The Vol. 95, No. 53
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Meal plans fight hunger Students participated in a “Dining Hall Fast” on Wednesday and were able to donate meal plans, cash towards Oxfam, page 5
Knights on campus
A group of freshmen are rechartering men’s social club the Knights beginning in fall 2007, page 3
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1 section, 8 pages
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY
May 2, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
Laughter, determination reflect Stevens’ life n The university’s eighth president, Dr. John C. Stevens, died Monday after suffering a stroke in April. Friends, administrators remember his life. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Dr. John C. Stevens, chancellor emeritus and eighth president of the university, rode his electric wheelchair around the two-mile Lunsford Trail just
two days before he suffered a major stroke, in a typical demonstration of his love of life, said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, in Chapel on Tuesday. The Stevens next day, Stevens attended church, telling his daughter, Joyce Cole, that he
would take himself to church if she wouldn’t drive him, a testament to his constant determination, Money said. Money recounted Stevens’ famous lecture on the presidents of the United States, during which he would recite and categorize the presidents without any notes — and always with humor and insight. Stevens presented a similar lecture on England’s kings and queens. Money painted Stevens as a
man of integrity, humor and determination, and said he hoped to give students a glimpse into the former president’s life. Stevens, who was 88, died Tuesday morning in an Abilene hospital after suffering a massive stroke on April 23, leaving behind a university, friends and family who will greatly miss his humor, attitude and leadership. Stevens spent his lifetime in leadership roles, beginning
What’s eatingACU?
Slip ‘n’ slide fun
Students slid down the hill behind Smith-Adams Residence Hall as part of its annual Backyard Bash, page 5
OPTIMIST
Millions of dollars, several hundred jobs and food across campus are provided through the university’s food provider: Aramark
with his time as a student at ACU, where he served as president of the Students’ Association and of the A Club in 193738. He was also a member of men’s social club Sub T-16, Alpha Chi National Honor Society and Phi Alpha Theta honorary historical society. Stevens left Abilene in 1938, graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Bible, to preach at See
STEVENS page 7
Theatre to retry musical ‘Aida’ n Director Adam Hester said decisions on casting should be decided by the end of finals week, following callback auditions this week and more next week. By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
Story by DANIEL JOHNSON
Tourney time
The ACU tennis teams will host the Central Regional Tournament beginning Thursday, page 8
Two years after the rejection of “Aida” as the Homecoming musical, the Theatre Department is giving the musical a second chance. Adam Hester, chair of the Theatre Department, said he feels this year is the best opportunity to finally put on the production. “The original reason that we chose to do it, is that it’s an exciting piece of musical theatre, and it’s one that hasn’t been done by ACU theatre or this area previously,” Hester said. He said issues regarding casting were where the real concern with the role of Aida arose. The play was chosen two years ago but was changed after complaints of having a white woman play the role of a Nubian princess. “I made the decision that it would be better to show some See
Breaking records
Photo illustration by EMILY SMITH
The baseball team swept its final regular season series this weekend and broke its team record for wins in a season with 44, page 8
ONLINE Sliding in suds
See how students spent their afternoon Saturday at Smith-Adams Residence Hall online at www.acuoptimist.com
Stocking shelves
See a video profiling the work of Aramark stockers, Blessed Matai and D’Angelo Sands, online at www.acuoptimist.com
Displace me
Student traveled to Austin last week for Displace Me, an organized rally demonstrating how Invisible Children live, view it online.
little know facts about aramark
400
Number of college campuses Aramark serves nationwide
L
auren Rodda usually begins her 10 a.m. Bible class with
a sausage burrito, cup of yogurt and bottle of water. She uses her meal plan to purchase the trio three times a
The amount in millions that Aramark made through its venues globally
200
Number of people employed at ACU through Aramark — more than 40 of them are students
feel like I’m wasting money,” said Rodda, sophomore elemen-
20
Number of years Aramark has served the university
but sometimes the lines are a little long.”
$4.1
The amount ACU spent on Aramark in 2005 in millions
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Friends remember Chastain’s dedication n Richard Chastain, the university’s historian and audio technician for more than 20 years who retired in 2004, died Sunday after a long battle with lung cancer. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
week at the Fatted Café in the Bible Building and not just be-
$216
cause she’s hungry. “If I don’t get breakfast, I don’t spend my meal plans, and I
tary education major from Carrollton. “It’s pretty convenient,
Rodda’s meal and countless other students’ breakfasts, See
ARAMARK page 4
Richard Chastain, an awardwinning audio technician and faithful university historian, died Sunday in Abilene after a long battle with cancer. Chastain, who was 67, served on the Centennial Collections Task Force, restoring “at-risk” audio and video recordings that document the university’s history. Chastain was one of six alumni who received the Hashknife Award, also known as the John and Ruth Stevens Historical Preservation Award, for his tireless work. Chastain’s wife, Rita Chastain, said the award was a great See
Abilene Christian University
AIDA page 7
CHASTAIN page 7
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, May 02 , 2007
02
Calendar & Events Wednesday
12 p.m. Women’s Economic Empowerment invites women to ‘Dollar and Sense: Financial Management for Women’ at 1350 N. 10th to learn money management. The cost for lunch is $5.
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Thursday
2 p.m. The women’s tennis team plays Cameron at the ACU tennis courts 7 p.m. ‘List of Demands,’ a dance show directed by Jonathan Prim, is performed in Fulks Theatre. Admission is free. 8 p.m. The Album Leaf performs at Monk’s Coffee Shop. Because of travel costs, this show will be $8 for presale tickets available for purchase at Monk’s. It will cost $10 at the door. Visit www.myspace. com/thealbumleaf for more information about the band and to listen to some of its music.
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Friday
10:15 a.m. The men’s tennis team plays in the NCAA Division II National Tennis Tournament final at the tennis courts. 11 a.m. Last chapel of the semester. 11:30 a.m. Tree dedication ceremony honoring the late Wayne Miller in front of McKinzie Hall. 12:30 p.m. Women’s NCAA Division II National Tennis Tournament finals take place at the ACU tennis courts. 4:30 p.m. ACU’s Synchronized Swimming Club performs ‘A Splash of Synchro’ at the Gibson Pool Balcony. 8 p.m. Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys, Hero Factor and Quiet Company perform at Monk’s Coffee Shop.
05
Saturday
Cinco de Mayo 9 p.m. Brady Davis performs in the Bean Sprout. The show is free. Check out Davis and his band, who are students at UT Austin, before the show at www.myspace.com/bradydavismusic. 10 a.m. The second annual Red Dirt Adventure Challenge will take place at Lake Abilene. Hosted by ACU’s Outdoor Club and Hardin-Simmons University’s Outdoor Adventures, it will include approximately 2 miles by canoe, 6 miles by bike, 2 miles by foot and 3 challenges. For more information, visit www. acuoutdoorclub.org or contact Blake Dozier at acuoutdoorclub@gmail.com. 7 p.m. Adam Gnade, ListenListen, Art in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and The Walrus Brothers perform at Monk’s Coffee Shop. This show will cost $3.
Announcements Dr. John C. Stevens, ACU chancellor emeritus and eighth president, died Tuesday at 12:20 a.m. at Hendrick Medical Center. Stevens, a former chancellor, history professor and civic leader, battled Parkinson`s disease for many years and recently had a series of strokes resulting in hospitalization. The Piersall Benton Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Visitation for family and friends is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and services are at 1 p.m. Saturday at University Church of Christ. Richard Chastain died Sunday
morning at age 67 after a battle with cancer. He retired from full-time work at ACU in 2004 after 23 years as an audio-visual archive preservation specialist and director of the ACU Tape Service. He continued to work part time on preparations for the ACU Centennial. Services are pending with Elmwood Funeral Home. What do pizza, research and a picnic have in common? They are upcoming Graduate Student Association events. The last free pizza lunch of the semester will be Wednesday in the library atrium. Winners of the GSA Re-
search Competition will be announced. The annual GSA Family Day featuring free zoo passes and a cookout at Nelson Park will be Friday. RSVP at www. acu.edu/gsa. Zoo passes are available at the pizza lunch Wednesday or in the Graduate School Office. The Athletics Department hosts the LSC Baseball Tournament on Saturday through Tuesday at Crutcher Scott Field. Tournament passes are $25 and will be sold through Saturday’s games. Passes can be purchased for $15 until 5 p.m. Wednesday. Individual passes for one day are $10. ACU stu-
dents can receive a free pass good for the entire tournament. Students must present their ACU ID to the Department of Athletics office in Teague Special Events Center to receive a pass. Passes for children ages 6 to 12 are $5 for the whole tournament. For more information, contact (325) 674-2287 or see www.acusports.com. Students may nominate parents for ACU’s Wildcat Parents of the Year at www.acu.edu/wildcatparents. Parents of the Year are recognized for the time and support they have given and will be honored during Parents Weekend on Sept. 21-23. Contact Samantha Adkins for more information at (325) 674-2622.
Credited Chapels remaining:
70 02
About This Page The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at mxe06a@acu.edu.
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
ACU Career Information Summer Employment: Need a job in Abilene? Visit ACU CareerLink at www.acu. edu/careerlink and find: 380 Abilene employers in the directory, more than 80 Abilene part-time opportunities, and more than 30 Abilene internships. This week’s CareerLink statistics: Number of part-time jobs: 108 Number of internships: 266 Number of full-time jobs: 834 Number of employers in directory: 3,219 Hosted by: The Office of Career and Academic Development McKinzie Hall- Lower Level www.acu.edu/ocad (325)674-6400
IT’S NOT A JOB IF YOU LOVE IT: Recent jobs posted on ACU CareerLink (www.acu.edu/careerlink) Job ID #5546, 5547, 5548 Internships with Sony Online Entertainment 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 Fannin Elementary will have a field day on May 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and needs volunteers to help students in various events. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. The Ben Richey Boys Ranch will host its annual Bilbo Golf Tournament fundraiser Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers are needed both days to work three-hour shifts from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The tournament
will take place at the Shady Oaks Golf Course in Clyde. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information. 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.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Renovated institute opens doors n The Marriage and Family Institute, which provides counseling to families, couples and individuals, had an open house to display its newly renovated facility. By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter
The Marriage and Family Institute opened its doors to the public to show off its recently renovated facility, which was contributed by an anonymous donor for $113,000. The MFI is located on the second floor of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building on campus. This institution provides counseling and therapy for couples, families and individuals at the lowest prices available in the Abilene community. The donation was specif-
ically given to improve the institute’s look and feel. “We wanted to create a warmer, more inviting environment for our clientele,” said Jaime Goff, assistant professor of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and director of the Marriage and Family Institute. “We jazzed it up. This works more to our clients’ needs.” The MFI installed new carpeting in all 11-therapy rooms, as well as new furniture to accommodate comfort for everyone. The institute also upgraded from florescent lighting to recess lighting and lamps, and the walls were painted from white to a variety of hues differing in each room. David Todd Harmon, second year graduate stu-
dent of marriage and family therapy from Aledo, said, “It’s much more inviting. The old style was sterile and had a doctor’s office feel. This is still professional but warmer and more comfortable.” The Marriage and Family Institute serves people with problems ranging from extra-marital affairs to depression and anxiety, as well as child and adolescent behavior problems. The cost is based on income from $5.50 per hour to $22 per hour. Every counselor at the MFI is a student of the graduate program of Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently there are 38 student counselors. To ensure clients receive the best service possible, the MFI installed
cameras to record every therapy session so graduate students can learn and be closely supervised by the licensed faculty. The institute logs around 8,000 hours per year. Goff said the students are encouraged to try a variety of therapy theories and practices to see which will best help their clients. “We provide services for every kind of client,” Goff said. “We operate from the systemic theory. The difference between marriage and family therapy and psychology is in paradigm. Psychology looks at the individual where marriage and family therapy looks at the context that influences the individual’s behavior.” E-mail Lehmann at: optimist@acu.edu
Knights recharter, revive for fall 2007 n Knights, men’s social club, will recharter for the third time in fall 2007. It was first charted in 1958 and again in 1989 before folding for the second time in 2001. By HILLARY CRAWFORD Student Reporter
Men’s social club, the Knights, is expected to be back on campus fall 2007. Chris Herrington, freshman pre-architecture major from Abilene, is one of the students in charge of the rechartering process. “The idea of rechartering came to me upon conclusion of last semester when a buddy of mine had mentioned something to me of how it would be a promising idea to bring back a social club that people for many years had hoped to accomplish,” he said. Herrington said there
was about a 10-20 year break where the Knights was on hiatus and then failed, and he is hoping to revive them again. Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of Student Activities and Organizations, helped with the idea of the Knights returning to campus, Herrington said. Westbrook’s role has been to provide students wanting to recharter the Knights with information on the club, such as old traditions, possible sponsors, old charters, histories and rules. “The vision of the Knights is to accomplish not only Christian brotherhood but Christian servitude above all else,” Herrington said. Herrington said the Knights name is not as important as the representa-
tion of being a Knight, which takes into account chivalry, servitude, strength, honor and integrity. When the Knights are officially back on campus, Herrington hopes to hold officer elections to help the rechartering process happen as quickly as possible. Once elections have taken place the Knights will be back in circulation and new pledges can be found.
William Cones, senior business management major from Dallas, said, “I would like to see the Knights back on campus to give more students here at ACU an opportunity to be apart of a social club. What the Knights stand for should be what all people need to live by.”
E-mail Crawford at: optimist@acu.edu
Page 3
Giving a tribute
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, shared stories of Dr. John C. Stevens, chancellor emeritus, in Chapel on Tuesday.
FROM THE FRONT PAGE/ CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Aramark: Food service connects workers and students Continued from page 1 lunches and dinners on campus would be impossible without the unobserved work of more than 200 Aramark employees on ACU’s campus. Behind the scenes and usually in purple, ACU’s dining services employees work at any one of the 12 eating locations to create a food service provider that prides itself as being one of the best among campuses across the nation. “We’re very competitive,” said Andre Allen, interim food service director. “We behave as if we are the best at what we do.” Aramark serves 200 million meals annually to more than 400 colleges and has been ACU’s food provider for more than 20 years for an average annual fee of roughly $4 million. Next to faculty and staff salaries, Aramark is ACU’s most expensive yearly expenditure, but ACU’s bill barely dents the net worth of the No. 1 outsource service company in the world; Aramark netted $261.1 million in 2006. In Abilene, Aramark feeds students at Cisco Junior College, McMurry University, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian schools and patients at Hendrick Medical Center. And like all of its clients, Aramark’s objective at ACU is to embody and contribute to the university’s mission. “When we are hired we understand the mission and
values of our customer,” Allen said. “That’s why we’re called higher education dining now, to emphasize that we’re about the university.”
Top of the food chain When it comes to ACU dining services, three people sit atop the food chain: Allen, retail manager Lex Hunt and catering director Jennifer Ellison. The three split duties among the main departments Aramark supplies food for, and they all work together to make ACU’s dining facilities a quality experience. “It’s important that we have attractive places to eat,” Hunt said. “Right next to academics, parents are worried about that.” Allen oversees the Bean, Hunt manages the cafés, retail restaurants and concessions on campus, and Ellison organizes and supplies food for numerous on-campus events. “When we go into a school, we’re a guest; we’re working for them.” Hunt said. If Aramark is the guest, Anthony Williams, director of retail and The Campus Store manager, is ACU’s host. Williams is the university’s liaison and makes most of the food-related decisions on campus. “My job is to make sure our provider is someone that doesn’t only meet our needs, but exceeds them,” Williams said. ACU purchases all the
manpower, equipment and expertise, and Allen helps make sure ACU is getting its money’s worth by confirming all prices and menus from the retail stores and in the Bean. “Basically, what I do is make sure that freshmen and sophomores on campus using meal plans aren’t wasting their money,” Williams said. Aramark’s role as the primary food provider on campus hasn’t been unchallenged. At least twice and most recently in January, the food conglomerate has been put to the test by ACU, Williams said. The university requested proposals from Aramark and a competing food service provider to weigh its options and choose the best deal. ACU stuck with Aramark.
International flavor The majority of Olha Kryv’yak’s Sunday’s are spent asking one question: “Bean bucks or meal plan?” When the Ukraine native isn’t in class or running for the ACU track team, she spends her time working at the Jelly Bean. “Almost every weekend I’m gone, and when I come back, I work on Sundays,” said Kryv’yak, senior graphic design major from Novoyavorivsk, Ukraine, said. “Sometimes you feel like you don’t have any time for yourself.” Kryv’yak and 29 other international students work for Aramark under the in-
ternational work-study program, and they do it for more than the occasional free meal. “I send my money home — sometimes the whole check,” Kryv’yak said. Like all working international students, Kryv’yak can only work on campus because she does not have a work visa necessary for offcampus employment. And she said she chose Aramark over another on-campus job because of the people, flexible scheduling and opportunity for pay raises. “I would have dreams about the Jelly Bean,” Kryv’yak said. “I was typing prices and asking if someone wanted to used their Bean Bucks or meal plans.” Although a majority of ACU dining services employees are non-students, Allen said between 40-50 students are working for Aramark at one time. Most part-time students work during the night and most full-time Aramark employees cover the day shift. “We got a decent mixture,” Allen said. Robert Casky, Christian ministry major from Stockton, Calif., is the student manager of Java City in Barret residence hall and said he initially chose Aramark because of the better pay and stayed because of the people. “Most of the customers are pretty loyal,” Casky said. “Starbucks is more busy than us, and people could just as well go over there to
get coffee, but our customers always come back here.” Casky oversees Java City and does all the scheduling for the retail coffee shop. “I like that I can make the schedule,” Casky said. “Aramark pretty much gives me complete control really.”
Favoring Feedback Allen and Williams both say they love feedback. Whether through online surveys, focus groups or personal interaction with students, feedback is key to Aramark meeting the students’ on-campus’ needs. “I frequent the bean,” Williams said. “To make sure I’m aware of any opposition we have and to make dining services better.” And because of the feedback they have received over the past couple of years, ACU is planning a summer makeover for ACU’s dining facilities. Although finals plans have not been released yet, ACU will start the first phase of construction by taking out the Hilton Room and replacing it with a separate food court filled with retail restaurants Chick-fil-A, Pizza Hut, Freshen’s Smoothies and a new Quiznos. “I go [to Quiznos] when I’m not at work, so I know I’m gonna love it when its here,” Allen said. In phase two, Williams said ACU plans to gut the Bean and redesign it so that it is a completely different dining experience.
Allen said it will be set up in a format where students can watch their food being prepared with fresh ingredients directly in front of them. “The renovations will take it to another level,” Allen said. Aramark has already responded to some feedback from students by improving and adding food to the current services offered. The long list includes: a vegan section in the Bean, an improved salad bar, the addition of homemade gelato instead of ice cream, the addition of barbecue options to the Bean Sprout and opening the bean on Sunday nights. But Williams is convinced the new improvements will take ACU’s dining services to a level it has never been before. “I am confident it will not only be one of the better university dining facilities, but one of the better dining facilities in the city,” Williams said. But no matter how much the food venues change, there will always be workers behind the scenes preparing Rodda’s next burrito and numerous meals for the hoards of students eating on campus. And behind the scenes is where most workers would prefer to stay. “We should be a seamless part of what goes on campus,” Hunt said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Students showcase hand-made works n Rock, Paper, Scissors, an annual arts and crafts event planned by students, took place Friday to display and sell students’ handmade arts and crafts. By SARA SNELSON Student Reporter
The Living Room was full of music, arts and crafts at the third annual Rock, Paper, Scissors event that took place Friday night. Kelly Dennis, junior English major from Houston, has planned this event for three years. “I wanted to do something that would encourage an appreciation of creativity,” Dennis said. “I love making things with my hands, and I knew several other people on campus who felt the same way, so I wanted a place where people could showcase their work.” The event featured three musical artists: Birds in Space, Ryan Lindsey and Gazelles. “This was the first year we had off-campus and out-oftown bands play at the fair,” Dennis said. Dustin Reid helped with the
event and was able to schedule all the bands that performed. “I’m so thankful he was able to help me with that this year because it made the event a lot less stressful for me to plan,” Dennis said. People sold their own artwork, jewelry, knitted bags and hats, along with hand-made printed jeans and shirts. “I want people to be encouraged to experiment with making things using different techniques and mediums. If someone sees something I have made and thinks, ‘Man I could do that,’ that would be fantastic,” Dennis said. Another thing that was different this year than previous years were the baked goods and crafts that were made to sell. All of the money raised went to Brent Hines, senior political science major from Belton; Matt Worthington, junior English major from San Antonio; and Clarke Goodman, senior biology major from West Des Moines, Iowa, to support their mission trip to India this summer. “I loved the event this
year and the atmosphere that it provided for all who came. All of the bands were good, and there were very talented people displaying what they had made,” said Amy Vanlandingham, sophomore graphic design major from Denver. Dennis said the turnout was good with people constantly flowing in and out of the event all night looking at the crafts and listening to the bands. “I was really pleased with the way everything turned out. The bands, the vendors, the atmosphere, the crowd — it was all fantastic,” Dennis said. Dennis plans on graduating next year but hopes Rock, Paper, Scissors will continue once she’s gone. “I plan on organizing the event again next year, and I would love it if someone wanted to continue it after I graduate,” Dennis said.
E-mail Snelson at: optimist@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Page 5
Donated meal plans, cash go toward feeding hungry n Nearly $600 was raised through students donating meal plans and cash for Oxfam in a student-led effort to raise awareness about hunger. By ANDREA LUCADO and KRISTA MEYER Student Reporters
For the first time at ACU, students had the choice between eating lunch or donating their meal plan, Bean Bucks or money to the hungry and starving people all over the world. Between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 25 more than 200 students participated in the Fast to Fight Hunger and raised at least $575 for Oxfam America — the nonprofit organization, which started the campaign more commonly called the Dining Hall Fast. Oxfam America is a branch of Oxfam International based in Oxford, England, and, according to its Web site, is an organization “that works to end global poverty through saving lives, strengthening communities and campaigning for change.” Kelly Dennis, junior English major from Houston, first saw the “Dining Hall Fast” on the Oxfam America Web site last fall. The Web site encourages students to start their own “Dining Hall Fast” at their university, and Dennis, having known about it since studying in Oxford during her study abroad experience, decided to do this at ACU and called it the Fast to Fight Hunger. Dennis said she was torn between conducting a hunger banquet or a “Dining Hall
Fast” but ended up going with the fast after researching it more on the Oxfam Web site. Dennis was very enthusiastic about students participating in something during lunch that would jar them out of what would otherwise be a normal day. Dennis said she had been thinking about the “Dining Hall Fast” for about two months and really wanted ACU to participate in a fast in order to help students better understand the constant hunger some feel throughout their entire lives. “One of the main purposes of the fast is for people to go without something, for us to experience not being completely full,” Dennis said. “We won’t be starving or in terrible pain, but we may be a little uncomfortable, and I think it is good to not always be comfortable, especially because in our society so much emphasis is placed on instant gratification and always doing and getting what you want. But God calls us to something different; he calls us to be counter to our culture, to be sacrificial, to consider the needs of others, to not stuff ourselves while others are going hungry.” While trying to organize the fast, Dennis was in contact with Anthony Williams, director of retail and The Campus Store manager; Shannon Wallis, assistant to Williams; and Andre Allen, interim food service director, to discuss how students could use their meal plans and Bean Bucks in the Fast to Fight Hunger. There wasn’t instant approval
by the administration, she said, but she refused to give up, and after a great deal of effort, she was finally given permission to hold the fast. Dennis said it took about six weeks from the time she started talking to administration for her to get permission to actually hold the fast. “In the process of trying to get permission I called Dr. Williams several times a day, every day to get information and ask questions. I’m sure him and Shannon Wallis — whom I spoke to when I couldn’t get in touch with Dr. Williams — were really sick of me calling, but in the end I was very appreciative that they approved the fast.” Aramark and ACU agreed to donate $2 each from every meal plan donated to the cause and proportioned that same percentage to students who donated whatever amount of Bean Bucks they wanted to give. “This event was totally dependent on the students,” Dennis said. “I hope that the act of students sliding their ID cards and not receiving food will be a reminder for them of the things they take for granted and the people who are not as fortunate. I hope that they will take that opportunity to pause in their day, to interrupt their typical rhythms of eat, school, work, sleep, eat, etc. to remember that there is more to life than routine.” She said 192 people donated Bean Bucks and meal plans, while about 30 students donated $175 in cash.
emily smith CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Caitlyn Shepard, sophomore youth and family ministry major from San Antonio, and Nick Martinez, junior accounting major from San Antonio, donate $5 in Bean Bucks and an afternoon lunch for the Fast to Fight Hunger, which raised about $575 on April 25. This money will go directly to Oxfam America who will use it in its battle against hunger. “I think that every little bit counts,” Dennis said. Lisa Etchison, junior marketing major from Houston, slid her card on fast day, but instead of getting food, she skipped lunch and let her Bean Bucks go to Oxfam America. “I felt like my Bean Bucks were going somewhere. I felt like I was making a difference, even the smallest difference, to contribute to social justice,” she said. Kyle Trafton, who also participated in the fast, helped oversee a prayer room in the Teague Special Events Center where students could go during their lunch hour and pray for the 850 million people in the world who suf-
fer from malnutrition and have grown accustomed to missing meals. Trafton, junior marketing major from Amarillo, said he and other students helped set up stations representing different continents in the prayer room that displayed the injustices of each like poverty levels and enslavement numbers. “We showed them what’s really going on and why we’re doing this,” he said. Dennis said through the Fast to Fight Hunger, ACU students proved they could come together and reach a goal without the backing of an organization. She said Aramark said this will be the only time it donates Bean Bucks and meal plan money, but she still hopes to do the fast again. To show appreciation,
Dennis said during the fast there were three cards available to be signed to express thanks to those who made the fast possible. “We encouraged everyone to sign the thank you cards to express our gratitude for allowing the fast to take place,” Dennis said. “I want to make sure that everyone involved in approving the fast know how much it’s appreciated. I’m hoping enough positive feedback is seen that we’ll be allowed to continue with the fast each year and allow other events such as this to take place.” For students who do not believe skipping lunch could make a ripple in the ocean of hunger, Dennis said, “Have hope because things do make a difference.”
E-mail reporters at: optimist@acu.edu
Jazz band performs at Festival n ACU’s Jazz Ensemble performed in Dallas this weekend at the Sacred Jazz Festival with nine other ensembles. The group was invited because of its talent and affiliation. By VALERIE VALLE Student Reporter
The ACU Jazz Ensemble was one out of 10 ensembles invited to attend and perform at the first ever Sacred Jazz Festival this past Saturday in Dallas, hosted by Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. According to its Web site, the Sacred Jazz Festival’s purpose is “to praise God through jazz music and develop a network of sacred jazz ensembles to encourage their department and mission work.” The Festival invited ACU because of the Jazz Band’s
reputation and the Christian affiliation with the school, said Eric Wyatt, freshman music major from Stamford. “The Sacred Jazz Festival not only wanted top-notch ensembles from around the country but an even spread of denominations,” Wyatt said. “Many were like the ACU Jazz Band and were mainly affiliated with one denomination, although denominational ties were not an emphasized part of the program.” The Festival’s featured band was Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. “They were an amazing ensemble, capable of astonishing feats of volume,” Wyatt said. Along with the ACU Jazz Ensemble, those who also
performed at the Sacred Jazz Festival included: Lovers Lane Jazz Band; Woods Chapel Jazz Band from Kansas City, Dallas Christian Jazz Band, Foo McBubba from Dallas, Crosswinds Jazz Band from Carrollton, SMU Alumni band from Dallas, Metro Praise Orchestra from Irving, the Joshua Experience from Keller and Lovers Land Dixieland Band. The ACU Jazz Ensemble performed “Celebration,” “The Preacher,” “Cubano Chant,” “Sanctus,” “Hallelujah Time” and “Friends and Neighbors” — an original composition for this year’s Sing Song show.
E-mail Valle at: optimist@acu.edu
laci adkins STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Alan Williams, sophomore undeclared major from Houston, slides down the Slip ‘n’ Slide into the mud pit at the Back Yard Bash with Chad Vandenbergh, sophomore pre-architecture major from Glenrose, and Chad Johnson, sophomore accounting major from Plano.
Students slip down 100-ft slide at Back Yard Bash n More than 200 people attended the Back Yard Bash Saturday sponsored by Residence Life and featuring a 100-foot Slip ‘n’ Slide. By TODD PIERSALL
Essence of Ebony sponsors Apollo night n Essence of Ebony will sponsor Apollo Night at the Bean Sprout on Thursday for student to enjoy and participate in the open mic night to share song, dance and poetry. By CAMILLE VANDENDRIESSCHE Student Reporter
The second and last Apollo Night of the year will take place Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in the Bean Sprout. More than 20 artists like Barry Smith, junior management major from Abilene; Marie Thomas, class of 2002; and some of the SHADES members will perform in various ways: poetry, dancing, singing, spoken words, monologue and freestyle. “It is an opportunity to showcase talents in front of peers,” said Erica Ray, president of Essence of Ebony. Ray, senior social work
major from Arlington, said Apollo Night is a main event for Essence of Ebony. She said even though this is only the second edition of the academic year, Essence of Ebony used to have four Apollo Nights every year in the past three years. “But this year, we’ve had kinds of little Apollo Nights every last Tuesday of each month,” she said. “It was more informal.” Besides Apollo Night, two big events are still to happen before the end of the year for Essence of Ebony members. A formal will take place Friday, and “Fish Fry” will take place Saturday. James Graham, who will be president of Essence of Ebony next year, said many of the social events will remain the same.
Apollo night n Essence of Ebony’s Apollo Night will showcase students’ talents n Where: the Bean Sprout n When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. n The event will feature more than 20 artists performing poetry, dance, singing, spoken words, monologue and freestyle.
“I would like to get people more involved, see more community work on and off campus,” said Graham, sophomore youth and family ministry major from Abilene. He also said Essence of Ebony may take part in Sing Song in 2008.
E-mail Vandendreiscche at: optimist@acu.edu
Arts Editor
The Slip ‘n’ Slide, invented in 1961, turned a simple waterdrenched plastic tarp into an essential element for a child’s perfect summer day. But even with more than 20 different kinds of Slip ‘n’ Slides now available in stores, one won’t find the one used for this semester’s Back Yard Bash. The 100-foot slide followed by a tractor-dug mud pit behind SmithAdams Residence Hall was the highlight for many in last weekend’s Back Yard Bash, hosted by Residence Life. The Back Yard Bash, first started in 2004 with Smith-Adams residents going down a 50-foot slide in the back yard of the residence halls. Since then, the Bash has grown into a campus-wide event. Michelle Lessly, assistant director of Adams Hall and coordinator for the Bash, said over 250 people attended the event. “I think everyone had a great time and took advantage of the opportunity to relax and have some fun before the end-of-the-semester
crunch time,” Lessly said. “It gets better and better every year.” As well as the slide, participants of the Bash enjoyed live music from several bands and free hamburgers and hotdogs. Caryn Carroll, junior speech pathology major from Abilene, helped coordinate the event and prepare the food. She said this semester’s Bash was the best one yet. “It’s fun to watch people playing crochet, frisbee and random backyard things all day long,” Carroll said. Carroll said this semester’s mud pit was a crowd favorite probably because it was the largest it has ever been. “Last semester there were two pits and two slides; this semester the pit was massive. The biggest there has ever been,” Carroll said. The mud pit was prepared the night before the event by several of the residence hall’s RAs. Both Carroll and Lessly said they are optimistic about the Bash’s future. “We are trying to focus on getting more off-campus people to the event next year,” Carroll said.
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday Optimist
Page 6
May 2, 2007
Fasting shows importance of student initiative
The issue:
Last week’s fast for hunger allowed students to proactively be involved in a worthy cause.
Students endure many hours of lecture and instruction. We are told how, where, why, when and what to do and are rarely given the opportunity to act on everything told to us. We are taught how to be Christian leaders once we leave school, but in all the learning that takes place during school, we take little initiative to act on our own. If students are to go into the world and make a difference, some of that must begin here. Plenty of student organizations make great strides in reaching out and becoming actively involved. Social clubs, the Students’ Asso-
Our view:
Students should pursue ways to follow through with their goals to help others.
The solution:
Don’t give up on your ideas to help others. You can make a difference if you put in the effort.
ciation and Dennis’ fast took meal plans or Bean Bucks and people also classes do a made cash donated them to the organization, while great deal in donations tostudents who participated ate nothing acting rather taling around than talking. $175. The after sliding their card. H o w total amount ever, indidonated is viduals by still unsure themselves do little to take group whose goal is to re- because the meal plan and initiative and make a dif- lieve the stress of poverty. Bean Buck donations are not ference. Many talk of great Dennis’ fast took meal plans calculated. plans and visions, but rarely or Bean Bucks and donated According to Dennis, just does something quantifiable them to the organization $20 is enough to feed a famcome of it. while students who partici- ily of four in Ethiopia for six Last week’s “Dining Hall pated ate nothing after slid- months. Fast” is a great example of ing their card. Dennis said she wants a student following through Dennis said 192 students to make people uncomfortwith her ideas. slid their cards. Two dollars able, even if just a little. By Kelly Dennis, junior Eng- from each meal plan went to sliding an ID card and getlish major from Houston, Oxfam, the rest went to cover- ting nothing in return, Denorganized the fast to ben- ing the overhead cost for the nis said she wants students efit Oxfam, an international Bean and Aramark. About 30 to think about the people
Cole Williams
Let Loose
How much does your education mean to you As the final week of classes approach, many students care about their grades and summer plans. Some might think the semester went fast, but others might have been waiting for this day for a long time. Some might A Different be expecting Voice to get an ‘A,’ but others might have Atsumi to retake the Shibata class. However they did throughout the semester, they have paid the same amount of tuition. And what they should care about most is if they spent the money effectively. This semester students
Getting a good grade is one way to measure how serious you are about your education, but also being satisfied with what you’ve done during a semester shows how much you appreciate your opportunity to be in school. paid $521 per credit, which costs about $7,815 to take 15 hours. This means each school day cost approximately $98, and it would increase if other fees are included (holidays are not excluded). Also, the university has announced the tuition will go up after this semester. According to the ACU Web site, undergraduate tuition per semester hour will be $557 as of May 1. It will raise the total amount to take 15 hours to about $8,355, which means it will
cost about $104 each day. Needless to say, it costs a lot just to go to school for a day. I probably missed two or more whole days this semester, which means I wasted at least $200. Look back at this semester, and think if your education was worth thousands of dollars. Did you not skip or sleep in a class? Did you complete all the assignments? Did you learn anything at all? Thousands of dollars are dedicated to each of your education; your parents, yourself
or scholarships pay for it. If you knew how much it costs to attend a class or how long it takes to earn that money, maybe you will appreciate your education more. Getting a good grade is one way to measure how serious you are about your education, but also being satisfied with what you’ve done during a semester shows how much you appreciate your opportunity to be in school. When you come back to school in August, consider how much it costs to be there, to listen to professors or to educate yourself.
E-mail Shibata at: axs03d@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
In Your Words What are your summers plans?
Living here and working at Hendrick.
I’m traveling with a peformance group that raises money for nonprofit organization.
Jason Henderson
Jennie Shepherd
senior biology major from Plano
I’m going to intern at the Scott Howell Company in downtown Dallas for two months.
John Mark Atchley
sophomore accounting and finance major from Grapevine
sophomore nursing major from Tuscon
attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Digging for truth about dinosaurs There are few things in tempt man into believing life as beautiful as wom- a false past is a foolish en. Their bodies, their way to avoid looking at hair, their personalities — facts and appreciating our they’re liv- growing knowledge of the ing works world’s wondrous design. of art. Few Carbon dating shows things come that dinosaurs existed milclose. But lions of years before man. to me, the As for that infamous huthings that man footprint that is next come clos- to dinosaur tracks in Glen est are also Rose — keep in mind that Mouth of marvels of this footprint is 19 inches Madness nature — long and does not match a living sculp- normal human one — this Cole tures with is the only thing that comes Williams designs so close to connecting men varied in and dinosaurs in the same their beauty, delicacy and time, unlike, say, mastodon ferocity that its corpses in- and other prehistoric anispired our grandest myths. mal fossils, which have arWe are still captivated by rowheads and wounds from creatures that have been early tools clearly in them. dead for 65 million years. Finally, to not just apOf course, I’m talking preciate dinosaurs, but to about dinosaurs. place ourselves intellectuFrom Jually alongside rassic Park others, we to museums should underin South stand that evoDakota, the The entire concept lution is real. sight of Evolution is of science vs. relithese great the process of animals that gion, where most of change. When thundered body the controversy be- your and echoed gins, is itself flawed. becomes acin our past customed to — be it a virus and their bones, can overcome which overit, when men shadow any see that the sculpture, Earth revolves to pictured imaginings of around the sun and not their bodies, which out- vice-versa, when God gives shine any painting — is himself up for us, are these only rivaled for me by the not examples of evolution? sight of the opposite sex. We appreciate the work It would also be rivaled by God has put into dinoGodzilla, except that he’s saurs through millions of not real. years of evolution. Can we However, dinosaurs of- not also appreciate what ten don’t get the respect went into us? Of course, they deserve; not just this leads into the discusfrom a lack of apprecia- sion of whether you take tion for the work God put the Genesis creation acinto them, but also even a count as fact or metaphor denial that God even made (and when it comes down them. But where do they to your salvation, is it rereally fit in the scheme of ally that important?) God’s world? Honestly, when I began First off, the entire con- this column, I didn’t except of science vs. religion, pect to get what I got out where most of the con- of it. But dinosaurs, like troversy begins, is itself any true beauty, don’t just flawed. One of these is a give you something to look process of understanding at — they challenge you and knowledge, the other and let you see the beauty is a process of worship and and the divine craftsmanpraise — neither contra- ship in everything else like dicts the other. Instead, it’s them, from birds and inhow people use them where sects, all the way up to us. the contradictions arise. Next, the ideas that dinosaurs never existed, or that they walked alongside man, are to me both wrong. That God or the devil creE-mail Williams at: cww02b@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu ated dinosaur fossils to
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
they are helping. Dennis’ lead sets a great example for other students to follow through on ideas. The success from the “Dining Hall Fast” proves ideas can become real. Who knows how many ideas have died because of doubts in their idea. People can make a difference, but not when they give up before trying. Don’t be afraid to make people uncomfortable. Only through being uncomfortable can we see how comfortable we are.
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Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Track: Qualifying continues Continued from page 1 13-3.50. Kyle Dennis placed fourth in the pole vault there with a height of 16-6.75. In Abilene at a duel meet with McMurry, freshman Landon Ehlers continued his steady improvement, posting a qualifying mark of 16-3.00. Just a year ago in high school, Ehlers jumped 136.00. He attributes his improvement to the coaching and hard work. “I set goals at the first of the season, and I’m looking at it now, and they’re all
close now,” Ehlers said. Jessica Blair qualified in the triple jump and pole vault in the Abilene meet. Also in the men’s triple jump, senior Vladyslav Gorbenko finished seventh with a distance of 50-5.50 feet at the Penn Relays. “He was a little disappointed,” Hood said. “Vlad’s mature enough to know that you don’t sacrifice the end of the year for the middle of the year. I think he is fine. I know he would have liked to jump better at that big of a meet.”
Gorbenko also competed in the long jump, placing 10th with a jump of 22-6.25. Also at Philadelphia, Nicodemus Naimadu won another event, this time the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a national-best time of 8:35.55. Olha Kryv’yak placed seventh in the steeplechase but bettered her previous provisional qualifying time with a time of 10:28.36.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
Softball: Cats finish sixth in LSC South Continued from page 1 postseason before this weekend, but conference members Eastern New Mexico and Texas Woman’s crushed those hopes by winning their games and bumping ACU to sixth in the division. Eastern New Mexico squeaked by Texas Woman’s to win the coveted fourth spot in the division. Only the top four teams go on to the postseason tournament, which will take place this weekend in Irving. The Wildcats ended its season with a series that had little affect on its postseason chances. ACU played against Cameron on Thursday and
Stevens: Money remembers his humor Continued from page 1 the Jasper Church of Christ for the next four years. From Jasper, Stevens moved to Beaumont to preach at the Central Church of Christ for a year. Stevens served three years with the U.S. Army during WWII as an army chaplain and earned several honors while in the service. He was discharged with the rank of major in 1946 and was later interviewed by the Dallas Times-Herald about his memories of Patton’s famous address to the troops. In his typical fashion, Money said, Stephens’ response was both humble and humorous when he told the Abilene-Reporter News about his appearance in a famous photograph of the 28th Infantry troops entering the Champs-Elysees in a victory parade in Paris. The ReporterNews quoted Stevens saying, “Never were so many led by one so unaware of where we were going!” In 1948, Stevens returned to ACU as an assistant professor of history, where he met Marian Ruth Rambo for the second time. The two were married in December of that year and were happily married for 57 years until her death in 2006. Ruth Stevens often attended her husband’s classes and wrote and graded his exams. Money said Stephens often joked, “Honey, without you, I would be Ruth-less.” Stevens earned a master’s degree of history and political science in 1948 and a Ph.D. in history and political science in 1954 from the University
Page 7
FROM THE FRONT/SPORTS JUMPS
of Arkansas. His passion for history remained throughout his life, from his academic pursuits to his work as a university historian later in life. His written history of the university, No Ordinary University: The History of a City Set on a Hill, was published in June 1999, an achievement Money called a “crowning moment in a very distinguished career.” Dr. Charles Marler, professor emeritus and senior faculty of journalism and mass communication, said Stevens loved reading almanacs and always greeted people by their full names — proof of his insatiable love of detail. While he was an excellent administrator, Marler said, “At heart, he was a history professor.” Once at the university, Stevens served in many leadership roles. He became dean of men in 1950, dean of students in 1952 and assistant president to then-president Don H. Morris in 1956. In 1969, Stevens was inaugurated as the eighth president of ACU, a presidency known for Stevens’ policy of openness. Ever the history professor, Stevens continued to teach classes during his presidency. During his presidency, Abilene Christian College became Abilene Christian University, changing both the name and structure of the university, Money said. Cullen Auditorium and the Don Morris Building were also constructed during Stevens’ time as president. But Stevens also contributed to the university and the Abilene communities in ways
most aren’t aware of. “His handprints are all over the campus,” Money said. “Most of them invisible.” In 1981, Stevens became university chancellor, and in 1991, he became chancellor emeritus. Also in 1991, Money said, Stevens became his mentor. “He was an early encouragement for me,” Money said. “He was so positive.” Stevens, who had Parkinson’s disease, always exemplified grace, Money said. “Even in his illness, he never lost his sense of humor. He was determined and tough, yet very gentle and caring.” Stevens worked to secure financial aid for students at private universities through the Texas Tuition Equalization Grants, which many ACU students benefit from, Money said. When Pinkies, a local liquor store, offered to contribute to Hendrick Medical Center where Stevens served as the head of fundraising, Stevens was asked if he thought the facility should accept the money. With his characteristic humor, Stevens responded, “Let’s get it out of the hands of the devil as quickly as we can.” Stevens’ sense of humor is very much a part of his memory. “When I think of Dr. John,” Money said, “I think of him laughing.” Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university, also remembers Stevens laughing. Stevens and McCaleb were part of a group of men that played golf together on Saturday mornings, a time McCaleb said allowed him to get to know Stevens out-
side the office. “He was the same man whether he had a great golf shot or the worst golf shot,” McCaleb said. McCaleb said Stevens just laughed at his bad shots, saying “Can you believe that?” His positive outlook on the golf course merely mirrored his attitude about life, McCaleb said. Students may remember Stevens as the man who often joined the ACU community for Chapel, sitting on the right side of the stage and wearing his UA baseball cap. Others remember Stevens, who had a pilot’s license, offering plane rides to faculty and staff. Ruth Stevens, Money said, always refused to ride with him. But whether Stevens was professor, president or pilot, his passion and enthusiasm left the university transformed. “It’s an amazing thing,” Money said. “The breadth, the scope, the expansive reach of his influence.” Stevens was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; his parents; his sisters Vern Stevens Lansford and Evalyn Stevens; and his brother, Dr. Clark Stevens. He is survived by his son, Clark Stevens; his daughter, Joyce Cole and her husband Jim; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. on Friday at the Piersall Benton Funeral Home, located at 733 Butternut. Services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the University Church of Christ. E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
Saturday, losing both games Thursday and splitting on Saturday. “Our first game was tough, but I am proud of the way the team bounced back [in] the second game,” Wilson said. “But
whenever you don’t play well, you could have done better.” ACU finished the season with a batting average of .285 and ended with a 4.01 ERA. E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu
Aida: Three called back for lead
Continued from page 1
sensitivity and try to do more of a reconciliation with members of the community who were concerned about that rather than moving forward with the production,” Hester said. Hester said he believes people now can play the part the way he wants to direct it and fit the role. “We’ve had some female actresses who’ve come up and been trained who really are very capable of playing that role,” Hester said. “It felt like a great time to kind of bring this to a real resolution and to give us some opportunities to reach out and extend that privilege to be able to finish some of that.” Auditions take place in three stages, Hester said. First is a general singing audition, then a general dancing audition. In each audition the men and women are given a song or dance to perform. Tuesday night, the third tier of auditions takes place: callbacks. “We’ll start out with the vocal audition where they’ve been called back for particular roles, and they’ll also do some reading from the play,” Hester said. Three women have been called back for the part of Aida: Michelle Alexander, Jasmin Richardson and Anna Peters. All three are AfricanAmericans, and all three are sophomores. But only one, Peters, is a non-theatre major. “She has a phenomenal singing voice,” Hester said of Peters. “She really earned a callback based on her general audition.” Peters said getting the role would mean a lot to her if she were to get it. “It’s a powerful story,” Peters said. “To be a part of that is amazing.” As for Alexander and Richardson, Hester said the two
majors are well prepared for the role. “They’re theatre majors, and they’ve gone through the theatre classes,” Hester said. “It’s really great to have some women who are both capable of doing it and who are going through our program as well.” Hester will have most of the auditions finished Tuesday night, but will not be complete until the end of finals week. Rebecca Wheeler, sophomore theatre major from Perkasie, Penn., is studying abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay, and will officially audition for two hours after getting back in Abilene. She is calling Hester on Wednesday to sing over the phone. Hester said he didn’t want anyone to feel left out because they were in study abroad. The final selections will be made soon after finals. However, planning for the show is already underway. Sandy Freeman, associate professor of theatre and the costume designer for “Aida,” said she has begun research and planning for the costumes. “It’s a love story much more than it’s a historical story,” Freeman said. “It’s more of a larger-than-life story although based in the area of the Nile. But then there is a theatrical style that adds to the interest.” No matter what elements add to the audience’s interest in the play, Hester said “Aida” is a great musical that the community will enjoy. “Plus being able to do the production, it’s just a great show for us to get to do, and it will highlight our students,” Hester said. “It’s a well done, put together musical.”
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
Chastain: Served the university for more than 20 years as audio tech Continued from page 1 surprise for the work her husband loved doing. “I know he loved working there,” Chastain said, “I know he enjoyed his job.” Dr. Charles Marler, professor emeritus and senior faculty of journalism and mass communication, served as the Collections Task Force chair, and said Chastain left the university a historical record that will not deteriorate. “It was his passion,” Mar-
ler said. “He knew that stuff inside and out.” While Marler did not know Chastain well outside the Task Force, he said his work surpassed what was required of him. “It was beyond the minimum he had to do to earn his money,” Marler said. Chastain also recorded theatre, musical and video performances at the university and the Abilene community, and his Centennial work contributed to ACU’s campaign film, The Mission.
Dr. Ed Mathews, professor of missions in the Graduate School of Theology, said Chastain was a close friend. Chastain and Mathews both ministered at the Central Church of Christ, often ate lunch together and worked on home-repair projects, Mathews said. “I don’t know that I ever really saw him upset,” Mathews said. “Even when things didn’t seem to be going according to the way he thought they would go.” Mathews said Chastain
often showed him projects he was restoring for the university’s future. “He took great pride in that,” Mathews said. Chastain earned his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University in 1962 and his master’s degree from ACU in 1982, and he also studied at Florida State University, Harding Graduate School of Religion and the Texas Technical Institute. While at FSU, Chastain served in the Air Force ROTC and was a member of the professional mu-
sic fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. After serving more than 20 years as an audio-visual archive preservation specialist and director of the ACU Tape Service, Chastain retired in 2004 but continued to work on projects for the ACU Centennial. Chastain is survived by his wife, Rita; three brothers, John and Michael, who reside in Nashville, Tenn., and Kenneth, who resides in Atlanta, Ga.; daughter, Carola Martin, who resides in Sweetwater; son, John, who resides Abilene; and eight grandchildren.
Services are Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Elmwood Funeral Home in Abilene. E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
SportsWednesday
Page 8
Teams host Regional tournaments
ScoreBoard Standings
n Starting Thursday, both ACU tennis teams will host the NCAA Division II Central Regional tournaments with the tournament’s No. 1 seeds.
Scoreboard as of Tuesday
Team
BASEBALL
Div. Overall 17-3 44-11 15-5 40-16 10-10 27-27 8-12 26-29 5-13 20-34 3-15 12-37
ACU Angelo St. TAMK-U Tarleton ENMU WTAMU
Team
SOFTBALL
Div. Overall Angelo St. 21-3 44-8 TAMK-U 15-9 32-18 Tarleton 13-11 33-16 ENMU 11-13 20-34 TX Woman’s 11-13 25-32 ACU 11-13 24-21 WTAM 3-15 12-37
Scores
May 2, 2007
By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
George Carstens returns a ball against Cameron on April 6. ACU will host both Central Regional tournaments this week.
The ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams will both be No. 1 seeds and hosts at the NCAA Division II Central Region tennis tournaments Thursday and Friday. Both tournaments will be played at the Eager Tennis Pavillion on ACU’s campus. “I’m really pumped for the girls and guys,” said head coach
Tennis Hutton Jones. The Wildcat men, who are 24-9 overall and this year’s Lone Star Conference championship title, will be off Thursday because of a semifinal bye. ACU will play the winner of the Cameron-East Central match Friday at 10:15 a.m. for the regional championship. The ACU women, who are 24-5 on the season, will face Cameron, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, at 2 p.m. Thursday. The winner of the match will take on either No. 2 seed St. Edward’s or No. 3 seed Mid-
western State at 12:30 p.m. Friday for the regional championship. The winners of the regional championship will advance to the NCAA Division II national tournament, which is set for May 9-12 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. “I think we’re ready to play,” said assistant head coach John Walker. “We should do well, and if we play like we can, we’ll advance, but we’ve got to take care of business, and we can’t assume anything.” On April 19-20, both ACU teams fought for the Lone Star Conference championship in Oklahoma City. The men took
Swinging the South
Thursday SOFTBALL Cameron 1, ACU Cameron 1, ACU 2
Friday
the title with a 5-4 victory over Midwestern State. The women, however, fell to Northeastern State 5-3. “If the girls put that out of their mind, learn from it and move on, I think we’re fine,” Jones said. “And if the guys will just keep doing what they’ve been doing, I like our chances.” The ACU men have won five regional tournaments in the history of the tournament, the last coming in 2004. The women have won seven regional tournaments in a row dating back to 2000. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Softball team misses playoffs n The ACU softball team did not finish high enough in the Lone Star Conference South Division to qualify for the LSC tournament and split its final series against Cameron.
BASEBALL ACU 5, West Texas A&M 3 ACU 2, West Texas A&M 0
Saturday
By RACHEL DAVIS Sports Writer
BASEBALL ACU 9, West Texas A&M 4 ACU 4, West Texas A&M 1
The Wildcats will not be making a third straight Lone Star Conference tournament appearance after a season that most did not expect. ACU went into the preseason as the number one pick to win the LSC South division, but ended up with a 25-24 overall record and 10-14 conference record which wasn’t good enough to claim a spot high enough in the LSC South to move into the postseason. “I just don’t think everyone was on the same page at the same time,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. “We didn’t hit well enough when the pitching was there, and we did not pitch well enough when the hitting was there.” The Wildcats had a small shred of hope of making the
SOFTBALL Cameron 1, ACU 2 Cameron 1, ACU 2
Upcoming Saturday WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU at West Texas A&M, Canyon, 4 p.m. (DH)
n Home games listed in italics
Briefs Four best in the LSC n ACU swept the Lone Star Conference South Division all-conference awards, earning eight first team picks and four individual awards Tuesday. ACU head coach Britt Bonneau was named Coach of the Year, Trey Watten was named Player of the Year, Willy Uechi was named Freshman of the Year and Jameson Maj was named Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday. Watten, Uechi and Maj all made the first team and were joined by pitcher Chris Wiman, catcher Jordan Schmitt, third baseman Alec Sowards and center fielder Matt Spontanski. Pitcher Brian Kennedy was also named to the all-conference team.
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Wildcats place at various meets
Three earn allconference honors n ACU junior centerfielder Leisha Johnson was the only Wildcat softball player to earn first team all-conference honors. Johnson hit a team best 13 home runs and 29 RBI while batting a .354 and was one of three Wildcats honored by the LSC. Catcher Samantha Borgeson and third baseman Nicole Deel were both named to the second team.
Intramural Round-up
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
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 Playoff tournament continues, see intramural bulletin board for schedule. SOFTBALL See softball schedule on intramural bulletin board.
n Whether it was the triple jump, pole vault or running events, ACU track and field athletes won at meets across the nation this weekend.
All-LSC catcher Jordan Schmitt hits a ball against Eastern New Mexico on April 20. Schmitt and the rest of the Wildcats broke the single season record for wins in a season, won the LSC South and secured a No. 1 seed for the LSC tournament after sweeping West Texas A&M.
By JARED FIELDS
ACU breaks record, wins LSC South
Whether in Philadelphia, Des Moines, Iowa, or in Abilene, the ACU track and field teams enjoyed plenty of success this past weekend. Davy Manga won the triple jump at the Penn relays with a Division II-best distance of 5311.75 feet. Manga was also part of the men’s 110-meter hurdle shuttle relay that came away with a surprising victory. Matt Pugh ran the final leg, making up a 10-meter gap to overtake the leader and win the event for the Wildcats. Along with Manga and Pugh were Andrew McDowell and Chris Pounds. “I don’t think they were the favorites going in,” said head coach Don Hood. “I think three of the four ran their best times of the year.” At the Drake Relays in Iowa, Angie Aguilar won the women’s pole vault with a height of
n The baseball team won the Lone Star Conference South Division title and set a new record for wins in a regular season after sweeping West Texas A&M. By DANIEL JOHNSON
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Sports Editor
The ACU baseball team’s last regular season series was an appropriate ending to its record breaking season. ACU swept West Texas A&M, broke the record for wins in the regular season, won the Lone Star Conference South Division and secured a No. 1 seed for the upcoming LSC postseason tournament. “We went out there knowing we needed four wins,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “But we still know
Baseball there is a lot of work to be done as far as getting to where we want to be. The 13th-ranked Wildcats ended its regular season with four wins over last place West Texas to extend its record to 44-11 and win its seventh LSC South title. ACU beat West Texas, 5-3 and 2-0, on day one and 9-4 and 4-1 on day two. ACU closer Jameson Maj continued to add onto his saves record, picking up three more against West Texas. Maj’s total of 19 is now the best in Division II baseball and one away from breaking the NCAA record for saves in a single season. “I’m just proud of that guy,” Bonneau said. “He’s re-
ally helped us out and helped us win some close games.” After winning two close games on day one, ACU set the record for wins in a season. The new record, 44 wins, broke the old record of 41, but Bonneau said his team was only focusing on sweeping the series. “No one even talked about it,” Bonneau said. “We knew we needed to win two more.” ACU went on to sweep the second day and won its third LSC South title in the last four years, and Bonneau picked up his 450th career victory. Bonneau said his team didn’t play as well as he would have liked, but they got the job done when needed. “Sometimes its tough going somewhere and play-
ing when you know you’re already in the tournament and you’re playing a team that isn’t in the tournament.” Bonneau said. ACU’s starting pitching corps only gave up eight runs in the four games, and ACU’s lineup rocked West Texas’ pitchers. No. 1 seed ACU will take on No. 6 seed Texas A&MKingsville in the LSC tournament Saturday, and Bonneau said its up to his most consistent players to win the tournament. “You got to rely on the guys you relied on during the year,” Bonneau said. “It’s kind of a chess match—you hope you make the right move.” E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Managing Editor
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