WEDNESDAY November 14, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 22 1 sections, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
OPTIMIST THE
What is homework compared to racial genocide?
Cross country standout Serge Gasore’s past makes competition more like a walk in the park, page 5
Mind your manners
SIFE’s etiquette dinner offers a look at business fashion, meal etiquette, page 4
Homeward bound
ACU’s 42-41comeback win Saturday gives Wildcats a home playoff game, page 8
Groups make meal possible for some By Sondra Rodriguez Student Reporter
The Service Action Leadership Team (SALT) and the Volunteer Service Learning Center are preparing for the annual Thanksgiving Meal Project, an event where students and faculty donate money and time to provide families in Abilene with a Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving meals are provided by the food bank of Abilene, collected on campus and distributed to families in need. Taylor Elementary identifies these families. “We ask them to identify families that they know are in need of meals,” said Nancy Coburn, director of Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. “Every year, they give us a list of families who have either
asked for help, or that they know need help. Funds are distributed accordingly, and any extra meals are sent to “211- A Call For Help. If we get enough money for 70 meals, and they only give us 50 names, we’ll call 211 and tell them we’ve got 20 more. We’ll get the addresses and deliver those as well,” Coburn said. Meals cost $55 and are made to feed a family of five to eight.
“Even if it’s a small family, they’ll have enough food to get them through the week,” she said. Once the meals are retrieved from the food bank, they are delivered to the families. This is done by student volunteers on the Monday of Thanksgiving week. See
MEALS page 3
Candid conversation
todd piersall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mike Yankoski shares his experiences as a homeless man at Monday’s final Faith Alive Chapel forum.
Chapel forum speaker shares lessons learned on the street By Kelsi Peace Managing Editor
katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
State Representative Susan King speaks at an open-community forum Tuesday night at Texas Tech University at Abilene.
Rep. King hears constituent concerns at forum By Daniel Johnson Sports Editor
Texas highway construction, public education and whatever else was on a handful of constituents’ minds were the main topics discussed at a local forum conducted by State Representative Susan King on Tuesday. The Abilene Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which King said was meant to be informal. The public forum — which is one of many that King appeared at throughout her first year in office — was to learn about constituents’ problems and concerns now, and not just be a politician who reacts
to problems when it was too late. “To get influence and have access to an elective official prior to something blowing up, to me…is important,” King said. “And quite frankly when I was growing up in Houston, I couldn’t tell you who my state representative was…but it is important to know who they are because they are a direct access to you and the state government.” And in the candid environment at Texas Tech University at Abilene site on 302 Pine St., more than 20 attendants were given a public forum to discuss whatever issue was on their minds. King admitted she was not an expert on some of the subjects
discussed but was eager to hear where her constituents stood on issues she may be able to do something about. A bulk of the discussion was about the Texas Department of Transportation and the Trans Texas Corridor, a new transportation network that is still in the planning and early construction stages. A large part of the conversation moved onto public education and King, a former Abilene school board member, said she was fighting for the area’s list of schools. “Education is always a concern for everybody because that is the basis, I believe, of our democracy and how we will proceed,” King said.
Larry Sanders, executive director of the Abilene Association of Independent Business Owners and senior sponsor of men’s social club Frater Sodalis, said he was impressed with King’s openness. “This is a very real risk area for an elected official, and events of this type are very rare,” Sanders said. “Representative King is showing an access that politicians wouldn’t usually be open to.” King said she plans to continue local forums like Tuesday’s every other month, with the next forum planned for January.
Mike Yankoski’s desire to understand homelessness led him to take action — not in a soup kitchen, but on the streets of Denver, Washington, D.C., Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Phoenix. A sermon about living compassionately rather than learning about compassion spurred Yankoski — who was in college at the time — to give everything up and hit the streets with his friend, Sam. After living as a homeless man while in college, Yankoski returned to write “Under the Bridge,” a memoir of the experience and challenged Christians across the nation to take action. “If you and I as followers of Christ are willing to be free with our money and available with our time, imagine what God can do with us,” Yankoski challenged students at Monday’s final Faith Alive Chapel forum. “It’s easier to pray someone’s needs are met than to actually meet those needs.” After his time on the streets, Yankoski knows about the needs of the homeless. He told students about his experiences in churches but said some of the greatest compassion he encountered came from unexpected sources: children and the homeless. Yankoski recalled an evening spent panhandling in Georgetown, a wealthy area near Washington, D.C., where four hours of stringent panhandling saw only $1.18. A group of young boys approached Yankoski and his friend, Sam, asking for money to purchase baseball uniforms for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. When Yankoski offered his $1.18, one boy recognized his need, and instead tossed $1.25 to Yankoski, saying, “Don’t worry about it man — I got you covered.” In Oregon, a fellow homeless
See
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
FORUM page 3
New text alert system gives immediate, important information By Kelsi Peace Managing Editor
The university launched its new text message alert system, ACU ALERT, Wednesday morning, aiming to further pursue a commitment to safety. “It is amazing how fast of a response you get with this system,” said Lynne Bruton, Campus Emergency Response Team member. The university purchased the system in October, and
since the purchase, there has been pre-testing and planning to encourage students, faculty and staff to register for the system. ACU ALERT, a product of OMNIALERT’s e2Campus text message alert system, will send text messages for emergency or urgent situations — but users must register themselves annually. “It makes sense for everyone to want to be a part of this system when it could potentially save your life,” said
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
ACU Police Chief venues. Bruton Jimmy Ellison. said the registraRegistration tion process will opened at 8 a.m. require users to Wednesday mornhave their cell ing, and any memphone available ber of the ACU and to enter their community can user ID. The sysregister through tem works for all the ACU homepcarriers, and trouCourtesy oF CREATIVE age, in a permaSERVICES bleshooting must nent box at myA- The ACU ALERT text be directed to the CU and through messaging system logo. user’s carrier or the ACU Police e2Campus. Department Web site, as The response team opted well as through additional for a system that would uti-
lize e-mail and text messages — the fasted methods to reach a community of people who admittedly always have a cell phone with them. And the immediacy of the system offers a solution “when seconds count,” as the slogan says. Proponents of the system cited the Virginia Tech shootings and last winter’s campus closure due to severe weather as instances when urgency is vital. “Sometimes we just don’t have the luxury of time,” said
Abilene Christian University
Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president of student life. Thompson said the system will be required for Campus Life staff — including residence assistants and residence directors, and ACU ALERT will be incorporated into emergency planning. “It’s not going to be used and abused for announcements,” Thompson said, “I think it’s a must-do.”
See
TEXT page 3
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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Calendar & Events
Wednesday
7 p.m. The Call will take place in Brown Library Auditorium.
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Thursday
9 a.m. Dr. Paul Pinckley of Pepperdine University will be in the Campus Center to talk to students about the following graduate business programs: MBA, International MBA, M.S. in Applied Finance and M.S. in Global Business. Students may also attend his presentation in the Campus Center Living Room at noon.
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Friday
Last day to withdraw from a class 8 p.m. IM Ethnos, the annual student-produced culture show hosted by the International Students Association, will take place in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets are on sale for $5 this week in the Campus Center and can also be purchased at the door.
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Saturday
8 p.m. IM Ethnos, the annual student-produced culture show hosted by the International Students Association, will take place in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets are on sale for $5 this week in the Campus Center and can also be purchased at the door.
8 p.m. Wouk, Alex Howard, Play Heaven and The Rockin Extensions will play at Crossroads, a new venue in Abilene located at 4216 N. 1st St. The show will cost $5 at the door.
Announcements The last weekend campaign of the semester will take place this weekend. Students will travel to Oklahoma City to help pack and hand out Thanksgiving dinners for those in need. For more information or to sign up, e-mail mem04d@acu. edu or visit the weekend campaign table in the Campus Center by Thursday after Chapel. Campaign participants will meet at 3 p.m. on Friday and plan to be back in Abilene by 3 p.m. on Sunday. Transportation and housing costs are covered. The only expenses will include purchasing a few meals during the weekend. Thanksgiving holidays will begin at 8 a.m. on Nov. 21, rather than on Nov. 20 as the ACU student planner says. This means all Tuesday classes, including evening classes, will meet that day. Spend the summer in New York.
Work at Camp Shiloh, a Christian summer camp where children from New York City’s toughest neighborhoods enjoy games, camp-outs and activities that enrich their lives socially and spiritually. Camp Shiloh is now accepting applications for its summer 2008 staff. For more information or to download an application, visit www.shilohnyc.org or e-mail camp@shilohnyc.org. WorldWide Witness is accepting applications for summer internships and two year apprenticeships. New locations for ministry include Cologne, Germany; Maiduguri, Nigeria; and Morelia, Mexico. More than 50 locations are available worldwide. Those wanting to fund raise during Christmas break must submit an application before Saturday. For more information, visit www.worldwidewitness.org or contact witness@bible.acu.edu.
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 Police Tip of the Week ACU alert: when seconds count. Enroll in the new ACU emergency notification system today at www.acu.edu/acualert. Report all suspicious activity to the ACU Police Department at (325) 674-2305.
Police Log Edited for space
Volunteer Opportunities Provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Collect donations and turn them into the Volunteer Service-Learning Center by Wednesday. Meals will be delivered Monday. Love and Care Ministries, in partnership with Arrow Ford, will hold its annual Mission Thanksgiving on Friday. Volunteers are needed from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to unload and load donations at the Arrow Ford dealership. Volunteers are also needed from 8 a.m.-noon on
Credited Chapels remaining:
54 17
Saturday to help unload trailers at Love and Care Ministries. For more information, contact Aubi Martinez at (325) 692-9500, ext. 239. The Salvation Army and the Veterans Administration need help with Thanksgiving lunches on Nov. 22. Help is needed at the Salvation Army from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The Veterans Administration needs help at the Abilene Civic Center from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Volunteers for both events will assist with setting up, serving lunch and cleaning up.
Mon., Nov. 5, 2007 10:30 a.m. Report of suspicious subject near Elmer Gray Stadium, checked okay 2:10 p.m. Checked 400 College for possible burglary, all okay, door left open Tues., Nov. 6, 2007 2:12 a.m. Medical emergency at Gardner Hall, student fell from second floor window, transported to Hendrick Hospital 12:25 p.m. Vehicle accident at Gardner Lot, no report, log entry only 2:15 p.m. Theft at Teague Special Event Center
Corrections
Wed., Nov. 7, 2007 1:53 a.m. Loud party at 1900 Cedar Crest, contacted resident
Kimberly Prather wrote the article ‘Math club aims to make math fun, serves local kids,’ which ran in the Optimist Friday, not Sondra Rodriguez as the byline said. In the story ‘Philharmonic orchestrates new show,’ which ran in the Optimist Friday, the price of both performances was listed as $20 for adults and $10 for children and students. That price is only good for the matinee. Prices range from $10-$35 for the evening performances.
Thurs., Nov. 8, 2007 9 p.m. Assisted Abilene PD with intoxicated subject at Sanders Intramural Fields, subject was transported to Hendrick Medical Center
9:50 p.m. Report of suspicious subject at 600 College, subject was gone upon arrival Fri., Nov. 9, 2007 9:45 a.m. Theft at Gibson Health and P.E. Center 9:34 p.m. Student requesting drive by in reference to male subject knocking on doors at Hillcrest Apartments 11:46 p.m. Report of loud music at 600 EN 23rd, contacted resident, he did comply Sat., Nov. 10, 2007 9:47 a.m. Parking violation at 600 EN 18th Sun., Nov. 11, 2007 2:52 a.m. Report of suspicious subject at 900 EN 12th, vehicle was gone upon arrival 7:30 p.m. Assisted Abilene PD with injured subject at 1300 Cedar Crest 8:15 p.m. Fire alarm at Barret Hall, burned food, Abilene FD responded.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
CAMPUS NEWS / FROM THE FRONT
Page 3
Lecture series levies challenge: ‘Love your enemy’ By Laura Touchette Student Reporter
Dr. Wayne A. Meeks, Woolsey Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University, called ACU students and faculty to “live a life of inquiry, a life of asking questions that may never be answered — a life I have loved living.” Meeks spoke on Nov. 8 as a part of the 21st annual Carmichael-Walling Lecture
series. This two-part lecture series titled “Living by the Bible: the Bad, the Good, and the Question” and “To Tell the Truth: Moving Toward Greater Honesty” was about the subject of Biblical interpretation in and for contemporary culture. Meeks challenged listeners to continue to ask questions; he or she will never have all the answers. He also asked listeners to redetermine how they interpret the Bible on a daily basis.
The first part of the lecture dealt with the question of whether the Church can encourage people to live by the Bible after considering the history of people who have claimed to do so. “The problem is not in the book — it’s in the ways we use the book,” he said. Meeks told the stories of two people who used their knowledge of the Bible to hurt others, but that was not their intent. Patrick Hughes Mell, advocate for slavery in
the 1800s, and Gerhard Kittel, Jewish advocate turned Nazi supporter in World War I, are both examples of people who used their knowledge of the Bible and God against people. “We will not all get the answers right, and some of our right answers might do terrible things to real people,” he said. “But their lives were in accord with the Bible as they knew it.” The second part of the lecture dealt with attempt-
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Katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lyssette Lozano, fifth grader at Taylor Elementary, writes out a check to pay for her items at SIFE’s Enterprise City at University Church of Christ Friday.
Meals: Volunteers still wanted “You’re pretty much driving your car around with a map and delivering food wherever we need you to go,” said Courtney Holden, sophomore history major from Belton and co-chair member of SALT. Volunteers and donations are still needed by the committee to make this event possible. “There is a lot of stress in getting people to donate. We try to reach people through residence halls, advertisements on campus,
signs and announcements in Chapel and mass e-mails telling about it,” Holden said. “Getting donations is the biggest obstacle, finding enough volunteers is the second. Committee members end up begging their friends to help out.” In past years, offices on campus and U100 classes have committed to sponsoring families, and students have gone door-to-door collecting spare change in residence halls. “U100 classes have been one of the primary targets. We try to encourage it as
much as possible, and we end up with about 60 to 70 percent of U100 classes participating,” Coburn said. Anyone interested in volunteering can come to the VSLC office, located in the Bean Sprout, and sign up or bring a donation. “It’s two hours of your time and a little pocket change,” Holden said. Any help or amount is appreciated, and each dollar will go toward another meal for a family.
E-mail Rodriguez at: optimist@acu.edu
Text: System awaits registered users Continued from page 1 proponents also touted the simplicity of the system — which is free to register. Fees for text messaging will be applied as part of each user’s personal cell phone plan. During the course of the semester, Bruton and Ellison said they expect to test
the system at least once. But other than tests, they emphasized the system’s stringent regulations — emergency use only. “We’re very committed to only using this system for emergency or urgent situations,” Bruton said. A regulatory policy has been established, Bruton said, detailing who can send
respect the text and cultivate discernment. “To be a faithful community we need to listen to the inconvenient voices,” he said. “Listen to the outsiders. Those armed with misgivings.” His final call was one of strong accord. “One biblical rule is important in world we live in today,” he said. “Love your enemy.”
E-mail Touchette at: optimist@acu.edu
Forum: ‘Don’t be discouraged’
Checkin it out
Continued from page 1
ing to have greater honesty and faithfulness in interpreting and employing the Bible, as well as how to discover currently applicable truths in the text. “What do we do with the Bible?” he said. “The Bible has been used for abominations and also loving acts in history. It’s about the Bible’s Jekyll and Hyde role in history.” Meeks said to read the Bible with four rules: to forget certainty, good communities make good interpretations,
systems and under what circumstances. Authorities in the President’s office, Student Life and the Police Department are authorized to use the system, a system Ellison says he hopes they never have to use. “It’s just like good life insurance,” he said. E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
man offered Yankoski half a loaf of bread to feed him, ignoring his protests that the extra would guarantee food the next day. Instead, Yankoski said, the man told him God would provide. “It was the people like those two… that’s what made the difference,” Yankoski said. “There were a few really strong homeless Christians. We met some pretty phenomenal followers of Christ out on the streets.” The experience marked Yankoski’s life, spurring a decision to act as an advocate for the homeless instead of opening a small business with his computer science degree. Not that Yankoski didn’t try — he said after three failed businesses, he knew “our lives are not meant to be about that.” Instead, he spends his time passionately sharing his experiences and spouting statistics that hold personal meaning. Of the 700,000 people on American streets today, and the $3.5 million who will be
“I can open up my journal and show you where I’ve written, ‘Someone talked to us today.’” Mike Yankoski, author of ‘Under the Bridge’
homeless over the course of the year, Yankoski reminded students a son or daughter is represented. “Those aren’t just numbers, these are lives,” he said. He levied a challenge at students to help the homeless: offer both time and resources. And sometimes, it’s the time that is the most valuable. “I can open up my journal and show you where I’ve written, ‘Someone talked to us today,’” he said. The sense of isolation and detrimental effect of being ignored stuck with Yankoski when he left the streets. After months spent carting a sleeping bag, books, a Bible, an old camera and a change of clothes in a backpack, he returned to a place where food and water were at his fingertips, and people looked him in the eye again. But it took months, Yankoski said, before he could return a gaze.
“We’re unwise if we apply [stereotypes] to every person,” he said, citing instances of homeless people he met with phDs. Yankoski challenged students to get involved — listing Web sites for social justice issues, including and slavery, and encouraging students to sponsor a child for $32 per month with Compassion International. The swarm of students who waited to speak with Yankoski after the forum peppered him with further questions, and 14 students committed to sponsor a child. When students asked about the overwhelming statistics and plethora of ways to get involved, Yankoski assured them hope exists. “Don’t be discouraged,” he said.
E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
World Wide Witness whets cultural appetite By Aaron Ballard Student Reporter
Applications are being accepted for World Wide Witness, a program that provides students an opportunity to gain practical missions experiences under the guidance of missionaries around the world. Students can participate in one of two ways: through a summer internship that lasts 6 to 10 weeks, or through a post-graduate apprenticeship that lasts 6 to 24 months. “The most common feedback we get from students after these experiences is how life-changing it was,” said Wimon Walker, co-director of World Wide Witness. “It can be challenging, but for the most part it is an incredible learning experience.” Applications submitted by November 16 are guaranteed
to be processed before Christmas break, so that fundraising can begin as soon as possible. However, applications will still be accepted through January. This year, there are close to 50 different sites available around the globe, including locations in Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the U.S. On average, two interns are sent to each site during the summer, so the program hopes to have nearly 100 students participate. Last summer around 80 students participated in an internship. “We try to send only 2 to 3 students to each location so that they can become fully immersed in the local culture,” Walker said. Anyone can participate, undergraduate or graduate students, and not just Bible or Missions majors. “Although Bible and missions
Crossroads to be scene of musical interchange By Grant Abston Student Reporter
Crossroads Entertainment Complex, a new music venue, looks to provide a variety of entertainment, as well as bringing live entertainment to Abilene. Music lovers have something to be excited about with the opening of Crossroads Entertainment Complex. A new venue in Abilene, Crossroads boasts the largest concert hall in the area at approximately 20,000 square feet. With the biggest stage available and a capacity of nearly 1,500, it is easy to understand the excitement. “I have heard it’s an amazing place,” said Andrew Duge, senior marketing major from Corpus Christi and lead singer of The Rockin’ Extensions. “It is a new place for music and bigger bands in Abilene, with a huge stage and dressing rooms in the back.” The Rockin’ Extensions will be playing at Crossroads Friday at 8 p.m., and the band is excited about the opportunity. “Just getting an opportunity to play with new bands and play in front of a bunch of new people will be good,” said Jared Durham, junior management major from Corpus Christi and drummer for The Rockin Extensions. “The venue is big, and it will be a lot of fun.”
Not only does Crossroads offer one of the biggest venues around, it offers numerous services that cater to musicians as well as fans. Hotel arrangements, private dressing rooms, a hospitality room and catering are a few attractions that put Crossroads above other venues. “What we found so far is that smaller places allow us to get really involved and make a connection with your emotion on stage,” Duge said. “The audience gets into it, and then we get more energy; I get excited just talking about it.” Crossroads’ attempt at creating a larger, successful venue can be attributed to the size and population of Abilene. With approximately 150,000 residents, three private universities and one state college, Crossroads hopes to attract quality entertainment and large audiences. “I’m excited to play in a bigger venue,” Duge said. “We are taking steps forward with the band and playing in bigger, nicer places which is exciting.” For more information about concerts and tickets, go to crossroadsabilene.com.
E-mail Abston at: optimist@acu.edu
majors make up a large portion of those that participate, usually more than half come from different majors,” Walker said. “We are delighted to have students from all majors. You do not have to be a missions person for this to benefit you. It really gives you a new perspective on everything.” Once students turn in their applications, Walker and codirector Gary Green have the final say on how students are matched up with the various locations. However, student desires play an important role in the decision. “Deciding who should go where is really a collaborative process,” Walker said. “We try to make sure that students are a good fit for the locations they are assigned.” Intern preparations go into full swing in the spring semester. All interns participate in a
retreat at the end of January to help them get to know the people they will be working with. In addition, the interns have training meetings weekly to help facilitate communication between the interns and their host missionaries. Furthermore, students are required to find an overseeing congregation to handle fundraising because ACU does not directly deal with the funds. Finally, all interns take a Maymester missions course to put their experience in the larger context of God’s mission in the world. It is a process of spiritual, attitudinal and academic preparation,” Walker said. “We want them to go out and observe and learn, to lend a hand, and to grow.” World Wide Witness sent its first interns in 2002. The program is the brainchild of
Wimon Walker and Gary Green, who were hired in 2000 and 2001 in part to help start an apprenticeship program for ACU. When it began, locations were chosen based on personal relationships that already existed with missionaries. Since then, new locations have been chosen based on two criteria, Walker said. “Are there significant ministries with a good model from which to learn? And are the host missionaries willing to invest time and attention into personal mentoring?” Walker said. “That is what we look for in host missionaries.” Vanessa Whitt, junior graphic design major from Cebu City, Philippines, participated in World Wide Witness last summer. She spent five weeks with a fellow intern working with her parents in her hometown. “My parents are missionar-
ies, and I thought it would be cool to get ACU students to experience what my life is like back home,” Whitt said. Her dad directs a small Bible college in Cebu City, and Whitt helped with campus ministry this summer. In addition, she and her fellow intern helped with VBS on Saturdays and taught a children’s class twice a week. “It is hard to put into words what to expect,” Whitt said. “You will always come out with a changed perspective on everything. It allows you to see how a different culture deals with life, the church and various struggles. A different perspective helps you understand the world we live in by giving you a better grip on reality.” E-mail Ballard at: optimist@acu.edu
Post-college prep lesson given at dinner By Kelline Linton Student Reporter
Students enjoyed food, fashion and business advice at the annual Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) fashion etiquette dinner last Tuesday in the Living Room of the Campus Center. The event began at 6:30 p.m. and lasted for about two hours. Attendees ate a full course meal before listening to a guest speaker and watching a fashion show that had a business twist. ARAMARK catered the dinner. “The meal [included] foods you eat at a normal business dinner — a meat, two sides, a salad and a dessert,” said Courtney Arrington, one of two coleaders for the SIFE event. The guest speaker was Liza Smallwood, the marketing coordinator for ARAMARK Higher Education and pastor and founder of Prophetic Transitions Ministries. Smallwood talked for about 40 minutes and covered a wide range of topics like interviews, conversations, dinners outside of work, dinners for work and anything one could come across in a business atmosphere, said Krystal Edwards, the other SIFE co-leader. Smallwood was chosen as the speaker for her energy and her constant professional attire and
attitude, said Arrington, senior accounting and finance major from Dallas. “She won’t even wear a pair of sweats to Wal-Mart,” said Edwards, senior marketing major from Dallas. The fashion show was the big finale of the evening and ranged from business professional to business casual attire. Five female and four male students paraded two outfits each from Dillard’s. The models were of all shapes and body types. “What we’re trying to do was get all genders, sizes and races, so it could be a diversified fashion show,” Arrington said. Edwards said, “the main goal of this event was to teach students how to prepare themselves to get far in whatever their chosen path,” Edwards said. “People think college is a time to play, but college is preparing you for your actual career; it’s better to start developing techniques to help make a lasting impression,” she said. The dinner cost $15 or two meal plans. Reservations were taken through email with a maximum cut-off of 65 people due to limited space in the Living Room. More than 65 people were allowed to attend, but they could not eat the dinner or take a seat at a table. They also were not charged. “They [got] the
benefit of seeing the fashion show and hearing Mrs. Smallwood speak,” Arrington said. In the past attendees were charged $10 or one meal plan for the dinner, said Jessica Sneed, SIFE leader for last year’s etiquette dinner and senior marketing and management major from Keller. About twenty-five people attended last year. The event this year was open to anyone in the Abilene community. The publicity focus for the dinner was placed on freshmen and sophomores, since they are usually in introduction business classes. Arrington and Edwards wanted attendees from a variety of majors. “Even if you’re not a business major, you need to know how to act and make yourself appropriate and leave a lasting impression,” Arrington said. Some introduction to business professors offered extra credit to students to encourage attendance. SIFE had a new aspect to the dinner this year. An outreach table was reserved exclusively for eight women from the Noah Project, a shelter that helps and cares for battered women. ARAMARK sponsored the table and paid for the women’s meals. “It [gave] them the opportunity to get out
and get their lives together, so they could make it far without depending on anybody,” Edwards said. Carino Cortez, president of SIFE, had the idea for the sponsored table. Members of SIFE hope outreach tables will grow in number for future dinners. “We would like for more companies to sponsor next year, so we can allow more [battered] women to come or younger kids from the Boys and Girls Club to come and get a benefit at an early age,” Arrington said. SIFE has hosted the etiquette dinner for the last three years. SIFE’s other big event of the semester was Enterprise City that took place on Nov. 9 for Taylor Elementary fifth graders. The program allowed students to work, buy and sell in a small-scale city that included a bank and numerous shops. “It taught them how to live in our growing economy,” Arrington said. SIFE’s big event next semester involve the Noah Project as SIFE members work to provide speakers and technical classes for battered women, and, “a big secret project [that] is also coming up,” Arrington said.
E-mail Linton at: optimist@acu.edu
FocusWednesday Page 5
November 7, 2007
Living
to run again Before competing for ACU, Serge Gasore ran for his life in Rwanda
Photo courtesy of Bryan and Libby Harrison
A memorial sign outside the church in Ntarama, Rwanda, honors the victims of genocide, including many of Serge’s family and friends. By Jared Fields E ditor -in -C hief
We watch war movies for entertainment. The horrifying scenes of war — death, gunfire, explosions, agony, fear — many of us only see on a screen. Serge Gasore lived those scenes. Though not on television, movies, a computer or in books. He saw it all in a Rwanda church. Beginning in April 1994, extremists of the Hutu tribe killed at least 500,000 Tutsis during the 90 days after president Juvenal Habyarimana died in a plane crash. The Hutu extremists tried to take control of the government through genocide, immediately hunting down members of the Tutsi tribe. When the militia arrived in Serge’s town of Ntarama, they began by burning the grass roofs and terrorizing its citizens. Taking sanctuary inside the church, many believed the soldiers surrounding the building would not attack. However, on the third day they invaded the church. The militia killed about 5,000 in the Ntarama church alone. Seven-year-old Serge witnessed the death of his grandmother by a grenade while pressed against her back. He had no time to worry about that or the chaos surrounding him. He needed a way out. “I didn’t recognize what happened. I just saw blood on me,” Serge said. “Her body was totally broken. I was very close. I just got crazy and went through the door.” Outside the door was a policeman, but this policeman wasn’t helping Tutsis. Spotting little Serge, the policeman did not shoot, and Serge ran into the “bush,” or forest. Serge rendezvoused with four others two miles into the bush. They hid there the rest of the night, waiting until morning to return and see the remains of Ntarama. Serge’s life is filled with return trips. Natural runner This weekend he returns
to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship attempting to win Abilene Christian University’s second national title. Running competitively, not for life or death, Serge is a contender for the individual title after winning the Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II South Central Region meets. For those efforts, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association awarded Serge the region’s Male Athlete of the Year. “You keep going” Running comes naturally to Serge. He stills shows dozens of scars on his body from his time running from Hutu soldiers in the Rwandan bush. Serge’s group went to the school after the first night in the bush as refugees. There they met other survivors, but Serge’s heart longed to see what became of his family at the church. Arriving at the church he fled the previous day, Serge saw the destruction and devastation leveled upon the building where his family, friends and community worshipped. Serge saw dead bodies heaped in a pile, and, while walking away, heard pleading cries to his name: “Serge! We are still alive!” The calls came from two younger cousins, hiding in the pile of dead bodies. As he pulled a third cousin out of the pile, he noticed she had died from the crushing weight of the bodies. Serge and the two surviving girls went to the school to meet again with the survivors. But Serge and the rest of the survivors didn’t stay long. From the top of the hill where the school sat, they could see the bus of soldiers approaching. Everyone left the school in a frantic rush through the bush. “The way there, there were bullets everywhere,” Serge said. “You are walking with someone, you are here, they are here, they shoot somebody in front of you, they fall down, you keep going.” The soldiers didn’t pursue Serge and the group far into the bush. Instead, the soldiers took and killed their cows, ate, got
drunk and went to sleep. Like a work day here, the soldiers sought Tutsis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “When you passed 5 p.m., you know that day you are OK,” Serge said. Serge’s daily routine for the next two weeks consisted of him going to town to scrounge or beg for food before taking it back to the bush during the day. “At 5, I know they’re leaving, I come back all the way down my way, there’s all the people who died, they’re people screaming, they’re calling me, they’re saying, ‘Bring me water,’” Serge said. “I can’t do anything.” Finding food and water, despite living in a beautiful forest, was no simple task. “Sometime they kill people on top of the mountain, and because it was raining season, the rain would bring down the bloody streams,” Serge said. Having no other choice, the people would sometimes drink the contaminated water. The killers One day, Serge was walking to meet with his cousin Gitenjye when the soldiers caught her. Hiding nearby and seeing the situation Gitenjye faced, Serge quietly watched the unfolding drama. “Do you have money?” the killers asked. “I don’t have money!” she said. The killers gashed her neck and in pain she succumbed to their pressure.
EMILY SMITH SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Serge Gasore, the CCCA regional runner of the year, survived the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. He will compete in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship this weekend. “My cousin has money. Call him to come and bring the money,” Gitenjye said. As she called, Serge knew the killers’ plan. They were going to kill them both. He knew they would kill Gitenjye whether she gave them money or not. If Serge responded, they would kill him, too. He chose not to respond, sitting quietly close by. Her captors sliced her neck, killing her, and left her. Serge returned to the bush. “It’s easy” Serge wants to return home again in the summer. He wants to write a book about his life and the events from Ntarama in 1994. He also wants to represent his country by running for Rwanda in world competitions. Serge’s dad survived the genocide and still asks Serge if he is normal. “Some people go crazy,” Serge said. “My dad, he’s always like, ‘You’re not normal.’ Maybe because I had to go through hard things and went to the army I had to be strong.” Serge has no problem talking about the things he’s seen. His only problem with telling his story is that it takes too long. When Serge recalls his past, he doesn’t show sadness. Instead, it motivates him. “When I recall, that’s when I feel I have to work harder,” Serge said. “It doesn’t take me to the negative side; it takes me to the positive side.” For Serge, that thinking keeps him from thinking of
Photo courtesy of Bryan and Libby Harrison
Skulls of the genocide victims killed at the Ntarama church building during the tribal conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis.
anything as difficult. “Everything beside genocide is easy.” In the library, translating all of his homework into French so he can understand it is easy. Morning workouts at 6 a.m., after hours of homework from the previous evening’s workout, are easy. “When I am working, they say, ‘Oh man, how can I do this? I’m dying,’” Serge said, laughing at someone’s statement. “You are joking. What’s going on? It’s easy.” Rescue Serge returned to school after the 90 days of genocide. While standing on the side of the road in the city of Nyamata, a truck pulled up beside young Serge. A soldier asked Serge to get in the truck. For some reason the man who asked Serge to get in the car, Gen. Paul Muyenzi, liked him. He kept Serge on guard around his home and in September put Serge back in school. When Serge turned 15, he joined the army officially. “The people around him were complaining about me. They were saying, ‘You are in the army and you don’t do service. You are going to school,’” Serge said. “They were jealous. I joined the army, but my boss — he protected me.” But once Serge almost lost his life when he left Muyenzi’s protection. At 14, Serge went alone to visit his uncles. On the way, Hutus kidnapped him to Congo. The group asked if Serge knew a certain man. Serge did, so they asked him to get in the car. He stepped in with four other guys. They tied his hands and made him write a letter to his dad saying the group was going to kill Serge. Serge spent three days in the Congo bush, tied naked, standing to a stake facing the sun. Blind from the sun exposure and exhaustion, the group gave a machete to a member, ordering him to take Serge and kill him. “When we got somewhere to have to kill me he said, ‘I will not kill you because this group has killed a lot of innocent people. I will not kill innocent
people, and I am leaving.’ So he left me,” Serge said. Serge found a trail that eventually led to a road. A man in a car stopped and asked Serge a question. Serge didn’t understand Swahili and could not answer, but the man let him in the car. The man dressed Serge in the only clothes he had, women’s clothes. The man was driving to Uganda and took Serge to the border on his way. Immigration took Serge home after some time in the hospital and in an investigation to determine why a beaten man in woman’s clothing was brought to them. In a miraculous Tom Sawyer moment filled with relief and joy, Serge limped home to his family mourning for him. Serge stayed with his family for three months before being ordered to return to the army and school. Serge attended school and then performed his military job at night until he turned 18. Then Serge graduated and after national testing, enrolled at the University of Rwanda to run for the school. He attended school and ran there for a year before former ACU track and field coach Steven Moore discovered Serge and recruited him to Abilene. Serge arrived in Abilene in August of 2005, speaking no English and wary of everyone. “When I got in America, it changed a little bit because before I used to think that every people are mean,” Serge said. “Even when some people would try to be nice to me, I would think you want to try to kill me tomorrow, because that’s what happened.” Now Serge says he can see that people are kind. He saw little genuine generosity growing up. If he did see “nice,” it could easily be confused with luck. Running for Uganda, writing a book, graduating with a degree from ACU — it’s all easy. No one knows how his goals will culminate: cross country meets, his travels, a career. We’ll have to wait for the book.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday Optimist
Page 6
The problem:
Def Poetry Jam, a show on HBO, wants to come to ACU’s campus but funding for the members to come is scarce due to budget cuts.
Our view:
Groups on campus should share budgets and funding to get the group on campus because having Def Poetry Jam at ACU would benefit the school and student body.
The solution:
Budget sharing and attention from the administration will get the group here sooner.
November 14, 2007
Def Poetry Jam would benefit students, campus If the university doesn’t scour all resources for funding a Def Poetry Jam performance, it will miss an opportunity to engage diverse perspectives. When representatives from HBO’s popular slam poetry show, Def Poetry Jam, approached SA president Matt Worthington about coming to campus earlier this semester, sadly only a few departments jumped at the chance. The initial $12,000 quote to bring the group to Abilene pushed the program off the calendars for at least the fall semester. The edgy slam poetry show could bring some big pop culture names to campus — guest appearances from Dave Chappelle, Alicia Keys, Smokey Robinson and Kanye West suggest the show is no small deal. Worthington showed Congress a petition Oct. 10 that garnered 800 signatures from students, faculty and staff who support bringing the group to campus — a clear mandate from a community where few events attract more attention and support. Such widespread support stems from the universal appeal of Def Poetry Jam’s focus on diversity and expression. In an amiable move, co-founder Bruce George told the Optimist the sometimes-profane group would monitor content in the proposed poetry workshops, panel discussions and performances. Although content and censorship of a show HBO calls “audacious, uncensored,” concerns administrators, the staggering cost continues to create the largest obstacle. Def Poetry Jam also demonstrated concerted efforts to accommodate the university, reducing the initial quote to $7,000 to $8,000 dollars. Now, the theatre, Bible, sociology and English departments are scouring their cut budgets for money, and Congress has discussed appropriating money. As these departments seek funds to bring the group to campus, other departments and organizations on campus should pitch in as well. With the fall enrollment drop, the
university’s overall funding came up $3 million short, leaving departments short of funding. But an $8,000 price tag for Def Poetry Jam becomes less challenging when spread across multiple groups instead of just four or five. HBO touts Def Poetry Jam performers as the “freshest and most fearless voices in America today,” and if the university desires cultural relevance, the community should hear what such voices have to say. The group has visited other colleges and universities, among them Butler University in Indianapolis in the 2003-2004 year, as part of its diversity celebration. Students participate in this cutting-edge “written cure,” for emotional angst, as George describes the slam poetry, and in doing so, welcome performers with an array of ideas. The university trumpets the 21st Century Vision as
ACU aims to become the premiere institution for Christian education – part of which entails providing innovative experiences unprecedented among other Christian universities. Def Poetry Jam, which is now in its sixth season, offers a chance to explore a progressive venue and accommodate a community eager to engage in dialogue with many views. Groups and academic departments should appropriate funds and join the push to bring Def Poetry Jam to campus this spring, paving the way for powerful and real dialogue on campus.
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Sending disabled veterans back to battle sets dangerous precedent WCVB-TV in Boston reports that veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being ordered to redeploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. W a i t , what? Have we exhausted so much Work in of our military resourcProgress es that men Rachel and women Davis who are disabled by a disorder are being forced to go back to the same places that caused their disorders? And I thought the war couldn’t get much worse. It seems that the Bush administration has ceased
to care about the well-being of our soldiers and is now playing a ruthless, heartless game of numbers. The Department of Defense’s policy is that soldiers can only be re-deployed after three months of stability, but one man, Michael DeVliger, was re-deployed one day after his release from a Kentucky hospital for treatment of acute stress disorder. DeVliger’s mom, Sue, said in the article, “… I am extremely disappointed in the Army because they don’t care about our men and women that they are sending over. They are just worrying about the numbers. And to me, that’s just atrocious.” Sending over disabled veterans is atrocious. When
It seems that the Bush administration has ceased to care about the well-being of our soldiers and is now playing a ruthless, heartless game of numbers. we stop caring about the human lives lost, and begin to worry more about amount of troops, it’s time to reevaluate our views on life. When 25-year old Damian Fernandez came back from the war with severe PTSD, doctors classified him as 70 percent disabled by the disease. But yet, the young man was called to re-deploy. The Army was quoted in the article as saying that their standards for re-deploying PTSD soldiers are based on the individual and they “do not want to stigmatize the soldiers by saying they cannot deploy with
their unit because they have symptoms.” Dr. Judith Herman, a PTSD specialist, said in the article that she was appalled by the practice and to send a soldier back into war endangers his life and the lives of those in his unit. “It’s not safe for the individual soldier... it’s not safe for his unit either to send someone who is so impaired back into a situation of danger,” Herman said. So, now, we’re endangering the lives of multiple people through this sickening practice of sending over soldiers who can’t function
as well as they used to. Excellent, and I think also we should start sending over the children; they might as well take up arms too. While we’re at it, let’s send over everyone over the age of 65. If we’re going to play this numbers game, we’ve gotta do it right. Might as well force all the other disabled people to go, too. We’re already sending some over, why not a few more? And let’s reinstate the draft. We obviously need more people if we’re sending mentally unstable soldiers, so we might as well force others who don’t want to go to Iraq to fight. I’m not saying I’m against our military, because I’m not. Without our troops, we wouldn’t have our freedoms that we have today. But
sending over mentally unstable soldiers just serves to illustrate how much we’re in over our heads in the Middle East. We can’t continue to do this. We can’t continue to waste valuable lives in a war that seems to serve no purpose. I hope someday soon we’ll be able to get out of Iraq and save lives that don’t need to be lost. Until then, I’ll just keep praying for our troops and hoping that their lives weren’t lost for nothing.
E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
Graduation brings new, exciting opportunities for college kids Nothing lasts forever; that’s the way it’s gotta be. This is what The Arcade Fire kept telling me the other day. And I’ve been thinking about endings ever Feeling since. T h i n k Optimistic about the Denton things you Josey wish would end. My list includes the war in Iraq, bad dates, NASCAR and Nickelback’s career. Then there are things
you wish never ended. The 1980s, Harry Potter books, those Reebok basketball shoes that could be pumped up, football season, good dates and college — they all end too quickly. College ending seems not so good. Many of us graduate this year, and we’ll be forced to move on to the next stage of life. It’s not so much fear of real adulthood as it is we’re all certain college has been fun and will be missed. As my friend once pointed out, when is the next time all of your friends will live within two miles? Strange how four years seemed forever long before
Leaving friends and the schedule college kids keep will be tough, but it’ll be OK. college began, but nowfive and a half years laterit went by rather quickly. Luckily, the next stage of life lasts a dang long time, like until retirement. For some folks that can sound like a punishment of sorts, but it doesn’t have to. Two of my friends graduated in May ’06. While they didn’t wait until college was over to start having adventures, they have been busy enjoying life on the other side of college. They’ve taught school in Kenya for a
year, backpacked China and Europe, taught English in South Korea for a year and are wrapping up a trip that included stops to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, India and Nepal. Trips like those are not really feasible while going to school, so there’s one point for the adulthood side. Post-college, aka real life, looks pretty cool to me. True, leaving friends and the schedule college kids keep will be tough, but it’ll be OK. Except for the debt, you
are basically free to do what you want when you finish school. True, you have to work, but if you get a job you really like, it should be rad. And if no such job exists for you because you don’t like your major, just get a job outside of your major — it worked for the guy from Office Space. For starters, the prospect of getting out of Abilene has to appeal to a lot of people. Plus, everywhere I’ve been, it seems some nice people live there (well, I haven’t been to the North very much, so take caution there), so making friends shouldn’t be too tough and that is what
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
makes life the best anyway, friends. The end is near — that is true for some of us. But more good stuff is around the corner, I’m pretty sure. The end.
E-mail Josey at: v, optimist@acu.edu
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Page 7
SPORTS JUMPS
Comeback: Wildcats host No. 17 Mesa State on Saturday Continued from page 8 The playoff game will be the first time ACU has hosted a team since 1977 and is the first NCAA Division II football postseason game to be played at Shotwell Stadium. In a matchup between the two top offenses in Division II football, the Midwestern fans at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls were not disappointed — until the end. ACU trailed the entire game, and the Wildcats’ playoff hopes seemed to be unreachable after falling into 38-21 hole with 9:35 left in the third quarter. But after a pair of touchdowns from junior running back Bernard Scott and a defensive stance that held Midwestern to three points in the fourth quarter — the Wildcats found themselves with the ball, six points behind with 4:13 on the clock. From there, all ACU had to do was give Scott the ball. Scott, who rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns, was handed the ball five out of the nine plays in the 70yard, three and a half minute drive and cruised into the end zone after a pass interference call put the Wildcats five yards away from the end zone.
Matt Adams nailed the extra point after Scott’s 5-yard rush tied it up, to give ACU a 42-41 lead with 43 seconds left on the clock. “That’s what you do when the game is on the line; put the ball in the hands of the playmakers,” said ACU coach Chris Thomsen. But the game wasn’t over yet. Polk and the Mustangs got the ball back and made it down to the ACU 28-yard line, but a last-second touchdown throw to Tyron Morrison was ruled incomplete, and the Wildcat sideline and small group of Purple and White fans charged the field in celebration. “That’s the heart of this team, to keep coming no matter what,” Thomsen said. “When we lost to [University of Central Oklahoma] we won six straight, and when we lost to [West Texas A&M] we won three straight. That is what this team is about.” Senior Billy Malone’s 304 passing yards against Midwestern made him LSC’s career passing leader with a total of 8,167 yards. Malone’s final game also made him the first ACU quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards for two seasons in a row. With one year of eligibil-
ACU 42, MSU 41 ACU MSU
7 14 7 14 — 42 21 10 7 3 — 41
First Quarter MSU — Daniel Polk 14 run (Jose Martinez kick), 11:17 MSU — Polk 28 run (Martinez kick), 6:03 ACU — Rodney Freeman 34 pass from Billy Malone (Matt Adams kick), 4:43 MSU — Polk 16 run (Martinez kick), 2:31 Second Quarter MSU — Steven Harper 1 run (Martinez kick), 13:02 ACU — Jerale Badon 22 pass from Malone (Adams kick), 11:19 MSU — FG Martinez 34, 7:18 ACU — Edmund Gates 4 run (Adams kick), 3:42 Third Quarter MSU — Harper 1 run (Martinez kick), 9:35 ACU — Bernard Scott 2 run (Adams kick), 0:03 Fourth Quarter ACU — Scott 3 run (Adams kick), 11:03 MSU — FG Martinez 30, 4:13 ACU — Scott 5 run (Adams kick), 0:43
GERALD EWING ACU CREATIVE SERVICES
Junior running back Bernard Scott squeezes through a couple of hard-hitting Midwestern State defenders in Saturday’s game. Scott rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score. ity left, Malone is already No. 2 on the ACU career-passing list behind Jim Lindsey. Senior wide receiver Jerale Badon’s team-leading performance of seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown put his career receiving yards total at 3,092 yards and broke the LSC’s career record.
Semis: ACU falls to eventual champ
Polk rushed for a career best and school single-game record 290 yards, broke former Cooper High School graduate Dominic Rhodes Midwestern singleseason touchdown record after rushing for three touchdowns for a season total of 19. ACU’s nine-win season was the first one since 1977, and
its upcoming playoff berth is only the second time an ACU team has made the playoffs in 30 years. The win also pushed ACU up two spots from No. 17 to No. 15 in the American Football Coaches’ Association national rankings.
Team Statistics ACU MSU First downs 23 32 Total net yards 484 654 Rushing yards 35-180 57-467 Passing yards 304 187 Kickoff returns 7-149 5-99 Interceptions/Ret. 1-0 3-26 Comp-Att-Int 21-30-3 14-23-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-13 1-8 Punts/Avg. 1-48 0-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 4-30 12-90 Time of Possession 26:04 33:56 Individual Statistics Rushing — ACU: Scott 27-178; Lampkin 210; Gates 2-4. MSU: Polk 28-290; B.J. Mathis 13-101; Marcus Mathis 11-74; Harper 4-2. Passing — ACU: Malone 21-30-3. MSU: Polk 14-22-1. Receiving — ACU: Badon 7-80; Scott 5-90; Johnny Knox 4-56; Gates 2-24; Kendrick Holloway 2-20; Freeman 1-34. MSU: DelJuan Lee 6-78; Wells 4-57; Tyron Morrison 2-24; Brandon Frazier 1-19; Chad Olson 1-9.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Social club sprint
Continued from page 8 quarterfinal match. Except for the second game, ACU dominated the match as middle blockers Lauren Leone and Bacon each ended with 13 kills. Lowry finished the match with 12 kills, and Moronu served up a match-high 43 assists and seven kills. Freshman middle blocker Shawna Hines blocked 5.5 shots, while sophomore libero Amy Wilson finished with a team-high 17 digs. “I was really proud of the way the girls played at the conference tournament,” Mock said. “We took care of business against Texas Woman’s.” For their performance during the tournament, Bacon and Lowry were named to the LSC All-Tournament Team. Now the Wildcats can begin preparing for next year where they will be without seniors Lowry and libero Liz Snoddy. “I think they’ll do really well,” Lowry said. “I know coach Mock has been talking to the new girls that are going to be coming in, and they seem like they’re pretty good.” For the time being, the Wildcats can take pride in the 2007 season as ACU finished with a 15-14 overall record and an 84 conference record. Also, ACU finished fourth in the LSC in kills with 1,548. In her final season, Lowry added 446 kills to her career stats, which gave her 1,513 for her career, the fifth most in ACU history. And in her final season, Snoddy added 331 digs, giving her 1,574 for her career, the second most career digs by a Wildcat. “Abbie and Liz are very dear to my heart,” Mock said. “They are tremendous athletes and great volleyball play-
todd Piersall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
John Heintz, senior marketing major from Kirkwood, Mont., runs for the end zone in the GSP-Frats game on Nov. 5.
todd piersall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Abbie Lowry and Shawna Hines set up a play during the Wildcats’ regular season finale against Midwestern State on Nov. 3. ers, but I think they mean so much more to the heart and soul of this team. They are going to be sorely missed.” The Wildcats were also third in the conference in blocks, led by Hines who accounted for 120 of ACU’s 232.5 for the season. Moronu ended her first season with 1,146 assists, a statistic that counts as the
ninth best single-season performance in ACU history. “I think this season has been a tremendous success,” Mock said. “We’ve learned a lot. We had a good time and played well.”
E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu
SportsWednesday Optimist
Page 8
ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Tuesday
Football
Team
WTAMU ACU Tarleton St. MSU TAMU-K Angelo St. ENMU
Div. 6-0 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 0-6
Overall 11-0 9-2 9-2 8-3 3-8 2-8 5-6
Volleyball
Team
Div. 12-0 11-1 10-2 8-4 6-6 TX Woman’s 6-6 Cameron 6-6 Tarleton St. 5-7 SW Okla. 5-7 Angelo St. 4-8 TAMU-C 3-9 SE Okla. 2-10 ENMU 0-12 WTAMU Central Okla. MSU ACU TAMU-K
Overall 32-7 31-6 27-5 15-14 14-12 15-13 13-15 13-15 14-19 6-21 9-19 7-20 4-25
Wildcats end season with loss in LSC semifinals By Michael Freeman
Volleyball
Assistant Sports Editor
WTAMU 3, ACU 0
The ACU volleyball team’s season came to a close Monday when the Wildcats were not selected to play in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region Tournament. ACU finished the season with a 15-14 overall record and a semifinal appearance in the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament, but it wasn’t enough to earn the Wildcats a fourth-straight trip to the regional tournament. “We honestly felt like we had a good chance at going,” said head coach Kellen Mock. “There are a lot of factors that go into deciding who gets to go. When it comes down to it, I think we should’ve been on that list.” Representing the Lone Star Conference in the regional tournament will be Central Oklahoma, Midwest-
ern State and the team the Wildcats lost to in the LSC tournament — West Texas A&M. On its streak toward its 13th league title, West Texas A&M downed ACU by the score of 30-25, 30-27, 30-25 Friday in Canyon. Each game was a back-and-forth battle, but the Lady Buffs came out triumphantly in three games. “The scores, and the fact that they swept us in three, doesn’t show how tight of a match it really was,” Mock said. “We were within four points of each other the entire match. As a team, I think it was one of our best matches of the year.” Senior outside hitter Abbie Lowry led the way for the Wildcats with 16 kills and eight digs. Sophomore middle blocker Michelle Bacon finished with 10 kills, and sophomore
libero Amy Wilson ended the game with a team-high 19 digs. Freshman setter Ijeoma Moronu, who was the LSC co-Setter of the Week for two weeks in a row prior to the tournament, finished with a team-high 36 assists. But the Wildcats’ efforts were not enough to stop the Lady Buffs, who finished the tournament by beating Central Oklahoma 30-16, 30-26, 30-22 to take home the LSC crown. “They’ve got a good group,” Mock said. “And we’ve got a good group. It’s going to be a battle for the next three years as our sophomores fight against their sophomores, and our freshmen fight against their freshman.” To make it to Friday’s game, the Wildcats first fought and defeated the Texas Woman’s Pioneers 30-21, 26-30, 30-26, 30-13 on Thursday’s See
SEMIS page 7
TODD PIERSALL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Freshman setter Ijeoma Moronu lofts a ball into the air during a match against Midwestern State on Nov. 3.
Comeback Cats
Scores
Last-minute win seals playoff spot for Wildcats
Thursday VOLLEYBALL ACU 3. Texas Woman’s 1
Friday VOLLEYBALL West Texas A&M 3, ACU 0
Saturday
By Daniel Johnson
FOOTBALL
Sports Editor
ACU 42, Midwestern State 41
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 66, Lubbock Christian 65
Upcoming Friday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Incarnate Word, 1:30 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Hillsdale Freewill Baptist, 7 p.m.
Saturday FOOTBALL ACU vs. Mesa State, 12 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY NCAA Division II Nationals in Joplin, Mo., 9 a.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Houston Baptist, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at St. Edward’s, 5:30 p.m. n Home games listed in italics
Briefs Scott nominated for prestigious NCAA award n ACU running back Bernard Scott is one of 24 players up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Scott, second in the nation in scoring and touchdowns, is the third Wildcat in the Scott past three years to be named a regional finalist for the award, joining quarterback Billy Malone, who was nominated last year, and former defensive back Danieal Manning, who was up for the award in 2005. Regional voting concludes Nov. 16.
Intramural Round-up Coming soon n The intramural flag football playoffs came to an end Tuesday. See who won in Friday’s edition of the Optimist. For complete intramural scores and schedules visit: w w w. a c u o p t i m i s t . c o m
November 14, 2007
COURTESY OF GERALD EWING ACU CREATIVE SERVICES
Freshman linebacker Fred Thompson, right, celebrates after tackling Midwestern state quarterback Daniel Polk, while freshman Bryson Lewis, left, watches in the fourth quarter of ACU’s come-from-behind 42-41 win over the Mustangs on Saturday.
Daniel Polk’s final college game could have been his best. By the fourth quarter of ACU’s regular season finale Saturday, the Midwestern State quarterback had already broken two school rushing records, a single-season touchdown record and was Football on his way to a 300-yard rushACU 42, MSU 41 ing game. But after an ACU fourth quarter comeback — Polk had his records, and ACU was going to the playoffs. The No. 15 Wildcats secured their spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs after a 70-yard game-winning drive and a defensive stop in the final seconds helped them to a 42-41 comefrom-behind win over Midwestern State on Saturday. “It was do or die today,” senior cornerback Corey Jordan said Saturday. “They had nothing to lose, we had nothing to lose, basically we were just trying to get on that airplane. That’s all we talked about is getting on that airplane.” But ACU will not have to fly anywhere for the first round of the postseason. The Wildcats, who completed the season with a 5-1 Lone Star Conference record and 9-2 overall record, moved up to No. 4 in the NCAA Division II Southwest regional poll and earned the right to host a game against No. 6 in the region Mesa State from Colo. See
COMEBACK page 7
Women inch by Lubbock Christian in exhibition game By Michael Freeman Assistant Sports Editor
A late-second layup by sophomore forward Jamie Meyer handed the Wildcats a 66-65 victory over Lubbock Christian Saturday afternoon in Moody Coliseum. The game was an exhibition game for ACU, so the win did not affect the Wildcats’ record. However, the game counted toward Lubbock Christian’s record, which is now 0-1. “Lubbock Christian is a great team,” said head coach Shawna Lavender. “I was fairly pleased with the way we played, but I didn’t think we shot the ball very well, and we didn’t play great defense. But I think one of the things that was really good for us was playing in a close game early and finding a way to win.” Junior center Audrey Maxwell led the Wildcats Saturday with a double-double perfor-
Women’s Basketball ACU 66, LCU 65 mance of 24 points and 16 rebounds. Maxwell also had four blocks, including one on the last play of the game as Lady Chap guard Sierra Wilcox-Lovorn tried to give Lubbock Christian the win. The Lady Chaps fell behind with 10 seconds left in the game after Meyer scored a fast-break layup off an assist from sophomore guard Kat Kundmueller. Meyer finished the game with six points to go along with six rebounds. “I almost called a timeout before she made the pass,” Lavender said. “Kat made a good look, and Jamie finished and got fouled at the same time. We did the right thing offensively, and were able to make a good defensive stop at the other end.” Senior point guard Alex Gui-
ton and junior forward Kristee Davidson also ended the game scoring in the double-digits with 15 and 14 points respectively. ACU freshman guard Autumn Whitaker and freshman center Jenna Simmel got their first playing minutes in Saturday’s game. Neither scored, but Whitaker contributed with one block, while Simmel grabbed one of the Wildcats’ 36 rebounds. “I thought they did a good job,” Lavender said. “The thing I liked about both Autumn and Jenna when they came in is they didn’t play hesitant at all. They’re just going to get better every game.” ACU will play its first regularseason game on Friday against the Incarnate Word Cardinals in Austin. Friday’s game will also be Incarnate Word’s opening game. Last season, the Wildcats played Incarnate Word twice, both times coming away with
TODD PIERSALL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior forward Alex Guiton makes a move past a LCU defender during an exhibition game between the two in Moody Coliseum on Saturday. a win. ACU started last year by beating the Cardinals 80-62 on the road. Then on Dec. 14, the Wildcats won 67-55 at home. The Wildcats also beat St. Edward’s; a team ACU will play on
Saturday in Austin. “It’s going to be a good test for us, both Friday and Saturday,” Lavender said. E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu