High Hopes: Volleyball Team plans to win conference
vol. 100, no. 1
monday, AUGUST 29, 2010
Sports page 10
1 SECTION, 10 PAGES
budget
Parade of Lights
Decreased enrollment forces cuts in budget
mark smith
managing editor
For freshman Annique Dentino, psychology major from Lubbock, the Candlelight Devo portion of this year’s Welcome Week was a spritual and surreal experience. “I believe singing praise music is a form of talking and praying to God,” she said. “It was like they were praying over us; I actually started choking up while walking to the amphitheater.” Dentino’s reaction to this year’s Candlelight Devo is not unlike many others. The Welcome Week tradition is in-
tended to be a spiritual, emotional event that brings out upperclassmen and members from the Abilene community to sing over the new students on campus. This year’s Welcome Week theme, “Who am I?” was based on the biblical passage in 1 Peter 1:13-16, emphasizing the importance of identity outside of actions, as in the scripture reference in verse 16, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Bob Strader, director of ACU leadership camps, built on the theme at the Candlelight Devo on Tuesday night. “I spoke about what shapes a person’s identity, especially the idea that we aren’t identified by mistakes
hannah barnes editor-in-chief
A shortfall in the number of freshmen and financial aid cuts by the state of Texas has led the university to cut several million dollars from its budget this year. Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, addressed the budget and enrollment issues at a meeting with faculty and staff on Wednesday. Schubert and other members of the university administration finalized decisions to reduce the university’s costs over the summer. They eliminated seven faculty and staff positions, closed one department and asked several departments see lights page 8 not to fill vacant positions. Many departments have been asked to cut 6 percent of their expenses during the coming year. Other steps taken to minimize spending included reductions in the Core Curriculum budget, a reduction in planned Advancement expense increases and a reduction in Information Services operating budgets. For the past two years, fall freshman enrollment has been about 980 – up from 870 in 2008. But last week, Schubert told faculty and staff members his best guess is that this year’s figure will be close to about 860. Official enrollment numbers will not be available until Sept. 13. “That’s a significant shortfall,” Schubert said. “It’s a tough situation we’re in.” Schubert attributed the decline in enrollment to three primary factors: • aggressive tuition increases by the university over the past two years, • steps taken by some of the university’s stiffest competition to soften the effects of their own tuition daniel gomez chief Photographer prices, and The incoming class of 2011 come together for a candlelight devotional at the Beauchamp amphitheater under the Tower of Light. • a failure on the part of the university to execute its own five-year plan for enrollment. “It’s hard to know how much of a factor each of these played, but we have to assume aggressive pricing increases are a significant player in that number,” Schubert said. project. Attendance at all are going to have in colsamantha sutherland The university increased of the week’s activities was lege,” Daugherty said. features editor tuition to $787 per semester high this year, said Erin “Just getting to see people hour for the current school Daugherty, senior English loving and enjoying and year, an increase of about 23 embracing things like major from Stephenville. The Welcome Week staff percent since two years ago. and a large team of up- She said the freshman candlelight devo and the Those price increases are perclassmen volunteers class as a whole showed service project and things part of a five-year plan bereturned to campus early they were ready to become that are really unique to gun in 2008 to better reflect last week to help integrate an active part of the ACU ACU’s culture is so rewardthe value of an ACU degree. ing for me.” hundreds of new students community. Schubert pointed out It took a lot of people “I just feel really pasinto the ACU community. that ACU remains priced The week’s activities sionate about the impor- to make Welcome Week at a midpoint between its included a giant game of tance of your first experi- happen, Daugherty said. daniel gomez chief Photographer chief competitors: Texas Twister, a candlelight de- ences at this university Daugherty was a student votional, mentor group because they largely shape director for Welcome Week Incoming ACU freshmen have a ball in Moody Coliseum Tech, Texas A&M and Hardcompeting against each other to keep a inflated ball in ing University on the low meetings and a service what kind of first year you alongside Meredith Morthe air as part of the 2011 Welcome Week events.
CHAPEL
ACU welcomes incoming freshmen
see freshman page 8
see Budget page 8
inside features
opinion
sports
news
ACU welcomed hundreds of fresh faces during Welcome Week.
Ben Miller reveals his first creation as an Optimist cartoonist.
Five ways to find success in your fantasy football league this season.
page 7
page 6
The Royce and Pam Money SRWC will open Sept. 2. page 3
Abilene Christian University
page 10