European Scenes
Friday 09.16.11
ACU professor’s art on display
vol. 100, no. 7
friday, september 16, 2011
Arts page 6
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
Central Texas fires threaten lives, destroy homes
T
he wildfires that have scorched the Central Texas landscape since early September are affecting thousands of people, including several in Abilene. The Texas Forest Service has responded to about 150 fires for more than 17,000 acres during the previous week. Of Texas’ 254 counties, all but four have reported burn bans. Taylor Newhouse, sophomore nutrition major from Montgomery, has been feeling the effects of the wildfires, even though she is far from home. Her family was nearly forced to evacuated as the see fires page 4
Fighting theFlames
story by melany cox
photo illustration by daniel gomez chief Photographer
A firefighting helicopter drops flame retardant over a wildfire just north of Abilene last year.
ENROLLMENT
Overall enrollment declines
FALL ENROLLMENT 1990-2011 5,000
mark smith managing editor
3,000
2,000
FALL SEMESTERS
2011-12
2005-06
1995-96
0
2000-01
1,000
1990-91
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4,000
Overall fall enrollment fell by 170 students, much of that attributed by university officials to a sharp decline in the total number of graduate students. In addition, freshmen enrollment fell by about 12 percent year-to-year, the largest decline in more than 20 years, according to 12thday numbers released by the university this week. Despite the decline in total freshmen, overall undergraduate enrollment showed
a year-to-year decline of about one percent, or close to 30 students. The 864 freshmen students combine with 150 transfer students to make just more than 1,000 new students on campus this school year. The total number of freshmen is down by 118, or 12 percent, a statistic chief financial officer Kelly Young attributed to three main factors – increased tuition, economic troubles and changes in recruiting techniques. “Tuition rose before this school year, which was a
“
We’re focusing on more highly-qualified students who are more likely to stay all four years.”
Young said the university isn’t worried about the decrease in incoming students, though, because university success isn’t based on enrollKelly Young ment alone. Chief Financial Officer “We’re focusing on more highly-qualified students definite influence on the who are more likely to stay smaller enrollment,” said all four years,” he said. Young. “Also, the economy is “We’re improving as a qualcausing many potential stu- ity institution of learning.” dents to not be able to afford ACT scores of the freshman any private schools and in- class remained solid. An averstead opt for public or com- age score of 24.6 is the secondmunity colleges, and we’ve highest in school history after had to change our market- last year’s freshman class, said ing strategies to high school Kevin Campbell, director of students.” see decline page 4
Summit
Annual conference to draw large number christianna Lewis copy editor The 105th annual Summit will begin its focus on Isaiah under the theme “Enough” Sunday evening. About 150 sessions will take place around campus from Monday-Wednesday. Summit will feature speakers such as authors Max Lucado and Rachel Held Evans, columnist Susan Campbell, and minister/evangelist Billy Curl. Eric Peters and Mindy Smith will give concerts during the conference, and musical groups will perform during all three days of the event.
Students will be able to earn up to 10 Chapel credits during Summit, which offers two credits per attendance of sessions by theme speakers or featured guests. Dr. Brady Bryce, instructor and director of ministry events, said that this year’s preregistration was up from the past four years. Last year’s Summit had a record attendance of 1200. The university is expecting an attendance between 6-8000, but the actual number of attendees is impossible to know beforehand because Summit is free and does not require preregistration,
Bryce said. Bryce chose the theme “Enough” for Summit based on the needs of today’s culture. Although Summit has focused on Isaiah before in the last 2030 years, the book is still essential for Christians to remember, Bryce said. “I just love how it begins with this indictment from God basically saying ‘I’ve had enough of the ways you’re thinking you’re pleasing me,’” Bryce said. “I’m hoping that by the end of the week people will say ‘We’ve had enough, too.’” Randy Harris, instructor of Bible, missions and minsee summit page 4
Featured Speakers Sharon Cohn Wu Rachel Held Evans Max Lucado Theme Speakers Barron Jones Dusty Rush Dan Rodriquez Billy Curl Rick Mars Mark Hamilton Harold Shank Find a full list of speakers and a Summit schedule at: www.acu.edu/summit
inside sports
opinion
video
news
ACU Golf team heads to second tournament of the year this weekend
Read why ACU needs to combine new and old meal plans
Check out the fourth installment of the Chris Thomsen Show
ACU students teach English in China over summer break
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page 5
Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
page 4