OPTIMIST
The Vol. 95, No. 35
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Social justice on ‘Oprah’
Freshman Crista Cope and her mom will be featured on “Oprah” Friday for their help in rescuing seven children from indentured servanthood in Ghana. Read about why on Wednesday’s Optimist.
Leaving a mark
The senior class decided to donate its money for an ACU insignia to be placed at the intersection of Campus Court and E.N. 18th Street as its senior class gift, page 3
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FRIDAY
1 section, 10 pages
February 9, 2007
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Competition brings change to UP n University Park Apartments has been surveying its residents about changes the complex could make to compete with other apartment complexes. By TODD PIERSALL Arts Editor
Surveys are nothing new for residents at University Park, after all, they are given once a month. However, a recent survey, which asked residents if
they would enjoy having a pool, generated quite a buzz. Though the reality of pool may not be realized for sometime, the survey illustrates UP’s willingness to compete against other apartment complexes. Residents should be ready for change at UP. Patricia Hail-Jackson, director of University Parks, said scores from the survey are still coming
in but made clear the purpose of the survey was to see interest levels only. Hail-Jackson said surprisingly a lot of students were not interested in building a pool. However, even if residents don’t see a pool they will start seeing other changes around University Park. “A lot of new changes are coming,” Hail-Jackson said. “It’s all starting to come in at once.”
Residents and future residents can look forward to having free laundry, new living room furniture, $30 electrical allowance and a revamped contract that requires no security deposit. Residents who have already paid the security deposit will be credited $50 in their rent bill. Hail-Jackson said she See
UP page 8
www.acuoptimist.com
Campus Center updates scheduled in summer n Construction for an on-campus Quiznos could begin this summer. By summer 2008, students could see more renovations and food stations added to the Bean, including produce and stir-fry.
FEATURES
By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
The McGlothlin Campus Center could look like a food court next fall if Anthony Williams gets his way. Williams, the director of retail and purchasing, said the university plans to expand the food retail area of the Campus Center this summer and renovate the World Famous Bean in summer 2008. Williams updated the Students’ Association Congress on plans at Wednesday’s meeting at the request of Maher Saab, SA executive president, to keep Congress informed of progress. Over the summer, Saab said members of Congress agreed to
Take a peek
Get a sneak peek at what the scenes from the Black History Production’s show will look like Friday and Saturday night, page 5
See
SA page 8
ARTS Third time’s a charm
As the final part of the series on the Wii, Tripp Page looks at the newest games Nintendo has to offer for this system, page 7
Becoming ‘Relevant’
Relevant magazine blends culture and Christianity in an attempt to bridge the gap between today’s generation and the church they grew up in, page 7
SPORTS
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Stanley Kowalski, played by Joseph Clingan, sophomore theatre major from Austin, yells at his sister-in-law Blanche DuBois, played by Rebecca Johnston, junior musical theatre major from Kansas City, Mo., for allegedly selling their family home.
Theatre’s spring season opens with ‘Streetcar’ n The first play of the semester opened Thursday night in Culp Theatre. Set in New Orleans, the main characters depict an abusive relationship in the 1940s. By JOHNNY BAUTISTA Staff Writer
Swinging seaside
The women’s tennis team will play in Honolulu, Hawaii this weekend, page 10
Payback time
The nationally ranked baseball team will play Southern Arkansas, the team that ended their season last spring on Saturday, page 10
ONLINE Tickle me Elmo
Fans of the men’s basketball team need to bring a new and wrapped Elmo toy or doll to the game for admission, find out why online at www. acuoptimist.com on Saturday.
The Theatre Department will present A Streetcar Named Desire on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Feb. 15-17 at the Culp Theatre. Tickets for this weekend’s shows are already sold out but a few tickets for next Thursday’s showing are available for $12 at the Theatre Box Office. Tennessee Wiliams’ A Streetcar Named Desire has won several Oscars and Tony Awards as well as a Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway in 1947, and the
movie was later made starring Marlon Brando. Adam Hester, director of the production and chair of the Theatre Department, said the department decided on doing this play last spring and students began auditioning in November. “It’s my first Williams play to direct,” Hester said. “It’s been a great challenge and a thrill for me to work on something as complex as this.” The play touches on several controversial issues such as fantasy, cruelty, loneliness and desire. “It’s our job as theatre artists to communicate the truth whether it is pretty or messy,” said Lindsey Lehrman, junior theatre major from Cleburne, See
PLAY page 8
Spring enrollment slightly decreases n Despite more transfer students than in past years, the Admissions office predicts the university could see less transfers in the spring because more choose to begin ACU at the beginning of the school year. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Stanley Kowalski embraces his wife Stella, played by Lindsey Lehrman, junior theatre major from Cleburne, after a fight in rehearsal Wednesday.
Future spring semesters may see less transfer students because many are choosing to come at the beginning of the school year, said Gretchen Etheredge of the Office of Admissions and Recruiting. This spring, 94 new and transfer students joined the ACU community. “I think we’re getting more [students] from the beginning,” Etheredge said. However, this semester, Etheredge estimated that actually a few more transfer students came to ACU than in years past. Lisa McCarty, assistant director of institutional research and assessment, See
NUMBERS page 8
Essence of Ebony offers students singing Valentines n Students can purchase a singing valentine from Essence of Ebony through Sunday for $7. A quartet will interrupt class and give the recipient a carnation and song. By MALLORY EDENS Page 2 Editor
Students can purchase singing Valentines called Val-O-Grams for $7 from the Campus Center ticket windows until Sunday.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
The Val-O-Grams will be prepared by Essence of Ebony members and delivered on Valentine’s Day by Byron Martin, sophomore psychology major from Mesquite; Eric Powers, junior communication sciences and disorders major from Houston; and Carnell Nealy, junior management major from Houston. Martin says that the Val-OGrams are like telegrams with a twist.
“They are love songs for the person’s valentine,” Martin said. “We will interrupt the person’s class, have them stand up and we will give them a carnation and a card from the person that’s giving it to them. Then we will sing them a verse from a love song.” The verse chosen for the Val-O-Gram can be customized, but there is a pre-approved list of songs like “Earth Angel” and “My Girl” to pick from.
Money earned from the Val-O-Grams will go towards Essence of Ebony’s Spring Break Campaign. Tuesday was the first day Val-O-Grams were on sale, and Essence of Ebony member, Charrelle Coates, who helped attend the ticket windows after Chapel, said the fundraiser looks like it will be a success. “I think [the fundraiser] is worthwhile,” Coates, sophomore biochemistry major from
Abilene Christian University
Sing your heart out n Cost: $7 n Recipients receive a card, carnation and verse from a love song from a quartet n All money raised benefits Essence of Ebony’s Spring Break Campaign. Clarksville, Tenn., said. “People are showing interest. It’s a fun idea. If it goes well we might do this again in the future.” E-mail Edens at: mxe06a@acu.edu
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, February 9, 2007
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Calendar & Events Friday
7:30 p.m. Essence of Ebony performs its 10th Annual Black History Production, “Logos: That Which You Say, So Shall it Be,” in Cullen Auditorium. 8 p.m. African American Alumni Family Reunion hosts a night of entertainment and a dessert mixer in the Bean Sprout. 8 p.m. ACU Theatre performs Streetcar Named Desire in Culp Theatre. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday
Day of events to celebrate ACU multicultural achievements and discuss next steps. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Elmo Night at Moody Coliseum. Wear Elmo or Sesame Street attire. Bring a new, gift-wrapped Elmo toy to give to the Children’s Miracle Network and get into the games for free.
Monday
11:30 a.m. ACM Valentine`s Day Compatibility Test results may be picked up until 4 p.m. in the McGlothlin Campus Center ticket windows for $1.
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.
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Tuesday
11:30 a.m. ACM Valentine`s Day Compatibility Test results may be picked up until 4 p.m. in the McGlothlin Campus Center ticket windows for $1. 3 p.m. Men’s and Women’s tennis teams play Hawaii-Hilo at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
7:30 p.m. Essence of Ebony performs “Logos: That Which You Say, So Shall it Be” in Cullen Auditorium.
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.
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Announcements University Park R.A. applications for the 2007-08 school year are due Monday. Applications are available in the University Park offices located on Judge Ely next to the baseball field. For more information, contact Chris Windsor at (325) 738-4304. Welcome Week Steering Committee applications are due Tuesday. Find an application and details about the various leadership positions at www.acu.edu/fyp_leaders. For more information, e-mail fyp@acu.edu or
call (325) 674-2212. The Alumni Day Luncheon honoring Dr. James Womack, class of 1963, upon his selection by the ACU Alumni Advisory Board as the 2006 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year is Feb. 18 at 12:15 p.m. at the Teague Special Events Center. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through the ACU Alumni Relations office at 809 EN 16th St. Sing Song shows are scheduled for Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are available for the Friday 8 p.m. show and the Saturday 2 p.m. show for $14, $16 and $18 per ticket. The Sing Song ticket window will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. A private show is also available to faculty, staff, students and friends on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. No tickets are required for this show, just pay $10 at the door for general admission. While the Thursday show starts at 7 p.m., the doors will open at 6:15 p.m.
Credited Chapels remaining:
18 54
Zida opens downtown n Zida, a women’s fashion accessories store owned and operated by ACU students and alumni, opens Friday night in downtown Abilene. By MORGAN WILLIAMS STUDENT REPORTER
Zida, a new women’s fashion accessories store, will open Friday in downtown near the Civic Center at 766 Cedar Street. “When a girl walks into the store, the first thing she notices is the environment and forgets she’s in Abilene,” said Jonathan Jenkins, owner of Zida and ACU graduate. Over Christmas break, Jenkins and a group of students from ACU traveled to China to buy accessories for the store. The store consists of everything from earrings, necklaces, purses, wallets and bracelets. The furniture displayed to showcase the merchandise is also for sale. The store will open on Friday night at 7 p.m. and is open all night long until 7 a.m. Saturday. Students can receive a 25 percent off dis-
count between midnight and 6 a.m. Saturday. Every employee, including Jenkins, is a former or current student at ACU and is below the age of 25. The opening night festivities will include a spotlight being brought in from Dallas, live broadcasts from four local radio stations and snacks and refreshments catered by McKay’s Bakery. Regular store hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. “All my life girls have been taking money out of my wallet, and I’ve finally found a business where girls give me money,” Jenkins said. “We are excited about opening a store that has a good atmosphere and is not expensive,” said Sunday Gerrit, store manager and personal assistant to Jenkins. “The style for spring is 60s prep and you can find that here,” said Gerrit. “This store is bringing Abilene to new status.” E-mail Williams at: optimist@acu.edu
Volunteer Opportunities Meals on Wheels needs volunteers immediately to deliver meals to seniors and adults with disabilities. This usually takes about an hour, and students can have one day of chapel per week excused for this service. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. Global Samaritan Resources (formerly Healing Hands International) urgently needs volunteers this Friday and Saturday to prepare
items for a container that will be shipped to the people of the Ukraine. Help is needed each day beginning at noon. If interested, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. Hendrick Retirement Village needs volunteers to plan a Valentine’s Day party for residents, decorate and clean up. The party will be Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jennifer Green at (325) 690-1400.
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, February 9, 2007
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Gee to students: Take Christ to the un-churched n Alex Gee, Wisconsin pastor and co-author of ‘Jesus the Hip Hop Prophets,’ spoke in Chapel on Tuesday and said he hopes to visit again later in the semester. By TAKISHA KNIGHT Student Reporter
A Wisconsin pastor found himself at the center of a race relation movement in its grassroots when he came to speak in Chapel on Tuesday. Alex Gee, pastor of Fountain of Life Family Worship Center and racial reconciliation consultant, delivered a passionate message about bringing Christ to the un-churched. Chris Ford, junior youth and family ministry major from Richardson, said, “I agree with him in the sense that Jesus came to shake the norm and help people who are marginalized. He’s right that we should be ‘holy hell raisers.’” The meetings concerning racial reconciliation following Chapel were just as stirring. When SA Secretary Matt Worthington attended an Urbana mission’s conference Gee
spoke at, he brought Jesus and the Hip Hop Prophets back with him, the book Gee co-penned, and the book that inspired Worthington to begin a student group named after it. The group meets Thursdays on campus to discuss “hip hop, the gospel and living in a racialized society,” as Worthington sums it up.
deal with each other.” Tiffany Jackson, freshman English major from Cherokee, said she attends the group on Thursdays because the discussions are important. “There’s a need for it because there’s lots of apathy,” she said. “Some think that the issue just needs to play itself out, that we’re at
“World changers must be willing to deal with the messiness that comes with saying yes to God.” Alex Gee, pastor of Fountain of Life Family Worship Center
Right before Thanksgiving, conversation shifted to racial reconciliation. Suddenly, the group of 15 regulars grew as large as 60 on some Thursdays. “I don’t really have an agenda other than to get people to communicate with one another and to realize that you can’t put people in a box,” Worthington said. He said stereotypes “are so that people don’t have to
a good place to rest.” Jasmine Jones, freshman biology major from Austin, went to “Sundaes on Mondays,” a bimonthly forum hosted by the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment where a group of 110 students, faculty and staff discussed racial reconciliation. She said some white students’ confessed fears of approaching black students surprised her. “People need to step out of
their boxes,” she said. Gee said that was what he wants to help the ACU body do. As a former chancellor’s assistant at the University of Wisconsin, Gee has experience with helping academic institutions diversify through racial reconciliation. He said he hopes to visit again later in the semester to help ACU do the same. Gee emphasized in his Chapel speech, “I came to nudge forward, step on toes, but in the love of the Lord… not to be judgmental. World changers must be willing to deal with the messiness that comes with saying yes to God.” He concluded his Chapel speech with a fiery prayer for students: “May they be accused of turning Abilene and West Texas upside down. May they be a force to be reckoned with.” With student groups and some faculty and staff already organizing future events and discussions to effect change, it seems that God is listening. E-mail Knight at: optimist@acu.edu
LACI ADKINS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Alex Gee, co-author of Jesus and the Hip Hop Prophets, spoke on the impact that hip hop has on a spiritual culture on Tuesday.
Class of ‘07 to donate ACU insignia as senior class gift n Seniors voted and chose the ACU insignia as their senior class gift. The insignia will be placed in front of Barret Hall and cost about $50,000 for its construction. By ATSUMI SHIBATA Page Designer
As seniors graduate this year, their memories will stay with their senior class gift: the ACU insignia in front of Barret Hall. Senior senators picked
and sent out six choices for the class gift by e-mail last semester, and seniors voted online. The ACU insignia polled most votes among other choices such as a wheelchair lift in a lobby of Edward’s Hall, endowment funds for Jacob’s Dream Sculpture area, an endowment fund to maintain “the Cross” at Sewell Theatre, bicycle racks on campus and glider benches.
“I really like it,” said Casey Bingham, senior political science major from Conroe and a senior senator. Bingham said he thinks the insignia will be a good addition to campus. Kristi Thaxton, development programs manager and senior experience coordinator, said the insignia will be a unique gift on campus, and it will be observable to many people.
Alpha Kai gazebo to be funded n Alpha Kai Omega’s 2006 pledge class began fundraising to build a gazebo by the pond. The club plans fundraisers and expects the 2007 pledge class to continue donating. By EMILY SMITH
Chief Photographer
Women’s social club Alpha Kai Omega is raising money to build a gazebo by the new pond bordering Judge Ely. The pledge class of 2006 recently started the fund that will go toward the gazebo. Ashlea Allred, junior psychology major from Bedford and Alpha Kai Omega president, said she hopes the 2007 pledge class will also donate money to the fund with plans to build the Ga-
zebo in 2008. Although the details aren’t finalized yet, the fund was started with a mission to add something to ACU. “There’s Kojie Park, and there’s the Gata Fountain, and [Delta Theta] just donated something in the Campus Center. So we want to have something as well that we can give back to the school,” she said. The club also plans to do some fundraisers to add to the fund. There is no word on how much the gazebo will cost or where it will be placed. “The logistics haven’t been worked out yet,” Allred said. When you face Judge Ely, the gazebo will probably be
on the right side, she said. Allred says the site is going to resemble a park. “We hope it will be a place where people can congregate and eat and just study if it’s a beautiful day,” she said. Tara McKee, sophomore elementary education major from Atlanta and Alpha Kai member, said she’s excited about the idea of the gazebo because she’ll be able to see the finished product as a senior. “We’ll be able to say ‘we started that’ and have something neat that our pledge class did,” she said.
E-mail Smith at: eds04c@acu.edu
Last year, the class of 2006 chose to contribute to Jacob’s Dream, and the classes of 2002 to 2005 chose to pool their gifts to help fund a jogging track around campus. The construction of the insignia will cost about $50,000, and it will begin once the funding is completed. Anyone can participate in and help with this senior class gift project by donating,
and those who make a gift of $100 or more will have their names engraved on bricks, which are placed in the Alumni Walk on campus. Bingham said he will try to make the $100 gift, and he encourages all the seniors to help funding as well. “It’s a good way for us to start thinking about giving back to school,” Bingham said. Donation can be mailed or brought to Room 305 in
the Administration Building or available online at www. acu.edu/give online. It can be divided into multiple payments as well. For more information, contact Thaxton in the Development Programs Office by email or call (325) 674-2748.
E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Art show to feature anatomical theme n Six seniors will present their works on “Assorted Pieces from Willing Subjects” Friday at the Shore Art Gallery in an art show of the scientific side. By SHARON RAPELJE Student Reporter
Six students will be displaying their art Friday at 7 p.m. in the Shore Art Gallery in the Don Morris building. The art will be shown from a more scientific perspective. “Assorted Pieces from Willing Subjects” will be displayed amongst models with painted on organs. Jeremy Mckissick, senior interior design major from San Antonio, will be showing a model of a new psychology building. He will not have any paintings or traditional art up; instead, he will be showing different types of floor plans. Mckissick said the show gives him the feeling of leaving himself open for everyone to examine. He said the original title, “Willing Cadavers,” represented these feelings. “That’s where we thought of having live models painted like they were being dissected,” he said. Brittany Koonce echoed Mckissick’s feelings about the show. “It has to do with putting ourselves on display and just be willing to do that; for people to look at our art and analyze it and kind of pick it apart,” Koonce said. Koonce, senior art major from Sugar Land, is displaying drawings and paintings, which are
mostly of people and a painting of a brain. She described her work as being realistic and made mostly of human figures. Her work is a culmination of what she has done at ACU. Some of her pieces are from two or three years ago up until last semester. Adam Carter, senior graphic design major from Lansfield, will display prints, paintings and illustrations. The illustrations resemble caricatures that are digitally colored. “Everything kind of has more of a light hearted character to it. My paintings that I’ve done are a little more free instead of structured. There more kind of rustic,” he said. Lauren Gray, senior graphic design major from Tulsa, Okla., will have photography, art photography and prints. Most of her photographs are of nature and her prints are of landscapes. One of her photos is a magnified black and white photograph ironed onto fabric and framed on top of burlap. “I think it’s one of my favorite ones,” she said. Gray said at the art show she wants everyone to “look at the work objectively and just take it for what it’s worth. Open your eyes and just enjoy it for the beauty that it has in it.” The art will be in the Shore Art Gallery for a week after the show.
E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu
Friday, February 9, 2007
Men of SHADES look for recruits n The men of SHADES seek new members to perform in next week’s Sing Song while taking the group in a different, spiritual direction. By CHRIS HANSEN Student Reporter
Eleven men from different backgrounds and cultures stand holding hands in the middle of the Williams Performing Arts Center sharing prayer requests and discussing the upcoming week. These are the men of SHADES, a Christian step group, who were finishing practice for the evening. For three of the men, the practice served as a tryout for SHADES and a chance to perform next week at Sing Song. The men of SHADES’ cultural diversity and unique performances make them a fan favorite, and SHADES members have recently dedicated themselves to a new Christian direction. Jonathan Holloway, senior biology pre-medicine major from Wylie, said the men of SHADES decided the group needed to be more than just Christian performers after last semester’s performance in Austin. “We weren’t as different as we should be,” Holloway said. In Austin, other schools joked about the Christian part of Abilene Christian University.
brian schmidt FILE PHOTO
DJ Wells, Brian Escochea, Hiroaki Akahoshi and the men of SHADES perform Sept. 18 before the main lecture at Lectureship in Moody Coliseum. “It brought things into perspective,” Holloway said. “As a group we decided to take SHADES in a new direction.” The new direction includes using more Christian rap music in performances and incorporating other Christian elements into step. “We are trying to figure out how to incorporate Christian themes, ideas, concepts and possibly Scripture into it,” Holloway said. “I don’t know of any step groups that do this; we’re going into uncharted waters.” In addition, the group started doing Bible studies together in addition to prayer after practices. For the prospective members, the fellowship the group offers is one of
the many selling points. “[We] have Christian people stomping for the Lord,” said Shawn Hughlett, sophomore exercise science major from Dallas. “You don’t really get that anywhere else.” The fellowship of the group is something senior biology major, Sam Selby, said he thought about before he decided to tryout. He said the fellowship also was something he saw in practice once he started spending time with the group. Even though the fellowship of the group draws prospective members, the speed and complexity of SHADES step moves can be intimidating. But the step moves are not impossible. Just ask Skyler Mullis,
freshman youth and family ministry major from The Woodlands, who tried out last fall, didn’t make the squad and decided to give it another try this spring. “I know that I can do the steps this time,” Mullis said. “Before, I wasn’t positive that I could do the steps.” Co-Captain Holloway said he wasn’t good at step when he first started. In fact, he said if he was first trying out today he probably wouldn’t even make the squad. Still, Holloway said the group was trying to encourage people to see what kind of step talent they have. “You can get [the steps] if you try,” he said. E-mail Hansen at: optimist@acu.edu
Art class to have iron pour by Moody n Friday students can watch Dr. Broderick and his class turn 500 pounds of iron to liquid to create cast-iron objects in the grassy area by Moody Coliseum. By SHARON RAPELJE Student Reporter
Students can observe the dangerous art of iron pouring in the grassy area by the parking lot near Moody Coliseum starting at noon Friday and lasting until the late afternoon. Dr. Geoff Broderick and his students will be creating iron lava from 500 pounds of iron by placing it into a special furnace called a copula. Broderick, associate professor in the Department of Art and Design,
said, “When it’s over you heart is racing. I’ve been doing it for 29 years and every time I pour I’m usually much more excitable. It’s kind of an adrenaline rush.” To be able to create these cast-iron creations, Broderick and his students had to rummage through Pine Street Salvage for a few hours to find iron scraps. They also had to acquire coke, which is used to heat the iron. Coke is a by-product of coal. When coal is burned, coke is what is left behind. John Sherwood, sophomore three-dimensional design sculpture major from Orrville, Ohio, will
help with the pour. “When the metal is red hot and glowing right in front of you it is kind of an adrenaline rush. You don’t want to spill it, but you just want to keep staring at it,” he said. To protect themselves the pourers wear protective steel-toed boots, leather shin guards, leather apron with leather sleeves, big gloves and a helmet with a visor. “It gets so hot that it could burn your eyebrows off if you get close enough,” Sherwood said. When the iron turns into a liquid form it will be poured into molds. Broderick’s students made fruit molds and molds that form into a quilt. For the quilt, several molds will be made with a specific wrinkle in each of them. When these molds
are placed together, the wrinkles will connect creating a quilt like appearance. The iron molds take three to four hours to cool. Once it cools it will weigh close to 15 pounds. The molds will be displayed at the corner of the Don Morris building by Cullen Auditorium in the mulch area. Broderick said plans are already in the works for this to be a part of Lectureship. At Lectureship, Broderick will show the spiritual side of this art form. “We are like copula; we all come in different shapes and sizes. The hot metal going through the copula and coming out is like God’s spirit working through us,” he said.
E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu
Page 5
February 9, 2007
The power of the spoken word:
‘Logos’
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Therez Ephraim, graduate psychology major from the Bronx, N.Y., prepares for the dress rehearsal on Thursday.
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Cast members socialize before the dress rehearsal of the 10th annual Black History Month Production, “Logos: That Which You Say, so it Shall it Be.”
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Thurmond Metters, ACU alumnus, opens the show with the Creation story.
EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ryan Bowman, senior communication major from Orlando, Fla. emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Alexius Dockens, junior finance and accounting major from Arlington, fixes her costume.
Page 6
February 9, 2007
Spend money on economy, technology, not fence
The issue:
On Oct. 26, 2006, President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act, authorizing construction of a 700mile fence along the U.S. - Mexican border. Border security funding for FY 2007 is $10.4 billion.
Throughout history walls have served their purpose. The Great Wall of China kept unwanted northern invaders out. The Berlin wall physically and symbolically divided a nation after World War II and up to the end of the Cold War. But one wall that will not live up to these historical examples is the wall that soon will be built in sections along the U.S.-Mexican border to keep unwanted illegal immigrants out. Although at first a 700mile wall, which president Bush signed into law in October, might sound like the solution to the “border hoppers” and help increase se-
Our view:
The wall will not solve the immigration problems.
The solution:
Money should be spent either improving the Mexican economy or developing better security measures than the wall.
curity along That means The $49 billion wall will only worsen the the border, leaders in immigration issue by increasing tensions, the ends do places where not justify wasting government money and going against decisions dealthe means. ing with illegal the will of American border town leaders. Accordimmigrants ing to a are made on Congressional research sur- corruption in the business- a daily basis disagree with the vey, the wall will cost as es and officials of Mexico, if wall. much as $49 billion to build even a small portion of the Wouldn’t they know betduring the next 25 years. $49 billion needed to build ter than the people in WashThat is $49 billion that the wall was used to help ington D.C. who voted for could be used to help the the less fortunate of Mexi- the wall? poor and downtrodden of co, it may give them incenAnother solution that Mexico, the same downtrod- tive to stay. the money could be used den that would usually be According to the Houston for is better technology and the people coming into the Chronicle, a group of may- equipment to patrol the country illegally. ors in border towns from El border. Rather than build Although it is true the Paso to Brownsville disagree a wall, use the money for U.S. government already with the construction of the things like motion sensors helps the Mexican govern- wall because of the high cost and lights that would aid ment and that there is some and lack of advantages. the Border Patrol in areas
Alex York
Lebensgefhar
Immigrants help, not harm, America Anti-immigration activists believe that more immigrants arriving in the country will take away native-born American’s jobs, cause the country to lose its English tongue and plunge the economy down the drain. If immiFace the grants take Facts away everyMallory thing Americans have Schlabach worked so hard to create, what about the babies born each day or the college graduates that enter the work force each May and December. Would the influx of Americans not wreck havoc on the labor market? Of course not because babies eat food, and college graduates buy houses and cars and work long hours at mediocre jobs. It’s the same principle with immigration. Every immigrant who enters the country has to eat and have housing, thus creating more need for housing developments and restaurants, which builds the economy. If one looks at the history of America’s policy on immigration, its not a record of policies that hurt the United States.
If immigrants don’t hurt the economy, then what is the debate really about? Are people merely forcing immigrants out for prejudical reasons? In the 1960s, immigrants came over for family unification purposes, and equal opportunity was given to all immigrants, regardless of the country they came from. This abolished the 1924 Immigration Act that allowed immigrants to come into the country at the proportion to which were already here, thus discriminating against Asian and African immigrants and favoring European immigrants. In 1986 Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act to punish employers that hired illegal immigrants in an effort to curb immigrants crossing the border for economic purposes. What company that has people willing to work without having to pay additional wages will tell the government their workers are illegally from Mexico? Until 1994, debate over immigration focused on illegal aliens that had slipped across the Mexican border, although most of the illegal immigrants in the country were from legal immigrants overstaying their visas. Instead of solving any border problems, this just shifted the immigration flow from the
main entry point cities along the border into the desert. Immigration has intrigued economists during the past 25 years because of how often the immigration debate rages across the country. Economist David Card conducted a study of the 1980 Mariel boat lift, in which 125,000 Cubans were suddenly allowed to emigrate to the U.S. Card studied the effect the Cubans had on Miami, the city in which most of them remained in because of proximity and the Cuban demographics already there, and the labor market. He compared Miami to four other cities that hadn’t suddenly grown because of immigrants. He found that by 1985, Miami had successfully absorbed 7 percent more people without fluctuating the labor market or causing wages to increase. In the control cities, unemployment was actually higher than in 1980 because no one wanted to do the less appealing jobs. Immigrants tend to take the jobs that Americans feel they are too educated to do, which means jobs are not taken away from anyone, and wages can
remain as they are because employers don’t have to pay more for an American to do the job. In the mid-90s, an economist studied the immigration surge of Russian Jews to Israel to see what type of occupations they took. She found that the Russians weren’t taking jobs away from the Israelis. Instead, the Russians appeared to be gravitating towards the less attractive jobs. If Israelis held these positions, they often were promoted instead, which left the Russians to compete against each other for the positions. If immigrants don’t hurt the economy like people in America are crying, then what is the debate really about? Are people merely forcing immigrants out for racial and prejudical reasons? Keeping immigrants, legal or not, out of the country will not solve anything. America absorbed immigrants in the 1920s when they came over by boats from Europe. It was precisely these immigrants that have created what and who America is today. Think of what America could look like in 50 years when more immigrants find their place in the land of the free.
E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
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Speed process, aid legal immigrants You are worried. You of 66 percent, promising are starving. Your family to use the added money is starving, and you are to modernize and speed running out of hope. The up an antiquated, overburnew fron- dened bureaucracy.” tier everyThis plan sounds great, one is talk- but is so costly it doesn’t ing about promise to actually make c r o s s e s a difference. Improving your mind, the process of gaining but as al- citizenship will make it ways, you less daunting and more s h o v e efficient, encouraging Thoughtful it aside would-be-illegals to take Ramblings k n o w - the legal route into Amering that it ica instead. But let’s recall Kelsi could take why many immigrate in Peace years to the first place — not beget past cause they’re too wealthy the legalities. What if you in their home countries. simply slipped past the And if immigrants can’t system — not to scavenge pay higher fees, we already off another country, but to know some can find other work for higher wages and ways into America. a better life. Either way, Don’t expect immiyou worry. grants to pay to improve I can’t help wondering our system, and don’t exif many illegal immigrants pect people to stop comexperience such internal ing into the U.S. Instead, dilemmas before they de- let’s help them to enter lecide to come to the United gally, to obtain the responStates. Surely sibilities and few wake up the freedoms of one morning, citizenship and I don’t believe casually wanto contribute to der across our society. most illegal the border I recognize immigrants and say, immigration is arrive in the “sweet — I’m a complex isUnited States in America sue. Some exhoping to feed today.” press concern So why do over legal immioff our public some Amerigrants, claimsystems. cans hope to ing our country discover and is too full and deport the our heritage as estimated 11 million un- a country of immigrants is documented workers in a thing of the past. But betour country — do people ter to have documentation honestly believe it will be for all who enter our counas simple as shoving these try than to think building a people out of our country? wall or patrolling a border They are, after all, human will stop illegal immigrabeings. tion. Without U.S. citizenship, I don’t believe most ilyes, but human nonethe- legal immigrants arrive less. We can’t simply herd in the United States hopthem away and call it a so- ing to feed off our public lution. systems; instead, I think Rather than pouring $14 they arrive in desperation, million dollars into a wall striving after something that dehumanizes immi- they hope to find in Amergrants and ought to cause ica. Lets help them to do America to hang her head it right, and help ourselves in shame, we should use stay informed about everythe money to improve the one who enters our counbureaucracy immigrants try. are forced to slog through Because honestly, if you for citizenship. were starving and worAccording to an article ried enough, wouldn’t you in The New York Times cross an invisible line to on Feb. 1, United States better your life? immigration authorities proposed “to raise fees for visas and citizenship E-mail Peace at: documents by an average knp04a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
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
along the border. This proposition the group of mayors in border towns unanimously support. The $49 billion wall will only worsen the immigration issue by increasing tensions, wasting government money and going against the will of American border town leaders. Immigration reform is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides, but the expensive wall is one step in the wrong direction to finding the answer.
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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February 9, 2007
Page 7
Have you read anything ‘Relevant’ today? n By engaging American culture, ‘Relevant’ magazine hopes to break stereotypes and close the gap between our generation and the church. By TODD PIERSALL Arts editor
Can Jesus be found in the humor of Stephen Colbert? What about the politics of Barak Obama? Or could he be found hidden in the lyrics of Ben Folds? Relevant magazine seems to think so. Its goal is to “impact culture and show that a relationship with God is relevant and essential to a fulfilled life.” Relevant magazine, now part of Relevant Media Group, is a bi-monthly magazine that blends culture with Christianity. Relevant directly markets to Christian twenty-something-year-olds primarily by featuring popular bands or singers. Past features have showcased artists such as Muse, The Fray, Moby, Derek Webb and MuteMath. The articles focus on the passion, hope and inspiration each of the bands have — Christian or non-Christian.
Cameron Strang, creator of the Relevant Media Group, said in his most recent issue that he wants to “break stereotypes, challenge status-quos and enact change through the media.” Currently with 75,000 bimonthly subscriptions, Relevant has risen to become a leading voice for Christians ready to impact a moving culture. Since their first magazine in 2003, they show no signs of slowing down and have even expanded to creating an extensive online network. Although cover features usually include musicians and entertainers, the magazine seems to have a limitless range of topics. News slices featuring George Clooney or the creation of a giant Swiss made supercollider could be complimented by an article that tracks Jesus in the news. But the heart of this publication is its ability to integrate culture and faith. If the reader can make it past the trendy artistic graphic design, they will find articles concerning Christians and their role in social activism, short stories of Christians who defy religious norms or even non-Christians
who offer their thoughts. Strewn about the magazine are articles composed by church leaders, missionaries and band members discussing issues concerning Christians and progressive culture. Relevant’s mission to fervently blend culture and faith doesn’t come without protest. In a letter published in issue 18, a reader complained that Relevant is “tricking them into a way of life that is probably not good for them.” In another letter published in the most recent issue, a reader argues the “spiritual content” on the rating scale seems arbitrarily decided. Still, Relevant seems to be accomplishing its task “to engage people in a conversation about faith.” Agree or disagree, Relevant is growing. Its booming Internet site is undergoing a substantial amount of construction to increase usability as well as fine-tuning forums for prayer and discussion. Apart from the Web site comes Relevant.TV, a broadband video music channel, where users can watch Relevant’s featured music videos.
Box Office Stats Newly released movies and gross rates for Feb. 2-4. Total gross in parenthesis. n The Messengers: $14,713,321 ($14,713,321) n Because I Said So: $13,122,865 ($13,122,865) n Epic Movie: $8,411,993 ($129,555,556) n Night at the Museum: $6,385,843 ($225,001,335)
Coming Soon Movies opening Friday: n Hannibal Rising, starring Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans. The past of Hannibal Lector is finally revealed. After the murder of his parents, a young Hannibal must care for his young sister. A plagued Hannibal is accepted into medical school where he displays the cunning and skill he would use to seek revenge. (THRILLER/HORROR)
courtesy of RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM
Music artist Ben Folds is featured in this months Relevant magazine. Folds explains the background for a few of his songs, including “Jesusland.”
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
n Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy. An orphan is adopted and raised by a Chinese restaurantorphanage owner. Forced to marry, Rasputia, an over-bearing woman whose family oppresses the small town in which they live. (COMEDY)
One more ‘Tripp’ through the Wii: a look into the games n Tripp Page takes one last look inside Nintendo’s Wii system by analyzing the interesting game play of several new game releases, including ‘Madden 2007.’ By TRIPP PAGE Contributive Writer
What good is a new system and a fancy controller with out games? Not much good at all, thankfully Nintendo gave us some games to play. “The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess” is without a doubt the biggest game on the system. Neatly enough, however, is the fact that if you somehow could not come up with the meager $250 to buy a Wii, you can also purchase “Twilight Princess” for the GameCube, and you are getting the exact same game minus the new Wii controls. Zelda is good, and that is all you are getting from me. I really do not want to ruin the experience of a fresh new Zelda game. So let me talk about the games for the Wii that you might not have heard of or the ones which you might not expect to be good. First of these games is “Madden 2007”. EA’s Madden franchise has been growing stale since 2002. Year after year we are shoved the same basic game with updated graphics, roster and one or two new features. I am here to cry with a loud and powerful voice that football fans and non-football fans can rejoice! Madden is more enjoyable than it’s ever been. I am not going to sit here and say “Madden 2007” is a
pick-up-and-play game for the Wii, quite the opposite, the controllers are a tad hard to get used to. That being said, once you do get used to them it feels like using the bathroom; oh so natural. Everyone knows what football is so I will spare you the description of a four-quarter game. What I will talk about are two of the addictive mini games that will have you shouting for weeks on end. The first of these is a good ol’ fashion 2-on-2 football; grab a friend for this one and prepare for the time of your life. This is a very fast paced version of regular football with two teams of two players, each with four downs to score a touchdown and a thinner field than normal football. How do you get things done in Madden on the Wii? Like I said: naturally. To throw you simply pick a receiver with the directional pad then “throw” (don’t actually throw it) the Wiimote. The faster you throw, the faster the pass. The slower the throw, the slower the pass. To tackle you actually take the Wiimote and Nunchuck and thrust them forward as if you were grabbing for a damsel falling over a cliff. Let us say you are running the ball and you want to plow through a defender, you use the same above mentioned motion. Now, when you are playing with your friend and you are both doing the same motion with the amount of vigor only a Viking could contain, things turn epic in a most comical sense. Next in “Madden 2007” is the kicking mini game. Player One will go up to kick; to do
this he will point the Wiimote down, then swing it up to the sky as the kicker approaches the ball. As the ball takes flight the game turns frantic. Once the ball has left for the air, both players must then “drum” the Wiimote and Nunchuck as fast as they can to turn the wind in their favor. The amount of fun you will have is on par with punching Superman in the face and painful because you will be tired, but awesome because of what you just did. Apart from the ports, the Wii also carries a good number of good titles not to be found elsewhere. You have “Elebits”, which is a charming game of hide and go seek with 100s of small creatures. There is “Trauma Center: Second Opinion” where you slide into the shoes of new surgeon Derick Styles and use the Wiimote as a medical tool to save lives. Then there is “Rayman Raving Rabbits”. Take that title in for a moment — yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds. “Rayman Raving Rabbits” is nothing more than a long series of mini games designed to put the Wiimote to the most interesting use. Just to give you a small sample of the games present in “Raving Rabbits” I ask you to picture this: on a beach there are four outhouses. Four Rabbits enter the outhouses, and it is your job to make sure you slap the doors shut (done by aiming at the door with the Nunchuck and then doing a slapping action with the Wiimote) before they fall open exposing the Rabbits in all there natural glory and splendor.
The thing about games for the Wii is that almost all of them have some sort of a fun factor in them despite how bad the game might be. “Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2” is one such example. This game is flat out annoying in every way I can think, but the second you get to the fighting, you are treated to a very fun and surprisingly deep fighting game that feels right at home on the Wii. Right now the games on
the Wii can be very hit or miss. Thankfully enough, most of them are hit — even more so with groups of people. The future of the Wii holds much promise with the likes of “Metriod Prime 3,” “Mario Galaxy,” “Smash Brothers Brawl” and the just released “Wario Ware Smooth Moves.” Nintendo has brought the world something truly unique and inventive. The Wii will no doubt shape the way video games are made in the future;
just look at Sony for example. Sony realized that Nintendo was on to something with the Wiimote and added motion sensing abilities with their PS3 Controller. For the final test of, I ask you to head to Gamestop this weekend with some friends and try out the demo unit of the Wii. If you walked out unimpressed, well, at least you have another $250 to put towards an iPhone. E-mail Page at: optimist@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT PAGE/CAMPUS NEWS
Page 8
Friday, February 9, 2007
Numbers: 94 join university crowd Continued from page 1
said the office hasn’t looked at spring retention rates yet. Total enrollment for this spring is 4,348, slightly less than the 4,427 students who enrolled in spring 2006. Fall enrollment rates were record-high this year, at 4,796. About 230 students graduated in December. “In the spring, generally the students that we get are the ones who chose to go someplace for the first semester, and then decide, ‘I should have gone to ACU,” Etheredge said. Less are athletes, international students, or freshman in their first semester.
Laura Blake, director of international student services, said international students often arrive midyear because they can’t get a visa earlier or their school year ends at a different time. Arriving midyear presents a challenge because students do not arrive with the bulk of the student body; however, Blake said everyone adjusts. “I think in some ways, it’s easier because it’s not so crazy,” she said. “Maybe it’s not as overwhelming as August is.”
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
Blanche DuBois, played by Rebecca Johnston, junior musical theatre major from Kansas City, Mo., comforts her sister, Stella Kowalski, played by Lindsey Lehrman, junior theatre major from Cleburne, after her husband abuses her.
Play: Forums provide depth to plot UP: Surveys offered to gauge interest Continued from page 1
knows other apartment complexes have laundry machines in each of the rooms, but adding them to UP would limit space. Therefore, Hail-Jackson said each resident will be issued a laundry card with $2 on it allowing 200 loads. Erin Shoulders, junior communications major from Keller, said she would greatly benefit from the free service “I don’t want to pay to do my laundry so I always went to a friend’s house. This should benefit a lot of people at UP,” Shoulders said. Other changes will be seen in the club house,
which is already under construction to be turned into a coffee bar. The club house will also feature a home theatre system and gaming system. Also, a TV will be put in the laundry room for students to watch while waiting. Hail-Jackson said she recognizes the inconvenience the construction has caused but hopefully it will be completed in time for Sing Song weekend. “Hopefully [it will] generate new business,” Hail -Jackson said. “I encourage people to come out during Sing Song and see what’s new.”
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
Continued from page 1
who plays Stella Kowalski. “This play is one of the great examples where it is messy and it might not leave you feeling good about where the world is as a whole, but it’s going to leave you changed and it’s going to make you think. That’s why we thought it was an important play to do,” she said. Joseph Clingan, sophomore theatre major from Austin, plays Stanley Kowalski in the production. He said the beautiful thing about the show is its “unfiltered humanity.” “There’s nothing altered about it,” Clingan said. “This is how it happens in real life. Even in a Christian university, I believe it’s important that we see it — that we don’t hide from the reality of what happens outside of this Christian society.” Rebecca Johnston, junior musical theatre major from Kansas City, Mo., plays Blanche DuBois in the production. She admitted she didn’t like the play when she first saw it at the age of 16. “I think it takes a willing and
open mind to really explore what it’s showing you,” Johnston said. “Anyone of us could easily be one of these characters without the grace of God.” After each show, the cast and a different professor for each night will participate in a “Talk Back” segment where people in the audience will be able to discuss the themes portrayed in the play. “There’s going to be piles of questions that I think the audience will ask concerning sexual abuse, alcohol abuse and family abuse,” Clingan said. According to the play’s program, Hester said, “As Christian artists, we come to Streetcar recognizing the characters’ deep need for a savior. I’m reminded of the woman at the well in John 4, but, here, she takes her jug of water away without encountering Jesus. These wounds of violence and brutality and desperation are deep. It is a profound experience to work on a piece that is as painful as it is beautiful.”
E-mail Bautista at: jjb02b@acu.edu
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Stella and Stanley Kowalski, played by Lindsey Lehrman, junior theatre major from Cleburne; and Jospeh Clingan, sophomore theatre major from Austin, fight about household roles in dress rehearsal Wednesday.
Henderson speaks SA: Williams discusses future plans at Women for ACU Continued from page 1
having a Quiznos on campus. In online polls distributed last year, 51 percent of students said they supported having a Quiznos over other restaurant choices. Williams said he plans to accommodate those students. “The customer is king,” Williams said. “The only thing I’m married to is my wife.” The proposal for the food retail is to move businesses to the common area by the mailboxes, Williams said, comparing the layout to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Renovations will be costly, Williams said, but students won’t pay the price. “I don’t see this in itself creating a need for tuition increases,” Williams said, adding that ultimately the decision to increase tuition lies with the administration. Williams said conversations about adding a second story to the McGlothlin Campus Center continue. Although plans are still being made, Williams said after summer 2008, the Bean could contain a produce exhibition, which offers an extensive salad bar with a sauté station. The university also may renovate food stations
in the Bean, allowing students to see their food being prepared. “It takes the kitchen from behind the wall, in myth and mystery,” Williams said. Williams also has a stage area planned in the Bean, in addition to a bakery and a stir-fry station. When complete, the
funds to help with renovations, it does support renovating, Saab said. One of SA’s main goals this year, he said, is to prompt Campus Center renovations, including changes to the Bean and adding a second story. In fact, the No. 1 ambition of the 2006-2007 Congress, according to
“There will not be another cafeteria in this city that will rival it.” Anthony Williams, director of retail and purchasing
cafeteria will be similar to the cafeteria at University of Texas at Arlington, Williams said. “There will not be another cafeteria in this city that will rival it,” he said. Williams said the university decided to stay with food and facilities management service Aramark instead of switching to Sodexho. The decision was made after debate and discussion, using a freshman honors English class as a focus group. According to the university’s 990, the university’s contract with Aramark was more than $4 millions dollars in the most recent year reported. While SA will not give
the SA Web site at www. acustudents.org, is to give students a voice in the expansions. For now, SA plans to achieve that goal by educating the student body about the plans, Saab said. “The best thing we can do is raise awareness right now because that carries the biggest punch.” Saab said the more students, parents, alumni and board members tell ACU they support renovations, the more it will become a priority to the university. Congress also asked Williams about the possibility of adding a convenience store to the Campus Center and voiced concerns over the meal
plan model during a question-and-answer session. While not promising to add a convenience store, Williams did say renovation plans are still being made. And the meal plan model, he said, will be less rigid only if students pay more in fees. Students often voice concern over the fact that with the model, all meals are pre-purchased, but not all are used. “The meal plan model was created with the knowledge that some may not be used,” Williams said. Williams said student feedback is always welcome and can be sent to umatter@acu.edu. Congress unanimously accepted resolutions from Alaina Bearden, senior senator and English and political science double major from Placentia, Calif., and Justin Ruiz, Edwards Hall representative and sophomore youth and family ministry major from Belton, and approved Jonathan Duguid, sophomore architecture major from San Antonio, as the new Smith Hall representative.
E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
n Larry Henderson spoke at a Women for ACU event Tuesday that was open to the public about his adventures across the world and skydiving. By KACI FLORES Student Reporter
Acclaimed skydiver and ACU missions coordinator for Asia, Larry Henderson, spoke on Tuesday night at a program hosted at the Christian Village by the Women for ACU. Dewby Ray, program chair of Women for ACU, had but only one name in mind when it came to who would be speaking at this program: Larry Henderson. Ray wanted to use him at their Centennial program, but he was unable to. “The speakers chosen for theses events are intended to give the audience a broader perception of what is in our area,” Ray said. Ray, a family friend of Henderson, knew his skydiving ventures would be an entertaining presentation. Skydiving in Thailand was the focus of the presentation, which included PowerPoints, photos and video clips of Henderson’s experiences. Just to name a few, he has jumped 4,000 times in ten countries and led several dif-
ferent teams to break six world records. It is of no surprise with facts like these that he can keep an audience on their toes. Not only are his world records impressive but also his aptitude for spreading the gospel around the world, including in Abilene. Henderson also preaches regularly. Last fall he traveled to the West Indies for an evangelism forum. He has also recently been to Denver City, Colo., to assist with Keenage, a youth rally for senior adults. “I knew he would be an interesting speaker with informative information that the listeners would find enjoyable,” Ray said. The organization generally hosts three or four programs each year. Most of the programs organized are intended for members only, but this particular one was open to the general public. If interested in becoming a member of Women for ACU, contact Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English Department, at (325) 674-2263. The next event the organization will hold is an open house fundraiser that will take place on April 11.
E-mail Flores at: optimist@acu.edu
Friday February 9, 2007
Track: team splits between two meets Continued from page 10 Others who have yet to qualify individually are Mark Paige, Marvin Bien-Aime, Jessica Hunt and potentially more pole-vaulters. Hunt, who placed 8th at last year’s indoor nationals, will go to Arkansas to run the 55- and 200-meters. “Sometimes it just doesn’t click early. She may be training too hard,” Hood said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong that I can see.” Hood said he hopes it clicks this weekend. He is looking forward to the group consisting mostly of distance runners and women’s sprinters going to Arkansas. “They’re going to put on a
show,” he said. The men’s mile relay will head to the Hawkeye State to compete against top Division I teams as Texas A&M, Arizona State, Alabama and other Big XII and Big 10 schools. While the relay is provisionally qualified, Hood thinks it needs to improve to be sure of getting in. “The men’s mile relay has to run faster to get in — two and a half seconds faster,” Hood said. “I think they’re excited to get to run with those guys.” The individuals in the relay will also run the 200-meters individually, with Johnny Jacob running the 400-meters. E-mail Fields at: jrf04b@acu.edu
Tarleton: Wildcats lead in turnover margin Continued from page 10 halftime with an 18-point lead. Midwestern State came out of the half looking to build upon their lead. The largest lead for the Mustangs was 26 points, 62-36, that came with four and a half minutes to play. The Wildcats were unable to recover because of poor shooting and costly turnovers. ACU finished the
game with 24 turnovers to Midwestern State’s 15. ACU currently ranks last in the Lone Star Conference when it comes to turnover margin. The Wildcats’ only highlights came from forward Lacey Blau, who scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Guard Alex Guiton also put up 16 points and four assists. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Elmo Night to help fund miracles n There will be a promotional “Elmo Night” Saturday to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. The event was inspired by basketball player Elmo Williams. By SARA SNELSON Student Reporter
Basketball fans who bring a new Elmo toy or doll will gain free admission to the ACU men’s and women’s games this Saturday. Each toy or doll will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network. The ACU men and women’s basketball teams, the Children’s Miracle Network and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee are hosting “Elmo Night” Saturday in Moody Coliseum. The women’s game begins at 6 p.m. and the men’s game begins at 8 p.m. ACU’s own Elmo Williams, junior guard from Fort Worth, will be lending his name in honor of this night to help further promote the event. “We decided to play off of Elmo Williams’ name to involve the children in the community. I am sure that if you included a Sesame Street character, this would appeal to an elementary
Foe: Pacheco makes immediate impact Chris Wiman and Trey Watten; all of who already have one victory under each of their belts. All three have helped hold ACU’s opponents to only 10 runs in the four games the Wildcats have already played. Wiman, who ended last season 10-4 last season with a 4.03 ERA and 88 strikeouts, said he’s glad he’s on the mound for ACU and not for Southern Arkansas. “We’re the type of team I hate pitching against,” Wiman said. “Every single guy in the lineup keeps
fighting till the end.” One of such fighter is second baseman J.J. Pacheco. Pacheco has the most at bats out of the Wildcat lineup and holds a solid .444 batting average and a teamleading four doubles. Pacheco, a transfer from Chabot College, has wasted little time finding his spot on the Wildcats team and finds his unfamiliarity with the Wildcats as a motivator to win. “Nameless faces, nameless team — I don’t care who we play.” Pacheco said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
school-aged child,” said Shelana Poindexter, associate director of athletics for compliance. The game is scheduled to have halftime entertainment that will include local youth. This night is being promoted to the Abilene community along with ACU students and faculty in order to help give to the Children’s Miracle Network and encourage the community to become more involved with our university. “We get a chance to give back to an organization in Abilene that has tremendous impact on the kids that they serve and hopefully encourage those in the community to come out and support our men’s and women’s basketball teams in the process,” said Jared Mosley, director of athletics. “Elmo Night” was supposed to be held last week but was changed to this Saturday in order to really promote the night and have more time to get the word out to the Abilene community. “This night will be a win-win for everyone involved,” said Mosley. E-mail Snelson at: optimist@acu.edu
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Guard Elmo Williams drives to the basket against Midwestern State on Wednesday. “Elmo Night” Saturday is inspired by his first name.
Wildcats add new recruits n The ACU football team will add thirty-five new athletes to its roster after twenty five high school seniors and ten transfer students committed to ACU. By DANIEL JOHNSON
Continued from page 10
Page 9
SPORTS JUMPS
Sports Editor
The program’s first NCAA Division II playoff appearance and the success of former Wildcat Danieal Manning made this recruiting season a little easier on the ACU football coaching staff. “All that helps a lot,” said head coach Chris Thomsen. “Those are big factors in guys wanting to look at ACU.” Those influences helped the Wildcats’ sign twentyfive high school seniors and ten transfers Wednesday on National Signing Day. “It was a real good group,” Thomsen said. “Our coaches worked hard in finding guys that not only could play at this level but were academically capable of doing their school work.” Out of the group of soon to be Wildcats, Thomsen said he expects two high school recruits to have the biggest
chance of making a direct impact in the ‘07 season: defensive back Richard Havins and linebacker Fred Thompson. Thomsen said that Havins, who is from Westwood High School in Round Rock, and Thompson, who is from Houston St. Pius High School, both show strengths and starting potential in their respective position. “Fred is just an extremely gifted player, and Haven is a strong good tackler; he may come out and start as safety,” Thomsen said. Thompson, a first-team all-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle, had 119 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 29 sacks and three blocked kicks at Westwood. Havins, who was voted first team all-Centex by the Austin AmericanStatesman as a junior and senior, recorded 110 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Round Rock Westwood. Also headlining the high school recruits is local Cooper High School quarterback Zach Stewart. Stewart broke
the school and District 3-5A regular-season passing record with 3,136 yards with 21 touchdown passes. Although two-year starting quarterback Billy Malone still has two years of eligibility, Thomsen said he hopes Stewart can eventually find his role at the quarterback position for ACU. “Ideally you would hope Zach could redshirt and learn the system,” Thomsen said. “He’ll take the understudy role and hopefully be able to compete next year.” Other recruits from the Big Country were former Abilene High School defensive back Brian Johnston and Stephenville high school linebacker Eric Edwards. Although ACU has had recruiting classes full of Big Country athletes, Thomsen said that this year it just didn’t work out that way. “Sometimes it just shakes out that way,” Thomsen said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
soon to be Wildcats Thirty-five athletes committed to ACU Wednesday on National Signing Day. High school signees n Caleb Christian: Concordia Lutheran n Eric Edwards: Stephenville HS n Josh Evans: Memorial HS n George Faber: Lee HS n Tyler Fleet: Lee HS n Zach Givin: Brewer HS n Richard Havins: Westwood HS n Jared Johnson: Shallowater HS n Brian Johnston: Abilene HS n Nick Jones: Tascosa HS n Austin Kessler: Celina HS n Shawn Lawson: Lake Travis HS n Charles Lewis: Carter HS n R.J. Long: Flour Buff HS n Chance McCoy: Graham HS n Reese Myatt: Abernathy HS n Derek Odelusi: Timberview HS n Ryan Smith: Southwest Christian n Zach Stewart: Cooper HS n Fred Thompson: St. Pius HS n Neal Tivis: Sanger HS n Jake Truelove: Abernathy HS n Jeremy Watts: Carter HS n Aston Whiteside: Vernon HS n Tyler Williams: Lake Travis HS Transfers n Michael Diggs: Ranger College n Nick Fellows: Baylor n Marcus Franklin: Wyoming n Josh Henry: Stephen F. Austin n Kendrick Holloway: Kilgore n Johnny Knox: Tyler JC n John Olie: Navarro College n David Rippey: Saddleback n Bernard Scott: Blinn JC n David Wright: Indiana State
Men host indoor, women head to Hawaii for tourney n The nationally ranked ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams will each play this weekend, the men will host the ACU Indoor and the women will travel to Hawaii. By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
The ACU tennis teams look to continue their winning ways this weekend. The ACU men, who are currently ranked No. 22 in the Division II national poll, will host the ACU Indoor Classic in the Teague Special Events Center Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats will take on two Division I schools, Lamar University and the University of Texas Pan-American, and a Division II team, Oklahoma Christian University. Meanwhile, the Wildcat women, who hold the No. 5 ranking nationally, will be in Hawaii to compete against four teams over the span of four days. ACU will play Chaminade University, the University of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii-Pacific and the reigning Division II national champions, Brigham Young University-Hawaii. “I’m curious to see where we are,” head coach Hutton Jones said. The Wildcat men will take their 4-1 season record against two Southland Conference teams, Lamar and Texas Pan-American, Friday.
On Saturday, ACU will play the No. 24 team in Division II tennis, Oklahoma Christian. “I think the guys have their hands full,” Jones said. “I don’t think there’s an easy match in the bunch. I think potentially there are a couple of ‘come down to the last match’ matches with the guys,” Jones said. The ACU women, who own a 3-0 record, will look to continue their undefeated streak in Hawaii. On Wednesday, ACU played Chaminade. Then on Thursday, the Wildcats had its big test against BYU-Hawaii. BYU-Hawaii is the No. 1 team in the nation, and is the defending NCAA Division II national champions. Last year, BYU-Hawaii beat ACU 5-0 on its trek to the national title. “I do think they are the best,” Jones said of BYU-Hawaii. “On a given day, we’re capable of beating them, but we’re going to have to be at our best. We may not be at our best in the second week of the season, but it is their second week, so maybe they’re not as fresh. So, you never know.” On Friday, ACU will take on the University of Hawaii, and then on Saturday, the Wildcats will play the No. 18 team in the Division II poll, Hawaii-Pacific. Finally, the Wildcats will return home to go up against the University of Hawaii-Hilo,
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Aina Rafolomanantsiatosika hits a ball during the ACU Women’s Indoor tournament on Friday. Rafolomanantsiatosika and the rest of the Wildcat who is currently ranked No. 11 nationally. The Wildcats will compete against the five Hawaiian teams without a couple of players at its top form. Senior Holly Lindloff and sophomore Sarah Drum-
mond are both nursing injuries. Lindloff has a hamstring strain and Drummond has been struggling with a groin injury. Coach Jones said he expects both players to play doubles but not singles. However, the Wildcats
will not be short handed due to the depth of talent on the team. Jones said he is planning for players, such as sophomore Alexsandra Vucic and freshman Dina Pavlin, to fill the roles of Lindloff and Drummond during
the team’s stretch against the Hawaiian opponents.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
SportsFriday
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ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Thursday
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. 6-1 5-2 5-2 3-4 2-4 2-5 1-6
MSU Tarleton WTAM ENMU TAMK-U Angelo St. ACU
Overall 17-4 16-6 13-8 9-12 15-6 7-14 10-11
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
WTAM Tarleton TX Woman’s Angelo St.
ACU MSU TAMK-U ENMU
Overall 19-3 13-6 10-11 12-9 13-10 11-10 8-13 10-10
BASEBALL
Team
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
ENMU ACU Tarleton TAMK-U WTAM Angelo St.
Team
Div. 8-0 6-3 4-4 4-5 4-5 4-5 3-5 1-7
Overall 4-0 4-0 2-1 0-2 0-0 0-3
Friday, February 9, 2007
Wildcats face familiar foe n The nationally ranked baseball team will travel to Arkansas to take on Southern Arkansas, the team that ended ACU’s postseason run in 2006. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
The undefeated baseball team swept past its first two opponents of 2007, but Saturday it will face the team that ended the Wildcats’ season in 2006: regional opponent Southern Arkansas. Southern Arkansas eliminated the Wildcats’ at the South Central Region Tournament after defeating ACU 5-4. “It is the team that knocked us out of the regional tournament last year,” head coach Britt Bonneau said. “Hopefully our guys
Baseball
the regional tournament,” Bonneau said. “We could see them down the road again.” And that is what’s most important for Bonneau, getting prepared for what’s down the road. “Every team we play all year, we do that so it will help us come regional time,” Bonneau said. ACU has already helped its regional destiny by defeating two regional opponents this season, including an 8-0 win over St. Mary’s on Tuesday. Pitcher Ben Maynard pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout to pick up his 24th win as an ACU starter. This weekend the starting pitchers most likely will be right-handers Brian Kennedy,
have remembered that.” The 4-0, No. 16 ranked Wildcats will travel to Magnolia, Ark., to take on 1-3 Southern Arkansas in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday. Bonneau is mindful of the advantages of playing a postseason caliber team early has on the rest of the season. “Playing good competition and playing on the road will make us that much more ready for later on in the year,” Bonneau said. Because of the two teams’ winning history, Bonneau said he is confident that the upcoming series with Southern Arkansas could hold postseason foreshadowing. “You got to remember that this is a team that played in
See
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brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Second basemen J.J. Pacheco gets ready to throw out a Henderson State runner Sunday. Pachecho is one of the newest Wildcats.
Cats have second shot
SOFTBALL
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 TX Woman’s 0-0 WTAM 0-0 Angelo St. Tarleton ENMU ACU TAMK-U
Overall 10-0 2-0 6-2 3-2 2-2 2-3 1-5
n The men’s and women’s track and field teams will travel to three different meets this weekend to get ready for the Indoor National Championships on March 9-10. By JARED FIELDS
Upcoming
Managing Editor
Friday SOFTBALL CBS Insurance Classic, Abilene
TRACK & FIELD Texas Tech Pentathlon, Lubbock Tyson Indoor Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark.
MEN’S TENNIS ACU vs. Lamar, noon ACU vs. Texas-Pan American, 4 p.m.
Saturday SOFTBALL CBS Insurance Classic, Abilene
BASEBALL ACU at Henderson State, Magnolia, Ark., 4 p.m. (DH)
TRACK & FIELD Tyson Indoor Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark.
MEN’S TENNIS ACU vs. Oklahoma Christian, noon
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Midwestern State, 2 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Midwestern State, 4 p.m.
Track teams compete around country
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Forward Ashlee Barr splits two Midwestern defenders on Feb. 1. Barr and the rest of the Wildcats will have their second shot against Tarleton St. on Saturday.
n The ACU women’s basketball team will have a second shot at the Tarleton TexAnns on Saturday after losing the first matchup against the two on Feb. 3. By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
The ACU women’s basketball team plans to rebound from a disappointing 6650 loss to Midwestern State University on Wednesday by playing Tarleton State University this Saturday. Tarleton State has an
Women’s basketball overall record of 12-6 and a conference record of 5-3. The Tarleton State TexAnns currently rank No. 2 in defense against 3-point field goal percentage. Tarleton State also holds opponents to an average of 56 points per game — the second best mark in the Lone Star Conference. ACU played and lost to the TexAnns on Saturday 7566 in Stephenville. The Wildcats will look for revenge
this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. “You don’t have as much preparation as you do the week before,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. “I think the second time around it’s just about making the small adjustments we need to.” After having a dismal performance in Wichita Falls on Wednesday, ACU will have to make some changes to prepare for the game against Tarleton State. The 66-50 loss to Midwestern State
places the Wildcats at 13-10 overall and 4-5 in conference play for the season. In Wednesday’s game, ACU shot only 32 percent from the floor and 18 percent from three pointers. The first half was even worse for the Wildcats as they shot 25 percent from the field and 22 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Mustangs of Midwestern State took advantage of the Wildcats’ poor starting performance by going into See
TARLETON page 9
Head coach Don Hood will send his men’s and women’s teams to three different meets this weekend to qualify or better his team’s marks for the indoor national meet in Boston on March 9-10. Hood will take people Hood to meets at Texas Tech, Arkansas and Iowa State. Hood now wants to get everyone he can qualified for nationals. “The core of our team is in,” Hood said. “The next two weeks will give us a chance to shore that up a little bit.” In the men’s long jump, Davy Manga, Vladyslav Gorbenko and David Walker have not qualified yet. Gorbenko said his goal for the Texas Tech meet this weekend is to qualify for the long jump. He is provisionally qualified in the triple jump; just over two inches away from being automatically qualified. “I don’t know if I’ll compete in the triple jump; it’s right after the long jump,” Gorbenko said. “I would like to qualify and then focus for nationals.” See
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n Home games listed in italics
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. INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL See intramural bulletin board for basketball schedule.
INTRAMURAL POINTS New social club points will be posted on board after chapel Friday.
For complete intramural scores and schedules visit: w w w. a c u o p t i m i s t . c o m
Playoff destiny depends on streak n After dropping to 1-6 in conference because of a loss to Midwestern State on Wednesday, the ACU men’s basketball team needs to win its last five conference games to contend for a playoff spot. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
If the Wildcat men’s basketball team has any chance of making the postseason, it lies in its own hands. The last-place Wildcats have a chance to make the Lone Star Conference tournament, but only if it wins all five of the remaining games on its schedule. “We’re trying to play every game like it’s the last one,” said guard Tiago Souza. “We are last right now, but we still have a chance.” ACU’s first chance to start a much-needed winning streak will be on Saturday against 5-2 Tarleton State. Although the Texans beat the
Men’s basketball Wildcats by more than any other team in the first half of conference play — Tarleton downed ACU 87-67 — the Wildcats are convinced anything can happen Saturday. “We’re going to bounce back like elastic,” said guard Cortnie Ross. “We’re going to go out there and out-execute them.” The Wildcats, who are 1-6 in conference and 10-11 overall, will need to bounce back from the hole they dug themselves and a four-game losing streak since its first conference win against Angelo State on Jan. 23. Guard Elmo Williams attributed his team’s recent slump to a lack of execution and small mistakes that added up. “It’s the small mistakes, but that all can be easily fixed,” Williams said. So far the problem for the Wildcats has been limiting the points
from its opponents’ post players. The last time the Wildcats and Texans met, Tarleton’s post players outscored ACU’s 53-28. “We’re a little outmatched inside,” said forward Cam Holson. “We know we’ll give up shots down low but we’ll have to make it up in the guard position.” One advantage that might aid the Wildcats is the possibility of a larger crowd at the Tarleton game because of the promotional “Elmo night.” The promotion asks fans to bring an Elmo toy for free admission; all of the toys will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network. Guard Riley Lambert said an increased home crowd is something that would help the Wildcats. “We need all the help we can get right now,” Lambert said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Guard Philip Brooks gets fouled while going to the basket against Midwestern State on Feb. 1. ACU will play Tarleton State on Saturday in Moody Coliseum