The Optimist - Nov. 12, 2008

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Pg. 6 Outback Lessons: ACU duo endure Australian journey

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 23 :: 1 sections, 10 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

Pg 3

Study Abroad Office reduces summer program application fee

Pg 4

Pg 8

Bowl of Service: students team up to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters

Perfect Finish: Football team wins title, remains undefeated

Committee Themes, directors chosen for ’09 Sing Song begins hunt for provost replacement

By Michael Freeman Managing Editor

Next February’s Sing Song already is beginning to take shape. Directors, themes and show order were selected Saturday.

Social clubs and class acts worked with the Students’ Association and the Sing Song management team to pick their directors and themes. Class act directors were interviewed for their positions. The process for selecting class directors

By Laura Acuff

took about two weeks, while social clubs worked at their own pace for their selection processes.

“We make sure everything is where it needs to be,” said Tom Craig, director of Student Productions. “Plus it helps for them to work on it throughout the entire length of time instead of working on it at the last minute.”

An approval process will be used to ensure no acts duplicate shows See

Singing Competition

Five student groups will pop their arms and sing their tunes in each division of the 2009 Sing Song. The theme for the ’09 show is “Believe,” and the event is scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2009.

Men’s social clubs

Women’s social clubs

Mixed group acts

n Frater Sodalis n Galaxy n Gamma Sigma Phi n Sub T-16 n Pi Kappa

n Alpha Kai Omega n Ko Jo Kai n GATA n Delta Theta n Sigma Theta Chi

n IEH n Freshman Act n Sophomore Act n Junior Act n Senior Act

Song page 5

Opinion Page Editor

The provost search committee met for the first time Wednesday, with the university President Dr. Royce Money in attendance, to begin the search to replace current Provost Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen.

Earlier this semester, VanRheenen announced his intent to retire at the end of the fiscal year and move to the West Coast to be closer to family.

Dr. Rick I think it’s a Lytle, Dean of the College of very strong Business Adteam…a team ministration and a search that undercommittee stands the member, said the commitimportance of tee’s breakthis position fast meeting served mainly for the ACU to set basic campus to guidelines for how to move forward. proceed with the search for :: Dr. Rick Lytle, dean of candidates to COBA and provost search fill VanRheenen’s position. committee member The committee reviewed the provost’s job description, discussed a plausible timeline and examined certain human resource issues, Lytle said.

One human resource issue includes the possibility a search committee member might desire to apply for the position, Lytle said. In such a case, the committee member could submit his or her own nomination but would then need to recuse himself or herself from the committee.

Tentative plans set the search committee at submitting a candidate for consideration by April, Lytle said. Ideally, the

History’s Witnesses

Nov. 4, 2008

“

Black students, professors react to Obama victory

By Daniel Johnson-Kim Editor in Chief

Disbelief. Joy. Trepidation. Inspiration. Hope.

A myriad of emotions overcame members of the ACU community when Barack Obama was elected President, but regardless of when, where or how they heard the news, several black students and faculty members at ACU said they were proud to be witnesses to history — the United States of America elected its first black president.

Byron Martin, senior psychology major from Mesquite, followed the returns results at the election watching party in the Campus Center Living Room when several news organizations declared Obama had secured a majority of electoral votes and won the election.

“I was really excited then I just kind of had to stand there for a while and actually see it because I wasn’t really sure,” Martin said.

Illustration Courtesy of Changethethought.com

”

See

Hunt page 5

See

History page 5

Political groups prepare for life after election

By Kimberly Wolford Student Reporter

Zak Zeinert :: staff photographer Jared Perkins, freshman psychology major from Waco and vice president of the College Democracts, shows his support for President-elect Barack Obama at the election-watching party in the Campus Center Living Room on Nov. 4.

ACU WEAtHER

With the victory of President-elect Barack Obama, the 2008 election season is concluded. The two studentled political organizations, Young Republicans and College Democrats, are reflecting on events they sponsored and the results of the election.

“Obviously, we were pretty excited,” said Jared Perkins, vice president of College Democrats and freshman psychology major from Waco. “But we recognized very soon after that we needed to remember that we were all Americans and we need to unite not only as a campus but as a country also.”

His words mimic those of Dr. Royce Money’s speech during Chapel on Friday. Perkins said it is time to support of the new president, and people should be respectful

More from the

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

High: 73 Low: 48

High: 74 Low: 49

High: 68 Low: 39

even when voicing opposing opinions.

Jordan Hancock, president of Young Republicans and junior political science major from Abilene, said reactions to the results of the 2008 election varied from member to member.

“I cannot speak for the entire club,” Hancock said.

Both organizations sponsored debate-watching parties during the pre-election period. Hancock said the Young Republicans also had an informational meeting that was open to everyone. The College Democrats had a results watching party in collaboration with other student-led organizations on campus, as well as voter registration for a week in the Campus Center.

As for the future, both clubs are busy planning events.

“Right now, we are just having club meetings and get-

“

As students…we need to be socially involved and socially aware all the time, not just at election time.

:: Jared Perkins, freshman psychology science major from Waco ting ready for voter registration sometime next semester,” Hancock said.

Perkins said he has thoughts for the College Democrats.

“I have some things I’m very excited about planned for next semester,” Perkins said.

He said his ideas include a possible bi-partisan informational fair about the local governments and candidates before the 2010 election.

“As students and Democrats, we need to be socially involved and socially aware all the time, not just at elec-

E-mail Wolford at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Online Poll : Log onto www.acuoptimist.com or www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see weekly News casts and Sports casts from the JMC Network News Team and videos profiling various events and stories around campus and Abilene.

”

tion time,” Perkins said.

For more information on the College Democrats or Young Republicans, look on the ACU Web site under the “Student Organizations” and “Special Interests” tabs. Faculty advisers for the College Democrats are Dr. Kristina Campos, Steven Moore and Dr. David Dillman, while advisers for the Young Republicans are Dr. Neal Coates and Dr. Mark Cullum.

How are race relations in the United States?

a. They are still horrible. b. There are no issues of racism. c. Racism exists, but it is limited. d. Things are slowly getting better.

acuoptimist.com Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::

Abilene Christian University

::

Serving the ACU community since 1912

2

Campus Day Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Calendar and Events

12

Wednesday

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

West Texas Energy Forum at the Hilton Garden Inn is a free event and luncheon. Call Lupita BuitrónMartinez at 677-7241 to RSVP.

13

14

Thursday

6:45 p.m.

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory will be performed in Hardin-Simmons University Van Ellis Theatre. For more info, call 670-1405.

acuoptimist.com

ACU’s 2008 Virtual Job Fair is Nov. 10-17. All students should login any time on those dates to view opportunities for internships and full-time jobs across the country. Check out: http:// www.acu.edu/campusoffices/ careercenter/index.html.

Study Abroad this summer with one of ACU’s six programs.

Students can go to Maymester in Oxford with History or JMC, take International Business and Finance classes with COBA in Oxford during Summer I, travel to Germany with Psychology, participate in healthcare missions in Latin America or explore Faith and Film in Oxford.

The application fee is $150 until Nov. 15 for Maymesters and Dec. 1 for other summer programs.

Apply soon for the chance to study abroad.

The dates to register for classes in summer 2009 have been changed. Rather than registering with spring 2009, summer 2009 will have its own registration day, Feb. 25.

All classifications will begin registering for summer classes

11 a.m.

Senior Academic Awards Chapel and reception in Chapel on the Hill

Intercollegiate Service Saturday

11 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Essence of Ebony Skate Night at the Skatin’ Place

1:30 p.m.

ACU women’s basketball at Southern Indiana University

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.

on the date at 3 p.m. The advising release codes will be the same ones used for spring registration. If students are thinking of taking courses in summer 2009, they need to talk to their advisers. For more information about registration, go to the Registrar’s Web pages: http://www.acu.edu/ campusoffices/registrar/ schedulebulletin/index.html.

Friday is the last day to withdraw from a class for the fall semester. Students wishing to withdraw need to complete a Withdrawal from Class form, available in the adviser’s office or in the Depot. A signature of the student’s adviser or the instructor of the class is required.

WorldWide Witness has openings for eight week summer internships in places like Thailand, Costa Rica, Australia, Tanzania and England.

Apply online now at www.

WorldWideWitness.org.

China Now is a program that allows students to go to China and teach English to university students.

Opportunities are available for undergraduates to spend one month during the summer or for graduates to work for an entire year. Please visit www.worldwidewitness.org for more information and to begin the application process.

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date:

55

Credited Chapels remaining:

16

Volunteer Opportunities The Salvation Army needs volunteers to assist with its “Angel Tree” booth in the Mall of Abilene. Help is needed to greet shoppers, record information as angels are adopted and check in presents returned to the booth. This begins Nov. 21 and lasts until Dec. 14, Sundays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Volunteers are asked to work two-hour shifts or longer.

The West Texas Girls Conference needs volunteers Saturday. Middle school and high school girls from all across Central and West Texas attend this conference. The goal is to encourage them to focus on their spiritual growth. Volunteers are needed to help behind the scenes and will truly be a blessing to this effort.

The Pathways Youth and Family Services, Inc. needs volunteers for its Christmas party Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Volunteers will help supervise and entertain children at the Gymnastics Sports Center. Deadline to sign up is Friday because background checks must be conducted.

Intercollegiate Community Celebration needs volunteers to serve in the Abilene community on Saturday. Join students from ACU, Hardin-Simmons, McMurry and Texas A&M to serve in a variety of locations. Sign up now through Friday at the table in the main area of the Campus Center or in the Volunteer & Service Learning Center.

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.

Please help prevent bicycle theft by always locking your bike to a rack when leaving it unattended.

Police Log

Culture show in Cullen Auditorium

Online Newscast

Announcements The Medical Clinic is offering flu shots to students, faculty and staff Nov. 20 in the Campus Center Living Room from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those who had the flu last year should not delay. Shots also are available in the clinic Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular clinic hours. Shots are $25 and can be paid by using cash, check or by charging to a Banner account.

Saturday

Wildcat Preview Day

5 p.m.

ArtWalk Autumn in Downtown Abilene

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.

ACU Police Tip of the Week

15

Friday

About This Page

Love & Care Ministries is sponsoring its annual Mission Thanksgiving donation project Nov. 21 at Arrow Ford, 4001 S. 1st St. Volunteers are needed to assist with donations that will be brought throughout the day to help clothe and feed the homeless in Abilene.

The event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and volunteers can come at anytime during the day. Help also is needed Nov. 22 at the Love & Care Ministries site, 233 Fannin St., to help transfer the donated items from the trucks to the building.

The ACU School of Social Work needs student volunteers to help with a children’s diabetic group which will meet the 2nd and 4th Monday every month from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The group will offer fun and therapeutic play activities for children ages six to 16 at Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. I-CAN (Interested Citizens of Abilene North) needs volunteers to assist with neighborhood cleanup and work on houses Saturday.

Work will begin in the morning and go until about 2 p.m. A hamburger & hotdog cookout follows the work day. Volunteer by e-mailing Emily Hardegree at em.hardegree@acu. edu or signing up Wednesday through Friday in the Volunteer & Service Learning Center.

Edited for space

Monday, Nov. 3 9 a.m. ACU police assisted Abilene police with a welfare check at 38 Teakwood Street, but the resident was not home.

10 a.m. Someone reported several dogs in the bed of a pickup truck behind Mail Services with other dogs attempting to fight them; the vehicle was gone when the ACU police arrived.

11 a.m. Someone reported a theft at the Brown Library.

11:05 a.m. Someone reported a theft at the ACU police station.

11:30 a.m. A medical emergency occurred at the clinic; the student was transported to Hendrick Medical Center.

12:10 p.m. ACU police assisted Abilene police with locating a shoplifter at Wal-Mart.

5 p.m. Someone reported juveniles skateboarding in front of the Education Building; the children were advised of the campus policy.

5:23 p.m. ACU police aired up a student’s tire.

Wednesday, Nov. 5 7:50 a.m. A student reported a possible vehicle accident in the Big Purple parking lot; the ACU police checked the vehicles, but no damage was found.

10:30 a.m. ACU police assisted Abilene police with an attempt to locate a wanted subject.

Thursday, Nov. 6 10:35 a.m. Abilene police contacted ACU police in reference to an abandoned vehicle left on Campus Court in front of Barret Hall.

10:55 a.m. Someone reported a suspicious subject in front of 700 E.N. 14th St.;

ACU police contacted the subject who was only waiting on someone.

3:50 p.m. Someone reported a fight at 1300 Cedar Crest Drive; the subjects were gone when the ACU police arrived.

4:30 p.m. Someone reported a theft in the Biblical Studies Building.

5:18 p.m. ACU police assisted Abilene police with a vehicle accident and foot chase on Treadaway Boulevard.

5:34 p.m. ACU police escorted a student from Gardner Hall to the Campus Center.

Friday, Nov. 7 1:15 p.m. Someone reported a window broken out of a vehicle in the Mabee/Edwards parking lot. ACU police located the owner who said it was caused by an accident, not by a burglary.

Saturday, Nov. 8 8:50 a.m. ACU police assisted a subject who was stuck in the elevator at the Brown Library.

Sunday, Nov. 9 1:35 a.m. Someone reported a large disturbance in The Grove courtyard. A man was arrested for public intoxication.

8:40 p.m. ACU police attempted to locate a reckless driver on Hwy 351.

Always report suspicious activity to ACUPD at 6742305 or 674-2911.

The Center for Contemporary Arts needs volunteers to greet patrons, answer phones and help with gallery shows. Three-hour shifts are offered every Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and/or 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The gallery is located in downtown Abilene. For more information, contact Saybra Giles at 677-8389.

An ESL pre-nursing student is in need of help (as soon as possible) with some algebra review as she is preparing to take the Math Compass Test. A volunteer is needed to spend a few hours helping her with this. Please contact Carolyn Thompson at thompsonc@acu.edu.

ACU for the International Rescue Committee needs volunteers to cook food and/or set up and work the Thanksgiving Dinner event that the group is sponsoring for about 60 refugee families Nov. 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room. For more information, contact Madison Saniuk at mbs04a@acu.edu.

I-CAN (Interested Citizens of Abilene North) also needs volunteers during the day Wednesday.

They will be working with Abilene police officers to clean up and possibly renovate certain parts of two Abilene houses.

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.

FROM THE FRONT

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

History: Obama’s victory inspires students, faculty Continued from page 1 “I was just thinking, man, I’m watching history. This is something I’m going to be able to tell my kids and my grandkids about — where I was, what I was thinking.”

Martin said he grabbed his cell phone and immediately began to call family members. He soon was connected with his 76year-old grandmother and broke the news to a woman who lived through the Civil Rights era.

“She never thought it would happen in her lifetime,” Martin said.

Dr. Jerry Taylor, assistant professor of Bible, missions and ministry, said he expected a black man to be elected during his life and was reverent of the historic moment, but was more pleased that the man he believed was the most qualified had won.

“I didn’t know if I would be 47 or 87, but I really believed that it would happen in our lifetime,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Obama’s election gave hope that the nation had made great strides in race relations, but the country still had a long way to go.

“Institutional racism was not voted out of office Tuesday night,” Taylor said. “I think institutional racism is still a reality, but

we have made some ground and [are] making some positive steps.”

Taylor said he saw Obama as a positive symbol for racial reconciliation and as an example for African-American manhood, as a strong husband and as a strong father on the international stage.

“I think it will have a positive ripple effect on the African-American community and other minority communities as well,” Taylor said.

Joshua Jackson, senior youth and family ministry major from Wichita, Kan., and president of the Student African American Brotherhood, mirrored Taylor’s thoughts, adding that Obama’s election was and will inspire a large step for race relations in this country, but it was up to citizens of the country to continue the march toward equality.

“I think honestly it eliminates a lot of stereotypes that have been placed on minority groups that we can’t do certain things or we can’t reach certain levels,” Jackson said.

Kenneth Dinkins, senior youth and family ministry major from Toledo, Ohio, and president of Essence of Ebony, said he saw Obama’s victory as a motivation to accomplish his life goals.

“If Barack can get to

where he’s at, then I can also do the same when it comes to what I want to achieve in my life personally,” Dinkins said.

Dr. Odies Wright, associate professor of exercise science, grew up in the segregated South and said he witnessed first-hand a slow racial reconciliation in the country. Although he voted for John McCain because he disagreed with the platform of the Democratic Party, Wright said he saw Obama as a natural leader and was proud of the barrier that had been broken in the United States.

“As a kid I was always curious about why, why was there a barrier,” Wright said.

He said as a child he could not imagine a person of color ascending to the presidency, but later as racial relations in the U.S. slowly improved, he believed it was possible.

“It’s something that black kids, and maybe not just black kids, maybe all kids of color can say, ‘When I grow up, I can be anything that I want to in the United States,’” Wright said.

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

Song: Pi Kappa, IEH return for next year’s performance Continued from page 1 from the past five years and that the acts will be appropriate. Themes were approved Wednesday. Song selection, lyrics, costume design and choreography still need to be planned, selected and approved. The process will continue until the week of Sing Song, which is scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2009 in Moody Coliseum.

Five mixed group acts will perform next February: four class acts and an act by IEH. IEH, which is comprised of members from Essence of Ebony, Hispanos Unidos and the International Students’ Association, made its Sing Song debut last year.

The directors for the act this year will be Anna Peters, Stephanie Robles and Stephanie Saxon. Meredith Morgan and Brittany Herrod will lead the freshman act; Jessica Williams will conduct the sophomores’ per-

formance. Lindsey Fleming and Brent Dill will direct the juniors, and Angela Darden and Joey Hopkins will lead the seniors’ act.

For the women’s social clubs, Megan MacDonald and Brooke Zielke will lead Alpha Kai Omega. Carly Smith and Kourtney Nichols will direct Delta Theta, and Jamie Lyn Spires and Sara Potter will lead Ko Jo Kai. GATA will have three directors: Stephanie Smith, Ally Craigie and Kathy Maxwell. Sigma Theta Chi also will have three people in charge: Hannah Anderson, Erika Goldman and Kylie Jennings.

For the men’s social clubs, Isaac Bray and Nathan MacDonald will lead Frater Sodalis, and Wade Huggins and Chase Lindsay will be in charge of Galaxy’s performance. Ben Reeves and Tyler Lewis will direct Gamma Sigma Phi, and Derrick Bibb and Derek Ware will lead Sub T-16’s performance. Pi Kap-

pa, which recently re-chartered, will be led by three directors: Jared Crewse, Levi Mawhirter and Paul Sims.

“We’ve had no problems this year,” said Preston Woolfolk, junior political science major from San Antonio and Sing Song co-chair. “These are going to be the best directors. It’s all gone really smoothly for a large-scale production that involves so many people.”

More than 1,200 students participate in Sing Song every year. Students can still get involved in next year’s show. To find contact information for the Sing Song directors, visit www.acu.edu/singsong.

“It’s going to be an exciting year,” Craig said. “We have some really creative ideas and very talented students. There is a lot of potential for a great show.”

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

Page 5

Praising with Paint

Cody Veteto :: chief videographer Cash Teague, senior youth and family ministry major from San Antonio, paints a scene from Jesus’ crucifixion, while Allie Souder, sophomore biology major from Arlington, and Sam Souder, junior Christian ministry major from Arlington, lead Friday’s Praise Day Chapel in Moody Coliseum.

Hunt: Replacement search presents significant challenge Continued from page 1 new provost would be selected before summer 2009, allowing the summer months to accommodate a move and transition into the Abilene community.

Committee member Dr. Kim Pamplin, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said in replacing VanRheenen, who has worked for ACU for 13 years, the committee faces a significant challenge.

“I think the faculty widely regard him as someone who’s been really good for the uni-

versity,” Pamplin said. “We have a tough job ahead of us.

The fact that he’s been here that long means that he’s been able to make good decisions and keep lots of different groups happy with him, not that that’s his goal.”

Despite whatever challenges, Pamplin said he has faith in the committee.

“There’s a wide representation,” Pamplin “There are lots of different colleges, people who are deans, people who are department chairs, people who are full-time faculty members.

There’s even a vice president on

that committee. There’s male and female. It’s multiracial, a broad range of experience and a lot of commitment to the university. I think it’ll be a good group to work with.”

Lytle also said he appreciates members of the committee who plan to proceed prayerfully.

“It’s a great team,” Lytle said. “I think it’s a very strong team. It’s a diverse team and it’s a team that understands the importance of this position for the ACU campus to move forward.”

E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Page 4

‘Shinnery Review’ sponsors open mic night Summer Study Abroad

By Elizabeth Spano Student Reporter

The staff of the Shinnery Review sponsored an open mic night at Monk’s Coffee Shop downtown on Thursday for students to express themselves through self-written poetry and songs.

Although Monk’s has open mic night every Thursday, the coffee shop allows the Shinnery staff to have its own poetry reading each semester.

The event was aimed at ACU students and others interested in performing creative word or music pieces.

“The biggest reason we do [the open mic night] is that we want people to voice their poetry, get their music out there and get excited about art and poetry,” said Jessica George, the Shinnery’s editor in chief and senior English major from Abilene.

George said the turnout for the open mic night was better than she expected, and the coffee shop was packed with about 50-60 people, leaving

only standing room to watch performers. About 20 people recited poetry and sang, including ACU students, others there for Monk’s usual open mic night and one nine-yearold artist.

The Shinnery Review, a magazine organized by students, is dedicated to publishing students’ literary and musical pieces each year and organizing other events to encourage young artists to express themselves.

George said open mic night was a way for people not only to hear what students had to say but for the magazine to encourage people to submit pieces for its publication and get a preview for what would be in the magazine.

“The open mic night gives the students a venue to either present their own works or perform someone else’s for people who just wanted to get together and listen,” said Mary Hardegree, advertising editor of the Shinnery Review and junior English major from Abilene.

“

lowers application fees

It’s a really empowering thing to get up on a mic in front of people and share. :: Jessica George, senior English major from Abilene

Hardegree performed her own piece for the poetry reading, titled “Clash of Red on Pink,” and also sang a duet with another performer, Kirk Thurmond.

“It’s a really empowering thing to get up on a mic in front of people and share,” George said. “It gives people selfconfidence. We have a really encouraging student body… and embracing community at ACU when it comes to arts.”

The Shinnery’s upcoming events include the Slithy Tove in the beginning of December, which will be a more formal open mic event on campus, and the Black Tulip at the end of the spring semester, which will serve to announce a new publication Shinnery.

Those interested in

”

submitting their poetry, music, art and photography for publication in the Shinnery Review, can e-mail shinnery@ acu.edu with their pieces. Music and written works also are welcome because CDs will be included in this year’s issue for the first time.

To become more involved with the Shinnery, students can attend staff meetings every Monday night at 6 p.m. in the Inkwell at Chambers Hall.

The meetings are open to all students and involve fellowship, refreshments and reviewing and voting on submissions.

E-mail Spano at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Study offers students free tutoring

By Tanner Knauth Student Reporter

With finals week rapidly approaching, students can receive free tutoring in several freshman residence halls.

Alpha Scholars Program is offering free tutoring to students in McKinzie, Mabee, Nelson, Gardner and McDonald halls. The tutoring, which began Oct. 1, is part of a pilot study by Alpha Scholars to determine if free tutoring in the halls will be a viable option for the future. If the study is successful, Alpha

Scholars will try to place a permanent tutor in the freshman halls. The study will continue through the end of the year.

Scott Self, director of Alpha Scholars Program, said students have been slow to take advantage of the free tutoring but participation is steadily increasing.

“We anticipate and are ready for an influx of students getting ready for their term papers and finals week,” Self said.

ACU students, trained by Alpha Scholars to become tutors, are certified by

the College Reading and Learning Association. They will concentrate on freshman classes in mathematics, Bible, composition and rhetoric and speech communication.

“But [students] can ask for help in any subject,” Self said.

Self said Alpha Scholars has worked with Residence Life to provide study areas in the halls that are free from distractions and allow tutors to work closely with students.

“It’s always good to get a little extra help around finals,” said Becky Watts, freshman English major from Arlington.

Alpha Scholars is part of

the federally funded TRiO program, which according to the U.S. Department of Education Web page, “Targets to serve and assist low-income, first generation college students, and students with disabilities, to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs.”

E-mail Knauth at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

By Ruth Ramsey Student Reporter

The summer study abroad programs are filling quickly, and interested students need to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Study abroad for summer 2009 will consist of six different programs with one other possible opportunity still in the works.

Global Health Care will be sponsoring a summer program in Latin America, while Susan Lewis will lead JMC students and Fred Bailey will lead history students for two Oxford Maymester programs.

Oxford Summer 1 and 2 also will be offered, and the remaining summer study abroad program consists of Jennifer Shoemaker taking psychology students to Germany for Summer 1.

The application fee for the study abroad programs is reduced from $200 to $150 this year. Kevin Kehl, executive director for the Center for International and Intercultural Communication, said the reasoning behind the price drop is to encourage students to turn in their Summer Study Abroad applications.

“We are spreading the love and trying to get students to complete the application quickly,” Kehl said. “The earlier the students get it done, the easier it is for us to know and plan for the summer programs.”

The summer programs are appealing to students who want to experience study abroad but might be turned off by the price or time commitment.

“Students will realize later in their academic career the study abroad program is important and worthwhile, making the

study Abroad fees Fees have changed from last year. n 2007-08 application fees: $200 n 2008-09 application fees: $150 n Summer semester studying abroad: $3,500 n Full semester studying abroad: $5,600

summer programs a better fit,” Kehl said. “Students also perceive the trip being less expensive, but the question is the total price might be less, but the value might not be the same because you are getting one-fourth of the time.”

The total price of the summer program averages about $3,500, whereas a full spring or fall semester costs about $5,600.

The amount of students who participate in either the summer or spring/fall semesters is split 50/50.

Compared to previous summer programs, the interest and responses from students are right on track, Kehl said.

“The response is going well because of the word of mouth, but there are just a few more days to apply,” Kehl said. “It is very important to get the applications in because we have to book airline tickets and hotels for the excursions. We have to start making choices to ensure the experience of the program.”

Applications are available under the Study Abroad link on the ACU Web site along with more information on each of the programs offered this summer.

E-mail Ramsey at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

FROM THE FRONT

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

History: Obama’s victory inspires students, faculty Continued from page 1 “I was just thinking, man, I’m watching history. This is something I’m going to be able to tell my kids and my grandkids about — where I was, what I was thinking.”

Martin said he grabbed his cell phone and immediately began to call family members. He soon was connected with his 76year-old grandmother and broke the news to a woman who lived through the Civil Rights era.

“She never thought it would happen in her lifetime,” Martin said.

Dr. Jerry Taylor, assistant professor of Bible, missions and ministry, said he expected a black man to be elected during his life and was reverent of the historic moment, but was more pleased that the man he believed was the most qualified had won.

“I didn’t know if I would be 47 or 87, but I really believed that it would happen in our lifetime,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Obama’s election gave hope that the nation had made great strides in race relations, but the country still had a long way to go.

“Institutional racism was not voted out of office Tuesday night,” Taylor said. “I think institutional racism is still a reality, but

we have made some ground and [are] making some positive steps.”

Taylor said he saw Obama as a positive symbol for racial reconciliation and as an example for African-American manhood, as a strong husband and as a strong father on the international stage.

“I think it will have a positive ripple effect on the African-American community and other minority communities as well,” Taylor said.

Joshua Jackson, senior youth and family ministry major from Wichita, Kan., and president of the Student African American Brotherhood, mirrored Taylor’s thoughts, adding that Obama’s election was and will inspire a large step for race relations in this country, but it was up to citizens of the country to continue the march toward equality.

“I think honestly it eliminates a lot of stereotypes that have been placed on minority groups that we can’t do certain things or we can’t reach certain levels,” Jackson said.

Kenneth Dinkins, senior youth and family ministry major from Toledo, Ohio, and president of Essence of Ebony, said he saw Obama’s victory as a motivation to accomplish his life goals.

“If Barack can get to

where he’s at, then I can also do the same when it comes to what I want to achieve in my life personally,” Dinkins said.

Dr. Odies Wright, associate professor of exercise science, grew up in the segregated South and said he witnessed first-hand a slow racial reconciliation in the country. Although he voted for John McCain because he disagreed with the platform of the Democratic Party, Wright said he saw Obama as a natural leader and was proud of the barrier that had been broken in the United States.

“As a kid I was always curious about why, why was there a barrier,” Wright said.

He said as a child he could not imagine a person of color ascending to the presidency, but later as racial relations in the U.S. slowly improved, he believed it was possible.

“It’s something that black kids, and maybe not just black kids, maybe all kids of color can say, ‘When I grow up, I can be anything that I want to in the United States,’” Wright said.

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

Song: Pi Kappa, IEH return for next year’s performance Continued from page 1 from the past five years and that the acts will be appropriate. Themes were approved Wednesday. Song selection, lyrics, costume design and choreography still need to be planned, selected and approved. The process will continue until the week of Sing Song, which is scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2009 in Moody Coliseum.

Five mixed group acts will perform next February: four class acts and an act by IEH. IEH, which is comprised of members from Essence of Ebony, Hispanos Unidos and the International Students’ Association, made its Sing Song debut last year.

The directors for the act this year will be Anna Peters, Stephanie Robles and Stephanie Saxon. Meredith Morgan and Brittany Herrod will lead the freshman act; Jessica Williams will conduct the sophomores’ per-

formance. Lindsey Fleming and Brent Dill will direct the juniors, and Angela Darden and Joey Hopkins will lead the seniors’ act.

For the women’s social clubs, Megan MacDonald and Brooke Zielke will lead Alpha Kai Omega. Carly Smith and Kourtney Nichols will direct Delta Theta, and Jamie Lyn Spires and Sara Potter will lead Ko Jo Kai. GATA will have three directors: Stephanie Smith, Ally Craigie and Kathy Maxwell. Sigma Theta Chi also will have three people in charge: Hannah Anderson, Erika Goldman and Kylie Jennings.

For the men’s social clubs, Isaac Bray and Nathan MacDonald will lead Frater Sodalis, and Wade Huggins and Chase Lindsay will be in charge of Galaxy’s performance. Ben Reeves and Tyler Lewis will direct Gamma Sigma Phi, and Derrick Bibb and Derek Ware will lead Sub T-16’s performance. Pi Kap-

pa, which recently re-chartered, will be led by three directors: Jared Crewse, Levi Mawhirter and Paul Sims.

“We’ve had no problems this year,” said Preston Woolfolk, junior political science major from San Antonio and Sing Song co-chair. “These are going to be the best directors. It’s all gone really smoothly for a large-scale production that involves so many people.”

More than 1,200 students participate in Sing Song every year. Students can still get involved in next year’s show. To find contact information for the Sing Song directors, visit www.acu.edu/singsong.

“It’s going to be an exciting year,” Craig said. “We have some really creative ideas and very talented students. There is a lot of potential for a great show.”

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

Page 5

Praising with Paint

Cody Veteto :: chief videographer Cash Teague, senior youth and family ministry major from San Antonio, paints a scene from Jesus’ crucifixion, while Allie Souder, sophomore biology major from Arlington, and Sam Souder, junior Christian ministry major from Arlington, lead Friday’s Praise Day Chapel in Moody Coliseum.

Hunt: Replacement search presents significant challenge Continued from page 1 new provost would be selected before summer 2009, allowing the summer months to accommodate a move and transition into the Abilene community.

Committee member Dr. Kim Pamplin, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said in replacing VanRheenen, who has worked for ACU for 13 years, the committee faces a significant challenge.

“I think the faculty widely regard him as someone who’s been really good for the uni-

versity,” Pamplin said. “We have a tough job ahead of us.

The fact that he’s been here that long means that he’s been able to make good decisions and keep lots of different groups happy with him, not that that’s his goal.”

Despite whatever challenges, Pamplin said he has faith in the committee.

“There’s a wide representation,” Pamplin “There are lots of different colleges, people who are deans, people who are department chairs, people who are full-time faculty members.

There’s even a vice president on

that committee. There’s male and female. It’s multiracial, a broad range of experience and a lot of commitment to the university. I think it’ll be a good group to work with.”

Lytle also said he appreciates members of the committee who plan to proceed prayerfully.

“It’s a great team,” Lytle said. “I think it’s a very strong team. It’s a diverse team and it’s a team that understands the importance of this position for the ACU campus to move forward.”

E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu

Page 6

Page 7

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

acuoptimist.com See a video slideshow of Stephen Powell and Andrew Conway reminiscing about their summer in Australia

Where everything makes sense

Photos by: Stephen Powell and Andrew Conway

By: Kelline Linton, chief copy editor

Above: Powell looks across the Australian horizon at sunset. Right: Conway gets to know a local octopus. Far right: Powell, Conway and two group members pose with a native Aborigine.

Design by: Colter Hettich, features editor

Stephen Powell and Andrew Conway spent more than two months exploring the Australian outback. Battling hunger and injury, the two young men experienced another world — a landscape void of civilization and commodities. Seventyfive days in the wilderness changed Powell and Conway’s definition of “need” forever.

W

hen Stephen Powell handed his ID card to an employee at the “World Famous Bean,” she did a suspicious double take. The longhaired, thick-bearded man in the picture did not look like the clean-shaven student.

Powell and Andrew Conway received strange looks, laughs and reactions of astonishment at their hairy appearances before they shaved and trimmed six month’s worth of growth from their faces and heads the first week of the fall semester.

Conway, junior interdisciplinary major from Nairobi, Kenya, and Powell, junior accounting major from Abilene, met when they were children and saw each other at church on and off through the years. Conway lived in Kenya with his missionary parents until college, but visited the U.S. almost every other year. Although both remained acquaintances at ACU and even lived on the same hall as freshmen, their spring’s adventures, trials and no shaving policy finally cemented their lasting friendship.

For the 2008 spring term, both students enrolled in the National Outdoor Leadership School, an organization based in Wyoming but with programs in Australia, New Zealand, Patagonia, Asia and the United States.

Each program has different expedition curriculum and skill sets.

For the Australia program the students canoed for 40 days, backpacked for 23 days and lived with Aborigine guides on an island for seven days.

The men heard about NOLS through various friends and found its unusual exploration courses intriguing.

Both wanted to study abroad during college but did not want to do the typical programs.

“I was looking for adventure,” Powell said. “I wanted something a little more untraditional.”

Although Powell was interested in the NOLS New Zealand program, Conway convinced him to enroll in the Australia program.

“As a kid my favorite movies were Crocodile Dundee and Man from Snowy River,” Conway said. “I always wanted to go to Australia and see what it’s like.”

The two applied to the NOLS spring course, writing their essays, filling out applications and submitting to doctors’ physical examinations; NOLS guidelines recommend students be in good cardio-vascular condition before enrolling in its programs. Conway and Powell received their acceptance letters in spring 2007.

From March until May, they attended the school in Australia with two instructors and eight other men from the U.S. After flying 7,408 miles from San Francisco to Sydney then another 2,051 miles across the continent to

Perth on the southwest corner, the group flew 1,041 miles to Broome on the northwest coast.

They then rode a bus 136 miles to Derby, a small town near the shore, before flying 30 minutes in a small fixed-wing airplane to the Kimberley, an extensive, almost uninhabited wilderness filled with rivers, rocks and hills.

The men spent most their time in the Kimberley, a region slightly smaller than California in the northwest part of Australia.

Buying School Supplies The Australia program had an extensive list of required equipment. Although the two students bought some of their gear, they rented the more expensive and specific equipment from the school, including backpacks, sleeping bags, life jackets and mozziedomes, the oneman tents that protected the men from the multitude of insects inhabiting the area.

“The mosquitoes and flies were awful; they go up your nose, your eyes, your ears,” Conway said. “At one point I counted eight flies in a cut I had on my foot.”

When packing their clothes, Conway and Powell considered the Australian climate—hot, dry and arid. Some mornings the temperatures began at 98 degrees.

“It’s so hot, you have to wear hot clothes,” Powell said.

The men wore long-sleeved shirts, hats and sunscreen to protect their white skin from the

sun. Powell packed two shirts and two pairs of shorts for the canoe section, but said this was a luxury. For the hiking portion, Powell just wore the same shirt and shorts the entire time and Chaco sandals or gator boots, depending on the terrain.

The men swam everyday but only used soap to wash their hands before each meal.

“You don’t shower for three months,” Powell said. “It’s pretty extreme.”

No one had deodorant and they lost their sense of smell quickly.

One day they found a white flower in a gorge on one of their class forays. The students gathered around the nickel-sized flower and inhaled its sweet vanilla scent.

Conway picked it and carried it with him the rest of the day.

“It was the first beautiful scent we’d smelled in a long time,” he said.

Australia is home to almost every bug imaginable, Powell said. One night around the campfire, the men heard a slight scratching noise. Both Conway and Powell’s green eyes fastened on what looked like an oversized ladybug with pinchers pushing a foot-long stick.

“This guy is awesome,” Powell said.

The students began playing with the insect, taking his stick away and giving him another stick about a yard long.

“He’s got this huge stick and he pushed it,” Powell said. “He was like ‘chuchuchuuuu,’ until he walked into the fire and committed suicide.”

Lesson 1: Canoeing The men spent the first 40 days of the trip canoeing in pairs on the Drysdale River, or the river of trees.

“You’ll be going down the river, and out of nowhere this forest of trees will appear in front of you in the river,” Powell said.

The river usually is turbulent with rushing waters pushing into the massive trees and large rocks.

“Almost every single day, we would tip a canoe,” Powell said. “It was a good day when your stuff wasn’t wet.”

One canoe led the expedition, while another acted as vanguard. The rest drifted in between the two, sometimes closely grouped and sometimes shouting distance apart.

Two men sat in each canoe with their gear placed securely in the middle.

Conway and Powell frequently canoed together. They also swamped their canoes and ran into obstacles together.

At the beginning of the expedition, one student wrapped his canoe around a tree and tore his knee against some rocks in the river. After five days of excruciating pain and attempts to continue the trip, he was evacuated by helicopter on the eleventh day. Although the students had no phone service and could not communicate to anyone outside their group, the instructors kept radios in case of emergencies.

“I never missed home,” Conway said. “It was more a missing people kind of thing.”

Sometimes the river was so low the students carried their canoes on their backs and walked across the rocky bottom. Other times, the river just ended in a pile of gray boulders, and the men once again carried their canoes and belongings until finding a new water source.

Underwater currents combined with uneven rocks led to frequent falls and an epidemic of stumped toes.

Conway still does not have feeling in one of his big toes from banging it so many times.

Canoeing was not physically tiring for Powell’s muscular body but rather mentally tiring.

“You do anything for 40 days and you are going to get tired of it,” Powell said. “But running rapids was one of the biggest rushes I’ve ever had in my entire life. I miss that river.”

The last four canoeing days, the men waded through saltwater crocodile territory. Although the students already swam with the gentle freshwater crocodiles, their eyes were open to possible vicious attacks from the more aggressive relatives.

“We would pull our canoes to the side, set up camp and go for a swim but only with the freshwater crocs,” Powell said.

The men canoed in a pod, or tight group, to intimidate the saltwater crocodiles. The larger they appeared, the less likely the reptiles would attack them, Powell reasoned.

The river was bordered by beach-like sand and grey slick rock, polished and flattened by years of rains and floods.

“We beach camped a lot; we were beach bums,” Powell said.

Canoeing began about 9 a.m. and ended by 3 p.m., leaving them plenty of time to make camp before sunset. After finding a suitable camping site, they separated into groups. Each three-man team boasted a tarp, three mozziedomes and a cooking setup with a gas stove, pot and frying pan.

Throughout their journey, the men ate rice, pasta and bread cooked on tiny camp stoves.

Breakfasts and lunches usually were hurried

“

It’s one thing to read about a lizard in a textbook. It’s another thing to see that lizard running by you. :: Stephen Powell, junior accounting major from Abilene

affairs consisting of a handful of cereal or other light snack. The main meal was dinner.

“We were in a constant state of hunger,” Powell said. “You went to bed hungry and woke up hungry.”

They drank river water after purifying it with iodine pills. Water was a necessity and determined their course, meaning the students never veered too far from a water source.

After making camp, they built fires, cooked supper or just relaxed for the remainder of the day before drifting to sleep. Every morning before the sun rose, cockatoos awoke the students with screeches as they flew overhead.

“It was amazing to be awake for every sunrise and every sunset,” Conway said. “To sit there and enjoy it, to watch it happen.”

Sunsets in Australia are bright red; skies burn and everything appears on fire, including the two men’s shaggy, dirty blond heads.

Conway and Powell usually explored their surroundings, discovering rock art, new bugs and scenic nooks. Whenever given the chance, they swam in the nearby streams and fished.

Fishing involved a makeshift line and hook and whatever baits they could find. Once they caught supper with just a leaf, other times it was peanut butter or an orange peel.

“The fish were so plentiful, we probably could have put a blank hook in and still caught something,” Conway said.

The students traversed almost 140 miles of river before arriving at a designated GPS spot in the middle of the wilderness.

Lesson 2: Backpacking The men dropped their canoes at the specified location, and a helicopter brought them new instructors and more rations for the backpacking section.

They loaded their 65-pound packs, slung them on their backs and immediately began the second leg of their journey.

Each day the hiking began at first light, about 4:30 a.m., to escape the worst of the sun.

As they moved away from the Drysdale River, the tall trees dwindled into thorny shrubs.

“You don’t want to hike during the day in Australia cause you’ll die,” Powell said.

“It is so hot.”

Powell found his weak ankles giving out daily as he hiked.

One day he completely dropped and slammed his knee against a rock. Conway helped him back to his feet, but Powell still bears a reminder on his shin—a large pink scar.

Backpacking was slow going; the hikers covered limited distances in the wilderness

”

each day, forcing themselves through rough terrain and thick bush, before making camp about 9 a.m.

Their usual campsite was a gorgeous waterfall or deep swimming hole where they swam or relaxed near the waters.

Sometimes Conway and Powell sat beneath the waterfalls for hours, sharing their dreams and life goals.

Powell would ask his friend, “What do I want to do when I get back? What kind of impact do I want to have on people? Should I change my major? What direction is my life going to go?”

Conway would share his dreams. “We talked about the passions and ideas in our hearts, how this is such an amazing experience, but we could do anything with our lives.”

The two always took time to explore for hidden treasures. Their greatest find? Ancient rock art. They found Aborigine art as old as 10,000 years and other rock paintings by unknown artists as old as 37,000 years. Some of the well-known sites were marked on their maps, but some were hidden gems—a few red circles or outlined hands on a small overhanging cliff.

During their journey through the wilderness, the students met for class under a tree or in a cave. Instructors drew diagrams in the sand or on their own bodies and discussed biology, risk management and leadership skills.

Sometimes they used markers and a white trash bag as a dry erase board and other times they acted out their lessons.

“It’s one thing to read about a lizard in a textbook; it’s another thing to see that lizard running by you,” Conway said.

Students also took turns teaching class.

Conway dressed as an Aborigine when he

lectured about dingoes by the flickering light of the campfire; howls of real dingoes echoed nearby.

The students’ final exam was an independent hiking expedition. They separated into small groups without instructors, were given a map, a compass and coordinates and told to meet at a specific destination within six days.

“I learned more in those 75 days than in my two years at ACU,” Conway said.

They earned 15 to 16 semester hours in three months, paying about as much for them as a semester at ACU. About two months into their schooling, the group chose to participate in a time of solitude.

For two days the men separated and set up individual campsites, spending the occasion in reflection and fasting.

“We digested two months in two days,” Powell said.

Although they were not supposed to read books during this time, Conway and Powell decided the Bible was not a book, and both read Scriptures for hours.

They pitched their tents near each other and walked the mile back to the main campground together at the end of the two days.

“We didn’t say anything,” Powell said. “It was an unspoken, spiritual moment.”

Lesson 3: Fishing Sixty-three days after the students saw their last human being outside the group, they finished their backpacking and hiked into a cattle station; civilization greeted them with cold Coca-Colas.

“I hadn’t had anything cold to drink in two and a half months,” Powell said. “It’s cold, it’s sugary, it’s carbonated. Everybody remembers that first Coca-Cola.”

A bus drove them from the cattle station back to Derby, where they camped for the night. The next morning the men rode the bus to the beach before venturing into the Indian Ocean on a small tin dinghy, or boat, for the 20-minute ride to Sunday Island, the last stop in their schooling.

The Aborigines own this island and call it home.

“It was a dream island. It was gorgeous, beautiful, phenomenal,” Powell said.

Blue water, banana trees, passion fruit and white beach sand defined the island’s tropical setting.

For this final leg of the journey, the students decided their own activities. Conway and Powell fished with the Aborigines.

One time Powell watched as a 65-year-old Aborigine woman caught a shark with a hand line and physically dragged it onto the shore.

Conway and Powell made spears with tree limbs and large nails and used them to spear fish.

When the tide went out, they gathered octopi and clams from the exposed reefs and used them for bait. They waded with sea turtles and stingrays in the shin deep water and speared a ray among the fish.

“It tastes like chicken,” Powell declared after the stingray meal.

The students also ate the ray’s bones, which they described as somewhat crunchy and perhaps a little tougher than a gummy bear.

Based on average restaurant prices, they ate $600 worth of fish and crab during the seven days, Powell calculated.

The Final Lesson: Simplifying After leaving Australia, Conway and Powell flew to New Zealand for a week of relaxation and sightseeing before returning to Abilene and going their separate ways. Powell stayed with his family, while Conway traveled around Texas with his parents who flew in from Kenya for the summer.

After days in the wilderness, Powell said they did not experience culture shock. They encountered “civilization shock.”

The Sunday after Powell returned home to Abilene was Father’s Day, so he drove to WalMart to buy his dad a card. He lasted two minutes in the store before rushing outside.

“I could not handle it. I could not handle the noise; I could not handle the people,” Powell said, so he made a card instead.

Powell only showered once a week for the longest time and could not eat dairy products or meat without a stomachache.

“We didn’t have much of these foods during the trip,” he said.

Conway could not sleep in his bed for more than a month because the floor felt more comfortable.

When he and Conway get together nowadays, they talk about Australia, about their adventures and about simplicity.

They ask themselves: Where else in the world do you use a waterfall for your dishwasher? Where else in the world can you go to class with no shoes or shirt?

“Being away from civilization for so long is therapeutic,” Powell said. “It’s a completely different mindset. Everything makes sense.”

They said their Australian lives were peaceful. Their biggest worry of the day was where to find water and what to cook for dinner.

“We weren’t roughing it out there,” Powell said. “We had everything we needed to have; we had water and we had food.

That’s all you need.”

ViewsWednesday

Page 8

November 12, 2008

Inappropriate reactions mar historical election night

O

n Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, history was made. America elected its first black president. We all watched it happen, and regardless whether one agrees with the outcome of the election or not, we all must agree this is a momentous turning point in the history of our country.

However, the way America reacts also can shape how this formative event will play out. Although most reactions have ranged from ecstatic to gracious, there always will exist those too blind to see outside their own prejudice and selfishness.

On Nov. 4, 2008, a hangman’s noose was found dangling from a tree in the middle of Baylor University’s campus.

Reports of burning Obama campaign signs and a racially

“

...it is still an uphill battle to continue to deconstruct the ideology of prejudice...

charged shouting match also surfaced. According to the Associated Press, police have taken no students into custody.

Baylor’s interim president David E. Garland said, “These events are deeply disturbing to us and are antithetical to the mission of Baylor University.

We categorically denounce and will not tolerate racist acts of any kind on our campus.”

As a community that has dealt with a similar event on our own campus, we know the collective shame and guilt that accompanies such actions, although such actions were individually committed. While most of us would agree these acts

”

cannot be tolerated and should be treated as threats, we also know how hard it is to investigate such an event when no decisive evidence or witnesses can be found.

Baylor University officials hopefully will do all they can to apprehend and punish the culprits appropriately, and we should remind ourselves that while it is easy to point fingers and judge from the outside looking in, we too have been objects of such scrutiny and should remember even religious communities are not safe from the presence of prejudicial thoughts.

Although acts of racism and

intolerance are not necessarily a reflection of an entire community, campus or culture, events like these can and should be used as a personal watermark to gauge how much progress we have made and how much we still need to make. It is apparent with an elected black president that the majority of Americans are able to put aside racial differences. However, the acts that occurred on our and Baylor’s campuses, as well as events like the uncovered massacre plot in Tennessee and the racist remarks many people hear or make everyday, should remind us it is still an uphill battle to continue to deconstruct the ideology of prejudice that America fostered in its earlier days.

Christians should remember Jesus’ command in Matthew to “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.” Like it or

The issue:

The historic election of a black man as the United States’ next president was tainted by racist responses of small groups nationwide.

Our view:

Such reactions remain totally inappropriate no matter the circumstance.

The solution:

We should condemn such acts and view them as a reminder of the progress still to be made in the struggle to end prejudice and bigotry. not, Barack Hussein Obama will be our next president, and those who did not vote for him for religious reasons should now give him respect as our country’s future leader in accordance with that same religion.

We have heard many voices, on the national and local levels, both public and personal, which have expressed hope that this turning point can be a step toward healing the legacy of pain and division our coun-

try began so many years ago.

If all of us, no matter who we voted for president, can choose to look outside ourselves and try to see the bigger picture, we can make this country great.

And in the end, that is what everyone wants.

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

Obama’s election bodes ill for American comedy As a McCain supporter, I can’t help but feel this nation will gain yet another crisis under an Obama presidency.

No massive breadlines will occur due to another Great Depression, but certainly a recession of presidential comedy Self sketches will Examination arise.

By Ryan Self Perhaps President Bush’s greatest legacy is that he provided solid material for comedians and sketch comedy shows during his eight years in office.

I am going to deeply miss David Letterman’s “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches.” President Bush was not a master of the English language. Love him or hate him, public speaking was not his gift. Obama doesn’t have this problem, and that is the problem.

Saturday Night Live comedian Fred Armisen’s impression of Obama is pretty accurate. He captured his speaking style, the way he clips the end of his sentences, that hand movement with his thumb and pointer finger. But the impression is still just not as funny.

Obama is well-spoken, has an impeccable stage presence and never seems to let his cool demeanor slide for a moment. Obama is no Bush or even Clinton when it comes to comedic material.

SNL garnered an enormous boost in ratings from its satire on the political campaign. It even devoted an entire half hour on Thursday night to election sketches. For years, decades even, it capitalized on Bush’s verbal fumbles, Clinton’s womanizing tendencies and Gore’s robotic mannerisms. Recently, it focused its writers’ pens on McCain’s elderly moments, Palin’s obnoxious adorability and Biden’s gaffe-prone speeches. An Obama presidency is just not as funny as a McCain/Palin or Hammond/Fey one.

I still die a little inside when I realize we won’t be watching Tina Fey playing a flute onstage as Sarah Palin.

It’s a sad day for America.

SNL gained a 46 percent jump in ratings over last

Racist acts reveal need for love to heal long-term scars Sir Francis Bacon once stated, “Scientia potentia est,” which is Latin, meaning, “For also knowledge itself is power.”

This phrase was watered down after reaching the American people, and many now use the more familiar sayPeople Say I ing, “KnowlTalk Too Much edge is powBy Tanner er.”

What Anderson many people do not realize, however, is knowledge can be extremely destructive.

Recently at one of the largest Baptist universities in the world, a group of “knowledgeable” students committed racist acts that reopened

scars of hatred for many who lived during the ’60s and ’70s, as well as creating new racial scars for others.

What is most discouraging about these actions of blatant hatred is that they came from a percentage (although small) of young adults who will one day enter the business world, settle down and have a family, and probably teach these views to their children.

I sincerely hope the people who committed these acts never have the privilege of spreading their prejudicial knowledge to another generation. However, the reality is undeniable: we all know that stupid, ignorant people who do not know the value of life can produce children too.

So how should we battle

Letter to the Editor Chapel conduct embarrassingly inappropriate I am a new employee at ACU and feel so blessed to be working at such a fine institution. One of the things I looked forward to most as I was leaving my old job and transitioning to

ACU was Chapel.

My thought went back to my days here, just ten short years ago as a student, and how uplifting and powerful it was.

Sadly, every time I have left Chapel amazed and angered at the amount of talking, texting and general disrespect that goes on.

I have found that concentrating on praising God is almost impossible

Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration.

Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university.

The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous

information or invasion of privacy.

Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes.

Phone numbers will not be published.

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

racial discrimination if a few racists multiply their beliefs by having offspring every year?

We make sure we teach our children and others around us the importance of diversity, the bonds that link us together and the love, not tolerance, our creator wants us to demonstrate to every person.

In order to block the flow of hateful knowledge, we must first teach our children the wrongs of the past, the rights of the present and the dreams of the future.

I obviously do not know how to eliminate racial remarks and beliefs; all I know is that those remarks and beliefs will eventually die if we do not teach them in the future. We need to teach our children, and some of

between students yelling out during prayers, refusing to sing and being as disruptive as possible.

As I leave Chapel, each time my thoughts go out to the prospective students and their parents in attendance and what they must think about the way this student body of Christians “worships.”

I have talked to a lot of ACU staff and students, and all agree it is a huge problem, but why? Is it really too much to ask for you to come to Chapel and WORSHIP?

us still need to learn, that a hate-filled act and even a racially charged word prolong a major struggle many have fought to eradicate.

People have suffered and battled the effects of racial discrimination for far too long, and it would be foolish of us to continue that struggle with inconsiderate, prejudicial thinking. It will take understanding, knowledge and love to defeat this social evil; we must practice all three.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

E-mail Anderson at: tsa04a@acu.edu

Don’t give me any excuses about needing better speakers or different songs. Chapel is not a time for you be entertained; it is a time for you to spend in praise to the LORD! I don’t know what, if anything, can be done to resolve this situation. For now, I simply ask that you take a look in the mirror, and the next time you are in Chapel, stop and watch all the people around you and then ask yourself, “What is the Lord thinking about me right now?”

Kody Goode ACU employee & alumnus

Optimist the

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year, much of the boost attributed to Tina Fey’s excellent impersonation of Palin.

Now all we can do is watch Fred Armisen’s Obama. It’s just not the same.

I just don’t believe an Obama presidency will bring the kind of presidential impersonations we, as Americans, have enjoyed for so many years. I felt so strongly about it that I put something on my facebook status in hopes it will cause people to wake up to their decisions.

A McCain presidency would have provided more great moments for Letterman, Leno, Conan and Colbert. With the way he addressed every crowd as, “My friends,” to his relentless need to mention Joe the Plumber in every speech

“

I still die a little inside when I realize we won’t be watching Tina Fey playing a flute onstage as Sarah Palin.

”

and debate answer. How many comedians have risen in their careers, making fun of Presidents Clinton and Bush? A McCain presidency would have been four more years of late night monologues filled with presidential comedy.

In this time of economic darkness, we need comic relief. Who will we turn to in this great hour of need?

We can only hope Vice President elect Biden will rise to the occasion. For a man who told the nation that FDR spoke on television when it was actually Herbert Hoover on the radio, we can only expect great things.

E-mail Self at: rcs06g@acu.edu

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SPORTS/SPORTS JUMPS

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Page 9

Volleyball team wins 10th-straight, prepares for LSC tourney

By Chandler Harris Assistant Sports Editor

The volleyball team completed the regular season on Saturday with its tenth consecutive victory. The Wildcats defeated East Central 3-0 (2518, 25-23, 25-17). The team’s 10-game winning streak is its longest of the season.

The Wildcats had five players who recorded seven or more kills, led by sophomore middle blocker Jordan Schilling with eight. Junior outside hitter Erin Curry, sophomore

middle blocker Shawna Hines, freshman outside hitter Jennie Hutt and junior outside hitter Michelle Bacon all added seven kills in the victory.

The Wildcats’ only senior, libero Amy Wilson, led the team with 24 digs on senior day at Moody ColiMock seum. Sophomore setter Ijeoma Moronu had a match-high 38 assists to help the team hit .252 overall.

Hines added four total blocks as the Wildcats outblocked East Central 7-2.

Every player on the team was able to play in the regular season finale.

“Overall, the girls played really well,” said Lindsey Campell, assistant volleyball coach. “We played pretty strong and crisp most of the time, and it was exciting for them knowing that it was the last match.”

Wilson passed really well and played very good defense, Campbell said.

Wilson finished the season with 518 digs, which ranks as the sixth-best performance in school history just behind Kellen ‘Morrow’ Mock, former ACU player and current head coach, who had 522 as a junior in 2003.

“Amy’s standards and expectations for herself and her teammates are very high,” Campbell said. “She has had to balance nursing school and volleyball this year and has done very well. She has goals for each match and for the season as a whole and has been

very successful at accomplishing those personal goals.”

With the victory, the team secured the No. 3 seed in this weekend’s Lone Star Conference tournament.

“It was a big goal of ours to get a good seed in the LSC tournament and we did that,” Campbell said.

The regular season had its ups and downs as the team started and finished the season with win streaks of nine and 10 respectively.

In between, the team fell on hard times, losing eight of 13

matches. The team finished with an overall record of 24-8 and 9-4 in league play.

The 24 wins is the 10th-best win total in program history.

The Wildcats’ first matchup in the LSC tournament will be against Angelo State Thursday at noon in Canyon. The Rambelles won the only match between the two squads on Oct. 9 by the score of 3-1.

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

Basketball: Expectations high in ’08 Football: Cats get first-round bye Continued from page 10 Lavender is entering her 11th year with ACU’s program and said that having no freshman on the team is very rare.

The women’s roster will however have two new faces in the form of transfer students. Junior guard Kelsey Lyda is a transfer from Harding University, and a graduate of Fort Worth Christian High School. Junior forward Courtney Laing comes over from UT-San Antonio; she is a graduate of Wylie High School. Coach Lavender feels that Lyda will give the team another threat from beyond the three-point line and Laing will improve the team’s depth at the post positions.

The team, which is made

of Texas natives only, has many strong returning players as well. Last season’s leading scorer, center Audrey Maxwell, returns for her senior season. Maxwell was named first team all-Conference and first team all-Region in 2007-08. Also returning is junior forward Jamie Meyer.

The Round Rock native was named all-Conference honorable mention in 2007-08 and is expected to step up offensively this season, along with second team all-Conference forward Kristee Davidson.

The Wildcats are again projected to finish second in the LSC behind West Texas A&M. Coach Lavender sees her team as being mature and determined to overcome last year’s disappointment.

Continued from page 10

upcoming games n Nov. 15 @ 1:30 p.m. n Nov. 16 @ 5:30 p.m. n Nov. 22 @ 1 p.m. n Nov. 24 @ 5:30 p.m. n Dec. 6 @ 2 p.m. n Dec. 8 @ 6 p.m. n Dec. 15 @ 6 p.m. n Home games in bold

“Our team right now is still trying to find its identity a little bit,” Lavender said. “I think right now we are a fairly mature team.

We have a sour taste in our mouth after last year’s close finish, and I feel we are a little more focused.”

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

earned LSC South Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance, becoming the conference’s all-time leading kicking points scorer with 318, breaking the previous mark of 312.

“We had huge production in the second half and we stopped their run and were able to turn the ball,” Thomsen said. “Credit Bernard and the offensive line; they took over, and Bernard did a great job of protecting the ball and getting tough yards.”

Scott also added two catches for 42 yards in addition to his 201 yards rushing, earning LSC co-South Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Wide receiver Jonathan Fer-

guson led all receivers with five catches for 68 yards, while wide receiver Johnny Knox added four catches for 42 yards, and Gates finished with two catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Wildcats limited the Mustangs to 158 total yards and just 11 yards after halftime while shutting out Midwestern in the second half. Defensive end Aston Whiteside led ACU with six tackles and three sacks. Safety Tony Harp finished with five tackles and a sack, while safety Nick Fellows added five tackles and an interception.

“The defense was outstanding, especially in the second half,” Thomsen said. “The guys played hard, fast and physical and shut the run game down.”

With the win, ACU earned the No. 1 seed in Super Region Four and a first-round bye as well as home-field advantage through at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.

ACU’s first playoff game will be Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon against the winner of this week’s game between No. 4 seed West Texas A&M and No. 5 seed Central Washington.

“It’s a great deal to have a bye-week,” Thomsen said. “We have played at a high level all year, and to get a break mentally and physically means a lot so we can come out and play our best game of the year in the playoffs.”

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

Soccer season wraps up with LSC awards ceremony, Lawson Goalie of the Year

By Austin Gwin Sports Writer After the first round of the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament, all the LSC teams met at West Texas A&M University in Canyon for an awards ceremony. The Wildcats were highly honored for their achievements this season.

Highlighted at the awards was goalie Crissy Lawson, who received the LSC’s first ever Goalie of the Year award.

Lawson also received first

team all-Conference honors.

Lawson finished the season tied for the conference lead in shutouts with five. She was ranked nationally most of the season in both goals-allowed average (.88) and save percentage (.862). Lawson is a junior from San Diego and will be back next year to lead the Wildcats.

“Crissy had a great season,” head soccer coach Casey Wilson said. “The stats don’t lie. She was one of the best in the region in goals allowed. She kept us in a lot of close games.”

Lawson was not the only Wildcat to win an award. Jordan Reese was named to the LSC all-Academic team. Reese led ACU as a captain, scoring two goals and recording eight assists. She is ACU’s all-time points leader.

Courtney Wilson, Anastasia Nelson and Reese were all named to the LSC honorable mention squad. All three have been vital parts in the Wildcats’ success this season.

Seven Wildcats were appointed to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll including

Lyndsey Womack, Courtney Wilson, Jackie Gentile, Dara Rodriguez, Ashley Simon, Bree Craig and Katie Miller.

West Texas A&M took home many awards including Offensive Player of the Year (Elisabeth Markussen) and Coach of the Year (Butch Lauffer).

Central Oklahoma’s Allie Miller received Defensive Player of the Year, while Kelsey Hill from Midwestern garnered the Freshman of the Year award.

The Wildcats are hoping to build on this year’s success, losing only two seniors, cap-

tains Jackie Gentile and Micah Merrill-Johnson.

“Our defense is set to come back,” Wilson said. “We hope to be able to bring in some more personnel to make us deeper talentwise. Hopefully we can bring in some players who can score or even develop some that we already have to help us score some goals.”

Coach Wilson addressed the major issue for the team this season as offensive production.

“We weren’t able to score enough,” Wilson said. “If we could have scored a couple

of more goals throughout the season, our season would have changed dramatically. The only game we lost by more than one goal was our playoff game against Central Oklahoma.”

Overall, the Wildcats showed much improvement in their second season as a team, and will be back next year to make another run at the playoffs.

E-mail Gwin at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Cross Country: Men’s team, two women advance to nationals Continued from page 10 Cheboi, who finished first and third respectively in the women’s race. Head coach Sam Burroughs was pleased with the performances put in by both men and women.

“It was a good weekend for us,” Burroughs said. “The guys won and advanced to the national championship, while the women improved and bettered their scores from the conference meet.”

For the men, it was their eighth regional title in the last nine years, proving their streak of 18 consecutive conference ti-

tles is no fluke. Just as they did at the conference meet, the men blew the competition away. The Wildcats finished with a composite score of 31, which was 74 points better than secondplace Missouri Southern.

Senior all-American Julius Nyango won the race by edging out his teammate and fellow all-American Daniel Maina by just .4 seconds. Nyango finished the 10-kilometer race in 30:10.70, while Maina’s time was 30:11.10.

The team claimed third and fourth place in the race as well. all-American Cleophas Tanui finished third in 30:20, and all-

American Serge Gasore crossed the line in fourth with a time of 31:06. Amos Sang, Charles White and Jacob Schofield finished 21st, 26th and 89th respectively to round out ACU’s team of seven runners. The men dominated the region to the point that the race wasn’t even close, prompting Coach Burroughs to slow them down to avoid injuries.

The women’s team came into the race with expectations of a better race than they had the conference championship and they did just that. The women’s team came in ninth place, which achieved Coach

Burroughs’ goal of finishing in the top 10. The women also placed higher than two of the teams that beat them at the LSC Championship, and the team qualified two individual runners who will represent ACU individually at the national meet. Coach Burroughs was thrilled with the improvement and the girls’ determination for redemption.

“I am very pleased that we finished the team season on a higher note,” Burroughs said. “Beating two of the teams that finished higher than us at the Lone Star Conference Championship was a

definite improvement over our last performance.”

All-American sophomore Winrose Karunde won the 6-kilometer race in 20:45, and her teammate all-American Loice Cheboi came in third with a time of 21:21. Winrose and Loice’s top-three finishes qualified them for the national championship. Other ACU finishers were: Haley Garner, who finished 68th; Allison Fowler, who finished 101st; Lindsey Putman came in 105th; Alexie Ortiz finished 110th; and Kelsey Hilton rounded out the team in 111th.

The men’s squad now turns

its attention to the national championship in Slippery Rock, Pa., on Nov. 22. Coach Burroughs said teams will begin cold weather preparation immediately; temperatures in Slippery Rock on average range from the mid-’20s to the mid-’40s, and snow is not out of the question this time of the year either.

ACU will be well-represented at the NCAA Division II National Championship as the men gun for another title and Cheboi and Karunde shoot for high individual finishes.

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Page 10

SCOREBOARD Standings Football Team

Div. 6-0 5-1 3-3 3-3 3-3 1-5 0-6

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

Overall 10-0 10-1 8-3 7-4 6-4 3-8 2-9

SportsWednesday The Lone Star

November 12, 2008

Volleyball Team WTAMU Tarleton St. MSU ACU TX Woman’s

Div. 13-0 10-3 9-4 9-4 8-5 8-5

Angelo St. *6 out of 14 teams

Overall 30-4 21-9 25-8 24-8 19-12 20-13

Women’s Soccer Team

Div. 8-2 7-1-2 7-3 6-3-1 5-4-1 NESU 4-3-3 Angelo St. 4-4-2 TX Woman’s 4-4-2 ENMU 3-7 East Central 1-8-1 SW Okla.

0-10 WTAMU TAMU-C MSU Central Okla.

ACU

Overall 16-3-1 14-3-3 14-7 13-6-3 9-8-2 7-8-4 10-7-3 9-8-2 9-10 5-11-2 2-17

Scores Saturday Volleyball ACU 3, East Central 0

Football ACU 47, Midwestern State 17

Upcoming Thursday Volleyball ACU vs. Angelo State, Noon

Saturday Women’s Basketball ACU vs. Southern Indiana, 1 p.m. :: Home games listed in italics

NOTES n Tickets for ACU’s secondround NCAA Division II playoff game on Nov. 22 will go on sale Tuesday. Tickets for the game will be $12 for adults at the gate and $10 for advance purchases, while student tickets will be $6 at the gate and $4 for advance purchases. Because it is an NCAA event, no one will be admitted free, and no one will get in without an official NCAA pass for the game.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the ACU athletics office at 674-6853 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

n Kicker Matt Adams earned LSC South Special Teams Player of the Week honors after makAdams ing four field goals in ACU’s win over Midwestern State. Adams tied the ACU record for field goals in a game and became the first Wildcat to make four field goals in a game twice. Adams also became the LSC all-time leading kicking points scorer with 318. n Running back Bernard Scott earned LSC co-South Offensive Player of the Week honors Scott after rushing for 201 yards on 27 carries and scoring one touchdown. It was Scott’s third time to rush for 200 or more yards in the past four games.

Scott also caught three passes for 42 yards.

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Left: Head coach Chris Thomsen holds the LSC Championship trophy after ACU’s 47-17 win over Midwestern State. Top right: Running back Bernard Scott stiff-arms a Midwestern player.

Scott rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown. Middle right: Fullback Alan Copeland raises a trophy following ACU’s win. Bottom right: Quarterback Billy Malone looks to run in his return.

ACU claims first outright LSC title since 1973 with win over Midwestern

By Grant Abston Sports Editor

The Wildcats defeated Midwestern State 47-17 Saturday to claim their first outright Lone Star Conference championship since 1973, finishing a perfect 10-0 to become the second team in school history to finish the regular season undefeated.

Quarterback Billy Malone returned for his first game since being injured against West Texas A&M, throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Bernard Scott rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown, his third 200-yard rushing game in the last four weeks

Football ACU 47, Midwestern 17 as ACU rolled up 571 yards of offense.

“It feels great,” said head coach Chris Thomsen. “I’m really happy for the assistant coaches and players, and it’s validation for a lot of hard work, and I’m very, very excited.”

With the other undefeated regular season team from 1950 on hand as honorary captains, the Wildcats got out to a slow start, falling behind 7-0 after quarterback Zack Eskridge found wide receiver Tyron Morrison for a 10-yard touchdown. ACU responded five minutes later when Malone found wide receiver Ed-

mund Gates for a 28-yard touchdown to even the score at seven. However, Midwestern answered after Eskridge found wide receiver Andy Tanner for a 3-yard touchdown to put Midwestern back on top 14-7 to end the first quarter.

Kicker Matt Adams scored the next six points for ACU after hitting field goals from 33 and 21 yards out to pull ACU within one point. With five and a half minutes remaining in the half, Midwestern’s kicker Lee Scott pushed the Mustangs’ lead to four after hitting a 44-yard field goal. But ACU would score the next 10 points to regain the lead for good after Malone found Gates for his second touchdown of

acuoptimist.com See video highlights of ACU’s win over Midwestern State the game from 31 yards out, and Adams connected on his third field goal of the first half from 37 yards out, giving ACU a 23-17 lead at halftime. “[Malone] played really good,” Thomsen said. “It took him a couple of series to get his rhythm back, but it was important to get him back and playing and get in the flow before the playoffs.”

ACU extended its lead to 30-17 after Scott scored his

first touchdown of the game from 14 yards out to complete a nine-play, 95-yard drive. Malone threw his third touchdown of the game after finding Kendrick Holloway from four yards out to give ACU a 20-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Wildcats scored their final 10 points in the fourth quarter to end any comeback chance from Midwestern. Malone threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to fullback Justin Andrews one minute into the fourth quarter before Adams hit his fourth field goal of the game with 3:45 reaming to put ACU ahead 47-17. Adams See

Football page 9

Men claim eighth title in nine years Wildcats ranked second in LSC preseason poll

By Jeff Craig Sports Writer

The men’s cross country team won the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship Saturday, while the women’s team showed great determination in improving on its performance from the Lone Star Conference championship.

The competition was hosted by the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio with the top-three individual runners and top-three teams earning a spot to the NCAA Division II Championship. The men’s team qualified by winning the race, and the women’s team will be represented by all-Americans Winrose Karunde and Loice See

Cross Country page 9

By Jeff Craig

Basketball

Sports Writer

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer The men’s cross country team competes in the ACU Classic on Sept. 6.

ACU won the Division II South Central Regional Championship Saturday

The women’s basketball team will tip off its season Saturday afternoon in Austin against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.

The Wildcats enter this season with higher expectations for themselves. The squad finished second in the Lone Star Conference South Division last year with an overall record of 18-11.

The women also finished ninth in the region, just one spot away from qualifying for the South Central Regional bracket of the NCAA Division II version of March Madness. Head coach Shaw-

na Lavender is back for her sixth full season as head and sees a determined team with high expectations.

“I think this team in general has high expectations for itself,” Lavender said.

“We have only two new players and 10 returners. We expect to finish near the top of our conference again.

We are a veteran team that knows it takes hard work to get to the top. We’ve got a lot of work left to do.”

The team has three seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and no freshman.

See

Basketball page 9