OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY November 16, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 23 1 sections, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
The Big Purple NOAH’s a thing or two about service
The Big Purple marching band puts service time in with the NOAH Project, page 5
Kimono Over
The Japanese act at Ethnos possesses more than an entertaining show one weekend a year, page 6
Run to history
Senior Nicodemus Naimadu runs for history Saturday after a knee injury, page 10
Art department secures gallery By Rachel Davis Opinion Editor
The Department of Art and Design is partnering with the Cockerell 2nd St. Gallery to add an annex to the Shore Art Gallery downtown, making it easier for ACU to bring in outside artists to exhibit work on campus and contributing to the revitalization of downtown. “We’ve been interested for a long time in trying to secure
a space on or off campus that would allow us to show more art,” said Jack Maxwell, chair of the art department. Maxwell said over the last five to six years the art department has grown quickly, and because each senior is required to have an art show before graduating, Shore has been taken up by student art shows. “We’ll finally have open exhibition time in Shore,” Maxwell said. “It’s the first time
in several years that we can bring in a guest artist. This downtown space has been a personal dream of mine for a long time.” Carolyn Cockerell, director and coordinator of shows and events for the Cockerell 2nd St. Gallery, said she’s excited to have ACU using the space. “We love the thought of ACU having a presence downtown,” Cockerell said. “We love art and want to support art in Abilene, and it’s a great help to
the downtown renovation.” Cockerell, an ACU alumna, said within the last four to six years, Abilene began to revitalize the downtown area. “It’s such a great opportunity for my family, ACU and downtown,” Cockerell said. “For ACU to have a presence downtown — I think it’s going to be a very positive joint venture and partnership.” Emily smith SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
See
Photographs from a cemetery, by Ronnie Rama, assistant professor of art and design, on display at the Cockerell 2nd Street Gallery.
ART page 7
Tangled up in culture Culture and entertainment combine at Culture Show
By Lauren Sutton Copy Editor
The university will sport new bleachers on the Larry Sanders Intramural fields if the 2008 senior class can provide the funds. In keeping with a long-standing tradition of students giving to the university for the Senior Legacy program, this year’s senior class chose to purchase the bleachers from a list of options that included raising money for a wheelchair lift in the Edward’s Hall lobby, planting trees around the Lunsford Trail pond and providing endowed scholarships for two entering freshman to name several proposed ideas.
By Colter Hettich Student Reporter
Students from every corner of the map will share a piece of their culture with the ACU community this Friday and Saturday night. Onehundred twenty five students will perform acts from areas around the world, including China, Hong-Kong, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Latin America, Madagascar, Philippines and the United States. Although entertainment on the surface, the culture show is about much more than pleasing an audience. Carlos Mecias, ’05 ACU graduate, got the Ethnos idea suddenly in 2002 while sprinting across campus, late to a culture show meeting. Ethnos means “people” or “nation” and this year’s students feel the theme reflects their commitment to each other and their homeland. Laza Razafimanjato, prearchitecture major from Antananarivo, Madagascar and director of Ethnos 2007, said the leaders collectively decided on the IM theme while staying in touch over the summer — using instant messaging. “We were trying to figure out how so many people from so many different cultures could be friends,” Razafimanjato said. “And instant messaging is one the ways we stay in contact.” The Culture Show has made a significant impact in Melina Rangel’s life, who said, “I’ll be the first to admit that I judged a lot of cultures.” Rangel, senior English major and writer of Ethnos 2007, began getting involved in ACU’s International Students’ Association while she was still a senior in high school. “A place for international students to share their culture See
CULTURE page 7
Senior class to donate bleachers
See
DONATE page 7
Leaving a legacy Each year, seniors vote to decide where they will donate their money. Seniors who donate $100 or more receive a brick with their name engraved. n 2008: New bleachers for the Larry “Satch” Sanders Intramural Fields. n 2007: ACU insignia in front of Barret Hall n 2006: Contribution to the Jacob’s Dream sculpture fund n 2002-2005: Contribution to the Lunsford Trail fund
Thanksgiving options exist for Abilene students By Laura Acuff Student Reporter
katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Cristina del Pinal, senior business management major from Fort Worth, dances the tango with her uncle Antonio del Pinal at Ethnos’ rehearsal.
SA votes to bring coffee to studying students By Kelsi Peace
Managing Editor
Students across campus can enjoy a free cup of coffee during finals week, thanks to the Students’ Association Congress. Executive president Matt Worthington and vice president Daniel-Paul Watkins presented a plan to Congress Oct. 31 to partner with Dining Services and ARAMARK to provide free coffee
to students. Meetings with director of purchasing Anthony Williams returned a cost lower than the Cabinet expected, with ARAMARK agreeing to pay half the cost, Dining Service and quarter and SA the remaining quarter: $500. Rep. Ben Word and Rep. Tony Godfrey presented a bill to Congress at Wednesday’s meeting to use the funds from the Congressional project budget for the coffee.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
ARAMARK will provide 3,500 cups of coffee available at a stand in the McGlothlin Campus Center Dec. 10-14, or until the coffee runs out. “If students want to come, they just go over to this little place, and it’s available,” Worthington said. Some representatives raised concerns that students would take advantage of the available booth — especially because dining services decided checking IDs
would slow the process. “I’m sure someone will try to take advantage of it, but it will be OK,” Word assured Congress. Worthington said in his meetings with Williams, they did not foresee any problems. Congress passed the bill unanimously. Godfrey said the plan originated
See
SA page 7
Abilene Christian University
In light of the impending Thanksgiving holiday, businesses and organizations within and outside Abilene are welcoming student volunteers for holiday-oriented charities. “The one thing that we do, and we ask the students come prepared to do, is we try to make this a special day for those who are less fortunate,” said Jim DeFoor, director of veterans services for Taylor County, which is hosting a Thanksgiving meal Thursday. The annual event has fed 1,000 people each year for the last two years, and students are invited to volunteer — no signups or preparation necessary — between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday, ready to help serve food and assist in cleanup, DeFoor said. “Just show up and tell us ‘hey, I am here to volunteer,’ and we will put [you] to work,” DeFoor said. See
OPTIONS page 7
Serving the ACU community since 1912