The Vol. 95, No. 29
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS A new pad
Mike Spell, former director of judicial affairs, left during break to manage the Grove Apartment complex, which can house students beginning in August, page 4
Winter course
More than 250 graduate and undergraduate students participated in January shortcourses Jan. 8-12, page 4
Honduran ministry
Students from the Journalism and Mass Communication Department and the College of Business Administration traveled to Honduras to do mission work for a non-profit organization, page 8
SPORTS
•
OPTIMIST FRIDAY
1 section, 10 pages
January 19, 2006
n Despite slightly warmer weather Thursday, the National Weather Service forecasts accumulation of rain, sleet and snow this weekend. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
Students continue to arrive in Abilene three days after classes officially began as winter weather moved across the nation. During the past week weather delayed travelers and often made driving unsafe. Many students were stranded in airports or at their homes as a mixture of rain, sleet and snow moved east across New Mexico into Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas. Others attempted to drive in to Abilene on Wednesday despite snowy interstates between Dallas and Abilene. Tara McKee, sophomore education major from Atlanta, had to delay her trip back to Abilene until Tuesday because of weather conditions in her
On the Web
www.acuoptimist.com
hometown. “I was glad when they delayed classes until Wednesday because I couldn’t be here until Wednesday anyway. So it was nice that I wouldn’t miss classes,” she said. Unfortunately, the snow storm that struck Abilene and most of Texas on Tuesday night created treacherous driving conditions by the time she began to drive to Abilene at 5 a.m. Wednesday from the Dallas airport. “I probably didn’t drive more than 40 mph to get here today,” she said. McKee didn’t make it into Abilene until 2 p.m. because of all the car accidents on Interstate 20, and because part of the interstate was closed because tractor-trailers couldn’t make it up or down a hill called Ranger Hill. “It was scary because I would lose control of the See
BRIAN SCHMIDT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Tori Ahlers, sophomore biology pre-med major from Spring, walks to the Brown Library through the intermittent rain and 42 degree temperatures Thursday afternoon before another winter storm was expected to arrive in Abilene.
WINTER page 9
Friends and family recall the funny times, shared memories of freshman Tyler Sheets, who was killed Dec. 21 By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
The Wildcat men’s basketball team lost its first conference game against Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday 86-82, page 10
ONLINE Current construction
Physical resources and other construction crews have been working during the break on residence halls. Find out what they’ve been working on online at: www.acuoptimist.com
SPEED READS Faux food?
The FDA announced earlier this week that cloned animals will be safe to eat, once introduced into the food industry. The organization that test foods for safety before public consumption, said it could not find a difference between cloned and non-cloned animals. While some doubt the FDA’s opinion and wonder if the meat and milk will truly taste different, cloned animal meat is expected to hit the markets in the next five years. -UWIRE
www.acuoptimist.com
Sleet, icy weather create traveling problems, delays
‘We have no regrets’
Falling short
•
To many, Tyler Sheets was a piece of heaven on earth. To others he was a super hero, brother, son and friend. At age 19, friends say he was one of the wisest people they knew, and the kindest. Tyler’s older brother Landon remembers his brother and best friend as thoughtful, honest and hilarious. “He was always thinking of others and a selfless person. I alSheets ways thought of him as absolutely hilarious,” said Landon, junior pre-med major, smiling. “He was one of those people who could tell a funny joke with a straight face, but he was also one that could laugh at other people’s jokes too, and he was sincere that they were funny to him.” Tyler, a freshman exercise
science major from Muleshoe, was killed on Dec. 21 outside of Farwell when the truck he was driving struck a tree. The truck careened into the median. When Tyler attempted to corrected it, he over corrected and the passenger side struck the tree shortly before 4 p.m., according to police reports published in the Clovis NewsJournal. His mother, Bernita, said she felt God had put special blessings in their life, as a way of preparing them for his death. On Wednesday, the day before the accident, the Sheets family awoke to a snow-covered landscape in Muleshoe. Bernita said she didn’t want Gini and Shelley, ages 17 and 14 respectively, to drive to school with the weather icy, so most of the family spent the day at home that Wednesday. Although Bernita said she had wanted to clean and bake, she said the seven kids at home at the time: Sarah, Landon, Tyler, Gini, Shelley,
Ben and Cori, bundled up and spent the morning playing outside and taking pictures of each other. Later that afternoon, she said Landon, Tyler and Ben, who is 12, wanted to go hunting. Their father Kyle, a local physician in Muleshoe was supposed to be on call that evening, but decided to have someone else take his place so he could go hunting with the boys. “I know that they didn’t get very far to go hunting because they kept getting stuck, but they just had a good time together and enjoyed each other’s company. We feel really blessed for them to have been able to spend that time together,” she said. On Thursday, the day of the accident, many of the kids spent the day playing games together. The Sheets parents were getting ready to go to a Christmas party, and left the house at 3 p.m. “I don’t always do this to See
SHEETS page 5
Students ‘shift’ into Sing Song mode n Social club members, class participants and members of the Sing Song production team have begun preparations for the 50th anniversary of Sing Song. By LAUREN SUTTON Opinion Editor
The late-night gatherings of various social clubs and classes on campus and the sound of light-hearted, funny lyrics adapted to familiar tunes indicate that ACU’s long-lived tradition is close at hand. As the spring semester begins, preparations “shift into high gear” for the university’s largest student production of the year— Sing Song. “Shifting into high gear” is the theme for this year’s Sing Song and director of student productions Kendall Massey said the 2007 production will focus on the changes made at the university throughout the past 50 years. “I’m excited to see how the show comes together,”
said Massey. Last weekend the Sing Song production staff met to discuss all that needs to take place in the coming month to get ready for the production. The weekend retreat had three objectives: to layout an effective production plan, to get to know everyone on staff and to find a spiritual focus. “We built on building relationships with each other and got to know each other,” said Elizabeth Russell, a junior communications major from College Station. “We did a lot of group work together; we did activities centered around having to rely on each other.” Many of the clubs and classes participating in Sing Song began practices this week, and Russell, a participant in Sigma Theta Chi’s act and downstage manager said learning how to balance her time will be a challenge. See
SING SONG page 9
Smoking ban takes effect during winter break n Businesses that allow smoking in a public, along with the individual, can be cited and fined for lighting up now that the smoking ordinance has been in effect for the past few weeks. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Don’t light up in a public place in Abilene—unless, of course, you’re prepared for a citation and a fine. The new smoking ordinance, which went into effect Jan. 3, emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER prohibits smoking “in all enHomer Winkles, owner of Royal Inn Lounge’s Bar, My Place, be- closed public places” and desiggan a petition to halt the ordinance. He needs 66,000 signatures. nated outdoor areas, according
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
to the ordinance. Voters supported the ban in the Nov. 7 election, passing the proposition 69 percent to 31 percent. According to the ordinance, more than 22,000 residents voted. The ordinance has spurred many concerned phone calls to the city with local business owners calling to ask how they are affected and how they can avoid a citation. “Every business is different; everyone has his own set of circumstances,” said Daniel Santee, interim city attorney. Santee said all businesses became smoke-free on Jan. 3, when
Abilene Christian University
the Abilene Reporter-News published notice of the ban. Businesses that allow patrons to smoke can receive a citation along with the individual. Smoking is now prohibited in public places, including, but not limited to, bars, bingo facilities, places of meeting, waiting rooms and common areas open to the public. Apartment complexes are not included in the ban because they are residences; however, if the apartment is open to the public for any reason – for instance, daySee
WINTER page 9
Serving the ACU community since 1912
The Vol. 95, No. 29
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS A new pad
Mike Spell, former director of judicial affairs, left during break to manage the Grove Apartment complex, which can house students beginning in August, page 4
Winter course
More than 250 graduate and undergraduate students participated in January shortcourses Jan. 8-12, page 4
Honduran ministry
Students from the Journalism and Mass Communication Department and the College of Business Administration traveled to Honduras to do mission work for a non-profit organization, page 8
SPORTS
•
OPTIMIST FRIDAY
1 section, 10 pages
January 19, 2006
n Despite slightly warmer weather Thursday, the National Weather Service forecasts accumulation of rain, sleet and snow this weekend. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
Students continue to arrive in Abilene three days after classes officially began as winter weather moved across the nation. During the past week weather delayed travelers and often made driving unsafe. Many students were stranded in airports or at their homes as a mixture of rain, sleet and snow moved east across New Mexico into Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas. Others attempted to drive in to Abilene on Wednesday despite snowy interstates between Dallas and Abilene. Tara McKee, sophomore education major from Atlanta, had to delay her trip back to Abilene until Tuesday because of weather conditions in her
On the Web
www.acuoptimist.com
hometown. “I was glad when they delayed classes until Wednesday because I couldn’t be here until Wednesday anyway. So it was nice that I wouldn’t miss classes,” she said. Unfortunately, the snow storm that struck Abilene and most of Texas on Tuesday night created treacherous driving conditions by the time she began to drive to Abilene at 5 a.m. Wednesday from the Dallas airport. “I probably didn’t drive more than 40 mph to get here today,” she said. McKee didn’t make it into Abilene until 2 p.m. because of all the car accidents on Interstate 20, and because part of the interstate was closed because tractor-trailers couldn’t make it up or down a hill called Ranger Hill. “It was scary because I would lose control of the See
BRIAN SCHMIDT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Tori Ahlers, sophomore biology pre-med major from Spring, walks to the Brown Library through the intermittent rain and 42 degree temperatures Thursday afternoon before another winter storm was expected to arrive in Abilene.
WINTER page 9
Friends and family recall the funny times, shared memories of freshman Tyler Sheets, who was killed Dec. 21 By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
The Wildcat men’s basketball team lost its first conference game against Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday 86-82, page 10
ONLINE Current construction
Physical resources and other construction crews have been working during the break on residence halls. Find out what they’ve been working on online at: www.acuoptimist.com
SPEED READS Faux food?
The FDA announced earlier this week that cloned animals will be safe to eat, once introduced into the food industry. The organization that test foods for safety before public consumption, said it could not find a difference between cloned and non-cloned animals. While some doubt the FDA’s opinion and wonder if the meat and milk will truly taste different, cloned animal meat is expected to hit the markets in the next five years. -UWIRE
www.acuoptimist.com
Sleet, icy weather create traveling problems, delays
‘We have no regrets’
Falling short
•
To many, Tyler Sheets was a piece of heaven on earth. To others he was a super hero, brother, son and friend. At age 19, friends say he was one of the wisest people they knew, and the kindest. Tyler’s older brother Landon remembers his brother and best friend as thoughtful, honest and hilarious. “He was always thinking of others and a selfless person. I alSheets ways thought of him as absolutely hilarious,” said Landon, junior pre-med major, smiling. “He was one of those people who could tell a funny joke with a straight face, but he was also one that could laugh at other people’s jokes too, and he was sincere that they were funny to him.” Tyler, a freshman exercise
science major from Muleshoe, was killed on Dec. 21 outside of Farwell when the truck he was driving struck a tree. The truck careened into the median. When Tyler attempted to corrected it, he over corrected and the passenger side struck the tree shortly before 4 p.m., according to police reports published in the Clovis NewsJournal. His mother, Bernita, said she felt God had put special blessings in their life, as a way of preparing them for his death. On Wednesday, the day before the accident, the Sheets family awoke to a snow-covered landscape in Muleshoe. Bernita said she didn’t want Gini and Shelley, ages 17 and 14 respectively, to drive to school with the weather icy, so most of the family spent the day at home that Wednesday. Although Bernita said she had wanted to clean and bake, she said the seven kids at home at the time: Sarah, Landon, Tyler, Gini, Shelley,
Ben and Cori, bundled up and spent the morning playing outside and taking pictures of each other. Later that afternoon, she said Landon, Tyler and Ben, who is 12, wanted to go hunting. Their father Kyle, a local physician in Muleshoe was supposed to be on call that evening, but decided to have someone else take his place so he could go hunting with the boys. “I know that they didn’t get very far to go hunting because they kept getting stuck, but they just had a good time together and enjoyed each other’s company. We feel really blessed for them to have been able to spend that time together,” she said. On Thursday, the day of the accident, many of the kids spent the day playing games together. The Sheets parents were getting ready to go to a Christmas party, and left the house at 3 p.m. “I don’t always do this to See
SHEETS page 5
Students ‘shift’ into Sing Song mode n Social club members, class participants and members of the Sing Song production team have begun preparations for the 50th anniversary of Sing Song. By LAUREN SUTTON Opinion Editor
The late-night gatherings of various social clubs and classes on campus and the sound of light-hearted, funny lyrics adapted to familiar tunes indicate that ACU’s long-lived tradition is close at hand. As the spring semester begins, preparations “shift into high gear” for the university’s largest student production of the year— Sing Song. “Shifting into high gear” is the theme for this year’s Sing Song and director of student productions Kendall Massey said the 2007 production will focus on the changes made at the university throughout the past 50 years. “I’m excited to see how the show comes together,”
said Massey. Last weekend the Sing Song production staff met to discuss all that needs to take place in the coming month to get ready for the production. The weekend retreat had three objectives: to layout an effective production plan, to get to know everyone on staff and to find a spiritual focus. “We built on building relationships with each other and got to know each other,” said Elizabeth Russell, a junior communications major from College Station. “We did a lot of group work together; we did activities centered around having to rely on each other.” Many of the clubs and classes participating in Sing Song began practices this week, and Russell, a participant in Sigma Theta Chi’s act and downstage manager said learning how to balance her time will be a challenge. See
SING SONG page 9
Smoking ban takes effect during winter break n Businesses that allow smoking in a public, along with the individual, can be cited and fined for lighting up now that the smoking ordinance has been in effect for the past few weeks. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Don’t light up in a public place in Abilene—unless, of course, you’re prepared for a citation and a fine. The new smoking ordinance, which went into effect Jan. 3, emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER prohibits smoking “in all enHomer Winkles, owner of Royal Inn Lounge’s Bar, My Place, be- closed public places” and desiggan a petition to halt the ordinance. He needs 66,000 signatures. nated outdoor areas, according
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
to the ordinance. Voters supported the ban in the Nov. 7 election, passing the proposition 69 percent to 31 percent. According to the ordinance, more than 22,000 residents voted. The ordinance has spurred many concerned phone calls to the city with local business owners calling to ask how they are affected and how they can avoid a citation. “Every business is different; everyone has his own set of circumstances,” said Daniel Santee, interim city attorney. Santee said all businesses became smoke-free on Jan. 3, when
Abilene Christian University
the Abilene Reporter-News published notice of the ban. Businesses that allow patrons to smoke can receive a citation along with the individual. Smoking is now prohibited in public places, including, but not limited to, bars, bingo facilities, places of meeting, waiting rooms and common areas open to the public. Apartment complexes are not included in the ban because they are residences; however, if the apartment is open to the public for any reason – for instance, daySee
WINTER page 9
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, January 19, 2007
19
Calendar & Events Friday
Electronic check-in closes.
20
Saturday
12:30 p.m. Southern Hills Campus Ministry hosts “The Amazing Race” until 8:30 p.m. Check in at 12:30 in the Gibson double gym. The day will include team spirit competitions, relays, a photo scavenger hunt, dinner, an awards ceremony, worship, and an after party.
Announcements Due to the weather situation, which delayed the beginning of oncampus classes this semester, the schedule for adding and dropping classes and for getting refunds from withdrawals has been changed. The following is a list of the new dates for these events. Now through Tuesday: 100-percent refund period, web adding and dropping of classes will be permitted. From Wednesday through Jan. 30: 80-percent refund period, web adding and dropping no longer permitted, classes marked as “W.” Jan. 31 through Feb. 2: 60-percent refund period, classes marked as “W.” The on-line check-in process will continue until the end of the add/drop period, which is midnight on Tuesday. In addition, for those students expecting credit balance refunds, Student Financial Services will begin posting those refunds to student accounts at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. These adjusted dates do NOT apply to students in the ACU WorldWide masters programs. The existing refund schedule for those programs will still apply. What do Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill and Kanye West have to do with Jesus? Come find out Thursday evenings. “Jesus and the Hip-Hop Prophets” will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, Room 128. For more information, contact Matt Worthington at mrw03b@acu.edu. Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver lunch to the homes of homebound elderly and adults with disabilities. Volunteers may work alone or in teams of two or three to deliver meals during the noon hour Monday through Friday. This is a great way to serve in the Abilene community, and students can get chapel credit if their delivery time conflicts with Chapel. For more information, stop by the Volunteer Center in the Bean Sprout or call
Mitzi McAndrew at (325) 672-5050. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) meets Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in COBA, Room 315, for those interested in sharpening business skills, entrepreneurial, leadership skills and service to the community. Girl Scout Troop #1550 needs young women who want to make a difference in young girls’ lives through Girl Scouting. The girls are from underprivileged homes, and they need positive Christian influences in their lives. Meetings are every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This program will end in May. For more information, please contact Diltzie Andrews at (325) 673-6379. WorldWide Witness is now accepting applications for more than 40 summer internships around the world. Apply online at www.worldwidewitness.org. For additional information, contact Gary Green or Wimon Walker at witness@bible.acu.edu. Looking for an adventure this summer? Come intern with Dry Bones in Denver. Dry Bones is a ministry that works with homeless youth living on the streets of downtown in Denver. The ministry needs four city interns and one mountain intern who will facilitate youth groups backpacking in the mountains and working in the city. Visit the web site or contact Rebekah Duke at rebekah@drybonesdenver. org for more information. Wesley Court needs volunteers to work in their gift shop and assist with inventory Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Susan Conwell at (325) 437-1184. Lee Elementary needs volunteers to play Scrabble with third, fourth and fifth graders every Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the cafeteria. For more information, contact Jennifer Clapp or Andy Blessing at 671-4895.
22
Monday
11:30 a.m. Sign up to be a Freshman Sing Song Usher at the Campus Center ticket windows.
23
Tuesday
10 a.m. A service expo will be held in the campus center for students to learn about service opportunities. 7 p.m. The Men’s Basketball team plays Angelo State in Moody Coliseum.
Volunteer Opportunities Beltway Park Baptist Church Preschool Department needs two volunteers to paint a wooden counter top and a door on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, please contact Sandi Muniz at (325) 6926540, ext. 127. Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for young women willing to volunteer their time and energy in a program called Y-teens every Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. at Franklin Middle School and Lincoln Middle School. Y-teens will allow young women from Abilene High School the opportunity to mentor girls from Franklin Middle School. Through activities and service projects, this program will empower young girls with knowledge about life skills and build self-confidence while creating an atmosphere for learning and emotional growth. For more information, contact Erin McMullen or MC Jennings at (325) 677-7839. Communities in Schools and Fannin Elementary needs volunteers to sit with a child at lunch to talk, give encouragement and mentor. Assistance is needed until May 18 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:50 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. For more information, contact Sheila Ashford at (325) 671-4820. Fannin Elementary needs volunteers to tutor fourth grade students in reading, writing and math to prepare the students for TAKS testing until February. This will be held in Portable Building #8. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact Rosalinda Walker at (325) 677-8085. The Center for Contemporary Arts needs people to greet patrons, answer phones and help with gallery shows. Three-hour shifts are available Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Center for Contemporary Arts is at 220 Cypress. For more information, contact David Herd at (325) 677-8389. The Christian Service Center needs volunteers to help in everyday operations, including interviewing clients, praying with clients and helping them get clothing. The Christian Service Center is at 901 Mesquite St. For more information, call Jim Clark at (325) 673-7531. The Salvation Army needs volunteers to sort clothing and other items, stain shelves and do pricing.
Hours are flexible. The Salvation Army is at 1726 Butternut. For more information, contact Dawn Pulscher at (325) 677-1408. The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to stock shelves with food and to clean and inspect food for distribution. Assistance is needed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Food Bank is at 5505 N. 1st. For more information, contact Janice Serrault at (325) 695-6311. Abilene Hope Haven needs babysitters for children whose parents are attending life skill classes. Volunteers are requested Monday through Thursday from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Abilene Hope Haven is at 801 S. Treadaway. For more information, contact Colleen or Anne at (325) 677-4673. The Achieve Enrichment Program needs volunteers to tutor students in core subjects and to help with recreation activities and lessons planned by the staff. Assistance is needed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Achieve Enrichment Program is located at 701 S. Pioneer St. For more information, contact Karen Smith at (325) 437-1337. AISD Early Childhood Centers needs people who are interested in working in a classroom with children ages three to four years are needed. Students may volunteer to help with special events throughout the year. Help is needed anytime. For more information and to make an appointment, contact Mary McLeed at (325) 671-4594, ext. 5956. The House that Kerry Built needs volunteers to help with various tasks including upkeep, cleaning, reading to and playing with children, organization and clerical work. Assistance is needed anytime Monday through Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m. The House that Kerry Built is at 751 Hickory St. For more information, call Donna Salge at (325) 672-6061. Christian Ministries of Abilene needs volunteers to paint and stencil the waiting area, as well as bag food on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Christian Ministries of Abilene is at 701 Walnut. For more information, call Camilla Becton at (325) 673-1234.
Credited Chapels remaining:
02 70
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@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at mxe06a@acu.edu.
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.
ACU Police Tip of the Week If you brought a new car back after the Christmas Break, remember to obtain a duplicate parking permit for it.
Police Log Edited for space
Monday 01/08/2007 2:30 a.m.: Refueled vehicle 7:05 a.m.: Unlocked Gardner Hall north door 12:07 p.m.: Gave access to Gardner Hall for construction workers 3 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 3:20 p.m.: Refueled vehicle 3:55 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at 1600 Campus Ct. 4:03 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at Big Purple Lot 6:45 p.m.: Unlocked Central Plant for workers Tuesday 01/09/2007 6:39 a.m.: Briefing at the Station 8:12 a.m.: Unlocked room at Zona Luce 10:37 a.m.: Assisted motorist with vehicle 1:42 p.m.: Refueled vehicle 2 p.m.: Checked on suspicious vehicle on Wildlife Trail and Parkway 3 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 5:40 p.m.: Medical emergency at Library 8:59 p.m.: Checked on suspicious subjects in front of Bennett Gym, Checked OK 10:45 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 11:02 p.m.: Gave access to Don Morris Center Wednesday 01/10/2007 4:15 a.m.: Unlocked vehicle at 800 Vista 6:32 a.m.: Briefing at the Station 7:47 a.m.: Had vehicle moved at 2300 Campus Ct. for construction 10:19 a.m.: Report of suspicious person in Teague Lot, gone on arrival 11:16 a.m.: Incomplete 911 at University Park Apartments room 312, misdial 2:20 p.m.: Refueled vehicle 3 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 4:50 p.m.: Jumpstart vehicle in Library Lot 6:50 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at Powell Fitness Center Lot 7 p.m.: Unlocked room at Mabee Hall 7:50 p.m.: Gave access to Sikes Hall 8:05 p.m.: Gave access to Gibson Thursday 01/11/2007 9:45 a.m.: Traffic stop at Almond and EN 10th for speeding 11:50 a.m.: Vehicle accident at EN 16th & Washington, exchanged information, no report 2 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 3 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at 500 EN 20th
4 p.m.: Telephone harassment at 1648 Campus Ct., case #07-005 9:28 p.m.: Assisted Abilene PD with fight at Whitten Inn. Friday 01/12/2007 12:52 a.m.: Checked 2300 Campus Ct. for prowler, unable to locate 2:10 a.m.: Checked 1300 Westheimer for subject asking for money, subject was gone upon arrival 6:33 a.m.: Briefing at the Station 9 a.m.: Patrolled Abilene Christian Schools 3 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 6:48 p.m.: Report of suspicious vehicle at 1600 Cedar Crest, checked OK 8 p.m.: Locked up main campus 10 p.m.: Refueled vehicle Saturday 01/13/2007 1:29 a.m.: Criminal Mischief at 2400 Church, case #07-006 6:55 a.m.: Briefing at the Station 7:30 a.m.: Assisted visitor locating Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Bldg. 9:04 a.m.: Assisted visitor locating Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Bldg. 9:30 a.m.: Subject fell on ice at WPAC, slight injuries, taken to 1300 Cedar Crest 12:43 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at Lamar and Morrow 12:57 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at 500 EN 20th 2:38 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at 500 EN 20th 6:06 p.m.: Vehicle accident at EN 12th & Washington 7 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 8:48 p.m.: Attempt to locate student involved in accident, she was located at the hospital Sunday 01/14/2007 8:30 a.m.: Unlocked Campus Center 2:44 p.m.: Report of squirrel inside of WPAC, opened door to let squirrel out 3:01 p.m.: Contacted subjects inside of Moody playing Frisbee 4:16 p.m.: Report of suspicious subject at University Church of Christ, unable to locate 5:44 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at Big Purple Lot 7 p.m.: Briefing at the Station 7:54 p.m.: Vehicle accident at Hwy 351 and Interstate 20, vehicle ran off road 9:10 p.m.: Unlocked vehicle at Sikes Lot
Friday, January 19, 2007
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Page 3
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Friday, January 19, 2007
Spell leaves for Grove n Mike Spell left his role as Director of Judicial Affairs during the break to become general manager of the Grove apartment complex. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
Being “that guy” is no longer concerning Mike Spell. The former Director of Judicial Affairs served his last official day for ACU on Jan. 1 and is now the general manager of the Grove apartments located north of Abilene Christian Schools. Spell said he was tired of handling disciplinary issues with students. “A lot of it had to do with all of the negative things I was having to deal with,” Spell said of his decision. “I was bringing home a lot of that negativity. It was emotionally heavy.” Spell spent over two years as the director of judicial affairs and was a student worker in the of-
fice previously. Dr. Jeff Arrington, Assistant Provost for Student Learning and Associate Dean, said a job opening is posted through the ACU H u m a n Resources office with about Arrington six applications received so far. Dr. Arrington will assemble a review team for the applications and determine the next course of action. “I’m also considering bringing in a person on an interim basis,” Arrington said. Whatever decision the review team makes, Arrington said he doesn’t want to make a hasty decision. “It is more important to be patient and thorough,” Arrington said. Applications will be accepted for a few more weeks. Until a decision is
made, Arrington and Mark Lewis are splitting Spell’s former duties. Arrington said he will handle calls from off-campus and University Park Apartments and Lewis will deal with residence directors on campus. Spell said his previous experience as a resident director at University Park led him to the Grove. “I was looking for a product I could really get behind and really be excited about and this is it,” Spell said. The Grove is scheduled to begin leases Aug. 1 and targets college students. It offers two and three bedrooms apartments with a total of 192 units and 504 beds. “Having Mike as the general manager at the Grove will facilitate communications between ACU and the Grove,” Arrington said. “I think that will work out to be an advantage.” E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Dannie Rio, second year Masters of divinity graduate student, helps Clystiah Evans, sophomore social work major from Waco, find her textbooks Wednesday in the basement of the Campus Store.
Students get three-hour credits in short course classes n Students spent the final week of Christmas break taking one of over a dozen January Short Courses offered by ACU as a three-hour credit. By ATSUMI SHIBATA Page Designer
About 250 students spent five days from Monday through Friday to receive three Bible credits before school began. The College of Biblical Studies offered 13 January Short Courses last week: six undergraduate
courses, five graduate courses and two doctor of ministry courses. Approximately 160 undergraduate students and 85 graduate and doctor of ministry students were enrolled, and most of the courses were full or near full. Communication sciences and disorders, family studies, psychology and theatre also offered a few courses. Dr. Glenn Pemberton, chair and associate pro-
fessor of the Missions and Ministry Department, said the number of enrolled students this year was about the average. Pemberton taught one of the graduate courses and said some students have misconceptions about January Short Courses. Although classes only meet for five days, students have to do as much work as they do during a semester. Some short courses require students to work
on assignments before classes begin and a project, paper and final exam during the semester. Pemberton said physical and mental endurance is one of the biggest challenges of taking short courses. “Students are very tired at the end of the week,” Pemberton said. But he also said short courses provide a unique opportunity for students. Each year the College of Biblical Studies invites several instructors from
outside the university to teach January Short Courses, and Pemberton said he thinks it is a great opportunity for students. Lauren Gray, senior graphic design major from Tulsa, Okla., took Arts & Culture of Christianity to fulfill Bible credit requirements. Although she was nervous at first and tired during the week, Gray said she enjoyed the class a lot. “It made me think
about it a lot,” Gray said. “If I have an opportunity again, I will take another January course.” She said receiving three credits in one week is good, but she also felt like she learned a lot in such a short period. “I would suggest anyone to take it,” Gray said. Some short courses are offered in Maymester, and students are encouraged to enroll early to get in. E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT
Friday, January 19, 2007
Page 5
Sheets: Friends and family praise humor, heart and heroics Continued from page 1 all my kids when we go somewhere, but for some reason I turned around and gave Tyler a big hug before we left that afternoon,” she said. “I’m glad I did.” Once the family received word that Tyler had been in an accident an hour later, they all began to pray. “We didn’t know what would
“A lot of people may have good intentions in their life, but Tyler always did the right thing, no matter what. “He learned things in life that most people never learn in a lifetime.” Zach said that when the family went to clean out his room at college, that they found three lists that Tyler had written: goals he’d like to accomplish, and things that
photo courtesy of the sheets family
Sheets’ family Christmas card picture, taken Thanksgiving 2006. happen, but we began praying and calling others to be praying for Tyler,” said Zach, the oldest of the Sheets siblings. Only half an hour after the accident, nothing would be the same for the parents and nine siblings left to mourn. “It’s hard for us to talk about our family right now because everything we do is associated with our family, and now it’s different,” Zach said. Tyler, No. 6 of the 10 kids, was known as a jokester and the one person in the family who knew how to make everyone feel special. “He had a way of making everyone feel like they were the closest person to him in some way,” said his sister-in-law Kara. “I think all of his siblings and friends could tell you the way they felt closest to him.” Her husband Zach said they were expecting twin boys in June, and because he had to commute to Dallas a lot last semester, Tyler would come over every day to make sure Kara was OK, to take out the trash and check on everything. “I can’t tell you how much that meant to us,” Zach said.
brought him closer and drew him further from to God. “His goals were all about making other people happy,” Zach said. “At the top of his list was to adopt an African child; to support Gini, Shelley, Ben and Cori, who are the youngest four siblings, in everything they do; to make one person smile every day. But I think he made enough people smile that he would have been good until he was 80, if he had lived.” Tyler’s mom, too, said she felt that the lists were something special God had left for them. “Tyler is not the type of person to be organized like that,” she said. “When he lived at home, he and Ben shared a room and they had a bet on who was the messiest. Tyler promised it was Ben, but we all knew it was really Tyler,” she said laughing. “Oh, and Ben wants me to let you know that he won the bet when Tyler went to college; the room is much cleaner now.”
The jokester Bernita explained that Tyler often made bets with his sib-
lings, explaining that it was part of his mischievous nature. “When he was 10 or 12 years old, he made a bet with his sister Gini that he would pay her if he didn’t make it to the NBA by the time he was 15,” she said laughing. “He made a certificate for her and I signed as a witness.” Brady Black, his best friend growing up, said Tyler was passionate about basketball and other sports, and that he remembers the times they spent playing together since the seventh grade. “I had a joke with him every time we played basketball that he couldn’t ever be aggressive enough on the court when he was guarding someone,” Brady said. “Tyler was just so nice that he could never get mean. I told him this every time, and it still makes me laugh.” The week before Tyler came home for Christmas break, his mom said that he had been calling Ben and Cori, the youngest sibling, every day to tell them to get the Christmas decorations out, to get the lights out and test them so they would be ready to put up when he got home. “Tyler was so excited about Christmas,” Bernita said, “We have an old tree that was from my husband’s family that is so old we have to tie green garland around it to cover up the holes where you can see through it. I kept saying it was time to get a new one, but Tyler insisted that it was the perfect tree. It was the first thing he set up when he got home. We’ll probably never get rid of it now.” Zach explained that the night before he died, Tyler wrote a letter to their parents telling them how much he appreciated them. Terah, the second oldest, wanted to surprise the Sheets parents for their 30th anniversary with letters and words of wisdom, so Tyler had written it to give to her. “My favorite part of the let-
ter was when he wrote, ‘Papa, I love that we call each other when there are good games on to talk about them. Mom, I love laughing at corny jokes together. Those may seem like small things, but they are things I love every time.’” Bernita said she often tells corny jokes and is the only one that laughs at them. “Tyler laughed at my jokes with me every time, even if they were corny. He was the funny one.” Cori, who is 10, said Tyler would help anyone and tease anyone, too. Her older siblings said that Tyler had about 500 different nicknames for her, or phrases that he called her. “He teased me a lot. I always tried not to laugh, but it was hard because he was so funny. My favorite one he called me was the time he put Ted Nugent’s phone number, or fake number in his cell phone. Then he would pretend he had called him and say, ‘Cori, Ted Nugent just called and said he wants his shirt back.’ He and Landon did that all the time from Ocean’s 11 and it annoyed me so much. But I miss it.”
A super hero Tyler’s uncle described him as a man after God’s own heart when they were discussing the life he lived. Landon and Zach said they felt that he somehow understood and knew that things on earth really weren’t that important, and that there were bigger things planned for him. “Tyler really appreciated people and not just when they were around either. If you were talking bad about someone, he would gently remind you, “hey, I like this about his person, or they just told me a really funny joke the other day,” Zach said. Tyler planned to get married, have kids and be a high school coach. Zach said Tyler loved kids and especially loved spending time with his
photo courtesy of the sheets family
Landon, Sarah and Tyler at an annual barn dance in Texico, N.M. younger siblings, Ben and Cori. “I’m sure Zach would say the same, but if I even live to be half the man that Tyler was at age 19, then I’ll be happy,” Landon said watching Zach. “I feel people can exaggerate who the person was afphoto courtesy of the sheets family ter they’ve died,” Tyler in Zimbabwe, Africa in summer 2004. Zach said nodding in agreement. “It sounds like sion trips during the summers. we’re talking about a super “Going to Africa was one of hero right now. But we’re not Tyler’s favorite things. He’d exaggerating. That’s truly who love that so many people are he was. And those who knew helping this cause,” she said. him, know exactly what we’re With the death of a son, Bertalking about.” nita said that one only makes Brady Black agreed and said it by the grace of God and the he considers himself blessed hope that one day they’ll see to have known a friend like him again in heaven. Tyler. “We know exactly where he “Tyler’s life motto should is right now. I like to think he’s have been ‘carpe diem’ be- putting up more Christmas cause he seized life each day trees with grandma Sheets, who and lived like each one really gave us our tree. The kids all was his last,” Brady said. think he’s shooting hoops with famous basketball players.” Saying good-bye She said she wanted parTyler’s mom said the re- ents to know this: “Families sponse from the community, need to make sure that they friends and church has been love their children every day amazing since his accident. and lead them to God. We “People and love have come have wishes that he hadn’t from everywhere,” she said. drifted off the road that day, More than $25,000 has been but we can seriously say we raised in Tyler’s honor so far, have no regrets about the way she said, and that money will Tyler lived.” be sent to Zimbabwe, Africa, to help the hospital that the family often goes on medical misE-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu
Page 6
January 19, 2007
The issue:
Discussion concerning “the Ashley treatment” has sparked many questions as to whether halting a person’s growth is ethical.
Our view:
Ashley’s story can be looked at from more than one perspective because it not only affects her and her family but others seeking medical help of this sort.
The solution:
The Optimist has chosen to look at both sides of the debate. Read and decide where you stand on this controversial issue.
Ethical debate rises from “the Ashley treatment” The case: Two and a half years ago, a family from Washington sought advice from the Seattle Children’s Hospital on how to limit their severely handicapped daughter Ashley’s growth and weight. Ashley was 6 years old at the time and soon began undergoing treatments of high doses of estrogen to accelerate the natural process of stopping her growth.
Ashley was Ashley’s parents feared that as she grew older it increasingly born with harder to would be increasingly harder to care for her, so a disability care for her, only known so they optthey opted to keep her small, growing no more as static ened to keep than 4’5” with the estrogen treatments. cephalopaher small, thy, a condigrowing no tion doctors more than have no cause or cure for. Her parents posted on their 4’5’’ with the estrogen treatIt left her with the con- Web site that Ashley’s brain ments. In addition to these dition unable to move by capabilities stopped grow- doses, the family also chose herself, unable to recognize ing at three months. Ash- to remove Ashley’s uterus people around her and with ley’s parents feared that as to prevent potential discomthe capacity of an infant. she grew older, it would be fort from menstrual cramps
Pro: family’s choice The circumstances surrounding “the Ashley treatment” are undoubtedly controversial because any situation that involves tweaking the genetic makeup of a human being touches ethical lines of right or wrong. And while Ashley’s surgical and hormonal procedures could create future opportunity for clearly unethical surgeries to occur, at what point should loving, well-informed parents get to make decisions for their child without being questioned by the public as to what is best for her. Before their decision to begin treatment, Ashley’s parents met with a committee of men and women from a variety of medical disciplines as well as a judge to discuss the implications of Ashley’s treatment. Her parents were ethically and legally entrusted to make the decision that would best benefit their daughter. Ashley’s family has re-
If doctors can hormonally alter the height and weight of a child and remove organs, where does one draw the line?
and removing her breast tissue, Ashley will not experience the pain of menstrual cramps, and the possibility of getting breast cancer, which runs in her family, is eliminated. Some have argued that “the Ashley Treatment” to make life more convenient for her parents. But by helping themselves, Ashley’s parents are improving her quality of life. With the mental capacity of a threemonth-old, Ashley is completely dependent on her parents for survival and happiness. The medical world will always challenge society in what is ethically sound, but the heart of this story is a family going to whatever measure they can to love and help their daughter through whatever means they can.
After hearing why the parents chose to stunt the growth of their 6-year-old daughter, one can’t help but think, even briefly, if their choice was ethically right. While this form of treatment might be the best choice for Ashley right now, what kind of precedent does it set for other families with disabled children, or even for people with sick children who wish to ease their pain? If doctors can hormonally alter the height and weight of a child and remove organs, where does one draw the line? It seems the medical field might be walking a fine line between ethically right and wrong. Because Ashley has the mental capacity of a threemonth infant, we can under-
Alex York
Lebensgefahr
Has the medical world crossed ethical boundaries?
Yes. I am against abortion and cloning.
I don’t think it has gone too far because you can’t put ethical limits on a society.
Cloning has overstepped the boundaries because God is the creator, and that is taking creation into human hands.
Heather Brunts
Justin Sims
Alyson Aaron
junior youth and family ministry major from Houston
stand why the parents would want to limit her growth potential, in order to be able to care for her like an infant. But removing her uterus and breast tissue seems extreme. One question that could be raised by this treatment is the fact that she was only 6 years old when this surgery occurred. A critic was cited in Time magazine’s feature on “the Ashley Treatment” as saying that mentally disabled children develop much slower than children with full mental capabilities. Ashley may not have reached the growth potential projected, and she may not have been capable of having menstrual cycles either. While it may seem silly to ask “What If” questions, these ques-
Better the world, don’t play God
senior elementary education major from Fort Worth
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist 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 or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal
attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. 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
tions could be important in deciding future treatment plans for disabled children. Many bioethicists have brought up the idea that if it is OK to stunt a child’s growth, will it one day be OK to amputate legs if the child can’t use them because it would make it much easier to care for a child without legs? While this idea sounds preposterous, it shows just how crazy choices could become in the future. In Britain, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecology has proposed that doctors be allowed to kill the sickest infants in a form of euthanasia. This is already accepted in the Netherlands. While this decision is in no way as extreme as killing sick infants, it is important to note the acceptability society can take if the medical field begins allowing everything to be done to patients for the sake of the quality of life.
The cutting edge of yester- decisions for someone else day’s science is a dull butter instead of letting nature run knife today. its course. I’m not referring to But with the ever-chang- procedures like getting braces ing scientific to straighten teeth that are world also genetically supposed to be comes an crooked, but keeping someever-chang- one clinically alive when their ing ethics mind is already dead. book. When the chances for reW h e r e covery are lost, so should is the line our attempts at playing God drawn be- be given up. Taking chemo Fields of tween what therapy or having the best Dreams is and is medical treatment is different not “playing from knowing when the game Jared God?” is over. Fields Today, The debate gets even more than tougher and I won’t begin to ever, we are playing the role draw boundaries between doabout God in ing what we our decisions of can to better If I’m a vegetable, mankind and how to deal with controversial I don’t want to be overstepping issues regardthat line. ing the medical kept around when However, I am half-dead world. when it comes I am no ethics to me, let God and using up a expert nor can I star in the role hospital room. speak for other of Himself. people. But for People should me the only pernot try to fill son I want playing God with in that role. my life is God himself. If I’m a vegetable, I don’t Two years ago, the nation want to be kept around when was torn by Terry Schiavo’s I am half-dead and using up a case. Under no circumstances hospital room, electricity and would I want to be involved in money. Besides not being ecoa case like that. nomical, it’s very greedy. I want someone to save my I can’t understand how life if possible. I just want it to keeping someone alive by be saved, not left in medical technicality is beneficial to limbo. anyone. Defining what it means It doesn’t help the vegetato “play God” is difficult. Is tive person. it performing any life-saving Let them go. Give their oroperation to prolong or save a gans away. life, or is it only when we act Make it easier for someone in a way that delays death by else to live, not harder to die. unnatural means? I think “playing God” comes E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu at the moment when we make
In Your Words
junior social work major from San Antonio
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Con: ethically uncertain
Her parents were ethically and legally entrusted to make the decision that would best benefit their daughter. ceived much publicity and criticism in response to their decision. Widely read publications like Time and People magazine have recently run articles on the subject because many fear that Ashley’s treatment interferes with nature. But medicine of any sort is an attempt to interfere with nature. The public wouldn’t argue against parents treating a child with cancer through radiation and chemo-therapy. People go to great medical lengths to help individuals, and though Ashley’s treatment is unique and relatively unexplored, it is ultimately intended to benefit her. Bedridden individuals are more susceptible to infections, but Ashley’s smaller, lighter size will decrease this chance. By performing a hysterectomy
or pregnancy in the event of a rape, her appendix, and her breast tissue to prevent breast cancer because her family has a history of cancer. This treatment has sparked international debate over the ethics and decision her parents made for her. Here we chose to look at two sides of the debate.
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, January 19, 2007
Page 7
Students share beliefs in KACU radio series this month n KACU will air student essays until Tuesday as part of the ‘This I Believe’ program. Students reflected on their personal beliefs for the 500-word essays. By MALLORY EDENS Page 2 Editor
Throughout January, KACU will be airing This I Believe essays written and read by seven ACU students. The This I Believe series is based on the 1950s radio series, which focused on bringing together beliefs. Revived in 2005, This I Believe has aired essays by the likes of Colin Powell, Bill Gates and Tony Hawk on its news programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered. The student essays, which also focus on belief, were writ-
ten last semester after a study of religious texts like the Shama and the Nicene Creed in Dr. Kyle Dickson’s English class. Dickson, assistant professor of English, took seven students’ 500-word essays, which were chosen by fellow classmates, to KACU’s General Manager John Best. The essays were then recorded in the KACU studio before Thanksgiving. Dickson said the essays allowed students to learn to write with a personal goal, to clarify their own beliefs, rather than merely write for a grade. “These kinds of assignments put writing back into the public sphere as an essential skill of the community leader,” Dickson said. “First-year students need to learn to listen as much as to speak or write. Meeting
together in writing workshops, they read the work of their peers, listened to essays from the national series and reflected on the strength of our diversity as a community of students, citizens or believers.” Dickson said he believes it is important to participate in personal reflection as freshmen. “As they move away from the comfort of home, freshmen are trying on a series of identities or personas looking for the right fit,” Dickson said. “Whether through their music, dress, conversation or even their writing, students are experimenting with a voice that will represent who they are. What we don’t often acknowledge is that, like our music and hairstyles, our beliefs are also being shaped and refined over a lifetime.”
Freshmen who will be featured are Matthew Davis, finance major from Malibu, Calif.; Andrea Haugen, psychology major from Spring; Daniel Kramar, computer science major from Grand Rapids, Mich.; Ashley Musick, psychology major from Fairview, Tenn.; Nathan Pickle, physics major from Colorado Springs, Colo. Douglas Walton, sophomore biology major from San Antonio and Adellin Randriantarika, junior computer science major from Packistani, will be featured as well. Musick said the hardest part of writing the essays was choosing a suitable topic. “It was very hard for me to separate in my mind the things that I wished I believed from what I actually believe,”
she said. “I believe that your beliefs are necessarily defined by your actions. And as I truly examined how I live my life, it became obvious that I really do believe in being equal without patronizing.” Students whose essays are not being aired also find the assignment worthwhile. “I’m just starting to understand who I am and what I want to do with my life,” said Katie Barnard, freshman history major from Abilene. “It really helps to start with the most basic part of me, what I believe in. Even though I won’t be sharing my beliefs with a national audience, it was really helpful to get my thoughts and feelings out on paper.” Dickson said he thinks the aired essays will impart to lis-
teners the many dimensions of ACU students. “One strength of the NPR series is how its contributors reflect the wide spectrum of beliefs that lead us to action in our everyday lives,” Dickson said. “The essays that will run on KACU reflect the wide spectrum of our campus from eloquent reflections on diversity and doubt to music and slumber parties.” Until Tuesday, the essays will run on KACU-FM as news breaks during Morning Edition and afternoons during All Things Considered. If the national This I Believe program chooses any of the submitted essays, they will be aired on NPR nation-wide. E-mail Edens at: mxe06a@acu.edu
Crisp addresses fall graduates Second Lowe’s coming soon n About 230 students graduated in the final graduation of the centennial year on Dec. 15. Don Crisp, Board of Trustees chair, gave the commencement speech. By NATHAN STRAUS Staff Writer
When Kathy Redman walked across the stage to graduate, there was something different about the mood. It wasn’t so hot in the graduation robe, the room wasn’t filled to capacity, and the temperature wasn’t a steamy 90 degrees. Redman, now an information specialist working in the registrar’s office, said a few factors can contribute to the necessity for a December graduation. “A lot of times it has to do with how your credits fall,” Redman said. “You may need a few more to be able to graduate.”
About 230 students walked at the commencement on Dec. 15. Among them were 30 graduate students, Redman said. Kacey Higgins, assistant to the dean, said the number of December graduates was slightly lower than in past years but close to the average. Those who walked got a special treat, she said. “Don Crisp, retiring chair of the board, gave the commencement speech,” Higgins said. “It was his last ceremony to officiate.” Higgins also said despite the program’s lack of mention about the centennial, graduating students were still part of the centennial event. Redman said the ceremony lacked some of the pomp and circumstance of the May commencement. As a result, the December ceremony was slightly shorter.
In addition, Redman said, instead of having separate ceremonies for different colleges, everyone graduates in one ceremony that is far less crowded than the May graduation. “It’s cooler too,” Redman said, “not as hot under those robes.” The reception afterward, which was handled by the Alumni Association, featured dim lights and spotlights with snowflakes decorating the walls. A chocolate fountain was provided for refreshments. “It seems like they had more in the refreshments department this year,” Higgins said. Redman said most universities offer a similar December graduation opportunity.
E-mail Straus at: nrs02a@acu.edu
n After more than two years of planning, construction on a Lowe’s hardware store near the intersection of I-20 and Highway 351 could begin soon. By JEREMY POND Staff Writer
For evidence that Abilene is growing, one needs to look no further than the intersection of I-20 and Highway 351 on the north end of town. In recent years, the intersection has been the site of the construction of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter, Cracker Barrel, Chili’s and numerous smaller entities. Now more hotels are being constructed, adding to the already significant presence of lodging facilities in the area. The largest project currently underway is the construction of Abilene’s second Lowe’s hardware store. Kenneth Musgrave, Abilene landowner and developer, said the project has been in the works
for more than two years. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “Now we’re just trying to get the site preparation work finished, and construction will begin.” Musgrave said he was unsure exactly how long the site preparation would take to complete with recent inclement weather proving a significant factor in slowing the work down. “Once everything’s ready to go, though, I’ve been told actual construction could be completed in as few as 120 days,” Musgrave said. Musgrave did not hesitate for a moment when thinking about Abilene being able to support a second Lowe’s. “You’d better believe it,” he said. “People had the same concern when we built the new Wal-Mart up there, and look at it now.” Musgrave pointed out that the two stores will be serving two different areas, and
people in outlying towns will likely choose to frequent the store closer to them. He also remarked on the current workload faced by the Lowe’s store on the south side of town. “The store has more business than it can handle right now,” he said. “The traffic down there is terrible. The way we see it, the new store will serve to compliment the old one and take some of the pressure off.” Accounting for the time it will take to complete site preparation and construction, Musgrave said he hopes to see the new store open for business sometime in May or June. Even then, it seems the development of that area will only be getting started. As it currently stands, a major theatre and several other retailers are already inquiring about purchasing land in the vicinity. E-mail Pond at: optimist@acu.edu
Page 8
Friday, January 19, 2007
CAMPUS NEWS
Students aid Honduran ministry through media, marketing n Students and an alumnus use media and marketing strategies to help advertising efforts for a non-profit organization in Chouleteca, Honduras. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
Seven ACU students and one alumnus learned first hand that you don’t have to be a Bible major to do mission work.
The combination of students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and College of Business Administration spent Jan 3 to 8, shooting Lynn video, taking pictures and developing a
marketing plan for the nonprofit organization Mission Lazarus in Chouleteca, Honduras. “It was really cool,” said sophomore Brian Eschochea, electronic media major from San Antonio. “I actually got to learn more over there than I have in any class because of the on hand experience.” The students used equipment from the JMC Department to document Mission Lazarus’ various ministries helping the Honduran people. The more than nine hours of video accumulated will be used to create a promotional video while the more than 1,000 photos taken will to create a brochure. Both of which will be used to help the organization raise funds for their ministries.
Sponsor Joyce Haley, adjunct professor of advertising, said the students will finish the video and brochure next month and present the finished product in Chapel on Feb. 27. “Now we really have to
The students paid or raised money to pay the near $1,000 fee for traveling expenses. Haley led the two teams made up of JMC majors while Dr. Monty Lynn, professor of College of Busi-
“ I actually got to learn more over there than I have in any class because of the on hand experience. ” Brian Eschochea, sophomore electronic media major from San Antonio
get busy,” Haley said. Mission Lazarus founder and ACU alumnus Jarrod Brown will also be there for the Chapel presentation. In addition to the handson experience, a majority of the students received three hours of credit for the trip.
ness Administration, led a team of COBA majors. Lynn and the COBA majors helped develop a marketing plan to help raise funds. “It was kinda like we were indirectly helping the Hondurans by helping Mission Lazarus,” Eschochea said. Lynn said students toured all parts of the organizations ministries to get a feel for the work Mission Lazarus did. Brown started Mission
Lazarus in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch damaged Honduras’ economy and landscape. According to the Mission Honduras Web site, the hurricane killed 5,273 and injured 1,932,482 people. The hurricane destroyed at least 70 percent of the country’s crops and destroyed most of the roads. Haley said she was most impressed by the hard work of the students and dedication they showed to helping the organization. “The whole time we were down there, they really worked together beautifully,” Haley said. “You could really tell they really enjoyed being with the Honduran people and were getting a lot out of the experience.” Haley said she hopes this experience will not be the last for ACU students at Mission Lazarus. “I would love to see it happen again,” Haley said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Friday, January 19, 2007
Page 9
FROM THE FRONT PAGE/SPORTS JUMPS
Tech: No. 1 goal, health Continued from page 10 school’s best. At least that’s how coach Hood and the team feel. “As a whole everybody was able to train hard this fall,” pole vaulter Angie Aguilar said. “Being runners-up was good, but we know we can do better.” Aguilar had a full fall
training program, missing the previous fall to knee surgery. She said she wants to have good technique in Lubbock, but also wants to get a good height while there. ”I’d at least like to go over 13,” Aguilar said. No one is more anxious to see what the 2007 season holds than Hood, but he wants to reign in that ex-
citement and treat the meet like a preseason scrimmage. But he said his main goal doesn’t involve any results. “The No. 1 goal — stay healthy. That’s the bottom line,” Hood said. “And see some improvement.”
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
Winter: New storm to strike Continued from page 1 car and swerve off the road even going as slow as I was,” she said. “It probably took close to three hours to go only nine miles at one point. I was just glad to make it back safe.” Provost Dwayne VanRheenen announced Sunday evening that the beginning of the spring semester would be delayed until Wednesday, postponing classes for a day. Since then, Dr. Jeff Arrington, acting dean of students, has been updating the ACU Web site
to keep students informed of what to do in case they are still stranded outside of Abilene, or what students should do if the weather changes. In addition to students coming in for the spring semester, the group of students leaving to study abroad in Oxford, England had to delay their trip for a day because buses were unable to travel to Abilene to pick up the students. The group of students, including professors, Drs. Wayne and Mimi Barnard, dean of spiritual formation and dean of residence life education and
housing respectively, met at the Big Purple Parking Lot, behind Edwards Residence Hall to leave at 9 a.m. Thursday. Despite seemingly better weather Thursday, the National Weather Service has issued a severe weather watch for Taylor country Thursday night through Saturday. The NWS has that the weather will transition from rain to sleet to possible snow or ice throughout the weekend, with the possibility of large accumulations. E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu
Smoking: Some protest with petition Continued from page 1 care — it is then considered a business, and the ban will apply. Any smoking paraphernalia, such as ashtrays, must be removed from all public places, and businesses have until Feb. 1 to post signs prohibiting smoking and officially inform their employees of the no-smoking policy. Santee said despite all the concerns raised, the ordinance is no different from any other city ordinance. “This is like any law that our police officers are asked to enforce,” Santee said. “We don’t take away their ability to exercise their discretion.” Some business owners, however, aren’t as concerned with receiving a citation as they are concerned with losing business. Homer Winkles, owner of the Royal Inn Lounge’s bar, My Place, estimates he has lost 50 to 60 percent of his business. “People are just floored that they included the bars, the game rooms and the Bingo halls,” Winkles said. He would prefer to make his own decisions as a business owner and said, “If you don’t like smoke, don’t come in.” Despite his frustration, Winkles said he has been enforcing the ordinance at his business. However, he is not giving up. Winkles began a petition to revise the ordinance 11 days ago and, as of Wednesday, said he had 26,080 signatures. Petitions are available to sign at the Royal Inn, most
tobacco stores and most bars, Winkles said. The petition must have 65,057 signatures from voters who are registered to vote in Abilene by 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. If enough voters sign the petition, the City Secretary must verify to the City Council that all signatures are from voters registered in Abilene. The Council will then ei-
inhaling secondhand smoke. April Varela, senior biology major from Edinburgh, agreed that a smoke-free Abilene is a good thing. “I’m all for it,” Varela said. Varela said she is especially excited at the prospect of being able to go to a bowling alley and not leave smelling like smoke. Santee said students who have questions about the ban
“People are just floored that they included the bars, the games rooms and Bingo halls.” Homer Winkles, owner of the Royal Inn Lounge’s bar
ther repeal the ordinance or put it to a vote. If set to a vote, interim city attorney Santee said, the vote must be held on a uniform election date, and enforcement will be suspended. Nicolas Acosta, graduate student in the School of Theology from Abilene, said he plans to sign the petition. While not a cigarette smoker, Acosta said he enjoys smoking an occasional cigar or pipe. Acosta said he feels the ordinance infringes on the rights of citizens and business owners, and “seems kind of whiney overall.” “I’d like to be able to go to a pub and smoke,” Acosta said. Instead, he said he will go to The Leaf. Others are grateful for the ban. Appalonia Little, junior nursing major from Houston, said she supports the ban, especially because her father suffered from bronchitis after
should feel free to call the City Attorney’s office. “We’re taking any opportunity that we have to explain things to people and to help them with compliance,” he said. “We want to see it succeed because that’s what the majority of people have asked for.” Santee said a lesson can be learned from the controversy over the ordinance. “I understand how people are upset, and I understand that they feel like this was unfair, but I think the underlying message to college students is that your vote counts,” Santee said. “This is a great example of why it’s so important to vote.” The smoking ordinance is available online at www.abilenetx.com. Any questions regarding the ordinance can be directed to the City Attorney’s office at (325)-676-6251.
E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Forward Lindsey Blau shoots a jumper over Greyhound guard Missy Kirkland Thursday. Blau scored 10 points in the Wildcats’ 72-67 win over Eastern New Mexico. ACU is 2-1 in divisional play and will move on to play West Texas A&M in Canyon Saturday.
Wildcats: Buffs up next Continued from page 10 University of Montana StateBillings and Missouri Western University, the latter being nationally ranked No. 13 in NCAA Division II. “First game was probably the worst game we’ve played all year,” Lavender said. “The second game we actually played pretty well. I was glad to see that after playing so poorly the first
game that they were able to refocus and play well the second game. I think we did learn a lot from that tournament.” The Wildcats will now begin a two-game road trip against conference opponents. The first match-up will be against the University of West Texas A&M on Saturday at 2 p.m. Then, ACU will go up against Texas Woman’s University
on Wednesday. West Texas A&M has a record of 14-3, and Texas Woman’s has a record of 8-7. “Once you start conference, there are never any easy games,” Lavender said. “You’ve got to pick up a couple of road wins in conference for sure.”
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Sing Song: Madness begins Continued from page 1 “I have a lot of practices as well as a lot of responsibilities that come with being on production staff,” said Russell. Regardless of the time commitment required for involvement in Sing Song,
approximately 900 students participating in the production continues to prove that Sing Song is important to the student body. “The most important thing is the students are involved,” said Massey. “I want each student to have fun with the show and learn something
about themselves. I actually enjoy the song a lot more when I know the journey of how they got there. It’s the personal things that they find out about themselves that makes the performance that much stronger.” E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
SportsFriday
Page 10
ScoreBoard Standings MEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Angelo WTAM TAMU-K MSU Tarleton ACU ENMU
Overall 6-9 6-0 13-2 11-3 10-4 9-5 6-8
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
WTAM Tarleton TX Woman’s ACU Angelo ENMU MSU TAMU-K
Div. 3-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-2 0-2 0-2 0-2
Overall 14-3 9-3 8-7 10-6 9-6 9-5 7-7 5-10
Upcoming Friday
TRACK & FIELD
ACU at Wes Kittley Invitational, Lubbock
Saturday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at West Texas A&M, Canyon, 2 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at West Texas A&M, Canyon 4 p.m.
TRACK & FIELD
ACU drops conference opener n The ACU men’s basketball team dropped its first conference game Thursday after losing to Eastern New Mexico 86-82.
Men’s Basketball
By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
After being held scoreless in the first half, ACU guard Philip Brooks rallied to score a team high 17 points in the second. But the surge was too little too late as the ACU men’s basketball team dropped its first Lone Star Conference South Division game 86-82 to Eastern New Mexico Thursday. The loss dropped ACU’s conference record to 0-1 and overall record to 9-6. ACU is 8-2 at home Brooks and will be on the road Saturday against West Texas A&M. “I thought Eastern just played good,” head coach Jason Copeland said. “They went on a roll and got going.” The Greyhounds roll began early in the second half when they went on a nine-point rally and pulled ahead 6553. “We missed a lot of layups and made bad decisions,” said guard Elmo Williams. “They were just on today, good from the field and the threepoint line.” After slowly chipping away at the ENMU lead, Brooks capped off a comeback late in the second half, draining a three pointer in the middle of the court and later making two free throws to
pull the Wildcats within one at 81-82. ENMU guard Justin Redman-Trotter responded by sinking his next two attempts at the line to extend the Greyhounds lead. After a missed free throw by ACU forward Marcos Hubner, an open court block by Norman Alexander gave the Wildcats a chance to pull ahead in the waning seconds of the game. Williams dribbled down the court but missed the would-be-game-winning shot that would have finished the comeback. Trotter sank two more free throws to extend the game out of reach for the Wildcats. “It was crazy,” Williams said. “It is the same thing every game, we’re too busy worrying about other things.” Despite leading by as much as nine throughout the beginning of the first half, ACU’s missed opportunities and turnovers gave ENMU the push they needed to tie the game at 21-21. ENMU pulled ahead 23-21 and a Norman Alexander three-pointer reclaimed the lead for ACU. After the two teams traded a onepoint lead back, ENMU pulled ahead 39-31 with less than four minutes remaining in the half. ACU rallied late in the first half and a Tiago Souza three-pointer cut the ENMU lead to two points. Despite the inconsistent play of the Wildcats, Williams said he is confident that conference is far from over. “We’ll steal us one,” Williams said. E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
ACU at Wes Kittley Invitational, Lubbock
n The ACU women’s basketball team moved to 2-1 in conference and 11-6 overall after defeating Eastern New Mexico Thursday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Angelo State, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Texas Woman’s, Denton, 6 p.m.
n Home games listed in Italics
Briefs Six Wildcats named Southwest all-region n Six ACU football players
First Team Billy Malone, quarterback Travis Carpenter, defensive end Second team Chris Conklin, fullback Nathan Young, offensive lineman Corey Jordan, cornerback Third team Jerale Badon, wide receiver
Intramural Round-up Upcoming n The intramural schedule seen on the Optimist sports page is not final and is subject to change. Any last-minute changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum. BASKETBALL Sign up Deadline: Jan. 25 Amount per team: $125 Season Begins: Jan. 29 WATERBALL Tournament will be played on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. View complete schedule on intramural board.
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Forward Kristee Davidson banks in a layup over Rikka Lentonen during ACU’s 72-67 win Thursday.
n The men’s and women’s track and field team will begin their 2007 indoor track and field season at the Wes Kittley Invitational in Lubbock. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
Despite gloomy weather keeping practices inside, the ACU track team is prepared for its first indoor meet of the season at the Wes Kittley Invitational in Lubbock. The men’s and women’s teams are coming off runnerup finishes at the indoor na-
baseball pre-season national rankings Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division pre-season poll
WOMEN’S WATERBALL Kojies vs. Alpha Kai, 7 p.m. Siggies vs. Delta Theta, 8 p.m.
n No. 2 Georgia College & State
MEN’S WATERBALL Steak vs. G-2, 6 p.m. Frat 1 vs. GSP 2, 7 p.m. GSP 1 vs. G1, 8 p.m.
The Wildcats got off to a quick start against the Zias of Eastern New Mexico by hitting 58 percent (11 of 19) of their field goals in the first half. ACU went into halftime with a 42-26 lead. But, the Zias struck back in the second half, and cut the Wildcat lead to 66-62 with 1:09 left in the game. But, Maxwell hit a clutch short jump shot to stop the Zias surge. Maxwell finished the game with 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Guard Alex Guiton also ended up with 22 points. And, forward Lacey Blau had 10 points. The victory came off of two straight Wildcat losses on the road. “Right now, we are playing a little bit inconsistently,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. “At home, we’ve been playing really well. On
Track & Field tionals last year. Both teams are talented and looking to improve on last year’s indoor finish. “The hard thing is not getting too excited,” Hood head coach Don Hood said. “I’m kind of anxious to see what happens. There are a lot of question marks; I’m
most anxious about seeing who can really step up when it’s time to do it.” Both teams begin the season with a deep mix of experienced and new athletes. The men’s team added depth since last year and retained a lot from their national outdoor championship last spring. “There’s a confidence about them,” Hood said. “They realize they have a chance to win [national cross country, indoor and outdoor championships] and that puts pressure on them.
Wildcats ranked No. 17 in nation n No. 1Tampa
Tuesday
The Wildcats won a 72-67 thriller against Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday night in Moody Coliseum. ACU shot 89 percent (25 of 28) from the free throw line to assure the Wildcats’ first win in nearly two weeks. “As a team, I think we did awesome,” center Audrey Maxwell said. “We were prepared for this game. I think we came out strong. We worked great as a team.” With the victory, the women’s basketball team now owns an overall record of 11-6 and a 2-1 conference record.
Sport
the road, we’re not quite as aggressive. I think that’s something we need to start working on.” All of ACU’s losses have been on the road. During the Christmas Break, the Wildcats played a total of 10 games, and only three were home games. Despite having a tough schedule as of late, the Wildcat women have fought valiantly. On Dec. 9 in a game versus the University of Central Oklahoma, Guiton scored 39 points, which was the eighth-best scoring game by a single player in ACU women’s basketball history. Unfortunately, ACU lost 100-91 in overtime. From Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, the Wildcats traveled to Honolulu, to compete in the Hoop ‘N Surf Tournament. There, ACU lost to the UniSee
WILDCATS page 9
Texas Tech indoor meet kicks off ‘07 season
Monday
MEN’S WATERBALL Frat 2 vs. Frat 3, 9 p.m.
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Guard Courtnie Ross drives past Greyhound forward Donald Young for a layup during ACU’s 86-82 loss on Thursday. Ross recorded 15 points in the Wildcats first game against a Lone Star Conference South opponent. ACU is now 0-1 in conference and 9-6 overall.
Wildcats outshoot Greyhounds
Tuesday
were named to all-Southwest Regional teams after the Wildcats’ 8-3 season.
Friday, January 19, 2007
n No. 3 Cal-State Chico n No. 4 Florida Southern n No. 5 Montevallo n No. 10 Franklin Pierce n No. 15 Central Oklahoma n No. 17 ACU n No. 33 Angelo State
n The ACU baseball team will carry a national ranking into the 2007 season. ACU was ranked No. 17 by the Collegiate Baseball magazine in December. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
The ACU baseball team is ranked No. 17 in the nation by the Collegiate Baseball Magazine pre-season poll after posting a 44-18 record in 2006. Despite the early recognition, head coach Britt Bonneau said he is more watchful of the NCAA Division II Regional poll released in April that will
That’s a good thing.” Senior Marvin Bien-Aime, who won the 200-meter dash at the Kittley Invitational last year, said he feels more relaxed and confident this year after putting too much pressure on himself last year. “The main goal I have this year versus last year is just to run a lot better,” BienAime said. “Last year I put way too much pressure on myself.” However, Bien-Aime said the chemistry and the comfort that has come after
Hood’s first year has helped him and the team the most compared to last year. Adjusting to a new coach was challenging, but the transition to this year seems smooth. “There is a lot more team chemistry,” Bien-Aime said. “Last year was coach Hood’s first year.” In a program dominated by the success of the men’s program, this year the women’s team may be one of the See
TECH page 9
Manning Tracker
Sport determine if ACU makes the postseason or not. “Starting at seventeen gives us a chance to move up,” Bonneau said. In addition to ACU, only two other Lone Star Conference teams are ranked, No. 15 University of Central Oklahoma and No. 33 Angelo State. “Hopefully over the next six weeks, we’ll get ourselves into the top 10,” Bonneau said. ACU will begin its season at home against Henderson State Feb. 2. E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
n Danieal Manning recorded five tackles in the Chicago Bears’ 27-24 overtime playoff victory against the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 14. The win is the Bears’ first in the playoffs since their 1985 Superbowl winning season and will move them forward to the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints. In Manning’s rookie season, the Bears have an overall record of 14-3 and are closer to a Super Bowl than they have been in 18 years.
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