The •
Vol. 95, No. 30
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS Winter wonderland
Abilene’s first ice skating rink has closed down for the season after being open for nearly two months and raising money for Habitat for Humanity, page 4
Switching it up
Changes have been made to the way Chapel operates in personnel and structure, page 4
Serving others
The first Service-Expo will begin this week in the Campus Center, in an effort to get students involved in serving others in Abilene, page 7
SPORTS
The ACU men’s basketball team claimed its first conference game after beating Angelo State on Tuesday night 92-76, page 10
Making the cut
Seven women and two men provisionally qualified for the National Indoor Championship at the West Kittley Invitiational in Lubbock on Saturday, page 10
ONLINE Shooting hoops
Midway through the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, find out well the teams have done and how they prepare for games online at: www.acuoptimist.com
SPEED READS
1 section, 10 pages
WEDNESDAY
n Staff and administration extended the dates for adding or dropping a class to allow students the flexibility to change schedules without penalty. By MORGAN WILLIAMS Student Reporter
Winter weather conditions were a factor in determining dates to add or drop classes for the spring semester. The original dates to add or drop a class
n The Students’ Association updated its Web site this week to better accommodate groups wanting to submit budget requests for the spring semester.
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www.acuoptimist.com
with a 100 percent refund were extended to Tuesday. Weather conditions didn’t allow some students to return to school by the original first day of the Spring 2007 semester on Jan. 16, leading to a delay in the start of classes. Bart Herridge, associate registrar, said, “the staff and administration felt it was important to extend this time and allow students the opportunity to make
new add/drop dates
changes to their schedules without penalty.” A group of staff members met to make sure this process could be done and what it would impact. “We were satisfied that this would be a positive change,” Herridge said. Herridge said the most significant change from the original dates is a shorter period for 80 percent refunds. See
Because of the winter delays, the dates to add or drop classes were extended to benefit students: n 100 percent refund through Tuesday
n 80 percent refund Wednesday through Jan. 30 n 60 percent refund Jan. 31Feb. 2
More information can be found on the registrar’s Web site off ACU’s homepage.
POLICY page 9
Behind the eight ball
By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
Filling out a budget request form just got easier, thanks to the new Students’ Association Web site, which allows student organizations to submit budget requests online. The online version is the third generation of budget software created by SA that allows users to fill out their requests by answering a series of questions. “We feel like we’ve finally gotten it down to what needs to happen,” said Tyler Cosgrove,
BUDGET page 9
College still in search of dean n A committee of eight professors from various departments continue the selection for position for dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which begins Fall 2007. By KELSI PEACE Features Editor
The only thing harder than filling some “big shoes” is deciding who should fill them. With the announced retirement of Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Search and Review Committee formed to determine who will succeed Durrington as the next dean. Dr. Carley Dodd, committee chair and professor of communication, said the committee will meet with the See
DEAN page 9
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Zeb Abbott, freshman exercise sports science major from Harper, plays pool in the McKinzie Hall lobby during some downtime on Tuesday afternoon.
Third Rock closes Abilene locale n The local ice cream parlor closed its doors indefinitely in November. No plans have been made yet to relocate elsewhere in Abilene or Texas.
“Everyone just stopped coming in.... I was doing the bank deposits and they just kept getting smaller and smaller.” Doug Clement, former day manager
By DANIEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
ACU students who want customized homemade ice cream will have to travel across town to Cold Stone Creamery as the fate of competitor Third Rock Creamery remains unknown. The space-themed ice cream parlor and coffee shop on Judge Ely Boulevard closed its doors in
On the upswing
Collegegrad.com announced Monday that 2007 graduates will be entering the work field at one of the most opportune times—entry level positions will be up 7.3 percent this year for college graduates. Of the businesses surveyed about hiring habits, 60 percent said they expected to hire more college graduates than normal, 20 percent said they would hire the same amount and 20 percent said they would hire less. -UWIRE
January 24, 2006
Groups University extends add/drop policy submit budget requests online
See
Slam dunk
OPTIMIST
November after a decline in business. “Everyone just stopped coming in,” said former day manager, Doug Clement. Third Rock opened in November 2005 and despite an initial jump of constant business, Clement said the profits and number of regular customers kept reducing as the year went on.
“I sat there and watched it go down,” Clement said. “I was doing the bank deposits and they just kept getting smaller and smaller.” For now, Third Rock’s doors, which opened to long lines of college students, are closed with a sign that reads: “Third Rock Creamery will be closed for re-location.”
Clement said owner Rob Lord has not contacted him on the specifics of Third Rock’s relocation. Lord, a resident of Houston and graduate of Hardin Simmons University, was unavailable for comment. Clement said he was surprised Lord decided to close the parlor suddenly and expected the business to be around for a while. “I was expecting the place to be booming like it was,” Clement said. “I didn’t realize [Lord] would call me out of the blue and tell me to See
SHOP page 9
Crews begin Sikes face-lift n Construction began during the Christmas break preparing Sikes Residence Hall for its summer renovations, which include adding more space to the rooms. By MICHELLE JIMENEZ Copy Editor
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Construction crews dug trenches along the sides of Sikes Residence Hall in preparation for the summer renovation plans to expand.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Preparation for renovation has begun at the sophomore female residence hall, Sikes Hall. Trenches circling the perimeter of the building mark the beginning stages of the remodeling process that will resume in the summer.
The trenches, meant to expand the foundation, are only one step in a major renovation that has been months in the planning. A list of improvements to be added to Sikes include an increase of community spaces on the second and third floors; a study room for men and women on the first floor; an expansion of the kitchen, desk manager office and the resident assistance office; addition of washing and drying machines in the laundry room; and an extension of
Abilene Christian University
the students’ rooms. Sikes’ exterior also will be made to resemble the newest residence hall on campus, Barret Hall. Windows will be remodeled and shutters added, replacing the nonfunctional balconies of the building. Rebecca Cates, resident director of Sikes, said she is excited about the improvements that will take place during the summer. “I think the way Sikes is constructed [now] it’s See
SIKES page 9
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