Messy Win ACU commits five turnovers in 40-28 win over Commerce vol. 100, no. 19
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
Budget Plan
University to eliminate positions to cut costs Mark smith managing editor
adrian patenaude staff Photographer
ACU students enjoy a fun Friday at the Red Thread Movement Paint Fight behind Smith Adams Hall. The Red Thread movement paint fight raised awareness and funds for the organization’s mission.
social clubs
New members celebrate initiation bryson shake sports editor For five weeks, the campus of Abilene Christian University has been filled with shouts of female students proclaiming their appreciation to a landmark on campus, males dressing in formal attire and noticeable amounts of students with sleep-deprived faces sprinkled around the school. The culprit of all of this is social club pledging, a five-week process held annually. The start of this week marked the end of the period for most clubs on campus. “As a whole, I think the whole process went really well,” associate director of student organizations and programs Mark Jackson said. “Our numbers on the guys side went up 25 percent, and the girl’s side remained steady. We love seeing the numbers go up, which means that people want to get in-
volved on campus and ultimately make a difference.” Jackson is in his first year at this position, where he is in charge of more than 100 student organizations, ranging from social clubs to academic programs. “As a whole, there are always things looking back where you go, ‘Man, I could’ve handled that better,’ but I am pleased with the final result,” Jackson said. Dispersed among 11 social clubs, 349 individuals completed the pledging process and are now members of their respective clubs. “It is such a gratifying and rewarding feeling to be a member of Trojans Social Club,” Keegan Kinder, sophomore business marketing major from Round Rock, said. “The pledging process lived up to its bill, served its purpose, and was something that I am glad I was a part of.” During the five-week process, pledges have had nightly events
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Simply spending time together and going through activities as a group serves as a natural bond between all those involved.”
skills a priority. “Finding a balance with all that is going on is tough,” Jackson said. “It’s a struggle that takes some practice. Time management is a very important part of life, and Keegan Kinder those involved with pledging find Sophomore business that out first hand.” major from round rock Mackenzie Speck, sophomore speech pathology major from and specific requirements that Amarillo, echoed Jackson and is they had to complete in order thankful that time has opened to successfully make their way up on her schedule now for other through the process, which is things, such as schoolwork. “Staying on top of schoolwork aimed at bonding the pledge class was very hard during pledging,” in a unique way. “Simply spending time to- Speck said. “Now that I have some gether and going through ac- time, I’ll make it a point to stay on tivities as a group serves as a top of my grades.” But she admitted the whole pronatural bond between all those involved,” Kinder said. “It’s a cess was worth it. “Being called Siggie Mackenzie great feeling knowing that I’m a is a great feeling.” part of a unified group.” These activities, though, consume hefty amounts of time, contact shake at which make juggling various combxs09a@acu.edu mitments and time management
As many as 11 faculty members will lose their positions with the university by the end of the year as part of a budget realignment plan to be announced in detail later this month. Under the plan, several departments face restructuring and mergers, and the university will offer early retirement to some faculty members. The university’s Senior Leadership Team will present the new comprehensive plan to the Board of Trustees on Nov. 11. Six days later, Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, will present the plan in detail to all faculty and staff. “This realignment is in response to the volatile economy as we are making sure ACU is safe in times when the economy is tough,” Schubert said. “We’re making adjustments as most institutions are.” Schubert said that the realignment is important to preserve the financial strength of the university to adjust to the current economy. “We recognize that this is going to have an enormous impact on those involved,” Schubert said. “We’re doing everything we can to come alongside them in the transition process, and we’re making sure we help them in every way we can so we can ensure this isn’t a major disruption in their lives.” Schubert said he regretted the need for the eliminations. “These are people who have invested a number of years of service here at ACU,” he said. “They’re important members of this community and it’s unfortunate that we’re in this situation where we need to make these adjustments.” Also outlined in an email circulated to faculty early this week is the merging of specific departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Three departments will be adjusted before the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. In the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the agribusiness degree will close, and if a realignment plan for the remaining courses is not approved, the animal science degree will close and environmental science will move to the Department of Biology. The Department of Foreign Languages will merge with the Department of English, and the Department of Sociology and Family Studies will be dispersed among the Department of Political Science, the College of Biblical Studies and the College of Education and Human Services. Schubert said the merging of departments will have minimal impact on students in these fields. “We’re maintaining our commitment to students actively studying in these areas,” Schubert said. “It shouldn’t be a distraction to their studies.” The early details of the plan released include a voluntary retirement package see budget page 4
inside news
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Dr. Richard Beck continues “Unclean” Chapel series
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