da
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The Vol. 95, No. 40
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OPTIMIST WEDNESDAY
1 sections, 8 pages
February 28, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Cold cash
Students wishing to study abroad in fall 2007 may be eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship, page 3
Mission matters
The Halbert Institute for Missions will sponsor the Broom Colloquium on Thursday and Friday to honor the Broom family, page 3
Serving the soul
Students joined together last Thursday for “Soul Food”, an annual event where students enjoyed fellowship and food from various cultures, page 3
FEATURES
EMILY SMItH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mike Chapel, superintendent of Campus Crest Construction, shows the tresses being constructed on the new Grove apartments on north of Ambler Avenue on Judge Ely.
University Park prepares for competition Home on the range
James Francies, the first black man to ride a trail with the Houston Fat Stock Show and a proponent of black history shares his cowboy tale, page 5
SPORTS
n Despite competition moving in next door, University Park Apartments director Patricia Hail-Jackson says UP is not threatened by the new complex that is expected to be completed by August. By CAMILLE PAINTER Student Reporter
University Park Apartments is making changes while competition down the street sprouts. UP packaged all expenses into one payment offering free laundry, paid
electricity up to $30 and new furniture. This new policy deducts deposits for residents. Not only will UP get rid of the security deposit for a lease on an apartment, but it will also take away electricity deposits because of the shared electricity company. Although the Grove apartments, the new competition down Judge Ely Boulevard, offers a washer and dryer in each unit, Patricia Hail-Jackson, UP Apartments director, said the laundry system at UP could still be seen as a better benefit to residents.
Saturday marks final service day Jumping to new heights Angie Aguilar broke the Division II Indoor pole vaulting record this weekend, page 8
Breezing through
The women’s tennis team swept both Division I opponents this weekend 6-1 against Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Monroe, page 8
SPEED READ Protecting online reps
Cheaptickets.com has created a cheap-o-meter for college students wanting to go to a top destination for a low price during spring break. The top 10 locales students are heading to are: Miami; Cancun, Mexico; Daytona, Fla.; San Jose Cabo; Bahamas; Key West, Fla.; Jamaica; Acapulco, Mexico; Panama City; and South Padre Island. South Padre Island was also named the best spring break value destination for 2007. -source: UWIRE
n Students can participate in the final Service Saturday of the semester this weekend, but other opportunities will be available in April. By KARIE SCHMIDT Student Reporter
On Saturday, students will once again get the chance to serve the Abilene community by participating in Service Saturday. Starting Wednesday through Friday in the campus center, students may sign-up to volunteer at various Abilene agencies. So far, the chair of Service Saturday, Brittany Baumgartner, senior political science major from San Antonio, and co-chair Michelle Tonkin, sophomore biochemistry pre-med major from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, expect between 50 and 70 students to volunteer. Students have the opportunity to serve many agencies including Hendrick Friendship House, Windcrest Alzheimer Association, Abilene Convalescent Center, Global Samaritan Resources and Abilene Hope Haven. Additional sites may be added to the list before Saturday. At the sites, volunteer work can range from manual labor and childcare to visiting with residents. Individuals who participate in Service Saturday will receive service hours. There will be site leaders for each agency, and a service log sheet will be available. Students, however, may bring their own service sheet if they need hours for a specific class. Service log forms may be found in the Volunteer Service-Learning Center office located in the Bean Sprout. “I believe students should participate See
SERVICE page 4
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
“The fact of having a washer and dryer in your room is nice, but energy-wise it’s going to cost you more money,” Hail-Jackson said. “They’re going to see that that washer and dryer is going to generate extra electricity; plus we have a boiler room that does all the heating of our water. University Apartments pays that expense, and they’re going to have individual hot water heaters that are going to mark part of that electricity bill.” The idea of bringing in new fur-
niture came with the University Park director considering the benefits of the Grove. The fact that the Grove is a new property is going to be enticing, HailJackson said, but UP is getting all new furniture and is guaranteed to be ready for residents to move into in the fall. “We know we’re here and we’re ready for you to move-in in August,” Hail-Jackson said. See
UP page 4
Sing Song changes boost small clubs n Smaller clubs like GATA and Delta Theta took advantage of new Sing Song rules this year that allowed clubs to bring in performers outside the club to help competition. By CAMILLE PAINTER Student Reporter
Lindsey Smith sang with the GATAs in front of a large crowd for the second time this Sing Song season. But it was the first time she competed as a GATA. “My cousin was a member of GATA last year, and she called me and asked me to be a part of their act,” said Smith, sophomore elementary education major from Tyler. GATA was one of the first clubs to take advantage of this new flexibility Kendall Massey, director of student productions, drew in to the Sing Song regulations. Smith was a testimony to many changes and
resurrected traditions. “Because we’re a smaller club, last year we sought permission to have other people come join us,” said Courtnee Hembree, GATA member and Sing Song co-chair. “And this year the management team voted on it and every club can bring in people outside their club.” In the past two years, Massey not only has adjusted the rules to allow clubs to recruit people outside its organizations to represent them, but also deleted the requirement for a minimum number of people to represent a group for the group to compete. Small club members have found the changes favorable. Many of them have taken advantage of them. “I want people to be involved in Sing Song if possible, and if someone has the ability, See
SING SONG page 4
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
The women of GATA perform during Sing Song 2007 as ladybugs. For the past two years the club included performers not in GATA for the show.
Student directs ‘Miracle Worker’ n Ryan Massie debuted as the director for the spring play “The Miracle Worker” last Thursday. The play concludes this weekend with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. By ANDREA LUCADO Student Reporter
The student-run production “The Miracle Worker” opened Thursday in Fulks Theatre under the direction of first-time director Ryan Massie. Each year, the theatre department selects a student to direct his own play, and this year Ryan Massie, senior theatre major from San Antonio, was cho-
sen to direct “The Miracle Worker,” a play by William Gibson about Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, and her teacher Annie Sullivan who delivered her from darkness. Professors in the Theatre Department chose Massie in October after an interview process. Although Massie has directed seven productions at ACU, this is his first full play to direct. Massie said on nights they had rehearsal, which began Jan. 16, he would spend from 6 p.m. to midnight working on the production. Emily Savage, senior theatre major from Keller, said the show really is
Abilene Christian University
all about the director’s vision. Savage, who played Annie Sullivan in the play, said she had a hard time at first taking direction from a peer but learned “directing isn’t all about age.” “We have to all be in it together or it won’t happen,” she said. Everything from lighting to directing to make-up was run by students for this production, and Savage said nothing was completely finished until the evening before opening night. Jenavene Hester, sophomore theatre major from Abilene who See
PLAY page 4
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, February 28, 2007
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Calendar & Events Wednesday
9 a.m. ‘Huddled Masses’ Walk and Vigil begins at the park across from the Abilene Convention Center. This walk to Haskell Prison was inspired by the story of Suzi Hazahza and her imprisoned family at the Rolling Plains Regional Jail in Haskell and will be used to free Suzi, her family and other mistreated immigrants. The walk will end with a Texas Independence Day Vigil at 3 p.m. on Saturday near Haskell Prison at 118 County Road 206 in Haskell.
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Thursday
Last day for graduate students to apply for May graduation. Deadline to sign up for Intramural volleyball. Each team is $100. Games will begin Tuesday in Bennett Gym. 11 a.m. Broom Colloquium for Missions and Global Christianity in Chapel on the Hill.
Friday
Weekend Campaign to San Antonio. 10 a.m. Broom Colloquium in the Learning Commons. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The baseball team plays Southeastern Oklahoma State at Crutcher Scott Field.
6:45 p.m. Broom Colloquium in Hart Auditorium.
7 p.m. International Justice Mission forum in Cullen Auditorium. This will count for two Chapel credits.
8 p.m. ‘The Miracle Worker’ is performed in Fulks Theatre.
8 p.m. ‘The Miracle Worker’ is performed in Fulks Theatre.
Announcements Want to get away? Join the Weekend Campaign to San Antonio this weekend. Students are heading out Friday to work with the Christian Hope Resource Center. Come to the Campus Center ticket windows to sign up by Thursday, or e-mail Amanda Taylor at ajt04a@acu.edu. GATA women`s social club is hosting a garage sale Saturday starting at 8 a.m. at 4072 N. 10th between Willis and Pioneer. Come check out the deals and help GATA raise money for an out-oftown formal. A virtual reality alcohol awareness program will be available on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday. This is a national touring High Impact Alcohol Awareness Program that is designed to heighten awareness of the dangers of intoxication. It involves a motionbased simulator that can accommodate up to 12 passengers at a time. The module is inside a semitruck which will be parked on campus. Using a multimedia film taken from a first person perspective, riders will experience the sensations of being at a party where drinking is taking place and of driving drunk afterward. Each ride lasts about five minutes. The graduate program in speech and language pathology is applying for reaccreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA). In accordance with the CAA policy on Public Comment, the program invites interested parties to attend a meeting on Thursday at
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4:30 p.m. in Room 117 of the Don Morris building. 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. The Abilene March ArtWalk will be March 8 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Abilene. This event, sponsored by Ballet Abilene, will feature free art activities, live music, dance performances and demonstrations, drama performances and more. For a schedule of events or more information, contact the Center for Contemporary Arts at (325) 677-1171. The Women for Abilene Christian University are accepting scholarship applications through March 23, 2007. The scholarship is for $1,000 a semester for the 2007-08 school year. For a copy of the application or more information, e-mail Samantha Adkins at samantha.adkins@alumni.acu.edu. 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.
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Saturday
Weekend Campaign to San Antonio. Service Saturday
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.
7:30 p.m. “The Complete Word of God (Abridged)” presented by the Fletcher Players in Cullen Auditorium. This play is a unique interpretation of Bible stories and characters performed through slapstick comedy.
Protect your identity online. Change passwords often and avoid posting personal or identifying information on Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook.
8 p.m. ‘The Miracle Worker’ is performed in Fulks Theatre.
Police Log
Volunteer Opportunities Sign up for Service Saturday in the Campus Center ticket windows through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join in volunteering for a variety of needs in the Abilene community. 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. 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. Opportunity to Interact with Older Adults: On Thursday, an older adult aging conference, “Live Long & Love It,” will be held in the Abilene Civic Center. Students are needed to assist older adults at different times in the morning and at noon. 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 underprivileged 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
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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. Wesley Court needs volunteers to work in the gift shop and assist with inventory Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two- to four-hour shifts are requested. For more information, contact Susan Conwell at (325) 437-1184. Abilene Zoo needs volunteers to help on the weekends with special events. Volunteers also needed to help clean and feed animals, assist the zookeeper and assist with educational classes. Call to set up a time to help. Requested hours are anytime Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call Doug Hotle at (325) 676-6451. Abilene Hope Haven needs volunteers to baby sit from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Help is also needed working the front desk from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and helping in the office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Colleen Rud at (325) 677-4673.
ACU Police Tip of the Week
Edited for space
Monday 02/19/2007 9:21 a.m. Placed cones at Nelson Lot for construction 11:27 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at University Parking Lot 3:35 p.m. Assisted Abilene Police with burglary in progress at 800 Vista 4 p.m. Medical emergency at Gibson Health and P.E. Center, student taken to Clinic for allergic reaction 6:02 p.m. Contacted skateboarders at Brown Library area, advised to leave campus 6:31 p.m. Contacted skateboarders again at Business Lot, advised to leave campus 8 p.m. Parking violations on main campus 9:58 p.m. Parking violation at Morris Parking Lot Tuesday 02/20/2007 8:12 a.m. Traffic stop at EN 10th and Griffith for speeding 8:18 a.m. Traffic stop at EN 10th and Griffith for speeding 2:08 p.m. Refueled vehicle 4:00 p.m. Parking violations on main campus 8:35 p.m. Burglar alarm at WPAC, checked all okay 10:25 p.m. Noise violation at University Park, contacted resident to turn music down Wednesday 02/21/2007 7:54 a.m. Medical emergency at EN 10th and Griffith, subject refused treatment 8:21 a.m. Traffic arrest for warrants at EN 10th and Griffith 8:35 a.m. Assisted Abilene Police with disturbance at Wal-Mart 9 a.m. Traffic stop at Grape and Sandefer, one subject arrested for warrants 10:28 a.m. Found package in the road at Bible Lot, delivered to Gibson Health and P.E. Center 11:33 a.m. Parking violation on Campus Court 4:15 p.m. Parking violation at Gardner Lot Thursday 02/22/2007 1 a.m. Disturbance between two students at University Park Apartments 1 p.m. Parking violation on ACU Drive 1:58 p.m. Parking violation at McKinzie Lot 2:13 p.m. Parking violation at Sikes Lot 5 p.m. Parking violations on main campus 9:25 p.m. Report of suspicious subject on Judge Ely & Cloverleaf, checked unable to locate anyone 9:33 p.m. Report of loud music at Elmer Gray Stadium, contacted coach at Stadium, PA system music was turned off
9:52 p.m. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle at West Campus Lot Friday 02/23/2007 1:49 a.m. Found item turned in to the Station for safekeeping 2:19 a.m. Gave access to Brown Library to retrieve item 7:54 a.m. Traffic stop at Judge Ely and Stamford for speeding 8:15 a.m. Traffic stop at 1400 Campus Court for speeding 9:50 a.m. Cut off lock on computer at Sherrod Don Morris 4:20 p.m. Parking violation at University Church Lot 4:25 p.m. Traffic hazard in the road way at 1500 Judge Ely, cone was moved upon arrival 9:30 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Bible Lot 10:10 p.m. Returned found item to owner at Moody Coliseum Saturday 02/24/2007 12:40 a.m. Loud party at 700 EN 14th, contacted resident turned volume down 9:25 a.m. Unlocked vehicle on Oliver Jackson Blvd 11 a.m. Report of transformer that blew up at 1500 Rountree, checked area with Abilene Fire Department, unable to locate 12 p.m. Report of power outage at Sherrod Apartments 1:15 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle on ACU Drive South 2 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Big Purple Lot 2:30 p.m. Spoke with female reference to possible theft 4 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at WPAC Lot 11:40 p.m. Traffic stop off campus for disregarding stop sign Sunday 02/25/2007 5:48 a.m. Parking violation at University Park Lot 10:45 a.m. Refueled vehicle 11:21 a.m. Contacted subjects selling dogs at vacant lot on Ambler, advised of no soliciting on ACU property 2:30 p.m. Assisted Lost Prevention Officer at Wal-Mart with shoplifter arrest 3:30 p.m. Loud music at University Park Apartments, contacted resident will turn music down 6 p.m. Traffic stop at EN 18th and Campus Court for disregarding stop sign 6:14 p.m. Traffic stop at EN 16th and Campus Court for speeding 7:06 p.m. Report of loose dog on Judge Ely, Animal Control not available 9:15 p.m. Traffic stop at 900 EN 16th 9:40 p.m. Traffic stop at EN 18th and Campus Court for disregarding stop sign
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 3
Making a move
Soul Food gathers students n Students enjoyed food, a movie and friendship through cultural awareness at ‘Soul Food Dinner and a Movie,’ held by the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment. By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter
Thursday evening, the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment hosted a classic night out with a cultural twist. “Soul Food Dinner and a Movie” is an event on campus, usually taking place around Black History Month, where students are invited to come and enjoy a home-cooked potluck dinner and a thought-provoking movie about cultural understanding. Takisha Knight, senior English major from Lake Charles, La., helped orchestrate the event. “The point is to meet new people,” Knight said. “My favorite part is … the relationships, talking and everyone enjoying the food and each other.” Johnathan King, fresh-
man business marketing major from Frisco, attended the event. “Soul food is any food made with love that the cooks put their heart into,” King said. Elizabeth Van Vleet, junior criminal justice major from Colorado Springs, Colo., also attended and said she enjoyed the soul food. “I don’t know what this is, but it’s so amazing,” Van Vleet said. The dish, which Knight cooked, is called cornbread dressing. It was one of the many entrées and side dishes in the potluck dinner. There was also sausage, jambalaya, pot roast, corn-on-the-cob, cornbread, rice, brownies and peach cobbler. To wash it all down there were pitchers of lemonade and red Kool-Aid. When everyone finished eating, the venue moved to a more suitable room for viewing the movie. This year, the movie was Akeelah and the Bee, staring KeKe Palmer, Laurence Fishburne
and Angela Bassett. “We try to find recent movies not everyone would have seen that are important for race relations,” Knight said. Akeelah and the Bee is the story of an 11-year-old girl with the gift of spelling and her strive to win the National Spelling Bee Contest. The story’s themes of transcultural friendship, community and determination, reveal Akeelah’s individual development. The movie facilitated part of the evening’s purpose. “People get this chance every day,” Knight said. “It is a chance to meet and get to know people, enjoy conversation, eat, talk, have conversations where people are free and open to discussion.” Because Knight will be graduating this year, she said “the future of ‘Dinner and a Movie’ is in the hands of strangers. We hope to have new events that will encourage more people to come.” E-mail Lehmann at: optimist@acu.edu
Colloquium to discuss missions n The Broom Colloquium, an annual forum, will take place Thursday and Friday to probe important issues relating to missions and global Christianity. By MORGAN WILLIAMS Student Reporter
The Halbert Institute of Missions, the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry and the Graduate School of Theology will sponsor the first Broom Colloquium for Missions and Global Christianity on Thursday and Friday. The Colloquium is an annual forum that deals with issues relating to missions and global Christianity. Its purpose is to help students live their lives as world Christians. Phillip Jenkins, who is a distinguished professor of history and religious studies
at Pennsylvania State University, will be the primary guest and speaker. Jenkins has written 20 books, including “The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South” and “The Next Christendom: The Rise of Global Christianity,” which will be the two main focuses throughout the course of events. “The colloquium brings together being global and missional in a powerful and focused way,” said Dr. Christopher Flanders, assistant professor of missions. “This is why so many people have become very energized about the event.” The Colloquium is also meant to honor Wendell and Betty Broom. Wendell is an assistant professor emeritus of missions in the Bible, Missions
and Ministry Department. “Mr. Broom is a very valued person in the community,” said Katrina Willis of Faculty Enrichment in the Adams Center. “There may not be a single person who has had as big an impact on missions in Churches of Christ and particularly at ACU and in terms of missions education as Wendell Broom,” Flanders said. The Colloquium is a university-wide event involving all departments. Anyone planning to attend the Broom Colloquium must RSVP at RSVP2AC@ acu.edu, or call extension 2455. A schedule of events can be found on the ACU Web site under the Halbert Institute for Missions homepage. E-mail Williams at: optimist@acu.edu
LACI ADKINS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Davy Rakotonarivo, senior political science major from Madagascar, studies the chess pieces.
Study abroad scholarship available n Students who are U.S. citizens can apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to receive financial support to study abroad during fall 2007. By YURI SUDO
Student Reporter
A new chance is available for students to study abroad through a new scholarship. Students are eligible to apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship if they attend a two-year or four-year public or private college or university and receive a Federal Pell Grant. An informational meeting will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Mabee Library Auditorium. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship offers an essay writing competition for the award and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Any student who is a U.S. citizen can apply for the
scholarship to study abroad. A total of 777 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year to undergraduate students to study abroad along with awards of $4,000 for two- to four-year colleges. Applications will be accepted from students participating in study abroad programs during fall 2007, according to the Web site. A statement of purpose essay, a follow-up project proposal essay and other criteria such as country of destination, length of study and purpose for studying abroad will be considered for this award. This academic year, a new scholarship is provided for students who receive the Gilman Scholarship. The recipients then will be eligible to receive an additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Supplements. “As far as I know, it’s the first time to have a meeting,” said Sally Stevens, senior Eng-
lish major from Ruston, La. This meeting was Stevens’s idea because she wanted to tell other students about this scholarship and her study abroad experiences. Stevens received the award last semester for the ACU Study Abroad Program to Montevideo, Uruguay. She applied the $4,000 to cover the extra Study Abroad Program fee. “If I could not get this scholarship, I could not go to study abroad,” she said. Stevens invited students from all of the universities in Abilene to apply for the Gilman scholarship. Depending on the size of the school, the scholarship award is given to one to three students in each school on average. For more information, visit the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Web site at www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html.
E-mail Sudo at: optimist@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT
Page 4
UP: Grove doesn’t worry UP Continued from page 1 Joshua Harris, sophomore youth and family ministry and biology double major from Wichita, Kan., said the move-in situation does give UP an advantage. “For the fact that the Grove isn’t even put up completely yet, yeah I think UP’s a better option right now,” Harris said. Hail-Jackson said another benefit UP has over the Grove is it offers ninemonth leases and allows a rent-free summer. “We do the nine-month contract. If you’re going to be with us for the next year, just
put your stuff in your room and store it; it’s a small fee that we charge in the summer, and you can just leave your stuff here.” But Hail-Jackson has done the figures several times to compute that with University Park’s all-around lower rates and proximity to campus, and UP should still get a high rate of renewals, Hail-Jackson said. “I don’t know that it’s going to hurt our renewals because we’re almost $100 cheaper on rent. If [students] moved they’d have to move their stuff out and take it home for the three months. So I think we’ll do fine on our
renewals,” Hail-Jackson said. Hail-Jackson sees more of a threat of losing part of their new junior leasers. “[Sophomores] lived in the dorms for four semesters, so they’re looking to get off campus. We normally don’t retain … 25 percent of the res. hall residents,” Hail-Jackson said. Hail-Jackson has only a vague projection on how the Grove will affect UP’s business. “At this point I couldn’t even guesstimate because they don’t have a finished product,” Hail-Jackson said. E-mail Painter at: optimist@acu.edu
Play: Cast adjusts to director Continued from page 1 plays Helen in “The Miracle Worker,” said that with a new director things take more time. The theatre students are used to professors like Adam Hester, chair of the Theatre Department, directing them, so a student director called for some adjustment. “It’s been a great experience for all of us,” Hester said. She said everyone involved with the production was so willing to work, in-
cluding she and Savage, who both did extensive research to learn how to play their parts. Hester said she even studied how animals, like gorillas, move because before Helen learned how to communicate, she was very animal-like in her movements. The cast and crew were not left completely on their own when preparing for “The Miracle Worker.” Mike Fernandez, assistant professor of theatre, was the faculty adviser for the play and mentor to Massie.
“Every step of the way I was there as a sounding board,” Fernandez said. He said he was there to answer Massie’s questions and attended the last week of rehearsals, observing and giving notes. “I’m very proud of the work our students have done,” Fernandez said. “The Miracle Worker” will be Thursday through Saturday. For tickets, call (325) 674-ARTS. E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu
Service: Various times for students Continued from page 1 in Service Saturday because it is a great way to show the community the spirit of ACU and of Christ,” Tonkin said. “As Christians we are called to serve those around us, and Service Saturday is a great avenue to pursue this calling.” Time for participation in
the service projects vary between the establishments, but most sites meet from at least 9 a.m. to noon; some sites meet later in the afternoon. Most service projects last three hours. For more information, students may go online to check the Service Action Leadership Team Web site at http://www.acu.edu/stu-
dents/salthome.html or check with the SALT office located in the Bean Sprout. With the semester waning, this is the final Service Saturday of the semester. There will, however, be numerous chances for willing individuals to participate in service to ACU and the community. E-mail Schmidt at: optimist@acu.edu
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sing Song: New rules give small groups more Continued from page 1 if someone has the passion to get on stage and do it with 20 people around them, they should,” Massey said. Before last year, a group that wanted to perform in Sing Song had to have at least 35 members on stage to compete. But last year Massey gave the smaller clubs more freedom to qualify and compete. Under the new rules, 75 percent of the people in a certain act on stage must be members of the club represented in that act. The rest can be non-members. GATA member Courtney Hembree calculates it another way. “If we have 30 GATAs on stage we can have 15 nonGATAs that would bring on for a total of 45,” and that can be calculated up to the maximum of 120 participants, said Hembree, junior broadcast journalism major from Abilene. The mood was pumping, the lights were on, the crowd was attentive and in the midst of all the acts with the formulated hands and harmonized voices, a pack of pirates invaded. Pi Kappa, with 22 participants, was the smallest group on stage last year. “We had a couple of people at the time who weren’t officially club members and were part of our act,” said Daniel Gray, last year’s Pi Kappa Sing Song director. “Campus Life wasn’t very supportive of us having non-members, but Kendall was perfectly OK with it.” Although Pi Kappa added a few non-members, the group still knew it would be difficult to compete with their small numbers. “We went into it with the mindset that we weren’t going to get the best score but we were going to go ahead and try to do a good show and hope that people enjoyed it,” said Gray, senior social work major from Collierville, Tenn. “We put a lot of effort into the lyrics, and we tried to do really good lyrics that fit into the song.” This act looked much different from any of the others, even disregarding the small number. Their arms were not locked to the same planes as arms in other acts, and their feet were not glued to the floor. These pirates swayed and “yo ho ho-ed” in unison. “We were 20 guys and when you got a group that small you really can’t do four-part harmony, even three or two part, I mean we pretty much had to be [in] unison,” Gray said. “If you’re under 30 or 40 people it’s hard to get your voices to fill up the colise-
um like that. You have to be able to essentially scream your singing and still make it sound beautiful as far as winning Sing Song. “Kendall said, ‘You guys are a small club; you got plenty of space there, just use the stage and move around,’” Gray said. So they adapted their show to fit their form. “And the judges tore us up for that,” Gray said. Small groups should aim for a different goal than the big clubs, said Pi Kappa president Robert Caskey. “You can put on a good show, you just know you can’t really compete,” Caskey said. “You would have to be miracle singers and do all the motions somehow and make it into some giant show with a whole bunch of props or something, but you’re not going to win if you’re a small club.” Massey said he still believes smaller groups have a chance. “There is the ability to win with a small group, yes, especially if you’re entertaining. If you’re entertaining the crowd, that matters,” Massey said. “That’s a big deal.” Other small club members agreed with Caskey that their sights should be set on entertaining the audience rather than reaching for high scores. Julie Vazquez, Delta Theta Sing Song director, said she thinks clubs with smaller numbers are at a disadvantage. Delta Theta had 33 participants in its act this year, three of them non-members. “As a club we’re not unrealistic about it because 33 of us compared to 120, there is a big difference,” Vazquez said. “But we still have a good show, and I think we are still very entertaining. That is really the whole point of Sing Song anyway.” GATA member Smith said even if the added numbers don’t help the club win, they help the club perform. “We looked good last year, but we still got last place because we were so small and we couldn’t project,” Smith said. “But I think that it helps with the volume definitely, so it gets the audience more excited.” Massey said small clubs can be just as good at entertaining the audience as bigger groups. “Nobody wants to get up there and do something that’s not worthy of being up on that stage, so if they’re going to do something that’s good, then why not let them do it,” Massey said. Although the smaller clubs have struggled to compete, the boost of the new rules does more than only help them amplify its sounds with numbers. “It’s a great opportunity for people who are thinking
about pledging to see how a club really works because it’s not just fine and dandy all the time,” Vazquez said. “There’s tough spots, but in the end the goal is to push through and work as a team, and in the end, everybody can be happy together.” Many smaller club members said they believe most of the benefit of the bottom cap is in their possibility for publicity. “It is kind of a way to let other people know this is what we’re all about,” Smith said. Gray said the Pikes wanted the same thing. “We got the exposure and that’s what we wanted to do; we wanted people to see who we were as a club and just enjoy a good show,” Gray said. Vazquez said Delta Theta’s No. 1 benefit from this is getting its name out there. The overall goal is just to become closer as a club and portray that closeness and that unity on stage once we get to Sing Song,” Vazquez said. In Massey’s years as a college student, he saw another benefit. He had many friends who participated in acts with the Knights and got to see what it was like being in a social club atmosphere. “We think it’s a good thing because it allows them to experience social clubs on different sides,” Massey said. “A lot of times a person’s very first experience with a social club could be pledging and that can be positive or not, but Sing Song is, generally speaking, a very positive experience.” From a student’s perspective, the non-members will get a more honest view. “Sing Song is definitely the time of year where people don’t have masks on,” Vazquez said. “In rushes and stuff like that it’s very easy to just be there, but in Sing Song true colors come out whether they’re good or bad.” “It’s kind of like a spring rush,” Hembree said. “Not really, but it’s a good way to talk to freshmen.” Lindsey Smith has experienced it from both sides. “I didn’t really feel a part of the club yet,” Smith said of her first experience singing with GATA. “But they really took me in, and that’s one of the deciding factors that really lead me to pledge GATA ... I already had some relationships there and I knew that I would get along well with that group.” Now that Smith is a member of GATA, she gets a new perspective. ”It’s fun to be on the other side of it and be able to encourage those girls,” Smith said.
E-mail Painter at: optimist@acu.edu
February 28, 2007
The cowboy way
Page 5
James Francies participated in desegregating Houston’s Memorial Park, and today he shares his knowledge of black history. Story by Kelsi Peace Photographs by Emily Smith Design by Kelsi Peace
Black History Month museum exhibits important inventions whose inventors were black. Other inventions include an ironing board and brush.
J
ames Francies, 76, asks a very direct question he said he likes to ask and waits for eyes to shift downward and people to squirm uncomfortably. “What would this world, or [the] United States be like, had it not been for slave labor?” he asks, never releasing eye contact. “Ever thought James’ favorite cowboy hat, used while he was the about that?” Prairie View Trail boss for 42 years. Then he laughs, allowing the listener to breathe, because James, too, James, “because you’re of a knows the power racial issues possess to cause different race.” discomfort. He explains the history behind toInstead, he suggested James day’s term “African American” as an example of start a trail with other black James Francies is an advocate for Black History Month, and will talk to anyone about the most important issues. the way things have changed and how complex cowboys and James agreed. race has become. James approached the presJames said. “And I found that to be interesting.” he so passionately advocates. “When I was born, I was born a little colored ident of Prairie View College with his plan: People packed together to watch the pa“For some reason, when we talk about Black baby,” James said. create the Prairie View Trail to lead away from rade, James said, holding up his interlocked History Month and the way that things are changJames was born in 1930, before Dr. Martin the university, giving it a purpose and offer- fingers to demonstrate the crowd’s density. ing now days, it’s really leading away and sweepLuther King Jr. presented his “I Have a Dream ing graduates a chance to stay connected to James said he could hear them murmuring, ing a lot of stuff under the rug,” James said, addSpeech,” where King used the words “black” and the agriculture world. “Where’d those darkies come from?” and he ing another of his direct questions: “Why are we “white” to refer to skin color. James said after the James got his trail, promising to prohibit al- added, “They called us everything.” sweeping it under the rug?” speech, society would call him a black man until cohol on the trail and to “maintain a high degree Mostly, James laughs at the ignorance. He But James will tell it like it is, and he said in Jesse Jackson’s 1988 bid for presidency, where of respect.” recalled only one incident of blatant racism, the four years he’s been in Abilene he hasn’t seen he was referred to as “African American.” “For 42 years, we never had not one problem,” where a white man spurred his horse ahead of great interest in Black History Month. However, James is a virtual black history textbook. James said. “Of all the trail rides that we made, I the Prairie View riders, declaring, “I’d die and he added that he understands the reason for it. He cites dates and names with an astonish- don’t know of anything that brought a discredit go to hell before a bunch of n****** are getting “It’s hard to take interest or hold to something ing precision and is avidly researching African to that college. That was a great achievement.” ahead of me.” that you know nothin’ about,” James said. American involvement in early rodeos. Over the life of the trail, James estimates Nearby, a 13-year-old girl had her foot in With plans to partner with Frontier Texas! James’ theory is that Andrew “Bone” Hooks about 60,000 riders have ridden the trail — a the stirrup, and the sudden movement star- next year, James seems optimistic that he will rode in the first rodeo in 1863. In all likelihood, staggering number considering that the first tled her horse. The girl hit her head on the be able to encourage interest. James said, black cowboys rode broncos be- year James set out with six other riders, a ground and later died. Jeff Salmon, Frontier Texas! executive dicause the event would have been considered too wagon and a driver. “I guess that was the only really racial incident rector, said the plans are still tentative and dangerous for white participation at the time, The trail has spurred changes over the that I encountered in 42 years. And of course it probably won’t become a reality until 2009. James said. He’s still hunting for his evidence. years, with James involved in breaking down was what he was saying,” James said. The museum alternates its temporary disracial barriers. As of 1992, the Prairie View Trail became plays, and in 2008 will feature a women’s hisA trail to progress In 1963, trail riders with the Houston Live- the front trail in the park, and James said me- tory display, Salmon said. James is no stranger to the life of a cowboy. stock Show and Rodeo arrived in Houston for dia and visitors were always brought to the This year, Frontier Texas! has a black histoIn fact, he was hailed as the oldest active trail a parade and faced heavy traffic that sent the Prairie View camp. ry display that Salmon said is primarily phoboss in 2002, after more than 40 years spent show to request that the city allow the trail “That’s one instance that I can say I saw tographs and text; James and other people on the trail. riders to camp in Houston Memorial Park, desegregation and interrelations work with- from the G.V. Daniels museum helped with But perhaps the most impressive detail which was formerly the U.S. Army’s Camp Lo- out any bloodshed and without any really the display, Salmon said. about his history as a trail boss is the way in gan during World War I. open confrontation or protests,” James said. This year, the G.V. Daniels Black History which he got his start. When the park’s owners, Will and Mike Hogg, “It opened the doors, and we never had any Month museum is humble but filled with inforIn 1956, James approached the Houston Fat sold the land to the city in 1925, James said they protests … it just came about.” mation. Countless articles featuring James and Stock Show about joining the trail ride that wrote a mandate. the Houston Stock show are spread across a Sharing the knowledge had started four years earlier in an attempt “In that deed, right today, it says that no Netable in the back, and James grins from a photo renew interest in the stock show. Accord- gro or black would ever camp all night in MeIn his riding days, James and the other tograph, dressed in the chaps and cowboy hat ing to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, morial Park,” James said. “It’s still there, but it’s cowboys stopped at schools along the trail to he said he loves. The museum is quiet except (the name changed in 1961), at www.hlsr.com, smeared over.” teach the children about life on the trail, ac- for the occasional shout from the room next four men comprised the Salt Grass Trail Ride, James said he watched the mayor, presi- cording to the livestock show’s H Magazine. door, and James’ explanations. But he doesn’t which is the show’s original trail ride. dent of the rodeo, police chief and councilman Today, James shares his expertise in Abilene’s keep talking about his accomplishments. James would be the first black man to join the gather to debate where to send the Prairie View Black History Museum. Instead, he points out an ironing board, trail, and James said the man he spoke to warned Trail riders. The museum was was moved to the G.V. which, he explains, is just one of 145 items he him, “I can’t give you no protection.” In the end, they were granted a 200x200 foot Daniels Center four years ago, where visi- knows of that have been invented by blacks. What the man meant, James explained, area in the park that James remembered as “bog- tors peruse photographs, literature, invenAnd, of course, he asks what life would was that on the trail anything could happen gy, boggy, boggy.” tions and newspaper clippings to the back- be like without the inventions and their in— a drunken man could rope him for enterJames woke the next day to find the National ground noise of the rowdy bingo players in ventors, never releasing his gaze. And then tainment, fellow riders could light matches Guard, sheriff and police surrounding the camp, the adjacent room. he laughs. between his toes while he slept or someone James said he assumed, for protection. This year’s turnout left James a little disapcould urinate in his boots. “The next year when we came in, they gave us pointed, he said, but in years past, many enthu“They’ll strictly do it you,” the man told a spot over there with all the other trail riders,” siastic schoolchildren have enjoyed the museum E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday Optimist
Page 6
February 28, 2007
Energy conservation aids universe
The issue:
Because of the affects of global warming, many communities and university campuses are looking for alternative ways to provide energy.
Global warming and the need for energy conservation are upon us. OK so they have been for some time, but after former vice president and 2000 presidential candidate Al Gore reheated the public’s awareness of environmental responsibility with the Oscarwinning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” it is the most convenient time to take action, even at ACU. Beyond the simple methods of recycling bins and picking up litter around campus, ACU can prove it is empathetic towards environmental issues by choosing to power its campus through a practical and environ-
Our view:
Making ACU a turbinepowered campus would helps preserve the earth God has entrusted us with.
The solution:
Support McElwain and other students involved in making ACU a windpowered campus by signing petitions and offering your services.
mentally vantage of ACU can prove it is empathetic toward environsafe meththat potenmental issues by choosing to power its campus od: wind tial — Texas through a practical and environmentally turbines. leads the President nation with safe method: wind turbines. of the Out2,768 wind door Club power projBeth McElects — even wain, senior education providing a renewable here in Abilene. major from Farmersville, resource — a resource Dyess Air Force Base, lohas been gathering signa- that isn’t scarce in Texas. cated on the south side of tures for a petition calling According to the Amer- Abilene, receives energy ACU to switch from its en- ican Wind Energy Associa- from the world’s largest vironmentally damaging tion, Texas is No. 2 in the wind farm. According to the method of burning coal nation behind North Da- Energy Intelligence Group to the renewable source kota in the list of the na- Inc. the wind farm became of wind through the use tion’s top 20 states with operational in Oct. 2006 and of turbines. The Optimist wind energy potential. Al- now fulfills 100 percent of supports this solution though California was the Dyess’ energy needs. and so do more than 200 first state to harness wind Baylor University, anstudents that have already energy potential, Texas other Christian campus, signed the petition. and 15 other states have recently signed a 10-year Though initially tur- greater resources to use deal to use wind power to bines are expensive they wind as an energy source. help provide the 735-acre pay for themselves by Texans are taking ad- campus’ electricity needs.
Cole Williams
Let Loose
Make Sing Song fair for all clubs Letter to the Editor A letter to the editor in response to the 2007 Sing Song results.
For many, the winners of Sing Song 2007 were an unwanted reminder of Sing Song problems of the past. Many students, aside from members of Sigma Theta Chi and Gamma Sigma Phi, held out hope that ACU might finally create a fair, equal and unbiased playing field for other Sing Song participants. Sadly, we were once again let down. Siggies swept every category, including costumes. They wore a piece of beige felt with silver sparkle — and they called it a french fry. From the stage the “fries”
could easily have passed for fence posts, pieces of uncooked bacon or band-aids. Somehow those costumes seemed to outshine GATA’s shimmering ladybugs and Alpha Kai Omega’s festive Christmas elves. Somewhere there must have been a costume line item for “sentimental vote.” In the men’s division, GSP was allowed to change performance, though regulations infer that clubs are not allowed to change even the color of its socks after the Wednesday night rehearsal. Yet, GSP brought in new props each night and the director significantly changed his costume Friday night to enhance their presentation. From the outside, it appears as though rules are redefined each year in order for
these two particular clubs to dominate. Rumors have it, the losing clubs might boycott Sing Song altogether next year. Why show up? If ACU continues to hire alumni affiliated with social clubs as “non-biased” judges, this monopoly is sure to continue. Would hiring judges with no relationship to ACU ruin Sing Song or would it remove the room for “sentimental voting,” requiring fair play from all involved? If there are no politics involved, why were clubs not given score sheets? Why are Sing Song cochairs allowed to make presentations to judges regarding other clubs efforts? Could a Siggie present the essence of the Kojie program with the same amount
of emotion and enthusiasm? Why put anyone in the position to do the impossible? It’s not the directors or the judges’ fault. It’s the fault of those who are entrusted with making and keeping the Sing Song rules. They have created a system that is designed to fail. To many of the losing participants, this 51-year tradition has become too political. It seems to some the outcome justifies the means, to others it’s an unfair game that’s no longer fun.
Tiffany Gauntt junior journalism major from Colleyville tmg04c@acu.edu
In conjunction the Wisconsin-based energy company, WPS Energy Services, Baylor officials estimate that the university will shave $2 million off its usual $13.5 million energy bill. These nearby examples prove that wind source is a feasible and practical option to powering a community like ACU. If the wind of West Texas can power a university larger than ACU and an one of the largest Air Force bases in the nation, why not us? As a Christian university, ACU is called to take care of the earth God has given us. And this is the best opportunity to do so. E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Find time for a good night’s sleep One of the things I care easily irritated. Every time about most is a comfort- I went to see a doctor, I able sleep. When I was liv- was told I needed to sleep ing in the residence halls, well. At first, I didn’t bethose sol- lieve it would fix my condiid, rest- tion, but it did. less, spring As I tried to do what I m a t t r e s s - was told, I felt better each es hurt day. And more than anymy back thing, I realized having and dis- only three to four hours turbed my of sleep was the primary dreams. So reason for my sickness. A Different my sopho- Know this is not only hapVoice more year, pening to me, but to many I bought a students at ACU. Atsumi soft mat, The National Sleep FoundaShibata more pil- tion states sleep affects how lows and we look, feel and perform on a warm blankets to put on daily basis and can have a mamy bed. Now living off jor impact on our overall qualcampus, I still try to help ity of life. Sleep helps commyself sleep well and wake plete all of the phases needed up feeling refreshed. for muscle repair, memory I know some people consolidation and release of may not care about this hormones regulating growth as much as and appetite. I do. I know Also, more If I sleep seven some people than 100,000 hours each day stay up late car crashes and live for 80 on weekends in the United because they States each years, the total feel like it’s year result time sleeping will such a waste from drowsibe about 23 years. ness, accordto spend hours of their ing to discovfun weekend er.com. sleeping. But there are It is your own choice not some reasons why I care to sleep and feel sick, but so much about sleep. it could involve and hurt It is said that people others. You can hurt somespend about one-third one’s feeling by being in a of their average lifetime bad mood from being sleepsleeping. If I sleep seven less. This is why having a hours each day and live for healthy sleep is important 80 years, the total sleeping not only for you but also time will be about 23 years. for your social life. When I first heard about It’s just sleep, but we this fact, I realized I didn’t can’t live without it. If we want to waste 23 years of have to sleep for 23 years, my life feeling uncomfort- let’s seek ways to enjoy able. I don’t want to wake the time. up in the morning and feel even more tired. For the past few years, I often got sick during every school year. Sometimes I E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu even felt depressed and
Club member argues Sing Song not about winning Letter to the Editor A letter to the editor in response to the 2007 Sing Song Results.
It bothers me to hear people going around saying how they, their class or their club were robbed during the awards for
Sing Song. Students go around talking about how much harder they worked than other directors, but honestly who can say they worked harder? Are we comparing how hard we worked by hours spent, or by how much of your heart and soul you put into your act? Because as it is, Sing Song doesn’t need directors who aren’t will-
ing to spend long hours working on their acts, and who don’t want to make it memorable for the people they are working with, and clubs and classes don’t need people in their show who don’t care about the act, who aren’t willing to put the time required for learning and performing the show. Yes, everyone involved in the
show worked very hard. Lots of people are always upset by the fact that their show didn’t win, but Sing Song is not supposed to be about wining. It’s about bonding together as a club, as classmates, as ACU students glorifying God. Do you really think alumni come back to Sing Song because their act won? Alumni
and parents come back for the memories. If we’re so consumed by the fact that our acts did or didn’t win, then we’ve completely missed the point of Sing Song because it’s not about wining or losing. It’s about the memories you make with friends. If we can look back and say we’ve deepened our friendships with fel-
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
low classmates and maybe met one or two people we might not have met otherwise, then why do we insist on cheapening Sing Song with our petty attitudes?
Courtnee Hembree junior journalism major from Abilene
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Page 7
SPORTS JUMPS
Ninth: Pacheco injures shoulder Out: Season ends
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Outfielder Mike Elkerson rounds third base and head towards home against East Central on Feb. 16. The 11-3 ACU baseball team is tied at No. 9 in the nation after going 1-1 against Northeastern State in Talequah, Okla., on Friday. ACU’s next series will be a four-game series against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday. Continued from page 8 for Saturday were canceled after a severe thunderstorm blew the tarp off Sarpey Field and left the field flooded. “We were in a situation where, even if we stayed another day, they felt like it would just be too much to play on,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. ACU’s only win of the week-
end was a 15-5 victory in the second game of the series. Despite giving up five runs in the first two innings, Bonneau stuck with starting pitcher Matt Davis and waited for him to calm down. “I just rolled the dice, and once he started putting up zeroes, we left him in,” Bonneau said. Davis pitched the next two innings without giving up a run, and the Wildcat
bullpen didn’t allow another run in the remaining three innings. Designated hitter Doug Banks led the Wildcats with four RBI and two hits. One negative consequence of the game was the loss of J.J. Pacheco. Pacheco dislocated his shoulder in game two, and Bonneau said he will be out for 3-4 weeks. Shortstop Trey Watten
said the loss of Pacheco’s consistent bat and goodbase running will hurt the Wildcats. “That’s a big loss for us; he’s a great lead off hitter,” Watten said. Pacheco has started in all 14 of the Wildcats games and is tied for second in the LSC for stolen bases with seven. ACU dropped Friday’s first game after Northeastern broke a 5-5 tie in the fifth with a six-run inning. The Wildcats failed to close the gap in the final two innings of the game. “We kinda let them hang around,” Bonneau said. Bonneau said ACU had trouble getting hits early and it came back to haunt the Wildcats in game one. “That game just got out of hand there late in the game,” Bonneau said. And playing well in the first game of a series is something Bonneau said his team has struggled with this season. “We got to figure out how to play game one; that’s the game that’s giving us trouble even at home,” Bonneau said. Redmen pitcher Matt Averitt pitched all seven innings and only allowed five hits and struck out three ACU batters. The loss was pitcher Chris Wiman’s first this season.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Aguilar: Indoor Nationals next meet Continued from page 8 now it hasn’t really hit me.” Also at the meet, shot putter Kelli Clement earned a birth to the indoor national meet by improving her personal best by more than three feet with a throw
of 46-6.75. Her throw ranks her 11th in the nation. With her continued improvement, Clement has high goals for Boston. “The competition definitely makes me step up,” Clement said. “I want to score points for my team.”
Clement said adding a throw of between 47-48 feet “would be really nice.” Liga Klavina improved her throw in the shot put with a distance of 46-10.25, ranking her seventh in the nation. ACU will not compete in any meets before the NCAA
Offseason: Post main priority Continued from page 8 system and the level of competition. “I think we got a good core group coming back,” Copeland said. “But I understand we still have some progress to be made.” On paper, Copeland made progress in his second season as head coach, picking up two more wins this season than his first at the helm. ACU was 8-19 during Copeland’s first year, but out of its 10 wins, only one was during conference play. “I think obviously we were a little disappointed with the way conference went,” Copeland said. “We improved though, not as much as I hoped, but I think we made some solid steps in the right direction.” ACU lost to Kingsville after failing to bounce back from a 21-point second half deficit. ACU was able to pull within four twice in the last 45
“We improved though, not as much as I hoped, but I think we made some solid steps in the right direction.” Jason Copeland, head basketball coach
seconds but failed to take the lead in the final moments of the game. “We just dug us a real big hole early in the game, and we started to fill the hole and couldn’t quite fill it all the way,” said guard Riley Lambert. That hole began at halftime when ACU was down 49-37. Kingsville extended its lead to as much as 21 points until ACU went on a scoring surge. ACU shot 15 of 27 from the floor and chipped away at Kingsville’s lead. Senior forward Igor Vrzina led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The loss was Vrzina’s, guard Tiago Souza and guard Norman Alexander final collegiate game. Forward Cam Holson, a two-year starter, is confident
the lessons learned from this year will help ACU build towards a winning program. “I think we realized that the more we play together and as a team the more success we’re going to have,” Holson said. The biggest hole Copeland needs to fill during the recruiting season is a post. ACU lost its initial starting post Marcos Hubner early in the season and Vrizna will no longer be eligible. “We need to go sign two big guys that can help us,” Copeland said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Division II Indoor Championship in Boston on March 9-10.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03c@acu.edu
in quarterfinals Continued from page 8 and carried a slim halftime 32-31 lead. ACU clawed back to a 44-39 lead early in the second half, but went ice cold down the stretch, not scoring a basket within the final 8:59 of the game. “I thought the first half we did a pretty good job defensively,” Lavender said. “We just played a little bit flat in the second half, and really just got beat by team that played like they wanted it more.” ACU’s season ends with an overall record of 17-12. Central Oklahoma, who improved its record to 15-12 with the win, will play the winner of the West Texas A&M-East Central match-up in the second round. ACU qualified for the playoffs last Thursday when Eastern New Mexico eliminated Midwestern State from post-
season contention with a 6946 win. Without the pressure of trying to make the playoffs, the Wildcats finished the regular season with an 81-70 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at the Steinke P.E. Center in Kingsville. “We had different players step up Saturday,” Lavender said. “It’s always nice to finish the regular season on a win and hopefully carry that momentum into the conference tournament.” Guard Kristee Davidson put up a career-game of 22 points against Texas A&MKingsville. At the end of the regular season, ACU had made the LSC Postseason Tournament for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Softball: LSC play begins Friday Continued from page 8 said it has improved over the past week. “I think we focused better during the course of the two Friday games which led to us scoring consistently during the two games,” Wilson said. “Those were two tough teams, and to come away with two wins is big for us.” Wilson said the team is still trying to work on better atbats and not watch so many strikes go by. The Wildcats have started to score more consistently during games, but its weakest innings so far this season have been the first and sec-
ond innings during games. The team is definitely stronger toward the middle and end of its games. Overall, the team has scored only four runs during the first and the second inning and has scored 11 runs in the fifth and the sixth inning. “I think we are starting to realize our potential right now and the timing is about right as we start conference play this weekend,” Wilson said. The team will travel to Denton this weekend to take on Texas Woman’s University to begin inter-conference play.
E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
SportsWednesday
Page 8
ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Tuesday
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. 9-3 9-3 7-5 6-6 6-6 4-8 1-11
MSU WTAM Tarleton TAMK-U ENMU Angelo St. ACU
Overall 20-6 17-9 18-9 19-8 12-14 9-17 10-16
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Team
Div. WTAM 14-0 Tarleton 8-6 Angelo St. 8-6 ACU 8-6 ENMU 5-9 MSU 5-9 TX Woman’s 5-9 TAMK-U 3-11 Team
BASEBALL Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
ACU ENMU Angelo St. Tarleton TAMK-U WTAM
Team
Overall 25-3 16-9 16-10 17-11 14-12 12-14 11-16 8-19
Overall 11-3 8-4 6-5 6-6 4-5 2-5
SOFTBALL
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 TX Woman’s 0-0 WTAM 0-0 Angelo St. Tarleton TAMK-U ACU ENMU
Overall 18-2 5-1 10-5 8-6 9-10 6-11 4-8
Scores Friday WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU 6, Louisiana Monroe 1 ACU 6, Stephen F. Austin 1
BASEBALL Northeastern State 10, ACU 5 ACU 15, Northeastern State 5
SOFTBALL ACU 8, Incarnate Word 0 ACU 5, Central Oklahoma 4
Saturday MEN’S BASKETBALL Texas A&M-Kingsville 92, ACU 87
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 81, Texas A&MKingsville 70
Tuesday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 66, Central Oklahoma 63
Aguilar breaks Division II pole vault record n Pole vaulter Angie Aguilar set a new Division II record at the Oklahoma Christian Indoor meet. ACU’s track and field teams will not compete until the NCAA Indoor Championships. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
The ACU track and field team boasts the top pole vaulters in the nation after a record-setting weekend at Oklahoma Christian. Angie Aguilar highlighted the weekend by setting a NCAA Division II record in the pole vault with a height of 13-7.00. She beat the record, set just one
Ninth straight loss ends season
Friday BASEBALL ACU vs. SE Oklahoma State, 4 p.m. (DH)
SOFTBALL
ACU at Texas Woman’s 5 p.m. (DH)
n Home games listed in italics
Intramural Round-up Upcoming 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. INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS See intramural bulletin board for schedule. Tournament ends Monday. VOLLEYBALL Deadline: Thursday Cost: $100 per team Begins: Tuesday
Track & Field week earlier, by half an inch, or one centimeter. “I’ve just been waiting for it to happen,” Aguilar said. Aguilar now sets her focus on the indoor national meet in Boston on March 9-10. She wants to clear 14 feet at Boston, five inches higher than her current record. “It’s exciting to go to a big meet like that and know there’s that kind of competition,” Aguilar said. Another women’s pole vaulter, Elizabeth Buyse, set a per-
sonal best with a height of 126.00, which ranks her sixth in the nation and earned her a trip to Boston. On the men’s side, Kyle Dennis’ jump of 17-0.75 made his height the top mark in the nation. Although his height is tops in Division II, Dennis is not satisfied. “I’m hoping to go to nationals and jump 18 [feet],” Dennis said. For now, Dennis said he’s trying to concentrate on nationals. “There’s definitely a lot of pressure there, but I can’t think about it,” Dennis said. “Right See
AGUILAR page 7
brian schmidt FILE PHOTO
Pole vaulter Angie Aguilar set a new NCAA Division II Indoor pole vaulting record at the Oklahoma Christian Indoor meet Saturday.
Cats out of tourney
n The ACU men’s basketball team ended its season with a loss to Texas A&M Kingsville on Saturday. ACU finished its season at 1-11 in the LSC South and 10-16 overall. Sports Editor
A 92-87 loss to Texas A&MKingsville on Saturday capped off the ACU men’s basketball team seventh-straight losing season, but head coach Jason Copeland is confident his team gained one thing from its 10-16 season: experience. Copeland said ACU will have seven players returning next year with experience playing with each other, Copeland’s See
By RACHEL DAVIS Sports Writer
OFFSEASON page 7
Win lifts ACU to ninth in nation n The ACU baseball team jumped up two spots in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll after splitting a two games with Northeastern State on Friday. Sports Editor
A thunderstorm rained out the last half of the ACU baseball team’s series with Northeastern State this weekend, but it didn’t stop ACU from climbing two spots in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll. ACU is tied at No. 9 with Franklin Pierce after going 1-1 against Northeastern in Talequah, Okla., on Friday. The two games scheduled See
NINTH page 7
Wildcats win two despite wind storm n Despite two canceled games because of Saturday’s wind storm, the ACU softball team went undefeated at the ACU-CBS Round Robin Classic on Saturday.
By DANIEL JOHNSON
By DANIEL JOHNSON
Upcoming
February 28, 2007
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior forward Lacey Blau grabs a offensive rebound against Texas Woman’s on Feb. 20. Blau played her final game as a Wildcat in ACU’s 76-57 loss to Central Oklahoma in the quarter finals of the Lone Star Conference tournament. Blau recorded 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal in the game.
n The ACU women’s basketball team ended its season with a 76-57 loss in the quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament. By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
The Wildcats’ playoff run ended sooner than they would have liked it to as ACU fell to Central Oklahoma 76-57 Tuesday night in Edmond, Okla. It was the second time ACU has ever lost its opening game in the Lone Star
Women’s basketball Conference Post-Season Tournament; the only other time being in the 19992000 season when ACU lost to Southeastern Oklahoma 72-71. “Central played better than we did,” said head coach Shawna Lavender . “We didn’t play like it was either ‘win or go home’ and Central played like that. We played tentative in the second half, and really just let Central take us out of our game.”
Guard Alex Guiton led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points, followed by forward Lacey Blau, who had 15, and center Audrey Maxwell, who finished with 10. Blau, a senior, played her final game as a Wildcat on Tuesday. She finished the game with 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal. The Wildcats started strong by jumping out to an early 9-0 lead, but the Lady Bronchos of Central Oklahoma bounced back See
OUT page 7
Saturday’s weather forced the Wildcats to cancel the second half of the ACU-CBS Round Robin Classic, but the team won both of its games Friday in the first half. The team, now 8-6, was scheduled to play Incarnate Word and Central Oklahoma in the second half of the Round Robin Classic; however, both teams decided to leave early because of Saturday’s dust storm, leaving ACU with no one to play. “It would have been nice to get Saturday’s games in to give our pitchers some more innings,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. “But we plan to inter-squad a couple times this week to make up for those missed games. We are always disappointed to have games canceled, especially when we are trying to build some momentum, but it was nice to get the two wins on Friday to get us going.” The 19th-ranked Wildcats took on both Incarnate Word and Central Oklahoma on Friday and won both games. ACU, now ranked fourth in the LSC South, beat Incarnate Word in an 8-0 shutout and beat Central Oklahoma 5-4. In the shutout, senior pitcher Sarah Vidalin pitched five innings and gave up only three hits and two walks. The games on Friday put ACU at sixth in the conference in pitching with an overall ERA of 2.78 and ninth in the conference in batting with an average of .275. So far in the season, the team has had issues with consistent scoring and batting, but Wilson See
SOFTBALL page 7
Women’s tennis team downs D-I challengers n The ACU women’s tennis team picked up two easy wins over Division I opponents this weekend. ACU defeated Loiusiana-Monroe and Stephen F. Austin. By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
The ACU women’s tennis team trounced two Division I teams in Nacogdoches on Friday. The Wildcats beat Louisiana-Monroe and Stephen F. Austin, both by the scores of 6-1. With the two wins, ACU, who is ranked No. 5 nationally, has an
Women’s tennis overall record of 7-2. The ACU men had the weekend off, but played Texas Tech on Tuesday. Texas Tech is ranked No. 34 in the Division I national poll. “We have nothing to lose,” said head coach Hutton Jones of the match-up against Texas Tech. “I’m just kind of curious to see if we can scare them a little bit and put them in a situation where we might pull an upset.” The highest ranked team the ACU men have ever
beaten is Texas-San Antonio, who was ranked No. 68, in 2001. On Friday, the women blew through their competition in the Stephen F. Austin Invitational. The victories extend the Wildcats’ win streak to four matches. “I am very pleased with our 6-1 wins,” Jones said. “It just shows how, I think, we’re getting better.” In the two matches, the Wildcats won all of its doubles matches. And other than the two singles losses, ACU dropped only two sets
in the other 16 singles and doubles matches. “I feel like our doubles is very strong,” Jones said. Jones said he feels all of his women doubles players play like their the No. 1 pair on the team. Despite the dominating wins Friday, Jones said he would have preferred the overall matches to be closer. Even though the team scores were 6-1, Jones said some of the individual matches were highly competitive. “We want to be comfortable in a struggle,” Jones
said. “We did have some struggles. It’s just that we came out ahead in almost all of them, so we never were close in a team score.” Both teams will be back on the courts on Saturday when the women play Tyler Junior and Tarleton State and the men play Tyler Junior and New Mexico Military. The upcoming matches will be played at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu