OPTIMIST_2004-09-22

OPTIMISTTHE

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

WEDNESDAYSeptember 22, 2004

Vol. 93, No. 101 section, 8 pages

www.acuoptimist.com

Cats upset Texans:The football team defeatedthe No. 7 team in thenation, Tarleton State.

Page 8

Students serve on Saturday:Students had several choices and opportunitiesto participate in the first Service Saturday of thesemester this weekend around Abilene.

Page 3

Beyond the classroom:Students have enjoyed Dr.Charles Trevathan’s classesfor 17 years.

Page 5

By JACI SCHNEIDEROPINION EDITOR

More than 90 students andfaculty signed a petition lastweek regarding the size of theAmerican flag at Opening DayCeremonies at Chapel

The petition asks that theAmerican flag be the same sizeas the flags from other nations.

Teresa Pecinovsky, seniorChristian ministry major fromCresco, Iowa, wrote the letterand sent it to the president’soffice and the Chapel officeSaturday.

Dr. Money responded to thepetition, said Jim Holmans,executive assistant to the pres-ident. However, the petitionhas already caused controversyon campus.

Susanna Drehsel, seniorpolitical science major fromHeidelberg, Germany and vicepresident of the International

Students Association, said thatseveral international studentshave already heard negativecomments toward them regard-ing the petition.

American students havesaid comments like, ‘Theychose to come here; if theydon’t like it they can leave,’Drehsel said.

However, an ISA memberdid not write the petition, norwas it written in response toany complaints from ISA mem-bers.

“ISA as an organization does

not support the petition,”Drehsel said.

“I want to make sure that theACU community knows thatthe majority of internationalstudents is not offended (by thesize of the American flag).”

Pecinovsky announced thepetition in ISA Chapel onThursday, but only four of 133students signed it, Drehselsaid, adding that at least one ofthose students is American.

“A majority of those whosigned it are American,”Pecinovsky said.

“I am by no means speakingfor the International StudentsAssociation—I can’t reallybecause I’m not one.”

Pecinovsky said she’s gottenthe same type of reactions fromAmerican and internationalstudents: some support thepetition and some oppose it.

“I would like to start open-ing dialogue,” she said. “Let’sconsider the message we’resending—let’s get it on thetable.”

International StudentsAssociation says it does

not support petition

By RUBEN J. GONZALEZSTUDENT REPORTER

Brandon Scott Thomascouldn’t believe the words thatcame out of Dr. Royce Money’smouth a few weeks ago whenthe ACU president unexpect-edly phoned him.

After a few minutes remi-niscing about each other’s fam-ily, Money delivered the news:‘I am pleased to announce youhave been selected as this year’sYoung Alumnus of the Year,’Thomas remembered.

Thomas will be recognizedpublicly during HomecomingChapel on Oct. 23.

“My first thought was, Ihope someone’s not playing ajoke on me,” said Thomas, a1992 graduate of ACU. “I wasspeechless. I thought to myself,are you serious?”

A 33-member Alumni Ad-visory Board, in recognition ofprofessional achievement anddistinguished service to ACU,selected Thomas Aug. 21 forthe award that salutes alumniunder 40 years old. Thomaswas nominated by 1972 gradu-ate Linda Giddens.

As a student, Thomas

ACU graduate nowleads the Zoe Group in Nashville, Tenn.

By SARAH CARLSONCOPY EDITOR

Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean ofCampus Life, spoke to stu-dents in Chapel on Tuesdayabout several recurring behav-ioral issues that have con-cerned him. He said a numberof instances over the past sev-eral weeks spurred him toappeal to the student body tolook at their behavior.

Barnard began by request-ing students arrive at Chapelon time and be quiet whenentering.

“I’m sorry, but it’s just notappropriate to come in lateand talk while we’re singing

praises to God,” Barnard toldthe crowd. “It’s just wrong. Iwant to appeal to you and letyou know that you are louderthan you think.”

He mentioned twoinstances in Chapel recentlywhen stu-dents talkedduring thelessons of Dr.Mark Love,assistant pro-fessor of min-istry, andMark Lewis,director ofStudent Life,saying he was embarrassed forthe speakers as well as certainsections in Chapel.

“The decent and courteousthing to do is to come in qui-etly,” Barnard said.

He said it is inappropriate

for students to leave Chapelearly, saying that it is a lessonlearned in kindergarten. Healso mentioned that anadministrative card is slid inthe card readers when Chapelis officially over, so every stu-dent swiping before then iscounted absent.

Barnard rebuked studentsfor “sliding and gliding,” slid-ing in to Chapel and thenleaving, only coming back toslide out again.

“That’s a lie, it’s deceptive,it’s cheating, and it’s an issueof academic integrity,”Barnard said.

The recent deaths of twostudents at ColoradoUniversity from alcohol poi-soning prompted Barnard tomention the seriousness of

Dean of Campus Lifeasks for improvementof student behavior

By MALLORY SHERWOODSTAFF WRITER

The first Tri-University Bashof the semester drew about 40-50 students from ACU, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry univer-sities to the Bean Sprout onFriday evening to mingle, playboard and card games and toparticipate in bowling, pool andXbox tournaments.

The students arrived andcongregated around the bowlinglanes to try to win prizes andmingled in the Bean Sprout’sdining room to play cards, playon the piano and partake in the

snack foods and drinks avail-able, said Noel Cothren, studentcultural adviser and sophomoreart major from Albuquerque,N.M.

Students laughed, joked andchattered throughout the eve-ning while taking advantage ofthe free pool, Xbox and bowlingpaid for by the Office of StudentMulticultural Enrichment,which sponsored the event.

Sixteen students fromMcMurry and HSU attended,marking it a success forCothren.

“Everyone that came seemedto have a good time, and theygot to meet some students fromthe other universities, too,” shesaid.

She also said the office plansto advertise to the other cam-

puses in Abilene better nextsemester instead of only passingout fliers.

Besides the alluring freeaspect of the evening, studentssaid they also attended to beable to meet students from HSUand McMurry and some of theinternational students on cam-pus.

“I like free food and games tobegin with, and being with someof the international studentsgives the evening a differentdynamic,” said Jeremy Webb,junior youth and family min-istry major from Austin.

Chandra Hayes, a sopho-more at HSU, said she hasalways wanted to meet peoplewho are not from Texas or theUnited States.

“Tonight I got to meet a

whole group of students fromMadagascar,” she said. “It is coolthat ACU has so many interna-tional students.”

Her roommate, JessicaRowan, also a sophomore fromHSU, had never been to ACUand said she was excited to seethe campus. Both women saidthey were anxious to see if theycould begin something similarto ACU’s multicultural enrich-ment programs at their owncampus.

The cultural student advisercommittee, which organized theevent, was designed this year toplan events for the ACU campusthat promote academic, spiritualand social developmentbetween all of the students, as

ACU, Hardin-Simmons,McMurry students

meet in Bean Sprout

By SARAH CARLSONCOPY EDITOR

‘The AC: Nothing’sCooler’ is this year’s themefor Freshman Follies, playingoff of FOX’s hit show TheOC.

“I chose The AC as atheme because The OC is apopular TV show, and how itcan contrast what The OCsays,” said Kendall Massey,director of Student Produc-tions.

“The OC is a show that isabout worldly things, and weare saying that things are dif-ferent here.”

The basic theme behindThe AC is “Salt. Light. Dif-ferent.” According to theWeb site, “The AC is aboutwhat makes each of us Saltand Light, what makes ACUand its freshmen different,and why no place in theworld is like ACU.”

Massey said he purposelymade the theme broad to letstudents sing about the top-ics that interest them.

“I like to give room forpeople to be creative,” Mas-sey said. “Everyone’s beenreally happy because theycan do different things.”

Freshman Follies is a pro-duction in which freshmenhave song and dance num-bers with their differentfloors in their residence hallsbased on a certain themewith talent show style acts inbetween. A large chorus ofmen and women performsduring the show, and thisyear’s large chorus is per-forming the song School ofRock from the movie of thesame name.

Performances of the showare 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday.Tickets are $8 and can bebought through Friday in theCampus Center ticket win-dows or online at www.fresh-manfollies.com.

Katie Scott, freshmaninterior design major fromWhitehouse, is performingin Gardner Hall’s second

floor act andsaid she ishaving fungetting toknow thewomen onher hall.

She saidher hall’stheme isabout what

they think is cool at ACUand around Abilene, andtheir practices include latenights of dancing.

“It’s something so wedon’t get bored at the begin-ning of school, since every-body else is pledging,” Scottsaid.

Jessica Chisholm, fresh-man undeclared major fromMemphis, Tenn., said NelsonHall second floor’s theme is“Too Cool for School,” wherethey sing about learningabout college life, swipingcards in Chapel and comingin late for curfew.

“My brother said it was agood way to meet people andI should do it,” Chisholmsaid.

She said she likes spend-ing time with the women onthe hall and that they aren’tpracticing too much.

“It’s fun, but I’ll be gladwhen it’s over,” Chisholmsaid.

‘The AC: Nothing’sCooler’ chosen for this

year’s Follies theme

EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer

Students play the board game “Battle of the Sexes” during Saturday night’s Tri-University Bash in the Bean Sprout. Students from Hardin-Simmons and McMurry universities were invited to campus to give students the opportunity to meet others.

Event brings local colleges together

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Optimist file photo

Dr. Paul Piersall leads the Pledgeof Allegiance during Opening DayCeremonies in front of the largeAmerican flag in Moody Coliseum.

Flag display in Chapel creates stir

Follies highlights‘ACU difference’

COURTESY PHOTO

Young Alumnus of the YearBrandon Scott Thomas sings inMoody Coliseum last Februaryduring Lectureship.

Massey

Barnard calls for changes‘Young alumnus’honored by alumni

See FLAG Page 4

See DEAN Page 4See AWARD Page 4

See BASH Page 2E-mail Carlson at: [email protected]

Barnard

Calendar Events

25 Saturday

23 Thursday 24Friday 26 Sunday

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

CAMPUS

28 Tuesday

22Wednesday

The Optimist maintains thiscalendar for the ACU communityto keep track of local social, aca-demic and service opportunities.

Groups may send ann-ouncements directly to [email protected] or to the Page2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene,TX 79699.

To ensure that an item willappear on time, the announce-ment should be sent at least 10days before. The Optimist mayedit items for space and style.

Corrections and clarifica-tions of published news articleswill be printed in this space in atimely manner.

ChapelCheck-UpCredited Chapels to date: 21

50Credited Chapels remaining:

About This Page

Volunteer Opportunities

27 Monday

Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11p.m., Campus Center tables.

SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,Campus Center tables.

Homecoming Steering Committeemeeting, 9:30-10:45 p.m., HiltonRoom.



Sundaes on Mondays, 7 -10 p.m.,Living Room.

Ranking for Social Clubs, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Campus Center ticket win-dows.


Voter Registration, 11:30 a.m.-4p.m., Campus Center tables.

Service Action Leadership TeamChapel, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., LivingRoom.

Freshman Follies ticket sales, 10a.m.-3 p.m., Campus Center ticketwindows.

Freshman Follies performance, 7p.m. and 9 p.m., Cullen Auditorium.



Bid Night

&

The Key City Kiwanis Clubneeds volunteers to help withtheir annual fish fry from 6:30-8:30p.m., Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. or from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Formore information contact theVolunteer and Service-LearningCenter.

The YMCA needs volunteercoaches for flag football and youthsoccer between Oct. 2 and Nov. 6.Some time is required one eveninga week after 5 p.m. and approxi-mately half the day on Saturdays,either morning or afternoon.Contact the Volunteer and Service-

Learning Center for more informa-tion.

Local radio station95Q/96TX Country is looking forvolunteers to operate stationsaround Abilene where young adultscould register to vote in the upcom-ing election. For more information,contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

The Optimist Club needs helpwith the annual Big CountryBalloon Fest Friday through Sundayfor two hour blocks of time atRedbud Park. Volunteers will oper-ate ticket booths and carnival areas.

Stop by the Volunteer and Service-Learning for more information.

Volunteers are needed tohelp build the Abilene CommunityPlayground from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.,Wednesday through Sunday. Formore information, please contactthe Volunteer and Service-LearningCenter.

The Alzheimer’s Associationis seeking 10-20 volunteers to helpwith the Alzheimer’s AssociationGolf Tournament at Maxwell GolfCourse. The tournament will befrom 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.Lunch will be provided. For more

information, contact the Volunteerand Service-Learning Center.

The Salvation Army needsvolunteers to help sort clothingand other items, staining shelves,and pricing. For more informationcontact Dawn Pulscher at at 677-1408.

Meals on Wheels needs vol-unteers to deliver hot noon mealsto the homes of homebound elderlyand adults with disabilities from 11a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays throughFridays.

Culture Show ticket sales, 7 a.m.-11p.m., Campus Center ticket win-dows.

DAY

Town Hall Meeting, 8-10 a.m., HiltonRoom.

Deep Dish Philosophy, 7-10 p.m.,Living Room.

Student African American Brother-hood meeting, 5-6 p.m., LivingRoom..

Social club bids go out to residencehalls, 4:30-6 p.m., residence halls.

Pick up social club bids, off-campusstudents, 5-6 p.m., Campus Centerticket windows.


Police Log (edited for space)Sept. 13, 20043:40 p.m. Theft of golf cart fromWFF, Case #04-136.4:35 p.m. Vehicle accident at E.N.20th Street and Campus Court. 6:44 p.m. Incomplete 911 at ZellnerHall, misdial.7:50 p.m. Attempt to locate of vehiclethat was speeding through campus. 10:05 p.m. Report of studentsthrowing water balloons, unable tolocate.

Sept.14, 20047:20 a.m. Medical emergency atPowell Fitness Center, subject hav-ing seizures.7:05 p.m. Alarm at The CampusStore, all okay.

Sept. 15, 20041:39 a.m. Suspicious person atUniversity Park Apartments, con-tacted subject. 8:50 a.m. Fire alarm at Sikes Hall.Smoke on 3rd floor, building evacu-ated, located burning food in resi-dent’s microwave. 6:25 p.m. Skateboarders at BiblicalStudies Building parking lot; weregone upon arrival. 7:25 p.m. Traffic stop at TeagueBoulevard, driving wrong way onone-way.

Sept. 16, 200412:48 a.m. Report of suspicious sub-ject at Sikes Hall. Contacted sub-ject, all OK. 11:00 p.m. Vehicle accident atAmbler Avenue and Judge ElyBoulevard. 11:40 p.m. Fire alarm at Smith Hall,all OK.9:40 p.m. Report in reference tosuspicious activity, Case #04-139.

Sept. 17, 20047:10 a.m. Unlocked vehicle at 1200Washington Blvd.10:30 p.m. Traffic stop at E.N. 15thStreet & Washington Boulevard.

Sept. 18, 20041:00 a.m. Suspicious vehicle atAbilene Christian High School.9:18 pm. Vehicle accident atAmbler Avenue and Judge ElyBoulevard.

Sept. 19, 200412:21 a.m. Checked with desk work-er at Smith Hall. 2:04 a.m. Checked with desk workerat Sikes Hall. 2:12 a.m. Checked with desk workerat Gardner Hall.



AnnouncementsShinnery Reviews are for

sale. If you missed out last year,you still have a chance to purchasethe 2004 student literary magazinefor $4. See Nuria Hall in ChambersHall Room 308.

Interested in taking Port-uguese or Russian? Help getthese classes started for Fall 2005by e-mailing Phyllis Chill [email protected] or Erin Ford [email protected]. Only 12 studentsare needed to commit to twosemesters per language so theycan be opened up in the fall.Classes will count as electives orforeign language requirements.

The university ministry atSouthern Hills Church ofChrist invites students to attendits second annual "Bid Night Bashand Ice-Cream Crash" party start-ing at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. Freepizza, movie and games. In addi-

tion, "Free Indeed" will be in con-cert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, atSouthern Hills. "Free Indeed" willlead worship on Sunday which is"Celebration Sunday." A free lunchfollows.

Wednesday is social clubranking day. If you are registeredto pledge, do not forget to rank theclubs Wednesday in the ticket win-dows from 8:30a.m.-5 p.m. Thosewho do not rank will not receive abid.

Come support Essence ofEbony`s Spring BreakCampaign fund-raiser at Mr.Gatti`s at 5661 Buffalo Gap Roadon Thursday from 6-9 p.m. Theprice is $6.50 for adults and $4.50for children. Turn in your receiptsat the end of the night and Essenceof Ebony will receive 10 percent ofthe proceeds. For more informa-tion, contact La Toya O`Neil or

Camile Jackson by e-mail.Fellowship of Christian

Athletes will be meetingThursday at 9:28 p.m. in the foyerof the Teague Special EventsBuilding. This week will focus onfun, fellowship, worship, and theWord. Everyone is welcome toattend.

The Chapel prayer room isnow available on Mondays andTuesdays in Gibson Room 230.Come and intercede for Chapel,the ACU campus, the Abilene com-munity and our world.

The ACU Roller HockeyTeam is looking for experiencedplayers. Last year, they represent-ed ACU at the National CollegiateRoller Hockey Tournament inAnaheim. They are hoping to con-tinue a winning tradition. [email protected] for more info.


well as to provide multicultur-al enrichment opportunitiesthroughout the school year.

The cultural student advisersare planning several moreevents throughout the semesterbased on cultural themes andpossibly more Tri-UniversityBashes as well.

“It’s really sad that we are so

close to Hardin-Simmons; theyare just down the road, and wenever hang out together,” saidKathleen Carmichael, sopho-more psychology major fromAustin. “It is a great opportunityto promote community betweenthe Christian colleges ofAbilene.”

Bash: More eventsplanned for semesterContinued from Page 1

E-mail Sherwood at: [email protected]

By TABITHA VAILSTAFF WRITER

Weekend Campaigns took 25students to San AntonioSaturday to paint portable build-ings at the Christian HopeResource Center, the benevolentministry of the Oak HillsChurch. The students also puton an ice cream social at theSAMM shelter, an emergency

shelter for families. Weekend Campaigns is an

outreach organization lead byChris Fall, senior businessmajor from San Antonio, andKristi Lippurt, senior psycholo-gy major from Cincinnati.During the monthly trips toTexas cities and surroundingstates, Weekend Campaignsblends volunteering and fellow-ship, and Fall said it is a way forstudents to “have a feel for whatcommunity service is.”

Not only did the campaign-ers serve banana splits and singpraise songs at the SAMM shel-

ter, they also had the opportuni-ty to sing “Happy Birthday” to8-year-old Ednita, whose familyis staying at the SAMM sheltertemporarily. She said shethought having all the collegestudents there to celebrate wasawesome.

Rachel Jones, senior Englishand international studies majorfrom Atlanta, said thatWeekend Campaigns is an“extension for my love for JesusChrist” because “Christianity isan action word!” WeekendCampaign Chapel offers acous-tic praise and worship led by Jud

Howell, senior financial man-agement major from Amarillo,and a message by Drew Friar,senior biblical text major fromSan Antonio, every Thursday.

Howell said he finds “no bet-ter way to use his gift” for musicthan by leading worship withhis acoustic guitar and said thatWeekend Campaigns “broadensyour awareness of what commu-nities need, even if you are fromthere.”

By LUKE HARRISSTUDENT REPORTER

Students participated in thefirst Service Saturday of the yearthis weekend, helping renovatea house, sorting food at theAbilene food bank and helpingat the Abilene Adult Daycare.

Erin Martin, junior youthand family ministry major fromHouston, is committee chair forService Saturday and this is herfourth semester in ServiceAction Leadership Team, butonly her second semester as the

committee chair.“We try to do things that

interest different people so thatwhen the weekend arrives …people they can sign up for thatweekend,” Martin said.

She said that even thoughthey do different things everyweekend, it is still good to help.

“It’s a really good way to getinvolved and a good way toserve God, and in the end that iswhat we are called to do,”Martin said.

Martin helped clean a housein the middle of a renovationwhile some students sorted foodat the Abilene food bank andothers helped with landscapingand other various things at theAbilene Adult Daycare.

Andrea Kelley, sophomorespeech pathology major fromAmarillo, said that they try tomix up the projects for one day,for example those involving kidsand the construction projects,so that the people that are inter-ested in one but not the othercan choose where they wouldlike to serve.

The next Service Saturday isOct. 16, but Kelley said she wasunsure of where it will takeplace. She said the sites arepicked two weeks in advance,and that they try not to repeatthe same sites.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004 CAMPUS NEWS

E-mail Harris at: [email protected]

Students use weekends to serveService Saturdays

offer various ways for students to help others

E-mail Vail at: [email protected]

By APRIL WARDPAGE 2 EDITOR

After flying to Seattle onSept. 8 to be with his family,Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen,provost, got to experience thejoys of being a grandfatherthree times over.

VanRheenen’s son, NathanVanRheenen and his wife,

Emma, became the parents ofthree triplet boys born Sept. 8at University of WashingtonMedical Center in Seattle.

For Dwayne VanRheenen, itwas an important family eventhe didn’t want to miss.

“I received a telephone callfrom my wife, Joan, who waswith Nathan and our daughter-in-law at about 5:15 a.m. as Iwas walking out to the door toHendrick Health Club, where Iwork out each morning,” hesaid.

While it was just after 3 a.m.in Seattle, VanRheenen said

that Nathan and Emma hadjust left for the hospital.VanRheenen said he immedi-ately booked a flight out ofAbilene Regional Airport andlanded in Seattle by noon.

An emergency C-sectionwas performed after only 32weeks of pregnancy, but thebabies were born healthy andwill remain in the hospital forsix to eight weeks. Their namesare Quincy Powell, MacArthurDale and Xavier SydneyVanRheenen.

“Many prayers were offeredon their behalf,” VanRheenen

said. “Mom and Dad are withthem every day, feeding andholding them. The babies havean around-the-clock care andan outstanding medical staff.”

While the parents are excit-ed about the new additions tothe family, VanRheenen saidtaking care of the triplets andtheir older child, NathanVanRheenen Jr., will require alot of effort.

“Once the boys go home,the parents will have theirwork cut out for them,” hesaid.

Still, VanRheenen said that

he and his wife are doing theirbest to help out.

“Joan has been spending 75percent of her time in Seattlesince Emma was confined tobed, and Nathan Jr. needed hisgrandmother,” VanRheenensaid. “After the babies comehome, Joan will be helpingEmma and Nathan with thearound-the-clock care for thethree infants.”

VanRheenen said he intendsto see the family soon as well.

“I hope to return in a fewweeks, and I talk to the familyeveryday,” he said.

While these are notVanRheenen’s first grandchil-dren, he said he enjoys thechance to be a grandfather.

“Having grandchildren iswonderful,” he said. “We get tospoil them and the parentshave to deal with the implica-tions. Seriously, it is a greatexperience all over again, thebirth of these gifts from Godand to see them grow anddevelop.”

BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer

Laressa McCormac (left), senior social work major from Glen Rose, Tara Studer, senior biology majorfrom Seymour, and Kasey Pearson, sophomore social work major from Daytona Beach, Fla., sort throughclothes that will be delivered to Ukraine by Healing Hands International.

Weekend Campaigns travel to San Antonio

E-mail Ward at: [email protected]

Dr. VanRheenen becomes proud grandfather of tripletsProvost experiencesbeing a grandfatherto three infant boys

Students continue spreading service, aid

to those in need

underage drinking, and hesaid within the past twoweeks, a student came within20 minutes of dying of alco-hol poisoning. He said thestudent’s friends left thescene to avoid receiving an-other citation for minor inpossession, and this is one ofthe most selfish things hewas heard of in a long time.

“I’m unwilling to wait un-til one of you dies to use yourlife as an example,” Barnardsaid.

“It has got to stop.”Barnard said he was talk-

ing in a guarded context, butin every case where alcoholwas involved, laws were bro-ken and lives were endan-gered. He said residents inneighborhoods have alsocomplained to the universityabout being woken up in themiddle of the night from stu-dents being too loud.

Another issue addressedwas the use of foul language

on campus, which consists ofnot only swearing but ofderogatory language ad-dressed toward students of adifferent gender, race, ethnic-ity, socio-economic back-ground or those “who arestruggling against homosex-uality.” He later said this wasbrought on by several of hisU-100 students and otherfreshmen commenting aboutthings they have heardaround campus.

“Am I off base?” Barnardasked the crowd. “Do I needto let go of a burden becauseit’s a false burden?”

Barnard closed Chapelwith a prayer that students’hearts will be changed sothat their lives will change.He later said that the entireChapel series this semester

focuses on changing theheart, and that is why he hadProverbs 4:23-27 read.

He said he has receivedpositive feedback from ad-ministrators, faculty and stu-dents alike. He said he doesnot want to come across asarrogant or as an enforcer,but he hopes his talk willremind people of their ac-tions and begin conversa-tions on campus. If we makemistakes, he said, we canapologize, grow from themistakes and move on.

“The point is we just needan encouraging environmentthat really spurs us on to dowell,” Barnard said.

She said that the image ofthe giant American flag unfold-ing above the flags from othernations could convey the ideathat America is more importantthan the other nations repre-sented on campus.

“Whether or not it is theintended message of Americabeing more important thanother nations, it’s being com-

municated,” Pecinovsky said.“The question we have to

ask is: ‘Is this welcoming peo-ple or overwhelming themwith our culture?’”

Drehsel said most interna-tional students enjoy OpeningChapel.

“We’ve always enjoyed itvery much,” she said. “We en-joy celebrating our heritageand the American heritage. If

we were offended, we wouldn’tparticipate.”

Pecinovsky said she wouldlike to have a forum about theissue.

“I think a forum is a greatidea,” she said. “I think there’senough interest that it’s possi-ble.”

Wednesday, September 22, 2004FROM THE FRONT PAGE

“Mrs. Roosevelt was a veryactive sponsor and enthusias-tically interacted with stu-dents,” Trevathan said. “That’sstayed in the back of my mindall my life, the things Iwatched her do and what shesaid to me. I thought: ‘That is agreat way to wind up. That’sreally terrific; if I can pull thatoff some day, I want to dothat.’”

Trevathan said Rooseveltthought herself fortunate tohave so many college studentsin her life.

“I knew then that she wasright, and I know it even morenow,” he said.

Trevathan said he wouldnot have imagined at the timethat he would one day teachsociology, but it is the subjecthe now loves.

“If I had the choice ofteaching any subject at ACU,my top three choices would bethree of the four courses I’mteaching,” he said. “How doyou explain that? You can’t ex-plain that kind of blessing.”

Adams said Trevathan is agood teacher not only becauseof his passion for teaching butalso because he truly learnedthe material.

“I feel like one of the bestthings I did for ACU was helphim get in the position to

teach,” she said.Bill Culp, chair of the De-

partment of Sociology and So-cial Work, said Trevathanbrings a lot of preparation timeand life experience to class.

“That’s the combinationthat makes him outstanding asa teacher,” he said. “He’s one ofthe most creative faculty mem-bers I’ve ever had the privilegeof working with.”

Students say they love him,even though he seems to bethe teacher students stereotyp-ically avoid because he contin-ues to give harder tests, ex-pects quality work and grewup in another generation.

Because of his work in theclassroom, Trevathan earnedthe Trustees Award for Out-standing Teacher of the Year in2001, which now hangs on thewall across from his desk.

“He is very inspirationaland has a lot of wisdom tooffer,” said Rachel Henderson,junior children’s ministry ma-jor from Tyler. “He went be-yond [the text] to help us bebetter people, to live fully.”

Trevathan tells stories fromhis own life, gesturing to dra-matize each point, pacing theroom and making eye contactwith students. His uniquecharisma draws people to lis-ten and trust what he has tosay.

“He has lots of life stories

that make it interesting,” saidHeather Hobson, junior socialwork major from Kaufman.“And it’s a night class; it’s hardto like those.”

Last March, three yearsafter earning the Teacher ofthe Year award, Trevathan hada heart attack and had fourstints put in his heart. He did-n’t allow even that to keep himaway from his students,though.

“I had a heart attack onSunday, and I was back in classin a week,” he said. “It justseemed like the thing to do atthe time. It probably wasn’tsmart, but I don’t regret it.”

Adams said Trevathan hastold her that if he died in theclassroom, he’d die happy.

“He gives his whole life toit,” she said.

Trevathan said he wants towork at least seven more yearsso he can say he has had two25-year careers in his lifetime.

“It’s great to be an old guywith a second career it wasunlikely I could achieve,” hesaid. “Occasionally, someonewill ask if at my age and work-ing this hard I’m not experi-encing burnout, and I say: ‘Areyou kidding? I’m a novice; I’mjust getting started.’”

Flag: Display could offend some Continued from Page 1

Teach: ‘I’m just getting started’Continued from Page 5

E-mail Schneider at: [email protected]

E-mail Gower at: [email protected]

served as junior and seniorclass president, was a SingSong host and was voted Mr.ACU, among other achieve-ments. Thomas is the MusicMinister at the Otter CreekChurch of Christ in Nashville,Tenn., and has also served onthe ACU Alumni Board and isan active donor.

Jama Cadle, Alumni Eventscoordinator, said Thomas isamong 86,000 former studentswho make up the ACU Alumni

Association, and she saidThomas is a clear model ofACU alumni making a differ-ence in the world.

“There’s always a few thatstick out,” Cadle said. “He is aleader in his field, and he lovesthe Lord, and that shows ineverything he does. He’s just agreat example of what aChristian professional can do.”

Now, a few weeks afterbeing recognized as the 2004Young Alumnus of the Year,Thomas said he has come toaccept the fact that his name

will garner the award for ayear. But he is quick to pointout that he didn’t earn it alone.

“It means a lot to mebecause I think so highly of theinstitution that it represents,”Thomas said. “It is very hum-bling to receive this awardbecause I’m not really worthanything on my own. WithoutGod, I would not be able to dothe things I have done.”

Award: Thomas model for others Continued from Page 1

E-mail Gonzalez at: [email protected]

Dean: Barnard talks of concernsContinued from Page 1

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

This participant in the West Texas Fair and Rodeo last Saturday had 8 seconds to attempt to ride thehorse before being bucked off. The 35th annual West Texas Fair PRCA Rodeo ran from Sept. 14 throughSaturday and featured barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding, among other events.

E-mail Carlson at: [email protected]

Just one more second

“I’m unwilling to wait until one of you dies to use your life as an example.”

Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life

Pictures and certificates fill Dr.Charles Trevathan’s office walls,but he points with pride past them

to the frame boasting his letter of appoint-ment to the faculty in the Department ofSociology and Social Work.

Seventeen years ago, almost a decadebefore he received that letter, Trevathan decided to have amid-life crisis.

As his law partner neared retirement and he beganconsidering his options, Trevathan left his 26-year lawpractice in Louisville, Ky., and moved west of theMississippi to try to become a college teacher.

“I thought that was a radical enough change to consti-tute a mid-life crisis of my own making,” said Trevathan,now an instructor of sociology and social work. “I want-ed to teach college, but I had a J.D., and I didn’t want toteach law courses.”

He was determined to be on a college campus for hissecond career, so he moved his wife of 44 years, Phyllis,and two of his three daughters to Abilene.

“The move was not an easy sell with the family exceptfor one daughter who was marrying and moving toTexas,” Trevathan said. “But Phyllis came around prettyquickly and has done more than anybody to make itwork.”

He said he knows his venture was risky.“When I said my final farewells to the senior judge in

Louisville, he was still baffled by my decision,” he said.“When he found out I was not joining the faculty, that Iwas not an alumnus, that I had no tenure nor any hopefor it, that my contract could be terminated on 30-daysnotice with or without reason and that my job dutieswere vague, he told me: ‘All I know for sure is they won’tbe asking you to negotiate any of their contracts. That’sridiculous.’”

He describes his trek through the years at ACU as acamel that wants to get inside the circus tent; he pokedhis nose under the tent and eventually found himself atthe circus.

Trevathan came to ACU the fall of ’87 when Dr.William Teague, then president of the universi-ty, hired him as associate general counsel.

Teague came to know Trevathan the year before when hechallenged the accusers of the university and two of itsbiology teachers in a controversy concerning the teachingof evolution.

“It’s this simple,” he said. “Were it not for Bill Teague,I could not and would not have come to ACU.”

Though the position of counsel was not his ultimategoal and Teague made no promises for a faculty position,Trevathan knew he needed something to just get on cam-pus, and he credits Dr. W. Gaston Welborn Jr., ACU vicepresident and general counsel, for his patience during hisquest to teach.

“Very soon after I moved to Abilene, I began a shame-less campaign to get on the faculty, hoping to teach some-

thing other than law-related courses, courses like poetryor history,” Trevathan said. “Of course, with a J.D., that’sa complete pipedream, but I worked on many departmentchairs and teachers to see what I could come up with.”

With the exception of an occasional guest lecture, hissearch yielded no results.

Until the fall of 1990. Dr. Rae Adams, professor emerita of sociology and

social work, asked if he would be interested in teachingher freshman sociology class while she was in Oxford thenext semester.

“Of course I jumped at the opportunity,” he said.“Without question, Rae Adams was the principal saviorof my mid-life crisis.”

Adams said Trevathan frequently contacted her duringthat semester to see what he was doing wrong.

“He was so determined to be a good teacher,” she said.

In his quest to become a teacher, he also thanksRuth Stevens, wife of Dr. John C. Stevens, chancel-lor emeritus and former president of the university.

The first semester Trevathan taught, he asked Stevens toattend his classes, critique his lectures and tests and gradepapers like she did for her husband when he taught his-tory at ACU.

“I figured that anybody who could keep John on thestraight and narrow was my ticket to success,” he said.“What a teacher she was! I can still see her witheringglances of disapproval and hear her words of encourage-ment.”

Stevens said she enjoyed sitting in on his class.“He’s one of the best [teachers] I’ve ever had, and I’ve

had a lot,” she said. “He just changed lives. Every kid inthere was changed. He helped all of them.”

She said she tried to keep him from making the courseand tests too difficult.

“I told him, ‘They’re … not senior or graduate stu-dents,’” she said.

Trevathan said he needed her critiques.“I told the students that Ruth was their lawyer to pro-

tect them from me,” he said. “I think they needed herbecause I was really pumped for that class.”

Trevathan continued teaching the course intermittent-ly, even after becoming the vice president for CampusLife in November 1991. His work in that role throughMay 1997 saw the opening of University ParkApartments and the introduction and enforcement ofhazing laws for social clubs. The most significant change,he said, was combining the discipline processes for menand women.

He said he had a wonderful staff while there.

“Those people were just great,” Tre-vathan said. “There are a lot of reasons whyI’m very proud of the way we ran our lap inCampus Life. It was one of the best experi-ences of my life, but time was running out,and Rae Adams was my last realistic hopeto be a teacher. … My philosophy is that

once you’ve run your lap in one event, say goodbye andget after the next.”

So he did.

As Adams neared retirement, she agreed to helpTrevathan meet the requirements to take overthree of her courses: Introduction to Sociology,

Cultural Diversity and Ethics Social Issues.“Charles just has a sparkle about him,” she said. “He

wanted so badly to teach. He wanted to teach badlyenough to … fulfill the requirements.”

To fill a portion of those requirements, Trevathan tookfour graduate courses at ACU and audited Adams’ class-es. His life experiences and coursework for his law degreefulfilled the other requirements to authorize him to teachthe courses he teaches now.

He said he attended two of Adams’ courses and wrotemore than 80 pages of analytical papers for Social Theorywhile teaching two sections of Introduction to Sociologywith more than 70 students in each class.

“That semester about killed me,” Trevathan said. “Itbecame clear to me that Rae was doing more than a per-sonal favor for me. She was making sure that some oldlawyer was not going to wander around ignorant in herbeloved courses.”

After Adams retired, Trevathan fulfilled his dream andbegan teaching Introduction to Sociology, CulturalDiversity and Ethics and Social Issues; he added CriminalJustice along the way.

He says he is profoundly indebted to his colleagues,who made him feel at home in their department.

“Not once have they treated me like an interloper andto this day support me and encourage me as a teacher,”he said.

Looking back, Trevathan had many sources ofinspiration to become a teacher, one of whomwas his brother, who taught college history.

“I like to teach, and college students looked like thebest of all worlds,” he said.

The first thought of teaching, however, came muchearlier during his work with the college subsidiary of theAmerican Association for the United Nations while a stu-dent at Lipscomb University. He served as national vicepresident for programming of the Collegiate Council forthe United Nations in his junior year and as nationalpresident his senior year. The experience allowed him toobserve former first lady and CCUN sponsor EleanorRoosevelt, who had an office in the AAUN headquartersin New York.

FOCUSWEDNESDAYSeptember 22, 2004 OPTIMIST

For the Love of Teaching

STORY BY CHRISTY GOWER

“I began a shameless campaign to get on the faculty ... Of course,with a J.D., that’s a complete pipedream.”

Dr. Charles Trevathan, instructor of sociology and social work

Dr. Charles Trevathan worked through a self-invented mid-life crisis

EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer

In his Cultural Diversity class Monday night, Dr. Charles Trevathan taught more than 70 students about the Jewish experience in America and how that experience has changed over the years.

See TEACH Page 4

The day before the ban onsemiautomatic assaultweapons expired a Miami-Dade police officer was shot

several timeswhen a drivershe pulledover openedfire with anAK-47. Luck-ily, she sur-vived and isrecovering.

A ViolencePolicy Centerstudy foundthat of the 211police officers

killed in the line of duty from1998 through 2001, 41 werekilled with an assault weapon.

Only the military needsassault weapons similar to AK-47s, Uzi’s or M-16s, now avail-able to the public. One doesnot need a bayonet, a flashsuppressor or a multi-roundmagazine —accessories thatcan help someone easily mowdown a crowd of civilians orpolicemen — fortarget practice.

The assaultweapons banshould have beenrenewed or newlegislation shouldhave been writtenand passed in itsplace.

The law, signedby President Clint-on in 1994, banned 19 specificsemiautomatic weapons andammunition clips of 10 roundsor more.

A study released this yearby the Brady Center to PreventGun Violence found a 66 per-cent drop in use of assaultweapons in crimes after theban was first enacted in 1994,and also concluded that hadthe law not been passed, about66,000 more assault weaponswould have been traced tocrimes since 1994.

A recent national poll con-ducted by University of Penn-sylvania's National AnnenbergElection Survey found that 68percent of Americans wantedto extend the ban, including57 percent of those with a gunin their household.

To let this ban expire wasdangerous and foolish on theparts of Congress and the pres-ident. President Bush cam-paigned in 2000 on the issue ofthe ban and continued to sup-port its renewal.

“The president supports thecurrent law, and he supportsreauthorization of the currentlaw,” said White House presssecretary Scott McClellan inApril 2003.

However, Bush put no pres-sure on Congress to renew theban.

Too many problems exist inthe gun franchise. GregRiggins, gun manager of ThePawn Shop at 357 Walnut, saidthe regulations on the “who”and “how” of gun buying don’t

even make sense. He saidwhen someone wants to buytwo cowboy pistols, he has tofill out an extra report for thesecond gun and go throughmore paper work. But only abackground check is needed ifsomeone comes into the shopand wants to buy an AR-15and magazines with thousandsof bullets.

“Why should I have to dou-ble report the cowboy pistoland not the AR?” Riggins said.

Riggins said the ban ofassault weapons didn’t changemuch, and configurationsmade on the weapons thatwere “cosmetic” changes leftthe actual purpose and dangerof the weapon unchanged.Post-law guns could take pre-law magazines, Riggins said,and many pre-law weaponswere protected by the grandfa-ther provision and remained inuse. A grandfather clauseexempts one already engagingin an activity from new rules orlegislation forbidding or regu-

lating that activity.Loopholes have

allowed gun man-ufacturers to con-tinue to producemany of the weap-ons specified in theban by simplychanging minorfeatures and acces-sories of the gun,or even its name. If

the law was really as ineffectiveas its critics claim, then itshould have been improved toprevent these loopholes.

In February 2000, whenBush was running for presi-dent, the National RifleAssociation had a few words tosay about their relationshipwith him if he was elected.

“If we win, we’ll have apresident where we work outof their office,” said KayneRobinson, first vice presidentfor the NRA.

A posting on the NRA’s Website on Sept. 13 said, “Today'sdemise of the Clinton gun banshould serve as a starkreminder that the 2004 elec-tions will determine the nextchapter that is written on theSecond Amendment.”

President Bush, in hisacceptance speech at theRepublican National Con-vention in New York Sept. 2,said, “One thing I have learnedabout the presidency is thatwhatever shortcomings youhave, people are going tonotice them, and whateverstrengths you have, you'regoing to need them.”

He fell short. The presidentchose to protect his politicalassociations with the NRA inan election year instead of pro-tecting the American peoplefrom these lethal and unneces-sary weapons.

And to think 10 days ago Iwished the story aboutPresident Bush’s NationalGuard service would just go

away.Enter Kin-

ko’s of Abilene,the small townof Baird andformer NationalGuardsman BillBurkett.

For those ofyou out of theloop, on Sept.16 reports be-gan surfacingthat docu-

ments regarding PresidentBush’s questioned service inthe National Guard werefaxed to CBS news from theKinko’s Copies in Abilene.TV anchor Dan Rather usedthese documents as evidencethat President Bush receivedpreferential treatment whileserving in the National Guardmore than 30 years ago.

Now, with the authenticityof the documents in question,and Dan Rather’s integrity onthe line, the source of thedocuments has become a hot

topic.When someone recognized

the Kinko’s of Abilene stampat the top of the faxed docu-ments, news outlets began tosuspect one Bill Burkett,retired National Guardsmanfrom Baird.

Baird, Texas, and theKinko’s Copies in Abilene.What were the odds?

Actually, they were quitegood judging by Abilene’sknack for finding thestrangest, most obscure waysinto the national spotlight.

Last year alone, a 90-year-old man from Abilene robbed abank—his first robbery sincehe was in his 80s. A GoodSamaritan made all the nation-al talk shows after running intoa burning house to save achild. Because of all the press,he was recognized and arresteddays later for violating hisparole, sending the nationalmedia swarming again.

In 2002, a baby was

abducted during broad day-light from the Wal-MartSupercenter parking lot, gar-nering a nationwide AmberAlert and more national cov-erage.

In 2001, ACU was one ofthe first places investigatedfor a possible anthrax con-tamination after the adminis-tration received a near-incomprehensible letter. Thishappened before anthraxscares became almost routinereports on the nightly news-casts.

I’m convinced that livingin Abilene will one day makeme more attractive to a news-paper and help me get a job.Because the next time someguy faxes politically sensitivedocuments from a Kinko’shere or a 90-year-old Abi-lenian robs a bank, newspa-pers will salivate to have areporter who knows the areaand can give them any edgeon the coverage.

And something will hap-pen; it always does. The onlyquestions left are when will ithappen and how strange willit be.

I’m betting on somethingto do with the election thisyear. Maybe the presidentialrace will somehow hinge onwhat happens in TaylorCounty. Or better yet,Republican or Democraticcontrol of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives will comedown to what happens in our19th District race betweenincumbents Rep. CharlieStenholm, D-Abilene, andRep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock.

The stranger it is, the bet-ter and the more likely it is toactually happen.

I’ve frequently heard itsaid that ACU would be aneven better place if it weren’tin Abilene. I wouldn’t have itany other place.

After all, the future of mycareer depends on it.

“I don’t—it’s beena big controversy.I’m an internation-al student, and Ifeel welcome in thisplace. It’s the homecountry; that’s whyit’s bigger.”

“Why should it be?I don’t think of itsince I am inAmerica. As a for-eigner, I can saythis is my hostcountry—I respectyour flag.”

Flag petition raises needed discussionA new contro-

versy recently sur-faced on campus

about the giantAmerican flag displayed

at Opening Day Cere-monies. A student drafted andcirculated a petition last weekasking that the administrationrethink the unfurling of OldGlory above the flags of othernations. Although the EditorialBoard does not think the flag isoffensive, we think it is an issuethat needs to be addressed, andwe respect this student for tak-ing the initiative to start thepetition.

Often, students have com-

plaints aboutprocedures andtraditions oncampus. Stu-dents rarely acton these, other than to com-plain to fellow students.

In drafting the petition,Teresa Pecinovsky, seniorChristian ministry major fromCresco, Iowa, has shown howstudents can make a differenceon campus through mature anddemocratic means.

Pecinovsky could have sim-ply complained about the flag.Instead, she spoke to studentsand faculty and went throughthe correct steps to get her voice

heard by the administration.It is understandable that

some might find the flag super-fluous. Although the adminis-tration does not intend tooffend any students, interna-tional or American, studentsobviously could consider itoffensive. Opening Chapel coor-dinators may want to reflect onthe reason for the flag and thepurpose it serves.

However, ACU is in the Uni-ted States; students who attend

this schoolmade a con-scious decisionto live in this

country, andwith that comes the nation’spatriotic displays.

The board understands thatthe International Students Asso-ciation does not support the pe-tition, which could easily causea rift between American and In-ternational students.

The petition has sparkednumerous conversations oncampus. Instead of becoming anissue that pits international stu-dents against American stu-dents, the board hopes that

communication is openedbetween students of differentcultures, a phenomenon thatcannot happen often enough.

The playing of the “StarSpangled Banner” while the flagunfolds, while intensely patriot-ic, can be overwhelming. Aquestion that should beaddressed is: Is Chapel reallythe best place for that type ofpatriotic display?

Pecinovsky and her petitionhave begun a dialogue on cam-pus; don’t let it go to waste.Whether you agree or disagreewith the petition, take sometime to think about the issueand what it means to you.

In Your Words

VIEWSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST September 22, 2004

OPTIMIST Editor in ChiefJonathan Smith

Managing EditorLori Bredemeyer

The Optimist Editorial Board

Opinion EditorJaci Schneider

Copy EditorSarah Carlson

Faculty AdviserDr. Cheryl Bacon

Ad ManagerChristi Stark

Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication,

Abilene Christian University

Editorial and letter policyUnsigned editorials are the opinions

of the Optimist Editorial Board and may notnecessarily reflect the views of the universi-ty or its administration.

Signed columns, cartoons and let-ters are the opinions of their creators andmay not necessarily reflect the viewpoints ofthe Optimist, its Editorial Board or the uni-versity.

The Optimist encourages reader re-sponse through letters to the editor but re-serves the right to limit frequent contributors

or to refuse to print letters containing per-sonal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erro-neous information or invasion of privacy.

Please limit letters to 350 words orless. A name and phone number must beincluded for verification purposes. Phonenumbers will not be published.

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892

Abilene, TX 79699E-mail letters to:

[email protected]

Optimist contact informationNewsroom:(325) 674-2439

Sports desk:(325) 674-2684

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Subscriptions ($45/academic year):(325) 674-2296

Online:www.acuoptimist.com

Chief PhotographerBrian Schmidt

“Maybe we shouldget flags that bigfor every coun-try—then every-one would behappy.”

In My Words Daniel Barcroft

Do you think the giant American flag at Opening Day Ceremonies is offensive?

Sarah Carlson

I am theEnemy

Opening Chapel coordinators may want to reflecton the reason for the flag and the purpose it fulfills.

The issue:A petition has beencirculated regardingthe giant Americanflag at Opening DayCeremonies.Our view:The flag is not offen-sive, but it hasopened room for dis-cussion.The solution:Students need tocommunicate aboutissues that offendthem, and theadministration needsto evaluate the pur-pose of the largeflag in the Chapelsetting.

Nathan Graysenior biochemistry majorfrom Memphis, Tenn.

Alex Mityuninsenior political science majorfrom Abilene

Diana Gutierrezsenior management and marketing majorfrom Tegucigalpa, Honduras

JonathanSmith

Ask theQuestion

The only questions left are when will it happenand how strange will it be.

Abilene in national spotlight ... again

Respond to Smith at:[email protected] or [email protected]

THE

Assault weaponsshould be banned

E-mail Carlson at: [email protected] or [email protected]

To let this banexpire was dan-gerous and fool-ish on the partsof Congress and

the president.

“I don’t think it’snecessary, but Idon’t think it’soffensive in anyway shape orform. It is rathermassive though.”

Rebecca Wattssophomore interdisciplinary majorfrom Plano

Box Score

by Commerce. “It was good to go out

and play the way weshould and beat a team inthree games instead offour or five,” Delabanosaid.

On Saturday, the Wild-cats continued their win-ning ways shellacking SEOklahoma St. 30-20, 30-17, 30-8. Slate led theWildcats with 12 serviceaces and five kills.

“Amanda just servedthem off the court in thelast game,” Delabano said.“I don’t know how manyshe served in a row but itwas a lot.”

Delabano did her partposting a game-high 14kills. The usual suspects,Bernhardt and Martin,also helped ACU to victo-ry. Bernhardt posted 15digs and 13 kills andMartin added a game-high35 assists.

“It was just a fun week-end because we all playedso well,” Snoddy said.

ACU will host the LSCCrossover Tournament onFriday and Saturday. TheWildcats will face CentralOklahoma on Friday andplay against SoutheasternOklahoma and Cameronon Saturday.

he had crossed mid-field after a series of eastand west moves he had just the kicker to beat.

Manning also had an interception in thesecond half giving him his second in as manycontests, and he led the team with 11 tackles.His biggest tackle came on an impressive goal-line stand by the Wildcats in the 3rd quarter.The Texans had first-and-goal from theWildcat 2-yard line, but the Wildcat defensewas up for the task.

Tarleton’s Derrick Ross carried the ball tothe 1-yard line while Darryl Freeman and MarkMalunowe made the stop, and on 2nd downManning stuffed a Carl Steward run for a two-yard loss. Freshman Cody Stutts dove in theend zone to tip the ball and prevent a Tarletontouchdown intended for Chris Winn, and sen-ior Dawon Gentry denied Ross once again on asweep play on 4th down.

Overall, the Wildcats had three sacks, seventackles for a loss and two interceptions. Gentryfinished with eight tackles along with defensiveback Doug Barnett who had eight tackles aswell, and an acrobatic interception in the 3rdquarter. Farrell had seven tackles, a sack, andbroke up a pass at the defensive line to go withhis forced fumble and recovery.

Coach Gaines got his first career win againstTarleton State and a bucket full of Gatorade onhis back courtesy of Manning, Gentry and MattAllen in the fourth quarter.

“Offensively we played well in the first half;we didn’t finish as well, but the defense kept thefire out all night,” Gaines said.

Eastern New Mexico is next on the agendafor the Wildcats Saturday in Portales, N.M. Itmarks the first LSC South Division game forACU in 2004, and the Greyhounds will be look-ing to defeat ACU for the first time since 1998.

After ACU snapped its seven-game losing

streak to Tarleton, ENMU (1-3) faces a simi-lar situation with the Wildcats. Gaines andcompany look to build off the momentumthat the victory in Stephenville brought andkeep the Greyhounds at bay as they try tocomplete an upset.

“Just because a team is unranked doesn’tmean they can’t beat us,” Gaines said. “We’re farfrom perfect . . . they’ve got us at their place andthey’ll be looking to get us.”

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

E-mail Robarts at: [email protected]

E-mail Roe at: [email protected]


Defensive backs coach Nathan Headrick celebratesafter Dawon Gentry sealed a goal-line stand in the 3rdquarter. Headrick is in his second season at ACU.

SPORTS JUMPS

Continued from Page 8

Volleyball: Team to host tourney Continued from Page 8


Freshman outside hitter Liz Snoddy digs the ball againstSoutheastern Oklahoma on Saturday. The Wildcats have won four-straight contests heading into Tuesday’s match against St. Edwards.

Abilene Christian... 10 21 0 0 - 31 Tarleton State...... 0 0 0 14 - 14 Scoring Summary: 1st Quarter:ACU - Eben Nelson 41 yd field goal ACU - Rashon Myles 42 yd run (Nelson kick)2nd Quarter:ACU - Brett Unger 9 yd pass from Greg Wiggins (Nelson kick)ACU - Dillon Cobb 3 yd pass from Wiggins (Nelson kick)ACU - Danieal Manning 73 yd punt return (Nelson kick)4th Quarter:TARLETON - Jason Mathias 22 yd pass from Adam Johnson (Paul Williams kick)TARLETON - Derrick Ross 5 yd run (Williams kick)

RUSHING: ACU-Rashon Myles 14-102; Mark Gaines 17-32;Greg Wiggins 7-22; TEAM 2-minus 4. TSU-Derrick Ross 32-190; CarlSteward 11-14; Adam Johnson 5-minus 15. PASSING: ACU-Greg Wiggins 12-24-0-127. TSU-Adam Johnson 12-25-2-141. RECEIVING: ACU-Dillon Cobb 6-65; Jerale Badon 3-40;Brett Unger 1-9; Warren Rogers 1-8; Craig Howard 1-5. TSU-JasonMathias 3-44; Dustin Tabor 3-24; Rob Spells 2-36; Sims Kemp 2-28; ChrisDaniels 1-5; Kyle Masters 1-4.

ACU TSUFIRST DOWNS................ 15 19 RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 40-152 48-189 PASSING YDS (NET) 127 141 Pass Att-Comp-Int 24-12-0 25-12-2 TOTAL OFF. PLAYS-YDS 64-279 73-330 Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0Punt Returns-Yards 2-84 2-0Kickoff Returns-Yards 2-25 5-86Int. Returns-Yards 2-1 0-0Punts (Number-Avg) 7-42.0 5-46.4

ACU TSUFumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1Penalties-Yards 5-38 2-26Possession Time 24:00 36:00Third-Down Conversions 6 of 15 2 of 14Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 0 2 of 5Red-Zone Conversions 2-2 1-4Sacks By: Number-Yards 3-26 1-18

Football: Teamfaces ENMU Sat.

By KYLE ROBARTSSPORTS EDITOR

Throw out their No. 7national ranking, throw out thefact that they were leading theLone Star Conference in teamdefense and throw out theseven game winning streakTarleton Statehad overACU.

The Wildcatswere the bet-ter footballteam Sat-urday as theyrolled overthe Texans31-14 in Stephenville. All 31points came in the first half forthe Wildcats, and the defenseheld Tarleton to just 115 first-half yards fora 31-0 lead.

D i l l o nCobb caughthis thirdtouchdownpass fromGreg Wigginsin as manygames, andwith BrettUnger’s first career touchdownreception, ACU matched lastyear’s season total for touch-down receptions in just thethird game with seven.

Cobb and Wiggins cameinto the program in 2000 alongwith head coach Gary Gaines.Both players have stuck withthe program and in his finalyear, Cobb said he feelsextremely comfortable and con-fident with the on-field generalin Wiggins.

“I like to think that when[Greg] drops back to pass, heknows where I’m at on the field... and I appreciate him forsticking with the program afterbeing behind Colby Freeman

for three years,” Cobb said.Wiggins was 12 of 24 for

127 yards along with his twotouchdown passes, and he didnot throw an interception forthe second straight week. Infact, ACU didn’t turnover theball at all for the second consec-utive game.

Backup running backRashon Myles was the early starfor Wildcats. His 42-yardtouchdown run, with 4:33 leftin the first quarter, came on athird-and-short situation thatwas intended for short yardage.However, Myles had otherplans as he broke through theline and past the Texan safetiesfor the score.

Wiggins’ connection withUnger wouldn’t have takenplace if Myles hadn’t laid ablock on a blitzing linebacker,which allowed Wiggins thetime to find the senior fullbackin the flat for a 17-0 lead.

“Rashon’s a big, strong body... he’s as good a blocker as he isa runner,” Gaines said.

ACU’s two pre-season All-Americans (Clayton Farrell andDanieal Manning) were at itagain in Stephenville. Farrellforced a fumble and recovered iton the Texan 21-yard line, giv-ing the Wildcats a very shortfield. Wiggins led the team onits third touchdown drive,capped off by a spectacularcatch by Cobb in the end zone.Wiggins, under heavy pressure,floated the pass to the front ofthe end zone where Cobb,aware of the blitz, came back tomake a shoe-string catch.

If that wasn’t enough, lessthan two minutes later after athree-and-out for Tarleton,Manning returned a punt for atouchdown for the secondstraight week; this time for 73yards. Manning spun to avoidthe first tackler, and by the time

SPORTSWEDNESDAY OPTIMIST September 22, 2004

This week inWildcat sports...

(home events in italics)

Friday, September 24 VB: Central Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 25 VB: SE Oklahoma State, 1 p.m. VB: Cameron, 5 p.m. FB: at Eastern New Mexico, 7p.m. Monday, September 27 G: at NSU Men's Fall Classic, 9a.m. Tuesday, September 28 G: at NSU Men's Fall Classic, 9a.m.

LSC SouthStandings

FootballTeam Div. Tot.1. A&M-Kingsville 0-0 2-02. ACU 0-0 2-12. Midwestern State 0-0 2-14. E. New Mexico 0-0 1-35. A&M-Commerce 0-0 1-25. W. Texas A&M 0-0 1-27. Angelo State 0-0 0-4

VolleyballTeam Div. Tot.1. Tarleton State 0-0 12-22. E. New Mexico 0-0 8-23. Angelo State 0-0 11-34. ACU 0-0 10-55. West Texas A&M 0-0 8-66. A&M-Kingsville 0-0 5-7

ScoresFriday

VolleyballACU 3, A&M-Commerce 0

SaturdayFootball

ACU 31, Tarleton State 14Volleyball

ACU 3, S.E. Oklahoma 0

BriefsFormer coach’s

family dies in wreckA former ACU coach’s

three grandchildren, daugh-ter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law’s mother died Mondayin a wreck on Highway 75near Sherman, about 60 milesnorth of Dallas.

Mike Martin coached men’sbasketball at ACU 1980-1988and 1999-2002. His sonMichael was married to LisaWood Martin, and they hadthree sons: Chance, Brock andReid.

The wreck occurredMonday at about 4:30 p.m.when a tractor-trailer crossedthe median and hit the family’sSUV and a pickup, accordingto the Dallas Morning-News.Five people in the pickupwere also killed, and two otherpassengers in the pickup andthe driver of the tractor-trailerwere taken to the hospitalwith injuries.

Funeral arrangements forthe family are being madethrough Turrentine-JacksonMorrow Funeral Home inDallas. The funeral for Lisaand the children will beThursday at 10:30 a.m. atHigh Pointe Church of Christin McKinney, and funeral forLisa’s mother, Betsy Wood,will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

-Lori Bredemeyer

By WARREN GRAYSPORTS WRITER

ACU tennis coach HuttonJones has been waiting to seehow his teams would respondagainst tough competition. OnFriday and Saturday he got thatchance, and he liked the results.

In their final tune-up beforethe regional tournament, themen’s team fared well in therain-shortened New MexicoState Aggie Invitational, and thewomen’s team beat threeDivision I squads at the Texas-ElPaso Invitational.

Because of NCAA rules, teamscores cannot be officially keptin fall tournaments, but theACU women played six singlesmatches and three doublesmatches against four Division Iteams in its tournament.

“Combining our results from

singles and doubles, we beat theUniversity of Texas-El Paso, webeat New Mexico State and webeat Northern Arizona,” Jonessaid.

The Wildcats did not captureenough individual matchesagainst Texas Tech to garner a“win,” but Jones said theyplayed well. Four of the singlesmatches went to three sets andall the doubles matches wereclose.

“A three set match to memeans it could go either way,”Jones said.

He said he was pleased withthe performance of his playersin the tournament.

“Lana Pavlin has come backreally strong,” Jones said. “Herand Holly Lindloff had a greatwin against New Mexico State’sNo. 1 doubles team.”

Rachel Taylor won all threesingles matches she played andwon two of four in doubles.Taylor said the quality of com-petition they faced will be good

for the team.“We all had tough matches,

and that is going to get usready,” Taylor said.

The men’s team played aflighted tournament, which fea-tured no team competition atall. Artin Tafazoli was once a-gain the Wildcat’s standout ashe advanced to the quarterfi-nals.

After beating New Mexico’sNo. 4 player, Tafazoli lost a closematch to New Mexico State’stop player.

Tafazoli won his next matchand was set to play for fifthplace before rain cancelled thefinal day of competition.

Tafazoli teamed up withKevin Beedy to beat NewMexico State’s No. 1 doublesteam in the first round, then lostto fellow Wildcats Casper Steen-kamp and Jason Ray. ACU’sdoubles combination of George

Carstens and Evan Puglia alsowon a couple of matches.

“I really think all three of ourdoubles teams could win thewhole thing and get to nation-als,” Jones said.

“I’m getting better every timeout,” Tafazoli said. “I’m prettymuch ready for regionals.”

Taylor said she is ready aswell and expects a good show-ing from the Wildcats.

“We’re hoping to get a cou-ple of ACU players out there to

nationals; that’s always thegoal,” Taylor said.

That is Jones’ goal as well; hejust wants his team to recognizethat the road there will beanother tough one, and hewants the players to be preparedfor that.

“We don’t want easy match-es,” Jones said. “We’re not look-ing for it to be easy.”

By STEVE HOLTSPORTS WRITER

Junior transfer AdehMwamba placed fourth Saturdayto lead the ACU women’s crosscountry team to a 10th-place fin-ish at the Missouri SouthernState University Stampede inJoplin, Mo. Mwamba was theNo. 1 Wildcat finisher, coveringthe 5,000-meter course in16:55.57.

The next ACU finisher wassophomore Olha Kryv’yak, whoplaced 12th with a time of17:54.00, followed by juniortransfer Trina Cox in 23rd with atime of 18:25.10.

The young Wildcat women’steam finished 10th in the teamstandings with 248 points, butwas hurt by a disappointing

164th-place-finish by an injuredNo. 4 runner Abbie Waters. TheUniversity of Oklahoma womentook first, followed by theUniversity of Arkansas.

Head cross country coach JonMurray said Mwamba started therace running with the eventualwinner, but fell off the pace tofinish fourth. The former SouthPlains College star, who claimedtwo NJCAA individual crosscountry titles in Levelland, is oneof two or three who could becontenders at the Division IInational championships inNovember.

“Adeh went out really fast,but still ran a really good race,”Murray said. “We’re doing greatthrough our top three runners.”

Despite the success of the topthree Wildcat runners, Murraysaid the team will need to over-come a significant time gap

between the Nos. 3 and 4 run-ners. But help could be on theway, said Murray.

“I think there’s a couplethings that will change,” Murraysaid. “One of those will be AbbieWaters. That could be a bigswing.”

Junior Mollye Stanford fin-ished 112th in the race with atime of 20:35.72, followed byDenise Morgan in 120th. Despitesome injuries and disappointingtimes, Murray is optimisticabout the rest of the season.

“Hopefully, we can get Abbiback and keep moving our otherrunners up, and then I think itcan be a really good season,” hesaid.

The men’s and women’s teamswill be back in action Saturday atthe Oklahoma State CowboyInvitational in Stillwater, Okla.

By BRIAN ROESPORTS WRITER

The Wildcat volleyball teamextended its winning streak tofour games over the weekenddefeating Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday nightand Southeastern OklahomaState on Saturday afternoon inMoody Coliseum.

By dropping the bottomtwo teams in the Lone StarConference, ACU improved itsrecord to 10-5 this season andremains undefeated at home.

“It’s a lot easier to play athome in front of your ownfans,” said Liz Snoddy, sopho-more outside hitter. “It’s hard

to go away and play in some-one else’s gym, but at home wewant to win for the fans.”

ACU dominated in front ofthe home crowd Friday night,destroying Texas A&M-Commerce 30-17, 30-18, 30-12. Junior outside hitterMichelle Bernhardt led theWildcats with 12 kills, andjunior setter Lindsey Martinadded 36 assists. Snoddy andsenior libero Kellen Morrowchipped in 11 digs each.

Junior middle blockerAshlee Motola, junior middleblocker Amanda Slate andsophomore outside hitterCallie Delabano contributedeight kills each.

The Wildcats controlledevery aspect of the game,including hitting .265 as a

team compared to the dismal -.084 hitting percentage posted

Two goal-line stands, 3 TSU turnovers aid ACU victory

See FOOTBALL Page 7


Junior defensive back Doug Barnett takes a pass away from Tarleton receiver Jason Mathias. The inter-ception was one of three turnovers committed by the No. 7-ranked Texans.

Mwamba leads teamwith fourth-place

finish at meet

U P S E T !


Senior libero Kellen Morrowreturns a serve Saturdayagainst Southeastern Oklahoma.

Teams have success vs. D-I competition

See VOLLEYBALL Page 7

Wildcats remainundefeated at home

Cobb

Myles

FootballFootball

Cross CountryCross CountryVVolleyballolleyball

TTennisennis

Women’s cross country places 10th

ACU romps Commerce,S.E. Oklahoma

with 3-0 victories

Tennis teams look to regional tournament

in Springfield, Mo.

E-mail Holt at: [email protected]

E-mail Gray at: [email protected]

Cats knock offNo. 7 Tarleton

EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer

Jason Ray returns a shot in last Saturday’s Wal-Mart Open.

OPTIMIST_2004-09-22

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