Issuu

Optimist the

a product of the JMC

network

Friday, October 17, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 17 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

Pg 3

Pg 4

Students skip Chapel to dine at local barbecue restaurant

Provost retiring, moving West

Pg. 5 Savory Sushi: New restaurant diversifies Abilene eating scene

‘Jacob’s Dream’ documentary earns university Emmy nomination

Pg 8

Showdown in Canyon: No. 3 ACU to play ranked rival WTAMU

Eyes on the Presidency Students gather, react to debate By Michael Freeman

By Daniel Johnson-Kim

Managing Editor

Editor in Chief

After almost 40 years of work in higher education, Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen is leaving college. VanRheenen, who served as the university’s Provost for 13 years, announced his plans to retire at the end of the fiscal year at a Faculty meeting Tuesday afternoon. The anVanRheenen nouncement came as a surprise to some faculty members, but VanRheenen, 64, said it was a decision he and his wife Joan carefully deliberated. Although he said he thoroughly enjoyed his tenure as ACU’s chief academic officer, he and his wife are eager to move to the West Coast, where their children and seven grandchildren live. “I’m sure I’ll stay very busy,” VanRheenen said. “We’ll be living close to Seattle on a little island out in the Puget Sound.” Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, wrote in an e-mail that he was working with the Faculty Senate to appoint a Search Committee to conduct a national search for VanRheenen’s replacement. Money wrote that the committee should be announced and functioning by early November. “During Dwayne’s tenure as Provost, the university has enjoyed significant gains in the academic area,” Money said in the e-mail. “My estimate is that he has overseen the hiring of about two-thirds of our current faculty.”’ Money added VanRheenen would still work as a consultant during the 2009-10 school year to help with the implementation of the new core curriculum and other “special projects.” VanRheenen received his bachelor’s degree from Harding University and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri. VanRheenen said he worked in the Department of Communication at the University of Maine for 15 years; he was the Dean of Faculty for Seaver College at Pepperdine University for 11 years and has been ACU’s provost since 1996. While at ACU, VanRheenen’s colleagues said he played a large role in increasing the size and quality of the ACU faculty and curriculum, although VanRheenen humbly See

Retire page 7

Nearly three dozen students attended a presidential debatewatching party in The Grove apartment clubhouse Wednesday night, sparking student cheers and jeers, but few changed minds. As the final debate between Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama got under way, the students intently watched while quietly eating pizza from Little Caesars, chips and cake, all of which were provided by The Grove and both the ACU College Democrats and ACU Young Republicans. “I was a little surprised with how many people were interested. It was a good turnout,” said Shannon Martin, senior family studies See

acuoptimist.com: Hear students’ thoughts on the third and final presidential debate

Debate page 7

Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Donnovan Plummer, senior communication major from Mesquite, watches the final presidential debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain at The Grove clubhouse Wednesday night.

Marijuana in Edwards lands student in jail By Daniel Johnson-Kim Editor in Chief

An ACU freshman from Austin was arrested and jailed Oct. 7 after the ACU Police Department found a small bag of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the student’s room in Edwards Hall. ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison said ACUPD officers were called to the residence hall after several students and Kevin Claypool, Edwards Residence Director, reported a strong odor of marijuana coming from the student’s room on the first floor.

Ellison said two students were in the room, and ACUPD found drugs and several bongs and pipes. Only one student was found to be carrying drugs and was charged with possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor. ACUPD arrested the student, whose name university officials would not release, around 7 p.m. He was taken to Taylor County Jail. “We found the drugs and placed him under arrest,” Ellison said. “It was a fairly open and shut incident.” If the freshman is convicted, he may face a fine not to

exceed $2,000 and confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, according to the Texas Penal Code. Ellison said the case already was filed with the Taylor County District Attorney’s office. In addition to facing criminal charges, the student could face university sanctions and even suspension from the university. According to the ACU Student Guide, using illegal drugs is a Category Three violation of the university policy. A Category Three violation can result in suspension from the university, an ac-

countability agreement, loss of privilege, a minimum fine of $100, loss or reduction of scholarships, eviction from university housing, delay or prohibition of registering for classes and denial or readmission without approval. Although Ellison said this incident did not produce a further investigation into drugs on campus, he said it shows these types of crimes occasionally occur on and around ACU’s campus. “There is no indication this incident was linked to any specific people or patterns,” Ellison said. “At the

same time I’m not so naïve to think this is the only incident that has occurred on campus. This is probably the one that somebody smelled and called.” Ellison added that this happens once or twice a semester, and he does not believe it is fair to assume because of these incidents there is a “drug problem” on campus. “Incidents such as this show ACU is not immune to people making poor choices,” Ellison said.

E-mail Johnson-Kim at: djj04a@acu.edu

Classrooms incorporate devices ‘Prairie Home’ brings

classic show to Moody

By Colter Hettich Features Editor

With most midterms behind students and faculty, the semester officially has reached the halfway mark. Freshmen received their iPhones 62 days ago, and one can hardly walk from building to building without spotting someone looking at or talking on a mobile device. The ACU community and the world have high expectations for the devices’ implementation in the classroom. In University Seminar classrooms, the iPhone plays an integral role. Ray Petitt, adjunct instructor of computer science, teaches a U100 for computer science majors. When he instructs his class to participate in a poll via iPhone, the room comes alive with laughter and dialogue. “This is looking painful, guys.” “Wait, I just submitted mine.” “Whoever’s voting more than once, stop it.” One student calls out, “Who misspelled Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer tasty?” Laughing, an anonymous voice John Royse, freshman computer science major from San Antonio, completes a survey about college life See iPhone page 7 with his iPhone during his U100 class.

aCU WEaTHER