THE Vol. 95, No. 50
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Insignia doubts
Seniors are unsure if they can raise the money for an insignia, but previously graduated classes can chip in, page 4
Spring honorees
Two professors will be honored at the spring concert Sunday, page 4
Slide and fast
A student is trying to get the Bean to sponsor a fast that would benefit an organization by donating meal plans or Bean Bucks, page 5
ARTS
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OPTIMIST FRIDAY
1 section, 10 pages
April 20, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
Varner selected as CAS dean n The new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Jeanine Varner, an administrator from Oklahoma Christian University, will begin her position July 1. By MALLORY SCHLABACH EDITOR IN CHIEF
When Dr. Jeanine Varner arrives on campus this summer, the first thing she’ll do is look to see where she can fit best. Varner, vice president of academic achievement at Oklahoma Christian University, was selected as the new dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences earlier this week, after a semesterlong search process. She will take the place of Dr. Colleen Durrington, current dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who will retire at the end of the semester. “I’ve heard and read so much about ACU, and went through the course catalog,” Varner said. “Now I’m just excited to get to Abilene and begin working with the faculty and students.” Varner and four other candidates both from in and outside the university,
were chosen as the five final candidates for the position by an eight-member search committee, made up of faculty members from various fields in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Carley Dodd, assistant professor of communication and chair of the search committee, said the committee was pleased with who was chosen. Once the candidates were narrowed down to five, Dodd said the candidates then met numerous people on campus including: the deans of
the other colleges, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university and Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost; an ethnic and diversity committee; department chairs from the College of Arts and Sciences, staff from both the technology support department and library, and staff in the dean’s office. From there, the committee then ranked the candidates after receiving feedback from the faculty, staff and administrators who had See
DEAN page 5
SPORTS EDITOR
Prayers
‘Disturbia’ offers an entertaining line, but takes straight from Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window,’ page 6
Virginia Tech
SPORTS
EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
This banner is in the Campus Center for students to sign in support of the students at Virginia Tech. It reads: “Abilene Christian University is praying for you.”
Students grieve for those slain n Students can support the Virginia Tech campus by signing a banner in the Campus Center or attending a prayer vigil Monday. By KELSI PEACE FEATURES EDITOR
The new women’s soccer team that will begin this fall will bring the ACU Athletic Department even more recognition, page 10
Students can tangibly reach out to the Virginia Tech campus through a written word of encouragement or a prayer of support, thanks to efforts by the Students’ Association and Spiritual Life Core. Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life, said a banner is available to sign in the McGlothlin Center until Monday or Tuesday, when it will be sent to a college ministry on the Virginia Tech campus. “There’s no ideal way to respond, and we felt the need to do something,” Lewis said. “A simple banner would be a simple way to express a deep concern.” The banner, which reads, “Abilene Christian University is praying for you,” has messages from students like “Keep the faith, we love y’all,” and “May the Lord bless you and keep you.”
Jessica Casella, freshman English major from Spring, signed the banner Thursday, and said she thinks this is the best response from the university. “Really, it’s all you can do,” Casella said. “Just let them know you’re there.” For Nick Graves, sophomore theater design major from Granberry, the tragedy hit closer to home — Graves has several friends who attend the school. “These are people just like us,” Graves said. “This could have happened anywhere.” Graves said the quiet time in Chapel on Tuesday and the banner are both excellent ways to offer support. “What’s better than this? What’s better than our prayers for them?” Graves said. Students can come to the amphitheater Monday at 9 p.m. for a prayer vigil, where Lewis said 33 candles will be lit to represent each life lost in Monday’s shooting — including Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter. “Each one of them was a life,” Lewis See
BANNER page 5
EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Johnathan Ferguson, junior business management major from Belton, signs a banner in the Campus Center on Thursday that ACU is sending to Virginia Tech.
Congress rejects election amendment Hitting the home stretch ACU plays Eastern New Mexico here this weekend. The Wildcats are fourth in region and tied for first with Angelo State in conference, page 10
ONLINE Convicting steps
Take a look behind-thescenes of the SHADES Step Show as they prepare for this weekend’s show at: www.acuoptimist.com
n The Hilton Room will be remodeled this summer to accommodate a food court and make room for the Bean to expand its space. By DANIEL JOHNSON
Disturbingly similar
Kick start
Hilton Room to close for food court
n Congress could not hear a second addendum on the agenda Wednesday because not enough members were present for the two-thirds quorum required. By KELSI PEACE FEATURES EDITOR
After the most debate SA has had all semester, Congress rejected an amendment to the bylaws that would revoke the power of the election chair and election committee to dock votes from candidates who violate campaign rules at Wednesday’s meeting. The amendment, written by sophomore senators Caleb Archer and Daniel-Paul Watkins, required a two-thirds
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
vote from Congress to pass, but received only 21 votes supporting it, with 17 opposing and three abstaining. Last week, Archer, political science major from Southlake, and Watkins, political science major from Fredericksburg, Va., wrote a bill to revoke the power to dock votes, but chief development officer Hallie Roberts, junior political science major from Fort Sumner, N.M., ruled that the bill could not amend a document written by the chair of the committee. Archer and Watkins appealed, but Congress upheld Roberts’ decision 30-2. Archer and Watkins said they want the power to dock
votes taken away because docking votes that have been cast essentially disenfranchises the voter. “In my opinion, one vote negated is a problem,” Watkins told Congress. “We’re trying to uphold the democratic way.” While Archer and Watkins said candidates who violate election rules would still be penalized, others voiced concerns over how to penalize a candidate who violates the rules during voting once most campaigning is finished. Freshman senator Abby Barnes, political science major from Odessa, opposed the amendment, and said it took away power from the
Abilene Christian University
committee chair. She also said Watkins’ suggestion to announce candidates’ violations to the student body was not a suitable punishment because most voters are not familiar with the rules to recognize the seriousness of a violation, and, Barnes said, a Christian campus should not use public humiliation as means of punishment. Congress could not hear the second addendum on the agenda because only 30 Congress members attended the meeting, and there were not enough absentee votes for the addendum to meet the two-thirds quorum. E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
University luncheons, departmental chapels and numerous other campus events will have to find a new home in the fall — the Hilton Room will be removed from the McGlothlin Campus Center to make way for a new food court. Construction of the food court is planned for this summer and will include the retail restaurants Chick-fil-A, Pizza Hut, Freshens and Quiznos. “I look forward to having more options to offer for dining services,” said Anthony Williams, director of retail and campus stores manager. The three retail restaurants already on campus and a new Quiznos restaurant will take the space in the Campus Center where the Hilton Room is currently located, while the leftover space in front of the Bean will be used to extend the Bean. Williams said the construction will be handled by a contractor out of Dallas and should be finished by the beginning of the fall semester. Williams and a committee of representatives from around the university including Kevin Watson, associate vice president for administrative services, chose to replace the Hilton Room with the food court from a list of plans varying in cost and total renovation of the Campus Center. “We had several different scenarios,” Williams said. Students’ Association President Maher Saab, senior political science major from Abilene, represented the student body on the committee. Although Saab said he did not play a part in choosing the final plan, See
HILTON page 5
CONGRESS ABSENCES Congress members who miss at least three congressional meetings can be impeached. As of March 7, nine people were eligible for impeachement. Ten people had two absences. Impeachable members: Faith Brodie Valerie Hanneken Seth Copeland Steven Cardona Robyn Folks Jordan Ziemer Kent Akers Stephanie Stryhal Andy Perkins Members who have missed all office hours as of March 30. Jordan Steger Steven Cardona Seth Pinson Kent Akers Andy Perkins Tim Thyne
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, April 20, 2007
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Calendar & Events Friday
Praise Day in chapel with SHADES. Last day to sign up for ACU for Abilene. Last day to turn in mentor group leader applications for Welcome Week. 6:45 p.m. Dinner begins for Spring Dinner Theatre. Tickets for dinner and the ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ show are $25. 7:30 p.m. ‘Convicted,’ SHADES spring step show, in Cullen auditorium.
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Saturday
ACU for Abilene 6:45 p.m. Dinner begins for Spring Dinner Theatre. Tickets for dinner and the ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ show are $25. 7:30 p.m. ‘Convicted,’ Shades spring step show, in Cullen auditorium. 8 p.m. ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets for the show alone are $15.
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Monday
8 p.m. ACU Jazz Ensemble Concert in Cullen Auditorium. 9 p.m. Prayer vigil on behalf of the Virginia Tech community in the Amphitheater. Come take part in this time of prayer and remembrance of those who were killed, their families and friends and the entire Virginia Tech community. For more information or to help with details for the gathering, contact Mark Lewis in the Spiritual Life office.
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Tuesday
7 p.m. Free bowling downstairs in the Campus Center until 10 p.m. 8:30 p.m. ‘Shinnery Review’ reading in the Library Atrium.
The Students’ Association has placed a banner in the Campus Center for students, faculty and staff to write words of encouragement, blessings and prayers to the students, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech. The banner will remain set up through the weekend. Early next week it will be sent to one of the college ministries adjacent to Virginia Tech and will be displayed for the VT community. Go by and take a minute to write a word of hope. ID Photos will be used in the 2006-2007 Prickly Pear. Students may go by the Depot no later than April 27 to retake these pictures. Students may also go by the JMC office and fill out an opt-out form to have their picture removed from the Prickly Pear. Join the ACU Bands for the ACU Spring Band Concert on Sunday at
3 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. This concert will feature performances by the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble. Natalie Steele, the associate director of bands who will be leaving ACU to pursue doctoral studies next year, and John Whitwell (ACU Class of `65), who was director of bands at ACU from 1981-1987 and is on his retirement from teaching, will be honored. The feature piece of the program is a new work called “Starry Crown,” which is based on three gospel tunes, including “Down in the Valley to Pray” from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou.” This piece was composed by Donald Grantham, composer at the University of Texas, in honor of Whitwell. Also featured in this concert will be Kristin Ward, instructor of clarinet at ACU, performing a bass clarinet solo with the Wind Ensemble. All students are invited to the International Spring Banquet on April 27 at 7 p.m. at Fairway Oaks Country Club. Dress is semi-formal. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased by cash or check in McKinzie Hall, room 128. All ticket purchases must be completed by Friday. For more information, contact Laura Blake at laura.blake@acu.edu. 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.
ACU Police Tip of the Week Police Log Edited for space
Tuesday 04/10/2007 1:40 a.m. Report of suspicious vehicle near Jacobs Dream, checked, students vehicle 6:15 p.m. Assisted Abilene PD with arrest of student for narcotics at 600 EN 23rd 8:21 p.m. Report of a live turkey inside of Foster Science Building, turkey was removed from the building 10:08 p.m. Returned found wallet to owner 10:35 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Big Purple Lot Wednesday 04/11/2007 11:45 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at Nelson Lot 1:47 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Bible Lot 3:42 p.m. Suspicious subject at 700 EN 10th, was gone upon arrival, attempt to locate of vehicle in reference to attempted theft 5 p.m. Unlocked motor vehicle at Nelson Lot
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.
11:38 p.m. Report of noise disturbance near McDonald Hall, checked students playing capture the flag Thursday 04/12/2007 7:07 a.m. Returned found wallet to owner 10:05 a.m. Parking violations at McKinzie Lot 1:10 p.m. Found wallet that was reported stolen earlier to Abilene PD. 4:10 p.m. Theft report a the Bible Building 7:44 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Mabee/Edwards Lot Friday 04/13/2007 12:15 a.m. Alarm at Campus Store, accidentally set off by employee 9:40 a.m. Criminal mischief at McKinzie Hall 5:40 p.m. Found keys and returned to owner 4:55 p.m. Incomplete 911 at Elmer Gray Stadium, checked area no one there Saturday 04/14/2007 9:10 a.m. Report of smell of gas at Teague restroom, contacted Physical Resources 9:40 p.m. Checked in gun for safekeeping at the Station Sunday 04/15/2007 7:01 p.m. Criminal mischief to vehicle at University Park Lot, no damage no report filed
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
ACU Career Information U.S. SECRET SERVICE Career information session Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room
Fighting crime is a community effort. Do your part by being alert and always report suspicious activity to the ACU Police Department at (325) 674-2305.
Monday 04/09/2007 1:30 p.m. Located stolen auto in COBA Lot. Contacted APD and reporting owner. Vehicle released. 3:20 p.m. Report of student causing disturbance at the Bean, unable to locate student 6:15 p.m. Parking violation at Business Lot 10:20 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Big Purple Lot
About This Page
Upcoming Career Events and Workshops
8 p.m. ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets for the show alone are $15.
Announcements
Credited Chapels remaining:
62 10
ACU CAREER DAY Deal Or No Deal: Just In Case... You have not yet landed a job, or you don’t know where to look, or you don’t know what to do, or (Career-related fill-in-the-blank.) Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ACU Hilton Room Featuring: -Gifts for graduating seniors -Networking with 20 employers -Resume, cover letter, and job search advice -One-on-one with career counselors -Free food and drinks This Week’s CareerLink Statistics: Number of part-time jobs: 144 Number of internships: 281 Number of full-time jobs: 809 Number of employers in directory: 3,110 Number of employers added this week: 32 Hosted By: The Office of Career and Academic Development www.acu.edu/ocad
Upcoming On-Campus Interviews April 23: WhiteHill Manufacturing Accountant Open schedule April 24: AMBA District manager trainees and interns Any major Open schedule To schedule an on-campus interview, go to www.acu.edu/ careerlink or contact Bradon Tharp at (325) 674-2653. IT’S NOT A JOB IF YOU LOVE IT: Recent jobs posted on ACU CareerLink (www.acu.edu/careerlink) Job ID #5512 Media relations internship with the National Mental Health Association Job ID #5481 Summer tour guide with the ACU Office of Admissions Job ID #5478 Assistant business manager with McMahon Law Firm Job ID #5421 Customer services operations coordinator with Cadbury Schweppes Job ID #5453 Field technology engineer with Halliburton (Houston) Job ID #5454 Advertising account manager with Centro, LLC (Dallas)
Volunteer Opportunities ACU for Abilene is Saturday. ACU students, staff and faculty will join together to serve the Abilene community in a variety of ways at several locations. Sign up in the Campus Center ticket windows by Friday. The March of Dimes needs volunteers for WalkAmerica at Redbud park on April 28. Help is needed between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. in one- to two-hour shifts to help with set up, registration and other aspects of the walk. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. MOPS at Highland Church of Christ is having its annual Great Moms Walk and family day out on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nelson Park. For more informa-
tion, contact Julia Stewart at (325) 690-9023. Looking for a one-week summertime adventure in Alaska? The Naha Teen Bible Camp, sponsored by the Ketchikan Church of Christ, is looking for volunteers to work at the camp, which will take place June 4 through June 8. For more information, contact Mark Lewis at Mark.Lewis@acu.edu. 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 Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information.
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, April 20, 2007
Page 3
Dance party trend spreads on campus, gains support n Despite controversial opinions about dancing at ACU, dance parties banning alcohol or drugs that give students a fun night out are gaining support and attendees. By RACHEL DAVIS Student Reporter
The rules are simple: no drugs, no alcohol — just dance. And if you’re going to visit the Madison Street Posse, “no sniper rifles.” Students who follow these rules will be well on their way to joining a recent student trend. A collection of studentorganized dance parties are taking place in such venues as houses and other places around Abilene. In the past two years, they have emerged as a new way to get out and have fun. The organizers of these parties have one simple mission: to create a place where ACU students can go to avoid the club-type atmosphere and just have some fun without getting in trouble. The oldest of the dance parties is the MSP Dance Party. Seth Adcock, senior
English major from Ruidoso, N.M., said the idea for the party developed because he and his friends just wanted to have a place where they could go hang out and dance. “We all enjoy that kind of thing … so we thought it was kind of a social need,” Adcock said. The MSP dance parties used to take place in a house on Madison Street — hence the name Madison Street Posse — but the organizers of the party had to move last year. However, the MSP name still lives on, and Adcock and his friends never thought the parties would get as big as they have, he said. “It’s cool that by the end of the night there’s more people there that I don’t know than I do know,” he said. Because the MSPers had to move out last year, the parties haven’t been as frequent. Only four or five dance parties have taken place this year, while last year it was monthly. But organizers plan to have
another party this semester. Adcock said the best way to get information on the parties is to join the MSP Dance Party Facebook group. “It’s gonna be really big since a lot of us are graduating,” Adcock said. The biggest dance party on campus is the Revolution Dance Party, which started last fall when three ACU students, Jeremy Cox, senior family studies major from Houston; Isaac Vazquez, senior graphic design major from Houston; and Austin Miller, senior biology major from Abilene, decided to hold a dance party after the annual culture show. “We planned to have it in Isaac’s living room and just called up a few friends about it,” Cox said. “So many people showed up that we decided to make it a once-a-semester deal.” Out of that, the Revolution Dance Party was born. “We wanted to create a place where ACU people could go and have fun without getting into trouble,” Cox said. “We wanted to
have a party that focused just on dancing. So many people are into the drinking and doing drugs thing, and we wanted to give the students something fun and free that isn’t like the club atmosphere.” The name Revolution came from the idea of bringing different types of students together, said Vazquez. The co-organizers were rebelling against the idea that drugs and alcohol have to be available at a party to have fun. “Our motto is ‘No drugs. No alcohol. Just dance,’” Vazquez said. “A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.” “It’s kind of like we’re rebelling against the no dancing policy, but we aren’t an official ACU group, so we aren’t going against any rules,” Cox said. “We call it the Revolution because it’s just different.” For most of ACU’s history, dancing was against the rules. Since those rules changed in the 1990s, it still remains a controversial topic among faculty
and students. But with the advent of groups like SHADES and Swing Cats, dancing is becoming more prevalent on campus and off campus. According to the ACU Student Guide, “dancing is a matter of personal choice; however, ACU-sponsored organizations cannot have or host dances.” And while the topic always has stirred controversy on ACU’s campus, Cox said the party hasn’t generated any negative feedback. The only time they’ve had to deal with anything negative was when they weren’t allowed to put up a banner in the Campus Center advertising the party. “A lot of the faculty has been really supportive of it, and they think it’s a great idea,” Cox said. “Even when we couldn’t advertise in the Campus Center, they were still really cool about it.” It’s a delicate issue to balance on campus because of ACU’s Church of Christ heritage that is, for the most part, against
dancing. Cox said he can’t disagree or agree with that viewpoint. “I guess it’s just like that saying ‘everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial,’” Cox said. “What’s good for me might not be good for you. I think most people just show up to dance and have a good time.” The next Revolution party is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 p.m. after the SHADES step show, and its theme is “One Love.” Guests are encouraged to wear red, green and yellow. “It’s just about us doing the will of God and the love of God through us,” Cox said. Quoting the movie “V for Vendetta,” Cox said: “There’s love between all of us, and then there’s one love: God. It’s about unity — uniting a bunch of people that don’t really hang out and bringing them all together to just have fun.”
E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
Distance education offers seven online courses this summer n Online courses, which are equivalent to a traditional class taken on campus, are available this summer, including the addition of an extra class offered. By LAURA SMITH Student Reporter
Signs posted around campus advertise students attending class in their pajamas. This may sound like a normal day for some college
students, but the difference is the location. Summer online courses are the academic equivalent of any class taken on campus, but it allows students the comfort of being in any place as long as there’s an Internet connection. Registration for online classes started in October and will continue until June 1. This summer, eight
classes are offered — one more than last summer, said Timpy Seller-Tiemann, distance education coordinator. They include Biblical Greek, Message of the Old Testament, Christianity in Culture, Major British Writers I, Business and Professional Writing, Principles of Macroeconomics, Educational Psychology and Fundamentals of Communication.
Registration takes place on BannerWeb as a regular course would. This year, one new feature is iTunes U, which offers parallel course material online. Students will need to buy the textbook for the course, but additional information usually offered from DVDs will be available online for free, Seller-Tiemann said. Online courses do not
On the Web
www.acu.edu/academics/ distanceeducation/summeronline
have a lecture portion. Instead, they focus on conversations with students and instructors through ACU Instant Messaging and the discussion board on Blackboard. It requires daily Internet access and the ability to operate e-mail, Word pro-
cessing and the academics tab on myACU. Online and traditional classes can be taken at the same time, and students can register for more than one online course at the same time. Online courses cost the same as a traditional class and financial aid will apply. E-mail Smith at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Friday, April 20, 2007
Gmail shows slow transition among students, faculty n Gmail, a new Webmail system by Google, has been available since last week, but some students, faculty and staff have not switched yet because of various reasons. By CAMILLE PAINTER Student Reporter
G-day may have passed, but the switching to Gmail trend is still in its early stages. On April 12, students and staff could choose between sticking with Sun Java Systems, the Webmail system ACU has been using for the past few years, or opting to use Google’s Webmail system, Gmail. While the choice was widely advertised, it wasn’t a choice that all could make. The ACU financial counsel-
ors are some who will stick with Java until they receive word they can switch. A calendar issue holds them back, said Ann Varner, ACU financial aid counselor. “ACU says they’re not supporting it yet, a Google calender,” Varner said. “We’re too afraid to switch over because if something breaks, Google won’t do anything, and we depend so heavily on it.” The financial counselors share a calendar system with The Depot, so The Depot can schedule student appointments for them. “They talked about us going ahead and doing it next week, but we have to make
sure the counselors and The Depot all do it at the same time, or else they can’t schedule any students for appointments,” Varner said. Some of the counselors’ neighbors have already happily moved into the new system. “Other people in our office who’ve switched say it’s much more user friendly, it’s much easier to maneuver; it will just make things a lot simpler,” Varner said. “If it’s as nice as everybody says, I’m anxious to get switched over.” Some were eager to try the new system, others were fine with the old one and decided to stick with it for a while. Aubrey Austin, freshman exercise science major from
Soaking up the sun
Colorado Springs, Colo., said she hasn’t switched yet because of a lack of time. “I’m used to it, so I just want to continue with it until I need to switch over,” Austin said. “I know that Gmail’s supposed to offer a few more things like chatting, but I’m fine with how I have it right now.” Whether students, faculty or staff have opted to switch yet or not, all must be using Gmail by the fall. “I’ll probably wait until school gets out,” Austin said. “Just whenever school gets out and all the craziness from finals and all that is over, I’ll probably switch over.” ACU members may choose
By SHARON RAPELJE Student Reporter
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
topics that I stuck in other emails later is nice too, but not being able to make folders is kind of rough.” Hamilton said it was a fairly smooth transition. “It was pretty easy,” he said. “I had to look at the video though; I didn’t really know how to do it by myself or anything, but it wasn’t too bad.” Hamilton said, and many at ACU would likely agree, there are ups and downs to the new system. “Google’s a little more reliable, but a little more complicated, but it works,” Hamilton said. “I think they both work, so it’s all right.” E-mail Painter at: optimist@acu.edu
Seniors seek more pledges for gift n The class of ’07 may not reach the total amount needed for its senior gift, an ACU insignia. More donations are expected by other classes and at the senior cookout.
Alethea Dillman, sophomore exercise science major from Abilene; Sarah Lane, sophomore youth and family ministry major from San Antonio; Ryan Martic, freshman marketing major from Allen; Jessica Rodriguez, sophomore elementary education major from Kyle; and Mike Hamilton, sophomore missions major from Albuquerque, N.M., eat lunch and relax on the grass outside the Campus Center on Thursday.
not to opt in yet because they’re busy and aren’t ready to work on moving all their old e-mails into the new system, or because they don’t want to take the time to learn a new system. On the other hand, some were excited about trying new things and getting away from the old system while others were just tired of clicking “no” on the page that asks if they want to opt in every time they log into their Webmail. Mike Hamilton, sophomore missions major from Albuquerque, already opted in. “I like that I can catalogue e-mail by date; it’s kind of nice,” Hamilton said. “That I’m able to search the mail for
The amount the senior class has raised so far for the senior gift was announced Thursday at the Senior Cookout at Lytle Bend Ranch from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Kristi Thaxton, development programs manager and Senior Experience coordinator, said since February seniors at The Calling Center have been contacting other seniors for donations. More pledges are expected at the cookout. The total cost of the gift, which is an ACU insignia in
front of Barret Hall, is about $50,000. It’s predicted this graduating class will not reach the total amount needed for the insignia, so other senior classes have the opportunity to fund it as well. Seniors can pledge years after graduating or spread out their pledge with small payments throughout the year. Cameron Hartsell, senior political science major from Gilmer, said several questions have been asked about the gift. The most popular one being: Why is it an insignia? Hartsell said it is what the seniors voted for. He said other gifts that were discussed, such as swings, did not work out because of insurance concerns. It is not known how long
it will take to raise $50,000. The Lunsford Walking Trail, for example, was the senior gift for the classes of 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and was just completed this past semester. The total amount raised so far can also be found on the Senior Experience Web site at www.acu.edu/seniors. The Web site also offers information on events and graduation details. Donations can be mailed or brought to Thaxton in the Development Programs Office in the Hardin Administration Building, Room 305 or online at www.acu.edu/giveonline. For more information contact Thaxton at (325) 674-2748. E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu
University recognizes top 50 students of May ’07 graduating class n Students who satisfy a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and have done academic activities were honored as the top 50 scholars of the May 2007 graduating class. By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter
The top 50 scholars of the May 2007 graduating class were honored during Thursday’s Chapel in Chapel on the Hill. Students were escorted
by faculty members to receive a medallion and a certificate of achievement. Dr. John Willis, Burton Coffman Chair of Biblical Studies and professor of Old Testament, gave a speech to “encourage the top scholars to continue to excel and be humble servants and to challenge them for the future.” Since the early to mid ’90s, the Faculty Senate has hosted
this event to award and recognize the university’s top scholars, said Dr. Eric Hardegree, professor of chemistry. “We choose the students who do not just perform well in the class and have a high GPA, but the students who go above and beyond with academic activities which vary in discipline,” Hardegree said. Hardegree said the threeperson committee solicits nom-
inations from faculty members and screens each candidate. “We try our best to narrow the list to 50 students. It’s always a little difficult because there are many really good students,” he said. “We try to be as fair as we can. It’s not a popularity contest.” The criteria to be considered a university scholar are a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and a faculty nomination
detailing the student’s scholarly activities appropriate to his or her discipline. The activities can include lab research, service, fieldwork and mission trips as long as the activities apply to the student’s area of study. This is not an award for nonacademic service. “If a student does a lot of service, that’s really good and is deserving of recognition; but that’s not what this
award is for,” he said. After the Faculty Senate approves the list, the committee informs the students early enough, so family and friends can come to celebrate their students’ achievement. “Many parents and grandparents attend the event every year,” Hardegree said.
E-mail Lehmann at: optimist@acu.edu
Earth day to promote recycling Two music instructors to be honored n Students are encouraged to be aware of environmental problems and get involved in the recycling program on campus during Earth Week. By SHARON RAPELJE Student Reporter
The average American requires 24 acres of biological reserve to maintain their lifestyle. If all of the 6.6 billion people on the planet lived as an American, it would take six or seven planets to sustain everyone. In recognition of Earth Week, April 16-22, and Earth Day on Sunday, Dr. Jim Cooke, professor of agriculture and environmental sciences, wants students to become more aware of the recycling program on campus that can play a part in helping our planet. ACU, in connection with the city, has put up recycling containers in the library, Campus Center and other areas around campus. The blue containers are
for paper, the green containers are for plastic bottles, and the cardboard boxes with holes on the top are for aluminum cans. Every Wednesday morning a city truck comes to empty the containers. Grocery stores H.E.B and Wal-Mart also have recycling containers. “You throw the bottle into a recycling bin or you throw the bottle into a trash can; it’s not that big of a deal,” Cooke said. “It takes sort of a change in habit, a change of awareness and a realization that what you do as an individual has an impact.” Along with the environmental benefits, there is also an economic one. The city of Abilene has to pay for each truckload of garbage that is emptied into the landfill. If some of the garbage is diverted through recycling, it would save the city a large amount of money. Cooke said the more we recycle the better it will
be for future generations. Without recycling, the number of opportunities will substantially decrease. Cooke said this is a spiritual issue because it is the responsibility of Christians to care for the gift of creation God has given them. Students can get involved by using the containers and having containers placed in their residence hall or department. To have containers set up in these places, students need someone in authority, such as a residence director or an academic dean to contact Nelda Gilbreth in administrative services at (325) 674-2363. Rebecca Malcolm, junior near eastern studies major from Kingwood, said, “Recycling is beneficial, but it’s hard to recycle in Abilene because there are not a lot of ways to recycle. I wish that recycling was made more available to us.”
E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu
n Two music instructors, John Whitwell, who retired last year, and Natalie Steele, assistant director of bands, will be honored at the Spring Band Concert. By TAKISHA KNIGHT Student Reporter
The Music Department will honor two music instructors at the Spring Bands Concert: Professor John Whitwell, who retired last year, and Natalie Steele, assistant director of bands who will leave following this semester to pursue higher education. The Spring Band Concert will beWhitwell gin at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Abilene Civic Center and is free to the public. Whitwell, who graduated from ACU in 1965 Steele and served as director of bands from 1981-87, retired from teaching in 2006 at Michigan State University. “He’s a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend to me,” said Steven Ward, director of bands. Ward learned music under Whitwell at Steven F. Austin
State University in Nacogdoches. He also studied with him for three years at Michigan State University. Ward said he taught him more than just “a wonderful sense of musicianship,” but he also taught him “a general love for the process of education.” Band students from the many universities he taught at throughout his career commissioned renowned band composer and faculty member at the University of Texas Donald Grantham to compose a special piece in honor of the educator entitled “Starry Crown.” “He’s a real giant leader in our field,” Ward said. “He’s set an amazing example for us to follow.” The band will also perform to recognize Steele, who serves as the director of the Big Purple Band and conducts the concert band along with teaching classes in music education. She also supervises student teachers and teaches private low brass lessons. After six years as associate director of bands, Steele will pursue a doctorate’s degree at the University of North Texas. She does not intend to return to ACU after obtaining her degree. She said she enjoyed her work at ACU. “The students here are wonderful,” she said. “I hope
that they leave the band loving music [and] with a desire to keep music as part of their lives with good memories and good friends.” Whitwell and Steele will co-conduct “Enigma Variations” by El Garz. Steele said she met Whitwell when he visited ACU in 2004. “He seemed like a very genuinely caring, great person,” she said. “I know he loves ACU, his music and the band department.”
E-mail Knight at: optimist@acu.edu
spring bands Concert information Information below is according to ACU Events Web site, www. acu.edu/events/music n Location: Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th St. n Date: Sunday n Time: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. n Details: The concert will feature performances by the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Kristin (Behrends ‘92) Ward, instructor of clarinet at ACU. At the concert, Natalie Steele and John Whitwell (‘65) will be honored. Steele will be leaving ACU to pursue doctoral studies. Whitwell was director of bands at ACU from 1981-1987. Whitwell and Steele will coconduct “Enigma Variations” by El Garz. n Cost: Free to the public.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Page 5
FROM THE FRONT & CAMPUS NEWS
Students to serve community with ACU for Abilene n Students can serve the Abilene community with projects like yard work or taking children to the zoo Saturday at the seventh annual ACU for Abilene. By NATHAN STRAUS Student Reporter
More than 100 students will travel to different sites around Abilene to serve the community Saturday. The work will involve everything from befriending community children to yard work, to setting up for the Special Olympics.
Becky Hackler, co-chair of ACU for Abilene, said the Service Action Leadership Team sponsors the program. “ACU for Abilene is a day where students, staff, faculty and alumni come together to serve the community,” said Hackler, junior elementary education major from Overland Park, Kans. Anyone who wants to take part must sign up in the Campus Center before 1:30 p.m. Friday. “We’re doing tons of locations this year like Habitat for Humanity, the Abilene Zoo, as
well as yards around the community,” Hackler said. Hackler said a big incentive to reserve a Saturday morning for work is all the free stuff handed out during the day —T-shirts and a free breakfast and lunch—but also the chance for fellowship and service shouldn’t be ignored either. Erin McClury, junior English major from Southdale, Ariz., said students can make the distinction for which site they want help out with during sign-up. “I went to help with the
Special Olympics last year, and I really liked that,” McClury said. McClury said she and her team helped with the set up and worked as a sort of pep squad last year. ACU for Abilene will begin with a free breakfast of donuts, coffee and juice, after checking in at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The kickoff, which consists of praise and worship, as well as a prayer for the students, begins afterward. The students are then sent off to about 30 sites.
“The time spent at each site depends on what site you do,” Hackler said. “Ninetyeight percent of the service sites will take place in the morning, but some are in the afternoon too.” Last year, several hundred students took part in ACU for Abilene. McClury said the program is a great experience students will enjoy. “I just always had a really great time. You meet new people and it’s a lot of fun,” McClury said. ACU for Abilene is an annual event that debuted in
April of 2000. Jessica Cope, junior elementary education major from Deer Park, said, “I am going to sign up for this particular service Saturday because I want to help the people right here in my community. I might not be able to help all the people hurting in the world, but I can do my part where I live to spread God’s love.” Hillary Crawford contributed to this report.
E-mail Strauss at: optimist@acu.edu
Dean: Oklahoma City professor chosen for position Continued from page 1 met with them, and left the final decision up to Money and VanRheenen. Varner said she was “absolutely delighted” to be selected for the position. “I’ve been at OC for 20 years and loved it, but I knew it was time for me to take on a new challenge,” she said. She said Glenn Pemberton, chair of the Bible, Missions and Ministry Department, a friend of hers from Oklahoma, encouraged her to apply for the position around Christmas time. After thinking about the position, she
decided to take a chance. “I was just honored to be chosen for the position because I know there were many good candidates both internally and a few outsiders like me,” she said. “I’m eager to work with the faculty, including those who were also interested in this position.” For Varner, Dodd said some of her strengths were that she comes to ACU with a lot of knowledge about art and science fields because of past experience. Varner has spent her entire career, 34 years, in Christian higher education. For the past 20 years, she’s worked at Oklahoma Christian Universi-
ty serving as an English professor, chair of the Language and Literature Department, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and, for the past 11 years, as the vice president of academic achievement. Dodd said although the other candidates also may have had these qualities, these stuck out about her. “Dr. Varner does well with synthesizing key ideas and making those ideas implemental policy,” he said. “She also has a good sense of the vision for the future and where we should go as a college; she is extremely supportive of the faculty and staff, and is an excellent listener, which
is something that impressed the faculty and chairs that met with her.” Varner said she thinks her previous experience in an administrative role will help her here. “Although ACU is quite different than OC, I know my role at ACU; working with faculty and students will allow me to use the same experiences,” she said. She said, though, there are more important things she brings to the position than experience. “Most importantly, I wholeheartedly support the mission of Christian higher education,” she said. “I also love
teaching. The significant joy of my life has been teaching students, and I am thankful that I will still be able to do that here. “I also think that the dean’s role will allow me to model what it means to teach well and enable other faculty to do their best work. I want to be able to empower them to build on their strengths and to be able to offer them new resources if they need them.” She said she’s anxious to get here as soon as possible, and mostly its because of the community she’s about to join. “When I first arrived at ACU for my interviews, I
was struck at how much I felt at home here,” she said. “It didn’t feel awkward, and I didn’t wonder who everyone was around me. It just felt right.” Varner will finish her duties at OC before moving to Abilene with her husband Paul and their dog this summer. Her position is expected to begin July 1. “I’m just looking forward to the adventure of finding out where I can contribute at ACU,” she said.
E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu
Students ‘displaced’ for Ugandan kids n Students will experience a refugee camp in Uganda and raise awareness through ‘Displace Me,’ an Invisible Children event in Austin on April 28. By EMILY SMITH
Chief Photographer
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students write messages of encouragement, Bible verses and condolences to Virginia Tech in the McGlothlin Campus center on Thursday. The banner was put out by the Students’ Association and the Spiritual Life Core as a way for the ACU campus to connect with the Virginia Tech campus.
Banner: Sign sent to show support Continued from page 1 said. “Each one of them has a story. Each of them has family members and friends who love them.” Lewis said he needs help
from 33 students who are willing to speak on behalf of the lost lives and read a biography for each person. Anyone who is interested can contact him at mark.lewis@acu.edu or ext.
2867. The vigil will mark the first week after the tragedy. “This is a way to bring a horrific reality from far away a little closer to home,” Lewis said. “Not for the sake of
drama, but to really deepen our connection with these people and our connection with this loss.”
E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
Campus-wide fast planned to benefit Oxfam n An ACU student is asking the administration to sponsor a campus-wide ‘Dining Hall Fast,’ where meal plans or Bean Bucks could be donated to Oxfam. By TODD PIERSALL Arts Editor
Slide a card, don’t eat, save a life. Kelly Dennis, junior English major from Houston, said she would like the administration to sponsor a campus-wide “food fast.” For the past several weeks, Dennis said she has planned a “Dining Hall Fast” program that would benefit Oxfam, an international group working to alleviate the stress of poverty, by giving students the opportunity to give up a meal plan or Bean Bucks. “I hope that in praying for others they will consider the
nature of approved, “I want people who are suffering to receive aid. God and Dennis said I want ACU students to be shaken out of the ways she is still complacency for a moment.” he has hopeful and blessed that it is not Kelly Dennis, junior English major from Houston them, and too late to crethat they ate this event. will know Dennis urges that he is By sliding the card and not students to good,” Dennis said. receiving anything in return write Anthony Williams, diDennis said the fast would remind them how for- rector of retail and campus would operate by keeping tunate they are. stores manager. track of students who slide “I hope that they will take “I want this to happen. I their cards for the Bean but that opportunity to pause want people who are sufferdo not eat; the money from in their day, to interrupt ing to receive aid. I want ACU the students who didn’t eat their typical rhythms of eat, students to be shaken out of would then be donated to school, work, sleep, etc. to complacency for a moment. Oxfam. Dennis also said remember that there is more I want ACU students to feel prayer stations could be set to life than routine,” Dennis empowered and not hopeup to spend time praying for said. less about what they can do,” those who are hungry and for Dennis said the idea of Dennis said. “And I want the those who are in poverty. helping others was eagerly administration and faculty Dennis said sliding cards greeted by officials at the to know these things are imwould be an effective way Bean, however, they have portant to us.” to do the fast because soci- raised several logistical ety today takes for granted concerns. the easy-access of money. Although nothing is yet E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
ACU students and people across the state and nation are trekking to Austin on April 28 for an unforgettable unique Ugandan experience. Invisible Children is hosting an event in Austin for supporters of the movement to save children who are forced into soldering in the ongoing Ugandan civil war. Merrell Cotton, senior sociology major from Abilene, said he has decided to go to Austin because the Global Night Commute last year raised a lot of awareness and pushed for peace talks in Uganda. “It will be interesting to see what something like ‘Displace Me’ will be able to do this time,” he said. Last year, participants were asked to walk to their downtowns and inner cities to sleep as Ugandan children do to escape kidnappers. Hundreds of ACU and other college students participated and slept in the First Baptist Church parking lot. “Displace Me” is slightly
different from Global Night Commute, Cotton said. He said the Global Night Commute experience was more focused on the journey Ugandan children made into the inner city where they slept for protection from kidnappers. “The ‘Displace Me’ experience will be more like a refugee camp”, he said. Cotton is a resident director in Smith Hall and is taking three of his residents with him to Austin. However Robert Caskey, senior Christian ministry major from Stockton, Calif., will not be going to Austin because it is too far. However, Caskey has been involved in Invisible Children selling story bracelets and visiting Uganda. He decided he wanted to become more involved when the Invisible Children movie was shown in Cullen last year. He was able to visit an Invisible Children “Internally Displaced Person,” or IDP camp, when he traveled to Uganda with Worldwide Witness last summer. “It’s all about the helping the kids,” Caskey said.
E-mail Smith at: eds04c@acu.edu
Hilton: Changes to be done by fall Continued from page 1 he did help reduce the field down to a few plans for university officials to choose from. “There were a few options left, so we didn’t exactly know this was going to be the plan,” Saab said. Saab said the chosen plan was an appealing and cost efficient option that was selected with the students in mind. “One thing was certain, they chose what they felt was best for students,” Saab said. “They really took the students opinion to heart.”
Saab said he believes the removal of the Hilton Room will be well received if the university finds a big enough room to fill the needs the Hilton Room was used for. Williams said other conference rooms across campus and Teague Special Events Center will hold most of the events that were held in the Hilton Room.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Page 6 Box Office Stats Newly released movies and gross rates for April 13-15. Total gross in parenthesis. n Disturbia: $22,224,982 ($22,224,982) n Blades of Glory: $13,826,386 ($89,956,404)
April 20, 2007
‘Disturbia’ steals and thrills in the box office n Although using an entire Alfred Hitchcock plot without accreditation, suspense thriller ‘Disturbia’ is sure to entertain the young-adult audience. By TODD PIERSALL
n Meet the Robinsons: $12,467,155 ($72,367,907)
Coming Soon Movies opening Friday: n Fracture, starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Srathairn, Rosamund Pike and Embeth Davidtz. Ted Crawford plans the perfect murder for his adulterous younger wife. Upon Crawfords arrest, Assistant. D.A. Willy Beachum figures the case to be easy. However, Crawford uses intellect and strategy to try and overpower the young D.A. (DRAMA/ THRILLER) n Hot Fuzz, starring Jim Broadbent, Nick Frost, Timothy Dalton, Edward woodward, Simon Pegg. Top London cop, Nicholas Angel, has just been reassigned because his arrest record puts the London police force to shame. In his new location he joins forces with eager police officer, Danny Butterman. They must work together to solve a series of murders. (COMEDY) n Vacancy, starring Kate Beckinsale, Luke Wilson, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry and Scott G. Anderson. After David and Amy’s car breaks down, they are forced to spend the night at a cheap motel with nothing but cheap horror movies for entertainment. However, they find themselves in the very rooms the horror movies were filmed in. (SUSPENSE/HORROR)
Arts Editor
Alfred Hitchcock, assumed by some to be one of the greatest directors of all time, revolutionized the suspense genre through masterful plot twists and cutting-edge cinematography. In today’s movies, his voice can be heard echoing through the screenplays and plots from “creative” persons. Hitchcock’s voice is heard most recently in the teenage suspense thriller, Disturbia. Disturbia follows the life of Kale (Shia LaBeouf), a normal kid from suburbia, who, after his father’s sudden death, becomes a slacker filled with teen angst and finds himself in and out of court. In his final altercation with the law, Kale is sentenced to spend three months in house arrest, wearing an itchy bracelet that keeps him confined to his yard and house. Boredom forces Kale to look outside his house and into the lives of his neighbors, one of which is eerily suspicious (David Morse). Day after day, Kale and his friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) look and memorize the neighbor’s activities. And even during his house arrest, Kale has time to pursue a relationship with Ashley (Sarah Roemer), an extremely attractive blonde who just so happened to move in next
courtesy of ROTTENTOMATOES.COM
Shia LaBeouf, an actor who started his career from Disney’s ‘Even Stevens,’ peeks into the lives of his neighbors after a court ordered him to be placed under house-arrest. LaBeouf is set to appear in this summer’s ‘Transformers’ as well as the fourth installment of the ‘Indiana Jones’ series. door during his house incarceration. The three friends take a keen interest in discovering what their suspicious neighbor is hiding. The movie starts out crawling, leaving no trace of suspense. And for a while it seems to turn into another teen comedy — something this world could probably do without. Luckily, the suspense kicks in down the home stretch, which provides for a delightfully thrilling finish, which, in an age where movie tickets cost about three day’s wages, al-
most makes the $8 worth it. Overall, the movie was entertaining — predictable, but entertaining. La Beouf, surely no Jimmy Stuart (Rear Window), shows promise in his acting capabilities while the other actors sort of just dance around him. Veteran actor David Morse plays a believable “honey, that creepy man next door keeps looking over here” role. However, even his character seems a little shallow. Sarah Roemer, the Grace Kelly of Disturbia, seems entirely too consumed with herself
to even care what the other actors are doing. But why try to analyze something that was high jacked directly from Hitchcock’s 1954 classic Rear Window and now has been injected with teenaged hormones and humor. Take it for what it is. It may not be as suspenseful as other moves in the genre but it does give a considerable amount of comical relief. Maybe a little credit was due to the master of suspense, but the younger audience, which this movie is direct-
ed for, will most likely give it two thumbs up. For a fun Friday night at the movies, Disturbia might fit the slot. Just be prepared to understand the outcome of the movie right from the start. If the teen-thriller flick doesn’t do it for you, try the blue print in Rear Window. After all, it was nominated for Best Picture in 1954. The movie is rated PG-13 for sequences of terror and violence and some sensuality.
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
‘LITTLE SHOP of horrors’ quick facts ACU Spring Dinner Theatre presents “Little Shop of Horrors.” Times and Prices: n April 20-21, 27-28 at Fulk Theatre n Dinner, $27; Show only, $15 n For tickets, call 325-674-2787 ‘Little Shop’ Interesting Facts: n One of the longest running OffBroadway shows of all time n Spoof of 1950’s science-fiction movies n Music and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin (“Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid”)
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Friday, April 20, 2007
Page 7
SPORTS JUMPS
Goal: New women’s soccer team kicks off this fall Continued from page 1 But the decision to add the program wasn’t entirely in Mosley’s hands. He had to propose a plan to ACU President Royce Money and his Cabinet, and the addition had to be approved by the university’s planning and budget committees. The committees analyzed the financial and social impact the new sport would have on ACU. “It was well thought out,” Mosley said. Also considered was ACU’s need to offer the same number of women’s sports as they did men’s sports because of the federal requirement under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. According to the NCAA Web site, Title IX is enforced to prohibit sex discrimination in all education programs — including athletic programs — that receive benefit from federal funding. And an unbalance of sports offered is seen as sex discrimination. Women’s soccer, the 14th sport offered by the university, helped even the list to seven men’s sports and seven women’s sports when the university added soccer in the fall of 2007. Despite the need to comply with federal requirements, Mosley is adamant that Title IX wasn’t the main reason ACU now offers a women’s soccer team. “In our conversations we never wanted to add a sport just solely because we felt the pressure of Title IX,” Mosley said. “We felt that by adding women’s soccer we had an unbelievable amount of support.” More support than women’s golf, another option Mosley said ACU considered. “If we wanted to add women’s golf we could probably do that and it would not be a major process to try and sell that; the budget and size of the team is a lot smaller in women’s golf,” Mosley said. And although it would have been the cheaper and easier option, once again the anticipated interest and support and possibility of student involvement helped kick women’s soccer ahead of women’s golf. “The interest level is a lot bigger in women’s soccer right now, so we felt like that was a natural fit,” Mosley said.
From softball to soccer New head soccer coach Casey Wilson’s move from a softball coach to a soccer coach was not a difficult or long one — his new office is only two doors down the hall from where he used to coach. Wilson was ACU’s assistant softball coach and worked with wife and head coach Chantiel Wilson. “I’ve seen enough women’s Division II games to get an idea at the talent level,” Wilson said. And Wilson has been in both roles of a NCAA Division II team. Wilson played two seasons of baseball for ACU in 1998 and ’99 and was place kicker for the ACU football team. And although he didn’t play soccer at the collegiate level, soccer has always been his first love. “When I was playing sports in high school, my ticket sports were baseball and football, but I enjoyed playing soccer more because it allowed me to express myself,” Wilson said. Wilson was a two-year
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
ACU women’s soccer team member Jordan Reese goes head to head with assistant soccer coach Thomas Pertuit.
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
The ACU women’s soccer team, which will officially begin in the fall 2007 semester, says a group prayer during practice. soccer letter-winner, a twotime all-conference player at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, Calif., an allAmerican place kicker at Santa Ana College and set a school record for PATs at Central Michigan University. “I was close enough; I was a place kicker,” Wilson said jokingly. One advantage Wilson has to help him build the program has been assistant coach Thomas Pertuit. Unlike Wilson, Pertuit did play soccer beyond high school at the Division II school Montana State-Billings and was assistant coach for the men’s team at Billings. Two things Pertuit doesn’t have experience in, though, is building a program from the ground up and coaching women. “It’s been fun learning how to do it,” Pertuit said. “It’d be nice if it was an already established program, but I think when you see what it takes to build a program it makes you better as a person and a coach.” Despite his inexperience, the transition from coaching men to women has not been hard for Pertuit. “Sometimes people say guys can be more competitive,” he said. “For me it’s just coaching soccer for people that want to play soccer, and that’s fun for me; that’s what I love.” Men or women, Pertuit said he is most excited about being able to put together a team that can create its own legacy. “When you start from scratch you can establish where the bar can be set,” Pertuit said.
Getting all the pieces To start a new program in a competitive Division II conference like the Lone Star Conference, ACU needed three things: players, a field and money. ACU now has all three. Wilson signed seven players to national letters of intent Feb. 8; the women will play their home games on the old intramural field between Wells field and Edwards residence hall, and Mosley said the team will have a $40,000 operating budget. The seven women signed
will combine with a group of women that have already been practicing to make up a roster of more than 25 players. A squad Wilson is confident will be competitive in its first year. “We feel pretty optimistic about what we have,” Wilson said. The field, though, was the second option behind Shotwell Stadium. “Initially, thoughts were to try and play home matches at Shotwell just because they have the turf,” Mosley said. Shotwell is already the current home for the ACU football team, but because of a scheduling conflict, Mosley chose to keep the games on campus. “We’d really like to get the intramural field in good shape so we can play our home matches on campus,” Mosley said. The field already has a new scoreboard and will be conditioned before the season starts in fall 2007, but Mosley said no additional seating would be built for spectators. “It will just be a neat environment for students to bring out lawn chairs or blankets,” Mosley said. “A lot of soccer facilities at our level are very similar to what we already have at our intramural fields.” In addition to the $40,000, Wilson will have three full scholarships the first year. Wilson said he plans on splitting those funds between his signing class. The amount of the
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Women’s soccer team member Sadie Barton, freshman undeclared major from Euless, heads a ball during practice. When the new team begins competing next fall, it will be the university’s 14th sport. scholarships will be released at the end of the spring semester. The LSC limit for scholarships in women’s soccer is 9.9.
The ACU advantage Wilson ran into two types of prospective players when he was recruiting for the new women’s soccer team: women that were intrigued by the chance to help build a new program and women that didn’t want anything to do with an unestablished team. “When I’m talking to somebody about our program starting up, I can get a vibe right away,” Wilson said. One thing Wilson’s had as an advantage, though, was being at ACU. “I really honestly feel if this was a different university, like a state school that didn’t have the ACU appeal, it would have been much more difficult to get the players we got,” Wilson said. And although Wilson was
limited by the small number of scholarships he had to work with and the hurdle of being a new program, he said the ACU advantage made it easier to recruit. “I would say it’s easier not easy,” Wilson said. “I know that there are other schools that have soccer that are pretty new. ACU is the only private school in the entire conference and it has an appeal that goes around the country.” Wilson also found players that were already at ACU interested in playing for him, and the number kept growing as the season approached. “We had eight that tried out last spring, and we kept having new girls every week,” Wilson said. And with the combination of
women already here and women coming in August, Wilson said he is confident that ACU has a shot in its first year and will continue to grow. “We feel pretty optimistic about what we have, and I think it’s only going to get better every year,” Wilson said. Rumors were finally dispelled when ACU added a women’s soccer team. Regardless if the program is successful in its first season, women’s soccer isn’t going to disappear from ACU anytime soon. “The program’s here to stay,” Mosley said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Page 8
April 20, 2007
Dear Hilton Room, we will miss you greatly
The issue:
Next fall, the Hilton Room will be converted into a new food court, which will house Freshens, Chick-fil-A, Quizno’s and Pizza Hut.
With the news of the university’s plans to tear down the Hilton Room this summer and replace it with a new food court, the Optimist would like to use this editorial to thank the Hilton Room for all the great memories.
Our view:
While the Optimist looks forward to the new food court, staff members will miss the memories experienced in the Hilton Room.
Dear Hilton room, Saying goodbye is always hard, but after your years of service to this university, it is appropriate. The old adage is true, you don’t know how much you truly love someone until they’re gone. You have been a beacon of florescent-lit hope to this university and will be
The solution:
Savor your last several weeks with this multipurpose room on campus. Stop by to pay condolences, and don’t forget all the memories you have created in this unforgettable space.
missed as mashed poBut despite your impending death, we will we wait in tatoes or always have the memories and contributions line to use the countour meal less number you made to this university and plans and of interest the Campus Center. bean bucks meetings you next fall on gave a home, the ground your impact you used to call home. Your students craving Quiznos, is obvious. sacrifice is greatly appreci- Pizza Hut or Chick-fil-A. You have gracefully ated, and you are a martyr But despite your impend- opened your brown doors that will not be forgotten. ing death, we will always have and carpeted floor to social Without your sacrifice we the memories and contribu- clubs, student groups and could not eat hot toasted tions you made to this univer- hordes of overeager Welcome subs, personal pan pizzas sity and the Campus Center. Week freshmen. And we hope and chicken sandwiches in Whether it be an awk- retail restaurants replacing the area next to the Cam- ward departmental Cha- you will not take your holy pus Store. Your death will pel, long-winded luncheon ground for granted. bring new life to the taste- with a plate full of rubbery Your carpet covered with buds and stomachs of ACU chicken, stale bread and dry red and green vines has
Alex York
Lebensgefhar
Student says give ‘dead weight’ a chance LETTER TO THE EDITOR A letter to the editor in response to Shelby Coates’, senior broadcast journalism major from Clarksville, Tenn., speech in Chapel Tuesday.
I was troubled on Tuesday after Shelby Coates’ Chapel speech. During her speech, Coates quoted 1 Corinthians 15:33 “bad company corrupts good morals” and proceeded to expound on the idea that we need to cut loose from our friends that are “dead weight.” As sons and daughters of the King, I feel that we
have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters around us even if they don’t act like us, talk like us, think like us or necessarily even hold our same values. The Bible makes it clear that as a body we are responsible for one another’s well being. Now, there’s no doubt that we need to be careful who we place our heart and our confidence in. I should be careful to seek advice and counsel from people who I know are diligent in prayer and have my best interest at heart. Yet, this does not mean I break away from everyone that doesn’t give 100 percent to me. As Christians, we are all
called to ministry and this ministry will often entail we give to or spend time with someone that doesn’t necessarily give back. In her speech, Coates used the example of Christ as someone who surrounded himself with people that encouraged him. Yet, quite to the contrary, it seems from Scripture that more often than not Christ was discouraged by the apostles’ lack of faith and understanding. Christ’s mission on Earth was to give; he did this by investing in the lives and well being of all those around him and ultimately changed the world through this selfless love.
Christ’s example of love and compassion defies our American sensibilities of independence, ambition and success, and we as Christians have pledged to emulate him even if that entails discomfort or sacrifice for us. Now, it is possible that I misunderstood her intention, but this is how I interpreted Coates’ speech.
Nathaniel McKenzie sophomore political science major from Albuquerque, N.M. nmm03b@acu.edu
In Your Words What is your fondest memory of the Hilton Room? Having The Call there every week.
Having club meeting and Sing Song practices.
Going to a concert for Maher when he ran for president.
Zak Robinson
Erin Wilson
Michael Roberts
senior marketing and finance major from Poplar Bluff, Mo.
graduate English major from Austin
sophomore political science major from Boerne
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
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Students can afford a little more frugality Discussing time and more than we need. money management, the Compact members purgroup of freshmen in the chase items from secondU100 class I peer lead were hand stores when they given a come across particular s c h e d u l e needs. In fact, one member and told said his bathroom sink has to record been plugged for months, how they but he refuses to fix it until had spent he can find a plunger at a their time local thrift store. and money The original group from t h r o u g h - San Francisco has gained a A State out the faithful following as 3,000 of Mind course of people from six continents Lauren Sutton a weekend. have joined The Compact During the on Yahoo!, and chapters next class continue to surface around session, as the students dis- the globe. cussed how they filled their While some may think schedules, I was especially The Compact is taking this intrigued at the different issue to the extreme, the ways each of the students crux of the issue is comspent their money. pletely valid — don’t buy Several students had what you don’t need. spent more Everyone than $25 can adjust their on eating spending habEveryone can adjust out and its and strive to their spending habweekend be a little more its and strive to be a entertainfrugal. ment, while First, budlittle more frugal. o t h e r s get well. Think more conahead of time servatively how you want saved their to spend your money, money, and buying only necessities like stick to it. If you have a plan, toothpaste and bread. In a you are more likely not to small group of freshmen splurge on the unneeded students, the spectrum of items that catch your eye. spending habits was relaSecond, think twice betively broad. fore you spend your money. This simple activity Do you really need the shoes, made me think more con- even if they are on sale? And sciously about how I spend will eating out be that much my money. Like most peo- more exciting than fixing a ple, I am guilty of indulg- peanut butter sandwich with ing in the specialty coffee a friend at home? drink I don’t really need Third, when you do deor buying that cute pair cide to buy something new, of shoes just because they think about giving someare on sale. But the truth thing you already own is, I don’t need a lot of away. Many people don’t the things I have acquired, have things that provide many of which sit collect- them a comfortable lifeing dust in my closet. style and are dependent on Apparently, other people the help of others. Donate across the world are expe- your old clothes to the Salriencing a similar thought vation Army, or give some process and are proactively of your canned food to a fighting the American ten- soup kitchen. dency to overconsume. We all have lessons to In December of 2005 a learn in the area of spendgroup of friends from San ing, but don’t be afraid to Francisco decided over din- make changes. If you abstain ner one night to take recy- from wanted items and give cling a step further and go away a portion of your posan entire year without pur- sessions, you just might find chasing anything new. the experience more rewardThe group, ironically ing than you thought. named The Compact, vowed to not buy anything new except food, medicine and underwear. Consumerism, they said, is destroying the world, and E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu most of us already own far
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
seen the bottom of numerous shoes throughout your nearly 40-year life in the Campus Center, and your beige walls have kept students cozy for just as long. With you gone, where else will the “Popcorn and Possibilities” people be ignored by passing students? And where else will we have job fairs applicable only to over-achieving seniors? You will be missed, and thanks for the sandwich.
Editorial and Management Board Mallory Schlabach
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Friday, April 20, 2007
LSC honors numerous ACU athletes n Thirty-three former and current ACU athletes and coaches were chosen to be on the LSC All-Sports team. More ACU athletes were honored than any other program. By CHRIS HANSEN Student Reporter
Nearly half the honorees of the Lone Star Conference All-Sports team are former or current ACU players and coaches. The LSC honored 33 ACU student athletes and coaches with All-Sports team honors earlier this month. The list includes a total of 75 players and coaches of sports other than football and basketball as part of the 75th anniversary of the LSC. Four of ACU’s honorees are still actively involved with the LSC, including head coaches Chantiel Wilson, Britt Bonneau, Hutton Jones and ACU running star Nicodemus Naimadu. Wilson made the list as a coach and was recognized for her playing years, and Naimadu is the only current athlete in the LSC to make the team. The 33 ACU honorees are the most of any school in the LSC. Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M had the second most honorees with seven honorees each. The ACU track and field team had 18 honorees
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SPORTS JUMPS
including past stars Billy Olson and Yolande Straughn and current star Naimadu with his 10 individual national championships. Naimadu said being honored gives him motivation to improve even more. “It makes you feel good to accomplish goals when you’re doing what you love,” Naimadu said. Naimadu is the only male athlete to win three crosscountry national championships in Division II history. He also has a chance to add to his record 10 national championships in May at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Chantiel Wilson played ACU softball in 1997 and 1998 and is now in her fourth year as head softball coach. In 2005 and 2006, she led the softball team to its first postseason appearances and earned LSC South coach of the year honors. Wilson said she was surprised she was honored, but was grateful to be recognized along side great coaches such as Bonneau and Jones. “If you look at the list, they are the people who never settled for average,” Wilson said. “They were always about doing extra.”
E-mail Hansen at: optimist@acu.edu
ACU All-lsc 75th anniversary team
Third: Coach expects Regional tourney bid Continued from page 10
Thirty-three former and current ACU athletes and coaches made the Lone Star Conference All-Sports team. ACU had more than any other school in the LSC—West Texas A&M was second with seven honorees—and four of the honorees still participate in the conference. Players n Brian Amos — Track & Field
n Tracey Barnes — Track & Field
n Tim Bright — Track & Field
n Katie Bryan — Softball
n Matt Davidson — Baseball
n Sylvia Dyer — Track & Field
n Delloreen London
n Cliff Felkins — Track & Field
n Yolanda Henry — Track & Field n Dale Jenkins — Track & Field n John Kemboi — Track & Field n Michelle King — Women’s Tennis n Marlene Lewis — Track & Field n Brad Massey — Baseball n Jane McNeill — Track & Field
n Billy Olson — Track & Field
n Shelly Owen — Softball
n Brad Pursley — Track & Field
n Jeev Singh — Men’s Golf
n Yolande Straughn — Track & Field
n Donna Sykes — Tennis
n Mazel Thomas — Track & Field
n Freddie Williams — T&F
n Mark Witherspoon — Track & Field
n Nicodemus Naimadu — Track & Field, Cross Country Coaches n Britt Bonneau — Baseball
n Don W. Hood — Track & Field
n Brek Horn — Volleyball
n Vince Jarrett — Golf
n Hutton Jones — Tennis
n Wes Kittley — Track & Field
n Chantiel Wilson — Softball
n Jon Murray — Cross Country
of 884 for the three rounds. ACU had a solid first round, being only a stroke behind Central Oklahoma for second place in the first round. ACU’s Patrick Hanauer was the team leader during the tournament, shooting a combined 219, which put him at fifth place and only eight strokes behind individual winner Joby Dutcher from Northeastern State. Behind Hanauer, Hugues Joannes was five over par for the tournament, shooting a 74, 73 and 74 overall, which placed him in the No. 8 spot. Stephen Knight was 16 over par for the tournament, which put him in a three-way tie for 30th. Kyle Byerly was two strokes behind Knight, which put him at 39th. Curtis Harris finished the tournament at the 42nd spot with a combined score of 237. “The first day we played OK,” Campbell said “We still felt like we had a chance, but it didn’t work out. I tried to get the team to look at the big picture since the South Central Regional Championship is coming up in May.” Campbell said it was a slightly disappointing tournament, but the team did well. Although it hasn’t been
Bid: Wildcats’ pitching core best in LSC Pitching on top ACU’s day one pitchers each have more than five wins and and ERA below 5.00. And closer Jameson Maj leads the LSC in saves. n Trey Watten (7-0) .383 ERA n Chris Wiman (6-2) 4.95 ERA n Jameson Maj (5-3) 12 saves Tarleton State. But that upset will be difficult against the conference’s best bullpen at its home field. ACU’s bullpen is 22-3 at home and in addition to record setting closer Jameson Maj — Maj broke the LSC and ACU single season records for saves and ACU career saves record — ENMU will face three of the conference’s best starting pitchers in Trey Watten, Chris Wiman and Brian Kennedy. Watten is 7-0 with a 3.83 ERA, Wiman is 6-2 brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER with a 4.95 ERA, and KenACU pitcher Stephen Miller throws a ball during practice in the bullpen of Crutcher Scott Field on Wednesday. ACU will play Eastern New Mexico in its nedy is this week’s LSC second to last Lone Star Conference South Division series and . South Pitcher of the Week after pitching 7 1/3 innings Continued from page 10 series against Eastern New ERA and first in team field- team needs to stay focused for his seventh win against Mexico this weekend. ing with a .971 fielding per- and not get cocky. Texas A&M-Kingsville. why the next 10 games are On paper ACU is a far centage. ENMU hits .336 as “Just because it looks ACU will take on ENMU important,” said head coach better team than ENMU. a team, but its 8.38 ERA is good on paper doesn’t re- at Crutcher Scott Field in Britt Bonneau. ACU has a conference lead- the worst in the LSC South. ally mean anything,” Bon- its first doubleheader at 4 But before ACU can wor- ing offense, and the Wild“Anything but a sweep neau said. “We can’t beat p.m. Friday and finish the ry about tournament bids cats team batting average will be a disappointment,” ourselves this weekend.” series with a doubleheader and seeds, Bonneau said his of .360 is the seventh best Bumpass said. ENMU is one spot away Saturday starting at 1 p.m. team has to finish its last bit total in Division II baseball. Despite the distance be- from making the LSC tourof the regular season strong, ACU is also first in the LSC tween the two teams in LSC nament and needs an upstarting with its four-game in team pitching with a 4.46 rankings, Bonneau said his set to pass fourth-place E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
announced, it’s predicted that ACU will be elected to go the Regional Championship in Florence, Ala., which was where the North Alabama Spring Classic was held in early April. A committee selects the top eight teams from the LSC and the Heartland Conference, which contains schools such as Saint Edward’s and Dallas Baptist. ACU is ranked third in the region, so it is expected for the Wildcats to compete. Before the tournament started, the LSC held a banquet Sunday night to hand out awards for various accomplishments. The ACU golf team walked away with six awards. Campbell was awarded Coach of the Year, Hugues Joannes came home with Freshman of the Year and First Team All Conference, Curtis Harris was Second Team All Conference, Stephen Knight was awarded Honorable Mention All Conference and Patrick Hanauer and Curtis Harris were awarded Academic All Conference. “These awards attest to hard work of our team this season,” Coach Campbell said.
E-mail MacDonald at: optimist@acu.edu
Need: ACU needs wins to make postseason Continued from page 10 will hit the ball like most teams in our conference. We will just have to keep their key players from beating us.” ACU will most likely have to depend on the pitchers, who have performed well at the mound this season. “We’ve had some bright spots and some big wins, but the wins have not been consistent enough,” Wilson said. Consistency in scoring has been a problem for ACU all season long, and in the last series of the season, consistent hitting is imperative. “The future of our season will most likely depend on us winning these four games and Tarleton [State] not winning anymore than two of their last eight,” Wilson said. The Wildcats are in a must win situation because of losing its last series to Eastern New Mexico. Despite hitting 11 home runs as a team in the series, ENMU swept the last three games of the series. “We are just going to focus on our game, and hopefully it will come together this weekend,” Wilson said.
E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
SPORTSFRIDAY
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SCOREBOARD Standings Scoreboard as of Thursday
Team
BASEBALL Div. 9-3 9-3 6-6 5-7 4-6 1-9
ACU Angelo St. TAMK-U Tarleton ENMU WTAM
Team
Overall 34-11 33-13 23-23 23-24 19-26 10-31
SOFTBALL
Div. 19-1 11-5 9-7 8-8 7-13 TX Woman’s 4-12 WTAM 2-14 Angelo St. TAMK-U Tarleton ENMU ACU
Overall 40-6 28-14 29-12 23-21 21-20 18-31 14-31
CT, Siggies win intramural volleyball titles n Intramural volleyball ended Tuesday night after CT won the men’s champ tournament and the Siggies won the women’s champ league Monday night. By BLESSED MATAI SPORTS WRITER
Intramural volleyball ended Tuesday night after the CT team claimed the men’s intramural champ league title. The CT team defeated GSPYoshi in two games Tuesday night to win the men’s champ
Intramural Volleyball title and coveted intramural T-shirts, while the Siggies claimed the women’s title after defeating the Polka Dots on Monday night. “The diversity that we had helped us to pull this victory,” said Graham Russell, junior undeclared major from Concord, Calif., and member of the CT team. “We had players from California, Japan, Madagascar and Texas.” The two men’s finalist went
back and forth in the men’s game before CT pulled out the victory 21-17, while in the second game, things looked a little easier for the CT team. The champs won the second game by seven points, downing GSP 21-14 to claim the title. “They had a lot athleticism on their team, but we had experience from players with volleyball background; that was the difference between both of us,” Russell said. Even after winning the title, Russell said the game against
GSP was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, game they played in the tournament. “I felt like it could go either way,” Russell said. On the women’s side, the Siggies victory was a redemptive one — the Polka Dots knocked Siggies out of the tournament last year. “It felt really good to win,” said Shaylee Busch, senior interior design major from Austin. “Especially playing against a team that beat us last year; for us that was a sweet revenge,”
BASEBALL ACU vs. Eastern New Mexico, 4 p.m. (DH)
Busch said. Busch said the victory was also special because of the large number of seniors on the Siggies team. “That’s a good way to go out,” Busch said. In the rec league, Dunder Mifflin won the men’s tournament and OSS won the women’s tournament. “There was a lot of good and solid teams out there.” Busch said. E-mail Matai at: optimist@acu.edu
Goal-oriented addition
Upcoming Friday
April 20, 2007
The inclusion of women’s soccer to ACU’s list of sports offered added depth to an athletic department already used to being ahead of its competition.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN SCHMIDT
MEN’S TENNIS
ACU at LSC championships, Oklahoma City.
By DANIEL JOHNSON
WOMEN’S TENNIS
SPORTS EDITOR
ACU at LSC championships, Oklahoma City
Allison Thomas wouldn’t usually have considered ACU, but a single visit changed that. In December, she came to a school more than 1,200 miles from her hometown of Pasadena, Calif., and found two reasons to choose ACU: the friendly people and the new ACU women’s soccer team. “I’m from California, so I’m used to rude people and a big city,” Thomas said. “Everyone in Texas is so nice.” Thomas, who has played soccer since age six, always wanted a scholarship to play college soccer. But because she wasn’t accepted right out of high school to her first choice, she ended up attending Pasadena City Junior College and playing soccer as a walk on. Now, thanks to the newest addition to the list of Division II sports ACU offers, Thomas has a chance to mark her goal as complete. “I finally fulfilled my goal,” Thomas said. It was stories like Thomas’ that pushed ACU athletic director Jared Mosley to bring soccer to ACU. Before ACU added the new sport, he said he frequently spoke with prospective students who would have come to ACU if it had a soccer team. “We and admissions would always field calls from parents saying, ‘My daughter would have gone here if you offered soccer,’” Mosley said. “Those phone calls got to the point where we said, ‘Hey it’s as good a time as any.’”
SOFTBALL ACU vs. West Texa A&M, 1 p.m. (DH)
Saturday BASEBALL ACU vs. Eastern New Mexico, 4 p.m. (DH)
SOFTBALL ACU vs. West Texa A&M, 5 p.m. (DH)
TRACK & FIELD ACU at TCU Invitational, Fort Worth
Briefs Kennedy named pitcher of the week
See
GOAL page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Kennedy
Left: Kathy Maxwell heads a ball during practice on Wednesday.
n ACU starting pitcher Brian Kennedy was named Lone Star Conference South Division Pitcher of the Week after throwing 7 1/3 innings to pick up his seventh win this weekend. Kennedy allowed only seven hits and one earned run as the Wildcats went on to beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 5-3 Saturday.
Wildcats ranked fourth in South Central n The nationally ranked ACU baseball team is ranked fourth in the South Central Division II Region. ACU is ranked behind D-II powerhouses Ouachita Baptist, Delta State and defending regional champions Montevallo. ACU’s next regional opponent will be Eastern New Mexico on Friday.
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.
Monday OUTDOOR SOCCER See intramural board for schedule. SOFTBALL Softball began Monday, see intramural board for team names and schedule.
Right: A group of women’s soccer players cheerfully run around the old intramural field during practice Wednesday.
ACU needs sweep to make the postseason Golf n After losing a series to Eastern New Mexico last weekend, the ACU softball team needs to sweep West Texas A&M to put itself in contention for the postseason. By RACHEL DAVIS SPORTS WRITER
The Wildcats will take on West Texas A&M in its last Lone Star Conference South
Softball Division series of the season this weekend at home. To make it into the postseason conference tournament, the team needs to sweep its series against West Texas since ACU is ranked fifth in the LSC South and needs to be ranked fourth or higher to secure a spot in the
LSC postseason tournament. “We need to win four games this weekend and just see what happens with the remainder of the conference the following weekend,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. ACU has the best chance of sweeping the series since West Texas is last in the division with a 2-14 conference record and an overall
record of 14-31. But regardless of the records, both teams offense is very similar with batting averages both in the .270s. “We just have not been able to get our offense and defense going at the same time,” Wilson said. “It’s just one of those things. WTAMU See
NEED page 9
Bid depends on continued success n The ACU baseball team will play in its second to last Lone Star Conference series this weekend and needs to continue winning to secure a postseason spot. By DANIEL JOHNSON SPORTS EDITOR
The ACU baseball team is done with the majority of its regular season, but the No. 1 seed in the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament is still theirs to lose. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, nation-
Baseball ally ranked ACU is tied with Angelo State for first place in the LSC South Division and must win its series against fifth place Eastern New Mexico this weekend to remain atop the LSC. “Its our conference to lose,” said second baseman Thomas Bumpass. “It’s in our hands and we should win out.” ACU’s 9-3 conference record should be good enough to secure the Wildcats a spot in the LSC tournament, but
its performance against its last three opponents, ENMU, Texas-Permian Basin and West Texas A&M, will affect its spot in the South Central regional rankings. ACU is ranked fourth in the South Central Region after the rankings were released Thursday and needs to continue to win to maintain a high ranking that would put them in the South Central Regional tournament. “That’s another reason See
BID page 9
places third at tourney n The ACU golf team tied for third at the Lone Star Conference Championships but is expecting a bid to the South Central Regional championships May 7-9. By NATHAN MACDONALD SPORTS WRITER
BRIAN SCHMIDT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Shortstop Willy Uechi fields a ground ball at batting practice Wednesday.
After a tournament filled with miserable weather, the ACU Golf team came back tied for third from the Lone Star Conference men’s championship in Roanoke. The scoreboard was broad this tournament with Northeastern State leading all three rounds with a total combined score of 867 strokes. Central Oklahoma was 17 strokes behind with a combined score See
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