acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
The Week in Review, page 5
Friday, November 19, 2010
Vol. 99, No. 26
1 section, 8 pages
CAMPUS
Abilene Educational Supply to close this May Kelsi Williamson Arts Editor
Abilene Educational Supply and Christian Bookstores will close its doors this May after 66 years of business. The ACU-owned entity, located on Campus Court next to the ACU Police station, offers teaching sup-
plies for both secular and church classrooms and serves a variety of customers, including local churches, homeschooling families, public school teachers and education majors. Anthony Williams, chief auxiliary services officer at ACU, said the university decided to close the store
following a year of low sales citywide. “Over the last year within the city, there’s been a significant reduction in retail sales,” Williams said. “AES wasn’t insulated from those effects.” According to Williams and the store’s manager, Denise Emery, an increase
in competition has also lead to the store’s demise. Williams said online shopping and catalog ordering are two ways many customers are now buying their educational supplies. Emery said the opening of Mardel’s, a regional retail Christian education store, two years ago also played
a huge role in AES’ decrease in sales. “Since Mardel opened, we’ve had 50 percent losses,” Emery said. Williams said AES offers a very unique shopping experience and its closing saddens the ACU management as well as its customers. Customers like Bayley
Williams, senior elementary education major from Coppell, are disappointed to hear about the closing. Bayley Williams said she usually visits the store about twice a semester for class project supplies. “Everyone’s really upset that it’s closing,” Bayley see AES page 4
ATHLETICS
’Tis the Season of Caring
NCAA sanctions require awareness Brandon Tripp
Sports Media Director
Two years ago the NCAA hit ACU Athletics with a slew of violations the university was accused of committing in 2007. Many of the violations included what the NCAA deemed as “impermissible inducements.” Since that time, the Department of Athletics has taken steps to improve the information available to fans, boosters and anyone the NCAA deems as “those with athletic interests.” ACU Athletic Compliance Officer Barry Pupella suggests boosters and fans alike refer to the ACU Athletics website if and when they have questions about what is and is not allowed under NCAA bylaws. “There is not much that is permissible,” Pupella said. “The laws go so far as to say that if it is not accessible to all students, it certainly is not for student athletes.” One point of confusion is whom the NCAA considers an “athletic booster.” The answer is, quite simply, just about everyone. Fans are classified as boosters, and whether or not you attend ACU sporting events or consider
JOZIE SANDS // Online Editor
Brandon Monroe, graduate student from Arlington, sits in the back of the Season of Caring truck in the Williams Performing Arts Center parking lot on Thursday, the last day to donate items.
Month-long service opportunity encourages giving Story by Jeff Craig
ACU students have had the chance to give to find used goods and purchased new back to the Abilene community through goods from area retailers. Jordan Miller, freshman math eduACU’s first annual Season of Caring. The university concluded the col- cation major from Boerne, volunteered lection portion of Season of Caring on at the truck collecting people’s donaThursday. A truck collecting clothes, tions. She said she felt called to serve blankets, toys and non-perishable and help those in need during the holifoods was parked on the corner of day season. “I love helping people and getting Judge Ely Boulevard and E.N. 16th Street throughout the week. Students out there to work,” Miller said. “Love rummaged through their dorm rooms and Care Ministries is a really good
cause, and we should help those in our community as much as we can.” Oriana Gonzalez, senior marketing major from League City, is part of a group of marketing students helping with Season of Caring. She said giving students the opportunity to help those in need allows them to become more involved with the community. see TRUCK page 4
see RULES page 4
CRIME
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Bike thefts increase, frustrate police Congress passes bill to fund race
Since Aug. 1, 36 bicycle thefts have been reported. Page 2 Editor Fourteen bikes were reported Walk by a bike rack on stolen in October alone, and campus during the day, between Nov. 1 and 12 there and it is almost certain to have been 11 reported thefts. “Bike theft on a colhave bikes crammed into lege campus is a relatively every available space. So it should come as no common problem, though surprise that bicycle thefts not to this extreme,” said are a common problem on ACU Chief of Police Jimmy campus. In recent months, Ellison. “We think we have STACY ACTON // Staff Photographer however, this problem has Students in front of the Campus Center attempt to secure grown considerably. see THEFTS page 4 their bicycles with locks because of recent thefts.
Alan Cherry
website
inside news Many students have been scheduling appointments at ACU’s Medical Clinic in recent months for allergy relief. page 3
opinion The Editorial Board discusses the great Thanksgiving debate: Turkey or Ham?
also passed a resolution to publicize the driving Editor In Chief policy and a resolution to In its last meeting of the support the Environmensemester on Wednesday, tal Society as it organizes Students’ Association Earth Week activities. SA also decided to Congress passed a bill to help fund student, faculty conduct its student surand alumni participation vey during the week after in the Dallas White Rock Marathon. SA Congress see RUN page 4
Linda Bailey
weather video Watch video featuring students, faculty and staff giving to the Season of Caring donation truck.
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