The Vol. 95, No. 38
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OPTIMIST
1 sections, 10 pages
MONDAY
February 19, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Hughes to end 40-year career in May
CAMPUS Double duty
The cast of ‘The Miracle Worker’ performed a special matinee of the play Saturday for deaf students in Abilene at the Paramount, page 2
The search is on
A search is underway in Oxford, England, for a new house the university could buy for the Oxford Study Abroad Program, page 3
n Hughes has spent his time as a professor, chair of the Mathematics Department and as an assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Deadline looming
Sophomores wanting to move into Barret Residence Hall next semester have until Friday to apply, page 4
By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
FEATURES
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
The men of Gamma Sigma Phi cheer together on the Sing Song stage in Moody Coliseum after winning best overall as firemen of Ladder 68.
‘Shifting into high gear’
More than 1,200 students participated in some way to produce 2007 Sing Song this past weekend, page 6-7
Siggies, GSP win No. 6; juniors cheer into first Frater Sodalis, Alpha Kai Omega and Freshmen take second STAFF REPORT
SPORTS
Protecting home plate
The Wildcat baseball team swept East Central Saturday and continued to be undefeated at home with a record of 7-0, page 10
The winners in the men’s and women’s divisions during Sing Song 2007 didn’t surprise many. Sigma Theta Chi and Gamma Sigma Phi won Sing Song for the sixth year in a row Saturday night. In the mixed voices division, the junior class won — placing first in the entertainment, audience favorite, originality and best overall categories. Sigma Theta Chi, directed by sophomore Jennifer Rasco, swept the awards during all three performances for first, and Gamma Sigma Phi, won after a scare Friday with Frater Sodalis, a club looking
to win after 25 years. Rasco, elementary education major from Abilene, said she thought Saturday night’s performance was the best the club did. “I’m in complete disbelief and shock,” she said, and said she couldn’t even talk. Preston Rampy, director of GSP, said he was proud of his men. “After they announced vocals, I was feeling pretty good. I think it was probably the best Sing Song show overall in a long time.” GSP won entertainment, vocals, audience favorite, costumes and best overall.
The women’s basketball team lost against WTAMU Saturday, but with a record of 6-6, the team still has a chance of making it to the playoffs, page 10
ONLINE Behind closed doors
As others performed on stage during Sing Song, class and club acts waited in the double gyms in Moody Coliseum. View it online at: www.acuoptimist.com
See
HUGHES page 9
Final results n Mixed Voices • 1- Juniors • 2- Freshmen • 3- Sophomores n Men’s social clubs • 1- Gamma Sigma Phi • 2- Frater Sodalis • 3- Galaxy n Women’s social clubs • 1- Sigma Theta Chi • 2- Alpha Kai Omega • 3- Ko Jo Kai
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
OCAD brings expo to Abilene n More than 60 employers across the country and two from overseas will be present at a career expo Thursday to interview students. By JEREMY POND Staff Writer
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Holding on to hope
The junior class came into the competition not expecting anything, said co-director Evan Anderson. “Really, we just thought we’d possibly be entertaining, so it was quite a shock to hear them call out our class,” he said. Kristin Childress, junior class act member, said entertainment was the only thing her class was going for. “I was so excited because we had so much fun, and I’m glad that came across to the audience and judges,” said Childress, international relations major from Afton, Va.
Dr. David Hughes decided 40 years was long enough of a career in teaching. Hughes, a professor of mathematics and computer science and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, gave co-workers business cards to tell of his decision to retire at the end of the semester. “I intended to stay 40 or more years,” Hughes said. “I decided 40 was enough.” Hughes has been the assistant dean for two years, but has served in the Math ematics Department as the chair of the department twice: once in the mid 80s
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Left: Members of the junior class act celebrate after Sing Song co-chairs announced their act won first in mixed voices. Center: The women of Sigma Theta Chi react to winning six years in a row. Right: The women of Ko Jo Kai enjoy their third place win Saturday in Moody Coliseum.
Now that Sing Song madness has evaporated, students’ focus has begun to shift from the big show to graduation and what they will be doing in the near future. Among the most obvious concerns is whether or not they will find jobs after commencement. To assist students in securing employment after graduation, the ACU Office of Career and Academic See
EXPO page 9
Money presents 21st Century Vision to board n At the biannual meeting of the Board of Trustees on Saturday, C.E. “Doc” Cornutt became the official new chair of the board. He was chosen in August. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor
in
Chief
Dr. Royce Money unveiled the latest version of the 21st Century Vision for the university at a Board of Trustees meeting Saturday morn-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
ing. Money, president of the university, said the trustees engaged in a “spirited discussion” about the future direction of the university. He said the response was tremendous, and the board discussed what kind of facility, faculty and other types of support would be necessary to fulfill this vision. As for the next step, Money said the senior administrative team on the
board would come back in August with details of how to reach this vision. “What we talked about today was a long-range plan,” Money said. “They will come back with the details on how to get the things done we’re talking about.” He said certain aspects of the plan, such as the core curriculum changes, are already in the process of being implemented.
“The faculty is close to reaching a decision on the core curriculum,” he said. “And that truly is the faculty’s decision. When they announce changes, that is one piece of the vision that will fall into place.” Money said this year the board is trying to wrap up the vision and unwrap another one with the 21st Century Vision. The board also met for
Abilene Christian University
the first time in 15 years with a new chair. C.E. “Doc” Cornutt, CEO of Argent Properties in Dallas and a member of the board since 1988, was named chair in August. He replaced Don Crisp, former chair of the Board of Trustees. Cornutt said his first priority as chair was to decide what the first priorities See
BOARD page 9
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Monday, February 19, 2007
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Calendar & Events Monday
President’s Day 4 p.m. Donald Hall, the 14th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the U.S. Library of Congress, answers questions at Hardin-Simmons in the JB Multipurpose Room. 5 p.m. “Resumes: Seven Seconds for Impact” resume workshop in the Learning Commons and the Adams Center, Room 241. 8 p.m. Donald Hall poetry reading in the Hardin-Simmons JB Multipurpose Room.
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Tuesday
7 a.m. National Pancake Day. Anyone who goes to IHOP between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. will receive a free shortstack of pancakes. IHOP asks that while there, visitors consider donating to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network of other local charities.
Wednesday
Ash Wednesday 11 a.m. “Come to the Quiet” contemplative prayer service in Chapel in Moody Coliseum.
Thursday
10 a.m. Employment Expo 2007 at the Abilene Civic Center. Hosted by ACU, the career fair will host over 50 recruiters from employers nationwide, ready to speak to students. Come with a prepared resume and dressed in professional attire.
8 p.m. Open Mic Night at Monk’s Coffeeshop.
7 p.m. The women’s basketball team plays Texas Women’s in Moody Coliseum.
from the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In accordance with the CAA policy on Public Comment, the program invites interested parties to attend a meeting on March 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 117 of the Don Morris Complex. This meeting will be facilitated by CAA site visitors to address how the program is meeting the Standards for Accreditation. A copy of the standards and/or the CAA`s Policy on Public Comment may be obtained by contacting the Accreditation Office at ASHA, 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, calling ASHA`s Action Center at 1-800-498-2071 or accessing the documents on ASHA`s Web site at http://asha.org/about/ credentialing/accreditation/. Additional information regarding the time and location of this meeting may be obtained by calling Dr. Brenda Bender, program director, at (325) 674-2074. 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. ATTENTION ALL MAJORS! Study while traveling this summer! Programs offered in Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Jamaica and more! Scholarships are available. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 28. See Ed Timmerman for more info or e-mail him at timmermanj@acu.edu.
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8 p.m. The Miracle Worker, the dramatic story of Helen Keller’s struggle to communicate, opens in Fulks Theatre. Tickets are $12.
5 p.m. “Resumes: Seven Seconds for Impact” resume workshop in the Learning Commons and the Adams Center, Room 241.
Announcements Want to help in the planning of Welcome Week? The application deadline is Wednesday for the Welcome Week Steering Committee. Find an application and more information at www.acu.edu/ fyp_leaders. Information on being a Peer Leader, Transfer Group Leader or a Mentor Group Leader is also available there. Be a part of welcoming our new students in August by applying now for one of these leadership positions. For more information, e-mail the FirstYear Program at fyp@acu.edu or call (325) 674-2212. The Law School Open House for Students of Color is Saturday. Baylor Law School and the Law School Admission Council will sponsor an open house aimed at encouraging students of color to consider a career in law from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Baylor University School of Law. The open house is specifically designed for sophomores and juniors, but freshmen and seniors are welcome. The open house will include a tour of the Baylor Law Center, a mock law school class, a moot court team demonstration, lunch and an admission and financial aid question and answer session. As a special incentive, the Kaplan Education Center will be giving away scholarships for its LSAT preparation course as door prizes at the end of the open house. If interested, notify Heather Creed by Wednesday at (254) 710-7617 or e-mail her at Heather_Creed@baylor.edu. The graduate program in speech and language pathology is applying for re-accreditation
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Volunteer Opportunities Big A Club of City Light Community Ministries has an urgent need for volunteers to ride buses and vans with elementary-age children and to help with Bible studies. This takes place on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. Meals on Wheels needs volunteers 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 for more information. Fannin Elementary needs volunteers until the end of February to tutor fourth grade students in reading, writing and math in order to prepare the students for TAKS testing. Call to set up an appointment. For more information, contact Rosalinda Walker at (325) 677-8085. McKenzee Cheng, an international student, would like a female volunteer to help her pronounce vocabulary for her sociology class on Monday and/or Tuesday afternoons. If interested, contact McKenzee at (325) 669-7800 or at yxc06a@acu.edu. Pruett Gerontology Center needs volunteers on March 1 from 9:30 a.m. until noon to assist senior adults walk up and down stairs at the Civic Center and escort them to lunch while they attend a conference. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. Girl Scout Troop #1550 needs young women who want to make a difference in young girls’ lives through Girl Scouting. The girls are from un-
derpriveleged homes, and they need positive Christian influences in their lives. Volunteers will help conduct meetings, including arts and crafts. Help is needed every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. until May. For more information, contact Diltzie Andrews at (325) 673-6379. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is looking for young women willing to volunteer time and energy mentoring in a program called Y-teens. Through activities and service projects, this program will empower young girls with knowledge about life skills and will build self-confidence while creating an atmosphere for learning and emotional growth. Help is needed every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Franklin Middle School and Lincoln Middle School. For more information, contact Erin McMullen or MC Jennings at (325) 677-7839. Day Nursery of Abilene needs help setting up for their annual Mexican dinner, prepare and serve food and clean up. The dinner will be held on March 24 at the Abilene High School cafeteria. Help is requested from noon to 10 p.m. For more information, contact Pat Peck at (325) 670-0002. The Betty Hardwick Center needs help in their office answering phones, filing, copying and running errands. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. The Christian Service Center needs help maintaining its furniture room. This might include picking up donated items or delivering furniture. It is helpful to have a pickup truck. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.
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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.
Theatre to perform ‘Miracle’ matinee n A special matinee of “The Miracle Worker,” a story about Helen Keller, will be performed for the deaf community and high school students on Saturday. By ANDREA LUCADO STUDENT REPORTER
ACU Theatre Department will perform a special matinee of the student-directed play “The Miracle Worker” by William Gibson for members of the deaf community and high school students in Fulks Theatre at 2 p.m. Saturday. Ryan Massie, senior theater and education major from San Antonio, was chosen to direct “The Miracle Worker” last fall. A special performance like this has always been in the plan. Massie said Mike Fernandez, assistant professor of theatre and faculty adviser for the play, and Adam Hester, professor of theatre and chair of the department, originated the idea to perform “The Miracle Worker” for a high school group and members of the deaf community. He said the department publicized to local high schools through flyers, posters and social networking. Clay Freeman, theatre director at Abilene High School, said he expects to bring between 25 and 75 theatre students to the matinee and will open it to any deaf students who want to come. “It’s a classic play; it’s something our kids need to understand,” Freeman said. “The Miracle Worker” is a theatrical portrayal of how Annie Sullivan taught Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, to communicate. “This show brings about hope into a very desperate situation,” said Jenavene Hester, sophomore musical theater major from Abilene
who plays Helen in the play. Amy Simpson, senior theater major from Denver, Colo., and dramaturge for “The Miracle Worker,” said they invited members of the deaf community to this performance because of how the plot connects to their lives. She said she believes theater should be more than art — it should impact people, and the Saturday show will allow the department to reach out to the community. During the performance, a sign language interpreter will interpret the play for a section in the theater reserved for the deaf members of community. After the performance, audience members who choose to stay can participate in a talkback session with the cast and director in which they are free to ask questions concerning the play and acting. Talkbacks have become a common conclusion to many of the department’s productions, including this season’s “A Street Car Named Desire” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” On the other hand, Simpson said this is the first time, as far as she knows, an ACU production has included a sign language interpreter. Tickets for high school students or members of the deaf community who attends this matinee performance is $5. Other evening performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and March 1 through 3. Tickets to these shows cost $12 per person. For tickets, call (325) 674-ARTS.
E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Monday, February 19, 2007
Page 3
Concert to honor late composer n The Wind Ensemble will feature a piece to honor British composer Malcolm Arnold on Friday and will include a solo from senior trombonist Kyle Mullins. By BLESSED MATAI Student Reporter
katie gager CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Students and faculty live in two Victorian-era houses near St. Hughs College as apart of the Oxford Study Abroad Program.
ACU looks for new Oxford house n ACU looks to purchase a new housing facility for students and faculty in Oxford, England, after renting two Victorian-era houses for the past eight years. By LAUREN SUTTON Opinion Editor
With the arrival of the new ce, ACU’s 21st Century Vision includes purchasing a housing facility for the Study Abroad Program at Oxford. The Study Abroad office has spent the last four years looking for the right facility that will stabilize the Oxford program, economically benefit the university and meet the needs of the many students who spend a semester in the U.K. For the past eight years, ACU has rented two houses from one of the Oxford schools, St. Hughes College. Steven Shewmaker, worker at the Center for International and Intercultural Education, said the two Victorian-era homes lo-
cated on Canterbury St. are not in bad condition for students, but they aren’t ideal. “The longer you stay a renter, the more you think about purchasing,” said Kevin Kehl, executive director of the Center for International and Intercultural Education. “This program is a part of ACU tradition, and there is an expectation for students wanting to study there for a semester. Therefore, we should consider purchasing property, but it’s a natural progression.” While ACU is actively looking at different property at Oxford, it is not functioning on a specific time line. The Center for International and Intercultural Education is under the direction of the provost office, which decides what buildings will be funded in keeping with the ACU vision. “The university has every intention of trying to keep the program at Ox-
ford, and from an economic standpoint, it makes more sense to be an owner,” Shewmaker said. ACU looked into buying a house this summer, but the property was taken before ACU could purchase it. Shewmaker said only a small amount of properties that would meet ACU’s need. The biggest requirement for a purchased house at Oxford is square footage. The university needs a facility with about 10,000 square feet. Other requirements include good location as well as a facility that is in a good working condition. Though the Center for International and Intercultural Education needs the approval of the provost office, it is expectant to find a facility the university will support financially.
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
The ACU concert band and the Wind Ensemble are getting ready for the winter concert. The Wind Ensemble is comprised of undergraduate wind and percussion players on the ACU campus. The two groups will perform a variety of music and a piece to honor a famous British composer, Malcolm Arnold, who died on Sept. 23. “We’re both going to be playing a piece by Malcolm Arnold just to honor him and recognize
him because he’s just a wonderful composer,” said Steven Ward, associate professor of music and director of bands. Along with Malcolm Arnold classic pieces, the ACU concert band will play music by other composers, such as Elliot Carter and Maurice Ravel. The Wind Ensemble will also perform classics by Aram Khachaturian and Leonard Bernstein. Ward will conduct the Wind Ensemble while Natalie Steel, instructor of music, conducts the concert band. The biggest highlight of the concert is going to be senior music education major and trombonist, Kyle Mullins, Ward said. Mullins is going to play the first movement
of the De Meij trombone concerto. Steel said the preparation for the performance is going very well. “We expect to play as well as we possibly can [and] to have a good musical experience to entertain the audience,” Steel said. The band is rehearsing regularly — practicing an hour a day, three days a week to get ready for the big show. “I am very excited because it’s going to be a good show,” Steel said. The winter concert is free admission and will take place Friday in Cullen Auditorium.
E-mail Matai at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Monday, February 19, 2007
Barret entry to close Friday Movie premiere to invite sponsors n Students need to turn in applications to live in Barret Hall by Friday. Residents of Barret Hall will live in the communities of eight students and a mentor. By NATHAN STRAUS Staff Reporter
Those who wish to live in Barret Hall during the next school year must act fast. The registration deadline is Friday. All applicants must fill out a Living and Learning Community Proposal and turn it in to the office of Residence Life Education and Housing by 5 p.m. Friday. Bob Booth, residence director of Barret Hall, said the deadline is early in the semester because the entire process takes longer. The proposal instructions state only one application is allowed per student, and incomplete applications won’t be considered. “Once the proposals are
in, they have to be viewed by a committee,” Booth said. “There’s a real time crunch … a domino effect to put everything in order.” The application process has many steps to go through, and it all has to be done in a certain time. Booth said though all the residence halls go through their housing procedures in early spring, the Barret process involves more than just paperwork. “Each proposal has a service component as well. This can include volunteer hours,” Booth said. The proposals themselves are evaluated on only its content. Names will be omitted, Booth said. Darren Curry, coordinator of housing, said the selections for Barret happen before other students make their hall selections. “You have to apply to a living and learning commu-
nity,” Curry said. Booth said the communities are comprised of eight sophomore students and a mentor. They will live in a “pod,” including four residence hall rooms and a central living room. Two students live in each room. “Pods are not limited to a single college,” Booth said. “Any student can live in one.” Booth also said the mentor can be any professor on campus willing to perform as a mentor. Male and female students will not be put in the same pod. Half of the formerly female-only hall is reserved for male students, the other half for female students. The residence hall itself is similar to other sophomore housing such as Edwards Hall. Each room has a bathroom, as well as furniture. E-mail Straus at: nrs02a@acu.edu
n The premiere of the movie ‘The Ultimate Gift’ invites 1,200 guests, including the President’s Circle, the Heritage Society, faculty and staff at the Paramount Theatre on Sunday. By ASHLEY ROBINSON Student Reporter
The ACU Foundation Office, in coordination with ACU Development Office, will co-host an exclusive movie premiere of “The Ultimate Gift” on Sunday. The movie, which stars Drew Fuller and Brian Dennehy, focuses on the gift of giving. Michael O. Sajbel summarizes the movie on the Internet Movie Database by saying, “Jason thought his inheritance was going to be the gift of money and lots of it. Was he ever in for a big surprise.” Barbara Hejl, director of Scholarship Programs, previously saw a screening of the movie in Dallas. “It’s an excellent film based on a simple, yet very thought provoking book; its good for
Peace Corps to recruit students n The Peace Corps will come to recruit students to participate in its volunteer services in more than 70 countries in the world. By LAURA SMITH Student Reporter
The opportunity to reach out to the world is coming on Wednesday. It’s the chance to take 27 months performing service to nations around the world. The Peace Corps is coming to Abilene for two days next week to present students with information about the Peace Corps, as well as interaction with those who have served in the past. Joel Swedlund, manager of the McGlothlin Campus Center, was contacted by the Peace Corps hoping for an opportunity to recruit on campus.
“I guess it’s getting out that we have a good group of students to pull from,” Swedlund said. And with a university whose focus is to “change the world,” this makes sense. Samantha Garvin, recruiter for West Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas and a returned Peace Corps volunteer, will be in the Campus Center from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, manning an information booth. An information session will take place in the Campus Center Living Room from 3:30 p.m. and will feature a video presentation as well as a question-and-answer session with returned Peace Corps volunteers. Garvin will also be at the Career Fair at the Abilene Convention Center the next day.
The Peace Corps has 7,749 Volunteers serving in 73 countries, said Shannon Borders, Peace Corps public affairs specialist. These Volunteers have skills that qualify them to serve in education, health, HIV/AIDS, business development, environment, youth and agricultural positions. Peace Corps volunteers spend three months filled with language, cross cultural, technical and safety training, followed by two years working in an assigned position to assist people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, Borders said. To learn more about the Peace Corps, visit its Web site at www.peacecorps.gov.
E-mail Smith at: optimist@acu.edu
families,” Hejl said. Marilyn Tittle, executive assistant to Dr. Bruce Evans at the Foundation, is working with Hejl to coordinate the event. “It’s about learning what the real gift is in giving,” Tittle said. “It’s about giving from the heart and not just giving material gifts.” The movie is based on the 2000 Christian fiction book, “The Ultimate Gift” by Jim Stovall. Hejl, who previews and makes recommendations for books for the President’s Circle, decided showing the movie in Abilene would be a gift to the President’s Circle and the Heritage Society. “This is our way of showing our appreciation to the President’s Circle and the Heritage Society,” Hejl said. “Its an extra expression of gratitude for them.” The President’s Circle is a group of those who give $1,000 or more donation during a fiscal year, and the Heritage Society is for peo-
ple who have included ACU in their estate plans. The premiere originally was reserved for only members of the President’s Circle and the Heritage Society, but because of extra seating, it is now being extended to others by special invitation. “We opened the event up to staff and faculty because there are so many seats,” Hejl said. For faculty and staff this will be a two-credit event, which will count towards their continuing education credit. “We are required every year to have 26 professional development credits, so we go to events like this to earn them,” Tittle said. Everyone is asked to RSVP, and guests are allowed. “There are 1,200 seats, but only 800 are filled,” Tittle said. The premiere will be Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, located at 352 Cypress in Abilene. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. E-mail Robinson at: optimist@acu.edu
Fun with dots
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Female members of the freshman class act play a game in the single gym before Friday night show.
The iSchool to have a new contest n The School of Information Technology and Computing (The iSchool) is planning to have a new computer science competition that allows three time out and lifelines. By RACHEL DAVIS Student Reporter
Everyone has felt it. The pressure of competition and the sting of defeat. Wondering what could have been done to get a better performance during the match-up. The new School of Information Technology and Computing knows that very thing has happened to its students in computer science competitions. National competitions require competitors to sit at a computer for five hours and solve programming problems, so the professors decided to create a new competition that will take some of the pressure away, said Brent Reeves, assistant professor of management science and information systems. “We noticed during our last competition that there were a lot of opportunities to teach
the students something new,” Reeves said. “After the problems they solved were turned in, they sat around trying to figure out how they possibly could have solved them.” Reeves and his fellow colleagues in the SITC decided to create a new competition that will give students three lifelines. The competitors can call a time out to ask for help with a problem. Plans are to have the competition from noon to 5 p.m. on March 31 at ACU. “The main goal of this competition is to have a programming contest where you have the psychology of the competition, but to also add a bonus time out when you’re stuck,” he said. “We also want it to help ACU and get ACU’s name out in the public more.” Reeves said high school students, along with other colleges in the surrounding area, might be included in the competition. “It’s a good way for the new School of Information Technology and Computing to get its name out there,” Reeves said.
SITC, also known as “The iSchool,” was chartered in June 2006. It offers two new majors: information systems and information technology. The school will fully operate in fall 2007 and will work with the College of Business Administration and also incorporate the Computer Science Department. The contest already has a few corporate sponsors, and that allows for prizes to be given to the winners. The sponsors are Jensen Networks; IT3, a Houston-based company; and Abilene-based Millsoft. “These companies are all interested in sponsoring a SITC contest because they need people,” Reeves said. “They’ve had ACU hirees before and have been very pleased with all of them.” “It’s definitely interesting because we’re recasting an event that’s a nationwide thing and localizing it,” Reeves said. “We just hope that it will benefit the new SITC and ACU as a whole.” E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Monday, February 19, 2007
Page 5
Professors take in week of art in NY Students prepare n Six art professors spent the week in New York to attend the College Art Association’s conference where they attended sessions on different art forms. By SARA SNELSON Student Reporter
Six professors of the arts left Tuesday for New York City to attend the College Art Association’s 95th annual conference. “The College Art Association is a top-rated conference in which artists, art critics, art historians and art instructors can meet and share state-of-the-art infor-
mation about the state of the arts,” said Kenny Jones, associate professor of art and design who is attending the conference. The conference took place at the Hilton New York in midtown Manhattan. They were able to attend more than 150 sessions and panels on art history, art from other cultures, modern art and the future of art and artist techniques. Major institutions and places of art are in New York and in close proximity of the location where the conference was held.
“The context of the New York art scene only adds to the energizing of content for art classes and my own art output,” Jones said. He explained how the excitement and content of these conferences always “have him energized about the art discipline with new ideas, techniques and recently uncovered facts.” Jones said one of the most interesting components of the conference was the book and art supply fair, which present the latest in art materials from new paint mediums to electronic
technology to recently developed textbooks. The other five who left Tuesday for the conference include Jack Maxwell, professor of art and design and chair of the department; Dan McGregor, assistant professor of art and design; Robert Green, professor of art and design; Nil Santana, instructor of art and design; and Mike Wiggins, assistant professor of art and design. The professors were at the conference Wednesday through Saturday. E-mail Snelson at: optimist@acu.edu
Robinson’s book to be in Campus Store soon n Dr. Edward Robinson’s biography of Samuel R. Cassius tells of a man who lived to see slavery abolished is on sal, and will be at the Campus Store soon. By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter
The desk is cluttered with paper, and the shelves are brimming over with books. The man behind the desk is smiling about his recently published book. Assistant professor in the History Department and the College of Biblical Studies, Dr. Edward Robinson is the author of the newly published biography titled “To Save My Race From Abuse: The Life of Samuel Robert Cassius.” Cassius was born a slave in Prince William, Va., in 1853 and emerged as a leader in the African American Church of Christ. “Cassius was more than a church leader; he was a community leader, educator, politician, a race-man, a globe trotter and a humani-
tarian,” Robinson said. Cassius spent 31 years of his ministry time in Oklahoma — from 1891 to 1922. “He saw both transitions: Oklahoma becoming a state, and the transition of once enslaved Robinson blacks to free,” Robinson said. Cassius was father of 23 children from both his first and second wives. As an educated man, his library consisted of 205 books in the year 1905, which according to Robinson was unusual and significant for that time. Cassius also met a few well-known and influential individuals in his lifetime, including Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States; Frederic Douglas, a black man famous for his writings around the time of the Civil War; and David Lipscomb, co-founder of Lip-
scomb University in Nashville, Tenn. “One of the most influential people in Cassius’ life was a white school teacher he met in Washington D.C. after the Civil War, Francis W. Perkins. She took him under her instruction and taught Cassius the power of education,” Robinson said. Cassius battled the racial bigotry through his sermons and writings, many of which were published in the Gospel Advocate and the Christian Leader. The University of Tennessee Press will republish the collection in 2008. The four-year writing process was not without its difficulties. Starting in 2003 after following the path of a footnote from another research project, Robinson said, “the hardest part was getting through the racial issues, understanding his issues and the racial ideas he was trying to refute.” Robinson said his goal for this biography is to “help students of history and his-
torians to better understand the life of African Americans who had to transition from slavery to free life, to grapple with the meaning of freedom.” “I hope to inspire others to uncover unsung heroes out of common people,” he said. Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies said, “He is able, in ways most cannot, to look [at] what the African American Church has done to develop their sense of history and response to rejection and obstacle from whites and develop a sense of faithfulness in post-Civil War America. .. [Robinson] is a hardworking, careful scholar and a passionate and enthusiastic speaker.” Robinson’s biography of Samuel Robert Cassius is available on Amazon.com and on the University of Alabama’s Web site and will soon be available in The Campus Store. E-mail Lehmann at: optimist@acu.edu
for conference n Two ACU students will attend a conference at Baylor University aimed at students who may consider a vocation to churchrelated higher education. By YURI SUDO
Student Reporter
Twenty-five church related college and university students from Texas, including two from ACU, will participate in a threeday conference called “What Real Friends Are For: Goodness, Vocation, and the Quest for Happiness” at Baylor University in Waco on Thursday to discuss how the discernment and pursuit of one’s vocation is found in a genuine friendship. Baylor University, the host of this regional undergraduate conference, will host the conference for the fist time in four years, said Darin Davis, associate director of the Institute for Faith and Learning. The conference is intended for outstanding undergraduates who have academic promise and are open to considering a vocation of service to church-related higher education and to being the next generation of Christian teachers and scholars in the academy. “The title of the conference, we hope, suggests
our aim,” Davis said. “We want our conference participants to think about how deep, authentic friendship can transform our lives. Without real friends, we are unlikely to flourish [and] unlikely to understand what our true calling is.” One of the students who will participate, Shelby Coates, senior journalism major from Clarksville, Tenn., said, “I have never been to the conference before. I am so excited, though I do not know what I expect. I saw the schedule; everything looks good.” The students are expected to read a compilation for three Plenary Discussions: “Why Facebook friends are not enough further up and further in,” “Friendship as shared ascent,” “An integrated life,” and “Placing heart and mind in the service of God.” The Lilly Fellows Program is supporting the conference financially. The Humanities and Arts department at Valparaiso University created the Lilly Fellows Program to renew and enhance the connections between Christianity and academic vocation.
E-mail Sudo at: optimist@acu.edu
Page 6
SING SONG
Monday, February 19, 2007
Clubs and classes ‘gear’
Frater Sodalis: “Shifting in2 ‘007”
Galaxy: “Float Like a Butterfly, Sing Like a Moonie”
PHOTOGRAPHER/Staff Photog-
Seniors: “Better Latte Than Never!”
Delta Theta: “Don’t Hold Your Breath, Prince Charming”
Freshmen: “Get Loose”
Sigma Theta Chi: “Do You Want Fries with That?”
Monday, February 19, 2007
SING SONG
Page 7
up for Sing Song 2007 Photographs by Brian Schmidt Senior photographer
Juniors: “The Perfect Cheer” GATA: “Ladies in Red”
Ko Jo Kai: “Fish Are Friends, Not Food!”
Alpha Kai Omega: “The Journey to Elf Discovery”
PHOTOGRAPHER/Staff Photographer
Gamma Sigma Phi: “Burnin’ Down the House” Sophomores: “It’s a Hard-Knock Life for Us”
ViewsMonday
Page 8
Newspaper held accountable to public
The issue:
A university newspaper in Connecticut has been reprimanded by the community for printing an insensitive article on rape.
Our view:
Though the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, the media are responsible for audience’s reaction.
The solution:
The media should approach delicate subjects with great caution and respect.
Feb 19, 2007
The First Amendment guarantees American citizens freedom of speech and of the press, but what happens when these liberties push hateful and harmful boundaries? On Feb. 7, the opinion editor for Central Connecticut State University’s newspaper, the Recorder, wrote and printed an editorial that has drawn strong protests from not only the community but the nation. The editorial headlined “Rape only hurts if you fight it,” argues that rape has been a positive force in western civilization since the days of the Roman Empire. While his story was
intended in satire, is abhorMiller was correct to say that Petroski legally to be sarent,’’ Miller said. had the right to print his story, but like the autirical, auMiller was corthor is experiencing, the media are responsible thor John rect to say that for what they choose to say and print. Petroski’s Petroski legally article was had the right to out of line print his story, but as he and like the author is his staff are now facing opof intercourse with a man experiencing, the media are position from a spectrum of who isn’t drunk?” responsible for what they people nationwide includJack Miller, the universi- choose to say and print. ing rape victims. ty’s president, issued a stateA publication’s purpose About 1,000 people, some ment defending Petroski’s is to inform its audience, with signs, have rallied for right to freedom of speech, but when it deals poorly Petroski’s resignation. What but condemning the article with such a sensitive subother response could be ex- as a “clear violation of re- ject as rape, it is forced to pected from an article with sponsible journalism and suffer the consequences of statements that glorify rape the community standards the public’s reaction. This as a “magical experience” of this institution.’’ is just. and argues that rape is “Rape is a profound violaIn Petroski’s case, he was the only way “ugly woman tion of body and spirit, and asked to meet with the uniwould ever know the joys to make light of this, even versity where he was asked
Cole Williams
Let Loose
Facebook: the new way to protest Say you’re fighting mad about something or want to see some change around you. You need to let the world, or at least a few close friends, know the extent of your rage and how you plan to start Fields of the next big revolution. Dreams But you’re Jared smarter than Fields previous generations who tried this. People before you held picket signs, had sit-ins, demonstrations, wrote letters to congressmen or even used violence to get results they wanted. But not you. You’re smarter than them; you grew up in the Internet age. You have Facebook. Now, when young people
The latest trend in protest and political rallying is not to go to the source but to sit in from of a computer screen and vent to people who already agree with you.
get mad they turn to the Internet instead of the source. I see Facebook groups popping up everyday, but I don’t see activism acted out through personto-person interaction. The latest trend in protest and political rallying is not to go to the source but to sit in front of a computer screen and vent to people who already agree with you. Take for example the 2008 presidential race. Democratic favorites Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have almost countless pro and anti groups on Facebook. But what good does that do? I’ll make a bold prediction and say it will not make any difference in the two races. I am
sure as this race progresses I will not be approached to attend a rally, but I will be invited to plenty of groups, for and against, a certain candidate. So if someone checks my profile close enough, they’ll see I have the guts to sit down at my computer and make a stand for what I believe. Youth say they want to make a difference, but they create a group on an Internet site where the people they’re addressing know little or nothing. You can look to issues here to see how young people have no clue how to make a change. Instead of going to the Students’ Association, Facebook groups are created to “demand” things like a looser attendance
policy, a recreation center and a promise to attend Lectureship if teachers let them out of class. The group wanting a recreation center has almost 600 members. Six hundred people can make an impact, but if no one who matters in the decision-making process knows there are that many wanting a rec center, then nothing can ever be accomplished. To speak for the power of Facebook and the ineffectiveness at the same time, look at the groups that formed denouncing Facebook after its format changed. Instead of deleting profiles, people joined groups to show their anger. Lord help them if they had to show true protest and actually take action. Then something might get done.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu
to resign from his position, write a formal apology to the school and attend mandatory rape prevention programs. Writing news in the form of opinion can be controversial, and the media has a history of receiving criticism from the public. This can be expected, and newspapers should be a place to stir new thinking and promote change. But this must be approached with great sensitivity, caution, and a knowledge they will be held accountable for the words by society.
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Experience of a Sing Song Convert My first impression of Sing right tune. But I was proudSong was a picture of a red- est of the men that sang cheeked, wide-eyed smiling with me. girl on a poster in Moody ColAfter spending numeriseum, and to be honest, I was ous practice hours and scared and preparation time with my confused. fellow club members, I now I didn’t have memories that will folunderstand low me the rest of my life. why rotat- Memories I wouldn’t have ing your had without Sing Song. arms like a Although this is a hosstar, singing tile era in ACU’s history to rip-offs of be a club member — with Stereotype oldies and criticisms from the ACU Free smiling like community and growing Daniel a person limitations from the adJohnson overdosing ministration — I couldn’t on Prozac be more proud to be a were things that consumed member of a social club afthe lives of ACU students ter Sing Song. for a month every year. Sing Song is the social To me it clubs’ bigseemed weird, gest opporunnecessary tunity to and even a litrepresent tle crazy. Although this is a hos- themselves I thought tile era in ACU’s histo- positively everyone in- ry to be a club member to ACU. volved was too This year — with criticisms from competitive, they did so the ACU community and it was just brilliantly. and growing limitaanother thing I have tions from the adminsocial clubs did come a istration — I couldn’t on campus. long way be more proud to be But after befrom the a member of a social ing a particicynical pant for the freshman club after Sing Song. first time this who was year, I have confused seen the light by Sing — I am a Sing Song convert. Song. I can now surely say As a member of the Frat- I will definitely participate er Sodalis act “Shifting in2 in Sing Song the rest of my 007,” I found something college career. exhilarating about being on Maybe someday a skepstage dressed in a home- tical student will be conmade costume and pop- fused by my Sing Song face ping choreography moves I on a poster in Moody. practiced for weeks. Heck, it was actually kind of fun. I was proud to have my Sing Song face locked throughout the show and E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu proud of singing on the
The majority of Texas gun owners are not gangsters Letter to the Editor A letter to the editor in response to Atsumi Shibata’s Feb. 16 column headlined “Eliminating guns, decreasing violence.”
In response to Atsumi Shibata’s editorial where she states “a gun is one of
the most useless things in the world,” I would have to disagree and say the estimated 20.1 million hunters in the United States would also. The majority of the people who own guns in the United States and certainly in Texas are not
“gangsters.” In fact, many people still use guns simply to obtain basic food requirements for their families needs. For instance, “Hunters for the Hungry” is a program that has provided over 3.5 million quarter pound servings to those
who could not afford to purchase meat to put on their tables since 1990 in Texas alone. Programs like these, which reach out to the needy and the poorest of the poor, could not exist without guns and the ability to harvest this game. It
is easy to point fingers and to exploit an accident that involves guns. However, before someone says we should “eliminate guns,” I think it would be wise to open our eyes to all of the uses of guns and the ways they do in fact benefit our society, including those
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
in need right here in West Texas.
Luke Cochran freshman finance major from Round Rock lac05i@acu.edu
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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Online: www.acuoptimist.com
Monday February 19, 2007
Page 9
FROM THE FRONT PAGE/ SPORTS JUMPS
Board: Golf: Cats to face Lone Star teams Group to plan vision details Continued from page 10
the national tournament in May and bring home the first golf championship since 1993. “This team has a lot of depth,” Campbell said. “That’s something that we haven’t had before and that shows in our ranking.” Curtis Harris, member of the golf team, said he thinks the team has great depth. “Coach can feel confident
Continued from page 1 were of the university, and then to take them to the next level. He said the board will work on creating new programs for the university and renewing the focus of what the university was founded on. “We want to continue encouraging students to find leadership on campus,” he said. “We want them to succeed here, and then take their skills and leadership abilities and go beyond the boundaries of Abilene into the world.”
E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu
to take any of us on the road,” Harris said. Harris also said he thinks this year could be the championship year they have been waiting for. “I like our chances, hopefully we will be playing as well as we are now around the postseason,” he said. Campbell said he didn’t see any obstacles. “I know this team, and I
know they’re where they need to be,” he said. The first tournament for the Wildcats will be at the St. Edwards Invitational in Austin on Monday and Tuesday. Among the schools attending are Lone Star Conference competitors, such as Cameron, East Central, Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma. “All the Lone Star Con-
ference teams are really strong,” Campbell said. “Barry University will be there, and they’re up at the top in the country.” Barry is ranked at No. 5 according to the GCAA Coaches poll and is the highest ranked team at the St. Edward’s Invitational.
E-mail MacDonald at: optimist@acu.edu
Oklahoma: Athletes hit personal bests Continued from page 10 coach Hood said time will drop a little though because of the kind of track at Oklahoma. “Her time will drop about a half second because it was a flat track,” Hood said. Freshman Elizabeth Buyse put herself in contention to provisionally qualify in the pole vault when she cleared 1110.50. The mark puts her just
outside of 12th in the nation, which Hood said could get her to nationals. “Usually they take a minimum of 12 to nationals,” Hood said. “But it depends on the event.” In the 60 meters, Kim Prather’s time of 7.62 improved her provisional time. Sylvester Williamson earned a provisional mark in the men’s 60 meters with a time of 6.82.
Also on the men’s side, Kyle Dennis improved his pole vault mark with a height of 16-08.75 to gain an automatic spot to the national meet. Roger Morris jumped 609.00 in the high jump to get close to qualifying for nationals. Like Buyse, Morris’ jump put him close to the top 12 in the nation. Hood also had some athletes hit personal best marks
at Oklahoma. Kellie Clements in the shot put threw for a distance of 43-05.75. In the men’s pole vault, Camille Vandendriessche and Aaron Cantrell both cleared 1505.00 for personal bests. “I’m just really encouraged,” Hood said. “We got a lot of folk a lot closer.” E-mail Fields at: jrf04b@acu.edu
Softball: Team fights for runs in tournament Continued from page 10 been giving us opportunities to stay in the games. We just
need to be more disciplined at the plate and come through when runners are in scoring position.” Wilson said the team
fought for runs every inning, but driving in runs has been an issue for the team all season long. “Overall, this weekend,
we came through pretty well with runners on base,” Wilson said. E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
Doom: ACU can clinch playoffs Continued from page 10 that’s really what killed us.” West Texas A&M shot 63 percent (19 of 30) from the field in the second half. The Wildcats’ next game is Tuesday against Texas Woman’s University. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot of adjustments we’ll have to make,” Lavender said. “We just ran into a good team. I think the biggest thing is that we have to make sure we stay focused and stay playing with the same intensity we’ve been playing with. So, just keeping the intensity level where we need it to be, I think, is going to be the biggest key.” If ACU beats Texas Woman’s, it will clinch the first playoff berth for the Wildcats since the 200405 season.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Expo: Formal dress needed to meet with various employers Continued from page 1 Development is spearheading the West Central Texas Employment Expo. The Expo, taking place at the Abilene Civic Center on Thursday, will feature over 60 employers from across the country and will even have one or two from overseas. OCAD is encouraging students of all classifications and majors to attend.
Bradon Tharp, employer relations specialist in OCAD, said she was anticipating a great Expo. “Last year was exemplary,” she said. “We had a great turnout, both from employers and students, and this year is shaping up to be just as good.” Students who attend the Expo are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resumes to give to prospective employers. Tharp said the
Expo provides a great opportunity for students to network with professionals in their fields. “The students really need to talk to everybody they can,” she said. “The biggest mistake I see students make at this event is to just show up, talk to two or three people and leave.” Tharp pointed out that many of the employers featured send representatives
Hughes: Plans to golf, serve Continued from page 1 and then from 1997-2005. The card Hughes gave coworkers, such as Colleen Durrington, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences who left after the fall semester, and David Hendricks, chair of the Mathematics Department, pictured an old, bearded man with a golf club. “I Don’t Care!” the card read. “I Won’t Be Here Next Year Either!” Dr. Jeff Haseltine, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, along with Hughes, gave Durrington a self-inking stamp that said, “I don’t care, I won’t be here next year,” as a gift. “When he came over [to the dean’s office] that’s when I really got to know him,” Haseltine said. “He’s got a very dry sense of humor, and he’s also very intelligent.” Outside of the Mathematics Department, Hughes’ role
in the dean’s office has primarily dealt with curriculum and working with the Registrar’s office. “He has really smoothed out some of our processes with the catalogue,” said Danelle Brand, registrar and director of academic records. “David is a very detailed person and an analytical person and has brought some continuity to the Arts and Sciences Department and that catalogue.” Haseltine said Hughes’ historical knowledge of the university was invaluable for his position. “He’s been at ACU for a long, long time, and his knowledge and recollection in what’s gone on in a lot of different areas has helped,” Haseltine said. While Hughes’ position will need to be filled, the continuing search for a new dean will delay replacing Hughes. “The first order of business is to replace [Durrington],”
Hughes said. Hughes said he has quite a list of things to do once he retires. “I’m sure I will spend some time volunteering at the Christian Service Center,” Hughes said. Along with volunteering, Hughes said he’s looking forward to playing golf, traveling and getting to a stack of books he wants to read. Hughes hinted there may be a slight chance of his staying at ACU in some facility, although without a dean he cannot be sure of that. Hughes isn’t the only person with those thoughts. “My secret hope is that there might be some way for Dr. Hughes to continue on as a senior faculty member but have his part-time position here in these offices,” Haseltine said. “That’s my own per-
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
that are looking to hire for multiple varied positions in a large corporation. “It is vital that students simply get out of their comfort zones and talk to employers,” said Matt Boisvert, executive director of OCAD. “They are friendly people, and they love the quality of ACU students.” To help prepare students for the Expo, OCAD will host a resume workshop Monday and Wednesday at 5 p.m.
When students do attend, both Tharp and Boisvert said professional attire is a must. “It’s happened before that we’ve had students show up in a T-shirt and flip flops,” Tharp said. “You’d be surprised some of the outfits I’ve seen people wear, and they’re trying to convince a professional organization to hire them.” OCAD recommends that students who attend dress formally — at the very least
wearing slacks and a buttondown shirt. Students are not required to register for the Expo. The format allows students to come and go at their own convenience anytime between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday.
E-mail Pond at: jlp04b@acu.edu
SportsMonday
Page 10
Slow second half dooms Wildcats
ScoreBoard Standings
n The ACU women’s basketball team dropped to 15-11 overall and 6-6 in the Lone Star Conference South after losing 80-64 to West Texas A&M on Saturday.
Scoreboard as of Sunday
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. 8-2 7-3 7-3 5-5 4-6 3-7 1-9
WTAM MSU Tarleton ENMU TAMK-U Angelo St. ACU
Overall 16-8 18-6 18-7 11-13 17-8 8-16 10-14
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. 12-0 8-4 8-4 6-5 5-7 TX Woman’s 5-7 ENMU 3-9 TAMK-U 3-9 WTAM Tarleton Angelo St. ACU MSU
Overall 23-3 16-7 14-10 15-10 12-12 11-14 12-12 8-17
Scores Friday
By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
GARY RHODES CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Forward Ashlee Barr shoots over a West Texas A&M defender Saturday. ACU lost 80-64 and is 15-11.
ACU 6, East Central 1 ACU 7, East Central 0
Saturday BASEBALL ACU 20, East Central 0 ACU 25, East Central 4
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL West Texas A&M 80, ACU 64
MEN’S BASKETBALL West Texas A&M 80, ACU 69
Upcoming Monday MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Angelo State, San Angelo 7 p.m.
GOLF ACU at St. Edwards Invitational, Austin
Tuesday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Texas Woman’s, 7 p.m.
GOLF ACU at St. Edwards Invitational, Austin
n Home games listed in italics
Intramural Round-up Upcoming
proves to 23-3 and 12-0 in conference play. Even with the loss, the Wildcats are still in the playoff hunt. ACU needs to win one of its last two games to clinch a postseason spot. On Saturday, the Wildcats jumped out to a 35-30 first half lead over West Texas A&M, but the Lady Buffs went on a shooting spree in the second half, outscoring ACU 50-29. “I was very pleased with our first half effort,” said ACU head coach Shawna Lavender. “I thought we played great. Really
overall, I think our girls played hard. We just made too many mistakes in the second half.” Center Audrey Maxwell and guard Alex Guiton led the way for the Wildcats in the opening half. Guiton scored 11 of her eventual 15 points for the game, and Maxwell snagged 13 rebounds in the first half as she went on to finish with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Forwards Lacey Blau and Jamie Meyer ended the game each with nine points. In the first half, ACU sped out to an early 18-9 lead, but the Lady Buffs quickly began shaving down the lead as they
Cats sweep East Central n The ACU baseball team overpowered East Central this weekend in its Lone Star Conference Crossover series. ACU won all four games of the series. Sports Editor
The nationally ranked Wildcat baseball team swept a four-game series against East Central this weekend to remain undefeated at home and extend its record to 10-2. The biggest wins of the weekend for the No. 18 Wildcats were a two-game tromping of Tigers on Saturday. ACU won both games Saturday, 20-0 and 25-4, and both games Friday, 6-1 and 7-0. “We came out, and we hit the ball well and did everything we need to do,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “It was just one of those days when the wind’s blowing in our favor.” ACU outplayed, outscored (58-5) and out hit (59-20) the Tigers over the weekend in the sweep, and ACU’s pitchers only allowed two earned runs in 28 innings pitched. All four of ACU’s starting pitchers picked up wins over the weekend. “That’s what you got to do to win at home,” Bonneau said. “You got to take care of business.” The two most consistent bats of the Wildcats over the weekend were third baseman Alec Sowards and shortstop Willy Uechi. Sowards was 8-
n The ACU softball team made it to the semi-finals of its bracket at the Triple Crown Fastpitch Division II Leadoff Classic in Phoenix.
Monday WOMEN’S CHAMP BASKETBALL The Justice League vs. Cheetah girls, Benett gym, 6 p.m. Siggies vs. Rockout, Benett gym, 7 p.m.
MEN’S CHAMP BASKETBALL Grove Squad up vs. Flyboys, Benett gym, 8 p.m. Yao’s Homeboys vs. Abilene’s finest, Benett gym, 9 p.m.
Intramural points MEN’S SOCIAL CLUBS Gamma Sigma Phi, 170 Frater Sodalis, 100 Galaxy, 65 WOMEN’S SOCIAL CLUBS Ko Jo Kai - 120 Sigma Theta Chi - 80 Delta Theta - 35 Alpha Kai Omega - 10
Sports Writer
The Wildcats proved they were a team to beat this weekend at the Triple Crown Fastpitch Division II Leadoff Classic in Phoenix. “I felt overall we made a turning point in the team’s overall level of play and intensity level,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. “We beat a couple excellent teams which proved to these play-
took a 29-25 advantage with 5:33 remaining. At the two-minute mark, the Wildcats regained the lead and entered halftime up 35-30. ACU held the team that owns the No. 2 spot in the conference in scoring to just 32 percent (12 of 37) shooting from the field. West Texas A&M came roaring out of the gates in the second half by converting points off of ACU’s turnovers and going on a 7-0 run. “We just didn’t come out ready to play the first five minutes,” Lavender said. “I think See
DOOM page 9
Marks bettered over weekend n Better qualifying times for the Indoor national meet in Boston was the Wildcats main prize at the Oklahoma Indoor Invitational this weekend. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Shortstop Willy Uechi scoops up a ground ball during the Wildcats four-game series against East Central this weekend. Uechi had nine RBI, one double and eight runs scored over the weekend.
Baseball 14 at the plate with five runs scored, two doubles, one triples, two homeruns and 10 RBI. Uechi, a freshman walkon, was 10 for 15 with eight runs scored, one double and nine RBI. “Both of them had a great game,” Bonneau said. Bonneau said to have such a consistent hitter that
is a freshman like Uechi is a pleasant surprise. “He’s definitely a surprise, but he has earned everything that he’s accomplished,” Bonneau said. Uechi is also an asset on defense as he fills in and performs wherever Bonneau puts him. “He’s one of those kids that works hard and allows us to have a kid that plays three different positions,”
Bonneau said. “He just has to keep working hard and doing what he’s doing.” The Wildcats have a consistent lineup with a team .394 batting average and a bullpen that has a 2.52 ERA ACU’s next series will be against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. Feb. 23-24.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
ACU reaches semis at Phoenix tourney By RACHEL DAVIS
n The intramural schedule and points seen on the Optimist sports page are not final and subject to change. Any lastminute changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum.
Gata - 0
A slow second half start doomed the Wildcats against West Texas A&M as ACU fell 80-64 Saturday night at McMurry University’s Kimbrell Arena. The loss drops ACU to 15-11 overall and 6-6 in the conference, meanwhile West Texas A&M, the No. 1 team in the Lone Star Conference, im-
Women’s basketball
By DANIEL JOHNSON BASEBALL
Monday, February 19, 2007
Softball ers we are capable of playing with anyone.” ACU made it to the semifinals of the Gold Bracket before losing 4-0 to third-ranked Emporia State on Saturday. The 19th-ranked Wildcats, who are now 8-6 for the season, ended the tournament tied for third place. The tournament featured some of the top nationally ranked teams. Emporia State finished last year’s season as the national runner-up. “Every team we played was tough,” Wilson said. The women won two games on Friday to get them
to the semifinals. Junior centerfielder Leisha Johnson hit two home runs, including a game-winning homer, to top off the Wildcats’ offense. ACU beat Western New Mexico and second-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills with identical 5-3 scores. Wilson said the highlight of the tournament for the team was beating both Western New Mexico and Cal State Dominguez Hills. “Both games were very intense, and the fans were very much into the game,” Wilson said. “It was exciting to see us play at the level we are capable of. Cal State had a great line-up and a pitcher
who went right after us. But we were able to keep up with them throughout the game and deliver in the clutch with the game on the line.” The team played twice on Thursday and first beat Grand Canyon 7-0 and turned around to lose to 10th-ranked Cal-State Stanislaus 5-0. Johnson homered twice in the first game and pitcher Jamie Ledford allowed only four hits the entire game. In the second game, ACU only got two hits against Cal State’s pitching. “We still need to be more consistent [with hitting],” Wilson said. “Our pitching has See
SOFTBALL page 9
The Wildcats left Oklahoma with some bettered qualifying marks for the indoor national meet in Boston on March 9-10. In the women’s shot put, Liga Klavina improved her provisional mark with a throw of 46-08.25. In the 800 meters, Venessa Whittle improved to a time of 2:14.72, but head See
OKLAHOMA page 9
Austin Tourney begins season n The ACU golf team will start it spring season at the St. Edwards Invitational in Austin. ACU will play in the tournament Monday and Tuesday. By NATHAN MACDONALD Sports Writer
The ACU golf team is going to hit the links this season ranked seventh in the nation according to the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Coaches poll. Being ranked seventh is the highest the team has been ranked since Coach Mike Campbell started coaching at ACU in 2003. He said this year his golfers are hungry to get to See
GOLF page 10
Loss puts postseason out of picture n The ACU men’s basketball team lost its seventh-straight game Saturday; ACU lost to West Texas A&M 80-68 and now has no chance of making the postseason. By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
Playoffs are out of the picture for the ACU men’s basketball team after its seventh-straight loss in conference play. ACU is now 1-9 in Lone Star Conference South Division play and 10-14 overall after losing 80-68 to West Texas A&M on Saturday. “We had our chances and just didn’t execute well the
Men’s basketball last two and a half minutes,” said head coach Jason Copeland. ACU will move on to play Angelo State on Monday in the first of the Wildcats’ two remaining games of its 200607 season. Angelo is the only team ACU has been able to beat in conference play — ACU beat Angelo 92-76 — but Copeland isn’t overconfident going into the game. “They’re a team that plays really well at home and has struggled some on the road,” Copeland said. “I feel like if we go over there and play
well, we will win.” ACU did play well in the second half against West Texas after encroaching on a 15-point West Texas lead by going on a 17-8 run that cut the Buff lead to 72-66. That was the best shot ACU had though, as West Texas rallied for a late surge. Guard Cortnie Ross led in scoring for the Wildcats with 18, while three other Wildcats scored in double digits: forward Cameron Holson with and guards Philip Brooks and Elmo Williams, both with 10. ACU’s 18th-straight loss to West Texas pushed the Buffs to 8-2 in the LSC South to remain atop of the divi-
sional standings. ACU is last in the LSC, but Copeland does see the positives of the season so far. “Obviously 10 wins is better than the last two seasons,” Copeland said. ACU was 8-19 in 2005-06 and 2004-05 seasons. But Copeland would like to win the last two games of the season. “I think it would be huge to win a couple more,” he said. “If we can finish with two more, it will definitely help the confidence of the returnees next year.”
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
GARY RHODES CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Guard Cortnie Ross drives to the basket against West Texas A&M on Saturday. ACU lost 80-68.