The Optimist Print Edition 03.28.2007 by ACU Optimist

THE Vol. 95, No. 44

IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Summer deadline

Students have until Friday to submit applications to live on the Crow Reservation this summer for credit, page 7

A night of worship

Beltway Baptist Church will feature contemporary Christian artist Jeremy Camp on April 4, page 7

Every cent counts

ACU’s radio station, KACU will begin its annual pledge drive next week to raise more than $35,000, page 8

SPORTS

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OPTIMIST

1 sections, 10 pages

WEDNESDAY

A delegation of 10 evangelical leaders traveled to China this summer to meet with government ofﬁcials about religion. This feature begins a series on Christianity in China, page 5

SPORTS

Halfway through

The men’s baseball team ﬁnished the crossover portion of LSC North teams this weekend with a record of 18-4, page 10

Moving on

Four track and ﬁeld athletes automatically qualiﬁed for the Outdoor National Championships which will take place in North Carolina in May, page 10

ONLINE Going offsides

A new soccer club has formed on campus. See what they’ve had to do to form the group and what talent they have on the team online at: www.acuoptimist.com.

www.acuoptimist.com

Fall registration begins Friday n During the next two weeks, students will be able to register for Fall 2007 classes. Students need their advising release codes and no account holds. By MALLORY EDENS PAGE 2 EDITOR

Registration for the 2007 fall semester begins Friday. Students must sign up for fall classes on a specified date, which has been assigned ac-

cording to classification. On Friday, graduate, honors and Study Abroad students are expected to register. Students classified as seniors, or whom have 90 or more hours completed, register Monday. Juniors, or students who have completed 60 to 89 hours, register Wednesday. Sophomores, or student who have completed 30 to 59 hours, register April 9. Freshmen, or students who have

completed up to 29 hours, register April 11. Registration on each specified date begins at 3 p.m. Karen Griffith and Brad Powers, Student Service Specialists in the Depot, said these classifications are based on the hours that a student has already completed. For example, if you currently have 29 hours, you are still classified as a freshman. Registration will be as usu-

al; there are no modifications in the process. Students may apply for classes online by clicking on “Student and Financial Aid” from the Banner tab on my.ACU. The specialists also had some advice for students who are preparing to register. “Make sure you get your advising release codes from your advisor,” Griffith and See

Grad fair prepares seniors to walk n Seniors expecting to graduate could stop by the Hilton Room for a brieﬁng on what they need to do before graduation on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Traveling to China

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March 28, 2007

EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Dennis Jernigan, Christian recording artist, speaks to students during Chapel on Tuesday about his struggles with homosexuality and the truth that God loves everyone as they are.

By ATSUMI SHIBATA PAGE DESIGNER

Students can stop by for 10 minutes and get help to be prepared for their future at a brand-new event for graduating seniors Wednesday. Graduation Fair is a new event that began this semester to help students prepare for their graduation. Students can fill out the essential paperwork and purchase caps, gowns, invitations for graduation ceremony, the official ACU ring and diploma frames. Students can also learn about their financial aid situation, involvement as alumni, proceeding for a graduate school and job opportunity. Samantha Adkins, Alumni Program coordinator, said the event provides everything students need for their graduation. She said completing all the process for graduation could be confusing without help provided at Graduation Fair. “It can be overwhelming for students to make sure they have everything they need,” Adkins said. At the Graduation Fair, students can complete all of the process at one spot, instead of running around the campus, she said. Matt Boisvert, director of the office of Career and Academic Development, said he thinks Graduation Fair is a great, convenient opportunity for students. “Hopefully, we remind students about all the last steps before they graduate,” Boisvert said. About 600 postcard invitations have been sent to graduating undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. The event took place Tuesday and will take place again Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Room of the Campus Center. Students can stop by anytime and eat free food and win an iPod Nano as a door prize. Amanda Gomez, senior history major from San Antonio, visited the event Tuesday and thought it was very helpful. Gomez said she was especially thankful for the financial service, which explained things she didn’t know. See

n Study Abroad, graduate and honors Students begin registering Friday. n Seniors, or students with 90 or more hours completed, register April 2. n Juniors, or students with 60 to 89 hours completed register, April 4. n Sophomores, or students with 30 to 59 hours completed register, April 9. n Freshmen, or students with less than 30 hours register, April 13.

Gen-Ed changes under faculty review n Faculty will meet to discuss ﬁnal changes to the general education core curriculum Wednesday. Faculty will vote in mid-April whether to implement it. By MICHELLE JIMENEZ COPY EDITOR

Speakers promote healthy relationships Jernigan, Thomas discuss building relationships By KELSI PEACE FEATURES EDITOR

The ACU Counseling Center brought in two prominent members of the Christian community for the sixth annual Healthy Relationships Week, called Sacred Relationships Week this year, which emphasizes friendships, marriages and community in the context of authenticity and spirituality. Christian recording artist Dennis Jernigan, a winner of the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award, performed a “Night of Praise” in Moody Coliseum Tuesday night, where he also shared his testimony.

FAIR page 9

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

REGISTRATION DATES

“Dennis’ story is a story about pain and brokenness and healing and freedom through the love of God,” said Kurt Boyland, counselor in the Counseling Center. “His message is very powerful.” After the performance, about 20 faculty members waited outside to pray with students. Jernigan also spoke with students at a “brown bag” lunch after chapel on Tuesday. Gary Thomas, author of “Sacred Influence,” “Devotions for a Sacred Marriage,” “Sacred Parenting” and “Sacred See

SACRED page 9

The final plan for ACU’s 21st Century Vision of the general education core curriculum is now a motion that faculty will discuss in a meeting Wednesday. Faculty members will be asked to consider the philosophy and the framework of the plan before casting their vote in mid-April. The 10-page-long final plan faculty will review is called “Liberal Arts Core Curriculum at ACU: Building a 21st Century Education” and includes new student learning outcomes, 12 implement statements that would implement different features about the plan and Shankle a chart that identifies how credit hours will be allocated. Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the Department of English, is the co-chair of the General Education Review Steering Committee that reviews the current general education program. “Nothing about the current plan is so bad that it’s horrible, but it’s not where we want to be as a university,” Shankle said. The new plan, Shankle said, is meant to further challenge students and prepare them for the kind of learning they need in the 21st Century. Shankle said there will be a new sequence of classes designed to encourage five student outcomes that involve intercultural knowledge, integrated thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills; habits of mind that foster integrated thinking and the ability to transfer skills; deep understanding; and strong communication, quantitative and information skills. The most noticeable change in the core curriculum would be an addition of four integrated courses within the degree plan: the Cornerstone See

Abilene Christian University

CORE page 9

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Calendar & Events Wednesday

11:30 a.m. Informational booths highlighting relevant topics on relationships will be displayed in the Campus Center until 1 p.m. 7 p.m. ‘Living Happily Ever After’ begins. This program is a six-week preparation for marriage course for couples who are seriously dating or considering marriage. It will last until 8:30 p.m. and run through May 2.

Thursday

Last day to sign up for the intramural team tennis tournament. The cost per team is $40. Games begin Monday. Last day to sign up for the intramural outdoor soccer season. The cost per team is $175. The season begins Monday.

Announcements The Weekend Campaign needs an EMT with current certiﬁcation. If interested, contact Amanda Taylor at ajt04a@acu.edu or Tim Pittman at tjp03d@acu.edu. The Weekend Campaign to H-E-B Camp in Leakey leaves Friday. Sign up in the Campus Center ticket windows, or contact Tim Pittman at tjp03d@acu.edu, Mike Miles at mem04d@acu.edu, or Amanda Taylor at ajt04a@acu. edu for more details. DATE CHANGED! There will be a Junior meeting on April 3 at 11 a.m. in Hart Auditorium for all juniors interested in graduating. Students will learn about how to get ready for graduation next year and how to know if their degree requirements have been met. Residence Life is looking for bands for the Backyard Bash on April 28. If interested, contact Jae Webb at jkw02a@acu.edu or at (325) 260-7347.

Seniors, come to Joe Allen`s Lytle Bend Ranch on April 19 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m for free food and fun. Enter the drawings to win prizes including gift certificates and a digital camera. Wear a crazy hat and compete for a prize. RSVP to (325) 674-2737 or seniorexperience@acu.edu by April 13. For more information, go to www.acu.edu/seniors. Women`s Economic Empowerment invites enterprising professional women to their monthly luncheon, “Discovering Your Leadership Style,” on April 4 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alliance for Women and Children, located on 1350 N. 10th. The guest speaker is Barbara Dahl of Hendrick Home for Children and Leadership Texas. Lunch is $5. RSVP to wee@afwconline.org. The April ArtWalk will be April 12 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Abilene. Contact Marianne Wood at (325) 677-8389 for more information.

Friday

Weekend Campaign to H-E-B Camp in Leakey. 3 p.m. Fall registration for graduate, Honors and Study Abroad students.

Saturday

Weekend Campaign to H-E-B Camp in Leakey. 6 p.m. ‘A Night of Elegance’ fund-raising dinner will be held in the Williams Performing Arts Center. This dinner is hosted by graduate students in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, and all funds will go toward summer mission trips to Nigeria. Dinner includes a three-course meal, a silent auction, entertainment and more. Tickets are $40 per couple. Contact (325) 733-8318 or e-mail tjl98s@acu.edu to purchase tickets.

Volunteer Opportunities The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra will host their annual Chocolate Fest on Saturday. Volunteers are needed to help set up Friday night, help with the Fest and help clean up afterward. The Fest will be held at the Mall of Abilene, and set up will begin at 9 p.m. after the mall closes. All volunteers will receive a ticket to Chocolate Fest. To help with this event, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. Students are needed on Saturday from 9 a.m. until mid-afternoon to tear down part of a house and move the trash to an alley. This effort will beneﬁt an indigent family whose home is being repaired by the City of Abilene. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. ACU for Abilene is coming April 21. Students, staff and faculty will join together to serve in a variety of ways at a number of locations around

Abilene. Watch for more information and make plans now to join in this time of service. CAN, Interested Citizens of Abilene North, need help with their community clean up on April 14. Volunteers will cut yards, trim hedges, plant gardens, pick up trash and help the elderly with tasks around their homes. Work will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. Freedom Fellowship Church needs volunteers to assist with a variety of after-school activities for at-risk youth, such as tutoring, basketball and air hockey, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Contact the Volunteer ServiceLearning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. Big A Club of City Light Community Ministries has an urgent need on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for volunteers to ride buses and vans with elementary-age children and to help with Bible studies. Contact the Volunteer ServiceLearning 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.

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ACU Police Tip of the Week With warmer weather arriving, outdoor exercise activities are much more inviting. Remember to think safety ﬁrst. Walk or jog on the Lunsford Foundation Trail, go with a friend and carry a cell phone with you.

Police Log Edited for space

Monday 03/12/2007 9:04 a.m. Assisted with stalled vehicle at Washington and EN 16th 11:15 a.m. Criminal mischief on Lunsford Trail area 3:25 p.m. Assisted construction company with moving vehicles in Sikes Lot 8:24 p.m. Burglary alarm at Vanderpool Building, false alarm, was reset 9:29 p.m. Escorted student from Smith/Adams to University Park Apartments Tuesday 03/13/2007 1 a.m. Escorted student from Smith/ Adams to McKinzie Hall 12:41 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at McDonalds on Judge Ely 6:30 p.m. Stand by at University Park Apartments while ex-student moved out 8:05 p.m. Report of steam behind Don Morris Center, construction equipment, all OK 8:30 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at 600 College Drive 9:35 p.m. Incomplete 911 at University Park Apartments, contacted resident, misdial Wednesday 03/14/2007 4:03 a.m. Refueled vehicle 12:52 p.m. Industrial accident at Sikes Hall 6:30 p.m. Unlocked OnsteadPacker Biblical Studies Building for construction crews 8:30 p.m. Escorted student from

Rosa’s on Judge Ely to Smith Hall 9:15 p.m. Gave access to McKinzie Hall for desk worker Thursday 03/15/2007 10:55 a.m. Unlocked OnsteadPacker Biblical Studies Building for construction crews. 12:35 p.m. Released gun from safekeeping to student 8:30 p.m. Stand by at University Park Apartment while ex-student moved out Friday 03/16/2007 8 a.m. Refueled vehicle 8:45 a.m. Directed traffic at Allen Farm/Judge Ely while pump station was moved 2 p.m. Directed traffic at EN 16th and Judge Ely 3 p.m. Vehicle accident at University Park Lot 10:02 p.m. Gave access to McKinzie Hall Saturday 03/17/2007 7:50 a.m. Traffic stop off campus 1:37 p.m. Medical emergency at Gibson Health and P.E. Center, sports injury, transported to Hendrick Hospital Sunday 03/18/2007 1:46 a.m. Noise violation at EN 12th and Avenue F 2:16 p.m. Traffic control on Judge Ely for disabled vehicle 8:16 p.m. Checked in gun to safekeeping for student

Correction: In the March 9 edition of the Optimist, we incorrectly printed that the shirt was from GATA’s garage sale. The photo also contained inappropriate material. We are sorry if it was offensive to anyone who saw it.

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.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

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CAMPUS NEWS

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Wednesday, March 28, 2006

ACU Police warns of mail fraud n After one student was victimized by mail fraud the ACU Police Department warns students to stay away from sharing private information. By TODD PIERSALL Arts Editor

Emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The week before spring break, students waited in line to see what it feels like to be “wasted.” As part of Making Choices Week a DUI Simulator was set out near GATA Fountain.

‘Choices week’ a good choice n Students send positive feedback to the Counseling Center’s DUI simulator and ‘Know Boundaries’ Chapel forum as part of Making Choices Week. By KARIE SCHMIDT Student Reporter

The Counseling Center spent a whole week, Making Choices Week, dedicated to influencing students to make safe decisions over spring break by encouraging the theme: Know Boundaries. Regardless of what students did during spring break, the Counseling Center wanted to make sure students were safe. Cara Flanders, a licensed professional counselor and the coordinator of Peer Health Education, said this years Making Choices Week was a success. Even though this was her first year to participate in the program, she heard positive feedback. The Chapel forum and the DUI simulator received a lot of positive feedback from student. The Chapel forum answered questions

that concerned students ranging from alcohol to masturbation. Flanders said she was “thrilled that Cullen was filled.” 528 students participated in the DUI simulator that was on campus for six hours. More students would have had the opportunity to participate but the machine broke down. Cara Flanders said the man in charge of the machine has been all over the country touring different universities, and ACU has had the most participation. Matt Johnson, junior psychology major from Mcminnville, Ore., has participated in Making Choices Week for two years. He said the difference in this year and last year was that this year made a bigger deal about the program, and it received more publicity. “There was also a lot more thought that went into doing things that would be meaningful and that would impact students to help make healthy

choices during spring break,” Johnson said. The Counseling Center and many volunteers tried to influence students to choose healthy and Godly decisions. “Based on the feedback we have received it has impacted a few students, and even if that is all, I think the week was a success,” Johnson said. The Counseling Center is planning to have a Making Choices Week next year but plans have not yet begun. The plans are to look at this year’s success and go from there. The Counseling Center wants students to be involved and get as much information as they can from the activities the Counseling Center puts together. If students have suggestions or ideas contact Cara Flanders at cara.flanders@ acu.edu or in the Counseling Center located in the basement of McKinzie Hall.

E-mail Schmidt at: optimist@acu.edu

The ACU Police Department sent an e-mail alert concerning an ACU student who was victimized by mail fraud last week. Jimmy Ellison, ACU Chief of Police, said urgent crime alerts aren’t usually sent out for mail fraud, but he wasn’t sure how many students received the letter. “College campuses are becoming fertile ground for scam artists,” Ellison said. Ellison said the scam wasn’t targeted directly at ACU and these types of mail scams are common. Ellison said scam companies send letters in waves and have become creative in the manner in which they send them. In other words, the letters look very official. In this particular case, the fraudulent letter was sent from the Virgin Islands and claimed recipi-

ents had won $50,000 selected through a computer ballet system. To receive the $50,000, the recipient must pay an assistance check which would help pay for tax and administrative expenses. After depositing the check into their own bank account, the recipient would then forward the money to an account specified in the letter. However, the recipient will soon discover the check was fraudulent, and the money sent was their own money. Ellison said he received several other reports about possible fraud, but only one student claimed to be victimized. Ellison said the ACU Police Department does follow-ups on all reports of criminal activity. However, because of the international nature of mail-order scams and untraceable phone numbers, a follow-up will be hard to achieve. Still, Ellison said every possible attempt is made, even consulting local and federal fraud investigating officials.

This shouldn’t deter students from asking questions or reporting mail fraud, Ellison said. “We would much rather have people coming in and asking questions than a victim coming in after losing $3,000,” Ellison said. In Ellison’s career as Chief of Police at ACU he said he only recalls two more instances of reported mail-order scams. “As with any unsolicited correspondence promising awards or other good fortune, they are usually too good to be true,” Ellison said. “My recommendation is anytime a student gets something in the mail asking to identify any personal information, ignore it.” In the future Ellison said he hopes to raise awareness for the different types of financial fraud by hosting several seminars.

E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu

Students eat pizza, talk philosophy n Students and faculty go deep with Deep Dish Philosophy, a meeting that provides free pizza and philosophical discussions provided by different professors.

“We try to have events that honor students would enjoy.” Stephanie Smith, Honors Program advisor

By ERIN JORDAN Student Reporter

The Honors Students’ Association host Deep Dish Philosophy meetings, which mix free pizza and talk of philosophy for students. The Honors Students’ Association is an organization designed to provide activities and events for students who are interested. Stephanie Smith, Honors Program advisor and administrative coordinator said many of the events are open to the whole school. Dr. Chris Willerton, professor of English and Honors Studies, is the Honors Program director. “The Honors Students’ Association is for anyone on campus that wants to come to the events,” Wil-

lerton said. “It’s not just restricted to the Honors Program, but the Honors Program supports it.” Deep Dish Philosophy meetings take place two to four times a semester, and usually 30 to 70 students attend the meetings, Smith said. “We invite teachers to speak on a philosophical topics of their choice,” Smith said. The first Deep Dish meeting took place Thursday. Dr. Tim Sensing, assistant professor of ministry, was the first meeting’s guest speaker. Membership to the Honors Students’ Association is automatic. Students in the Honors Program are automatically in the Honors Students’ Association, along

with entering freshman with a 3.2 GPA. The student officers are: n Douglas Timmons, freshman biology major from Hudson Oaks. n Jared Young, sophomore art major from Abilene. n Katie Lindsey, junior management major from Missouri city, who is currently studying abroad “We try to have events that honor students would enjoy,” Smith said. “In the past we’ve hosted murder mystery parties, masquerade balls and played Assassin.”

E-mail Jordan at: optimist@acu.edu

March 28, 2007

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‘We all went on faith’ Money’s journal chronicles a delegation to China, a message of hope Story by Mallory Schlabach / Design by Kelsi Peace

hen Dr. Royce Money left for an eight-day trip to Beijing, China, in August, he never imagined it would change his view of the world,

the university he presided over and life. The trip, comprised of meetings with high government officials about Christianity, indicated the government’s grip on on religion in China was loosening simply because this delegation could go and because of what it would discuss. Five months previously, Money, president of the university, had been invited to China by former ACU student Lisa Bentley and her husband, John, who worked at a Chinese orphanage for children with special needs. Following Lisa’s Chapel presentation about the couple’s mission in China, the Bentleys arrived at Money’s office to invite him to join a 10-person delegation of evangelical Christian leaders. The group of people from across the country would travel to Beijing and discuss Christianity with Chinese officials. Although Money was already scheduled to travel to China on a recruiting trip during the same time, he said he’d consider going. The group of evangelical leaders that John convinced to travel to China included Rick Atchley, senior minister at Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth; Max Lucado, senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio and an ACU alumnus, and Drs. Wayne and Mimi Barnard, dean of Spiritual Formation and dean of Residence Life Education and Housing, respectively, among the 10. Throughout the 10-day trip and reflecting afterwards on what transpired, Money kept a journal documenting his thoughts on his China experience. Reflecting on his initial reaction to the Bentley’s Chinese proposal, Money writes: “[John] is blessed with a talent for networking with people and convinced the various evangelical leaders to go on a delegation to China without a prior acquaintance with most of them. I remarked to Max and Rick earlier in the summer that this scheme was just crazy enough to be from God. We all went on faith, but our faith is small compared to John Bentley’s faith. He is a man that truly lives by faith.” The purpose of the trip was to meet with selected officials on a mission of goodwill. “We wanted to tell the officials that they had nothing to fear from followers of Jesus, and that we weren’t there to try to overthrow the government,” he said. The delegation set a lofty goal for this group of Americans speaking to a Communist government that historically has little tolerance for religious freedom. Religious disdain has occurred since Mao Zedong, a Chinese Marxist military and political leader, established China’s current form of government in 1949, known as the People’s Republic of China, further enforcing atheism in an already predominately atheist country. Zedong served as chairman of the People’s Republic of China, now known as the president, for 10 years, although he still had much of the control of China until his death in 1976.

Conversations in China Several days before the group left for Beijing, John Bentley received a call that all meetings had been canceled. Through the intervention of the U.S. ambassador to China, the meetings were set up again. “In the planning and the executing of the visits, we learned that flexibility was the operative word in working through the schedule. Changes of various kinds by the Chinese officials were common and often we would not know with whom or even whether we would meet until a few hours before the meeting. “John said not to take it personally; it happened to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as well,” Money wrote. “We did learn from John Bentley after the fact that a few days before our departure for China, he received a call that all meetings were canceled. Apparently they viewed us as a too hot a potato and no one wanted to touch us.” Once meetings were back on track the group met with leaders of the Chinese Association of Social Workers, the U.S. ambassador, the director general of the State Administration for Religious Affairs and the deputy director of the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As the group waited in the Beijing Hilton lobby, John made a quick decision before they met with the deputy director of the ministry of Foreign Affairs He Yafei. “As we mingled…it was hastily decided by John Bentley that Max Lucado would be our primary spokesperson,” he wrote in his Aug. 2 entry. The Chinese style of formal meetings was arranged so that the ranking Chinese official sat side by side with the ranking visitor. Other visitors and staff filled two perpendicular rows in front of them. Yafei began the meeting by giving an introductory speech that outlined the purpose of the meeting. On Aug. 2, Money wrote: “Mr. Yafei spoke for almost 15 minutes, basically reminding us of Chinese policy of the freedom to have or not to have religion. He was a kind, distinguished and mild-mannered man in his early forties with a deep, calm voice. Max did a great job of conveying our single message and telling him we were there in the name of Jesus Christ, hoping that we could work together cooperatively and legally.” Money then spoke to the officials in the room. “It was an odd feeling, conversing with a high-ranking Chinese official about how followers of Jesus could work and worship in the largest nation in the world in a more positive environment than has previously been known.”

A changing world Dr. Larry Henderson, missions coordinator for Asia, spent 25 years in Thailand as a missionary. Because of his connection in the Asian world, he’s recently noticed a change in China’s government policy towards religion. Religious tolerance in China has fluctuated between decades for nearly 60 years since the government’s origin. In the 1960s Zedong attempted to eradicate religion from the country by closing temples, mosques and churches, believing that religion would die. Following his death in 1976

Photo courtesy oF DR. Royce Money

Dr. Royce Money, (No. 6 from left), stands with the other members of the delegation. Money, president of the university and nine other men comprised the delegation to Beijing, China in August.

Christianity: Changes in china According to Wikipedia.com, an estimated 3-4 percent of the Chinese population is Christian. Christianity is thought to be the fastest growing religion in the country. All information courtesy of Wikipedia.com.

Chinese translation of the Bible and complies a Chinese dictionary.

n AD 635: Middle Eastern travelers introduce Nestorianism, the doctrine that Jesus exists as two people: the man Jesus and the divine Son of God.

n 1840s: Christian missionaries spread Christianity through coastal cities.

n 1289: European Franciscan friars begin mission work in China. n 1368: The Ming Dynasty abolishes Christianity in China. n 1552: Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, tries to reach China but dies on the island of Shangchuan before reaching the mainland. n 1582: Jesuits begin mission work in China. n 1807: Robert Morrison, China’s first Protestant missionary, arrives in Macao. Morrison produces a and the growth of religious groups, his successor Deng Xiaoping loosened the country’s control on religion but still closely supervised it. Xiaoping’s stance became the path that religion has taken ever since. “I would say most Chinese are atheist because of the Communist influence over the past 60 years and the very strict policy that they have against the promotion of any religion,” Henderson said. “Even with the government line being drawn and realizing what policy exists, in reality there is great religious presence in China.” He explained that a large number of Muslims live in the Southwest region of China and that now an emerging Christian presence can be seen in the country. In 1982, the government created a constitution that recognized that all Chinese citizens had the right to religious freedom, although religious freedom to Chinese officials meant following government-set parameters in one of five controlled religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam and Protestantism. While Christianity may be sanctioned by the Chinese government, Henderson

n 1800s: Hudson Taylor founds China Inland Mission, a Protestant society.

n 1900: Christians and missionaries lose their lives in the Boxer Rebellion. n 1949: Mao Zedong establishes the People’s Republic of China, and atheism is enforced in the predominately atheist country. n 1954-1959: Mao Zedong becomes Chairman of the PRC. n 1970s: Christianity grows under the People’s Republic of China. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement, China Christian Council and Chinese Patriotic Catholic Associate affiliate with the government. Other Christians meet in house churches, tolerance for these increases.

Christianity in China This is the first installment in a series that will run in the ‘Optimist’ over the next several weeks documenting Christianity in China and various mission fields where people associated with the university serve. said it must fit a strict definition controlled by the government. The only legal Protestant church in China is called the Three-Self Church, a forced blend of all strains of Protestant Christians, as Money describes it. The church, which stands for self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagating, has very strict controls on what it can and can’t do; when and where it can meet and parameters within which members can exercise their faith. Henderson said most Chinese believers find that too restricting and since they’re not interested in being a part of a sanctioned church, they go underground. Read about China’s underground church next week in Part II.

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

laci adkins STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Dr. Royce Money and his wife, Pam Money, pose with Money’s journal.

ViewsWednesday Optimist

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March 28, 2007

ACU says goodbye Sun Java, hello Gmail

The issue:

This spring, ACU will switch its e-mail system from Sun Java to Gmail.

Have you ever had problems with your ACU e-mail account? Maybe there was a time when Sing Song consumed your life for two months and you just finished that research paper that was due six weeks ago. But when you pulled up to your trusty myACU account to e-mail the tardy term paper to your professor at 3:15 a.m., the system was inconveniently “down for construction.” Or maybe you didn’t get that e-mail with all the answers to your midterm that your professor sent the night before the test;; and the “C” you got could have been the “A” you needed, had it not been for your faulty e-mail account. Well if these stories

Our view:

Because of problems experienced with the unreliable Sun Java, changing to Gmail as the ACU community e-mail is taking the university in the right direction.

The solution:

Support the university in its attempt to provide a more reliable e-mail system. Also, check out www.acu. edu/technology/email/ questions.html for more information on Gmail.

bring back The spring shift is ACU’s attempt to eliminate the gabyte storstress you age capacity. e-mail problems this inbox intensive university never want These two has had over the years; a shift the Optimist to encounter features, in again, worry addition to believes this campus has needed for a while. not. Come a long list of April the enother convetire ACU enient servicmail system will convert to have we seen the “e-mail es and capabilities, would the Google based Gmail as a system down for mainte- keep the trash out of your participant of the program nance” message at the my- inbox and make it easier to Google Apps for Education. ACU homepage. ACU needs organize important e-mails The spring shift is ACU’s this change. that you don’t want to lose. attempt to eliminate the eACU will be one of the If two gigabytes means mail problems that this in- first colleges or universi- nothing to you, in “iPod” box intensive university has ties in the nation to partner terms it is one-half of an had over the years; a shift with the search engine giant iPod Nano, one-sixteenth of that the Optimist believes and use Gmail as its e-mail an iPod or up to 500 songs this campus has needed for system since it was first of- or five hours of video. That a while. fered in the university con- should be more than enough Too many times has the text in the fall of 2006. space for anything from ascurrent Sun Java based The two main advantages signments, to syllabi and system let the students Gmail has to offer are its even the funny cat pictures and faculty of this campus solid spam filtering func- grandma sends. down, and too many times tion and astounding two-giAnd don’t worry you

Cole Williams

Let Loose

Changing false images of faith and America Sometimes you just want to speak for yourself. Sometimes other people do it for you anyway. America gets a lot of bad press. The rest of the world hears a lot about America (usually a lot more Four Word than we do Letter Pt. II about them) and what Denton they hear Josey isn’t all the good stuff. The American government stays pretty busy in other countries and sometimes that makes people mad. American business is also very prevalent in other countries and a lot of times this gives other countries the wrong impression of us. Without the privilege of living here, people can’t always see the good and the bad in America like we can. Instead, people often see America as what it exports. Mickey Mouse, Wal-Mart and Coca Cola have made it to every corner of the world already, so by the time real Americans get there we already have an undeserved

Despite America’s flaws, it still offers a lot of wonderful things like freedom and opportunity, that aren’t as available other places.

reputation. Sometimes people dislike us before we even meet them. Despite all of the misnomers people still want to come to America. How can people dislike America so much but still want to come here? Despite America’s flaws, it still offers a lot of wonderful things like freedom and opportunity that aren’t as available in other places. Maybe not everyone needs to live in America or live like Americans do. But because there is a lot of freedom and opportunity it is understandable why some people would like to be here. The same is true with Christianity. A lot of people don’t like Christianity, but they want the things that Jesus gives, like freedom and opportunity, love and life. This is also understandable. When we get lazy as Americans and let our government or our businesses be the only images people know of us, it’s no wonder they don’t know the truth; when we

get lazy as Christians and let the T-shirts and bumper stickers represent Jesus, well, we can’t blame people for not wanting to find their way to church. Here’s where America and Christianity are a little different. Not everyone needs to like America. But when we are content with the sad and untrue PR that is put out, when we don’t try to engage people and show them who Jesus really is, much more is lost and both parties miss out on beautiful life experiences. There’s a quote that says, “the world is a book and those who don’t travel read only a page.” That is similar to a deeper truth. We don’t know all of Jesus if we don’t do all the things he does and asks. It is more than just obeying the things we aren’t supposed to do, it is obeying and doing the things he asked us to do, like share him with people. If not, we miss out on knowing a part of Jesus that only comes from going to new places (non-Christian

stores, etc.), from meeting people that think differently. I’d not be so bold as to tell someone they need to go to a certain church thrice weekly and get a leather-bound Bible from Zondervan. But I would be bold enough to say they need Jesus, in the same sense that I am positive everyone needs air to breathe and food to eat, maybe even the occasional hug. This is why it is crucial that we travel, to let people witness the truth and share some love. So people can realize not all Americans are the Bush Administration. We aren’t iPods and McDonald’s; there is more music in America than rap. So they can realize Jesus followers do more than boycott places and judge people. We aren’t really supposed to be as exclusive as we tend to be. Jesus is more to us than Christian merchandise. The government doesn’t always do a bad job representing America. The church often does a great job of doing what Jesus did. But it is far more rewarding to speak for yourself.

E-mail Josey at: jdj03b@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu

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

E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu

Key to success: Learn to speak Mandarin Recent studies show Man- country one lived. darin is the new Spanish. A year ago, President Just a decade ago Spanish Bush designated $22 milwas taught in 79 percent of lion in grants for public elementary schools to expand their lans c h o o l s . guage programs to include M a n d a r i n more than the standard C h i n e s e Spanish and French under w a s n ’ t the National Security Laneven con- guage Initiative. He listed sidered as six languages as “critical” an option. to learn: Chinese, Arabic, But to- Farsi, Hindi, Japanese and Face the day, with Russian, and then the mad Facts C h i n a ’ s rush to educate children in increasing these languages began. Mallory growth in The interesting thing Schlabach economics about learning languages is and world that there is no downside. trade, American schools are Correlation has been scrambling to find enough found between children qualified teachers to teach learning more than one Mandarin. According to the language and their reading American Council for the skills, correlation between Teaching of Foreign Lan- high school foreign languages, only 300 to 400 guage studies and higher teachers are qualified to academic performance in teach in schools ini the U.S.; college — and more impormore than 2,400 schools are tantly today, marketability. requesting teachers so chilIn today’s job market, dren can be taught Chinese more often than not, the as early as deciding fackindergarten. tor in whethMandarin er you will Mandarin Chinese Chinese is be hired deis the most spoken the most spopends on if language in the ken language you can speak in the world more than world with more with more just English. than 860 million than 860 milFor America, speakers. lion speakjobs in southers, but it is ern or border also debated states first by linguists look to see if that either a candidate is this language or Hungarian fluent in both English and are the hardest languages Spanish. For companies to learn to speak and write with branches worldwide, in. the need is for Mandarin, Besides having to learn Japanese and Russian. how to write and read ChiWhile learning lannese characters, one must guages may come easier also master the four tones of to children, it’s never too Mandarin, which, along with late to try. Right now we’re consonants and vowels, help in our early twenties; it others to distinguish what could take us the next 70 you say. For many words in years to meet and affect Mandarin, one word could people around the world. have different meanings sim- The guarantee is that Engply by the tone inflected by lish won’t be the norm for the speaker. much longer. Why all the hype to learn Go out on a limb and learn foreign languages now? a new language, the rest is When most college students easy. Oh, and 祝你好運! today were elementary age, (Good Luck) foreign language wasn’t taught in schools until seventh or eighth grades. Then the choices were either Spanish or French, dependE-mail Schlabach at: ing on what region of the mes02e@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu

Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal

won’t have to send all your friends and grandma a new e-mail address; students and faculty will still be able to keep their old e-mail addresses. They will just be run by the more efficient Gmail system. Overall the move to make Gmail the ACU community’s e-mail is one in the right direction. Gmail is a web luxury that will be welcomed with open arms come April and the switch just may be the answer to ACU’s problems, at least when it comes to e-mail.

Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Newsroom: (325) 674-2439

Sports desk: (325) 674-2684

Lauren Sutton

Daniel Johnson

Editor in Chief

Opinion Editor

Sports Editor

Jared Fields

Emily Smith

Todd Piersall

Christi Stark Advertising Manager

Managing Editor

Chief Photographer

Arts Editor

Kenneth Pybus

Michelle Jimenez

Kelsi Peace

Shelby Coates

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Copy Editor

Photo department: (325) 674-2499

Features Editor

Advertising office: (325) 674-2463

Video Editor

Subscriptions ($40/academic year): (325) 674-2296.

Online: www.acuoptimist.com

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Page 7

University gives Morlan Award to two local educators n Moses Jr. and Earlene Hall, two married alumni, received the Morlan Award from the College of Curriculum and Instruction for their achievement as local educators. By ANDREA LUCADO Student Reporter

ACU honored two alumni Friday for their influential work as educators in Abilene. Husband and wife Moses Jr. and Earlene Hall received the esteemed Morlan Award from the College of Curriculum and Instruction at a dinner in the Teague Special Events Center on Friday. Moses Jr. has a bachelor’s

and master’s degree from ACU and has been an educator for 22 years. In those years he has taught in the high school and elementary levels and is now a principal at Reagan Elementary School. When he found out six weeks ago that he and his wife would be this year’s recipient of the Morlan Award, he said he was honored but said “this award is about more than us; no one makes it alone.” He said he has always seen his profession as a ministry opportunity. “The children are people in the society who are over-

looked,” he said and although he has received other awards for his efforts, like Teacher of the Year in 1994 and the Changing the World Award in 2006, he and his wife simply care about their students. “If you care about people … it always comes back,” he said. Earlene also has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU and is the counselor at Jane Long Elementary. She said she was honored to receive the Morlan Award, and when she spoke with her husband Friday, she said the morals and values students possess are more important than

the degrees they earn. The Halls met at ACU and married in 1974. After working several years for schools in Abilene and other cities, they returned to ACU where Earlene earned her master’s degree in school counseling in 1997 and Moses Jr. earned his master’s degree in 1999. Julie Douthit, instructor of education and part of the three-person committee that chooses the Morlan Award recipient each year, said the members of the committee take nominations yearround for the award and began the search in November

Jeremy Camp to play at Beltway n Jeremy Camp and fellow musicians, Bethany Dillon and Warren Barfield, will perform an acoustic concert at Live at the Park, hosted by Beltway Baptist. By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter

Musician Jeremy Camp will perform an acoustic concert hosted by Beltway Park Baptist Church at 7 p.m. April 4. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets for admission are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Beltway Baptist at 4009 Beltway South. Tickets also can be purchased from www.iTickets.com or at the LifeWay store on South Clack St. Beltway hosts Live at the Park every few months featuring contemporary Christian artists. Jeremy Camp has played in Abilene four times in the past four years. “His last concert here sold

out. We have 1,600 seats for this concert,” said Keith Dodderer, coordinator of Live at the Park. “If you want to talk to Jeremy, it’s best to stay late after the show. He sticks around to talk to everybody.” “Live at the Park just got a new sound system with the sound quality of a bigger concert location,” said Evan Young, junior international studies and engineering interdisciplinary major from Abilene. “It has a great bouncing and energetic feel.” According to Jeremy Camp’s Web site, Camp has been on tour for his new album “Beyond Measure,” which was released in October 2006, since Monday and will continue to tour through the summer. The Web site also has video, audio, podcasts and information on the artist and the tour so far. For this concert, Jeremy Camp will perform acousti-

cally with fellow musicians Bethany Dillon and Warren Barfield. “The music will most likely be a mix of Jeremy’s unplugged album he recorded in Franklin, Tenn.,” Dodderer said. Dillon has played at the Civic Center with Jeremy Camp in recent years, but this will be Barfield’s first show in Abilene. Dillon’s new album, “Waking Up,” will be released Tuesday, and Barfield’s new album, “Reach,” is currently in stores, including The Campus Store. “Beyond Measure” is availed for purchase at The Campus Store. Live at the Park’s next event will take place in June. For more information about Beltway Park Baptist Church, its Web site is www.beltway.org.

E-mail Lehman at: optimist@acu.edu

Students to serve on reservation n Students can apply to participate in the Summer Crow Experience to build relationships with the Crow children on the reservation in Montana from May to August. By HILLARY CRAWFORD Student Reporter

The deadline to turn in applications for the Summer Crow Experience, taking place in south central Montana, is Friday. Students can fill out an application by going to the department of Sociology and Family Studies Web site and selecting the “ACU on the reservation” menu button. To apply, students must be a sophomore or coming back for the fall ’07 semester. After all the applications have been submitted, the students will turn in professor recommendations. The final step is to meet with Dr. David Gotcher, chair of the Department of Sociology and Family Studies, who will cast another recommendation for the student if he sees them fit for life on the reservation.

Students will be on the reservation starting the last week in May to the second week in August. Gotcher said students who are selected to attend the Summer Crow Experience can anticipate a summer full of serving and building relationships with the Crow children on the reservation. Each student will be assigned a family on the reservation to live with for the time they are there. Each student will also be assigned a child to mentor while on the reservation. “Students and the Crow kids have been known to go white water rafting and rock climbing together,” Gotcher said. “The students also teach summer school classes to the kids as well.” Lorinne Burke White started this experience several years ago. Gotcher said White was working on the reservation and decided to call ACU and see if they would be interested in sending some of their students out to the reservation for an internship.

White first talked to the provost and then firmed up the details with the Sociology and Social Work Department, which is now the department of Sociology and Family Studies. Gotcher said students are required to take a culture course during the summer while on the reservation. There will be a program fee and a room and board fee that students will have to pay in addition to the course expense. Financial aid is available to students in need. Lauren Hyde, senior integrated marketing communications major from Clear Lake, is currently going through the application process to enroll in the Summer Crow Experience. “I am wanting to go on the Summer Crow Experience this summer,” Hyde said. “I would love to get to have this experience with the Crow kids and form new relationships that I will remember forever.”

E-mail Crawford at: optimist@acu.edu

2006 to be ready for the annual dinner in March. Dr. Dana Hood, associate professor and chair of Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Myra Holmans, instructor of education, make up the rest of the Morlan Award Committee. “We really think the Halls matched our vision of changing the world one student at a time,” Douthit said. She also said this is the first time two people have received the Morlan Award, and they were never considered independent of one another for the award because “they do so

much partnering together.” Douthit said the Halls not only have influenced the children they’ve taught, they have also influenced their own two children, who both have had careers in education, creating a legacy of educators in the Hall family. The Friday dinner also recognized Carrie Leon, principal at Jane Long Elementary, who received the Lucy Hatch Award, and several students awarded scholarships in the College of Curriculum and Instruction.

E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu

Hallway studio artist

Emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Eryn Halstead, freshman English major from Abilene, works on a class project for her drawing class in the Don Morris building on Tuesday afternoon.

English professors receive awards n Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English Department, and Dr. Steve Weathers, assistant professor of English, were honored at an annual conference for their literary works. By CAMILLE VANDENDRIESSCHE Student Reporter

Two professors of the English Department received honors on March 3 at the Conference of the College Teachers of English and the Texas College English Association. Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the Department of English, and Dr. Steve Weathers, assistant professor of English, were recognized for their work at the annual meeting. Already awarded in 2002 for her essay called “Overcome Grammar Anxiety,” Shankle was honored this year again with the Joe D. Thomas Scholar Teacher award. To be eligible for this award, Shankle, a member of the TCEA, was nominated by former ACU students. She said it was already a great honor to be nominated for the award. “I went to the [CCTE/ TCEA] breakfast not knowing who would be rewarded,” she said. “When they described the winner’s personality, I started to think it could be me. It was very special.”

The chair of the largest department in ACU, with 20 full-time faculty members, 165 English majors and 3,000 students a year, Shankle began her 29th year of teaching in January. She’s taught English at ACU since 1990 and is now in competition for the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which will be announced in April. “Dr. Shankle is a phenomenal leader,” said Steven Moore, assistant professor of English. “The English Department is very diverse, with different views, different scholarships. She does a great job unifying us.” Moore said he finds plenty of talents in the department. Weathers is certainly one of them, Moore said. “Steve pays carefully attention to human behavior; he is like a scientist,” Moore said. During the lunch at the CCTE/TCEA meeting, Weathers read his 15-page essay “Andrea,” a creative non-fiction essay about Andrea Yates, the woman from Houston who drowned her five children and was sentenced to life in prison in 2002 and is currently being treated for mental disease. “Andrea” was one of the 10

pieces selected to be published in the annual CCTE journal, CCTE Studies. It was the only one selected by the TCEA. “A creative non-fiction story relates an actual event from your own emotional view point,” said Weathers, who graduated from ACU in 1986 and has taught English for 20 years. “I tried to enter into what she was thinking. Yates was a Christian fundamentalist. She believed her children should be protected from sin and they had to go to heaven. She was mentally ill.” Weathers said people thought she was insane. He said he wanted to explain the way she acted was not only based on nonsense. He wrote the essay as a conversation with Yates. “I wanted to treat her as a person,” he said. “I wanted people to understand her better; I am pleased to see that other persons are interested in her story.” Weathers said he is working on other stories about women who were found guilty of murdering their children. He said he eventually would like to compile them into a book.

E-mail Vandendriessche at: optimist@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Page 8

Seniors show off work at Shore n “The Long Way Around,” the senior art show for eight students, was held this weekend at the Shore Art Gallery. The next senior gallery will be April 13. By YURI SUDO

Student Reporter

Eight students presented their artwork and talked about their own impression of their art and the gratitude to teachers and families at

the Shore Art Gallery on Friday. “I took two weeks of intensive work to get it all done, like waking up at four o’clock in the morning and going back to bed [at] like midnight. It was just non-stop,” said Leanna Young, senior art and marketing major from Austin. The theme of the show is “The Long Way

Around.” In the gallery there is a piece of artwork that was made of stones and tumbleweeds. The stone swirls on the floor and tumbleweeds are hanging up from the roof. “I do not know what is going to happen from there, but I like the element of surprise” said Megan Jones, graphic design major from Houston.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Will work for $$

She said being an art student is both fun and hard. The next senior show will be April 13. The “The Long Way Around” is showing until the first week of April.

emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER E-mail Sudo at: optimist@acu.edu

Matt Wickes, senior mathematics major from Paris, talks with Cynthia Cooke from OCAD at the Graduation Fair on Tuesday.

Essence of Ebony elects president JMC students earn n James Graham, half-Caucasian and Mexican, was elected as the new president for the predominantly African American group Essence of Ebony for next year. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor

James Graham grew up color blind. Or at least that’s how Graham, sophomore Bible major from Abilene, describes his multi-cultural upbringing, (his father is Caucasian and his mother is Mexican American) and his diverse group of friends. Graham accompanied that group of friends to an Essence of Ebony chapel his freshman year, and instantly got involved leading a prayer group in the organization and acting as an assistant director in last year’s Black History Month Production. Last week Graham was elected president of the organization. “I really feel like I can really meet the needs of Essence and make it more

well-known,” Graham said. He said he plans to involve the organization in more community service, to work with students in the public school systems and partner with the Volunteer Service-Learning Center to get involved on campus. “That way our voice will become more broad in what we do,” Graham said. Graham said the fact that he is not African American never crossed his mind when he considered running for office in a predominately African American group. “If I can do it, and it will edify the people, I will run,” Graham said. “Skin color was not an issue for me. It was, ‘Do I have the skills to get the job done?’” This year’s president, Erica Ray, senior social work major from Arlington, said she is confident Graham will maintain the organization’s focus, which is to represent and raise aware-

ness of African American culture. Vice president Camari Carter, junior political science major from Los Angeles, said she expects any president of the organization to be mature, accountable and open-minded. With Graham as the new face of Essence, Carter said, new awareness of Essence may be raised. “I know that it will be difficult for people to accept his presence based on skin color,” Carter said. “But I think it’s God’s way of working to break those barriers…ACU has been dealing with a lot of racist issues, and I think this is God’s way of saying, ‘Hey, this is not how I wanted it to be. I did not want it to be segregated.’” LaShae Grottis, director of Student Services and director of Student Multicultural Enrichment, praised this year’s office for expanding interest in the or-

ganization, and said she hopes Graham will work to partner with the campus community, including organizations like social clubs and Wildcat Kids. Like the others, she said the president’s race is not an issue. “There may be some people outside of the organization who will look and question and wonder,” Grottis said. “But from our perspective, it’s not a big deal.” Graham said his position is important because it demonstrates diversity that happened naturally with involvement in Essence instead of a forced effort. “Christian[s] don’t think about race,” Graham said. “[They] think about spirit. When everyone has that focus, that wall that we call racism will fall.”

E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu

KACU prepares for yearly pledge drive n KACU’s yearly drive looks to raise its needed $35,000 - $40,000 to operate for the year. Last year KACU raised about $38,000 from the drive. By KRISTA MEYER Student Reporter

Abilene Public Radio 89.7 KACU is holding its spring pledge drive Wednesday through Tuesday. Last year there were approximately 120 students who helped take pledges and the station raised $38,000, which is just enough to cover it’s budget. Every drive needs to bring in between $35,000 to $40,000 just to meet what it costs to keep the station running. Students are encouraged to sign up for onehour slots in the KACU station to help take pledges from callers. However, it’s not just students who help with the pledges; KACU listeners also help

participate in taking pledges. The format for taking pledges is now a computerized form which includes questions to ask the caller and slots to fill in step-by-step; however for those who are less tech-savvy than most there is a paper form to fill out by hand. Listeners can also submit their pledges online. “Some of our listeners prefer to call in their pledges rather than submitting them online,” Terri Peterson, KACU membership director said. “They feel it’s better to get the personal touch of talking to a real person even if they have a home computer.” Pledges are rewarded with a thank-you gift and can range from $35 for a KACU Calendar or a comic strip mug; $65 for a KACU series mug; $120

for a flash drive. Callers can also make their pledge and donate airtime spots to other organizations. Along with the thank-you gifts there are also hourly gifts such as tickets for dinner at Spano’s or a donated piece of artwork. These “special gift” items go to callers who donate $120 during a certain time when a gift is announced. KACU Radio announces the pledge drive on air several times throughout the days of the drive but word gets around other ways as well.

“Listeners, doctors, business people who come in and give their time to help out will tell their friends, who tell other friends and so on,” Peterson said. “So it’s not just us on the radio saying: give, give, give, give, give.” Anyone who wants to participate in the pledge drive can come by the KACU station in the Don Morris building at any time and help out.

E-mail Meyer at: optimist@acu.edu

awards at contest n Students from the JMC department competed in journalism contests this weekend where publications and individuals won awards. By SARA SNELSON Student Reporter

KACU students won the Sweepstakes award this weekend at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association contest in San Antonio by receiving the most awards from every category combined and won with more than twice the points of second-place Texas State University. In addition to broadcasting, 12 ACU students, including broadcast students, attended and competed for the Optimist and Prickly Pear and over 500 other students from various universities attended and competed as well. Students competed in different divisions for yearbook, newspaper, television and radio, which are sent in prior to the competition to be judged and then awarded that weekend. There is also a live competition where students attend various live events that are assigned at the competition and they then have to submit their piece to be judged. Daniel Johnson, sophomore print journalism major and sports editor for the Optimist, competed in a live competition where he attended a UT-San Antonio baseball game and a press conference with the UTSA coach and two players. From there he was given one hour to write a piece and then submit it to be judged. “It was a very cool thing

to experience and I will most likely never experience something like that again if I work as a reporter in a small town,” Johnson said. Johnson won honorable mention at the competition for his sports piece on ACU’s football win over West Texas A&M this season. Jeremy Pond, senior broadcasting major from Wichita Falls, won eight awards including honorable mention. In the radio feature category he took 1st and 2nd place, as well as placing 1st in the radio announcing live competition. “I loved competing in this competition and had a lot of fun with the people I traveled with. This competition was a great experience for radio announcing and writing,” Pond said. ACU competed in the higher divisions, which means they compete with universities such as UTAustin, Texas A&M, SMU, North Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech. “It is awesome that we are able to compete with universities that are a lot bigger than we are and produce a daily paper when we only produce two a week and are still able to win awards,” said Kenneth Pybus, assistant professor of journalism and the Optimist adviser. ACU won more than 40 awards total. The Prickly Pear won Overall Excellence, KACU won the Sweepstakes Award and the Optimist placed 2nd overall. E-mail Snelson at: optimist@acu.edu

Wednesday, March 28 , 2007

Page 9

FROM THE FRONT PAGE/SPORTS JUMPS

Ranked: Women’s No. 6 rank remains after wins Continued from page 10 Friday, the men defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State and Hardin-Simmons at home, both the score of 5-0. Similarly, the women dominated Hardin-Simmons 9-0 and Drury, ranked No. 22 in Division II polls, 7-2. Wildcat sophomore Irene Squillaci, came back from behind to beat Drury’s Mouna Sabri, who is ranked as the No. 25 singles player in

the country, by the score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. “We did win convincingly, but each match was well contested,” said head coach Hutton Jones. “I felt like our girls were under some pressure. It was good to be in a close match and come out with a solid win.” Both Wildcat teams were in Wichita Falls on Wednesday where they took on conference foe, Midwestern State. Both Midwestern teams are

ranked in the top 35 nationally, yet ACU took down both teams; the men won 5-4 and the women won 9-0. Before spring break, ACU played a pair of matches against Schreiner and Incarnate Word on March 10. The women beat both teams with 9-0 victories, but the men, after beating Schreiner 9-0, fell to Incarnate Word 6-3. “Sometimes losses can get you going,” Walker said. “I think that helped us actually a

little bit, and kind of inspired everybody to get going.” While the women took spring break off, the men went on a four-match road trip to play some of the top Division I teams in the nation. On March 14, ACU lost to Texas A&M 6-1. On March 17, TCU crushed ACU 6-0. But on March 18, the men gave Oklahoma in Division I tennis a run for its money. ACU captured two of the three doubles matches, and

senior George Carstens won a singles match for the Wildcats in three sets. But in the end, the Sooners prevailed over the Wildcats 4-2. “I thought it was exciting,” Jones said. “Obviously we were underdogs, but I think it just shows what our doubles is capable of.” Finally, the Wildcats beat East Central by a score of 72 to finish its spring break road trip. “We’re excited about

the matches,” Walker said. “They’re getting us ready for what we need to be ready for which is conference and regionals coming up.” On Wednesday, the Wildcats will continue to prepare for conference play as the men host the University of Illinois-Chicago at 3 p.m. The women will play Southeastern Oklahoma State at the Eager Tennis Pavilion at 4 p.m. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

Four: Team recovers from injuries at national meet Continued from page 10 Mary Mwangi won the 800 with a time of 2:13.86 for a provisional time. Another sprinter who qualified was Kim Prather in the 200 with a time of 24.13. Women’s pole vaulters Elizabeth Buyse and Callie Young provisionally qualified

with heights of 12-5.5 and 117.75, respectively. Hood saw some of his best athletes succumb to hamstring injuries in Boston, but said they are on their way to the 100 percent healthy list. Men’s sprinters Marvin BienAime and Johnny Jacob and women’s sprinter and hurdler Shawna Kaye-Thompson are

working their way back to full health. “Bien-Aime and Johnny look alright,” Hood said. “Marvin ran both relays and the 100 … We’re giving Shawna-Kaye one more week.” Hood did lose one athlete to an injury, women’s sprinter Stephanie Hodge. “It sounded like a canon

going off when she did it,” Hood said about the moment Hodge pulled her hamstring. Hood said the teams’ progress is going well, “except for losing Stephanie.”

National Outdoor MEET Qualifiers

Four ACU track and field athletes automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II national championships in Charlotte, N.C. at two meets over the past two weekends. Listed are the athletes an the event qualified. n Kyle Dennis, pole vaulter n Angie Aguilar, pole vaulter n Davy Manga, triple jump

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

n Camille Vandendriessche, decathalon

Alive: Series of losses drops ACU to fifth in LSC Core: Faculty vote in April Continued from page 10

Continued from page 1 for entering freshmen, three Integrated Core Courses spread throughout sophomore and junior years, and the final Capstone for seniors that is meant to “pull all the threads together,” Shankle said. Each department within the university will cater the Capstone course to fit the major of the student. “The best way to build a strong degree in any major is to build a strong curriculum,” Shankle said. “That’s what we’re hoping this will do for the university — to give us a strong liberal arts core curriculum that will enhance every single degree plan on campus.”

E-mail Jimenez at: mmj04b@acu.edu

their division. During spring break, the team took on opponents San Angelo State and Mesa State. The women played Angelo State March 16 and 17 and walked away with one win, 3-2, out of the four games they played. “Angelo State was a tough offensive team. They hit the ball very well and had some decent speed,” Wilson said. “We were in position to win three of the four games and we came out with one on the weekend.” Wilson said the team just didn’t get its defense going well enough in the first two games, but in the third game pitcher Sarah Vidalin had an exceptional game on the mound and was named the LSC South Pitcher of the Week for her outing. She gave up a run in the first inning and after that, didn’t let a runner past second base. The women also took on Mesa State in a doubleheader on March 13 and brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER won both games. Outfielder Kassidy Rotter scoops up a ball during outfield practice on Tuesday. Rotter and the rest of the Wildcats are 6-10 in conference play. “We did the right things during those games offensively to win both games,” Wilson said. “Mesa was 12-0 son progressed some of the the last few games. they set out for when we start- State in the LSC Crossover when we played them and it key players have found their “They have not given up ed the season,” Wilson said. tournament. was nice to be the team to end rhythm at the plate, and that is and they still believe we can The women return to actheir winning streak.” the difference in how the team turn things around to the point tion this weekend against East Wilson said that as the sea- has been playing offensively in they can still accomplish what Central and Southeastern E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu

Continued from page 1 Powers said. “Make sure you don’t have any holds on your account. Also, check what classes you actually need [to take] so that you don’t take any classes you don’t need.” Bart Herridge, associate registrar, suggested students follow up on their meeting with their adviser by reviewing their degree plan. “I would recommend for [students] to look at their degree evaluation online,” Herridge said. “It is a visual look at how far along they are in their degree plan.” Students can find degree plans at: www.acu.edu/registrar. For more information, students should contact their adviser within their major or they may call the Depot at (325) 674-2300 or (888) 588-6083.

E-mail Edens at: mxe06a@acu.edu

Marriage,” and director of the Center for Evangelica Spirituality, presented a four-session seminar on sacred marriages for married and engaged couples. ACU Counseling Center counselor Margaret Davis said she received positive feedback about the seminar from people she spoke with who attended. Thomas’ interactive presentation in person also provides more impact than reading a book, Davis said. About 200 people attended the seminar, Boyland estimated, among them several ACU students. With Jernigan and Thomas gone, the week isn’t over, however. Booths presenting infor-

mation on relationships will be set up in the McGlothlin Campus Center on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Sometimes people think that when we have relationship week, we’re talking just about romantic relationships,” Davis said. But this isn’t the case, she said. “We’re concerned about all kinds of relationships,” Davis said. Boyland also said the week is about more than romantic relationships, and said the week discusses aspects of relationships that transcend dating. Sacred Relationships Week will conclude Thursday with breakout Chapel sessions. Four different discussions

will be available: “Summer and Winter Christians” with Dr. Richard Beck, chair of the Psychology Department, in the Mabee Business Building, Room 215; a session with Dr. Dana Hood, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, in the Mabee Business Building, Room 117; “Dating for Dating’s Sake” with Tabitha Vail and Pam Money in the OnsteadPacker Biblical Studies Building, Room 113; and “Smiling Addictions, Part 2” with Van Conwell, Southern Hills Church of Christ involvement minister, in the Mabee Business Building, Room 118.

E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu

Fair: Grads-to-be learn about event Continued from page 1 “I thought it would be overwhelming, but it wasn’t,” Gomez said. “It was an easy process.” Adkins said she encourages graduating students to join and take 10 minutes to be prepared for their future.

“I hope we are making everything easier for them and adding some fun,” Adkins said. Graduation Fair will take place before August and December graduations as well, and employers might join the event to fix up a job for students in the future. Boisvert said he hopes it

will give an opportunity for students to interact with employers. For more information, visit ACU Alumni Association Web site.

E-mail Shibata at: axs03b@acu.edu

Continued from page 10

the seventh that brought in third basemen Alec Sowards for 7-5 win. The homerun was Elkerson’s second of the game; he hit a three-run shot in the second inning to tie the game. Closer J a m e s on Maj, p i c k e d up the save after Elkerson striking out two UCO batters and denying a bottom-of-the-seventh comeback. Two homeruns helped sustain a Wildcat win in game two against ACU as well; a sixth- inning shot by reserve third baseman Sean Nourie that put ACU up 7-6 and a two-run shot in the seventh inning by catcher Jordan Schmitt that eventually won the game 9-7. Watten and Brian Kennedy each recorded wins on Saturda and each lead the ACU pitching corps

“It’s going to be another ACU dog fight.” Britt Bonneau, head baseball coach

with five wins. UCO won each of the two games on Friday by a run each, 8-7, 10-9. “We played some unbelievable baseball the first day and unfortunately came out with no victories,” Bonneau said. Bonneau said he is pleased with his team’s progress thus far and expects the competition to only get tougher once divisional play begins against Tarleton. “It’s going to be another typical ACU dog fight,” Bonneau said.

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

SPORTSWEDNESDAY

Page 10

SCOREBOARD Standings Scoreboard as of Tuesday

BASEBALL

Team

Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

ACU Angelo TAMK-U Tarleton ENMU WTAM

Team

Overall 24-8 22-9 17-14 18-16 15-18 8-21

SOFTBALL

Div. 15-1 11-1 7-5 5-7 6-10 TX Woman’s 2-10 WTAM 2-14 Angelo St. TAMK-U Tarleton ENMU ACU

Overall 19-5 10-4 20-10 20-17 10-6 11-25 10-26

Scores Friday MEN’S TENNIS ACU 5, Southeastern Oklahoma 0 ACU 5, Hardin Simmons 0

WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU 7, Drury 7 ACU 9, Hardin Simmons 0

BASEBALL Central Oklahoma 8, ACU 7 Central Oklahoma 10, ACU 9

SOFTBALL Tarleton 5, ACU 3 Tarleton 6, ACU 3

Saturday BASEBALL ACU 7, Central Oklahoma 5 ACU 9, Central Oklahoma 7

SOFTBALL ACU 8, Tarleton 2 ACU 5, Tarleton 4

Upcoming Friday TRACK & FIELD ACU at Stanford Invitational, Palo Alto, Calif.

WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU vs. Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Okla., 9 a.m. ACU vs. Oklahoma State, Stillwater, Okla., 2 p.m.

BASEBALL ACU vs. Tarleton State, 4 p.m. (DH)

SOFTBALL

ACU at East Central, Irving, 10 a.m. ACU at Northeastern State, 2 p.m.

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.

Thursday WOMEN’S CHAMP VOLLEYBALL The Team vs. Kojie Green, 5 p.m., Bennett

Participation high for intramural volleyball n Intramural volleyball began on March 5 and will continue until the end of the champ league tournament April 10. More than 40 teams are competing in the sport. By BLESSED MATAI SPORTS WRITER

Forty-two teams began their quest for an intramural volleyball championship on March 5 when the annual intramural volleyball season began. There are four divisions in the tournament: the men’s champ, the women’s champ, the men’s rec and the women’s rec. The tournament ends April 10. Seven men’s and 13 women’s

Intramural volleyball team are playing in the champs league, and on the other end, 11 men’s and 11 women’s team are competing in the rec league. “The season is going great so far,” said Danny Kittley, intramural sports director. “It’s always exciting when we have a lot of teams. … We will finish the rec league early because we are using just two gyms.” The playoff tournament for the men’s and women’s rec league teams began Tuesday and the champ leagues will begin after one more week of regular season games. “I am very excited about my team’s results,” said Aldo Rae-

liavijaone, engineer physics major from Majunga, Madagascar. Raeliavijaone is a member of the “CT team” competing in the men’s champ league. So far his team is undefeated with a record of 2-0. “The atmosphere has been good,” Raeliavijaone said. “There are a lot of teams there and you have to bring your ‘A game’ every night.” Leah Robison, member of the women’s champ team The Dolphins, said she is excited about her team’s chances, but is disappointed her team was placed in the rec league because of a miscommunication with the intramural department. “We’re kind of frustrated be-

cause we’ve had to compete in the rec league,” said Robison, political science major from Midland. “We’re supposed to play in the champ tournament, but we have to practice against rec league teams.” Robison said she hopes the misplacement doesn’t affect her team’s chances in the tournament. “We’ve been practicing on our own so we hope that we’ll do well,” Robison said. Intramural volleyball officially started March 5 with one night of games, but the season was postponed until after spring break.

INTRAMURAL POINTS *These intramural points do not include the indoor soccer tournament results that took place Friday and Saturday. Men’s social clubs n GSP — 235 n Galaxy — 115 n Frater Sodalis — 100 Women’s social clubs n Ko Jo Kai — 155 n Sigma Theta Chi — 90 n Delta Theta — 35 n Alpha Kai Omega — 35

E-mail Matai at: optimist@acu.edu

Four qualify on heels of nationals n On the heels of its second and fourth place finishes at the indoor national championships, the ACU track and field team qualified four athletes for the outdoor meet.

On the Web www.acuoptimist.com

Read track writer Jared Fields’ articles about the ACU and track and ﬁeld team’s results at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships in Boston on March 9 and 10.

By JARED FIELDS MANAGING EDITOR

Just two weeks after the national indoor meet in Boston, the Wildcats have already automatically qualified four athletes for the national outdoor meet in Charlotte, N.C., the last weekend in May. Three athletes qualified this weekend at the Oliver Jackson Open at Elmer Gray Stadium. Two automatic qualifiers were pole-vaulters, Kyle Dennis and Angie Aguilar with marks of 17-0.75 and 12-9.50, respectively. Davy Manga is the third automatic qualifier from the weekend, placing second in the triple jump with a distance of 5111.25. Manga also provisionally qualified in the long jump with a wind-legal mark of 2-10.00. David Walker also provisionally qualified in the long jump with sixth-place jump of 23-7.25. In the first meet after the indoor championships, decathlete Camille Vandendriessche won at the Angelo State Spring Break MultiEvent Meet and became the first Wildcat to gain an automatic mark. Vandendriessche’s 7,083 points place him second in the nation. Campy

GARY RHODES CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Davy Manga throws a javelin during the ACU Oliver Jackson Open at Elmer Gray Stadium on Saturday. Manga placed first in the javelin event and automatically qualified for the outdoor national championships with a second place finish in the triple jump. Pounds provisionally qualified in the decathlon with 6,532 points and now ranks fifth in the nation. “He made all his throws with a bum ankle,” head coach Don Hood said about Pounds. “He can easily add points to his total.”

Women’s decathlete Jessica Withrow finished second in the heptathlon to provisionally qualify for the outdoor championships. In the process, Withrow also provisionally qualified for the long jump after posting a mark of 18-8.00.

Other provisional qualifiers from this weekend were Nicodemus Naimadu in the 5,000 meters, with a time of 14:29.68. Julius Nyango placed second in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:38.84 and men’s pole vaulters Cory Altenberg and Aaron Cantrell

both jumped 15-9.00. Women’s shot putter Liga Klavina threw the shot 45-0.25 to provisionally qualify. Azraa Rounds won the 400 meters with a time of 55.16 to provisionally qualify and See

FOUR page 9

Wildcats complete crossover play Ranked n The 17th-ranked ACU baseball team ﬁnished its portion of the season against Lone Star Conference North teams with a split series against Central Oklahoma. By DANIEL JOHNSON SPORTS EDITOR

ACU lost the first two games of its series against the University of Central Oklahoma, but starting pitcher and shortstop Trey Watten knew the 17th-ranked Wildcats wouldn’t get swept. “That’s what I like about us the most,” Watten said. “We’re fighters.” And sure enough, ACU baseball team clawed back from early deficits in both

Baseball Saturday games to sweep the defending LSC champions and split the series 2-2. “We haven’t played anyone that challenged us as much a they did,” Watten said. The split Watten ended the Wildcats’ portion of the season against LSC North opponents and extended its overall record to 24-8. ACU was 18-4 against LSC North teams and swept three of its six North opponents.

Head coach Britt Bonneau said the UCO series was the last of a throng of road tests for the Wildcats in preparation for upcoming LSC South division play. In addition to UCO, ACU played six games on the road over the last two weeks, including a series against formally 10th-ranked, now No. 14, Delta State. ACU swept Southwestern Oklahoma (5-2, 4-3, 3-0, 16-1) and lost both games to Delta State (9-3, 15-6). Although ACU was ranked No. 8 in the nation before spring break and is now No. 17, Bonneau said his team is ready for upcoming LSC South division play. “Who we played over the

last two weeks definitely prepared us for the next five weeks,” Bonneau said. ACU will start divisional play against Tarleton State at home Friday with a conference leading record and the only national ranking of the 12 LSC teams. The Wildcats rallied late in both games on Saturday to split the series against the UCO Bronchos. In the first game ACU overcame a 5-5 tie in the fourth inning after outfielder Mike Elkerson hit a solo homerun in the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead that outfielder Travis Catalini added on to with a sacrifice fly in See

CATS page 9

Wins keep playoff hopes alive

Kojie Pink vs. Black Dahlia, 6 p.m., Bennett Polka Dots vs. Alpha Kai Blue, 7 p.m., Bennett

n The ACU softball team snatched two must-win games against Tarleton State on Saturday to keep its playoff hopes alive. ACU is 6-10 in conference play.

MEN’S CHAMP VOLLEYBALL I am the Culprit vs. Benchwarmers, 8 p.m., Bennett Frat 1 vs. C.T., 9 p.m., Bennett

By RACHEL DAVIS

REC LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL Postseason tournament began Tuesday, see intramural board or www.acuoptimist.com for Thursday’s schedule.

SPORTS WRITER

BRIAN SCHMIDT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

For complete intramural scores and schedules visit: w w w. a c u o p t i m i s t . c o m

March 28, 2007

Freshman softball player Nancy Sawyers catches a ball during practice on Tuesday.

ACU split another fourgame series this weekend against the Tarleton State TexAnns on the heels of a threegame loss to Angelo State. The team lost both of Friday’s games and came back to win both of the crucial con-

Softball ference games on Saturday. “We did not get going with our bats soon enough on Friday and we were a little flat, but we came back Saturday with more character and heart and were able to play two great games,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. The Wildcats won the first game on Saturday with a score of 8-2. However, the last game ended more dramatically in extra innings and players Tayler Wilson, Leisha

Johnson and Jessica Johnson helped pick up the 5-4 win after picking up crucial RBIs. “Coming back and winning two on Saturday kept us in the hunt for a conference tournament spot,” Wilson said. “We are going to try to develop some momentum next weekend when we head to Irving for the LSC Crossover.” The Wildcats are now 1816 overall and 6-10 in Lone Star South play, which gives them a ranking of fifth in See

ALIVE page 9

teams rack up victories

n The nationally ranked ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams racked up a slew of wins over teams from all different conferences and divisions. By MICHAEL FREEMAN ONLINE EDITOR

The nationally ranked ACU tennis teams defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State, Hardin-Simmons and Drury University on Friday after playing several competitive matches during spring break. On Friday, new FILA Division II tennis rankings came out, which placed the Wildcat men at No. 26 in the nation, a drop from two weeks ago when ACU was ranked No. 20. The ACU women’s ranking stayed the same at No. 6 in the nation. The men have a record of 17-7, and the women are 15-2 on the season. “I think we’re really right where we want to be,” said assistant head coach John Walker. See

RANKED page 9