Optimist
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the
Behind the Scenes, page 5
Friday, November 12, 2010
Vol. 99, No. 24
1 section, 8 pages
CULTURE
Ethnos to distribute Global News soring the annual event, with shows scheduled for Managing Editor 7:30 p.m. Friday and SatThe diversity of ACU’s stu- urday. ISA vice president dent body will be on display Veronica Whitt, junior elat the Ethnos Culture Show ementary education major this weekend, with acts from Cebu City, Philipranging from a Chinese pia- pines, said this year’s prono duet to an Indian dance. gram will feature 13 acts The International Stu- from a variety of nations dents Association is spon- and cultural backgrounds.
Jeff Craig
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
Members of the Japanese Act for the Ethnos Culture Show perform a traditional dance with a modern twist.
“For ACU students, the show is a really neat experience to see things like dance from other cultures,” Whitt said. “For participants, they really like sharing a part of the culture to the community.” Whitt said the show will focus on international students like it normally does, but will also emphasize cul-
tural groups like SHADES and Sanctify that are not tailored specifically to international students. “This year one of the things we’ve tried to do is lessen the gap between American and international groups,” Whitt said. “We see ETHNOS page 4
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
Shaun Pullen conducts the ACU Choir in the “Star Spangled Banner” to close Thursday’s annual Veterans Day Chapel in Moody Coliseum.
In-Scope
Former sniper transitions from soldier to student
S
Linda Bailey, Editor in Chief
ean Henninger is a typical ACU freshman. He hangs out with friends, goes to class, puts off his homework and answers calls on a brand new iPhone. But unlike the typical college freshman, Henninger didn’t come to college straight out of high school – he came from the U.S. Army. Henninger, freshman youth and family ministry major from Jinx, Okla., spent 15 months as a sniper in Iraq before enrolling at ACU. It was an experience he said resulted in a
new-found maturity, a stronger faith and his decision to enroll at ACU. Spending his childhood watching war movies and playing with GI Joes, Henninger said he always knew he wanted to go to the army right out of high school. In fact, when the U.S. entered Iraq in the early 2000s, he said jokingly he remembers thinking, “Don’t leave without me.” After graduating from high school in 2005, Henninger went straight to basic training. “I didn’t plan on going to college,” Henninger said. “I hated
Find photos, watch video and read a story detailing Thursday’s annual Veterans Day Chapel.
acuoptimist.com school and didn’t want to go, so the military was the perfect opportunity to get a jump start on life.” But during his five years of army life stationed in Washington, Germany, Iraq and Louisiana, Henninger said he changed his mind. see SNIPER page 4
Photo courtesy of SEAN HENNINGER
Sean Henninger, freshman youth and family ministry major from Jinx, Okla, stands in uniform during his service in the U.S. Army.
SERVICE
United Way Abilene looks to university for support A new program called the Degree of Satisfaction, Contributing Reporter is being offered to ACU facPresident Dr. Phil Schubert ulty and staff to promote is giving the ACU commu- donations and involvenity a unique opportunity ment with the Abilene to become involved with branch of United Way. For years ACU has partnonprofit organizations.
Meagan Hernandez
ACU Online team under the direction of Sally Sanchez, ACU United Way campaign coordinator and assistant instructional designer for ACU Online. The team created a public website where participants can learn
website
inside news Proceeds from the Delta Theta Turkey Throwdown will go to Meals on Wheels and the charities of the winning teams’ choice. page 3
nered with United Way of Abilene, the largest non-governmental funder of health and human services in the community, according to the organization’s website. The Degree of Satisfaction was created by the
opinion The Editorial Board weighs in on how the recent elections will impact the effectiveness of Congress. page 6
about United Way and its causes in under two minutes. At the end, users are given the chance to donate to the United Way through a downloadable form. “People are wary of email requests to donate
money, so we really wanted to make a creative way to do it,” Sanchez said. “We want to meet the goals that the university has reached in the past years.” see SATISFACTION page 4
weather photo gallery Find more photos of students and veterans during ACU’s annual Veterans Day Chapel on our website, acuoptimist.com.
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