The Optimist - Oct. 29, 2008

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a product of the JMC

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Pg. 6: No. 2 ACU beats Tarleton State, improves to 8-0

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 19 :: 2 sections, 18 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

Pg 3

Pg 3

Frater Sodalis haunted house vandalized, carries on

Sub T-16 social club works at haunted house at Frontier Texas!

Pg 6

Men’s cross country team claim 18th consecutive LSC title

Students voice opinions on politics in poll

By Daniel Johnson-Kim

the faculty, staff and administrators in a monthly newsletter. A link to the survey also was published at www.acuoptimist.com.

Eight-hundred-eightyseven students, 19 faculty, three administrators and 49 staff members took the survey for a total of 955 participants. Fifteen percent of the students who were polled were freshmen, 14 percent were sophomores, 20 percent were juniors, 31 percent were seniors and 20 percent

Editor in Chief

At ACU, Sen. John McCain’s supporters outnumber Sen. Barack Obama’s; there exist more liberals and fewer conservatives than perceived, and the economy is the No. 1 issue on campus, according to an unscientific online survey conducted by the JMC Network, which produces the Optimist and the Students’ Association.

The survey was sent through e-mail to the entire student body and to

See

Student groups sponsor political debate

JMC NEtwork & Students’ Association POlitical Survey

Who are you voting for in the 2008 Presidential Election?

John McCain 50%

955 members of the ACU community took the survey: n 887 students

Barack Obama 27%

By Laura Acuff

Undecided 10%

Opinion Page Editor

Not Voting 8%

n 19 faculty n 3 Administrators

The JMC Network and the Students’ Association teamed together to sponsor “We the People,” a political forum, Wednesday in Hart Auditorium at 5 p.m.

Forum speakers include faculty, staff and student representatives. Optimist Editor in Chief Daniel Johnson-Kim will moderate, asking questions on topics from the economy to foreign policy to what a Christian’s role should be in politics.

Audience members also will be given the opportunity to ask questions, and a Nintendo Wii will be given away.

Johnson-Kim, senior print journalism major from Abilene, suggested the idea for a forum to SA officers.

“I just thought it’d be a good idea because it’s an election year to get some faculty and students who feel comfortable expressing their views,” Johnson-Kim said. “I think it’d be great for people to actually talk about what’s going on in the world right now.”

Johnson-Kim said he hopes the forum will spark discussion among students and be an informational venue for those with political questions, offering differing perspectives through both conservative and liberal viewpoints.

SA Vice President Sarah Pulis, senior political science major from Longview, helped plan the forum and also said great emphasis was placed on ensuring a balanced combination of views among panelists in order to make sure all felt welcome to attend.

“Often, politics can be contentious,” Pulis said. “We look forward to some lively debate and discussion but we wanted to make sure that this environment is one where students will feel comfortable coming to listen or to ask questions or to speak themselves, and again we really wanted to

Inside: Full results of the political survey in our special section, “ACU Political Pulse”

n 49 Staff

Survey page 4

Peters named ’08 Homecoming Queen

“

By Tanner Anderson Page Designer

I feel so loved and truly blessed.

I didn’t expect it at all and I’m honored and feel so loved.

It is Saturday morning, and the Homecoming Parade is almost ready to begin. Homecoming Queen nominee, Anna Peters, senior ministry to children and families and elementary education major from Houston, reaches for her cell phone. She calls her mom to hear a comforting voice she said gave her words of encouragement.

As Anna talks on the phone, she assumes her mom is seven hours away in Houston, but as the phone conversation continues, Anna’s mom is getting closer and closer to surprising her daughter.

During the phone conversation, Anna’s mom is 26 miles outside of Abilene and about an hour away from seeing her eldest of five children in the Homecoming Parade. When Ms. Peters finally arrives, she picks a spot to view the parade and waits for her daughter.

Then it finally happens, the parade begins.

Anna scans the crowd, locks eyes with her mother and begins to cry.

Now during the halftime show at the ACU Homecoming football game, all the Homecoming Queen nominees stand on the sideline next to their family escorts.

One by one the nominees are introduced; the stadium is packed, and the announcer

:: Anna Peters, senior ministry to children and families and elementary education major from Houston.

”

speaks into the microphone, “And the 2008 ACU Homecoming Queen is…,” with just enough pause to prolong the anticipation, “Anna Peters.” As Anna takes the crown, the crowd cheers, and she wipes away her tears before they have a chance to streak across her face.

If people in the crowd looked at Anna and Ms. Peters that very moment, they would not be able to decide who was happier. Ms. Peters proudly introduced herself as the “Queen’s Momma.”

“I’m extremely proud of Anna; she’s the oldest in a single parent home. We’re from Houston and we left at about 2 a.m. and surprised her during the parade. When she… asked me what I was doing, I just said relaxing before work,” Ms. Peters said.

See

Queen page 4

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Anna Peters, senior ministry to children and families and elementary education major from Houston, waves to the crowd after being crowned the 2008 Homecoming Queen during the halftime of the football game Saturday.

See

Debate page 4

Shinnery Review staff open to suggestions for new name

By Linda Bailey Student Reporter

After being called the Shinnery Review for 10 years, the staff of ACU’s literary magazine plans to change its name for the 2009-10 school year.

The Shinnery Review originally was titled the Pickwicker, but the name was changed for the same reason it is being renamed now.

“While that is a great name, we wanted something that was more meaningful to staff and

students,” said Megan Faver, administrative coordinator of the magazine and junior from Lufkin. “We are hoping to have a name that better represents the group and everyone in it.”

The student body will decide on the new name for this magazine. On Dec. 4, the staff will sponsor the Slithy Tove, a poetry reading named after a Louis Carroll poem where students will be able to submit suggestions for the name change, Faver said.

“While there are a number of

ACu wEAtHEr Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

High: 76 Low: 52

High: 78 Low: 54

High: 78 Low: 52

people on the staff of the Shinnery Review, the magazine is for the entire university, and we want everyone to have a chance to help us choose a new name,” Faver said.

The Shinnery Review is an annual collection of studentcreated poems, prose, short fiction or nonfiction pieces as well as art and photography, which is compiled by students and published in the spring semester.

When Kendell Wilson, junior public relations major

from Sherman, first heard the “Shinnery Review,” she said the name did not entice her interest. It was not until a friend told her about the type of material the Shinnery Review produced and the events the staff sponsored that she decided to take a closer look.

“The people in the group know where the name came from, but for the most part, the student body has no idea what to associate it with,” Wilson said. “I think it is important that the name of the magazine

ACU Political Pulse

be appealing to the student body but also give them an idea of what the organization is about.”

The mission of the literary publication is clear, according to the magazine’s Web site.

“We publish the Shinnery Review each year in order to offer all students at ACU a place to express their voices through the literary and visual arts and to encourage continual spiritual growth through the exploration of new ideas and the cultivation of God-giv-

en creative gifts,” according to the Web site.

Mary Hardegree, advertising editor of the Shinnery Review and junior English major from Abilene, encouraged student participation.

“It’s a great way to get involved and get to know other students, as well as a great opportunity to look at different literature and different cultures that are involved in the ACU community,” Hardegree said.

E-mail Bailey at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Online Poll : See a special section the Optimist staff printed to highlight the upcoming presidential election inside this issue of the Optimist.

To find videos, polls and information visit www.acuoptimist.com

Are you ready for the election to be over?

a. Yes. I’m tired of the coverage. b. No. I can’t get enough politics. c. After I read this issue, I will be. d. There’s an election?

acuoptimist.com Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::

Abilene Christian University

::

Serving the ACU community since 1912

2

Campus Day Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Calendar and Events

29

Wednesday

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Graduate School Fair at the Moody Center on the HardinSimmons University campus.

Contact the ACU Career Center for more information at 674-2473.

30

31

Thursday

7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Fright at the Museum by Sub T-16 at Frontier Texas!

7:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Frat Haunted House at Play Faire Park. Admission is $8.

acuoptimist.com

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Friday

Saturday

The ACU School of Social Work is looking for student volunteers to help with a children’s diabetic group which will meet the second and fourth Mondays every month from 6-7:30 p.m.

The group will offer fun therapeutic play activities for children ages 6-16 at Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler. The planning for this group will begin the first of November and will take place on ACU’s campus.

7:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Frat Haunted House at Play Faire Park. Admission is $8.

Webcast

Watch videos on conservative, liberal and independent students’ views on the upcoming presidential election.

Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo for highlights from ACU’s Homecoming football game against Tarleton State at Shotwell Stadium.

The Junior League of Abilene needs volunteers for its annual Christmas Carousel, Style Show and Kids Event beginning Nov. 6 through Nov. 9 at the Abilene Civic Center. Help is needed at different times each day for a variety of jobs. Proceeds from this event benefit local charitable organizations.

The G. V. Daniels Recreation Center Fall Festival needs volunteers to work Friday between the hours of 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Volunteers will assist with game booths and handing out candy to kids. Students are encouraged to wear a costume to the event as long as it is not scary.

Announcements The Medical Clinic will be offering flu shots to students, faculty and staff Oct. 16 and Nov. 20 in the Campus Center Living Room from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shots will be available in the clinic Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular clinic hours.

Shots are $25 and can be paid

Chapel Checkup

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using cash, check or charging to one’s Banner Account.

SHADES & Milonga Latin Dance will have a spoken word and freestyle poetry performance titled Verbal Balance on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Living Room.

Credited Chapels remaining:

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9 p.m. ACU police contacted a male and a female subject smoking hookah in a vacant lot at 2400 N. Judge Ely. 9:51 p.m. ACU police responded to a report of a subject vandalizing artwork and buildings by the Brown Library and Moody Coliseum. Three subjects were apprehended and referred to Judicial Affairs.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 1:50 a.m. ACU police responded to a music violation at 600 E.N. 23rd St. The tenant was contacted and complied.

7:30 a.m. ACU police returned a wallet to a student. The wallet was found at Wal-Mart.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 10:38 a.m. ACU police placed a boot on a vehicle at Library Court for citations; they were unable to identify the owner.

Thursday, Oct. 23 5:40 p.m. ACU police responded to a disturbance at the Intramural Field; the player was ejected from the game.

10:04 p.m. ACU police responded to a report of a subject soliciting money near Betty Rose’s on Judge Ely; they were unable to locate anyone.

Friday, Oct. 24 2:30 a.m. ACU police responded to a report of a suspicious subject at Nelson parking lot; the vehicle was gone upon the police’s arrival.

3:25 p.m. ACU police responded to a theft at the Administration Building.

Saturday, Oct. 25 1:15 a.m. ACU police responded to a noise violation at 1600 Cedar Crest; the resident turned the music down.

5:11 p.m. ACU police responded to a medical emergency at Shotwell Stadium.

Sunday, Oct. 26 1:01 a.m. ACU police responded to a report of subjects throwing water balloons from a vehicle around campus.

Always report suspicious activity to ACUPD at 674-2305 or 674-2911.

Hundreds gather for JamFest show

By Lydia Melby Arts Editor

Find out volunteer opportunities by visiting the Volunteer and Service-Learning 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.

Edited for space

Monday, Oct. 20

1 p.m.

ACU Soccer vs. West Texas A&M

Credited Chapels to date:

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.

Fall Break

Fall Break

Online Newscast

Rose Park Recreation Center would like to have volunteers for the Halloween Carnival on Friday from 5-9 p.m. This will be a safe alternative for trick-ortreaters. The group needs people to operate booths and pass out candy to kids. Students do not need to stay for the full four hours. Any help is appreciated.

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 mab07d@acu.edu.

Police Log

Volunteer Opportunities Eternal Threads has an urgent need for volunteers any afternoon this week, Oct. 28-31. For students that can only come in the morning, please call at 6726000. They are located at 101 Walnut St.

About This Page

Hundreds of ACU students and visitors gathered on the lawn outside the Zona Luce Building Friday to experience a sampling of musical talents for JamFest, a Homecoming tradition featuring student performances.

JamFest 2008 showcased 11 acts, from solo performances to full bands. The annual concert gave students the opportunity to exhibit their musical work.

“We had a lot of people performing but we also had a ton of people audition,” said Stephen Munoz, junior business major from Escondido, Calif., who directed the event.

“We had two days of auditions, from five to 10 both nights, so a total of 10 hours of just auditions.”

In the interest of time, each act had a limit on the number of songs it could play, and to help things run more fluidly, two stages were constructed beside each other, so upcoming bands could set up during the preceding performances.

“The two stages helped, and I know they had that last year, but it was set up opposite of each other,” said Kendell Wilson, junior public relations major from Sherman. “The crowd

had to move [last year], so I liked that the two stages were side-by-side this time.”

Despite the cold, windy weather prior to the event, a large number of people attended. Although toward the end of the night the temperature dropped, one merchandise table began serving hot chocolate, and numbers only multiplied to reach a peak for the last two acts.

“Turn out was great; at one point it seemed like there was about 300 people in the audience, and most of the time there was an average of at least 100150 there,” Munoz said. “I think the weather definitely helped because the two days before were really super cold, and since it was nice jacket weather that night, more people said ‘Hey, I think I’ll go.’”

In between acts, Munoz took the microphone and talked, joked and gave away glow sticks, T-shirts and CDs from various bands such as Thus Far, Fair Forms and Rockin’ Extensions. Munoz also said by the night’s end they sold out of JamFest T-shirts.

“I put a lot of time into the planning … 10 hours Friday alone, plus I had been working on getting it together since the beginning of school,” Munoz said.

Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Jay Burnam, former ACU student and music major from Wichita Falls, sings during JamFest Friday by the Zona Luce Building.

However, all the effort seemed to pay off for some audience members.

“This was my third year… and this year it seemed like it moved a lot faster and more smoothly,” Wilson said. “I enjoyed the mixture of it all; I have some good friends that headlined in some of the bigger bands but I stayed for the whole thing and I really enjoyed all the different styles.”

Munoz also felt the event was successful.

“Overall, I thought it went really well. There were a lot of people in the audience, the acts all went really smoothly and people seemed like they were having fun,” Munoz said. “It all went over better than I expected.”

Munoz said he enjoyed the experience of both directing the event and performing in it and expects to be involved in JamFest next year.

E-mail Melby at: lgm05e@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Page 3

Sub T-16 haunted house raises funds for Frontier Texas!

By Elizabeth Spano Student Reporter

ACU’s Sub T-16 social club is promising a lot of blood and guts Thursday and Friday at its haunted house at Frontier Texas! Museum.

Titled “Fright at the Museum,” the haunted house has an old western theme complete with cowboys and Indians and will lead college and high school students through different set-ups created by the members of Sub T. “The haunted house should be a lot of fun,” said Sub T-16 President Derrick

Bibb, senior animal science major from Abilene. Bibb said the club is spending a lot of time and effort to make the haunted house a scary experience.

Frontier Texas! Museum is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help educate and serve the community through education and tourist development tools, said Jeff Salmon, executive director of Frontier Texas! Museum.

Salmon said the haunted house is one way for the museum to do this, and that although this is Frontier Texas!’ first time to partner

“

Sub T knows how to be scary. You’re not going to find a better haunted house in Abilene. :: Michael McCully, advertising/public relations major from Fort Worth

with Sub T for an event, he hopes to make the haunted house a tradition.

The event is unique because Frontier Texas! is one of the only facilities in town that makes an indoor haunted house possible, Salmon said.

Since the exhibits are kept under strict housing codes,

”

the building is one of few in Abilene that meets fire standards necessary to hold many people indoors, Salmon said.

Frontier Texas! is tying in its own personal history to intensify the frightening effect Sub T plans to have at the haunted house. Since the museum site was a scrap and bone yard in

its earlier years, visitors will be told a version of its history to set the mood before being led into the haunted house.

The admission cost for the event is $10 per person, with proceeds benefiting the museum as a fundraiser.

Sub T will receive a portion of the profits, which they plan to donate to the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bowling for Kid’s Sake program.

The museum is admitting a limit of 500 people each night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. both Thursday and Friday. Tickets can be pre-purchased at Frontier Texas! or at the door.

Parents are discouraged from bringing young children, as the attractions are directed to an older age level.

“Sub T knows how to be scary,” said Michael McCully, sophomore Sub T member and advertising public relations major from Fort Worth. “You’re not going to find a better haunted house in Abilene.”

Frontier Texas! is located downtown on 625 N. First St.; for more information, call the museum at 437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com.

E-mail Spano at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Vandalization fails to halt Frater Sodalis’ 27th annual haunted house

By Kimberly Wolford Student Reporter

Halloween is all about trickor-treat. But this year, for men’s social club Frater Sodalis, it has been more trick than treat.

The club is continuing to plan its 27th annual haunted house event despite vandalism to equipment and props.

Members of Frater Sodalis said an unknown group broke into the venue of their haunted house and vandalized several props that the club was storing there in preparation of its opening weekend. They also said a black light and strobe light were taken and several power cords were cut.

Information regarding the investigation was not available for publication.

“It’s sad that we’ve put a lot of hours into it already, but it’s just a small obstacle that we’re overcoming,” said Nathan MacDonald, senior advertising and public relations major from Hillsboro and vice president of Frater Sodalis. “It’s still going to be awesome.”

According to a message sent by the Frat’s Facebook event, more than 250 people visited the haunted house Saturday alone. The message encouraged people to try the haunted house as it “gets better and better every night.”

Chris Derrick, junior criminal justice major from Monahans and Frater Sodalis’ fundraiser said that no one has complained about the haunted house or it’s prices. Derrick said that the location was great because people can get scared at the haunted house and then play a round of miniature golf for a decent price.

Play Faire Park added an incentive for all who attended the Frat’s haunted house.

A round of miniature golf only costs $2 for guests of Frater Sodalis.

Derrick said that the Frat haunted house has different themed rooms ranging from a butcher room to a glow in the dark dot room.

To begin people walk through an opened area and

Fright Nights The Frat haunted house will be open at Play Faire Park twice this week. n Thursday: 7:30 p.m. midnight n Friday: 7:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.

as participants walk through the house becomes more and more disorienting.

“We try to really scare the people with crazy, freaky pop-ups,” said Derrick. “We want to distract people with smoke and weird noises. It becomes a real disorienting experience with a real random trail of terror.”

The Frat’s haunted house will be open Thursday from 7:30 to midnight and will open on Halloween from 7:30 to 1 a.m. It is at Play Faire Park on North Second Street. Tickets cost $8 and will be sold at the door, as well as in the Campus Center this week.

E-mail Wolford at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Bret Pinson, junior business management major from Abilene, cringes in feigned pain as he has his leg chopped off during a performance at the Frater Sodalis’ haunted house Friday night.

FROM THE FRONT

Page 4

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Survey: Students take political poll Queen: Peters says Continued from page 1 were graduate students.

Among the 887 students polled, 50 percent said they supported McCain, 27 percent said they supported Obama, nine percent said they were undecided, nine percent said they were not voting and five percent said they were supporting another candidate.

A plurality of the participants described themselves as “moderates” (40 percent), while 32 percent said their political views could be defined as “conservative;” 14 percent defined themselves as “liberal;” seven percent said they were “very conservative;” three percent con-

sidered themselves “very liberal;” and four percent said they were “apathetic.”

That was in opposition to the perceptions of the “most popular political view in the ACU community.”

Fifty percent said ACU was overwhelmingly “conservative,” while 26 percent said the majority of community members were “moderate.”

Eleven percent said ACU was “very conservative,” while nine percent said ACU was “liberal,” and two percent said ACU was “very liberal” and “apathetic.”

Much like a plethora of national polls, the economy is the No. 1 issue of importance to the ACU com-

munity. Thirty-Five percent of those who participated ranked the economy as the No. 1 issue, while social issues like abortion and gay marriage were the No. 1 issue for 23 percent of the survey sampling. The least important issue among the six choices — the economy, foreign policy, healthcare, the environment, energy and social issues — was the environment. Twenty-seven percent ranked the environment last in importance.

Close behind were social issues like gay marriage and abortion; 24 percent ranked social issues last.

An overwhelming majority (89 percent) voiced

Debate: Panelists hope forum will spark intelligent dialogue Continued from page 1 stress this being an inclusive environment for everyone to come partake.”

As far as SA’s involvement, Pulis said sponsoring the forum seemed like an appropriate fulfillment of SA’s mission.

“One of the main missions of SA is student advocacy, and advocacy involves helping students to express their views, to make the campus a better place,” Pulis said. “This forum fits in well with that, and hopefully when students come and listen to the various viewpoints, it will help them to just better clarify their own views and maybe think about things in a different way.”

Panelist member Dr. Kristina Campos, assistant professor of communication, said she felt compelled to partici-

pate as a panelist to help ensure different political views were represented.

“It’s always a good thing when we can let both sides of the political process be heard on campus and let people know that it is possible to be a Christian and a Democrat, and it’s possible for those things to go well together,” Campos said.

“It’s important to model that for our students.”

Dr. Neal Coates, associate professor of political science, will serve as a panelist at the forum and said he sees the forum as an educational opportunity for students considering for whom they will vote.

Coates said he believes, Christian or not, people should be involved in their governmental system when given the opportunity.

“Who we select has direct

implications for how clean our water will be, how safe our streets will be, how well our children are educated, how our military behaves and our economic policies,” Coates said. “Granted, I fully agree that our kingdom is not of this world, but this is an opportunity that only comes around every four years. It’s not like we’re doing this every day. I’d say seize the day and try to make a difference.”

Overall, Johnson-Kim said he hopes the forum will be an educational, entertaining experience.

“It’s just going to be very professional and very productive and hopefully sparks fly because nobody likes it when everybody is nice to each other,” Johnson-Kim said.

E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu

that Christians should be involved in the political process, and 65 percent of those polled said the media have covered the 2008 Presidential Election unfairly.

Fifty percent said Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin brought the most to their political party’s ticket. Eighty-two percent of those polled said race, gender and age did not affect their vote, while 14 percent said the age of a candidate would affect their vote. Seven percent said the race of a candidate would influence their vote, and six percent voiced that the gender of a candidate influenced their vote.

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

she feels ‘blessed’ by honor, family Continued from page 1 Now the new Queen and her mom are back on the sidelines and surrounded by friends, hugs and congratulations.

“She wasn’t supposed to come. I called her this morning to hear her voice; I’m just really, really excited,” Anna said. “My stomach dropped as soon as I heard my name; I had another girl’s name in my head who I thought was

going to win.”

Multiple departments on campus came together to ensure Anna’s family would be present during this year’s Homecoming.

“I feel so loved and truly blessed,” Anna said. “I didn’t expect it at all and I’m honored and feel so loved.”

E-mail Anderson at: tsa04a@acu.edu

Blowing more than Hot Air

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Evan Anderson, senior music teaching major from Rockwall, and Eric Wyatt, junior music teaching major from Stamford, play during Octubafest, a free concert that featured classical and jazz music, in the Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall Monday.

SPORTS JUMPS

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Page 5

Football: No. 2 Wildcats on road against Texas A&M-Kingsville Continued from page 6 answered again after intercepting a deflected pass on the 27-yard line. Grantham hit wide receiver Devin Guinn from 12 yards out to pull Tarleton within four points at the end of the first half.

“The turnovers were disappointing because that’s a little uncharacteristic, but that’s obviously something we have to get corrected because that will hurt us down the stretch,” Thomsen said. “But our defense once again forced turnovers, and that helped.”

The Wildcat defense stepped up in the second half, forcing two punts, two turnovers and one turnover on downs in the third quarter to allow ACU to pull away. After a Texan punt, kicker Matt Adams extended ACU’s lead to seven after connecting on a 30-yard field goal. On the ensuing

kickoff, the Wildcats forced a fumble and recovered it, setting up Scott’s second touchdown of the game, a four-yard touchdown run to put ACU ahead 24-10.

On Tarleton’s next drive, defensive end Vantrise Studivant sacked Grantham and forced a fumble. Defensive end Aston Whiteside recovered the fumble and gave ACU the ball back on the 30-yard line. The Wildcat offense wasted little time, scoring on the first play after Scott scored his third touchdown of the game from 30 yards out.

“We forced a turnover on the kickoff, and the defense forced a turnover, and that was really the key, getting those two turnovers both in the third quarter,” Thomsen said. “It gave us a great starting field position, and we were able to run the ball in.”

Stewart closed the game

after throwing a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Morris to put ACU ahead 37-10. Tarleton scored one more touchdown, but it was too late, as ACU moved one step closer to winning the LSC title.

Scott finished the game with 259 yards rushing and three touchdowns while catching four passes for 32 yards. It was Scott’s second consecutive game with more than 200 rushing yards, and his performance earned him LSC South Division Player of the Week honors.

Defensively, the Wildcats limited Tarleton to 265 total yards and forced three turnovers, while linebacker Eric Edwards led the Wildcats with seven tackles. Linebacker Fred Thompson finished with six tackles, a game-high two sacks and earned LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Wildcats will face Texas A&M-Kingsville next Saturday on the road. Kingsville is 6-3 overall and in fourth place in the South Division.

Quarterback Billy Malone will be re-evaluated this week, but Stewart will start his secondconsecutive game if Malone is unable to go.

“This will be one of our toughest road tests, and we have played in some tough places, but Kingsville is one of the hardest places to play,” Thomsen said. “They have a great program and they have great players this year, so we have to really focus and have the ability to be consistent.

So far, our guys have met the challenge, and that’s what I’m most proud of, and the leadership has been really good.”

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Defensive end Vantrise Studivant sacks Tarleton State’s quarterback Scott Grantham in Saturday’s Homecoming game.

Cross Country: Women finish 5th Golf: Cats Continued from page 6 Daniel Maina crossed the finish line first with a time of 23:32. Fellow all-Americans Cleophas Tanui and Julius Nyango finished second and third with times of 23:39 and 23:40, respectively. Texas A&M Commerce’s Tyler Tyndell came in fourth, preventing ACU from claiming all top-five spots and thus a perfect score, while ACU’s Serge Gasore and Charles White finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

On the women’s side, Burroughs said he knew things would be tough and the women would be challenged to win their eighth-straight title. Bur-

roughs said he was proud of some individual performances and looks forward to the conference championships in San Antonio in about a week and a half.

“Individually, I thought some of our girls did very well,” Burroughs said. “The overall team score was not a reflection of what we are capable of doing.”

Burroughs said he was particularly impressed with Loice Cheboi and Kelsey Hilton’s behavior during the race and with the performance of Winrose Karunde, the individual champion. Karunde easily won the 6,000-meter race with a time of 21:39, 36 sec-

onds ahead of teammate Loice Cheboi, who finished in 22:15.

Overall the women’s team finished in fifth place with Midwestern State winning its first LSC title in school history.

After the men’s 18th consecutive title, Burroughs, who experienced his first LSC Championship, said he feels privileged to be a part of the legendary program and is honored to keep the tradition going.

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Soccer: Playoff hopes still alive Continued from page 6 “Friday, we did not play as well as we can and came up short,” said head soccer coach Casey Wilson. “However, Sunday we came out strong and won, and a lot of that has to do with the girls wanting to make the postseason.”

The Wildcats’ victory kept their playoff hopes alive.

The Wildcats currently sit in sixth place going into the

final weekend. They have to remain in the top-six spots to make the postseason. The two games this weekend will determine their fate.

On Friday, ACU will play West Texas A&M at 4 p.m. at home. This is expected to be the toughest of the two games, as the Buffaloes currently are second in the conference with a 6-2 record. The Wildcats will then conclude their regular season

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Defender Veronica Wilhelm looks to pass the ball against Central Oklahoma. The Wildcats are in sixth place in the LSC.

against Eastern New Mexico.

The Wildcats will be favored in this match, as the Greyhounds have struggled in conference with a 2-6 record.

The Wildcats will have control of their own fate this weekend. They can guarantee themselves a playoff spot with two victories. However, a split will put them in a position in which they will rely on other teams’ results to hopefully get in the postseason.

“Essentially, if we win both games, we are in [the postseason],” Wilson said. “We can possibly get in with a split; however we are just focusing on winning and taking control ourselves to guarantee we make the postseason.”

E-mail Cantrell at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Volleyball: ACU wins jump to 13 fourth-straight match Continued from page 6 Central Oklahoma, who also shot a 140 (69-71) in a playoff to win the championship.

Collin Mayer of St. Edward’s finished third, just one shot off the pace with a threeunder-par 141 (70-71). In September, Mayer won the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate tournament in Abilene.

Junior Jose Gutierrez did not play on the five-man team for ACU but finished tied for fourteenth, shooting a 147 (75-72). Senior Hilton Funk finished one shot back of Gutierrez with a 148 (73-75).

“Hilton Funk stepped up and had a good tournament,” Campbell said. “I was really glad to see Jose step up in his second tournament of the fall. I think he is really going to come on and have a good spring semester.”

With this performance, the team moved up in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division II Coaches’ poll from No. 22 to No. 13, with 174 total votes.

The Wildcats’ record in the fall will be a really big boost when they begin the spring semester, Campbell said. The team’s record will carry over to the spring and help determine if it qualifies for regionals. In the fall, the Wildcats were 45-11-1 overall and 26-6-1 against regional teams.

“Our record is really going to help as far as our regional ranking,” Campbell said.

“We are in good position for securing a birth into regionals. In the end, our ultimate goal is to go to nationals.”

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

Continued from page 6 Hines hit .571 on the night to lead the team, while the defense held the Bulldogs to a .000 hitting percentage. The match lasted only one hour and eight minutes, and the Wildcats finished off the Bulldogs, hitting .522 in the third and final set.

“We did a lot of good things and played well overall,” said head coach Kellen Mock. “It was not the most intense match we have played but it was a great warm up match for Saturday’s game against UCO.” On Saturday, the Wildcats once again dominated their opponent, defeating Central Oklahoma, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-14). The team had its best hitting game against an LSC opponent, hitting .297 in this match in front of a crowd of alumni at Homecoming.

Hines, once again, led the team in kills, this time with 11 and a .526 hitting percentage. Hines was followed by Schilling with nine kills and freshman outside hitter Jennie Hutt with eight kills. Moronu led with 37 assists against UCO. The defense held UCO to a .055 hitting percentage and had nine blocks.

“Shawna Hines is making a comeback, and it is good to see her out on the court again,” Mock said. “We are seeing consistent play out of Jordan Schilling, who has been a backbone for us. She is someone we can steadily depend on.”

After leading ACU during the weekend in assists, Moronu earned LSC Setter Player

of the Week honors after recording two double-doubles against UTPB and SWOSU and narrowly missing a third against UCO. “Most of the girls went to the football game, and I think they were inspired by the their victory,” Mock said. “This probably was one of the best matches we have played all season.

They performed up to the level we expect and played at that consistently high level that we strive for.”

Mock said one of the Wildcats unsung heroes was Wilson. Here lately, she has really been playing at a high level, Mock said.

With the two victories, the Wildcats improved to 18-8 overall and 5-4 in league play. The team played Dallas Baptist on Tuesday night, but results were unavailable for press time.

The Wildcats next match will be on Thursday against Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. at 7 p.m.

“They [CU] are a good squad,” Mock said. “They have quite a few girls that are returning from last season and they are under the leadership of a new coach.

They beat West Texas A&M last week and are primed and ready to make a run in the conference. We are definitely going to have to keep an eye on them.”

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

SportsWednesday

Page 6

SCOREBOARD

ACU men win 18th-straight LSC cross country title

By Jeff Craig

Standings

Sports Writer

Football Team ACU WTAMU Tarleton St. TAMU-K MSU Angelo St. ENMU

Div. 4-0 4-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 1-3 0-5

Overall 8-0 8-1 7-2 6-3 5-3 3-6 1-8

Volleyball Team

Div. 8-0 9-2 6-3 6-3 5-4 TX Woman’s 5-4 WTAMU Tarleton St. MSU TAMU-C ACU

Overall 24-4 19-7 22-7 14-8 18-8 16-11

Photo courtesy of Creative Services

The men’s cross country team won its 18th-straght Lone Star Conference championship Saturday. Daniel Maina finished first overall for the Wildcats.

Div. TAMU-C 6-1 WTAMU 6-2 Central Okla. 5-2-1 MSU 5-3 Angelo St. 4-2-2 ACU 4-3-1 NE St. 3-3-2 TX Woman’s 3-3-1 ENMU 2-6 East Central 1-6-1 SW Okla.

0-8

The men’s cross country team extended its remarkable streak of consecutive Lone Star Conference titles to 18, while the women’s impressive run of seven consecutive LSC titles ended Saturday in Kingsville.

The men’s team put on a dominating show with all five of its runners placing in the top six, and the women’s team finished with the toptwo individual runners in its race as well. Head cross country coach Sam Burroughs felt; his teams did a good job overall, but saw areas where im-

Cross Country provement is needed before the regional championship on Nov. 8.

“I thought it went well; there were some areas where we were excellent and some areas where we could have done better, but overall it did go well,” Burroughs said.

Burroughs had little doubt his men’s squad would win its 18th-straight LSC crown; he just wanted things to go smoothly for his squad with no bumps in the road.

“We went in with the goal of winning the title as easily as possible and with no injuries,” Burroughs said.

Running the Show

Women’s Soccer Team

Overall 12-2-1 12-3-1 11-4-3 11-6 10-5-3 8-6-2 6-7-3 8-7-1 8-9 5-9-2 2-15

Soccer ACU 1, Texas A&M-Commerce 2

Saturday Football ACU 37, Tarleton State 17

Volleyball ACU 3, Central Oklahoma 0

Sunday

Upcoming Thursday Volleyball

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Above: Running back Bernard Scott ran for 259 yards and three touchdowns to lead ACU in the Wildcats’ 37-17 win over Tarleton State on Saturday.

Below: Quarterback Zach Stewart started for the injured Billy Malone and threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns in ACU’s Homecoming game.

Football team remains No. 1 in region after LSC South win

By Grant Abston Sports Editor

ACU at Cameron, 7 p.m.

Friday Soccer ACU vs. West Texas A&M, 4 p.m.

Saturday Volleyball ACU at Midwestern State, 6 p.m.

Football ACU at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7 p.m.

Sunday Soccer ACU vs. Eastern New Mexico, 1 p.m. :: Home games listed in italics

NOTES n Running back Bernard Scott earned LSC co-South Division Offensive Player of the Week Scott honors after rushing for 259 yards and three touchdowns and catching four passes for 32 yards. Scott has recorded 700 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns over the past two weeks. n Linebacker Fred Thompson earned LSC South Defensive Player of the Week honors after reThompson cording six tackles, two sacks, one pass break up and two quarterback hurries in ACU’s 37-17 win over Tarleton State.

See

Cross Country page 5

Cats split weekend matches on road Sports Writer

Friday

Soccer

The men’s team finished with a composite score of 17, which is determined by adding the finishing ranks of the team’s top-five runners; the lower the number, the better. The second-place finisher Tarleton State fell 60 points behind the Wildcats with a score of 77. The Wildcats’ score of 17 is only two points higher than a perfect score of 15, which Burroughs compared to a 290-point bowling game.

The men put on some dominating individual performances on the 7,700meter course. All-American

By Ryan Cantrell

Scores

ACU 1, Texas Woman’s 0

October 29, 2008

Running back Bernard Scott recorded his second straight game with more than 200 rushing yards Saturday to help the No. 2 Wildcats defeat Tarleton State 37-17 in a Lone Star Conference South Division game at Shotwell Stadium.

With quarterback Billy Malone out due to injury, Scott helped backup quarterback Zach Stewart win his first collegiate start over Tarleton, which came into the game ranked No. 17 in the nation.

Stewart helped ACU improve to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the LSC South Division after throwing for 197 yards and two touchdowns in ACU’s Homecoming game.

“I was proud of our team, and we really stepped up without Billy and did a lot of good things,” said head coach

Football ACU 37, tarleton st. 17 Chris Thomsen. “First off, our defense played really well and played tough, physical and a violent game. I’m proud of our offensive line, which played really physical, and Zach Stewart did a nice job of coming in and managing the game and getting us a win.”

On ACU’s first possession of the game, Stewart led the Wildcats on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Stewart hitting tight end Kendrick Holloway for a three-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats ahead 7-0. After the ensuing kickoff, the Texans marched down the field, looking to score, but cornerback Alex Harbison intercepted Scott Grantham’s pass at the goal line and returned it to the 26-yard line.

“Two straight weeks Alex has come up with big plays

ACU finishes fall season with fourth-place finish

By Chandler Harris

Golf

Assistant Sports Editor

The golf team completed its season last week by finishing fourth at the Territory Classic in Duncan, Okla.

Central Oklahoma claimed the championship by firing a two-round total of 577 (292285), just one shot over par.

St. Edwards placed second, seven shots back with an eight-over-par 584 (293-291); Arkansas Tech completed its two rounds, nine shots back of Central Oklahoma with a 10-over-par 586 (296-290); and the Wildcats shot a 16over-par 592 (298-294).

“We had a good tournament,” said head golf coach Mike Campbell. “We wish we

would have played a little better but we had a good fall, and it was a nice way to close the fall season.”

Sophomore Cyril Bouniol and senior Patrick Hanauer matched scores, both shooting 145 (75-70) and finishing tied for eighth in the individual flight.

“Cyril and Patrick played really well,” Campbell said.

“Those two guys have been solid the entire fall season.”

East Central University’s Zac Pool shot a four-underpar 140 (68-72) to win the individual championship.

He defeated Austin Bowman See

Golf page 5

acuoptimist.com See video highlights of ACU’s win over Tarleton State on Saturday

early in the game to change the momentum of the game,” Thomsen said. “He is a really good cover guy with good speed and showed it with those plays last week and this week.”

However, the Wildcats turned the ball back over to the Texans on the next two possessions after consecutive fumbles. But ACU’s defense held

strong, forcing Tarleton to punt and keep the score 7-0 after the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, ACU extended its lead to 14 after running back Bernard Scott scored on a 22-yard run on a six-play, 77-yard drive. Tarleton answered on the ensuing drive after kicker Garrett Lindholm put Tarleton on the board from 45 yards out. With the first half winding down, TarSee

Football page 5

The Wildcats won and lost last weekend on the road, setting up a critical final weekend. Friday, they lost their first match against Texas A&MCommerce 2-1 but bounced back against Texas Woman’s UniverWilson sity Sunday, pulling out a 1-0 victory. With a split, the playoff hopes will come down to ACU’s final two matches.

Friday, the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce defeated the Wildcats 2-1. Whitney Hancock scored for the Lions in the first five minutes of the game to give her team an early lead. The Wildcats rallied back, led by sophomore midfielder Courtney Wilson, who tied the match at the 52nd minute. However, Chelsey Haight put the Wildcats away seven minutes later, scoring her eighth goal of the season. This pushed the Wildcats up against the wall, and the pressure was on for Sunday’s match.

The Wildcats relied on the play of the defense and goalkeeper Crissy Lawson to win Sunday’s match against the Pioneers. Midfielder Bree Craig scored her first goal of the season from 25 yards out. This was the only goal in the game, as Lawson posted her fourth shutout, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 victory. Craig’s goal came in the 19th minute on a play where she dribbled it 30 yards before launching a shot into the goal from 25 yards out.

See

Soccer page 5

Wildcats jump to fifth in LSC

By Chandler Harris Assistant Sports Editor

The ACU volleyball team defeated two more conference opponents last week to improve its LSC record to 5-4.

On Thursday, the team defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State, 3-0 (25-22, 2517, 25-8).

Sophomore middle blocker Shawna Hines led the team with 14 kills in the victory.

Sophomore middle blocker Jordan Schilling added eight kills, and junior outside hitter Erin Curry recorded seven kills. Sophomore setter Ijeoma Moronu had a double-double with 31 assists and 16 digs.

Junior libero Amy Wilson added 11 digs in the win.

See

Volleyball page 5

Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer Setter Ijeoma Moronu watches as libero Amy Wilson makes a dig during practice. The Wildcats have won four-straight overall.