acuoptimist.com
Optimist the
The Light Parade, page 7
Friday, December 3, 2010
Vol. 99, No. 28
1 section, 10 pages
SERVICE
Season of Caring helps Abilene community than $3,000 in cash donations. More than 200 students, Editor in Chief faculty and staff have volunThe spirit of giving has teered their time in a variety spread across Abilene this of ways, and 44 meals were holiday season during ACU’s delivered to low-income families whose children attend first-ever Season of Caring. The month-long service Taylor Elementary School. “I think it’s been fantasopportunity began Nov. 15 and has already raised more tic,” said Dr. Phil Schubert,
Linda Bailey
president of the university and organizer of Season of Caring. “I’m proud that people see the importance and the need to be part of helping out.” Schubert drove the 23-foot Season of Caring truck full of clothes, bedding, food, toys and house-
hold goods donated by the ACU community to Arrow Ford on Friday. The location was the designated drop-off site for Love and Care Ministry’s “Mission: Thanksgiving.” Schubert, along with his family and his son’s little league team, returned
later that day to help unload other donations from Abilene residents. “We enjoyed doing that, and it was amazing to me how many people in the community chose to be a part of that,” Schubert said. “There was not ever a minute that went by that there
was not a line of cars waiting to drop something off at Arrow Ford. It reminded me of what a great community Abilene, Texas, is.” Mark Hewitt, founder and executive director of Love and Care Ministries, see GIVE page 5
STUDENT LIFE
CHAPEL
Students, alumni invited to party Bailey Neal
Page Designer
After several students came into the SA office requesting Christmas lights around campus – even offering to help set them up – Shim said he and the other executive officers began looking at the logistics of the project. Shim, senior finance major from Atlanta, said SA spoke with Physical Resources and Campus Aesthetics and was given the go ahead to hang lights around campus. However, Risk Management said students would not be able to assemble the lights.
Students, friends, family and ACU alumni are invited to a Christmas celebration on Monday in the Robert D. and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center, hosted by the Alumni Association. Jama Cadle, interim director of alumni relations, said the idea for an oncampus Christmas party came last year. Instead of having separate parties for alumni and students, this year will feature one big party for everyone. “It’s the second year that we’ve done it, and we just wanted to do something, kind of a goodwill event, to bring everything together to celebrate our blessings and enjoy each other,” Cadle said. The entire first floor of the Welcome Center is reserved for the Christmas party, including the McCaleb Conference Center and the atrium, where a 20-foot Christmas tree stands welcoming guests. “It is beautiful and visible from Judge Ely,” said Samantha Adkins, senior Alumni Relations officer. Food and entertainment will be provided, with a Christmas desert buffet and
see CHEER page 5
see CHRISTMAS page 5
DANIEL GOMEZ // Chief Photographer
The Abilene Christian Schools Kids Choir performs during Chapel in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday. The children used songs, choreography, props and dialogue to illustrate a Western Christmas. Their annual performance also included an ode to Martha Stewart.
STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
SA lights up Campus Center for Christmas Linda Bailey Editor in Chief
Holiday cheer is spreading through campus, especially with the addition of Christmas lights around the McGlothlin Campus Center Wednesday. The Students’ Association, Business Services, the Campus Center, Physical Resources and the Office of Campus Aesthetics are all helping to fund the project. Lisa Flores, project manager for Business Services, said SA Treasurer Chris Shim ap-
proached Business Services concerning the project. She said it was more than happy to partner with SA to fund the lights. “It shows that ACU has the Christmas spirit,” Flores said. “We have a beautiful campus, and Christmas lights are just part of the season.” SA’s portion of the cost is coming from the Executive Initiative Fund, which SA Congress approves for its executive officers to use at their discretion. This allows SA to use the money without bringing a bill before Congress.
CONSTRUCTION
Projects to wrap up before break Kelsi Williamson Arts Editor
The last details of the new heating and cooling loop line are set to be completed within the next few weeks. Loop line workers are laying sod and installing sprinkler systems between Zellner Hall and the Hardin Administration Building. They are also pouring concrete on the walkway just north of the Brown Library to complete the project.
Zane Dennis, executive director of facilities and campus development, said loop line construction went incredibly well due to the project management provided by Scot Coley, director of Physical Resources. “He was meeting with those guys daily to start going over things and just make sure all the ‘t’s were crossed and all the ‘i’s were dotted,” Dennis said. While rain and other factors caused a few delays in the con-
see MONEY page 5
DANIEL GOMEZ // Cheif Photographer
Construction workers smooth the freshly poured concrete between Brown Library and the Sherrod Building on Wednesday.
website
inside news The Office of Ministry Events is sponsoring a campus-wide contest to find artwork to use during Summit 2011. page 6
struction, Dennis said that was to be expected. “We had a few hiccups, but you will have those on a large project,” Dennis said. Handicap renovations to the parking lot just north of Edwards Hall should also finish up within the next week. New concrete and paint were added to keep up with ADA regulations, Dennis said. The parking lot was renovated
opinion The Department of Athletics has started discussing ACU’s move to Division I. The editorial board weighs in. page 8
weather photo gallery View pictures from all holiday events around campus during the last days of the semester.
Abilene Christian University
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