The Optimist - March 18, 2009

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009 :: Vol. 97, No. 42 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

Pg. 3

Multicultural Enrichment office presents one-man show

Pg. 5

Pg. 8 Nationally ranked Wildcats split weekend series Pg. 8

The most altruistic meal of the day: Breakfast ministry helps homeless

ACU athlete wins NCAA heptathalon national title

Cabinet members say SA moving past impeachment

By Daniel Johnson-Kim Editor in Chief

New Students’ Association President Sarah Pulis said the SA Congress is focused on looking forward and moving past the impeachment of her predecessor Daniel Paul Watkins, which rose after

long-lasting issues among the Cabinet members.

In her first interview since she became SA President, Pulis, senior political science major from Longview, argued the impeachment was a legitimate process that was a final solution to resolve issues of unethical behavior, deception and

divisive actions by Watkins, senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va. “I think that the impeachment was the right decision, not only for our Cabinet, but our student body,” Pulis said.

The Students’ Association Congress voted 25-5-2 to impeach Watkins on March

4. In the impeachment hearing, which was closed to the public, Chief Financial Officer Luke Cochran charged Watkins with failure “to lead the Students’ Association in a positive manner,” accused him of “disrespect for the Abilene Christian University community” and said he did

not “adhere to the ethical standards of conduct as noted in the Abilene Christian University Campus Policies.”

Cochran said Watkins also damaged a chair worth more than $250 and damaged a framed picture in the SA Congress office that would have cost more than $200 to re-

place. Cochran said rather than spend students’ money on replacing the frame, the Cabinet members chose to purchase a cheaper frame.

Watkins refuted the charges and declared the impeachment was unconstitutional See

SA page 4

‘A Question of When’

By Colter Hettich Features Editor

Courtesy of Tittle Luther Architecture

Possible features of the ACU Student Recreation and Wellness Center

Early plans for the ACU Student Recreation and Wellness Center include a rock climbing wall that would be available for students to use.

More than 9,000 square feet in the SRWC will be reserved to house weight lifting equipment that students can use on a regular basis.

A “sunning area” will give students a place to work on their tan. The area will be built next to the new leisure swimming pool adjacent to the existing pool.

10,000 square feet of new aerobic space will be built on the second floor of the SRWC to meet a student demand for treadmills and other aerobic machines.

At least one new “multifunctional” gym will be built for a total of 21,402 square feet of gymnasium space equipped for basketball and other sports and activities.

The existing swimming pool in the Gibson Health and P.E. Center will be remodeled and a 5,000 square-foot leisure pool will be built in the SRWC.

Rec Center takes top spot in implementation of vision

S

ome first year students fear weight gain, but ACU has a facility in mind that could make the “freshman fifteen” a thing of the past.

The ACU Student Recreation and Wellness Center, SRWC, will cover 100,000 square feet of two stories. The eastern section of the Gibson Health and P.E. Center, including the double gym, single gym and racquetball courts, will be demolished or remodeled.

Sixteen parking spaces between the Amphitheatre and tennis courts will be removed to make room for the new center.

“We’re looking at the gaps in the total student experience, and there are some gaps,” said Phil Boone, assistant vice president for development. “[The SRWC] is the No. 1 priority of the 21st Century Vision.”

At its core, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center is a tool the university thinks will attract, recruit and retain students, Boone said. He said many incoming and enrolled students expect access to a place on campus where they can workout

or play pick-up games of various sports; the minds behind ACU’s SRWC tailored the facility to student needs.

“Student use is the No. 1 driving factor in these decisions, and the two things students said the most were free time and court space and ample use of cardiovascular equipment,” Boone said. “Basically, you walk in and always have a machine available. That really is the goal.”

Recreation centers that students enjoy today evolved over decades. In Trends in Collegiate Recreational Sports Facilities, Craig T. Bogar examined the evolution process.

The University of Michigan constructed an Intramural Sports Building on campus in 1928. The $743,000 facility featured 13 squash courts, 14 handball courts and 3,000 lockers. The Intramural Sports Building is one of the earliest examples of an on-campus building dedicated to recreational sports.

Similar structures began popping up all over the country. In 1972, Title IX of the Education See

Rec Center page 4

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Christina Cortinez, freshman elementary education major from Abilene, and other students exercise in the south exercise room in Gibson Health and P.E. Center. ACU is raising funds to build a new recreation and wellness center.

ACU students testify in Woodruff murder trial

Malagasy president resigns after coup

By Michael Freeman

Marc Ravalomanana, president of Madagascar, resigned Tuesday, a day after soldiers overtook a presidential palace and the central bank in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and an opposition leader commanded the army to arrest the island country’s president.

Managing Editor

Testimony in the capital murder trial of former ACU student Brandon Dale Woodruff continued Tuesday in the 354th District Court in Hunt County after testimonies from current and former ACU students.

Staff Report

Prosecutors have alleged Woodruff killed his parents in October 2005; he has pleaded not guilty.

After nine days into the trial, Texas Ranger Jeff Collins, the lead investigator; Dr. Lynn Salzberger, medical examiner See

Trial page 4

Ravalomanana, who visited ACU’s campus twice and spoke at the May 2008 Commencement, announced he was dissolving the country’s government and handing power over to the military, which stormed the gates of the unoccupied palace Monday with several tanks and armored vehicles, according to the Associated Press.

Randy Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital city, has led weeks of protests against Ravalomanana. Rajoelina, a former disc jockey, accused Ravalomanana of corruption and running a dictatorship. Rajoelina declared himself the leader of a transitional government during the weekend and

ACU WEATHER

said no public elections will take place in two years, according to the AP. According to the Times of London, the majority of the country’s army was behind opposition leader Rajoelina, but several military personnel still were supporting the president.

See

Online Poll :

Wednesday

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High: 85 Low: 51

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High: 72 Low: 58

Abilene Christian University

How do you feel about the ACU Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

a. It’s about time. b. What a waste of money. c. If they build it, students will come. d. When does construction begin?

Videos :: Podcasts :: Slideshows Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::

Coup page 4

acuoptimist.com ::

Serving the ACU community since 1912

2

Campus Day Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Calendar and Events

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Wednesday

3:30 p.m.

The Abilene Reporter-News will sponsor a demonstration of its e-edition newspaper at Java City on Ambler Avenue.

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Thursday

7 p.m.

Faces of America will be presented at the Paramount Theatre. The show is free to the public. For more information, go to www. facesandvoices.com or e-mail George Pendergrass at george. pendergrass@acu.edu.

acuoptimist.com

A Graduation Fair will take place in the Campus Center Living Room on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Representatives will answer questions about loans, jobs and caps and gowns.

The Master’s in Global IT Leadership interest meeting will take place Friday in the Campus Center after Chapel. Free lunch will be provided.

The Women for ACU are accepting scholarship applications for the 2009-10 school year through Friday. The scholarship is up to $2,000 a semester. Applicants must be a sophomore or junior, have a GPA

11:30 a.m.

A Global IT Leadership interest meeting will be in the Campus Center Living Room. Lunch will be provided.

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Saturday

3-5 p.m.

Holi Festival of Colors will take place in the backyard of Smith Adams Hall. The event is free.

Webcast

Watch videos later this week about the Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see videos of the Dry Bones package.

Holi Festival of Colors and FilmFest.

of at least 3.0, be a male or female major in Biblical studies or a female in any major and an active student in the university. For more information, e-mail wacu@acu.edu.

Holi Festival of Colors, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Enrichment, will take place in the backyard of Smith Adams Hall on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The free event will feature colorthrowing, a water balloon party, Indian sweets, Bollywood music and henna tattoos.

A Hip Hop and Christianity round-table discussion, led by Dr. Rhonda Collier, will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. in Zellner Hall.

The event is open to anyone, and free pizza will be served. For more information, call 674-2728.

A Career Expo, sponsored by the Career Center, will take place April 1 at 9:30 a.m. The event will feature employers from across Texas and the U.S. To register to attend, go to www.acu.edu/careerexpo.

Volunteer Opportunities Walk Now for Autism, sponsored by Autism Speaks, needs volunteers at the Abilene Zoo on April 4 from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Volunteers will help with face painting, puppet shows, balloon twisting and maintaining air castles. For more information or to register, go to www.autismspeaks. org/walk_events/west_texas_ walk_2008.php.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake needs volunteers to work at a variety of tasks throughout the day. The event will take place at Abilene Bowling Lanes on Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.bbbs.org.

The Day Nursery of Abilene needs volunteers during its annual Mexican Dinner fundraising event March 28 from 3-9 p.m. in the west cafeteria of Abilene High School. Volunteers will help with tasks in the kitchen.

For more information, go to www. daynurseryabilene.org.

The Salvation Army needs volunteers Saturday from 9 a.m.-5

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 jmcnetwork@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at sar06g@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

7-9 p.m.

FilmFest will take place at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets cost $5 with a student ID.

Online News Cast

Announcements FilmFest tickets will be on sale in the Campus Center until Friday at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $5 with a student ID and $8 for the general public. Tickets also will be available at the door. For more information, go to www.acu.edu/ filmfest, e-mail filmfest@acu.edu or call 674-2069.

Friday

About This Page

p.m. to sort and hang clothes, take donations, organize shelves and mark items. Open-toe shoes are restricted. For more information, contact Cecilia Barahona at 6771408, or send an e-mail to cecilia_ barahona@uss.salvationarmy.org.

The West Texas Rehab Center needs volunteers for the Clay Shoot fundraiser April 4 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers will operate simple, automatic outdoor clay machines for shooters and help set up decorations for the awards dinner after the Clay Shoot from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Lunch will be provided, and volunteers may attend the awards dinner that evening along with a guest. For more information, go to www.westtexasrehab.org.

Find out volunteer opportunities by visiting the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center’s Web site at www. acu.edu/vslc and clicking on Volunteer Opportunities. For more information or to sign up to help, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.

Warmer weather means great weather for exercising. To stay safe while exercising, use the Lunsford Trail and try to walk or jog with a friend.

Police Log Edited for space

Monday, Mar. 9 2:15 a.m. The ACU Police responded to an incomplete 911 call reporting an injured subject, but the police were unable to locate anyone.

7 a.m. The ACU Police moved barricades to block driveways at the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center.

9 a.m. The ACU Police recovered a stolen motorcycle from the Abilene Police.

4 p.m. The ACU Police monitored a fire at Will Hair Park.

5:25 p.m. Someone reported a fight in an alley, but the ACU Police was unable to locate any subjects.

7:30 p.m. The ACU Police checked on a fire at Will Hair Park.

Tuesday, Mar. 10 11:24 a.m. The ACU Police responded to an incomplete 911 call, but everything was OK. 7 p.m. The ACU Police monitored a baseball game at the Crutcher Scott Field.

Wednesday, Mar. 11 12:23 p.m. The ACU Police assisted the Abilene Police with gun shots fired near campus.

2 p.m. The ACU Police gave the Abilene SWAT officers a tour of the campus.

6:15 p.m. Someone reported

a suspicious subject who was knocking on doors at University Park apartments, but the ACU Police was unable to locate any subjects.

Saturday, Mar. 14 1:25 a.m. The ACU Police assisted the Abilene Police in attempting to locate a subject involved in a hit-and-run accident.

9 a.m. A burglar alarm sounded at the Brown Library, but the alarm was being tested.

9:04 p.m. The ACU Police attempted to locate a lost wallet in Cullen Auditorium.

9:21 p.m. Someone reported dogs barking near campus, and the ACU Police contacted the owner.

9:23 p.m. The ACU Police issued a traffic stop on Westheimer Road; and a subject was arrested for having an outstanding warrant.

9:40 p.m. The ACU Police checked an off-campus residence for students, and everything was OK. Always report suspicious activity to ACUPD at 674-2305 or 674-2911.

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

47

Credited Chapels remaining:

26

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Page 3

Library Atrium will spice up scenery with kitchen renovations

By Lizzy Spano Student Reporter

The Atrium’s kitchen in the Brown Library is undergoing renovation in an effort to enhance the area’s functional use and appearance.

The Atrium, located behind the Learning Commons in the Brown Library, was constructed in 1984 and was one of the first atriums on campus designed for public use, said Dr. Mark Tucker, dean of library and information resources.

The Atrium now is used daily to host functions and meetings and provide a quiet study space for students. In the past, it was home to receptions, book author signings, banquets, weddings, concerts and poetry readings, Tucker said.

“

We want the library attractive and hospitable, and the kitchen upgrade is an important part of that. :: Dr. Mark Tucker, dean of library and information resources

The Atrium’s kitchen is a small area that acts as a place to serve food for events. Although food could not previously be cooked in this space, it has been a convenient place to deliver and cater for large parties and functions, Tucker said.

The university is using $60,000 it received this year to make capital improvements to the Brown Library. Half of this will be used to remodel the Atrium’s kitchen, Tucker said.

“We’ve been trying to find the resources to remodel this space,” Tucker said. “We want

”

the library attractive and hospitable, and the kitchen upgrade is an important part of that.”

Physical Resources is remodeling the kitchen to be five times larger than before and also more attractive and functional, Tucker said. This includes new cabinets, flooring, plumbing, appliances and workspace.

Mary Reyes-Baskett, director of campus aesthetics, will help to select paint colors to decorate the space once it is finished. Reyes-Baskett’s role involves surveying the university

and looking for opportunities to enhance public university spaces, including office workspaces, student community spaces and even the landscape and grounds, she said. “[The Brown Library Atrium] is an area where we see a lot of student traffic and student community and study groups that come there as an extension of the Learning Commons,” Reyes-Baskett said. “By improving these small areas of campus, we enhance the entire campus experience.”

Tucker said he is not sure when the kitchen renovation will be completed, but anticipates eventually repainting and refurnishing the Atrium in the future, when finances are available.

E-mail Spano at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Heather Leiphart :: staff photographer An open wall surrounded by several building materials gives an inside look to the current kitchen renovations.

One-person show challenges viewers’ cultural boundaries

By Sondra Rodriguez Page 2 Editor

The Office of Multicultural Enrichment will present Faces of America, a free, 65 minute one-person show that explores the experiences of nine ethnically diverse Americans, at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday.

Faces of America is presented by Will & Company, a nonprofit theatre ensemble based in Los Angeles. According to the company’s Web site, performances “include contemporary works that blend educational and historical material with entertainment.”

In addition to Faces of America, the company performs other original works, including American Voice, Portraits of Courage and A Pebble in My Shoe. Each of those shows address boundaries and struggles surrounding different ethnicities.

Faces of America is performed by one person who portrays nine ethnically different characters.

The actor tells stories inspired by real people and events that reflect each ethnicity represented in the show.

Vanessa Whitt, junior graphic design major from the Philippines, is the intern media specialist for the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and said the show will depict the ethnic diversity present in America today.

Creators and actors are embarking on their sixth season to tour and perform for high schools and colleges nationwide as “believers in art for social change.”

This will be the first time Faces of America has performed for ACU students.

George Pendergrass, director of Multicultural Enrichment, said he hopes students will

walk away from the performance with a “greater awareness of who they are.”

Pendergrass said he wants students to leave the performance with an understanding of who they are in relation to the people, cultures and races around them.

“This makes our planet a lot better,” he said. “And it sure makes our school a lot better.”

Whitt also said students will benefit from the show.

“We’ve got a pretty diverse community here at ACU but we still have a large percentage of students who aren’t culturally aware or involved on campus,” she said. “It’s a good thing to get out there – this is the country you live in – embrace it.”

Although Pendergrass said he does not know how students will react to the one-person show, he said he hopes it will help eliminate racial and cultural barriers

that have polarized students in the past, while emphasizing the positive elements each culture contributes to the world.

“What can I learn about different cultures that will make the planet better?” Pendergrass said. “This is a great time for that.”

Students can see the free show at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday at 7 p.m.

E-mail Rodriguez at: sar06g@acu.edu

FROM THE FRONT

Page 4

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Rec Center: Officials research other universities Trial: Continued from page 1 Amendments of 1971 allowed more women to participate in college recreation.

“On many college campuses, furthermore, physical education was no longer a required part of the curriculum,” Bogar wrote. “As the demand grew for recreation, the trend on college campuses was to build centers that were primarily designated for recreation.”

Although University of Michigan built its facility for $743,000, the average turnkey cost of a recreation center is $19.4 million, a $5.2 million increase from 2004. The 2002 Kerr Downs Research Report found that National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association’s member institutions invested $11.69 billion from 1995 to 2000. NIRSA members spent $7.12 billion since 2000 on 91 million square-

feet of new and renovated recreation facilities.

Unfortunately, ACU is not exempt from fundraising difficulties. If half the funds can be raised for the new recreation center, the university will finance the remaining balance. The development office’s goal stands at $12.5 million, but plans have not been sent out for bids yet. The wavering economy has driven up the costs of many supplies and transportation, but Boone has seen the other side of the economic coin.

“Before, when everybody was busy, it was easy for them to say, ‘You want our work? It’s going to be expensive,’” Boone said. “Now, there are general contractors out there who want to do anything not to lay off their workforce.”

Boone heard of a school district in North Richland Hills that received bids for

a new recreation facility months ago, but after re-bidding the project, estimates dropped 18 percent.

“We have a goal to try and secure $12.5 million by the end of December,” Boone said.

“If we don’t meet that goal, the next goal becomes the end of January. If not, then it becomes the end of February.”

If the university can break ground this month, Boone believes students can enjoy the SRWC as early as fall 2010. Architects have informed university officials that assuming a normal year of weather, construction will last 18-20 months.

Current students look forward to using the SRWC, but officials expect prospective students will appreciate it as much, if not more, than enrolled students.

California State University, Fresno, opened its 92,000

square-foot Student Recreation Center in February 2006. Derek Walters, CSU’s Student Recreation Center director, told The Collegian that the center was almost immediately added as a stop on the tour for incoming and potential students.

“That really helped introduce new and incoming students,” Walters said.

The Collegian also reported “the $17.6 million center was originally funded by student fees and private gifts.”

Some university students in the United States have taken initiative to kick-start recreation center projects on their own campus.

In 2000, Sonoma State University students voted for a Student Union fee increase that helped cover construction costs. In September 2003, student leaders at Stephen F. Austin State University worked with the school’s Board of Re-

gents to propose a $120 fee.

The student body voted in favor of the fee, 1,237 to 263.

Texas Woman’s University was able to build new fitness and recreation facilities thanks to a student-approved fee.

Bogar noted that, “at private institutions, student fees have been an integral part of funding facilities for many years; today, even state institutions have begun to assess student fees for recreational and fitness facilities.”

A student-initiated fee could not hurt, but the administration will exhaust every option before implementing or raising any fees. No matter how great the hurdles may be, the administration will not stop until the new recreational facility is operational.

“It’s not a matter of if; it’s when,” Boone said.

E-mail Hettich at: clh05d@acu.edu

Coup: Students pray for situation SA: Pulis, Watkins transition with ease Continued from page 1

The president said he would not leave Madagascar, and statements from the president’s office declared the crisis a “military coup,” according to The Australian.

The opposition also took over the offices of the prime minister. More than 130 people have died in Madagascar, since Rajoelina began calling for the president to step down, according to the AP. The European Union and African Union condemned the coup d’état. Both organizations said they would not recognize any new leader of the country imposed by force and threatened to withdraw international aid already committed to the developing nation.

Ravalomanana toured the

campus in February 2005 and visited the 24 students he sent to ACU as part of the Madagascar Presidential Scholars Program, and again in May 2008 to witness the students’ graduation. Ravalomanana received an honorary doctorate of law degree from ACU and praised the more than 20 students who came to ACU as part of the scholarship program.

The students walked across the stage once more, at a second Commencement for family and friends in Madagascar in July. Dr. John Tyson, vice president for development; Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, and several other members of the ACU administration, faculty and staff also traveled to Madagascar for the special Commencement in the students’ home country.

Ravalomanana’s relationship with ACU began in 2003 when he met Tyson, while the latter was visiting Madagascar as part of a delegation from World Christian Broadcasting, a organization that beams radio programming with Christian messages into Russia, China and the Pacific Rim. Ravalomanana was impressed by Tyson’s description of the university and has said ACU was the perfect choice for the future leaders of Madagascar.

Several Malagasy students still attend ACU, and a prayer vigil for the former students, current Malagasy students and the country was scheduled for 9 p.m. in Chapel on the Hill on Tuesday evening.

E-mail the Optimist at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Continued from page 1 because less than threequarters of the SA Congress participated in the final vote. He said the charges were not impeachable offenses, according to the SA Constitution and By-Laws, the governing documents of ACU’s student government.

Watkins said he was looking at ways to challenge the decision, but no such process currently exists in the SA Constitution.

“I’m relying on God to be on my side and deliver justice,” Watkins said.

Cochran, junior accounting major from Round Rock, refuted Watkins’ claim that the action was unconstitutional and said all of the Cabinet members and SA advisers Dr. Jean Noel Thompson, vice president, and Dr. Jeff Arrington, dean of Student Life, agreed on the legality of the impeachment process.

“It was not personal,” Cochran said. “The impeachment process was agreed upon by everyone, including Daniel Paul.”

Cochran said issues between Watkins and other Cabinet members began during the first month of his term as SA president, and the impeachment was a last resort to resolve those issues after several attempts of reconciliation throughout the year.

Pulis confirmed there were issues between Watkins and other Cabinet members that stemmed from Watkins’ inappropriate behavior, but neither Cochran or Pulis would discuss specific examples of Watkins’ actions.

“Because of the closed nature of the meeting and the fact that specifics were known to be confidential at the time, I don’t feel comfortable disclosing that information,” Cochran said.

Parliamentarian Caleb Archer, the only Cabinet member who voted not to continue the impeachment process, acknowledged that Watkins’ leadership style may have been “divisive,” but he thought impeachment was an unnecessary approach.

Archer said he is a close friend of Watkins, but his private relationship has not created tension in the SA Congress office after the impeachment.

Watkins cleaned out his former office Thursday evening and said he has not been by the SA Congress office and does not plan to attend SA Congress meetings in the future.

Cochran said he has pointed inquiring students to the stories that printed in the Optimist to find out what happened in the hearing. He said he has chosen not to privately discuss what happened in the impeachment hearing.

Watkins said he has not had any negative encounters with faculty or staff and has not discussed the impeachment much. He said he has encountered some Congress members who voted to impeach him, and they have discussed spring break more than the impeachment. He said he has smoothly made the transition back to life as a student who is not a representative of the student body and has confidence in Pulis and Congress to continue to advocate for the student body.

“I’ve always thought of myself as a regular student, so it doesn’t feel incredibly different,” Watkins said.

Pulis said Congress will discuss when to conduct a general election to replace the vacant vice president position.

E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu

Witnesses continue to testify Continued from page 1 the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas; Charla Woodruff, Brandon’s sister; Michelle Lee, the mother of Brandon’s former girlfriend; current ACU student Lindsey Ferguson; former ACU student Robert Martinez, and other investigators in the case have all testified.

Martinez testified March 10 and said he had asked Woodruff for a ride back to Abilene from Denton on the night Woodruff’s parents allegedly were killed. Woodruff was almost an hour late in picking him up, Martinez said.

Ferguson, senior interior design major from Sunnyvale, testified Friday, saying Woodruff was popular on campus, according to the Rockwall County Herald-Banner.

“He was a very fun guy,” Ferguson said during her testimony. “He was very generous, very fun-loving.”

However, the prosecution is trying to persuade the jury that Woodruff is a killer after calling multiple investigators to describe the murder scene of Woodruff’s parents, Dennis and Norma, including Tommy Grandfield, an investigator with the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office.

“There was a lot of blood around the bodies,” Grandfield said.

Collins testified Monday and Tuesday and said he believed the brutality of the murders indicates personal motivation played a factor, according to the Rockwall County Herald-Banner.

“The injuries, especially the stab wounds to Dennis Woodruff, made it a very personal homicide, a personal cause homicide,” Collins said Monday. “It is going to be somebody who is close to the victims.”

Dennis was shot once in the head and stabbed nine times, while Norma was shot as many as five times from bullets fired from either a .44 caliber or .45 caliber gun, according to autopsy results. Salzberger said the shots were fired at close range, most likely inches away from the victims.

Although the murder weapon has not been found, Lee testified she had reported a .45 caliber revolver missing from her home in Rockwall just days following the murders.

The prosecution will continue to call witnesses before the defense makes its case, but when that may be is uncertain, said a secretary at the 354th District Court.

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

March 18, 2009

FocusWednesday

Page 5

At your Service

In such a volatile time, when uncertainty plagues every aspect of daily life, the homeless and misfortunate of Abilene can count on at least one thing: a hot breakfast.

Story by: Sara Snelson, contributing writer

A

t 6 a.m., a line forms outside of a dimly-lit building on Beech Street. While people wait outside, volunteers prepare pancakes, biscuits and gravy and ham inside for the homeless and less fortunate.

When walking in, the mood is somber, but people become more awake and social as the morning continues. But a smile usually is cracked when walking through the food line.

Weary and tarnished people sit at round, white tables that fill the room, talking together or sitting by themselves to enjoy the only meal they may eat all day.

Breakfast on Beech Street When Jack Henderson visited his brother in Edmond, Okla., more than 10 years ago, he stumbled upon a ministry at his brother’s church, a ministry called BOBS which feeds breakfast to the homeless and less fortunate. When Henderson returned to Abilene, he approached three or four downtown churches and presented them with the idea of bringing something similar to Abilene. Other organizations in Abilene that served a free lunch and dinner already existed, but no one was serving a free breakfast.

First Christian Church offered its fellowship hall. Beech Street borders the fellowship hall, and therefore the ministry became Breakfast on Beech Street, also called BOBS — just like the ministry in Edmond.

The breakfast is available to anyone in the community who wants a free meal.

Randy Halstead, who is the BOBS board and volunteer coordinator for Friday, said, “A large percentage of folks who come are homeless, living rough or working with a low income. The majority live in poverty and are trying to survive.”

First Central Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Episcopal Church of Heavenly Rest and First Christian Church were the four churches that began the ministry and provided volunteers for BOBS. About two years later, Halstead began volunteering at BOBS every Friday.

“I would take volunteers with me every Friday, and after a while, I asked Highland Church of Christ if they would want to join and be a sponsor,” he said. “So Highland became the fifth sponsor of BOBS.” The ministry operates on about $30,000 a year. About half of that is provided by churches and the other half by individual supporters and foundations.

Breakfast is served Monday through Friday, 6:30–7 a.m. Every day a different menu is served: omelets, biscuits and gravy, French toast, scrambled eggs and ham and pancakes. Juice, coffee and cereal are available every day.

A sack lunch is offered every day to anyone who wants one.

Some people show up to BOBS for the sack lunch and do not eat breakfast. The lunch consists of a ham and cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an orange, cookies and a Scripture. They also can request to have two sandwiches, and most people do.

Halstead said generally 40-60 people come every morning. A blue notebook sits out at the beginning of the line for people to sign in every day. This way, BOBS can keep track of how many people are coming and get a general idea of how much food to buy. Thursday is the most popular day — biscuits and gravy are served and hardly any is left over.

Each day a different church works BOBS. Volunteers come from the designated church, along with other volunteers from the high schools, colleges or the community.

Halstead said the ministry features a lot more college volunteers when school is in session.

“College students come just to volunteer, and others come for service hours,” he said.

Two primary ways people become aware of BOBS is word of mouth and by calling 211, which is an Abilene resource for rent, food, information, etc.

Other than BOBS, The Salvation Army is the only place to offer a free breakfast in Abilene. Other groups serve lunch and dinner, but breakfast is harder to find.

One morning, a man wearing a bright colored wind suit came into BOBS after arriving by a bus from Grand Junction, Colo. He said he had missed his next bus and was wandering around Abilene when someone was walking past him and told him to follow him for a free breakfast. At BOBS, he talked to all of the volunteers about his journey, where he was going next and how grateful he was for everything everyone did at BOBS. He said he did not know what he would have eaten if he had not have heard of BOBS.

That day he was going to try to get money and a bus ticket to try to get where his next job was.

The People Tattered clothes, bright wind suits, old army jackets, Abilene Airport uniforms and orange construction vests cover worn, un-bathed bodies. Most will talk when they walk through the line, others will look down and avoid talking.

Some have construction jobs, mechanic jobs or work the overnight shift at the airport, while others wander around the streets of Abilene. Some have places to live and sleep, while others do not.

The regulars who come always have something to talk about.

Corky, who comes in at least every Thursday morning, always talks about the Zida truck that is parked in front of a house on Judge Ely. One morning he spoke about the truck and how it had gone to Dallas that weekend and then came back. No one knows why he talks about the Zida truck or how he knows if it leaves town or not, but his conversation about it never fails.

The stories that are told may or may not be true, but they provide something to talk about and someone to talk to.

Kelsey Nikoulas, junior family studies major from Nashville, Tenn., said, “I think the people feel a sense of community when they come to BOBS. Some go everyday and it gives them something to look forward to in going, not just for the food, but comfort and belonging.”

Zack works the night shift at the airport a couple of times a week. After getting off work, he comes to BOBS for breakfast Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer before he goes home to sleep. He always is tired and worn out, but still is friendly, Aaron Owen, ACU Physical Resources employee, passes out a sack lunch. talkative and remembers most of the volunteers by name.

The Volunteers When Zack is asked how he is doing while walking through the food line, he responds, “I’m livin’.”

At 5 a.m., volunteers of all ages meet downtown to make “The people make me feel welcome at BOBS when they breakfast for those less fortunate. remember me, my name and things about myself I have told Whether it is for service hours or just serving others, BOBS them in the past,” Nikoulas said. has many volunteers every day. Some go once a month, some Sitting in a cream-colored, rectangle room, the people talk to go once a week and others go as many times as they can. each other about life and things that have happened to them.

Once volunteers have arrived, they are in charge of setting They also come back and forth from the food line, grabbing up the tables, cooking breakfast, making the sack lunches and seconds, thirds and sometimes fourths. setting up the juice and cereal. At 6:30 a.m., volunteers eat and The oddest thing about biscuits and gravy day is what the sit around a table and talk, and sometimes sit in silence bediners put on their biscuits and gravy — butter. In the line, right cause of how early it is. By 6:50 a.m., everyone takes their posinext to the salt and pepper is a plastic bowl of butter. Most tions to serve — plating the food, passing out the food and sack people take the knife and put a slab of butter on top of the lunches and talking with the people while they eat. gravy, which already is on the biscuit. None of the volunteers Nikolaus, who has volunteered at BOBS every Thursday for know why they do this. about three years, goes back every week for the people.

Before everyone leaves, they grab a sack lunch, usually re“Now, I know the people and recognize them when they questing two sandwiches, and walk out into their world of un- come in,” she said. “I want to keep a relationship with them certainty. and be a familiar, constant face in their lives.”

But no matter what anyone is going through and no matter She loves saying hello to the people and being at the front of how little each person has that comes into BOBS, all of them the line, while they are getting their food. talk about God and how great he has blessed them.

“Most are really friendly, and I love to talk to them because they make me feel welcome ... They smile and ask me questions God Has Blessed Me instead of me just asking them questions,” she said. “They reWith poor living conditions, poor jobs and little or no mon- member things I have told them in the past.”

A volunteer’s life is really put into perspective when coming ey, most of the people who come to BOBS speak of God highly in direct contact with the less fortunate, especially when they every week.

“I think they speak about God a lot because they totally rely are as grateful as they are.

“I learn to be grateful every time I go. They get up early and on him,” Nikoulas said. “When we are blessed, we tend to say ‘thank you,’ but it does not seem like that big of a deal. But the walk miles to get a free breakfast, when I can just walk downpeople who come are going through hard times, and when they stairs and pour a bowl of cereal,” Nikoulas said. “I have to get are blessed, they will always say something about it — they do up very early to get there, and that one discomfort I feel, they have to feel everyday.” it all of the time.”

Nikoulas’ younger brother, Walker Nikoulas, freshman engiOne woman who used to come wrote her own songs and then sang them at BOBS. The woman, who was an African- neering physics major from Nashville, Tenn., began volunteerAmerican and open lesbian, sang her songs — part gospel, part ing at BOBS because he heard about it from friends and his rap — with conviction about God and how good he was. After sister Kelsey.

“Our youth group used to give meals to the homeless on she finished, she would sing another, also about God and everyThanksgiving,” he said. “I enjoy serving others.” thing good he had done.

Walker, who usually stays in the kitchen and cooks, said the community draws him in, and he feels he should be serving like it says in the Bible, and making sandwiches repetitively.

Not only do volunteers get to know the people who come in to eat, but also the older volunteers and members of the church who come to serve.

One thing the Nikoulas siblings noticed about the people is how some seem happy and others seem to have given up.

“I think most are kind of ashamed about coming in. That might have a lot to do with the lack of eye contact,” Nikoulas said.

Walker said, “Some people sing and come to talk to others and have not lost their spark of life, while others are there because it is a necessity.”

Volunteers give up their sleep and early mornings, but always walk away feeling virtuous.

“There are definitely mornings when I leave feeling uplifted and blessed because I was there,” Nikoulas said.

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Allen Daugherty, BOBS chairperson and team chief, addresses the breakfast crowd (left) and stirs some eggs in the kitchen (right).

E-mail Snelson at: sas04b@acu.edu

ViewsWednesday

Page 6

March 18, 2009

Students must ensure financial stability before graduation

S

ome tasks can be safely left for the last minute, such as shoestringtying and Mother’s Day card-buying — anything more important could only benefit from a little foresight. To all graduating seniors: commencement hair and makeup can wait until the last minute; your financial security cannot.

With corporate giants such as Caterpillar and Nissan slashing tens of thousands of jobs, the market looks tight. Bloggers and columnists will offer tip after tip to students entering the job market, but one timeless suggestion stands as true today as it did when our

great-grandparents gave it to our grandparents: save.

David Bach, columnist for Yahoo! Finance, offered college grads “Five Tips for a Great Life After Graduation” in a May 2006 column. He used most of his words to inspire courage and self-confidence, but the most important bit of wisdom Bach imparted is the most difficult to adopt: save.

“If you start by saving just $10 a day … you’ll have $678,146 in savings 30 years from now, assuming a 10 percent annual rate of return. In 40 years, you’d have $1,897,244,” according to finance.yahoo.com.

Granted, Bach’s scenario assumes a high annual percentage rate and about $300 contribution every month. It also assumes the account holder will not need emergency cash for the next 30-40 years.

Regardless of your monthly income and the strategy’s idealism, the principle holds true: the sooner you begin saving — no matter how little — the more you will have when you need it most.

Charles Schwab, chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, said too many people are obtaining mortgages they do not understand and cannot afford,

while others lack skills to keep a budget, understand credit or save for the future, according to the Associated Press.

“While there are many causes to the economic problems facing the country, it is undeniable that a lack of financial literacy is a contributing factor,” Schwab wrote in the council’s January report.

Popular culture, not to the individual’s benefit, tries endlessly to disprove any reason to save. The assimilation of Internet and television in our culture makes consumerism all the more appealing. The faster technology advances, the sooner consumers can grab week-

The issue:

The struggling economy adds to the pre-existing challenge college graduates face to find jobs after Commencement.

Our view:

While several aspects mark the best of post-graduation financial plans, the most important remains frugality.

The solution:

Students must anticipate the challenges caused by a dropping economy and begin saving money for life after graduation. old gadgets at reduced prices; but the true definition of “need” remains unchanged.

Buy what you need and occasionally purchase what you want — if you must. But learn from millions who have gone

before you and ended their careers with a few grand in the bank: save as much as you can.

You will not regret it.

E-mail the Optimist at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Actions shroud SA Congress in secrecy Don’t believe the old saying — silence is seldom golden.

But based upon the secrecy and closed lips of the majority of the Students’ Association Congress members during and after the impeachment of former SA President In Case You Daniel Paul Wondered Watkins, our campus leadBy Daniel Johnson-Kim ers must be drinking the cliché Kool-Aid. Despite the SA Congress’ constant claim that throughout the year it is transparent when it comes to the activity of our student government, its recent action to close Watkins’ impeachment hearing tells a different story.

Want to know which 25 Congress members voted to strip Watkins of his title, power and status as an ACU student leader?

Tough luck; there is no public record of which members voted to boot Watkins.

Want to know the five student representatives who were unconvinced Watkins deserved impeachment?

Maybe if you ask nicely, but there is no public record of which members voted in the minority.

Want to know exactly what the elected representatives heard and said during the impeachment hearing of a leader more than 800 students voted to office?

Sorry, that’s private.

Rather than alerting the student body of the accusations against Watkins, members of the Congress, the executive cabinet and its administrative advisers, stripped students of the democratic right to hear the accusations against their elected leader. By closing the hearing to the public, they decided the first impeachment of a student leader in the history of ACU student government was a private matter, and ultimately told the student body to trust they made the right decision.

Had it not been for a small number of Congress members who shared everything they could remember about the impeachment proceedings to Optimist reporters, the student body might not have known anything behind the decision to impeach Watkins. Those who talked realized openness was the best way to defend their decision.

Although SA Congress advisers Dr. Jean-Noel Thomp-

Quality efforts for FilmFest deserve applause Kirk Cameron never ceases to amaze me.

After watching Fireproof recently, I am absolutely befuddled why Hollywood did not nominate the Christian evangelical actor for an Academy Award. His performance The Power of redefined the Prattle the word “extraordinary.”

By Michael Who else Freeman could have expressed only a handful of emotions, while his character struggled to keep his fractured marriage from spiraling into a heartwrenching divorce? Who else could have endured performing with inexperienced actors, almost all of which sported phony Southern accents? And who else could have overcome working on a movie with a plot so corny, so incomplete and

“

Students have worked tirelessly to produce, shoot and edit their films.

so unsatisfying it would have forced Roger Ebert to tears because he would not have had enough thumbs to turn upside-down, only to deliver the performance of the century?

Nobody could.

Especially nobody starring in any of the films being shown at this year’s FilmFest. Instead the student actors aimed much lower — like on the acting level of Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks. And the student directors, producers, sound technicians and cinematographers went even lower, capturing glimmers of Steven Spielberg or the Coen Brothers.

Still, the five-minute movies will be worth watching. Students have worked tirelessly to produce, shoot and edit their films. Stu-

Letter to the Editor Impeachment proceedings inappropriately malign As a personal friend of Daniel Paul Watkins, I feel like I should mention a couple things about the stories that have been present.

First of all, D.P. Watkins has been accused of

several “crimes” but the reporting has failed to go into detail about the crimes, and several people have asked about the exact crimes.

Being late for meetings

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.

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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: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

”

dents behind-the-scenes also have worked vigorously for this week’s show.

In fact, they have worked more than in past shows because this year’s show is almost entirely produced by students.

FilmFest is going through its own set of growing pains.

Unlike in the past, no ACU staff member led the effort in planning this year’s show, so students stepped in last June to accommodate other ACU students who have an interest in cinematography. FilmFest has been the only on-campus outlet for those interested students to express their creativity and talent. Yet as they have continued to participate in the annual film festival, support from the rest of the student body has waned.

Attendance at the first

with a broken leg having to go down-stairs, etc.

Plus the careless spending of the money, I am sure he did not carelessly spend the money, since it has to be okayed by Mr/Mrs Cosgrove before being spent.

In reporting articles, especially this one, you have been pretty biased against him, showing the worst pictures of him at meetings and portraying him in a bad way, etc. Remember when you write articles,

FilmFest reached upwards of about 1,000 people, but about 500 attended last year’s show. The numbers for this year’s show should not be as low.

FilmFest will be Friday at 7 p.m. in the Paramount Theatre in downtown Abilene. Tickets cost $5 with a student ID, and with the price of admission, attendees will be able to watch quality entertainment produced by their peers, some of whom used high-definition cameras and top of the line editing software.

The students’ efforts to keep the event alive and at a high level of quality should be applauded and rewarded.

So, this Friday, instead of renting one of Kirk Cameron’s masterpieces at Blockbuster, head on down to the Paramount Theatre to witness a little shimmer of Hollywood in West Texas. This time, I’m sure Kirk won’t mind being “left behind.”

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

you shouldn’t be biased in any way and should strive to give all the information.

James M. Green B.A in Tuba Performance May 2009

In response to Optimist articles regarding the impeachment proceedings of former SA Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins

Optimist the

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son, vice president and dean of Student Life, and Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of Student Life, and other executive cabinet members openly fielded questions from journalists eager to learn why Watkins was impeached, they refused to explain specifics of the charges against Watkins. Instead, they cited it was a legitimate process approved by all cabinet members, including Watkins.

Even if this process was legitimate, this “trust us” attitude is non-democratic. It is secretive and causes the community to assume foul play was involved.

By hanging to a “no comment” response when asked about specific examples of Watkins’ alleged irresponsible leadership, manipulation, disrespect and unethical behavior that led to his impeachment, it causes one to assume there is something to hide.

Despite the pleas of those involved in the impeachment, in no way was this a private matter.

Watkins is the purest definition of a public figure and was a public official on ACU’s campus. Not only was he elected by the student body, but when media outlets across the country reported on the hangman’s noose he said he found in his office chair in September, he became — for better or worse — a person those outside the ACU community attributed as a spokesman for this campus and its students.

SA Congress is an organization that must be open at all times. The Congress members are given thousands of dollars to spend and are often the student leaders who lead prayers in Chapel and have meetings with the university’s administration as representatives of the students. How are their official proceedings private? Why would they believe they can close their doors and not be suspected of foul play?

The only remedy of Congress and its advisers’ undemocratic decision to close the impeachment hearing is to hold a public forum where their constituents can ask questions of the Cabinet and Congress members who removed Watkins from office.

They must be open to all questions, and Watkins must be given the right to publicly defend himself against the charges. Anything less would be a spit in the face for the student body.

Secrecy fuels claims of foul play. Openness and honesty will prove Congress made the right decision.

E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu

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SPORT JUMPS

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Page 7

Baseball: Wildcats score 14 runs in series finale against Tigers Continued from page 8 down with our pitching, and it’s always been tough to play at East Central.”

Before entering the weekend, the Wildcats were coming off a tripleheader sweep on March 10 after defeating Marietta College 4-2 and winning two games against the University of the Southwest, 14-2 and 15-2. Catcher Jordan Schmitt continued his hot hitting, going 8-11 with five doubles, one home run and three RBI, giving him 60 career doubles to break the all-time LSC record of 58.

Schmitt also tied former allAmerican outfielder Mike Elkerson for the ACU career home run record with 27.

“He just continues to be consistent and hit the ball hard

with runners in scoring position, ” Bonneau said of Schmitt.

“We had a lot of guys that hadn’t gotten at bats that got some playing time, which gave us some more rest before going on the road.”

The three wins pushed the Wildcat’s winning streak to seven, entering their weekend series with ECU. However, the Tigers jumped all over ACU in Saturday’s doubleheader, winning the first game 5-1 before scoring six runs in the final two innings to win game two, 11-10.

In game one, ECU starting pitcher Chasen Bennett shut down ACU’s offense, going five innings and allowing just one run on seven hits. The Tigers scored one run in the second and four in the third, keyed by

a two-run single by outfielder Jared Owen and a two-run double by first baseman Andrew Minnich to get the win. In game two, ACU fell behind 5-2 before scoring four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 10-5 lead. But ECU responded, scoring three runs in the eight and three more in the ninth to sweep the doubleheader.

Schmitt led ACU’s offense, going 3-5 with 5 RBI in game two; center fielder Davis Page went 1-4 with 2 RBI; and short stop Willie Uechi went 4-5 with 2 RBI. Closer Brad Rutherford picked up the loss, allowing three runs off three hits in the ninth to move to 3-2.

“In game one, we didn’t hit and had runners in scoring position and had the bases loaded and hit into three dou-

ble plays,” Bonneau said after ACU left eight runners on base in game one. “In game two, we had 10-5 lead going into last couple innings and walked too many batters, and when you do that against team that puts ball in play, you know how it goes.”

In Sunday’s doubleheader, ACU bounced back, winning game one 7-6 before splitting the series with a 14-6 win in the series finale. With the score tied at five going into the sixth inning of game one, Page doubled home third baseman Steve Camillucci to give ACU a one-run lead; Schmitt doubled to score Page on the next at-bat to extend the lead to two. The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the seventh after scoring to pull within one, but Rutherford came on to preserve the

win, striking out the final batter with runners on first and second to earn his fifth save of the season.

Relief pitcher Corey Kelly got his fourth win of the season, pitching two innings and allowing just one earned run in relief of starting pitcher Preston Vancil. Page and Schmitt had a game-high three hits, while Uechi and first baseman Bret Bochsler added two hits.

ACU exploded for 14 runs on 20 hits in the series finale, led by right fielder Travis Latz and second baseman Chris Hall, who each had four hits.

Schmitt, center fielder Thomas Bumpass and Uechi each added three hits, as the Wildcats scored 10 runs in the first three innings to put the game away early.

Starting pitcher Cameron Watten improved to 2-0 on the season after going five innings and allowing no runs on three hits. Uechi and Bumpass each had a team-high 3 RBI, while Bochsler had two and Latz added two, one coming off his third home run of the year.

“It was a good thing to bounce back after getting swept,” Vancil said. “We’re not really used to [getting swept] but we showed up and were able to bounce back after two pretty bad loses. I think that was really important for us, especially going into this weekend.”

The Wildcats will continue conference play Friday at 6 p.m. in a four-game series against Southeastern Oklahoma State.

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

Softball: Team now 21-9 Track: 10 athletes finish Basketball: Lavender third or better in meet reflects on ’09 season

Continued from page 8

blanked them in the nightcap 5-3. Monday, the Wildcats came from behind to win 7-3.

Pitcher Kim Partin had a big hand in both victories Sunday as she earned the save in the afternoon duel against the Pioneers and got the win in game two.

Partin came into the first game at the start of the sixth inning, after starting pitcher Jacque Gregoire threw five innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts to earn her 12th win of the season.

After the strong outing by Gregoire, Partin pitched two scoreless innings for the save, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

In the second game, Partin pitched a complete game shut out, allowing only three hits and recording four strikeouts; Partin totaled nine scoreless innings in a row Sunday. “[Partin] did an awesome job,” Wilson said. “She has really stepped up for us and not tried to overpower the hitters with her pitching. She’s been very effective.”

Offensively, the Wildcats were led by infielder Melissa Rodriguez and first baseman Katie Cornelison. Rodriguez totaled four hits and two RBI for both Sunday’s games, while Cornelison had three hits and batted three home runs.

On Monday, ACU played the third and final game against the Pioneers. Down 3-2 going into sixth, the Wildcat offense came alive. With two outs, Cornelison singled and pinch runner Genevie Ramirez advanced to second after a single by Nabors. Infielder Brianna Fowlkes followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

The next batter, outfielder Brooke Whittlesey, then hit a two-run double to center field and put the Wildcats up for good. In the seventh, Nabors put two insurance runs on the board after a bases-loaded single. Pitcher Kim White

Continued from page 8

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

Infielder Melissa Rodriguez makes a throw against St. Mary’s on Feb. 12 in the Wildcats 13-11 win. got the win, improving her record to 4-1. With the victory, ACU moves into a tie with Angelo State for the top spot in the conference.

“This early in the season, anything can happen,” Wilson said.

Over the break, ACU was 2-2, losing both to Midwestern State on March 7, before taking two against Incarnate Word on March 10.

In the first win over Incarnate Word, Partin pitched a complete game, and catcher Jessica Shiery finished 3-3 with a home run as the Wildcats run-ruled the Cardinals 10-1. In game two, the Cardinals provided a closer contest, but White pitched a shutout to lead the Wildcats to a 4-0 win. Caitlin Nabors ended up with a game-winning RBI in the bottom of the second inning after singling home second baseman Jackie Gentile.

ACU plays a doubleheader at home Friday against Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference matchup. Game one starts at 5 p.m., while game two starts at 7 p.m.

E-mail Gwin at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Radway finished second in the 400-meter with a personal best time of 47.70.

Amos Sang also ran a personal best in the 5,000-meter, placing fifth in 14:20.46.

The 4-by-400-meter relay team, consisting of Jordan Johnson, Desmond Jackson, Harold Jackson and Radway placed second with a time of 3:14.88.

Overall, St. Augustine College placed first with 105 points. The Wildcats combined for 62 points to claim third.

The women’s team finished with 21 overall points for eighth place; Lincoln won the competition with 100.5 points.

Kim Prather finished fourth in the 400-meter (56.14) and fifth in the 200-meter (24.61) and bettered her times from 2008.

“Kim ran her heart out and ran well,” Hood said.

“She knocked around a little bit in the 400, or I think she would have

won.”

Wanda Hutson came into the meet nursing a strained hamstring, but still competed and finished eighth in the 60-meter.

“To Wanda’s credit, she came out and still scored,” Hood said. “I think she finished the meet feeling very good about where she is now.”

Kelli Clements finished third in the shot put with a throw of 46 feet, 8.75 inches.

“This was bittersweet for Kelli,” Hood said. “She had her sights set so high that anything less than winning would have upset her.”

The women’s 4-by-400meter relay team of Prather, Hutson, Destinee Nixon and Azraa Rounds finished fourth running the event in 3 minutes, 51.07 seconds.

The Wildcats now turn their attention to the outdoor track season and will compete at the Dr. Pepper Invitational in Waco on Saturday.

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

Continued from page 8 All in all, it was a successful year for the women’s team. The Wildcats finished 18-11 in the regular season, good for the No. 2 seed in the LSC South, and accomplished numerous milestones along the way. The team played in the highest scoring game in NCAA history Jan. 5 against Texas Woman’s, won nine of its final 11 games and even knocked off the LSC’s best team in the regular season finale against West Texas A&M. Lavender said she feels her team learned a lot this year and grew along the way.

“I feel that early in the season we didn’t know how many games we would win or even if we would make it to .500,” Lavender said. “The way we played over our final 15 games showed a lot about our character; again, we learned how to win.”

The loss in the NCAA tournament not only signals the end of a great season of ACU basketball but also closes the book on some ACU careers. Forward Kristee Davidson, guard CiCi

Davis and center Audrey Maxwell-Lively have all played their final games with ACU. MaxwellLively will end her career as one of the school’s greatest players of all time. This season, she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in the first game and was named all-Conference yet again.

Reflecting back on her time at ACU, Maxwell-Lively said she would not change a thing.

“It has been a great place to play. I would not trade any of the experiences I’ve had or any of my teammates for anything,” Maxwell-Lively said. “I have learned a lot over the past four years, and it has been fun to watch us grow.”

The Wildcats look toward the future with much promise.

They made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005 and will return much of their team. Guards Kat Kundmueller and Kelsey Darby are both only juniors, and sister forwards Jody and Jamie Meyer are in their junior year as well.

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Tennis: Women’s squad holds on to No. 7 ranking Continued from page 8 six singles matches to give them the victory over the 33rd ranked Cardinals.

ACU scored two more victories over ranked opponents, defeating No. 22 St. Edward’s and LSC opponent Midwestern State, ranked No. 34. The undefeated weekend moves the women to 16-3 on the season and 3-0 in conference play.

“I think we did really well, and we proved that ACU is a dominant team in tennis,” Irene Squillaci said.

The men matched the women’s undefeated record, going 4-0 against the same four squads. The Wildcats scored one shutout over the weekend,

putting down Schreiner University 9-0. ACU used its depth to take down the Mountaineers, using many of the reserves to complete the shutout. The closest match of the day for the Wildcats was an 8-6 win at the No. 3 doubles match, where Cody McCarty and Karl Bein took down the team of Chesnut and Franklin.

The next three wins for the Wildcats were all against ranked opponents. The men scored a 7-2 victory over No. 35 Incarnate Word, a 5-4 win against No. 23 St. Edward’s University and a 7-2 win over LSC opponent Midwestern State, ranked No. 29.

Despite dropping two of the three doubles matches against

St. Edward’s, the men battled back to take four of the six singles matches to win their closest match of the day. Juan Nuñez, the No. 35 ranked player nationally, won at the No. 1 singles in straight sets 6-3, 7-6.

The Wildcats also won at the No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 singles slots to take home the 5-4 win.

After the national team rankings were released March 4, the women stood pat, keeping the No. 7 spot, while the men, despite their 18-2 record, dropped three spots to No. 20.

The women will have the weekend off before traveling next week to play Division I opponent DePaul University and Dallas Baptist University.

The men will be in action this weekend, taking on three Division I opponents in two days: Louisiana-Lafayette, Lamar and Southern Universities.

Louisiana-Lafayette comes into the match against ACU with a 5-4 record and already has beaten Southern University, which the Wildcats will play Monday. The third opponent for the men will be Lamar University; the Cardinals come into the weekend at 6-6 and have dropped four of their last six matches.

“We have to stay focused,and know that every match counts on getting to nationals,” Nuñez said.

E-mail Tripp at: bjt07a@acu.edu

SportsWednesday

Page 8

Standing Tall

SCOREBOARD Standings Baseball Team

Div. 16-4 15-5 13-7 11-9 10-9 SW Okla.

10-10 ENMU 10-10 East Central 10-10 Tarleton St. 8-10-1 TAMU-K 6-14 WTAMU 5-15 NE State 4-15-1 ACU Angelo St. Cameron Central Okla.

SE Okla.

March 18, 2009

Overall 23-7 20-8 19-8 14-12 13-11 16-12 14-12 11-17 12-14-1 9-16 11-18 9-18-1

Softball Team

Div. 5-1 5-1 5-4 5-4 2-4 TX Woman’s 3-6 ENMU 2-7 Angelo St. ACU WTAMU TAMU-K Tarleton St.

Overall 26-3 21-9 21-8 19-9 17-13 20-16 16-13

Scores Friday Women’s Basketball West Texas A&M 78, ACU 53

Saturday Baseball East Central 5, ACU 1 East Central 11, ACU 10

Sunday Baseball ACU 7, East Central 6 ACU 14, East Central 6

Softball ACU 5, Texas Woman’s 4 ACU 5, Texas Woman’s 0

Monday Softball ACU 7, Texas Woman’s 3

Upcoming Thursday Track & Field ACU at ASU Spring Break Multis, 1 p.m.

Friday Track & Field ACU at ASU Spring Break Multis, 1 p.m.

Softball ACU vs. TAMU-Kingsville, 5 p.m.

ACU vs. TAMU-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

Baseball ACU vs. SE Oklahoma, 6 p.m.

Saturday Track & Field ACU at Dr. Pepper Inv., 10 a.m.

Softball ACU vs. TAMU-Kingsville, noon

Baseball ACU vs. SE Oklahoma St., 2 p.m.

ACU vs. SE Oklahoma St., 4:30 p.m. :: Home games listed in italics

Briefs n Center Audrey MaxwellLively was voted second team Daktronics All-Region for the Maxwell-Lively 2008-09 season.

MaxwellLively led ACU in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg). She led the LSC in total blocked shots (61) and finished her career No. 12 on ACU’s all-time scoring list and fifth on its all-time rebounding list. n Starting pitcher Kim Partin won LSC South Pitcher of the Week honors after pitching 12 consecutive innings without allowing a run and picking up two wins in ACU’s five-game win streak last week.

Heather Leiphart :: staff photographer

Two win individual titles at indoor championships

By Chandler Harris Assistant Sports Editor

Camille Vandendriessche, heptathlon, and Andrew McDowell, 60-meter hurdles, won their respective national title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13-14. The men’s team placed third, and the women’s team placed eighth in the overall competition.

“If you look at the competition from an individual athlete’s perspective, it’s a mixed bag,” head track and field coach Don Hood said. “Some of the athletes overachieved, and others were disappointed.

I thought we gave great effort, and I was really pleased. If the effort is there, then the performances will come.”

Vandendriessche, who is the two-time defending outdoor champion in the decathlon, won the heptathlon and became the first male athlete to win a multievent competition at an indoor championship meet.

Vandendriessche began day two of the competition with a third place finish in the 60-me-

Track & Field ter hurdles with a time of 8.60.

Hood said Vandendriessche’s first day was very average, but the key was for him to not mess up enough to the point where he could not recover.

“Camille was a little bit frustrated because he didn’t perform his best the first day but he realized he was only 80 points behind and he figured with his second day strength that he would have what it takes to come back,” Hood said.

Vandendriessche did just that during the pole vault event. He vaulted a personal best 16 feet, 8.75 inches to score 941 points and take the lead. His vault was one foot, 3.75 inches better than the runner-up in the event.

“He just crushed everyone in the pole vault,” Hood said.

“He worked so hard to do well in the vault. Once the pole vault was over, everyone was just concerned as to who would finish in second place.”

Vandendriessche finished off his victory, placing fourth in the 1,000-meter run with a

Heather Leiphart :: staff photographer Andrew McDowell, left, and Camille Vandendriessche, above, are shown practicing Tuesday. Each won their respective national title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships on March 13-14.

time of 2:50.33, enough to win by 201 points.

McDowell also put on a stellar performance to claim the title in the 60-meter hurdles.

McDowell ranked first after the prelims, running an 8.00. In the finals, he ran a personal best and school record 7.92 to capture the national title.

“Andrew crushed everyone from the start,” Hood said.

“He cleared the first hurdle and was a step ahead, and it

was just a matter of crossing the finish line.”

Hood said McDowell worked extremely hard in the weight room, and Coach Brown did a great job of preparing him for this event.

“He has a confidence about him to where he won’t beat himself; someone has to outperform him,” Hood said.

Hood also was pleased with the performance of Cory Altenberg, who finished fourth

in the pole vault with a jump of 16-6.75. Gerald Chenyi and Ramon Sparks finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the triple jump. Julius Nyango finished third in the mile and the 800.

“This was Julius’ last time to compete for us, and he will be sorely missed,” Hood said.

Nick Jones placed seventh in the shot put, and Ramon See

Track page 7

Cats’ season ends with loss in regionals ACU wins

By Jeff Craig Sports Writer

A successful season of ACU women’s basketball came to an end Friday night at the hands of West Texas A&M in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.

ACU qualified for the tournament by grabbing the South Central’s last at-large spot and the No. 8 seed in the bracket. The Wildcats’ season ended with a 78-53 loss against WTAMU, which rolled into the tournament, having won both the regular and postseason Lone Star Confer-

Basketball WTAMU 78, ACU 53 ence championships and also in possession of the region’s No. 1 seed. ACU’s berth in the tournament marked the first time the squad had made the NCAA tournament in four years, and head coach Shawna Lavender said she Lavender was proud of all her team had accomplished.

“I think that for our pro-

gram in general this season was a step in the right direction of where we want to be every year,” Lavender said. “For our seniors, it was great to play in a regional tournament, and for our younger players, it was great for them to learn how to win.”

It looked for a while as if ACU might miss the NCAA Division II tournament after being upset by Texas A&M-Commerce in the first round of the LSC playoffs.

However, ACU’s excellent regular season paid off, giving the team enough credentials to qualify for the big dance. The Wildcats

were kept in Limbo until word came down the weekend before spring break that they had received an at-large bid.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, WTAMU proved to be too strong. The Wildcats shot just 34 percent from the field, while the Lady Buffs were able to put together many strong segments of play. West Texas closed out the first half on a 18-6 run and also had a 10-0 run in the second half on its way to knocking off ACU en route to the regional semifinals.

See

Basketball page 7

three LSC matchups

By Austin Gwin Sports Writer

The Wildcats picked up two critical conference wins Sunday and one Monday against Texas Women’s University at Pioneer Field in Denton to extend their conference record to 5-1 and their overall record to 21-9. ACU beat the Pioneers 5-3 in the first game Sunday and See

Softball page 7

Baseball team splits series Men, women’s tennis teams go undefeated

By Grant Abston Sports Editor

Despite losing its first two games against East Central University on Saturday, the Wildcat baseball team bounced back, sweeping Sunday’s doubleheader to earn a series split and remain atop the Lone Star Conference standings.

ACU (23-7, 16-4) fell three spots in Collegiate Baseball Magazine’s national poll to No. 8 but remains one game ahead of Angelo State for first place in the LSC. ECU fell to 11-17 overall and sits in eighth place in the LSC with a 10-10 record.

“It was a tough weekend for us,” head coach Britt Bonneau said. “We were kind of up and See

Baseball page 7

By Brandon Tripp

Tennis

Broadcast Assistant

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Starting pitcher Preston Vancil delivers a pitch against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 28. The Wildcats are 23-7 overall and 16-4 and in first place in the LSC.

Just because it was spring break does not mean that the ACU tennis team took one. The men and women both rolled en route to a combined 8-0 record over the break. The Wildcats defeated Schreiner and St. Edward’s, as well as Lone Star Conference opponent Midwestern State and future LSC opponent Incarnate Word.

“We knew we would be playing over the break, and we just wanted to go out and play,” Juan Nuñez said.

The women began the

weekend with a 9-0 thumping of Schreiner University.

The Wildcats won all three of the doubles matches, one by default, by a combined score of 16-1. The singles matches were just as lopsided when the Wildcats relinquished just one point in six matches.

The Wildcats looked just as dominant in their second match of the day as they did in the first, defeating Incarnate Word University 8-1. The women took two of three doubles matches and See

Tennis page 7