as an outlet for jusshopping spree. Stoll said she tice and begin to care more hopes to raise the number of about what is happening in the participants from last year’s estiworld around them. mated 90 to around 175. “We’re here to fight the apaIf running isn’t as appealing thy that so many suburban to some, IJM has scheduled a Christians have,” Carlson said. band competition called Jam for She said she knows hearing Justice on April 21. The contest, about the forced prostitution of which will feature local bands, young girls, slavery and other will have no entry fee, but donasocial justice tions will be issues IJM accepted from “We’re here to fight the apathy that so many operatives those who want deal with can to give, Stoll suburban Christians have.” be overwhelsaid. T-shirts for ming for stuthe concert will Sarah Carlson, junior print journalism major from San Antonio dents. be sold during “Many the week and at students will the event for $5, say, ‘I’m only 21. How am I Run for Justice, a Marketing and all proceeds raised and going to help this child in this Club project, will be at Nelson donations given go directly to Cambodian brothel?’” Carlson Park’s newly expanded track IJM, Carlson said. said. “There is so much we can April 21. Participants are not Carlson said the chapter offido as students, we just don’t of- required to run the distance but cers are still planning an ten realize it.” are required to pay a $10 regis- Ultimate Frisbee tournament for Gallman said she hopes stu- tration fee. All the proceeds will April 23. dents will start caring more be given to IJM, said Allison It is also possible that stuwhen movies like Hotel Rwanda Stoll, senior marketing major dents supporting Fair Trade, an are released, but she also under- from Tucson, Ariz. organization devoted to paying stands many students have been She said she remembers last poverty-stricken farmers a fair hardened by the bombardment year’s Run for Justice. amount for their products, will of sad world news. “It was so great being able to have a table near IJM events, However, Gallman said, IJM give IJM the big check, knowing Carlson said. can connect with students by it can save people,” Stoll said. showing the pictures, telling the She said it is hard for her to E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu names and sharing the stories of believe that the check for more
Register: Process has gone well Continued from Page 1 she said. “Registration goes right up until the semester begins.” The late registration period ends on the fifth day of class during the fall term. A larger Herridge number of students graduated from the De-
partment of Biblical Studies than usual, which could have contributed to the decrease in the preregistration period, said Carlene Harrison, academic adviser of the department. Bart Herridge, assistant registrar, said the office received fewer calls from students with questions about registration this year, and the number of students who registered on time and successfully was higher than usual. Herridge, who has been
assistant registrar since June 2004, said students can use their spring advising codes to register for Maymester and summer courses. “Registration went great this year,” Herridge said. “Our measure of success is students being able to register on time with very few technical problems, and by that measure, it went well.” E-mail Holt at: mah02f@acu.edu
Continued from Page 1
biomedical ethics and said the Schiavo situation was similar to ones discussed in the course. He said the best practical advice for students to take away from the case is to let people know what they desire for situations such as Terri’s, and the best way to do that is to write them down. Reeves said there is no easy answer to whether people should preserve someone in a vegetative state or coma or take them off life support and let them die. “People say God gives life and God takes life, but we intervene on that every day,” he said. “For instance, if someone has a severe bacterial infection, should they be given antibiotics or not? When should you decide to intervene?” Dr. Jeff Childers, associate
hundreds of others of cases that occur every day around sad for the family and friends,” the country. Coates said. “It is instructive He said he doesn’t think the for the rest of us on how we bill passed by Congress and treat people who cannot take signed into law by President care of themselves. Americans Bush on March 21, allowing were reminded through the the federal courts to step into Terri Schiavo case that Amerithe matter, will have much cans in general and Christians influence on legal battles such specifically do care about life.” as those the Schindler’s fought Reeves said what probably because it is very specific for helped split public opinion on the state of Florida and for the issue were the pictures and Terri. This law will only set a video of Schiavo shown on telprecedent if it is broadened to evision where she appeared to cover a greater area of the be responding. The question country and a greater number that remains, he said, is and variety of people, he said. regarding how brain damaged “Congress has been critishe actually was. An autopsy cized, perhaps justly, for was conducted on Schiavo’s trumping a state court’s decibody at her husband’s request, sion,” Coates said. “If and results will not be availCongress is going to step in, able for several weeks, acCongress becomes not just the cording to CNN.com. supreme body in the land but Coates said the main issue the only body in the land.” of the Terri Childers Schiavo case said Chris“My personal pleas is for, especially Christians, to tians should was not whether one be less ready spend a little more time on what they believe.” should have to jump on a a living will, political Dr. Jeff Childers, associate professor of Bible, ministry and missions but whether bandwagon her true and making wishes were hasty decibeing carried out. He said peo- professor of Bible, ministry sions because the issue is exple were asking how the hus- and missions, said he appreci- tremely complex. band was able to retain the au- ates the instincts of anyone He said Christians’ allethority to make the decision, who favors life and those who giance is not to America or and many did not believe he do not choose one side over Democrats or Republicans, but was following Terri’s wishes. the other because snap judg- their primary allegiance is to “People didn’t think that ments on the issue are bound the Kingdom of God. she wanted to have food and to be ill-advised. “Deep, prayerful reflection water taken away from her,” “My personal plea is for, is called for and deep suspiCoates said. especially Christians, to spend cions of the political agendas He said if Michael Schiavo a little more time on what they of those on either side of the had been as willing to talk to believe and why and how that issue,” Childers said. the media as Terri’s parents relates to their faith,” Childers were, the case would have said. cleared up much sooner. He said the Terri Schiavo E-mail Carlson at: Reeves co-teaches a class on case is only a representative of skc02a@acu.edu
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FOCUSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
April 6, 2005
The Man Behind Chapel Shane Hughes works behind the scenes every day as planner, keeper of the card and a resource to students as Chapel coordinator.
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e stands in the back of Moody Coliseum at 11 a.m. every day, clutching his notebook to his chest and quietly singing the songs with the students and listening as the speaker shares his address. As the daily Chapel assembly comes to a close, Shane Hughes silently slips out the door, unnoticed by most of those gathered, to slide the master card that will allow the students to receive credit for that day’s attendance. As Chapel coordinator, Hughes’ job encompasses many important, behindthe-scenes tasks, including sliding the card that will allot students a Chapel credit. Among other things, he works closely with Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, and members of the Chapel Advisory Committee to plan Chapel programming, and he helps students request and obtain Chapel exemptions. He also arranges for Chapel speakers and prayer, scripture and song leaders, and he meets and talks with students to discuss their concerns and questions about Chapel. Although he possesses a significant, and sometimes stressful, job on campus, Hughes said it has just given him more chances to serve. “This job gives me the opportunity to [help] shape people,” he said. “It gives me opportunity to preach the Gospel. It gives me opportunity to meet students … that’s what this job is for. It’s a tool.” ughes said he enjoys working with the people in the Campus Life office, his blue eyes lighting up behind his glasses when he talks about how fun it is to work with them, but he said the greatest part of his job is getting to work with students. “They come from everywhere, they’re going everywhere and they all have so many gifts and so many talents,” he said. “You see the FilmFest, and you see the ISA show, and you see so many things, so many athletes and so many artists and so many people that want to spend their lives serving others. … Where else do you find people like that concentrated in the same spot, and you get to talk to them all the time? That’s great.” Hughes started his job about a week before school began in August, and he said he continues to learn more each day. One thing he realized is that he prefers that as many people as possible be involved in planning and organizing Chapel, and he’s had to make sacrifices because of that. “I would want everyone to have a chance to stand up and tell how God has changed their life and how God has moved and the things they’ve seen and the questions that they have,” he said. “I would love for everyone to have the opportunity to say that. And what that requires is that I don’t say everything that I want.
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During April, the Optimist will feature stories about the daily lives of some of the most active but unseen members of the university’s staff.
Written by Lori Bredemeyer Photographs by Emily Chastain Design by Mallory Sherwood “I don’t mind sitting in the back and watching people that are smarter than me and more eloquent than me stand up, people who know more than me; I don’t mind that at all. And it’s kind of fun to plan stuff, to think about new ways that we can talk about God together, the ways that we can worship God together in this huge venue.” s Hughes works with Chapel leaders, Barnard said Hughes always impresses him with his willingness to coordinate with students. “He cares deeply about students and about what they see as either topics or presentations or ways in which Chapel can help them grow, so that’s very positive,” Barnard said. “He painstakingly reaches out to students and involves them in participating in Chapel … and that’s really good because we do want broad involvement, and he works hard at that.” Barnard said Hughes also partners well with students early in the semester while working on exemption requests. He said last semester he would often leave work after 5 p.m., and Hughes still would be in the office talking with students. “I would overhear his conversations, and I was just very impressed and moved by the way he was talking to students,” Barnard said. “It was really collaborative and negotiating with them, their exemptions, and I think that’s a huge impact, the way he is able to relate to students at that level.” hough Hughes values working with his co-workers and with students, he said the job can get to be too much at times. He said that’s when his church, New Life Church of Christ, helps him. “I think everyone who’s done it would tell you … that it’s a stressful job, and it (the church) feeds me,” he said. “It’s all about your perception. You can be in a very stressful job if you have a network that loves you. My church fills me, and I overflow here. If I wasn’t being filled, then I would burn out quickly. It does so much to keep me sane and to keep me here and keep me loving.” Hughes obtained his Master of Divinity from ACU in May of 2004, and Barnard said Hughes’ ministry at church and his training from the university help him on a daily basis. “We have students that don’t understand something theologically that happens in Chapel or they’re not used to things in certain ways,” Barnard said, “and Shane is very good to take time with students and talk with them and listen to them and hear their concerns and help them process and think through various ways of looking at things. I think that’s very impactful.”
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hough students might not know Hughes and his influence on campus, his job affects the majority of ACU almost every day of the school year. But he said he shares the responsibility of organizing Chapel with many people on campus, and he’s learned he can’t do everything by himself. “I guess the thing that I’ve learned is the limitation of my own knowledge because I’ve been trained to read the Bible, I’ve been trained to think theologically, I’ve been trained to love people ministerially, but I’m still not able to run 30 minutes a day by myself,” Hughes said. “Everything is community. Everything works and moves and breathes as community, and if you don’t work together, you’re wasting your time.”
Top: Shane Hughes, Chapel coordinator in his office. Top right: Hughes makes a slight adjustment on the sound board during Chapel on Tuesday. Bottom left: Hughes lights the candles for Tuesday's prayer chapel in Moody Coliseum. Bottom right: Hughes stands at the back of Moody during Chapel on Tuesday.
SPORTS JUMPS
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
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Tennis: Men face busy last stretch Continued from Page 10 No. 1 in the Central Region poll,Jones said he was hoping that the men would be able to move past them in the region. Even though the Wildcats fell short, Jones said that the team is still on par to host a regional tournament at the No. 2 spot. The Wildcats defeated East Central in Ada, Okla. 8-1 and Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. Friday. The team also rebounded to put away Rockhurst Sunday 6-3 in Bartlesville, Okla. Jones said that the team is still battling injuries and the time over the next few weeks
will give the team’s No. 1 Artin Tafazoli a chance to continue healing a sprained ankle and Jason Ray’s wrist an opportunity to recover as well. The men’s schedule will have a busier schedule than the women in the season’s last stretch. After hosting Cameron on Saturday, the Wildcats will travel to Beaumont and Houston April 17 for matches with Lamar and Rice University. After hosting the LSC Championship tournament along with the women’s team April 21-22, the men too are in the running to host the May 5-6 NCAA Central
Regional Tournament and will attempt to clinch a sixthstraight national tournament appearance. “I feel like both teams are in the position we want them to be,” Jones said. “We’ve been playing at an intense pace lately and the next few weeks will give them time to recover and practice to move on to the next level. “I feel like in the next couple of weeks we can play with such confidence — I think we could start making our reservations,” Jones said. E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
Men: Pitching improves performance Continued from Page 10 to win15-2 and 11-2. Johnny Zepeda, who went 6 for 10 in the series, had three doubles and seven RBI in the first game Saturday. Ryan Barker hit his third home run of the season for one of his three hits in the second game. The senior first baseman finished the series with 10 hits in 20 at bats and six RBI. Designated hitter Joel Wells drove in seven runs in the four games to increase his team-leading RBI total to 39. The offense didn’t need much help from its pitching staff in the wins, but got it anyway. The four starters all
picked up wins and still have only two losses on the season between them. Besides Whitlock’s strong outing, the Wildcats got solid starts from Ben Brockman and Brandon Moore, and Ben Maynard pitched his third complete game of the season. been doing “Ben’s extremely well the last couple of starts he’s had,” said Bonneau, adding that he’s been impressed with his entire pitching staff of late. “All those things, plus the offense we’re putting up, it’s going to be tough to beat a team like that,” Bonneau added. Still, Bonneau is doing his
best to make sure the team doesn’t get caught up in its own hype as they enter a busy and crucial part of the schedule. The Wildcats played two games against St. Edwards and will host Tarleton State for four games this weekend, beginning on Friday at 2 p.m. “We just have to continue to stay focused on what our long term goal is and not start feeling to good about ourselves,” Bonneau said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of games to play.” E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Wildcat runners stick together throughout most of the 3,000-meter run and all finished with provisional qualifying times at the Oliver Jackson Invitational. Senior Adeh Mwamba finished third with a time of 10:07.36, junior Olha Kryv’yak won with a time of 9:51.03 and junior Trina Cox finished second at 9:55.8.
Track: Team continues success Continued from Page 10
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior right-handed pitcher Ben Brockman, usually a starter, pitches three innings in relief of starter Kade Simmons to get his first collegiate save in the 12-6 Wildcat victory over St. Edwards on Tuesday.
Softball: Team to host Texas Woman’s Continued from Page 10 solo home run. On Saturday, the Wildcats split the games with ENMU, winning the first 15-10 and losing the final game 7-3. Jennifer Leal pitched in seven innings and gained her 18th win of the year. Jade Wilson went three-for-three with three RBI to help her teammates to victory in the early game on Saturday. In the series finale, ENMU pitchers kept the Wildcats on the watch. Valerie Malkinson
had two RBI in the game, but the Wildcats could not overcome ENMU’s success after the team accomplished four runs in the sixth inning. Wilson said she d o e s n ’ t believe the Wildcats will let the loss deter them this weekend Leal when they will play Texas Woman’s University.
“Eastern’s pitcher pitched well and kept us a little off balance,” Wilson said. “I feel winning three games in Portales has put the team in the right position to host Texas Woman’s this weekend,” Wilson said. The games will begin again Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. Both days are doubleheaders.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
the the triple jump with an automatic mark of 51-5. Cory Aguilar was matched up against two of his top Division II pole vault competitors from Lewis University, but the junior managed to place second with a vault of 16-0. Aguilar has already qualified for the national meet in the pole vault. The women may have had an even more successful day than the men, if new or improved qualifying marks are any indication. Leading the women was the middle distance trio of Olha Kryv’yak, Trina Cox, and Adeh Mwamba, who placed first, second and third, respectively, in the 3,000-meter run. The trio stuck together until just over two laps were left to go, when Kryv’yak pulled away and won the race with a strong provisional time of 9:51.03. Cox, a junior, was second in 9:55.8, also a provisional time. Mwamba was third with a provisional time of 10:07.36. Last weekend, Mwamba and Kry’vyak posted the top two 1,500-meter times in the nation at the Stanford Invitational. The women’s pole vaulters put on a show for the crowd Saturday, as seniors Katie Eckley and Val Gorter placed first and third, respectively. Gorter failed three times to clear 12-9, but teammate Eckley cleared the height and even attempted 13-4, which would have been the new
Division II record. Eckley failed to clear the record height, but still won the event with a wining height of 12-9, an improved provisional mark. Gorter’s mark of 12-3 was also good for a provisional qualification. Sophomore Jessica Hunt was a double winner Saturday, placing first in the 100- and 200meter dashes. Hunt ran a provisional qualifying time of 11.75 in the 100-meter dash and a winning time of 24.08 in the 200 meters. Hunt’s time in the 200-meter dash was fast enough to qualify her provisionally for the national meet, but the wind at her back was over the legal limit. Sophomore Denise Morgan won the 800-meter run with a provisional qualifying time of 2:11.97. Shawna-Kaye Thompson also provisionally qualified Saturday, placing third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.13. The women’s relays had positive showings Saturday as well. The 4x100-meter relay team got the running events started off well, winning the event with a provisional and nation-leading time of 45.66. And in the last women’s event of the day, the 4x400-meter relay team provisionally qualified with a winning time of 3:44.92. Murray attributed much of his team’s success to the weather on Saturday. “We’re in the kind of shape this time of year that if we get
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Sophomore Nicodemus Naimadu, separated from the pack, runs 1,500 meters to win with 3:49.05. some good luck, our athletes can perform well,” he said. “The weather was fantastic.” Later this week, Murray and several of the top Wildcat relay teams will travel to Austin to participate in the 78th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, one of the prestigious track and field meets in United States track and field. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
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Track team steals the show at home
LSC South Standings
19 individuals qualify for nationals at Saturday’s home meet
current through 04-04-05
Baseball Team ACU Angelo State A&M-Kingsville E. New Mexico Tarleton State West Texas A&M
Div. 4-0 3-1 2-2 2-2 1-3 0-4
Tot. 27-10 17-16 23-12 15-18 15-22 10-27
By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
Under blue skies and in front of several hundred fans, the ACU track and field team produced 19 new or improved qualifying marks at the Oliver Jackson Open at Elmer Gray Stadium on Saturday. The meet attracted several area college teams and a handful of elite track and field athletes, including former world champion J.J. Johnson, who trains in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. But the story of the day was the performance of the Wildcat athletes, most of whom posted new or improved automatic or provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will take place May 26 through 28 at Elmer Gray Stadium. “It was a great day,” said head coach Jon Murray. “We had some fantastic things happen.” The men’s 200-meter dash featured Johnson, along with other elite and collegiate athletes, but the race’s winner was ACU sophomore Marvin BienAime, who posted swift time of 20.61. The time would have been an automatic qualifying mark and nation-leading performance, but the wind at race time was over the legal limit. Elton Garus-Oab was fourth in the race with a provisional
Softball Team Angelo State ACU A&M-Kingsville Texas Woman’s Tarleton State E. New Mexico
Div. 11-1 8-4 6-6 5-7 4-8 2-10
April 6, 2005
Tot. 34-8 24-15 25-19 19-13 16-20 15-22
Scores Friday Baseball ACU 8, West Texas A&M 3 ACU 26, West Texas A&M 4 Softball ACU 14, Eastern New Mexico 8 ACU 11, Eastern New Mexico 7
Saturday Baseball ACU 15, West Texas A&M 2 ACU 11, West Texas A&M 2 Softball ACU 15, Eastern New Mexico 10 Eastern New Mexico 7, ACU 3
Upcoming events in Wildcat sports...
time of 20.91, followed by Delt Cockrell in sixth place with a provisional time (21.13). Senior Marvin Essor posted a strong provisional time of 46.55 in the 400-meter dash, successfully winning the event. Essor also ran the third leg of the men’s 4x400-meter relay team, which was barely edged out by Southwestern Christian in the final and most exciting race of the afternoon. ACU managed to post a strong provisional and nation-leading time of 3:09.52 in the event, however. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also qualified provisionally, winning its event with a time of 40.6. Sophomore Nicodemus Naimadu, who ran the best 5,000-meter time in Division II track and field last week, qualified Saturday in the 1,500-meter run. Naimadu never trailed in the race, which he won easily with a provisional time of 3:49.05. The men’s jumpers and pole vaulters had a successful meet as well. Tarrant Fuller was a provisional qualifier in the long jump, placing third with a jump of 241. Senior Ben Washington won the triple jump with a fine jump of 52-7 _, which under normal circumstances would have been an automatic qualifying mark if not for a strong wind at his back during the winning jump. Washington still will remain a provisional qualifier for his performance Saturday. Teammate Yevgen Pashchenko was third in See TRACK Page 9
(home events in italics) Thursday, April 7 TK: Apr. 7-9, Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Friday, April 8 BSB: Tarleton State, 2 p.m. SB: Texas Women’s, 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9 BSB: Tarleton State, 2 p.m. SB: Texas Women’s, 1 p.m. TN: Cameron, 9 a.m.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Senior Ben Washington makes the final leap of his triple jump attempt to win the event with a jump of 16.04 meters during the Oliver Jackson Invitational at Elmer Gray Stadium on Saturday. His teammate, junior Yevgen Paschenko, won third in the event with an automatic qualifying jump of 15.69 meters.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Freshman Eryka Morris lands her long jump attempt during the Oliver Jackson Invitational to win with a distance of 5.43 meters.
Women progress in LSC Softball team wins three games against Eastern New Mexico By JARED FIELDS SPORTS WRITER
The women’s softball team scored 43 runs against Division II foe Eastern New Mexico and won three of four games in the weekend series. The offensive explosion is nothing new for the Wildcats. “We have been hitting the ball well consistently all
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior left fielder Chris Walsh hits a single, driving in senior Brennan Herrera in the fifth inning of the Wildcats’ 12-6 victory in game one of a double-header on Tuesday against St. Edwards.
Bats come alive in another sweep Baseball team pushes season-long winning streak to 13 games By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
Lucky 13. With an offensive explosion of 60 runs in four games, the ACU baseball team swept West Texas A&M over the weekend and extended its winning streak to 13 games. The offensive numbers continue to rise for the Wildcats as all nine regular position players are now batting over .300. ACU coach Britt Bonneau welcomes the offensive balance.
“We don’t have to rely on one or two guys to drive in the runs,” Bonneau said. The series began with an 8-3 ACU win as Justin Whitlock had his longest outing of the season in a seveninning win. The Wildcats managed a series-low eight hits in the game but still pushed eight runs across the plate and played well in all other facets of the game. ACU didn’t commit an error in the game and made only two in the four games. “We’re feeling good at the plate, doing some good things defensively; our starters are giving us five or six good innings, and our bullpen has come in and done
the job,” Bonneau said. While all phases showed up for the second game as well, the offense overshadowed everything else as the Wildcats blistered the baseball in a 26-4 win. Every ACU starting position player had at least one hit, and all but one of the 13 batters that played in the game reached base safely. The Wildcats also had eight players knock in multiple runs as the team set a season high for runs in the game, eclipsing the 22 they scored against Incarnate Word on Feb. 12. But even after all the fireworks, the Wildcat bats weren’t done. See MEN Page 9
year,” softball coach Chantiel Wilson said. In Friday’s games, the Wildcats won by scores of 14-8 and 117, respectively. S e n i o r Katie Bryan led the team to wins on Bryan Friday night with 12 RBI, four home runs and a grand slam. In the first game, Jade Wilson impressed with four
RBI and a two-run home run, adding to the offensive attack. Jennifer Leal picked up the win, throwing a complete game while allowing six earned runs. In the nightcap, Leal began the game on the mound but only threw for an inning before giving the ball to freshman Melanie Smith. Bryan hit for six RBI and two home runs, including a grand slam, and Smith earned her first win of the season. Daisy See SOFTBALL Page 9
Tennis team holds strong rank Women dominate weekend tournament; men win three of four By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS WRITER
If a No. 12 ranking wasn’t enough to establish the women’s team among the elite in NCAA Division II, this weekend’s tournament in Ponoma, Calif., was. The Wildcats swept through the Cal PolyPonoma In-vitational, defeating No. 13 Hawaii-Hilo Friday 5-4, University of California-San Diego 5-4 Saturday and rolled over No. 7 Rollins in the finals 7-2. “I’ve never had a team for three days be that mentally tough from position No. 1 through No. 6,” head coach Hutton Jones said. “In my nineyear career it was the best performance of shear toughness.” Ashley Hawk-Caperton’s
work on the singles court clinched both 5-4 wins for the Wildcats, and Jones said that against UC-San Diego she was the only player left on the court with the team’s score locked at four. Caperton was down 5-3 in the second set after falling 61 in the first match, but rallied to put Caperton them away. The ITAtennis.com poll will update on Wednesday where the Wildcats will have a chance to be ranked in the top 10 in the country. Jones said that the trip to California was specifically designed to prove to the rankers that ACU was a top-10 team. “I don’t know what those rankings say at the end of the year, but we’ve made the [national] quarterfinals every year for eight years,” Jones
said. “To me we’re top eight in the country, and I don’t care what those rankings say at the end of the year.” The women’s team will spend time at home for the final leg of the season when they host Cameron on Saturday at 9 a.m. and then host the Lone Star Conference Championship tournament on April 21 and 22. From there, Jones said the team hopes to host the NCAA Central Region tournament May 5 and 6 before looking to make its 10th straight national tournament appearance in Orlando, Fla. May 11 through 14. The men’s team —ranked No. 13 in the nation —played four matches over the weekend, winning three out of four. The only loss came to regional opponent Drury 7-2 on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. Drury is currently ranked See TENNIS Page 9