The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 73, No. 33, Ed. 1, Tuesday, January 21, 1986 Page: 2 of 6
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opinion
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tuesdayjart. 211986
optimist A-2
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Tips to
Icturci
smith
During the last year my dating life has
really taken off. I was very confused by
this until a male friend of mine explained
this phenomenon to me
He told me that because of my hectic
schedule men were asking me out This
made no sense but after questioning him
further I began to understand.
So over the last few months I finally
have been able to compile a workable list
Optimist"
dndl patterson edfyjr-lnh!ef
laura smith (uwday editor
.mkhelle morris feature editor
'key payton-aset features editor v
skip dampter-tueaday design editor
thonw graham -apart editor .
kerry cote -aa. sports editor '
lorrl hunter tueeday copy editor
lAa-L&tJ flsJaaM a. ""J" clasv taJajaftaseaaAtLitJtasWt t
HFiisBn unsni Bvcnvwjr wravi wv"ro(7vrvprjvi4"iMiQin l
kermethpybus taate i-b-
dr. charles marler'advleef uj
sherrltUeri ad director
scott bray sales
dave cole -611
connle swick production manager
fames blWngsIey tost production
ft opunitt (OOXMOM) U pufetahad witkty. tmpt durtrtf m
inert vmoora md tiul nm by ttw laurMllim and Mm Cor
munluUM Otvlslon e( Abdm ChrtiOon UnlytrUty. Mdcnt. Tom
7649 Snd(i)drfidinxM"h0!emll'ACUttUoB-0no1
MdMK.Tan 796H '
tibaiul opkiKTO vpttrWif in th OHlndsl w vtttn of Ite iu
and do not MttuarOy ntoa Mad potay o CO iniitri-
Hon. Signed nluimt rrvntoit 0 MMdiul vlnn U tho mthorv
Tr OpOmJll It tftiniud with tho AnocUttd CoHtjUtt rm tho
Tuat tnurCDlkfUit frtu AtKdtUon. tnt SouthwMt lowrulUni Cnv
(rtu. lh Attooutd rrttt CoOtt Ptttt Jtnrtct and tho Itacky Mum-
uln ColWjUu rnu Attodatkin.
: letters policy
f
Letters to the editor should be mailed
10 ACU Box 8203 or hand-delivered to
the Optimist office Morris Room 308.
t
it
FrMhman says Mark Scott
not trying to destroy ACU
To the editor:
I am writing in reference to the articles
about evolution that have recently ap-
peared in the Optimist. I feel that the ar-
. tides written about Mark Scott have been
hostile and unfair.
I do not believe that he is trying to
destroy the reputation of ACU
Scott has found something that he feels
is wrong and wants to see it corrected. In-
stead of condemning him as Christians
we should work with him to settle the
rarobkm. iilif tiJaiiHI . Iiiii
If Scott is wrong then settling the pro
blem would ease his mind as well as the
.minds of any others who have the same
doubts.
IT Scott is right then we should take
care of the problem hsMaediatcly.
Teaching evolution as fact should not
be tolerated at the university. Perhaps
'more people should read the following
passages in order to refresh their
memories about how Christians should
treat each other: Galatians 5:15 6:1 6:10
and Ephesians 4:32.
ACU will not be degraded or hurt if we
all work together in love as God com-
mands us.
Kun Martin
Freshman
Biology major
Three Rivers
; 1 1 v
. ; . .
'Q (
I 4
' M'T
Is controversy crsattd
where none exists?
To the editor:
The whole world loves a controversy.
Human beings seem to have the In-
herent need to take sides to cheer for
.ah underdog who fights valiantly against
"the corrupt powers that be!
The sad fart is that many times con-.
troversieS are created where none need
exist. People become so impatient to
jump on the bandwagon that they fail to
first look at the situation objectively and
weigh both sides of the argument.
The new 'ACU evolution controver-
sy" seems a primary example of such a
controversy. One vocal student makes ac-
cusations against professors and people
instantly forget that there were other
help increase
of what makes a Woman more datesbk
First my busy Women who have a
lot of stuff to do intrigue men. They seem
to have a lot on the bull land are going
places. Men are flattered .when woman
make time for themv .i
ta not consider men only as a date.
Be a irlerid to every mart you meet andlf
something else happens then you have a
stronger base on Which to build a
relationship.
Do not til by the phone. If a man
wants to" talk to you he will Call until he
reached you.
' When the invitation comes "don't
always be available If you want to go out
withthis person then tell him that you do
and ask him to call again.
BWJ
l!i-V
vmmm??mm m&
letters
students too who have taken the same
classes many of whom have repeatedly
stated that the accusations are false.
Instead the accusers outside the school
and the Abilene press present the studeut
as a lone martyr battling an intimidating
and all-powerful "corrupter of minds."
The ACU administration does not
comment on the Issue And ao it Is in-
stantly labeled "coverup" and the con-
troversy continues on. Apparently it has
never occurred to some that the ad-
ministration cannot due to privacy laws
comment on the details of the situation.
The issue has been made into one of
Mark Scott vs. the administration when
actually it is an issue of a minority's
perception vj that of a majority; only the
minority says what some want to hear.
People will believe what they want to
believe.
My only hope is that more people will
be willing to look into the issue itself
that they will talk to the many who are In-
volved with the issue firsthand instead of
relying on second&aad accusations or the
perceptions of a few IsMtfvkknls.
There are two sides to the issue. AH
that can be asked b that people rationally
evaluate both sides and then draw their
own conclusions.
Meanwhile a needless and futile con-
fict rages on. Who knows...maybe the
communists are involved.
Tim Jackson
Senior
Biology major 1 . i
St. Catharines Ontario "
Junior says unaware
teachers advocate
To the editor
I am from a very small prevalently
Christian city in the Bible Belt In my
biology and history classes in high school
I was unwittingly taught evolution as
fact by Christian teachers
I say unwittingly because I truly
believe that my teachers were as unaware
that they were teaching evolution as fact
as I was that I was learning it
I believe that the same is true at ACU
A few months ago I did not know this
and if it weren't for a very knowledgeable
friend who taught me the evolutionary
theory and its subtleties X would still riot
realise the frequency of evolutionary
A big no-no U changing plans just to
go out with someone. If you have already
planned something with your roommate
tell him and ask for a rain check. If he is
a nice guy he'll be disappointed but he
will also respect you. The only time it Is
acceptable is when the suggested date is a
trip to meet his parents or something else
along those lines.
Ifyau meet a guy you would like to
go out with then ask hint if he would like
to study together or get a coke. If you
don't feel comfortable asking guys out
then tell him that the two of you need to
get together. If he is. good at picking up
hints or is interested then you'll be hear
ing from him.
Don't always look your best For
wsffimm
to the editor
thought in our school and coaasMraky.
I believe that ACU mstructors are la
all probability unaware ifeat aaaae of
what they teach has its basis k the evolu-
tionary theory. They are only teaching
their students what they were taught as
students themselves and have not taken
the time to truly investigate the origin of
their "facts."
I don't blame them. That is what I have
done up until now accepted something
because "it is in the book" or because
"the teacher said it so it must be true"
When I read Friday's article
"Instigator of evolution dispute refuses
enrollment conditions" I noticed two
statements that prompted me to write this
letter.
The first was "...the students in the
professors' classes..Jiave refuted these
charges." (The charges being that the
professors were teaching evolution as
fact)
When I read this I thought "A few
months ago I probably would have done
the same thing." Although I haven't
taken the classes in question I do know
that if someone had charged previous
teachers of mine with teaching evolution
as fact I probably would have refuted it
in the same manner.
These same teachers I now realize
were teaching evolution as fact. pro-
bably out of ignorance of the subject. So
when I say that I believe that some In-
structors at ACU are teaching evolution
as fact I am only trying to make them
think and investigate the origin of the
basis of the subject matter taught in their
classes.
The second statement that prompted
this letter was "Scott said others believe
the same way he does but they are afraid
to communicate their beliefs that evolu-
tion is being taught as fact."
In stating my beliefs I am not saying
that I am altogether unafraid of possible
repercussions but I ttsually go after what
I am afraid of especially if I believe the
outcome could be beneficial.
Basically what I hope to have com-
municate is that I stand behind Mark
Scott but I also stand behind the
teachers. .
In other words I believe as Mark does
that evolution is being taught as fact at
ACU but I also believe that in the
teachers' minds they are not teaching
evolution as fact.
I just hope that this letter makes them
dateability
some jcasoa wwaa caa he jjiwiwiaiwai fcy
aHfllttftll tfilMh 'i$aaaaMat ah -Cjj
Piusawoaawamfechwug)Bi a halt-
ing frost that she mjifkmi ta; db foe
things that BtBgjbt tfesway Iter saataajsv
She -will saia out on tats ef fi and
maybe on. lam.
AilctardtttkeHhiSMJnediitH
yay haportaat to be fcoaest. A rtfetarid-
ship needs to beset cm a Grass fenmfankm.
One that is based oa fies k sat wtarth
having.
' Conimunkarioa h ah same in
any refetki&si&p. Talking K each asber
will case tenwea that is a swadt ef sot
knowing what the other pertacr aBtSsak-
ing or feeling. Also if aH the esjseccariions
are knowa early then a left of usee can be
lfa
tMsk twice asatl if satey ae as the right
then they have Mllaag to fear fiom Mark
or those ef ms wt swfyertaww.
ItHa5pyam4IafcfyUr'tht
at aH oasts Getft wM'be aaiae in this
matter.
n c
TammkMcDamaaa
umor
Psychology major
Portland Term. .
Senior get fenpriMom'
of evolution befog taught
Totheedkori ' ' '
I suppose ni ))ct p a j6btion for
this but I can aa Iswef saaintain my
silence. (
I'm a ttasafer s I hmsfit. fakea much
Bible here aad thoeSwc We'ab idea
where that dessatmaet asajwJs on the
issue. I haven't oopffcfteel' a biology
course here so I canSt aay much there
either but I smxst speak.
I enrolled sa a biolagy course but I
dropped it partly becssac tbe impression
I got was that itVrSaUbcCToJutionary in
nature.
Perhaps ACU a eat teaching evolution
per se but it has beea aay experience that
ACU is not refuting k and. is certainly
not preseating acatiesa crUknces.
For example in aay Texas history text
ACU studestt ace tott that "...The Old
Americans catered Texas with hundreds
of thousands of years efawman evolution
and social deytlepaieat behind them."
f'LooeStarTJFckK&bach pg.4) '
It also says that "Tfeey were true men
the half-fi&aLJbad died out long
before."
I do not raeaa to leave the impression
that the instructor k espaesing this view
but this is reputed reading. The only
"denial" I bare heard n v generalization
that scholars are ia disagreement over
such matters.
Although laawt taSdng geology I
have beea wftwaaed by a friend who is
taking k that the profcaaor made a com-
xaent similar to this: Whether we believe
the earth cswe about by divine interven-
tion or otherwise whea the Big Bang did
happen... leaving the students with the
impression of a BataraBstic interpretation
of the ibrmadoa ef the universe (Please
take note that thk ia secondhand and may
be disoouated as hearsay.)
aSRHKlV3EaaalkaaH
saved if the goals of each partner are
conflicting.
One of the most important things to
remember is to never never never act
stupid. Do not compromise your intellec-
tual standards for a man. If that is what
he wants then he Is not worth having.
Besides there are plenty of girls out there
who are not actinz and would miss their
Mr. Right hp- likes dumb girls if you
WUIJJIUMIW: yUUTBGU HUU IKKC MID
These are just a few of my personal
standard on which myl&tting life is bas
ed. The list could probably go on forever.
But if you'll just add these characteristics
of a datcable woman to your own list J
guarantee a noticeable improvement in
your dating life.
AIDS
quarantine
'4&RV. Mark Whke has safal he supports
qtMlsAbe m seme AIDS cases where
they afe tiftOTya to be a pefentkl health
hazard.
Cmmm4CTiM Civil Liber-
tm Umo aficly crkitiaad White for
has ycrM wtffwt of Tenat HeaklCom-
miasianar Ratjwt Bamateiti's reouest for
authority to qmnwitkc AIDS victifaailr
they are kStcftified as oub&c JaMth
threats X
"ifte Wftw quarantine idea is
repulsive to aay idea of avil liberties"
said the TCLU'a kgal director Jim Har-
rington in the DdlAt Times-Herald.
The idea of quarantine may be
repulsive to cm! liberties but not to
health liberties. When it comes to AIDS
at least for the meantime there are no se-
cond chances and that is why White
should lend his: full support to the
quarantine until a cure for the disease is 1
found.
In cases where other humans lives are
at stake and the AIDS victim has shown a
reckless manner in dealing with his
disease quarantine is the appropriate
remedy.
i a
- fa
e
1
I
FurthenaWt a&cr laekkif through the
text I am ceaviacad that k pmeats an!
evokKkwary view of gcetefy. I did not
see oae reJereace to the Noafek Flood
which k atraege in the light of 2 Peter'
3:3-7.
In this passage Peter forewarns of thel
prevalence of a uniformftarian view' and!
a deliberate "forgetting of ti-c -earth-
revolutionlzmg flood a gencralpropbecy 1
applicable today.
The astronomy class I took was a1
course in stellar evolution of a 13-20
billion-year-olduni verse following the'
Big Bane.
Maybe'ACU Is not teaching evolution J
as factbut I as a student have gotten thel
geaeral impression that it is. When II
came to ACU I was anxious to enter the 1
science department and learn all about!
the creation side was I even)
disappointed!
I understand the importance of the stu
dent understanding evolutionary theory
but be gets that from PBS Rtaekr't
Digest National Geographic Science
Digest Cosmos high school museums
books etc. Besides doesn't it make more
sense to arm the student with the facts
that argue against evolution?
One more thing. If ACU ia not
teaching evolution why isn't it using tex
tbooks that are ncutral-on the subject or
better yet that are procreation? -:
Textbooks such as "Scientific Crea-1
tionism" by Henry Morris and John C.i
Whitcomb; "Biology: A Search for Order!
in Complexity" by Morris; "Streams
Civilization" a world history text; and
"The Sun Moon and Stars" by SteidLf
The school bookstore doesn't even!
have a good selection of creation-orient edl
general reading for students to read.
Again let me reiterate. I am not indic4
ting ACU of teaching evolution. I do notl
have evidence. But this is the general im-j
presjlon I -have gotten long before the
controversy began.
It seems to me that ACU's responsibilkl
ty not only to retrain from teachini
evolution as fact but also to teach the
other side in the interest of science and
biblical integrity
Kent West
Senior .M . A
Computer science education major
Fort Worth
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 73, No. 33, Ed. 1, Tuesday, January 21, 1986, newspaper, January 21, 1986; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth92031/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.