acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
Net Gains , page 5
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Vol. 99, No. 14
1 section, 8 pages
FACULTY
University selects Mobile Learning Fellows and cutting-edge technology to encourage ACU’s Contributing Reporter push towards innovation. Created to support the The University selected its new Mobile Learning Fel- Mobile Learning Initialows for the class of 2010- tive, the Mobile Learning 2011 this fall. The 11 faculty Fellows engage in research members awarded will re- studies to incorporate and search mobile integration refine the current use of
Christina Burch
technology on the ACU campus. Dr. Scott Perkins, coordinator of mobile learning research, said the group was developed in 2008 as a response to ACU’s commitment to evaluate the mobile learning program.
“This is the future, and we try to be proactive,” Perkins said. “If we didn’t move in a good, creative, innovative spirit, then we wouldn’t be getting good use out of these mobile devices.” As a candidate, each of the fellows had to submit
his or her research plan to a panel for a faculty peer review. Each research plan was evaluated based on its academic value and whether or not the panel believed ACU should support and invest in the candidate, Perkins said.
The Mobile Learning Fellows are Dr. Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology, Dr. Susan Lewis, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, see LEARNING page 4
LOCAL
A Mile in Their Shoes
Abilene economy remains anemic Christianna Lewis Senior Reporter
STACY ACTON // Staff Photographer
Freshmen Dylan Brugman and Shay Tuttle relax by reading the newspaper during a weekend spent homeless in Abilene.
Two ACU students spend a weekend in poverty Matthew Woodrow Opinions Page Editor
On the evening of Oct. 1 Freshmen Dylan Brugman and Shay Tuttle stepped out of their friend’s car into downtown Abilene, prepared to spend the weekend homeless. Brugman, a political science and international relations major from Denver, was assigned a project on global poverty in his Bible class, but instead of volunteering at the Salvation Army or a local soup kitchen, Brugman thought he’d get a little closer to the poverty line. “We’re doing a project on Christianity in global poverty and our responsibilities as Christians to the global community,” Brugman said. “I’ve gone to soup kitchens before, but this time I really wanted
Abilene has simultaneously experienced a drop in average wages and a slight increase in employment over the past year. And according to an Abilene Reporter-News article, wages dropped by $4,000 for full-time, year-round Abilene workers between 2008-2009. But Abilene’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent in July, a tenth of a percent lower than August’s rate of 6.7 percent, according to a report from KTXS News. Chief Financial Officer Kelly Young said Abilene’s economy has declined over the last year or two, but he preferred to view Abilene’s flat economy as a sign of stability. “If it were a growing economy, I’d say it was stagnant, but since the economy’s declining, I’d say it’s stable,” Young said. “We’ve just been flat – other cities have shrunk.” The structure of Abilene’s economy protected it from suffering the fate of many other cities, said Dr. Monty Lynn, professor of management sciences. He said the four largest sectors of Abilene’s market come from retail, Dyess Air Force Base, health institutions and higher education institutes. While retail fell in 2009, the other three sectors have been stable, Lynn said. This has kept Abilene’s economy steady during a time when
STACY ACTON // Staff Photographer
Brugman and Tuttle rest at United Supermarket on E.N. 10th Street.
see POVERTY page 4
see ABILENE page 4
STUDENT GROUPS
Students experience great outdoors Jarrod Bray, junior outdoor studies major from Contributing Reporter Abilene and the ACU OutThe Red Dirt Adventure door Club’s event director. Jonathan Martin, freshChallenge, organized by the ACU Outdoor Club, man biology major from brought the outdoor en- San Antonio, finished first thusiasts of Abilene togeth- in the Hardcore division. er for a biking and running Daniel Tomkins, senior physics, math and comduathlon Saturday. “The event went really puter science major from well. It was very chill,” said College Station, took first
Meagan Hernandez
place in the Just for Fun category. The winners received trophies and CamelBak hydration packs. A trainer from Abilenebased fitness center, Everfit, began the festivities with a pre-race warmup and yoga session at Abilene State Park. Along with biking and running, participants were faced
with additional surprise challenges during the race courses. “There is no way you can guess or prepare for them ahead of time,” said Jessica Floe, senior art major from Arlington, Wash. and president of the ACU Outdoor Club. see DIRT page 4
website
inside news Journalism and mass communication students prepare for the opening of a new Ad/PR agency. page 3
sports The Wildcat football team won a big game on the road against Texas A&M University-Kingsville. page 8
JENNIFER ACUFF // Contributing Photographer
Jonathan Martin, freshman biology major from San Antonio, carries his bike at the Red Dirt Adventure Challenge.
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