Optimist the
Vol. 98, No. 38
A Passing Legend
1 section, 8 pages
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
BREAKING NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, DISCUSSION AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT LOCAL
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acuoptimist.com
ADMINISTRATION
Hotels booked through Sunday Abby Anderson Contributing Reporter Hotels throughout the city of are posting “no vacancy” signs as hundreds of guests travel to Abilene for ACU’s 2010 Sing Song production. Other events, such as Homecoming and graduation, attract many out-oftowners, but according to hotel managers, Sing Song is one of the busiest and biggest weekends of the year. Parents, alumni and prospective students all come to see one of ACU’s oldest and most beloved traditions, and the hotels around campus fill up months in advance. Goldy Brar, manager at Comfort Suites University, said local hotels benefit from the extra traffic. “Our hotel is 100 percent sold out,” Brar said. This seems to be the trend across the whole city. Even hotels across town and near the mall expect maximum occupancy. This rush of guests means extra work for those employed by Abilene hotels. Dustin Brooks, assistant general manager at Hampton Inn Abilene I-20, said the hotel scheduled extra staff Friday afternoon to ensure quick and efficient guest check-in. Even newer hotels, like Sleep Inn Suites on Danville Drive, will be operating
KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer
Dr. Phil Schubert addresses a packed Moody Coliseum on Friday. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, then prayed a blessing over Schubert.
A FAMILIAR FACE Faculty discuss the inherent tension of two internal candidates, and students share their expectations. Staff Report Seven months of searching and waiting came to an end Friday when Sharron Drury, member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Presidential Search Transition Team, introduced the 11th president of Abilene Christian University, Dr. Phil Schubert. Schubert was one of two finalists; the other was Dr. Rick Lytle, dean of the College of Business Administration. Lytle issued a statement supporting the board’s decision but declined to comment further. Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, dean of students and vice president of Student Life, looks forward to the continuation of his and Schubert’s successful work-
View video and photo of the press conference and Chapel announcement.
acuoptimist.com ing relationship. Thompson also said he hopes the community will not allow loyalties to divide them. “One of the things I’m very cognizant of is we’ve got two stellar internal guys that we love,” Thompson said. “There’s been a lot of prayer, and this is a time for our community to rally around our new leadership.” Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of
KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer
Dr. Schubert and his wife, Jamie, stand together as Friday’s Chapel audience applauds.
see ANNOUNCEMENT page 4
see BOOKED page 4
SING SONG
CAMPUS
Judges selected, unnamed ACUPD, campus preps Jeff Craig
Our scoring method is a lot like the way they judge figure skating in the Olympics. We haven’t had any judging issues since I’ve been on board.
Sports Editor As tradition dictates, a panel of 30 judges from various fields will determine the winners of this year’s Sing Song competition. Tom Craig, director of student productions and Sing Song director, said the judges were drawn from faculty and staff, alumni and professionals from the music or event industry. However, Craig said the names of the judges are not released prior to the shows. “We try to get a good mix of judges each year,”
TOM CRAIG Director of Student Productions and Sing Song Director
Craig said. “We don’t release the names of the judges before each show so people can’t go out and try to persuade our judges.” Craig has said one of the Sing Song judges this year will be a well-known music video producer. He also said many of the other judges would be music
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educators or professionals in the music industry. Many of the alumni judges participated in Sing Song when they were students at ACU. The 30 judges will be divided into three groups, with 10 judges for each show. Three of the judges see JUDGES page 4
for influx of thousands Alan Cherry
tween Friday and Sunday, although not all for Sing Contributing Reporter Song. The Board of Trustwill With Sing Song weekend ees meet this looming, family, friends and alumni are making weekend, the annual trek to Abilene and strong financial – and not on foot. “This weekend is by far supportthe most traffic-intensive ers of the weekend of the year,” u n i v e r Ellison said ACU Police Chief sity will be honored at the President’s Jimmy Ellison. Between 8,000 and Circle Dinner. Similar to previous 9,000 additional people will arrive on campus be- years, campus parking
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lots will be open on a first-come, first-served basis, instead of being divided into student, faculty and staff and visitor lots. After a parking lot has reached capacity, it will be barricaded until the event is over. Exceptions are the lot in front of the Teague Special Events Center and the lot north of Edwards Hall, see WEEKEND page 4
Online
PROPS, COSTUMES and makeup make this year’s acts look good, but they require hours of work. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes.
THE OVERT SECRECY of the presidential announcement rubbed our editorial board the wrong way, but we think Dr. Schubert is the man for the job.
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VIDEO
LOUDandCLEAR
Were you pleased with Friday’s Chapel? a. Yes, it was professional and well-organized. b. No, why did they announce it early? c. I saw it on Twitter at 9 a.m. ‘Close Your Eyes’ Video Shoot
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