acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
Freshmen get ‘Loud,’ see page 7
Friday, August 23, 2010
Vol. 99, No. 1
1 section, 14 pages
STUDENT LIFE
ACU welcomes large, high-scoring class Vice President for Enrollment Buck James said the Managing Editor 2010 freshmen class is one The 2010 freshmen class of the 10 largest in univeris one of the largest and sity history, with around highest achieving in uni- 1,000 students. James also said this versity history. The university will not year’s freshmen possess disclose official enrollment the distinction of having numbers until the 12th day the highest average ACT of classes, but Associate test score of any first-year
Jeff Craig
class in ACU history, with an average score of 24.7. He also said 19 percent of this year’s newcomers finished in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. The theme of this year’s Welcome Week orientation was “Live Out Loud.” Dr. Eric Gumm, Director
of Orientation and head of Welcome Week, said the idea behind the theme was to emphasize the idea of what makes an ACU student unique. “As we look at what the world expects out of college students, it says live for yourself,” Gumm said. “We want students that
live a life that speaks to our faith.” Gumm said the intended purpose of Welcome Week is all about acclamation. His goal is for every student to be comfortable in their environment when the first day of school rolls around. “I want students to feel like they’ve had a real
A Family Affair
glimpse of what ACU is like so they are ready for all that the semester has to offer,” Gumm said. Five upperclassmen assisted Gumm in Welcome Week activities. Emily Bushnell, senior family studies major from New see FRESHMEN page 12
CORNERSTONE
Course stresses critical thinking Christianna Lewis Senior Reporter
This year’s freshmen will not be able to brush off the traditionally bare-bones “welcome to college life” class. A three-hour Cornerstone class has replaced the one-hour University Seminar (UNIV 100) as a part of ACU’s new interdisciplinary core curriculum. Cornerstone shifts the focus from simply providing students with fundamental learning skills, such as notetaking and study habits, to cultivating critical thinking and a multi-faceted worldview, said Dr. Kristina Campos, course developer and assistant professor of communication. “We kept hearing from students that UNIV 100 didn’t do all the things that they wanted it to do,” Campos said. “The idea was to create a three-hour course that was more rigorous and taught what we expect from a college scholar.” Unlike UNIV 100 that grouped students by majors, Cornerstone allows all majors to sign up for any of the 37 sections, Campos said. Cornerstone, the first
JOZIE SANDS // Online Editor
Dr. Phil Schubert leans over to chat with guests at the Inaugural Dinner, including Holt Lunsford, member of the Board of Trustees and tribute speaker. minder of all the people who’ve had wonderful experiences here, who still think about this Editor in Chief place everyday and want to do everything they can to make it great.” Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the uniDr. Phil Schubert was the guest of honor at Saturday night’s Inaugural Dinner, but Schu- versity, was one of two tribute speakers durbert was quick to redirect the attention to the ing the Inaugural Dinner in the Robert D. and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center on Saturday entire university. “It’s certainly not about us,” Schubert, ACU’s night. Schubert focuses on home and family 11th president, said. “It’s about the university more than anything else, and he expands that and all that happens here, and it’s a great re-
Linda Bailey
Schubert, speakers put focus on family at inaugural dinner
see CURRICULUM page 4
see SCHUBERT page 4
CONSTRUCTION
Campus construction projects advance during summer Kelsi Williamson Arts Editor
Workers continue the ongoing efforts to complete the new heating and cooling system around the ACU campus Wednesday.
Construction throughout campus continues to progress on both the heating and cooling loop line and the Royce and Pam Money Student and Recreation Wellness Center. The ACU Student Recreation and Wellness Center blog reports that work on the new building over the summer was primarily structural. According
inside
website
DANIEL GOMEZ // chief photographer
news Overton Faubus, father of COBA, died Aug. 1. Faubus is remembered by his colleagues and family members. page 10
opinion Meet the members of the Editorial Board and learn the purpose and function of the opinion page. page 8
to the blog, construction during the first part of August has been concentrated on the completion of the basement as well as initial work on the future pool area. Once completed, the new Recreation Wellness Center will feature two new gymnasiums, a new weight area, leisure and lap pools, aerobics facilities and a climbing wall. Office and classroom spaces will also be includ-
ed in the 113,000 squarefoot building. “The Rec. Center project is still carrying roughly a 50-day delay,” according to the blog. However, this delay is expected to be recovered by mid 2011. Loop line construction is now concentrated outside the Don H. Morris Center as well as between Brown Library and Mabee Hall. The new pipes are a part of a $5 million project to install a new heat-
ing and cooling system on campus, set to be finished in September. Written updates along with web camera photographs of the recreation center construction can be accessed at blogs.acu. edu/srwc. Physical Resources Director Scot Colley was unavailable for comment on construction updates. contact Williamson at
kkw07a@acu.edu
weather video View a glimpse of the ins and outs of Welcome Week 2010 as freshmen and transfer students live out loud.
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
103° 77°
99° 70°
84° 68°