Going for the Globe Sunday gets award season rolling Arts Page 5 vol. 103, no. 30
friday, january 16, 2015
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
WALLING
what’s INSIDE NEWS The Motevideo study abroad program shrank to three students this semester Page 3
FALLING
SPORTS Women’s basketball looks for second conference win
Page 6
OPINION Brittany Jackson’s bike was stolen until she stole it back
Page 4
NEWS Professors reflect on recent terrorist attacks in Paris Page 3
mariana cedillo staff Photographer
Construction on the new Onstead Science Center began over Christmas break with the demoltion of Walling Lecture Hall.
Potential concert negotiated for spring Madeline Orr Editor in Chief
OPINION The media gives a little too much attention to stories about themselves
Page 4
ACU wants to bring Ben Rector to Abilene. Amanda Pittman, ACU marketing manager, said the university has invited the Nashville-based singer and songwriter to come perform for students. “We are still negotiating with his agent, and we don’t have a signed contract yet,” Pittman said. The effort to bring more
online managing editor
Wildcats take on powerhouse Stephen F. Austin in nationally televised game Page 6
ARTS Many stars and artists were honored for their work at this year’s Golden Globes Page 4
what’s online SOCIAL MEDIA Follow the Optimist on Facebook and @acuoptimist on Twitter
Read more at acuoptimist.com
the Alumni office and the office of university marketing have all been involved in the planning,” Pittman said. Rodney Johnson, executive president of SA, said they have been working on getting a contract with Rector for a solo concert since November. Now, they are hoping to bring Rector with his entire band. “We sent the survey out, and Ben Rector is just where we landed because he was an up-and-coming
name, as well having a good following at ACU,” Johnson said. “He was affordable and just fit all of our standards.” Johnson said this effort is just one of many to bring more entertainment to ACU and make the campus more vibrant. “And that’s not just with concerts — comedians or TED conferences are helping us to be more interactive,” he said. “ACU is stepping up its efforts to entertain its students. We
shouldn’t have to go to Dallas every weekend to go to a concert.” The tentative concert would most likely take place later in the semester. “We would like to make the announcement about date and location when we have a website that students can go to to purchase tickets,” Pittman said.
contact orr at mco10b@acu.edu
GSP saves Walling chairs for nostalgia elijah evans
SPORTS
entertainment to campus started with a survey sent out this summer. The survey asked students what type of performers they would like to see come to Abilene and how much they would be willing to pay. Last semester, under the direction of Jason Groves, chief marketing officer, a team was assembled to help address the student body’s desire for more entertainment. “Students’ Association,
Members of Gamma Sigma Phi descended on Walling Lecture Hall Dec. 12 to remove and preserve parts of their storied meeting place. The GSP officer team, headed by former club president Drew Ritchie from Lake Jackson, approached the ACU administration and the Department of Mathematics to inquire about preserving part of Walling. The two parties settled on allowing the social club to take the chairs from Walling. Members of GSP converged on Walling after fall commencement Dec. 12. “In a cheesy way, Walling, the room itself, was
a symbol of some really awesome things,” said Ritchie who graduated in December. GSP began meeting in Walling during the spring semester of 1989 after it was rechartered, said Ed Allred, the senior sponsor of the club. “It kind of has that sense of place, which we grew into over the years,” he said. Now, 25 years later, it is bitter for many GSP members to see Walling reduced to rubble. “I don’t know if we will ever have access to a room that is ours like we had with Walling,” said Gabriel Guerra, GSP officer. “GSP has been meeting in there since before I was born. There is a lot of tradition there, so it see GSP page 3
photo courtesy ofAustin Ray
Members of GSP unbolt chairs from Walling lecture before its expected demoltion.
Two candidates selected for dean position catherine blakemore arts editor Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker and Dr. Jason Morris have been selected by the Provost’s Office as the two candidates for position of dean of the Honors College. The candidates will begin the final interview process next week said Allison Spencer, aca-
demic coordinator of the Honors College. According to an email sent out by the chair of the Honors College Dean Search Committee, Cynthia Powell, all full time faculty are welcome to attend two presentations from the candidates. Since the departure of Dr. Stephen Johnson, who is now dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Jason Morris has been serv-
ing as the interim honors dean. Allison Spencer works for the Honors College as the academic coordinator and was present during the transition. “Starting the search right at the beginning of the semester would have been really hard,” Spencer said. “There were several moving pieces that Dr. Morris took over when Dr. Johnson
Abilene Christian University
left. They wanted to give some time for transition and get things settled so we didn’t have constant transitions all the way through.” The official search began in November, but final applications for the position were due Dec. 1. While the position has been open since June 1, the fall semester was spent putting together a search committee.
Now that it has been narrowed down to two candidates, the Honors College will facilitate two Q&A sessions that will include Honors students so they are able to give feedback on the two candidates and include their perspective. “In past searches, it’s been really important for us to get student feedsee honors page 3