Musical Mission Red Thread movement finds help through musicians vol. 100, no. 26
Features page 5
wednesday, November 30, 2011 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
university
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The fashion show brought people together of all nationalities to raise awareness for breast cancer. -Charena Camacho, Senior ad/pr major from waco
Straughn to serve as interim provost hannah barnes editor-in-chief Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, appointed Dr. Greg Straughn as interim provost Monday, November 21, he announced in an email to faculty and staff. “He brings incredible inside experience, served as interim dean of college of arts and science,” Schubert said. “I remember during that time frame being very impressed with his understanding and appreciation for the academic side of what we do, as well as his ability to traverse over into the administration side.” Straughn has served in various positions at ACU within the last ten years, including associate professor of music, chair of the department of music, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and most recently as assistant provost for general education. “He has enormous credibility among his colleagues, which I think is also a necessary ingredient,” Schubert said. “I think that is because he’s demonstrated very proficient leadership in a number of different roles.” Schubert said the search for a permanent provost will be under way immediately. “We have appointed a 10 person search committee,” Schubert said. “Our hope is to name someone in the early to mid-summer; we want to be able to have them on the ground for fall 2012.” Straughn will not be excluded from applying for provost. If he desires to apply for the position, he will have the flexibility to do so, Schubert said. Straughn will work with Dr. Jeanine Varner, current provost, through the end of 2011 and will focus on ACU’s key academic priorities.
adriane patenaude staff Photographer
contact barnes at hab07a@acu.edu
Lyudamyla Baron poses on runway at the Chinese Student Scholars Association fashion show “Be Stylish, Be Casual, Be Smart.” The show raised funds for the Hope Fund, a program that supports the well-being of women in Abilene.
budget
Smith and Adams Halls to be closed temporarily the overall plan to save the university budget nearly managing Editor $10 million. As a part of that plan, the only offcampus resident halls will Smith and Adams halls shut down. Schubert said that since will temporarily close for at least the 2012-13 school the current freshmen enyear as part of the univer- rollment and future enrollsity’s budget realignment ment projections are lower plan announced before than in previous years, the decision to close Smith and Thanksgiving break. In a meeting with facul- Adams halls made the most ty and staff on Nov. 17, Dr. logical sense. “We’d rather have students Phil Schubert, president of the university, announced in resident halls that are phys-
Mark Smith
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Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for student life, said the decision was purely based on strategy and efficiency. “We realize that most communities become speDr. Phil Schubert President of the cial to the students who University live there and we don’t feel see one hall as more or less ically on campus,” Schubert important than another,” said. “We had already decided Thompson said. “We made that in the event that enroll- this decision based on the ment trends allowed us to numbers, strategically the take a dorm offline, it would pipeline of students coming in as sophomores.” be Smith-Adams.”
We’d rather have students in resident halls that are physically on campus.”
John Delony, director of Residence Life, said Angela Neal, the resident director of Smith and Adams halls, will see her other role as assistant director of Residence Life expand. “We’ll be increasing the administrative responsibilities she’ll have, she just won’t be over the halls too,” Delony said. The closing of Smith and Adams halls will save the university about $350,000 next school year. Thomp-
son said the move wasn’t just to save costs but also to be more efficient in sophomore housing. “It makes sense strategically to close Smith-Adams because of the halls’ distance from campus and gender balance,” he said. “We will have enough space in the rest of the residence halls on campus to house this year’s freshmen next year, and we expect community to grow since the see closing page 4
obituary
Community mourns death of former student who battled cancer hannah barnes Editor-in-pierce Samantha Bahl, former ACU art and design student who battled adrenal cancer for more than two years, died last week at age 21. She was diagnosed on Oct. 1, 2009, and
fought until Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011. Jackie Hughes, Sam a n t h a ’s mother and Bahl former ACU faculty member, said Samantha had a very strong
relationship with God, which was evident through her encouraging and bright spirit. “Samantha said, ‘If this brings people to God, then bring it – I’ll take cancer,’” Jackie said. Her friends are a testament to her utter selflessness and
encouraging spirit. Hayden Richardson, sophomore marketing major from Nashville, Tenn., found Samantha to be “bubbly, fun to be around and super encouraging.” “She found something positive and encouraging to say when you were going through something,” Richardson said.
According to Richardson, Samantha was a talented artist. “Her dorm room was covered in all of the stuff she’d drawn,” Richardson said. “It was covered in all of her work.” Samantha’s roommate, Melissa Lozano, junior
psychology major from Arlington, witnessed her humor, her boldness and her unique laugh. “[Samantha] was the person that would go sit next to someone sitting alone in class and become their friend,” Lozano said. see bahl page 4
inside sports
opinion
video
news
Lady ‘Cats fall short in late rally in basketball game at UTPB
Chalk policy change brings to question the university’s rule-keeping
CSSA creates fashion show for fundraiser
Budget cuts affect Study Abroad, athletics, mobile learning and CORE
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Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
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