WEDNESDAY October 13, 2004
OPTIMIST THE
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Learning from Lightfoot:
Radio station looks for pledges:
Comeback Cats:
Through the past 46 years, Dr. Neil Lightfoot has been a constant for ACU. Page 5
KACU, the university’s National Public Radio station, hopes to collect $30,000 in listener donations by Oct. 20. Page 3
The football team overcame a 10-point deficit to win Saturday at Shotwell. Page 8
‘ACU has lost a true friend’ Charles Trevathan, 68, dies from apparent heart attack By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dr. Charles Trevathan, instructor of sociology and social work and associate general counsel for the university, died Tuesday evening after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 68. Trevathan collapsed while in the office of the Department of Sociology and Social Work and was taken by ambulance to Hendrick Medical
Center where he died after 5 p.m. At press time, funeral arrangements were pending through the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Trevathan came to the university in 1987 after practicing law in Kentucky for 26 years to serve as associate general counsel with Dr. Gaston Welborn, vice president and general counsel. “I have lost one of my closest friends and colleagues for over 17 years,” Welborn told the Office of Media Relations. “While Charles did not graduate from ACU, he bled purple and white. His greatest love at
ACU was his students.” Trevathan began working more closely with students in 1991 when he became vice president of the Student Service Office, now Campus Life, in addition to associate general counsel. Trevathan moved into the classroom in 1997 after resigning his role as vice president. He joined the Department of Sociology to begin teaching — a role that at the time he called “a dream for this stage of my life.” Trevathan
See TREVATHAN Page 4
By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D.-Mass., debated each other twice last week over various issues and policies, leading up to the election on Nov. 2. Two ACU clubs met to watch the debates together. The College Democrats met with the College Republicans on Sept. 30 in the University Park Apartments Clubhouse to watch first of the four televised debates. “About 30 people came I think,” said Amy Perez, sophomore education major and chair of the College Democrats. “All the chairs and couches were full, and people were sitting on the floor.” The Democrats organized the evening and offered free pizza to lure students to come. Although not as many people attended the second presidential debate or the
Campus gymnastics club entertains local groups with skills By BRIAN SCHMIDT STUDENT REPORTER
The Flying Cats gymnastics club is hanging around, having fun and learning new skills while it waits to be called on to perform for various local groups and events. The club, which officially began 53 years ago, does not participate in competitions. Instead, members simply have fun and learn gymnastics while offering their performance services to the community. “We allow members to learn and practice skills, as well as putting together performances, which we present at local elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as during halftime of ACU basketball games,” said faculty sponsor Ben Zickefoose, associate professor of exercise science and health. John Sanderson, Flying Cats captain and senior Bible major from Keller, said he sees the club as a way for students to “have fun, giving them an opportunity to do their thing.” The club performs three to six times a semester for certain groups, Zickefoose said, including a monthly Super Stunt Thursday. This is a time when club members put together a small performance for friends and family to show off their skills. The club is open to anyone interested. In fact, Zickefoose said, the majority of incoming members have no experience at
Campus partisan clubs meet for debates College Republicans, Democrats struggle with group numbers
Flying Cats soar through shows
See FLYING Page 7
Vol. 93, No. 16 1 section, 8 pages
See DEBATES Page 7
Flu vaccine shortages cancel clinic Supply of shots cut in half after possible contamination By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Flying Cats captain John Sanderson, senior Bible major from Keller, performs a back flip off the trampoline in the clubs’ practice room in Gibson Health and P.E. Center on Tuesday. Flying Cats is the university’s gymnastics club that performs in events for various community groups. It practices for about an hour every Tuesday and Thursday.
The possible contamination of about 48 million doses of the flu vaccine in a British manufacturing plant has cut the supply of flu shots in the United States in half. Vaccine clinics across the country were canceled, including one at ACU on Friday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a list of recommended qualifications for those who should receive the shot. Dr. Tony Rector, medical director for clinical services, said although two planned clinics have been canceled on campus, he still hopes to have a small supply of the shots to administer to those who meet the CDC’s criteria. “It is not 100 percent confirmed, and that ambiguity probably reflects the unsuredness that everybody’s facing right now,” he said. “This really blindsided the health-care industry here.” See FLU Page 4
Students finish films for fest Deadline for filming, editing finished product is Wednesday By JENNA LUCADO STUDENT REPORTER
EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
Kurt Boyland waits at the table in the Campus Center Thursday where students could enter to win prizes for voting on their favorite Wellness Week booths. Wellness Week began October 4 with a blood drive in the Living Room and concluded Friday with Unstress Day. For more on Wellness Week, see Page 4.
Michael Breeden can bang the bass drum and then crash a cymbal—all with the click of a mouse. “I am trying to use drum sounds to create the perfect gun noise for my movie,” Breeden said from behind a 20- inch Macintosh computer screen. Breeden, sophomore electronic media major from Memphis, Tenn., is one of 86 students participating in the new FilmFest, a film festival that includes a film and expo-
sition competition open to students and faculty. In addition to the festival, a workshop was offered to educate students on creating and using Apple software to make a film. Students had to submit film proposals by Sept. 8 and will turn in the final product by Friday. “It’s crunch time,” Breeden said. As one of the lab assistants, Breeden spends an average of 10 hours a week in the new computer lab — located in the Industrial Technology building — created solely for the use of FilmFest participants. Local Apple representatives have loaned 10 new
computers until Thursday, agreeing to help Doug Darby, ACU’s multimedia coordinator and an instructor for visual media, and his vision for FilmFest. Darby said he hopes FilmFest can be an event that might give students a chance to express their creative ideas and other messages through film and advanced technology. “The mode of how we communicate is changing,” Darby said. "Students coming in to ACU are accustomed to using a technological means of communication as a way of learnSee FILMFEST Page 7
CAMPUS
DAY
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
36 35
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
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Calendar&Events Wednesday
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Guest Artist Recital: Steven Framil, 8 p.m., Recital Hall.
Friday
Ko Jo Kai Grub.
Campus Life Division breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., Living Room.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Pi Kappa Grub.
Weekend Campaigns to Dallas, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Campus Center tables.
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Service Saturday sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Counseling Center staff meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room. Service Saturday sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
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Thursday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. Service Saturday sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. International Students Association Chai Cafe, 9-11 p.m., Bean Sprout.
Free movie night, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Cullen Auditorium. Orchestra Concert, 8 p.m., HardinSimmons University.
Cook Studio Recital, 8 p.m., Recital Hall.
Sunday
Spring Break Campaign leader meeting, 7-9 p.m., Living Room.
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Monday
Faculty women’s meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.
Galaxy Grub. Delta Theta Grub.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
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Social Club Officers Meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Living Room.
Saturday
Service Saturday, all day. Westgate Church of Christ Ladies Luncheon, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Hilton Room. Morris Hall tea, 2-4 p.m., Hilton Room.
Volunteer Opportunities Communities in Schools needs volunteers at Ortiz Elementary School to serve as mentors, tutors or lunch buddies. Help is needed Mondays through Fridays anytime from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Volunteers are needed to help with after-school activities for 6th-8th grade students. Activities include helping with after school snacks and possibly homework Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for more information. KGNZ radio needs male volunteers beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21 to unload and set up for the Caedmon’s Call concert that night. Volunteers will receive free tickets to the concert. Interested students can contact Doug Harris at KGNZ at 673-3045. The Noah Project needs volunteers to answer hotline calls and attend to shelter needs. For more information, contact the Volunteer
College Democrats meeting, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Living Room.
Tri Kappa Gamma Grub. Alpha Kai Omega Grub.
and Service-Learning Center. The Service Action Leadership Team is trying to create a database that will send e-mails to keep students informed of opportunities for service. To create the database, the center needs student participation. Students can visit the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center to fill out a volunteer registration form. By filling out the form, students are not committing to any service project, but they will receive e-mails that will enhance their awareness community needs. City Light Ministries needs volunteers to tutor elementary school students and to play games or read to them on Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. Contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for information. Covenant Place of Abilene, an assisted-living facility, needs someone to tutor one of the residents who wants to learn to read and write. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.
College of Arts and Sciences meeting, 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m., Hilton Room.
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Tuesday
Homecoming Steering Committee meeting, 9:30-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.
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Wednesday
Faculty Senate Meeting, 7-8:15 a.m., Faculty Staff Dining Room. Campus Life Directors’ meeting, 89:45 a.m., Living Room. FilmFest Tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. International Student Association Culture Show Tickets, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. Homecoming tickets, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
FilmFest tickets, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows. SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Announcements Tickets for FilmFest are available for purchase from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Online ticket purchases will be available soon as well. The Shinnery Review, ACU’s student-produced literary magazine, is now accepting submissions for the 2005 edition. For more information, go to www.acu.edu/shinnery. Pepperdine School of Law will be interviewing prospective law school students on campus Nov. 2-3. Ken Starr, dean of Pepperdine School of Law, will be interviewing prospective students for the Pepperdine program. Students interested in meeting Starr can contact Mel Hailey at Ext. 2095 or by e-mail at hailey@pols.acu.edu to set up an appointment. A special prayer program in
Fort Worth is being conducted for students interested in praying for God’s work in Africa. Students from ACU, Harding University and other campuses will assemble in Fort Worth for an all-night prayer program. For more information, go to www.jabulaniafrica.org. A van will be going from ACU. Interested students can contact Dan McVey at Ext. 3756 or by e-mail at mcvey@bible.acu.edu for more information. The Spiritual Life Core is providing the opportunity to be involved in a small-group study for one hour per week. The groups will be going through the book Not Even A Hint by Joshua Harris. Students wishing to participate in a small group with other students can email cer00a@acu.edu.
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@jmc.acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
Annual Crime, Security Report for 2003 released On-campus criminal activity still relatively low and stable.
versity places on campus security. “While no campus is totally immune to crime, ACU has fairly low numBY APRIL WARD bers,” he said. “The universiPAGE 2 EDITOR ty places on staff and funds a A detailed report of all professional campus police criminal activity on and near department that serves the the ACU campus is now campus 24 hours a day, seven available to students in the days a week.” While numbers are down, 2003 annual Crime and Security Report released re- Ellison said the ACU police cently. The report, in accor- department works to lower dance with the Clery Act, them further by encouraging was filed by ACU Chief of students to protect themselves. The department Police Jimmy Ellison. “The Clery Act requires specifically focuses on lowall universities to report sev- ering the number of sexual eral categories of crime,” assault cases that he said Ellison said. “To make it almost always come from even more thorough, the date or acquaintance situaClery Act then requires that I tions rather than stranger take all of the information on attacks “We seem to average crimes and discipline matters and break that down by about one or two sexual assaults that get reported to the location they occur.” The report covers exten- us each year,” he said. “In my sive areas of crime like bur- opinion, that is one or two too many. This is glary, aggravat“Knowing what one reason we ed assault, encourage stumotor vehicle is going on dents to only be theft, arson and in sexual assaults. around us is the involved healthy dating In addition to these, viola- first step in being relationships and be prepared to tions resulting aware and look for warning in internal uniactive.” signs in their relaversity discitionships.” pline through Ellison said stuthe office of Jimmy Ellison, ACU Chief of Police dents can feel reaJudicial Affairs sonably safe at are also reported. These often include ACU compared to other uniweapons, drug, and liquor versities, but encourages students to read the report to be law violations. Ellison said the only aware of crime and safety in notable increase in crime their area. Students can was the number of burglaries access the report by going to on campus in 2003 from the www.acu.edu/crimestats or can follow the link from the previous year. “We had the rash of bur- ACU Police web site at glaries of dorm rooms last www.acu.edu/acupolice. January in Mabee Hall and “Everyone wants to be the burglary spree last March aware and informed of such in the JMC Center that important things like crime affected the total numbers and safety,” he said. reported,” Ellison said. “Knowing what is going on Unfortunately, Ellison around us is the first step in said, the Clery Act requires being aware and active.” crimes to be reported withCopies of the report can out allowing space to report also be obtained at the ACU successes. In many Police Department adminisinstances, the suspects have trative offices during regular been apprehended and pun- business hours. ished. Ellison said it is impor“We apprehended two tant for students to protect subjects in the Mabee Hall themselves and prevent burglaries and two suspects crime by being informed and in the JMC burglaries,” he vigilant. said. “The vast majority of “Stay aware, stay inthe stolen property from all formed and report suspicious of those cases was recov- activity before it turns into ered.” next year’s statistics,” he When measured against said. “Never get lulled into crime rates at other colleges thinking that ‘it can’t happen and universities, Ellison said here,’ or ‘it can’t happen to ACU compares very well me.’” with schools both in state and across the country. He attributes this to the overall character of the student body E-mail Ward at: alw02b@acu.edu and the importance the uni-
CAMPUS NEWS
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Page 3
KACU pledge drive raises money for public radio JMC students volunteer to work pledge drive to maintain station By TIFFANY TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
KACU’s annual fall pledge drive begins Thursday and ends Oct. 20. Listeners, numbering up to 12,000 a week, can call the station 24 hours a day during the pledge drive to donate money or can donate money through the KACU Web site. “We try to raise about $30,000 from pledges, said Terri Peterson, assistant development director for KACU. “We hope to raise more than $30,000 this time.” Peterson said donations are important to KACU because the pledge drives provide 60 percent of the radio station’s
funds. ACU and Federal Grants each supply the other 40 percent of funds with 20 percent each, which is not enough money to pay for public syndication, student hosts and equipment. KACU has to pay public radio fees to National Public Radio and Public Radio International for distributing KACU’s programs. As a public radio station, the ACU-based station does not run commercials for funding. “This market is just barely maintainable,” said Marla Flippin, senior broadcast journalism major from League City. “We’re doing better than we’ve ever done.” Around 200 JMC students will answer phones during the drive, and nearly 100 guests and student announcers will have two to five
minute spots three to four times an hour during the pledge drive to talk about why they like KACU. Flippin said one of her jobs as a host for community guests is to help them feel comfortable and relaxed while on air. Other student announcers will be broadcasting live from various locations such as Java City and the Art Walk, which Flippin said is “good publicity for the radio station, [and] good for announcer-listener relationship.” Besides giving the students a chance to get out into the Abilene community, Flippin also said that listeners hear the announcer’s voices and find it refreshing to put a face to a voice. KACU will broadcast live from Art Walk this Thursday in front of United Way from 7-9 p.m. and Java City
There’s a Fountain Free
Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. Each year, donors receive a coffee cup for a donation of $35. This year’s theme of, “KACU- The Custom Blend,” and the coffee bean logo will be on the cup. KACU offers listeners several options for how listeners can donate money in increments of $35, $60, $120 or $240. When donors give at least $60 they receive a thermos, for $120 they receive the coffee mug and a 12 oz. bag of coffee named the KACU Custom Blend by Java City, the distributor, and for $240, donors receive all three gifts. KACU also offers the dollar-a-day pledge plan of $365. The donor receives all three gifts and 15 public service announcements in their name for the non-profit organization of their choice.
BY DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
ArtWalk festival brings culture Downtown Abilene conducts monthly celebration of arts By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
Once a month, downtown Abilene comes to life as various museums, stores and restaurants open their doors to participate in ArtWalk, downtown Abilene’s major artistic event that takes place every second Thursday of the month. This Thursday, the theme for ArtWalk is “ARTober” and will take place from 5-8:30 p.m. “It’s a fall theme, although there’s not any fall artwork,” said Brady Nichols, gallery manager for the Center for Contemporary Arts. Nichols said the biggest event will be the Erinshire Gardens Folk Festival, where various folk musicians will serenade ArtWalkers across the downtown area. The Center for Contemporary Arts will offer three exhibits, including “7 Trains of Thought,” featuring works by
seven artists who are in some way connected to Texas Tech’s art school. Another exhibit is called “Multi-layered,” meaning some of the paintings appear to have depth while others have actual elements coming off the canvas. Ruth Jackson, an artist whose work is featured in the “Multi-Layered” exhibit, is an ACU graduate and former teacher in the ACU Department of Art and Design. The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature will feature the work of Stan and Jan Berenstain, creators of the Berenstain Bears series. The exhibit includes interactive elements along with drawings from the series. The Paramount Theatre will show Super Size Me, an awardwinning documentary about obesity in America, at 7:30 p.m., and the Grace Museum will have a free art activity for ArtWalkers. Abilene City Hall will showcase the Summer Photography Exhibit, featuring over 100 photographs from the city of Abilene Recreation Division’s summer art program.
Five different restaurants and coffee houses will be open, some of which will be have live music or art exhibits. Also, the 2004 Shinnery Review, a collection of poems and short stories by ACU students, will be on sale at various locations. ArtWalk was conceived in 1993 and had several purposes initially, said Richard Metzger, executive director of the Center for Contemporary Arts. “We wanted to help revitalize downtown and make Abilene a better city, but we also wanted to give artists a place to display their work,” he said. Metzger said that ArtWalk attendance has grown to between 1,200 and 1,700 people on average. Overall, he said that ArtWalk has been extremely beneficial to Abilene. “It’s been tremendous for the city,” Metzger said. “ArtWalk in Abilene has become a model for the entire state of Texas.” E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
Custom Blend” pledge drive started last spring after Daniel Barcroft drew the logo and they decided a theme. Two months ago, letters were sent to past donors notifying them of the upcoming pledge drive and giving them the opportunity to donate money early. KACU started air spots read by nonprofit organizations such as the Red Cross, Classical Chorus and the Noah Project for the drive about a month ago, giving them free exposure and KACU outside support. Pledge drive information can be found on http://www.kacu.org/pledge.h tml and donors can pledge over the phone by calling Ext. 2441. E-mail Taylor at: tat04a@acu.edu
Mount St. Helens could erupt Scientists wait, wonder if great volcano will devastate once again
Physical Resource workers Philip Stringer (left), senior accounting major from Grand Seline, and Dree Ryen, senior industrial technology major from Trinidad and Tabago, clean the GATA Fountain Tuesday.
In return for the custom blend provided by Java City, KACU has provided free underwriting for the company where the announcer will acknowledge Java City as the program’s sponsor, as well as mentioning it frequently while broadcasting live from the coffee house. Stan Chapman, a regular donor and owner of Chapman and Son’s bookbinding service said, “I think public radio is really important to support because it gives us an alternative to all the commercial radio out there.” Chapman, who said he donates to KACU and will be a guest Monday at Java City, said he believes public radio is less biased since its purpose is not to make money, thus KACU is more likely to offer unique programming. Planning for “KACU-The
Mount St. Helens erupted 24 years ago in a devastating display of fire and rock. On Sept. 29, the great volcano began rumbling again. Mount St. Helens, located in southern Washington, began issuing steam thousands of feet into the air, raising questions about the possibility of another eruption. The reports of most scientists say that while there might be another eruption, the chance of it matching the 1980 disaster is highly unlikely. Derek Straker, freshman finance major from Vancouver, WA, said he’s not concerned. “In 1980, we saw about two inches of ash on the ground, but this won’t even be like last time,” Straker said. The 110,000 acre area sur-
rounding the mountain was declared a national monument in 1982, so the area isn’t as accessible to campers as it once was. When the volcano erupted early on a Sunday morning 24 years ago, the emission didn’t occur in the traditional way, with the primary eruption issuing from the crater into the air. Instead, one whole side of the mountain exploded, sending mass amounts of gas and debris laterally into the surrounding forests. Dr. Merlin Mann, associate professor of journalism and mass communication, grew up about 150 miles south of Mount St. Helens. Mann said that initially, some steam rose out of the mountain and everyone was evacuated. The problem was, it didn’t blow. “Warnings rang hollow after 60 days,” Mann said. Some people went beyond the warning signs and returned to the area. Once it blew, 57 people were killed. Returning to the site, Mann said it’s an amazing experience.
“It’s unlike anything else you’ll ever see,” Mann said. “It’s like a moonscape.” Most of the devastation was left untouched, allowing nature to take its natural course. “You can see pieces of rock that have been driven into trees and huge trees toppled like matchsticks,” Mann said. “There’s a house filled with six feet of deposits.” Mann agrees that if the volcano were to erupt again, it won’t cause the same problems. “The side of the mountain that blew isn’t there anymore,” he said, “so it wouldn’t have the same devastating effect, even if it erupted with the same power.” The eruption destroyed much of the surrounding area and it will likely be years before it recovers. “Some trees have already returned, but there’s no pristine lake where people vacation,” Mann said.
E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
CAMPUS NEWS/FROM THE FRONT PAGE
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Flu: Other options could be available Continued from Page 1 Rector said students with asthma, chronic heart conditions or other serious medical problems will be given priority on campus to receive the vaccine. He said the medical clinic usually administers about 500-800 shots each year, and he is looking at other options to help prevent an outbreak. A nasal spray, FluMist, was approved last year by the Food and Drug Administration for healthy people ages 5 to 49, and Rector said he will probably know within three weeks whether it will be available on campus. FluMist is a vaccine that protects against the flu like the shot does. Also, the medical clinic has previously offered two medications that will probably be available this year: one to help reduce the chance of contracting the virus after contact with an infected person, and another to help lessen the severity of the illness once a person has suffered initial symptoms. Rector said although fewer people will receive the shot, he doesn’t anticipate a more severe flu season.
“I don’t think it’s going to be any more than in years past,” he said, “but part of that has been based on the aggressiveness of the flu strain itself. That is a matter of good guesswork by the experts worldwide, and they’re not predicting anything particularly aggressive this year as far as the strain of the virus. “That is good news, so [there is] hope if you get it, it may not be as severe as some in the past.” Rector said if students are not able to obtain the vaccine from the campus medical clinic, they can call the AbileneTaylor County Public Health District, which will conduct a vaccination clinic on Friday at the Civic Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To avoid contracting the virus, the CDC recommends avoiding close contact with others, staying home when you’re sick, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Angela Estes, director of nursing at the campus medical clinic, said in an e-mail that
Flu vaccine criteria • Children ages 6 to 23 months • Persons 65 years and above • People between ages 2 and 64 with serious, underlying medical problems • All women who will become pregnant during the flu sea son • Residents of nursing homes and long term care facilities • Children and teens (aged six months to eighteen years) who are taking daily longterm aspirin therapy • Health care workers with direct patient care • Out of home caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months old
these steps will help prevent a rash of on-campus cases of the flu. “We need to keep in mind that not getting the vaccine does not mean that we have to get the flu,” Estes said. “The choices that we make to stay healthy and to practice good hygiene will in part determine the incidence of the disease in our community and on our campus.” E-mail Bredemeyer at: lmb00g@acu.edu
Trevathan: Book available to sign Continued from Page 1 “He will be missed tremendously,” said Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “He felt so blessed to teach, and we’re thankful for every one of the students he blessed.” Trevathan was selected as the university’s Teacher of the Year in 2001 and continued to serve as associate general counsel. In March, Trevathan suffered his first heart attack and had four stints put in his heart — a procedure that kept him out of the classroom for only a week. “ACU has lost a true friend
“He felt so blessed to teach, and we’re thankful for every one of the students he blessed.” Dr. Colleen Durrington, chair of the College of Arts and Sciences
and a popular teacher and mentor,” said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, who was out of the state but spoke with Media Relations. “He will be missed by the entire ACU family and alumni worldwide.” Students, faculty and staff will be able to sign a book or write notes to the family all day Wednesday in the Administration Building Room 109.
Trevathan is survived by his wife, Phyllis, who worked in the university’s Career Services until she retired in May, and three daughters , Carol Turner, Julie Bowie and Karen Trevathan Gunn. —Lori Bredemeyer contributed to this report. E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Week focuses on health Wellness Week emphasized ‘mind, body and spirit’
“We really feel that spiritual issues are important to mental and physical health.” Steve Rowlands, director of the University Counseling Center
SUSAN SPIVEY STUDENT REPORTER
ACU’s eighth annual Wellness Week, which focused on improving students’ awareness of health issues, concluded Friday. Wellness Week, sponsored by the University Counseling Center, medical clinic, Campus Activity Board, ACT and the Peer Health Education Program, featured four days of activities highlighting different aspects of wellness. “It’s a whole week emphasizing mind, body and spirit,” said Steve Rowlands, director of the University Counseling Center. Rowlands said by October many students are struggling with academic and personal problems, all of Rowlands which affect health. “The honeymoon’s worn off,” Rowlands said. “Wellness Week is to help students deal with the stress of the semester.” This year’s Wellness Week theme, “Passion for Life,” encouraged students to embrace life mentally, physically and spiritually, Rowlands said. He said the theme’s wording was a nod to Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ. Each day had a related theme. Tuesday focused on spiritual health with “Re-igniting the Passion.” Activities opened with a Chapel presentation about “Filling the GodShaped Hole” by Phil Ware,
minister at Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin. After Chapel, Ware hosted a brown bag luncheon and spoke about “Re-igniting the Passion: Journey With God.” “We really feel that spiritual issues are important to mental and physical health,” Rowlands said. Tuesday through Thursday in the Campus Center, the counseling center and students in the Concepts of Health and Fitness classes presented booths emphasizing each day’s theme. All students in Concepts of Health and Fitness were assigned these presentations, and the best ones were chosen to be displayed in the Campus Center, said Elizabeth Russell, freshman undeclared major from College Station. Russell, along with Randy Royce, freshman music education major from Bedford, and Nathan Driskell, freshman music education major from Austin, used their booth to provide a way for students to connect with their friends, Russell said. “We had people write encouragement notes to their friends and stick them on our board,” Russell said. “Then their friends could come by and get them. It’s a good way to build people up.” Wednesday’s theme was “Discovering Wholeness, Hope and Peace,” and the counseling center offered screenings for depression, anxiety and stress in the Campus Center. Rowlands said he expects two to 12 students to seek counseling for these problems
as a result of the Wellness Week screenings. Thursday focused on physical health with “Developing a Passionate Lifestyle,” and the medical clinic offered information about healthy habits and nutrition in the Campus Center, Rowlands said. Students who visited enough booths were eligible to enter a drawing for prizes, like a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate or a full-body massage from Class-E-Touch. “Unstress Day” was planned for Friday with a dunking tank, rock wall, Twister and obstacle course outside Moody Coliseum to emphasize the theme of “Enjoying the Journey,” according to the Wellness Week Web site. However, Rowlands said it was canceled because of last week’s rain. A flu vaccine clinic planned for Friday was also canceled because of a flu vaccine shortage, according to the Web site. Despite the weather, Friday’s activities concluded with the Wildcat Walk, a onemile walk around campus. Students, faculty and staff met in the mall area, and the first 50 students to sign up were awarded a step meter, Rowlands said. Wildcat Walk participants were encouraged to bring old T-shirts and exchange them for new ones, according to the Web site. The old T-shirts were going to be donated to Healing Hands International. E-mail Spivey at: optimist@acu.edu
October 13, 2004
FOCUSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 5
Through the changes and the years,
Lightfoot holds on to faith Dr. Neil Lightfoot has been teaching in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry since 1958.
W
STORY BY WARREN GRAY • PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMILY CHASTAIN
hen Dr. Neil Lightfoot arrived in 1958, Abilene Christian College had two chapels but only one dean. Don Morris was the president, and classes met on Saturdays. Today, Abilene Christian University has multiple deans but only one chapel. Don Morris is the name of a building, not the president, and no classes meet in the Don Morris Center on Saturdays. In 46 years, many things have changed, but one has not — Dr. Neil Lightfoot is still teaching Bible. In 2003, even that almost changed. In July of that year, Ollie Lightfoot, Dr. Lightfoot’s wife of more than 52 years, died of pancreatic cancer. “It was absolutely devastating,” Lightfoot said. “She did everything for me.” After more than 40 years of teaching, he considered retiring. Lightfoot says one thing pulled him through — the word of God. “That’s the only thing that keeps me going.” He dealt with his wife’s illness the same way he had dealt with other problems, by relying on God. “I absolutely don’t know how people who aren’t Christians go through what I went through with the loss of Ollie,” Lightfoot said. “I believe the word of God changes people’s lives.” With this conviction, Lightfoot estimates he has taught roughly 14,000 students at ACU about the Bible. Dr. Royce Money, president of ACU, and Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, are two of Lightfoot’s most recog-
Dr. Neil Lightfoot glances at the Gospel of John. He has taught a class on the chapter for more than 40 years.
nized pupils. Money had Lightfoot for numerous courses, including second year Greek. He said Lightfoot was very passionate about teaching and went about it in a memorable manner. “He had a unique teaching style,” Money said. “I would call it simple but profound.” Simple would not describe the illuminated manuscript given to Lightfoot by a former student. The book of artwork with decorative text and intricate designs, proudly displayed on Lightfoot’s living room coffee table, presents scripture in Greek and portraits of biblical figures in a unique, ornate fashion. It is one of many memories he keeps from those he has taught. “I have numerous letters from former students; they’ve said ‘Dr. Lightfoot you may not know this but I was in your class and that course turned my life around,’” Lightfoot said. “But it’s not me — it’s the word of God.” One of Lightfoot’s favorite scriptures in the book illustrates his feelings, and it’s one he enjoys reading aloud. “For the word of God is energetic and sharper than any two-edged sword,” he reads from the Greek text. “That’s Hebrews 4:1-2.” Money recalls Lightfoot’s affinity for scripture from when he was in the classroom. “He is somebody that believes in the power of the word of God about as much as anyone I’ve ever met,” Money said. “He believes, and lives it. He teaches it.” Lightfoot’s family members say his faith and appreciation for the word, along with the faith of his wife, shone through even stronger with the onset of Ollie’s illness. “When Mother got sick, no matter who came to visit, whoever it was, they always had a prayer,” Donna Thompson, Lightfoot’s daughter, said as she fought back tears. “It was just such a natural thing.” Lightfoot and his wife moved in with another one of their daughters, Michelle McElroy, in Dallas for seven months during Ollie’s illness so Ollie could receive treatment at nearby Presbyterian Hospital. Those seven months offered McElroy an opportunity to see her
father’s faith in the most difficult of times and presented Lightfoot with another avenue by which to share the word of God. At the time, McElroy and her family were attending a new congregation named Crossview Church of Christ, and Lightfoot wanted to help the church get started. “He preached nearly every Sunday while they were here, and Mom even tried to be there too,” McElroy said. For many years, Lightfoot had been a full-time preacher. But when the opportunity to teach at a university came along, he jumped at it. “With teaching, you can teach the Bible every day, not just weekly,” Lightfoot said. Besides teaching and preaching, Lightfoot has excelled in writing as well. He has published many books, including three editions of How We Got The Bible, which now has sold more than one million copies. Near the conclusion of the writing of the third edition in December of 2002, Ollie became ill. In January she asked to whom he would dedicate the book. “She had never asked me. All the various books I had done, she had never asked me that,” Lightfoot said. “I imagine she was wondering whether she would live that long.” She did live long enough to see the book and the dedication page with her name on it. “I’d done a book on parables that I’d dedicated to my daughters; the Hebrews book I’d dedicated to people who had been great servants of Christ. But the How We Got The Bible book was the first book I ever did, and it’s always been dedicated to her,” Lightfoot said. “I just put ‘For Ollie.’” While Lightfoot dedicated his books to his wife, his life has always been dedicated to Christ. He said the importance of God’s word in people’s lives has been central to his life and ministry. “I know in my own life how it’s changed me, how it’s changed others, how it greatly blessed our marriage and how it’s blessed our children,” Lightfoot said. Money said Lightfoot’s message on the importance of scripture was clear in his
teaching. “He’s one of the early spiritual role models I had,” Money said. “He showed me how to be a minister of the word and a scholar at the same time.” For more than 40 years, Lightfoot has spent his time imparting his reverence for scripture to students by way of the course entitled the Gospel of John. Ollie was fond of his work on the gospel. At her request, Lightfoot has written books on the subject; Ollie even took the class. Lightfoot said she enjoyed the class but, just like the other students, had to work very hard and spent many hours on the 40 questions Lightfoot assigned each semester. “I was very glad when the course was over; I could finally eat again,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot has since lightened the question load to 20 per semester, but he said he still enjoys teaching the class. “I spend more time preparing for my classes than anything else,” L i g h t f o o t Dr. Neil Lightfoot holds a picture of his said. “I got wife, Ollie, who died in July 2003. new books yesterday on the Gospel of John.” Even when Lightfoot eventually retires, he will still look for ways to convey the message of Christ to students. “If I do decide to retire in the next year or two, I will continue to teach,” Lightfoot said. “I feel that students need these text Bible courses, and I’ll do that probably without any salary from the university.” After all these years, some things never change. “I’ll just teach.”
VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
Page 6
Sources make ACU better campus
The issue: The Optimist prints similar stories every year with similar sources, which can seem irksome to those interviewed.
Our view: The Optimist serves a purpose on campus, and cooperative sources help fulfill that purpose.
The solution: Sources should continue to treat reporters with seriousness. Without sources, the newspaper wouldn’t exist.
October 13, 2004
At the Optimist we face a continuous dilemma: The same events happen every year, with the same groups of people and usually the same outcomes. But every year we write stories about these events because they’re news, and students deserve to hear about them. However, in covering these stories, reporters have to talk to the correct sources, and these sources tend to stay the same every year. By now, some members of the staff and faculty must be getting pretty tired of answering the same
questions every Cooperative sources improve the year. The way the of information on campus. Optimist works makes it even more irksome for sources. Every semester a new time taken to be interviewed and group of students begins reporting the seriousness with which you for their Basic News class. In this treat the topics. class they learn to interview and The Optimist has an important to write simple news stories. role on campus; newspapers keep However, throughout the learning leadership accountable and peoprocess, the students are required ple informed. Cooperative sources to write articles for the Optimist improve the flow of information and interview important sources. on campus and help journalism The Optimist would like to students learn how to be effective thank faculty, staff and students reporters. for cooperating with reporters of By cooperating with reporters, all skill levels. We appreciate the sources improve the overall quali-
Baseball still fun way to pass time I went home last weekend, felt I should be playing baseball, and as I sat in my living room like in The Sandlot. watching baseball with my Growing up in Texas, so father, mainly Jose Lima’s shut- much emphasis is placed on out of the Card- football you would think that it inals, I realized was America’s pastime. Some how much I en- may consider it so, but I would joy baseball. beg to differ. Maybe the fast We talked a- pace and barbaric nature of the bout our fav- sport reflects the change in our orite baseball society over the past century, movies while which is why it could be conhe explained to sidered the new pastime of I am the me some of the choice. rules and stratBut I will still cling to baseEnemy egies of the ball as being the true pastime, Sarah Carlson game. and one of the main constants I don’t know anything about in American life. It’s fathers and the sport really, except that the children playing catch in the players hit the ball and then run spring. It’s families going to around the bases trying to get to games together and ordering $5 home. OK, I know a little more hot dogs and $4 sodas. Ah, the than that, but I think the beauty American way of life. It’s watchof the sport is ing baseball mothat you don’t vies like Field of Ah, the American Dreams (my favhave to be a dieorite) and havhard fan and way of life. It’s ing the urge to know tons of statistics to enwatching movies call your parents. If you don’t joy it. like Field of cry or at least get My first machoked up when jor league baseDreams ... and Kevin Costner ball game exhaving the urge to asks his ghostperience was in May at Camden if he call your parents. of-a-dad Yards in wants to have a Baltimore where catch on the the Orioles played the Yankees. field he built for him, then you Every time Derek Jeter or Alex don’t have a soul. Rodriguez went on the field the Last year, I wasted four hours crowd booed. A sudden shower of my life watching the Yankees delayed the game, which ended beat the Red Sox in game 7 of up lasting five hours, and we the ALCS. Even though I’m not still had an hour bus ride to get a huge fan, I couldn’t help feelhome. It was fabulous. ing an overwhelming sense of My second baseball game defeat, believing that once again came in August when I saw the something is not right with the Rangers play the Devil Rays. I world because evil keeps prewasn’t prepared for the fire- vailing over good. One of my works and the theme music friends almost went into from The Natural (my dad’s mourning. And here it is again, favorite baseball movie) when another year, and I hope not they had a homerun, and I another disappointment. couldn’t help feeling like an But I’ll keep watching and excited kid when I heard that attending the games, and I hope music and the crowd erupting I will live in a city with a major with cheers. league team in it. Maybe Boston. When I watched fireworks at Crutcher Scott Field this Fourth of July while Ray Charles’ E-mail Carlson at: optimist@acu.edu or skc02a@acu.edu America the Beautiful played, I
“I’m just studying and trying to make it.”
In Your Words How are you dealing with midterms?
Ty Manning freshman education major from Corsicana “Well, I only have one, but I’m just trying to answer as many review questions as I can and pray to God that I do well.”
“I’m stressed.”
Chris Martin
Ariel Marrs
senior Christian ministry major from Abilene
freshman biochemistry major from Bronte
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
Nineteen months to find the ‘right guy’ Nineteen months till graduation. I only have one month to find the right guy, one year to date and six months to be engaged before my wedding day. I thought I found the “right guy” last week. I saw an ad in the classifieds Much Ado for beach weddings in South About Something Padre and asked my friend if Jaci Schneider he wanted to go get married. So we skipped the whole dating thing and started planning the wedding right away. I was excited; I’m about to turn 21, and I was afraid my time was running out. But alas, my engagement only lasted 2 hours. I spilled water on the “right guy” so he
But after a semester at ACU, I realized that 23 was much too old. said he hated me and broke off the whole shebang. I was heartbroken for a good five minutes, certain I was doomed to spinsterhood for the rest of my life. But I brushed myself off and changed my attitude, determined not to let one grumpy guy ruin my chances at happiness. After all, I still have two weeks until my birthday — plenty of time to find that special someone. As a child, I used to think that I would like to get married at age 23. I don’t know what it is about that age — it just seemed right. But after a semester at ACU, I realized that 23 was much too old. By the time I turn 23, I’ll be out of
college. What on earth will I do if I have to graduate without a husband? I don’t think I can make it on my own. Will I have to rent my own apartment, take care of my own car and kill spiders myself? But I’ve been thinking recently, it might not be so bad to live on my own. I can do whatever I want, live wherever I want and make decisions without worrying about another person—I can be selfish. After all, in 2003 the average American woman got married at age 25, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Maybe I don’t have to rush out and find the “right guy” this month. Heck, I don’t even have to find the “right guy” at ACU. Guys
do exist outside of Abilene, even Christian ones. You know, I think that might be a good plan. Graduate, find a job, live somewhere cool for a while and then maybe worry about getting married. It might be kind of fun. At least then I don’t have to worry about settling for an OK guy at ACU, when the “right guy” might be out there somewhere, waiting until I turn 30 to find me and marry me. I’m not opposed to meeting someone here at ACU and getting married after graduation, I just don’t know how realistic that is. And I don’t want my heart to be broken every time a twohour engagement comes crashing to an end. E-mail Schneider at: optimist@acu.edu or jrs02a@acu.edu
Officers’ GPA should set example to students After reading the Friday edition of the Optimist, I was astonished to learn about the lack of academic standards held by the majority of our student government representatives. The Students’ Association voted down a bill that would have raised the GPA requirement for SA executive officer candidates to a mediocre 3.0 from the present sub-standard 2.5. This letter is to all the members who voted against this bill. Do you truly believe that it is right to allow a student who is barely passing to run for an executive office that more than likely will bring down his/her GPA even more?
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist Editorial Board 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, its Editorial Board or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors
to a question leads to more questions focusing on that topic; many times the reporter will shift the whole direction of an interview and a story based on the answer to one question. Questions answered by e-mail take away the freedom of the reporter to be flexible and find new angles to stories. Typed replies are often incomplete, boring and lack relevant information. To everyone who has ever been an Optimist source, thank you for cooperating with novice reporters. Without sources, ACU would not have a newspaper, and students would be less informed.
ty of the Optimist. When sources take time to meet with reporters in person, the reporters can gain more insight into the story. He or she can begin conversations with the source and obtain interesting and informative quotes. A personal interview also allows the reporter to find new angles to the story and can lead the reporter to ask more questions that may deviate from the original intent. E-mail interviews, while convenient, severely limit the reporter. Often a source’s answer
flow
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@jmc.acu.edu
As Christians I believe we are called to hold our brothers and sisters accountable and to always have their best interests in mind. If we allow for “C” average students to run for executive officers, we are ultimately allowing them to fail by sacrificing their grades to serve us. We need to serve them by serving their best interests. To be a student body executive officer you must not only care about your peers and have the heart and desire to lead us, but you must also serve as an example by fulfilling your educational objectives. A “B” average is not exceptional, but it is easily attainable. By the way, in the past it
OPTIMIST THE
YOUR VOICE
seems the student body has had no idea what the executive officer candidates’ GPAs were because they have not been published. I believe the student body has the right to this information. SA officers receive a scholarship that pays around $2,800 a semester. I do not know of any scholarships on campus that allow a student to maintain such a low GPA. This is our money. We have a right to know where it goes and to whom. We set the rules. Currently, all of the executive officer membership exemplifies the high academic standards need-
Re: The Optimist, Oct. 10 “Congress votes not to change executive officer rules” by Jonathan Smith, editor.
ed. That does not mean though that this assumed standard will not go unbroken. Please let your representative on Congress know that your standards are higher than a 2.5 for your student body officers. Aaron Wilder freshman IMC major from Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Optimist Editorial Board
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JUMPS
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Page 7
Football: West Texas A&M next up for Cats Continued from Page 8 blown a lead to lose the game. Last week against Eastern New Mexico, Angelo led 28-6 with 0:57 seconds left in the third quarter, when the Rams allowed 32 points in the final 15:57 and managed to only score 7 more in the 38-35 loss. The Wildcat offense struggled the entire game under the direction of red-shirt freshman Brock Pierce. Pierce was 9 of 21 for just 106 yards and his only interception came when he underthrew receiver Jerale Badon in the end zone. When the offense couldn’t punch the ball past the goal line, they turned to Nelson. Nelson delivered with three field goals in as many attempts, hitting from 24 yards twice in the second quarter and hit a 29-yard try in the third. “They were basically chip shots … but in a close game every point counts so those field goals are something you can’t take for granted,” Nelson said. For the sixth straight game, the Wildcats have been outgained by their opponents in
total offensive yardage. On Saturday, the Rams out-gained ACU by more than 100 yards (323-197), and if the Wildcats want to come up with a victory this Saturday in Canyon, they will need to put some points on the board as West Texas A&M is currently averaging 35 points a game. A win Saturday would move the team to 2-1 in South division play, and put them over the .500 mark on the season. ACU will be without its starting running back Saturday. Sophomore Mark Gaines broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle in the second half against Angelo. The Wildcats will look to Rashon Myles and Charles Williams to fill the void and Gaines said that starting fullback Brett Unger may get a chance to carry the ball as well. Myles is currently averaging 4.6 yards a carry with 284, while Williams has a 3.9 average with 136 total yards. Unger has not carried the ball yet in his fouryear career.
0 7
12 7
E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu
3 8
ASU 10 40-186 137 24-9-1 64-323 0-0 5-26 4-67 1-39 6-36.8
ACU Fumbles-Lost 0-0 Penalties-Yards 5-49 Possession Time 28:48 Third-Down Conversions 3 of 16 Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 2 Red-Zone Conversions 3-4 Sacks By: Number-Yards 1-5
By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
ASU 1-1 5-42 31:12 5 of 16 0 of 2 3-3 2-19
RUSHING: ASU-Alexis Cooper 17-81; Bill Renfro 8-61; Sol Southall 4-17; Trey Weishuhn 4-14; Mathus Gill 5-11; Jason Neyland 2-2. ACU-Rashon Myles 18-65; Mark Gaines 7-18; Ch. Williams 7-15; Warren Rogers 1-0; Brock Pierce 4-minus 7. PASSING: ASU-Sol Southall 7-17-1-116; Trey Weishuhn 2-7-0-21. ACU-Brock Pierce 9-21-1106. RECEIVING: ASU-Justin Carter 3-23; Lamar Hickey 1-80; Travis House 1-18; Aundrus Poole 15; Brandon Covington 1-4; Alexis Cooper 1-4; Bill Renfro 1-3. ACU-Dillon Cobb 3-24; Jerale Badon 1-45; WarrenRogers 1-24; John Brock 1-19; Mark Gaines 1-0; Brett Unger 1-minus 2; Ch. Williams 1-minus 4.
Flying: Cats begin with little experience Continued from Page 1 all. “Eighty to 90 percent of the kids come to the club with no experience in gymnastics,” he said, “so we often work heavily on style and form.” Zickefoose Sanderson has been involved with the Flying Cats for four years after a friend suggested it to him his freshman year. “I was told by a friend to take gymnastics with Ben Zickefoose,” he said, “and I
really enjoyed it and decided to join.” Zickefoose has been involved with gymnastics at ACU since he arrived on campus in 1951. As a freshman, he and another student taught gymnastics classes, and he has been strongly involved in the club and gymnastics on campus since. The club, which currently has about 20 members, practices twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:30 p.m.
E-mail Schmidt at: optimist@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Coach Horn, Wildcats face her former team in San Angelo
1st Quarter: ASU - Justin Carter 11 yd pass from Sol Southall (Bryan Hepler kick) 2nd Quarter: ACU - Eben Nelson 24 yd field goal ACU - Nelson 24 yd field goal ASU - Alexis Cooper 3 yd run (Bryan Hepler kick) ACU - Danieal Manning 91 yd kickoff return (Brock Pierce pass failed 3rd Quarter: ACU - Nelson 29 yd field goal ASU - Lamar Hickey 80 yd pass from Sol Southall (Mathus Gill rush) 4th Quarter: ASU - Hepler 42 yd field goal ACU - Dawon Gentry 73 yd punt return (Nelson kick) ACU - Manning 44 yd fumble recovery (Nelson kick) ACU 10 38-91 106 21-9-1 59-197 1-44 2-91 4-164 1-21 7-38.6
February it’s going to be amazing the condition we’re in compared to where we are now.” Puglia said the conditioning will include weight lifting, running and plenty of 5 a.m. sessions. “Coach is pretty big on fitness,” Puglia said. Tafazoli said the team is pumped up about getting into better shape and said that will be his main goal during the team’s break from competition. “I just want to get as physically fit as I can,” Tafazoli said. Once the spring rolls around the Wildcats will look to defend their conference championships from a year ago. Judging from their recent success, they’re on the right track. “We’re close,” Jones said. “We’re an awfully good team.” E-mail Gray at: weg02a@acu.edu
Battle of unbeatens to be fought Thursday night
14 - 29 3 - 25
Scoring Summary:
FIRST DOWNS................ RUSHES-YARDS (NET) PASSING YDS (NET) Pass Att-Comp-Int TOTAL OFF. PLAYS-YDS Fumble Returns-Yards Punt Returns-Yards Kickoff Returns-Yards Int. Returns-Yards Punts (Number-Avg)
Continued from Page 8
Sophomore starting strong safety Danieal Manning drags Angelo State sophomore safety Brandon Davis en route to the end zone after a 91-yard kick-off return for a touchdown in Saturday’s 29-25 victory.
Box Score Abilene Christian... Angelo State......
Tennis: Getting fit for spring
The Wildcat volleyball team will look to take sole possession of first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division Thursday when they travel to San Angelo to play Angelo State at 7 p.m. in the Junell Center. San Angelo and ACU are currently tied for first place in the LSC South Division with each team owning a 4-0 conference record. The Lady Belles improved their record to 17-4 and 4-0 in the LSC South Division this
season with a three-game sweep over Tarleton State on Saturday. The Wildcats inflated their record to 18-6 and 4-0 in the LSC South Division by dismissing Texas A&MKingsville 3-0 Saturday. ACU and ASU have sevHorn eral ties, most notably with Wildcat head coach Brek Horn. Horn graduated from Angelo State University in 1996. She amassed numerous awards during her tenure at ASU including academic all-Lone Star Conference and the Nathan’s Jewelers Award as team MVP in 1994 and 1995. Horn also
Volleyball helped lead ASU to the LSC championship in 1992 – the last time the Lady Belles advanced to the post-season. “It was a little awkward when I first came back here because they played in the same gym that I played in, but now there’s a new gym,” Horn said. “I enjoyed my time at the university and the friendships I made there. But now the only thing I’m concerned about is beating them.” The Lady Belles are the surprise team of the LSC South in 2004. ASU was picked to finish fourth in the division, while the Wildcats were picked to finish second; one position behind West Texas A&M. Lady Belles head coach
Kathleen Brasfield, who coached Horn when she played at ASU, spoke highly of ACU before the season. “Abilene Christian returns a strong group of very athletic players who had a tremendous spring season and ... have a great shot at unseating West Texas A&M,” Brasfield said. For now, the Wildcats will focus on ASU. If ACU wins Thursday the team takes sole possession of first place in the LSC South Division. “ASU is playing well, but this is a game we should win,” Horn said. “We are working and we will be prepared on Thursday.” E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
FilmFest: Ceremony to be at Paramount Continued from Page 1 ing and a way to express themselves." In light of a more technological era, Darby said he decided FilmFest could help encourage more use of technology in the classroom. “Let’s empower people at ACU to learn more and teach
more and find new ways of teaching to capture students’ imaginations," Darby said. He said FilmFest might trigger boosting the educational experience through film. It will also present an Academy Awards-like night of entertainment premiering the top 10 films. The awards ceremony will
take place Nov. 12 at the Paramount Theatre beginning at 6:30 p.m. Awards will be given by 10 judges on the basis of three categories: entertainment, inspirational and informational. Students and faculty from Hardin-Simmons and McMurry universities as well as the Abilene community are invited
to participate in the event and the FilmFest symposium, where some of the judges can answer questions and teach about the benefits of visual media. The symposium will take place on Nov. 13, and the time and place have not been verified. E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu
Debates: College parties staying informed Continued from Page 1 vice presidential debate, the group also reserved the clubhouse Wednesday for the final presidential debate. Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major and chair of the College Republicans, said he’s glad the groups are working to keep students involved in the election. “It was fairly civil,” he said. “We didn’t spark any big debates.”
Perez said some people stayed after the debates to discuss the issues. “It was all in good humor,” she said. “We gave each other hugs and everything on the way out.” Perez said she hoped the coming election would draw more members to the group, but she’s surprised that membership has remained steady at about 25 since last year. “I thought because it was election year, people would be
more interested,” Perez said, “but both us and The third presi- the College Republicans dential debate are looking will air at 8 for nump.m. Wednesbers.” day on ABC, The ColCBS and NBC. lege Republicans have a steady membership of about 20 to 25, Bingham said. Many of the group’s mem-
Final Debate
bers watched the second presidential debate and the vice presidential debate at the election office of Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R.-19th District. The group will watch the third and final debate on Wednesday and will also offer free pizza. “There’s a whole lot at stake in this election,” Bingham said. “Stay involved and informed with the issues.” E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST
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Comeback Cats
LSC South Standings Football Team Div. 1. Midwestern State 3-0 2. E. New Mexico 3-0 3. A&M-Kingsville 2-0 4. ACU 1-1 5. A&M-Commerce 0-3 6. W. Texas A&M 0-3 7. Angelo State 0-3
Tot. 5-1 4-3 5-0 3-3 2-4 1-5 0-7
Div. 4-0 4-0 1-2 0-2 0-2 0-3
By ANDY JEFFREY
Tot. 17-4 18-6 7-14 15-5 15-9 13-11
STUDENT REPORTER
Scores Thursday Volleyball ACU 3, Tarleton State 0
Saturday Volleyball ACU 3, Texas A&M-Kingsville. 0 Football ACU 29, Angelo State 25
Briefs Senior cross country standout Bernard Manirakiza was named Lone Star Conference Men’s Runner of the Week last week, after finishing fourth at the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree Oct. 2. Manirakiza covered the 8,000meter course in 24:20, leading the team to a third-place finish. Adeh Mwamba claimed the same award on the women’s side after her sixth-place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree. Amidst heavy Division I competition, Mwamba ran a seasonbest time of 17:44 on the 5,000meter course, leading the Wildcats to a 10th-place team finish. Manirakiza and Mwamba are expected to place well individually at Saturday’s Chile Pepper Festival Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark. —Steve Holt, Sports Writer
This week in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Thursday, October 14 VB: at Angelo State, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 16 MCC: at Chile Pepper Festival, 10 a.m. WCC: at Chile Pepper Festival, 10 a.m. FB: at West Texas A&M, 6 p.m. Monday, October 18 G: at Rattler Invitational, 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 19 G: at Rattler Invitational, 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 20 WCC: at NCAA II nationals, 10 a.m. Thursday, October 21 VB: at Eastern New Mexico, 7 p.m.
Fantasy football prospers On-campus leagues form, players get NFL manager experience
Volleyball Team 1. Angelo State 2. ACU 3. A&M-Kingsville 4. E. New Mexico 5. West Texas A&M 6. Tarleton State
October 13, 2004
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Junior linebacker Matt Allen grabs Angelo State tailback Bill Renfro after Danieal Manning strips the ball loose. Manning took the ball 44 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats the go-ahead touchdown, sealing a 29-25 victory.
Defense, special teams carry Cats to win 14 points in six minutes lift Cats to even record at 3-3 By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR
Don’t count out the Wildcats when No. 11 is on the field. With just over six minutes left to go in the game, and ACU trailing 25-15, several students and faculty had already trekked back to their vehicles and headed home. But with the help of Dawon Gentry, Danieal Manning (No. 11) sparked a 14-point comeback, and the Wildcats beat the Angelo State Rams 29-25 Saturday. Having already returned a kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown
at the end of the first half, Manning and Gentry went deep to receive a punt with 6:20 to go. Since the Rams wouldn’t kick to Manning, Gentry fielded the punt and faked a pitch to Manning who passed behind him. The defense bought the fake, and 73 yards later, Gentry brought the Wildcats within four points. Eben Nelson, who Gentry had 11 points on the day, including three field goals, kicked an extra point to narrow the Angelo State lead 25-22. The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out on the Rams’ ensuing drive, but the Wildcat
Football offense was unable to respond and had the ball just 1:34 before punting it back to Angelo. At 0-6, the Rams tried to run out the clock, but on thirdand-one, the All-American M a n n i n g stripped the ball from Angelo tailback Bill Renfro. Manning He forced the fumble at the Rams’ 45-yard line, and the ball bounced into Manning’s hands, who in turn ran it 44 yards for a touchdown. Manning was the nation’s leader among Division II
schools in punt returns going into the game, but the Rams wouldn’t kick to him. However, after his two kickoff returns for a total of 119 yards Saturday, he became the country’s No. 1 kickoff-returner with an average of 32.8 yards on nine returns. Angelo couldn’t respond to the fumble return and dropped its seventh-straight contest this year. The win evens both ACU’s overall and Lone Star Conference South record to 3-3 and 1-1 respectively. “I think the phrase, ‘snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat’ holds true,” head coach Gary Gaines said of Saturday’s comeback. This was the second-straight week in which the Rams had See FOOTBALL Page 7
Fantasy football is once again thriving among college students around the country. Fantasy football leagues give the average fan the opportunity to act as coach, owner and president of an NFL team by drafting, trading, waiving and signing players. After a team is created of current NFL players, those players’ performances throughout the season determine the overall success of fantasy teams. “It’s a lot of fun competing against your friends,” said Randy Fuller, senior communications major from Fort Worth. “It is much more entertaining now watching an average Sunday afternoon football game.” Even though many who participate in these leagues do it solely for the entertainment, some leagues have cash prizes. “This is my fifth year to play but the first time I have played for money,” said Ryan Newhouse, senior management major from Fort Worth. Newhouse paid $100 to join a league of ACU students with the opportunity of winning $500 for first place. “It makes watching a game a lot more intense knowing that you could win some money if your players perform well,” Newhouse said. The Internet sites that provide fantasy leagues also have information and commentary from experts that can help participants make decisions to improve their team. Newhouse said Fantasy Football can be a lot of fun, but it can also become time consuming. “It’s a good thing,” Newhouse said, “but I probably spend more time playing than I should.” E-mail Jeffrey at: optimist@acu.edu
Wildcats dominate weekend tournament Team takes 13 of 18 possible titles in Wichita Falls By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
The ACU tennis team competed in the LSC Individual Championships last weekend as they looked to establish themselves as the top team in the conference. Thirteen championships later, coach Hutton Jones said they emphatically accomplished that goal. “Establish would be an understatement,” Jones said.
Tennis “We are the dominant team.” Eighteen individual titles were up for grabs at the LSC tournament, with six flights of singles and three flights of doubles on both the men’s and women’s sides. ACU came home with 13 of the titles. The women’s team was especially tough as they captured eight of the nine flights they competed in with Summer Beesley taking the only loss in the first flight of singles competition. Beesley teamed up with Rachel Taylor to win in flight one doubles, assuring that no woman went
home empty-handed. Taylor, Ashley Hawk-Caperton, Lana Pavlin and Holly Lindloff all finished with wins in singles and doubles, while Meagan Brown won her singles flight, and Joy Israel won a title in doubles. “It’s phenomenal what they did,” Jones said. “Quite an accomplishment.” The men’s team brought home its share of wins as well. The Wildcats won in the first, third and sixth flights of singles, and the first and third doubles flights. Five Wildcats — Artin Tafazoli, Kevin Beedy, Jason Ray, Evan Puglia and George Carstens —
came home with at least one title, leaving only ACU’s No. 2 player Casper Steenkamp without a title. Jones admitted that Steenkamp is going through a rough spot. “Casper’s kind of struggled this fall, but it’s not for lack of effort,” Jones said. “He’s not that far off; I’m not worried about it.” Steenkamp’s teammates agree with Jones’ thoughts on the subject. “He’ll be all right come spring,” Tafazoli said. While Steenkamp might not be on track yet, the ACU team’s presence was definitely felt at the tournament.
“We had a good feeling coming in that we were kind of the powerhouse of the conference,” Tafazoli said. “That was confirmed.” The Wildcats are hoping that the confidence gained at the LSC tournament will carry over to the spring season. Until then, the team will focus on conditioning. Jones said the fall schedule hasn’t provided the practice time he would like to have. “We haven’t been able to condition like I’ve wanted to,” Jones said. “By the time we serve that first ball in See TENNIS Page 7
ACU still perfect in Lone Star South Cats beat Tarleton, A&M-Kingsville in three matches each By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
ACU continued its strong play in the Lone Star Conference South Division last weekend with a pair of three-game sweeps over Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Wildcats remain atop the LSC South Division improving to 18-6 overall and 40 in the conference. ACU is ranked No. 4 in the initial NCAA Division II Southwest Region poll. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the regional tournament. This is the first year that eight teams will reach the regional tournament. The last
hitting percentage, six team blocks and held Tarleton to a three years only the top six .186 hitting percentage. teams in the regional would “We really controlled every advance to the tournament, aspect of the game,” said head with ACU finishing No. 7 all coach Brek Horn. “We passed three seasons. well, we hit well, and we conACU handled Tarleton trolled the ball. When we play State Thursday night in like that we are a tough team Stephenville 30-23, 30-26, to beat.” 30-21. Junior middle blockers After Thursday’s match in Ashlee Motola Stephenville, and Amanda Angelo State Preview the team made Page 7 Slate led ACU the seven-hour with 14 kills trip to Kingseach. Junior outside hitter ville to play the Lady Michelle Bernhardt finished Javelinas on Saturday. The with 12 kills, junior setter drive to Kingsville is the Lindsey Martin added 46 longest road trip of the season assists and senior libero for the Wildcats. Kellen Morrow and freshman The team made the most of outside hitter Liz Snoddy their trip dominating Kingseach finished with 10 digs. ville in a 30-18, 30-23, 30-23 The Wildcats bounced sweep. back from a disappointing Usual standouts Slate (14 loss to Lubbock Christian kills and a .591 hitting perTuesday and finished the centage), Bernhardt (12 kills Tarleton match with a .299 and 11 digs) and Martin (52
Volleyball
assists) led the Wildcats to their 18th win of the season. Freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry also proved a point finishing with 13 kills. Horn said the ongoing battle between Lowry and sophomore outside hitter Callie Delabano is healthy for the team. “They are having a little friendly competition and it can only make the team better,” Horn said. “Saturday, we as a coaching staff, felt Abbie was hitting better in warm ups so she played. Whoever plays better in practice and in the games will play.” The Wildcats return to action Thursday against division opponent Angelo State in a battle of first place teams. Both teams are 4-0 in the LSC South Division. E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Freshman outside hitter Liz Snoddy digs the ball in the 3-0 (30-27, 2530, 30-18, 27-30, 15-6) win versus Eastern New Mexico on Oct. 2.