The Optimist Print Edition 02.23.2007

The Vol. 95, No. 39

IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Tax relief

Laura Blake will offer a workshop for international students wanting help in preparing taxes, page 3

Dabbling in dominoes

More students are needed to participate in Senior Buddies, a program where students play dominoes with residents of Christian Village each Monday evening, page 3

Open Mic Night

Essence of Ebony is sponsoring a night of poetry and fun for students Tuesday, page 3

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OPTIMIST

1 sections, 8 pages

FRIDAY

February 23, 2007

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www.acuoptimist.com

Students report 7 break-ins n ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison says not to be alarmed by a recent surge in car break-ins this month. Surveillance suggests students were not involved.

By TAKISHA KNIGHT Student Reporter

Students reported seven car break-ins on campus within the past two weeks, but authorities say there’s no need to panic.

“These type of incidents don’t occur on a routine basis here, and very typically, they occur when other incidents occur across the city,” said ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison. “On a night we had two or three break-ins, we probably had a dozen across the city.”

For two weeks since Feb. 9, there has been a sudden increase of reports of burglary of motor vehicles. Most

break-ins occurred between Feb. 9-11, Ellison said.

Ellison said video evidence and eyewitness testimony suggests students were not involved in the burglaries.

There have been three reports of break-ins at University Park Apartments, two at the north Edwards lot and two at the Barret lot.

See

THEFT page 5 EMILY SMITH CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Flying high in the sky

Allison Mitchell, sophomore journalism major from Plano, scans the salad bar for tasty toppings in the Bean on Thursday at lunch.

Renovations set for cafeteria in ‘08 n Dining Services intends to create more food choices in the Bean by 2008 after receiving feedback from numerous surveys last semester.

ARTS

By SARA SNELSON Student Reporter

Nothing is official yet, but Dining Services has some big ideas to revise meal plans and renovate the Bean by 2008, which could mean students will be able to use four meal plans in one day and have a better Bean with better food options than ever before.

This renovation would include remodeling the Bean by making it bigger and more contemporary and adding new restaurants and food places around campus.

Last semester Dining Services conducted over 1,000 surveys on what students wanted to see changed on campus regarding the food they eat and the choices they have. 1,100 online surveys, 423 Palm Pilot surveys and seven focus groups were given and offered to students to help Dining Services figure out what they can change and move towards in the future. From these surveys, Dining Services discovered students really wanted to see some type of sub sandwich restaurant on campus. Quiznos has been put in motion for being on campus next year.

There has not been any renovation in almost 15

A night at the Oscars

Find out the meaning and history behind the statue and this year’s top nominees, page 4

SPORTS

Saving the day

The women’s basketball team is one win away from securing its spot in the Lonestar Conference preseason tournament, page 8

Weekend play

The softball team will play its final preseason games this weekend at Wells Field against Incarnate Word and Central Oklahoma, page 8

ONLINE Grand opening

ACU graduates opened a women’s fashion accessories store in downtown Abilene and featured a 24-hour grand opening, view it online at www.acuoptimist.com

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Julie Simpson, freshman undeclared major from Lubbock, and Emily Flatt, freshman Spanish major from Midland, fly kites at the Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural fields on Thursday afternoon. Simpson said they were amazed people didn’t fly kites more often on nice days because they bought theirs for only $1 at Wal-Mart.

iSchool offers full, $2,000 scholarships n Students have until March 16 to apply for the new School of Information Technology, dubbed “iSchool,” and to apply for one of many scholarships.

By SHARON RAPELJE Staff Writer

The deadline for the School of Information Technology and Computing scholarship is March 16. It offers $2,000 a year to full tuition. The scholarship application requires SAT and ACT scores, transcripts and a 500 word essay on how technology influences life.

Applications can be turned in to the admissions and recruiting office in Zellner Hall, or it can be filled out online on the ACU iSchool webpage.

The department, which was formed in June of 2006, is at present comprised

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

of 50 to 60 students from what used to be the Computer Science Department.

The school is actively working on recruiting students for next fall.

Timothy Coburn, acting director and professor of statistics in the School of Information Technology and Computing, said in the past students would come to ACU looking for a major involving technical engineering, but it wasn’t offered, so they would look elsewhere. The school and scholarships were put in place to recruit these students.

Coburn said the school is “one of the universities strategic initiatives for the 21st century.”

The school has many enticing features such as See

SCHOLARSHIPS page 5

years, and Dining Services really wants to take this chance to improve the presentation and content of our campus dining and make our dining not a cafeteria but a restaurant, said Anthony Williams, head of Dining Services.

“We will have the best looking restaurant,” Williams said. “We are moving away from the cafeteria style to a restaurant that everyone See

DINING page 5

Bean offers Vegan menu n Fresher fruits and vegetables, and vegetarian meal choices are now served in the Bean.

Nutrition information for most foods can be accessed online.

By YURI SUDO

Student Reporter

Vegetarian students can eat fresher veggies, fruits and veggie burgers now on campus. ACU Dining Service has been renovating the campus menu since last semester by having weekly meetings.

Last semester, the ACU dining service renewed the Web site that has the campus food menu and added a new link the students can access to the nutrition information See

VEGAN page 5

Dean search narrowed to 5 n The finalists for the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will be on campus during the next month to interview with department chairs.

By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief

Five potential candidates for the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences position will begin meeting with various groups on campus during the next month.

Each candidate will spend two days in Abilene meeting with the department chairs, faculty, staff in the dean’s office, Provost Dwayne VanRheenen and Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, along with the search committee, who narrowed the finalists down.

The five were selected out of a healthy pool, said Dr. Carley Dodd, chair of the search See

SEARCH page 5

finalists n Dr. Angi Brenton, University of Arkansas n Dr. Jeanine Varner, Oklahoma Christian University n Dr. Greg Powell, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry n Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English Department n Dr. Foy Mills, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Environment

SA tackles Lectureship policies n A resolution was passed Wednesday to support a more lenient attendance policy during Lectureship so students can benefit from the sessions.

By KELSI PEACE Features Editor

Students desire a larger role in Lectureship, but feel they can’t play it—and there’s

a Facebook group to prove it.

The new Lectureship student track offers a venue tailored for student involvement, and the 40 student members of the committee that helped organize the 15hour student track plan to strike a compromise with administration that will allow more students to attend Lectureship in 2007. Commit-

Abilene Christian University

tee member Shelby Coates, senior broadcast journalism major from Clarksville, Tenn., created the Facebook group “Yeah- I’d go to Lectureship if my Teachers would let me out of Class” as a means to hear from the student body, and as of Thursday morning, the group had 273 members.

See

SA page 5

Serving the ACU community since 1912

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, February 23, 2007

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Calendar & Events Friday

3 p.m.

The softball team plays Incarnate Word at the Crutcher Scott Field.

7 p.m.

The softball team plays Central Oklahoma at the Crutcher Scott Field.

7 p.m.

Senior Art Show, “One of These Things is Not Like the Others,” at the Shore Gallery.

8 p.m.

‘The Miracle Worker,’ the dramatic story of Helen Keller’s struggle to communicate, is performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets are $12.

8 p.m.

ACU Bands’ Winter Concert will be performed in Cullen Auditorium by the ACU Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.

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Saturday

1 p.m.

The softball team plays Central Oklahoma at the Crutcher Scott Field.

2 p.m.

Matinee of ‘The Miracle Worker’ in Fulks Theatre with sign language interpreters for the deaf community.

After the performance, members of the cast and crew will host a talkback that will be mediated by the interpreters. Area high school students and other groups are welcome. Tickets should be reserved ahead of time and are $5 for anyone associated with the deaf community or for groups of 10 or more.

Monday

7 p.m.

Sundaes on Mondays - Free ice cream sundaes and discussion in the Living Room. This month`s topic: Is the United States ready for a Black President?

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Tuesday

7:30 p.m.

Winter Abilene Collegiate Orchestra Concert at First Baptist Church in Abilene. The ACU Orchestra will perform with orchestras from Hardin-Simmons and McMurry and will be directed by Dr. Peter Isaacson, professor of violin studies at HardinSimmons University.

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@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at mxe06a@acu.edu.

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.

ACU Police Tip of the Week As warmer weather arrives and you head outdoors for exercise, remember to use well lighted areas such as the Lunsford Foundation Trail, never walk/jog alone, and always carry a cell phone.

Edited for space

8 p.m.

‘The Miracle Worker’ is performed in Fulks Theatre. Tickets are $12.

Don Morris building. This meeting will be facilitated by CAA site visitors to address how the program is meeting the standards for accreditation. A copy of the standards and/or the CAA`s Policy on Public Comment may be obtained by contacting the Accreditation Office at ASHA, 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, calling ASHA`s Action Center at 1-800-498-2071 or accessing the documents on ASHA`s Web site at http://asha.org/about/credentialing/accreditation/.

Additional information regarding the time and location of this meeting may be obtained by calling Dr. Brenda Bender, program director, at (325) 674-2074.

WorldWide Witness is now accepting applications for more than 40 summer internships around the world.

Apply online at www.worldwidewitness.org. For additional information, contact Gary Green or Wimon Walker at witness@bible.acu.edu.

ATTENTION ALL MAJORS! Study while traveling this summer!

Programs offered in Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Jamaica and more! Scholarships are available.

The deadline to sign up is Feb. 28.

See Ed Timmerman for more info or e-mail him at timmermanj@acu.edu.

About This Page

Police Log

3 p.m.

The softball team plays Incarnate Word at the Crutcher Scott Field.

Announcements Barret LLC proposals are due before 5 p.m. Friday in the Residence Life Education and Housing office.

A virtual reality alcohol awareness program will be available on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 5. This is a national touring High Impact Alcohol Awareness Program that is designed to heighten awareness of the dangers of intoxication. It involves a motion-based simulator that can accommodate up to 12 passengers at a time. The module is inside a semi-truck which will be parked on campus. Using a multimedia film taken from a first person perspective, riders will experience the sensations of being at a party where drinking is taking place and of driving drunk afterward. Each ride lasts about five minutes.

The graduate program in speech and language pathology is applying for reaccreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In accordance with the CAA policy on Public Comment, the program invites interested parties to attend a meeting on March 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 117 of the

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Volunteer Opportunities Big A Club of City Light Community Ministries has an urgent need for volunteers to ride buses and vans with elementary-age children and to help with Bible studies. This takes place on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information.

Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals to seniors and adults with disabilities. This usually takes about an hour, and students can have one day of Chapel per week excused for this service. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information.

Fannin Elementary needs volunteers until the end of February to tutor fourth grade students in reading, writing and math in order to prepare the students for TAKS testing. Call to set up an appointment.

For more information, contact Rosalinda Walker at (325) 677-8085.

McKenzee Cheng, an international student, would like a female volunteer to help her pronounce vocabulary for her sociology class on Monday and/or Tuesday afternoons. If interested, contact McKenzee at (325) 669-7800 or at yxc06a@acu.edu.

Opportunity to Interact with Older Adults: On March 1, an older adult aging conference, “Live Long & Love It,” will be held in the Abilene Civic Center. Students are needed to assist older adults at different times in the morning and at noon. Contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout for more information.

Girl Scout Troop #1550 needs young women who want to make a difference in young girls’ lives through Girl Scouting. The girls are from un-

derprivileged homes, and they need positive Christian influences in their lives. Volunteers will help conduct meetings, including arts and crafts.

Help is needed every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. until May. For more information, contact Diltzie Andrews at (325) 673-6379.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters is looking for young women willing to volunteer time and energy mentoring in a program called Y-teens. Through activities and service projects, this program will empower young girls with knowledge about life skills and will build self-confidence while creating an atmosphere for learning and emotional growth. Help is needed every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Franklin Middle School and Lincoln Middle School. For more information, contact Erin McMullen or MC Jennings at (325) 677-7839.

Day Nursery of Abilene needs help setting up for their annual Mexican dinner, prepare and serve food and clean up. The dinner will be held on March 24 at the Abilene High School cafeteria. Help is requested from noon to 10 p.m. For more information, contact Pat Peck at (325) 670-0002.

The Betty Hardwick Center needs help in their office answering phones, filing, copying and running errands. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.

The Christian Service Center needs help maintaining its furniture room. This might include picking up donated items or delivering furniture. It is helpful to have a pickup truck. For more information, contact the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.

Monday 02/12/2007 10:39 a.m. Jumpstart vehicle at 800 Harwell 11 a.m. Unlocked room at Sherrod Apartments 4:45 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at University Park Lot 7:43 p.m. Unlocked room at Foster Science Building 9:09 p.m. Burglary report at Sing Song Warehouse on 1600 Treadaway Tuesday 02/13/2007 3:30 a.m. Burglar alarm at Copy Stop, set off by cleaning crew 4 a.m. Gave access to McKinzie for student locked out 12 p.m. Unlocked vehicle in Bible Lot 5:20 p.m. Burglar alarm at Physical Resources, alarm reset 5:40 p.m. Assisted driver with disabled vehicle in University Church Lot Wednesday 02/14/2007 4:14 a.m. Refueled vehicle 6:30 a.m. Unlocked Campus Center 8:40 a.m. Unlocked Bible Building 9:50 a.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Sewell Lot 2 p.m. Assisted student with moving vehicle out of the road at University Park Lot 5:50 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Sikes Lot 6:30 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Sikes Lot again 7:20 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Sikes Lot 11 p.m. Unlocked room at Bible Building for Sing Song practice Thursday 02/15/2007 1:30 a.m. Gave access to Bible Building to retrieve lost item 6:25 a.m. Report of suspicious subject on Campus Center Road, contacted worker all okay 8:35 a.m. Unlocked room at Don Morris Center 2:12 p.m. Refueled vehicle 2:15 p.m. Vehicle accident in University Park Lot 2:45 p.m. Checked in gun to safekeeping for student 3:15 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Judge Ely and Teague Circle 3:35 pm Unlocked vehicle at CVS Pharmacy on EN 10th & Judge Ely 5:12 p.m. Gave access to room at Bible Building 5:41 p.m. Unlocked Moody & Gibson 6:55 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at 1633 Cedar Crest 7 p.m. Gave access to Learning Center at the Library 7:15 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at University Church Lot 9:30 p.m. Parking violation at Nelson Lot 9:45 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Gardner Lot

Friday 02/16/2007 12:20 a.m. Refueled vehicle 6:30 a.m. Unlocked Bible Building 11:45 a.m. Jumpstart vehicle at 1000 Washington 1:15 p.m. Jumpstart vehicle at Morris Parking Lot 1:30 p.m. Escorted ex-student to University Park Apartments 3 p.m. Disturbance with subject at University Park Apartments. One subject was arrested and transported to Taylor County Jail 4:20 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at Bennett Gym 6:22 p.m. Unlocked vehicle at 2300 Campus Court 8 p.m. Fire alarm at Nelson Hall, all okay no fire 8:30 p.m. Report of smell of smoke at WPAC, no fire discovered, alarm reset 8:45 p.m. Locked up main campus 11:31 p.m. Report of smell at air conditioner system at WPAC, Physical Resources will handle Saturday 02/17/2007 1 a.m. Placed barricades at Big Purple and Moody Lot 2:30 a.m. Attempted to contact owners of vehicle to be moved at Big Purple Lot 6:38 a.m. Gave access to Business Building for Aramark 7:12 a.m. Unlocked Chapel on the Hill 7:23 a.m. Unlocked Business Building 7:28 a.m. Unlocked Campus Center 7:58 a.m. Unlocked Gibson 1:02 p.m. Burglary of Motor Vehicle at University Park Lot 8:30 p.m. Assisted Abilene Police with search of wanted subject off campus 9 p.m. Report of a prowler at 600 EN 16th, checked area unable to locate Sunday 02/18/2007 12:39 a.m. Noise violation at 1900 Cedar Crest, contacted residents, party was over 2:37 a.m. Traffic stop at EN 16th & Washington 3 a.m. Refueled vehicle 11:53 a.m. Alarm at Physical Resources, accidentally set off, alarm reset 2:06 p.m. Report of subjects throwing rocks in the lake, contacted juveniles and mother, all okay 5:26 p.m. Random patrol at The Grove Apts. reference to theft 6:42 p.m. Fire alarm at Morris Hall, false alarm, alarm reset 8:25 p.m. Parking violations on Campus Center Road 9:05 p.m. Parking violation at EN 16th & Campus Court 11:30 p.m. Report of two subjects soliciting money, subject were gone upon arrival

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, February 23, 2007

Page 3

Student to speak at Alpha Chi national honor convention n One of the inductees of Alpha Chi national honor’s society, Carolle Ranaivoarivelo from Madagascar, will travel to San Antonio to make a speech at the national convention.

By CHRIS HANSEN Student Reporter

Alpha Chi’s honor society hosted an induction ceremony to honor the top 10 percent of upperclassmen Thursday. The society honors students who are leaders

and among the top of their class academically.

About 40 students were inducted into Alpha Chi 10 years ago, and the number of inductees has climbed over 70 in recent years. The members can participate in regional and national conventions, which give them a chance to show off their accomplishments.

Carolle Ranaivoarivelo, junior intercultural communication major and a first

time inductee, will travel to San Antonio March 16-19 for the national convention to read “A Meaningful Life,” an autobiographical story about her transition from Madagascar to America. “[The convention] gives the students a real sense of professional identify and development,” said Dr. Carley Dodd, professor of communication.

Ranaivoarivelo’s story tracks her transition and

Enjoying the sunshine

how her dying mother repeatedly requested she apply for the scholarship to come to America.

“It’s a spiritual journey,” Ranaivoarivelo said. “I had good moral principles and values, but I wasn’t a Christian. I came here and I thought I would be happy with all the success and accomplishments I had made, but I wasn’t. I was missing something.”

Ranaivoarivelo said the

By ANDREA LUCADO Student Reporter

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Tax workshop to help students n International students can attend a workshop to learn how to file tax return forms Friday. Not filing the tax return form may affect applying for permanent residency.

By BLESSED MATAI Student Reporter

A workshop to help international students file tax returns forms will take place Friday.

Laura Blake, director of international student services, and Sue Gibson, specialists and administrative coordinator for the Center of International and Intercultural Education, will help students at the workshop.

“A lot of students on campus receive the W-2 forms and need to fill it out, but they don’t know what to do.” Blake said. “I am not an accountant, but I will help them with the basic information.”

Not filing the tax return form may affect students if they try to apply for permanent residency, Blake said.

Last year about 20 students got help from the international students’ office, and this year Blake expects more students to show up for the workshop.

Patrick Andrianony, junior marketing major from

Antananarivo, Madagascar, had to seek help from a friend who is an accountant last year to do his taxes.

“As international students, I think we should have more workshops to better understand the tax system,” Andrianony said. “We don’t know anything. We just know that we’re suppose to get some money back, but most of the time we don’t get it.”

The workshop will take place in Hilton Room from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

E-mail Matai at: optimist@acu.edu

Open Mic Night to show off talent n Students can share their thoughts and talents and enjoy refreshments at Open Mic Night, an Essence of Ebony event, Tuesday.

By EMILY SMITH

Chief Photographer

Essence of Ebony will open the microphone for students interested in expressing themselves Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Living Room of the Campus Center.

Singing, dancing and poetry readings have been showcased in past events, and students are encouraged to share other talents.

“It’s going to be a coffeeshop kind of feel,” said Anna Peters, sophomore children’s ministry and elementary education double major from Houston and secretary for Essence of Ebony.

People sit on pillows on the

floor, relax and enjoy the talents of others, she said.

“We got such a big response from the two we had last semester that people wanted to see more of them,” Peters said.

Essence of Ebony now has an Open Mic Night on the last Tuesday of every month, with a big one at the end of the semester.

The Open Mic night was formerly called “Apollo Night.”

Kenneth Dinkins, sophomore youth and family ministry major from Toledo, Ohio, frequents the gatherings and puts his freestyle raps on display during Open Mic Night.

“I rap mostly about life or whatever is on my mind,” Dinkins said.

The raps are spontaneous, he said. He goes from one thought to another and connects them to make a coherent rap. In the past, Dinkins said

he’s rapped about friends, family and struggles he’s had.

He said he enjoys going to the Open Mic Night because he’s able to put a positive thought into his listener’s heads.

“People need a way to express themselves,” Dinkins said. “I believe that everyone has a story to tell.”

Erica Ray, senior social work major from Arlington and Essence of Ebony president, said the invitation to come to Open Mic Night is campus-wide.

“I encourage everyone to come show off their talents, and if they are not performing, to stay and watch everyone else,” she said.

Ray said refreshments such as cake, cookies, apple cider and punch will be provided.

E-mail Smith at: eds04c@acu.edu

month. Last week Dr. Dodd told Ranaivoarivelo she was eligible for Alpha Chi and asked her if she was willing to read her story at the national convention in a month.

“I don’t even know about [Alpha Chi],” Ranaivoarivelo said. “I just know it’s a blessing. I want to risk opening the doors of opportunity.”

E-mail Hansen at: optimist@acu.edu

Senior Buddies seeks volunteers n The organization Senior Buddies seeks more students to voluntarily spend time with residents of a retirement living center, Christian Village of Abilene, on Mondays.

Kelli Jutras, freshman nursing major from Colleyville, reads a book on one of the rocks of the trailhead marker in front of Nelson Residence Hall on Thursday.

honor of being selected by her country to come to America was similar to the honor she received of being selected to read her paper at the Alpha Chi convention.

“It’s the same surprises,” Ranaivoarivelo said.

After an interview with the Madagascar minister of education, Ranaivoarivelo said she was asked to sign a contract and told she would be leaving for America in a

More students are wanted to volunteer for an ACU organization designed to spend time with the elderly. Senior Buddies, a small group of students that spends time at Christian Village of Abilene, Inc., an independent retirement living center near ACU, has been an official organization for years, but many students are unaware of its existence.

Every Monday, Senior Buddies plays dominos with the residents at Christian Village from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and although the attendance of ACU students has increased this semester, the group could use a few more volunteers.

Nathan McKenzie, junior political science major from Albuquerque, N.M., and president of Senior Buddies, said there were times last semester when he was the only one to show up on Monday night.

McKenzie became president of Senior Buddies this semester and already has plans to make the group more known through publicity, encourag-

ing students to participate and talking to Students’ Association sometime this month.

McKenzie said the number of students fluctuates from three to 12 every week, and even though the space at Christian Village does not allow for a very large group, he would still like more people to show up.

“It’s good to see life through another person’s eyes,” McKenzie said. Spending time at Christian Village allows for students to do this and learn from the residents.

Ben DuBose, management major from Ft. Worth, has been attending Senior Buddies for six weeks and said he brings a couple of friends with him each time but would like to see more ACU students come consistently.

He said playing games with the residents on Monday nights is one of his favorite parts of his week, and the residents have taught him a lot about loving and being in community.

Senior Buddies has been around for a long time but has only been called Senior Buddies for about four and a half years.

Linda Mitchell, administrator of Christian Village, said the ACU women’s social club

Ko Jo Kai started the organization as many as 15 years ago as an adopt-a-grandparent-type group. It has since formed into and changed its name to Senior Buddies.

Mitchell said Senior Buddies is the only consistent group from the Abilene community that visits Christian Village.

“It’s a natural way to promote inter-generational relationships,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said this has been a successful event because the environment on Monday nights is relaxed, and the residents are not forced to form friendships with the students outside of game night unless they want to, and some do.

Mitchell said some students have even returned after they graduated to visit a Christian Village resident they formed a friendship with through Senior Buddies.

Mitchell said Christian Village has tried other activities before with students, but Senior Buddies has lasted the longest.

“Student have ideas,” Mitchell said. “We try them. Sometimes we hit a real winner.”

There is also a 3 p.m. worship service on Sundays.

E-mail Lucado at: optimist@acu.edu

Page 4

February 23, 2007

GETTING TO KNOW OSCAR Official name of statuette: “Academy Award of Merit” Date of birth: 1929 Weight and Height: 13.5 inches tall, 8.5 pounds Creators: Designed by Cedric Gibbons, chief art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and sculpted by artist George Stanley Nickname: No one is sure how the statuette received its nickname, however, the most recognized story involves Academy Librarian, Margaret Herrick.

Herrick commented that the statuette looked similar to her Uncle Oscar and the name stuck with the rest of the Academy staff. It wasn’t until 1939 when the Academy officially began using the name Oscar.

The statuette depicts a knight holding a sword standing over a movie reel. Each spoke of the movie reel signifies five original categories (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers).

The statuette has only been altered once since 1929. The only time was in 1945 when the pedestal was made higher.

The casting process takes two to three weeks for 50 statuettes. n Information at www.oscar.com

The 79th Academy Awards will be aired at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC (ACU cable Channel Four) TOP NOMINATIONS BEST ACTOR

BEST DIRECTOR

Leonardo DiCaprio: Blood Diamond Ryan Gosling: Half Nelson Peter O’Toole: Venus Will Smith: The Pursuit of Happyness Forest Whitaker: The Last King of Scotland

Alejandro González Iñárritu: Babel Martin Scorsese: The Departed Clint Eastwood: Letters From Iwo Jima Paul Greengrass: United 93 Stephen Frears The Queen

BEST ACTRESS Penélope Cruz: Volver Judi Dench: Notes of a Scandal Helen Mirren: The Queen Meryl Streep: The Devil Wears Prada Kate Winslet: Little Children

BEST MOTION PICTURE Babel The Departed Letters From Iwo Jima Little Miss Sunshine The Queen

‘Ghost Rider’ falls short from comic n Nicolas Cage gives Ghost Rider a witty persona, but lack of script leaves this movie in the dust from other successful comic book adaptations.

By COLE WILLIAMS CARTOONIST

Nicolas Cage has been trying to get the story of Ghost Rider to the screen for several years. Unfortunately, with the end result being what it is, he probably should have waited a little longer to get the great movie this mediocre one has become.

Cage plays Johnny Blaze, stunt-cycle daredevil star who years ago made a deal with the devil Mephisto (a delicious Peter Fonda) to save his dad’s life from cancer.

The deal didn’t go exactly as he hoped, as deals with the devil are wont to do. Now, the devil has come collecting on Blaze, using him to stop his renegade son Blackheart (Wes Bentley) from gaining power and seizing control of hell. To do it, Blaze is bonded with a spirit of vengeance and turned into a skeletal, leatherclad, motorcycle-riding, flaming-skulled bounty hunter for hell: the Ghost Rider.

With a premise like that, Ghost Rider should have been a thrilling, at times scary, always exciting movie as imaginative and memorable as the hero’s look. Unfortunately that’s not the case, as a number of factors collude to douse the Rider’s flame.

One problem is the script.

Even with the exciting material inherent to the story, it does nothing creative with them.

Johnny’s search for a second chance is written far too simply, the main plot points of the story are also spelled out for the audience and most of the dialogue is pretty weak.

COURTESY OF ROTTENTOMATOES.COM

Nicolas Cage plays Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who finds himself becoming the devil’s bounty hunter.

But the movie’s main problem is really just how cheesy it can be. It’s hard to find things as goofy as some of the elements in Ghost Rider outside of bad cartoons and parodies.

When Mephisto shows up to make his deal, there’s thunder and lightning in the background. When the demonic bad guys talk, they all have that old, clichéd “scary” echo effect added to their voices.

And some of the tongue-incheek jokes of the movie take away from the awe of the movie.

Ghost Rider may not be the most serious of subject matter, even from a superhero standpoint, but movies like Constantine and Hellboy have shown that similar material can be handled seriously and still be fun and exciting But even with the glaring fault of the film’s tone, there are also a number of things that keep the movie from wrecking.

The first is the main character’s appearance. A leatherclad, flaming-skulled biker atop a bony-metal motorcycle with

flaming wheels — things don’t come much cooler than that.

The other big factor that salvages most of the movie is the performances.

Cage gives it his all here, pouring pathos and personality into Johnny and mostly managing to make the best of the script. It’s just too bad that when he transforms into the Rider, as cool as he looks, there isn’t a lot of that same personality left.

As the devil, you can hardly get better than Peter Fonda, who twirls around his evil plans enjoyably without chewing the scenery.

Also making the most of it, and nailing down a tone the rest of the movie should’ve had, is Sam Elliot as a mysterious stranger (or not so mysterious, since you see who he is coming a mile away) who aids and informs Johnny and also gets saddled with a lot of expository dialogue that, with his gravely voice, he does wonders with.

Unfortunately the rest of the main cast doesn’t fair as

well. Mendes’ is flat and boring, and her main contribution really seems to be having a half-open blouse.

As Blackheart, Wes Bentley chews the scenery and fails to inspire an ounce of threat. He and his fallen angel henchmen look more like they’re about to form a goth band rather than take control of hell.

Luckily there are more things the movie has going for it. It’s not set in New York like every other superhero movie but, rather, out here in Texas. The effects, while not great, are pretty competent, and there’s some startling and compelling imagery at times.

Along with Blaze’s terrifying transformation (something Bruce Banner would wince at), Ghost Rider certainly isn’t terrible; it just misses the mark.

Some probably aren’t surprised at how Ghost Rider turned out, considering its comic book origins. And while they should consider that movies such as Road to Perdition, V for Vendetta and Sin City were also based on comics, they should also consider that movies based on superhero comics have been done better and more complexly as in Batman Begins, the SpiderMan series and Hulk (which, I love; sue me). But, it’s also been done worse as in the lackluster X-Men 3 and, of course, Batman and Robin.

Ghost Rider falls in with such company as the Fantastic Four — there’s a lot that’s good, but there’s a bit more that’s bad. The resulting movie just doesn’t live up to its source material.

E-mail Williams at: cww02b@acu.edu

FROM THE FRONT

Friday, February 23, 2007

Page 5

SA: New student lectureship track spurs resolution Continued from page 1 Coates, senior senator, and fellow committee member Brandon Smith, junior senator and political science major from Keller, proposed a resolution at Wednesday’s SA meeting “requesting faculty to allow students more opportunity to attend lectureship events.”

Congress unanimously passed the resolution, and Smith said, the next step is to present the case to the Faculty Senate.

“We’re not coming in and saying, ‘We want all of our classes canceled,’” Coates said.

The idea behind the request is essentially to request a more lenient attendance policy during Lectureship to encourage student involvement — whether that means offering incentives to attend, meeting at a lecture as a class or canceling class, Smith said.

Coates and Smith said they are confident they will be able to strike a compromise with administration. Smith also said the committee scheduled the student-track lectures for the afternoons or late evenings to avoid conflict with classes as much as possible.

The student committee formed last semester after members of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building and Dr. Wayne Barnard, former dean of spiritual formation, decided to create a student track. The group, which Coates said was impressively diverse, selected the top ten speakers and topic choices.

Prospective speakers include Dr. Mike Cope, adjunct professor of Bible, Missions and Ministry, a representative of the XXX Church, which ministers to people addicted to and involved with pornography, and

Audio Adrenaline’s lead singer, Mark Stuart. Speakers will address topics the committee selected, including conservatives and progressives in the church, worship styles, roles within the church and outreach ministry.

Kathy Koch has been invited to address “multiple intelligences,” or gifts ranging from “nature smart” to “people smart,” which she discusses in her book “How Am I Smart?: A parent’s guide to multiple intelligences.” Students will be able to take a self-survey that will profile their gifts.

Jordan Ziemer, Don Morris

Theft: Students not involved, police say Continued from page 1 Ellison said he noticed an unusual pattern in some reports.

“Where typically the suspects are smashing out a window and then burglarizing the interior of the car and in some cases, they are not having to smash out the windows because people are leaving their cars

unlocked,” he said. “Nearly all of these cases involved vehicles that had items laying out in plain sight.”

While Ellison assures the public that ACUPD is taking appropriate measures to increase patrolling and investigate any follow-up information to help prevent future crimes, he said everyone “must play their part.”

“Obviously, lock your car. Keep any valuables out of sight. The campus over all has good lighting, but try to park in the best lighting you can find,” Ellison said. “Be alert and observant and report any suspicious activity to the ACU Police Department immediately.”

Ellison said ACU police officers were only a few

seconds from apprehending a suspect because a student witness immediately reported a break-in.

“It’s not a crime wave by any means, but it is a problem we want to address,” Ellison said.

E-mail Knight at: optimist@acu.edu

representative and freshman broadcast journalism and political science double major from Houston, suggested inviting Koch to speak because he said it may help the ACU community better understand one another.

“We’re talking a lot about racism on campus right now,” Ziemer said. “We don’t understand ourselves sometimes, so by coming to a better understanding of ourselves, we come to a better understanding of our community and gel better as a community.”

Invitations have been sent

to all prospective speakers, but none have been confirmed yet.

The steps that remain for the committee are to approach the Faculty Senate for support and to ensure students make an appearance at Lectureship. Smith said an advertising campaigned geared toward students is planned for the fall.

“Once we get approved, we’re ready to let students know, ‘Hey, this is for you,” Coates said. “We took your ideas and ran with them.”

E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu

Vegan: Veggie options increase on campus Continued from page 1 pages. Also, the Bean made a new section called “Vegan Bar” for people who are vegetarians and who like to have more veggies. The “Vegan Bar” offers fried rice, pasta or fresh fruits each day.

The Bean Sprout restored the veggie burger this semester.

“We are not finished,” said Andre Allen, interim food service director. “We like feedback.

It makes the job easier for us.”

Most of the new menus are from student requests.

Allen said the exact number of vegetarian students is not known; however, it is a decent number. Using fresh products is less expensive than buying pre-made foods.

Students can send comments to umatter@acu.edu.

E-mail Sudo at: optimist@acu.edu

Search: Selected candidates share strengths, experiences Continued from page 1 committee and professor of communication, and include: Dr. Angi Breton, University of Arkansas; Dr. Jeanine Varner, Oklahoma Christian University; Dr. Greg Powell, professor of chemistry; Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English Department; and Dr. Foy Mills, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Dodd said the search committee formed in January. A nationwide search was advertised

in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Christian Chronicle, to allow for a larger pool of candidates, he said.

Each of the eight members of the search committee evaluated each candidate according to a matrix with 20 qualifications created by Dodd and then discussed how each candidate might work in the College on a qualitative basis.

All three candidates from ACU said they were honored by being selected as a finalist.

Shankle said she was hon-

ored to be chosen as one of the finalists among such as “powerhouse of faculty members selected.” During her 17 years at the university, she has served on various committees, as well as been chair of her department for the past seven.

“My leadership style is consensus building collaborative style, which allows me to work well in teams, bring people together and enact new programs, which is a leadership style that is unique,” she said.

Dr. Greg Powell, professor

Scholarships: Enrollment encouraged Continued from page 1 students no longer have to look for jobs after graduating. ACU started a company called Genesis Network Solutions, which is a software-testing company for telecommunication companies such as Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile. The goal is to recruit students to iSchool and give them an internship and job through Genesis. iSchool offers two degree programs. The first is a traditional computer science pro-

gram that can be combined with a software engineering concentration that Coburn said is the “hottest job in America right now.” The second is information technology, a more flexible degree oriented towards students who want to deal with the infrastructure of computing: hardware, networks and security.

Arisoa Randrianasolo, junior computer science major from Madagascar, said iSchool is geared for students to expand upon their technology majors.

He said the previous Computer Science Department was strictly but now he can apply other fields to his major. He said now he can combine what he has learned in his computer science classes with business classes whereas before he could not.

Randrianasolo plans on expanding his knowledge further in graduate school.

“I’m getting more and more interested [in] the major I’m studying,” he said.

E-mail Rapelje at: optimist@acu.edu

Dining: Students influence changes Continued from page 1 wants to eat at.”

Williams not only wants to change the Bean, but wants to change the restaurant area outside of the Bean.

“The area outside of the Bean has become so congested with people trying to get food, get into the Bean and sitting down that we need to make changes so everything is more accessible and faster,” Williams said.

They also want to add more

food places around campus.

“It is important to be serious and also have fun with our dining,” Williams said. “I would really like to see something cool on campus along the lines of having a place that offers different types of cereal and different types of milk. I know students eat cereal all the time and even for meals, so why not offer an accessible cereal restaurant that students can use a meal plan or bean bucks at.”

The renovations and redesigning of campus dining should not increase the amount students pay for food.

“We want to upgrade and put our best foot forward,” Williams said. “We plan to present our dining services in a way that all students, on or off campus, want to eat here. I think this is very exciting, and we are on our way to getting there.”

E-mail Snelson at: optimist@acu.edu

of chemistry and biochemistry, said he felt called by God to apply for the position.

“Through a series of events recently, I felt God was calling me to do this,” Powell said.

“He may just be wanting me to learn something from this, but we’ll see.”

Powell said he was good at listening to problems and finding solutions, as well as responding to the needs of fellow faculty. He has served as chair of his department for three years previously and serves as

chair of the Faculty Senate.

Dr. Foy Mills, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said although he enjoys his position in the department, he too, like Powell, felt called to apply for the position.

He said he saw himself as a pragmatic visionary, and one who worked well in collaboration with others. A professor at the university since 1989, Mills has served on committees and held leadership roles, as well as been a mentor to many stu-

dents in his department.

Dodd said some of the main qualifications are: commitment to the mission of the university, experience in academic administration and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students.

VanRheenen and Money will make the final decision on the new candidate to fill Dr. Colleen Durrington’s position by mid-April, which is a goal, Dodd said.

E-mail Schlabach at: mes02e@acu.edu

Page 6

February 23, 2007

Make an educated decision to vote

The issue:

As seen in the local election, many people with opinions don’t vote and then are frustrated with election results.

Our view:

The future of the U.S. is determined by citizens who make educated votes concerning their communities and country.

The solution:

Begin researching the presidential candidates for the 2008 election so you can vote for the most apt candidate.

Only 39 percent of registered voters showed up to vote in Taylor and Nolan counties in November, despite a major election with two hot issues on the ballot: the tax-freeze for the elderly and the citywide public smoking ban. Nearly four months later, business owners of local shops and restaurants, where smoking was once allowed, turned in more than 8,000 signatures by 5 p.m. Monday protesting the smoking ban that took effect in December.

The city requires the owners to have at least 6,557 valid signatures, which means signatures of Taylor county reg-

istered voters.

What would happen if no one showed up to vote, no one showed While it will be up to vote, but but thousands were opposed to who next week bethousands were was on the ballot? fore enough opposed to who signatures are was on the balvalidated, there is a chance the ing smokers to smoke in pub- lot? Petitions on a signature petitioner could cause a re vote lic places, what could happen would not be able to reverse on the smoking ban issue. if this many people had sim- that election.

With so much opposition ply showed up to vote? Voting The 2008 presidential appearing now, why did more in one’s hometown or place election has already gained voters not turn out to vote of residency is important for steam with Democratic canback in November? Did voters more than the fact that by vot- didates Hillary Clinton and not realize the issue would ac- ing one shows support of his Barack Obama touring the tually be enforced? Or did the city. Voting also creates chang- country more than a year smokers in the city just not es and sets trends. and a half before the election turn out to vote?

Elections in local towns are will take place.

If only a mere 6,500 signa- important because they diBegin researching canditures could be the deciding rectly affect the voters, but dates in the party you supfactor to give voters a chance what about the national elec- port. It’s never too early to to swing the ban back to allow- tions? What would happen if begin thinking about politics.

Lebensgefahr

Alex York

Making fuel, not tortilla chips

In a recent commercial aired on national television, a group of attractive people stand in the middle of a corn field as one individual asks, “What if we could reduce our d e p e n dence on oil?”

A State “With of Mind E85, the Lauren g r e e n Sutton fuel,” replies another individual.

E85 is the new term for a lead-free blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that is predicted to be the tank fuel of the future.

More and more, U.S. politicians are pushing for the use of ethanol. This would help to reduce “America’s addiction for oil” claimed President Bush in this year’s State of the Union

The problem with ethanol as a vehicle fuel lies within the amount of corn needed for its production and how that has affected neighboring countries.

address. With Democrats and Republicans united on this issue analysts expects one-third of all vehicles in the U.S. to be driving on ethanol by 2030. Already individual cities like Wilmington, Del., have made the switch to ethanol in all public sector vehicles.

The low-energy fuel appears to be a home grown answer to the United State’s pollution problems as well as our dependency on foreign oil. But as the cliché goes, some things are just too good to be true.

The problem with ethanol as a vehicle fuel lies within the amount of corn needed for its production and how that has affected neighboring countries. Exporting yellow corn to importers like Mexico costs

substantially more than it has in the past.

Under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico received cheap imports from the U.S., but as more U.S. corn is being diverted into ethanol production, supply is dwindling.

Consequently, the price of tortillas, a staple food in the Mexican diet, has risen from approximately 63 cents per kilo a year ago to $1.81 earlier this month. As a result, many Mexican families are struggling to feed their families as they are easily spending one-third of their income on tortillas or are forced to eat less.

Looking at the interests of the United States, finding more domestic ways to fuel our cars makes sense.

But I find it ironic that in an

attempt to become less dependent on the Middle East for oil, the U.S. is ultimately hurting our neighboring country, Mexico.

In a situation that seems out of my control, I realize that I, as well as other college students, can do small things to amend the situation. I can walk or ride my bike to school, I can carpool with other students when I go out of town, and I can choose to own fuel-efficient cars as opposed to oversized automobiles that consume large amounts of fuel.

These things may seem miniscule and perhaps trite in relation to the amount of people this situation touches, but in a conflict where more tanks will be filled than stomachs, I want to believe small lifestyle changes will be enough to help provide dinner for one if not more Hispanic families.

E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu

The next person elected could change the face of America and ultimately reverse the war in Iraq, among other key issues. Decide which candidates inside that party best suit your needs and then make the effort to register and vote in November 2008.

Apathy doesn’t suit anyone, nor does it solve anything. Take a stand and speak up for what you believe in — whether it’s for the smoking ban in Abilene or if it’s against the war in Iraq.

Every vote counts.

E-mail the Optimist at: optimist@acu.edu

Warcraft claims two new victims For over two years a into a virtual place; I had plague has been creep- seen other MMORPG’s like ing across the world. It Everquest and Star Wars: has devoured lives, cost Galaxies, and wondered millions of that myself. But a year ago, dollars, and I saw WoW in action, and I is still go- knew why. ing strong.

For one, as is the main atAnd unfor- traction with all MMORPG’s, tunately, it playing with other people is has recent- fun. Sure, fighting a dragon ly claimed is cool, but teaming up on Mouth of two more that dragon with your best Madness victims, my friend or even a stranger r o o m m a t e builds a sense of unity.

Cole and me.

I think a big reason WoW Williams The World and other MMORPG’s are of Warcraft has taken in. For popular is you get a sense those who don’t know, or that this is a world you have have only heard terrifying control over. You decide stories, World of Warcraft what missions to do, who to is an MMORplay with, and if PG, massively you die you just multi player run your ghost online roleback to where So, I knew WoW playing game, your body fell. would absorb where you So, I knew me, and I tried create a digiWoW would to avoid it until tal character absorb me, and from one factried to avoid graduation. tion (the Alit until graduliance, which ation. But my has humans, friend Jamie elves and such, or the got me a copy for ChristHorde, made up of Orcs, the mas, and I couldn’t say no.

Undead and other things Now my roommate has got much cooler than the Alli- it, and we have spent many ance) and adventure in the a day plugging in eight world of Azeroth, where hours or more into WoW. other players from around Some might argue the game the world explore with, or is addictive, but that would against, you. be like saying that alcohol The Warcraft game se- itself causes alcoholism or ries began as a strategy guns cause violence. Still, game, where you’d build I haven’t noticed any adbases and armies and pit verse affects on my health, them against each other. except that I’m looking kind After Warcraft III, Blizzard, of gaunt, and I can see the the company behind the bones in my arms and legs. game, decided to let playOh wait, that’s just my ers live in Warcraft. World Undead priest I’m looking of Warcraft was released in at. Got confused there for 2004 and has been grow- a second. ing strong since.

Now some are probably wondering what the big deal is, and why so many people E-mail Williams at: would sink so many hours cww02b@acu.edu or optimist@acu.edu

SA officer argues Facebook effective way to bring change Letter to the Editor A letter to the editor in response to Jared Field’s column headlined “Facebook: the new way to protest” published in the Feb. 19 issue of the Optimist.

I am a junior class senator in the Students’ Association.

I am here to say I believe that Facebook has had a positive effect on the way I am able

to communicate with those I seek to represent. I understand the need for students to have meaningful personto-person communication.

Facebook does not replace a good conversation or a political rally. However, where our parents sent out letters and passed out leaflets, we create Web sites and even Facebook groups.

Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration.

Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university.

The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing personal

I am an avid Facebook user. Two of the groups referenced in the article condemning Facebook users as pointless in their efforts were started by me. One in particular, the Lectureship attendance policy group, is a part of an initiative that is being discussed by the SA Congress, and eventually the Faculty Senate. This ef-

attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy.

Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published.

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

fort has been, in part, driven

by ACU Facebook users.

It is my goal as an SA Senator to represent the interests and goals of my fellow peers and actively advocate for those goals and interests. Facebook has empowered me, in part, to do this. If you look to the results of Facebook groups like the Save Dar-

fur or Invisible Children campaigns, you will see the results are hundreds of thousands of students rallying in DC and across the nation. I dare say that without Facebook such effective communication would not have been possible. Look to the results Facebook groups have been responsible for; may-

Mallory Schlabach

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Newsroom: (325) 674-2439

Sports desk: (325) 674-2684

Lauren Sutton

be then we will see the effectiveness of the Facebook social utility.

Brandon Smith junior political science major from Keller bjs03a@acu.edu

Daniel Johnson

Editor in Chief

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Emily Smith

Todd Piersall

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Friday, February 23, 2007

One away: Cats win close game Continued from page 8 Forwards Kristee Davidson and Lacey Blau contributed seven points each during the run. Davidson completed the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Guard Alex Guiton had 10 points, three assists and two steals for the game. Blau, who had nine points and seven rebounds, made one of the biggest plays in the waning seconds of the game.

With the game tied at 6363 and 17 seconds to play, the Wildcats called a timeout to discuss its final possession.

“We pretty much told our girls to take a smart shot or call a timeout,” Twilligear said.

As the clock ran down, Blau dribbled along the 3point arc before finding Kundmueller wide open in the left corner. After receiving a quick pass from Blau, Kundmueller buried the 3pointer with 1.84 seconds remaining in the game.

“We actually had a dif-

ferent play called,” Lavender said. “Something we preached really a lot for the last two weeks is make the extra pass, and Lacey did that last night.”

Texas Woman’s followed by launching a last-second shot to tie the game, but it fell short. The Wildcat win eliminated Texas Woman’s from playoff contention.

“It was such a big win,” Lavender said. “Our girls did a great job. It just shows how much they’ve matured over the last several weeks.”

On Monday, Maxwell was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Player of the Week after stellar performances against Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M the previous week. In those two games, Maxwell averaged 19 points and 19.5 rebounds per game.

Maxwell has recorded 12 double-doubles on the season, including one Tuesday night.

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

Ranked: Next tourney in March Continued from page 8 said. “Stephen Knight also had a really good tournament,” Knight, the newest addition to the Wildcats this season, placed 13th in the tournament. Knight is playing at ACU after transferring from San Diego State, where he red shirted.

While some would see placing seventh in the tournament as a setback, Campbell feels it will help the team keep focus.

Despite windy weather Monday, the first day of the

Page 7

SPORTS JUMPS

tournament, ACU shot the best score of the day.

The Wildcats next tournament will be in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., at the Southern California Intercollegiate hosted by the University of California-San Diego on March 4.

“It will be a fun trip,” Campbell said. “Marbella Country Club is a good course and it will be an allelite tournament.”

E-mail MacDonald at: optimist@acu.edu

End: Conference on the horizon Affect: Continued from page 8 South Division and is ranked No. 19 in the nation with a team batting average of .275 and an ERA of 2.78.

Last weekend ACU played in the Triple Crown Fastpitch Division II Leadoff Classic in Phoenix and came away tied for third place.

The team played top-ten teams and extended its overall record to 8-6.

One of the most consistent bats for the Wildcats in Phoenix was junior center fielder Leisha Johnson, who was 6 for 13 (.462) with five runs scored, one double and four home runs and six RBI.

However, the team as a whole has been playing inconsistently when it comes to batting and scoring runs in every inning.

“We have been specifically working on our focus by making sure we make the most of every inning of every Johnson game,” Wilson said.

“This season so far we have been following great games with poor performances. We need to learn to play and fight every game.”

This weekend’s games are

ACU’s last games before divisional play begins on March 2. Wilson said they are trying to keep a mindset that all of their games are important, not just the divisional games.

“Every game we play counts whether it is conference or non-conference,” Wilson said. “This team knows we need to get up for every game if we’re going to make it to regionals.”

ACU plays Incarnate Word on Friday and Saturday at 3 p.m. and takes on Central Oklahoma on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

E-mail Davis at: optimist@acu.edu

Road: Focus needed to win Continued from page 8 after outscoring East Central 58-5 in four games on Feb. 16 and 17, will play Northeastern Oklahoma State in Talequah, Okla., Saturday in the Wildcats first LSC crossover four-game series on the road.

“This series is just another road test for us,” Bonneau said — a test Bonneau said is essential to his team’s success this season.

“I know from the past you got to learn how to adapt on the road,” Bonneau said.

ACU is 2-2 on the road with both losses being against Southern Arkansas on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11.

For catcher Jordan Schmitt, playing well on the road requires blocking out all distractions of the road before the series starts.

“You got to block out everything else and just focus on what you have to do,” Schmitt said.

Northeastern State, who ACU swept last season, is 2-0 at home and 5-2 overall after winning three of four

games against LSC South opponent Eastern New Mexico.

The last time ACU played Northeastern on the road in 2005, ACU split the series with the Redmen.

ACU has been consistent at the plate with seven players hitting a batting average above the impressive .394 team average. Three of the most averages have been designated hitter Matt McGuire (.522), shortstop and utility player Willy Uechi (.512) and third baseman Alec Sowards (.463).

“We got to control what we can control when we play on the road,” Bonneau said.

On the mound, ACU holds .252 team ERA and four of its starting pitchers are undefeated at 2-0.

One such pitcher is senior Ben Maynard who has been lights out for the Wildcats.

Maynard, who hasn’t started since pitching against Incarnate Word on Feb. 13, will start Saturday with a .60 ERA. “He’ll [Maynard] be fresh,” Bonneau said.

Schmitt said he is confident ACU’s starters’ experience will help them get the job done.

“Most of them are upper classmen who have been around,” Schmitt said. “They know how to pitch.”

BASEBALL TEAM STATS The ACU baseball team is ranked No. 11 nationally and leads the Lone Star Conference in team batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored, runs batted in and total bases.

Team batting average n .394 Team slugging percentage n .561 Total hits n 157 Total RBI n 104 Doubles/Triples n 28/9

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

ACU finishes on road Continued from page 8 Guard Norman Alexander, another Wildcat senior, sees this last game as his chance to make an impact as an ACU player.

“This is the last time to leave my mark on the program,” Alexander said.

The first time ACU and Kingsville met, the Javelinas outscored the Wildcats 85-74. But playing at home doesn’t necessarily give Kingsville an advantage; Kingsville is 1-3 at home in conference play.

ACU is 1-10 in conference and 10-16 overall after losing to Angelo State 67-64 Monday. The loss was ACU’s eighth straight in conference play and first to Angelo this year.

Ross led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Ross also grabbed three steals in the loss.

ACU led by as much as seven points in the second half against Angelo but was unable to maintain its lead when it counted most.

Although this season has found the Wildcats on the losing end most of the time, Alexander said winning the last one is important.

“We’re gonna try and win it; it’s the last one,” Alexander said.

ACU will take on Kingsville at 4 p.m. Saturday.

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

SportsFriday

Page 8

ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Thursday

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Team

Div. 8-2 7-3 7-3 5-5 4-6 4-7 1-10

WTAM MSU Tarleton ENMU TAMK-U Angelo St. ACU

Overall 16-8 18-6 18-7 11-13 17-8 9-16 10-16

ACU ranked No. 5 after seventh-place finish

n The ACU golf team jumped two spots to No. 5 in the Golf World/ Nike Golf Coaches national poll after placing seventh at the St. Edwards Spring Invitational on Tuesday.

By NATHAN MACDONALD Sports Writer

The nationally ranked ACU golf team kicked off its 2007 spring season with a seventh

Div. 12-0 8-4 7-6 6-6 5-7 TX Woman’s 5-7 ENMU 3-9 TAMK-U 3-9 WTAM Tarleton ACU Angelo St. MSU

Team

place finish with a combined score of 58 over par at the St. Edwards Spring Invitational on Tuesday.

ACU’s high placing moved the Wildcats up two spots from No. 7 to No. 5 in the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches Poll.

“Seventh place will mo-

tivate us, but we still have high expectations for the season,” said head coach Mike Campbell.

The Wildcats competed against some of the nations top ranked Division II programs, including Lone Star Conference programs Cameron University and University of Central Oklahoma. ACU, though, is the highest ranked

team in the LSC. Third ranked St. Edwards, who was ranked No. 6 prior to the tournament, won the tournament by only three strokes. Barry University, who is ranked fourth nationally, finished second.

Belgium born Hugues Joannes placed highest individually for the Wildcats, shooting 80 the first round,

77 the second round and a 68 the third round to tie for eighth with Northeastern State’s Sam Powell.

Campbell said he was proud of how Joannes did along with the rest of the team.

“Hugues played really well; it was good to see him play in the final round,” Campbell See

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Overall 23-3 16-7 16-11 14-10 12-12 11-15 12-12 8-17

BASEBALL Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

ACU ENMU Angelo St. Tarleton TAMK-U WTAM

Team

Golf

Beating the clock

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Team

February 23, 2007

Overall 10-2 8-4 6-5 6-6 4-4 2-5

SOFTBALL

Div. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 TX Woman’s 0-0 WTAM 0-0 Angelo St. Tarleton TAMK-U ACU ENMU

Overall 18-2 3-1 10-5 8-6 8-7 6-10 2-8

Scores Monday MEN’S BASKETBALL Angelo State 67, ACU 62

Tuesday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU 66, Texas Woman’s 63

Upcoming Friday BASEBALL ACU at Northeastern State, Talequah, Okla., 3 p.m. (DH)

SOFTBALL ACU vs. Incarnate Word, 3 p.m.

ACU vs. Central Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU at Stephen F. Austin Invitational, Nacogdoches

Saturday WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Kingsville, 2 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL ACU at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Kingsville, 2 p.m.

BASEBALL ACU at Northeastern State, Talequah, Okla., noon (DH)

SOFTBALL ACU vs. Central Oklahoma, 1 p.m.

ACU vs. Incarnate Word, 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS ACU at Stephen F. Austin Invitational, Nacogdoches

n Home games listed in italics

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

The ACU women’s basketball team bench celebrates after guard Kathryn Kundmueller sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.84 seconds left in the game against Texas Woman’s on Tuesday.

Wildcats one win away from postseason n After winning a come-frombehind game against Texas Woman’s on Tuesday, ACU needs to win its last game to secure a spot in the postseason tournament.

By MICHAEL FREEMAN Online Editor

The Wildcat women’s basketball team won a 66-63 nailbiter on Tuesday night against Texas Woman’s in front of an energized crowd of nearly 750 fans in Moody Coliseum.

Upcoming n The intramural schedule and points seen on the Optimist sports page are not final and subject to change. Any lastminute changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum.

INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL See intramural bulletin board for schedule.

Guard Kathryn Kundmueller drained the game-winning 3pointer with 1.84 seconds left in the game to bring ACU a step closer to securing a playoff spot.

“It was a must-win in order to make the playoffs,” said assistant coach Terri Twilligear.

The Wildcats are 16-11 overall and 7-6 in the Lone Star Conference. With that record, ACU is third place in

the LSC South Division. The top four teams in the division advance to the postseason, and thanks to Tuesday’s win, the Wildcats can secure a berth in the playoffs with a win Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville or a Midwestern State loss in one of its last two games.

ACU will play Texas A&MKingsville in Kingsville Saturday at 2 p.m.

“Saturday’s game is a game we really need to win,”

Redmen first LSC North road test n The nationally ranked ACU baseball team will play Northeastern Oklahoma State in its first Lone Star Conference road series.

By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor

Intramural Round-up

Women’s basketball

After beating East Central University with ease in its first Lone Star Conference Crossover series, head baseball coach Britt Bonneau isn’t expecting this weekend’s series against Northeastern Oklahoma State to be quite as easy.

“I wouldn’t expect anything to be given to us,” Bonneau said. “We’ve got to earn everything.”

No. 11 ACU, who moved up seven spots See

ROAD page 7

said head coach Shawna Lavender. “I think the big thing for us is to use the last game to hopefully get some momentum going into the conference tournament.”

On Tuesday night, ACU had to erase a 13-point second half deficit in order to beat Texas Woman’s 66-63.

The first half was highly contested, and ACU entered halftime with a slim 35-34 lead.

Texas Woman’s went on a 18-4 run to open the second

half and led 52-39 with 13:06 left in regulation. Texas Woman’s had eliminated ACU from the postseason two of the last five years, but the Wildcats were determined not to let that happen again on Tuesday. Led by center Audrey Maxwell, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, ACU mounted a comeback that featured a 27-11 run in the final 13 minutes.

See

ONE AWAY page 7

Last game affects postseason play n The 10-16 ACU men’s basketball team has a chance to knock Texas A&M Kingsville out of postseason contention in its final game of the season.

By DANIEL JOHNSON brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Third baseman Jamie Parker catches a ball during fielding drills Tuesday.

ACU will play its final preseason games in town Friday and Saturday.

Preseason ends at home n The ACU softball team will end its preseason with four games against two regional and conference opponents Incarnate Word and Central Oklahoma.

By RACHEL DAVIS Sports Writer

The Wildcat softball team will play its last preseason games in a round robin set-up at home this weekend.

The team will play Lone Star Conference North Division opponent Central Oklahoma and Incarnate Word twice this weekend.

Head coach Chantiel Wilson

Softball said the team has been focusing on playing these games to get in the right mindset for the conference competition on the horizon.

“We want to play this weekend as a preview performance for our first division series the following weekend against Texas Woman’s,” Wilson said. “We need to put together four strong games to get this team going.”

Currently the team is ranked fourth in the LSC See

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Sports Editor

The playoffs are out of the picture for the ACU men’s basketball team, but that doesn’t mean its last game of the season has no effect on the postseason.

If ACU beats Texas A&M Kingsville in its season closer Saturday, the Wildcats can dash the Javelinas’ hopes of making the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament.

“We wouldn’t mind spoiling that for them,” said guard Cortnie Ross.

The Javelinas are 4-6 and would need to beat ACU and have Tarleton beat 5-5 Eastern New Mexico to make the LSC tournament. An outcome Ross says isn’t going to happen.

“We’re going to win,” Ross said. “I give you a

Men’s basketball guarantee.”

Despite the chance to spoil Kingsville’s playoff hopes, guard Tiago Souza is only concerned about getting the Wildcats’ first win since Jan. 23.

“I don’t think about knocking them out too much,” Souza said.

“I’m just thinking about winning the game.”

Souza, Souza who is one of three seniors that will play their last game as a Wildcat Saturday, said winning would be a pleasant ending to his two-year career at ACU. “A lot of stuff is going through my head right now,” Souza said. “We just need to make the last game special and try to get a victory in Kingsville.”

See

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