WEDNESDAY August 29, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 2 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Kicking around some records
Soccer team wins first home game, scores three goals, page 10
OPTIMIST THE
Starry Show
Pulling Rank
‘Star-Spangled Girl’ depicts love triangle with southern girl, page 8
Rankings from U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review place ACU in high standing, page 7
Residents move into the Grove By Mallory Edens Page 2 Editor
Students were forced to stay in hotels last weekend after the Grove was not ready on move-in day. After being informed earlier this month that the Grove would have to push back its original opening date, Aug. 15, Grove residents came ready to settle in on Saturday only to find that
much of the apartment complex was in shambles. “It’s like we don’t even have a place to live,” said Kiera Edwards, junior biology major from McKinney. “We gave them 10 extra days. They should have been ready.” Edwards said her apartment was missing all furniture, mattresses and mirrors when she and her two room-
mates got there Saturday. Their dishwasher was leaking, their toilets did not work and her sink was not fully mounted. There were two holes left in the door, the floors in the apartment were covered in dirt and the freshly painted walls were covered in greasestained smudges. These are only some of the issues Edwards has encountered. “[These are] unfinished
apartments that aren’t ready to be moved into, but we have to,” she said. “And everyone has a bad mood because it’s bad conditions. We don’t have cable or Internet, and we have to go to school. The sidewalks aren’t swept. We are walking on dirt. It’s like we are in the desert. It’s like, ‘That building that’s under construction? See
GROVE page 5
Katie gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Boxes of furniture line the sidewalks of the new Grove apartments on N. Judge Ely Boulevard and I-20 on Tuesday afternoon.
Social club Sub T-16 reinstated on campus
Board of Trustees plan rearrangement By Kelsi Peace
By Val Valle
Managing Editor
Online Editor
The Board of Trustees passed a resolution to downsize the number of members who serve and unanimously approved the final presentation of the university’s 21st Century Vision at a meeting Friday and Saturday. “The current situation in the country demands that the Board of Trustees be more acFuture countable,” said Dr. Royce Meetings Money, president of the Scheduled Board university. of Trustees The resolution remeeting times for flects the effort to inthe coming year: crease board members’ n Nov. 16-17 involvement and accountability and will n Feb. 15-16 downsize the board from more than 50 n May 16-17 members to about 25 to n Aug. 22-23 35 members within five years. Money said the mechanics of the downsizing are still being developed. Money said a smaller board will allow members to be more involved and rely less heavily on the committee as the board does currently. The board, which is composed mainly of alumni, will be increasingly visible at the university.
After nearly two years of probation, one of ACU’s oldest men’s social clubs will be returning to campus this year and is hoping to make a comeback. Disciplinary action was taken upon Sub T-16 in October of 2005. Mauri Westbrook, coordinator of student activities and organizations, said she could not discuss the reason Sub T was removed from active status as a club, but that it was the result of the club making some poor decisions. Part of the disciplinary action required that the club do an extensive self-study. Throughout the past year, members of the club have spent time talking to Sub T alumni to learn more about their club’s traditions and history. “The self study helped us figure out where Sub T needs to go to be a leader on campus,” said club president Jacob Smith, graduate student in accountancy, from Tyler. “We were going in the wrong direction and changes needed to be made.” Though Sub T was removed from active status, which meant the club could not participate
See
BOARD page 7
General education changes approved
See
Pledging receiving new rules
By Rachel Davis Opinion Editor
The faculty voted on new changes to the general education core in May that will take effect with the next one to three years. Those changes, developed throughout the past four years, involve the addition of five new classes and several revisions to all departmental curriculums, said Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English department and co-chair of the committee that presented the plan. “We are very excited about these changes, and we think they fit in very nicely with the 21st Century Vision,” Shankle said. The first change is the replacement of University Seminar with the new Cornerstone class, a three-hour class which will help students understand their liberal arts education. “The class will be about 60 percent uniform and 40 percent teachers drawing on their own strengths,” Shankle said. “There will still be opportunities for teachers to tailor their class to the needs of the departments and students.” Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university, said Cornerstone won’t be much like U100 at all. Instead of learning how to research at the library through workbook exercises, students will receive assignments that require them to learn through research. “In order to do well in the Cornerstone class, you’ll have to learn to go to the library… there will be a lot more writing,” VanRheenen said. Also, three integrative courses will be required, and freshmen, sophomores and juniors See
CORE page 7
SUB T page 7
By Val Valle Online Editor Katie Gager CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tate Stewart, freshman sociology major from Lubbock, waves his “WC” during the singing of the alma mater in the Opening Ceremonies Chapel on Monday in Moody Coliseum.
ACU opens 102nd year By Lauren Sutton Copy Editor
Monday, the school year was kicked off with the university’s Opening Day Ceremonies. This old tradition brought students, faculty, alumni and members of the Abilene community together for an hour of Scripture reading, devotional, motivational speeches from a number of individuals as well as recognition for students and faculty members from an array of states and nations across the globe. “We couldn’t have been happier,” said Jennifer Ellison, university events manager. “Everything
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
went over well on our end.” This year’s Opening Ceremonies began as always with the Big Purple playing the Olympic anthem as the faculty walked into Moody Coliseum dressed in their alma mater’s regalia. After being seated, the Parade of Flags began, and students carrying flags from the 48 states and 54 countries representing students and faculty at ACU marched around the coliseum. The Master of Ceremonies, Royce Money, president of the university, opened Chapel and commented on how the university eagerly anticipates the event each year. As is tradition, Acts
17 was read by Glenn Pemberton chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry, and “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” was lead by Odies Wright, professor of exercise science. Craig Churchill, assistant professor of library science, presented a devotional from the faculty and charged students to expect a lot from this year by telling students to “expect to be challenged by the faculty, challenged to learn and challenged to grow.” This was followed by a speech from Student’s Association PresiSee
Abilene Christian University
CHAPEL page 3
Changes for social clubs and pledging have been finalized. Last semester the Social Club Task Force revised pledging guidelines. The new guidelines will go into effect this semester for all clubs. The changes can be found in the new 33-page Social Club Handbook. “This might be the year to work out kinks,” said officer of Alpha Kai Omega, Karissa McCoy, junior nutrition major from Austin. “Change is hard, but I think it’ll be a good change.” Some of the biggest changes pertain to pledging. Men wanting to pledge must attend at least one rush for at least three of the five clubs, and women must attend at least one rush for at least four of the seven clubs. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility to pledge. See
PLEDGING page 7
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