Features Page 5
Word wars ACU’s debate team prepares for nationals vol. 102, no. 40
wednesday, february 26, 2014
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
Building intiative spurs fundraising
INSIDE NEWS ACU theatre opens its production of 100 Saints You Should Know Thursday night Page 4
SPORTS Men’s basketball ties Southland Conference record for three-pointers
Funds needed before May 31 to begin project
bert, and April and Mark Anthony – leaving $15 million to be raised, according to the university’s press release. raised by the university The Wildcat Stadium is Marissa jones by May 31, 2014. projected to cost $30 mileditor in chief ACU’s three new sci- lion – of which the Anthoence facilities are expect- nys have already gifted Though $55 million has ed to cost a total of $45 $15 million. already been gifted to the million – $30 million of Seven million dollars “Vision in Action” initia- which has already been of the donations from the tive, it appears as much as donated by Kay Onstead, Anthonys is set to benefit $30 million remains to be Kathy and David D. Hal- the College of Business
Administration and $3 million in undesignated funds. The university’s goal is to have the remaining funds secured by May 31, but that goal may not necessarily be reached. The average amount of gifts raised by the university per year is about $14.7 million in the last five fiscal years. The university’s policy
jc peeples staff reporter
OPINION The Editorial Board discusses what would be the best option to replace Pizza Hut in the Campus Center
Page 6
SPORTS The ACU baseball team wins two games in inagural Al Scott Memorial Classic at home Page 8
NEWS Highland Church of Christ will move services to the Civic Center over the summer for renovation
SPORTS Freshman pitcher Hannah Null throws her second shutout of the season Page 7
ashlynn anthony Staff Photographer
U.S. Sen. Jon Cornyn (R-Texas) tours the ACU Learning Studio and Maker Lab to get a feel of campus life and talks to students about education. Cornyn said he was impressed by the impact the culture of ACU has made on students and professors.
Senator visits to learn about ACU kara stutesman student reporter
NEWS OME hosts Project Reach, a student fashion show to display culture and clothes Page 4
OPINION Alikay Wood reflects on her 21-day experiment of plainness Page 6
see fundraising page 4
Construction obstructs ACU parking
Page 8
Page 3
set by the Board of Trustees is to raise the complete amount of funds before construction begins. President Phil Schubert said if fundraising takes longer than expected, they’ll take whatever time they need to acquire the funds. “We would not move forward with any con-
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) visited ACU’s campus last Thursday and was able to take a tour of the new Maker Lab and Learning Studio. Cornyn talked with faculty and students to discover what enables ACU to send out so many employed graduates. According to Forbes. com, the real unemployment rate is 14.7 percent as of January 2014. While that is a staggering number, even more unprecedented is the impressive
95 percent of ACU business graduates who have a job upon receiving their degree. “It struck me, listening to these students and their professors talk about the unique culture that ACU brings,” Cornyn said. “These students aren’t just another number or name. They’re real people and they connect in very real and personal ways with their professors, in a way that helps nurture their palates and encourages their success. And of course the great network of alumni that I know has been a great outlet for internships and
“
It struck me listening to these students and their professors talk about the unique culture that ACU brings.”
ferent Senator Cornyn’s visit was from what she had expected. “It wasn’t what I was expecting at all,” Hernandez said. “It was a lot more relaxed than I thought. It was really cool that he John Cornyn would just randomly go us senator out of his way to meet people.” Junior advertising and public relations majobs.” jor from Abilene, Brantly Though the visit was Houston, echoed Hernanbrief, it impacted not only dez. Cornyn, but the students “I thought it was really he met as well. cool that he saw someBetsy Hernandez, se- thing special about ACU nior business manage- and our graduates,” Housment major from Abilene, see senator page 4 was shocked with how dif-
Thirty-five parking spaces are temporarily closed because of the renovation of the Bennett Gymnasium. The parking spaces are in three lots on campus including some parking spaces on Campus Road, several angled spots in the WFF lot and a portion of the parking lot adjacent to McKinzie Hall and the education building. The closure will affect faculty and staff, all-permit and student parking. “Anytime there’s a project there will be some degree of inconvenience and some closures. We want the campus to know that anytime we deal with construction on parking lot structures we appreciate the compliance of all,” said police chief Jimmy Ellison. Ellison said he wants students to understand the complications of the construction, and that the campus must work together. “We have, on any given day, many open spaces,” Ellison said. Chelsea Willette, sophomore history major from San Antonio, said the closure is a good move. “If they’re doing construction, the debris could damage someone’s car,” Willette said. “Closing the parking lots leaves room for the workers to do their jobs.” Stephen Estrada, junior management major from San Antonio, said he has seen the closure cause slight frustration. “Parking has always been an issue for some people,” Estrada said. “Shutting down the parking lots has really upset some people.” Estrada mentioned parking has not been an issue for him yet. “I have all 8 a.m. classes so I normally have my choice in other spaces,” he said. “It can cause an inconvenience for those who have later classes.” He said people who are frustrated by the closure need to remember it is for a good cause. The closure of the three parking lots is temporary.
contact peeples at jcp12a@acu.edu
Three more Weekend Campaigns planned ONLINE VIDEO Watch highlights from the Harlem Globetrotter’s performance
Read more at acuoptimist.com
emily seidel student reporter With one event already completed, the spring schedule of Weekend Campaigns is underway and will continue through the end of April. Rachel Smith, senior english major from Wiggins, Colo., said this year’s campaigns would be especially beneficial for those who are interested in exercise science, working with people with disabilities, working with children, social work,
outdoor activities and supporting international mission work. She said every student will find something to enjoy in the Weekend Campaigns. “The best part of this is getting to see other students really open up and realize they’re making a huge difference in people’s lives,” Smith said. “I don’t think a lot of them have ever really had that opportunity, so it’s always an eye-opener for them.” Three more campaigns are set within the next two months, following the first campaign which
took place last week. On Feb. 22, students participated in the Cedar Creek Clean-Up Project in Abilene. The event was organized with the help of Dr. Jim Cooke from the Agriculture and Environmental Science Department, and was a one-day project that allowed students to serve even if they could not commit to an entire weekend of travel later on in the semester. On March 22, students will travel to the Brookwood Community, see campaigns page 4
Abilene Christian University
brittany jackson managing editor
Students and members of the Abilene community clean up a dumpsite for the Cedar Creek Waterway project.