OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY November 9, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 21 1 sections, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Man it feels good to watch a gangster
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe star in the movie based on a true story, American Gangster, page 3
Bowl for kids sake
SA will sponsor two bowling teams this weekend to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, page 5
Final Countdown
ACU faces Midwestern State in the final LSC game to ensure a playoff berth, page 8
SA voices Chapel concerns
katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Vice president of student life, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, listens to feedback about Chapel from Students’ Association Congress and students at Wednesday’s meeting in Hart Auditorium.
Thompson fields questions over likes, dislikes of Chapel format By Kelsi Peace Managing Editor
The Students’ Association discussed Chapel, dipped into the Congressional discretionary fund and created a temporary Chaplain position on Wednesday in another marathon meeting.
Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president of student life, fielded responses from Congress members, telling them now is the time for change in Chapel. “We’re really trying to understand what will connect for you,” Thompson said. A recurring theme throughout
discussion was the need for speakers and messages to challenge the student body. “We need it to be worth our time,” sophomore senator David Vanderpool said. Some representatives lauded Tuesday’s campus conversations for the hard-hitting discussions, but
Vocal department receives $15,000 By Lauren Hyde Student Reporter
The Alumni Chorus has donated $15,000 to the ACU vocal department in the Williams Performing Arts Center. The Alumni Chorus is a group of people that graduated from ACU in the past two to 40 years ago. The group gives back to the vocal department at ACU by donating money mainly for scholarship purposes. The alumni have donated since the mid to late 1980s and would like to continue donating. The $15,000 donation was given to the vocal department for students who are singers and interested in joining the chorus at ACU but do not have the funds to do so. The money also helps the chorus go on tour throughout the semesters
and helps to buy the instruments needed for practice and performances. In the last four years the Alumni Chorus has donated $16,000 to $20,000, so the $15,000 donation this year is important for the vocal department, said Dr. Gregory Straughn, chair of the Department of Music and assistant professor of music. Because the budget has not increased in the last few years in the music department, the alumni are there to fill in the holes. “Without it we would be in very bad shape,” said Mike Scarbrough, director of choral activities. “All of the choral alumni care very much for the students,” Scarbrough said. “They would like to see them suc-
ceed and achieve a high level of education.” The Alumni Chorus congregates several times throughout the year. It has a reunion every two years and puts together CDs for people at ACU to buy. At the reunion last August, the chorus made a CD titled “Sweet Will of God” that is now available. The fees from that reunion, past CD sales and donations went toward the vocal department and will be the way the Alumni Chorus is able to donate each time. In January the Alumni Chorus and A cappella will join to record another CD to be an accumulation of old hymns, Scarbrough said. E-mail Hyde at: optimist@acu.edu
Student Reporter
Nineteen directors were chosen Nov. 2 for the 14 acts in Sing Song 2008, “World Tour.” The production will consist of customary performances by classes and social clubs in addition to a combined performance by Essence of Ebony, Hispanos Unidos and the Interna-
tional Students’ Association. One director, Rebecca Hopkins, said she loves this responsibility. “I heard about the director spot, and it just sounded like something I would love to do — organizing something this big,” said Hopkins, a communication sciences and disorders major from Edmond, Okla. According to Hopkins, 11 people applied for the two freshman direc-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
See
CHAPEL page 7
katie Gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rachel Harris, junior family studies major from Midland, receives two free tickets for free Starbucks coffee from Hannah Anderson, junior elementary education major from Waco, for Sadies Week in the Campus Center on Thursday.
tor positions, submitting a written application, interviewing and singing for the spots. Matt Greenberg, Sing Song cochair in charge of all stage activities, said directors who are chosen by class senators for class acts and by the clubs themselves for club acts, must complete significant See
ated there becomes an invaluable memory at ACU. Some blamed the stringent attendance requirements for the lack of attention, while others said the often-repeating messages and themes that skirt tough or taboo issues bores students.
Tall, dark and handsome ... coffee that is
Directors named for class, club acts By Laura Acuff
many agreed the constant change left them slightly baffled and feeling they had no place to go. “Chapel to me has become a moving class,” Rep. Tony Godfrey said. Representatives also called for a return to campus-wide Chapel more often in Moody Coliseum, agreeing that the sense of community cre-
DIRECTORS page 7
Sing song class and club directors n Freshmen — Rebecca Hopkins and Bobby Kelly
n Alpha Kai Omega — Josie Shepherd n Delta Theta — Erin Bracken
n Sophomores — Wade Huggins and Chris Herrington
n Frater Sodalis — Evan Anderson
n Juniors — Carrie Gallman
n Galaxy — Bradley Steele, Ryan Stephen
n Seniors — Jessica Jennings and Shaley Lucas
n Gata — Allyson Keker and Lyndsay Ice
n Sub T-16 — Sheldon Busch
n Gamma Sigma Phi — Cash Teague
n Ko Jo Kai — Jamie Lyn Spires
n Sigma Theta Chi — Randy Yeats
Abilene Christian University
Serving the ACU community since 1912