OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY September 7, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 5 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Exercise doesn’t to be a hassle
need
A deeper look at art
Shore Art Gallery holds public reception for Christian art exhibit Friday, page 4
Professional fitness instructors provide lowcost exercise options on campus, page 5
Tenure awarded to 12 professors By Karie Schmidt Student Reporter
Filling out teacher evaluations at the end of the semester may seem like a waste of time but for ACU professors, this can be an aid on the path to promotion and tenure. This year, 17 faculty members received tenure or a promotion, and nine of these 17 received both. Professors can begin applying for tenure and a pro-
motion five years after they begin teaching at a university, and they can receive tenure with their sixth year teaching at the institution. “Tenure does make you feel good because your peers acknowledge you as a good person and teacher,” said Dr. Neal Coates, associate professor of political science, who received tenure and a promotion. According to the Adams Center For Teaching Excel-
lence Web site and academic tradition, tenure is designed to give professors the necessary freedom for scholarship and progress in their disciplines. Tenure also affirms the individual faculty member’s contributions to ACU and verifies the institution’s long-term commitment to the faculty members’ pursuit of knowledge. Promotions are based on professional preparations, performance of duties and fidelity to the Christian
purposes of the University. “It’s an honor and relief… it’s job security more than anything else,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wherry, professor of psychology, who received tenure. Applicants who wish to receive tenure or a promotion must apply and turn in an extensive portfolio to their department and the university tenure promotion committee. The committee See
No slow start
Wildcats play No. 18 team in nation for first home match, page 8
Tenure and promotions Promoted or tenured professors as noted by (T) or (P): n Steve Allison: professor of psychology (T,P) n Virginia Bailey: associate professor to Brown Library (T,P) n Neal Coates: associate professor of political science (T,P) n Malcolm Coco: professor to management sciences (P) n Lloyd Goldsmith: associate professor of graduate studies in education (T,P) n Jackie Halstead: associate professor of marriage and family therapy (T,P) n Melissa Johnson: associate professor of Brown Library (T,P) n Rick Lytle: professor of management sciences (P)
TENURE page 5
A mouthy mission
Crickets’ duration, not amount, reason for discomfort
By Michelle Jimenez Student Reporter
A dental program in Choluteca, Honduras, started by an ACU alum is in need of dentists and hygienists to donate a week to work in the clinic. Dr. Jane Tindol, a local dentist and 1982 ACU graduate, started the program two weeks ago and plans to return to Choluteca the week of Jan. 1 to finalize the preparation for the Choluteca Community Center’s dental clinic. At present, Tindol is in the political process of getting permission to open a dental hygiene school in a “third-world country,” Tindol said. The plan is to begin with a dental assistance school and progress to a dental hygiene school, ultimately founding a nursing school and a hospital. The dental clinic already has nine out of 12 dental chairs in place and ready for volunteer dentists and hygienists to work. Without a full-time dentist on hand, the clinic is waiting on donated assistance to get it up and running. “Nobody’s there right now,” Tindol said. “We’ve this great need for dentists and hygienists to donate a week of their time to work in the clinic. … I just need anybody who could go, and all they have to do is contact me.” The Choluteca Community Center, at present consisting of the dental clinic and the Choluteca Central Church of Christ, is allied with Mission Lazarus, a “holistic, faith-in-action” organization that helps spread the gospel through a variety of ministries in Honduras. According the Web site, Mission Lazarus’ assortment of ministries focuses on basic primary education, skill development, health education and treatment and agricultural development meant to meet physical and spiritual needs of the people. “I’m kinda piggybacking with them because they’re already established,” Tindol said. “They know the people; they got their churches going. We’re just adding this community center.” Tindol wants to present dental awareness and prevention to the people of Choluteca by creating the center.
n Dan McGregor: associate professor of art and design (T,P) n Larry Norsworthy: professor of psychology (T) n Nicki Rippee: professor of exercise science and health (T) n Ginna Sadler: professor of art and design department (P) n Micheal Scarbrough: professor of music department (P) n Jonathan Stewart: professor of accounting and finance (P) n Jeffrey Wherry: professor of psychology (T) n Kay Williams: associate professor to music (T,P) n David Wright: associate professor to management sciences (T,P)
By Laura Acuff Student Reporter
COURTESY OF Dr. jane tindol
Mission Lazarus minister Leonardo Ken baptizes a man in the Choluteca River in Choluteca, Honduras on Sunday, Aug. 12. “I’ve always felt so limited because all I could do is pull teeth,” Tindol said. “And then I thought, ‘Man, we need to educate these people so that we can get to a point where they’re getting prevention.’ They don’t ever have any prevention. They’re just always paying and losing their teeth.” Serving the people, starting prevention, creating jobs and having mission points where people can serve also are some of the motives behind the Center, Tindol said. Amy Philpott, a Registered Dental Hygienist, who worked with Tindol in setting up the clinic, said she was excited about Tindol’s idea of providing a service of dental care and prevention to the people of Choluteca that was not already being provided. “That’s right up my alley,” Philpott said. “I can’t be the dentist; I can’t pull teeth … all I can do is teach prevention. That’s my expertise.” Although Tindol’s need is for dentists and hygienists, students also have opportunities to serve the community by helping teach English and assist with computer classes for See
DENTIST page 5
courtesy of dr. jane tindol
Dr. Jane Tindol and Victoria Mancha, a registered dental assistant, clean a man’s teeth at the Choluteca Community Center on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
They invade the dorms, infiltrate classrooms and creep through corridors as they arrive each year by the thousands. But they are not students—they’re crickets. Although the crickets are annual fall visitors in Abilene, because of the extensive rainfall this year, residents can expect an even longer visitation from the winged insects, and ACU faculty and students are preparing for the duration. “There are more crickets than people to deal with, so in that sense, it’s a struggle,” said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources. “I don’t know if it’s any worse than it has been in the past. It’s longer. The difference between a million crickets and 1,200,000 crickets is really not observable so much, but the difference between a month infestation and two months is very noticeable, so that’s what we’re aware of; that’s the pressure.” Nevill said Physical Resources is limited in its response to the problem. During the summer, lights around campus could be turned off to discourage the bugs, but when students arrived, safety concerns necessitated the lights stay on, making spraying insecticide and caulking cracks and holes in buildings the best of few remaining solutions. “We don’t like to use pesticides too much because it’s an indiscriminate killer,” Nevill said. “It kills the beneficial insects as well as those we want to get rid of, so we have to be pretty careful about it.” Nevill also cited allergies of some students and faculty to the chemicals used in insecticides as See
CRICKETS page 5
SHADES stomping out final members Friday By Aaron Ballard Student Reporter
New blood is stepping into SHADES. Tryouts began Monday and have lasted throughout the week. “We are looking for anyone who can catch on quickly and who has a great personality,” said SHADES head captain Camari Carter, senior political science major from Los Angeles. The first cuts took place Wednesday night, and the final tryout is Friday. Approximately 28 women and eight
men tried out this year. “We do not have a specific number in mind that we are looking to accept,” Carter said. “We want to avoid adding any extra pressure.” Tryouts are only held once a year. Returning members of SHADES do not automatically have a spot on the team, therefore, they must go through tryouts like everyone else. Last year, the team consisted of about nine men and nine women. This year’s officers were elected last semester. In addition to Carter, officers
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
include men’s captain D. Jay Wells, women’s captains Sara Eligado and Becca Schumacher and treasurer Meghan Dailey. The first big performance will take place during Lectureship, where the team will be stepping to an a capella song similar to their performance at Sing Song. Also this fall, SHADES will perform in the culture show and host a mini-show for the first time. “Usually, we just have one big show in the spring, but this year, we want to give ev-
erybody a little taste before that,” said Carter. The mini-show will take place in the Bean Sprout toward the end of November. In the spring SHADES will perform at Sing Song and at its big annual show is usually around April. The SHADES team also participates in competitions, and the women of SHADES are scheduled to compete in Lubbock in October. During the year, the team meets for practice twice a See
SHADES page 5
Megan Lowe STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Meghan Dailey, senior pre-med major from Boerne, helps Shalesia Rhodes, senior music education major from Longview, learn steps at the SHADES tryout Monday evening.
Abilene Christian University
Serving the ACU community since 1912
About This Page Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, September 7, 2007
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Calendar & Events Friday
Last day to request credit/no credit or pass/fail for courses. 6:45 p.m. Dinner begins for Fall Dinner Theatre. Tickets for dinner and the show, ‘Star Spangled Girl,’ are $25. 8 p.m. ‘Star Spangled Girl’ will be performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets for the show are $12.
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Saturday
6:45 p.m. Dinner begins for Fall Dinner Theatre. Tickets for dinner and the show, ‘Star Spangled Girl,’ are $25.
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Monday
7:30 p.m. Dollar Ride Night at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo. All rides will cost $1 all night.
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Tuesday
Last day to withdraw from a class for a 80 percent refund.
8 p.m. ‘Star Spangled Girl’ will be performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets for the show are $12. For tickets, call (325) 674-2787.
plications to the Study Abroad Office. Join new outdoor exercise classes. Forever Fit includes classes focusing on cardio workouts, Yoga, Pilates and core strength. Classes for the fall are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-7 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m. Classes cost $25 per month for the 6 a.m. or the 5:30 p.m. classes and $35 a month for access to all classes. Nutritional counseling and wellness services are also available. Visit www.foreverfitabilene. blogspot.com for more information. Sign up to play in a new ACU orchestra ensemble. The ensemble, the ACU Camerata, is headed up by the music department this year. The
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.
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
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Volunteer Opportunities
Announcements Interested in Service? Apply for the Service Action Leadership Team. Join other students in community service and leadership across campus. S.A.L.T. applications are due Friday and are available in the Volunteer Service-Learning Center, located on the bottom floor of the Campus Center next to the Bean Sprout. Attention all student groups requesting funds from the Students’ Association for the fall semester. Budgets are due no later than Friday at 5 p.m. To submit a budget, use the program located on the Students’ Association Web site, www.acustudents.com. Spots are now open for the Oxford spring 2008 semester. Sophomores and juniors can turn in their ap-
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.
Camerata will play chamber orchestra literature and will perform one concert per semester. The class meets Fridays from 2-2:50 p.m. Students interested in being part of this group should contact Steven Ward at steven.ward@acu.edu. Lectureship will be held Sept. 16-19. The theme for this year’s Lectureship is ‘Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly: Messages from Micah.’ The afternoon schedule will now feature workshops on topics including gospel and culture, justice and mercy, marketplace faith, missional leadership and youth ministry. Flu Season is near. Now is the time to get a flu shot. The Medical Clinic will host a flu vaccination
clinic for students, faculty and staff Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room. The shot costs $25 and can be charged to a student account or can be paid in cash or check. The Medical Clinic also takes flu shot patients daily on a walk-in basis. For more information, contact Kathy Stokes at (325) 674-2625. Male students seeking healing from struggles with pornography or lust are invited to a weekly gathering this semester every Thursday at 11 a.m. The meetings will be held two blocks off campus. For more information, contact Kurt Boyland in the ACU Counseling Center at (325) 674-2878 or at boylandk@acu.edu.
Eternal Threads needs help Saturday unpacking a shipment of totes, verifying inventory, attaching barcoding and laminating tags from 9 a.m.-noon at the Pfeiffer Building, located at 101 Walnut St. on the corner of N. 1st and Walnut. To help, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center or Linda Egle at (325) 677-4146. A Teen Conference will be held Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. Volunteers are needed to assist with classes and cleanup. There is an urgent need on campus for trans-typists for a hearing-impaired student. This requires sitting with the student in class and taking notes on her personal laptop. Class times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon - 1:20 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Contact Mattia Bray at (325) 674-2554 for more information.
Abilene Habitat for Humanity is asking for volunteers to help with CANTASTIC Night at the fair Thursday. Volunteers are needed from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will be at the entrance gates to collect soda cans and give out free admission tickets. To help, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout. Texas Family Institute needs volunteers Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at various locations beginning Sept. 15 to help baby-sit for families who have a parent deployed to Iraq. Special Olympics Texas is seeking volunteers to help participants in an area bocce competition Sept. 21 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Abilene State School Centennial Park. Volunteers will help with scoring, timing, congratulating the athletes and setting up for lunch.
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, September 7, 2007
Page 3
VAHS: practicing what they preach By Rachel Davis Opinion Editor
One of the newest student organizations on campus, Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood (VAHS) is a service-oriented organization conceived last year during all of the racially related conversations at the university. “We decided that after all the racial conflicts on campus, that it was time to start an organization for African American women,” said Anna Peters, co-president and junior children’s ministry and elementary education major from Houston. “Our goal was to create an
organization where women can learn to better themselves mentally, physically, socially and spiritually.” Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of student organizations and activities, said the organization brings a new element to campus organizations. “I think their desire to address a specific need amongst a specific group is unique,” Westbrook said. “We have some multicultural groups but nothing specific to African American females. I think it definitely addresses a real need we have here.” Peters, who co-founded the group with senior business management
major Chardee Henley, said the group is geared toward African Americans, but it’s a very diverse group. “We’re open to anyone really,” Peters said. “Each woman goes through the same self-esteem issues and has to deal with dating guys and dating Jesus.” VAHS will have many different projects and meetings during the year. “We’ll take what we’ve learned in our meetings, go to various service organizations and put what we’ve learned into practice,” Peters said. “We try to teach the younger girls what we’ve learned — it’s a practice used in the Bible where the older women
teach the younger girls. We want everyone to become that Proverbs 31 woman.” The organization’s mission statement says its goals are “to strive and honor God, provide positive solutions to specific needs of African American females and principles of leadership, achievement, sisterhood and spirituality.” The group began with 25 members last semester and is now up to 65 members. Peters said there are many other girls interested. “It’s obvious that there’s a definite need for something like this,” Peters said. “Many of the professors and staff
agreed with us that it would be good for the environment on campus.” The women advertised through Chapel announcements, Essence of Ebony Chapel and sent out letters to prospective freshmen. “We wanted to let them know that there’s more than one way to get connected on campus,” Peters said. “It’s so easy to sit next to someone in chapel and not even notice them when they’re gone the next day. We just want this group to reach out to people like that.”
E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu
Acoustics altered after 15 years 90th Lectureship centered on Micah By Todd Piersall
Staff Photographer
The University updated Moody Coliseum’s acoustics after 15 years. The old sound system was replaced by a digital sound system at the end of last spring. The previous sound system was installed in the early 1990s, and Kevin Weems, manager of ACU’s sound systems, said it had been used more than 10,000 times during its time in Moody Coliseum. “This was not a terrible system that we had; we just used it a lot,” Weems said. “The system was used probably 750 to 1,000 times a year.” Weems said the wires in the old system were getting weak, producing a “very thin sound.” However, Weems said the previous sound system lasted twice as long as its predecessor, and speaker systems should be replaced every 14 to 15 years.
Moody Coliseum’s fourth sound system is a Yamaha M7CL digital mixing consol. Weems said the sound system is sophisticated but capable of handling various settings that will be useful because of the many events that take place in the coliseum. Chapel, Sing Song and Lectureship can have a specific setting that can be accessed easily, reducing the number of hours spent on setting up for each event. Also, the new sound system should drastically reduce echoing and unwanted noise. “Moody is basically a concrete and metal grain silo,” Weems said. “It is a difficult building. It was not made to have the acoustics like other buildings have.” Weems called the sound mistakes that can be heard by the audience “all-human error.” Because of the complexity of the new sound system, Weems said those operating the system
need more training. However, he remains optimistic about the potential the new system has. Weems said he will be retired far before this new sound system needs to be replaced. “By Sing Song time, I think everyone will be very happy when they see the new capabilities of this sound board,” he said. Coy Greathouse, junior youth and family ministry major from Houston, helped lead worship during Chapel last year and this year, and said he can hear a notable difference between the clarity of the two sound systems. “It’s nice. I can hear myself sing,” Greathouse said. There are more upgrades still to come, Weems said. The next stop for Moody Coliseum is a better stagelighting system.
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
Student wins prestigious physics award By Rachel Davis Opinion Editor
An ACU physics student recently won a prestigious award for his research and work on an experiment in New York. Austin Basye, senior physics major from Canyon, received the Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research from the Society of Physics, which included a $500 award and a trip to London. “I got a week in London to present my research and hear research presentations from all over the world,” Basye said. “It was a blast meeting new people that are interested in the same things as me, but come from all over the world.” “Students like Austin really earn our respect,” said Dr. Donald Isenhower, professor of physics and chair of the Department of Physics. “Austin has been one of the most active Society of Physics presidents in terms of making things happen. He’s been very, very good
at being the president, and he is one of our most enthusiastic majors.” The award is given based on involvement in the Society of Physics, quality of the student’s research and letters of recommendation. Only three students from the United States were chosen for this award, Isenhower said. “It’s a great honor for Austin, our department and ACU,” he said. For five out of the past six years, ACU’s Society of Physics chapter has been named as one of the top chapters in the nation, but Basye’s award is the first individual award received by an ACU student. Basye won the award for his work on the Pioneering High Energy Nuclear Ion Experiment, or PHENIX, at the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, N.Y. PHENIX’s primary goal is to track subatomic particles and study what’s inside those particles. He’s been working on PHENIX for the past
three summers and is now designing a new project for it, along with professional engineers and physicists. “I’ve been working on it for a while, but the cool thing is that I can understand where both the engineers and the physicists are coming from with their ideas, and I can be the person in between them,” Basye said. The National Science Foundation granted the laboratory $2 million for an upgrade that Basye is currently designing. Basye said he got into physics after he realized his Air Force dreams couldn’t come true. He wears glasses, and Air Force pilots must have perfect vision. “I decided to become an engineer,” he said. “I figured if I couldn’t fly planes, I’d build them instead. I kind of stumbled onto the fact that this is where God wanted me to be.”
E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu
By Val Valle
info box
Online Editor
A committee of 15 students had an important role in decisions made for ACU’s 90th Lectureship.
ACU’s 90th annual Lectureship, which is centered on the verse from Micah 6:8, will take place Sept. 16-19. This year’s Lectureship will be somewhat different from those in the past because of influence from a student committee. Last year, Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Spiritual Formation, selected about 15 students to be on a committee that would allow them to give input on ideas, speakers and what classes would be taught. Kate Miller, ministry events coordinator, has worked with these students to plan this year’s Lectureship. Issues and classes will coincide with this year’s theme from Micah, “Do justly, Love mercy and Walk humbly.” “This year’s theme has generated a lot of interest,” said Dr. Mark Love, director of Lectureship. Love said he received a lot of positive feedback and suggestions on topics about this year’s Lectureship because of the theme. Some topics to be discussed will include mercy and social justice. Featured theme speakers
n Micah 6:8 is the theme verse. n Featured speakers will include Wade Hodges, Landon Saunders and Jeff Walling. n Acapella, SHADES and Spiritual Music Ensemble from St. Petersburg, Russia are some of the featured musical guests. n A Gospel and Culture Coffee House will take place every night after the lecture in Moody Coliseum. n 8 a.m. daily, morning prayer will be said at the Jacob’s Dream statue.
include Dr. Jerry Taylor, assistant professor of Bible, missions and ministry; Dr. Mark Hamilton, associate professor of Old Testament; Fred Asare; Jay Hawkins; Landon Saunders; Wade Hodges; and Jeff Walling. Featured guests during Lectureship include Acappella, the men and women of SHADES, Spiritual Music Ensemble and Come As You Are.
E-mail Valle at: vmv04a@acu.edu
ArtsFriday Optimist
Page 4 BOX OFFICE stats Newly released movies and gross rates for Aug. 31 - Sept. 2. n Halloween (R): $26.5 Million n Superbad (R): $12.2 Million n Balls of Fury (R): $11.6 Million n The Bourne Ultimatum (PG-13): $10.1 Million n Rush Hour 3 (PG-13): $8.5 Million
Coming Soon Movies opening Friday: n 3:10 to Yuma, starring Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol. Infamous outlaw Ben Wade and his gang of thieves and murderers have taken over the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, war veteran Dan Evans volunteers to deliver him alive to the “3:10 to Yuma,” a train which will take him to trial. On the journey, they both earn each other’s respect, and the mission becomes violent and impossible. n The Brothers Solomon, starring Will Forte, Will Arnett, Chi McBride, Kristen Wilig. Two socially backward brothers have the misfortune of being home-schooled by their father in an Arctic outpost. The brothers, who are destined to be forever single, one day find out their father is on his deathbed, and his dying wish is to have grandchildren. The brothers are suddenly in romantic desperation and are on a search to find the girl of their dreams and the mother of their future children. n Shoot ‘Em Up, starring Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Belluci, Daniel Pilon. Mr. Smith, who has an unknown past, discovers an innocent woman delivering a baby in the middle of a gunfight. He goes to help the woman and in the attempt loses the woman and is left with the child. The men who were shooting were targeting the child, so Smith takes the child to be in the care of a prostitute named Dairy Queen. Smith plans to figure out why the men were after the child, and if he cannot figure it out, he will settle for leaving them all for dead.
Friday, September 7, 2007
N.Y. art: variety, topics engage viewer By Sara Snelson Arts Editor
The pieces of art that now dwell in The Shore Art Gallery give a feeling of spiritual peace and make viewers stare deep into them with wonderment of what they could possibly mean or stand for. Walking around the gallery and looking deeply into the pieces, I was challenged to look for the real, underlying meaning the artist wanted to convey to its audience. Some pieces explained themselves, and others were confusing to the eye. Now, I know art is meant to challenge the brain and make you think, but there is something about biblical and spiritual art that is even more challenging. It was like reading the Bible for the first time with no one there to explain anything to you. For some, this complex artwork might not sound appealing, but for others like myself, I find the brain-straining challenge rewarding. The artwork ranged from paintings, sculptures, photos and others various ways to express oneself. One painting that stood out depicted Matthew 19:24, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” In the
middle of the painting was do good are never put on reach the audience. One selves. They are there for a big camel, and all around there and praised. painting was of two tan- everyone to question the the camel were different Levine joked, “Why gerines that were shown artists’ thoughts in a spiritypes of rich men. The didn’t anyone ever put in different context: one tual and biblical way. The men varied from wearing Mother Theresa on the was beautiful and appeal- pieces portray wondermasks to being dressed in box and say, ‘Champion ing to the eye while the ment and truth to the huking’s clothes, and many of the Poor?’” other looked shriveled and man eye and brain. Don’t of the men were staring at Levine was clever in lost. Another painting was expect to go into the galthe camel. taking something well the same bird shown over lery and not feel anything I believe they were known from our gen- and over again depicting from the pieces—it won’t staring at the camel out eration and using it as a a sense of peace, solitude, happen. See what they of jealousy. This pic- spiritual example. comfort and joy to anyone have to offer and what you ture was very bright and There were many more who gazed at it. can offer yourself. evoked many questions pieces that caught my eye I would strongly encourwhile looking at it. and had meanings behind age everyone to go walk The artist of the paint- them that were carefully through the gallery and see ing, James Dishey, said, thought out in order to all of the pieces for themE-mail Snelson at: sas04b@acu.edu “Mostly I offer this painting to celebrate with you the glorious absurdity of our human predicament.” I found this statement to be entirely true when I went back and looked at what Dishey had created. All of the men in the picture were doing absurd things, which would indefinitely depict why the camel could pass through the eye of a needle faster than they could get into heaven. As I moved beyond Dishey’s painting, I came across a Wheaties box with Jesus’ picture on the front. This piece caught my eye because the artist, David E. Levine, used a modernday media object to portray Jesus as “A Champion.” Levine went on and talked about how society puts athletes and people in the limelight on the Todd Piersall, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER cover of the box portray“The Book of Forty Number Three” at the Shore Art Gallery’s new exhibit, “The Next Generation: ing them as champions, Contemporary Expressions of Faith.”= but people who actually
CAMPUS NEWS / FROM THE FRONT
Friday, September 7, 2007
Page 5
Fitness class offers inexpensive alternative to gym By Lauren Sutton Copy Editor
With a mission to improve the physical fitness of individuals in the Abilene community, certified fitness professionals Stephanie Fletcher and Holly Morris have taken a fresh, innovative approach in aiding others to pursue a healthier, more active lifestyle. The two entrepreneurs have begun a workout program, Forever Fit, but partici-
pants in their classes will not exercise on specialized equipment found in health clubs, nor will they pay high prices to receive one-on-one attention from their instructors. Rather, Morris and Fletcher have created a wellness program, which utilizes practical activities to improve personal heath and, though it is unassociated with ACU, takes place at Jacob’s Dream and costs $25 a month. The goal is to promote activity.
“Hopefully, this will get big enough to where people in the Abilene community are playing outside again… out of their homes and outside again,” Fletcher said. “We have an inactivity epidemic. If we can be active again, all of that will be worked out.” Forever Fit classes include Elegant Strength, which is a combination of Yoga and Pilates; Core Power, a class that focuses on strength and flexibility through the use of an
another deterrent to spraying, especially indoors. After spraying, additional issues are presented by the crickets’ decaying, odorous carcasses. In a few instances, the smell alone has been enough to drive faculty out of their offices until cleaning could be arranged, Nevill asserted, and as still more rainfall continues to drive crickets indoors, insects dying where they cannot be found or extricated unearths fresh concerns. “I can hear them in the walls,” said Jessica Williams, freshman undeclared major from Atlanta and Gardner resident. “They’re in the building, they’re in the walls, and that’s not really doing anything to me, but it’s going to make things smell eventually.” Williams and her roommate have been cleaning dead crickets, killing new arrivals and clogging cracks in the walls, ceiling and beside windows since they moved in almost three weeks ago. “A few would come in the room at a time,” Williams said as another rogue insect crept behind her desk. “We didn’t have a day without a cricket. There were at least three or four everyday, but it wasn’t a real issue. Once we clogged the crack where they were falling out of the ceiling, we didn’t really notice them that bad again until it rained.” Following last week’s rain showers, a new influx of bugs arrived in Williams’s room. With so many overrunning the area, the two girls could not seem to kill them fast enough. “I just wanted to get it fixed because this is my room,” Williams said. “I need to study. I need to sleep. I’ve had to sleep in one of my other friend’s room for three nights now because so many of them will come in. That kind of stinks. You’re just now getting to make this place your home, and then you don’t want to live here because there are crickets everywhere.” Williams and her roommate have e-mailed Physical Resources and talked to Gardner officials about the problem but so far have been left to their own devices for debugging their room. “We kill them, we trap them, we do whatever we can,”
Williams said. “We really need someone to come in here and help. We use Target bags to plug Nevill some of the cracks—we obviously don’t know what we’re supposed to do.” For students facing cricket issues, manager for the Registrar’s Office Jennifer Hines advised stuffing towels under doors and simply being prepared to kill them. Nevill also recommended glue traps, which would enable students to dispose of crickets effortlessly while still avoiding having them die within dorm walls. Taking a broader approach, biology professor Dr. (Qiang) John Xu, who has worked to develop methods of pest control in the past, proposed examining the environment in addition to purchasing safe chemicals for dorm use. Xu suggested the introduction of more natural predators of crickets in the area but stressed the simultaneous need for ecological balance. “We need to control crickets, but they are a creation of God,” Xu said. “They were created by God, and they also have their roles in the biological environment, so if you kill all the crickets, it will cause other problems. We do not want them to go everywhere like [they do] now, but we still need to maintain enough crickets because they play an important role in the ecosystem.” No one building on campus is more affected by the crickets than another, Nevill assured, and he emphasized Physical Resources’ desire to help students and faculty wherever possible. Despite the constant struggle crickets inspire to maintain a clean campus, employees of Physical Resources are to be applauded, according to Hines, who said work in the Registrar’s Office is occasionally disrupted by the bugs. “They’ve done a really good job of keeping on top of it, I think, when they can,” Hines said. “They’re the ones that come and vacuum [the crickets] for us, so they’ve been very helpful.”
E-mail Acuff at: optimist@acu.edu
ever Fit last summer and enjoys the practicality of the classes. “I really enjoyed the class because I learned things I could do at the house,” Shutt said. “I don’t have to go to the gym to get a workout.” In addition to exercise classes, nutritional makeovers and wellness coaching are elements of Forever Fit. These services include an evaluation of family diets as the instructors look through kitchen cabinets and make
suggestions for dietary changes. Also, a class is offered to educate individuals on how to improve their overall health. “They don’t just train you with workouts,” Shutt said. “It’s a personal experience as well. Here you can ask questions, take care of yourself and learn new things from people who really care about you.”
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
Blood Brother
Crickets: Rain drives insects out in droves Continued from page 1
exercise ball; Camp Cardio, a fast-paced workout designed to produce total-body results; and Kid Power, a summer program that promotes aerobic and strength training for children ages three and up. “We’re trying to teach kids at an early age to enjoy moving,” Fletcher said. “By being fit as a parent, you are automatically being a good example.” Ellen Shutt, graduate student in the department of sciences and communication disorders, joined For-
matt newhouser STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Phil Dosa, sophomore communication major from Newark, Del. participates in the blood drive on Wednesday.
Tenure: Student comments considered in process Continued from page 1 is comprised of five members, including Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university. VanRheenen told the Optimist last year that the application process is a learning process for the ap-
plicants, which usually begins as soon as they begin working for the university. “Students provide ratings and comments, and those comments are not ignored and can supplement an application for tenure,” Wherry said. These comments are submitted in
the portfolio that the professors send to their colleagues and the tenure promotions committee. Students are not the only people who have say in how the professor ranks. Dr. Wherry said his psychology colleagues rate him before anyone else.
Receiving tenure does provide job security, and for many professors, promotions and tenure is a professional goal they want to achieve.
E-mail Schmidt at: optimist@acu.edu
Dentist: Program seeks equipment, volunteers Continued from page 1 the students of the dental assistance school. Dental equipment donations, such as stools, forceps and hand tools, are needed to further the preparation of the Center as well. Tindol also is looking
for dentists and hygienists to sponsor a student of the dental assistance school. The sponsor will be responsible for mentoring the student and paying $300 a month for nine months as part of a scholarship fund. The $300 will handle the living and school expenses,
Tindol said. “We’re moving forward in dentistry,” Philpott said. “And we want to take that into Honduras.” For more information, contact Tindol or Philpott at (325) 675-6003. The Mission Lazarus Web site also has more information
concerning the Choluteca Community Center and Tindol’s program. “This is my dream,” Tindol said. “And I got all these people in on it.”
E-mail Jimenez at: optimist@acu.edu
SHADES: Members form family to step, support Continued from page 1 week. However, practice and performing are not the only things SHADES does. “Stepping is the main thing that we do, but we also reach out to the community,” said D. Jay Wells, senior missions major from Atlanta. “We try to make ourselves available to any requests for service within
the community. For example, last year we did a show for kids at an elementary school.” For Wells and Carter, SHADES has become something more than just a group of students who perform together. “The performing aspect and energy of SHADES is a lot of fun, but I love it because it’s like a family,” said Wells.
“The passion is great, and it gives us an opportunity to dance and provide community service. I love the fact that it brings all different
kinds of people together,” said Carter. “It’s almost like a support group.” E-mail Ballard at: optimist@acu.edu
ViewsFriday Optimist
Page 6
Friday, September 7, 2007
Chapel changes offer new optimism
The problem:
The administration is changing Chapel and students continue to complain about the changes.
The Optimist gives the administration a thumbs-up for its efforts to listen to the students and Chapel surveys. Inattentive students may not know about the new changes, but Tuesday and Thursday Chapels will offer a variety of small-group chapels to meet diverse needs and spiritual challenges. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Chapel will still meet in Moody Coliseum.
Our view:
The Optimist thinks even though students may still be unhappy, they need to give the new changes a chance.
The solution:
Students should realize the administration is changing Chapel for them and cut the constant criticism.
Even ing to follow the The administration is trying to change Chapel for though rules and policies the students, so students need to drop complaints the adset forth by the and criticism. minisadministration. tration Students may implehave the right mented changes after lis- their arrival on campus that to complain about Chapel, tening, students continue to the university requires daily but that doesn’t mean they gripe about Chapel. Chapel attendance. should abuse that right and The administration is tryWhy agree to attend ACU whine incessantly about eving to change Chapel for the if Chapel bothers you? ACU ery campus-related bother. students, so students need to is a Christian, private uniAttending Chapel, which drop complaints and criticism. versity, and agreeing to lasts only 30 minutes, may Students knew before come here means consent- seem like torture, but at
Alex York
Lebensgefahr
New fluoride findings call for change Earlier this year, the American Dental Association admitted that fluoride actually is harmful to infants under the age of one. Can it be that our government is finally startWork In ing to recognize its Progress fallacy in alRachel lowing harmDavis ful chemicals to be used to treat our drinking water? Fluoride may be effective in preventing cavities, but only when it is used as a topical application. Most of the current evidence for fluoride’s health benefits comes from several decades ago when technology was nowhere near what it is today. For more than 50 years, fluoride has been used to treat U.S. water. But surprisingly, studies show there is no difference in tooth decay rates in countries that use fluoridated water compared with those that don’t. Ingestion of fluoride does
Our country continues to slowly poison its citizens by allowing the continued use of fluoride.
nothing but harm us. Fluoride is used in rat poison, and over 90 percent of the fluoride used in U.S. water systems comes from fertilizer, which may contain traces of lead, mercury and arsenic. On the scale of toxicity, fluorides fall in between lead and arsenic, two highly harmful substances. Ninety percent of the fluoride added to drinking water is hydrofluoric acid, a compound of fluorine that is a chemical byproduct of aluminum, steel and nuclear weapon manufacturing. Studies have shown that fluoride accumulates in bones, making them more brittle and thus more easily fractured. It also confuses the immune system and causes it to attack the body tissues, which can increase growth rate of tumors in people prone to cancer. Fluoride is also linked to Alzheimer’s, other forms of memory loss and gastroin-
testinal problems. Fluoride is also known to cause cell mutation, and 50 percent of ingested fluoride accumulates in your bones. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 32 percent of American children have some level of dental fluorosis, characterized by mottling and pitting of the teeth. And in 1993, the National Research Council found that 84 percent of the population had dental fluorosis in areas where fluoride in the water exceeded 3.7 parts per million. So if your water company adds 3.7 drops of fluoride in every 13 gallons of water, you have an 84 percent chance of developing dental fluorosis. A 1991 study by the U.S. Public Health Service discovered a link between fluoride exposure and bone cancer in boys. Several European countries, including Belgium, France and Ireland, banned the use of fluoride after recognizing these dangers. Only
2 percent of Western Europe drinks fluoridated water compared to over 60 percent of the U.S. population. Our country continues to slowly poison its citizens by allowing the continued use of fluoride and even gives it to children as “nursery water,” despite claims from its own Environmental Protection Agency’s union, who has taken a strong stand against fluoride. So what can you do to prevent the ingestion of this harmful chemical? Your local health food store should sell fluoride-free toothpaste, and of course, living in the residence halls presents a problem for using a reverse osmosis water-filtering system. Cooking and digestion don’t remove fluoride, so that’s not a safe way to get rid of it. Buying spring water is another way to eliminate fluoride from your system, but it can get expensive. You can also write your local representative and get this matter before Congress.
E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
least in this country, we enjoy the right to assemble and worship God. Quit taking our freedoms for granted and appreciate how much this country and university blesses us.
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Empathizing with a murderer Seung Hui Cho’s Korean im- the rift between their troubled migrant parents didn’t know son and themselves. how to help their son. While I read all these facts A c c o r d - in the Washington Post article, ing to the “Killer’s Parents describe atWashington tempts over the years to help Post, the col- isolated son,” I couldn’t help lege student but empathize with Cho. who killed 32 Although what he did can students and never be justified, I know what himself on it’s like to not be able to have the Virginia a parent that can completely Opinion Tech campus understand me. on April 16 My mother, who I love more Shouter led a trou- than anyone in the world, Daniel bled life, and is also a Korean immigrant. Johnson the violent And though she has lived in tragedy was this country for more than the culmination of a lifetime 20 years, working three jobs of isolation and loneliness. to support me and my sister, Despite numerous attempts to growing up, many of the feelhelp their son, the Chos weren’t ings and conversations we had able to get through to him. during my childhood were lost Hyang Im Cho and her in translation. husband Sung Tae Cho spoke I remember times as a child before an investigative panel when I would lie out of conorganized venience by Virbecause I Now I know that my ginia Gov. didn’t want Timothy to explain relationship with my M. Kaine, mother is what shaped me or translate and in a something into the adult I am today. report refor my cently remother. So leased, the instead of Chos described their son’s telling the real reason I descent into a life of mad- was late for dinner, I would ness and hate. tell a lie that she understood; I Cho’s descent began when lied out of laziness. he moved to the United States I used to resent having in 1992. The Chos moved to a mother who didn’t speak the country for the education perfect English and was of their children, and Seung frustrated with not being immediately became introvert- able to completely commued. He was taunted at school nicate how I felt. for his Asian accent but never But now I know that my retalked about his feelings or the lationship with my mother is thoughts in his head. what shaped me into the adult Cho’s seclusion got worse I am today. as he aged, so much so that Unlike Cho, I didn’t become his parents ignored the Asian a recluse and blame the world cultural taboo of admitting for my problems. Instead, I mental illness and sought used them as fuel—reasons to help from an art therapist strive for success. and psychiatrist. But nothing Whenever I spend a late seemed to help. night writing or question why While in therapy, Cho would I stress over grades as much as create houses without win- I do, I remember the struggles dows and doors, and as he got I had as a child and the goals I older, the houses turned into have for my future. dark and strange caves and I have accepted my heritage tunnels, the Post reported. Cho and love my mother and am expressed a desire to “repeat thankful for my childhood. Columbine” and eventually Without it, I would not be stopped receiving therapy. the crazy half-Korean journalAll the while, his parents ism major I am today. struggled to understand him, partially because of the lanE-mail Johnson at: guage barrier and because of djj04a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
In Your Words What do you think about the new Campus Conversations for Tuesday’s Chapel? It sounds good, but I think people might get confused.
Rachel Pierce
Sophomore family studies major from Chicago.
Right now I’m a little confused about it. I don’t know much about it, being a freshman and all.
I think they’ll be interesting; it’s something different.
I think it’s a good change from the routine of everyday chapel.
Andrew Kinnaman
Chentel Bogany
Stephanie Suarez
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal
attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu
Senior psychology major from Katy
Junior business major from Missouri City
Freshman computer science major from Abilene.
Editorial and Management Board Daniel Johnson
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Online: www.acuoptimist.com
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Page 7
SPORTS JUMPS
Golf team begins season at West Texas Charles Coody By Nathan MacDonald Sports Writer
The ACU golf team went to the NCAA Division II National Championship in Allendale, Mich., this summer and rose from the one of the lowest ranked teams at the tournament to finishing eighth overall. This year, the Wildcats are ready for more. Head coach Mike Campbell said he was happy with how the golf team’s season turned out last year, and ACU will open its 2007-08
Golf season at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate at Diamondback golf course in Abilene. “All season your focused on winning the Campbell National Championship, but looking back, we finished eighth, and we were one of the
top 10 teams in the nation so we’re pretty pleased,” Campbell said. Last year, the golf team had the talent to make another appearance at the national level again this year. “We have good depth,” Campbell said. “We have six or seven players who could take one of the top five spots.” With three seniors and three juniors returning this season, Campbell said he believes the team’s experience is its advantage. “I like our experience,”
By Michael Freeman Assistant Sports Editor
During the football season, many Abilenians dress themselves in shades of Abilene High gold and black or Cooper blue and red but rarely in ACU purple and white. However, that may soon change. ACU sports recently joined the ranks of high school football when it comes to local publicity, thanks to last Saturday’s introduction of “The Chris Thomsen Show,” a weekly television program that spotlights ACU football on KRBC-TV. KRBC-TV, the NBC affiliate for the Abilene-Sweetwater area, teamed with ACU about two weeks ago to produce the half-hour show, which will be hosted by KRBC-TV sports anchor Cayden McFarland. ACU head football coach Chris Thomsen will discuss previous and upcoming games with McFarland on the show. “It’ll be good,” Thomsen said. “Anytime you can get
Continued from page 8
E-mail Penfield at: optimist@acu.edu
Mock said. “And just put the best team out there you can every time you step out there on the court.” The Wildcats will be back on the court Saturday as they
Thomsen said one of the main reasons UCO was able to score 27 points on the Wildcats was a breakdown in the secondary
E-mail MacDonald at: optimist@acu.edu
any kind of exposure, that’s good for recruiting and crowd support.” The show d e b u t e d Saturday Thomsen and will be broadcast every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Football will not be the only sport covered. The program will also showcase ACU women’s soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country during selected weeks, said Jared Mosley, director of athletics. “We chose to run it on Saturdays at the time we did because most everybody at home is tuned into the three major networks, trying to find a college football game,” Mosley said. “We’re just looking to raise awareness and let people know the good things that are happening.” KRBC-TV in Abilene and KSAN-TV in San Angelo will carry the show throughout the fall. Next spring, the show
will be called the “Wildcat Sports Report” and will be broadcast at 10:30 p.m. the first Sunday of every month from January to June. “Hopefully, it’ll encourage more community support and involvement,” Mosley said. “We hope that families will consider us an option as far as filling their time on the weekends.” The purpose of the show is to raise awareness about ACU sports programs, especially the football program and to prepare fans for upcoming games. Also, the show will feature the accomplishments of ACU student-athletes, both on and off the field. “While it’s going to cover a lot of athletic-related material, our hope is that throughout the semester we’ll be able to highlight some other things that our student-athletes are achieving in the classroom and in the community,” Mosley said.
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
Continued from page 8
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Brant Hamilton, freshman biology major from Muleshoe, hauls in a catch while being tightly defended by Josiah Moneyhon, freshman undeclared major from San Marcos, during a flag football game on Aug. 23
host Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. Fort Hays State has a record of 5-4. After that match, ACU will face regional opponent, Texas-Permian Basin at 5 p.m. Texas-Permian Basin owns a 3-5 record this season, however one of those wins came
in a five-game match over No. 20 Rockhurst on Aug. 25. “Overall, we really look forward to defending our home court,” Mock said.
E-mail Johnson at: optimist@acu.edu
Challenge: Secondary play vital for win Continued from page 8
LSC. In addition to ACU, three of the teams are nationally ranked: No. 15 Central Oklahoma, No. 16 St. Edwards and No. 17 Cameron. While Campbell is excited about the season and going back to the nationals, he said he is taking it one step at a time. “Our ultimate goal is to get to nationals, but it’s a long ways away so we know we have a lot of work ahead of us but we are ready to start the journey,” Campbell said.
Ranked: ACU unbeaten at home
Classic: Wildcats defend home court Continued from page 8
here at ACU, and he has a lot to contribute to this team.” According to the Golf World/NIKE Golf Coaches Poll pre-season rankings, the Wildcats are ranked No. 11 in the nation, which makes the top ranked team in the Lone Star Conference. The Wildcats won the Charles Cooley tournament last year, and ACU golfer Curtis Harris won the top individual spot. Eighteen teams will compete at this tournament, mostly schools from the Heartland Conference and the
ACU sports featured on TV
Flag: GSP returning flag men’s champs championship this year, but Kittley said he sees no reason to crown GSP as the favorite to win yet. “I don’t have a favorite until I can watch the teams for a game or two,” Kittley said. “Sub-T will be really tough this year. They have a lot of good athletes in the group I’ve seen and Galaxy and GSP are always very strong.” On the women’s side Second Wind, a team made up of ACU faculty and coaches is the returning champions. Kittley said that he expects 20-25 women’s teams to participate in the women’s league. Whoever the favorite teams may be, Harris said he is excited about the competition. “You live in Texas and Texas is the biggest football state in the country,” Harris said. “Everyone can’t play tackle and flag football’s the next best thing. Everyone really enjoys it. You come out and play football, and people watch you and make noise, and your friends are playing on the other team and you want to be competitive. All that together really makes flag football the best sport we have here.”
Campbell said. “This is the first time we’ve had this kind of senior leadership since I’ve been coaching here at ACU.” ACU added four new freshmen to the roster this year: Chris Hendrickson from Kerrville, Jimmie Jackson from Lago Vista, Jeff Warr from Abilene and Charles Levitte from Couchey, France. While Campbell was excited about the new additions, he said he was especially excited about Charles Levitte. “I’m excited about his future
and, against Texas State, ACU will have to play without starting defensive back Bobby Tatum. Tatum injured his shoulder in the UCO game and will be out for 4-6 weeks.
ACU and Texas State will play at 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on KYYW 1470 AM.
E-mail Johnson at: optimist@acu.edu
her second goal of the match after putting away a pass from Reese. And Womack scored her third and final goal off another assist from Reese later on in the match. Womack recognizes her team is beginning to connect as a whole during the games. “We’ve only been playing for a month, and it’s starting to show on the field,” Womack said. “The more we play, the more we’re gonna know where we are on the field.” Even though ACU obtained another victory, head coach Casey Wilson acknowledges his team’s need for numerous improvements. “I just think we need to make better passes and better decisions,” Wilson said. “They just need to continue to work on finishing their shots and work on better possession for Friday’s game.” Missouri Southern holds a clean record of 3-0 and are tied with Saint Leo University at No. 19 in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Midfielders Sadie Barton and Katie Miller fight for the ball off a goal kick during the second half of Wednesday’s game at McMurry. The 4-1 ACU soccer team will play two games at home this weekend. of America poll. Pertuit realizes his team is up against an elite soccer team, and he said this game will analyze where the Wildcats stand against a high quality soccer program. ACU will host the Mis-
souri Southern Lions at 5 p.m. on Friday. ACU will also play at home against Ouachita Baptist University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
E-mail Johnson at: optimist@acu.edu
Friday, September 7, 2007
ScoreBoard Standings Football
Team
Tarleton St. MSU ENMU WTAMU ACU Angelo St. TAMU-K
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Volleyball
Team
WTAMU TAMU-K Tarleton St. ACU ENMU Angelo St.
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 Overall 6-3 4-3 4-3 2-5 2-7 1-6
SportsFriday Optimist
Texas State offers challenge for 0-1 Wildcats By Daniel Johnson Sports Editor
The nationally ranked ACU football team was challenged by and lost to the unranked University of Central Oklahoma in its season opener. But in its second game of the season, the Wildcats will face a challenge that no modern Lone Star Conference team has been able to overcome: NCAA Football Championship Subdivision opponent Texas State University. Texas State is undefeated against the lower division LSC teams, and ACU will be
Football the eighth LSC team the Bobcats play since 1999. “As a whole, we see it as a challenge,” said senior wide Badon receiver Jerale Badon. “And we want to meet that challenge.” ACU will play Texas State in San Marcos on Saturday, and if the Wildcats upset the Bobcats, they will be the first Lone Star Conference team to ever beat Texas
State, a feat Badon said isn’t impossible if the Wildcats play up to its potential. “A win’s a win,” Badon said. “We know it’s a big school, but it will bring us back to where we need to be if we play focused and if we play ACU football.” ACU is coming off of a 27-17 season opening loss to UCO in a game that was plagued by uncharacteristic Wildcat penalties and turnovers. ACU committed 10 penalties and turned the ball over three times. ACU’s national ranking dropped from No. 11 to No. 24 because of the loss, but
Women’s Soccer
Team
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 East Central 0-0 ENMU 0-0 TAMU-C 0-0 TX Woman’s 0-0 Ne. St. 0-0 SW Okla. 0-0 Angelo St. MSU ACU WTAMU Central Okla.
Page 8
despite the early loss and mistakes, head coach Chris Thomsen said he looks at the Texas State game as an opportunity for his team to continue to improve. “I’m glad we’re playing another good team to find out what we got,” Thomsen said. The Bobcats opened its season by upsetting the No. 15 team in the Football Championship Subdivision— formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA—Cal Poly University. Texas State beat the Cal Poly Mustangs 38-35 to open its season at 1-0. See
CHALLENGE page 7
ACU vs. DI-AA teams ACU is 5-14 against Division I-AA teams since 1980. The last time ACU played a team from Division IAA, now the Football Championship Subdivision, was in 1999. n (1999) ACU 30, Prairie View A&M 14 n (1996) Stephen F. Austin 51, ACU 30 n (1995) Northern Arizona 62, ACU 0 n (1995) Prairie View A&M 35, ACU 0 n (1994) North Texas 48, ACU 0 n (1993) North Texas 33, ACU 13 n (1992) North Texas 41, ACU 0 n (1991) North Texas 24, ACU 0
Flag football launches fall intramural season
Overall 2-0-1 2-0-1 4-1 3-1 2-1-1 2-1-2 2-2 1-1 2-3 0-2-1 0-4
By Blake Penfield Sports Writer
Intramural flag football season is about to begin at ACU, and 50-60 men’s and women’s teams will finally get their chance to duke it out at Larry “Satch” Sanders intramural fields for the coveted championships. Both Rec league and Champ league teams will be playing three days a week and the first games will start Monday. Games will be played at the start of every hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the first week and for the rest of the season games will start at 5 p.m. and be played as late as 11 p.m. “I can’t wait for the games to start because it’s always fun,” said Brooks Norman, junior English major from Dallas and member of Galaxy. “Especially with all the Novas around—it makes it a lot more fun.” Last year a new rule was added that permitted players to jump with the ball, this year intramural director Danny Kittley said there are no new additions to the rule book. The men of Gamma Sigma Phi were last year’s men’s Champ league champions with a record of 8-1, and they believe they are favored to win it again.
Scores Wednesday WOMEN’S SOCCER ACU 5, McMurry 0
Upcoming Saturday VOLLEYBALL ACU vs. Fort Hays State (ACU Volleyball Classic), 1 p.m. ACU vs. University of TexasPermian Basin (ACU Volleyball Classic), 5 p.m.
FOOTBALL ACU at Texas State, 6 p.m.
Sunday WOMEN’S SOCCER ACU vs. Ouachita Baptist, 1 p.m. n Home games listed in italics
Briefs
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Carson Penypacker, freshman exercise science major from McKinney, is chased down by Andrew Kinnaman, freshman computer science major from Abilene, during a flag football game Aug. 23.
Intramurals “Last year, we had a great team,” said GSP quarterback Hutton Harris, senior journalism major from Sulpher Springs. “We had a lot of teamwork in every category. We didn’t have a selfish team last year; that’s why we won,” With two new players to its team and only one player lost from last year’s team, GSP could be the favorites for the championship this year, but See
FLAG page 7
Tennis teams begin season at home in ACU Wal-Mart Open n Head coach Hutton Jones and his Wildcat tennis teams will take to the court at noon this Friday and Saturday at the ACU WalMart Open. The two-day tournament will be host to eight different teams Jones at the home courts of ACU, McMurry University and Hardin-Simmons University.
On the Web www.acuoptimist.com
See a video on the ACU men’s cross country team’s first meet, the ACU Cross Country Classic.
KAtie Gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior middle blocker Lauren Leone spikes a ball during practice in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday. Leone and the rest of the Wildcats will play their first home match of the season against Pittsburgh State on Friday.
Wildcats host ACU Classic By Michael Freeman
Intramural Round-up Upcoming n The intramural schedule seen on the Optimist Scoreboard is not the final schedule and is subject to change. Any lastminute changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum.
Fall sports FLAG FOOTBALL Starts: Monday, Sept. 10 Sign-up Deadline: Past Cost: $275 per team
SOFTBALL Starts: Monday, Nov. 5 Sign-up Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 1 Cost: $150 per team
WATERBALL Starts: Friday, Nov. 30 Sign-up Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 29 Cost: $100 per team
Assistant Sports Editor
After picking up its first wins of the season last weekend, the Wildcats return home to take on three Division II teams in the ACU Volleyball Classic. The women’s volleyball team will play Pittsburg State, the No. 18 team in the nation, Friday in Moody Coliseum. On Saturday, the Wildcats will try to improve its 2-5 record as they go up against Fort Hays State and Texas-Permian Basin. The Wildcats’ match on Friday will be its first home match of the season. “I’m really excited to be at home,” said senior libero Liz Snoddy. “I’m hoping we have a good home crowd to support us.” ACU will host the Pittsburg State Gorillas on Friday at 7 p.m. The Gorillas own an impressive 8-1 re-
Volleyball cord with victories over two other top 25 teams. Already this season, Pittsburg State has Snoddy beaten No. 16 Nebraska Omaha and No. 15 West Texas A&M, both by the count of three games to none. The Gorillas’ only loss came Saturday against No. 5 Florida Southern; they lost 30-27, 30-28, 30-20, 31-29. Head coach Kellen Mock said she expects Pittsburg State to draw a tough match. “Against Pittsburg State, I think we’re going to have to play at the top of our game,” Mock said. “I think they’re a beatable team. They’re a much taller team than what we’ve been having to deal
with lately. I think that’s going to bring its own particular challenges.” One similarity between Pittsburg State and ACU is that both teams have played the Incarnate Word Cardinals this season. On Aug. 24, the Gorillas defeated Incarnate Word 3021, 30-21, 30-20. And last Friday, ACU beat the Cardinals in four games, 30-27, 30-25, 30-15, 30-27 during the Wildcats’ stint at the Alamo City Invitational in San Antonio. But the fact that both squads have victories over Incarnate Word is where the similarities end. Pittsburg State and ACU have differing styles of play, and the Wildcats will have to adjust, Mock said. “You have to approach each game as it comes,” Mock said. “And just put See
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brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Sophomore midfielder Jordan Reese dribbles down the sideline during the second half of ACU’s 5-0 victory against McMurry University on Wednesday.
ACU to face nationally ranked team at home By Christina Johnson
Soccer
Sports Writer
The ACU women’s soccer team will take on one of its biggest opponents Friday: Missouri Southern University. The Missouri Southern Lions are ACU’s first nationally ranked opponent and should be the Wildcats’ toughest test so far in its inaugural season. “It will be our biggest test of the season,” Pertuit said. ACU extended its record to 4-1 after beating Division III opponent McMurry University 5-0 on Wednesday. ACU outshot McMurry 33-5, and three Wildcats scored at least one goal during the game. “Our defense is strong again,” said assistant coach
Thomas Pertuit. “We got a nice shot out.” Junior midfielder Jackie Gentile continued to set the standard by scoring the first goal 20 minutes into the game with the assist from freshman forward Lyndsey Womack. Womack then scored her own goal with an assist from sophomore midfielder Jordan Reese. To end the half, sophomore forward Denise Morgan put away a corner kick from freshman midfielder Sadie Barton to put the Wildcats up 3-0. In the first minute of the second half, Womack added See
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