Bringing in the Closer
vol. 100, no. 54
friday, april 27, 2012
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
‘Cats battle Rams for playoff spot
Sports page 6
crime
University mulls iPad mandate Mark smith managing editor All full-time ACU undergrad students may be required to have an iPad by August 2013. Team 55 sent an email to incoming freshmen encouraging them to choose an iPad from the Mobile Learning Initiative selection because all full-time undergrads would be required to have an iPad in the fall of 2013. However, George Saltsman, executive director of Educational Technology, said the email was supposed to say that Team 55 expects this change but it isn’t set. “We anticipate students to be required to have an iPad by then, but we don’t know for sure,” Saltsman said. “We’re in the planning process now.” Team 55 will send another email soon to incoming freshmen to clarify its intent. Saltsman said should students be required to have an iPad, he didn’t know if they would have to pay for it or if the university would provide it. “There’s an assumption digital textbooks will ultimately save students money” he said. “We don’t know yet how they will be paid for.” Saltsman said data shows an overwhelming majority of students won’t need smartphones when they come to campus, and digital textbooks may be more popular then. “Eighty-six percent of incoming freshmen are projected to already have smartphones before getting here,” he said. contact smith at mds10a@acu.edu
Mandy Lambright Chief photographer
Ruby Poole, sophomore nursing major from Frisco, demolishes a cantaloupe at the Alpha Kai Omega and Trojan Fruit Smash rush at Will Hair Park.
University
Gibson takes first steps toward recovery Marissa jones page 2 editor Justin Gibson, sophomore social work major from Gatesville, continues to recover after his scooter crashed with another vehicle on March 30. After the accident, Gibson was in critical condition and remained in a coma. Doctors said it was possible that he might lose his speech and his ability to read and hear. However, Gibson’s recovery did not go as expected.
Gibson’s girlfriend, Melissa Mason, junior psychology major from New York City, said that Justin has made an incredible recovery. “They didn’t ever expect Justin to get to this point and especially not a week and a half after he woke up from his coma,” Mason said. “They didn’t expect him to wake up from his coma 12 days after the accident. They estimated three months to two years. It’s been amazing. It’s a miracle. It’s all God.” Mason said Gibson is currently awake, walking
“
Mason said, “We still don’t know if there are going to be deficits or not, or if he’ll go back to being completely healed. It’s all up in the air.” The ACU community’s support of Gibson has imMelissa Mason junior psychology major pacted him and his friends from new york city and family. “Justin knows that all with the help of a walker, ery. He continues to suffer of ACU is praying for him. cognitively very aware, from double vision in one I told him that the first day eye, a torn ACL and head you met for Chapel after and he is talking. Gibson plans on return- injuries. He is currently the accident, the whole ing to Gatesville to live with only able to talk in a whis- Chapel was about him. He his parents and participate per due to a damaged vocal said ‘really?’ and then he in outpatient care in Dal- cord. At this point, the last- fist pumped,” Mason said. las a couple of times a week ing effects of Gibson’s acci- “He’s blown away by how many people care about until he makes a full recov- dent are unclear.
A lot of people have said to me that they used to have trouble believing in God, and Justin’s situation made them feel that God is real and that He cares about us.”
him and are coming together to support him. It’s the same for us. We just feel so blessed that we have so many people that are supporting us and are praying for him constantly.” Faculty, such as Dr. Scott Perkins, a professor of the Department of Psychology, who are connected to both Gibson and Mason have made the trip to the Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas that Gibson is receiving treatment at. Dr. Perkins is one of Masee gibson page 5
service
Student releases album to raise mission trip funds psychology major from Illinois, knew that sendStudent reporter ing out fundraising letters would not be enough, A junior psychology major so she decided to put her is selling an original piano musical talents towards a album on iTunes with pro- good cause and recorded ceeds benefiting her sum- an entire album of original piano pieces. mer mission trip. “I’ve wanted to make an When it came time to raise money for her World album for a while and had Wide Witness trip to Hara- the music to do so,” Nikolaus re, Zimbabwe this summer, said. “This mission trip game Caroline Nikolaus, junior me the motivation to finally
Carole-Marie Wiser
record and release because it was going to be for a purpose and good cause, not just to make me feel better about being an artist.” Nikolaus began piano lessons in kindergarten and continued until she reached high school. Along the way she also picked up playing clarinet and guitar. By the time she started her senior year, she was in jazz band, wind ensemble,
choir, show choir, church choir and the praise team for her youth group. “My family is a singing family, we grew up belting it in the kitchen, car and everywhere else,” Nikolaus said. “It’s in my blood and I thank God he’s given me these talents to play.” Although Nikolaus has been on several mission trips before, including places such as: Honduras,
Oregon, Poland and Bulgaria, this will be the first mission trip that will last longer than two weeks. She is hoping that this experience will help decide if she is interested in more long term mission work. While she is in Zimbabwe, she will be working with local organizations and churches to help with orphan care, vulnerable children care, youth ministry and compas-
sion ministry for a time span of two months. The album entitled Speak the Language - A Mediation features eight songs and is available on iTunes for $7.92. Reviews posted on iTunes state that this album is “a perfect study and relaxation mix” contact Wiser at cxw08a@acu.edu
inside news
opinion
photos
news
Department of Biology to offer new course next fall
Weather patterns leave students ill prepared
See more photos of this year’s spring rushes
The Optimist, Morris & Mitchell name leaders for next year
Page 5
page 4
Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
page 3