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Optimist the
Almost a Stunner, page 8
Friday, March 4, 2011
Vol. 99, No. 41
1 section, 8 pages
ADMINISTRATION
Tuition to increase nearly 10 percent setting tuition is about creating a balance between Editor In Chief cutting costs without shortTuition will rise almost changing students. “We’re always trying 10 percent in the fall, putting the cost of a credit to reach the right balance between investing and enhour at $787. Dr. Phil Schubert, presi- suring our students get the dent of the university, said education experience that
Linda Bailey
they need to be prepared in the world and attempting to trim and cut our costs,” Schubert said. Many factors lead to higher tuition, including an overall increase in faculty medical benefits and utility costs as well as supporting a
healthy measure of financial aid for students. “We’re in an industry that is pretty heavily focused on bodies in the classroom and a lot of heavy capital infrastructure, buildings and facilities – and people tend to be pretty expensive things,
in terms of a business model,” Schubert said. Despite the increase, Schubert said ACU still is priced in the lowest 25 percent of private schools across the country while providing an education in the top 25 percent in quality. And
Schubert said the nature of an open market says some level of correlation exists between price and quality. “That doesn’t mean that it’s easy or cheap, it just means that we want to see RISE page 4
STUDENT LIFE
Students report vehicle burglary Christina Burch Page 2 Editor
A recent wave of vehicle burglary hit the parking lot of Smith and Adams Halls last week, robbing three residents of various items. ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison received the three reports of vehicle burglary on Feb. 21. He said the window of occurrence was between 12 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 8 a.m. on Feb. 21, based on when the victims parked their vehicles and when they found them burglarized. “Three thefts in one night is three too many, but it’s not unheard of,” Ellison said. “We may go months without a car burglary and then get half a dozen. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality we have to deal with.” The ransacked vehicles included a Ford Explorer and a Ford Bronco, both parked on the Smith Hall end of the parking lot, and a Honda Civic, parked in a more central location of the lot. Samantha Pettit, sophomore special education major from Vancouver, Wash., was in class when a friend alerted her that her Honda Civic had been broken into. “I was just angry because it’s very violating,” Pettit said. Pettit said she was relieved that her stereo wasn’t
JOZIE SANDS // Online Editor
Gas prices rise above $3 at the Shell station on Judge Ely Boulevard.
Pain at the Pump As turmoil in the Middle East increases, students feel effects of soaring gas prices Laura Gasvoda Staff Reporter
As gas prices continue to soar above $3 per gallon, many students are struggling to balance the limits of life as a pedestrian with the need to drive. Lauren Johnson, senior international studies major from Newport Beach, Calif., drives a small, efficient Volkswagen Beetle and said she does not feel the effects of soaring prices as much as fellow ACU student Makenzie Brown, freshman business marketing major from Lubbock, who drives a Chevrolet Tahoe. Johnson reports an average of 30 mpg and stated that she only fills up every other week, on average. “I have a real small car,” Johnson said.
“I don’t feel the effects of higher gas prices much unless I go out of town.” Brown, however, reports only 20 mpg, on average, and a recent fill-up cost of about $60. Although she definitely prefers to keep driving, she said she works to try to make fewer trips around town. Brown and Johnson both anticipate a continued increase in the price of gas. Dr. John Hill, associate professor of economics at Hardin-Simmons University, said turmoil in the Middle East has a direct economic effect on gas prices. “Part of the high prices is all the unrest in the Middle East. With the turmoil in Libya, the prices have gone up just with the cost of getting the crude oil out of the country,” Hill said. “And
the other leaders over there have noticed it as well. It’s not only actual price but speculative price on what else they might expect to happen. People might see a chance to overthrow unstable regimes, and the leaders over there have to take that into consideration.” Hill said he is not sure how high the prices will go. “I have no idea on how high the prices will rise, but markets have an uncanny way of dampening themselves out,” Hill said. “Once prices are over $100 a barrel, people start paying attention, and markets respond. People will stop buying if it gets high enough.” contact Gasvoda at
lag08a@acu.edu
see CARS page 4
WORLD
Global revolutions create world-wide impact derson, mission coordinator for Asia within the Halbert Senior Reporter Institute for Missions and Larry Henderson made a adjunct professor of Bible, short visit to Egypt some- missions and ministry. The Egyptian people time in the ‘90s. Thinking back to what he saw in the began protesting against country then, the news of the oppressive and corrupt the Egyptians’ political re- regime of President Hosni Mubarak in late January. volt did not surprise him. “I saw the people living Their biggest demand, that under pressure,” said Hen- the president step down from
Christianna Lewis
website
inside news Texas Legislatures work to pass a bill allowing students and faculty to bring concealed firearms onto college campuses page 3
arts “Outlaws and Legends,” a live, country music festival, brings 17 artists and nine sets to the big country on Saturday. page 5
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power, was met on Feb. 11. In the meantime, the military has stepped in to provide a temporary government, while the Egyptian people organize free elections. Since Egypt’s political revolution, nations in and around the Middle East have seen their people begin to speak out for individual rights, democracy and jus-
Here, in the safety of Abilene and the comfort of our campus, our responsibility is to pray on their behalf. LARRY HENDERSON // mission coordinator for Asia within the Halbert Institute for Missions and adjunct professor of Bible, missions and ministry
tice. Tunisia, Libya, Yemeni, Bahrain, Iraq and Iran all have seen protests by their citizens to bring about new
governments, with varying degrees of success. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Politi-
cal Science, said technology is allowing protesters to see the freedoms enjoyed in other countries, and now they are standing up to their governments to demand the same. While some countries may see their old governments survive, others will be able see PROTESTS page 4
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