Optimist the
Vol. 98, No. 27
Farewell to the Chief
PAGE 5 1 section, 8 pages
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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BREAKING NEWS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, DISCUSSION AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT STUDENT LIFE
International students anticipate holiday travel Bailey Neal Contributing Reporter Simon Yammouni needs a break. Like many international students, Yammouni, freshman from Monagas, Venezuela, doesn’t make it home often. That’s
why, he said, he is looking forward to a long Christmas holiday. “I’m going home for the first time since March to be with my family,” Yammouni said. Not all international students have the same opportunity Yammou-
ni does, though. Meiqi Zhang, a junior from northeastern China, has lived with a host family in Abilene since 2007. She said it’s fun to be part of a big family during the holidays, having spent three Christmases with her hosts.
“There are three sons that are all grown-up and married, and [my host family] has six grandchildren,” Zhang said. “They all come the week before Christmas and eat a big meal and open all the gifts.” Although this Christ-
mas will be her fourth in Abilene, Zhang said this one will be different. Her mother is traveling from China to visit, her first trip to the United States. “My dad has been [to America] without me, but it was a long time
ago for a business trip,” Zhang said. While Zhang has become well-versed in traditional American Christmas events, it will be a new experience for her mother. see HOLIDAY page 4
FACULTY
College begins search for dean
CHAPEL
CREDIT CRUNCH Tougher consequences in the new Chapel attendance policy have students scrambling for credits.
Christianna Lewis Contributing Reporter
Brittany Brand Contributing Reporter As the end of the semester draws near, many students are rushing to meet the University’s Chapel credit requirements. ACU requires full-time undergraduate students to attend 55 Chapel programs each semester. Chapel is scheduled every weekday, except university holidays, for a total of 70 regular programs. Students had the opportunity to earn 23 credits by attending Summit lectures, in addition to several forums and a survey worth two credits if completed by Monday. Leann Black, senior biochemistry major from Weatherford, is one of many students who have not fulfilled their Chapel requirements. Black said before the Chapel Office added two forums to the schedule in November, she worried about earning all the credits she needed. Her class schedule prevented her from attending many Summit lectures, which she said would
HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer
Students must swipe their ID cards before and after Chapel to receive the day’s credit.
HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer
Students wait in line to swipe their ID cards for Chapel credit Tuesday. have helped tremendously. Students are allowed to apply for Chapel exemptions (on a semester-by-semester basis) for several reasons, including employment conflicts or medical
conditions. According to the Web site, these exemptions must be processed within the first three weeks of the semester. If a student’s situation changes during the semester, requiring an exemption, he will have two weeks to submit the proper forms. Tsunami Hernandez, sophomore information technology major from Abilene, works on campus repairing computers and is only required to go to Chapel 48 times during the semester. “Sometimes there is work we need to get done, and I have to miss Chapel and go help out,” Hernandez said. The Chapel Office also provides alternative programs for students to gain credits, such as see CREDIT page 4
The search committee for the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will propose a final candidate in March for the highest administrative position in the college. The committee is accepting applications through Dec. 31, said Adam Hester Jr., search committee chair and chair of the Department of Theatre. “We will have a short list to bring to the college to interview in a variety of settings in February,” Hester said. The “short list” of selected applicants will make presentations to CAS faculty and students, and the committee will use feedback from these introductions to narrow the list further. The final choice will be submitted to the chief academic officer for approval. The committee aims to make a final recommendation to the provost, former CAS dean Dr. Jeanine Varner, the week before spring break. ACU is advertising the see DEAN page 4
TECHNOLOGY
KACU-FM awaits HD equipment Emily Loper Contributing Reporter
HEATHER LEIPHART Staff Photographer
Josh Jones, senior theatre major from Ranchita, Calif., reads a newsbreak in KACU-FM studios Tuesday.
Forecast Wed
45° 27°
KACU-FM is riding the waves of change in radio as it begins the transition to high definition, a change that should be complete by next semester. Dave Smith, director of operations for KACU, said high-definition radio is very different from
high-definition television. Nothing about the audio clarity will change, but high-definition radio will allow the station to function at three digital frequencies -- A, B and C -- all set at the station’s current radio address, 89.7 FM. Smith said A will be the same news and music currently broadcast
Inside Thu
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Fri
43° 25°
NICK JONES COMBED the phone book as a child, hoping to find his father’s phone number. After 20 years, Jones met his father for the first time Saturday. Page 8
by KACU. Content on frequencies B and C is not finalized, but B is set to play primarily classical music. Frequency C will focus on a younger audience by playing sports, local news and varying types of music. “The switch is significant for KACU because it is one of the first stations in Abilene to make the
change,” Smith said. “It is also a way to diversify our programming.” Smith said high definition is the next natural curve of the radio industry, a change similar to the switch from AM radio to FM. Making this change is the best way for KACU to stay ahead, Smith said. see HD page 4
Online CITY COUNCIL TABLED a bill that would launch Abilene into a lawsuit against the Texas Open Meetings Act. We examine the pros and cons of open government. Page 6
VIDEO
LOUDandCLEAR
Have you finished Christmas shopping yet? a. Yes, I was at Walmart at 5 a.m. on Friday. b. No, and I’ll probably wait until the last minute. c. Bah, humbug. Father and son united
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