The Optimist Print Edition: 03.09.11

acuoptimist.com

Optimist the

College Bound, page 6

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Vol. 99, No. 42

1 section, 8 pages

CRIME

Graffiti increases throughout campus “ACU works very hard to maintain a premiere campus Page 2 Editor appearance and things like Students, faculty, residence this obviously detract from hall staff and maintenance campus appearance,” Elliemployees alike have tak- son said. “It’s certainly negaen notice of the recent rise tive for students and staff to see, so imagine how it looks in on-campus graffiti.

ACU Police Chief Jim- to visitors and guests.”

Vandalism of campus my Ellison received eight reports from Jan. 18-Feb. property affects the in19, an unusually high stitution financially and aesthetically, Ellison said. number, he said.

Christina Burch

Subjects can be charged with a Class A or Class B misdemeanor if they are responsible for an individual case of graffiti, or they can face felony charges, if the subject is responsible for all of the cases.

“Some people think graffiti is a sign of the times,” Ellison said. “But it’s a criminal offense under Texas law.

It is a crime.”

Ellison said the perpetrator is likely the same person or group of people because of the consistent theme and set of images represented in each of the graffiti cases.

Officers have observed a common marking of HSK, for High Society Kings. HSK is usually accompanied see VANDALS page 4

quick facts Individuals reported the following graffiti vandalism to the ACU Police Department: • Smith and Adams Halls, laundry room and building interior • Sherrod Residential Park apartments, Building 1 exterior • Moody Coliseum, men’s restroom • Wildcat Disc Golf Course • Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, men’s restroom located by the Fatted Café • Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, lower rotunda interior • Don H. Morris Center, building exterior • Sherrod Residential Park apartments, Boy Scout facility exterior

Cultural Conversations

FACULTY

Library dean to retire this fall Jeff Craig

Managing Editor

ter ideas about the American people.”

She encouraged students to stay updated on the events unfolding in nations such as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Iraq.

The other panelists were former Iraqi citizens Mahmood Mohammed Fadhil, former head physicist with the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Kareem Muthanna Alsarag, former teacher of English as a foreign language. Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science and

Dr. Mark Tucker, dean of library and information resources, has announced his retirement after 8 years of ma naging the Margaret and He r m a n Brown Library.

Tu c kTucker er assumed the position of library dean at ACU in 2003, after almost 25 years of work in Purdue University libraries. His retirement will take effect in October.

He said he grew up in a home full of books, and a love of those books led him to pursue his current career.

“I’m a preacher’s kid and we had lots of books in our house,” Tucker said. “I just didn’t get the preacher’s gene.”

Tucker earned his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and his master’s of library science from the Peabody College of Education & Human Development at Vanderbilt University. He earned his Ph.D. from the

see CULTURE page 4

see LIBRARY page 4

DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer

Dr. Mahmood Mohammed Fadhil, former Iraqi citizen, speaks in the Campus Center Living Room on Thursday about his life in Iraq and fleeing from Egypt.

Former Iraqi citizens share views on political, social climate of Arabic nations Dr. Shaima Hussein, former financial manager of the United Nations and former Page 2 Editor citizen of Iraq, was among the featured The first Arabic Culture Roundtable event panelists. She spoke on the growing relafeatured notable guests from Middle East tionship between Americans and Iraqis.

“We need people to understand and accept nations on Thursday night, offering ACU students the opportunity to learn about, each other,” Hussein said. “To see how people discuss and question the current political live, eat, look and how they live their life will make a big impact and a very big difference.” and social climate of Arabic nations.

Pressing conf licts in Iraq caused HusThe session, entitled “Understanding Modern Arabic Culture: Stabilization in sein to move to Abilene.

“I am really thankful and really blessed Egypt,” took place from 7-8:30 p.m. in the to be here,” Hussein said. “I now have betCampus Center Living Room.

Christina Burch

CAMPUS

University remains on track for accreditation

‘‘ ’’

ate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Editor in Chief she and other members of Members of the Southern ACU’s SACSCOC leaderAssociation of Colleges and ship completed the first Schools Commission on part of the three-part process, Colleges will travel to ACU in accreditation April to complete the peer re- sending a compliance view portion as part of ACU’s certificate comprised of 256 pages of text, more reaccreditations process.

In September 2010, Dr. than 1,000 attached docNancy Shankle, associ- uments and a f lash drive

Linda Bailey

inside features An Amarillo elementary school uses the Optimist and other ACU gear in the classroom to excite children about college. page 5

it covers the whole university,” Shankel said.

After the certificate was sent to the SACSCOC, it was reviewed and in November sent back with a list of DR. NANCY SHANKLE // associate things not in compliance dean of the College of Arts and Sciences with standards. Shankel “It is a long process, but said out of 87 pieces, only of 14 gigabytes of data including things such as ev- it’s also a huge process 27 needed follow-up inforery faculty transcript and because we have to show mation. The second stage, compliance to criteria and completed Feb. 14, in the other documentations.

It is a long process, but it’s also a huge process because we have to show compliance to criteria and it covers the whole university.

website

sports Wildcat baseball went 6-0 this weekend to put Head Coach Britt Bonneau over 600 career wins. page 8

accreditation process was to send in a focused report of the 27 items in question.

The third stage of accreditation is the on-site peer review visiting committee where members from the SACSCOC who work for small, private, faith-based schools similar see ACU page 4

weather

video Find video of Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, during his on-stage interview as part of ACU’s Connected Summit on our website, acuoptimist.com.

Abilene Christian University

Wed.

Thurs.

Fri.

69° 38°

75° 47°

81° 51°

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Campus Wednesday, March 9, 2011

09

Day

calendar & events Wednesday

11 a.m. Come to the Quiet Chapel in Moody Coliseum

10

Thursday

11 a.m. Small group Chapels at various locations across campus Track and field at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

11

Friday

11 a.m. Praise Day with Byron Martin 4 p.m. Softball at Eastern New Mexico University 7 p.m. Baseball vs. Angelo State University

12

Saturday

12 p.m. Softball at Eastern New Mexico 2 p.m. Baseball vs.

Angelo State 2 p.m. Softball at Eastern New Mexico

Track and field at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

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 in advance. The Optimist may edit items for space and style.

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

Chapel Checkup 37 36

Credited Chapels to date

Credited Chapels remaining

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announcements Horse Marriage Workshop The Equine Assisted Learning program is hosting a staff-and facultyonly workshop for married couples entitled “The Herd at Home” from 2-4 p.m. on March 26 at Rhoden Farm.

For more information on the free workshop, contact Steve Eller or the University Counseling Center at 674-2626. Directions and further information will be given upon registration.

ACUltimate The university’s ultimate frisbee club meets at 6 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Contact Kyle Thaxton at krt06d@acu.edu.

All-school Chapel The Chapel Office encourages students to participate in “Bring Your Professor to Chapel Day” and invite their professors to Chapel as a part of the campus-wide effort to attend Chapel every Monday.

FilmFest The entry deadline without a late fee is March 11. Entry forms can be found in McKinzie Hall, Room 122, at www.acu.edu/filmfest or acufilmfest.tumblr.com.

Online Summer Courses Registration for online summer courses now is open.

Students can choose from 15 courses, and each course is three weeks long. For more information, visit www.acu. edu/summeronline.

Civil Rights Tour Students can receive academic credit for Summer Session I by joining the ACU Freedom Ride on May 15-21. The7-day, 1,800-mile guided bus tour will visit significant sites of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Registration is now open. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Beck at beckr@acu.edu, Dr. Jennifer Dillman at jennifer. dillman@acu.edu, Dr. David Dillman at dillmand@acu.edu or an academic adviser.

Swing Cats The Swing Cats meet every week 7-9 p.m. on Sundays in Cullen Auditorium. No partners or experience are required.

Friends of the ACU Library is hosting its annual spring banquet and membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 24 in the Robert D. and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center featuring Dr. Abraham J. Malherbe, founder of Restoration Quarterly.

Relay for Life The American Cancer Society is organizing a Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research and to honor and celebrate the lives of cancer survivors and fighters. The event is from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. on April 29-30 at Elmer Gray Stadium. To sign up with an Abilene team, click on the Relay for Life myACU log-in ad or visit www. relayforlife.com.

CAMPUS NEWS

March 9, 2011

Texas Twang

Page 3

STUDENTS

Student runs for state office Samantha Sutherland Contributing Reporter

DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer

Country music artist Johnny Bush performs at Outlaws and Legends, an outdoor music festival in Abilene on Saturday. Bush, a Houston native was one of several award-winning country artists to perform at the concert.

ACADEMICS

COBA to offer job-prep courses Zane Goggans

Contributing Reporter

To better equip students for future careers, the College of Business Administration is integrating new preparation activities into core classes.

No new courses have been created to accommodate the new curriculum.

Rather, three core COBA classes are expected to incorporate the material into lesson plans. These courses are Introduction to Business and Organizational Behavior. The senior capstone course for business majors is also being considered. “[Employers] just beg for students to be prepared,” said Tim Johnston, assistant dean of COBA. “This is a proactive way

for students to pace out their preparations.”

The Introduction to Business course has already taken the step into integrating a Type Focus assessment. The Type Focus is similar to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test. The MyersBriggs works by assessing a person’s personality based on answers from personality-focused questions. The one answering the questions ends up with a four-letter personality type, each letter representing a trait such as extraversion or intuition.

COBA’s Type Focus will have sixteen different combinations like the Myers-Briggs.

For Organizational Behavior, students will learn about specific job descriptions and learn how to

write résumés that fulfill certain descriptions. Students will learn how to impress potential employers with their résumés.

“It’ll help people understand their roles in business,” Johnston said. “It’ll help connect the dots as being a potential manager.”

The final addition will relate to professional communication and will possibly be integrated into the senior capstone course. The idea for the professional communication integration is for students to become more comfortable in the interview environment. Mock interviews will substitute oral presentations, rather than students presenting in front of a class. Conducting successful job searches will

also play a key role in this career development plan.

Dr. Monty Lynn, associate dean and professor of management sciences, described the new preparation activities as a way for students to prepare for life, not just to find jobs. Lynn emphasized the unique interests of female students.

“Many of our female students have told us that they want to care for children at home as well as have a career,” Lynn said. “We’re listening more carefully to our female students and helping them find career paths that accentuate their gifts and interests.” contact Goggans at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

STUDENT GROUPS

Student club works with refugees Eyrah Quashie

Contributing Reporter

ACU for the International Rescue Committee, a student group, is looking to give students a first-hand experience in international relations without leaving the country. The club organizes four events a year to help refugee children adapt to American culture.

“It’s such a unique experience in Abilene, especially for international studies or political science majors, to interact with people who not only have been in crisis but are now and need our help,” said Sara Shoultz, ACU for IRC vice president

and junior biochemistry major from Waco.

International Rescue Committee works to resettle refugees from across the world to sites in the U.S. after a humanitarian crisis. The organization has two sites in Texas located in Dallas and in Abilene.

“Abilene was chosen because it has universities here and ... relatively high standards of living for as many entry-level jobs as there are and its affordability,” Shoultz said.

ACU for IRC members also assist the IRC in providing transitional services for refugee families.

Students help mentor the

family after their resettlement and adjustment to American culture.

“The program pairs students up with a family. It can be a little bit of ESL if the student has language skills but it is also just sitting and talking with the mother and her children in the day while dad is at work,” Shoultz said.

Amanda Swan, IRC intern and senior social work major from Winnipeg, Manitoba said IRC had huge needs but few staff members.

“There’s always more needs than we’re able to meet,” Swan said. “So through community members we are able to meet way

CAMPUS

Students offered tutor jobs Nikki Mimms

Contributing Reporter

Upward Bound is a federallyfunded college preparatory program designed for 9ththrough 12thpgrade students at Abilene and Cooper High Schools. The ultimate goal is to help students enroll in a post-secondary institution immediately after high school graduation and graduate with a four-year degree.

The United States Department of Education provides funding through a grant, and ACU hosts the program. During the school year, academic tutoring sessions are held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There are Thursday and Saturday sessions which students are required

to come prepared for an advanced level of learning.

The Upward Bound program is looking to hire Summer Advisers for its 2011 summer session.

A Summer Adviser would be the equivalent of a resident adviser, said LaToya Crisp, Educational Coordinator of Upward Bound.

“A Summer Adviser’s role is to help mentor students and provide any information pertaining to college life,” Crisp.

Upperclassmen are preferred, considering age barriers between high school students and college students. Summer advisers provide a glimpse of life in college, said Crisp.

For the summer session, Upward Bound takes 55

students, six advisers and staff members on an “Educational Excursion” to visit college campuses.

“Last year, we visited New Orleans for one week which allotted a cultural experience of a life time,” Crisp said. This year, on their Educational Excursion, they plan on visiting Georgia or Texas universities for the week.

Summer advisers must have a flexible schedule, attend all training sessions, be willing to serve as an RA and exhibit a positive attitude for students. The Summer Adviser pay is $925.00, plus free room and board. contact Mimms at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

more of those needs.”

Student involvement in the IRC provides community support for refugees while settling into a new country and learning a new language.

“We’re so busy at the IRC office trying to give them their immediate core services like orientation, job services and applications that we don’t have enough time to help them with acculturation,” Swan said.

Anyone interested in volunteering with ACU for IRC can contact Shoultz at ses08d@acu.edu. contact Quashie at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

‘‘ ’’

ACU may soon be represented among College Democrats across the state of Texas.

Jared Perkins, junior sociology major from Ft. Worth, is beginning his campaigning journey toward becoming the next political director of the Texas College Democrats.

Texas College Democrats is the statewide organization that connects every College Democrats chapter in Texas. ACU’s chapter was officially added to the 52 chartered chapters across the state last year. The political director’s job is to be the liaison between all of the chapters in Texas and the current democratic candidates.

With this position, Perkins hopes to: • Increase the communication between the Texas College Democrats and current elected democratic officials.

• Create a database of democratic-elected officials to help give the chapters a voice on the advocacy issues they would like to get through.

• Get involved in campaigns as soon as they start for the 2012 election cycle, so students can begin volunteering as soon as possible.

• Plug Texas College Democrats into Obama’s reelection campaign and build excitement for that.

He has one other opponent, and more may be nominated during the convention at the University of Texas in April where the elections will take place.

“It’s a great opportunity, even if I don’t win, to be able to meet with a lot of people and talk about the issues that really matter to college students, and it’s a great way to kind of get ACU’s name out there

We support Jared doing this and should he win, look forward to working with him in that capacity.

REBECCA DIAL // president of ACU College Democrats

and to show that an ACU student is really getting involved and trying to make a difference,” Perkins said.

Perkins believes ACU has a unique perspective of working for inclusion, equality and social justice, and he wants to use that perspective in the position. He said that, in the past, a lot of the chapters that have been the most involved in campaigns were generally from Austin, Houston and Dallas.

He wants to make sure that colleges like ACU, McMurry and other universities in West Texas and other parts of the state are involved by encouraging people to listen to everyone’s opinion.

Rebecca Dial, sophomore political science major from Lexington, S.C., said she was excited about having a member of the ACU College Democrats run for a statewide position. Dial is the c president of the ACU College Democrats.

“We support Jared doing this and should he win, look forward to working with him in that capacity,” Dial said.

To learn more about the Texas College Democrats, visit txcollegedems.org.

contact Sutherland at

optimist@jmcnetwork.com

FROM THE FRONT

Page 4

March 9, 2011

CRIME

Vandals: University works to remove graffiti Continued from page 1

got to find out who’s responsible and put a stop with a crown and various to it.”

Scot Colley, director of profanities.

Ellison said that if the physical resources, said HSK marking represents a that damages from each group of students, he be- case range from $150 to lieves someone will rec- possibly thousands of ognize the name and can dollars. Removal of spray potentially provide offi- paint and permanent marker from absorbent cers with a useful lead.

“If anyone has any in- surfaces such as limeformation as to who’s re- stone and brick are costsponsible, we’d appreci- ly, if removal is possible, ate a phone call,” Ellison Colley said.

“I am just very disapsaid. “Information can be provided anonymously, if pointed that someone on that’s preferred. But we’ve campus has that much

disregard for our property,” Colley said.

Colley said he has never experienced a graffiti problem this large at ACU in his time here.

“It hurts the message we send,” Colley said.

“The first thing campus visitors see sticks with them. If the first thing they see is graffiti, then that sets the tone for the rest of their visit.”

Courtesy of JIMMY ELLISON

contact Burch at

Vandals have painted graffiti on multiple locations across campus.

clb10b@acu.edu

CAMPUS

CAMPUS

ACU: University to demonstrate research literacy Continued from page 1

DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer

Dr. Kareem Alsarag, professor of English literature in Egypt and Iraq, answers students’ questions about the recent uprising in Egypt and the conflicts within the Arabic nations at Thursday’s roundtable discussion in the Campus Center Living Room.

Culture: Panel discusses Egypt Continued from page 1

‘‘ ’’

said he has always been particularly interested in Dr. Harland Rall, chair of a popular uprising within the Department of For- a foreign country.

“To hear the opinions eign Languages, co-hostof someone who’s lived ed the event.

Roundtable discus- there is better than hearsion also placed a specif- ing it from news chanic interest on the nation nels,” Brugman said.

Jessica Epps, freshman of Eg ypt.

“What happens in political science and aniEgypt ref lects all of the mal science major from Arab countries,” Alsarag Georgetown, said she has said, explaining the re- always been interested in relations cent attention Egypt has international received from the media. and that she would enjoy Dylan Brugman, fresh- attending the next Arabic man political science Roundtable event.

“I believe it’s good to be major from Denver, Colo.,

I believe it’s good to be aware of how other cultures around us work in today’s modern world.

JESSICA EPPS // freshman political science and animal science major from Georgetown.

aware of how other cultures around us think and work in today’s modern world,” Epps said. “You’re bound to meet more and more different people, so events like this are beneficial to help people understand the lifestyle of

different cultures.”

Sponsors of the event plan to host more Arabic Culture Roundtable sessions in the future.

contact Burch at

clb10b@acu.edu

“Where do we take it from here?” Bolin said.

And the answer to the to ACU will come to campus to meet with faculty last question was teaming and tour areas of campus. students and faculty toThe SACSCOC is comprised gether to work on research of state schools, private and projects.

“That’s where our QEP schools, small schools and big schools in the region goes over and beyond other that all vote on accredi- schools,” Bolin said. “At ACU tation criteria, but only the real important part that administrators and fac- we’d like to implement is to ulty members from schools have more and more stusimilar to ACU in size and dents to work with faculty private status will represent members in a mentoring the SACSCOC in the peer situation doing research, doing scholarships or doing review process.

One additional piece of creative activities.”

Bolin said she hopes the university’s accreditation is the Quality Enhance- students take the new ment Plan, ACU’s plan for knowledge and share it enhancing student learning with others in their field eifor research literacy, said ther through presentations Dr. Phyllis Bolin, associate at the Undergraduate Research Festival, at a regionprofessor of mathematics.

People from all areas al or national conference of the ACU community or through publishing in a worked to focus the QEP journal for their field.

“We’d like to see it go around research literacy, but realized if they wanted cross-campus to effect all to accomplish this plan, students, yet prepare them they’d have to define re- better for their role after ACU whether its grad school search literacy first.

In an attempt to define or a professional occupathe term, group members tion,” Bolin said. “Wherever they’re headed, working identified three criteria: First, if someone is to be with faculty members, doresearch literate, they must ing research and creative be information literate, Bo- projects enhances ways lin said. Second, students employers look at them and need to look inside their helps them get ready for major and discover what graduate school.” creation of new knowledge looks like. Third, they had contact Bailey at to answer the question, ljb07a@acu.edu

FACULTY

Library: Dean to retire after eight years with university Continued from page 1

Tucker said when he first came to ACU, he recognized a chance to work University of Illinois.

He said he always had a with gifted students and love for working with stu- faculty. He said he could dents and helping them have retired sooner but grow academically but saw a good opportunity never wanted to be lim- at ACU. “I was impressed with ited to a classroom.

“I wanted to work in the intangibles here. I an academic setting, but I wanted to have fun. These didn’t like grading papers,” are fun people to work Tucker said. “Academic with,” Tucker said.

Dr. Jeanine Varnschedules were just too structured, and I like less er, provost, said ACU’s structure so this appealed Brown Library would look to me. I could converse with nothing like it does today students without the formal without Tucker’s leadership. She credits his viacademic structure.”

sion and willingness to cooperate with others as key factors in the library’s advancement.

“He has an amazing depth and breadth of experience with libraries and universities in general,” Varner said. “He is an amazingly collaborative and creative individual that has helped us move the librar y forward in amazing ways in a relatively short amount of time.”

Varner said Tucker played a major role in bringing the AT&T Learn-

ing Studio to the library.

She said he was also the drive behind improvements to the learning commons and Stanley Reading Room.

“A person like Mark Tucker helps make libraries relevant to our faculty and students,” Varner said. “On some campuses, libraries are just repositories, on our campus, all it takes is one quick stroll through the library and you see that our library is far more than a collection of books.”

Varner said the university has a search com-

mittee in place that is proactively trying to find the next library dean. She said she hopes to have a replacement by the fall.

“We have applications and Mark himself has talked

with me at length about the kind of person we should look for to take the library to the next level,” Varner said. contact Craig at

jrc07d@acu.edu

Focus

March 9, 2011

Page 5

photos courtesy of ROBIN CARLILE

Above: Robin Carlile, teacher at San Jacinto Elementary School, stands with her class in front of an ACU-inspired bulletin board. Below: Students use the Optimist as a learning resource.

Collegebound ACU helps students of an Amarillo elementary school look beyond their economic situation

by Christianna Lewis

I

n a room painted purple and white, a class of thirdgraders write letters to their pen pals – ACU students – using pencils with ACU logos. They end each school day with a Wildcat chant.

If you ask the students where they are going to college, 75 percent of them will say ACU, said their teacher Robin Carlile, an ACU alumna.

The children at San Jacinto Elementary may live in a district with the highest poverty and crime rates in Amarillo, but already they are well on their way to becoming college students, said Carlile.

Each of the elementary school’s classrooms has a sponsoring university that gives the children a glimpse of what life can be like after high school. ACU is the sponsor of Carlile’s classroom.

The students of San Jacinto Elementary have not always had this vision for their future. At the beginning of her 9-year career at the school, Carlile said she often saw children who were not being supported by their parents or teachers.

“A lot of their parents have never graduated from high school, let alone college,” Carlile said. “There had come to be a mindset that that’s the best the children can do.”

That changed when the school adapted the No Excuses University program in 2007. No Excuses is a national program for academically struggling schools. It encourages children from grade school up to set their sights on graduating from college.

But the program’s biggest impact comes from its teacher training, which challenges teachers to stop

lowering their expectations for underprivileged students.

“Children will rise to whatever you expect of them,” Carlile said. “There’s no excuse for the adults in their lives not to teach them like any upper-middle class kid.”

Carlile has seen this mindset transform the lives of students, teachers and parents. The school went from being barely acceptable by state standards to exceptional. Over the past few years, Carlile’s students have had a 100 percent pass rate for the TAKS test.

Scholarship programs and a new computer lab for parents to earn their GED’s have helped convince parents that college is a possibility for both their children and themselves. Students around Amarillo have asked to transfer to San Jacinto Elementary because of its college focus, Carlile said.

As an ACU graduate, Carlile wanted her alma mater to have the opportunity to be a part of what the elementary school was doing. She sent ACU Today

a picture of her classroom wearing ACU T-shirts. Doing this started a partnership that has lasted three years.

The ACU Alumni Relations Office sent T-Shirts the children could keep as well as shirts for the Elementary school to use as the children’s uniform every Friday, Carlile said. ACU Leadership Camps have also sent things like stencils and key chains.

Carlile brought all of the kids copies of The Optimist after Sing Song. She had her students differentiate between fact and opinion in one of the articles.

Carlile was going to have them do another project where they clipped out parts of the newspaper, but none of the students wanted to cut up their papers.

ACU has not stopped at sending papers and trinkets. Members of the Servant Action Leadership Team have paired up with all of the third-graders and committed to writing to them over every semester, said Kate Huggins, senior biochemistry major from Abilene.

Huggins, a SALT officer, said the

college students and third-graders both take pictures around their schools with a lifesized cardboard cutout of Willie the Wildcat.

They send the pictures to one another with the pen pal letters.

“They really get to know each other,” Huggins said. “The kids are learning writing and communication, and it ties ACU students back to their roots.”

The third-grade class has also gotten something in the mail from the president of the university. Carlile sent President Phil Schubert a letter introducing herself after he was inaugurated. He sent her back a handwritten letter with a message for the whole class.

“I don’t believe any other classroom has the overwhelming response that we have had from ACU,” Carlile said.

Through the letters and gifts ACU has sent, the children at San Jacinto Elementary have begun to understand that college is more than learning in a classroom, Carlile said. It is a wonderful experience that opens opportunities both during and after the time spent getting a degree.

Last month, the class learned about African-Americans escaping from slavery before the Civil War, Carlile said. The children were asked to identify their own steps to freedom. Each of them drew college as their final step, and most children colored it in purple and white.

“They all know college is the way that they will have freedom one day,” Carlile said. “I believe one day we may see one of my kiddos going to ACU.” contact Lewis at

cll09a@acu.edu

Opinion

Page 6

March 9, 2011

EDITORIAL

Tasteless speech remains protected As Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter once stated, “It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have often been forged in controversies involving not very nice people.”

To say that the members of the Westboro Baptist Church are “not very nice people” would be an understatement.

The church members and their leader, Fred Phelps, have gained notoriety in the past few years by protesting the funerals of soldiers who have died in combat claiming that their deaths are retribution for America’s tolerance of homosexuality.

Their hateful picketing landed them in a lawsuit that made its way to the Supreme Court which ruled last week in favor

of the Westboro Baptist Church. As upsetting as the tactics of the so-called church may be, we agree with the decision that the protection of freedom of speech must extend even to groups that the vast majority of Americans find patently offensive.

In an 8-1 decision the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protects the picketing of funerals by the church members. The rationale behind the ruling was that the protesters were at a far enough distance that they had not disrupted the funeral itself. They were making their statements on public property, which they have a right to do.

While they were making the protest near the funeral of the deceased soldier they did not identify him

directly with their signs and the statements made were directed at a general audience. The statements would be understood by an objective viewer not to be statements of fact and the content of the protest surrounded a hotlydebated public issue, not a private concern, and therefore retained First Amendment protection.

The lone dissenter in the debate was by Justice Samuel Alito, who believed the antics at the funeral protest were so extreme that they would be considered intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The acts of Phelps and his followers were certainly opportunistic and cast a stain on what should have been a time to grieve and mourn their loved one, Matthew Snyder.

The group did, however, follow the established protocol to have a public protest and even alerted the police as to the time and place they would be holding their event. Had the group invaded the private funeral taking place they would have clearly abused their right to free speech.

But, as Chief Justice John Roberts stated, speaking for the Court, “Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials.”

The acts of the Westboro Baptist Church are vile, hateful and downright vicious. Signs reading “You’re Going to Hell” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” are waved just

By Morgan Davis

The Funny Funnies

the issue

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the actions of Westboro Baptist Church are protected under the First Amendment.

our take

Freedom of speech should continue to cover what many find distasteful in order to safeguard the marketplace of ideas. outside the funerals where families and friends are burying their loved one.

As distasteful as these acts may be, however, the implications of restricting these protests could be even more harmful.

The freedom of speech is the bedrock of a democratic society. Allowing for the free flow of ideas, however distasteful, gives citizens the ability to discern for themselves the validity of a proposed belief.

By extending the freedom of speech to everyone it is understood that offensive and hateful speech will be invited into the public debate as well

as speech that society finds more acceptable.

The Westboro Baptist Church comprises a meager 71 members, a majority of which are related to their leader, Fred Phelps. While their speech may have gained plenty of exposure, that exposure should not be confused as influence.

Although they may have won their day in court, in the minds of the vast majority of freedomloving people, their hateful ideas will never win any ground. contact the Optimist at

jmcnetwork@acu.edu

COLUMN

Post-college life creates anxiety Little Linda

I knew I could always make it to the side of the pool. I was no Michael Phelps, but if a life or death swimming situation presented itself, I had a good chance of making it out alive.

Graduation is like moving to the deep end of the pool. It’s terrifying, but after four years in college, graduates should have confidence in their abilities and skills. Going into the “real world” and dealing with terms like “mortgage,” “insurance,” and “401K” is scary, but we have to realize the floaties are off, and we

By Linda Bailey

letter to the editor

Students support Tenaska power plant The Republicans of ACU recently conducted a survey on campus in cooperation with Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow to measure student opinion regarding the proposed clean coal Tenaska Trailblazer power plant.

We questioned nearly 20 percent of the ACU student body and found that support is nearly unanimous among students for building the power plant.

A total of 800 students were surveyed. The total student population at Abilene Christian University is slightly more than 4,500.

The first question asked students, “Do you support the con-

struction of an advanced, new, clean coal electrical facility in Sweetwater, Texas?” The survey found that 86 percent of respondents support building the plant while 14 percent do not.

The second question on the survey addressed the water use issue that has been suggested as the most controversial aspect of the plant. When specifically asked about this issue, students continued to support the coal plant with 75 percent approval and 25 percent of respondents opposing.

CFACT Director Bill Gilles said, “We found that ACU students almost universally support the construction of the

plant and even when made aware of the controversial aspects of the water use issue, students continue to support the plant at a 3-1 clip.”

This poll stands in sharp contrast to a telephone poll conducted by a professor who is a member of Abilenians Against Tenaska last October. The poll questioned 525 Sweetwater residents. It found that only 36 percent of residents oppose the plant’s construction and 47 percent of residents support it.

These polls show that while environmental alarmists may have the loudest voices, their numbers are few.

Aaron Escobedo senior history major from Lemesa President of ACU Republicans

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.

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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.

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My first exposure to extreme anxiety was during the summer before fourth grade. I had just started the second level of swimming lessons and I was living in a constant state of panic.

Bailey The first level of lessons focused on the swimming basics. We spent the majority of lessons blowing bubbles in the water, kicking on the edge of the pool and playing water-related In reality, I should games – all from have been fine. I the shallow end. knew how to swim; The safe end.

The fun end.

I had all the tools; I The end of the hadn’t used floaties pool where I in years; but the deep could touch the bottom and my end still scared me. head would be above water.

But the second level have the skills and capamoved to the deep end. The bilities to keep our heads scary end. The end where above water and make it the water was way above to the edge of the pool.

It might take a few my head and I lived in conyears in graduate school, stant fear of drowning.

In reality, I should have at an internship or in been fine. I knew how to an entry-level position swim; I had all the tools; different than we imagI hadn’t used floaties in ined, but we can evenyears; but the deep end still tually find a job we love. scared me. I knew one day I’m learning in my last I’d accidentally touch the college semester, to look vent at the bottom of the past the fear and doubt and believe in the skills pool, get stuck and drown.

I begged my mom to let and abilities God gave me me quit. I made up excus- and ACU molded.

We’re ready to jump es. I threw fits. I cried. But into the deep end, even if she still made me go.

But, by the end of the we don’t want to. summer I could swim well. I still had a small contact Bailey at fear of the deep end, but ljb07a@acu.edu

editorial & management board Linda Bailey

Matthew Woodrow Christina Burch

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Jozie Sands Sandra Amstutz

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FROM SPORTS

March 9, 2011

TRACK AND FIELD

Page 7

GOLF

Nationals approach for ACU Win: Five ’Cats place in top 25 Bryson Shake

Assitant Sports Editor

Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” If that is the case, four ACU trackand-field athletes should consider themselves scholars when it comes to competing at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championship Meet.

Those four in particular – Amos Sang, Desmond Jackson, Nick Jones and Ramon Sparks have all had experience competing at the national meet and are poised to represent ACU to the best of their abilities Friday and Saturday.

“I am pumped for this meet,” said Jackson, a senior. “This being my senior year, I am even more motivated to execute and perform to the best of my abilities and represent ACU the best I can. I plan on doing whatever it takes to succeed.”

In the Nebraska TuneUp Meet in February, Jackson stole the show, eclipsing the national automatic qualifying times in both the 60- and 200-meter dash.

Jackson, from Midland, will compete for the fourth year in a row at nationals this year. That experience, as he says, will pay huge dividends for his last goaround Friday.

“I feel like I kind of know what’s going on, and because of that, my nerves haven’t really kicked in yet. My goal? I’m going to put my hand down, run and hopefully be the first man across the finish line,” he said.

Sparks, senior triple jumper, will also be making his third appearance at the national meet, and will see action for the first time in over a month, as he chose to play it safe at the Nebraska Tune-Up because he had already qualified for nationals at the Texas

Tech meet in early February with a jump of 51’-10’,’ a jump that garnered him the top spot among Division II competitors.

Sophomore triple jumper Amanda Ouedraogo will be competing in her first national meet after qualifying with a jump of 11.99 meters. Ouedraogo, a transfer student from France, has thoroughly impressed Head Coach Roosevelt Lofton with her performances.

“Amanda continues to astound me with how well she has done. This is her first year competing in American track and field meets, and she has not disappointed. She’s done a fantastic job for us,” he said.

Jones, a junior thrower, is looking to build upon his already impressive resume with another national championship in the shot put. The Amarillo native automatically qualified

with a heave of 55-9.75 in a previous meet.

Arguably one of the best to ever come through the esteemed ACU track and field program, Amos Sang will look to add upon his lengthy list of accomplishments in the purple and white Friday. Sang will compete in the 5,000-meter and 1-mile race in Albuquerque, N.M. Lofton said his team has good chances at the weekend meet.

“I am very excited about the National Meet,” he said. “We have some phenomenal athletes that will be competing, and I can’t wait to see them perform. On the men’s side of things, half of our guys we’re sending out there have won national titles.

I’m looking forward to building upon that number in Albuquerque.” contact Shake at

bxs09a@acu.edu

SOFTBALL

Split: LSC season will challenge Continued from page 8

game remained closed through the fourth as ACU put up single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-1 lead into the fifth.

ACU would score four runs in the fifth to put the game away. Brianna Fowlkes, Kara Stutesman and Ashley Calles would all hit RBI doubles in the fifth as the Wildcats routed the Cardinals 10-3.

BASEBALL

“I think we played really well this weekend. We have struggled with our defense this season and this weekend in our second and third games we did not have an error,” pitcher Brittany Rexroat said. “We have been working on defense a lot in practice and we have gotten tons better than from earlier this season.”

ACU would finish the tournament Sunday by splitting a pair of games. ACU would get shut out in the first

game by Fort Hays State 5-0, before pulling out its closest game of the invitational defeating St. Edwards 5-4.

“I think there is always things you can work on as a team,” Reeves said. “We are swinging the bat well as we are hitting above .300. Pitching and defense has steadily improved this season, and hopefully will continue to improve while our offense continues to do well.”

The 3-2 record this weekend improved the Wildcats

to 14-13 overall this season.

ACU will travel to Portales, N.M. on Friday to take on Eastern New Mexico University in a three-game weekend series.

“Overall we just want to enter conference on a positive note and know that we can do well in conference,” Rexroat said. “We just have to stay focused and keep working at it. “

Sweep: ’Cats to play Rams Continued from page 8

‘‘ ’’

the back of a five-run seventh inning, handed the Dustdevils their fourth straight loss of the weekend 11-5.

Senior Kevin Justice picked up the win for ACU going three and 1/3 innings allowing just one run on four hits and striking out three. With the win, Justice moves to 1-1 on the season.

After Cameron Bankston drew a no-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, seniors Will Calhoun and Abe Williams hit back-toback doubles to begin the ACU rally. Oliver brought in the final two runs of the inning to blow the game open for ACU.

TENNIS

It was good to get those wins. We had good hitting and good pitching.

AARON OLIVER // senior center fielder for the ACU baseball team

The Dustdevils would add one run in the ninth, but could get no more from ACU. In the nightcap the Mustangs from University of the Southwest jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third off the arm of ACU pitcher Aaron Lambrix who made his second start of the season after dealing with a shoulder injury.

In the final game of the weekend’s games for ACU, the Wildcats pulled out a 4-3 victory to go 6-0 on the week-

end. The win gave Bonneau the 604th of his career.

“Over the years we have had great assistants and players and they have done their jobs and when you have those things, it’s easy to have success,” said Bonneau.

ACU is now 12-5 on the season as they prepare for another home series this weekend against conference rival Angelo State.

contact Tripp at

bjt07a@acu.edu

‘‘ ’’

Women: Win streak hits nine Continued from page 8

redshirt freshman Hans Hoch. “We maintained focus throughout the weekend; that’s why we came up with the wins.”

As for the women’s team, the Lady Wildcats extended their win streak to nine games on Saturday, nearly sweeping both opposing schools.

The No. 6 ‘Cats defeated New Mexico Military Institute 9-0. Julia Mongin, the No. 1 singles player for ACU, faced the toughest contest, defeating Karla Martinez 7-6, 6-4 to aid the sweep of NMMI. The second half of the doubleheader brought the University of Texas-Pan American, a Division I school. ACU nearly swept

We maintained focus throughout the weekend; that’s why we came up with wins.

HANS HACH // freshman tennis player for the ACU Wildcats

UTPA, but settled with a 6-1 win. Though the Wildcats No. 1 doubles team, Jaclyn Walker and Micah Hermsdorf, fell to the Broncs’ No. 1 team, but the No. 2 and 3 teams for ACU won their matches to earn the point for ACU. The ‘Cats nearly swept UTPA in singles, only Cassie Carver lost her match 4-6, 7-6, 10-8.

This Friday the Lady Wildcats take on UT-San Antonio and St. Mary’s, before meeting St. Edwards and Incarnate Word

on Saturday and Sunday, the No. 6 and 7 ranked teams in the South Central Region, respectively.

“These past few weeks we have been playing lots of Division I schools,” Hach said. “We truly believe we are one of the toughest teams in Division II. We are getting tougher everyday, and the season has just started.”

The matches this weekend will be in Dallas. contact Smith at

mds10a@acu.edu

contact Cantrell at

jrc07f@acu.edu

Continued from page 8

rounds less than UCLA’s Patrick Cantley.

As far as Division II golfers are concerned, Alex Carpenter graces the top of the standings in par-5 scoring, subpar strokes per round, fairways hit and total overall short game.

He will get a chance to make it seven victories in a row next weekend when the Wildcats travel to the Hawks Creek Golf Club in Fort Worth for the UST Mamiya Texas Intercollegiate tournament. contact Gwin at

agg07a@acu.edu

Alex Carpenter’s 2010-2011 Tournament Victories • Cameron University Invitational, Lawton, Okla.

• Division II National Preview Tournament, Muscle Shoals, Ala. • Bruce Williams Memorial, San Antonio • Queens University of Charlotte Invitational, Ponte Verde Beach, Fla. • Golfweek Spring Invitational, Orlando, Fla. • St. Edwards Invitational, Austin

Page 8

Standings BASEBALL Team

Div.

Tarleton St. 10-2 WTAMU 7-2 Cameron 9-3 UIW 9-3 SW OK St. 10-5 TAMU-K 7-5 ACU 6-4 SE OK St. 5-4

Ovrl.

14-2 16-3 10-3 10-5 14-5 10-6 12-5 7-8

SOFTBALL Team

Div.

0-0 ASU WTAMU 0-0 UIW 0-0 0-0 TWU Tarleton St. 0-0 TAMU-K 0-0 ACU 0-0 ENMU 0-0

Ovrl.

20-1 17-1 11-6 11-7 10-7-1 11-10 14-13 3-15

SOFTBALL

Sports

Big Saturday wins highlight road trip their opening game Friday against Midwestern State as Sports Multimedia Editor the Mustangs held ACU to The Wildcats finished 3-2 one hit. Midwestern State’s overall this weekend at Brittney Tanner would shut the Midwestern State In- out the Wildcats, as she vitational. ACU played one struck out seven on her way game Friday, before play- to a 3-0 victory.

The Wildcats would reing two games each on bound Saturday with a pair Saturday and Sunday.

The Wildcats would drop of victories against Arkan-

Ryan Cantrell

sas Tech University and Incarnate Word. In the first game ACU hit Arkansas Tech hard, as the Wildcats put up 17 hits in only six innings. ACU scored four runs in the first and added three more in the second.

ACU would add three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings as the Wildcats

Brandon Tripp Sports Director

Lone Star Conference announced a three-year agreement with the city of Allen last Wednesday, allowing the city to host the LSC men’s and women’s basketball championship tournaments for three consecutive years, beginning in 2012.

n Three

cross country runner Amos Sang was honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as he was named the South Central Region Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. Sang was named the South Central Region Cross Country Runner of the Year in the fall.

Senior guard Preston Davis was honored by the Lone Star Conference last week as he earned honorable mention accolades at the conference banquet last week. Davis led the LSC South Division in steals and averaged just over 11 points per game for the Wildcats.

n

Upcoming n The baseball team will

play Friday at 7:05 p.m. against Angelo State. n Softball

will face Eastern New Mexico on Friday at 4 p.m.

n The track and field

team will compete at the Division II National Indoor Meet Thursday-Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.

ference play starting this weekend, so hopefully we will be ready to go.”

The bats would stay alive in the second game as ACU scored 10 runs against Incarnate Word in route to a 10-3 victory against the Cardinals. The see SPLIT page 7

Wildcats sweep weekend

n The

n All-American

would run rule the Golden Suns 13-2.

“We played pretty well this weekend. You can’t play much better than we did Saturday, as we had 35 hits and no errors in two games of work,” Head Coach Bobby Reeves said.

“We have now won six of our last nine with con-

BASEBALL

Briefs

women’s basketball players were honored Tuesday night at the LSC awards banquet in Bartlesville, Okla. Freshman guard Mack Lankford was named Freshman of the Year and to the first-team all-conference team. Senior Autumn Whitaker earned second team all-conference honors, as she led the LSC in assists. Sophomore post Kelsey Smith was named Newcomer of the year after her first season with the ’Cats.

Smith, a transfer from Missouri State, averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game.

March 9, 2011

DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer

Aaron Oliver gets a hit on Saturday against University of the Southwest. Oliver finished the game with three hits. The Wildcats looked good on the weekend, emerging victorious in all six games.

GOLF

The Wildcats are back on track after losing three of their previous four before heading into the weekend.

ACU completed a perfect weekend going 6-0 against Texas A&M International and University of the Southwest to put Head Coach Britt Bonneau over 600 career wins.

“I think we got closer to finding our lineups,” said Bonneau.

The Wildcats outscored their opponents 53-22 in the six games including a 15-0 run rule blowout over Texas A&M International.

ACU took advantage of four first inning errors by the Dustdevils and four straight singles to lead off the inning to run out to a 7-0 lead. Cameron Watten pitched all seven innings for the Wildcats to record his first win of the season.

Watten had plenty of help as four players recorded three hits combing for six of the 11 RBIs in the game for the Wildcats.

Saturday the Wildcats took both games of a doubleheader against Texas A&M International, the first win of the day gave Bonneau his 600th

win in an 8-4 victory.

Pitcher Zach Sneed picked up his second win of the season in the game.

Sneed was responsible for all four of the Dustdevils’ runs allowing those runs on six hits while striking out two batters.

ACU used a four-run third inning to pull even with Texas A&M International before pulling ahead for good two innings later. Shortstop Sky Valenzuela went 2 for 2 at the plate including an RBI triple.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Wildcats managed to hold off a hard-charging Dustdevils team in the seventh inning to squeak out a 6-5 win. Pitcher Kris Carlson picked up his second save of the weekend and his fifth of the season. Brady Rodriguez picked up the win for ACU in relief.

Outfielder Aaron Oliver’s RBI single in the sixth inning proved to be the winning run for the Wildcats who nearly gave away the three-run lead in the final inning.

On Sunday ACU swept a doubleheader against Texas A&M International and University of the Southwest.

In game one ACU, on see SWEEP page 7

TENNIS

Carpenter wins sixth straight Austin Gwin Sports Editor

Alex Carpenter began his final round of the St. Edwards Invitational down by a stroke. It didn’t matter as Carpenter shot his lowest nine holes as a golfer at ACU by hitting seven birdies on the front nine to cruise to a fourstroke victory.

His performance, as well as those of his teammates, pushed ACU to a two-shot win over Barry University. All five Wildcat golfers finished in the Top 25. Tyler Sheppard started the tournament tied with Carpenter finished in sixth after shooting a three-over par final round. Reigning national champion Cyril Bouniol was 11th while Kyle Dickerson was in 16th. Adam Carpenter, Alex’s twin brother, rounded out the five ’Cats by finishing in 25th.

“We played really solid against teams from all places around the country like Florida, California, Texas and Oklahoma,” Alex Carpenter said after the tournament.

The win for Alex Carpenter marks his sixth in a row. The last time Alex Carpenter lost a tournament was the second weekend in September when ACU hosted the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate tournament. In that tourney, Alex Carpenter finished in a tie for 15th place.

“I knew I was playing well compared to the other team’s top players,” Alex Carpenter said. “I just wanted to keep the momentum going for the team. Everyone in the Top 25 helps a lot.”

Since that weekend, Carpenter has been unstoppable, climbing to third in www.golfstat. com’s overall standings.

Those standings factor in Divisions I, II and III and NAIA, so it includes all collegiate golfers. Out of all the golfers, Alex Carpenter actually has the lowest scoring average per round. The only reason he doesn’t sit atop the standings is that he has played two see WIN page 7

DANIEL GOMEZ// Chief Photographer

Senior Jaclyn Walker reaches out for a ball at the March Invite that took place at ACU this weekend.

Invite results in victory Mark Smith

Sports Reporter

‘‘ ’’

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams easily won their matchups in ACU’s March Invite Tournament this weekend, the only matches scheduled to be played at home until mid-April.

The men swept both Hardin-Simmons and Temple College on Friday, defeating the Cowboys and Leopards nine matches to none both times.

“We’re playing strong teams, but we’re stronger,” junior Eldad Campbell said. “We’ve got plenty

We’re playing stronger teams, but we’re stronger.

ELDAD CAMPBELL // junior tennis player for the ACU Wildcats

more matches in the next couple weeks, but we played great this weekend and are getting better every day.”

The Wildcats didn’t face much opposition Friday, as each singles match was won in two sets and all the doubles matches ended after one set. The closest matches against HSU were Jake Hendrie’s and John Strahl’s 6-4, 6-2 wins.

Against Temple, Cody McCarty closed out Justin Delgado for the 6-4, 6-3 win, the closest point for the Wildcats. Saturday the men swept New Mexico Military Institute.

The Wildcat men’s team is now 8-4 and rolling on a four-game win streak.

“This weekend we showed toughness,” said see WOMEN page 7