The Optimist Print Edition: 02/10/2010

Optimist the

Vol. 98, No. 36

The Stable Life

PAGE 5 1 section, 8 pages

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

acuoptimist.com

BREAKING NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, DISCUSSION AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SA budget questioned by some Chelsea Hackney

5:30 p.m. Thursday, and about 50 students made Copy Editor We have several questions about the allocation process an appearance – not inand will be following up with necessary channels.

The Students’ Association cluding members of the ELROY JOHNSON IV Spring 2010 budget, an- SA Congress.

Sophomore marketing major from Frisco and president of SAAB Elroy Johnson IV, sophonounced Friday morning, was its most contested in more marketing manager Johnson said the event is from Frisco and president many SAAB members at- SAAB’s budget for a Valenseveral years.

The meeting to final- of the Students of African tended the meeting after tine’s dinner for the Virtuous intended to show appreciaize the budget began at American Brotherhood, said SA made a decision to cut African Heritage Sisterhood. tion for the women of the

VAHS and the work they do to raise awareness about sex trafficking in the U.S. “It shows a service-leadership project that is portrayed in our National SAAB mission statement,” he said in an e-mail. “’We encour-

CAMPUS

ACADEMICS

Dance With Me, Michael

see SA page 4

Device piques artists’ interest Christianna Lewis Contributing Reporter

and staff. Divided into subcommittees, the group’s responsibilities range from communication with the ACU community, planning for celebratory events for

ACU’s alliance with Apple puts ACU in a position to be a major influence on digital publishing. But it’s not the prospect of replacing conventional textbooks that has Dan McGregor, assistant professor of art and design, excited about the iPad. McGregor experiments with digital art, simulating the pen and brush on a computer. But he reverted to words to paint a picture of students using an iPad to look over a Roman ruin, pulling historical pictures from the Internet for reference as they sketched directly onto the screen of an iPad. McGregor said he would jump at the opportunity to incorporate assignments on the iPad into his art classes, if it was capable of differentiating line thickness with the amount of pressure applied to the screen. But, from what he has heard, McGregor said the technology is not there yet.

see TEAM page 4

see iPAD page 4

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Tim Jones, senior physics major from Odessa, and other ACU students rehearse a Michael Jackson tribute dance in the Williams Performing Arts Center.

Students will perform the dance as part of the Black History Month Production on March 4 and 5.

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Team prepares for imminent transition Kelsi Williamson Chief Photographer With the announcement of the ACU presidentelect less than two weeks away, the Presidential Transition Team is in place to secure a

smooth transition in university leadership.

“We’re just really trying hard to keep people informed and make sure they are in the know,” said Sharron Drury, member of the Board of Trustees and Presidential Transi-

tion Team co-chair.

The purpose of the 17-member Team is “to ensure that information needs, social functions and substantive issues surrounding the presidential transition at ACU are conducted

systematically and with thoughtful consideration of both the departing and incoming presidents,” according to an e-mail sent to the ACU community Feb. 1.

Team members include trustees, faculty

CAMPUS

New facility nominated for award Whitney Puckett

Event Solutions called the 57,000-square-foot, $15.7 milContributing Reporter lion Welcome Center one of The newest building on cam- Abilene’s “hottest event venpus is already earning its ues,” because of its “contempokeep. Last month, Event So- rary style and state-of-the-art lutions magazine named the interior.”

“We’re thrilled,” said Jennifer Robert D. and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center as a finalist Ellison, ACU alumna and direcfor the Event Site of the Year tor of events for ACU. “It’s a Spotlight Award; winners will huge honor to be nominated and be announced at the Spotlight recognized by event peers.”

Although the Welcome CenAwards event next month.

Forecast Wed

40° 31°

ter is less than a year old – the youngest venue in a category that boasts nominees such as the Hard Rock Cafe and Ellis Island – more than 200 events have been conducted in the facility, including the Men of Strength and Style fashion show and the World Polio Day Dinner.

“All of us at the university ZAK ZEINERT Staff Photographer

see AWARD page 4

Inside Thu

35° 29°

Fri

50° 32°

The Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center opened Feb. 21, 2009.

Online

WILDCAT BASEBALL overcame the inclement weather in Abilene on Sunday, sweeping Harding and beginning the 2010 season with a 4-0 record.

TIM TEBOW AND HIS mother’s Super Bowl ad caused quite a stir, most criticism coming from pro-choice and feminist groups. Did CBS violate its own rules?

Page 8

Page 6

PHOTO

LOUDandCLEAR

Do you think the iPad is overrated? a. Yes, it’s just Apple’s latest money maker. b. No, the technology is truly amazing. c. I heard it can read your mind.

Martial Arts Training

Visit acuoptimist.com to join the discussion.

2

Campus Day Wednesday, February 10, 2010

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

10

WEDNESDAY

11 a.m.

Come to the Quiet

11

THURSDAY

11 a.m.

Small group Chapel will take place in various locations on campus. For more information, go to www.acu.edu/chapel.

5 p.m.

ArtWalk 7:30 p.m.

The Rabbit Hole will be performed in the Culp Theatre in the Williams Performing Arts Center.

12

About This Page The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@jmcnetwork. com.

To ensure 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.

FRIDAY

7:30 p.m.

The Rabbit Hole will be performed in the Culp Theatre in the Williams Performing Arts Center. A Talk Back session will follow at 10 p.m.

8 p.m.

Stoplight Mixer at the First Baptist Family Life Center, located at 1333 North 3rd St. Sponsored by the men of Trojans and the women of Phi Phi Phi, social club at Hardin-Simmons University.

Chapel Checkup

Credited Chapels to date:

Credited Chapels remaining:

22 51

Announcements The Rabbit Hole, ACU Theatre’s winter drama, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-13 and Feb. 18-20 in the Culp Theatre in the Williams Performing Arts Center. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.acu. edu/theatre or call 6742787.

will address racism and other topics, which students can find at unitedbyfaithabilene.com.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is now available to staff, faculty and students through the Counseling Center. For more information, call 674-2626.

An Invisible Children Chapel forum will take place at 9:15 p.m. Feb. 25 in Moody Coliseum.

Attendees will receive three Chapel credits.

Tim Wise, a nationally known anti-racism author and activist, will speak at 7 p.m. March 2 in Moody Coliseum. Wise

The Call, a student-led worship, will take place Wednesday nights in the McGlothlin Campus Center Living Room. All students are welcome to attend.

The Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood bake sale will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Feb. 10 and 12 in the McGlothlin Campus Center.

Proceeds will go toward the Spring Break Campaign to Atlanta, Ga. The Campus Activities Board is providing discount tickets for students to attend the Sing Song preview Feb. 18. Tickets cost $5 and must be purchased in advance in the McGlothlin Campus Center or in Room 121 in McKinzie West.

The deadline for intramural soccer registration is Feb. 19. Cost will be $45 per team, and games begin March 1. For more information, contact Susan Hardcastle at 6752555, or e-mail susan. hardcastle@acu.edu.

The Upward Bound Program is in need of students to serve as summer advisers. The program is looking for encouraging, energetic and responsible students to assist in preparing high school students for college. For more information, call 674-2529 or 674-2514.

The Shinnery Review is accepting art, photography, poetry, fiction, nonfiction and audio submissions from students until Feb. 15. E-mail shinnery@ acu.edu to submit.

Switchfoot presents the Hello Hurricane Tour at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Abilene Civic Center. Tickets are $25 in

advance and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at Beltway Park, the Abilene Civic Center Box Office, Mardel and Lifeway stores in Abilene, or online at www.iTickets. com. For more information, call 800-965-9324.

HIGHway Bible Study, a student-led Bible study will take place at 9 p.m.

Wednesdays in The Grove clubhouse. All students are welcome.

The Honors College will present a murder mystery dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the atrium of the Williams Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $10 individually or $15 for a couple. Formal dress is suggested.

The ACU Chinese Students’ and Scholars’ Association and Chinese Christian Fellowship are hosting a Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 13 in the gymnasium of Hillcrest Church of Christ.

The celebration begins at 4 p.m. with dinner following at 6:15 p.m. For more information, e-mail Leo Son at yxs08b@acu.edu.

ACU’s 54th annual Sing Song will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 20. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.acu. edu/singsong.

Volunteer Opportunities The Noah Project needs volunteers to cover the domestic violence crisis hotline between 6 and 10 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For more information, call Yvonne Myers at 676-7107.

Love and Care Ministries needs help with its clothing ministry and street feeds at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. MondayFriday. To schedule a time, call Terry Davis at 670-0246.

The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council needs volunteers for Gator Country, an animal preserve

and rescue operation from Beaumont, on Feb. 27 at the Abilene Civic Center. Volunteers will prepare breakfast, assist with two performances, serve as ushers and direct visitors through the Nature Trail. For more information, contact Angie Cook at 794-4426, or email angie.cook@cjc.edu.

Volunteers must sign up

by Feb. 15.

The Christian Service Center needs volunteers to fill requests for clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, etc., from the donation center. Volunteers may work from

noon-4 p.m. Friday or Saturday. For more information, call Jim Clark at 673-7531.

The Abilene Empty Bowls Project will take place from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Highland Church of Christ. For more information, call 673-5295.

The City of Abilene’s Adaptive Recreation Services needs volunteers to help mentally and physically challenged adults with activities between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Activities can

include arts and crafts, exercise, ceramics, bowling, field trips, etc. For more information contact Barbara Liggett at 6766575, or e-mail barbara. liggett@abilenetx.com.

Abilene Nursing and Rehabilitation Center needs volunteers at 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to assist residents with Bingo and other activities.

Volunteers will stay one to two hours. For more information contact Rita Raymond at 673-0568, or e-mail cameron.grad@ hotmail.com.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church needs volunteers to help with its baby room. Tasks include sorting, hanging clothing and cleaning. Volunteers are welcome from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, contact Peggy Valentine at 8293425, or e-mail pegleeval123@yahoo.com.

The International Rescue Committee needs volunteers to set up apartments before refugees arrive. This includes shopping for household supplies, assembling furniture and putting away kitchen and food items. All volunteers are required to attend an IRC volunteer orientation and must be available during weekday afternoons.

Breakfast On Beech Street serves breakfast to Abilene’s homeless community and is in need of volunteers. Breakfast is served from 6:30-7:15 a.m. at the First Christian Church at 3rd and

Beech Street. Volunteers must arrive at 5:30 a.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 5 a.m. Tuesdays.

For more information, visit the First Christian Church’s Web site at www.fccabilene.org/outreach.html.

The Recreation Division needs volunteers to help serve dinner at their annual Daddy-Daughter Dinner and Date Night.

Volunteers are needed from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the Abilene Civic Center. For more information, call Anita Vigil at 734-5301.

Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to deliver hot meals to seniors and adults with disabilities each week. Volunteers may work once a week, Monday-Friday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, contact Elisabeth Rodgers at 672-5050.

Campus News

February 10, 2010

Page 3

STUDENT LIFE

Local eateries offer student discounts, deals Jeff Craig Sports Editor College students are assured of two experiences during college – hunger and poverty.

Thankfully, local restaurants have provided an avenue for students to partake of their cuisine at a discounted price.

Many fast food restaurants around ACU and Hardin-Simmons University offer discounts and promotions to draw in hungry students. The idea of cheaper food is appealing to ACU students who are looking to save a dime.

“The idea of student discounts at restaurants

is brilliant,” said sophomore undeclared major Jacob Lowe.

“First, it brings in more revenue because of the abundance of college students in Abilene. Moreover, there is an abundance of students interested in cheaper food.”

Restaurants near ACU that offer a student discount include Rosa’s Café, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s and Taco Bell.

Each of these establishments offers a 10 percent discount to students who present a student ID. Additionally, Chicken Express has a meal specially priced for students.

The idea behind student discounts is more

QUICK FACTS Local restaurants that provide a 10 percent discount to students who present a student ID: n Rosa’s Café at 3333 Catclaw Drive and 1026 N. Judge Ely Blvd. n Jack in the Box at 2002 E. Overland Trail n Wendy’s at 4374 Southwest Drive and 1642 E. Musgrave Blvd. n Taco Bell at 2901 S. 14th St., 4165 S. Danville Drive and 2201 Pine St. n Chicken Express at 3374 Turner Plaza and 1034 EN 10th St. offers specially priced student meals.

complex than it may seem at first glance.

The savings are obviously great for many students, but they serve

a purpose for the restaurants, as well.

Larry Sanders serves as marketing director for Exceptional Brands in Abilene, which operates the Buffalo Wild Wings, Famous Dave’s and Taco Bell restaurants in the area. Sanders said he believes student discounts like the one at Taco Bell bring in new customers and also help in maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage.

“It’s not just about drawing people in; it’s about retention,” Sanders said. “Our 10 percent discount embraces customers, so hopefully they’ll remember us.”

Sanders said student discounts play a role in an aggressive marketing strategy that helps make Taco Bell appealing to students.

Aside from restaurant-offered discounts, the Students’ Association also has tools to help famished college students survive a late night of studying. Every semester, SA purchases Collegiate Cards that students can use to receive discounts across Abilene. SA Vice President Tony Godfrey says the cards are a way SA can make college life a little easier.

“The Collegiate Card is something that SA

has been buying for years,” Godfrey said.

“The organization deals with businesses of all sorts all over Abilene. We pay a certain amount each year to make them available for free to students.”

Godfrey also noted the cards can be used for more than food. Collegiate Card discounts are available for other things, such as oil changes, flowers, dry cleaning and movie rentals. Students can pick up the cards in the SA office and find out where to use them at www.thecollegiatecard.net. contact Craig at

jrc07d@acu.edu

CAMPUS

Publication accepting literary, visual, audio works Shea Rattan Contributing Reporter The Shinnery Review isn’t just for writers and artists anymore.

Beginning this year, musicians can get in on the act, too.

Formerly known as the Pickwicker, the Shinnery Review is an annual student-produced magazine that showcases literary works, such as essays, short stories of fiction and nonfiction and other kinds of prose.

In recent years, the magazine has also published more artistic works, including pho-

tos, drawings and song lyrics. This year, however, the Shinnery is also accepting audio works.

Spoken poetry, monologues and songs can all be submitted and will be on a CD included with the magazine.

Mary Hardegree, senior English major from Abilene and co-editor of the Shinnery, said the staff didn’t want just poetry in the magazine.

“We wanted to branch out,” Hardegree said.

Editor in chief Lydia Melby, senior English major from San Antonio, said its goal is simply to “provide ACU

students an outlet for creative work.” She said many students are hesitant to submit works to larger publications, and this is a more comfortable way for them to express themselves.

The Shinnery accepts submissions from any undergraduate or graduate student, including non-English majors.

“Students can go and view the work of their peers and feel inspired,” Melby said.

Students are finding having a published work looks good on a resume, in addition to creating a sense of pride, said co-

editor Tanner Hadfield, junior English major from Abilene.

“It just feels good to get something published,” Hadfield said. “It’s great to be able to say, ‘I’m a published author.’”

To spread awareness and gain more funding, the Shinnery will sponsor an event to bring an author to campus to share some of his or her works and discuss what it’s like to be a professional author.

“We get a lot of musical talent to come, so we wanted to get someone different and who knows the ups and

downs of writing,” Hadfield said.

The details of this event are yet to be announced. The staff also is organizing an event toward the end of the semester where this year’s issue of the Shinnery will be available to students free of charge.

Dr. Shelly Sanders, faculty sponsor and assistant professor of English, called it the Shinnery’s “coming-out party.”

The staff will host the party at the Shore Art Gallery where there will be various readings, food and fellowship.

Shinnery staff members will also set up a booth in the McGlothin Campus Center and distribute the publication to students during finals week, Melby said. If students are unable to pick up a copy in the Campus Center, they can contact the editors – e-mail addresses are available at www.acu.edu/students/ shinnery – or send an e-mail request to shinnery@acu.edu.

contact Rattan at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

From Front

Page 4

CAMPUS

February 10, 2010

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Award: Building recognized Team: Shift on the horizon Continued from page 1

ACU family,” said Dr. Bob Hunter, namesake have been delighted of the venue and senior that our University vice president emeritus.

Many notable guests Events staff has done such a splendid job in have been invited to reaching out to the cam- the Welcome Center, pus, as well as our com- including James Lentz, munity, and utilizing president of Toyota Mothe facilities that have tor Sales USA Inc.; Lance come available to the Barrow, CBS sports pro-

ducer; and Joe Shirley, president of the Navajo Nation.

For more information, visit www.eventsolutions.com.

contact Puckett at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SA: Spring funds distributed Continued from page 1

age our participants to embrace leadership by being positive examples for each other through a strong commitment to academic achievement, brotherhood, and community service.’”

The issue raised some heated discussion, and Congress eventually decided to cut the dinner from the budget, following an amendment to decrease the requested total to $52.50 from $140.

Despite the debate, or perhaps because of it, Luke Cochran, senior finance major from Round Rock and SA treasurer, said he thought the meeting went well. He said it made clear to Congress what listening to students’ voices is all about – and how difficult it can be.

“It was a great example of what SA says we’re about and wants to be about,” he said. “Then it actually happened, and people weren’t sure how to handle it.”

For student groups to receive money, they must submit a budget to Co-

chran and then schedule a meeting with Cochran and Derek Zimmerman, SA’s chief financial officer, to discuss the group’s proposal.

The purpose of the meetings, Cochran said, is to give students the opportunity to explain, in detail, each of the budgeted items or events. This gives SA a better understanding of the amount of money each group truly needs, he said.

Cochran said SAAB did set up a meeting and presented its budget proposal at that time. However, the decision to cut the dinner for VAHS was not Congress’, not his, and it wasn’t made until Thursday.

After meeting with each group, Cochran and Zimmerman develop guidelines for allocating funds.

“We define a set of principles we follow for every group,” Cochran said. The SA Congress is supposed to follow these principles when voting on the final budget, he said.

After creating a budget proposal, Cochran and Zimmerman present it to Congress for a vote.

Cochran said neither the

treasurer nor the CFO have a vote at that time.

“Congress has the authority to change as much or as little as they want,” he said. “If you say they need $1,000 and Congress says they only need $200 and they vote, then that’s what they get.”

Unfortunately, this often means student groups receive much less than they requested, as in the case of SAAB. Cochran said Congress’ justification for cutting the event was based on the guideline that student events include as many students as possible, which the Valentine’s dinner did not do.

However, Johnson said SAAB thought the Congress might have misunderstood the purpose of the dinner.

“We have several questions about the allocation process of the Students’ Association, and we will be following up with necessary channels to address our concerns,” Johnson said. contact Hackney at

ceh05c@acu.edu

Continued from page 1

Dr. Royce Money and the president-elect, fundraising opportunities and orientation of the new president once he is in office.

Drury said the magnitude of the upcoming change is one reason a transition team is necessary.

“If Dr. Money was just horrible at what he does, there wouldn’t be much anxiety there,” Drury said. “But he is great at what he does.”

The Transition Team wants to celebrate Money’s presidency as well as welcome and build excitement for the new president. The group is planning many events, formal and informal, on and off campus, to honor Money, Drury said.

“He is treating each as an opportunity to come and say thank you,” she said.

The Transition Team also wants to ensure the president-elect begins to form relationships with students, faculty, staff and the Abilene community in the months lead-

ing to his inauguration.

“We’ve got to get them out in our main market so they can hit the floor running when they get into office,” Drury said.

Students can look forward to participating in many of the events for Money and the presidentelect. The communications subcommittee plans to update the ACU community regularly through email and the Transition Team Web site, said Jason Groves, associate vice president for marketing in Operations and communications subcommittee chair.

“One of our goals is to try to help the new president connect with groups on campus,” Groves said.

“Right now, I think the most important thing is the student body unify and rally around whoever is selected.”

The subcommittee wants to implement social media as much as possible, said Groves, updating Facebook, Twitter and the ACU Today magazine blog on a regular basis.

Many communication specifics will be ironed out after the Feb. 19 announcement of the president-elect.

“A lot of it depends on who the president is,” Groves said. “We don’t want to say the same approach is for everybody.”

Drury and Groves agree prayer is an essential piece of student involvement in the transition process.

“We just hope that the students will pray for the person that’s not chosen, as well as the person that is chosen,” Drury said.

Whatever the outcome, Groves said the Transition Team wants students to feel engaged in the process and comfortable communicating with both Money and the president-elect.

“Right now, I think the most important thing is the student body unify and rally around whoever is selected,” Groves said.

contact Williamson at

kkw07a@acu.edu

ACADEMICS

iPad: Faculty consider impact on art education Continued from page 1

“If Apple calls us for improvements, I’d ask for pressure sensitivity, like a drawing tablet,” McGregor said.

All faculty interested in this “big iPod” have been invited to share questions, suggestions and ideas at an interest meeting about the iPad and second-generation e-books Friday.

George Saltsman, executive director of the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, sent an invitation that accented a focus on “ways in which future generations will interact with, publish and consume academic texts.”

ACU has been working with Bell Labs and Cambridge University Press to develop technologies and programs for digital publishing, according to Saltsman’s e-mail. But Brandon Young, assistant professor of art and design, is looking for advancements beyond publishing software.

“I want to see how the iPad aids the creative process,” Young said.

Young sees possibilities for architecture and interior design students to record site analysis notes on the iPad, record available materials and begin to physically sketch their ideas onto the screen display of the location. This would bring a level of immediacy and intuition to the design process.

Another of the iPad’s advantages is its size: bigger than an iPhone but less cumbersome than the digital drawing equipment Gentry Griffin, senior graphics design major from Athens, has to use.

“Right now, I need my computer and my tablet, and it’s just a big jumble of stuff,” Griffin said.

But the primary art and design computer programs, like Adobe and Corel, are not available on the iPad. Apple hasn’t even included a camera or stylus in its design, and these limitations hamper almost any creative application in art, design or architecture for the iPad, Griffin said.

Beyond the question of the iPad’s capabilities lies

that of its accessibility.

“This opportunity is not intended to compete with or replace our existing mobile learning efforts but to leverage campuswide expertise in something equally exciting,” Saltsman said in his e-mail.

While ACU has made no announcement addressing the iPad’s place in the Mobile Learning Initiative, the e-mail referenced plans for market research and testing to “validate the overall feasibility of these tools in academic settings.”

Tyler Jarvis, graduate student in divinity from Dallas, said he thought the iPad would be a smarter investment for ACU than the iPhone.

“Instead of teachers printing 50 copies of a handout, they could just say, ‘Pull it up on you iPad,;” Jarvis said. “They’d be less of a distraction.”

contact Lewis at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Focus

February 10, 2010

Page 5

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Katie Havis, freshman psychology major from Fort Worth, and Steve Eller, ACU counselor, work together as the equine specialist and mental health specialist for the EAP program.

Releasing the reins ACU’s Counseling Center recently acquired a new form of therapy, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which is available to all students.

Kelsi Williamson Chief Photographer

Attempting to move a large, powerful horse from one side of the arena to another can seem intimidating. Add to the challenge no touching or talking and some might call the task impossible. But then imagine completing this challenge: the sense of self-confidence, pride and accomplishment it creates is why some therapists are beginning to use “trusty steeds” in their treatment.

It forces you to look at your struggles in a different way.

STEVE ELLER ACU Counselor

Through the combined efforts of a mental health professional, a horse specialist and the horses themselves, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy gives clients an alternative way to process fear and overcome difficult situations.

“It forces you to look at your struggles in a different way,” said Steve Eller, ACU counselor and certified EAP therapist. “In a room, you know what you’re supposed to say. When you get out there in an arena with this wild animal that you have no idea how’s its going to behave, it becomes about creative thinking.”

The EAP program is still in the development stage.

Eller began planning its implementation a little more than a year ago, and he is the only EAP-certified ACU counselor in the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. According to its Web site, the EAGALA “works to provide education, standards, innovation, and support to professionals providing services in equine assisted psychotherapy and learning around the world.”

Eller said equine therapy provides clients with experiential opportunities to address larger issues such as anxiety, self-confidence and communication skills. The ACU counselor relates the problem-solving techniques in EAP to real-life circumstances, including parenting.

“Trying to put a kid in bed is like trying to put a horse into a corner it doesn’t want to,” Eller said.

Horses are an ideal animal to assist in these areas because of their ability to mirror human emotion. This mirroring allows clients to view their own situations metaphorically through the horses’ responses.

“When people are real anxious and uptight, that’s how the horses act. When the group calms down and comes together, the horses come together,” Eller said.

Although no riding is involved in the program, the presence of an equine specialist helps ensure the physical safety of the clients. Katie Havis, freshman psychology major from Fort Worth, is the horse specialist for ACU’s horse psychotherapy. Havis has been riding horses for eight years and said she hopes to someday use her horse experience as a professional therapist.

“Horses are kind of therapy for me, so I know that there is a huge benefit for clients going out there,” Havis said. “I really enjoy watching how the clients and the horses interact because it’s different every time.”

Together, Havis and Eller lead groups and individual clients through various activities involving

obstacles and other challenges. They leave time at the end of each session to talk with participants about their experience and how it relates to what they might be going through at home. However, a lot of the processing happens long after the session.

“It’s when they go home and think about it that the lightbulb goes on,” Havis said.

Eller said EAP could be used in a broader context as a learning or a team-building tool. Many academic departments have expressed interest in the program as a way to get to know one another and develop group problem-solving skills.

The experiential nature of EAP also may provide opportunities for agriculture and psychology majors to learn about therapy through participating in the program.

Eller is trying to incorporate EAP training into the curriculum through a semester course. He would also like to offer several four to six week workshops to develop premarital, marital and parental relationships using EAP. “It draws an interest because some people that don’t just want to sit in a room may come out and kick the dirt,” Eller said.

For more information on EAP, contact Eller at steve. eller@acu.edu. Sessions are open to all individuals for $10 each Thursday and Friday afternoons at the ACU Rhoden Farm. contact Williamson at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Steve Eller directs ACU’s Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

EAP uses horses owned by the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department at Rhoden Farm.

Opinion

Page 6

EDITORIAL

February 10, 2010

CBS should stick to its impartial guns Although the double standard is obvious, CBS’ critics are confusing the issue to some degree.

For all the hype, the Tebow ad was incredibly mild. Tim Tebow’s mother looks into the camera and simply states, “I call him my miracle baby.

He almost didn’t make it into this world. I remember so many times when I almost lost him.

It was so hard.” That’s it as far as any hint of a discussion about abortion. Hardly controversial. The ad then directs viewers to Focus on the Family’s Web site.

In the Mancrunch ad, though, two men wearing jerseys brush hands while reaching for a bowl of chips and then proceed to make out with each other with a third man watching.

time for the advocacy of viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.” A commercial is understood to be unacceptable if “it explicitly takes a position on such an issue or if it presents arguments parallel to those made by one side.”

The merits of the policy are debatable, but bad policies are made worse if applied arbitrarily.

CBS’ standard should apply to all groups and viewpoints; advocacy is advocacy, regardless of who is behind the message. If a network allows one advocacy group to transmit its message, all advocacy groups should have an equal opportunity, whether they be gay rights activists, pro-choice lobbyists, war protesters or PETA members.

Super Bowl viewers cheered or cried Sunday as the Saints won the title for the first time in franchise history. However intense the partying was in New Orleans, the commercials stole much of the spotlight between plays.

Two spots in particular – and CBS’ response to them – sparked outcries from the media and interest groups.

CBS allowed a Focus on the Family ad, featuring Heisman winner Tim Tebow’s mother and subtly advocating a pro-life position, to run, while banning an ad from a gay dating Web site, Mancrunch.

Regardless of the ads’ content, the indignation was justified. According to the New York Times, CBS’ policy is to “not sell

A CBS spokesperson said, “After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot.” It is clear the network rejected the Mancrunch ad based on its content, not its advocacy of an issue like gay marriage.

“We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions,” the CBS spokesperson added, implying had Mancrunch created an advertisement similar to eHarmony or other dating sites, they might not have been rejected.

It should be noted CBS announced two weeks before the Super Bowl it was loosening its regulations to allow “responsibly produced”

Mac-n- Tex

By Aaron Cavitt

THE ISSUE

CBS broke its policy prohibiting controversial ads to allow a pro-life commercial to air during the Super Bowl. The station did not, however, allow a commercial advertising a gay dating site.

OUR TAKE

Although CBS’ policy might be flawed, it should not bend the rules for some groups or ads. ads – for anyone who could scrape up $2.5 million for the 30-second spot – in part because of the overwhelmingly negative response to its decision to allow the Tebow ad. The fact remains, though, under its policy at the time, CBS should have refused to air both spots, even if the motivation in each case differed.

The debate about advocacy ads is far from over, and complaints

about CBS’ and other networks’ policies will likely linger long after the Super Bowl. It probably doesn’t matter, though, because most of us will continue to tune in to auto-tuned commercials for Bud Light and tune out the political controversy.

Email the Optimist at:

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

COLUMN

Stress relief a must for college survival Sondra Not Sandra Sondra Rodriguez

COLUMN

Christians must remain available Bread with Tomato Colter Hettich If you needed a blessing Sunday evening, all you had to do was pick up the phone and dial any church in Abilene. A bland, yet kind voice would have thanked you for calling, Hettich informed you of the church’s office hours and wished you on your blessed way.

Had you needed more than prerecorded encouragement, almost any restaurant or major retailer would have picked up before the third ring. I wrote a news story Sunday with a local angle on the Super Bowl. As I dialed my

way through Abilene’s church listings, my disbelief grew. Why, on the day set aside for Christian worship and fellowship, did not one church answer? Why did no answering machine messages include contact info for a pastor, deacon, elder or priest?

The greatest gift Christians can give the world is their availability.

Voice-to-voice communication is increasingly optional, and faceto-face encounters are almost not worth the trouble. Mobile technology lets us keep tabs on each other while avoiding actual contact if we so choose.

Scholars like Malcolm Muggeridge and Marshall McLuhan dedicated years to the study of technology and media’s influence

The greatest gift Christians can give the world is their availability. on Christianity. Roaring Lambs author Bob Briner rebuked Christians for voluntarily relinquishing technology to the secular world. Yes, flashing lights and eardrumming volume can distract, and congregations should discuss and experiment with worship styles.

But too many churches have become unreachable – not for members but for the outside world.

Designing advertisements and welcoming visitors during Sunday morning announcements help create an inviting appearance, but they are distant and impersonal. An ad does little for someone

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

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who needs only to be reassured there is hope.

Many people still turn to the church in moments of desolation, and a phone call is a safe, dignified way to ask for help.

The Super Bowl is every American’s excuse yell, scream, cheer and overeat together – an experience that eternally bonds those present.

I would never require any American to give up that right. I also know criticizing the church is painfully easy.

So let’s be available, and it begins with answering the phone.

contact Hettich at

clh05d@acu.edu

Optimist the

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Newsroom (325) 674-2439

Sports Desk (325) 674-2684

I came home one night last week stressed out of my mind. I had bitten off all my fingernails; I had cons u m e d m o r e than 10 cups of coffee in 12 hours, and I had Rodriguez Post-it n o t e s on every surface in my room reminding me of stressors to anticipate.

And, I had one million pages of what seems like a foreign language to read for Communication Law by 8 a.m. So, I power cleaned the kitchen.

The kitchen wasn’t dirty, but I controlled just how much Soft Scrub to use – about the size of a dime. I controlled how sparkly clean the countertops would be. I controlled where the dishes would go, how clean the floors would be, and I made sure the forks were neatly stacked in the same direction in their little fork cubby, along with every other utensil.

And I felt better. Not because the kitchen was clean or because I’d sharpened my housewife skills for my life as a betrothed woman, but because I did something that wasn’t on a syllabus and didn’t require a deadline. I left my phone in the other room. I didn’t go near my computer. I disconnected myself. I forgot about all the reading I had to do, how much I wanted to

quit school, move to the beach and weave necklaces for a living, and I didn’t have to answer to anyone. I gave into my de-stresser, and it was the most rejuvenating thing I could do to preserve my sanity.

Give into your destresser, whatever it may be. Maybe it’s running, reading, writing or driving on the loop with your windows down and shamelessly blasting Lady Gaga – I do that one, too.

Let yourself do those things even if they mean

I felt better. Not because the kitchen was clean or because I’d sharpened my housewife skills for my life as a betrothed woman, but because I did something that wasn’t on a syllabus and didn’t require a deadline. you’ll have to wake up a little earlier to read.

Check out, unclench and put yourself before school for a little while.

It’ll keep you sane, and a lack of sanity will make May come slower – don’t risk it.

contact Rodriguez at

sar06g@acu.edu

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From Sports

February 10, 2010

Page 7

BASEBALL

Sweep: Bison no match for No. 12 Wildcats Continued from page 8

it was Bankston again who came up big for the Wildcats. With the game tied at two entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Bankston drove in the game-winning run.

Closer Brad Rutherford pitched a scoreless seventh, and ACU came away from Sunday with two more wins.

“Come-from-behind wins are hard to pull off this early in the season,” said junior pitcher Jordan Hartley. “The closer you get as a team, the more you start to see that happen.”

Other stars from this weekend include Travis

Come-from-behind wins are hard to pull off this early in the season.

JORDAN HARTLEY Junior Pitcher

Latz, who amassed seven RBIs in four games, with a triple and home run. Bret Boschler also did damage at the plate, going 5-6 with three doubles, a homer and six RBIs on Saturday alone.He was also the go-ahead runner who won the final game Sunday.

“You always have to do the big things right, like hitting and pitching,” Hartley said. “But if you want to win tough games, you have to focus on the little things,

and we did that.”

The ’Cats will open Lone Star Conference play with a four game series against Central Oklahoma at Crutcher Scott Field on Friday.

The Wildcats then head out for a nine game road trip, starting in Kingsville against the Javelinas on Feb. 19., and ending in Canyon against West Texas A&M on Feb. 27.

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

contact Gwin at

Catcher Abe Williams beats a throw to first base during the Wildcats’ double-header Sunday.

agg07a@acu.edu

WOMEN’S TENNIS

SOFTBALL

Shutout: Team ranked No. 6 in nation Win: ’Cats blast

Incarnate Word Continued from page 8

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Jaclyn Walker leaps for a serve Sunday. The Wildcats did not drop a set in either of their matches OCU or MSU.

Continued from page 8

Feb. 2. The Wildcats also have a victory against Division I-AA opponent Sam Houston State under their belt.

The Wildcats not only shut out their two opponents Sunday; they didn’t even drop a set. The ’Cats won all six singles matchups and three doubles

matches against OCU; then they repeated the feat against MSU. The women’s team continues to be ACU’s highest-ranked team.

They currently sit at the No. 6 team in the nation and the No. 1 team in the region. The Wildcats’ closest competitor, Tarleton State, is No. 2 in the Lone Star Conference and No. 20 in the nation.

The Wildcats’ schedule gets tougher from here as the team tries to maintain its spot near the top of the rankings. The ‘Cats will take on several Division I schools in the coming weeks, including matches against Southern Methodist and the Air Force Academy.

The Wildcats will play two matches against St. Mary’s and

University of TexasSan Antonio in San Antonio, before heading to Colorado Springs, Colo., later this month for a tournament.

Head Coach Hutton Jones was not available for comment.

contact Craig at

jrc07d@acu.edu

The Wildcats traded runs with Southeastern Oklahoma State throughout the night game. The Savage Storm tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth and added one more run in the sixth. ACU could not score in the seventh inning and fell to the Savage Storm 4-3.

The Wildcats lost their first Saturday game in a pitching duel against East Central.

In six innings, freshman pitcher Shelby Hall was one hit away from a perfect game. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that one hit was a Tiger home run that stayed just fair, hitting the foul ball pole. ACU could not match the run and fell 1-0.

In the second game, the Wildcats bounced back, scoring six runs for a 6-3 victory against Texas A&M-International. Jacque Gregoire gave up three runs in the first inning before settling in and shutting down the Dustdevils. She didn’t give up another run after the first, pitching a complete game and recording her first win on the season.

The bats came alive for the Wildcats as they scored 12 runs against Incarnate Word on Sunday, defeating the Cardinals 12-0. ACU saw five players record multi-hit

games, and Kim White threw five scoreless innings to run-rule the Cardinals, the first runrule this season.

Despite the two losses, the Wildcats made a strong showing this weekend. They gave up only 11 runs in five games, and outfielder Melissa Mendoza had 13 hits this weekend, giving her a batting average of .650 for the year.

The Wildcats were scheduled to play a double header against the Midwestern State Mustangs on Tuesday, but the games have been canceled due to the weather. The Wildcats will be back in action Saturday for the CBS Classic. The Wildcats will take on Cameron, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Emporia State as a part of the tournament, scheduled to be played at Crutcher Scott Field.

contact Cantrell at

jrc07f@acu.edu

Sports

Page 8

Standings MEN'S BASKETBALL Ovrl.

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

6-1 5-2 4-2 3-4 3-4 2-5 1-6

21-1 17-5 13-8 12-10 8-13 12-10 8-14

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Ovrl.

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

Team

6-1 5-2 5-2 4-3 3-3 1-6 0-7

22-2 18-4 17-5 14-8 10-10 6-16 6-14

TRACK AND FIELD

Multi-event athletes shine in New Mexico Sam Bartee

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Competing at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Jessica Withrow qualified in the women's pentathlon, placing sixth with 3,653 points. James Hardin and Parker Petty posted qualifying totals in the men's heptathlon, placing eighth and 13th, respectively.

In the regular portion of the meet Friday, Kevin Johnson

Sports Reporter The Wildcats' multievent performers proved their mettle at the New Mexico Classic and Combined Events meet Friday and Saturday; all three posted qualifying point totals for next month's NCAA Division II indoor championship meet.

provisionally qualified for the national meet in the 60-meter hurdles.

He finished fourth with a time of 8.23 seconds.

Destinee Nixon bettered her existing provisional qualifying mark in the triple jump, finishing eighth with a jump of 38-7 3/4.

The Wildcats also had athletes competing at the New Balance

Collegiate Invitational at The Armory in New York. They posted several solid performances at that meet, as well.

Amos Sang finished second in the 5,000-meter with a time of 14 minutes, 18.08 seconds.

Andrew McDowell tied for the nation's top time in the 60 hurdles Friday, and finished third in the final at 7.98 seconds.

ACU's next challenge will be the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo., next weekend. The Wildcats have just two events remaining before the NCAA Indoor Championships on Mar. 12-13 in Albuquerque, N.M.

contact Bartee at

skb09a@acu.edu

BASEBALL

Opening Sweep

SOFTBALL Ovrl.

Div.

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

February 10, 2010

5-0 5-0 3-2 4-3 3-4 3-4 2-4

BASEBALL Team Div. Ovrl.

ACU SE Okla. St. TAMU-K WTAMU Angelo St. Tarleton St. SW Okla. St. Northeastern Cameron Central Okla.

East Central ENMU

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

4-0 3-0 2-0 1-0 3-1 3-1 1-2 1-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-2

Scores SUNDAY Softball ACU 12, Incarnate Word 0 HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Baseball ACU 8, Harding 2 ACU 4, Harding 2

Women's Tennis ACU 9, Oklahoma Christian 0 ACU 9, Midwestern St. 0

SATURDAY Softball ACU 0, East Central 1 ACU 6, TAMU-Int'l 3

Baseball ACU 16, Harding 9 ACU 6, Harding 5

Men's Tennis ACU 8, Midwestern St. 1

Men's Basketball ACU 65, Texas A&M-Kingsville 76

Women's Basketball ACU 68, Oklahoma Christian 81

FRIDAY Men's Tennis ACU 6, East Central 3 ACU 4, Trinity 5

Softball

First baseman Bret Bochsler slides into home safely in front of Erin McCarver on Sunday. The Wildcats won the game 4-2 on their way to a four-game sweep against the Harding Bison to start their 2010 season 4-0.

Season begins with four wins over Harding Austin Gwin

Saturday spelled comeback for ACU as they rallied in both games. In the first contest, ACU found themselves down 9-8, heading into the sixth inning after a back-and-forth game. An eight-run eighth inning, however, turned a nail-biter into a blowout – 16-9.

In Game Two, the 'Cats again were down 5-2, but a four-run fifth, capped by Cameron Bankston’s tworun double off the wall, gave the Wildcats a 6-5 lead. Bankston

Assistant Sports Editor On a cold, dreary weekend in Abilene, the 13thranked Wildcats gave fans something to cheer about, sweeping all four games of the quadrupleheader against Harding University during opening weekend. The final scores were 16-9, 6-5, 8-2 and 4-2.

“Our hitters one through nine are really strong,” said junior relief pitcher Chay Lytle.

“Our pitchers also did a great job.”

wasn’t done with his heroics, however; he recorded the last out of the game by nabbing a game-tying Harding run at the plate in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.

“We showed that we can always come back and never give up,” Lytle said. “That’s great to see in our team this early.”

Sunday was no different for the Wildcats.

After a relatively easy 8-2 win in the afternoon, see SWEEP page 7

WOMEN'S TENNIS

SOFTBALL

Jeff Craig

winning weekend

Wildcats shut out OCU, MSU 'Cats open year with Sports Editor

ACU 6, Texas Permian-Basin 3 ACU 3, SE Oklahoma 4

HOME GAMES LISTED IN ITALICS

BRIEFS n The baseball team moved to No. 12 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II poll, up one spot from last week.

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Brad Rutherford delivers a pitch against Harding on Sunday.

Rutherford is the preseason LSC Pitcher of the Year.

Ryan Cantrell Assistant Sports Editor

The women’s tennis team continued its strong early-season play with back-toback shutouts against Oklahoma Christian and Midwestern State on Sunday.

The consecutive 9-0 blankings improved the Wildcats’ record to 4-1 on the season, with their only loss against Stephen F. Austin on HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

see SHUTOUT page 7

Freshman Hannah Kelly hits a groundstroke Sunday.

The Wildcat softball team opened its season with a 3-2 record at the St. Mary’s Classic in San Antonio last weekend.

The team split a pair of games both Friday and Saturday before winning its fifth game Sunday at St. Mary University.

“I think that our strengths were our pitching and defense this weekend,” said Head Coach Chantiel Wilson.

“We only had one error this weekend.”

ACU won its opening game Friday, defeating University of Texas-Permian Basin. The Wildcats trailed 3-2 but rallied to tie the game in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, the Wildcats scored two more runs off an RBI single by Stephanie Tingle. They added one more run in the seventh to defeat the Falcons 6-3. see WIN page 7