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Pg. 6 Take a spin around the rides at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 5 :: 1 section, 10 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com
Inside This Issue:
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The West Texas Fair & Rodeo will be in Abilene until Saturday
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Newly renovated ‘World Famous Bean’ officially opens for business
Executive Perspective: Guest column by Daniel Paul Watkins
‘An outrageous act’ SA noose incident sparks investigation By Michael Freeman Managing Editor
Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins said he went through a rush of emotions after he discovered a noose on his office chair around 12:35 p.m. Sept. 3. “It didn’t seem real,” Watkins said. “I didn’t believe that it was happening; that was my first reaction.” Immediately, feelings of shock, anger, hurt and revenge all crossed his mind, Watkins said. But then, he stopped on the idea of forgiveness. “I realized that although that was what my flesh wanted that it’s important to overcome that and react the way that God has called me to, out of love and forgiveness.” Watkins said. “Nothing positive would really come out of getting angry. My only hope for achieving anything positive is to react in love and progress from there.” Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, addressed the student body on the incident in Friday’s Chapel. “Whether it was intended to be a thoughtless and insensitive prank or whether there was more serious intent, I see it as an outrageous act, which flies in the face of everything this institution stands for,” Money said. See
Noose page 4
acuoptimist.com See an interview with Daniel Paul Watkins about the incident and his thoughts on the university’s reaction.
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer In Chapel Friday, Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, called the noose in Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins’ office an “outrageous act, which flies in the face of everything this institution stands for.”
Students condemn act as hatred, wrong
Episode initiates class discussion
By Tanner Anderson
By Daniel Johnson-Kim
Page Designer
Students across campus say they are filled with rage and frustration after Wednesday’s noose incident, and they strongly desire to bring together ACU’s diverse community. What baffles and surprises many students is that such an action happened on a Christian campus. “I’m a little disappointed that it happened in ACU. It’s sad that something of that caliber and hatred took place here,” said Kelsey Evans, senior interior design major from Gresham, Ore. “Hopefully this will never happen again, and the community can come together and have a better Christian focus.” Although most may not agree with the action, it has created a small wound within
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It’s sad that something of that caliber and hatred took place here.
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:: Kelsey Evans, senior interior design major from Gresham, Org.
the ACU community, students said. Several people are disappointed to see such racism shown in this day and age, and others are upset there exists a fraction of students attending a Christian university who put race before religion. “I think our campus is smart enough to know that this action was caused by a See
Students page 4
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Courtesy Daniel Paul Watkins
SA Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins snapped a photograph of the noose he discovered in his deskchair in the Students’ Association office.
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As the ACU Police Department investigates the noose discovered in the office of Students’ Association President Daniel Paul Watkins, faculty members speak out against the event. “I don’t think this incident captures what we are all about,” said Dr. Steven Moore, associate professor of English. “Whether you’re black or white, I think it affected all of us.” Moore said he and several faculty members he had spoken with were behind Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, and supported the decision to investigate the incident and treat it as a serious matter. “The investigation is being taken very seriously, and I trust exactly what Dr. Money
Log on to www.youtube.com/acuvideo to see Wednesday’s newscast from the JMC Network Newscast staff. In this week’s newscast: the Bean ribbon cutting ceremony, the noose incident, the West Texas Fair & Rodeo and the recent rain.
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said, and the faculty and staff I’ve been talking to also trust what President Money said in Chapel,” Moore said. Dr. Neal Coates, associate professor of political science, said he was shocked when he heard about the incident involving Watkins, senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va., whom he has had in class. “I was astounded that someone could be so insensitive to American History and how African-Americans have been treated in the past,” Coates said. Both professors said students in at least one of their classes discussed the event. “We try to be careful to explore issues of race and other issues that society suffers with,” Moore said. “I think
Class page 4
What action should be taken for the noose incident?
a. ACU should investigate. b. There should be open discussion. c. The culprit should be expelled. d. Forgive and forget.
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