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War with Iraq now could prevent tragedies like 9-11

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An letter submitted last week ("War stoops..." Zachary Shaner) accused the United States of reaching new lows by following "inconsistent disarming policies" and using foreign policy to exploit other nations wishing to obtain superpower status. There were several points in this article I disagree with, namely all of them. First citing America's own ... [Read More…]

True worship – letting God take control

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I'm a senior here, about to start working on my fifth year. I was here during the time that most people currently call the "good days" of Chapel. I remember during those times that there were just as many upset letters pouring into the Optimist every week complaining about Chapel issues, all of them with a similar theme. Some students seemed to ... [Read More…]

“Portraits of Color” deserves much praise

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There is nothing but praise to be given to the "Portraits of Color" production presented by Essence of Ebony last weekend. The show featured different aspects of the African culture and its journey toward equality among the American people. Aspects that are so often cast into the shadows of our busy lives and negligence of other cultures and time ... [Read More…]

War stoops to inconsistent disarming policies

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Through the blinding entity we call 'patriotism,' American citizens are being duped into an immoral war with Iraq. I do believe that disarmament is the single greatest goal humanity should strive toward. But disarmament should not be selective, with mid-major powers (Iraq, North Korea etc...) being opposed so vehemently for daring to be like ... [Read More…]

Worship involves life, not mimic of church

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The Chapel Programming Team desires to move Chapel in a more worship-based direction. The Chapel Programming Team and I seem to have two different definitions of worship. Right now Chapel nearly mimics what we do in church. We sing, pray, read scripture and listen to a speaker. Is this all there is to worship? Is worship confined to what we do ... [Read More…]

Team needs students

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If the office of Campus Life really wants its vision to succeed, there has to be more student input than just three or four students on the Chapel Task Force and Chapel Programming Team. Chapel needs to get back to being student-friendly. There has to be some compromise between what the students want Chapel to be and what the administration wants ... [Read More…]

Chapel a blessing, not a curse

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I had been in the Middle East three days, and on a Friday, the Muslim holy day, I found myself in a crowded mosque during Salat. I was overwhelmed when I was hissed at and had my ankles slapped by older women who recognized me as foreign. I was only there to study and observe, but instead I was standing in the middle of a group of women while ... [Read More…]

‘Empty songs, scripture’ students’ fault

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The last paragraph in one of the letters of last Friday's Optimist ("Worship now forced, not mandatory") stated: "Perhaps when singing empty songs and reading empty Scriptures that fall on deaf ears come to an end, we, as a united, respectful, passionate body will come to understand the meaning of true worship." The problem that I have with the ... [Read More…]

Columbia tragedy will stay in our hearts

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The day had finally arrived. Sixteen days after takeoff from Florida, on a bright blue beautiful morning, the shuttle was due in for an early morning landing. I awoke to a crisp winter day just in time to see the shuttle blaze through the Texas skies escorted by the normal fighter jets, which accompany it back to the landing strip in Florida. The ... [Read More…]

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