Running OnFriday, November 21, 2008 www.acuoptimist.com Page 1B

JMC networka product of the

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Page 2B

No. 2 Wildcats take on Buffs, begin hunt for National Title

Insid

e: Page 2BSee how the Wildcat football team stacks up against its first op-ponent in the playoffs: Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M.

Page 4B Pages 1A-8A

From ACU’s first home game to its last, see a sampling of the photo staff’s best photos of the team’s undefeated

Find the Arts Page, Opinion Page and the rest of the Opti-mist’s usual campus coverage in Section A inside this special

Photo: ACU running back Bernard Scott, who leads NCAA Division II football in points per game, all-purpose yards per game and is second in a myriad of statistical categories, runs onto the field at Shotwell Stadium. Scott and the rest of the Wildcats will host West Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA Division II Postseason. The first time the Wildcats and Buffs met in the regular season, Scott posted 409 all-purpose yards, scored three touchdowns in ACU’s 52-35 win.

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

By Jeff CraigSports Writer

The women’s basketball, team will take on St. Edward’s Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Wild-cats’ home opener.

Tipoff at Moody Coliseum originally was scheduled for 1 p.m. but was moved up to accommodate the football team’s playoff battle with West Texas A&M. The Wildcats (1-1) were defeated by the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers (2-1) last weekend in Austin; however, head coach Shawna Lavender views this weekend as a good rematch but knows her team must perform better in the home opener.

“We have got to be more disciplined,” Lavender said. “Bottom line is we have to be

more consistent and contain their penetration in the lane.”

Coach Lavender attributes ACU’s 66-51 loss last week-end to missing easy shots. The Wildcats shot just 26 percent from the field after shooting 46 percent in the season open-er against Southern Indiana. Coach Lavender felt the main bright spot in last weekend’s loss was her team’s ability to feed the ball into the post players. Lavender also hopes to see a more physical game out of her players.

To beat St. Edward’s, the team will need another strong performance from center Audrey Maxwell-Lively. The

By Jeff CraigSports Writer

The men’s cross country team looks to cap off another successful year with a third consecutive national title Sat-urday in Slip-pery Rock, Pa.

This season saw the Wild-cats win an unprecedent-ed 18th con-secutive Lone Star Confer-ence title and their eighth regional title in the last nine years. ACU

had little trouble winning the conference and regional ti-tles, but head coach Sam Bur-roughs knows he needs high finishes from his top-five runners to capture a third straight championship.

“It will take our top-three guys finishing in the top 10, and we need our fourth and fifth runners to finish in the top 35 to have a three-peat,” Burroughs said.

The team enters the race in fairly good health with just some minor nagging injuries.

Mark Cuban has made his fair share of moves as own-er of the Dallas Mavericks, but this one may prove to be his dumbest of all. Cuban was accused Mon-day of insider trading by the Securities Ex-

change Commission.In 2004, Cuban allegedly

used inside information he had received about the plans for an online search engine, mamma.com, for which he was the ma-jor shareholder. Cuban used this information to sell off his shares before the market value collapsed the next day.

Cuban, who Forbes said is worth more than $2.3 bil-lion, claims his innocence and plans to fight the charg-es, which could cost him the $750,000 he saved in losses plus fines totaling about $3 million. Cuban wrote on his blog Monday, ”The govern-ment’s claims are false and will be proven to be so.”

My question is: is it really worth the $3 million you would owe in a settlement to try and fight for your innocence? This already permanently tarnishes Cuban’s reputation, whether a jury rules him guilty or not.

My contention is that Mr. Cuban has bigger problems to resolve, such as his beloved Mavericks, who began the sea-son with seven losses in their first 10 games. Fans outside of Dallas already hate the enthu-siastic, hands-on owner that Cuban is, but if he’s not care-ful, he may begin to lose some of his own fans.

This is not the kind of case where being a celebrity gives you a get-out-of-jail free card either. Just ask Martha Stewart; she tried to fight the govern-ment over $45,000 and ended up living five months in prison.

SportsFridayPage 2B November 21, 2008

n Offensive coordina-tor Ken Collums has been named a finalist for the Foot-ballScoop.com D2 Coordina-

tor of the Year. Collums is one of four finalists for the award as ACU ranks first in the nation in scoring offense and total offense. Voting will end Dec. 5 with the winners announced Dec. 7 by a panel of former coaches and players.

n Forward Dejan Sencan-ski earned LSC South Division Player of the Week honors af-ter scoring 21 points

and grabbing six rebounds in ACU’s 99-58 win over Hills-dale Freewill Baptist Monday night. The LSC Preseason South Division Player of the Year hit eight of nine shots from the floor and three of four from behind the arc.

Standings

FootballTeam Div. OverallACUWTAMU Tarleton St.TAMU-KMSU

Angelo St.

6-05-13-33-33-31-5

10-011-18-37-46-43-8

ENMU 0-6 2-9

SCOREBOARD

NOTES

Saturday

Cross CountryNCAA Div. II Championship, 10:30 a.m., Slippery Rock, Pa.

FootballACU vs. West Texas A&M, Noon

Women’s BasketballACU vs. St. Edward’s, 6 p.m.

Men’s BasketballACU vs. Huston Tillotson, 8 p.m.

Monday

Women’s BasketballACU at Texas-Permian Basin, 5:30 p.m.

Men’s BasketballACU at Texas-Permian Basin, 8 p.m.

:: Home games listed in italics

Upcoming

Saturday

Women’s BasketballACU 80, Southern Indiana 53

VolleyballWest Texas A&M 3, ACU 2

Sunday

Women’s BasketballSt. Edward’s 66, ACU 51

Monday

Men’s BasketballACU 99, Hillsdale Free Will Baptist 58

Scores

Collums

Sencanski

By Grant AbstonSports Editor

After completing the first undefeated regular season since 1950, the Wildcats will begin their quest for their first national cham-pionship since 1977 when they play West Texas A&M in round two of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

After finishing the regu-lar season 10-0, the Wildcats earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the second and third round play-off games. No. 2 ACU will be playing a familiar opponent in No. 9 West Texas A&M. The Wildcats defeated the Buffs in week seven 52-35 to hand them their only loss of the season. The Buffs defeat-

ed Central Washington 49-42 in the first round of the play-offs to advance.

“The first time we played them was our toughest test, and it’s no different this time,” said head coach Chris Thomsen. “They are extremely explosive and had 600 yards last week in a play-off game and have averaged 50 points the last two weeks and are clicking very well. It’s a good challenge for our defense, but we have a lot of confidence in them and ex-pect them to do a great job.”

Prior to this week, the Wildcats had 25 players hon-ored as LSC South Division All-Conference players as well as five individual award

winners. ACU had a league-high 16 first-team players, 11 on the offensive side of the ball as well as five more on the defensive side. Run-ning back Bernard Scott was honored as the Offensive Back of the Year, and offen-sive lineman Tony Washing-ton was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year. Defen-sive end Aston Whiteside was honored as co-Defensive Lineman of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year.

“It’s a great honor es-pecially with all the great athletes in the Lone Star Conference,” said offensive lineman Joseph Thompson, who was named on the con-ference’s first team.

Besides the 25 players honored for the Wildcats,

Thomsen was named Coach of the Year.

“It’s really just a reflection of our staff,” Thomsen said. “We have a tremendous staff, top to bottom, and we always look at that as a staff of the year award. So much goes into getting a game plan together and recruiting and all the things it takes; [the award] is a good credit to our staff, and it’s good they got recognized.”

Wildcats, Buffs meet again in second round of playoffs

West Texas Rematch

acuoptimist.com

Go online to see high-lights from Saturday’s playoff game against

West Texas A&M

Football

Wildcats cruise to easy win over Hillsdale in openerBy Austin GwinSports Writer

The men’s basketball team opened its season on Monday night with a resounding win over Hillsdale Free Will Baptist at Moody Coliseum, 99-58.

After a sloppy beginning that found them behind 8-3, ACU turned on the jets and never looked back.

“It was the first game, and some of our guys were trying to do too much,” said head coach Jason Copeland. “It was just a lot of first-game hype. If you take out the first five min-utes and the last four or so, we played a good 30 minutes of basketball.”

With an explosive attack, the Wildcats outscored HFWB on fast-break points 28-5. Two of the 28 points scored in transi-

tion were the most exciting of the game. An alley-oop dunk thrown down by leading scorer Dejan Sencanski brought the crowd to its feet.

Senior forward Sencanski, the Lone Star Conference South Division Preseason Player of the Year, finished the game with 21 points and six re-bounds. He shot 89 percent from the field, including three of four from behind the three-point line. Rounding out his 21 points, Sencanski was two out of two from the free-throw line. He was one of four Wildcats to score in double digits. Sencan-ski also earned LSC South Divi-sion Player of the Week honors for his performance. Guards Ean Wagner and Dante Adams both finished the game with 15

points, while guard Kevin White added 12 points off the bench.

“A win is a win,” Copeland said. “We got to see a lot of different guys contribute. I am pleased with our perfor-mance.”

The Wildcats were two three-pointers shy of the school record, finishing 14 out of 23 for 61 percent. The Saints from HFWB also shot well from behind the three-point line, finishing 10 out of 26. Brody Clark led the Saints in scoring with 12 points.

Although ACU was one point short of the hundred mark, the defense played a key role in the victory. They had 14 blocks and five steals. At one point in the first half the Wild-cats kept the Saints scoreless

Emily Jorgenson :: staff photographer

Guard Dante Adams dribbles up the court Monday vs. Hillsdale Free Will Baptist. See Basketball page 3B

See Cuban page 3B

See Cross Country page 3B See Cats page 3B

See Football page 3B

Men’s BasketballTeam Div. OverallTarleton St.ACUWTAMUMSUAngelo St.ENMUTAMU-K

0-00-00-00-00-00-00-0

2-01-01-02-10-00-20-2

Women’s BasketballTeam Div. OverallWTAMUACUENMUMSUTarleton St.TAMU-KAngelo St.

0-00-00-00-00-00-00-0

1-01-11-10-10-20-20-3

Decision could cost Mavs’ Cuban

By Chandler Harris

Thoughts From the Bleachers

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

Running back Bernard Scott (left) and quarterback Billy Malone (right) will direct the No. 1 total offense and scoring offense in the nation.

Basketball

Cross country team ready for nationals

Rematch with St. Edward’s next

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

The Wildcats lost to St. Edward’s, 51-66 Sunday in Austin.

Burroughs

Cross Country

Basketball

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication :: Abilene Christian University :: Serving the ACU community since 1912

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Friday SaturdayHigh: 50 Low: 35

Sunday

High: 64Low: 49

High: 72Low: 45

Online Poll :What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

a. Stuck in Abilene.b. Heading home.c. Road trip!d. Doing homework.

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Pg 4AInsideThis Issue:

Bring Your Own Bean: Tailgate party scheduled for Friday

Championship merchandise sparks spike in The Campus Store sales

Local running club sponsors Turkey Day 5K race

Pg 6A Pg 7A

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Pg. 5A: A ‘Wedding’ to Remember: Play addresses racial issuesFriday, November 21, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 26 :: 2 sections, 12 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

More from the Log onto www.acuoptimist.com or www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see weekly News casts and Sports casts from the JMC Network News Team and videos profiling various events and stories around campus and Abilene.

Gas prices drop dramatically in Texas, across nationBy Tanner AndersonPage Designer

With Thanksgiving a few days away, many stu-dents will make the long drive home. Gas prices have dropped to under $2, and while filling up their vehicles’ tanks may cause an economic blow for some travelers, the prices might have fallen just enough to ease the economic bruising.

Some gas prices were as high as $2.67 a gal-lon but now have dropped to about $1.88 a gallon, according to www.texasgasprices.com. This may place some people into a traveler’s limbo, not knowing whether or not they should take the journey home by plane or automobile. Many travelers consider early arrival, security checks and possible lost luggage as opposed to an on-road excursion filled with three or more pit stops to refuel a car.

Student traveler Luke Pinson, senior account-ing major from Cookeville, Tenn., was faced

with this dilemma. Pinson drives a Ford Escape, and for Thanksgiving he is traveling with his brother to Tennessee. While on the road, they usually stop three times in order to refuel, not including the first tank of gas they buy before they even begin the gas-guzzling trek.

“I drive home every year. No matter what the gas prices were, we were going home regard-less,” Pinson said. “It is a comfort to know that we don’t have to pay as much. I was pretty ex-cited when I saw that the prices had dropped; I put in $20, and the tank was pretty full.”

Pinson also said that before they travel he and his brother locate the cheapest gas des-tinations by using www.GasBuddy.com, a Web site that points out the cheaper gas stations on traveling route.

Stations around Abilene listed prices less than $1.80. The Shell on Judge Ely was $1.79, while the Fina and Allsup’s station next to it was $1.75. The Murphy USA next to Wal-Mart was

$1.75 and $1.72 if the consumer used a Wal-Mart credit or shopping card, and the Fina next to I-20 was $1.75 as well.

To enjoy Thanksgiving with his family, Ryan Rampton, senior youth and family ministries

Wildcat disc golf courseto be built on campusBy Sondra RodriguezStudent Reporter

ACU students can expect a profession-ally designed nine-hole disc golf course to open on the Sherrod Residential Park in the spring.

Deonna Shake, professor and Wildcat Disc Golf Project Director, said the course, currently under construction, was designed by Professional Disc Golf Association mem-ber Jay Redding and will feature cement tee pads, picnic areas, benches and tee signs. It will be free to use and available to students and community members.

Campus groups and social clubs were asked to donate $500 to sponsor a hole or $250 to split a hole with another donor. These donations will cover the estimated installation fee of $1,000 per hole, and sponsors will have their logos printed on tee signs throughout the course.

Social clubs such as Sub-T 16, Alpha Kai Omega and GATA have contributed, as well as The Campus Store, athletic department and the Campus Activities Board.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to get a club’s name on something that is perma-nent,” Shake said.

The course also will have picnic tables, benches and a kiosk. Shake said $13,000 was raised so far for the entire course.

Amy Finn, social director for GATA, said GATA was one of the first clubs to accept sponsorship of a hole.

“It’s another way to have our name out on campus,” she said. “A lot of people who aren’t in club will be playing on them, so it gets our name out.”

Women of the club had a three-day bake sale in the Campus Center to raise the $500.

Finn said because of the upcoming con-struction to Gibson, gym availability will lessen, and students will look for another sport to play.

“It’s another open field to add a sport to,” Finn said. “It will be fun to have a new sport on campus.”

Planning the disc golf course began this summer when Shake learned she had to teach the first disc golf class in the fall.

“It was my job to get familiar with the sport and be able to teach it,” she said. “It’s free, you don’t need much equipment to

ACU officials still determining fate of Bean SproutBy Michael FreemanManaging Editor

As traffic drastically de-clined in the Bean Sprout Grill and Café this semester, rumors circulated among stu-dents that the eatery on the bottom floor of the Campus

Center soon will close. How-ever, those are just rumors.

ACU Dining Services along with ARAMARK and a focus group comprised of about 20 students have been meet-ing and researching viable options for the future of on-campus eateries, such as

the Bean Sprout, for the last three weeks. No final decision for those eateries has been reached, said Anthony Wil-liams, director of Retail and Campus Stores Manager.

“We are firmly committed to creating a premiere dining experience on this campus,”

Williams said. “No final de-cision has been made. We’ve just had some conversations on what to do.”

Over the last two years, ACU has conducted a com-prehensive study of the din-ing on campus with the ob-jective of providing its users

the best dining experience. Last year, the Hilton Food Court, which features Quiz-no’s, Pizza Hut and Chick-fil-A restaurants, opened in the Campus Center. On Aug. 9, the “World Famous Bean” re-opened after a summer of extensive renovations and

improvements. Other food lo-cations around campus, such as the Bagel Wagon in the Hardin Administration Build-ing, the Connections Café in the Mabee Business Building, the Fatted Café in the Biblical

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

Gas prices across the state and nation dipped below $2. At this Shell station on South 1st Street, regular gasoline was selling for $1.75 a gallon Wednesday evening.

Prices To Be Thankful ForSee Sprout page 7A

See Drop page 7ASee Disc page 7A

Ice House skating rink returns to AbileneBy Zak ZeinertChief Photographer

The Ice House skating rink is returning Friday for its third year of winter fun and festivities.

Despite weather-related prob-

lems in its first year, the skat-ing rink is back once again to provide joy to the community.

Located at Nelson Park Fes-tival Gardens, the skating rink is sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and will benefit the

nonprofit organization, as well as the Dyess We Care team.

Karen Mendoza, event coordi-nator, said the skating rink was a big hit in the last few years.

“It really has. It’s been great for the community and

it’s family-fun entertainment,” Mendoza said.

The park will open at 6 p.m. Friday and will remain open every day of the week,

See Ice page 7A

Although gas prices dropped in past months, the average price per gallon since the beginning of the decade has increased.

Date U.S. TexasNov. 19, 2000 $1.44 $1.40Nov. 18, 2002 $1.37 $1.33Nov. 22, 2004 $1.90 $1.82Nov. 20, 2006 $2.21 $2.12Nov. 17, 2008 $2.02 $1.94

Source: Energy Information Administration

Rising PRices

The best part is just the fact that people are ice skating outside in West Texas.:: Karen Mendoza, event coordinator for the Ice House skating rink

“”

2:30The Paramount Theatre will be presenting the play the Nutcracker. For tickets and ticket information, call 675-0303.

Wildcat Preview Day

7:30 p.m. Free Movie in Cullen (The Dark Night)

8 p.m. The Black Cornicopia sponsored by the student group Essence of Ebony

Noon ACU Football playoff game vs. West Texas A&M 6 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. St. Edward’s

8 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Huston Tillotson

VSLC delivers Thanksgiving meals around town. Contact Rita Harrell at 674-2932

7 p.m. Men’s Basketball at UTPB

7 p.m. Sundaes on Mondays at the Office of Multicultural Enrichment

Calendar and Events

Volunteer OpportunitiesAnnouncements

Sunday21

Friday Saturday Monday

The Salvation Army needs volunteers to assist with its “Angel Tree” booth in the Mall of Abilene. Help is needed to greet shoppers, record informa-tion and check in presents. The event is every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Nov. 21 until Dec. 14. Volunteers are asked to work two-hour shifts or longer.

Love & Care Ministries is sponsoring its annual Mission Thanksgiving donation project Nov. 21 at Arrow Ford, 4001 S. 1st St. Volunteers are needed to assist with donations that will be brought throughout the day to help clothe and feed the home-less. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

ACU for the International Rescue Committee needs volunteers to cook food and/or set up and work the Thanks-giving Dinner event that the group is sponsoring for about 60 refugee families Nov. 22 from 4-8 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room. For more informa-tion, contact Madison Saniuk at mbs04a@acu.edu.

The Big Purple is raising money for its annual fundraiser the Noah Project, an organiza-tion which seeks to end family violence. The Big Purple will give these women and children a Christmas party with food and presents. Band members will be walking around campus with cans or buckets that are labeled “Christmas for Kids.”

Annual Thanksgiving Meal Project - Join the Service Action Leadership Team for the 8th an-nual Thanksgiving meal project.

The goal is to feed 100 families at a cost of $35 per family. Donations may be taken to the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center through Friday. Those wanting to help should meet in the parking lot between McDon-ald Hall and Sewell Theatre.

The First Christian Church needs students to serve breakfast to people on Mondays, Wednes-days, Thursdays and Fridays on 3rd Street and Beech Street. Serving time begins at 6:30 a.m. and will end at 7:15 a.m.

Love and Care Ministries needs students to volunteer any day Monday-Thursday at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. with its dining and clothing ministry. Love and Care Ministries is located on 233 Fannin St. Volunteers must be prepared to lift 25 lbs for the Wednesday night street feeds.

Deliver hot meals to 12 to16 senior citizens with disabilities each week. Volunteers can choose one day a week between the times of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The main facility is located at 717 North 10th St.; you also can contact Mitzi McAndrew at 672-5050.

Find out volunteer opportuni-ties by visiting the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center’s Web site at www.acu.edu/vslc and clicking on Volunteer Opportu-nities. For more information or to sign up to help, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center in the Bean Sprout.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Campus Day2

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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 jmcnetwork@acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor at mab07d@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.

About This Page

Watch videos and other newcasts online about the progress on the Rec Center, ser-vice opportunities during the holidays and what students are doing for Thanksgiving.

Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to check out Sadies Week events, as well as students describing their upcoming plans for Thanksgiving.

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58 09Chapel

Scout group offers new scholarshipsBy Tanner KnauthStudent Reporter

Chris Fall was used to being a leader; he was trained to be a leader. To become an Eagle Scout, Fall was required to, “plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school or community,” according to the Boy Scouts of America Web site.

Whenever the opportunity arose to become director for the ACU Weekend Campaigns, he knew he could get things done. Fall served as a director for Weekend Campaigns for three years before graduating in 2005.

A new scholarship, offered by ACU Venturing and Scouting Relationships, will attempt to recruit more students like Fall by awarding scholarships to incoming freshmen.

“We’ve been fundraising, trying to raise about $90,000,” said Nathan Williams, associate director for Venturing and

Scouting Relationships. “The goal is to give out as many awards as we can, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per student, per year.”

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate leadership in the realm of scouting by earning the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Eagle Scout, BSA Venturing Silver, BSA Sea Scouting Quartermaster Award, GSUSA (Girl Scouts USA) Gold Award or the

American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes Award. Applicants also need to provide two letters of recommendation and a one page essay, titled, “Scouting’s Influence in my Life.”

Williams is part of a committee that will discuss the applicants and decide, based on merit, how much to award each student.

“We’ll look at their academic record, their activities,” Williams said. “It’s conceivable a young man or woman could earn multiple awards.”

Current students can contact Williams for more information about trips Venturing is planning, as well as opportunities to work with incoming freshmen. Williams said they also plan to coordinate with other organizations around campus for future events and trips. He encourages students with a scouting background to call their troops and let others know about the ACU scholarship.

“Our mission, like ACU’s,

is to create servant leaders and to send those youths out into the workplace and into the world,” Williams said. “Developing Christian leaders for service throughout the world.”

Flu Shots are available in the clinic Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular clinic hours. Shots are $25 and can be paid by using cash, check or by charging to a Banner account.

The Virtous African Heritage Sisterhood group is sponsoring a Spaghetti dinner catered by Jonny Carino’s at Southern Hills Church of Christ Saturday at 7 p.m.

A classes and student organizations competition will begin this week and continues throughout the playoffs. The competition encourages school spirit by offering whichever class or organization with the most members attending the playoff game a chance to win either $500 or $1,000. When purchasing your tickets,include your class and one campus organization. The winning class will receive $1,000 to be used for whatever the class chooses. The winning organization with 49 or less members will receive $500.The winning Organization with 50 members or more will receive $1,000. At the end of the Wildcats’ run for the playoffs, the numbers will be tallied, and winners will be chosen. These are for advance ticket purchases only. Tickets

can be purchased for $4 inside the Campus Center from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Students also can purchase tickets inside residence halls from 5-9 p.m.

WorldWide Witness has openings for eight week summer internships in places like Thailand, Costa Rica, Australia, Tanzania and England. You can apply online at www.WorldWideWitness.org.

The dates for registering for classes in summer 2009 have been changed. Rather than register with spring 2009, summer 2009 will have its own registration day, Feb. 25, 2009. All classifications will begin registering for summer classes on that date at 3:00 p.m. The advising release codes will be the same ones used for spring registration. If you are thinking of taking courses in summer 2009, talk to your adviser. For more information about registration, go to the Registrar’s Web page: www.acu.edu/campusoffices/registrar/schedulebulletin/index.html

E-mail Knauth at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

The goal is to give out as many awards as we can, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per student, per year.

:: Nathan Williams, associate director of Venturing and Scouting

Relationships

“”

ViewsFridayNovember 21, 2008

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

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information or invasion of privacy.Please limit letters to 350 words or

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Optimistthe

I love how Disney princess movies play out every girl’s fantasy of meeting a dashing prince who sweeps you off

your feet and rides off with them into their sunset. This always has been what I want-ed, a man who pursues me and then sweeps me off my feet. I’ve never been told that’s too

high of an expectation until last Sunday.

While having lunch with friends after church, one mentioned she recently had watched Shrek, and it had re-minded her of me. Puzzled by how a movie about an ogre re-lated, I asked her about it. She then quoted one of Princess Fiona’s lines, complaining to Shrek how he didn’t sweep her off her feet or slay the dragon. I must have had an even more

puzzled look on my face be-cause she began to tell me that I, like Princess Fiona, have too high expectations.

This prompted the whole table to join the conversation, which turned into more of a bash-Sommerly-for-her-high-expectations. It’s funny how little girls are taught to hold out for the prince-like charac-ter and that men should be the pursuers and sweep us off our feet, but once we grow up, that becomes unrealistic and we should lower not only our stan-dards but our expectations.

I guess I never grew out of the fantasy of wanting a fairytale romance with a man as dashing and romantic as the movies make the protagonists out to be. I don’t see what’s so wrong with still wanting that. Men are supposed to pursue women and woo them. We were created in God’s image,

and God pursues our hearts; why shouldn’t men be capable of doing the same?

I still am aggravated my friend criticized my wanting a real life fairytale. Some people think my view is unrealistic, but it’s what I desire. I desire a man who opens the door for me, treats me like a lady, show-ers me with hugs and kisses and gives me butterflies every day. It’s not like I have this expectation of marrying a mil-lionaire who lives in a palace or a man who picks me flowers every day or has been to every planet in the universe.

Men who pursue women exist; men who sweep wom-en off their feet are not just found in Disney movies, they are real. I should know. My boyfriend is one of those men. After lunch on Sunday, I asked him what his opinion was on men who don’t woo

women, and he believes it’s because they are lazy.

Women should be looking for the man who sweeps them off their feet. Why should any woman lower her standards? You shouldn’t lose sight of the characteristics you find most important in a man. God prom-ises to give us the desires of our heart as long as it matches up with his plan.

If you want a millionaire boyfriend, but instead find a man that is financially wise, to me that sounds like a bet-ter deal. Having a list of key characteristics you want is a great foundation. From there, God will be able to build and shape what you need. And after all, if he’s picking the characteristics you need and some of the ones you want in a man, it’s bound to be better. God placed a man in my life who rose to meet my expectations. When a man really likes or loves you, they will do the same.

Forget Christmas, my birth-day, Halloween, the Fourth of July or any other holiday. When it comes to my favor-

ite holiday, Thanksgiv-ing is king of the calendar.

The day is synony-mous with pie, foot-ball, over-sized parade b a l l o o n s , family and can-shaped c r a n b e r r y sauce, has held my top

spot and has been that way since before I could pro-nounce the word “turkey.”

With a dash of holiday food, a spoonful of football, a sprinkle of family and a cup of service, Thanksgiving has the perfect ingredients for a most enjoyable holiday.

Gifts are fun, free candy is tasty and fireworks appeal to my inner pyromaniac, but my love affair with Turkey Day — as far as I can remem-ber — stretches all the way back to kindergarten.

Dressed in a black con-struction paper hat and shirt, my five-year-old self proudly donned the role of a pilgrim in my class’ recre-ation of the first Thanksgiv-ing. As I sat next to my fellow pilgrims and across the table from construction-paper Na-tive Americans, our teacher explained that stuffing our faces with turkey and cheer-ing for our favorite football team were not always the staples of the holiday.

As she told me then, and I still remember now, the First Thanksgiving is be-lieved to have happened in 1961 at Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a meal together to celebrate the autumn harvest.

Harvest celebrations al-ready were a tradition to most Native American tribes, and the First Thanksgiving celebration was nothing un-usual. According to www.his-tory.com, ham, yams, stuff-ing and pie were not on the menu for the First Thanks-giving, instead the pilgrims and Native Americans prob-ably feasted on cod, eel, lob-ster, wild turkey, goose, duck or even eagle.

It also would be hard to find a pilgrim who actually called the feast “Thanksgiv-ing.” In fact, it is believed the meal was a one-time af-fair, and the pilgrims did not repeat it yearly. President

George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiv-ing Day proclamation in 1789 and issued it again in 1975.

Americans celebrated the holiday at different times, un-til President Abraham Lincoln made Turkey Day official, by issuing a proclamation on Oct. 3, 1863, making the last Thurs-day of November was set aside for Thanksgiving Day.

From Norman Rockwell to Charlie Brown, Thanks-giving has become a tradi-tion filled with food and family, but the foundation of the holiday still rings true today: gratefulness.

We are grateful for the blessings we have and the lives of comfort the majority of Americans take for granted.

In addition to food and foot-ball, Thanksgiving should be a day devoted to service, thank-fulness, family and unity. It is a convenient and cliché time to give back to your commu-nity. Donating food to a food bank, delivering Thanksgiv-ing meals, inviting an interna-tional student over for dinner, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful but also give back.

This holiday, I will find a way to be thankful by serv-ing but I’m also thankful for cranberry sauce. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the can-shaped jelly on the table.

Students have heard ru-mors and read updates on the Fitness and Wellness Center’s sta-

tus. It is no secret the par-ties involved have fought an uphill battle trying to raise the funds necessary to begin construction.

But students’ hands are not tied.

Our country’s volatile economy has tightened the belts of almost every indus-try in the U.S., most recently the automakers. Debt-based spending has become the norm, while invisible — and many times nonexistent — money is traded back and forth through plastic cards.

Corporations left and right have cut jobs and raised prices to keep their heads above water. Unfortunately for the Fitness and Wellness Center, the construction in-dustry is no exception.

Universities rarely have enough cash on hand to build a multi-million dollar facility on command. Students at other universities have taken it upon themselves to contribute.

In 2000, Sonoma State University students “voted for an increase in the Stu-dent Union fees to support the design and construction of a new Rec Center,” accord-ing to www.sonoma.edu.

In September 2003, Ste-phen F. Austin State Univer-sity student leaders formed a Student Recreation Center Committee. In April 2004, student body president

Chad Harrison presented the committee’s findings on the lack of a dedicated cen-ter to the university’s Board of Regents. The student committee worked closely with administration and brought a $120 per regular semester fee to a vote. The student body voted 1,237 to 263 in favor of the fee.

Early in 2006, students at Texas Woman’s University voted in favor of a new fit-ness and recreation fee to build, operate, maintain and program fitness and recre-ation facilities in Denton, Dallas and Houston. TWU student life vice president Richard Nicholas said, “Our

fitness and recreation staff and student government leaders campaigned hard for this referendum.”

A university education is not cheap, but ACU students who have grown impatient can take action. An addition-

al fee is only one way to help obtain a Fitness and Well-ness Center on campus, but it should not be overlooked.

Thanksgiving traditions should accompany service

Students should contribute to rec center fundraising

Women should hold out for prince charmings

E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu

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

The issue:The university will not commence construction on a new fitness and wellness center until the necessary funds have been raised.

Our view:If students support the addition of a rec center, they should do so with more than mere words.

The solution:Students must contribute monetarily to support their cause, whether by individual donation or fee.

From Norman Rockwell to Charlie Brown, Thanksgiving has become a tradition filled with food and family, but the foundation of the holiday still rings true today: gratefulness.

“

”

Colter HettichFeatures Editor

Kelline LintonChief Copy Editor

Cody VetetoChief Videographer

DeLaina ParkerBroadcast Manager

Molly ByrdPage 2 Editor

Kenneth PybusAdviser

Cade WhiteAdviser

Christi StarkAdvertising Manager

A university education is not cheap, but ACU students who have grown impatient can take action.

“”

I appreciate this decision very much and will certainly take advantage of this op-portunity during the last two weeks of school.

I understand the financial drain this represents...but it would be a beautiful thing to one day have 24-7 access to reference materials, as which is currently limited (particu-larly on weekends, which is the only time many students have to do their research).

Could we not maintain a single student worker to oc-

cupy the reference desk all the time (i.e., during current “closed” hours), with minimal responsibilities, just a pair of eyes to oversee entrance and exit and perhaps occasionally check out materials? I sus-pect that both undergraduate and graduate students would profit from this move.

Also, while the prospect of living in the library is probably not that appealing to incoming freshmen (I’m imagining the campus guide telling some fresh-faced

18-year-old: “And here’s where you’ll sweat through your first all-nighter...”), a few will appreciate the avail-ability. Well, I guess with the current curfew, they won’t be able to do that until their sophomore year.

Library hours are actually one of the things that I con-sidered in school selection (and represent a small factor in graduate pursuits as well).

Letter to the Editor

Morgan Philpott

Extended library hours offer finals week opportunities

E-mail Simser at: sas04d@acu.edu

By Daniel Johnson-Kim

In Case You Wondered

I guess I never grew out of the fantasy of wanting a fairytale romance...“

”

By Sommerly Simser

Love and the University

acuoptimist.com

Log online to hear Johnson-Kim podcast

his column.

Page 4A Friday, November 21, 2008CAMPUS NEWS

Students participate in ACU’s first triathlon By Heather LeiphartStudent Reporter

Thirty-six athletes splashed, peddled and sprinted to the finish line at ACU’s first triathlon Saturday.

The competition began at 8 o’clock on one of the coldest mornings of the season. Participants, volunteers and observers crowded around the ACU pool as swimmers launched into the choppy water one after another every 15 seconds.

“One thing you don’t account for is how rough the water is going to get with that many people swimming,” said Dan Connell, sophomore psychology major from Abilene. “I’d lift my head up and get a mouthful of water. My hand clipped some people next to me a couple times because there were about four people per lane.”

After the 300-yard swim, the dripping athletes rushed outside and immediately met the shock of the bitter November morning as they mounted their bikes, some still shirtless. The cycling portion of the race sent athletes 8.45 miles down the Lunsford Trail, and then wound around campus, following Campus Court, North 16th Street, Treadaway Boulevard and Ambler Avenue twice. The roads remained open, but police kept traffic at bay as the athletes vied for positions.

About 40 minutes later, the first bikers began trickling back to the transition area to drop their bikes and take off running the last 2.85 mile leg of the race. The running course looped around campus on the Lunsford Trail.

Onlookers jumped for joy and warmth as they cheered.

“You have frost on your arm!” shouted one observer to an athlete as he snatched his water bottle before the running portion. His watch also bore frost.

The clock read 56 minutes and 15 seconds as David

Vanderpool crossed the green spray-painted finish line, securing first place. He was followed closely by Phil Bailey, Chris Harrington, Campy Pounds and Joshua Parker. Tara Elzey won first place for the ladies, clocking in at 107:29, followed by Allison Dunn and Haley Dilling.

“It’s what I expect of myself,” said Vanderpool, junior Bible and pre-med major from Brentwood, Tenn. “It feels good. I’m glad that I finished well, especially because it is ACU, which makes it more personal.”

The ACU event was Vanderpool’s sixth and smallest triathlon this year. He swam all summer and has been running for years, he said.

“I’m looking to start a club at ACU for triathlons,” Vanderpool said. “I’m also hoping next summer to do a full Iron Man, which is a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. The world’s best is seven and a half hours. I’m shooting for 13 to 14 hours. It’s something I love to do.”

Elzey, junior English major from Powell, Wyo., participated in one previous triathlon. She trains five days a week, two with the ACU triathlon class.

“I was in a lot of pain because I sprained my ankle on the run,” she said. “I went home right afterward. I finished; I was just in pain.”

Elzey plans to compete in another triathlon in Keller in March and in the Red Dirt Adventure Challenge with the

Outdoor Club this spring.Hopefully, next year the

event will have more publicity and sponsors to help with the cost of T-shirts, said Laura Dillman, instructor in the Department of Exercise Science and Health. Bike Town donated six awards and helped with the cones that marked the course.

“I think next year we will incorporate more teams as well. There was only one faculty team this time,” Dillman said. “For a lot of participants, it was their first triathlon ever and they all did great. I was happy with the race.”

Dining Services provide different theme mealsBy Hannah BarnesStudent Reporter

As the Thanksgiving break nears, the “World Famous Bean” will provide students with various tasty foods.

Because of Saturday’s football game, Dining Services has made a special lunch for Friday. With a tailgate-inspired theme, the Bean will serve traditional tailgate foods, such as hamburgers, hotdogs, funnel cakes and popcorn.

Anthony Williams, director of Retail and Campus Store Manager, decided this would be a wonderful opportunity to raise school spirit.

“I wanted to have the football players and cheerleaders there in order to give it that football game feel,” Williams said. “It is a very exciting opportunity.”

To continue the game-day spirit, Dining Services and the Alumni Association will sponsor a tailgate party on

Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. right before the game. The first 1,000 people who attend the tailgate party will receive a complimentary lunch, consisting of a hotdog, chips and a beverage.

School spirit is not the only food theme. As the holiday season approaches, students can expect a Thanksgiving feast in the Bean on Tuesday. Dining Services will provide a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Alongside the holiday meal, the international station will serve an alternative dish for those not interested in eating a Thanksgiving meal.

To assist people who cannot afford to celebrate Thanksgiving with such a feast, the Service Action Leadership Team is sponsoring the annual Thanksgiving project with two goals in mind: to collect enough funds to purchase Thanksgiving meals for low-income families and to get the

student body to participate in delivering the meals.

Once the needed funds are raised, the Thanksgiving committee, headed by Tara McKee, senior education major from Atlanta, and Caitlin Winegeart, junior accounting major from Abilene, will purchase the food from various grocery stores and sort it into meal baskets.

This year, Taylor Elementary, Locust and Woodson Early Childcare Center referred SALT to lower-income families that would find Thanksgiving meals beneficial to them.

“The Thanksgiving project is a great way for ACU to get

involved in the community and to make a difference in the lives of Abilene families,” Winegeart said.

At this point, the Thanksgiving committee is hoping to raise enough funds to buy 100 meals. The baskets will be put together Friday, and meal deliveries will take place on Monday from 5-8 p.m.

Thanksgiving run offers opportunity to eat guilt freeBy Laura AcuffOpinion Page Editor

Turkey, dressing and holiday weight gain—all commonly associated with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Some individuals, however, will combat this year’s holiday pounds with Thanksgiving-themed runs called Turkey Trots, taking place across the nation in support of various charities and organizations.

Locally, the Abilene Runners Club plans to coordinate its own 5K Turkey Trot. Runners and walkers may register from 6:30-8 a.m. Thursday, and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Children may participate in a 1-mile fun run, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Registration is $20 if received prior to Saturday, after which the fee jumps to $30. Forms are available online at www.abilenerunners.com.

Advertised as a way to allow participants to “run in the morning and eat guilt free the rest of the day,” the run supports the Abilene Runners Club.

While the club assists and participates in multiple benefit runs for various organizations every year, the Turkey Trot is the club’s only self-promotional event, said Mick Stamm, Abilene Runners Club volunteer acting media coordinator.

“We are a charitable organization ourselves,” Stamm said. “The whole nature of our business is to bring running to family and to people as a viable activity for health. That’s just what we promote.”

The Runners Club benefits the Abilene community by aiding and instructing other organizations in conducting fun runs and through the individual advantages membership offers.

“As a runner myself, the Runners Club has benefited me through camaraderie and connection through a sense of community, through people sharing knowledge,” Stamm said. “Being able to do something that’s healthy and positive with people who feel the

same way, people who are of a like mind and a like nature is a terrific boost.”

Another Turkey Trot takes place annually in Dallas to benefit the Dallas YMCA.

Brooke Zielke, senior family studies major from Medford, Ore., said she heard about the Capital One Bank Dallas Turkey Trot from her friend. Unable to return home to Oregon for Thanksgiving, Zielke decided to participate.

“I just think it’s a fun and beneficial way to spend time with friends or family the morning before you start cooking or doing whatever traditions your family has,” Zielke said. “It’s a good way to help other people before you start helping yourself.”

While the idea of a preemptive strike on holiday calories had occurred to Zielke, she said her reasons for participation stem from a more spiritual root.

“I think anyone can benefit from it, but I think as college kids, especially at ACU, sometimes it’s easy to forget how blessed most of us are,” Zielke said. “[The run reminds] you more about what the holiday is really about and that there are other people that don’t really get to celebrate it like you do, so it’s kind of a way to remember how blessed you are.”

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

Ally Dunn, sophomore biology major from San Antonio, begins the run portion of the triathalon Satur-day morning.

I wanted to have the football play-ers and cheerleaders there in order to give it that football game feel.

:: Anthony Williams, director of Retail and Campus Store Manager

“”

E-mail Barnes at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu

TurkEy TroT

Turkey Trot information

n Deadline to register- 6:30-8 a.m. Thursday

n Race begins- 8:30 a.m.

n 1 mile run- 9:15 a.m.

n Registration forms available at (www. abilenerunners.com)

E-mail Leiphart at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Page 5ANovember 21, 2008

ArtsFridayBy Lydia MelbyArts Editor

Carson McCuller’s The Member of the Wedding, which the ACU De-partment of Theatre opened Thurs-day night, is a frank portrayal of the suffocating atmosphere in a small southern town in the World War II era. Frankie Addams, a lonely, fan-tastical 12-year-old girl, whose only companions are her maid Berenice and her young cousin John Henry, desperately longs to be part of a community and becomes obsessed with her brother’s wedding and the future he has planned.

“The challenge of this play is that what makes it exciting… are the things that are going on with the characters on a psychological level,” said Rachel Carter, assistant profes-sor of theatre and director of The Member of the Wedding. “Developing that takes a lot of time and work out-side of rehearsal, on the actors part, and they have all been really good about doing their character work and coming in very prepared.”

The show, which will run Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 4-6, features the work

Swing the Lead triumphs in first round of Dallas Battle of the BandsBy Joel DallasContributing Writer

Swing the Lead, a local band composed of four ACU stu-dents, rocked The Door venue Saturday, winning a regional Battle of the Bands competi-tion in Fort Worth. The band se-cured an opportunity to grasp glory and kick it around in the final round, which should hap-pen some time in late January.

With only five minutes to set up between shows, Swing the Lead rushed to get amps plugged in and drums ready for a quick sound check be-

fore it kicked off its all-origi-nal show. The players quickly energized the crowd with their powerful stage presence. They doled it out with furious beats laid down by Andy Munoz and growling riffs by Zak Zein-ert on lead guitar. Matt Tate rumbled away on the bass and backed up non-screaming vo-cals by Stephen Munoz.

The bands were judged on originality, stage presence and by the popular opinion of the crowd. Swing the Lead car-pooled 19 ACU fans along with them to the show, while the other bands brought crowds of

50 or 60 fans. To put matters into perspective, 80 percent of the competition was judged on the audience’s votes, which by logical extension means Swing the Lead swayed a biased audi-ence to vote in its favor.

Lead singer Stephen Munoz said, “We definitely played our best show yet. We were nervous at first, but the venue was well organized with excellent sound technicians. It all came togeth-er, and afterwards the people said we sounded awesome with their votes.”

The Battle of the Bands also was a stellar way to kick off

their first tour, which will play in Abilene Dec. 12, and travel all across Texas during the Christ-mas break. The band hopes to get a carpool organized for its Battle of the Bands’ finals round performance in Dallas sometime after the break. The stakes are high with $1,000, studio time and musical equip-ment as the first place prize.

So, after strutting their mean, punky stuff, Swing the Lead won, putting metal and hard-core competing bands in their angry rightful places. The band now stands with a good chance at winning in the final round.

Tour dates and locations are posted at www.myspace.com/swingtheleadmusic.

Photo courtesy of Benjamin FulferMatt Tate, junior art major from Dallas, and Stephen Munoz, junior business major from Escondido, Calif., rock out with their band, Swing the Lead.

Far Left: Emily Rankin as Frankie, Michelle Alex-ander as Berenice and Corban Gililland as John Henry share a moment. Left: In a fit of jealousy, Rankin chases Jamie Patterson and Melanie Godsey, as girls from the neighborhood club, out of her yard.

Photos By Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

See Play page 7A

E-mail Dallas at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Gritty ‘Wedding’ sends subtle message of sensitivity

Page 6A Friday, November 21, 2008CAMPUS NEWS

Students serve, learn in Study Abroad programsBy Kelsi WilliamsonStudent Reporter

ACU students currently studying abroad in both Oxford and Montevideo are learning about and submerging them-selves into European and Latin American cultures.

David McMichael, sopho-more English major from Abilene, traveled to Spain, Por-tugal and France, as well as around England, as a part of the Oxford study abroad program.

McMichael said he enjoyed traveling to smaller, unpopular destinations such as Girona, Spain, because of the promi-nent local culture.

“You get to interact with the local people more and get a better sampling of how things really are in a place like that [Girona],” McMichael said in an e-mail.

Dr. Kevin Kehl, executive director of the Center of Inter-

national and Intercultural Edu-cation, said when students step outside their normal surround-ings, they see both the familiar and unfamiliar in a new way.

In Oxford, McMichael and his peers entered the local commu-nity in order to fulfill their 20 hour service requirements. The service hours are embedded in both the Great Britain and Latin Studies’ courses.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to get plugged in to something local that’s happen-ing in real time that affects the community,” Kehl said.

McMichael said he liked the requirement and has vol-unteered at the local Oxfam International office. Although forced service might be contra-dictory to the original defini-tion, McMichael said it is a good reminder of what it means to live in Christian community.

“We just wouldn’t think about service without the

requirement when we’re so swamped with work and keeping up with everything else that’s going on,” McMi-chael said.

Jordan Lowe, sophomore biology major from Crowley, currently is studying abroad in Montevideo and agrees with McMichael on the necessity of the service requirement.

“It gives us an opportunity to converse with people our own age and talk about issues like politics, popular culture both here and in the U.S., music and other things we have in com-mon,” Lowe said in an e-mail.

Lowe said students in Montevideo have worked closely with Alianza, a Uru-guay-United States alliance organization that teaches English courses and Ameri-can culture.

Both Lowe and McMichael said they have benefited through local experiences.

“It has been really great to learn about C.S. Lewis and then actually go and see where he lived and studied,” McMi-chael said.

For Lowe, the subject matter may be different, but the result is the same.

“All of the classes we take are made easier by the fact that we are submerged in the culture we are studying,” Lowe said. “We read about and learn about Artigas, the local hero, and then visit his monument and tomb in the Plaza de Independencia.”

While McMichael said he values the eco-friendly aspect of the English culture, Lowe said he was impressed by Latin Americans’ interest and in-volvement in politics. Both stu-dents said these lessons would continue to affect them once they are back in Abilene.

SA Congress supports disc golf courseBy Daniel Johnson-KimEditor in Chief

The Students’ Association Congress threw its support and wallet behind an effort to build a disc golf course on ACU’s campus Wednesday, voting unanimously to sponsor a hole and help build an information kiosk at the future course.

Deonna Shake, instructor of exercise science and health, is gathering donations from student groups across campus to build the Wildcat Disc Golf Course and asked Congress to help fund a hole at the Nov. 12 Congress meeting.

“I really hope you guys can think about sponsoring a little piece of this,” Shake said dur-ing her appeal to SA.

Junior Sen. Daniel Burgn-er, Rep. Minda Hyde and Rep.

Christy Ruiz responded by presenting legislation to ap-propriate $1,000 from the Congressional Project Fund to sponsor a course and help build the kiosk.

The bill passed 36-0-0, and Burgner said he was glad to support the course, which he believed would expand extra-curricular options on campus.

“For students without ve-hicles, the more things to do on campus, the better, espe-cially for underclassmen who are stuck here all the time,” Burgner said. “I think students will actually use it.”

SA will sponsor one of nine holes planned to be built in the spring at Sherrod Residential Park near Smith and Adams halls. The begin-ning of the SA hole will have a sign with the SA logo on it.

Before passing the legislation to sponsor the disc golf course at the meeting, SA formed an ad hoc committee that will meet with Student Life officials to help hear appeals from students wishing to form new student groups for the spring semester.

The group will meet Dec. 2 in the SA office in the Campus Center. The temporary com-mittee will recommend which groups it believes should be ap-proved, but the final decision will be made by Student Life officials, said committee chair Aaron Escebedo, Education Building representative.

“I view SA as a steward of funding, and if new people are going to request funding, we need to see if they’ll be an asset to the whole community or just for a small group of students,” Escebedo said.

Executive treasurer Spencer Hemphill said this is the first time SA has helped with these decisions. The members of the committee are Escebedo; Ju-nior Sens. Steven Cardona and David Vanderpool; Adminis-tration Building Reps. Ashley Alton and Jordan Hancock; McDonald Hall Rep. Keri Gray; College of Business Adminis-tration Rep. Stephen Moore; Foster Science Building Rep. Colter Lane; Mabee Hall Rep. Jake Hutto; Edwards Hall Rep. Jared Elk and Chambers Hall Rep. Breanna Anderson.

The SA Congress will not have a formal meeting on Dec. 3 and instead will have an SA Christmas party. If any legisla-tion is presented, Congress will vote on it at the party.

The Campus Store fuels football feverBy Colter HettichFeatures Editor

The ACU football team silenced critics and encour-aged Wildcat fans on Nov. 8 with its win over Midwest-ern State. The win clinched the title of Lone Star Con-ference champions for the Wildcats and fueled school spirit on campus.

Fans and memorabilia collectors can purchase one of two, unique LSC champions T-shirts in The Campus Store. One design highlights the conference champions’ logo on pur-ple; the other marquees the Wildcats’ 10-0 sched-ule, complete with scores, on white.

Scott Harsh, assistant Campus Store director, said the shirts arrived three days after the game. Harsh called JanSport, the manufacturer and printer, after the game and told the company the score. JanSport printed the shirts Sunday and shipped them Monday, and The Campus Store placed them on the shelves Tuesday.

Harsh said The Campus Store staff knew Jansport helped many Division I uni-versities with similar proj-ects, so they approached the company for ideas.

“We said, ‘Hey, we’ve never been in this posi-tion. What do you recom-mend?’” Harsh said.

JanSport recommended an investment in only a couple of different shirt designs, until further suc-cess by the football team.

“If we do go all the way to the national champion-ship, we will offer more

things, like sweatshirts or baby clothes,” Harsh said. “I think we’re working on designs right now.”

Although ACU merchan-dise sales remain relative-ly constant, victories on the field always boost sale numbers. Harsh said as the winning streak lengthened, more and more customers purchased apparel. Foot traffic through The Cam-pus Store has increased, but so has Web traffic on www.campusstore.acu.edu.

“The Web site has been up for 10 years, but over the last three games, I have seen a spike in the number of hits,” Harsh said.

Traditional, purple and white merchandise still is available. The Campus Store also offers Wildcat accessories, including pom-poms, scarves and beanies.

E-mail Johnson-KIm at: djj04a@acu.edu

E-mail Williamson at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu E-mail Hettich at: clh05d@acu.edu

WIldcat WEar

The Campus Store is selling the following ACU memorabilia items in support of the undefeated Wildcat football team:

n Lone Star Conference championship T-shirtsn Purple T-shirtsn Car decalsn Mini-size footballsn Capsn Hoodiesn Sweatshirtsn Pom-pomsn Scarvesn Beanies

Source: The Campus Store Web site, www.campusstore.acu.edu

play and it’s just a great ac-tivity to learn.”

Only two other disc golf courses can be found in Abilene, at Cal Young and Will Hair parks. Shake hopes construction will continue to

go smoothly and expects a grand opening in the spring.

“Hopefully before long, we’ll be flying discs over at Sherrod Residential,” she said.

Three holes do not yet have sponsors, and because she needs to finalize group

sponsorship in the next couple weeks, any groups interested can e-mail Shake at shaked@acu.edu.

including holidays, until Jan. 5. Hours of operation are 6-10 p.m., Sunday through Thurs-day, and 6-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

Mendoza said because of the current economic situa-tion, they lowered the admis-sion price from $10 to $8.

Proceeds will benefit the Dyess team and Habitat for Humanity, as well as other local missions.

Coupons for the skating

rink were sent to schools around Abilene in the hopes of drawing in a large number of students. The discounts also are available at the Hab-itat for Humanity office.

Jordan Ziemer, junior communication major from Houston, said he has never gone ice skating before but he is willing to give it a shot.

“I think I might go just because there’s generally a lack of things to do in Abilene. It might be fun and different,” Ziemer said.

Mendoza said she is very excited about the fundraiser this year.

“The best part is just the fact that people are ice skat-ing outside in West Texas,” she said.

Studies Building and the Bean Sprout, are now being exam-ined for possible changes. Some changes could include altering the menus, modify-ing the aura of the eateries or closing them.

“The Bean Sprout right now is operating with a deficit from week-to-week,” Williams said. “I would love for people to be clamoring to keep the Bean Sprout open, and moreover, clam-oring to purchase items in the Bean Sprout. It would certainly have an impact on the decision.”

Traffic has been lower this semester because of the Bean Sprout’s proximity to the more popular, renovated Bean and Hilton Food Court. But the Bean Sprout has seen its fair share of changes in recent years. In 2006 the Stu-dents’ Association worked to get a fountain drink dis-penser installed. Also that year, Dining Services bought an electric smoker to cook chicken and barbecue and lowered the prices on the Bean Sprout’s menu. In 2003 Dining Services settled on a menu similar to that of Chili’s with sirloin hamburg-ers, chicken sandwiches and Philly steak sandwiches in-stead of items such as grilled cheese sandwiches.

The future of the Bean Sprout will be determined by student input, ARAMARK and the administration.

“I would like to think we can come to a decision by se-mester-end,” Williams said.

Friday, November 21, 2008 Page 7AFROM THE FRONT / ARTS JUMPS

Drop: Prices fall in Abilenemajor from Chicago, will drive to Dallas and fly to Chicago. He decided to purchase his ticket in early October; if he did not fly, the drive would take 16 hours. The two-way ticket cost him about $390.

“Gas prices do affect me going home. I try to drive as little as possible, especially when the prices were as high as they were in the past,” Rampton said. “It doesn’t stress me out as much any-more; the recent drop in pric-es allows me to drive around town a little more often.”

Rampton is a youth intern at Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road, located on the south side of town.

“With the drop in gas pric-es, it’s easier to drive down to the church and hang out with

the kids and attend different church events,” Rampton said.

With Thanksgiving al-most here and Christmas approaching fast, gas prices may stay cheap long enough

for many students to have a happy holiday.

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Ice: Rink to open Friday evening

Sprout: Rumors untrue

Disc: Course to include nine holes

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Play: Show deals with racist past

of many different ACU students — not only actors but backstage and behind the scenes as well.

Amy Price, junior theatre major from Tyler, designed the show’s costumes and said that although she has worked mainly with stage managing, she wanted to also work with “the more creative side of theatre,” and was excited to get the opportunity to do some costume designs.

“[Student design and work] is really not uncommon here,” Price said. “Students have a lot of opportunity to design and be involved.”

Price said she wanted to stay with the traditional styles of the period but also said she was given a lot of room for creativity.

“The play is grounded in so much realism,” Price said, “but there are different char-acters who sort of ‘pop’…They wear something so dif-ferent from the other char-acters, which leaves a lot of room for imagination.”

Austin Walker, junior theatre major from Layton, Utah, designed the produc-tion’s lighting, and said he wanted to keep the light-ing realistic.

“There’s not a ton of direc-tions you can take lighting in a show like this; it’s a very realistic show,” Walker said. “But there are a lot of subtle changes throughout the show, and we use lighting to help the audience focus on what we’re trying to highlight.”

Both Price and Walker agreed that one of the

main challenges in their design was the amount of time available, since the show only has been in pro-duction for three weeks.

“The main challenge here was time, since we only had three weeks or so to rehearse and get ev-erything pulled together, but it’s been a fun show,” Walker said.

The Member of the Wed-ding also deals with the effects of racism and ex-clusion and gives an un-sentimental comment on the tragedy of a discon-nected soul, all of which the production handles with sensitivity.

“We are allowing the play to speak for itself,” Carter said. “The best thing to do is to stay true to the charac-ters and true to the spirit of the play, instead of trying to preach some message.”

The theatre department also will provide a “talk-back” to discuss the play with the director, actors and designers on Dec. 4, following the show. Carter said she hoped the audi-ence would leave with an understanding of the play’s message of love and caring.

“We all have a sense of longing and a hunger to be understood and to connect with those around us, and that’s what Frankie is deal-ing with,” Carter said. “The audience sees Berenice car-ing for Frankie through all of this confusing adolescence, even if Frankie doesn’t.”

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Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

Some ACU students said they are thankful for the recent drop in gasoline prices right before they head home for Thanksgiving break.

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Page 8A Friday, November 21, 2008ADVERTISEMENT

Friday, November 21, 2008 Page 3BSPORTS JUMPS

Cuban: No more Cubs

This almost effectively kills any shot Cuban had at buying the Chicago Cubs. Despite possibly be-ing the highest bidder, it is unlikely the current own-ers will approve the sale to someone like Cuban.

Cuban is personally my favorite owner in sports

for the sole reason that he is a fan just like the rest of us. I would hope he could resolve the issues soon and continue to put a quality team on the court, and for us Mavericks fans, hopefully a winner.

Cross Country: No. 2 men’s team looking to outrun No. 1 Adams State College

The team has spent much of the week both in training and in the training room, and Bur-roughs said the runners should be good to go by this weekend.

Health and full mobility will be of vital importance this weekend. This year’s NCAA Di-vision II Cross Country Nation-al Championship in Slippery Rock, Pa., where the conditions

are expected to be less than favorable. Forecasters are call-ing for high temperatures to reach only the upper ’20s and are saying there is a high likeli-hood of snow showers.

“The runners will defi-nitely feel tighter and more constricted in the cold,” Bur-roughs said. “However, in cross country you always have to deal with elements. Some-times it is rain, sometimes it

is the heat and this time it will be the cold and snow.”

In attempts to prepare the runners for their obstacles, Burroughs had his runners awake at 6:15 a.m. this week, so they can practice in the colder weather. He also plans to have the runners wear long sleeves and half-tights to protect their bodies from the elements.

Along with inclement weather conditions, the team

will have to face some tough competition. Burroughs ex-pects some stiff pressure from Adams State College; ASC and ACU are ranked re-spectively No. 1 and No. 2 in the national polls.

“The national title will be handed to either ACU or Ad-ams State in the end,” Bur-roughs predicted.

The men, however, will not be the only ACU representa-

tives in Slippery Rock this weekend. All-American runners Winrose Karunde, the runner-up last year, and Loice Cheboi will run in the women’s race as individuals. Burroughs feels the two women have a great shot at high finishes.

“They are competing as in-dividuals so they do not have to worry about the overall team score; they can take some chances,” Burroughs said.

The women’s squad failed to qualify as a team; how-ever Cheboi and Karunde earned individual spots by finishing third and first at the regional championship.

Burroughs feels he has some great representation for ACU, and his men will be vying for yet another na-tional title.

Football: Wildcats lead LSC with 16 first-team all-LSC selectionsWest Texas A&M enters the

game with the No. 2 offense in the nation behind ACU and No. 1 passing offense, averag-ing 529 yards a game and 46 points a game. Quarterback Keith Null, a second-team all-LSC performer, has thrown for 4,502 yards and 41 touchdowns this season and will look to first-team all-LSC wide receiver Charly Martin, who leads the nation in yards per game. Mar-tin has 17 touchdowns on the season to go along with 1,544 yards. Running back Keith Flemming leads the Buffs with 651 yards and 12 touchdowns for the sixth-ranked rushing offense in the LSC.

Defensively, the Buffs rank third in the LSC, giving up 315

yards and 20 points a game. Linebacker Jared Brock leads the team with 81 tackles, and linebacker Eldon Grimslid ranks second on the team with 59 tackles. In the teams’ first meeting, the Wildcats racked up 687 yards of of-fense, while Scott ran for 268 yards and had 141 yards re-ceiving. Wide receiver Johnny Knox had 10 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

“They have good chemistry, and their QB and wide receiv-er have played a lot together now and they know what they will do,” Thomsen said of the Buffs’ offense. “Keith has a lot of faith in Charly and will put the ball up there and let Charly make plays.”

Offensively, the Wildcats have the No. 1 total offense

and scoring offense in the na-tion, averaging 544 yards and 49 points a game. Quarterback Billy Malone, a first-team all-LSC performer, will direct the Wild-cats’ offense, which ranks No. 1 in the LSC in rushing. Malone has thrown for 2,561 yards and 28 touchdowns, despite miss-ing two games due to injury. Wide receiver Johnny Knox leads the team with 900 yards and 10 touchdowns, while wide receivers Edmund Gates and Jonathan Ferguson have com-bined for 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns. Knox and Gates earned first-team all-LSC hon-ors, while Ferguson was named to the second team.

Scott enters the game as the No. 2 rusher in the nation, aver-aging 169.5 yards a game. Scott also ranks No. 1 in the nation in

scoring (15 points a game) and is the No. 1 all-purpose runner, averaging 238 yards a game. Scott was named as one of the eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy given to the NCAA Division II Player of the Year after rushing for 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 689 receiving yards and five touchdowns during the regular season.

“It’s fun, and we want to be as efficient as possible and play at our highest level,” Thompson said about the of-fense. “With the athletes that we have, it usually results in a lot of points, and we can score as much as anyone else, if not more.”

Defensively, the Wildcats ended the regular season with their best performance, al-

lowing just 158 yards and 17 points against Midwestern State and just 11 total yards and no points after halftime. The Wildcats boast the No. 1 overall defense and scoring de-fense in the LSC, allowing 290 yards and 16 points a game. ACU also ranks No. 1 in the LSC in turnover margin (2.10), forcing 36 turnovers during the season, 17 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries.

Safety Nick Fellows leads the team with 49 tackles, while linebacker Mike Kern is second on the team with 48. Defensive ends Whiteside and Vantrise Studivant each earned first-team all-LSC honors while com-bining for 15.5 sacks. Corner-backs Craig Harris and Drew Cuffee lead the team with three interceptions, while Whi-

teside leads the team with four fumble recoveries.

“We worked on fundamen-tals last week and strength and conditioning and went back to basics,” Thomsen said of the bye-week. “This week we have focused on West Texas and their scheme and what they do.”

The Wildcats will play West Texas A&M Saturday at Shot-well Stadium at noon. The winner will play the winner of Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri State in the quarterfi-nals on Nov. 29. With a win, the Wildcats will join the 1950 team and the national championship teams of 1973 and 1977 as the only teams in school history to win 11 games.

Basketball: Tillotson next

for nearly five minutes while scoring nine points.

With the victory, Copeland improves to 4-0 in season openers. The Wildcats played Dallas Baptist Thursday, but results were unavailable by press time.

Last season, ACU beat the DBU Patriots in both their

games by scores of 101-81 and 109-86. In its only game of the season, DBU beat Midwestern State 88-83.

On Saturday, ACU will play Huston Tillotson (1-0) before playing away games at Texas Permian-Basin (2-0) on Monday and then a rematch against Dal-las Baptist on Tuesday.

Cats: Coach optimistic

6-foot senior and Abilene na-tive scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Hilltoppers last weekend.

After their game with St. Edward’s, the Wildcats will make a short trip west-bound to take on Texas Permian-Basin (1-1).

Texas Permian Basin fin-

ished the 2007-08 season, winning only two of its 28 games. However, this season UTPB has a new head coach and a more aggressive scheme that Lavender respects.

“They are much improved,” Lavender said. “I expect to see a quick, athletic team running a good pressure defense.”

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Friday, September 21, 2008 Page 4BPhoto Spread

Breakthrough[breyk-throo]- noun1. A movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy’s front-line defense.2. An act of over-coming an obstacle or restriction.

Above: A host of Wildcat de-fensive players swarm an An-gelo State running back.

Far Right: Wide receiver Chris Morris leaps into the air, high above a Tarleton State defender.

Right: Scott uses his quick-ness to shake a Midwestern State defender.

Bernard Scott outruns the West Texas A&M defense on the Wildcats’ rival’s home field in Canyon.

An East Central offen-sive player looks back as Wildcat defensive back Tony Harp blows past. Harp returned the inter-ception 40 yards.