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Wednesday ThursdayHigh: 72 Low: 31

Friday

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Online Poll : How ill have you been this

semester?

a. I’ve avoided becoming ill.b. Just a minor cold.c. I’ve already used all my sick days.d. Can you overdose on NyQuil?

acuoptimist.com

Pg. 3 InsideThis Issue:

The Bob behind the Center: Hunter devotes life to ACU

Coffee shop plugs in discountsfor Abilene college students

ACU puts world flags on displayaround Lunsford Trail

Pg. 3 Pg. 5

Optimistthe

a product of theJMC networkPg. 8 Wildcats swing sweep in Oklahoma over weekend

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 :: Vol. 97, No. 37 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

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.

Appropriations Committee: Granted $1,000 to Wishing Well for the pur-

chase of T-shirts to use in a fundraiser.Of the $10,205 allotted to the Appropriations

Committee from the SA spring 2009 budget, $5,637.80 remains in the committee’s funds.Student Request Fund:

Of the $13,975.84 allotted to the SA Con-gress Student Request Fund in the spring 2009 budget, $7,995.84 remains.

Four more groups will request funds for stu-dent trips within the next few weeks.

SA UPdAte

By Liz SpanoStudent Reporter

Set-up crews spent both Saturday and Sunday pre-paring Moody Coliseum for the 53rd annual Sing Song production, Believe.

A team of about 50 peo-ple worked from Saturday

at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday night to transform Moody into a concert venue, said Tom Craig, director of Stu-dent Productions.

He said the preperation in-cluded everything from cover-ing the floor to setting the stage and installing concert quality lights and sound systems.

The stage will remain in Moody until after the per-formances this weekend.

“I think it’s going to be one of the best shows we’ve ever seen,” Craig said. “We have a great team and place this year to make Sing Song happen.”

More than 1,500 students are involved in this year’s

production, Craig said. That list includes people in both upstage and downstage acts, as well as in the student pro-duction staff. Craig said more people are participating than any past Sing Song shows.

Fifteen class and social

Crews prepare Moody for Sing Song ’09

By Lezlee GutierrezBroadcast Assistant

Professors have seen an increase in the number of ill students on campus this se-mester, but according to the Health Clinic staff, this is not a rare situation for this time of year.

“It is a combination of the fluctuation of the weather

lately, as well as the prepa-ration for Sing Song,” said Kathy Stokes, Health Clinic office manager. “Students are staying up later than usual, and along with the stress in-crease, they are getting sick from the other students they are around.”

Students tend to make their way to the Health Clinic every year around

this time. The medical clinic had more than 1,000 visits last semester, and about the same amount of students already has used the Health Clinic so far.

In the past week, medical staff referred 40 students to the emergency room and the walk-in clinic. Fewer stu-dents were treated in the Health Clinic this semester

because of a lack of physi-cians, but ACU will be get-ting a new physician the last week of February.

“I had strep throat in De-cember and then I got sick with a sinus infection just recently,” said Andrea Reed, junior education major from Abilene. “I am glad I did not

Multitude of records ripped from seasonBy Daniel Johnson-KimEditor in Chief

With the stroke of a few computer keys, one of the most successful seasons in the history of the ACU football team and the host of records several Wildcats broke during it may be deleted forever.

The NCAA announced Thursday that two prospec-tive student-athletes were provided academic assistance by members of the football coaching staff in order to help them attain NCAA academic eligibility at the university, ac-cording to the NCAA. The ath-letes allegedly used the coach-

ing staff’s office computers to complete assignments and mail in coursework to the out-side institution to be graded.

Due to those violations, the football team will vacate all wins and the records that were broken during those wins after the time in which the student-athletes competed, beginning when the athletes academi-cally became ineligible in the summer of 2007.

ACU has yet to decide if it will appeal the violations, said Jared Mosley, director of athletics and compliance coordinator.

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

Head football coach Chris Thomsen talks to a group of ACU players huddled around him during an afternoon practice Aug. 21, 2008.

Sickness spreads throughout ACU

School officials consider challenging NCAA

See Records page 4

ACU appeal window to close on Feb. 27By Grant AbstonSports Editor

Almost a week after the NCAA penalized the ACU track and field and football programs for several viola-tions, the ACU administration is still deciding what actions to take in the appeal process.

The clock is ticking — ACU has 15 days to decide if it will appeal any of the violations and an additional 30 days to file its protest if it chooses to appeal. A decision to appeal must be made by Feb. 27, and the university is still consid-ering that decision.

“We’re still in the process of deciding our course of action and what we’re go-ing to appeal and if we’re going to appeal,” said Jared Mosley, director of athletics and compliance coordina-tor. “I feel very certain that we’re going to move forward in that direction, but it will probably be close to the end of the 15-day window.”

The NCAA forced the foot-ball team to vacate all its wins in the 2007 season in which the team finished 10-3. The ruling came after two prospec-tive student-athletes received academic assistance by mem-bers of the football coaching staff in order to help them at-tain academic eligibility at the university. In addition to the vacation of the wins, sanc-tions could eliminate team and individual records and statistics from games won by ACU in 2007.

ACU alumnus Corey Jordan, who led the team in intercep-tions while playing defensive end for the Wildcats in 2007, said he thought the punish-

ments were unfair and did not see what the ACU coaches did as any kind of violation.

“I was a little disappointed that all the records and wins would be taken away,” Jordan said. “Everyone worked hard on that team, and I don’t un-derstand why the team was pe-nalized for someone receiving help. Our coaches were guys that drilled academics more than football, and for that pen-alty to come down on them is very misleading.”

In order to appeal, ACU would appear before a sub-committee of the NCAA Divi-sion II Management Council, different from the NCAA Division II Committee on In-fractions that heard the ini-tial case. The council is com-prised of athletic directors and administrators from uni-versities all over the country.

See Appeal page 4

What I’m very sure of is even if all this hap-pens, ACU will continue to succeed as the best, and we only have more championships to come.

::Nicodemus Naimadu, ACU alum-

nus who won 12 NCAA national

titles while running at ACU

“

”

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

Head track and field coach Don Hood watches ACU athletes practice at Elmer Gray Stadium on Tuesday. Hood was accused of breaking NCAA rules.

Zak Zeinert:: chief photographer

Tiffany Lutz, freshman animal science major from Zelienople, Penn., leaves the Health Clinic after getting checked out Jan. 29. See Sick page 4

See Prepare page 4

Read coverage of Wednesday’s Students’ Association Congress meeting online at www.acuoptimist.com and in Friday’s edition of the Optimist.

COMING FRIDAY

The Optimist will print a special Sing Song issue that will cover every aspect of the 53rd annual Sing Song, Believe. Sing Song related videos, Podcasts and stories can be found at www.acu.optimist.com on Friday

ACU’s 53rd annual Sing Song, titled Believe, will take place in Moody Coliseum this weekend. Performances will be on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $14-$22 and can be purchased at the box office located on the north side of Moody Coliseum. Tickets will be on sale Monday though Saturday from 11 a.m.-5:15 p.m. For more information, call 674-2069.

Service Saturday is on Feb. 28. Join other ACU students working in a variety of sights, including Habitat for Humanity, Abilene Hope Haven, Eternal Threads, The House that Kerry Built and more. Volunteers will play with children, perform manual labor and visit with adults. Any students interested can sign up in the Campus Center Feb. 24-27.

Wildcat Premier Weekend will take place this weekend. This is an opportunity for high school students, transfer students and their parents to visit and experience the ACU tradition of Sing Song, while participating in campus tours, athletic visits, Study Abroad sessions, class visits and admissions and financial aid meetings.

All freshman residence halls will offer free tutoring Sunday through Thursday from 9-11 p.m. To find out the location in each hall, log in to myACU or call 674-2723.

Applications for Summer II in Leipzig, Germany, with the College of Business Administration are available in the Study Abroad office. For more information, call 674-2429.

University Park will sponsor an open house in the UP Clubhouse on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Current residents will receive a $150 referral reward if they bring a prospective who signs a lease. Staff members will be available to answer questions or establish leases. For more

information, e-mail acuhousing@campushousing.com or call 738-4300.

Summer 2009 registration dates have been changed to Feb. 25. All classifications will begin registering for classes at 3 p.m. The advising release codes will be the same ones used for spring registration. Talk to your adviser for more information or go to the Registrar’s Web site: http://www.acu.edu/campusoffices/registrar/schedulebulletin/index.html.

Dance Discovery Studios is always looking for dancers who are interested in learning tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, step, TJT combo and contemporary. The studio is located at South 2nd and Willis street. For more information, call Teri Wilkerson at 677-0022.

CreditedChapelsto date:

CreditedChapelsremaining:

Checkup

28 45Chapel

Campus Day

Volunteer Opportunities

About This PageThe 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 sar06g@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.

Communities in Schools at Fannin Elementary School needs volunteers for one to two hours at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Volunteers will give extra help to students in an after-school tutoring class. Come by the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center down-stairs in the Campus Center for more information.

Noah Project, a center for victims of family violence, needs volunteers to answer its hotline from 6-10 p.m. Training will be provided, and after completing training, volunteers can sign up for time slots. Volunteers can sign up as often as needed.

Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to some of the homebound members of the community. The commitment is

once a week. Volunteers will pick up the meals from the Meals on Wheels building and deliver them to people around Abilene. It takes one hour each week. Call Mitzi McAndrew at 672-5050 to volun-teer. Remember that this project is approved as a Faith in Action Chapel exemption project.

HERO, Hendrick Equine Reha-bilitation Opportunities, needs volunteers for its next program from March 17 through April 30. Volunteers will assist the rider with tasks and are needed Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:30–5 p.m. All volunteers must attend a training session the week before the program begins.

The National Center for Chil-dren’s Illustrated Literature

needs volunteers to greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Volunteers are needed Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. For more information, contact Debby Lillick at 673-4586.

Abilene Hope Haven needs vol-unteers to provide childcare while parents are in a class. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday from 6:45-8:15 p.m. For more information, contact Chris-tine Spillers at 437-0611.

The Grace Museum is always in need of volunteers. Volun-teers play a vital role in the daily operation of the museum. The minute visitors walk through the door, the experience in the mu-

seum relies on capable and trained volunteers. For more information about volunteer opportunities at The Grace Museum, call 673-4587.

Pregnancy Counseling Services of Abilene needs volunteers to counsel women in crisis pregnancy. In addition to mandatory training, volunteers will keep a donation room clean, enter data from client intake sheets, market the center and help with mailouts.

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

Announcements

ACU Police Tip of the WeekThe campus will be congested Thursday through Saturday because of Sing Song, President’s Circle Dinner and Board of Trustees meetings. Expect traffic, allow more time to get around campus and expect to walk farther.

Monday, Feb. 94:02 p.m. Someone reported a theft at Mabee Hall. 4:55 p.m. The ACU Police unlocked a vehicle at the Wil-liams Performing Arts Center parking lot.6:18 p.m. The ACU Police as-sisted a stranded motorist in the Smith Adams Hall parking lot. 9:51 p.m. The ACU Police responded to a report of a subject with a dog in the Hilton Food Court and asked the subject to leave.11:53 p.m. The ACU Police responded to a medical emer-gency at Mabee Hall, but the subject refused assistance.

Tuesday, Feb. 1010 a.m. The ACU Police cut the lock off a freezer at the Campus Center. 4:15 p.m. The ACU Police is-sued a traffic stop for reckless driving near campus. 6:32 p.m. The ACU Police responded to a misdialed 911 call at Zellner Hall. 7:42 p.m. Someone reported two subjects soliciting money near campus, but the ACU Po-lice were unable to locate them.

Wednesday, Feb. 114 p.m. The ACU Police di-rected traffic on I-20 because of a vehicle accident.4:05 p.m. The ACU Police noti-fied Animal Control in refer-ence to a dead skunk between Mabee Business Building and Gardner Hall.4:38 p.m. The ACU Police arrested an employee at Central Plant.7:19 p.m. The ACU Police issued a traffic stop at the intersection of Campus Court and Ambler Avenue because a driver failed to yield to an am-bulance on an emergency call.

Thursday, Feb. 122:15 p.m. Someone reported loud music on Campus Court, but the ACU Police were un-able to find the source.7:55 p.m. The ACU Police as-sisted the Abilene police with a forgery suspect at Wal-Mart.7:56 p.m. The ACU Police returned keys to the owner at the Station.

Friday, Feb. 132:10 p.m. The ACU Police as-sisted the Abilene police with a report about a subject with disturbed and mental behavior near campus.4:05 p.m. The ACU Police issued a traffic stop on College Drive because a subject was driving without a driver’s license.4:30 p.m. The ACU Police as-sisted a subject who ran out of gas on Ambler Avenue. 7:12 p.m. The ACU Police placed two raccoon carcasses on Oliver Jackson Boulevard for pick up by Animal Control.

Saturday, Feb. 1411:59 p.m. Someone reported a loud party near campus; the ACU Police advised the resi-dent to end the party, and the resident complied.

Sunday, Feb. 151:24 p.m. The ACU Police responded to a medical emer-gency at Nelson Hall. 11:15 p.m. Someone reported a suspicious vehicle in the Edwards Hall parking lot, but the ACU Police were unable to locate the subject.

Always report suspicious activ-ity to ACUPD at 674-2305 or 674-2911.

7:30-10 p.m.The Department of Theatre will present Little Women in Fulks Theatre. To purchase tickets, call 674-2787 or go to www.acu.edu/theatre.

8-10 p.m.Sing Song: Believe will take place in Moody Coliseum.

11:30 a.m.The “Go Red Luncheon for Women,” sponsored by the American Heart Association, will take place at the Civic Center. Tickets cost $25 per person. For more information, call 627-0070.

4-7 p.m.The Big Country Immunization Coalition will give free immunizations at Medical Care Missions. For more information, go to www.carevan.org.

2-4 p.m.Sing Song: Believe will take place in Moody Coliseum

7:30-10 p.m.The Department of Theatre will present Little Women in Fulks Theatre. To purchase tickets, call 674-2787 or go to www.acu.edu/theatre.

8-10 p.m.Sing Song: Believe will take place in Moody Coliseum

Calendar and Events

Friday18

Wednesday Thursday Saturday

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Campus Day2

acuoptimist.com

19 20 21

Watch videos to see highlights from tennis, softball, baseball and bas-ketball games last weekend.

Online News Cast

Police LogEdited for space

WebcastLog on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see videos of what is going on around campus.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 3CAMPUS NEWS

By Chelsea HackneyStudent Reporter

Physical Resources mount-ed 108 flags representing students’ home countries and states on 122 light poles lining the Lunsford Foun-dation Trail on Thursday. The flags displayed symbol-ize over 100 countries, U.S. states and territories.

“For visitors, these flags are a powerful message of the global integration they’ll experience at ACU, perhaps something they wouldn’t ex-perience at other universities,” said Jason Groves, associate vice president for marketing.

The project, which has been in the works since last summer, is intended to reflect the diver-sity of the ACU community. The flags mirror the Parade of Flags performed at Opening Day Ceremonies every year, said Kevin Roberts, associate vice president of operations. Each academic year, flags will be added or removed to reflect the current student body.

Groves said this might seem like a marketing gim-mick to attract prospective students and alumni, but the flags have value for cur-rent students as well.

“The flags give students an understanding of who they are as a body,” he said.

It shows in a clear way the great opportunities stu-dents have to learn from each other, he said.

The flags’ presence also serves to emphasize students’ citizenship in the global village.

“We’re citizens of a broad-er community, and these flags are a great visual reminder of that,” Roberts said. “We hope that as someone is jog-ging around the track, they’ll look up and realize just how far we reach. ACU is so close, that we forget that.”

The project was the result of collaboration by several departments on campus, said Mary Reyes, assistant to the executive vice presi-dent and the special proj-ects coordinator.

The final cost of the project was about $25,000, Reyes said. These funds were set aside for invest-ments in the 21st Century

Vision of the university, a vision founded solidly on a global Christian mindset.

“As Christians, we share a faith, and these flags bring that to life,” Groves said. “They remind me of all of my brothers and sisters around the world.”

Flags fly on Lunsford Trail

E-mail Hackney at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Jozie Sands:: staff photographer

A host of joggers and walkers pass by country and state flags on Lunsford Trail. The flags represent the diversity seen around campus every day.

Shop brews student discountsBy Kimberly WolfordStudent Reporter

Abilene’s newest coffee shop is brewing up an easi-er way for ACU students to pay for their beverages and food items. The Brew.net is the first Abilene business to allow students to use their student IDs and stu-dent accounts to purchase goodies from its store.

Patience Broyles, shift manager at The Brew.net, said many students come in asking to use their student ID. And now they can with a pro-gram available both to ACU and Hardin-Simmons Univer-sity students. The Brew.net is working on setting up the program for students at Mc-Murry University.

“Students can come in and use their student ID to pur-chase a gift card for them-selves,” Broyles said. “The purchase will go directly on

to their student account.”The program began in Oc-

tober, when the shop first opened its doors. Broyles said she has seen an in-crease in the amount of stu-dents using their ID cards in the past two months.

Students who purchase a gift card valuing $20 or more receive a discount of five percent on the card.

Gift cards can purchase any item in the shop. The Brew.net sells coffee, lunch, sandwiches and T-shirts.

“The Internet access is free for anyone who comes in,” Broyles said. “If some-

one just wants to escape campus, they can come here and study.”

Broyles also said a few professors have class at The Brew.net.

The Brew.net sends 25 percent of all its profits to an orphanage in Brazil, and the owners visit the children several times a year. Broyles said the photos around The Brew.net are all of the chil-dren and the owners.

Students can come in and use their student ID to purchase a gift card for themselves.

:: Patience Broyles, shift manager at The Brews.net in Abilene

“”

E-mail Wolford at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

Here’s jogging with you, kids

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

Three exercise science students pass by the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center as they continue their jog-ging trek on Lunsford Trail.

The flags give students an under-standing of who they are as a body.

:: Patience Broyles, shift manager at The Brews.net in Abilene

“”

Wednesday, February 18, 2009Page 4 FROM THE FRONT

Fifteen class and social club acts will take the stage, and four student dance teams will perform, includ-ing SHADES, Swing Cats, Mi-longa and Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood.

Craig said he has seen more talent than ever be-fore in this year’s cast, and he anticipates “wowing” the crowd with the talent in this year’s Sing Song. He said the set-up crew did not encounter any setbacks while preparing for the production, but it is a chal-lenge to work with more than 1,000 students and keep them healthy, while many students on campus are becoming ill.

Brooke Braddock, sopho-more broadcast journalism major from Houston who is participating in the sopho-more class act, agreed that

preparation for Sing Song has worn her down.

“Sing Song definitely has been time-consuming and sometimes really tiring,” Braddock said.

She said she and other students have been prac-ticing regularly for the past three weeks and will be preparing every night this week for the shows Friday and Saturday.

“Although it’s been a big commitment, I have made so many friends, and the leaders are very encourag-ing,” Braddock said. “I re-ally think this is going to be the best Sing Song yet."

Sing Song festivities will begin Wednesday with a host and hostess preview in Chapel. Performances begin Thursday at 7 p.m. with the preview show. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and general admission tickets can be pur-chased at the door for $10.

Weekend performances are Friday at 8 p.m. and Sat-urday at 2 p.m., and the final show will be at 8 p.m. Craig said none of the weekend shows have sold out, but the better seats are running out.

Appeal: Past athletes say NCAA punishment unwarranted

The initial committee had members whose universities did not all include football and track programs; however, Mosley said he thought their decision was not biased.

“I would say that it may be difficult for that commit-tee to understand the diffi-cult and unique challenges to institutions that offer foot-ball and track and field, two sports in which the landscape and dynamic of the recruit-ment process and the nature of going about it is a different challenge then what you see in other sports,” Mosley said.

In addition to the vacation of records and statistics, the football team will be limited to no more than 60 official paid visits during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. Select members of the football coaching staff will join members of the track

and field program to attend a required NCAA Regional Rules Seminar within the first year of probation.

In addition to the penalties imposed on the football pro-gram, the track and field team received multiple punishments, including a limit of five interna-tional student-athletes on the roster during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. This penalty will apply to all ath-letic teams; however, it could significantly affect the track and field program. The roster will be trimmed to five interna-tional student-athletes through graduation, transfers and other natural means, Mosley said.

“Track historically has had up to eight or nine [in-ternational student-athletes] some years, but also has had some years where there are four or five, so we tried to sit down and look at the challenges that surround international athletes and

find a number that we could manage,” Mosley said.

Head track and field coach Don Hood organized and at-tended holiday parties where 15 enrolled international stu-dent-athletes received gifts from representatives of the university’s athletic interests and other members of the lo-cal community.

Initially, two prospective student-athletes who were seeking admission at ACU were given running shoes prior to their enrollment. ACU saw the prospective student-athletes wearing the shoes and immedi-ately returned them and began an internal investigation. After the investigation, the university finalized a secondary infrac-tion report and submitted it to the Lone Star Conference office that then gave it to the NCAA.

Twelve-time NCAA national champion Nicodemus Naim-adu, who graduated in Decem-ber 2008, said he could not

believe ACU was punished for the holiday parties that Hood organized and attended. He said the gifts were not to en-tice international students to remain at ACU, but to help with the pain of being so far away from home.

“I’m going to ask you to put yourself in my shoes,” said Naimadu, who is the only person in the history of the NCAA to win four consecu-tive national championships in cross county. “I personally haven’t been home for the last four and half years since I came here.”

Naimadu said the limita-tion of the number of interna-tional students would not hurt ACU’s chances of maintaining its prominence and success in the Division II track and field arena, but it may hurt the in-ternational students who come to ACU. Naimadu said while he was at ACU his biggest support was the international students

who filled the roster. He said the coaches at his alma mater are good recruiters and the restrictions would only mean they would have to look for the talent necessary to carry on the tradition closer to Abilene.

“What I’m very sure of is even if all this happens ACU will continue to succeed as the best and we only have more championships to come. “

As for Hood, Naimadu said he was one of the kind-est men he had ever met and knew in his heart he did not do anything to give ACU a competitive advantage. Be-fore Naimadu went on to win several individual titles on the national stage, he said he was contemplating trans-ferring to another school from ACU when Hood took over the program during his freshman year in 2006.

“He personally came and talked to me and he wanted me to stay,” Naimadu said.

Hood made such an impres-sion that Naimadu decided to stick with the school that he left his hometown of Narok, Kenya, to attend. He knew Hood was a person who not only knew track and field, but also was a good man.

“I don’t think at all he was doing this to hurt other peo-ple in an inappropriate way,” Naimadu said. “He was doing that with a loving heart. “

While the university is still reviewing its options in the appeal process, Mosley said no further actions would be taken against the coaches in-volved in the violations.

“At this point, we fully support the coaches involved and continue to monitor their activities moving forward,” Mosley said.

Daniel Johnson-Kim con-tributed to this story.

Continued from page 1

Sick: Caffeine affects wellness

have to miss class, but I made sure I got antibiotics as soon as I started feeling bad.”

The most common ill-ness among students has been strep throat, followed by sinus infections and the flu. The Health Clinic rec-ommends all students who have not been ill in the last week to get a flu shot. The medical staff administered 350 flu shots last year and less than that this year. The flu shots normally cost $20, but the Health Clinic will offer a $5 discount to stu-dents who come in for their flu shot before Sing Song.

Flu-like symptoms in-clude body aches, sore throat, fever and conges-tion. The medical staff urg-es students to seek medi-cal attention within the

first 24 hours of exhibiting these symptoms to avoid prolonging the flu.

“Anyone who gets sick and does not get treated within the first 24-48 hours will most likely be stuck with the flu and will need to rest and recover for 7-10 days,” Stokes said. “This also includes missing class and other activities to avoid spreading the virus.”

The medical staff also warns students to avoid caffeinated drinks when they are ill be-cause of the large amounts of sugar they contain.

The medical staff sug-gests students get plenty of rest, keep awy from fre-quently visited areas such as restrooms and desks, avoid drinking after other people and washingn your hands frequently through-out the day.

For further information, or to schedule an appoint-ment, contact the Health Clinic at 674-2625 or visit the clinic in McKinzie Hall Room 101.

Records:Scott loses statisticsbefore NFL Combine

Dr. Royce Money, presi-dent of the university, said he was “shocked” at the football sanctions and the university planned to appeal when the news broke Thursday. Money said he did not think the al-leged violations gave ACU a competitive advantage.

If ACU does not appeal or loses an appeal, ACU’s 10-3 record in 2007 will be changed to 0-3 in the history books. In addition to losing its wins, more than 15 other individual and team records set during the 2007 season were also removed from the record books.

Leading the pack of ACU players whose records might be erased is running back Bernard Scott, who is partic-ipating in the NFL Combine beginning Thursday and could not be reached for a comment. In 2007, Scott broke the Lone Star Confer-ence and ACU single-season rushing records after run-ning for 2,165 yards dur-ing his first season at ACU. Scott broke the Division II records for touchdowns (39) and points (254).

Scott became ACU’s all-time leading rusher in just two seasons at ACU, and if the punishments stand, he will lose the 2,095 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns he scored in 2007. The 35 catches for 441 yards and

three touchdowns also will be eliminated, along with 1,654 rushing yards and 29 rushing TDs he recorded in the regular season.

Quarterback Billy Malone will lose the title as the LSC’s all-time leading passer. In Malone’s junior season, he threw for 3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns. All but 964 yards and eight touchdowns recorded during 2007 could vanish and drop Malone’s career total to 9,062 yards and 85 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Johnny Knox’s school record of 17 touchdown catches in 2007 and fellow receiver Jerale Badon’s LSC career pass re-ceptions record (235) and

his spot as the ACU leader in catches and receiving yards (3,311) also were negated due to the NCAA punishments.

“Jerale Badon is still the record-holder in my book,” said former ACU defensive back Corey Jordan, who led the team in interceptions during 2007.

Grant Abston and Chan-dler Harris contributed to this story.

Anyone who gets sick and does not get treated…will most likely be stuck with the flu…

:: Kathy Stokes, Health Clinic office manager

“”

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

E-mail Guitierrez at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

rEcords No MorE?

In addition to the football team losing all of its wins from the 2007 season, several ACU players will lose records they set while playing for the Wildcats.

Running back Bernard Scott:n Lone Star Conference single-season record with 2,165 yards rushingn NCAA Division II single-season records for touchdowns (39) and points (234)n Could lose 2,095 total yards and 32 touchdowns from 2007.

Quarterback Billy Malone: n LSC’s all-time leading passer with 3,914 yards and 37 touchdownsn Could lose 2,850 passing yards and 29 touchdowns from the seasonn Dropping Malone’s career numbers to 9,062 yards and 85 touchdowns

Wide receiver Jerale Badon: n Career pass receptions (235)n Career receiving yards (3,311)n Career receiving touchdowns (19)

Wide receiver Johnny Knox:n ACU record for touchdown catches (17)n Catches (62)n Total yards (1,158)

Place kicker Matt Adams:n LSC single-season records for PATs (82), PAT attempts (86) and kicking points (115) Sing Song: Preview Thursday

Continued from page 1TickET BooTh

Tickets for the 53rd annual Sing Song, Believe, are not yet sold out. Tickets can be purchased three ways:

n Online at www.acu.edu/events/singsongn By calling 674-4864

n Going in person to the ticket booth in Moody Coliseum from 11 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Source: www.acu.edu

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

E-mail spano at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

February 18, 2009 Page 5

FocusWednesday

Dr. Royce Money surveyed the room, and offered Bob Hunter a challenge: name every person in

the room. Hunter and Money were in Austin for a conference and were sur-rounded by 30 people connected to higher education. Hunter stood up, scanned the room and proceeded to name every person present.

“He stumbled on one and then got it right,” said Money, president of ACU. “These were people who did not necessarily have an ACU connection. They were educational leaders from all over the state, and he knew every one of them, it’s a gift of God.”

After nearly a 60-year relation-ship with ACU, Dr. Bob Hunter is easily one of the most recognizable faces on campus, known by faculty, students and thousands of alumni. Not only has Hunter had a tremen-dous impact on ACU, the university has meant as much to Hunter as he has to the Abilene Christian commu-nity. As a tribute to Hunter, ACU will name its new welcome center the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center. The center will greet thousands of prospective students and their fami-lies, ACU alumni and other friends each year, as well as provide meeting spaces for campus groups and the Abilene community.

“Not only does he know every-body’s name, but he knows where they live and where they are from,” said Charlene Rickets, Hunter’s ad-ministrative secretary for 36 years. “If he can’t think of their name, he tells me all about the person.”

From California to Texas

Hunter was born in Dodge City, Kan., the 10th of 12 children. Hunter and his family moved to California, where he graduated from San Mateo High School. After graduating high school, Hunter’s future took a turn after he heard former ACC president Jesse P. Sewell preach at the 17th Street Church of Christ in San Francis-co in 1946. Hunter had $1,000 saved and had no intentions of attending college, but after hearing Sewell talk about ACC, Hunter and two friends decided to attend the university. Hunter’s dad worked for the Santa Fe Railroad Company and got Hunter a ticket for Abilene.

“It was early in the morning, around 5 o’ clock, and I went a couple of blocks to grab some breakfast, and someone greeted me,” Hunter said upon his arrival to Abilene. “I thought they were talking to someone behind me, and I was amazed that they were talking to me; it showed me how friendly Texas was.”

Hunter enrolled in Abilene Chris-tian College in 1948 and jumped right in, becoming vice president of the freshman class, singing in the A Cappella chorus and immediately beginning to develop friendships. Hunter had such a great time his freshman year, he decided to come back, joining the student council, and becoming president of Frater Soda-lis, president of the California Club, president of the men’s A Club and vice president of the student body before graduating in 1952.

After graduating, Hunter attended the University of Texas Law School, but his draft number came up after his first year of law school, sending him to the U.S. Naval Officers Can-didate School in Rhode Island. After training, Hunter was sent to Japan and became an aide to two differ-ent admirals aboard two different aircraft carriers, the USS Midway and the USS Oriskny. While traveling throughout the Pacific, Hunter land-ed in Thailand where he met up with Wayne Long. Long, a professor at Kings University and an elder at the University Church of Christ in Austin, had a daughter named Shirley whom Hunter had met at the University of Texas. After graduation, Shirley came to Thailand to be with her parents, but Hunter took advantage of Shir-ley’s arrival and asked her to marry him in 1954.

“We were married in Bangkok, Thailand, but there was no Church of Christ,” Hunter said. “We were mar-ried at a Presbyterian church, and the commanding general and all the military force came to the wedding in addition to our Thai friends.”

Red, White, (Purple) and Blue

After his tour of duty, Hunter re-turned to Washington D.C. to serve with the Naval Security Office where he performed security briefings at the Pentagon. But despite his obliga-tions to the military, ACC came call-ing in 1955. Don H. Morris, president of the university, asked Hunter to arrange an alumni party in D.C. At the party, Morris and John Stevens asked Hunter to come back to ACC to serve as the college’s director of special events. Hunter accepted the invite and returned to the university in September of 1956, where he im-

mediately began to make his imprint on the university.

In 1957, Hunter organized the first Sing Song, assuming the role as sponsor and coordinator for the first six years. Because of the lack of space, Sing Song moved from Sewell Theatre to Abilene High School, then to the Civic Center before landing in Moody Coliseum after it was com-pleted in 1968. In addition to start-ing Sing Song, Hunter also was the founder of the first Homecoming Musical, the Wizard of Oz, directed by Lewis Fulks. He coordinated the event for the first six years.

“[Sing Song] became a great tradi-tion, and I’ve been very, very grateful that students wanted to keep it going because it meant so much to them,” Hunter said.

Hunter went on to establish some other well-known traditions at ACU before serving the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) as executive vice-president and creating the Golden Anniver-sary Club, Freshman Follies and the Homecoming Parade. He helped re-organize Trojans and Phi Delta Psi, sponsored and helped start Galaxy and Kinsmen, planted the idea for summer camps, helped establish the President’s Circle, as well as orga-nized the Parade of Flags.

However in 1986, Hunter was asked by the local Republican party-group to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican ever to serve from Taylor County; he would serve for the next 20 years.

Before his election, Hunter served on the Abilene City Council from 1970-73. During his term, Hunter worked to increase funding and get tuition equalization grants so that

any student attending a private uni-versity in Texas could apply for and benefit from grants. While working with ICUT, Hunter became the fa-ther of that grant, coordinating the initial passage of the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant in 1971. For the fiscal year of 2007, ACU received $3,595,455 out of the $105.9 million appropriated by Legislature for the TEG program. To this day, the TEG has awarded several billion dollars to families who qualify for financial aid and helped more than 25,000 low and middle-income students attend independent colleges and universi-ties in Texas every year.

“People knew that if they did not vote for the TEG, they would have to give Dr. Hunter a good reason,” said Sherri Statler, president of Christian Homes and Family Services in Abilene and coordinator for Hunter’s state legislature campaigns. “I love the fact that he was a champion at that, and that was one thing that I truly appre-ciated about him.”

Hunter was re-elected in ten suc-ceeding general elections while running against three different op-ponents. He worked on the Joint Selection Committee of the House and Senate to study higher educa-tion issues in Texas in 1992. Hunter also served as the chair of the House Committee on State, Federal and In-ternational Relations from 1993-2003 and co-chaired the Special House Se-lect Committee on NAFTA and GATT (General Agreements on Tariffs and Trades). In 1998, Hunter was named president emeritus of ICUT and in 2006, Hunter completed his 10th term as State Representative, serv-ing as chair of the House Research Organization, vice chair of the House Committee for Regulated Industries and a member of the House Commit-tee on Government Reform.

The Smiling Servant

After nearly 52 years of service to ACU, Hunter now serves as the Vice President Emeritus and the Special Assistant to the President, assisting Money in any way possible and repre-senting ACU in different ceremonies and events when Money is unable to be present. Despite his devotion to ACU, Hunter’s efforts on behalf of private higher education throughout Texas have not gone unnoticed, es-pecially his work for the TEG. He has received seven honorary doctorate degrees from ACU, Pepperdine Uni-

versity, Texas Wesleyan University, St. Thomas University, McMurry Uni-versity, Hardin-Simmons University and Austin College, earning him the name Dr. Bob Hunter.

“When I came back from Pepper-dine, John Stevens declared that I would be Dr. Bob Hunter, so I haven’t been able to escape the title since,” Hunter said.

While Hunter’s efforts in high-er education and contributions to ACU can hardly be put in words, his friendship and leadership have de-fined him.

“He’s incredibly generous as a mentor and so much of what I know of fundraising and friend making I learned from Dr. Hunter,” Statler said. “He has really dedicated his life to making friends for the university.”

Hunter’s dedication will be recog-nized by the university with the nam-ing of the new welcome center.

“As Bob neared his retirement, we were looking for something to honor Bob and the building emerged at the same time,” Money said. “This honor-ing of Bob and Shirley has been very popular among community leaders in Abilene.”

Not only is the honor appropriate, Ricketts sees the irony in the honor.

“He’s been very humble about it, and he keeps saying that they should have named it after somebody else, but I think he was really surprised when they announced it,” Ricketts said. “He is deserving because he is the ultimate welcomer.”

While Hunter nears retirement, his imprint on ACU is clear. Not only has Hunter contributed many of the ideas that have helped define ACU, he has established lifelong friendships with anyone that comes into contact with him.

Many agree with legendary golfer Byron Nelson who spoke of Hunter, while thanking all who had partici-pated in organizing a tribute dinner for him and his wife Louise to raise funds for the Byron and Louise Nel-son golf Endowment Fund at ACU in May of 1984.

“I walked into a church once when I was visiting in New York City, and lo and behold, there’s Bob sitting there,” Nelson said. “I thought to myself, ‘No matter where you go, you just can’t get away from Bob Hunter.’”

Above: Bob and Shirley Hunter pose for a wedding photograph, taken in 1954. Right: The Bob and Shirley Hunt-er Welcome Center can be seen from Judge Ely Boulevard, between Univer-sity Park and Teague Boulevard.

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

A Hero’s Welcome

Photo courtesy of :: ACU Creative Services

Hunter stands on the floor of the Texas Senate next to a hand-written sign. “Sine die,” literally translated from Latin, means “without day” or “indefinitely.”

Photo courtesy of :: ACU Creative Services

Zak Zeinert :: Chief Photographer

In honor of two alumni’s dedication to Abilene Christian University, the administration will unveil the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center on Saturday. Over the past 60 years, Bob

Hunter left his mark on Texas’ capitol, on ACU’s campus and everywhere in between.

Story by: Grant Abston, Sports Editor

ViewsWednesdayPage 6

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Editorial and Management Board

Daniel Johnson-KimEditor in Chief

Michael FreemanManaging Editor

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February 18, 2009

Multimedia desk:(325) 674-2463

Optimistthe

Mondays are not good days for me. Maybe Mondays are bad for everyone. They always come as a slap in the face — af-

ter a weekend of enjoyment, the sharp re-minder that the fun only lasted two days, three with luck, and we’ll have to wait another five before relax-ing again.

All in all, I don’t sup-

pose many people enjoy Mon-days, but lately, I’ve begun to wonder if Monday has me on a reservation list for miserable.

Two weeks ago, on Mon-day, I fell off a horse. Playing red-light-green-light with some other riders, I do believe I came to the most complete stop. Aside from decidedly winning the game (I think), I also dislo-cated my elbow in the process.

A benevolent classmate rushed me to the ER, where

about an hour passed from the time I hit the ground until the time the doctors popped my elbow back into place — a process I actu-ally witnessed briefly when the pain momentarily woke me from my drug-induced sleep, as they manhandled my arm.

I spent the next week des-perately trying not to twitch muscles in my arm, since any movement sparked pain, and learning how to function with only one arm and hand.

But the fun didn’t stop there.

Last Monday, what I had thought were the beginnings of a cold was diagnosed as the flu, and I spent the rest of the week alternately trying to go to class one day and then staying in bed the next to make up for overdoing it the previous day.

As I write this, it’s Sunday, and truthfully, I’m a bit ner-vous about what tomorrow might bring. As the saying goes: “Trouble comes in threes.”

However, while someone recently suggested I quit Mon-

days altogether, I guess I’ll keep plodding along. Through-out the last couple of weeks, a scripture reminded me, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And per-haps the most lasting impres-sion my ordeals have left on me is that of the comforting presence of God.

Truly, the last two weeks have gone incredibly smoothly, all things considered.

While one nurse in the ER seemed to think I might need to be wheeled straight from the ER to the OR for surgery on damaged tendons that first Monday and another doctor told me I might need a cast, it’s now been two weeks. I haven’t needed surgery or a cast. In fact, I only continue to wear my splint and sling out-side my dorm room on doc-tor’s orders, which I guess I understand — given my luck.

While I’m still trying to re-gain mobility in my injured arm, the prognosis remains surprisingly good.

And as far as the flu goes, the doctor informed me it was

a mild case. While I may have overdone it trying to go to class a few times, I successfully made it to several instead of being on sick leave the entire week.

The most uplifting aspect of the last few weeks, howev-er, was the support I received from my roommates, my RA, friends, coworkers and even complete strangers trying to make the transition easier.

I hate asking for help. But al-though I could wash and blow-dry my hair independently, pulling it back into a ponytail required assistance. I couldn’t open bottles. I was forced to dictate typed homework as-signments to willing friends. I couldn’t drive or even tear off a piece of foil on my own.

The past two weeks ren-dered me more helpless than I’ve ever been in my entire life. But I’ve never felt more loved.

Truly, if you have to dislo-cate an elbow and contract the flu, this is the way to do it.

Hello, my name is Ryan Self, and it has been 14 min-utes since I last used my iPod touch. I suffer from ISAS or

iPod Separa-tion Anxiety Syndrome , which is char-acterized by the inces-sant need to interact with an iPhone or iPod touch, regardless of setting, for extended pe-riods of time. I know I am not alone in

my suffering. I have witnessed the signs and symptoms all across campus while with my friends and peers.

I have been in a room with a small group of people before where the only sound to be heard is the occasional brush-ing of the touch screen because everyone is on their iPhones. I confess, I am the chief abuser, since rather than talk to the person directly beside me, I’d rather Facebook chat someone somewhere else.

Some have claimed that Generation Y, those born between 1976 and the mid-90s, lack interpersonal skills compared to the preceding generation. I certainly prefer to text someone rather than call him or her, even though a two-minute phone call would make more sense. I don’t believe our generation com-municates less effectively; ac-tually, we probably communi-cate more. The difference 20 years and the introduction of new technology makes is that conversation now flows not from person to person, but from iPhone to iPhone.

The introduction of the iPhone to ACU’s campus has been an exciting and wel-come addition, yet although it brings many benefits, it also brings many distractions. It’s interesting to sit in Chapel or church, and in order to read

Scripture, see everyone pull out not Bibles, but iPhones to read from the Bible verse ap-plications. The temptation, however, easily becomes to switch from the Bible verse application to Checkers, Cube Runner or Tap Tap Revenge. If you sit near the top seats of Moody Coliseum, you have a full view of the hundreds of screens displaying everything but the worship lyrics.

Not to say that these elec-tronics aren’t immensely help-ful and sometimes very neces-sary. One of President Obama’s biggest battles upon taking office was not with Congress, but with his security staff over his need to keep a Blackberry on hand at all times. However, Barack Obama’s daily life and information needs are signifi-cantly greater than my need to check my Facebook notifica-tions every 15 minutes.

When this year’s freshmen become seniors, there will be an iPhone or iPod touch in the hands of nearly every person on campus. I can’t help but worry that ACU’s campus will resemble the scenes from Dis-ney’s Wall-E, where everyone is so focused on the computer screens in front of them that they are unaware of anything and anyone else around them.

For those who suffer from ISAS, which I believe is a large number of people on campus, there is hope. It remains simply a matter of keeping the iPod or iPhone away from view during Chapel or while with other peo-ple (unless there is an amazing YouTube video to show peo-ple, then that’s completely un-derstandable). This new tech-nology should enhance, not distract from, our daily lives. Sometimes that may mean sti-fling the need to beat your top time at Super Monkey Ball and simply enjoy the simple plea-sures all around you.

Sent from my iPod.

Dr. Royce Money’s an-nouncement at Friday’s Chapel clearly demon-strated how ACU lead-

ers are being painfully honest and accessible in this recent NCAA mess, regardless of the cost of that transpar-ency. The university’s self-re-porting was a brave and ethi-cal move, especially in light of the consequences that vacated numerous wins from the football team, reduced track and field scholarships and limited the roster of any athletic team to five interna-tional student-athletes.

Money, president of the university, told students Fri-day to talk to reporters if they desired. He even said the administration had bent over backwards to be open about the NCAA situation. Although the NCAA’s penal-ization of the ACU track and field and football programs is embarrassing for the uni-versity, Money’s policy of honest communication at a private, Christian university is an outstanding witness to other institutions of higher learning across the country.

This praiseworthy stand contrasts sharply with the recent actions of the Stu-dents’ Association Congress, where members voted to

close Wednesday’s meeting to all “outsiders” because of a perceived threat to their personal privacy. The threat? A reporter’s tape recorder.

Such a flimsy excuse to limit students’ access to im-portant proceedings by their student leaders confirms that many members of SA Congress need to grow up before they will be ready to walk in Money’s shoes.

Ironically, Sophomore Sen. Tony Godfrey, who moved to close the meeting, said Con-gress was open to its meet-ings being recorded. The biggest worry for Congress members involved a rumor that the recorder was power-ful enough to pick up private conversations more than 30 feet away from its location.

The recording, made be-fore the meeting was closed, was posted on the Optimist Web site and actually fea-tured no private conversa-

tions from such a distance. On several occasions, listen-ers may be able to hear stu-dents sitting directly in front of the recorder and a constant buzz from other areas of the room, but they must strain to catch the questions and de-bates of Congress members, as they discuss motions and amendments, which begs the question: why are our lead-ers having these private con-versations in the middle of an official meeting?

But what students can and cannot hear on the recording is not the issue. The problem is how Congress limited the First Amendment rights of the students on this campus.

The recording was to be the first of many Podcasts of the SA Congress meetings found on the Optimist Web site. These audio recordings would allow students who could not attend the Wednes-day night meetings to stay

informed about the decisions of our student government.

Audio and television re-cordings of open U.S. Con-gress meetings are available to the public through CSPAN. In the same way, our SA Congress meetings should be available to the student body. Podcasts of Congress meetings in their entirety give students a complete re-cording of the proceedings and act as a supplement to the Optimist articles that only report the main points of the meetings.

When the 2006-07 SA Con-gress passed the Freedom of Information Act, its actions deserved a standing ovation.

The act created a system of accountability for SA Congress.

Through the act, students had access to the minutes of all public Congress meetings and any committees formed, information about student organizations, internal policy statements, Congress’ bud-gets and day-to-day expen-ditures of student organiza-tions that received funding from student activity fees, according to the Nov. 17, 2006, issue of the Optimist.

Maher Saab, president of 2006-07 SA Congress, said the act was a way to keep Con-gress members accountable

and let students know they had an open-door policy.

“Every student has a right to know where their fee is going, at least the SA por-tion of it,” Saab said in a 2006 Optimist interview.

It is still important for stu-dents to know how Congress is using their money, especial-ly since Congress’ main influ-ence on campus stems from the choices it makes when spending, allocating and di-viding a large percentage of our student activity fees.

When SA Congress closes a meeting under Robert’s Rules of Order, students are kicked out of the meeting, the secretary does not keep minutes of the meeting and all the meeting’s proceed-ings are kept secret from the student body.

Wednesday’s closed-door Congress meeting was con-temptible because it dem-

onstrated a lack of respect for the student body. Mem-bers limited students’ rights with an extreme move based merely on a rumor without first trying alternate channels such as consulting the report-er or discussing the concerns about the recording.

If SA Congress’ main goal is to serve the students it rep-resents, it needs to be trans-parent with its actions, think before it proceeds and, above all, keep itself accountable to its constituents. Following such suggestions, Congress can achieve an atmosphere of openness and find itself walking the same high road recently blazed by Money.

iPhones present new challenges, addictions

SA meeting closure shows blatant disregard for students’ rights

Unfortunate events reveal caring community

E-mail Self at: rcs06g@acu.edu

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

The issue:Concerns about a reporter’s recorder led the SA Congress to close its meeting Wednesday night.

Our view:The closure represents a disregard for students’ rights. The solution:Congress should behave with maturity befitting its leadership role.

Colter HettichFeatures Editor

Kelline LintonChief Copy Editor

Cody VetetoChief Videographer

DeLaina ParkerBroadcast Manager

Sondra RodriguezPage 2 Editor

Kenneth PybusAdviser

Cade WhiteAdviser

Christi StarkAdvertising Manager

E-mail Acuff at: lka06a@acu.edu

By Ryan Self

Self Examination

By Laura Acuff

Conscientious Conjecture

But what students can and cannot hear on the recording is not the issue. The problem is that Congress limited the First Amendment rights of the students on this campus.

“

”

scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score. ACU fell behind 9-8 in the top of the fifth before scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning to close out the game.

Center fielder Caitlin Nabors went 2-3 with one RBI, while catcher Jessica Shiery went 1-2 with four RBI after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning and adding another RBI off a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Pitcher Kim White earned the win after pitching three in-nings, giving up five runs while striking out three.

“It was an exciting win,” said first baseman Katie Cornelison. “It was the first time we defeat-ed St. Mary’s in years.”

In game one of the double-header Friday, No. 25 Emporia State scored six runs over the final two innings to win 8-2, taking advantage of five Wild-cat errors. The Lady Hornets led 2-1 going into the sixth

but scored four runs with two outs to take a 6-1 lead. Emporia State tacked on two more runs in the seventh after two ACU er-rors to close out the game and inflicted ACU its first home loss of the season.

In the second game Friday, ACU scored two runs in the third and fourth inning and four in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead against Northeastern Okla-homa State and send the Riv-erHawks to their seventh con-secutive loss. Starting pitcher Jacque Gregoire earned her fourth win of the season af-ter pitching a complete game, giving up one run over six in-nings, while striking out seven. Shiery led the Wildcats, going 4-4 with one RBI, while third baseman Nancy Sawyers went 1-2 with two RBI. Cornelison hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the fifth inning in the Wildcats 9-1 win.

In the final game Saturday, two Southeastern Oklahoma State pitchers combined to

no-hit the Wildcats in a 3-0 loss to drop the Wildcats to 5-4. A three-run home run in the eighth inning was enough to push the eighth-ranked Savage Storm to 10-1. Despite six walks, the Wildcats could not manage any runs after Southeastern struck out 10 Wildcats and gave up no hits in eight innings.

Gregoire pitched all eight innings for the Wildcats, giv-ing up two earned runs, while striking out three batters in her second loss of the season.

“Overall, we played re-ally well against our com-petition,” said head coach Chantiel Wilson. “I’d say our biggest improvement is the need to be ready to play ev-ery game every inning.”

The Wildcats’ first game in the South Central Shootout will be Friday at 2 p.m. against Washburn in Durant, Okla.

and Jaclyn Walker won the only match for the Wildcats against BYU-Hawaii in the No. 1 doubles match, edging out a 9-8 victory. Squillaci won all her matches with the exception of her No. 1 singles match against BYU-Hawaii; she dropped that match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

“I think we played pretty well, but I know we could have played much better than we did,” Squillaci said.

Despite the loss to BYU-Hawaii, ACU finished the weekend strong, dominating its final four opponents. The team recorded their fifth and

sixth shutouts of the season against Dixie State and CSU-Pueblo. The women used 10 players in their five matches, which is why head coach Hut-ton Jones said they get to play so many.

“We are so deep; even if we have to go to plan B, it’s still a pretty good plan,” Jones said.

The women will play again in two weeks when they travel to Stillwater, Okla., to take on No. 73 Oklahoma State University — the third Division I oppo-nent for the women this year.

While the women were busy winning four of their five matches, the men did even better by winning all five of their matches.

The men beat three nation-ally ranked opponents: No. 18 UC-San Diego, No. 27 BYU-Ha-waii and No. 29. Hawaii-Hilo. ACU beat UC-San Diego, Ha-waii-Hilo and Sonoma State all by the score of 7-2, while dis-patching BYU-Hawaii 6-3 and Western New Mexico 8-1.

“We knew when we left it would be an intense weekend where we played a lot of match-es, but it all just kind of clicked

for us,” Juan Nuñez said.With the 7-2 win, the Wild-

cats got revenge for a loss to UC-San Diego last year at the same competition, when they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Tritons. The Wildcats were 3-0 after a tough dou-bles round and continued to battle after a close match in singles play. The Wildcats won at the No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 singles matches and dropped

the No. 4 and 6 singles, both in three sets.

“Last year, we were just a few match points away from taking the match, and we re-ally felt like we had that one,” Jones said.

The rest of the weekend matches were more of the same, and the final score looked a lot easier than the in-dividual matches themselves. Eight of the Wildcats’ singles matches ended up going three sets. The Wildcats walked away with three of those matches in the win column.

“The matches were all pretty hard-fought even though the final score makes it look so easy,” Jones said.

The men get back into match play next week when they take on five teams in three days. On Feb. 26, the Wildcats will face Austin Peay and Lipscomb when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., and travel to Kentucky to play against Eastern Ken-tucky, Western Kentucky and Northern Kentucky the next two days.

Jones said he thinks his teams are well on their way to competing at the level he feels could put them at the top of the national rankings.

“I am very happy with where we are right now heading into the off week,” he said.

our element, and we weren’t able to respond.”

The loss dropped the Wild-cats to 15-8 overall, while their Lone Star Conference South record now stands at 6-2. Meanwhile, ASU improved to 14-9 on the year and 5-3 in LSC South play. West Texas A&M leads the pack in the South Division with a 21-3 re-cord overall and a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play.

Rambelles guard Camille Perkins led all scorers in the game with 20 points, and center Audrey Maxwell-Live-

ly led the Wildcats with 19 points. Guard Kat Kundmu-eller had a good all-around game by grabbing 10 re-bounds and dishing out five assists, both game-highs.

The Wildcats dominated the Rambelles in the first half; the Rambelles shot just 23.5 per-cent from the field in the first frame, while the Wildcats shot 52 percent from the floor. How-ever, the Wildcats shot just 24 percent in the second half.

In the extra frame, An-gelo State came out on fire, knocking down 60 percent of the shots, while ACU shot just 11.1 percent in

overtime, scoring just one of nine from the field.

“We missed some easy 3- to 4-foot jumpers, and Angelo played some good defense,” Lavender said. “Mentally, we just took ourselves out of the game in overtime.”

The Wildcats will play Tarleton State on Wednes-day in Stephenville.

“We have to realize that losing at Angelo State is not the end of the world. This is a good mental test if we can bounce back from the loss,” Lavender said.

and third with one out. First baseman Brett Bochsler was intentionally walked, and out-fielder David Page was hit by a pitch on the next at bat to score the winning run. Uechi and Watten led ACU with two hits apiece.

“I thought we did well,” Sul-livan said. “Anytime you can get off to 4-0 start in confer-ence is a good thing, and we finally got our bats rolling the last game.”

In Saturday’s finale, the Wildcats exploded for a sea-son-high 15 runs on 14 hits to give the Wildcats a 15-5 win. Southwestern Oklahoma tied the game at five in the top of the fifth, but the Wildcats scored 10 runs in the final

three innings to get the run-rule victory.

Bumpass and Watten led the team with three hits, while right fielder Cameron Bank-ston, Hall and Uechi each had multi-hit games. Watten had a game-high three RBI, while Bumpass and Bankston each had two. Starting pitcher Coo-per Paige earned a no-decision after pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits. Relief pitcher Kevin Justice got the win after pitch-ing the remaining 2 1/3 in-nings, giving up just one hit and no runs.

“On Saturday, our hitters woke up and did a good job of working the other way and hitting to right field,” Bonneau said. “We had a lot more hits in the game, a lot more runs in

the game and hit the ball hard on the ground and started us-ing the right centerfield gap and finally made some adjust-ment after three games.”

The Wildcats will travel to play Central Oklahoma (4-3, 2-2) this weekend.

a layup, while trying to draw a foul for a three-point play. ASU grabbed the rebound, and Brown was fouled with 5.5 sec-onds left. He made both free throws to secure the win.

Sencanski tied his season-high in scoring with 28 points for the night after missing most of the last two games with an injury. Forward Milos Kilmovic added 15 points, and forward Cameron Holson fin-ished with 12.

The first half went back and forth, but after the game was tied at 29, the Rams went on an 18-8 run to close out the half. This run proved to be the dif-ference in the 5-point loss. The struggling Wildcats dropped to 2-6 in conference and 8-14 for

the season. The Rams moved to 6-2 in conference and 18-5 for the season.

The Wildcats will try to bounce back Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Stephenville against Tarleton State. The Texans enter the matchup 16-8 over-

all and 4-5 in conference. They are led by forward Eric Williams, who is averaging 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Wildcats will be looking to replicate a 73-70 victory earlier this season against the Texans.

“It will be a tough game,” Copeland said. “Tarleton State always has a good home-court advantage, and we expect a tough game.”

Basketball: Loss proves to be mental test

Baseball: Team destroys SW Okla. St.

chance to run in more events than normal.

On the men’s side, Cory Altenberg placed third in the pole vault with a career-best performance of 16 feet 8.75 inches. Nick Jones placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 53-02.25, his best throw in college.

Ramon Sparks placed sec-ond in the triple jump with a mark of 49-05.5 and third in the long jump with a season-best leap of 23-07.5. Julius Nyango won the mile and claimed an automatic quali-fying berth to the national meet with a time of 4:18.55.

Amos Sang won the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:25.02, good enough for

a provisional qualifying mark. The men’s mile relay also won its event and by more than two seconds.

“The men’s relay team winning going away was a great way to end the meet,” Hood said.

The women also had a strong showing led by Wanda Hutson, who won the 60-meter in 7.34 sec-onds and improved upon her personal best time.

“She didn’t just win it; she blew them out,” Hood said “She was taking her spikes off and putting her shoes on while the others were cross-ing the finish line.”

Kim Prather won the 400-meter with a personal best and automatic qualifying time of 55.56 seconds.

“It was very exciting to see her run that well,” Hood said. “This is the first year she has run the quar-ter-mile, and you wouldn’t know it by watching her. She did a great job.”

Kelli Clements improved in the shot put with an au-tomatic mark of 47-11.25, which now leads all of NCAA Division II.

On Friday, the distance runners on the team will compete at the University of Nebraska for the Nebras-ka Tune-Up meet. On Satur-day, Hood said he plans to take 25 athletes to the Uni-versity of Oklahoma for the Sooners Open meet.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 7SPORT JUMPS

Continued from page 8

Continued from page 8

E-mail Tripp at: bjt07a@acu.edu

E-mail Abston at: gda04b@acu.edu

E-mail Craig at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

E-mail Cantrell at: jmcnetwork@acu.edu

E-mail Harris at: tch05f@acu.edu

Track: Clements’ shot put leads NCAA

Tennis: Men defeat three nationally ranked opponents

Softball: Wildcats leave home 5-4

Wildcats: Sencanski scores season-high 28 points; Tarleton State rematch awaits

Continued from page 8

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Runs RunnETH OvER

Saturday’s game marked the first win by 10 runs or more this season for ACU. The Wildcats have accomplished this feat multiple times during the past four seasons:

n 2008 season: 10 times n 2007 season: 10 timesn 2006 season: 10 timesn 2005 season: 9 times

We are so deep; even if we have to go to plan B, it’s still a pretty good plan.

:: ACU head tennis coach Hutton Jones

“”

By Jeff CraigSports Writer

The women’s basketball team’s streak of six consecu-tive victories came to an end Saturday as the Wildcats fell to the Angelo State Ram-belles 64-59 in San Angelo.

The Wildcats entered the game riding a wave of mo-mentum, having won six of their past seven games; they also ranked No. 10 in the NCAA South Central Region poll. The Rambelles entered the game on a hot streak of their own after winning four in a row and eight-straight at home.

ACU head coach Shawna Lavender thought her team drifted from the fundamen-tals that had been keys to its recent success.

“I thought that in the first half we came out and did a lot of the things we wanted to do against Angelo,” Lav-ender said. “I thought we executed well and played pretty good defense. In the second half, we didn’t do a very good job of making ad-justments when we needed to do so. They took us out of

n Former ACU wide receiver Johnny Knox and former running back Bernard Scott will travel to Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scout-ing Combine. The Combine begins Wednesday and will be broadcast daily on NFL Net-work until it ends Tuesday.

Cats split games in CBS Classic

By Grant AbstonSports Editor

In their first Lone Star Conference series of the sea-son, the Wildcats extended their winning streak to six by sweeping Southwestern Okla-homa State in a four-game home series, improving to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the LSC.

After a dominating 8-1 win Thursday, the Wildcats won two close games Friday 3-2 and 2-1 before finishing up Saturday with a 15-5 win. The Wildcats jumped from No. 24 to No. 15 in the Collegiate Base-ball rankings and will travel to Edmund, Okla., to play a

four-game series beginning Friday against Central Oklahoma.

“We had some good pitching p e r f o r m a n c e s this weekend, and you know it all started off with Matt Sul-livan, who had eight strong in-nings and 11 strikeouts,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “When you start a weekend off like that, it can help the momentum going into the doubleheaders on Saturday.”

Sullivan pitched the best game of

his ACU career Thursday, go-ing eight innings and giving up just one run on four hits, while striking out 11. Sullivan improved to 1-0 on the season, dropping his ERA to 2.92. The Wildcats scored three runs over the first four innings before scoring five over the final four to win the series opener. Short-stop Willie Uechi led the Wild-cats with a game-high four hits and added one RBI. Catcher Jor-dan Schmitt went 2-4 with two RBI, and second baseman Chris Hall, designated hitter Travis Latz and first baseman Camer-on Watten each had two hits.

“It was a big confidence booster,” Sullivan said. “My career has kind of been up and down, but so far this year it has been up, so I’m trying to keep up the confidence.”

In the first game of the double-header Friday, the Wildcats fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning but scored three runs in the first three innings, led by a two-run third inning when Uechi singled home cen-ter fielder Thomas Bump-ass and Schmitt doubled to score Uechi and take a 3-2 lead. It was all the offense ACU would need as start-

ing pitcher Cameron Aspaas recorded his second win of the season, pitching five innings and giving up two runs on hits, while striking out six.

Closing pitcher Brad Ru-therford picked up his first save of the season after pitching the final two in-nings, giving up just two hits and allowing no runs. Uechi and Schmitt led the team with two hits, while Schmitt had two RBI and Uechi recorded one.

In Friday’s second game, the Wildcats won another close one behind starting pitcher Preston Vancil’s first win of the season. Vancil went eight innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out career-high 13 batters. Vancil also struck out eight consecutive bat-ters to close the game, com-ing close to the NCAA Divi-sion I record of consecutive strikeouts (10) set by Barry Zito in 1996.

In the bottom of the eighth, Latz walked with one out before Watten doubled to put runners on second

By Sadie BartonSports Writer

The Wildcat softball team finished 2-2 this weekend in the CBS Insurance Classic af-ter defeating St. Mary’s and Northeastern Oklahoma State in games one and three and losing to Emporia State and Southeastern Oklahoma State in games two and four.

ACU improved to 5-4 on the season and will travel to Okla-homa on Friday to compete in the South Central Shootout, where the Wildcats will play six games in three days.

In game one on Thursday, the Wildcats earned a 13-11 come-from-behind win over St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s jumped to an 8-3 lead before the Wildcats

By Ryan CantrellSports Writer

The Wildcats made a late push but could not complete the comeback, falling 82-77 to Angelo State on Satur-day. Guard Lionel Brown made his free throws down the stretch and secured the victory for the Rams.

The Wildcats were trailing by 14 with 7:27 remaining in regulation, when they went on a 22-11 run to end the game but fell just short. The team had the lead down to two, 79-77, with 57.6 seconds left. The Rams ran down the clock for a shot, and Brown got fouled. After splitting the pair of free throws, the Wild-

cats possibly could have tied with a three-pointer.

“We let the game get away from us in the first half when we went from being up seven to down seven,” head coach Jason Copeland said. “We did a good job getting back into the game before Dante Ad-ams fouled out at the end on a questionable call. I thought he had played good defense. We are working hard; we just do not have a lot of depth, and that is hurting us down the stretch.”

Guard Riley Lambert drove the lane and missed

SportsWednesdayPage 8 February 18, 2009

Standings

SCOREBOARD

Wednesday

Women’s BasketballACU at Tarleton State, 6 p.m.

Men’s BasketballACU at Tarleton State, 8 p.m.

Friday

Track & FieldACU at Nebraska Tune-Up, 1 p.m.

SoftballACU vs. Washburn, 2 p.m.ACU vs. Central Missouri, 4 p.m.

BaseballACU at Central Oklahoma, 2 p.m.

Saturday

Track & FieldACU at Sooner Open, TBA

:: Home games listed in italics

Upcoming

Friday

SoftballEmporia State 8, ACU 2ACU 9, Northeastern State 1

BaseballACU 3, SW Okla. State 2ACU 2, SW Okla. State 1

Saturday

SoftballSoutheastern Okla. 3, ACU 0

BaseballACU 15, SW Okla. State 5

Women’s BasketballAngelo State 64, ACU 59 (OT)

Men’s BasketballAngelo State 82, ACU 77

Scores

Series Sweep

Women’s basketball streak ends at six

Photos courtesy of Eric Wallace Above: Shortstop Willie Uechi slides safely into third base with a triple against Southwestern Okla. State. Below: Infielder Steve Camillucci throws in practice.

Wildcats capture nine of 10 in Phoenix

Men finish first overall at Air Force Invitational

By Brandon TrippBroadcast Assistant

The Wildcat tennis teams had a busy week-end at the Phoenix Du-als, playing five matches apiece in just three days. They c a m e through in fine form with the men winning all five match-es, while the women dropped only one match, taking four out of five and shutting out two opponents.

The women came back from Arizona with a 4-1 re-cord, dropping their only match to the No. 2 team in the country, BYU-Hawaii, 8-1. The Seasiders are undefeated on the season and shut out every opponent they faced until they played ACU. The Wildcats beat three other teams over the weekend, tak-ing down No. 23 Hawaii-Hilo and Western New Mexico 8-1 and defeating Dixie State and CSU-Pueblo in a pair of shutouts 9-0. The wins move the No. 7 Wildcats to 10-2 on the season heading into the bye week.

The Wildcats struggled out of the gate, taking on the second-ranked team in the country and dropping the match 8-1. Irene Squillaci

By Chandler HarrisAssistant Sports Editor

The men and women’s track and field teams trav-eled to the Air Force Acad-emy in Colorado Springs, Colo., over the weekend for the Air Force Invitational. The men won the team com-petition, and the women fin-ished in fourth.

“It was a team-scored meet, so it was a lot of fun to be in a meet that actu-ally counted for some-thing,” said head coach Don Hood. “There were a lot of good schools there, including BYU, Air Force and Colorado State.”

Hood said he enjoyed this team-meet format because athletes get the

Baseball team extends win streak with four LSC winsBaseball

Basketball

See Wildcats page 7 See Softball page 7

See Track page 7

See Tennis page 7

See Baseball page 7

See Basketball page 7

Basketball

Men’s BasketballTeam Div. OverallMSUAngelo St.TAMU-KWTAMUTarleton St.ACUENMU

7-26-26-25-44-52-60-9

18-618-516-715-916-88-144-20

Women’s BasketballTeam Div. OverallWTAMUACUAngelo St.Tarleton St.TAMU-KMSUENMU

9-06-25-34-53-53-60-9

21-315-814-913-1113-108-159-18

Late run not enough against Angelo State

JonesBaseballTeam Div. OverallACUCameronENMUTAMU-KAngelo St.

WTAMU

4-03-13-13-13-12-2

7-28-27-34-27-46-3

Central Okla. 2-2 4-3SE Okla. 1-3 4-3NE State. 1-3 5-5Tarleton St. 1-3 4-7East Central 1-3 1-5SW Okla. 0-4 4-6

SoftballTeam Div. OverallAngelo St.WTAMUTAMU-KTarleton St.TX Woman’s

ACU

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

13-08-18-27-28-45-4

ENMU 0-0 5-5

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer

Infielder Genevie Ramirez makes a throw Thursday against St. Mary’s.

Dick Schissler :: staff photographer

Forward Jamie Meyer averages 14 points per game. She scored 10 on Saturday.

Briefs