The Optimist Print Edition: 02/19/2010

Optimist the

Vol. 98, No. 39

Close Your Eyes

PAGE 5 1 section, 14 pages

Friday, February 19, 2010

BREAKING NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, DISCUSSION AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

acuoptimist.com

Eyes Prize on the

ZAK ZEINERT Contributing Photographer

For the first time in Sing Song history, winning acts will have their name engraved on the Sing Song Cup. The cup will reside in a trophy case built for the occasion.

After weeks of rehearsing, taping, painting, sewing and smiling, it comes down to one three-minute performance.

Here are our editor’s picks for the women’s, men’s and mixed voices’ divisions, respectively:

1

SIGMA THETA CHI

2

GATA/Delta Theta

The reigning champions did it again, this time as baked goods. Brilliant costumes and costume changes were just the icing on the cake. The choreography was traditional, but flawless, and solid vocals left little to be desired.

The underdogs pulled it off. Vocals and choreography could have used some polishing, but they passed on the safe bet, and their originality separated them from the deck.

3 Alpha Kai Omega

The Kai-Os’ gorgeous set brought the arcade to life but with too many rough edges.

Tackling The Phantom of the Opera, while noble, proved to be too tall an order.

1

GALAXY

2

Gamma Sigma Phi

3

Trojans

The men of Galaxy have it all: stunning set pieces, spot-on costumes, dynamic vocals, clever lyrics, My Little Buttercup and even a dash of political humor. The soaring finale sealed the deal.

The ‘Phiwalkers’ wonderful harmony, flawless choreography and excellent costumes made the act a sheer treat. But too often the backup vocals drowned the melody and lyrics.

The men of Trojans took bold steps with their non-traditional choreography and mascara beards. The act had plenty of kinks, but the Trojans’ future looks promising.

1

SOPHOMORES

2

Seniors

3

Freshmen

If you think you’ve heard every fairytale, think again. This hilarious cat-andmouse tale does not waste a breath or movement. Missing only a costume change, the sophomores sit comfortably on top.

This act features likely one of the most complex vocal arrangements in Sing Song history, but their voices just couldn’t keep up. On all other counts, absolutely smashing.

Freshmen take the lyrical award, hands down. Vocals were strong, but the choreography, although in sync, lacked variety. Stiff competition is the only thing holding them at No. 3.

S I N G S O N G

Third generation brings tradition home for Hunter Colter Hettich

child perform this weekend — more than 50 years after Editor in Chief he organized the first ACU Sing Song is a family af- Sing Song.

“It’s so wonderful. We fair for many students and alumni, but this year is very much hoped we would particularly special for one someday have a grandfamily. Bob Hunter, senior daughter up there,” Hunter vice president emeritus, said. “I even learned to text, will watch his first grand- and I texted her today to

Forecast Fri

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wish her good luck.”

Emily Phillips, freshman art education major from Colleyville, attended her first Sing Song at age 3 or 4 and has been to almost a dozen since.

“I’ve been to Sing Song basically since I was old enough to sit in an audi-

stage. Danny, her father, was a member of Galaxy, and Carol served as president of Sigma Theta Chi. Emily’s BOB HUNTER Senior Vice President Emeritus family ties have earned her a bit of celebrity.

“People have come up to ence,” Phillips said. “I re- don’t feel that old.”

Emily’s parents attended me and said, ‘Whoa. You’re member thinking everyone up there was so old and so ACU and joined their respecsee LEGACY page 7 cool. Now that I’m here, I tive clubs on the Sing Song

I even learned to text, and I texted her today to wish her good luck.

Inside Sat

64° 50°

Sun

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Online

THIS WEEKEND, 25 percent of students will lose significant amounts of sleep, forsake studies and ride emotional highs.

We need a break.

Page 6

PANCHO VILLA’S GREATgrandson attends ACU and organized a photography exhibit at Frontier Texas! to honor the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

Page 10

PHOTO

LOUDandCLEAR

Who do you want to win Sing Song? a. May the best club win. b. GSP and Siggies, it’s only natural. c. I want to win. I want to win it all.

Backstage at Sing Song

Visit acuoptimist.com to join the discussion.

2

Campus Day Friday, February 19, 2010

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

19

FRIDAY

12 p.m.

The 2010 Young Alumnus of the Year award ceremony will be in the Williams Performing Arts Center Lobby. Randy Brewer (’93) will be honored.

20

SATURDAY

8 p.m.

The Abilene Philharmonic will perform a tribute to America’s armed servicemen and women, titled An American Salute.The event will take place at the Abilene Civic Center.

21

9 p.m.

Nine O’clock, the weekly praise service, will take place at University Church of Christ at 9 p.m. Free drinks and snacks follow the service in the Family Room.

The American Heart Association needs volunteers any time 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

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. Saturday at Highland Church of Christ.

For more information, call 673-5295.

Breakfast On Beech Street serves breakfast to Abilene’s homeless community and is in need of volunteers. Break-

Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.

Chapel Checkup

Credited Chapels to date:

Credited Chapels remaining:

29 44

In Wednesday’s issue of the Optimist, Mallory Espinoza was attributed as a junior interdisciplinary major from Abilene.

Espinoza is a senior interior design major from Colorado City.

Volunteer Opportunities

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 7944426, or e-mail angie.cook@ cjc.edu. Volunteers must sign up by Monday.

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.

Correction

8 p.m.

Sing Song in Moody Coliseum

Monday through Friday. Volunteers will help with general office tasks and assist with mailings. For more information, contact Kay Alexander at 627-0070.

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.

SUNDAY

7:30 p.m.

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

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.

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fast 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.

Love and Care Ministries needs help with its clothing ministry and street feeds at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.

Monday-Friday. To schedule a time, call Terry Davis at 670-0246.

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

Announcements more information, contact Rita Raymond at 6730568, or e-mail cameron. grad@hotmail.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.

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 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. MondayFriday. For more information, contact Elisabeth Rodgers at 672-5050.

Connected film auditions will take place from 4-7 p.m. Monday in the Orchestra Hall of the Williams Performing Arts Center. Applicants will perform a short, cold reading and may perform a 30- to 60-second monologue, although it is not required for the audition process. For more information, call Caleb Green at 267-975-9393.

The 2010 Young Alumnus of the Year awards will take place at noon Friday in the Williams Performing Arts Center lobby. Randy Brewer (’93), executive producer of Revolution Pictures, will be honored at the luncheon. Tickets cost $15 per person or $100 for a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased at www.acu.edu/alumni_ rsvp. For more information, e-mail Samantha Adkins at samantha. adkins@acu.edu.

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.

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

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.

Switchfoot presents the Hello Hurricane Tour at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Abilene Civic Center. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at Beltway Park Baptist Church, 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.

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

The Study Abroad Program will conduct an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in The Den. Students who attend can drink free coffee, meet alumni and get their study abroad questions answered. For more information, call 674-2754 or email study_ abroad@acu.edu.

Seasonal flu shots are still available in the ACU Clinc from 8-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 pm MondayFriday.

Campus News

February 19, 2010

Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT

Local band shoots video, charms audiences Taylor Edwards Contributing Reporter “Consider our faces melted,” wrote Outlaw Music Magazine about HardinSimmons-born hardcore band Close Your Eyes.

Outlaw wasn’t the only one impressed by CYE recently. The band shot a music video for its album, We Will Overcome, on Feb. 11, garnering attention from multiple music publications, fans all over Texas and the Abilene Reporter-News.

“The director, Dan Dobi, is from LA,” said CYE guitarist Andrew Rodriguez. “He’s done videos for Death Cab. He’s done bands like Big D and the Kid’s Table, Haste the Day and Paramore, and it was awesome to work with him.

He hasn’t done a whole

lot of videos recently because he hasn’t liked a lot of the tracks he’s been getting, but he liked us, which was awesome, so he decided to fly out and do a video for us.”

The video was shot in an abandoned warehouse on Treadaway Boulevard, and filming took 12 hours. The five-man band braved wind and snow to finish the video, and they expect it to be finished sometime around the first week of March.

“I’d never done a music video before, so it was pretty weird, but it was a lot like playing a live show all day long,” Rodriguez said.

ACU pop-punk band Swing the Lead, who opened the Close Your Eyes CD release show at Rose Park on Wednesday, was there for the video

shoot, along with friends of both bands. Breanna Wise, freshman social work major from Escondido, Calif., said the shoot was a great experience.

“It was crazy to see everyday Abilene kids doing something big like this,” she said. “The message they wanted to share through their music is really being heard and spread, which is exciting.”

Close Your Eyes considers itself to be a Christian band, though their lyrics are not specifically message-focused.

“As a band, our desire is to give hope to the hopeless, give bread to the hungry, give love to the unloved and give life to those who feel there is nothing left,” says CYE’s MySpace band profile.

The band was discovered at Cornerstone, a

Orchestra enhances soundtrack Staff Report The ACU Jazz Ensemble won’t be the only musical accompaniment at the 54th annual Sing Song this weekend. The ACU Orchestra will be joining them on two numbers, a first for the young ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Steven Ward, associate professor of music.

“We have a lot of players and a lot of talent this year,” said Catherine Rozzelle, cellist and senior market-

ing major from Blackwell.

Ward said eight string players will play the two songs: Eleanor Rigby and Hey Jude by the Beatles.

“My wife, Kristin, and I thought of doing the Beatles tune Eleanor Rigby since the theme is Name Fame,” he said.

Rozzelle said she hopes the Sing Song directors will incorporate more string music into the show next year.

“I think that’ll branch out their musical selec-

tions and make it a lot more diverse,” she said.

For many students, Sing Song will be the first time they’ve heard the orchestra, Rozzelle said.

“These songs will be a good way to premier the orchestra because most people think we just play classical music,” Rozzelle said. “Actually there are strings in a lot of famous songs.” contact Staff at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

weeklong Christian music festival in Bushnell, Ill. “One of the employees at Victory saw our name on a flyer and noticed that we were playing main stage but were unsigned so he decided to check us out,” Rodriguez said. “He gave us a call, we went up to Chicago and played a showcase, and they really liked it, so it’s all gone up from there.”

When guitarist and vocalist Brett Callaway met lead vocalist Shane Ray-

mond in the cafeteria, a more than four-year musical experience began.

“Brett’s from Houston, and he went to school at Hardin-Simmons, and one day he saw Shane wearing a band shirt that Brett recognized, and he was like, ‘Hey, maybe this dude wants to start a band,’” Rodriguez said.

The band is set to go on a small tour around Texas for the duration of February followed by a tour for a month and a

half through the Midwest and the East Coast with hardcore band The Overseer. This summer, Close Your Eyes will be going on a two-month tour with hardcore band It Prevails.

Rodriguez said he is optimistic about the band’s future.

Everything is going really well for us,” he said. “The future just looks good.” contact Edwards at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Page 4

From Front

February 19, 2010

Arts

February 19, 2010

Page 5

Open Your Ears Abilene’s own Close Your Eyes signed with Chicago’s Victory Records in November. Since then, they’ve filmed a music video and released their debut album. Two days into their first tour with Victory, it’s clear this band has what it takes to overcome.

Lucas Wright Arts Editor

Close Your Eyes, a hardcore rock band from Abilene, kicked off its first tour with a CD release party and signing at Hastings Entertainment on South 14th Street.

“It’s going to be a really fun night,” said Shane Raymond, lead vocalist for Close Your Eyes.

“We’re going to play Rock Band here in a bit.

We’ll take on all challengers. The gauntlet has been thrown down.”

Rick Linus, sales director for Victory Records, said Hastings has been one of their best partners.

“We always try to do events together,” Linus said. “They really

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Andrew Rodriguez and David Fidler of Close Your Eyes sign posters at Hastings Entertainment on Monday. The band was there to promote its debut album, We Will Overcome. They filmed their first music video last week. stepped forward, especially now with other major chains taking music sales for granted.”

The Abilene-born band filmed its first music video in Abilene last week and will start

touring this month to promote its debut album, We Will Overcome, that hit stores Monday.

Only a handful of people turned out for the signing, but the band played for

a packed house during its show Wednesday night at the Rose Park Activity Center.

Andy Munoz, junior art major from Escondido, Calif., and his band Swing the Lead were

one of five bands that opened for Close Your Eyes at the concert.

“It’s really good to see them succeed like this, having known them for so long,” Munoz said.

With support from

the Abilene community, the future looks bright for Close Your Eyes.

contact Wright at

lcw08a@acu.edu

Opinion

Page 6

EDITORIAL

February 19, 2010

Overworked students must take a break leader at his church and tutors every Friday.

We are machines. We are socially, politically, physically, academically and spiritually active. Our resumes are as flawless as our perfectly straight, white smiles.

Our clothes are always ironed; our beds are always made; and our refrigerators are always stocked with leftovers from the four-course meals we purchased and cooked for ourselves.

The mark of a wellrounded student is the harried look on his face or the dark circles under her eyes as she rushes off to her next appointment with a Sing Song smile pasted on tight.

ble to be completely prepared for every class.

But if we all took a light 12-hour class load and renounced our social lives to finish, we’d be labeled bad students.

You see, the model student does much more than the minimum.

She is a Students’ Association representative, a social club officer and a varsity basketball player. He takes 21 hours, runs five miles every morning and has time to go out to Wild Wings with his friends every weekend. She works two part-time jobs, has an internship lined up for the summer and eats lunch with her “little” twice a week. He’s a small group

An hour-long nap is a luxury enjoyed only by kindergarteners and household pets; for college students an hour might be a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is only the beginning of a “wellrounded” student’s woes.

Not all majors are created equal, but they all have homework. Professors assign projects, papers and readings on a weekly or even daily basis, with little regard for the fact each of their fellow professors is doing the same. Even if students walked, head down, from home to class and back again, it would be nearly impossi-

But we keep going like less appealing versions of the Energizer bunny.

In the midst of the stress, it’s easy to forget to brush your teeth, not to mention spend time with God, regardless of ACU’s Christian environment. Several of the traditional spiritual disciplines involve silence and solitude, and although we’d like Chapel to be a place where we could all unplug, it’s tough when the face of the kid next to you is lit by the gentle glow of an iPhone.

We’re not very good at relaxing – OK, let’s ignore for a moment the Mabee men who sit in the lobby playing

Mac-n- Tex

By Aaron Cavitt

THE ISSUE

It is easy for college students to feel overwhelmed with multiple activities and commitments.

OUR TAKE

Sometimes it is better to take a break instead of trying to juggle each talent, responsibility and interest.

Call of Duty instead of answering it and heading to class. On second thought, let’s not ignore them. Maybe they have it right. Maybe we need to take a mental health day every once in a while.

Maybe we don’t have to be quite so driven.

Most of us have multiple talents and interests and responsibilities, but we don’t necessarily

have to exercise all of them all of the time, despite what your parents might have told you.

You might be great at tennis and astrophysics and cooking, but when you start confusing your racket with a skillet, it’s probably time to take a break.

Email the Optimist at:

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

COLUMN

Acoustic melodies plague university Guest Column Andrew Eudy

COLUMN

Introvert confronts misconceptions Self–Examination Ryan Self This summer, I diagnosed myself with a condition I knew had been plaguing me since birth. This condition has affected my relationships with other people, my moods, Self m y thought processes and even my sleeping habits. It is a condition few people will admit they have; some aren’t even aware that they have it.

But this summer I finally had to accept it: I am an introvert.

I am not alone. An estimated one in four people are introverted by nature. Signs and symptoms of introversion include being re-energized by spending time alone; listening more than

speaking but able to talk for long periods on a topic of interest; being overstimulated easily; and needing more down time and rest than most.

Introvert is not usually a term of endearment, which is why it took me 21 years to finally accept this fact about my personality type. Attempts to define introversion usually end up sounding as if introverts are solely consumed with themselves or dislike people in general. Merriam-Webster defines introversion as “the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life.” It sounds like a psychological disorder or at best narcissistic.

This is far from true.

There have been many distinguished introverts known for their kindness and their contributions to society: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela,

Introvert is not usually a term of endearment, which is why it took me 21 years to finally accept this fact about my personality type.

Mohandas Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffett and Steven Spielberg, just to name a few.

While introversion may have a negative stigma, extraversion has become synonymous with having good social skills and a charismatic personality. The belief that the difference between introverts and extroverts is their ability to carry a conversation is another misconception. The main difference between the two personality types is introverts get their energy from solitude while extroverts get their energy from being around people. This does not mean all introverts are antisocial. Johnny Carson, Dave Letterman, Steve Martin

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: optimist@acu.edu

and Jerry Seinfeld, all famous entertainers and comedians, are also famous introverts.

Learning that introversion, rather than an affliction, is actually a personality trait shared by many successful and influential people certainly changed my thinking on the subject. Desiring to be something you are not is an incredible waste of time. It is amazing the difference in my outlook when I learned something I once thought of as a weakness is actually a source of strength. So now I can say I am cured not of being introverted but of thinking being introverted needs to be cured. contact Self at

rcs06g@acu.edu

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I have noticed a problem on this campus that has gone largely unnoticed by those in charge. Considering it has been an issue for quite s o m e time, it is unsettling no one has Eudy addressed it. For years, male college students have been playing the acoustic guitar in strategic areas, trying to attract the opposite sex.

They put a bandana on their head, take off their shoes and sit under a tree where there is steady girl traffic. Then they go through their limited repertoire of girl-approved songs until they catch some attention.

Girls who fall into the trap of the acoustic guitar often do not realize it until it is too late. They mistake these young men as sensitive or talented, only to find out Wonderwall is the only song these young men know how to play. However, by the time they become aware of this, they are already stuck in a relationship with a lame soundtrack.

This issue has not been addressed on the ACU campus as of yet because the faculty members are not directly affected.

I have never seen anyone try to woo Dr. Royce Money with a rendition of Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

Therefore, none of the campus leaders see it as a problem, but it must be addressed before it causes any more casualties.

I propose ACU institute an audition process for those students who wish

to perform in the public arena. Judges would be required to answer the following questions: Is the performer barefoot? Is he wearing a bandana somewhere on his person? Will he be playing near any of the women’s dorms? Does he have any qualities similar to Bret Michaels?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the person auditioning is immediately disqualified. If after auditioning, the performer passes all criteria, they will receive a permit

For years, male college students have been playing the acoustic guitar in strategic areas, trying to attract the opposite sex. specifying they are allowed to play in public legally.

School administrators and police officers will be allowed to check for these permits at their discretion. If someone is caught playing guitar without a permit, they will be fined, the proceeds of which will go into a scholarship fund that will be available to incoming freshmen.

I am not against freedom of expression, but when that freedom takes away the availability of single ladies on campus, I am reluctant to keep my mouth closed. Instituting an audition process will not only give true artists a chance to show their creativity, but it will limit those with ulterior motives to open mic nights where such behavior is expected. contact Self at

rcs06g@acu.edu

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From Front

February 19, 2010

Page 7

Legacy: A tradition continues Continued from page 1

Bob Hunter’s granddaughter?’ It’s been a lot of fun,” she said.

Sing Song 2010 would not be complete without its flashing lights and orchestral arrangements, but the campuswide production began as a humble student’s effort to bring fellow students together.

“We wanted to start the Sing Song my senior year as vice president of the student body, but we didn’t get approval. They didn’t know quite what it would amount to,” Hunter said.

So he and other student leaders organized an acappella quartet competition.

Although some hail the contest as the first Sing Song, Hunter said it was only to prove to administrators the true Sing Song would be tasteful and orderly. It worked.

On Feb. 14, 1957, members not only of social clubs but also the French club, Ag club and others took the stage in Sewell Theatre.

The modest event would eventually become a staple of ACU culture with audiences in the thousands.

After the first competition it was painfully clear clubs needed to compete in divisions, so acts were divided the way they remain today.

Organizing Sing Song took plenty of work, and an occasional negotiation, but

Hunter took it in stride.

“Many times I had to talk the campus into letting Sub T-16 and Trojans back in after they got kicked off, but we all loved that,” Hunter said.

The first year Hunter asked Dr. William J. Teague, then-assistant to the president, to be the first Sing Song host “to make sure nothing got out of hand.”

The program has grown to include between six and eight hosts and hostesses, the ACU Jazz Ensemble and this year, members of the ACU Orchestra.

contact Hettich at

clh05d@acu.edu

ZAK ZEINERT Contributing Photographer

Tyler Lewis, senior finance major from Spring, and Jeremy Varner, senior theatre major from Abilene, walk toward the double gym to practice for the dress rehearsal Thursday evening.

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Corrine Woodruff, sophomore management major from Conroe, and Brittany Herrod, sophomore art major from Arlington, prepare for the sophomore class act performance Thursday.

Campus News/From Front

Page 8

February 19, 2010

Victorious few donate winnings to charity Shea Rattan Contributing Reporter Students who have seen or participated in Sing Song can remember the tense silence that blankets Moody Coliseum at the end of the show Saturday night. The songs are sung, the arms are waved and the votes are cast; all that remains is the all-important announcement: Who won?

In the past, the award for best overall performance in each category was mostly personal satisfaction. This year, however, is different. Winners will have the privilege of choosing a charity to re-

ceive $1,000. Winning acts will also receive a trophy that will be displayed in a newly built trophy case until next year’s contest.

“It’s cool to have something else to motivate you,” said Sing Song Cochair Rebecca Hopkins, junior speech pathology major from Edmond, Okla.

“When it’s all over, you can say, ‘We won Sing Song, and this is what we did with it.”

Each Sing Song act has already selected its charity, although only three – best overall in women’s, men’s and mixed voices – will receive the prize money. Alumni, students

and other donors provided the funding for the charitable donations.

The trophy cup is another idea intended to motivate students to work harder, said Tom Craig, director of student productions and Sing Song director.

Co-chair Preston Woolfolk, senior political science major from San Antonio, said the co-chairs weren’t completely satisfied with Sing Song, so he proposed the idea in hopes of raising Sing Song’s perfectly pitched standards to something more than a weekend of entertainment. His

peers agreed.

“This way it’s not about us; it’s about serving other people,” said Amy Archer, an upstage manager at Sing Song and sophomore nursing major from Pflugerville.

Woolfolk added another dimension by getting the audience involved in the contributions to each charity, Hopkins said.

During each show, buckets will be passed around for the audience to contribute money, and donation stations will be set up around Moody for people to give as they choose.

“It’s an event they already love, and now it’s

doing something to give back,” she said.

Now, Hopkins said, even students who are not involved with Sing Song perhaps can begin to appreciate all Sing Song has to offer.

“A lot of students don’t feel like Sing Song is worth the amount of time you put into it,” she said.

“Hopefully, they might see that there really is a meaning behind the show.”

According to Craig, this is not the first time Sing Song winners have donated to a good cause.

In the past, victors made a donation to ACU by contributing to Spring

Break Campaigns and campus improvements, among other things.

Charitable contributions, however, simply enhance the much-loved event, Craig said.

“It’s one of the strongest components of the student-life experience that almost marries a student to the university,” he said. “The return is not the rewards in the end. The real return is the friendships you make and the relationships you make and the memories you have.” contact Rattan at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Guests travel to catch a sneak peek Scott Jennings Contributing Reporter The Sing Song dress rehearsal Thursday wasn’t just for members of the ACU or Abilene communities. Children and adults from all over the state witnessed the show before the weekend audiences.

Nonprofit organizations such as Treadaway Kids, Educational Talent Search, a local organization that helps kids from sixth through 12th grade prepare for and enroll in college, Hendrick Home for Children and ACU for the International Rescue

QUICK FACTS ACU students weren’t the only ones in the audience at Thursday’s dress rehearsal. Additional attendees included: n Treadaway Kids - 50 students and 55 buddies n Educational Talent Search n Hendrick Home for Children n ACU for the International Rescue Committee n Granbury Church of Christ n Huntsville Church of Christ

Committee plan to bus, carpool and chauffeured groups to see the show, as did several churches in and around Abilene.

Some groups went out of their way to ex-

perience Sing Song.

Churches such as Granbury and Hunstville Churches of Christ saw this as a great opportunity for children to experience ACU student life and a fantastic show; some churches traveled from as far away as Dallas.

Treadaway Kids brought 50 students along with their 55 student buddies; other groups varied in size from about 25 to 75.

Treadaway Kids Director Samantha Manski said Sing Song will serve as this week’s activity for the kids.

As practiced in previous years, organizations interested in bringing groups contacted Student Productions to find out about the show.

Rachel Smith, senior art education major from Richardson and co-chair of Sing Song, then coordinated their attendance.

“We usually have this many groups come every year,” Smith said.

“We love having the Abilene community come to our shows.”

contact Jennings at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Campus News

February 19, 2010

Page 9

ACADEMICS

COBA joins DECA’s National Advisory Board Chelsea Hackney Copy Editor The College of Business Administration has a new target market for recruitment – COBA is one of the newest members of the National Advisory Board for Distributive Education Clubs of America, an organization of more than 185,000 high school students that attempts to prepare interested students for careers in marketing.

“It was the organization that got me excited about marketing when

I was in high school,” said Matt Boisvert, instructor of marketing.

DECA’s advisory board is composed of companies, vendors and colleges across the United States. ACU is one of 11 universities on the board, a role COBA pursued after researching several similar organizations.

DECA’s size and focus made it a smart business choice for COBA, Boisvert said.

“Here you have almost 200,000 businessminded students who have identified them-

selves as interested in marketing,” Boisvert said. “DECA can be really influential in helping students decide on a career, and we want to be there to help them.”

Boisvert said members of the board are required to participate at the annual DECA leadership conference, as well as provide logistical help at other conferences. He said for a Christian university, the conferences would be an excellent opportunity to speak about business ethics. The main purpose of the

partnership, however, is to be of service to DECA advisers on the ground in high schools around the country, he said.

Julie Elswood, marketing analyst for COBA, was instrumental in the membership process. She said board members are required to pay a sponsorship fee, which lowers the cost of the national leadership conference for students in need of financial assistance.

For COBA, the benefits of joining greatly outweigh the costs.

“It puts our name out

there,” Elswood said. “If any of their students are interested in a Christian undergrad program, we’d like them to think of us first.”

Although DECA is primarily a high school organization, its partnership with COBA may give current students an advantage in the job market.

“It may seem like most of this is for prospective students, but we’re hoping to cultivate relationships with employers and get really cool internships for our students,” Elswood said.

Elswood mentioned some big names on the board, including Southwest Airlines, Finish Line and Hilton Hotels Corp.

“Working or interning at the corporate level in any of these companies would provide excellent learning and networking opportunities for our business majors,” she said.

contact Hackney at

ceh05c@acu.edu

CAMPUS

Students organize farewell party for the Moneys Abby Anderson Contributing Reporter Students are planning a farewell party to show their appreciation for Dr. Royce Money as he nears the end of his career as president of Abilene Christian University.

The student body is hosting the party for Money and his wife, Pam, this April to honor and celebrate his years of service and dedication.

Students from every part of campus are involved in the primary planning committee, and they have been working for more than a month. Representatives from the graduate

school, Students’ Association, social clubs, athletics and every undergraduate class have come together to ensure the party is memorable.

“We tried hitting on every different group of students on campus,” said Luke Cochran, senior finance major from Round Rock; he said this was to ensure a wide variety of input and ideas.

The party, hosted in the Teague Special Events Center on April 19, is open to every student. Students on and off campus will receive a “save the date” notice and should expect to see emails and advertisements on myACU soon.

QUICK FACTS In addition to the farewell party, the university is sponsoring ‘An evening with Royce and Pam’ in various locations across the country: March 23 - Gaylord Texan in Dallas/Fort Worth March 26 - The Houstonian in Houston n April 1 - Lubbock Country Club in Lubbock/Amarillo n April 8 - Mansion at Judges’ Hill in Austin n April 10 - Hyatt Regency Hill Country in San Antonio n April 15 - Midland Petroleum Club in Midland/Odessa n April 22 - Wildflower Country Club in Temple/Belton/Waco n April 27 - Teague Special Events Center at ACU in Abilene n April 29 - The St. Regis in Atlanta, Ga. n May 1 - Brentwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. n May 6 - Sandbar Terrace at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. n May 20 - Abilene Civic Center in Abilene n n

“We really want every student to be a part of this and be able to attend,” Cochran said.

All students are encouraged to participate in the fun “white-out” theme, in which students dress in all-white clothing; the style

can be casual or dressy.

The Moneys will attend dressed in purple attire so they will stand out as the center of the party.

Charles Gaines, senior criminal justice major from Cedar Hill and SA president, said

this party is going to be unlike anything ACU has ever seen. A performer from New York, accompanied by an ACU student band, will provide the entertainment for the evening on a large concert stage in Teague. Small bistro tables will provide seating for guests to enjoy the desserts and finger foods. Most importantly, Money will say a few parting words to the students of ACU. “We will have more nailed down as the next few weeks go on,” Cochran said, but, he said, everything is exciting so far.

This student-hosted farewell party offers

the campus community the opportunity to show appreciation for Money and enjoy an evening together before he transitions to his new role.

“This is just going to be a very exciting, memorable thing,” Gaines said. contact Anderson at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Campus News

Page 10

February 19, 2010

LOCAL

Histories intertwine at photo exhibit Sondra Rodriguez Managing Editor Frontier Texas! will celebrate Texas Independence Day with music, reenactments and the premier of a photography exhibit of Pancho Villa provided by Francisco Villa, senior political science major from Mexico City at 10 a.m.

March 2.

Villa, the great-grandson of Pancho Villa, said the 44 photos, owned by his family, include portraits of Pancho Villa and his life during the war.

The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and 200 years since the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence.

Villa said this is the reason he decided to contact Frontier Texas! about displaying the photos.

“I decided I had to do something no matter what,” Villa said. “I was really looking for a place to show this stuff.”

Villa’s family held the photos in Mexico City until they decided to let him bring them to the U.S. When he came to ACU, Villa and his father packed them in the back of his father’s truck and braved customs and border control.

“It’s so difficult to get through because they think you want to sell the pictures,” Villa said. “Talking to immigration, customs and the U.S. government is hard – they are really picky about this stuff.”

Villa and his father

made it through thanks to efforts made by ACU, he said.

“I have to thank ACU because it was the Office of Multicultural Enrichment that gave me the letters I needed to get them through the border,” he said. “That’s a big deal.”

Once safely in the states, Villa started looking for venues to display the photos and ended up at Frontier Texas! Villa said he contacted Jeff Salmon, executive director of Frontier Texas!, about a month ago and has been working closely with him to make the exhibit a reality ever since.

“It’s amazing how much support he’s doing for the exhibit,” Villa said. “He’s been helping a lot, and he’s a huge part of this project.”

Salmon said Frontier Texas! saw the photos as an opportunity not only to share history but also to reach out to a particular demographic.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to have something for the Hispanic community here in Abilene because the revolution is closely tied to a lot of families here in different ways,” he said. “It was great to work with Francisco’s family on this.”

Salmon said Villa came to him on fairly short notice, but the exhibit, titled Riding With Pancho Villa, is coming together in time for its March 2 premier. The exhibit will feature 34 of the 44 photos in the museum’s Frontier Gallery with footnotes

This is a message of support to the Hispanic communities from U.S. citizens.

FRANCISCO VILLA Senior political science major from Mexico City

in English and Spanish – a feature Villa said is unique to this exhibit.

“The footnotes are going to have two parts; one of them will be a description of the picture with the year and information, and the second part is going to be a quote from a biography,” Villa said. “So, it’s kind of like he’s talking through the picture.”

Salmon said about 10,000 visitors will learn about the Mexican Revolution through the photos. Visitors include Abilenians, students on school tours whose classes are studying the Mexican Revolution and possibly Norm Archibald, mayor of Abilene.

“It’s more than just photos because each has a story that goes with it,” Salmon said. “It’s the story of the revolution through Pancho Villa’s perspective and just like anything we do with history, it’s about having a better understanding of our past.”

Villa said he wants to continue displaying the photos throughout the country after this event.

“Pancho Villa is a character that can be taken from so many perspectives at museums, Hispanic centers, cultural centers and schools – they can go

all over the country,” he said. “We have cultural problems between the two countries but this is a message of support to the Hispanic communities from U.S. citizens.”

The event will also feature flag raising; historical reenactments; George Pendergrass, director of the Office for Multicultural Enrichment, singing Texas, Our Texas; and will conclude with Salmon introducing the exhibit. Tickets to the Texas Independence Day celebration cost $8 for adults and $6 for military and students.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 437-2800 or go to www. frontiertexas.com.

Villa said he encourages ACU students to attend the exhibit.

“I think as college students we’re supposed to know a little bit of everything in a general way,” he said.

“This will be a great opportunity to learn a little more about U.S. history, Mexican history and for those who are Texans, a lot of Texas history.”

contact Rodriguez at

sar06g@acu.edu

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Juan Williams, National Public Radio and Fox News analyst and author, speaks with students after a luncheon in the JMC Network lab Thursday.

Campus News

February 19, 2010

Page 11

ALUMNI

University recognizes exemplary alumni Kelsi Williamson Chief Photographer ACU will honor the personal and professional achievements of two prominent alumni this weekend – a former Houston judge and current congressman and a Nashville entertainment industry executive.

U.S. Congressman Ted Poe will be honored as the 2009 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year on Sunday afternoon, while Randy Brewer, executive producer of Revolution Pictures, will be named 2010 Young Alumnus of the Year on Friday.

“We have alumni who have done amazing things in so many fields,” said Jama Cadle, assistant director of Alumni Relations.

The university annually honors one outstanding and one young alumnus

from a selection of nominations. A development leadership team culls the list of nominees to make sure the candidates are worthy as well as timely, said Samanth Adkins, senior Alumni Relations officer. The Alumni Advisory Board, composed of 36 alumni, then choose from the short list to name the honorees.

According to the ACU Alumni Association, the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year award is a “timely recognition of lifetime achievement that brings honor to the university through personal and professional excellence and service to the university, church or community.”

The website also states the Young Alumnus of the Year is selected based on “professional achievement and/ or distinguished service

to Abilene Christian University” to an alumnus under the age of 40.

“Their work shows how important what the university is teaching them relays into their later work,” Adkins said.

Recognizing alumni such as Brewer and Poe also emphasizes to the ACU community the importance of success, Cadle said, but success tempered with faith.

“Their spiritual leadership is also just as important as what they have accomplished professionally,” she said.

This will be the last year the Outstanding Alumnus is awarded in February. The 2010 recipient will be honored during Homecoming in October in the hopes of involving a larger number of older alumni, Cadle said.

The Young Alumnus of the Year will continue to

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Young Alumnus of the Year Randy Brewer listens as students introduce themselves during Chapel with a small group of business majors Thursday. be honored during Sing Song week in February.

“We’re trying to give awards on weekends where young alumni come in,” Adkins said.

The Young Alumnus of the Year luncheon

is Friday at noon in the William Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year luncheon are available through Friday for $20.

Sunday’s luncheon is at

12:30 p.m. in the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center.

contact Williamson at

kkw07a@acu.edu

Winners to receive trophies for vocal victories Ben Warton Contributing Reporter For the first time in Sing Song’s history, winners in each category will receive a tangible award – trophies will be awarded for the best overall performance in the men’s, women’s and mixed voice categories.

The trophies will be presented on stage to the winning acts at the end of the performance, said

Tom Craig, director of student productions and Sing Song director.

The winners will be allowed to keep the trophies for a while before they are put on display in a trophy case, each with a small label showcasing the winner.

The location for the trophy case, however, has yet to be decided.

“There are different options for where to put the trophies,” Craig said. “We

This will be something to look forward to every time.

TOM CRAIG Director of Student Productions and Sing Song Director

are hoping to find a open location; one where there is a lot of student traffic and where these accomplishments can be recognized.”

Smaller prizes have been given to past winners, but this is the first year actual trophies will be given.

Craig said he believes the trophies and trophy case will become a larger part of the production.

“We want these trophies to be something we can pass down from year to year,” Craig said. “In the years to come, it will

become a permanent fixture for the campus and show. This will be something to look forward to every time.”

Randall Knox, junior political science major from Granbury and member of the Galaxy act, is excited for this year’s show and said he thinks his act will take home one of the inaugural trophies.

“Having these new trophies are pretty ex-

citing,” Knox said. “We feel like we had a pretty awesome show last year, but we just weren’t able to take home the victory against GSP. This year we feel like we are pretty neck and neck, so it would be great to get these trophies against an act that we feel is pretty good.” contact Warton at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

Campus News

Page 12

February 19, 2010

GLOBAL

Justice Week supports international causes Whitney Puckett Contributing Reporter International Justice Mission is celebrating its 10th anniversary this semester by putting awareness into action during Justice Week.

Justice Week, which will run from March 1-6, is an annual weeklong event that includes Chapel forums, prayer tents and an involvement fair. This year, it will also feature the following nonprofit organizations: Eternal Threads, Wishing Well, ACU for Fair Trade, Student Peace Alliance, International Rescue Committee and Love146.

On March 4, these organizations will set up booths in the McGlothin

Campus Center at which students can purchase merchandise and learn how to become actively involved in the organizations’ global causes.

Tim Wise, author of White Like Me, and Wayne Barnard, an IJM staff member, will serve as speakers during the week.

“It is important for students to come to the events with an open mind because some of the things they will be hearing and seeing will inspire them to get involved,” said Colleen Ashley, acting president of IJM and junior political science major from Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Linda Egle, director and founder of Eternal Threads is enthusiastic about the involvement

fair. Her organization will be selling items such as slings bags and other popular merchandise from Nepal. They will also feature a new bracelet, “Red Thread,” designed

by Egle and a group of ACU students, with help from women in Nepal.

“It will give the rescued girls [in Nepal] some income,” Egle said.

Egle looks forward to being back on the ACU campus because students are always eager to participate. “[The ACU students] are wonderful,” Egle said. “They really get what we’re doing.”

Ashley Close, ACU’s IJM secretary, believes the involvement fair is a great way to donate to international causes.

“You know you are not just wasting all of your money,” said Close, freshman political science major from Lexington, S.C. IJM is a human rights agency based in Washington, D.C.; ACU’s chapter, led by students, was the first university chapter in the country.

It strives to raise awareness and inform students of ways they can help solve world issues.

“IJM is the most sincere and transparent organization,” Close said.

For more information on the Justice Week Chapel forums, visit www. acu.edu/campusoffices/ chapel/forums.html.

contact Puckett at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer

Sherry Bluhm of Abilene tries on a scarf at Eternal Threads.

ALUMNI

ACU alumnus demonstrates, showcases art Linda Bailey Opinion Page Editor Snow didn’t stop Daniel Weber, ACU alumni and Los Angeles printmaker, from conducting a printmaking workshop and speaking to several art students Thursday.

Weber’s trip to ACU was his first time back since graduating from ACU in 2003 with a degree in twodimensional studio art. He later earned his master’s in printmaking.

Weber did a printmaking demonstration on pa-

per lithography for the printmaking class.

Tanner Freeman, junior graphic design major from Waco, said he attended the Thursday morning workshop where he watched Weber demonstrate the lithography process. Freeman said the process was once used to make newspapers, but now it is more of an art form. The process uses special paper and ink to make a copy of an original image, but it isn’t the same as a photocopy, Freeman said.

I think his career path is interesting.

He’s been adaptable.

VIRGINIA SADLER Professor of Art

Virginia Sadler, professor of art, said Weber’s speaking opportunities were limited because many faculty members in the department were in Chicago at a conference, and the icy weather conditions made it difficult for students to attend. She said he wanted to speak so she had him speak to her

American Art History and 2-D Design classes.

In her classes, Sadler said Weber showed examples of his work and talked about his career; she said Weber has had some interesting jobs since he graduated. At one point, he was the security guard for a museum. She said he made black and white compositions inspired by low-reso-

lution images of the security guard TV screens.

“I think his career path is interesting,” Sadler said.

“He’s been adaptable.”

Weber said he hoped students would learn going to the big city and being successful in art is not impossible.

“You have to work really hard, but it can be done,” Weber said. “There is a whole world of jobs in the arts that you don’t always get a grasp of when you are in school.”

Job-hunting can be hard on a student’s ego, and

Sadler said it is good for people to hear what other ACU graduates are doing.

Freeman said it is encouraging to hear from alumni who are pursuing a career in art.

“A lot of times in the Art Department, we know what we want to do, but we don’t know how we are going to do it,” Freeman said. “It is really encouraging to see that someone is making it.”

contact Bailey at

ljb07a@acu.edu

From Sports

February 19, 2010

Page 13

BASEBALL

Uniforms: Team looks stylish thanks to creative coach Continued from page 14

Many of the uniform ideas have come from current teams, as well.

Bonneau gets much of his inspiration from Major League uniforms, and he pays particular attention to the Boston Red Sox. He likes the traditional look of the Red Sox and tries to bring the look to his team.

The current Wildcat uniforms have many typefaces and number styles that mimic the Sox’.

“I’m pretty big on stirrups, pinstripes, and I also like the pant

I love the look of baseball teams from the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.

BRITT BONNEAU Head Baseballl Coach

legs that are up at the knees,” Bonneau said.

But the Red Sox are not the only source of influence for the Wildcats. The company that makes the uniforms sends ideas for Bonneau to choose from, providing the team with virtually unlimited possibilities. And Bonneau will make sure they take full advantage of them, as he continues his efforts

to make the ‘Cats look good on the field and in the win column.

“It’s just one of the perks of my job as the coach,” he said.

The stylish Wildcats will be back in action this weekend at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

contact Goggans at

zdg08b@acu.edu

ZAK ZEINERT Contributing Photographer

Catcher Ian Tomkins rounds the bases wearing the Wildcats’ pinstripe jersey.

BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

Schedule: ’Cats Tarleton: Women lose heartbreaker to finish at home Continued from page 14

Sat., Sept. 4

at Washburn

6 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 11

at Northeastern

7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 18

East Central

6 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 25

Tarleton State

6 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 2

at TAMU-K

7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 9

Midwestern St.

2 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 16

at Incarnate Word

7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 23

at ENMU

7 p.m.

Wallace caught fire and scored 11 of the Wildcat’s next 15 points. ACU went on a 15-3 run to cut the deficit to 56-54 with 4:24 to play.

The game remained close coming down to the final minute. Jamie Meyer hit a shot with 52 seconds left to cut the TexAnn lead to 64-62.

With a defensive stop, the Wildcats got the ball back with 16 seconds left. After a missed shot,

ACU got the offensive rebound and called a timeout with 12 seconds left. Jamie Meyer tied the game, but the TexAnns hurried the ball up the court and found a player under the basket. Brittnie Haley hit a layup as time expired to give the TexAnns the victory.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 5-4 in the LSC South Division. They remain in fourth place, a half game ahead of Angelo State for the final conference tournament spot.

The men’s team

Angelo State

2 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 6

at West Texas

6 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 13

SW Okla. St.

2 p.m.

and although we forced some turnovers, we also had a lot of turnovers that led to some easy baskets for them.”

Both teams play against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls on Saturday; the women start at 6 p.m., and the men begin at 8 p.m.

contact Cantrell at

jrc07f@acu.edu

BASEBALL

Road: ’Cats head to Kingsville Continued from page 14

Sat., Oct. 30

competed well against the top team in the division, but the Texans were too much for the Wildcats. ACU scored nine straight points to tie the game at 53-53.

However, the Texans answered with a 10-1 run, and the Wildcats were unable to recover.

The 70-60 loss drops the Wildcats to 8-16 overall and 1-8 in the LSC South.

“I felt that we played hard,” said Head Coach Jason Copeland. “We shot the ball poorly,

more four times. In the last game, the Wildcats set a record for most So far this season, runs in an inning with Kingsville has been able 13 – they scored nine to get on the scoreboard with two outs on the early and often, putting board. The Wildcats up run totals of 10 or will have a good shot

at winning if they can limit the Javelinas’ runs in the early innings.

The four-game set will begin at 3 p.m. Friday with a doubleheader and conclude with another doubleheader

starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. All four games will be played at Nolan Ryan Field in Kingsville.

contact Gwin at

agg07a@acu.edu

COLUMN

Olympics: 1980 hockey team transcended sports Continued from page 14

Ice” was purely political not athletic.

The U.S. and the Soviet Union were caught in a Cold War stalemate that had been stewing for more than three decades – and tensions were rising between the two superpowers.

President Jimmy Carter was considering an eventual boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics and the early

1980s were dubbed the “Second Cold War” because of the intensifying hostility between the two countries. The increasing power of the Soviet Army was also causing concerns in Washington. In Iran, a group of Americans was being held hostage.

Americans needed something to believe in, something to cheer for – someone to believe in. The U.S. victory over the Soviet Union gave Americans exactly what

they needed.

Tensions in our world remain high today. And while two world superpowers don’t appear to be a button’s push away from calamity, the Olympics again have the entire world on the same stage.

It is, however, naïve to believe that total good will reigns at the Olympics. The Iranian team has not competed head-to-head against Israel in more than 30 years. When the chance

for head-to-head competition arises, something always seems to come up.

At the 2004 games, Iranian Arash Miresmaeil showed up overweight for his weigh-in against an Israeli judo competitor. In 2008, swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei called in sick when he was supposed to race against Israeli Tom Beeri. And while there is no way to prove these acts were intentional, the implications

are huge.

The Olympics do not create world peace. The Olympics do not make neighbor love neighbor. The Olympics do, however, present an opportunity for us to recognize our humanity. Every two years, the world gathers together and for a few short weeks compete as humans – and equals.

The “Miracle on Ice” did not end the Cold War; it didn’t even improve relations between

the giants. But 30 years later, the story still reminds us two countries in conflict can compete on the same stage – a reminder of our humanity and the interconnectedness of this place we call home.

contact Craig at

jrc07d@acu.edu

Page 14

Standings MEN'S BASKETBALL Ovrl.

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

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

23-2 20-5 15-9 14-11 8-15 12-12 8-16

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Ovrl.

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

9-1 7-3 6-3 5-4 4-5 2-7 0-10

25-2 20-5 18-6 15-9 11-12 7-17 6-17

SOFTBALL Ovrl.

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

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

10-0 5-2 8-4 3-2 5-4 3-6 3-8

BASEBALL Team Div. Ovrl.

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

WTAMU

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

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

Scores THURSDAY

BASEBALL

Austin Gwin Assistant Sports Editor The 7-1 Wildcats have gotten off to the quick start they wanted – the offense is playing well, and the pitching isn’t far behind.

As they begin a ninegame road trip, ACU will try to keep their bats hot against a

ACU 64, Tarleton St. 66

Men's Basketball ACU 60, Tarleton St. 70

MONDAY Baseball ACU 2, Central Okla. 6 ACU 20, Central Okla. 6

HOME GAMES LISTED IN ITALICS

Upcoming FRIDAY Softball ACU vs. Emporia State, 6 p.m.

Baseball ACU at TAMU-K, 3 p.m.

ACU at TAMU-K, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

talented Texas A&MKingsville squad.

“We want to sweep everybody, especially LSC opponents,” said relief pitcher Chay Lytle. “We don’t want to play at the level of our opponents; we want to play at a higher level.”

Kingsville has started its 2010 campaign 6-2,

however, the Wildcats will be facing the Javelinas in Kingsville rather than the friendly confines of Crutcher Scott Field.

The starting pitching has been the only weak aspect of the Wildcats’ game thus far. In seven of the Wildcats’ eight games, ACU found itself behind early.

In six of those games, the

Wildcats have been able to come back and win with strong relief pitching and even stronger hitting.

“Our starting pitching needs to stay low in the zone and stay ahead in the count,” Lytle said. “It’s what every pitcher needs to do to be successful.” see ROAD page 13

Winning Games In Style

Zane Goggans Sports Reporter The Wildcat baseball team, with its 7-1 record, looks good this season, in more ways than one.

The uniforms the 'Cats sport every game have a lot to do with that.

The Wildcats show off a different style in each game by mixing and matching their uniforms; the team has six or seven tops and three bottoms to choose from. And with 21 different ways to match, the Wildcat uniforms look fresh and different each time.

Britt Bonneau, in his 14th season as ACU baseball head coach, gets the opportunity to present the team with new uniforms. The team will often have fundraisers to pay for incoming uniforms, but Bonneau said the budget usually allows for at least one new set of uniforms about every other year.

Bonneau, former Oklahoma standout, designs the baseball uniforms himself, and he is proud to distinguish ACU from other teams by looking into the past.

“I tend to look at the old-time styles of uniforms and try to replicate those,” Bonneau said. “I love the look of baseball teams from the '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s.” see UNIFORMS page 13

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

The Wildcats' uniforms, designed by Head Coach Britt Bonneau, hang in the locker room at Crutcher Scott Field. The team's uniforms are designed with old-school styles in mind.

FOOTBALL

COLUMN

Olympics remain political Wildcats to open 1st and Goal

By Jeff Craig On Feb. 22, 1980, a group of ragtag American hockey players shocked the Soviets in a game that t r a n scended the boundaries of traditional sports.

Craig Thirty years later, the impact and importance of the “Miracle on Ice” still merits evaluation.

The Americans beat a Soviet team loaded with world-class talent. At the time, NHL players did not participate in the Olympics, so the Americans' medal chances were left in the hands of a group of young, inexperienced collegiate players – captained by 25-year-old Mike Eruzione.

From a purely sports-oriented viewpoint, the United States’ 4-3 victory was stunning. Earlier that season the Soviet team

beat the NHL all-Star team 6-0. Just before the start of the Olympics, the Soviets beat the U.S. 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden.

The Red Army’s run of dominance leading up to the 1980 games was lengthy and thorough. The Soviets had won every gold medal with the exception of one since 1956.

Despite the pure thrill of a stunning upset, the impact of the “Miracle on see OLYMPICS page 13

2010 at Washburn Jeff Craig Sports Editor The Wildcats released their 2010 schedule Tuesday and will open next season in Topeka, Kans., against Washburn on Sept. 4.

The schedule presents several daunting challenges including facing four of the top 25 teams from last season in their first six games. The Wildcats also have to travel to Canyon to take on arch-rival West Texas the second to last week of the season.

See page 13 for the Wildcats' entire 2010 football schedule

Washburn will be the Wildcats only nonconference opponenet in 2010 as the Wildcats only games out side of the Lone Star Conference South will be with their neighbors from the LSC-North.

contact Craig at

jrc07d@acu.edu

BASKETBALL

Tarleton State sweeps ’Cats at Kimbrell Arena Ryan Cantrell

Softball

Assistant Sports Editor

ACU vs. Cameron, 4 p.m.

ACU vs. Emporia State, 6 p.m.

Baseball ACU at TAMU-K, 1 p.m.

ACU at TAMU-K, 5 p.m.

Women's Basketball ACU at Midwestern St., 6 p.m.

Men's Basketball ACU at Midwestern St., 8 p.m.

HOME GAMES LISTED IN ITALICS

including a win over 20thranked Incarnate Word.

The Wildcats are currently tenth in the nation and will prove to be the hardest opponent Kingsville has seen this season.

When the Wildcats won the Lone Star Conference last season, they took the four-game series from the Javelinas 3-1. This season,

BASEBALL

ACU 3, Cameron 5 ACU 1, St. Mary's 8

Women's Basketball

February 19, 2010

Wildcats hit the road for nine-game trip

Softball

TUESDAY

Sports

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Guard Kevin White puts up a shot against Tarleton State at McMurry.

The men's and women’s basketball teams both dropped games against Tarleton State on Tuesday night. The women’s team lost a heartbreaker, 66-64, at the buzzer. The men’s team was outscored 17-7 in the last 5:25 of the game to lose 70-60.

The women’s team battled back from a 16-point deficit to tie the game with seven seconds left. Unfortunately, seven seconds was enough time for the TexAnns to hit a layup to win the game.

“It is always hard to lose one right at the buzzer,” said Head Coach Shawna Lavender. “In a game like that, it really came down to the first half where we spotted them 11 points. I felt really bad for the girls, but I told them to play like that for 40 minutes, and we will be able to do some damage in the playoffs.”

The Wildcats were struggling with turnovers and found themselves trailing 53-39. But with 11:38 left in the game, Jamie see TARLETON page 13

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer

Forward Jamie Meyer ties the game with a late-game shot against the TexAnns.