OPTIMIST THE
MONDAY August 27, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 1 1 section, 14 pages www.acuoptimist.com
More than just coffee
SA brings Fair Trade clothes to the Campus Center, page 6
Kick Start
What’s online
View videos from Twister during Welcome Week and studetns moving into the Grove, www.acuoptimist.com
Soccer team opens inaugural season with win, page 14
Family, friends remember Fry with a smile By Kelsi Peace
Managing Editor
From kicking armadillos in a field to delivering single pink roses, Aaron Fry made sure life was never dull, friends and family say. “The first time I met Aaron, he was wearing a pink toga, believe it or not,” said Drew Lambert, senior computer science and marketing major from Little Rock, Ark., and Aaron’s roommate. “We’ve been best friends
since that night.” Nathan Moore, senior marketing major from Rhome, remembered the toga, too. “He could always dress goofy as all get out,” Nathan said, laughing. “From pin stripe suits to pink togas, he was a man with class.” Aaron’s sister, Brittany Fry (03), agreed, and said his ability to wear anything could have come from dressing up with his older sister when they were children.
“He could pull off anything. I guess it was just his personality,” Brittany said. Aaron, a senior marFry keting major from Grandview, was killed the morning of Aug. 19 when he was thrown from his motorcycle on West Lake Road and struck a sign, according
to a report in the Abilene-Reporter News. Aaron was not wearing a helmet. He left friends and family with loving words, though, and friends say they think he was prepared. Just thirty minutes before his accident, Aaron sent his father, Buddy, a text message to say ‘I love you,’ Drew said. And on the front porch of their house just four days before his accident, Aaron told Drew he loved him, add-
ing, “You know, God loves you, too.” “Nobody really knows Aaron as the serious guy that he was,” Drew said. “He gave me more insight into life than anybody. He has saved my life with this. This has saved my life.” Brittany, who was Aaron’s best friend as well as his sister, said she and Aaron went to California together on a whim three weeks before his accident.
Creek runneth over
Editor-in-Chief
Phil Schubert would love for ACU students to be some of the first in the country to get iPhones as a part of their college experience. Kevin Roberts said he can’t imagine another school being ahead of ACU when it comes to the possibility of getting students iPhones. “We’re certainly on the leading edge of any college or university in the country,” Roberts, the chief information officer for ACU said. “We do cool stuff,” said Schubert, executive vice president for ACU. Abilene Christian and Apple began their relationship a year ago when ACU became one of the first iTunesU schools. Today, some want to keep doing “cool stuff” by trying to bring the much-anticipated iPhone to students. Representatives from ACU are working with Apple and AT&T to research the possibility of students having iPhones on campus. When news of the iPhone’s release went public in January, a group got together to see what uses the new phone could have. In June, Roberts and
Page 2 Editor
See
Implementing the 21st Century Vision and strengthening corporate partnerships are two of ACU’s main long-term objectives. To ensure the completion of these goals, Phil Schubert was put in charge of the tasks in the role of the newly created executive vice president. The position was created for Schubert, who had been the vice president for finance and officially named to his new position July 1.
By Val Valle
Online Editor
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Dustin Anderson, Crystal Bonds and her daughter Baylee Bonds, 9, wade through the flood waters on Westwood Drive near N. 6th on Aug. 19.
brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Faculty and students will notice a change in Chapel within the next few weeks that will leave Moody Coliseum empty at least one day during the week. Dr. Wayne Barnard, university dean of spiritual formation and assistant to professor of family sciences, said based on feedback through e-mails and Chapel surveys, students want variety, small groups, honest engagement with faculty and relevancy to their lives today. All feedback taken into consideration has resulted in changes for Chapel this fall. Chapel on Tuesday will be referred to as Campus Conversations. Campus Conversations is made up of eight different groups facilitated by faculty members who will meet across campus with students to discuss a variety of topics including poverty, financial responsibility and faiths around the world. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said Christians should discuss these issues in an attempt to apply what we claim to be. The largest group, consisting of a maximum 1,200 students, will gather in Moody Coliseum to talk about racial healing and reconciliation. The idea of Campus Conversations is to create an environment where students can discuss issues and current events while helping to form commu-
Westwood Drive, one of the main areas where the water was coming from Elm Creek, is shown under water Aug. 19.
Another part of his job will be to promote external partnerships. “In the last couple of years, Phil’s role has expanded significantly beyond that of a traSchubert ditional vice president for finance,” said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university. “He has taken the lead with projects involving companies such as Gen-
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
iPhone page 12
Chapel changes coming this fall
Schubert promoted to executive vice president Editor-in-Chief
FRY page 12
By Jared Fields
By Mallory Edens
By Jared Fields
See
ACU discusses student iPhones
August rains push flood waters into streets ple who addressed the flood damage. Val Mascari and the The ACU Physical Re- WFF janitorial service spent sources staff is working on three days removing water repairing damages left from across campus. Don McLeod flooding last week. Several and Energy Management buildings on campus have worked with the WFF janitowater damage, and groups rial service on 18th by remsuch as the WFF janitorial edying flooding, heating, venservice, Central Plant Energy tilation and air conditioning group and the Physical Re- issues. Don also spent much sources plumbing depart- time checking outside floor ment are taking action to drains to ensure water was see that problems are dealt properly flowing away from with as quickly as possible. buildings. Bob Nevill, director of At the peak of the storm Physical Resources, said on the 17th, Scot Colley there are only and Randy a few damWilliams of ages because Physical Rethe Physical sources were Resources’ on campus team took acchecking tion early, in Sikes Hall some cases and Cullen even while it Auditorium. was raining. Buildings “I was realaffected by ly impressed water damage with our reinclude the action this Williams Pertime,” Nevforming Arts ill said. “We Center, in don’t know which the tile exactly how was ruined; much we are brian schmidt SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER C h a m b e r s going to have Vincent Geachimio, Victor Flores Hall, in which to do, but it and AB Cantu, from Albany, volun- the water liftisn’t much. teer to fill sandbags in the parking ed paint off a If we can ex- lot of the Westwood Shopping wall that then tract water Center on Aug. 19. had to be quickly like patched and we did, damage is minimal.” repainted; the Foster Science Nevill said this quick re- Building, in which the ceiling action time is very impor- tile was ruined; and Barret tant when something like Hall, where the floor is now this happens. turning loose in the Den due “We expect the unexpect- to condensation from what ed, believe it or not,” Nevill is believed to be a HVAC issaid. “Every time we have sue. Other buildings that an event like this, we try to were affected include the ascertain why it happened Campus Center, Smith and and stop flow where it came Adams Halls, McKinzie Hall, from. The reality is that we and Sikes Hall. These buildrarely get five to ten inches ings only suffered minor of rain so quickly, so we leaks and were vacuumed will probably never be fully and dried quickly. prepared for this. So, reacTwo buildings remain tion time is always critical. with major damages yet to We certainly don’t like to be repaired. Approximately see our students and faculty two feet of water flooded swimming around campus.” According to Nevill, there See FLOOD page 12 were several groups of peo-
“It’s one thing that’s helping me through this,” she said. “Because I had time with him, just me and him.” While in California, Aaron told Brittany that he was going to watch out for her, and every time a guy noticed her or spoke to her, Brittany said Aaron started singing, “I am the man that will fight for your honor,” from the Karate Kid.
esis, AT&T and Apple, and I know he will do an outstanding job representing ACU on several fronts.” Schubert said he enjoys working on large, long-term projects like the 21st Century vision. “I’ve always gravitated to that,” Schubert said. “I get the privilege of working with a great team of executives. I learn from them daily and am blessed to be a part of that group.” See
See
CHAPEL page 12
welcome week 2007 All of your Welcome Week photos and news can be found inside this issue of the Optimist. n Two-page photo spread of our favorite pictures from throughout the week, page 8-9. n Story recapping the week, page 3. n To the right Charlene Koepf, freshman musical theatre major from Colleyville, performs “Hopelessly Devoted” from “Grease.”
SCHUBERT page 12
Abilene Christian University
Katie GageR CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Serving the ACU community since 1912