WEDNESDAY November 28, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 24 1 sections, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
The good, the bad and the forgetful
OPTIMIST THE
ACU’s triple-overtime loss came after a record-setting day for the Wildcats, page 8
Deck the halls with singing
Men in McKinzie Residence Hall gather to sing Monday nights and welcome challenges, page 3
Ballin’ it up
The undefeated Wildcats put 101 points on the board Monday night over UT-Permian Basin, page 8
Galaxy looking for alternative to bridge Dr. Money By Val Valle Online Editor
After years of fundraising, members of men’s social club Galaxy are looking for new opportunities to use their donation for the campus. Their efforts to build a bridge over the new pond bordering Judge Ely were denied last year. Members and alumni of Galaxy began asking for donations to build the bridge about four years ago, said Jeffery Edwards, senior biology major from Bedford and Galaxy president. Edwards said previous officers had even re-
Chapel problems still exist
ceived permission to build the bridge. But last year after completion of the pond, the administrators told Galaxy it would be foundationally unstable and said they were also concerned about the liability issue. The grand total of donated money is estimated at $30,000, and Edwards said Galaxy is unable to touch the money they have raised. “It’s kind of frustrating for old alumni who donated that money to see something specific be built that could benefit our campus, and then be told that we can’t do it,” said Will Morris, senior busi-
ness management major from Houston and Galaxy member. “It’s just money sitting in the bank somewhere not being put to use.” Bob Nevill, director of physical resources, said the project ended up being more expensive than they originally thought. Nevill said the ground for the bridge was unstable, and that it would have taken a lot of work and money to build. “It wouldn’t have been practical,” Nevill said. He said new plans for building Galaxy’s gift to the university would take place after completion of the
updates ACU about 21st Century plan
Welcome Center near the pond, which will begin by January and take about 18 months to complete. Galaxy is in the process of getting plans approved to be able to use their donation to build a gazebo with benches and flowers, said Edwards. He said the spot would be a nice place for students to gather, or even a place to take photos for graduation, Christmas or engagements. “We just want to give a gift to the university, but there’s so much red tape,” Edwards said.
By Colter Hettich Student Reporter
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, shared business updates and outlined the administration’s plan for making ACU “the premier university for the education of Christcentered, global leaders” by 2020. Money called ACU’s faculty and staff together Monday afternoon in Hart Auditorium for a State of the Union of sorts. Money addressed strengths and weaknesses, describing ACU’s strategy to remain a competitive university and still provide a community true to ACU’s mission. The numbers prove the university’s strengths lie in more than a few areas. Its endowment sits at about $285 million, twice that of any Church of Christ university, excluding Pepperdine University. In 2006, ACU received the CCCU Racial Harmony Award. The athletic program has earned the fourth highest number of NCAA national championships. Twenty-five percent of incoming freshmen in fall 2007 were U.S. ethnic minorities or international students, more than double the last three years. Yet ACU must still face the realities of maintaining and developing a private university. 2007’s fiscal year ended with a $1.6 million deficit not covered by the contingency. The administration projects a $1.5 million budget shortfall in 2008 and $3 million deficit in 2009. Over the past two years, the number of entering freshmen has dropped 12 percent, from 1,010 to 889. Retaining students is consistently a problem, Money said, because larger public universities have strong appeal. ACU is also preparing for a hit no university will escape. Looking ahead, national demographics show that in 2008, the number of high school graduates will peak and then begin to drop until 2018. Many difficulties stand before ACU, but the administration is prepared for the challenge. “We must think and respond as a university, not in the silos we represent,” Money said. Money has appointed a Vision Leadership Team, (VLT), to guide the process. The team is made of 14 faculty and staff members: four members of the Presidential Cabinet, four deans, three faculty members and three staff members. The VLT has three purposes: review the current situation, reallocate funds and priority and reinvest in the ACU community. The VLT will assess all aspects of the departments and programs, including external demand, cost, expenses, impact of program, opportunities provided by program and quality of the program.
E-mail Valle at: vmv04a@acu.edu
Change-ing the holiday
By Laura Touchette Student Reporter
In a recent request students received from the Office of Spiritual Formation, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for student life, and Dr. Wayne Barnard, university dean of spiritual formation, asked Chapel attendees, both those interested in Chapel and those not as much, to please be respectful of Chapel. “While I simply have not been here long enough to adequately address these questions, I wouldn’t necessarily say that we have had more problems with Chapel-related dishonesty among students than in the recent past,” Thompson said in an e-mail. “There are plans for helping students maintain a greater sense of personal accountability with regards to Chapel attendance integrity,” said Barnard in an e-mail. “I do think that we can do much better with this and would like to continue to discover ways to challenge our students toward greater personal responsibility, respect, and care in this regard.” The problems that have been addressed as Chapel issues are students “sliding and gliding,” which is when a student slides their ID card for Chapel, leaves and returns to slide again after Chapel. Other problems include arriving late and being disruptive, talking and disruptive actions during Chapel and leaving Chapel before being officially dismissed. “So far, the results of the Chapel survey indicate about a 50/50 split on Campus Conversations. Some like them, some don’t,” Barnard said. “That’s the way it is with Chapel, which makes it very difficult to program, since it is impossible to ‘please’ everyone all the time. The same can be said for Thursday Connection Groups, Class Chapel, Departmental Chapel, etc.” But another, more ironic problem concerns too many people being in Chapel at once. Consuming Fire, the Chapel offered at Chapel on the Hill on Thursdays, has had to turn away students. “It has honestly gotten to the point where there are so many people coming in, it couldn’t fit anymore people,” said Jacob Lollar, junior Bible major from Tucson, Ariz. “We wanted to move but
See
CHAPEL page 4
Spare coins fuel the giving spirit for non-profits like The Salvation Army and give some the opportunity to return the gift, page 5. Story by Daniel Johnson Photo illustration by Katie Gager
See
PLAN page 4
Abilene United Way nears donation goal By Kelline Linton Student Reporter
United Way of Abilene is finishing its 2007 United Way Campaign with ACU’s active involvement. United Way is the largest charitable campaign in Abilene. It raises about $2 million each year, and the community uses 99 percent of those donations. “Almost every penny raised stays right here,” said Bob Hunter, campaign chairman for United Way. The Campaign has already raised
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
$1.6 million, but this year’s total is expected to exceed last year’s sum, Hunter said. “We hope we can raise several million dollars because the more we raise, the more we can help,” Hunter said. This year, ACU has already raised $37,058. This is comparable to the average contributions from the last six years, said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university. Total ACU donations will probably be around $38,000, he said. “The ACU community is such a giving community,” he said.
The largest single donation from ACU in the past decade was $42,000. The 2007 Campaign will ideally reach its completion on Jan. 1, but may continue into the beginning of next year, Hunter said. The donated funds will be used to meet five goals for West Central Texas: basic human needs for all citizens, student completion of high school and preparation for work or higher education, senior adults living independently and staying connected, families living self-sufficiently and neighborhoods provid-
Abilene Christian University
ing safety and family-friendliness. This vision was formed from the results of a survey taken last summer when more than 1,000 people commented on Abilene, asking what matters most to them as citizens and what can be done to help the entire community, Hunter said. The Campaign has 49 community partners, including YMCA Abilene, Noah Project and Boys and Girls Club of Abilene. These partners use donated
See
GOAL page 4
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Announcements
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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Calendar & Events
Wednesday
A blood drive will take place between Brown library and the Administration building.
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Thursday
7:30 p.m. A Young Republicans planning meeting will take place in the Political Science Office to plan for the 2008 political year. 7:30 p.m. The Rockin Extensions, State Bird and Dana Falconberry will play at Monks Coffee Shop. There will be a $5 cover charge per person. Free pie will be provided by Pie Wednesday extraordinaire Kathryn Short. This show will be Pilgrim and Indian themed. Costumes are encouraged.
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Friday
Purple Friday 7 p.m. Exposed, a senior art exhibit, will be on display at the Shore Art Gallery. 7 p.m. iDance, a dance party hosted by Essence of Ebony, will take place at Bennett Gym.
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Saturday
3 and 8 p.m. “Christmas Celebration III,” a Abilene Philharmonic Pops Concert, will take place at the Abilene Civic Center. This concert will feature the Classical Choruses of Abilene, the dancers of Shuffles and Ballet II from Little Rock, Ark., soloist Leslie Harper and returning soloists Mary Ann Robinson and Matt Newman. For more information, call (325) 677-6710 or (800) 460-0610.
8 p.m. ‘No Reservations’ will be shown for free in Cullen Auditorium. Drinks are $.50, and candy is $.25.
Volunteer Opportunities Hendrick Hospice Care needs volunteers to accept donations at its “Light up a Life” tree, which will be located at the Mall of Abilene in the courtyard in front of Dillard’s for men. Shifts are available seven days a week in two-hour increments until Jan. 5. For more information, contact
Jennifer Forrest or Brooke Hearon at (325) 677-8516. Volunteers are needed until Dec. 17 at the Salvation Army Angel Tree in the Mall of Abilene. Shifts are available MondaysSaturdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30-6 p.m. Volunteers are also needed at
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.
the Civic Center Dec. 17-Dec.22 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to organize presents, sort and display toys by age group, assemble food bags for families and assist during distribution days, which will be Dec. 21-23. For more information, contact Cecilia Barahona at (325) 677-1557. The third annual HEB Feast
of Sharing will be presented on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center and will continue throughout the evening. The Feast of Sharing brings the community together for a free Holiday meal, live entertainment, a children’s area and a Community Service Fair. Volunteers are needed to work shifts from 3-9 p.m.
Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
59 07
A Scholastic Book Fair will be held through Friday in the Curriculum and Materials Lab in the Education Building. Hours of operation are Wed. from 8-11 a.m. and noon-5 p.m.; Thurs. from 8-11 a.m. and noon-9 p.m.; and Fri. from 8-11 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. The Angel Tree booth will be set up in the Campus Center until Friday. Students may pick up a child’s name and purchase Christmas gifts for them. Gifts must be returned to the Volunteer ServiceLearning Center by Dec. 3. 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.
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Meals multiply appreciation By Karie Schmidt Student Reporter
The Service Action Leadership Team (SALT) campaigned to raise money for needy families for a Thanksgiving project, and it ended up raising more money than expected. About eight students volunteered their time working on the Thanksgiving committee, preparing to serve the Abilene community over the break. These students contacted Taylor elementary and received information that 50 families needed help with food over the holidays. The team started raising money for the families, asking for donations from many students in the ACU community. And through donations from social clubs, U-100 classes, the Students’
“The best part of this whole experience was to see how much the campus cares about the community.” Issac Bray, junior music education major from Abilene
Association, various residence halls and individual students, the SALT Thanksgiving committee raised almost $4,200. “The best part of this whole experience was to see how much the campus cares about the community,” said Issac Bray, junior music education major from Abilene and a member of the Thanksgiving committee. The committee had enough money to not only feed the 50 families from Taylor elementary, but they had enough money left to feed 26 additional families. The committee called
a help line to get all the information needed for the other families. Tara McKee, junior elementary major from Atlanta and a member of the committee, said they did run into one problem during this adventure. The way they received food for the families was from the food bank. The food bank provided them with all the food they needed for Thanksgiving, from the turkey all the way to the holiday fixings. McKee said the only problem was there was not enough food in the boxes for each family. With the extra money it had, the team
went to the super market and bought more food for the 76 families the SALT group sponsored. “We tried to get stuff that was practical; we got food that they could use anytime, and it worked out well,” McKee said. Both Bray and McKee agreed this was a rewarding experience and without the help from the ACU student body, this would not have been possible. “Everyone from school did a great job donating money; a lot of people showed up to help deliver meals, even people who are not in SALT,” Bray said. Bray said he believes this year could not have gone any better, and he expects the Thanksgiving committee will be helping next year. E-mail Schmidt at: optimist@acu.edu
McKinzie men form notable choir By Tanner Anderson Student Reporter
Viewers will see a group of 15 to 20 McKinzie Hall residents huddled around an open-flame grill at 10:45 p.m. on Monday nights. But these freshmen aren’t cooking out or roasting marshmallows; instead, they’re preparing for their weekly choir practice. The choir, which was formed this year, is named “Here Comes Trouble” and specializes in singing Christmas carols as well as other genres of music. The choir is also marketed on Face-
book as the McKinzie Choir. “We discovered in the hall that we have a lot of guys who really like to sing,” said Reid Overall, senior missions major from Abilene. “One night we were sitting out on the front steps, and we started building fires at night. Eventually people started singing.” Anyone who is a McKinzie Hall resident can join the new choir, but freshmen from other residence halls are not permitted to join. However, if other residence halls would like to create their own choir, RA’s from McKinzie said the
group welcomes the idea of having multiple residence hall choirs on campus. In fact, if other residence halls create a choir, the McKinzie men would like to issue them a “sing off” challenge. “We leave it out on the field every game,” said McKinzie RA Luke Cochran, sophomore financial management major from Round Rock. “We have several guys who can sing, dance and play the guitar.” Events and performances are in the works for the new choir, but more importantly, the choir provides an opportunity for the
freshmen to get to know one another. The two RA’s participate and monitor the choir meetings, but they say it’s the freshmen who have taken up most of the leadership roles. Not only has the choir allowed the freshmen a chance to take on more responsibility, but it has built cohesiveness and solidarity around the hall. “It’s built a great community; a group of diverse guys have come together through the passion of music,” Overall said. E-mail Anderson at: optimist@acu.edu
Page 3
Rocketboys take winter tour, hope for record deal By CJ Pierson Student Reporter
Popular ACU band Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys has been busy this semester playing gigs just about every weekend, including their breakthrough performance opening for the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September. On Sunday, the Rocketboys will have their end-of-semester/Christmas show at Monks Coffee Shop. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets cost $6. Bands Ivoryline and Panima will join the Rocketboys, and Sunday’s concert will be the first in a series of winter shows. The band’s first date on their upcoming tour is Dec. 7 in Forth Worth. On Dec. 8, the Rocketboys will play at Atone’s in Austin, where their performance will be taped and
broadcast live by ME TV and made into a DVD. Band member Philip Ellis, senior business management major from Van, mentioned the possibility of a music video. “We have talked about it for such a long time,” Ellis said. “We have everything worked out, and we know what we want and how to do it; it’s just not a No. 1 priority right now.” In regards to a full-length album, band member Daniel Wheeler, ACU alumnus, said the band wants to go full-time as early as next summer. “Hopefully getting on some big tours, I imagine around that time we will start thinking about full-length, getting in the studio and recording,” Wheeler said.
E-mail Pierson at: optimist@acu.edu
FROM THE FRONT / CAMPUS NEWS
Page 4
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Swingcats slated to swing dance at weekend workshop By Sondra Rodriguez Student Reporter
Swing Cats, ACU’s swing dance club, continues to grow through weekly practices, community performances, weekend trips and member dedication. The club’s mission is to promote and sustain interest in pre-1950 U.S. social swing dance culture, including music, dress and period-accurate dance styles, according to its mission statement. These goals are achieved through practices every Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m., comprised of an hour of instruction, followed by an hour of dance.
“Typically our Sundays revolve around building on what we did the previous week, as well as throwing in some new moves,” said Jessica Johnson, junior elementary education major from The Colony and president of Swing Cats. Additional practices are also conducted Tuesday nights. “It’s a really informal get-together for whoever is interested in learning on a more individual level,” said Cole Bennett, English professor and faculty adviser for Swing Cats. The group meets in various places throughout the community, such as the Hill-
Chapel: Some Thursday venues overcrowded Continued from page 1 there is nowhere else on campus for us. People have been writing their name down and leaving because it is so packed, and people just need credit.” Consuming Fire is a praise Chapel on Thursdays, and many students like praise Chapel versus other Chapels on Thursdays, Lollar said. “I went to Consuming Fire for weeks, and one
crest gymnasium or a private dance studio. Weekly practices prepare club members to perform at the Ethnos Culture Show, Abilene Artwalk and at retirement homes throughout the community. “We just finished our Ethnos performance, so now we’re getting back into the swing of learning new steps,” Johnson said. Members willing to dance publicly may participate in weekend trips to dance workshops in cities such as Dallas, Forth Worth, Austin and Houston.
“All around the U.S., there are workshops where people teach dance, and a group of Swing Cats will go. It’s not a competition, it’s just dance,” Bennett said. The club is planning a trip to Forth Worth the first weekend in December to attend “Buddy’s Big Band,” an event where an 18 to 20 piece big band plays, and people from all over the area come and swing dance,” he said. Such trips and practices were made possible by Bennett’s passion for swing dance and his proposal to start an on-campus club
dedicated to dance. However, due to school regulations, new members can only join at the start of each semester for an initial fee of $20, membership must be taken by officers within a certain number of weeks and practices must be held behind closed doors. “It’s a little hard being a dance club on campus,” Johnson said. However, the experience in the club has allowed Johnson to build relationships with other members. “Some of the people in the club are my best friends.
It has been a great experience,” she said. Swing Cats is open to all students, no dance experience is necessary. “We have a lot of people who have never done swing dancing before. We teach very basic skills that go from the bottom up. Anyone can join and pick it up, we just build new skills every week,” Johnson said. Those interested in Swing Cats may place membership at the beginning of the spring semester.
E-mail Rodriguez at: optimist@acu.edu
Plan: New additions under consideration Continued from page 1
week it was overly crowded,” said Megan Kay Pruitt, junior marketing major from Sugar Land. Pruitt said she sat in the hallway outside of Chapel on the Hill because it was standing room only inside. “I believe there is a lack of Chapel options for people on Thursdays, and therefore Chapels are overcrowded,” Lollar said.
In addition to the VLT’s work, ACU is also focusing on steps for immediate change, or what Money likes to call the “must-be-done-pronto list.” The administration plans to
E-mail Touchette at: optimist@acu.edu
funds to offer programs to the community that work to meet the vision’s five goals. United Way’s three investment committees decide how to allocate donations to each organization to carry out this year’s goals. United Way is pushing to reassess how and why funds are distributed to different agencies “in an effort to guarantee the donor dollars are spent in the best way possible, and true community needs are met,” Money said. As times change, so does the United Way, he said. “United Way is doing what matters most to our citizens,”
complete its $150 million centennial campaign, plan for new core curriculum and cocurriculum and create more “visible signs of quality.” Currently, the administration is considering a list of additions, Money said. The list includes enhancing the
study abroad program, building a recreation center and constructing a new science and technology facility. The administration aims to have around 1,000 entering freshmen every year. As demonstrated by the all-faculty and staff meeting,
Money strongly believes this effort requires everyone’s help to succeed. “If we work together and with God’s help, we can make this a reality,” Money said. E-mail Hettich at: optimist@acu.edu
Goal: ACU community collaborates on campaign Continued from page 1
Hunter said. Hundreds of volunteers from the community are working on this year’s campaign. ACU students are active United Way interns, and ACU volunteers help community partners. “The community efforts made by our college students are very important because we’re a big college town,” Hunter said. Faculty and staff have annually donated to the cause. “[They] have generous hearts and believe in helping people,” Hunter said. “Our motto at ACU is ‘Caring, Serving, and Excelling,’ and that’s what we’ve always tried to do,” Hunter said. ACU is annually recognized as a pacesetter for the campaign. Pacesetters are citizens who lead the way in
donation contributions. “They give the early campaign a big boost,” Hunter said. More than half a million dollars was raised by pacesetters at the start of this year’s campaign in early September. Twenty-three Cornerstone awards were also dispersed at an honorary report luncheon on Nov. 20. Cornerstone awards honors businesses whose entire employee staff participates in the campaign; churches, schools, businesses and government organizations were on the list. Teachers from elementary and middle schools were some of the most active contributors with more than 70 percent donating last year. Money donates to the campaign annually. “I am a big
believer in United Way. It is a great way to give back to the community,” he said. Money was on the United Way board of directors for six years, and was the campaign chair for one. “The campaign chair is the hardest volunteer job in Abilene because it is so complex and deals with thousands of gifts, but it is a great way to get to know Abilene,” Money said. This year’s campaign chair, Bob Hunter, said he hopes the Campaign “lifts up the entire community from the youngest, most fragile little ones to the elderly.” “Making one gift to the United Way will impact more than 50 community partners and reach a complete crosssection of the entire Abilene community,” Hunter said.
E-mail Linton at: optimist@acu.edu
FocusWednesday Page 5
November 28, 2007
Sound of Salvation
KATIE GAGER CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bell Ringer Freddie Britt received help from the Salvation Army, and now he’s returning the favor.
In his fifth year as a bell ringer, Freddie Britt rings a bell outside of Wal-Mart all day long to attract donations for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.
By Daniel Johnson Sports Editor
Freddie Britt spends his winter days and nights holding a small brass bell, a few steps away from a holiday icon. Standing at his familiar post in front of Wal-Mart, Freddie sports a standard issue Salvation Army jacket, cowboy boots and a smile while his bell’s familiar tone reminds patrons Christmas is coming soon — Freddie is a Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringer and to him, it is more than a holiday tradition. “A man told me one time, ‘If you enjoy your job it’s not a job,’” said Freddie, who is entering his fifth year as a bell ringer in Abilene. “If you spend all day long smiling and happy, it’s not a job; it’s something you enjoy.” And though the 50-yearold’s days can last up to 11 hours, he said the Red Kettle is his way to repay the second chance he got years ago. “I like helping people. I’d rather help people more than anything else in the world,” Freddie said. “There is no feeling better than helping people — that’s the best feeling you can get.” The Salvation Army is a worldwide, non-profit orga-
18 Red kETTLE LOCATIONS n Mall of Abilene- 3 kettles n Every Walgreens location n Every United Supermarket n Both WalMarts, at both entrances n Sam’s Club n Hobby Lobby n Steinmart on S. 27th n Big Lots
nization that provides social services and helps the poor and needy throughout the world. And like Freddie, the Salvation Army’s volunteers and employees in Abilene and across the globe participate in the Red Kettle campaign to remind shoppers that Christmas is more than a holiday sale; it is a time to help the world’s needy.
Working for ‘the Man’ Long before he ever donned the red Salvation Army jacket, Freddie dealt with homelessness, using drugs and looking for a place to spend the night. He found a bed at the Salvation Army’s headquarters Abilene at 1756 Butternut and got much more than a warm bed; Freddie found a community where he felt needed and welcomed. “When somebody comes in here, they don’t look at you like you just robbed a bank,” Freddie said. “They look at you like they want to help you up, and that’s the way they really mean it. They don’t do this job for the money; they do it for the love of helping each other.” Now, Freddie, who lives at the Abilene corps shelter, gives back to the community that saved him years ago in whatever way he can. The former truck driver cleans shelter beds early in the morning, helps with laundry and finds other ways to volunteer, but he said the biggest way is staying at his post, bell in hand and Red Kettle ready. “I just got tired of driving a truck and went to work for ‘the Man’,” Freddie explained while pointing to the sky. “I had 50 years of
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goofing off…and now I’ve got 50 years for the Salvation Army.” And though there are good days and bad days in front of Wal-Mart, Freddie trusts that “the Man’s” plans will come to fruition. “God’s gonna put in the kettle what he wants in it today, as long as I’m working, he’s gonna put it in there.” Freddie said. So six days a week Freddie brings a sack lunch, wears a handwritten name tag and serves with a Red Kettle for the Salvation Army.
Helpful tradition One hundred and seventeen years from its beginning, Freddie’s Red Kettle and others like it have become a tradition fused with the holiday shopping season. At 18 locations throughout Abilene and throughout the country and world, Red Kettles and their bell-ringing companions greet holiday shoppers from Nov. 16 to Christmas Eve. And like Salvation Army units across the nation and world, the funds in Abilene go directly to the needy during the holiday season. “Our big ask is during Christmas,” said Abilene corps business manager John David Alonzo. “It is during this season when you would see the bells because that money we receive in the kettles goes immediately to assist all the families in the community.” Alonzo said the collected donations buy food, clothes and toys go out to needy families in the Abilene area,
but donations have not been as strong as in past years. “Over the years, unfortunately the amount we have been receiving in the kettles has gone down, and I guess what the consensus is that a lot of people are doing online shopping,” Alonzo said. Business Week reported that on “Cyber Monday,” — the first day of the online holiday shopping season — more than $700 million was spent online. For the Salvation Army that means less people walking in or out of retail stores and KATIE GAGER CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER less dona- Many people help the Salvation Army raise money in its Red Kettle campaign that tions for the begins annually on Thanksgiving. needy. “That’s where it looks like society is beginning in England where die will greet holiday shopheaded to much more simple Army captain Joseph McFee pers with a ring. and convenient methods,” used a pot to raise money “If I’m out there one day Alonzo said. for a Christmas dinner for and help one family this And in response, the Army the area’s poor. year, if one person gets one unveiled online Red Kettles “It’s evolved just as shop- present this year, I feel like that people can host and ping has evolved,” Alonzo said. I’ve done something,” Fredhelp raise money through But whatever the Salva- die said. the Web. The new digital tion Army has in store for Kettle is leagues away from the Red Kettle is here to the iconic Kettle’s humble stay, and people like FredE-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
ViewsWednesday Optimist
Page 6
November 28, 2007
Inconsistencies of death penalty show need for change The problem:
Capital punishment in the United States is inconsistent, and sometimes the judicial system kills innocent people. It costs more to kill someone than it does to imprison them for life.
Our view:
We believe the death penalty is wrong and should be replaced by a lifetime sentence. Doing so would eliminate wrongful deaths and place less burden on the taxpayers.
The execution of Angel Nieves Diaz by lethal injection lasted 34 minutes instead of a seven to 11 minute average. After the first dose of drugs, the inmate continued to move; he squinted and grimaced as he tried to speak. A second dose finally killed him, but after how much suffering? Sadly, cases like Diaz’s happen. In the last 25 years, the Death Penalty Information Center has recorded 40 executions with irregularities either during asphyxiation, electrocution or lethal injection. Most of the problems occur during lethal injections on inmates with a history of drug abuse, whose veins can be difficult to locate. Because the ethics code prohibits doctors and nurses to participate in executions, it takes more time for execution teams to find useable veins. Thus, the lack of qualified personnel increases the risk of mistakes. The lethal injection requires expertise; the protocol consists of three separate injections, including a first dose of anesthetics, which makes the convict lose consciousness. Research from four Southern states revealed in 2005 that 43 out of 49 executed inmates had less anesthetics in their blood than patients who have surgery. More
alarming: 21 of them had a concentration of anesthetics consistent with awareness. The same study found that the personnel who inject anesthetics in Texas and Virginia had no training for it. Because of issues regarding lethal injection, the number of executions this year will reach its lowest rate since 1994. Most states, including Texas, have halted executions since the U.S. Supreme Court announced in September that it will re-examine the process of lethal injection. Nevertheless, the Lone Star State has already recorded more executions this year than in 2006. Why does Texas, a land of Christian fervor, account for 26 of the United States’ 42 executions in 2007? Partisans of the death penalty recall the Old Testament and its law of “an eye for an eye.” Indeed, Exodus says certain crimes like murder and kidnapping deserve death, but it also includes a man sleeping with another man. Opponents of the death penalty object that Jesus, in the Beatitudes, taught his followers to love their enemies. John Williams, professor emeritus of French, says he rejects the death penalty as a Christian because of Jesus’ preaching; however, he understands the obligation
The solution:
Texas and the 37 other U.S. states should abolish the death penalty and replace it with a sentence of lifetime without parole.
of a government to protect its citizens from criminals. Williams compares the death penalty to wars because in both cases, governments take the right to kill people. More people reject the death penalty than war, but, paradoxically, Williams says he feels more insecure about murderers in his own country than about criminals in Iraq, for example. Capital punishment does assure that a murderer will not harm again. Unfortunately, courts sometimes convict the wrong suspect. The Death Penalty Information Center has recorded 124 cases in which innocent people were released from the death row since 1973. No historical case has ever proved the execution of an innocent, but serious doubts remain on the guilt of several executed prisoners. In 1993, the state of Texas executed Robert Cantu for a murder committed during an attempted robbery. Juan Moreno, an eyewitness and illegal immigrant at the time, revealed after the execution that Cantu did not commit the crime, but the police pressured him to identify Cantu. Sam Millsap, the district attorney who charged Cantu with capital murder, admitted later that he never should have sought the death penalty if he had known all the facts. But partisans of the death penalty believe it deters crime and argue that it costs less than life imprisonment. However, research of the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 2002 concluded that the capital punishment doesn’t deter murder more than life imprisonment does. Fred Bailey, chair of the Department of History, says that even in societies where such punishments are sure and public, desperate people still break the law. “I believe that it makes a society more brutal than more civilized,” he says. As for the costs, studies made in seven states, including Texas, surprisingly reveal that overall death penalty costs more than life imprisonment. Indeed, trials for capital punishment require more experts and attorneys, and last longer because of the appeal process. Why preserve the death penalty when life without parole offers the same main advantage — keeping criminals away from the society? This country remains in company of notorious human right abusers like China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and Sudan, the five countries that counted the most executions in 2006. Shamefully, the United States ranked no. 6 that year. Texas and 37 other U.S. states should abandon the death penalty in favor of life without parole.
E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu
Christians can learn from atheist Sunday school curriculum Go to a Sunday school class around Abilene and notice the curriculum. Depending on the age group, you will learn stories or study the Bible. However, Fields of in Palo Alto, Dreams Calif., a different kind Jared of Sunday Fields school class has begun. It’s a class for atheists. A recent Time magazine
article says groups such as the one in California are forming to give atheistic parents a similar social setting to take their kids. What I can remember from childhood Sunday school classes should be fairly common. We learned popular Bible stories and tried to memorize things like the books of the Bible. As I got older, Sunday school turned into Bible studies. While I’m not saying these serve no benefit, a Sunday school class could teach young Christians more
Even at a private, Christian university, I rarely hear a Christian’s logical explanation for their faith.
than a deeper understanding of scripture. There at the Humanist Community Center where people meet for class, atheist “Sunday school” involves singing, arts and critical thinking. Older age-group classes discuss how to be an atheist in a religious nation. In the Time article, some said they want their children to learn how to defend their belief, or non-belief, especial-
ly if denouncing a belief in God or any “higher being.” While the Harris Interactive poll and the Institute for Humanist Studies reports that 27 and 14 percent, respectively, of Americans claim no belief in any higher religious power, Christian Sunday schools could learn from the atheists approach to Sunday morning class. Christians should learn how to logically defend their
faith just as the atheists in Palo Alto have learned to do. We need to learn more than just stories from the Bible. We need to learn why we believe what we believe. Living with an atheistic roommate, I’ve had to think through responses about my belief with more of an answer than, “Cuz the Bible says so.” Talking to people, you will find many confident in their opinion of America’s receding economy, the Cowboys’ chances at making the Super Bowl or President Bush’s blunders overseas.
But even at a private, Christian university, I rarely hear a Christian’s logical explanation for their faith. I would enjoy hearing it more often, and to discuss believing in evolution or the Big Bang Theory as well as Christianity. Until then, we need to reexamine our lesson plans, and take some lessons from the classes in California.
E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
Black Friday illustrates insane growth of American materialism After a lazy Thanksgiving Day spent stuffing myself, halfway watching the Cowboys dominate and marveling at the fluffiest snowflakes ever to fall, I braved the cold to catch Soar a movie. T h e Subjects ThanksgivKelsi ing-night Peace movie has a l w a y s smacked of anti-social, awkward families to me, but sharing a movie with loved ones pales in comparison to the hordes who waited outside Radio Shack in the frigid air.
Forget Thanksgiving Day with the family — sales wait to be shopped on the aptly named “Black Friday.” The Dallas Morning News reported that this year, shoppers lined up earlier than ever, eager to garner one of the door-buster sales stores offered. Some stores opened at midnight, a new bow at the throne of consumerism that encourages people to leave their families even earlier to line up. I hope that discounted HDTV justifies cutting out before grandma can serve coffee. Apparently for 14.3 percent of adults surveyed by the National Retail Federation (NRF), cold weather and early morning lines are a small price to pay — they scampered to line up before 4 a.m. Friday.
The insatiable lust for more is best represented by the ridiculous phenomenon of Black Friday. These early risers join the ranks of 147 million shoppers, 4.8 percent more than last year, who scamper to uproot the best sale and keep up the family tradition. Don’t get me wrong — most year’s I’m a statistic myself, braving the frantic shoppers with Starbucks in hand. The astonishing and, well, disturbing aspect of this whole event is how grossly out of proportion it has grown. Business Week reported that about 48 percent of surveyed adults carry a higher credit balance this year than last year — and half of those
with higher credit say they plan to spend less. The NRF report almost supports this effort, with the average consumer spending $348 this year compared to $360 last year. Even so, a $12 difference does little to allay such mounting debt. Surely the average consumer doesn’t believe such a small change will counter rising debt. And our spending rises with our debt, with retailers raking in an estimated $474 billion by the end of the Christmas season. For those who didn’t brave
the physical crowds at the mall, Monday offered a chance to battle virtual crowds, as an estimated 72 million surfed the Internet for gifts on what is now called “Cyber Monday.” Last year, 60.7 million logged on for Christmas gifts on Cyber Monday. The insatiable lust for more is best represented by the ridiculous phenomenon of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. What may be lighthearted renders others slaves to the desire to possess — so much so that people will forsake time with family and friends to shiver in the bitter cold or wait in insanely long lines to purchase this season’s hot item. We’ve known for quite some time that a mutated breed of obsessive shoppers turns up at Christmas
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
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— let’s remember the Tickle Me Elmo fad or the million-dollar E-bay Beanie Baby sales. But this year’s craze is apparently to pretend to cut back, stand in line earlier and hope that $20 discount somehow helps a stifling credit card debt. I wonder how many diehards outside Radio Shack on Thursday vowed to spend less this year. I wonder if the door busters justified waiting in the frigid mist on a holiday. And I wonder why we willfully line up at midnight to spend money we apparently don’t possess. Call me crazy, but I think things have spiraled out of control.
E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Chadron St. 76, ACU 73 ACU 21 14 14 7 17 — 73 Chadron St. 14 0 6 36 20 — 76
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior wide receiver Johnny Knox slips past two Mesa State defenders during ACU’s first NCAA Division II playoff win. ACU beat Mesa St. 56-12.
Stunner: Wildcats finish with 10 wins Continued from page 8 touchdowns in addition to another 79 yards receiving one receiving touchdown. The junior running back scored all six of his touchdown in the first three quarters of the game, scoring on runs of 44, 2, 5, 46 and 90 yards and taking a catch 55 yards for another touchdown. Scott’s six touchdowns put his season total at 39, which surpassed former Wildcats and NFL running back Wilbert Montgomery’s 1973 record. While Scott and ACU’s offense scored fast and frequently, ACU’s defense may have gotten tired out by the constant change of possession and lost the edge that helped them hold Chadron to only 20 points in the first three quarters. “We were on the field for over 112 plays; that is pretty tough,” Thomsen said. Senior linebacker Cody Stutts said the icy field conditions were difficult to deal with, but ultimately Stutts said the Wildcats have nobody to blame but themselves. “There are no excuses,” said Stutts, who led the Wildcats with 15 tackles. “Overall we didn’t finish the game on offense and defense.” Despite the unpleasant exit, Thomsen said the way the Wildcats finished the season, in no way reflects the steps ACU has pro-
gressed in his three years heading the program. “That was a disappointing way to lose,” said Thomsen, who was named Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year for the second-straight year. “But I don’t want to detract from what our seniors were able to because it was definitely a good step for our program and our guys are to be commended for their work this year.” The loss dropped ACU to 10-3, and capped off the first 10-win season posted by an ACU football team in 30 years. ACU bested last season’s 8-3 record, and the Wildcats hosted and won their first NCAA Division II playoff games with a dominating 56-12 win over Mesa State on Nov. 17. ACU’s offense finished with 7082 total yards, which was the second-best NCAA total behind Texas Tech. Junior quarterback Billy Malone, Scott and wide receivers Jerale Badon made history by becoming the first team in college football history to have a quarterback with more than 3,500 passing yards, a running back with more than 2,000 yards rushing and two receivers with more than 1,000 receiving yards. And all four of ACU’s front four offensive weapons had record-breaking seasons: Badon set a number of ACU and LSC receiving records in his senior season, Malone’s 361 yards and five touchdown throws in Chadron, Neb. put
First Quarter ACU — Bernard Scott 46 run (Matt Adams kick), 12:32 CSC — Danny Woodhead 2 run (Travis Atter kick), 6:25 ACU — Scott 2 run (Adams kick), 6:06 CSC — Woodhead 3 run (Atter kick), 2:36 ACU — Scott 5 run (Adams kick), 1:14 Second Quarter ACU — Johnny Knox 12 pass from Billy Malone (Adams kick), 14:54 ACU — Scott 44 run (Adams kick), 4:19 Third Quarter CSC — Isaac Stockton 2 pass from Joe McLain (Atter kick failed), 6:49 ACU — Scott 55 pass from Malone (Adams kick), 5:06 ACU — Scott 90 run (Adams kick), 2:49 Fourth Quarter CSC — Joel Schommer 22 pass from McLain (Atter kick), 14:00 CSC — Woodhead 16 pass from McLain (Atter kick), 13:13 ACU — Kendrick Holloway 13 pass from Malone (Adams kick), 10:52 CSC — Aaron Cooksley 16 pass from McLain (McLain pass failed), 8:52 CSC — Woodhead 3 run (McLain pass failed), 4:39 CSC — FG Atter 25, 1:54 CSC — Schommer 17 pass from McLain (Atters kick), 0:17 Overtime ACU — Jerale Badon pass from Malone (Adams kick), 15:00 CSC — McLain 1 run (Atters kick), 15:00 ACU — Knox 7 pass from Malone (Adams kick), 15:00 CSC — Stockton 4 yd pass from McLain (Atter kick), 15:00 ACU — FG Adams 21, 15:00 CSC — McLain 12 run, 15:00 Team Statistics ACU MSU First downs 21 41 Total net yards 653 716 Rushing yards 29-292 54-273 Passing yards 361 443 Kickoff returns 10-209 9-161 Interceptions/Ret. 3-11 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 23-38-1 37-62-3 Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 1-5 Punts/Avg. 5-32 2-32 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 11-80 6-35 Time of Possession 20:00 40:00 Individual Statistics Rushing — ACU: Scott 22-303; Gates 2-5. CSC: Woodhead 39-188; McLain 14-84. Passing — ACU: Malone 23-38-5. CSC: McLain 37-62-6. Receiving — ACU: Badon 10-178; Scott 4-80; Turtle Conner 2-30; Knox 2-19; Edmund Gates 2-15; Chris Morris 1-24; Holloway 1-13. CSC: Brandon Harrington 9-141; Stockton 9-105; Schommer 8-101; Woodhead 5-49; Landon Ehlers 3-18; Cooksley 1-18.
his season total at 3,914 with 37 touchdowns thrown, Knox caught two passes in the end zone and finished the season with a team-high 17 touchdown receptions and Scott broke numerous ACU and conference records with his 2,165 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns. And after a heartbreaking end to a record-breaking season, Thomsen is ready for another playoff run. “Really more than anything it was just a learning experience about what it takes to play at the next level,” Thomsen said. “The further you go [in the playoffs] the more you progress and the more lessons you learn on what it takes to get there.” E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
Unbeaten: LSC play starts Thursday Continued from page 8 its season opener against Hillsdale Baptist, winning 92-55. The Cats led from the beginning, and junior forward Dejan Sencanski led the offense with 20 points. Adams also had a good game with 15 points and 10 rebounds. “I think we’ve continued to get better with each game,” Copeland said. “There are some things we’re recognizing that we need to get better with. We’ve got to get better on our half-court setting. Our offense is good, but we need to do better in the half-court.”
Page 7
SPORTS JUMPS
ACU 101, TX permian 79 Texas Permian-Basin ACU
24 44
55 — 79 57 — 101
Texas Permian-Basin (79)— Harper 1-7 0-1 2, Bailey 7-14 2-2 18, Lipkins 7-11 6-8 23, Jones 4-10 3-4 11, Harris 3-8 0-1 6, Thomas 3-7 0-0 8, Wheeler 1-5 2-4 4, Gay 1-4 1-2 3, Arnott 1-1 0-1 3, Spears 0-2 1-1 1, Dunlap 0-0 0-0 0. ACU (101) — Callahan 6-12 5-6 17, Ragland 8-14 0-0 20, Musa 3-4 4-6 10, Holson 3-3 4-6 13, Sencanski 4-9 1-1 9, Adams 5-8 0-2 12, Oestriech 3-4 0-0 6, Wagner 3-3 0-1 6, Nikolic 2-4 0-0 4, Ross 2-4 0-2 4, Norman 0-3 0-0 0. 3-Point Goals — Texas Permian-Basin 8-23 (Lipkins 3-5, Bailey 2-5, Thomas 2-5, Arnott 1-1, Harper 0-2, Harris 0-2, Jones 0-1), ACU 9-21 (Ragland 4-7, Holson 3-3, Adams 2-5, Sencanski 0-5, Callahan 0-1). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Texas Permian-Basin 38 (Jones 8), ACU 42 (Sencanski 9). Assists — Texas Permian-Basin 11 (Lipkins/Bailey 3), ACU 25 (Callahan 7). Total Fouls — Texas Permian-Basin 17, ACU 19. Technical Fouls — Texas Permian-Basin - None, ACU - None. Attendence — 575.
Callahan agrees that the team as a whole is working with each other better as each game progresses. “I believe we’re working hard, and getting better by the day,” Callahan said.
The Wildcats return to action Thursday in their Lone Star Conference opener against Northeastern State at 8 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu
Intramural softball returns to fall By Chandler Harris Student Reporter
The intramural softball season is underway in the fall for the first time in three years. The 1-1 softball league consists of four separate leagues, two men and two women, with a 25 total teams, an improvement from last year’s 24 teams. “We decided to move the softball season into the fall this year because in the spring we run into rainy problems, and the season could get cut short,” said Danny Kittley, director of intramural sports. “It has been so far, so good. We have been playing on the weekends as well as Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons before it gets dark.” Kittley said that softball may not end before the semester. “It’s hard to tell, but it appears that we won’t finish the regular season this se-
Intramurals mester,” he said. “If not, we will just pick up where we left off when we return from the holidays. This way we can play a full season of five or six weeks before starting the playoffs.” With the season only two weeks young, it is hard to tell whom the favorites are, Kittley said. Conner Halstead, sophomore youth and family ministry major from The Woodlands, plays for the defending Rec League champion, Team Dunder Mifflin, now of the Men’s Champ League. “I think it was a great idea to move the season to the fall,” Halstead said. “Last year, we had so many rain-outs and barely were able to finish the season. This year, if we have rain-outs, we will still have a chance to complete the season next semester. My only concern is having to play in
this cold weather.” Brad Miller, sophomore business marketing major from Austin and Gamma Sigma Phi Team 3 captain, is happy the season is being played in the fall this year. “There are some disadvantages but overall, because of the rain and unpredictable West Texas weather, I think it makes more sense to play the season in the fall,” Miller said. In addition to the fall softball league, the intramural office plans to hold a spring 3-2 softball tournament. “The spring tournament will be held in late March or early April and should take place over a weekend,” Kittley said. For schedules and more information about intramural softball contact the intramural office at 325-674-2555.
E-mail Harris at: optimist@acu.edu
History: Men win national title Continued from page 8 surprised Naimadu. “Not only for ACU winning for a second year in a row, but for my fourth championship accomplishment.” Naimadu’s “accomplishment” secured him a spot in NCAA history; in a time of 29:39.7 he finished first at the national race for the fourth year in a row, something no athlete at any collegiate level has done. Naimadu, who was coming off a five-week knee injury, stayed with the other runners most of the way until there was about a mile left, then he made a move and took the lead. “The only thing I didn’t know I didn’t know how my leg would respond, so I had to stay until I could just how it would respond,” Naimadu said. Once he broke away, Naimadu took a substantial
lead and finished the race with a little flare — he lifted his arms for the last 200 or 300 meters as the small crowed cheered him to the finish line. “He was flashing four fingers probably the last quarter mile and pretty much all the way down the track and everybody was giving him the recognition he deserved,” Hood said. When Naimadu crossed the finish line, it not only passed the four athletes that have won three-straight, one of which was University of Oregon’s legendary runner Steve Prefontaine but helped the men to their secondstraight title. Matched with a third place finish from junior Julius Nyango, a sixth place finish from junior Serge Gasore a 29th place finish from sophomore Philip Birgen and a 30th place finish from freshman Amos Sang,
ACU won the men’s team title with 59 points. “It showed me that the good effort we put early in the morning training and working out, and being pushed by the coach really was worth it,” Naimadu said. Adams State and Western (Colo,) State finished in a tie for second with 66 points and Grand Valley (Mich.) State was a distant third with 152 points. The women finished seventh with 216 points, behind a second place finish by freshman Winrose Karunda, who was running in only her second meet attached to ACU. “They’ve just done everything that we’ve asked to do trained hard and it’s paid off, we’re arriving back in Abilene with another championship trophy,” Hood said.
E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu
SportsWednesday Optimist
Page 8
ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Monday
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 12-2 10-3 9-2 8-3 3-8 2-8 5-6
Men’s Basketball
Team
Tarleton St. Angelo St. ACU TAMU-K WTAMU ENMU MSU
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 4-0 3-0 3-0 3-0 3-2 2-3 1-3
Women’s Basketball
Team
Tarleton St. Angelo St. TAMU-K WTAMU TX Woman’s ENMU ACU MSU
Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 1-0 3-1 3-1 2-2 1-2 1-4 0-3 0-3
Scores Saturday FOOTBALL Chadron State 76, ACU 73 (3OT)
Monday MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 101, Texas Permian-Basin 79
Upcoming Thursday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Northeastern State, 6 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Northeastern State, 8 p.m.
Saturday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Central Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU vs. Central Oklahoma, 4 p.m. n Home games listed in italics
Briefs Scott named finalist for the Harlon Hill Award n ACU running back Bernard Scott is one of nine finalists for this year’s Harlon Hill Award, which is awarded to the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Voting will conclude Nov. 30, and the top three players will be invited to Scott the Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet in Florence, Ala. The presentation will be on Friday, Dec. 14, one day before the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game.
Intramural Round-up
Record-book season ends in triple overtime stunner Sports Editor
One of the best football seasons in school history came to a screeching halt Saturday after the Wildcats were knocked out of the NCAA Division II playoffs in a heartbreaking 76-73 triple-overtime loss to Chadron State. What began as another dominant ACU playoff performance soon turned sour after a shocking fourth-quarter comeback by the No. 2 Eagles ended the Wildcats’ season. After three quarters of overwhelming offense, the Wildcats held a 49-20 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter and slowly watched it slip away. The Eagles scored 56 points in the last quarter and three overtimes
One for the Books
Football
By Daniel Johnson
Chadron St. 76, ACU 73
The Wildcat football team set numerous school records and milestones in its 10-3 season. Below are just a few of the records ACU set as a team:
to steal a win from ACU. “When you get in some of the track meets that we’ve been in, you got to keep scoring,” said head coach Chris Thomsen. Chadron forced three overtimes, and after the Eagles held ACU to a field goal in the third overtime, the Eagles marched down the field, and Chadron quarterback Joe McLain leaped into the end zone to win the game. ACU ruled the first three quarters after Harlon Hill finalist Bernard Scott posted a school record 303 rushing yards and five rushing See
STUNNER page 7
n Points Scored – 639 n Points Per Game – 49.2 n Total Yards – 7,082 n Passing Yards – 4,082 n Rushing Yards – 3,000 n Yards Per Game – 544.8 n First Downs – 309 n Rushing Touchdowns – 50 n Passing Touchdowns – 37 BRIAN SCHMIDT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior quarterback Billy Malone evades a Mesa State tackler during a playoff game on Nov. 17. Malone threw five touchdowns in Saturday’s game.
n First NCAA Division II playoff win n First 10-win season since 1977
Naimadu wins title, makes history
ACU leaps to 3-0 start Cats remain unbeaten with 22-point win By Rachel Davis
By Daniel Johnson
Opinion Editor
Sports Editor
Senior guard Corwin Ragland led the undefeated Wildcats to a 101-79 victory over the 1-4 University of Texas-Permian Basin Falcons in Moody Coliseum Monday night. ACU scored first in the game, and while the defense allowed a few tying scores, the Cats never gave up the lead. Men’s Basketball A n d ACU 101, UT-PB 79 going i n t o halftime, ACU was up 4424. “I thought our defense really let us down in the second half,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “They held them to 24 points in the first half, and then letting them score that much in the second half was unacceptable.” During the second half, ACU was up 34 points on the Falcons with 4:45 left to play. “I thought we did a good job sharing the basketball,” Copeland said. “We had 25 assists, and I think that was a big part of us being able to score 101 points.” Ragland and two other Wildcats scored in the double digits, helping to lead the offensive onslaught. Senior guard Brandon Callahan put 17 points on the board for ACU, and junior guard Dante’ Adams scored 12 points. “I think the bench played really well and gave a lot of positive minutes,” Callahan said. “We just need to cut
Four-time individual cross country champion Nicodemus Naimadu and the men’s and women’s cross country teams got a hero’s welcome when they returned from the national championships in Joplin, Mo. on Nov. 18. As the team’s white travel bus braked in front of Elmer Gray Stadium, balloons, banners, cake, erratic car horns and more than 50 ACU cross country fans awaited the bus full of champions just a day removed from their run in MisNaimadu souri. Naimadu won his fourth-straight and NCAA record individual championship, the men won their second-straight team championship and the women completed their goal by finishing in the top ten of the national meet. “Last year it was just my wife and kids and my brother’s wife and kids, so this is great,” said head cross country coach Derek Hood. Naimadu was the first off the bus, and he ran down the steps holding the men’s championship trophy above his head as silly string covered the senior from Narok, Kenya. His teammates followed. “I think this is the best welcome that we have ever been welcomed at any event that we have gone to,” said a
TODD Piersall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior guard Brandon Callahan dribbles around Texas Permian-Basin forward Keenan Gay during ACU’s 101-79 win over the Falcons on Monday. Callahan scored 17 points and was one of three ACU players to score double digits. down on our turnovers.” Ragland and Callahan also helped to put up points in the Wildcats’ previous victories in the ACU Classic Tour-
nament on Nov. 16 and 17. In the game against Division I opponent Houston Baptist, Ragland scored 21 points in his Wildcat debut,
and Callahan contributed 15 points in the 84-72 win. ACU also dominated in See
UNBEATEN page 7
See
HISTORY page 7
Women start season with three-straight losses By Michael Freeman Assistant Sports Editor
n The intramural information in the Optimist is subject to change and is not permanent. Any changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum. SOFTBALL Gamma Sigma Phi - Brian Lord vs. Frats, Men’s Champ League, Thursday, 4:50 p.m.
WATERBALL Sign-up deadline: Thursday, Nov. 29 Dates: Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 Price: $100 per team
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 28, 2007
TODD PIERSALL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sophomore guard Kelsey Darby takes a shot against Lubbock Christian on Nov. 10.
Last season, the ACU women’s basketball team started its season with seven straight victories. This season, they are off to the same start — only in the opposite direction. The Wildcats started their season 0-3 after losing their first three road games. “We still have a lot of the season left,” said head coach Shawna Lavender. “I think the important thing for us is to remain confident and not change the expectations for the goals we set for this year.” ACU began its season in Austin on Nov. 16 against Incarnate Word. Despite having a six-point lead going into halftime, the Wildcats lost 59-51 after a poor second half shooting performance. ACU’s shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line was only five percent (1-20) for the game. Sophomore forward Jody Meyer posted a double-double in the game with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Women’s Basketball ACU tried to rebound on Nov. 20 against St. Edward’s, but this time the Wildcats lost 88-85 in an overtime heartbreaker. Senior guard Alex Guiton led the Wildcats with 26 points, while junior center Audrey Maxwell contributed with 19 points and 10 rebounds. But their efforts were not enough as the St. Edward’s bench outscored ACU’s bench 38-23 in the game. “We work hard in practice and do the little things,” Lavender said. “But when it comes game time, we forget those things.” On Nov. 20, the Wildcats played St. Mary’s, but again came up a little short. With one second remaining in the game, St. Mary’s guard Farron Fox hit a jump shot to give the Rattlers a 66-64 victory. But the loss did have its highlights, namely the Wildcats’ valiant comeback with less than three minutes left in the game. ACU trailed 61-54 with 2:19 in the fourth quarter before Guiton
converted a three-point play. Guiton later hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to tie the game at 64-64. Sophomore guard Kelsey Darby posted a career-best performance of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Guiton had 13 points and sophomore forward Jamie Meyer finished with 11 points. “For us, it comes down to fundamentals,” Lavender said. “We know we’re good enough to beat those teams and we should beat those teams. But if we don’t do the little things, that’s going to come back to bite you.” ACU’s latest game was a rematch with Incarnate Word in San Antonio on Tuesday. The results were not available by press time. The Wildcats’ next game will be its home-opener against Northeastern State this Thursday at 6 p.m. “I’d rather lose the first three games of the year than the last three games,” Lavender said. “We can only get better from here.” E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu