The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 33, Ed. 1, Wednesday, February 4, 2004 Page: 4 of 10
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Page 4 The Optimist
Walt McDonald recites his poetry
as aart or the university annual People's Poetry Series.
Poet brings West Texas
writing style to Abilene
Walt McDonald comes
to campus for two-day
visit poetry reading
Luke Maims
SluJenl Rrjvric r
Nationally renowned poet
Walt McDonald ex-Air Force
pilot and teacher at tlte United
States Air Force Academy read
his poetry to about 400 people
In Cullen Auditorium on
Thursday as part of AClTs
annual People's Poetry Scries
Most of his poetry is based
on his upbringing in West
Texas with talcs of baptizing
dogs and being trapped in a
newly tarred dirt road but the
poetry also shows his undying
affection for his family
Al Haley assistant professor
of English said one of the main
focuses when choosing poets
to speak is that they are
"Christians or whose work
EYAKEMGUUUTCMefl
MMruker
In Cullen Auditorium Thursday
shows a compatibility with
aspects of the Christian faith "
McDonald expressed his
beliefs in many of his poems
like "Faith is a Radical Master"
in which he uses the analogy of
God being a clean-up batter in
baseball who is always there in
rough situations
Sara Black freshman unde-
clared major from Nashville
Tcnn said she found the read-
ing to be inspiring and moving
in a way she did not expect.
Ashley Ketchersld fresh-
man business major from
Bloomington Ind said she
enjoyed hearing his personal
experiences because it felt like
she was getting to know the
poet thus making the poetry
more real.
Haley said he does not know
whom the department will ask
to be the speaker next year
E-aall Luke Harris t
S3S
SSSSSSSSSGS
&uaHantRaUBEl
The official ACU
and pride as a Wildcat It also demonstrates
achievement as a graduate of ACU
to others who proudly wear
this symbol of honor.
With one official design that
portrays the story and spirit
of the university graduates of ACU
who wear die official ACU ring are
immediately identifiable. A visible symbol
of achievement and honor it is the only
Students are eligible to order a ring after successfully completing 60 hours.
The rings will be presented in a special ceremony on April 20 2004.
Only 3 days left to purchase your ring!
Purchase your ring
Jan. 12 - Feb. 6 2004
in The Campus Store
from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
CAMPUS
Wildcat Kids looking for extra
Applications available
In Volunteer Service-
Learning Center
Jesiree Guerrero
Student Reporter
Wildcat Kids Is in need of
a few good men and women
to volunteer to mentor.
The program in which
two volunteers work togeth-
er to mentor one child
throughout the semester
currently does not have
enough volunteers to have
partners for each child.
Several volunteers from
the fall semester are unavail-
able for Wildcat Kids this
semester for various reasons
said Lauren Johnson Junior
interdisciplinary major from
Smithvllle and Wildcat Kids
Hall director aims to build community
Smith and Adams
director looks to give
back to the school
Blue Farmer
Staff Writer
After owning a contract-
ing company and building
custom homes in San
Antonio Todd Ormsby is
attempting to build a new
community in the Adams
and Smith halls.
Ormsby 30-year-old grad-
uate student from San
Antonio was recently named
the new director of Adams
and Smith halls
"When I chose to come to
ACU I 'decided 1 didn't just
want to take from the
school" Ormsby said. "I
wanted to give back "
Ormsby came to ACU in
the fall as a student in the
Master's of Divinity program
He said God has allowed him
the ministry opportunity of
serving as hall director
In his new position
Ormsby wants to change the
students' perception of the
Adams and Smith halls He
imsm
ring proclaims allegiance to Abilene Christian University
NEWS
committee chair.
Johnson also said the pro-
gram started the fall semes-
ter with fewer volunteers
than desired because of a
lack of effective advertising
and It Is working to make up
for that deficit this semester.
The program Is looking for
dependable ACU students
who like to mentor kids said
Shirley Glaze sophomore
psychology major from
Avondalc Ariz and Wildcat
Kids committee member.
The SA-sponsorcd pro-
gram mentors children from
elementary schools in
Abilene who arc identified by
the teachers as those in need
of a mentor
Those interested may
submit an application and
attend a training session by
Big Brothers Big Sisters A
said he wants students to
find the advantages of living
off campus and find fun in
the residence hall Ormsby
said students need some-
thing to make it worth living
off campus
"I want to hear people on
their cell phones telling their
friends to come over and
hang out in the dorm on a
Friday night" Ormsby said
To influence activity in
the hall the Adams and
Smith lobby has recently
acquired a new big-screen
TV with a surround sound
system and a new foosball
table.
Ormsby is trying to start
an alternative style worship
service like Taizd on
Thursday evenings and he is
working on getting live
musical entertainment for
the patio
Ormsby said he thinks the
mission focus of ACU some-
times overlooks domestic
problems like hurting uni-
versity students
"In working with Res-
idence Life we can help
troubled students before it
becomes a big problem"
Bi' Urn m I si
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ring sold on campus.
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criminal background check
will also be performed on
each applicant to ensure the
safety of the children.
The applications are
available throughout the
semester in the Volunteer
and Service-Learning Center
located in the basement of
the Campus Center.
"We're happy with whoev-
er comes in right now" said
Johnson
She said she hopes the
selection process will be-
come more competitive in
the future and include appli-
cant interviews
The Wildcat Kids commit-
tee organizes the monthly
activities including this
semester's Wildcat Basketball
game night at Tirst Baptist
Church's Family Life Center
and an Easter egg hunt
Todd Ormsby newly appointed director of Adams and Smith res-
idence halls talks on the phone to one of the hall's residents.
Ormsby Is looking for ways to promote hall community.
Ormsby said
Cliff Kcrby junior market-
ing major from Paris and
Smith Hail resident said
Ormsby is shooting for a
homey feeling in his hall
"Todd is always at the
front desk trying to get to
know people" Kcrby said
Kcrby said Ormsby let the
residents know his door is
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SPONSORED BY
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Wednesday February 4 2004
mentors
Although the activities
play a big role in the pro-
gram Johnson said "the
magic that happens with the
individual relationships"
between the kids and their
partners Is the heart of
Wildcat Kids
"Being a part of Wildcat
Kids has given mc an oppor-
tunity to be a friend to a little
girl who needs someone so
much and for mc to meet a
really cool person through
it" said Wildcat Kids volun-
teer Anna Dismang junior
elementary education major
from Littleton Colo
For more information
Wildcat Kids can be contact-
ed by e-mail at wild-
catklds&hotmatl com.
E mill Jeilree Guerrero al
npllmlslSVlcu ftlu
BRIAN SCHMIDTSUff rMofniker
open 24 hours a day
Ormsby has aspirations
for church planting and
speaking at Christian confer-
ences but for now his min-
istry is with the students
"This isn't Just a job"
Ormsby said
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THE CAMPUS
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 33, Ed. 1, Wednesday, February 4, 2004, newspaper, February 4, 2004; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101860/m1/4/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.