The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 35, Ed. 1, Friday, February 10, 2006 Page: 1 of 8

                                
OTHE
PTIMIST
Vol. 94 No. 35
1 section 8 pages
FRIDAY
February 10 2006
w vw.acuoptlmlst.com
'Something' believable
Something New dispels unrealistic
notions of romantic comedies  page 5
See 'Jane' play
The play Jane Eyre opens on
campus Thursday page 5
Doubling up
The softball team swept its
double-header Tuesday page 8
Cast prepares for premier
The Black History Production
this year "At Our Highest"
organized by Essence of Ebony
will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday In Cullen Auditorium.
By SARAH CARLSON
Arts Fiiitor
Two successful brothers
must come to terms with
their pasts and iruli klu.il ste-
reotvpes in "At Our Highest"
the ninth annual Hlack Histo-
ry Production running at 7.30
pm. Friday and Saturday in
Cullen Auditorium.
One is a rap star the other
a lawyer. Though both have
risen to their highest point
professional  they both
feel something is missing
and must learn that success
means nothing without unity
with each other and within
their culture said Shelby
Coates director of the pro-
duction "Thev both fall Into these
stercotpcs and leave each
other behind" Coates said
adding that both a lawyer and
a rap star can be judged by
their friends and family as ci-
ther not amounting to much
or selling out for money. "You
can be just as successful no
matter what side of the coin
ou'reon."
Coates sophomore broad-
cast journalism major from
Clarksville Tcnn  auditioned
for the part of director almost
a vear ago presenting her
story concept to the officers
of Essence of Ebony and La
Shac Grottis director of the
Office of Student Multicultur-
al Enrichment who selected
her. Work began on the pro-
duction in April Coates spent
the summer writing the script
and by October rehearsals
began
"At Our Highest" begins
with a fight between the
brothers and then goes back
in time examining the broth-
See SHOW xi.e 7
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Seniors Julia Nofsinger speech language pathology major from Denver and Daniel Kramar special education major from Escandido Calif  write Valentine's Day greetings
Wednesday in the Campus Center to their friends studying abroad Valentines will be sent to the students in Oxford England and Montevideo Uruguay
Enrollment sees normal decline
The number of students on
campus dropped by 276 from
last semester to this semester
after some left the university
transferred or graduated.
By MALLORY SHERWOOD
Man c ino Editor
More laces are on campus
this spring than last spring
according to the olficial
spring enrollment numbers
that were released last week
b the Office of Institutional
Research and Assessment.
Lisa McCart) assistant
director of the OIRA said
4427 undergraduate and
graduate students enrolled
this spring up from 4418
In spring 2003 Fall 2003
enrollment was 4703. Be-
tween the fall and spring se-
mesters though enrollment
tvpicallv drops
McCart) said although
the number of enrolled stu
dents dropped by 27G this
spring that
this trend
is normal
between
the fall and
spring se-
mesters "ou hae
to factor in
December
graduation"
she said "Our average de-
crease between semesters Is
NvSrHI
McCarty
C 6 percent."
This ear's enrollment
dropped 5 ) percent between
semesters
This ear between 230 to
240 undergraduates gradu-
ated in Detembcr which is
an average graduation class
sUe said June Hlack de-
gree audit and graduation
specialist In the Registrar's
OHice.
EhmII Slwwood it mOliCcu.tdu
Sullivan named general counsel
BRIAN SCHMIDTChlet Photographer
Daniel Brown sophomore social work major from Houston acts with Amber
Smittiek freshman psychology major from San Antonio during the Chapel
teaser performance of the Black History Production on Wednesday
Congress
supports
changing
Bean times
H Conares passed the resolution almost unanimously
Wednesday and wW ask administrators to open the
Bean for Sunday dinners Instead of breakfasts.
By JONATHAN SMITH
Editor is Chief
The Students' Association Congress over-
whelming! voted to approve a resolution
asking the university to open the Bean to
students on Sundav night Instead of Sundav
morning
Administration Building Hep. Maher Saab
Introduced the legislation which passed 38-
0 with one abstention to Congress and has
been working on the resolution since Christ-
mas break.
"Manv of ) ou have probabl) had the head-
aches of trving to get food on Sundav night"
Saab said when presenting the bill during
Sec SA iiujc 7
Soul Fest
celebrates
Black history
a Seventy-seven students attended the second
annual event which began the university's
observance of Black History Month In February.
By KELLINE LINTON
Staff Wriur
The Soul Food Fellowship on Mondav
opened this ear's Black Hlstorv Month cel-
ebrations on campus
"The fellowship was a wa oi introducing
the month that was enjovable lor everone"
said LaShae Grottis director ot Student Scr-
See FOOD jxv
Filling the bank
Spring
enroHnwnt
statistics
Spring 2006
enrollment
4427
Fall 2005
enrollment
4703
Spring 2005
enrollment
4 418
After serving five months as
Interim general counsel for the
university the Board of Trustees
promoted Slade Sullivan to the
position permanently Feb. 1.
By AARON BALLARD
SrAfFWRMIR
After serving five months
as the interim general coun-
sel for the university Slade
Sullivan JD. has been
named the new permanent
general counsel for the uni-
versity and The ACU Founda-
tion. His first official day on
the Job was Feb. 1.
"I enjoy m) Job because
I love being able to help
people find answers to their
questions explain the law
and help them solve prob-
lems and get things done"
Sullivan said.
The previous general
counsel Gaston Welborn Jr.
resigned In September after
serving 31 vears in the posi-
tion. Since then Sullivan has
acted as the Interim general
counsel
"After five months of
serving in this capacity on an
interim basis the univcrslt)
decided that I was doing a
good job and offered me the
position on a permanent ba-
sis" Sullivan said.
As general counsel for the
university Sullivan prepares
and reviews legal documents
and provides legal adv ice and
representation to the Boafd
of Trustees the president of
the university and his admin-
istration and all divisions of
the university. In addition
he serves as staff liaison to
the Purpose Committee of
the Board of Trustees.
As general counsel for The
ACU Foundation Sulliv an ad-
vises donors and friends of
the universit) about planned
giving and estate planning
matters and prepares legal
documentation lor gift trans-
actions In addition he con-
ducts educational seminars
for donors and professional
advisers.
"There is not a clear dis-
tinction between m roles for
the foundation and tor ACU
in terms of time commitment
Sic SULLIVAN ;w. 7
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