The •
Vol. 95, No. 31
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Create-a-major
Students who can’t seem to fit within a major can blend majors to create one perfect for the dream job they’d like to have, page 4
Blend of coffee, music Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys will perform Friday at Monks Coffee Shop, page 4
FEATURES
A healing touch
Dr. Jon Ashby travels to Ethiopia to work at a deaf school and train people to use hearing aids, page 6
ARTS Wii are amused
Contributing writer Tripp Page begins his three-part series reviewing the Nintendo Wii starting with the system as a whole, page 7
SPORTS
Snapping a streak
The ACU Women’s basketball team broke its seven-game losing streak on the road after winning 73-67 Wednesday against Texas Woman’s, page 10
Making space
Powell Fitness Center’s remodeling will be complete by May and allow space for two weightrooms: one for athletes, the other for students and faculty, page 10
ONLINE Under surveillance
The ACU Police installed security cameras on residence hall roofs during the Christmas Break. Find out how and why online at www.acuoptimist.com
OPTIMIST
1 section, 10 pages
FRIDAY
January 26, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
‘Exhibit A’ art show opens n Artwork displayed in the Shore Art Gallery includes everything from caricatures to wall hangings to photography to graphic design packaging for barbecue sauce. By SHARON RAPELJE Staff Writer
Seven seniors will reveal the contents of “Exhibit A” on Friday. The art exhibit, created by fine arts, interior design and graphic design majors, will include a variety of art, a live jazz band and free food from
Police install campus video cameras
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Shore Art Gallery in the Don Morris Building. Upon entering, students will come face to face with a legendary monster: Godzilla. Cole Williams, senior graphic design major from Fort Worth, created the 12 to 15 inch blond sculpture. He will also display a portrait of a woman’s face outlined with the lyrics from a song; a caricature of Bill O’Reilly, host of the O’Reilly Factor, as the incredible hulk; and favorite comic strips he
has done for the Optimist. “Humor and weirdness is always a big part of my work,” Williams said. The name “Exhibit A” was chosen to represent the first show of the semester and because the participants each have the letter “A” in their name. Jamie Shelburne expects more than 100 people to come. The Facebook group made to promote the show boasts 90 reservations. Shelburne, senior graphic See
ART page 9
LACI ADKINS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Seniors Erin Holland, art major from Abilene; Kalyn Gensic, art major from Abilene; and Jamie Shelburne, graphic design major from Amarillo, sort through works of art to be displayed as part of the “Exhibit A” student art show in the Shore Art Gallery on Wednesday.
Song: a universal language SA plays host to student leaders n More than 100 student leaders are expected to attend Invision, SA’s leadership retreat created to help students effectively lead campus organizations.
n Mabee Residence Hall became the second hall to have video surveillance cameras installed on campus during Christmas break in an attempt to deter crime.
By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
The Students’ Association will enhance students’ leadership skills this semester with Invision 2007 and a student government conference in Jacksonville, Fla. SA will host Invision 2007, a leadership banquet and training session for student leaders on campus, at 6 p.m. on Sunday in the Williams Performing Arts Center. Any organization requesting money from SA is required to send two representatives to Invision. In the past, students have generally enjoyed Invision
By JARED FIELDS Managing Editor
Mabee Hall received an upgrade during the Christmas break. The freshmen men’s residence hall had 52 cameras installed in and around the building as part of a camera system for use by the ACU police department. “We started talking about it in the summer, but it’s tough to do while occupied,” ACU police chief, Jimmy Ellison, said. The 52 cameras in Mabee are set up to monitor parking lots, entries and exits, lobbies, stairways and other common areas. The camera system is the second one installed at a residence hall; Barret Hall was the first. Mabee and Barret are the first of what Ellison called a long-range plan to get camera systems up campus-wide. Ellison said a plan is in place to get camera systems up in all residence halls over the next few years. The camera system in Barret has proven effective. Other than deterring crime, ACU police have relied on it See
CAMERAS page 5
See
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Children from Children of the World International Children’s choir perform their second song “Praise Him All You Little Children” during Chapel on Wednesday in Moody Coliseum. The group consists of 15 orphaned or disadvantaged children from Brazil, India, the Philippines and Uganda. The choir travels to various churches and schools to raise awareness about the situations children face in their home countries.
Clinic notes fewer flu cases this season n Despite fewer flu cases being observed on campus, nurses in the Medical Clinic advise students to wash their hands frequently and drink fluids. By LAURA SMITH Student Reporter
Angela Estes, director of Nursing for the Medical Clinic, is certain to do at least one thing consistently all day long: wash her hands. Avoiding sickness and infection makes the washing well worth it. It’s flu season, and it hasn’t even reached its peak yet. During this time of year, measures like washing hands regularly go a long way in
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
preventing the flu, as well as getting ample sleep and not sharing drinks, Estes said. She also suggests not coming into close contact with it, such as kissing. “I was a college student once; I remember,” Estes said. These simple steps seem easy enough, but several confirmed flu cases have already appeared since students returned to campus, Estes said. Drinking lots of fluids helps prevent the flu as well, as one student can attest to. Stephanie Jarvis, junior political science major from Stamford, narrowly avoided a bout over the break. Three members of her family be-
came sick one after the other. Several days later, Jarvis was still up and running feeling fine. Her secret? Besides her self proclaimed strong immune system: fluids. “I’m all about the healthy drinks,” Jarvis said. “I drink everything I can.” Cases of confirmed flu are less than previous years, but Estes said Sing Song could bring an increase of the flu in the student population. The long hours and close quarters with many people helps the illness along, Estes said. Estes suggests getting the flu shot if one has not already, especially if a chronic or respiratory disease like
If the flu is caught within 24 hours of noticing these symptoms, an antiviral medicine can be taken to prevent the illness from lasting so long. n fever n body aches n cough n headaches ACU Medical Clinic hours are: 8 a.m. - noon, 1-1:30 p.m. The cost is $20 and can be charged to a student’s account. asthma or diabetes and cardiac or kidney problems
Abilene Christian University
FLU page 9
iTunes U awaits OK to launch n Professors will soon be able to post lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and other classroom materials on iTunes U, which can be accessed through iTunes. By JEREMY POND Staff Writer
Flu symptoms
See
SA page 9
The words “iTunes” and “iPod” have become synonymous with all that is cool and sexy as they have become the cornerstone for a generation obsessed with mobile media. A team at ACU is now in the process of integrating cool and sexy into the classroom. For months, staff and faculty members have been working closely with Apple, Inc. on a new system known as iTunes U. While still only in the beta testing stages, the new system promises to make classroom materials more mobile than ever before. See
iTUNES page 9
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