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Fans of the Year, page 8
Friday, January 28, 2011
Vol. 99, No. 31
1 section, 8 pages
ACADEMICS
Presidential Scholar requirements increase In the past, students could apply for either a half- or fullManaging Editor tuition Presidential ScholarPresidential Scholarship appli- ship. This year, all students will cants and winners this year will compete for up to a full-tuition participate in a transformed scholarship, with unset awards program as the scholarship un- adding more options for potendergoes alterations in both can- tial scholarship amounts, said didate requirements and award Tamera Long, director of Campus Recruiting. administration.
Jeff Craig
“I believe it allows us to award more scholarships, because we can use our funds more strategically,” Long said. Interviews also are being conducted during the afternoon hours for the first time. Long said moving the interviews to later in the day has allowed more faculty to participate in the interview process.
In addition to changes to the interview process, those receiving awards also will see some changes from previous years. Recipients of the award now will be required to fulfill lowest level requirements for the Honors College and participate in two extracurricular activities.
“I think faculty add an interesting perspective to the interviews, since they are academic scholars in their respective fields,” Long said. “It allows students to interact with prospective faculty and allows the faculty to feel like they are more involved and have a role in selecting potential scholars.”
see SCHOLAR page 4
ACUPD
Ellison named state’s top cop Jeff Craig
Managing Editor
Kyle Dickson, director of the AT&T Learning Studio and associate professor of English, said he believes the center will bring a new energy to the library. “The facility is designed to spark student creativity and collaboration,” Dickson said. “The library has lots of places that support individual study, but everything from the furniture to the technology in the new learning studio will help make groups more productive.” Until the opening, students are encouraged to be mindful of construction areas and to avoid the third floor of the library as much as possible. More information on the center can
ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison was honored with the Outstanding Police Chief Award for 2010 by a statew i d e group of college police departments. The Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators gave Ellison the award. Ellison, who has served as ACU’s Chief of Police since 2001, said the award demonstrated the commitment the university and his officers have shown to ensure the campus remains safe. “I was surprised and honored to receive it,” Ellison said. “There are a lot of deserving chiefs around the state, so I was very honored to receive it. To me it’s more of a reflection of the department staff and the university than it is a reflection of me as an individual.” Ellison said the award, formally know as the Bill G. Daniels Outstanding Administrator Award, is handed out annually by
see AT&T page 4
see TACUPA page 4
DANIEL GOMEZ // Staff Photographer
Construction workers smooth the freshly poured concrete between Brown Library and Wednesday.
Campus construction remains on track Christina Burch Page 2 Editor
With new grass taking root and temporary fences disappearing, the completion of several construction projects is returning ACU’s campus to an improved version of its former glory. AT&T Learning Studio Construction on the third floor of the Brown Library will come to a close in the next several weeks as the AT&T Learning Studio plans to open Feb. 28. The AT&T Learning Studio will function as an addition to the ACU Digital Media Center, giving students access to renovated audio
and video studios and offering collaboration rooms and media support staff for first-timers and advanced technology users alike. The completed center will feature a ribbon cutting Feb. 28, with guests from AT&T and the community in attendance. In conjunction with the opening, students, faculty and interested community members can attend the Connected Mobile Conference on Feb. 28 and March 1. Tours of the facility and the updated technology will be available for students the week before the opening. Also, faculty will have the opportunity to attend informational lunches about the studio in the Adams Center at 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.
DEBATE
Debate duo ranks No. 20 in national standings Meagan Hernandez Staff Photographer
The ACU Forensics team, more commonly known as speech and debate, is no stranger to success. Among other notable achievements, its qualifications for the national debate tournament against opponents like Rice University demands
inside news ACU will eliminate its P.E. Teacher Education program and develop a new kinesiology and recreation leadership major. page 3
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the attention of the debate world. “I’m proud of all of our kids. We’ve done really well. It’s been very exciting,” said Dena Counts, instructor of communications and Forensics director. Two members of the team are ranked 20th out of 800 teams in the nation. Jared Perkins, junior political science major
“Jeff and Jared are our most experienced team,” Counts I’m proud of all of our kids. said. “They have received We’ve done really well. It’s an invitation to the National been very exciting. Parliamentary Tournament DENA COUNTS // instructor of of Excellence. It is invitation communications and Forensics director only. Only 60 teams in the nafrom Peru, Ill., and Jeff and quarter-finals in oth- tion get one.” Margaret Moore, junior Craig, junior print journal- er debate tournaments. ism major from Granbury, Through these victories, youth and family ministry took first place in three they have accumulated major from Katy, is another different tournaments and enough points to outrank distinguished member of the program. Moore has won first qualified for semi-finals the other 780 teams.
website
arts Find more information and read reviews of the six Oscar-nominated films before the awards show premier. page 5
place in two different tournaments with her informative speech on echolocation. Although Moore said she is proud of her accomplishments, she especially values the skills they represent. “I am able to see both sides of the issue. I am able to think critically about a problem and approach it see FORENSICS page 4
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photo gallery Find more photos of construction on the AT&T Learning Studio and the Royce and Pam Money Recreation and Wellness Center at acuoptimist.com.
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