WEDNESDAY September 5, 2007 Vol. 96, No. 4 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
OPTIMIST THE
You can pass go, but jail doesn’t exist
Going to the country
Saying ‘jambo’ to Kenya
Two ACU students spent time in Kenya discovering ‘true joy’ this summer, page 5
Abilene businesses cast town favorably with ‘Abileneopoly’ release, page 3
The ACU men and women opened their cross-country season, page 8
Bean employees shaken by colleague’s death By Mallory Edens Page 2 Editor
Jimmy Dingler, a Bean employee since 1995, died after a heart attack late Monday afternoon at age 66. The last students to leave the Bean at lunch that day found him lying on the floor in the tray disposal area when they went to put up their trays. They informed another Bean worker that he was sleeping, said Tom Morris,
Bean assistant director. Morris and other Bean employees knew something wasn’t right, but Morris said he wasn’t thinking the worst had happened. “The first thing I thought was he fell,” Morris said. “I called 9-1-1, and when I went up to the front, Bruce, one of our chefs, was doing mouth to mouth on him.” The Bean employees gave Dingler CPR for about 10 minutes, Morris said, until the
Fire Department came. The employees and the ACU Police Department were the first to arrive on the scene. Dingler The ACU Police Department received a call at 4:51 p.m. reporting the incident. Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks all rushed to
the scene and transported Dingler to Hendrick Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival. Morris said while some may not know Dingler by name, they would certainly know his face. He said Dingler was beloved, and his death has left a hole in the Bean. “He was an institution in himself,” Morris said. “Everyone here thought the world of him. It’s a very sad situation for us.”
Morris said Dingler did not look at the Bean as a job but as a family, as all Bean employees do. “The students are their kids that they take care of when parents aren’t around,” Morris said. Paula Hall, Baker supervisor, said the students were Dingler’s favorite part of his job. “He loved to play tricks,” Hall said. “Just to get a rouse out of you, he would pretend to get mad at you. Jimmy
Gladiator Games
brought a smile to your face. He was a kidder. His favorite part of his job, I would say, was the students. He loved the camaraderie, especially the football players. He loved to tease with them.” Hall said Dingler was very dependable and loved people, and everyone who met Dingler loved him. “He was a hugger,” Hall said. “He just loved people in See
DINGLER page 4
Shore Gallery debuts Bible art By Sara Snelson Arts Editor
TODD PIERSAL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Josh Lopez, sophomore psychology major from Columbus, battles Scott Marshall, senior engineering physics major from Abilene, at the Frater Sodalis American Gladiators rush Monday evening on the Saunders Intramural fields.
ACU headed towards “green”-er pastures By Valerie Valle Online Editor
ACU is going “green.” About a year ago, a task force was formed to explore ways for the ACU community to help protect the earth. “We are more conscious of being more environmentally friendly; if we’re not, then this impacts us in a negative way,” said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources. This issue sparked interest last semester during Lectureship when Jim Ball, director of the Environmental Evangelical Network, gave a presentation and spoke about climate initiative. “As Christians, we have a responsibility to the creator and to represent apprecia-
tion toward it,” said Dr. Jim Cooke, professor of agricultural and environmental sciences, who is apart of the Task Force. Physical Resources has provided a list of ACU’s recycling initiatives, which can be found at www.acuoptimist.com. As new ideas are being brought forth, the list will continue to change. In order to get more people involved, Cooke hopes that promoting the idea of a “green” ACU, and campaigning to heighten awareness will get more people involved on this project, especially students. “This is the ACU community’s home”, said Cooke. “We all have to work together. We want to embrace and engage students in this.” E-mail Valle at: vmv04a@acu.edu
Going Green The university’s “green” initiatives seek to minimize environmental impact. A complete list of initiatives is available at www.acuoptimist.com n Parking Lot Asphalt Recycling n Energy Savings Initaitves: Water pumps were replaced
n Paper, Plastic Bottle and Aluminum Can Recycling n Algae Control: No chemicals used
n Outdoor Lighting: Changed to energy efficient metal halide
n Effluent water for irrigation
n Campus Drain System: Natural bacterium used instead of detergents
n Water-saving shower heads, toilets
n Yard Waste: Recycle lawn clippings
n Building Design: Use natural light and are more energy efficient
n Food Waste: Sold to hog farmers
n Vehicles: Maintenance vehicles replaced with “Gators” and electric cars to save more than 3,170 gallons of gasoline per year
n Additional initatives: Fair Trade coffee and clothing purchases in compliance with sweat-shop labor laws
n Recycled paper sold on campus
The department of art and design added a new faculty member in April who will direct the Shore Art Gallery. Garlan Jenkens, director of the Shore Art Gallery and adjunct professor of arts, wanted his first big show to correspond with Lectureship. “I conducted a lot of research to find something that would be spiritual and fitting to this day in age,” said Jenkens. “I then came across the exhibit in New York.” The Shore Art Gallery will be featuring The Next Generation: Contemporary Expressions of Faith, on Sept. 4 – Oct. 5. New York City’s Museum of Biblical Art is loaning out this exhibit and is traveling around featuring 25 different contemporary Judeo-Christian artists. All of the pieces have a variety of styles and media and are contemporary and recent pieces of work. The show includes paintings, sculpture, film, photography, mixed media, collages and computer aided design. The artists were asked one question when creating their pieces— “What are Christian-Judeo relationships like in the 3rd century?” Once the artists figured out their take on the subject, they addressed it through their work. Each piece will come along with the artist’s statement about the work, as well as their resume, which will give background to the artist’s life. “This is a stunning show that required shipping the work in crates, security and climate control for the pieces and sponsorship which made this show possible by The Adams Center for Teaching Excellence, the Office of Spiritual Formation, the department of art and design and ACU’s See
SHORE page 4
Freshmen prepare to launch Follies on ‘UTube’ By Yuri Sudo Student Reporter
Freshman Follies is now looking for freshman stars for its show in Cullen Auditorium on Sept. 28-29. Auditions are taking place this week for students interested in participating. “We are in full swing now,” said Tom Craig, Student Productions Director. “We probably have around 400 students involved. But we involved as
many [people] as possible. Now, if someone does not sign up, they can still be in the show.” The theme for this year’s Freshman Follies, an annual event meant to show the talent of incoming students, is “UTube;” the “U” stands for “university,” and the “tube” stands for “television.” All acts will center around a television show theme. There are four categories involved in the show: residence hall acts,
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
specialty acts, Dance Troupe and Large Chorus. Oriana Gonzalez, freshman financial management major from League City, is involved in her residence hall’s act. “I am excited about it,” she said. “It is good to [be] involved in the show and to know the people.” After seeing students’ talents displayed during the Welcome Week talent show, Craig said he’s excited about the upcoming show.
“[There were] lots of good singers, songwriters and musicians, so the show itself should be really good,” Craig said. “We are excited about that.” Allie Souder, freshman biology major from Arlington, is participating in Follies. “We have not started our practices yet, but I hope that we start soon,” Souder said. “I have been looking forward brian schmidt FILE PHOTO
See
FOLLIES page 4
Women from Gardner 3rd East perform their act “Wild West Texas Weather Wonders,” during Freshman Follies in 2006.
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