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Pg. 8 Halting History: Wildcats’ loss ends historical season

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 :: Vol. 97, No. 27 :: 1 sections, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com

Inside This Issue:

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Fresh Bite: Jack in the Box opens near ACU’s campus

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The Campus Store partnership with Staples may improve supply quality

A Holiday Secret: Students share discoveries of Santa Claus myth

ACU remembers former trustee’s leadership, influence

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By Michael Freeman Managing Editor

In my opinion, he was the most effective, all-around minister I’ve ever known… he could do it all. :: Dr. Royce Money, president of the university

Officials happy with fall Chapel program

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Meador

Whenever Dr. Prentice Meador Jr. would call his longtime friend Dr. Royce Money after going through the switchboard to reach the president of the university, he would not begin the conversa-

and the Batsell Barrett Baxter Chair of Preaching at Lipscomb University, died Nov. 25 in Nashville after a brief illness. He was 70. But many will remember him for more than his sense of humor; they will remember his influences at ACU and on Churches of Christ.

Student Reporter

After another semester of forums, guest speakers, small groups and special presentations, Spiritual Life is wrapping up Chapel programs for the semester and taking student feedback into consideration in planning for changes in the spring. “We are blessed to be in a very positive environment where [students and faculty] are supportive of Chapel,” said Mark Lewis, assistant dean for Spiritual Life and Chapel Programs. Lewis said the Spiritual Life office has been pleased with the overall results of this semester’s campus conversations, small group and Chapels in Moody Coliseum, and most of these programs have been well received. “I felt like many aspects of Chapel improved this year,” said Beki Hamilton, sophomore integrated marketing communication major from Katy. “Tuesday Chapel was always good, and the speakers were interesting and relevant.” Despite minor glitches with the new card readers, Lewis said they have succeeded in making Chapel traffic flow more smoothly. To improve the orderly exit, the installation of additional card readers in sections G, E and M are being planned. This also will

CU made multiple appearances in local and national media during the fall 2008 semester — some positive, some less than positive. The launch of ACU’s iPhone Initiative attracted attention from all over the world. As the initiative nears the end of its first semester, ACU’s community and onlookers around the world want to know one thing: is it working? Dr. Bill Rankin, associate professor of English and director of ACU’s iPhone educational research team, has played a key role in the initiative from its inception. Rankin and other initiative leaders designated the first semester to familiarity.

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See

Meador page 7

By Linda Bailey Student Reporter

Mobile Learning Initiative’s first semester lays foundation for future expansion By Colter Hettich Features Editor

“In my opinion, he was the most effective, all-around minister I’ve ever known,” Money said. “He could do it all. And he was a professor so he had the heart of teacher. But he had the voice of a prophet, of a public proclaimer of the

Students commit to clean up Galveston over break

Half Full

By Elizabeth Spano

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tion by stating his name. “He would not say, ‘Hi, this is Prentice;’ he would start by saying, ‘There was this salesman…’ And he would start out with this long rambling joke,” Money said. “He loved to laugh. He was very fun-loving.” Meador, a former ACU board of trustee member

The capability this device offers is the platform for opportunity. :: George Saltsman, director of Educational Technology in the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence

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“Because it’s experimental, we wanted to set the bar low,” Rankin said. “We wanted to get [iPhones] in the hands of the faculty, get people to get comfortable with the functions.” About half the faculty, 169, received their choice of iPhone or iPod touch. In addition to covering the costs of their service

Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer

plan, iPhone-bearing faculty were required to attend two training sessions offered throughout the semester. By not requiring that professors use the iPhone in class, initiative leaders hoped they would use this time to acquaint themselves with the device and, See

Initiative page 3

Chapel page 7

A group of students, faculty and staff plans to spend a week during winter break, cleaning hurricane-damaged Galveston. The group will leave Dec. 14 and return Dec. 19. They will spend the week with the Clear Lake Church of Christ in an effort to rebuild damaged houses in Galveston, said Emily Garrison in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. “These trips are just another opportunity for students to live out their Christian call to love and serve others,” Garrison said in an e-mail. Garrison said she was not sure exactly what they would be doing in Galveston, but it probably would be similar to the first relief trip during fall break. During this trip the group spent two days gutting and clearing waterdamaged houses. Kate Huggins, sophomore biochemistry major from Abilene, went on the first trip and plans to return during winter break. “I think disaster relief is a really good eye-opener for college kids,” Huggins said. She said she thinks many people have forgotten about See

Service page 7

Graduates to take stage in December By Lezlee Gutierrez Student Reporter

With the end of the fall semester near, many students are preparing for much more than finals and Christmas break. Two hundred twenty-five students are expected to graduate next week at the 2008 December Commencement and enjoy the bittersweet ending of their college journey. The ceremony will be at Moody Coliseum Dec. 12 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of the journalism and mass communication department, will be the featured speaker.

“It was hard to leave home to move here and it will definitely be hard to move again and start the next chapter of my life away from ACU,” said Abbey Carthel, senior communication science and disorders major from Amarillo. “I feel the Lord has used ACU and the entire Abilene community to transform my life in such a great way, and it’s been a wonderful experience.” Abbey has been attending ACU for three and a half years and will be getting married next semester. She also will be working in College Station in the Spring and begin graduate school in the fall.

aCU WeatHer

Although fewer students tend to graduate in December compared to May, the ceremony is just as special and important for students. Factors such as credits and students finishing earlier than expected play a role in the need for a December graduation. Many proud parents and families will be expected to visit ACU and enjoy a less-crowded Moody Coliseum as they watch their loved ones graduate and reach an important milestone in their lives. See

Thursday

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More than 200 students will walk across the stage in Moody Coliseum to receive their various degrees at the December Commencement. n What: December Commencement n When: Dec. 12 (7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.) n Where: Moody Coliseum n Who: Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of the journalism and mass communication department, will be the featured speaker.

Graduates page 7