OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY April 22, 2005
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Tracking success:
Executive officers to take office:
Taking pride:
The Wildcats will likely be the teams to beat at the LSC Championships. Page 10
This year’s executive cabinet will formally end its administration and transition to next year’s officers at the Students’ Association’s Changing of the Guard. Page 4
The Theatre Department enters the final week of its show, Pride’s Crossing. Page 7
Students elect ten senators Seniors will end year with only one Congress representative By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Last week, 286 freshmen, sophomores and juniors voted
online for the first time for Students’ Association class senators. The executive officer election was supposed to be conducted online earlier this month but couldn’t because of technical problems. Patrick Leech, elections chair for SA, said the e-vote was successful, in spite of a few techni-
cal problems. “There are some things we could fix in the future,” Leech said, “but it went pretty well.” Leech said the biggest problem with elections this year was awareness. “I was trying to get e-vote
Class senators • Sophomore: Alaina Bearden, Shelby Coates, Hillary Moore, Brandon Smith and Matt Greenburg • Junior: Casey Bingham, John Gainer, Eric Lemmons and Andrew Tuegel • Senior: Sarah Carlson
See SA Page 9
By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR
Spiritual Life Assistants will be absent from residence halls next year to make room for the large numbers of students living on campus, said Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing. Barnard said the decision of removing SLAs is not permanent but is rather seen as a hiatus for the position. “The No. 1 issue was space,” Barnard said. “We are busting at the seams in Residence Life and Housing, and we can’t really put the RAs on hiatus.” The number of RAs will increase next year with the addition of Barret Hall, which will open to house sophomore women in the fall. Barnard said the choice to
Competition only invites those who have first-place finishes By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
Two seniors finished their forensics careers this week at the National Forensic Association Tournament on April 1619 in Akron, Ohio, and though they did not advance out of their preliminary rounds, both said they have been pleased with their performances this year. Lizz Alvarez, political science major from McAllen, competed in extemporaneous speaking, and Layne Rouse, communication major from Midland, competed in rhetorical criticism at the Alvarez NFA tournament, where participants only received bids if they placed first at previous tournaments during the year. “You go to Rouse those things knowing that—it sounds like a cliché—but it really is an honor to be there because they’ve had to perform well at tournaments consistently throughout the year,” said Dr. Sally Gary, director of forensics and assistant professor of communication. “So you know they’re the cream of the crop when they get there, and it’s going to be difficult for them to advance.” Alvarez, who has been on the forensics team for four years and has been captain for three, had already won a national championship in Lincoln-Douglas debate at a previous tournament this year. She said she was a little disappointed about not advancing at her last tournament, but she’s enjoyed her time on the team. “The more I thought about it, I thought, ‘What if I came home the national champion?’ If that would make me feel better about myself or different about myself, that’s bad, and I’m probably not as good of a role model as I would like to be.” Rouse has competed with the team for a year and said the experience has been challenging and a good learning experience.
Residence hall SLA positions go ‘on hiatus’ Temporary change made to accommodate large hall populations
National tourney finishes debaters’ careers
See DEBATE Page 8
Vol. 93, No. 51 1 section, 10 pages
remove SLAs had to be made when considering national trends of students coming to college. She said that according to national demographics, the pressure of a large number of students living on campus will likely continue through 2008. Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life and Student Ministries and adviser of the Spiritual Life Core, said he and members of the Spiritual Life Core have discussed options of working with Barnard the residence halls beginning next year. He said they are only in the early stages of dialogue and no plans have been made, but possible areas the Spiritual Life Core could aid would be in coordinating Bible studies and prayer groups, as well as See SLA Page 9
FilmFest videos to play Friday Organizers hope event will spark interest in fall’s competition By LACI ARMSTRONG STUDENT REPORTER
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Scott Duncan, manager of University Mail Services, reloads the stamp machine that can be found in the back corner of the mail center. When not in Mail Services, Duncan also works with Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, completing whatever project needs completing.
Managing the mail After 18 years, Scott Duncan still leads mail services By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
A community of more than 6,000 individuals large enough to have its own ZIP code. About 4,500 pieces of
mail comes from the post office to distribute each day, and campus mail accounts for another 2,000. Another 3,000 pieces of outgoing mail to send. Scott Duncan, manager of University Mail Services, oversees it all. But that is only half of his job. Although many students may never see Duncan, every
piece of their mail is distributed by a system or on a schedule he devised. When not overseeing Mail Services, Duncan works for Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, completing whatever project needs completing. Duncan’s job seems to morph to fit whatever needs See DUNCAN Page 9
Students can view movies that premiered at FilmFest in the fall at a meeting arranged to arouse interest in the upcoming FilmFest production. The meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Hilton Room. “This meeting is a way we can allow current students to prepare for next fall,” said Doug Darby, creative director and assistant director of faculty development. Darby said students can attend a second interest meeting during Welcome Week in August. The meetings are open to anyone, including faculty and staff. At the meetings, the new theme ‘Milestones’ will be discussed. “Milestones was chosen because of the Centennial
Celebration,” Darby said. “Last year, FilmFest was about testing the waters; this year, it’s about trying to solidify how FilmFest works. We want to use it as a tool to allow people to express themselves and reach out to a community broader than ACU.” “FilmFest connects students with what they’re learning in their classes. It’s a unitybuilding event for the community,” said Lisa Phin, FilmFest co-chair and senior marketing management major from Carrollton. The FilmFest staff is preparing for next fall, after the last show exceeded its initial targets by 300 percent. “We’re anticipating a sellout after this year’s students completely blew our objected participation,” Darby said. One of the major changes for next year at FilmFest is the prescreening that will take place the night before the actual FilmFest awards ceremony. See FILMFEST Page 8
Developers hope Wal-Mart will spark business Supercenter to be first step in developing north section of town By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Kathey Garner can’t help but smile as the people walk inside in droves. Her cherryred hair glows from the sun setting outside. She fiddles with her bright pink returns stickers, pulls the shopping carts apart as new customers walk in while cheerfully calling out, “Are you ladies doing all right, this evening?” Garner works the evening
shift as a greeter at the WalMart Supercenter on Southwest Drive. From inside WalMart, she has watched the recent changes happening in Abilene on the south side of town. Change is slowly creeping toward the north side of town, too. After a decade of watching the growth take place south of Loop 322, students and residents on the north side of the city soon will see development begin to make a difference in the community by bringing more jobs and adding variety to shopping. But many question whether development
alone will be the key to Abilene’s future. Change in Abilene will affect the job market and economy as new businesses look to hire workers and larger retail stores and nationally known restaurants begin to build. One change students can see from campus is the construction of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter. The 20,000square-foot complex, expected to be completed by July, will be larger than the Wal-Mart Supercenter on the south side of town and will create more than 150 jobs. See DEVELOPMENT Page 8
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Construction continues on the Wal-Mart Supercenter at the corner of Interstate 20 and Highway 351. Construction should be complete in July.
CAMPUS Friday, April 22, 2005
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Calendar&Events Friday
International Justice Mission 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center. Campus Crew applications, 10 a.m.1 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Freshman Formal sign-ups, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. FilmFest interest meeting, 6:3010:45 p.m., Hilton Room. Pride’s Crossing dinner theatre, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and play at 8 p.m., Fulks Theatre.
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DAY
Saturday
Big Country Old Settlers Reunion, festivities at 10 a.m. and luncheon from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Buffalo Gap.
Pride’s Crossing dinner theatre, dinner at 6:45 p.m. and play at 8 p.m., Fulks Theatre.
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Sunday
Monday
Freshman Formal sign-ups, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Ministry Summit 2005, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Hilton Room.
Sundaes on Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Hilton Room.
International Justice Mission’s Run for Justice, registration at 8 a.m. and run at 9 a.m., Nelson Park.
Society of African American Brotherhood meeting, 9-10:30 p.m., Living Room.
Kirk Goodwin Fun Run, 9 a.m., front of Administration Building.
Campus Crew meeting, 8-9 p.m., Living Room.
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.
Tuesday
ACU Jazz Ensemble, 8 p.m., Cullen Auditorium. Freshman Formal sign-ups, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Passport and Welcome Week help for international students interest meeting, 10 p.m., Mabee Library Auditorium.
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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.
Leadership Camps staff training, 4-7:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
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Wednesday
“Keeping your Computer a WellOiled Machine” PC training for ACU employees, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Zellner Hall. Freshman Formal sign-ups, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to tend to the Gallery and Children’s Museum at the Grace Museum on Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. For more information, call Patricia Ditmore at 673-4587. The Noah Project needs volunteers to answer crisis lines, learn to do intakes and learn how to determine eligibility of those in need. Six hours of training are required along with three sessions of on the job training. For more information, contact Lela Waresh at 672-6626. Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation needs volunteers to assist therapists with patients doing hippotherapy, physical therapy with horses. For more information, call Jo Beth Willis at 670-6050.
Announcements University Events is beginning to organize students interested in participating in the 2005 Centennial Parade of Flags. Flags are assigned on first-come basis. Reply to the office of University Events at Ext. 2632 or e-mail universityevents@acu.edu. Students should include name, e-mail address and the flag he or she would like to carry. Students are invited to attend the International Spring Banquet at 6:30 p.m. April 29 at the Abilene Country Club. Attendees will spend time with international students.
Tickets are $15 per person and should be purchased as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Laura Blake at laura.blake@acu.edu or Ext. 2821. Deadline for submissions to the Hello Book photo contest is April 29. All students may submit a vertical photo with the theme Triumphant. The winning photo will be published on the cover of the 2005-06 Hello Book. Photos may be dropped off at Don Morris Room 301, mailed to ACU Box 27892 or e-mailed as a .tiff or .jpeg file to christi. stark@acu.edu. For more information, call Ext. 2463.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
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CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, April 22, 2005
Editors chosen for 2005-06 year Smith, Newman to lead staff during centennial year By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
Working as editor can be a difficult job, but the editors for the student publications of the 2005-06 school year say they are excited about upcoming challenges. Next year’s Optimist editor is returning editor in chief, Jonathan Smith, junior journalism major from Tyler, and the Prickly Pear editor will be Elizabeth Newman, sophomore integrated marketing communication major from Tyler. “I feel privileged to be able to be in this role this next year,” Smith said. “So many unique events — the cen-
tennial year, the 50th Sing Song, the last February Lectureship — will happen this next year, and those are only the ones we know about. It's going to be a good year to be covering the news at ACU.” Cade White, faculty advisor to the Prickly Pear, agreed that 2005-06 is a big year for both the yearbook and the newspaper. “We want to do as much as we can to compliment the Centennial Campaign,” said White, instructor of journalism and mass communication. “We’re very excited about this year.” One of the recent additions to the Prickly Pear is the accompanying DVD, and both Newman and White said they are excited about the possibilities that it holds for the centennial year. “The DVD is a way to real-
ly include multiple media in creating a record of the year,” Newman said. “The DVD works to enhance the Prickly Pear by giving it another level of coverage and a more indepth view of the events of the year beyond just the typical print yearbook.” White said he is pleased to have a yearbook editor who understands electronic media and how to use it. “Elizabeth has the ability to do a really great job, and more than that, she’s excited about it,” White said. “She’s exactly what we’re looking for in an editor.” Kenneth Pybus, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, is entering his first year of advising the Optimist in the fall. He said Smith has proven his worth as an editor. “This is a great staff that can build on what they’ve
Excitement found in Abilene Parks provide exercise, amusement for all ages across town By NATHAN STRAUS STUDENT REPORTER
Students aching for fun ways to spend the spring days in Abilene find more options than they expect. Abilene is home to many area parks where students can enjoy activities away from campus, said Carl Scott, recreation administrator at Rose Park, on South Seventh Street. Scott said Rose Park has a tennis center, where students can play in leagues and tournaments. He also said students can attend any of the events happening almost every weekend. “Come out and see what we’ve got,” Scott said. “If someone wants to put together an
event of his own, he can fill out a form in the main office and request time for free.” Rose Park also has an outdoor skate park, where avid skaters can walk in and start skating anytime the park is open from 5 a.m. to midnight. Rose Park is one of the only two municipal skate parks in Abilene. For anyone who enjoys Frisbee golf, where Frisbees are thrown into receptacles to score points, Cal Young Park, located on T&P Lane, has one of the two Frisbee golf courses in Abilene. The park offers many opportunities for fun, said Bob Cheatham, superintendent of Cal Young Park. “We’ve got fishing, disc golf and the only roller hockey rink in town,” he said. The rink is used by a roller hockey league, but Cheatham said whenever they aren’t using the rink, it is open to the public.
“There’s a lot of things to do around Abilene, but you have to be athletic,” said Josh Edwards, second year graduate student from Owasso, Okla. Edwards said he enjoys playing Frisbee golf in Cal Young Park. One thing Edwards said he would like to see in Abilene is an official sports team for the city. Scott said most things in Rose Park are for children ages seven to 13. He also said the reason not a lot of events are planned for college students is because of possible projects and work that students have to do. “We try not to compete with school projects; we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes as far as that’s concerned,” he said, adding that doesn’t mean students shouldn’t come out and try to have fun in Abilene. E-mail Straus at: optimist@acu.edu
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And over here is the loud section J ...
done this year,” Pybus said. “Everyone on staff has a strong journalistic instinct, good work ethic and great potential.” Smith said, he loves the job because, “I can go into work each day and never know who I'll have in a voice mail or e-mail from, what crisis I'll have to handle or what the breaking news event of the week will be. “This isn't a job I do for the recognition, money or good working hours; this job won't fulfill those,” Smith said. “What better way for a journalism major to serve the university than to try to bring the news to 4,800 students, hundreds of faculty members and countless other readers?” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Linthicum at: del02a@acu.edu
Drew Fryar, senior biblical studies major from San Antonio, speaks during Servant Leaders Chapel in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday.
CAMPUS NEWS
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Friday, April 22, 2005
Graduate students to win cash for research papers Top three entries in three categories vie for $100 prize By LAUREN WARE STUDENT REPORTER
Graduate students have a chance to win cash prizes in a research paper competition sponsored by the Graduate Students’ Association. Students could submit papers written for class completed earlier in the year. The
number of submissions was down this year compared to previous years, said Kacey Higgins, assistant to the dean of the graduate school. “Generally it just means students were busy, had a heavy load and just didn’t think to get theirs in on time,” Higgins said. “I don’t know if students didn’t feel good about their papers this year or forgot to do it.” Eleven papers were submitted by the deadline, April 4. Of the eleven, the top three in the categories of qualita-
tive, quantitative and creative research will receive cash prizes. Qualitative research involves the study and analysis of other research and the ability to draw conclusions on that research. Quantitative research has to do with a statistical assessment of some type. Creative research is just any type of creative research that graduate students want to submit, Higgins said. “This helps spotlight academic development and outstanding research,” Higgins
said. “That’s a vital part of what graduate students are doing: research and writing.” Higgins considered extending the deadline but decided it would not be fair to those who had submitted on time considering winners receive cash prizes. First place in each category receives $100, second receives $75 and third receives $50. A faculty member from the department the student is in will evaluate the research and then two faculty members
from different departments will review the papers. “We’re always open and looking for new ways of bringing all the graduate schools into conversation with each other,” said Aaron Metcalf, graduate student in the graduate school of theology from Sidney and president of the Graduate Students’ Association. The competition was started four years ago when the Graduate Students’ Association separated from the undergraduate Students’
Association. Dr. Angie Brenton, dean of the graduate school at the time, came up with the idea of a research paper competition. “We had a hard time getting SA to approve money for research papers, and so when they became their own organization, that was one of the things they wanted to sponsor,” Higgins said. Students find out how they placed Wednesday. E-mail Ware at: optimist@acu.edu
Special activities fill summer at zoo
Hangin’ Around
Events include ‘Wonders of Water,’ ‘Sunset Safari’ By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
A colobus monkey perches on a tree at the Abilene Zoo on Thursday. Colobus monkeys are native of African forests and a baby monkey was born in March, adding to the five others at the zoo.
The weather is warming, and for college students looking for something fun and different to do, the Abilene Zoological Gardens is an inexpensive outing. “It’s a relaxing atmosphere,” said Jeff Bullock, the zoo’s director. “We try to create a park-like atmosphere with some animals, so that people can just come, relax and enjoy.” Bullock said many people enjoy bringing a picnic lunch and “making a day of it” at the zoo. “At three bucks a person, it’s a cheap date,” Bullock said. “You can come and hang
out for as long as you want.” One of the most popular activities at the Abilene Zoo is feeding rye crackers provided by the zoo store to giraffes and a few of the other herbivores. “The giraffes, elephants and pronghorn antelope all love the crackers,” Bullock said. “And the bears will just about do a dance for them.” One of the most popular exhibits is the zoo’s extensive reptile collection. “This is West Texas, and people like to learn about snakes,” Bullock said. In May and June, some special events are coming to the zoo. May 7 is Wildflower Day and will be marked by a variety of activities and events celebrating wildflowers and horticulture. On June 18, zoo employees will celebrate National Ocean Day with a Wonders of Water beach
party, complete with live music, an inflatable water slide and other water games. “Here in West Texas, there’s not a lot we can do with water,” Bullock said. “But we’re going to have a good time.” Sunset Safari is another popular activity. Memorial Day through Labor Day, every Thursday night the zoo is open until 9 p.m. Patrons can enjoy live music and cooler temperatures. “Sunset Safari is one of my favorite things,” Bullock said. “It’s very enjoyable.” The Abilene Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and admission is three dollars for adults.
E-mail Linthicum at: del01a@acu.edu
SA transitions officers during Changing of the Guard Congress and cabinet members, student groups join at dinner BY EMERALD MCGOWAN STUDENT REPORTER
Students’ Association executive officers and other student leaders will celebrate the close of the semester Monday at the annual Changing of the Guard dinner. Students and select faculty and advisers will meet at Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap at 6:30
p.m. for a time of celebration and recognition. The dinner will provide a chance for acting SA executive officers to hand over their positions to next year’s team of officers. In addition, a time of appreciation will be set aside for student group leaders during which some leaders will give a brief synopsis of their accomplishments for the year. “One thing we’re trying to focus on this year,” said SA president Layne Rouse, “is student group leadership. We want the dinner to provide stu-
dent group leaders with a moment in the spotlight, a chance to be recognized for their accomplishments.” Rouse, senior communication major from Midland, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to hand over his gavel over to next year’s SA president Justin Scott, junior political science major from Whitehouse. “One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership is its completion. Handing over my position will be completing the race strong,” Rouse said. “[Scott]
will be able to ride on the momentum of this year’s team, and I think that’s the best gift we could give him.” SA secretary Sarah Woodroof, junior interdisciplinary studies major from Brentwood, Tenn., said she will also use the dinner to formally pass on her job. “I’m really sad to do it; I’ve loved this job. But more important than my sadness, is my excitement for next year’s administration and what they will be able to do,” Woodruff said.
Tyler Cosgrove, junior finance major from Amarillo, will continue to be SA treasurer next year. He said the dinner would be used to honor the “unsung heroes” of SA. “In any type of organization you need a time that is somewhat celebratory but also ceremonial to recognize the people who work behind the scenes,” he said. “There are a lot of people who don’t get the credit they deserve. This is an opportunity to publicly recognize them and make sure they know we appreciate all that they do.”
He said he is also excited about the opportunities a second term as treasurer will bring. “I’ve learned a lot this year about the job and about SA. I’ve been able to figure out what works and what doesn’t in our budget system and will be able to use this year’s knowledge to make things more smooth and efficient for student organizations,” he said.
E-mail McGowan at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, April 22, 2005
Emergency team in limbo Students try to begin response group on campus; some unsure
op procedures to react in instances should they occur,” said Jim Holmans, executive assistant to the president and crisis response coordinator. Holmans said the team has By TIFFANY WILLIAMS developed plans for fire, COPY EDITOR weather-related accidents, crime and death of a student, just to name a few tragedies John Leedy knows what it that could occur at ACU. feels like to save another per“They are knowledgeable son’s life. in their area,” he said. “Their As a volunteer firefighter credentials would be their at the Potosi abilities to pull resources Fire Departfrom their area into play in a ment and ecrisis.” mergency Holmans said the univermedical techsity could use a student n i c i a n , response team, but he hasn’t Leedy, junior moved far in that direction biblical studyet. ies major “We would want them to from The Holmans be involved, if they can add Woodlands, something to the process,” has had experience respondhe said. “We don’t necessariing to crisis, which is why he ly need wants to demore peovelop an Eple; what mergency Re“Our job is to protect the students and help the we need is sponse Team peoat ACU. students do the job they are here to do, which is more ple with “The Etalent— mergency Reto learn and graduate.” first response Team Jim Holmans, executive assistant to the president sponders, would be paramedcomprised of ics. Those ACU students people can and faculty augment who have training in emergency medi- join. He said he is typically what the university already cine, storm spotting or called to volunteer with has. “Right now, we feel like Hazardous Materials Aware- Potosi Fire Department three our job is to protect the stuness,” Leedy said in an e- times a week. ACU faculty and staff dents and help the students mail. “This ERT is a chance for members have organized a do the job they are here to do, which is learn and gradua group of highly dedicated Crisis Response Team. He said the team consists ate. We don’t want what they and trained ACU students and faculty to be a light in of 15 staff and faculty mem- are doing to detract from their primary job.” bers from across campus. someone's time of need.” Members meet quarterly He said the teammates would be first responders to to discuss ways university any medical emergency that officials should respond in an occurred on campus as well emergency. “We try to look at what as car accidents and severe might happen to a campus weather episodes. E-mail Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu “We would also be avail- such as ours, and then devel-
By MARY TAN STAFF WRITER
Abigail Evans had a bad experience during Welcome Week as a freshman, so she is participating in the week again as a mentor group leader instead. Evans, junior education major from Portland, Ore., was placed in two groups during Welcome Week, and she said she found it difficult to connect with the members of the second group she was in. “Everyone had already established friendships by the second half of the week when I switched groups,” she said. “After that, I knew I wanted to be a leader, so I could make it better for new students, and they wouldn’t have an experience like mine.” Caite Jones, senior human development and family studies major from Lubbock, enjoyed her Welcome Week experience as a freshman so much that she was involved in it four times in a row. “I just thought, ‘That was fun, what else can I do?’” Jones said. Eric Gumm, assistant director of the First-Year Program and director of orientation, said selecting talented student leaders helps provide new students with a positive experience, but the new students have to make
Check out these sweet moves
able on special assignment for stand by at Sing Song, Homecoming and the big pledging nights,” he said. “ACU has several students and faculty who put themselves on the line to help others,” Leedy said. “These responders are more than willing to put together an ACU ERT, if it means that we will be there to help when someone is in need.” Chris Rhodes, junior Christian ministry major from Lovington, N.M., and volunteer fireman, agreed. “I just want to help people out,” Rhodes said. “I know there are lots of minor emergency problems [at ACU].” Lovington said he had not heard of the developing plans for the Emergency Response Team. However, if one were organized, he said he would
Welcome Week leaders chosen for fall Students elected for personality, enthusiasm to guide new students
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their own efforts to become involved. “Getting new students to be active participants has been one of the challenges we’ve had,” Gumm said. To address the issue, the leadership team, which is made up of four students and four faculty members, tries to select enthusiastic group leaders, plan activities and make events exciting by having giveaways and door prize drawings, he said. Gumm said the aim of Welcome Week is to prepare students for their first year at ACU by building strong relationships with others, as well as challenging them academically and spiritualGumm ly, which relates to the theme “Free At Last,” inspired by Galatians 5:1. “Things like Chapel and curfew might not feel like freedom to new students,” he said. “Hopefully through Welcome Week, they will realize the opportunity it creates for them to take their relationships with friends and God to a deeper level.” Organizers have begun planning for Welcome Week, which will be held August 16-20. The co-chairs for Welcome Week were chosen last fall. They are: Brandon Maenius, junior management major from Boerne; Sarah Woodroof, junior history major from Brentwood, Tenn.; Kristina Anderson,
junior Spanish major from Canton; and Kathleen Pina, senior political science major from San Antonio. Twenty-four steering committee members have also been chosen and have been divided into five groups. Two different types of student leaders will make up the mentor groups: peer leaders and mentor group leaders. They work with a specific mentor group and are responsible for planning icebreakers and other games during group time, Evans said. Peer leaders are selected to work with a university seminar instructor and a Welcome Week group throughout the fall semester; they undergo four different training sessions, Gumm said. Mentor group leaders undergo two training sessions, and their primary responsibility during Welcome Week is to help the peer leader and build relationships with new students, Gumm said. “We look for people who understand the heart and character of ACU and care about new students,” Gumm said. “They also need to be fairly outgoing and be genuinely excited about ACU and Welcome Week.” For more information about Welcome Week, students may visit the First-Year Program Web site at h t t p : / w w w. a c u . e d u / a c a demics/fyp.html or call the office at Ext. 2212.
E-mail Tan at: mtt04b@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
The men of Shades perform ‘Fed-Up’ during the Shades Spring Show titled ‘Going Postal’ on Friday evening at Cullen Auditorium. This is the first time Shades has performed two nights in a row.
Jazz Ensemble breaking out the oldies Students, guests to perform music from ’20s, ’30s, ‘70s By SHAVONNE HERNDON STUDENT REPORTER
The ACU Jazz Ensemble is preparing for a concert Tuesday in Cullen Auditorium. Special guests and students will showcase their talents performing jazz hits from the late ’20s, ’30s and ’70s. The group is compromised of music and non-music majors. Members have practiced every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 6:30 pm since the end of Sing Song, The ACU Jazz Ensemble performs many different styles of music from the swing era to the present. Audience mem-
bers will hear some of the best of big band jazz by great composers such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bob Brookmeyer, Quincy Jones, Pat Belliveau and ACU professor of music Greg Bush. Lauren Bush will also sing several numbers. Special guest Pat Belliveau, will be the feature of the concert, and organizers are excited to have him in the show, Bush said. “He is a great jazz tenor saxophonist from Canada,” Bush said. “We're all excited to be performing with him.” He said he can’t be sure of the turnout, but organizers are going through the proper procedures to attract people to the event. Bush said the group is advertising online through email, in the city newspaper and posters. “I look forward to the day
that the jazz band gets a bigger audience,” Bush said. “Jazz is America's music! Everybody should know about it and try and support it. And of course the students should come out to support their peers and listen to the results of the jazz band’s hard work. There are a lot of talented students in the group, and I think God-given talent should be shared with listeners. “I absolutely love working with the band, as well as teaching and playing music. I feel blessed to be able to work with such talented students’ everyday. Making music is a joyous activity, and I look forward to the concert and students should too.”
E-mail Herndon at: optimist@acu.edu
Faculty honored at dinner Friday College of Arts and Sciences honors employees for work By CIANA HARDWICK STUDENT REPORTER
All faculty and staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences will be honored, and six will receive awards at a dinner Friday at Briarstone Manor. Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as Master of Ceremonies and will announce the recipients of the awards during the dinner. The dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is a way to say “thank you for a job well done” to the faculty and staff in the college, Durrington said. Spouses are invited to the dinner and so are other administrators across the campus, bringing the total attendance to about 300, she said. Colleagues nominated the awardees, Durrington said. Last year’s award recipients make up a selection committee that reviewed the nominations. Durrington said she will give a
three-minute introduction of each recipient that will include quotes from colleagues who nominated him or her. The recipients will receive a plaque and a small check, she said. Five awards will be given to faculty members, Durrington said, for excellent and innovative classroom teaching, effective student mentoring and support and encouragement of colleagues. A fourth award will be given to a faculty member who has been at ACU for at least 15 years and has “demonstrated a career of accomplishments,” and a fifth, the Dean’s Award, to a faculty member deemed worthy of an award, but whose accomplishments did not fit into one of the other award categories. The final award will be given to a staff member who provided exemplary service for the college. Besides dinner and the award presentations, the night will also feature a musical entertainment segment. Students from the ACU Jazz Ensemble, which is under the direction of Greg Bush, professor of music, have been invited to play a 30-minute set. This is the first time the jazz combo has been invited to play
at the dinner, but the group has played at other similar events, Bush said. Although the jazz group has never played at the dinner, in the past, the dinner has always included some form of entertainment or a speaker, Durrington said. She said she began organizing the annual event ten years ago, shortly after she became dean. Last year, three of the awards went to faculty members in the Exercise Science and Health Department, but usually the awards are spread out among the departments, Durrington said. The Student Mentoring Award was given to Deonna Shake, instructor of exercise science and health; the Career Achievement Award was given to Ben Zickafoose, associate professor of exercise science and health; and the Dean’s Award was given to Dr. Curt Dickson, professor of exercise science and health. Dr. Dicki Hill, professor of exercise science and health, said each of those faculty members deserved their award. E-mail Hardwick at: optimist@acu.edu
VIEWSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
SA, students can improve voter turnout
The issue: In the election for class senators last week, 286 students voted online.
Our view: SA, the elections committee and students can all work to increase participation.
The solution: Turnout could improve if election organizers advertised better, more students ran for office, and students rejected the apathy about SA that is prevalent on campus.
April 22, 2005
A voter turnout of less than 10 percent anywhere — even in third world and developing countries — would be abysmal. But for Students’ Association elections, anything less than 25 percent has become commonplace. Last week’s SA class senator elections proved to be no exception—only 286 students made use of the new electronic voting system through my.ACU. This was a voting system put in place partially to increase voter turnout. Using 2003 as a benchmark, voter turnout has in-
candidates there are, the more voters turn out. More than 1,000 students turned out for this year’s executive officer elections, in which three presidential candidates ran, an increase of more than 200 votes from last year when only two candidates ran. If more students will consider running for office, more students might become interested in the race. SA took an important step to improve voter turnout this semester—a step that produced results. More can be done, but eventually student apathy must be to blame for the low turnout.
creased by about SA can only do so much to increase voter turnout. In future 66 votes. That’s a elections, more In the end, the choice lies with the students. 30 percent inadvertising crease. should increase And voter turnout, maybe Now that the first trial of e- even a station set up in the turnout was still less than 10 percent. vote is out of the way, future elec- Campus Center for the sole purObviously, this election had tions committees should learn pose of allowing students to vote several factors against it. Voting from this experience to increase online—something that not only was delayed two days while bugs voter turnout in future elections. reminds students to vote but in the voting system were worked Besides the link from my.ACU enables them. out. This was the first election for and the large banner hanging on But SA and the elections comwhich this system was used. the side of the Campus Center, mittee can only do so much to Some voters likely experienced little other advertisement of increase voter turnout. In the problems unforeseen by those when and how to vote was done. end, the choice lies with the stuimplementing the system. The decision to delay voting two dents. In spite of these, the results days—although necessary to utiTurnout seems to increase proare encouraging but nothing to lize e-vote — further confused portional to how contested a race be proud of yet. is. Translation: the more viable students about how to vote.
Post office beware: She’s not giving up People driving down East rights as a citizen of this North 11th Street this week country. Where else but in have noticed a change at America can a girl angry for house number 749: two her dog being quarantined sheets of hang a construction-paper orange con- sign on her porch? Where s t r u c t i o n else but in America can a defend an paper read- corporation ing, “Beware employee who hits animals? of mail carri- Nowhere else. I love this er. He hits country with the liberties it dogs!!!” I grants us. I also hate this don’t normal- country for the way we let ly put signs corporations become more Special on my porch, important than people and, Contributor but I felt this in this case, animals. Melody As I tried to figure out one was necessary. Last why I felt so passionately Willingham week I was about exercising my First taking my dog out to the Amendment rights about a bathroom in my yard when dog, I began to think about my mail carrier crossed my friend, Dr. Charles between my house and my Trevathan. Charles and I neighbor’s house. My dog ran fought a battle together a toward him barking and couple of years ago, and stopped at his feet. The mail although he was willing to see it all the way carrier then to through, I gave hit my dog on up. It wasn’t the head repeatIf you don’t until after edly with his follow through Charles died that stack of mail. Did I mention on your ideals, I realized the important lesson my dog is a 20you betray a he was trying to pound rat territeach me, which er? I’m not nor- part of yourself. is also something I’ve picked mally what you up from my would call an favorite rock animal rights activist, but there is some- star, Bono. If you don’t folthing about hitting an animal low through on your ideals, on the head, with its owner you betray a part of yourself. People have told me that I standing nearby, that made the hair on the back of my will not win my battle with neck stand up. My dog, the post office, but I’m not Maggie, bit the mail carrier giving up. I do believe that on the finger, but the mail you should follow through carrier told me when he left on your ideals, and somemy house that he was not times I don’t do a good job of hurt. An hour and a half this. But I’m going to try. later, animal services arrived Sorry, Dr. Trevathan, that it at my house to pick up took me so long to learn this lesson. Maggie to be quarantined. My options are limited. My sign is not supposed to be retaliation against my mail carrier. I’m simply exerRespond to Willingham at: optimist@acu.edu cising my First Amendment
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
Sometimes you just need a little push I was shaking as I stepped onto the wooden platform of the tree swing at Iron Springs Christian Camp. I watched my dusty sneakers move out toward the end of the plank; a harness was tied safely around my waist, connected to a large Tiffany’s tree 50 feet away. I glared at Litany the sea of peoTiffany ple below, some Williams of them still wearing their harnesses, coercing me to jump. At the edge of the platform, I froze. “Come on Tiffany,” my youth minister encouraged from the platform behind me. “You can do it.”
I am blessed that I was able to share stories with you in articles and opinions with you in columns. every page design and every story. I am also blessed that I was able to share stories with you in articles and opinions with you in columns. We haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I am OK with that as long as you were respectful. For those of you who are graduating, I hope your experiences at ACU have made you more confident in your abilities. For those of you who are staying, I hope ye olde Optimist continues to be what it always has been for me for the past four years. I hope you eagerly read the front page for information about the university, Abilene,
“I can’t,” I said. “You are going to have to push me.” To my surprise, he did. The fall terrifyingly took my breath away, but in a few moments I realized I was enjoying myself. Over the years, this story has become sort of a metaphor for my life, and this semester it took the gentle push of Dr. Cheryl Bacon to convince me to become brave enough to be the Optimist newbie as the copy editor. And you know what? It has been a fun ride. These 75 business days have sped by, making a whooshing sound as they passed, and I have felt blessed that as copy editor I was able to be a part of every deadline,
the nation and the world. I hope Page 2 is where you enjoy the police log and the weekly calendar. I hope you laugh when you read the opinion page or nod your head when you agree with something a columnist wrote. I hope the arts page is your first or second source of information about the latest movie, play or album. I hope the features page is where you go to learn about people you always see but have never met. I hope you read the sports page for information about the games you missed. And for all, I hope you have someone in your life who will push a little when you are reluctant. Goodbye Optimist. I hardly knew ye. Respond to Williams at: tnt00b@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
Student learns important lesson from university’s Pope As bells rang to announce the new Pope on Tuesday, I found myself surrounded by the spirit of Texas. Taking in the gaudy and glorious décor of my state’s Capitol, I came under the shadow of ACU’s own Pope. Arguably one of the university‘s most Special Contributor s u c c e s s f u l graduates, forMonica Smith mer Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Jack Pope was turning 92 years old. I went to the Austin Club for the birthday celebration
along with 11 other Pope Fellows and mixed with other ACU alumni and former Pope Fellows. While there, I met Judge Pope. Never have I met a man so respected and so loved by those who worked by him, for him and against him. Pope, much too humble to praise himself and his works, was applauded by many others who spoke of his integrity. Pope gave much during his time at ACU. He served the university as student body president, Sub T-16 president and president of the A-club, the highest honor organization in the university at the time. Pope spent many years in
public service working as an attorney defending those who had no other defender and working in Texas judiciary. He was said to have “restored integrity to the Supreme Court of Texas.” Pope retired in 1985. Many of his colleagues looked for a way to honor him, and created the Jack Pope Fellows Program, which is how I came to be in Austin on his birthday. During lunch, students around me began to share
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
group by saying, “Those of you who are or who have been a Pope Fellow—you are doing a great, great honor to the university.” Doubt set in. “What honor will I bring ACU?” I thought. “Will I even have honors to contribute? I’m not even an honors student. Can I follow Judge Pope’s example? What am I going to say when they ask me what I want to do in the future? Can I say, ‘I don’t know’?” Then I realized the expectation placed on those who have been given much. Others have given much in time and money to help me achieve all I have been able to achieve now.
Others have given much to help achieve all I have been able to achieve. How will I repay them?
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
with the alumni their goals and aspirations for law school, and I slowly felt unworthy of the company I was in. I have no desire to study law or become an elected official, yet here I was in the capital surrounded by successful men and women in politics. Then Missy Mae Walters, a senior political science major, said, “You [Pope] are an example, and now we’re going to strive the rest of our lives to live up to that example.” Pope also addressed the
OPTIMIST THE
How will I repay them? Are my “D = degree” ethics honorable to them? Texas State Representative Bob Hunter said of Judge Pope, “He and his late wife, Allene, endear themselves to alumni and students everywhere for their love of the university. He has a heart for public servants and has gratification that over 100 Pope Fellows are serving around the world.” I have been blessed with unique opportunities. People have placed expectations on me to serve. Respond to Smith at: optimist@acu.edu
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ARTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
April 22, 2005
The Box Office Figures are for the weekend of April 8-10 and are in millions. Total grosses in parenthesis. 1 The Amityville Horror—$23.3 (new) 2 Sahara—$13.1 ($36.4) 3 Fever Pitch—$8.8 ($23.9) 4 Sin City—$6.7 ($51.1) 5 Guess Who—$4.9 ($57.6) 6 Beauty Shop—$3.8 ($31.3) 7 Robots—$3.6 ($115.7) 8 Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous—$2.9 ($41.6) 9 The Pacifier—$2.4 ($103.7) 10 Upside of Anger—$1.9 ($15)
Today’s Movies The Interpreter (PG-13) — Starring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn; directed by Sidney Pollack Silvia Broome (Kidman) is a South African U.N. interpreter who accidentally overhears an assassination plot that could overthrow a government. The bad guys find out Kidman overheard the secret conversation and try to have her killed, and Sean Penn is the FBI agent assigned to protect her. A Lot Like Love (PG-13)— Starring Ashton Kutcher, Amanda Peet; directed by Nigel Cole In a fairly straightforward rip-off of a probably much-better When Harry Met Sally, Oliver (the Kutch) and Emily (Peet) meet on an airplane and are reunited seven years later, ending up being only friends because they’re just not each other’s type. But what do you know, they keep running into each other throughout the years and wonder if maybe they are in fact right for each other. Kung Fu Hustle (R)—starring and directed by Stephen Chow Set in 1930s Hong Kong, Chow stars as a bad guy named Sing. That’s really all I can tell from reviews and previews.
Page 7
‘Pride’s Crossing’ innovative character piece By SARAH CARLSON ARTS EDITOR
At 90 years old, Mable Tidings Bigelow (Heather Ketchersid) has much to look back on in her life. She accomplished her goal of swimming the English Channel at a young age, a feat she achieved with both the encouragement and discouragement of others. Her childhood learning to swim in Massachusetts, a short-lived love affair with a mysterious Englishman, David (Jason Kennedy), a rocky marriage with Porter Bigelow (Andrew Young), and various friendships and family relationships have all shaped who she has become, for better or worse. In Pride’s Crossing, we see Mable transform from a weak yet witty 90-year-old to a buoyant 10-year-old in a matter of seconds. Starting in 1917 and transitioning back and forth from the present (1997) to the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s and ’60s, we see her life broken down into defining moments where difficult decisions had to be made, and the key choice of whether to take a risk or play it safe is paramount for Mable. Beginning slow but eventually picking up momentum, mostly in the second act, Pride’s Crossing is an interesting look at how our choices form whom we become, but in many ways it is unclear what exactly the playwright, Tina Howe, is aiming for. The concept of looking back on your life decisions is in no way novel; nevertheless, the play provides a worthwhile glance at the life of a strongwilled and often impertinent woman. At present time, she is preparing for a croquette party on the Fourth of July, similar to ones her family hosted while she grew up. Old friends (the ones still alive) attend along with family. One of the more fascinating aspects of the play is how each
Ticket Info Pride’s Crossing tickets for Friday and Saturday night: Dinner and show 6:45 p.m., $25 Show only: 8 p.m., $12 Tickets can be purchased at Ext. 2787
of the actors, outside of Ketchersid, plays several roles regardless of whether the gender matches. Lindsey Speck performs in the roles of Vita Bright, Mable’s caretaker, Phinneas Tidings, her older brother, Kitty Lowell, a lifelong friend, and Pru O’Neil, a house maid she had while growing up—all of whom are incredibly loyal to Mable. Annika Johansson stars as Maud Tidings, Mable’s mother, who scrutinizes Mable’s every move and refuses to give her any leeway for adventure and swimming. She appears later, though, as Mable’s granddaughter, Julia Renoir, who brings her Minty (Jessica daughter, Patterson), to visit Mable. Their mother-daughter relationship is what Mable had always longed for with her mother but was unable to achieve because of Maud’s lack of confidence in both Mable and in herself. Kennedy plays the roles of Frazier Tidings, Mabel’s brother who feels left in the shadow of Phinneas; Pinky Wheelock, Wheel’s wife; and her long-lost lover David Bloom. Mable met David when she was in England preparing to swim the channel, fell in love but ultimately decided to marry her betrothed Porter. Bloom was Jewish and outside of her family’s circle by a continent, and Mable lost her nerve and gave up on the affair. Young plays Mabel’s father Gus Tidings, her husband, Porter Bigelow, a maestro acquaintance from the ’30s, and is hilarious as her old friend, Wheels Wheelock, who comes to the croquette party.
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Heather Ketchersid, right, as Mable Tidings, Annika Johannson as Maude Tiding, Lindsey Speck as Phinneas Tidings and Andrew Young as Gus Tidings in a scene from the Spring Dinner Theatre ‘Pride’s Crossing.’ Friday and Saturday are the last showings of the play, and tickets can be purchased by calling Ext. 2787 or at the Williams Performing Arts Center box office between 1 and 5 p.m. Caleb Todd’s main rolls are Mary O’Neil, her family’s cook, and Chandler Coffin, another lifelong friend and old swimming coach whose unrequited love for Mable fortunately doesn’t disturb their friendship. Patterson appears as Minty and as Emma Bigelow, Mable’s neglected daughter. With all the character swapping comes hilarious situations when the 20-something actors are playing senior citizens. Ketchersid is amazingly convincing as an old woman in the way she holds and carries her body. Her shoulders tighten, slightly contorted, and her feet point inward when she sits. Young, Todd, Kennedy and Speck are pure comic relief as dazed old-timers attempting to play croquette.
The set design for Pride’s Crossing is one of the most dynamic I’ve seen at an ACU theatre production, largely because of its simplicity. The stage was raised more than a foot to enable a tracking system of pulling in different parts of the set at various times, revealed when the simple white curtains that form the backdrop are raised. Because the time period changes with every scene in each act, the speed at which the sets and costumes must be changed is impressive. At times, characters are even changing on stage, transforming 70 or 80 years in age with the change of a dress. During certain scenes, the humor seems to hinder the point of the story, and I had to wonder if all of it was inten-
tional. The story flowed fairly well with only a few glitches, a main one coming in the last scene where Mable is preparing to swim the channel. She is with her lover David, and the two recreate the classic From Here to Eternity beach scene quite awkwardly. Mable’s decision to leave Bloom and marry Bigelow is never explained enough. However, the chemistry of the cast makes up for the lack of a terrific script. Pride’s Crossing is worth noting because of the cast and the lengths they go to to construct so many complex character, not to mention their humorous antics. E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Page 8
Friday, April 22, 2005
Development: Wal-Mart Supercenter to help north Abilene grow Continued from Page 1 Garner, one of seven greeters at Wal-Mart, said she has mixed feelings about the change, but she is glad the new Wal-Mart Supercenter is being built. “I think the change around here is real good,” Garner said. “It’ll really help the people who have to come a long way to shop.” Kenneth Musgrave Sr., a major developer in Abilene and chair on the board at Musgrave Enterprises, is funding the project. In addition to the land surrounding Wal-Mart, Musgrave owns 2,500 acres of Texas prairie past Interstate 20, and he plans to turn the land into a large development area in the next several years. He said over a period of four to five years, several national restaurants and places like Kohl’s and Home Depot will come. “It’s a natural process,” Musgrave said. “It won’t happen overnight, but it’ll happen.” Musgrave said he’d like to see the new Wal-Mart area be as successful as the shopping areas off of the Winters Freeway on the south side of
Abilene. Murphy’s Oil will be built alongside of Wal-Mart, and the Cracker Barrel restaurant has made plans to build in a lot in front of Wal-Mart, too, said Scott Senter, developer and president of Senter Realtors. Just down the road, more development is happening. Jeff Armstrong, a member of the City Council’s planning and development committee, said that Joe Allen, owner of the barbecue and steak restaurant Joe Allen’s, has made plans to relocate and attach onto Cahoots, a restaurant on South 11th Street. On the south side of town, construction also continues. Less than a month ago, Best Buy had a grand opening at the Mall of Abilene, and Shops at Abilene opened its second strip mall with Oreck vacuums, Best Cuts and Cold Stone Creamery. Stores such as Rue 21, Goody’s, Jason’s Deli and UPS also are in the process of construction in the area. A Chick-fil-A free-standing restaurant also will begin construction this month on Southwest Drive near the freeway. “Everyone has a little bit more money to spend with the retail coming in, and it gives us
a little bit more diversification,” Senter said. “I don’t think it will stop everyone from wanting to run to Dallas to go shopping, but it does help some.” Development affects many aspects of town life. “We hope to get a snowball effect off the Wal-Mart,” Armstrong said. “If there are new homes built and another place to bring people in from out of town, then perhaps more devel-
“We need bright, young college graduates to stay in the community and enhance Abilene.” Norm Archibald, mayor of Abilene
opment will come and then more people will build more houses and the cycle will continue.” Developers help control the town’s vision by bringing in new businesses. Although many said they think Abilene is at a good place in its history, more can happen here. “Abilene certainly wants more dining establishments like (TGI) Friday’s, Applebee’s, On the Border and those type places,” Senter said. “All of us
FilmFest: New position added Continued from Page 1 will be shown, and the members involved will have the opportunity to select a People’s Choice Award separate from the judges’ selections. FilmFest will have a more intense schedule, with a fourweek production period before the event, said Jonathan Johnson, staff programmer analyst. “And we’re adding a sixth position to the production teams, called the sound designer,” Johnson said. The positions include: producer, director, writer, production designer, technical director and sound designer. The new categories that teams
can compete in are: comedy, drama, action/thriller, documentary/advertisement and music video. “We are not limiting the number of entries, but groups are limited to only six people,” Johnson said. Darby said more judges will be invited, including David Leeson, senior photographer at the Dallas MorningNews, Randy Brewer, founder, director and owner of Revolution Pictures, and Rob Gibbs, storyboards artist for Pixar Animation Studios. “We are going to allow the participants to have real feedback from the judges this year,” Johnson said. “The Lord has provided
would still like to have more of those. “The more retail we can build here,” Senter said, “the more we can create a regional shopping area.” Development might not be enough, though, to propel Abilene in the future. Restaurants and retails aren’t everything needed in Abilene; higher-paying jobs are important to help the economy,
thus far. God uses our talents for His glory. That’s what FilmFest is about,” said Matt Maxwell, FilmFest video cochair and sophomore electronic media major from Abilene. “It’s a combination of our faith and talent with God’s work,” said Robyn King, FilmFest video co-chair and junior marketing management major from Newark, N.J. “FilmFest gives me the opportunity to work with very talented people and with students who want to do something revolutionary. God has a purpose for this, ” Darby said. E-mail Armstrong at: optimist@acu.edu
Armstrong said. They also are a key for the future. “A lot of people don’t understand that a store and a restaurant is not really an economic development generator,” Armstrong said. “Normally it takes something like a mall or a WalMart, something that creates more activity than just itself to bring money back into the community.” Armstrong said a new restaurant will add another choice and more construction,
but it competes with what is here. Another key to Abilene’s future lies in its student population. Abilene grows nearly 10 percent during the nine months of the year when college students live in the city. “Students come to ACU, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry, and then they have a tendency to go back home or move to Dallas, Atlanta, Denver or wherever,” said Norm Archibald, mayor of Abilene. “We need bright, young college graduates to stay in the community and enhance Abilene.” Students say more entertainment in Abilene could help its appeal in the future. Chad Worth, junior management major from Abilene, said he likes the diversity and the way that Abilene is attempting to spread the development. He also said people in Abilene should care that students have opinions about the town, too. “Growing up, I always heard that the two things keeping Abilene alive was Dyess and the student population,” Worth said. Worth also said Abilene should offer more entertain-
ment options for students. “Abilene needs more mainstream bands with concerts that aren’t just local kids battling it out,” Worth said. Jonathan Wactor, junior political science major from Tuscon, Ariz., agreed. “Abilene needs more concerts, concerts not held in bars, but in an atmosphere for students and young people,” Wactor said. Senter said entertainment could help Abilene’s appeal, but right now he thinks Abilene is at a great place. He said people who stop by, whether at Dyess, at a university or just passing through Abilene, will see how much it has changed in the past decade and what potential is here. “They’ll find out that it is a pretty neat little place and that we are good people,” Senter said. “You can make a good living here. You can have good friends and help your community grow. “It’s at a real good place in its 125 years of history, and it has an even better future ahead.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
Debate: Seniors look to future Continued from Page 1 “For me, it was just an honor to be able to go [to NFA] and that I was competing with every single person in that event who had placed first in a tournament,” he said. “The difference between the 124th person and the first-place person is very small; it really comes down to what the judges like. That was a victory in and of itself to receive a bid to go to that tournament.” Rouse and Alvarez both are looking to the future and said their time on the team will help them in their careers. Rouse will attend Baylor Law School and said he hopes to work in leadership after that. Alvarez
“It’s a sad time of year for an old speech coach.” Dr. Sally Gary, director of forensics and assistant professor of communication
said she wants to be an advocate for the oppressed around the world. “[Debate] helps me develop my gifts that God has given me because there are people who are waiting for me to utilize those gifts,” Alvarez said. “Debate just gives me an opportunity to develop my voice.” She said she will miss competing with the team, but she knows they’ll do well next year. “It makes me sad to think that this may be my last time I’ll ever travel with Dr. Gary or ever travel with my team,” she said.
“But I know they can do fine without me, and that makes me very happy because if they couldn’t, I did not do my job.” Gary said she is looking toward next semester, but ending the school year and seeing team members graduate can be hard. “It’s a sad time of year for an old speech coach,” she said. “We get very attached in a fouryear period, and it’s really hard to not see those faces you’ve been accustomed to seeing.” E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
JUMPS
Friday, April 22, 2005
Page 9
Duncan: Mail services manager performs various jobs on campus Continued from Page 1 are available, and after 18 years as a university employee, he has seen it change several times. Duncan graduated from ACU with a bachelor’s degree in finance in the spring of 1985. His job search led him right back to ACU, where the Mail Services manager position was open. Duncan said he never dreamed of working for the university, much less in Mail Services.
“It was a job,” Duncan said of why he chose to continue at ACU. “I had always enjoyed Abilene and the university.” One problem: “The only thing I knew about mail was that you wrote a letter and stuck a stamp on it,” he said. Even though he had little experience in Mail Services, Watson said Duncan had other characteristics that qualified him for the position. “He is dedicated to the mission of the university and un-
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
derstands how to operate a division within a limited budget, save the university money and produce a good product,” Watson said in an e-mail. “We are fortunate to have him.” Duncan had to operate on a learning curve when he began his position as manager of Mail Services, learning not only the procedures of the university but of the United States Postal Service. “The postal service, being a government agency, they have their millions of pages of procedure to learn,” Duncan said. Within a few months, Duncan had the policy and procedure down. Because Duncan had an educational background in not only finance but computer science as well, Watson asked him to be involved with the university’s implementation of Banner — the computer software used to keep most of the university’s records. Duncan became an integral part in coordinating the computer software for Mail Services, Physical Resources, The Campus Store and ACU Press and making the systems
compatible with Banner. He has designed systems to track expenses and the budgets of all the different divisions. “Scott has a love of detail and processing data that makes him uniquely qualified to help in this way,” Watson said. “He will continue to transition into more of an accounting role for our area—both in record keeping, reporting and budget coordination.” While he makes that transition, however, Duncan continues to take charge of whatever project Watson has for him— something that intrigues him about his job. “There’s not really a typical day,” Duncan said. “There’s so much that needs to be done.” Some of those projects have included looking at the university’s rental property and deciding whether it is better for the university to lease or own vehicles. Last semester, Duncan’s job sent him walking around campus looking at the university’s signage to determine if it needed replacing. But when all the odd jobs are completed, Duncan always has Mail Services to keep him
occupied. Duncan supervises four full-time employees to work in Mail Services and 11 student workers, a total that fluctuates from year to year. They have daily goals and schedules to keep. Mail must be picked up before 8 a.m. from the downtown post office, otherwise it would not be delivered until 10 a.m. Incoming mail is sorted by 9:45 a.m. and in the Campus Center boxes by 11 in time for the Chapel crowd. If any of those goals are not met, the whole process slows, which Duncan said causes misconceptions among students about Mail Services. “Most students come to college, and they may have only mailed a letter or had their parents take care of it,” Duncan said. “Many students just expect their mail to arrive quicker.” Duncan also said rumors swirl each year about certain magazines or issues—such as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition—that will not be delivered to students’ boxes. “If you get something in the
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Scott Duncan stands behind the scenes at University Mail Services, of which he is manager. mail,” Duncan said, “you’re going to get it.” And Duncan will be behind each piece of it, making sure the thousands of letters and packages arrive when and where they should. E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
SA: Senators elected SLA: Spiritual Life Core to help in halls Continued from Page 1 working, so I wasn’t able to get people’s attention to actual voting,” he said. The junior class elected Sarah Carlson as senior senator; the sophomore class elected Casey Bingham, John Gainer, Eric Lemmons and Andrew Tuegel; and the freshman class elected Alaina Bearden, Shelby Coates, Hillary Moore, Brandon Smith and Matt Greenburg. Elizabeth Alvarez, chief communication officer for SA, said the online elections went well. “There were a few small kinks in it,” she said, “but it worked.” Carlson was the only student to run for senior class senator, but Alvarez said more students might run to fill the remaining four positions next semester. “The seniors always seem to be a little less enthusiastic,” she said. Seniors and juniors can run for the remaining positions in the same elections as freshman senators, residence hall
representatives and academic representatives, or they can have a special election. If the spots remain empty, students can complete a petition and ask Congress to vote them in. Bingham said he is pleased to be elected a junior class senator, but he wishes more students had run. “I’m kind of disappointed because there wasn’t very much participation,” Bingham said. More students might run for junior class senator positions next fall because some juniors have applied for administrative offices. SA executive officers will finish interviews for those positions and appoint students to the positions sometime this week, Alvarez said. Erin Dimas and Bob Parsons are running for chief development officer; Valerie Hanneken, Zach Tabers and Lauren Hart are running for chief communication officer; and Austin Brennen is running for chief financial officer. E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Golf: Team improves from last season Continued from Page 10 The players battled windy conditions in the first two rounds on Monday, but Campbell didn’t use that as an excuse. “It was the same for every player out there,” Campbell said. “I feel like we’re used to playing in the wind, playing in Abilene.” Even with the low finish, Campbell said he takes the experience as a positive one. The Wildcats did improve one spot from their eighth place finish in last season’s LSC tournament.
Continued from Page 1 getting to know the residents. “We want to move patiently and cautiously with this,” Lewis said, “because it isn’t about competing with what [the RAs] are doing but helping and assisting them.” Lewis said it is hard to gauge the level of influence SLAs have had in residence halls aside from them coordi-
nating prayers groups, etc. He said much of the work lies behind the scenes in that they are a constant presence in the halls, being available to talk with and listen to the residents. “In those five-minute conversations, some amazing things can take place,” Lewis said. The Spiritual Life Core is looking at having upperclass-
men help in the halls, Lewis said, because of their wisdom and experience. “What I would love to see is it be primarily upperclassmen who love students, listen to them and be a resource for them,” he said. “That is such a powerful work.” Barnard said removing the SLAs is difficult because of the important role they play in residence life.
“These are unique servant leaders who love the Lord and love their peers,” Barnard said. “They have made a tremendous contribution to Residence Life and Housing. I wish they weren’t going on hiatus, but we’ll just take it one year at a time.” E-mail Carlson at: skc02a@acu.edu
Robarts: Kobe’s act yields empty ring finger Continued from Page 10 are atop the Eastern Conference and are expected to take the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. It looks as though Bryant screwed up in thinking he could win without help of a big man and that Buss chose the wrong superstar to take sides with. To me, the problem with Bryant is that he won too early. His first ring came at 21 years of age, and the early success must
have gone to his head. He sent his biggest asset to Miami and the other into retirement. If they had stayed together and learned to enjoy each others’ success, they could have been one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. A three-peat would have been just the beginning. Bryant made it about the individual. He enjoyed success with O’Neal but wanted the limelight for himself. Players like Marino, Gwynn and Stockton would have killed to
be in a spot that Bryant was, and sometimes I wonder if those guys are offended by how lightly a championship-caliber team is torn apart by egos. Bryant, deemed by some members of the media to be the next Michael Jordan, took a monumental step backward in that regard when he decided he wanted to do it on his own. Jackson—who coached Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles,— would tell you that Jordan began winning titles
when he realized that he couldn’t do it alone. O’Neal has found another sidekick in the young Dwayne Wade in Miami, and this time a player willing to share the limelight. My hope is that O’Neal will win a couple of more rings before he decides to retire, and that those will serve as a reminder to Bryant of what could have been. E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
Track: Team to compete in Angelo
Easy does it
Plus, ACU’s roster features no seniors, so with all players returning, plus any added players, the Wildcats look for continued improvement next season. “It definitely will help,” Campbell said of the experience his players gained. “With all five coming back, I look for good things next year.”
Continued from Page 10 points in every event. Murray said nearly every ACU athlete will compete in the meet, which will begin at 9:15 a.m. Friday at Javelina Stadium in San Angelo. “The only reason someone would not compete is because they are hurt,” Murray said. “We have a few who have a few bruises, but I anticipate everyone competing.” BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Sophomore Lana Pavlan returns a serve Thursday at Eager Tennis Pavilion during her doubles match against Cameron. Pavlan and her partner, sophomore Holly Lindloff, lost the match 9-8.
E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu
SPORTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 10
Team prepares for ’05 football season
Giving it her all
Golfers place seventh in LSC
Season to begin September 3 against Central Oklahoma By ACU SPORTS INFORMATION ACU will open the 2005 football season against a perennial Lone Star Conference North Division powerhouse and will end it with a crucial three-game closing stretch that could determine its post-season fate. The Wildcats’ 2005 season is underway Sept. 3, when they host Central Oklahoma in an
Team ends season with disappointment; Kyle Byerly ties for fourth By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
The golf team hoped to carry the momentum of an ever-improving record into the Lone Star Conference tournament on Monday and Tuesday. But the Wildcats’ charge ran out of gas, and ACU finished seventh at the wind-swept Trophy Club Country Club in Roanoke. “We really didn’t play as well as we wanted to,” coach Mike Campbell said. “But we gave it our best shot.” But it wasn’t Byerly all bad news for the Wildcats. Kyle Byerly finished tied for fourth and earned all-tournament honors. Byerly shot one-under 71s in the first and third round sandwiched around a second-round 74. Campbell said Byerly was particularly on his game in Tuesday’s third round, when he made 17 pars and one bogey. “He had a really strong tournament,” Campbell said. In addition to Byerly’s recognition, Matt Samples was voted an all-conference honorable mention selection at an awards banquet on Sunday before the tournament began. Samples followed with a 31st place finish as his score suffered with an 82 in the second round. Campbell said Byerly and Samples, both of whom are ranked in the top 30 in the region, still have a shot at qualifying for the regional tournament May 2-4. The players will most likely find out on Monday whether or not they made it. After Byerly, Curtis Harris was ACU’s next highest finisher, shooting rounds of 75, 75 and 80 to finish tied for 28th. Zach Starnes finished 37th and Carlos Alvarez was 40th. See GOLF Page 9
LSC South Standings current through 04-20-05
Baseball Team ACU A&M-Kingsville Angelo State E. New Mexico Tarleton State West Texas A&M
Div. 10-2 7-5 6-6 6-6 5-7 2-10
Tot. 35-12 30-16 24-22 22-22 21-27 14-33
Softball Team Angelo State ACU Tarleton State A&M-Kingsville Texas Woman’s E. New Mexico
Div. 15-5 13-7 12-8 11-9 6-14 3-17
Tot. 42-12 30-18 24-19 30-26 21-25 20-29
Chris Thomson, head football coach
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Senior Rachel Taylor slams a forehand, returning the serve to Cameron’s Thatianne Moreira and Paulina Trujillo. Taylor and her doubles partner Summer Beesley defeated Moreira and Trujillo 8-4, aiding the women in their 5-1 victory over Cameron in the LSC tournament semifinals Thursday.
Kobe’s Lakers fail, Shaq’s Heat prevails Dan Marino passed for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns in a 17-year career with the Miami Dolphins. John Stockton scored 19,711 points and dished out an even more a m a z i n g 15,806 assists in a 19-year career with the Utah Jazz. Tony Gwynn won eight batting Kyle’s titles with the San Diego Column Padres, finKyle ished with a Robarts .338 career batting average and drove in 1,138 runs. Marino has already joined the NFL Hall of Fame and Stockton and Gwynn are locks as inductees for their respective sports once eligible. All of these
Friday, April 22 TN: LSC championship BSB: Texas A&M Kingsville, 3 p.m. SB: LSC tournament TK: LSC championship Saturday, April 23 BSB: Texas A&M Kingsville, noon SB: LSC Tournament TK: LSC championship
players started and finished with the same club they started with—a feat that has become more rare in the age of free agency — but none have a world championship. I wonder what went through these players’ minds when they saw the soap opera of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal last summer. The duo strung together three consecutive NBA titles from 1999-2000 season to the 2001-02 season, but a series of injuries and ego battles eventually broke the two up and sent head coach Phil Jackson into retirement. It was later speculated that Kobe wanted both Jackson and O’Neal out of Los Angeles, leading many to believe that Kobe was convinced his talent was enough to bring the Lakers to another NBA championship
without the seven-foot, oneinch, 325-pound O’Neal. Lakers owner Jerry Buss gave into the superstar guard, as Jackson retired and O’Neal was traded to Miami for Lamar Odom and Brian Grant among others. So with a new coach in Rudy Tomjonavich and a new set of players, the ‘great’ Bryant set out to show the world he was a one-man show: it backfired. A couple of weeks ago college basketball commentator Dick Vitale said that Bryant should write a note to O’Neal and request playoff tickets because his mediocre Lakers wouldn’t be there competing. Vitale was right. The Lakers will miss out on the playoffs this season and through Tuesday are 13 games under .500. O’Neal’s Heat, however, See ROBARTS Page 9
LSC crossover game at 6 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium. The game is part of an attractive fivegame home schedule that includes longtime LSC rivals Texas A&M-Commerce, Eastern New Mexico, West Texas A&M and Texas A&MKingsville. The Wildcats will be on the road at Northeastern State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Angelo State, Tarleton State and Midwestern State. ACU will play LSC crossover games against Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and, for the first time in the longest-running series in the LSC, against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions are moving to the LSC North Division in all sports with Tarleton State moving back to the LSC South. ACU leads the all-time series against Commerce 36-27-1, although the Lions took a 37-17 win over ACU last season. Three of the Wildcats’ oppon e n t s—S o u t h e a s t e r n Oklahoma State, Texas A&MKingsville and Midwestern State—all reached the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2004, and Kingsville, and Central Oklahoma players were ranked in the final American Football Coaches’ Association top 25 last year. Five of ACU’s 2005 opponents were ranked in the top nine in last year’s final Southwest Region poll, and this year’s had a combined 5452 record last year. “We’ve got a tough schedule, there’s no doubt about it,” head coach Chris Thomsen said; he was hired in late January, returning to ACU after serving as the offensive line coach at Central Arkansas for the last two seasons. “The Lone Star Conference is one of the best leagues in the nation. It’s a lot like the Gulf South Conference (of which Central Arkansas is a member) in that there's not an off-week against
weeks against Texas A&MCommerce and ENMU. “I think that early home schedule will work to our advantage,” Thomsen said. “We've got to take advantage of playing at home, and come out of that with some wins. That Central Oklahoma game will be a big test for us right out of the box. They'll be a top-20 pre-season team, and they’ll be loaded. Hopefully we can be just as tough on them as they are on us.” The closing three-game stretch, however, might be as difficult as any team in the nation will face with games at Tarleton State, at home against Texas A&M-Kingsville and at Midwestern State. Kingsville and Midwestern State each reached the playoffs last season, and Tarleton was a 7-4 team that was ravaged by injuries in 2004. ACU went on the road last year and pulled two of the biggest upsets in school history, whipping No. 7 Tarleton State, 31-14, in Stephenville, and then, in the next-to-last game of the season, stunning No. 2 Texas A&M-Kingsville, 17-10, in Kingsville. That win was ACU’s first over the Javelinas since a 38-24 win in Kingsville in 1983. The last time ACU beat Kingsville in Abilene was in 1982 when ACU win 34-18. Those two wins also marked the last time ACU beat Kingsville in back-to-back seasons, something the Wildcats will try to accomplish in 2005. “That’s a very difficult closing stretch on the schedule,” Thomsen said. “All three of those programs are top-20, playoff-type programs, which is where we want to take this program.” Thomsen said ACU has talked about adding an 11th game to the schedule but that nothing was imminent.
Track team looks to win LSC championship title Men to defend title winning streak; women to take revenge on ASU SPORTS WRITER
(home events in italics)
a weaker opponent.” Four of the teams the Wildcats will be playing in 2005 will be under the direction of new head coaches, including three in the LSC South Division. The Wildcats—5-5 last year under head coach Gary Gaines and 17-13 in their last three seasons—get somewhat of a break early because three of their first four games are at home. After the opener against UCO, ACU makes the long trip to Tahlequah, Okla., to take on Northeastern State, but then returns home for back-to-back
“That Central Oklahoma game will be a big test for us right out of the box. ... Hopefully we can be just as tough on them as they are on us.”
By STEVE HOLT
Upcoming events in Wildcat sports...
April 22, 2005
For the ACU women’s track and field team, this weekend’s Lone Star Conference Championships in San Angelo mean revenge. One year ago, the Rambelles of Angelo State broke a 21-year ACU winning streak, edging out the Wildcat women by one point. The ACU women have returned to the top of Division II this season, however, and likely will be the team to beat Friday and Saturday. The men’s team will be competing for its 12th straight LSC title after winning the 2004 title by a hefty 48 points. Coach Jon Murray said his teams, both of which will be top contenders for Division II national titles May 26-28, do not take the conference meet lightly.
“We are always wanting to win the LSC meet,” said Murray, who has been a part of 23 men’s or women’s conference titles while a coach at ACU. “It is one of the steps in our success but not the total success of our season. It is just part of the big picture for us. Our athletes have great pride and will show a great competitive spirit this weekend, and I anticipate them being successful.” Led by one of the best middle and long-distance squads in the nation, the ACU men should have no trouble claiming another title. Their closest competition likely will be Angelo State again, and Texas A&M-Kingsville, Tarleton State, and Texas A&M-Commerce also will be fighting for top-five finishes. In the women’s competition, Angelo State has the home track advantage and will push ACU, but Texas A&M-Kingsville, Tarleton State, and Texas A&MCommerce will be vying for See TRACK Page 9
File photo by BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Senior sprinter Ricardo John pulls ahead from his competitors in the final leg of the A-team men’s 4x100m relay during the Oliver Jackson Invitation on April 2 at Elmer Gray Stadium. The men ran the relay in a time of 40.6 to win the race. The Wildcat track and field team will compete in the Lone Star Conference tournament, which begins Friday. The men hope to defend their winning streak with a 12th straight title, while the women hope to win over Angelo State, who beat them by one point last year.