The Vol. 95, No. 34
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OPTIMIST
1 section, 8 pages
WEDNESDAY
February 7, 2007
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www.acuoptimist.com
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Lucky pennies
Two pennies, more than 50 years old, in mintcondition were found preserved behind ACU’s vault by a maintenance worker, page 3
Calling all Cats
The Flying Cats gymnastics team needs more students to join this semester, in order for the team to be able to perform, page 3
FEATURES
EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
The cast of the Black History Production stands in a circle and sings praise songs before beginning rehearsal Wednesday evening in Cullen Auditorium. The show premieres Friday.
Behind the scenes
Preparations began months ago for the 10th annual Black History Production. See what happens back stage as the cast prepares for opening night Friday, page 5
SPORTS
Black History Production turns 10 n Two productions of the Black History Production entitled ‘Logos: That Which You Say, So It Shall Be,’ will be performed Friday and Saturday night. By ASHLEY ROBINSON Student Reporter
In celebration of Black History Month, Essence of Ebony is hosting its annual Black History Production Friday and Saturday. The theme of this year’s show is
Pitching a sweep
ACU’s baseball team began its season undefeated for the fourth out of the past seven seasons with its win against Henderson State this weekend, page 8
n Seven locations received volunteers from ACU last Saturday during the semester’s first Service Saturday. The next one is scheduled for March 3. By YURI SUDO
Student Reporter
By CASSIE LEHMANN Student Reporter
Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams began their seasons with wins this weekend, page 8
ONLINE Coming together
See what it takes to put together a full-scale production all run by students online at: www.acuoptimist.com.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Optimist video staff will be putting together sports packages and a behind-the-scenes look at Sing Song Friday and next week.
collaboration of both La Shae Grottis, adviser of Essence of Ebony, and Jackson. The writing and the visioning of the play also was developed by Jackson. “The point was to get back to sharing black history. Over the last few years we have created plays that show a little, but this year we wanted to get back to that and to educating the audience on black history,” Grottis said. “The idea of the
show is to be able to share different African Americans and show how they were by demonstrating their talents and how God gave them those gifts.” As director, Jackson is in charge of creating the story line, casting parts, schedules and auditions. Jackson also worked with the Black History Production when she was a student. “Of the 10 years that the BHP has existed I’ve been a
part of it for six,” Jackson said. “I feel like I was led back to ACU to work with this year’s production.” This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the production. To celebrate this milestone, the show is being dedicated to ACU’s African American Alumni. LaShae Grottis, who is also director of Student Services and Multicultural See
BHP page 4
‘Have a heART’ 65 students serve Abilene ArtWalk opens Thursday night n This month’s ArtWalk featured downtown will include art exhibits, music and food from museums and galleries to promote local artists.
Serving it up
“Logos: That Which You Say, So Shall it Be.” Courtney Jackson, class of 2002, is the director of this year’s production. “The show highlights many black history stories we know and some we don’t know and shows them from a different perspective,” Jackson said. “It captures the hidden quality of the voice and how it can be used as an instrument of change.” The show’s theme was a
ArtWalk is back Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Abilene. From North 2nd Street to North 13th Street, art, music, food, culture and activities will line up the streets in a celebration of Abilene’s untapped artistic atmosphere. February’s theme, “You Gotta Have HeART,” is just in time for Valentine’s Day. Marianne Wood, ArtWalk coordinator, said, “We made it a broad theme to solicit any activities that appeal to a broad section of the population. “ArtWalk is a free monthly celebration of the arts in downtown Abilene, involving the cultural and business community. It helps people get out and appreciate Abilene’s older buildings and fine art venues.” Bonnie Buchanan, class of 2006, said, “ArtWalk is a great community building event; it’s healthy for our town.” Dan McGregor, assistant
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
professor of art and design, said, “It’s an expression of the community that the cultural life of a community is important. If you go to ArtWalk, you’ll encounter things you don’t see in your everyday entertainment life: works from famous sculptors and painters, local music and free food.” Attendees can expect a few new surprises this month. In addition to the free art activities and live music, Hardin-Simmons University will provide free carriage rides on the corner of Cypress Street at North 2nd Street. The Abilene Trolleys will run for free all night as well. The Memory Men Quartet will be outside the Center for Contemporary Arts to serenade the crowds. The Illusionist will be playing at the Paramount Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $4 for students. Seven galleries and museums will host artistic shows of new, local and cultural art throughout the evening. The Center for Contemporary Arts at 220 Cypress St. will have four galleries open to the public with See
ARTWALK page 4
Sixty-five ACU volunteer workers showed up to work at seven different sites around town on Saturday for Service Saturday, a twicea-semester event hosted by Service Action Leadership Team, where students answer neighborhood requests, reach new people and get new experience. “I love getting volunteer workers to do what is needed,” said Marie Noe, librarian head of children services in Abilene Public Library.
Five student volunteer workers in the library, which was chosen as a new site this past Saturday, arranged children’s books according to author’s names, picked up old magazines to recycle or sell them to used book stores. “Sometimes having volunteer workers are the best thing in the world,” Noe said. Noe said she hardly has time to do other work such as arranging books and cleaning out old magazines. Carolyn Reynolds, junior nursing major from Round Rock, who spent the day shelving books, said she learned a little of what it feels like to be a librarian. “There were tons of the same last names, which makes it hard to find the
courtnee hembree STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Judd Smith, from Abilene and Jarryd Thomas, also from Abilene, help move tables and other office furniture for the Alzheimer’s Association. See
SERVICE page 3
Womack named Almnus of Year n Dr. James Womack will be honored during Sing Song weekend. An honoree is chosen each year for their achievements since graduating from ACU. By ANDREA LUCADO Student Reporter
Since 1958, a select group of alumni has met once a year to decide who will receive the highest honor given by the Alumni Association: the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. Last August, this tradition
was continued as almost all 36 of the alumni who make up the Alumni Advisory Board met to determine who would be this year’s recipient. The board chose Dr. James Womack, class of 1963 and current professor at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Womack has received many awards in the area of science, including the Wolf Prize, which is the equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize in Womack’s field of study, said Dr. Jeff Duncum, president of
Abilene Christian University
the Alumni Advisory Board. Womack received this prize in 2001 for his research in animal genomics and can now add one of ACU’s most respected awards to his credentials. “All of the candidates for alumnus of the year are incredible … we’re so blessed to have so many alumni who excel in the careers, the church and their communities,” Duncum said. “We go through pages of all these stellar people,” Alice See
ALUMNUS page 4
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