THE Vol. 95, No. 45
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1 sections, 8 pages
Pick-a-date
Grove offers renters $1,000
Honoring our own
n Although the university would not accept scholarships from the Grove to give to students who choose to live there, two $1,000 sponsorships will be offered.
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Sweet indulgence
The Mall of Abilene will sponsor a Chocolate Fest on Saturday, page 4
Batter up!
In Buffalo Gap, students can see how locals reenact baseball how it was once played, page 3
Students came up with creative dates for under $15 this week as part of Sacred Relationships Week, page 3
Kasey Pipes, class of 1995, will be honored as the Young Alumnus of the Year on Tuesday for his accomplishments, page 3
ARTS
Turtle power
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ latest movie shows good graphics but a weak storyline, page 4
SPORTS
Spring training
The ACU football team, which began its spring training in March, will end after two inter-team scrimmages, the first of which is Saturday, page 8
OPTIMIST FRIDAY
March 30, 2007
n Beginning April 11, students, faculty and staff with ACU e-mail accounts will be able to switch to Gmail, the e-mailing system of Google. By ASHLEY ROBINSON STUDENT REPORTER
ACU is teaming up with Google, the world’s largest search engine, to offer Webmail users a new and improved e-mail experience.
Google is offering colleges and universities educationbundle, which include: email, chat, calendar and enhanced spam filtering. Kay Reeves, director of Technology Support, is responsible for the communication and technical support on campus. “I am thrilled with the move to Google,” Reeves said. As ACU’s electronic communication transitions to
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the new Google system, Reeves will be overseeing the training and the technical support for users. The transition to the new system will take place April 11. When users log into myACU and go to the Webmail tab it will take you to the Gmail interface and not Webmail. Kevin Roberts, Chief Information Officer, is in charge of all technology and information services
on campus. “A combination of things led us up to this point,” Roberts said. “Webmail hasn’t been the greatest client.” Google will be hosting the new e-mail system, which will provide more functionality, with a better e-mail interface and a more efficient way to send e-mails. “Their ability to have a See
GOOGLE page 5
A two-step back in time
SPORTS EDITOR
See
www.acuoptimist.com
University, Google finalize e-mail deal
By DANIEL JOHNSON ACU students who live in the Grove student housing official name will be eligible to apply for two $1,000 sponsorships that will go toward tuition at ACU. The Grove is offering the resident-exclusive sponsorships after the President’s Cabinet turned down a proposed partnership that would provide three $1,000 scholarships to any eligible ACU student. The recipients would have been mainly based on financial need. Dr. Jeff Arrington, dean of Campus Life, said ACU chose to pass on the partnership with the Grove because the Cabinet did not know if the Grove’s goals were in line with the university’s mission. “I think that their purposes and our purposes are probably not the same,” Arrington said. “Their purposes are to advance the Grove, and our purpose is to educate students, so we did not feel like that is a partnership we would like to enter.” Mike Spell, general manager of the Grove, proposed the partnership to Arrington at the beginning of the spring semester, and said he wasn’t surprised by the university’s decision. “For us to come on campus really puts the university in an awkward position,” Spell said. “I know the rumors that this is going to be a ‘party place.’” But despite the rumors, Spell is adamant that the Grove is intent on creating a community that is in line with the university’s mission and creating a good relationship with the universities of its students. “We don’t want this to be a party place; that’s not what we’re about,” Spell said. The Grove already has established a partnership with Hardin-Simmons University to provide funds for three
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Just a stone’s throw away, students who travel to Oplin experience the cowboy culture of the past RACHEL LAU PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
The Grand Ole Oplin has been serving the community of Oplin and surrounding areas as a Friday night dance hall for two-steppers since the 1980s.
By KELSI PEACE FEATURES EDITOR
“You know, the older people love the younger kids. Through the years, I’ve never seen so many kids from the universities.” Shirley Ashbrook, Austin resident who’s been dancing at Oplin on Friday nights for 24 years
Just when you begin to think you’re lost, you’ve probably almost arrived. Past a small cemetery, the occasional country home and countless miles of Texas prairie, you will discover Oplin’s dance hall, community center and former school — The Grand Ole Oplin, as the locals call it. Don’t allow the aging building to put you off; instead, notice the full parking lot and listen to a few notes from the live music that dances across the still, country air, much like the faithful two-steppers inside. Evelyn and Fanas Tacker, long-time Oplin residents, will probably take the $4 admission fee from you, just as they have been doing for years. The Tackers have been coming to Oplin’s Friday night dance hall since it opened in the 1980s. While The Grand Ole Oplin,
(named by a Nashville film producer who once filmed the dance hall) may be the town’s pride, it also draws university students from Abilene and some from further distances to step into a cowboy culture reminiscent of an earlier time. Shirley Ashbrook, from Austin, returns to Oplin occasionally to dance and sit with her parents, the Tackers, by the door. Shirley said she’s been dancing at Oplin for about 24 years, and as she expertly navigates the dance floor, always smiling, it’s obvious the practice has paid off. “You know, the older people love the younger kids,” Shirley says. “Through the years, I’ve never seen so many kids from the universities.” College students clump in corners with their friends, snapping pictures of each other in the dim lighting. A few dance with older men and
women, learning the art of two-steppin’ from the experts. Some dance with children, stooping down to reach them and grinning back at their nearby friends. Most dance with each other, following more experienced dancers to mimic their steps or twirling across the floor with the best of them. Rachel Ballotti, freshman biology major from Summerbridge, England, visited Oplin for the second time on Feb. 2. And while two-stepping is foreign to her, Rachel said the basics are easy to master and the atmosphere fun. “I was surprised by the amount of people — especially the older people in the cowboy hats and boots,” she said. On the other hand, Tymon Bloomer, sophomore environmental science major from See
STEP page 5
Facebook boosts SA candidates’ exposure Winning again
Both tennis teams won their matches on Wednesday. The women won 9-0 against Southeastern Oklahoma, and the men beat a Div. I team 4-3, page 8
ONLINE Flashback
See how the men’s and women’s tennis teams have fared so far this semester online at: www.acuoptimist.com
n Candidates running for an office in the Students’ Association say they hope to use social networking Web site ‘Facebook. com’ as a means to reach voters. By JOHNNY BAUTISTA STAFF WRITER
The world of Facebook isn’t just for friends and pictures anymore. Students running for office are using Facebook to create groups and spread the word for their campaigns. Students’ Association Executive President Maher Saab said the Facebook group that was created for his campaign last year really helped with
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
mass communication and exposure. “Facebook is a great way to communicate to other students because it makes it so easy to get your name out there,” Saab said. “The groups allow any member to invite other people that the candidate may not personally know, and it helps getting your name out there and letting people know that you’re running for an office.” Brandon Smith, junior senator and candidate for SA executive president, said the groups are almost equivalent
to making a Web site because it allows you to post your views and allows people to post their opinions. “In the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, people used to use posters, fliers, TV and radio to advertise things, but what Facebook has done is made it easier for everyone to have equal access to,” Smith said. “Facebook is a huge form of mass communication; you can easily create a group and have 400 people join over night. [It’s] almost like a mailing list. On Facebook you can easily and See
CAMPAIGN page 5
Abilene Christian University
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION MINUTES Students’ Association cabinet hopefuls may be approaching to ask you to sign a petition endorsing them to run as candidates for president, vice president or executive treasurer. The secretary is appointed. Debates between the candidates are scheduled for April 9, but the location has not been decided, said Maher Saab, SA executive president. Early voting will be conducted the evening of April 9, and general voting will be April 10 and 11. The candidates will address the student body with their speeches on April 11. While gearing up for elections, Congress continues to consider how to use the $3,250 Congressional Budget, which will soon be reduced by $400
after money is allocated for free bowling in the Bean Sprout, which Congress approved March 9, said Tyler Cosgrove, SA executive treasurer and senior finance major from Amarillo. Edwards representative Matt Lambro, sophomore youth and family ministry major from Grapevine, presented a bill requesting SA to appropriate $1,825 from the Congressional Budget for providing an air hockey table in Edwards. Lambro said Edwards is also first on the list for an air hockey table from the Bean Sprout should the facility chose to donate one. Congress passed the bill 36-2 with absentee votes; two abstained. -by Kelsi Peace, Features Editor
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