DRESSED TO IMPRESS Wildcats receive new uniforms vol. 102, no. 2
wednesday, august 28, 2013
Sports Page 8
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
INSIDE NEWS Bity’s Flowers Shop closes its doors
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NEWS Chapel makes changes to semester schedule Page 3
FEATURE The Maker’s Space arrives on-campus
GRADE-A SPEAKER
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OPINION The Editorial Board explains the traditions of ACU to freshmen
Mandy Lambright chief Photographer
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OPINION Melany Cox tells why TV shows shouldn’t be compared to real life Page 6
Rick Atchley, preaching minister at The Hills, speaks during Opening Chapel. Atchley emphasized the importance of focusing on relationships and making memories rather than grades.
The 108th Opening Chapel recognizes new achievements, directs students’ focus Maggie Marshall Copy Editor
SPORTS Wildcats outfitted in new uniforms Page 8
SPORTS ACU to begin football season on Saturday
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SPORTS Wildcats soccer wins first Division I games
Opening Chapel is the kick off for every fall semester, and this year’s assembly definitely did not disappoint. The Parade of Flags, just one of Opening Chapel’s traditions, recognizes every country represented in the ACU body. Many students look forward to watching the parade at the beginning of Chapel each year. Kaileb Holland, junior information technology major from Conroe, was one of those students. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Holland said. The parade and the processional started off the festivities, followed by an address by Phil Schubert,
Sports Golf begins its season in September Page 8
NEWS Rec Center offers new excercise classes Page 3
editor in chief The search continues for the new vice president of Student Life. After Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson left the university in March of last semester, Dr. Jan Meyer has been serving as the interim vice president for Student Life. A search committee
VIDEO See a recap of the incoming students’ Welcome Week experience
acuoptimist.com
see chapel page 4
mandy lambright CHIEF Photographer Tyler Davis, sophomore information technology major from Austin, proudly waves the Texas flag during the Parade of Flags, a tradition of Opening Chapel.
was formed by Dr. Allison Garrett, vice president of the university, in February. The committee consists of ten staff and faculty members from various areas of the university. The committee had their first meeting Feb. 25. The position has been advertised nationally. The search committee has received many applications which have gone through a
rigorous screening process, Garrett said. The committee does not have a conclusive date of when a candidate will be chosen. They hope that one will be chosen by next semester one but that is not their key goal, said Anthony Williams, chair of the search committee and chief business services officer. “We’re going as fast as we can without being in a
hurry,” Williams said. “We don’t have an exact date, and we don’t want to be governed by that.” Two applicants have been interviewed on campus and more are expected to be invited later this semester. Samantha Adkins, assistant director of Alumni Relations and member of the search committee, said the committee is looking for
someone with experience. “We’re looking for someone who can delegate, but who has a good heart,” Adkins said. “This position deals with a lot of emotion, sometimes crisis, so we’re looking for someone who has dealt with crisis before, and someone who can bring a team together.” see Search page 4
Bean Bucks to be used off-campus to use their ID cards to purchase food at restaurants Arts Editor off-campus and presented it in The Greatest Ideas One student’s idea will Challenge. Although his soon become a campus- idea didn’t win, ACU began wide program. partnering with McClain Nathan McClain, se- to begin a program almost nior kinesiology major, was identical to the one he desearching for ways to eat signed. off-campus without spend“It’s pretty much exactly ing a lot of his own money. what I envisioned it to be,” He heard about TCU’s Frog McClain said. “I’ve gotten to Bucks program and won- go to a couple of meetings dered why ACU didn’t have and offer input.” a similar system. Dylan Benac, presiMcClain designed a pro- dent of the Students’ Asgram that allows students sociation, said Bean Bucks
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Delaney Noel, junior exercise science major from Littleton, Colo., tuned in to Atchley’s speech as well. “I think that Rick offered a really important perspective especially for those stressed out about going into the new year,” Noel said. “He offered a really good perspective that even though grades and academics matter, focusing on God and other people is what will end up being important.” Atchley, despite being valedictorian of his graduating class, encouraged students to place more emphasis on building relationships and making memories than spending time in the library. “You were made for a calling, not a career,” Atch-
Search ongoing for Student Life VP Marissa Jones
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president of ACU, and a guest speaker. Rick Atchley, minister at The Hills in North Richland Hills, was this year’s speaker. Atchley easily caught the attention of the student body. “Work hard in school, but play hard too,” Atchley said. “Grades don’t matter.” Phrases like these may make any faculty member choke but ensured students were listening. The words caught the attention of Caitlin McKnight, junior speech pathology major from Pittsburg, Kansas. “I thought it was a fantastic way to kick of the semester,” McKnight said. “I thought Rick Atchley gave some very insightful and encouraging advice for the student body.”
should hopefully be available off-campus halfway through the fall semester. Soon restaurants on the program will have specific card readers that will take ACU student ID cards and charge the bill to ACU. ACU will then pay back the restaurant. Details are still being worked out, but McClain is hoping for a dollar to dollar exchange. Some of the restaurants expected to participate are Sharky’s, Little Panda, Jason’s Deli and Rosa’s. “I think it’s a great op-
Abilene Christian University
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“I think it’s a great opportunity forus to use our meal plan in a different way.”
Benac said he was surprised at how quickly this idea was being implemented. “It’s been worked on really hard,” Benac said. Nathan McClain “Most of the summer was senio spent making it happen, and they’re close. The students were able to put portunity for us to use our themselves forward, and we meal plan in a different actually produced results.” way,” McClain said. “It’s Anthony Williams, a way for students to use chief business services oftheir money more wisely by ficer, was unavailable for not having to pay for food comment. all the time straight from your own budget.” see BUCKS page4