acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
The Civil Wars, page 5
Friday, March 11, 2011
Vol. 99, No. 43
1 section, 8 pages
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Survey reveals opinions on dancing, ad kiosk The survey found most students would like to see dancing Find a complete breakdown Managing Editor of all SA survey results on as an option at campus events our website: and dance classes as an exercise Nearly 90 percent of ACU students see dancing as an “optional, but ap- science option, said SA Vice Presiacuoptimist.com propriate activity for students,” ac- dent Jared Elk, senior political related to advertising on camcording to a Students’ Association science major from Savoy. Elk said the survey also re- pus. Only 44 percent of students survey in which more than 1,000 flected a strong opinion on issues agree or strongly agree that the students participated last month.
Jeff Craig
university has enough advertising opportunities for students, and 61 percent said they never look at the advertising kiosk near the Campus Center. Elk said many of the personal comments pertaining to advertising suggested allowing students to use sidewalk chalk to advertise
campus events. Only 14 percent of students said they knew how to post information in the kiosk. The survey also asked questions about class attendance. Just 36 percent of those surveyed believe it is fair to lower a stusee SURVEY page 4
FACULTY
Tuition increase raises concerns Linda Bailey Editor in Chief
As tuition rises, so do some related faculty concerns. The Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition nearly 10 percent for the coming school year, and some faculty members say they are concerned it could outprice some prospective students, including children of faculty, and leave other students with mounds of debt. Tuition for the 2011-12 academic year has been set at $787 per credit hour, meaning a student taking 15 hours will pay a minimum of $11,805, not including fees, housing or food. “We see our students leave with lots of debt and worry about how they’ll pay for that debt,” said Kim Pamplin, chair of the Faculty Senate. The financial strain also can impact children of ACU employees, said Pamplin, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “One of the things Faculty Senate has been thinking about is the affordability of ACU for our own employees,” Pamplin said. “If our cost to send one of our dependents to ACU is rising faster than our salaries are rising, then I think that means ACU is
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
Erin Mangold, junior journalism and Ad/PR major from Lockney, plants flowers at New Horizons’ Audrey Grace House.
Broadening Horizons
Free enterprise club partners with local non-profit to build relationships Jeff Craig
Managing Editor
Members of Students in Free Enterprise have made it their mission to give back to the local community. SIFE has begun a partnership with New Horizons, a local non-profit that ministers to abused children and gives them a place to live. The students planted f lowers and worked in the gardens and New Horizons’ Audrey Grace House on Saturday – but students said this is
just the beginning of their partnership. “We want to build that relationship with those kids and be a part of the community with those kids,” said SIFE project manager Jon Pratt. “We’re going to start going every Thursday to spend time with kids and tutor. It’s a sustainable project so we plan on working with them for years to come.” Pratt, senior accounting major from Kerrville, said the group was awarded a $1,200 grant from Lowes Home Improvement and decided to work with New Horizons at the
suggestion of their adviser Dr. Darryl Jinkerson, associate professor of management. “It’s outstanding. New Horizons exists to put kids first and do what’s best for the kids,” Jinkerson said. “It can be a very, very long relationship.” Pratt said he was looking forward to developing a long-term relationship with New Horizons. “Our SIFE team is all about getting involved in the community,” Pratt said. “As see MINISTRY page 4
see RISE page 4
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Congress to purchase sound system Linda Bailey Editor in Chief
The Students’ Association Congress passed a bill Wednesday allocating $1,500 toward purchasing a sound system for various student group use. After granting student groups a combined total of $3,630 in the past two se-
mesters for sound equipment for events, members of SA decided it would be more cost effective to buy one sound system for student groups to share. Sikes Residence Hall Representative Rebecca Dial, junior political science major from Lexington, S.C., presented the bill and said SA is talking
reserved for the system would take up half of the Congressional budget, but he said it would be a worthwhile investment. Congress also heard from three committees as part of Wednesday’s meeting. The Advertising Committee updated Congress see COMMITTEE page 4
website
inside news Students have different reactions to the nearly 10 percent tuition increase effective for the 2011-2012 school year. page 4
to Student Life and Student Productions to determine the best method for a check-out system. Also, she said they still were researching sound systems before spending the allocated funds. SA President Samuel Palomares, senior communication major from Elsa, said the money now
sports Former Wildcat football players will participate in the ACU Pro Day to prepare for the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. page 8
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
Students’ Association officers listens to suggestions, questions and bill proposals from Congress during its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
weather video Nikki’s Swirl Shoppe is open for business and serving the sweet treat to frozen yogurt fans of all ages.
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