The Optimist Print Edition 09.28.2007

OPTIMIST THE

FRIDAY September 28, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 10 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com

What’s on TV? More than you can watch without TiVo ArtsFriday provides a glimpse of the season debuts offered this week, page 4

Catching the Greyhound

Chili charity

Chili’s is raising money Monday to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital as part of national Chili’s effort, Page 3

Eastern New Mexico prances to ACU with nation’s best running game, page 8

SA debates representative rules

By Kelsi Peace Managing Editor

The Students’ Association Congress divided over the rule requiring representatives to major in the building they represent, with some supporting adherence to the rules and others seeking to fill empty seats, at Wednesday’s meeting.

Congress debated the is-

sue for more than an hour in a meeting with no new business on the agenda.

UP Rep. Caleb Archer, junior political science major from Southlake, moved to appoint Hallie Roberts, senior political science major from Fort Sumner, N.M., to the Zona Luce representative position, raising questions of whether students can represent a building as a minor

and calling into question how rigorous Congress should be in examining qualifications.

While no one argued against Roberts’ ability to competently fill the role, some said it was inappropriate to let a student who spends little time in a building act as the representative. Others said filling empty seats is more important than focusing on procedure.

“We have rules for a reason,” said UP Rep. Casey Bingham, senior political science major from Conroe, an opponent of appointing Roberts to represent Zona Luce.

More than anything, some Congress members worried they could be setting a precedent of relaxing the rules.

SA executive President Matt See

SA page 5

katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

SA vice president Daniel Paul Watkins, junior political science major from Fredericksberg, Va.; SA president Matt Worthington, senior missions major from San Antonio; and Matt Greenberg, senior political science major from Grand Prairie, conduct the SA meeting Wednesday in Hart Auditorium.

Pledging numbers sink from ’06

Fresh Follies

By Denton Josey Features Editor

Fewer people went through Bid Night this year than last. The number of pledges dropped for men’s and women’s clubs.

Last year, 235 women and 142 men reported final rankings for clubs, but this year only 223 women and 108 men ranked clubs to pledge.

Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of student organizations and activities, said numbers have been decreasing for the last several years.

See

katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Large Chorus performs “Good Morning ACU,” a spin-off of “Good Morning Baltimore,” from Hairspray in Cullen Auditorium Thursday. Freshman Follies begins Friday.

iPhone research groups aided by touch

NUMBERS page 5

Sing Song hosts tryouts approaching

By Val Valle Online Editor

By Jared Fields Editor-in-Chief

ACU continues taking steps toward bringing Apple technology to campus sooner than first imagined. After the Sep. 5 release of the iPod touch, the university expanded the number of researchers from the originally planned 7-10 to almost 40.

“Two days during the time we were making our call for proposals, the iPod touch was introduced,” said Bill Rankin, associate professor of English.

The iPod touch allows the university to bring more people into the research because of the similarities between it and the iPhone. Rankin said other than no phone capabili-

ties, camera and a few other minor differences, the two products are similar enough to research the same things.

Also, the iPod touch’s price makes research more affordable when compared to the monthly phone plan the iPhone requires.

“What’s most import is it gives us an opportunity to study the iPhone Web browser without having the cost of the iPhone,” George Saltsman, director of Educational Technology in the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence, said.

“Wherever we would want to research how the iPhone uses the Internet, we can use the iPod [touch] to do the same.”

The researchers will be placed in seven groups researching different

aspects of the iPhone’s use.

“Rather than just … maybe one person working on a particular area, we have 4-5 people working on a particular area,” Rankin said. “It lets us prototype our studies with a devise that’s, granted, less capable, but more affordable and easier to get into more people’s hands.”

The 16-gig cost about the same as the 8-gig iPhone, and researchers have the choice to pick which devise they want to use in their research.

While no plan currently exists for the monthly iPhone bill, Rankin said the iPod touch helps with some worries about how it could be handled.

“To date, AT&T hasn’t created a corporate plan,” Rankin said. “We have to buy it as though we’re an

individual. Right now, there’s no way to have a bunch of iPhones on campus. The iPod touch let’s us not have to deal with that plan.”

For the 40, applications came due Thursday to accept their role in one of the seven research groups. Final word comes Friday for the applicants.

Like painting a house, having more people allows quicker progress.

“Before, we imagined a multistep function,” Rankin said. “I feel that puts us in a great position to figure this out. … and lead us more quickly to the decisions we’ll make.”

The seven research groups begin with the executive study group. This See

Juniors and seniors who want to host Sing Song 2008 attended an interest meeting on Tuesday in Cullen Auditorium.

About 50 students attended the meeting to receive information packets instructing prospects on what to do before their audition.

Closed auditions will begin Monday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. The deadline to sign up for an audition time is Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Sing Song 2008 will mark its 52nd show Feb. 14-16. Traditionally, Sing Song features three hosts and three hostesses, and the participation of students performing in club and class numbers is one of the largest

RESEARCH page 5

See

HOSTS page 5

Forum gives Rep. King chance to converse with constituents

By Laura Acuff Student Reporter

Abilene residents, among them some ACU professors, discussed criminal justice and cancer reform at a forum on Tuesday conducted by District 71 State Representative Susan King. District 71 includes the university.

“The main point is to be proactive,” King said. “We believe in open transparency and direct discussion and discourse.”

The forum, at the T & P Depot on 1101 N. First St.,

lasted only an hour because of King’s desire to make it as convenient as possible for attendees. King arranged chairs in a circle and sat among the citizens, who numbered between ten and 15 and claimed a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities.

Following introductions around the circle, King immediately opened the forum to questions and discussion, allowing citizens to both inquire about and comment on whatever issues they preferred.

“I’m not for censoring or trying to orchestrate com-

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

munications,” King said. “It’s kind of a risk to do this because I don’t have any idea who will show up. I don’t know what they’ll ask me, but I believe that’s a genuine way to involve people. That’s just kind of my style.”

Discussion covered a variety of topics, including the Texas Forest Service, installation of tollbooths on Texas highways and incarceration of the mentally handicapped.

“There is such a focus now on criminal justice reform,” King said. “Quite frankly, we don’t have the workers, we

don’t have the prison beds and we need to not be locking [people] up when they don’t need to be.”

Regardless of which issue was being discussed, much of the conversation revolved around finances and funding.

“Unfortunately, everything begins and ends with money,” King said. “That’s the problem. That’s the process. You can have [the money] there.

You can have it appropriated, and then the governor can veto it.”

Although most topics involved statewide concerns,

King still related issues to the community of Abilene.

“One of the biggest [issues] people are talking about in Abilene, and all over the state, has to do with bonds for cancer research,” King said. “Texas is poised to become a really, really strong force there. Lance Armstrong and others are really pushing it hard. The controversy there is people say, ‘Why cancer? Why not diabetes? Why not Parkinson’s? Why not Alzheimer’s? Why not AIDS?’ That’s a legitimate question, [but] cancer becomes a

Abilene Christian University

disease that is opportunistic within other diseases, so when your immune system is down, for example, with AIDS, there are specific cancers that are opportunistic diseases with AIDS.” Elected last spring, King serves on the Human Services, Rules and Resolutions, and Public Health Committees but was quick to assert that she is not a medical expert. King assured forum attendees that questions she

See

KING page 5

Serving the ACU community since 1912

About This Page Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Friday, September 28, 2007

28

Calendar & Events Friday

Parents Weekend 5 p.m.

Free Guitar Hero II will be offered in the Campus Center Living Room until 9 p.m. A prize will be given for the top score.

8 p.m.

Freshman Follies will be performed by freshman students in Cullen Auditorium.

29

Saturday

Parents Weekend 8:30 a.m.

Issues Facing Women in the Medical Professions, a symposium for women in pre-health, will take place until noon in the Campus Center Living Room.

1, 3 and 7 p.m.

Freshman Follies will be performed by freshman students in Cullen Auditorium.

01

Monday

8 a.m.

The WCTCC’s first Virtual Job Fair will be held until Oct. 8. Visit www. collegecentral.com/wctcc to view available part-time, internship and fulltime positions. Use this opportunity to network with employers locally and around the country who are interested in hiring ACU students and alumni.

Student Reporter

A prayer walk will be held Saturday on the Lunsford Trail during Parents Weekend.

This walk will start at 9 a.m. at Jacobs Dream. Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, the vice president and dean for Student Life, will be the host. The format will be similar to the one held during Welcome Week.

The hope is that prayer walks will become more frequent throughout the year.

The first one was a chance to be in prayer for students starting school.

The first prayer walk was planned in June by Samantha Adkins, coordinator of Alumni Programs, Dr. Eric Gumm, director of Orientation, Phyllis Bolin, assistant professor of mathematics, and Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life and Student Ministries.

The idea of the prayer walks came about because of a small group of parents wanting to pray for their students going off to college or for their students already attending college.

“The prayer walk prepared parents with a prayer foundation for the beginning of the year,” Gumm said.

“The prayer walks are an invitation to be in a prayerful community.”

Dr. Eric Gumm, director of Orientation

“Prayer walks are a tangible way for people to contribute to the mission of the University by lifting us help to the Lord.”

Around 60 people turned out at the prayer walk held during Welcome Week, and the planning team hopes to see higher attendance in the future.

“There was less opportunity to do publicity for the first prayer walk; we are looking for a better turn out this time around,” Gumm said.

The walk started at Jacob’s Dream, where fifteen minutes was spent preparing for the walk. From there, attendees were free to walk the trail or to pray how they saw fit. The walk consisted of an informal structure. A prayer guidebook was provided that listed the different scriptures located around the Lunsford Trail.

“The prayer walks are an invitation to be in a prayerful community,” Gumm said.

These walks are open to everyone as a way to be involved

Tuesday

10 p.m.

Socrates Cafe will meet in the Lion’s Den to discuss love, truth and happiness.

8 p.m.

Boston-based band Junius will play its sixth show in Abilene at Monks Coffee shop on Cypress Street.

Trail to host prayer walks

By Kimberly Prather

02

with the ACU community.

“Although the prayer walks are not exclusively set aside for parents, the idea is to provide parents and the whole ACU community and opportunity to get involved together on behalf of the University,” Lewis said.

A future prayer walk is set to be held Oct. 20 during Homecoming at 8 a.m. at the cross next to Sewell Theatre.

E-mail Prather at: optimist@acu.edu

Announcements Nominate senior women for homecoming queen by Friday at www.acu.edu/queen.

Tickets for Freshman Follies will be on sale for $10 until Friday in the Campus Center from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. All shows are general admission and will be performed in Cullen Auditorium Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 1, 3 and 7 p.m.

Sing Song 2008 host and hostess auditions will take place Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Any student who is interested but was unable to attend the interest meeting Tuesday should e-mail singsong@acu.edu as soon as possible.

The Medical Clinic will host a flu vaccination clinic Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room. The shot costs $25, and it can be charged to a student account or paid in cash or check.

The Medical Clinic also takes flu shot patients daily on a walk-in basis. For more information, contact Kathy Stokes at (325) 674-2625.

Chapel Checkup Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:

21 45

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.

Students inspired

by Symposium

By Katie Howerton Student Reporter

The Body and Soul Program will hold its first annual symposium for women in pre-health this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the Campus Living Room. The program’s main theme is Issues Facing Women in the Medical Profession, and it will host three women who are at different stages of life.

“It inspires our female students to hear from people who have already gone down this path and for them to see OK, this might be doable,” said Terri Aldriedge, head of the Body and Soul Program.

This event is open to all but is directed mostly towards women in pre-health.

“There are a lot of students, females that come in my office and say, ‘I want to be a wife and a mom and how workable is this,’” Aldriedge said.

Expecting between 50-60 girls in attendance, the morning will begin with a breakfast followed by an opportunity for three women to speak about the medical field. The women will include Dr. Kristie Clark, director of Pediatrics at Yoakum County Hospital in Denver City; ACU alumnus Dr. Tammy Camp, teaching

staff at Texas Tech Medical School in Lubbock; and ACU alumnus Dr. Kimberly McMillin, family medicine specialist from Garland. The last event will include an open-forum time where women will have an opportunity to ask questions and participate in group discussions.

The Body and Soul program is a specialized program for students who are serious about medicine or dentistry.

“It gives them exposure; they get to shadow doctors and dentists. They get to observe surgery; they get to do things to see if this is what they really are supposed to do,” Aldriedge said.

The program has been running for almost two and a half years now, with numbers increasing every year.

It is for any pre-health student who has acquired a 3.5 grade point average after their first semester here.

“It has been incredible how it has all come together,” Aldriedge said. “I’m just hoping that with the information we give them, they can come up with the best path for them.”

E-mail Howerton at: optimist@acu.edu

Volunteer Opportunities Big Country Balloon Fest needs volunteers Friday and Saturday to help at the annual hot air balloon festival at Redbud Park. Shifts are available from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Key City Kiwanis needs volunteers for its annual Fish Fry at the Abilene Civic Center on Oct. 6 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Help is needed to serve food, clean tables and serve drinks. All proceeds are distributed to needy children and adults.

Volunteers are needed for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk on Oct. 6 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at Nelson Park to help with set up, banners and keeping drinks stocked for participants.

The Abilene elementary schools need volunteers to read with kids on a weekly basis.

Time slots are available for a variety of days. For more information, go to the Volunteer Center located in the Bean Sprout.

Connecting Caring Communities is seeking volunteers to

conduct interviews with five assigned Abilene residents during the next two-three weeks, following a two-hour training session, while the Community Assessment of Resiliency Tool (CART©) is implemented throughout Abilene to assess resiliency factors that indicate sustainable and healthy communities. Students choosing to participate in this need can obtain five Chapel credits if they do not already have a Faith in Action exemption. For more information or to participate, go to the Volunteer Service-Learning Center in the Campus Center. Upcoming volunteer training sessions will be held Friday at 8:30-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and 4-6 p.m. in the board room on the third floor of the American State Bank, located at 402 Cypress, and Saturday at 9:30-11:30 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. in the Connally Missions Center at Hardin Simmons University.

CAMPUS NEWS

Friday, September 28, 2007

Page 3

Chili’s raises money for hospital’s charitable cause

By Mallory Edens Page 2 Editor

Every Chili’s across the nation donated 100 percent of its profits collected Monday to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The effort was part of an annual campaign called “CreateA-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer,” which is held every September for National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In addition to the event Monday, Chili’s visitors can help children fighting cancer by going to a local Chili’s and making a donation to decorate a coloring sheet of the restaurants’ signa-

ture pepper logo. Each donated sheet is then displayed in the restaurant throughout September. The Chili’s north Abilene location also held a chili peppers car wash to raise money for St. Jude.

Chili’s campaign goal is to raise more than $5 million this year. Each restaurant got to individually select its own target goal. The Chili’s north Abilene location set its goal at $7,500. So far, it has raised $5,202.50 from the car wash and pepper decoration alone.

Monday night, the restaurant collected $8,000.

Cole Smith, Chili’s north Abilene service manager,

said he thought the restaurant brought in a good amount of business.

“I’ve worked here for 10 years, and this was one of the best campaigns we’ve had, especially being at a new restaurant,” Smith said. “It made our business go up. [Sales are] normally about half of what [they were Monday]. A lot of people came in for just this reason.”

Since the campaign began, Chili’s raised more than $11 million for the patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This hospital is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay

for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay for treatment. Eighty-five cents of every dollar donated to St. Jude goes to research and treatment.

Because of protocols for research and treatment developed at St. Jude, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, is now 94 percent compared to 4 percent in 1962. Overall, cancer survival rates have risen from 20 percent to 70 percent.

St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from more than 70 countries.

According to Smith, it takes $980,000 a day to run a hospital. Smith said Chili’s goal every year is to donate enough money to run it for about 50 years.

Chili’s is also in the process of helping fund the construction of the Chili’s Care Center, a six-story, 325,000 square foot building scheduled to open at St. Jude in November. The Center will be the first medical building on the St. Jude campus to bear the name of a St. Jude corporate sponsor and will house the Department of Radiological Sciences, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, space for in-patient activities and new research laboratories.

Chili’s has set a goal to raise $50 million over the next 10 years. When this goal is reached, this will be the largest corporate donation in St. Jude’s more than 40-year history.

As for the next short-term campaign goal, the company hopes to earn $100,000.

“Hopefully, we will beat this year’s donation, especially with the way it’s expanding out here,” Smith said. “My goal for this year was $7,500, but I thought we could raise $9,000. We should be able to pass that goal.”

E-mail Edens at: mxe06a@acu.edu

Speech and debate team seizes first place in Houston

By Aaron Ballard Student Reporter

There’s no debating this: the ACU speech and debate team placed first overall at the University of Houston Invitational Sept. 15 and 16.

“It was exciting. Although it wasn’t an incredibly competitive tournament, it was a good place to get our feet wet,” said Brandon Smith, senior international relations major from Kansas City, Mo., and captain of the team. “We were expecting to do well, but first place was a big deal because it showed the freshmen that we have what it takes to be competitive on the circuit.”

Of about 15 students who are a part of the speech and debate team, 12 competed in the tournament. Eighteen other universities were represented in the tournament, mostly from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. LSU placed second, and the University of Houston

placed third.

“Winning first place was a really big deal,” said Dr. Sally Gary, assistant professor of communication and director of forensics. “For every round of debate that you compete in, you get so many points, so winning first in sweepstakes means that we had more wins in debate than any other school.”

The team focuses on two different styles of debate. First, the Lincoln-Douglas Debate is an individual, policy-based debate that requires a lot of research and preparation. This year, the topic is increasing humanitarian aid to the greater horn of Africa and will be debated throughout the year. ACU placed first, second and third in this category at the University of Houston Invitational.

The other style of debate the team focuses on is the Parliamentary Debate. This type of debate is done with a partner and is impromptu.

The topic is announced 15

minutes prior to the start of the debate and can vary widely. ACU placed first, third and fourth in this category.

“Parliamentary Debate is very challenging because you have to think quickly on your feet and still apply debate structure,” Gary said. “No evidence is allowed, just the knowledge you have, and you go from there.”

The team travels and competes in tournaments four to five weekends a semester, and in the spring, the team competes in a week-long competition. The next competition will take place at Central Missouri University on Oct. 5.

“As a group, we are very team focused,” Smith said. “We depend on each other a lot.”

An extensive amount of time spent in preparation and research is required. The team meets once a week to practice together on Tuesday afternoons. In addition, each member spends time researching on their own.

“You have to put in a constant amount of work and research to be ready for competition,” Smith said.

This is Smith’s fourth year on the ACU team and eighth year participating in speech and debate.

“I usually spend six to seven hours a week researching and preparing,” he said.

The team began in 1925 and has a rich history on the ACU campus.

“The speech and debate team has always been competitive,” Smith said. “It’s surprising how many prominent alumni and faculty have been a part of it.”

The team is funded entirely by an endowment called the Brown Endowment, named after former debate coach and communication department chair Dr. Ed Brown and his wife Edna.

It was founded in the 1990s with $1 million, and today,

many alumni contribute to it.

Gary believes the skills required for speech and debate are special and should be supported.

“These abilities are gifts

from God,” Gary said. “We want to encourage students with those gifts to use them to further God’s kingdom.”

E-mail Ballard at: optimist@acu.edu

ArtsFriday Optimist

Page 4 BOX OFFICE stats Newly released movies and gross rates for Sept. 21- Sept. 23. n Resident Evil: Extinction (R): $24 Million n Good Luck Chuck (R): $14 Million n The Brave One (R): $7.4 Million n 3:10 to Yuma (R): $10.1 Million n Eastern Promises (R): $5.7 Million

Coming Soon Movies opening Friday: n The Kingdom (R), starring Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman. The aftermath of a deadly attack on American forces in Saudia Arabia left the government slow to act, but FBI special agent Ronald Fleury (Foxx) assembles a secret team of U.S. counter-terrorism investigators to find the criminal behind the act. The crew finds their attempt to capture them unwelcome, and their presence in the city is not wanted. Desperate to accomplish their mission in only five days, they find they may be the next target. n The Game Plan (PG), starring The Rock, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut. A football superstar who abandons the gridiron unexpectedly has to answer to fatherhood after discovering he has a daughter he never knew about. n Feast of Love (R), starring Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos. This is modern version of a “Midsummer Night’s Dream” meets “Desperate Housewives.” A local professor who lives in a tight-knit Oregon neighborhood witnesses love mischief among the town’s residents.

All of their stories intertwine into one romantic fable.

They’re back: Office cast offers new mischief

By Sara Snelson Arts Editor

Summer is always full of dull TV shows, and I always miss the shows I watch during school.

This week is the week I have been waiting for since April: season premiere week.

This is the time when I look forward to getting together with my friends, making dinner and watching my favorite shows.

There are some new shows that are airing this season, and I am excited to watch and see if they are worthy of my time or not.

“The Office” is by far my favorite show on TV because of the dry humor and ridiculous events that take place by the characters. I watched season two of “The Office” (since season three was not released yet) about one hundred times this summer in anticipation of the fourth season premiere this week.

I have highlighted the most watched TV shows on the major-network stations that are making their way back this week and next. Also listed are some new pilots that are out as well.

ABC Premieres

Opening Saturday: n The Darjeeling Limited (R), starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Anjelica Huston.

Three American brothers who have not spoken in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a mind-set to find themselves and bond with each other again like bothers. Their quest veers off track and they eventually end up stranded in the middle of the desert with 11 suitcases, a printer and a laminating machine.

Friday, September 28, 2007

and are no longer interns.

Burke is nowhere to be found, George is repeating his intern year and Meredith and Derek’s relationship is on the rocks.

This show always keeps me on the edge of my seat, and I am anxious to see what will happen with all of the changes that were made last season.

Dancing with the Stars Mondays at 7c / Results show Tuesdays at 8c This is the fifth season with the biggest cast yet; six men and six women will compete to become the next winners of “Dancing with the Stars.” Last season there was great dancing on the show, so I hope this season can compete.

The Bachelor

Grey’s Anatomy Thursdays at 8c The crew from Seattle Grace Hospital are back as residents

Photo courtesy of nbc.com

Mondays at 8:30c

The Office airs Thursday nights on NBC at 8c.

The 11th edition of this romance reality series features Brad Womack of Austin. I think this show needs to come up with some new twists. Having 11 seasons of the same thing is too much.

among society and acclimate into the homo sapien world. I am going to give this a try because I like the commercials.

Why wouldn’t I like the show?

Private Practice - NEW

Big Shots - NEW

My Name is Earl

Thursdays at 8c

Thursdays at 7c

This is the story of four friends who are at the top of their game until the women in their lives enter the room.

These competitive and dysfunctional CEOs take refuge in their friendship, supporting one another through life’s unexpected events.

Earl has taken too many wrong turns in his life. But a twist of fate comes along his way, and he wins a small lottery prize.

After this, he has an epiphany and makes it a goal to set out and turn all of the wrongs he did in his life into rights. This show is humorous and takes you through bizarre events that Earl is trying to make right.

Wednesdays at 8c This spin-off of “Grey’s Anatomy” features Addison Montgomery as she moves to Los Angeles to pursue better possibilities in her life. “Grey’s Anatomy” is really good, so I think this spin-off will be too.

Cavemen - NEW Photo Courtesy of abc.com

Premieres Oct. 2 at 7c

cbs Premieres

This spin-off of the Geico commercials features three cavemen who have successfully made the move to San Diego and are just trying to fit in

from his home. This show sounds like any other typical mystery show of this day.

photo courtesy of cbs.com

Kid Nation - NEW Wednesdays at 8c This new reality series takes 40 kids and gives them all the responsibility to rebuild a town.

Disorder in the town prompts certain kids to make decisions that don’t reside well with the rest of the kids. This show is stirring a lot of controversy over child labor and safety laws.

I am interested in seeing it.

CSI Photo Courtesy of cbs.com

Survivor: China Thursdays at 8c The castaways are thrown and wrestled in one of the dirtiest and most physical challenges in survivor history. Who will outwit, outplay and outlast all the rest this season? “Survivor” has been seen many times by millions of people, but I think the Chinese location will make this season better than the rest.

Thursdays at 9c In the eighth season, Sara’s fate remains in question as the “CSI” team rushes to find if she survived an attack by a miniature killer on the loose. How many shows are there? This will be just like the rest.

NBC Premieres

Mondays at 7c “Chuck” is a comedy series about a man who is a computer geek and is thrown into a new career as the government’s vital secret agent. When he accidentally opens an e-mail covered with government secrets, his brain knows an entire server of sensitive data, and the entire world’s fate rests on his shoulders. This show sounds interesting with the world’s fate in the hands of a computer geek, and I will give it a try.

Thursdays at 8c

In the fourth season, Don and his team work to track down agent Colby Granger after the discovery that he was a mole within the FBI. This is good, but nothing I have not seen before.

Without a Trace

ER

Thursdays at 10c

Thursdays at 9c

The team searches for the adopted son of a celebrity couple who is kidnapped

In its 14th season, the staff returns with more medical challenges and personal mat-

Fridays at 10c

Chuck - NEW

The Office The fourth season is here with the first four episodes being an hour long. Jim, Pam, Dwight and the rest of the employees from Dunder Mifflin are once again under the reign of Michael Scott, and who knows what mischief and dry humor will be in store for us this season. This is by far my favorite show, and I have been looking forward to this season all summer.

Numb3rs

ters that are once again intertwined between the staff. I think 14 seasons is too many, and I have seen all that I can handle of this show.

photo courtesy of nbc.com

Heroes Mondays at 8c This epic drama about ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities is back for a second season as they face new events and struggles.

This show steals your attention because of the action and super powers the “ordinary” actors possess.

E-mail Snelson at: sas04b@acu.edu

Friday, September 28, 2007

Page 5

FROM THE FRONT

Numbers: Participants drop with other commitments Continued from page 1 priorities. Some don’t have time for pledging,” Westbrook said.

Describing this year as a year of change, Westbrook said they are working on a new pledge system that will take up less time. “We’re hoping under the new system we’ll grow,” Westbrook said.

“We want social clubs to grow and thrive, and we’re hoping that the new sys-

tem will accomplish that,” she said.

Though total numbers are down, some clubs still had many pledges. Gamma Sigma Phi had the largest men’s pledge class with 45, followed by Galaxy’s 30 pledges. In its first pledge class in two years, Sub T-16 had 20 pledges and Frater Sodalis had 12. The Trojans did not have a pledge class this year.

The women’s clubs had

“We want social clubs to grow and thrive, and we’re hoping that the new system will accomplish that.”

Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of student activities and organizations

three clubs that almost reached the maximum capacity for a pledge class.

Alpha Kai Omega, Ko Jo Kai and Sigma Theta Chi have 47 pledges this year out of a possible 48. While Tri Kappa

Hosts: Singers seek stage spot Continued from page 1 collegiate musical productions.

Jana Atchley, senior accounting major from Grapevine and co-chair for Sing Song, talked about the important role host and hostesses play.

“The host and hostesses bring a unique element to Sing Song. Through their amazing talent and individual personalities, they engage the audience and connect them to the show.”

Atchley is one of four cochairs for Sing Song including, Ashlea Allred, senior psychology major from Bedford; Matt Greenberg, senior political science major from Grand Prairie; and Britton New, senior business management major from Fort Worth.

The theme for Sing Song this year is “World Tour 2008.”

Gamma and Delta Gamma Phi both had small pledge classes, GATA had 10 and Delta Theta had 30, nearly double the 18 who pledged last year.

Delta Theta president

Christie Thomas, senior graphic design major from Austin, said she has no idea why fewer people pledged this year. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. I guess people are finding other ways to get involved, which is fine and good,” she said.

Thomas said a new pledging rule required students to visit four out of the seven clubs, and that rule helped Delta Theta. “We went all

out and were really fun and showed them they could be themselves,” she said.

Even if pledge classes continue to decrease in number, Thomas said it wouldn’t change things for Delta Theta. “I’m not too worried about the future of Delta Theta,” she said. “We have a good dynamic as a smaller club.”

E-mail Josey at: jdj03e@acu.edu

Calling out to students

“Through their amazing talent and individual personalities, they engage the audience and connect them to the show.”

Jana Atchley, Sing Song co-chair

“The concept for this year’s theme is much like a band going on a tour-like rock concert.

Ideally, the host and hostesses will carry the audience around the world,” said Tom Craig, director of student productions.

Craig and vocal coach Kristin Ward will judge the auditions, along with a faculty member from ACU’s music department and two music professionals from the Abilene community.

Each person auditioning will be given three and a half minutes to present two songs to the judges. In order to audition, students must have at least 60 completed hours, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or

higher and must be in good standing with the university.

Callback auditions will be Tuesday, Oct. 9. Part of this audition will involve dance and choreography as well as sight reading.

“We are really looking for someone with the ability to convey the message of the songs that they are singing,” said Ward.

Those who were unable to attend the meeting but still want to try out should e-mail singsong@acu.edu.

E-mail Valle at: vmv04a@acu.edu

Research: Technology studied Continued from page 1 helping the other six groups.

When other groups present new ideas and innovations, the executive study group looks at it and applies the new information to the other groups.

The six groups left will explore on- and off-campus interactions, teaching and media applications and infrastructure questions.

“It will prototype our studies in a lot more ways,” Rankin said. “How people study, how people live on

campus and how people study off campus and how people get their news and how people interact with the technology on campus.”

E-mail Fields at: jrf03b@acu.edu

King: Students invited to forum Continued from page 1 could not answer immediately would be addressed at a later date by her assistants via e-mail or phone communications.

While some ACU faculty were present for the forum, no students attended. However, King intends to contin-

ue the meetings, potentially holding one every other month, and encouraged university students to attend.

“I understand if you’re in college this is the last thing you’d think about,” King said. “But it is an opportunity to come and give your voice from a totally differ-

ent perspective, so I would really welcome students to come. I could certainly go [to ACU] and gather up students and talk to them, but if they wanted to come here, it would be an interesting inter-generational experience.”

E-mail Acuff at: optimist@acu.edu

Katie GAGER CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alex Gutierrez, junior management major from San Antonio, leads The Call Bible study on Wednesday in Beauchamp Amphitheater. The group meets weekly.

SA: Parliamentary procedure under consideration Continued from page 1 Worthington advised Congress to reconsider the rules governing appointing and electing representatives to allow students to representing buildings where they are minors.

No motion was made. Last year, a similar bill to amend restrictions to allow students with a minor to represent an academic building failed in Congress.

Archer’s motion to ap-

point Roberts also carried a motion to appoint Erin Kessler, junior political science major from Missouri City, to a junior senator position.

Archer’s motion to table all pending motions was struck down, and Congress instead severed the motion to vote on each appointee separately.

Congress unanimously appointed Kessler, and later appointed Darren Williams, freshman pre-med major from Longview, to the Foster Science Building repre-

sentative position.

Williams fills the second spot of four.

Roberts, who is not a major or a minor in Zona Luce, will not be appointed to the position.

After last week’s meeting, parliamentarian Matt Greenberg told Congress throwing out or amending the use of Robert’s Rules of Order could speed up the meeting process.

“We are considering revisions to our current parlia-

mentary procedure,” Greenberg said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Worthington said one option to prevent confusion could be to require prospective representative to fill out form to verify their eligibility.

The move would create a paper trail, and, he said, could improve organization and communication.

E-mail Peace at: knp04a@acu.edu

ViewsFriday Optimist

Page 6

September 28, 2007

Facebook changes set off privacy discussions

The problem:

Facebook added a new setting that allows Google and Yahoo to display profile listings.

Information you don’t want shared can be shared with the rest of the world: be careful.

Facebook plans to allow Google and Yahoo to display profile listings within a matter of weeks. Users of Facebook may have their profile pictures and names available to the public, unless they change the privacy settings on their profiles.

Also, Facebook equips the use of RSS feeds, and those feeds, when generated, are available to the public. If someone subscribes to a feed of status updates, it’s visible for anyone to see.

Our view:

Facebook users need to be more discretionary with the material they put on profiles.

The solution:

Be careful with Facebook and other online sites, and privacy won’t be as much of an issue.

The same is Facebook belongs to the public, which means students on profiles. true for notes “I think need to be cautious when sharing information. and posted that’s wise items. Changing to help them privacy settings understand for these may prohibit Facebook to create “an environment where that they’re not anonymous users who aren’t a friend from people could share whatever in- and … they do need to have seeing them, but if anyone sub- formation they wanted but also some concern about the way scribes to them using RSS feeds, have control over whom they they present themselves,” said they are readily available to the shared that information with.”

Dr. Wayne Barnard, university public. All anyone needs in order Evidently Zuckerberg forgot dean of spiritual formation. to view your feeds is the URL to what his purpose in creating Students should not consider the RSS feed and access to one Facebook was about.

Facebook private. The univerof your friend’s computers that’s Facebook belongs to the sity wants students to know that subscribed to your RSS feed. public, which means students graduate schools and potential Facebook founder Mark Zuck- should use caution when shar- employers partially base their erberg said in a letter to Facebook ing personal information, phone decisions on appropriateness of users that Facebook’s premise is numbers and street addresses Facebook profiles.

Alex York

Lebensgefahr

Post a secret, heal personal wounds The desire to tell a secret is a part of life most of us never quite outgrow.

As children, we learned that entertainment often consisted of sitting in a circle of peers and State of taking turns whispering Mind words in the Lauren ear of the Sutton person next to us as those words became completely misconstrued.

And as we grew older, we experienced the act of sharing a secret in confidence and in return feeling acceptance, pain or vulnerability.

Regardless of our history, secret sharing has always been a means by which humans have expressed deeply rooted pieces of life and a reality that

As hard as it can be to stomach the brutally honest posts, the secrets are just as redemptive as they are painful.

PostSecret has more recently utilized to produce a worldwide phenomenon.

The craze began three years ago as a community art project in Washington D.C. and has since morphed into a weekly blog and three published books.

The PostSecret concept is simple. Anonymous individuals decorate and write an untold secret on a single note card and then mail the note card to creator Frank Warren.

Warren then sifts through the cards and chooses which secrets to publish at www.postsecret.blogspot.com. Secrets deal with issues of sexuality, criminal activity, hopes, fears, etc.

The beauty of PostSecret is its autonomy.

And as hard as it can be to stomach the brutally honest

posts, the secrets are just as redemptive as they are painful.

“My biggest fear is that if I have a daughter, she will inherit my eating disorder,” “My dad is a catholic priest. I have been his secret for 21 years,” and “When you are at church on Sundays… I steal your pain medication. Sorry Grandpa,” are only three of this week’s 22 selected posts on the archivefree Web site.

What is so cathartic about the anonymous form of confession? Equally intriguing, who are the readers of these secrets, and what is their interest in the phenomenon?

I think the draw for both secret readers and secret sharers is the source of healing PostSecret has provided for those who peruse the site and read the books.

In a non-threatening, nonstigmatic way, PostSecret has enabled people to candidly share their struggles without fear of rejection.

And readers who haven’t posted secrets but keep up with the publications can relate to secret writers whose confessions resemble their own life experience, offering a sense of healing and hope.

PostSecret has taken on a darker, more hidden side of humanity, and its artists and readers have not only responded, they have embraced the raw, gritty medium.

So from whichever end of the spectrum PostSecret fans come, the ability to honestly confess and read secrets with no social cost attached continues to appeal to a less-thanperfect society in its highly vulnerable world.

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

“Employers are regularly checking to make sure that the people that they hire do not have skeletons in their closet,” said George Saltsman, director of Educational Technology in the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence.

As long as students use common sense and exercise discretion with what goes on Facebook profiles, privacy won’t become an issue to worry about online.

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

Wedding evokes marital musings I lost one more friend low for dancing after the this past weekend. To mar- wedding. I wanted to run riage. He was only 23. and slide across the dance J o s h floor, much like the folks on Glaze, my “Footloose,” but in a rental, friend since that would be a bad idea. f o u r t h Also, weddings take a grade, used lot of effort and planning to tell his because they are so fanfriends he cy. Does it have to be this wasn’t go- way? ing to get I contend it does not. I Feeling married in mentioned my thoughts to his 20s. He another groomsman, and Optimistic said, “Jesus he said he heard that elopDenton didn’t lay ing or having a destination Josey down his wedding is the way to go. life until he I think he is right because was 33, why should I give with a smaller wedding mine any sooner?” there are fewer people to Such stout resolve did be embarrassed in front of. not last, however. He startWhy would you be emed dating this girl and even- barrassed? Because somet u a l l y times peoproposed ple cry at at Niagaweddings.

Despite my ideas on ra Falls.

My friend weddings, I will say they She said Josh, in a have their good parts. “ y e s , ” priceless and soon moment, I was instarted vited to crying as be in the wedding. he said his vows.

I arrived in Florida for He half laughed as he the wedding this past week- stood there, tears rolling end. It was a busy few days down, and said, “Through full of tuxedos and details. laughter and tears…”

I kept thinking how it all Still, despite my ideas seemed like too much fuss on weddings, I will say they for such a short ceremony. have their good parts. I’m Really, months go into glad I got to be in Josh’s planning this thing, (and wedding. for some girls, years) and it After college, it gets a lot only lasts a few hours, give more difficult to keep up or take a bit. with your friends, so this The big day came Sun- wedding was a great opporday. As I stood under the tunity to spend time with hot Florida sun in my black people I rarely see but retuxedo with sweat cascad- ally love. ing down my back, I made As I write this, Josh and up my mind about a few his wife, Charlotte, are somethings. where in the Mediterranean First, I don’t think get- on a honeymoon cruise. ting married is good until I’m in college despite the third decade of life, but graduating high school five so did Josh. years ago. Though it isn’t So if somehow I, too, for me, perhaps my friend get ensnared, I will at least Josh is onto something. stick with this resolution: Don’t wear tuxes.

They are fancy-looking E-mail Josey at: sweat suits. Also, they are jdj03e@acu.edu, optimist@acu.edu expensive and don’t al-

Anti-war protest demonstrates lack of respect for American troops Letter to the Editor Letter to the editor regarding last Friday’s anti-war protest.

After reading the Optimist article “Students stand, press for peace,” I was actually optimistic about such a protest. I was hoping to see a responsible demonstration that put into action the values articulated by Gon-

calves after he was interviewed about the upcoming event. However, as I walked to Chapel on Friday morning, I saw no hint of discretion on the part of the protestors, and I believe that certain precautions should have been considered prior to the event.

During the protest, the ACU campus was exposed to grotesque images of blood as demonstrators splattered

their posters and smeared their hands and faces with red paint.

These images left nothing to the imagination as signs blatantly blamed America for having blood on its hands. As if that was not atrocious enough, the protestors went so far as to claim that “Jesus is a dead Iraqi child.” Though I believe Jesus does identify with the afflicted and

oppressed, I firmly believe he also identifies with the soldiers who are fighting so that others may live.

A popular phrase states that, after all, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

I believe that statement to be true and am thankful and respectful to both.

Something I will never forget is the instance of a girl crying as she exited Chapel because her father is currently serving in Iraq.

Goncalves wanted to get people talking, and what he got was a crying daughter whose dad she felt had been publicly shamed.

No matter what your stance on Iraq may be, we as Americans and as Christians should respect one another,

Editorial and letter policy 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

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

and what was displayed last Friday was neither respectful nor responsible.

A protest like last Friday’s along with any disrespectful anti-war protest has no place at a Christian university.

John Ferguson Sophomore history major from Abilene jef05c@acu.edu

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Online: www.acuoptimist.com

Friday, September 28, 2007

Page 7

SPORTS JUMPS

Jamboree: Naimadu chases 12th straight individual title Continued from page 8 The second phase included running hills and building muscle endurance, and now in the third phase, the ACU cross country team works on speed and preparing for race conditions.

“I will say that they are a bunch of sore people walking around this week because they are asking their bodies and muscles to do things that they have been normally

doing in the past phases,” Hood said.

Expectations for Nicodemus Naimadu, a three-time individual Division II cross country champion, in Oklahoma are high. Naimadu won at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree last season and has won 12 of the last meets he has run in.

“I expect him to win,” Hood said. “I think everyone, not just me, is expecting Nicodemus to win every meet he enters, which asks a lot of the guy. It

puts a target on his back, but winning is what is expected of a top runner. It would cause more of a stir if he lost a race than if he continued to defend his title at Oklahoma.”

Eyes will not only be watching Naimadu in the men’s race, but will be watching Winrose Karunda and Mary Mwangi in the women’s race.

“Winrose will be listed as an unattached runner, and that is disappointing. But we will get that taken care of when the

meets really start to count at the end of October and early November,” Hood said. “Mary has had three weeks of really good training, and the rest of the team that has survived the hill session, and we have come out of it relatively healthy.”

With the ACU cross country team still preparing for the Oklahoma State Jamboree race, Hood stands behind his team and will prepare his team right up to the starting shot.

Volleyball

Taking on the top team in the Lone Star Conference on the road is no easy task. But the Wildcat volleyball team believes that it’s ready for the challenge.

ACU plays the West Texas A&M Buffaloes, who are ranked No. 18 in the nation, in Canyon this Saturday.

West Texas A&M owns a 145 overall record with an undefeated conference record of 3-0, while the Wildcats are 6-7 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

“I think there’s a lot to be said about rankings,” said head coach Kellen Mock.

“But I also think that there’s times when they just don’t really matter. What matters is who plays on the day you step out on the court against each other.”

ACU played Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M played Angelo State on Thursday, but results were not available by press time.

Last year, the Wildcats lost twice to the Buffaloes during the regular season and once in the postseason. West Texas A&M defeated ACU 30-15, 30-17, 30-25 in the NCAA Di-

vision II Southwest Regional last season. This year, the Wildcats will only play West Texas A&M once in the regular season. The ACU players are looking for payback for last season’s losses.

“Last year, they beat us in every game,” said junior middle blocker Lauren Leone.

“So, we’re getting revenge in a way this year.”

ACU’s last match ended up in a 30-26, 30-15, 30-32, 30-28 loss to conference opponent Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday in Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats have been preparing all week to bounce back from the loss and defeat West Texas A&M. “West Texas has always been our big rival,” said senior outside hitter Abbie Lowry. “We always get fired up to play them.”

The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the West Texas A&M Fieldhouse.

The Buffaloes are not the first nationally ranked team that ACU has played this year. The Wildcats lost to both Hillsdale, ranked No. 10 at the time, and Florida Southern, ranked No. 5, back in August. If ACU beats West

Assistant Sports Editor

Baylor: ACU tunes up before nationals Continued from page 8 “I think the tournament will be good for us,” said junior Alexsandra Vucic.

Last weekend, Squillaci and senior Aina Rafolomanatsiatosika won doubles at the Wilson/ ITA Central Region tournament, earning them a spot at the ITA Small College National Championships. Juniors Ryan Hudson and Juan Nunez won the men’s doubles title and also go on to nationals in Mobile, Ala. The men’s team has this weekend off.

E-mail Davis at: red04a@acu.edu

NCAA II Nationals.

The ACU’s men’s team is ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region, while the women are ranked No. 2.

“We are just focusing on the Oklahoma State meet right now,” Hood said. “They have a chance to place higher than ACU has done since I have been here.”

E-mail Mathis at: optimist@acu.edu

Rusher: Wildcats open LSC South play

ACU faces No. 18 West Texas A&M

By Michael Freeman

“Staying together is the only way we are going to be successful at this meet,” Hood said. “We are going to let Nicodemus loose to defend his title, but runners two through five really need to stay together and support each other, and have a pack mentality.”

The Oklahoma State Jamboree is the first step to the Oct. 13 Chile Pepper Festival, the Oct. 20 LSC Championships, the Nov. 3 NCAA II Regionals and eventually the Nov. 17

Continued from page 8

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior libero Liz Snoddy digs a ball while sophomore defensive specialist Amy Wilson watches during ACU’s match against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday.

Texas A&M, it would be the first victory over a nationally ranked team for the Wildcats this season.

“And it’s at their place,” Leone said. “It would be the greatest thing ever to beat them there.”

Both ACU and West Texas A&M are relatively young teams this season. Only two starters from the Buffaloes last year, Natalie Johnson and Sara Contreras, are still

starting this last year.

“They’re going through some of the same learning curves that we do, some of the same growing pains,” Mock said. “Our young team versus their young team is going to be a real battle. And whichever team is more prepared, whichever team is more focused and mentally ready is going to come out the victor.”

E-mail Freeman at: mxf04b@acu.edu

This season, ACU’s defense has allowed an averaged of 96 yards per game, three rushing touchdowns, and the Wildcats’ rushing defense is ranked No. 24 in Division II football.

The Greyhounds’ rushing attack isn’t their only strength.

Eastern New Mexico has the second best scoring defense in the LSC, are second in the conference in rushing defense and fourth in total defense. Its only defensive weakness is its passing defense, a weakness ACU may be able to exploit.

The Wildcats’ passing offense, ranked No. 24 in the nation, averages 253.0 yards per game and has scored 10 passing touchdowns so far this season. Junior quarterback Billy Malone is coming off a 302-yard, four-touchdown game against Southwestern Oklahoma State University, one of the best defenses in the LSC North.

Malone’s two favorite targets, junior wide receiver Johnny Knox and senior wide receiver Jerale Badon, are both in the top 10 of the LSC for receiving yards per game and receptions per

game. Knox averages 96.0 receiving yards per game and caught four touchdowns this season. Badon, the ACU all-time leader in catches and receiving yards, has three touchdown catches and averages 69.2 receiving yards per game.

“There are certain times when a team starts finding its groove, and that’s what we’re kind of doing offensively,” said offensive coordinator Ken Collums.

What is probably the most important aspect of the Wildcats upcoming game is a chance to start 1-0 in the loaded LSC South Division.

The LSC South includes four undefeated and four nationally ranked teams, and an ACU win Saturday could be a step towards ACU’s second NCAA Division II playoff berth.

“It’s crucial,” Thomsen said. “Every game is big, but to win your first one in the South is crucial.”

ACU and Eastern New Mexico will kick off at 7 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium.

E-mail Johnson at: djj04a@acu.edu

Ranked competition awaits ACU in Phoenix

By Nathan MacDonald Sports Writer

After finishing in the top five in each of its first two tournaments, the ACU Golf team had this week off, but it was no vacation.

“Its difficult to balance school work and an athlete’s sport,” said head golf coach Mike Campbell. “So this week gave us a chance to get mentally and physically re-charged.”

The team will have needed the rest because on Monday and Tuesday the Wildcats will compete against some of the best teams in the nation at the Grand Canyon University Fall Classic in Phoenix. Among the competition are No. 9 California State-Stanislaus, No. 18 Grand Canyon and No. 21 CSU-San Bernardino. NAIA ranked Texas Wesleyan, who

Golf won the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate in early September, will also make an appearance.

“This is the toughest field this fall,” Campbell said.

“It’s a great course, and the weather is always good so it gives us a chance to see how we match against the nation’s teams.”

Last year, the Wildcats placed third overall in the classic, the best they’ve ever done in Phoenix.

So far this season, Campbell said he has been pleased with his top five players that he takes on the road.

“All five players have really been solid,” Campbell said.

“Erik [Manning] and Patrick [Hanauer] especially did really well last tournament.”

Last week at the Territory

Classic, Manning and Hanauer both placed in the top 10 individually, both within a stroke of one another.

“All five players have the potential to be the top of our team any week; our depth is that great,” Campbell said.

ACU dropped from No. 11 to No. 13 in the latest Golf World/NIKE Golf Coaches Poll rankings. ACU fell behind now No. 11 Central Oklahoma as the top team in the Lone Star Conference.

There are four nationally ranked LSC teams, the other two being No. 16 Cameron and No. 25 Northeastern State. Heartland Conference and South Central Regional rival St. Edward’s climbed up the polls, going from No. 16 to No. 12.

E-mail MacDonald at: optimist@acu.edu

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior Curtis Harris sets up a putt on the green of the 17th hole at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate Tournament on Sept. 10.

SportsFriday Optimist

Page 8

ScoreBoard Standings Scoreboard as of Wednesday

ENMU MSU Tarleton St. WTAMU ACU Angelo St. TAMU-K

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

Overall 4-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 3-1 1-2 1-3

Volleyball

Team

WTAMU Angelo St. Central Okla.

MSU TX Woman’s ACU TAMU-K Cameron TAMU-C SW Okla.

Tarleton

Div. 3-0 3-0 2-0 3-1 2-1 2-1 2-2 2-2 1-2 0-0 0-0

1-0 ACU continues conference march

By Christina Johnson

Soccer

Sports Writer

Football

Team

Overall 14-5 5-9 14-4 15-3 9-6 6-7 7-5 7-9 5-9 8-10 7-10

September 28, 2007

The ACU women’s soccer team will take on two Lone Star Conference teams this weekend to increase its clean conference record of 1-0 it achieved by downing Angelo State in ACU’s LSC opener.

The Wildcats will face a 6-2 West Texas A&M team in Canyon at “The Pitch” soccer field. The Lady Buffs fell to 01 in conference after they lost against Eastern New Mexico on Friday.

ACU will move on to play Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M., on Sunday. The

Zias advanced to 7-2 overall and are 1-0 in conference.

“Both West Texas and Eastern New Mexico will be tough. They’re both well coached teams,” said head coach Casey Wilson. “We’ll stack up well with them, player per player. They’ll both be tough defensively.”

The Wildcats practiced hard and worked on some adjustments Wednesday in preparation for its upcoming games.

“It’s a big game for us,” said assistant coach Thomas Pertuit. “I’m hoping our girls

will play hard and strong.”

Wilson realizes his team needs to decrease its errors this weekend and focus on perfection.

“We have to play very well, and we can’t make any mistakes if we’re going to do well this weekend,” Wilson said.

The game against HardinSimmons University on Tuesday was postponed because of weather. HSU was up 1-0 with 67 minutes left in the game, and the non-conference match-up was rescheduled for Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. at the HSU Soccer Complex.

“Our defense came out a little flat,” Wilson said. “The

overall energy level was a little down. We weren’t all on the same page.”

Waiting patiently in the locker room, Wilson said the team reconnected as it went over its previous performance.

“They had a time to regroup and talk about the first 20 minutes of the game,” Pertuit said.

Yet, Pertuit is confident in his team’s upcoming performances this weekend.

“As long as we keep on attacking, we should come out with a victory,” Pertuit said.

E-mail Johnson at: optimist@acu.edu

brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Freshman midfielder/forward Courtney Wilson protects the ball from an HSU player Tuesday.

Tackling Week Four

Women’s Soccer

Team

Div. 2-0 2-1 1-0 1-0 1-0 East Central 1-1 TAMU-C 0-0 WTAMU 0-1 TX Woman’s 0-1 Angelo St. 0-1 SW Okla.

0-2 UCO MSU ENMU ACU NE St.

Overall 7-2-1 5-1-2 7-2 6-4 3-4-1 4-4-2 4-5 6-2 3-6-1 2-6-1 0-11

Scores Saturday FOOTBALL ACU 50, Southwestern Oklahoma State 14

VOLLEYBALL Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, ACU 1

Upcoming Friday WOMEN’S SOCCER ACU at West Texas A&M, 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S TENNIS brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

ACU at Baylor Invitational, TBA

Wildcat linebackers freshman Arthur Johnson and senior Cody Stutts converge on Southeastern Oklahoma State quarterback Kolby Williams for a sack on Sept. 15.

Saturday CROSS COUNTRY ACU at Oklahoma State Jamboree, 9 a.m.

FOOTBALL ACU vs. Eastern New Mexico, 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL ACU at West Texas A&M, 2 p.m.

Sunday WOMEN’S SOCCER ACU at Eastern New Mexico, 2 p.m. n Home games listed in italics

Briefs ACU honors track and field team with awards banquet

No. 17 Wildcats face nation’s leading rusher

By Daniel Johnson If the ACU football team wants to win its Lone Star Conference South Division opener on Saturday, the nationally ranked Wildcats need to do one thing: stop Michael Benton.

The Eastern New Mexico University quarterback is the head of the No. 1 running game in the nation that averages 403 yards per game and holds an unblemished 4-0 record.

Benton alone averages 187.8 rushing yards per game and has rushed for a total of 751 yards and eight

Opinion Editor

Intramural Round-up n The intramural schedule in the Optimist is subject to change and is not permanent.

Any changes can be viewed on the intramural bulletin board in Moody Coliseum.

For complete intramural scores and schedules visit: w w w. a c u o p t i m i s t . c o m

touchdowns in the Greyhounds’ first four games.

“If we shut him down, we shut down 40 percent of their offense,” said senior linebacker Cody Stutts.

Benton and the Greyhounds are coming off a 21-7 Benton win over the University of Central Oklahoma, the only team to beat the Wildcats this season.

Benton racked up 243 yards, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another in the win. The No. 1 rusher in the nation posted the second best rushing yards total in Eastern New Mexico history and was named LSC South Offensive Player of the Week because of it.

“Obviously we want to stop Michael Benton, he’s one of the best players in the league,” said head coach Chris Thomsen. “I mean, he single handedly destroyed UCO; we’ve got to stop Michael, and we know that.”

But Benton’s explosiveness is nothing new to ACU’s defense.

The Wildcats shut down and shut out Benton and the Greyhounds in 2006, sacking him four times and holding him to minus-4 yards on the ground on 15 carries in a 21-0 victory.

The win was the last time ACU shut out a team and rocketed the Wildcats to 4-0. So Benton could be looking for revenge.

“Last year we shut them out, but this year they’re a lot more experienced,” Stutts said. “We’re just preparing the best we can to cut his stats in half.”

Baylor Invitational offers challenge

By Rachel Davis

n ACU will honor the 2007 track and field team at an awards banquet Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Church of Christ. Bob Richards, the only man in Olympic history to win two gold medals and three Olympic medals in pole vaulting, will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $10.

Football

Sports Editor

The ACU women’s tennis team travels to Waco this weekend for the H-E-B Baylor Invitational to face tougher competition than it has seen all season.

Baylor was ranked No. 17 in the NCAA Division I poll last spring and is one on a long list of Division I teams like Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky and Oklahoma State University that the Wildcats may face, but head coach Hutton Jones thinks ACU can only benefit from the tougher competition.

“You get better by playing better people,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t be going if I didn’t think we’d win our fair share.”

Jones said ACU may be the underdogs in the tournament,

Women’s Tennis but the team will get in some good matches and come out stronger in the end.

Junior Irene Squillaci said she’s excited about going to the tournament.

“I feel really good about it,” Squillaci said. “It’s going to bring our best games out, and that’s what we want, to be able to compete at this level.”

Squillaci said the team looks forward to this tournament each year. The team is scheduled to play every other school at the tournament, and Squillaci said they’re all looking forward to playing Baylor.

“Baylor is one of the best ranked teams in D-1,” Squillaci said. “We get great matches from this tournament and that helps us improve our tennis.”

Senior Meagan Brown said she’s hoping for some good competition at the

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RUSHER page 7

Cats face D-1 talent at Cowboy Jamboree

By Anastasia Mathis Sports Writer

Katie Gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior Irene Squillaci returns a ball at the ITA Central Regional tournament on Saturday against Nadia Pope of Incarnate Word. tournament.

“We’re used to playing a lot of D-1 schools,” Brown said.

“Since we’re a D-2 school, we don’t really have anything to lose. We just like to go out and have fun with it. It should definitely be a good tournament.”

ACU was the only Division II team at the Baylor Invitational last year, but this year fellow Lone Star Conference member Tarleton State joined the lineup.

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BAYLOR page 7

The ACU cross country team will compete at the Oklahoma State Jamboree against a slew of Division I teams, and after preparing with a fast-pace training routine, ACU head coach Derek Hood has high expectations.

“We are starting our third phase of training and have changed it up a bit,” Hood said. “We are trying to run at a pace that we want to mimic when we race.”

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JAMBOREE page 7