Good Eats Fill your stomach with holiday cheer vol. 100, no. 29
Friday, december 9, 2011
Arts page 5
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
adrian patenaude staff Photographer
Lawton Pybus, senior psychology major from Red Oak, performed his original composition at the Slithy Toves, a poetry and music event held by the Shinnery Review in the Shore Art Gallery. Students read poems by other authors as well as their own.
commencement
Winter graduation planned for 241 students hannah barnes editor-in-chief About 200 students will receive undergraduate degrees at a commencement ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in Moody Coliseum. The university will award 62 graduate degrees, with 36 of those students expected to cross the stage. Registrar Bart Herridge said the number of students graduating is only slightly smaller than last year’s group.
“These classes that were smaller entering classes are going to graduate a little bit smaller,” Herridge said. Nancy Shankle, interim director of the Adams Center and interim assistant provost for general education, will deliver the charge to the class. The speaker giving the charge to the class traditionally have been faculty members who are well known by many of the graduating class, Herridge said. The office of the provost is responsible for choosing
the speaker. Some students graduating in December are graduating early. Others are graduating to meet their hour requirements. “Generally speaking, the December folks ended up with more hours than what they could take in their fourth year,” Herridge said. Lauren Johnson, senior political science major from Newport Beach, Calif., is one of the 205 undergraduate students to participate in the ceremony.
“I’d save a semester’s worth of tuition,” Johnson said. “That was the main reason [for graduating early].” Johnson said she sees this time as “exciting” but “sad.” “I am leaving ACU and starting something new, so part of it is scary,” Johnson said. “I’m kind of nervous about it, but I’m confident I can do it.” contact barnes at hab07a@acu.edu
December 2011 Honor Awards Honor Man Bryan Elrod Honor Man Carlee Cagle Trustees Award Younghyup “Joe” Byun Stacie McConnell Laura Gasvoda Alyse (Creed) Ritchie
B. Sherrod Scholarship Younghyup “Joe” Byun William McElroy Kelsey Chrane Kristen McBride Dean Adams Achievement Brandon Fry Yi “Poplar” Yuan Tina Fleet
crime
Basketball player accused in theft Austin Gwin sports director Armani Williams, a junior journalism major from Chicago, Ill., and a guard on the men’s basketball team, was arrested and charged with robbery after an incident at Walmart on the morning of Nov. 30, according to police. Williams has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, including games, practices and workouts. In addition, senior forward Eric Kibi, who was not arrested or charged with a crime, also has been suspended from the team, said men’s head coach Joe Golding.
According to an Abilene Police Department arrest report, Williams attempted to steal a Playstation 3 from the Walmart on East Overland Trail northeast of campus that morning. A manager chased Williams out of the store, and while in pursuit of Williams, injured his knee on an automatic door, according to the police report. Williams said he left Walmart that morning and went to a gas station, where he was picked up by Kibi, junior journalism major from Albuquerque, N.M., and later was arrested by Abilene police. “It was just stupid of me to even get myself in that situation,” Williams said. “Every
day I have to wake up and feel that.” For now, Williams faces significant punishment because he has been charged with robbery, which is a second-degree felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Under Texas law, a person commits robbery if – during a theft – he “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another.” However, Williams and director of athletics Jared Mosley hope the charges will be reduced to theft or even dropped. Theft of a item valued between $50-$500, which would include a Play-
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This is somewhere where people are going to be pulling for us and are going to be behind us and want to help us. They understand we made a mistake, but they are here for us.” Eric kibi senior journalism major albuquerque, N.M.
station 3, is a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of not more than $2000. “We are going to let the process take its course,” Mosley said. In an official statement, Golding said he and others in the Department of Athletics learned of the incident that afternoon. “What I want our players,
our students and our fans to know is that while we are certainly disappointed in the actions of these two players, we remain committed to educating and ensuring the best possible experience for the student athletes in our program,” Golding said in his statement. The incident comes as first-year coach Golding see Theft page 4
This is the final issue of the Optimist for the fall semester. Look for the Optimist in the spring, distributed after Chapel every Wednesday and Friday. The next issue will be Jan. 20, 2012. Until then, check out our website at acuoptimist.com.
inside sports
opinion
video
news
Christmas Slam highlights Saturday night basketball in Moody
Read about traditions that persist and the changes that occur as we grow up
Abilene community catches Christmas spirit at City Sidewalks
Students and faculty to perform in Christmas concert Saturday
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Abilene Christian University
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