Balloon Fest Hot air balloons fill the Abilene sky
vol. 103, no. 12
Wednesday october 1, 2014
News Page 3
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
what’s INSIDE SPORTS Soccer picks up home win against top team in the Southland. Page 6
SPORTS Football dominates in win over HBU, third win in a row.
Page 6
OPINION Ben Todd describes the four trends he sees in recent cult classic movies Page 4
NEWS Two students launch movement to develop Abilene’s culture Page 3
alicia adams staff Photographer
Itzel Garcia De Alba, junior communications and international studies major from Farmers Branch, serves up the traditional Mexican drink, horchata, at Entra a la Plaza. Hispanos Unidos hosted the event at the Hunter Welcome Center on Friday night.
OPINION The climate change debate is about the power grab behind it
Entra a la Plaza serves up culture emily seidel copy editor
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INTRAMURALS Daniel Block narrates the story of Dream Team Frisbee’s path to victory Page 2
A Spanish version of “Be My Baby” blasted over loudspeakers as several hundred waited for the festivities of Entra a la Plaza to begin Friday night. While they waited, some had their faces painted, and others bounced around in the inflatable obstacle course. The aroma of cheese, beef and spices filled the air as the line that stretched the length of the Hunter Welcome Center courtyard finally started moving, kicking off the annual event with a feast
allison Brown
VIDEO The GSP Siblings challenge the Galaxy Novas to a LOTR duel
VIDEO See our video coverage of the Abilene Balloon Festival this weekend
Read more at acuoptimist.com
tea and water. Ballet Folklorico, a dance group from St. Vincent’s Catholic Church near ACU, brought three troupes of dancers to perform traditional Mexican dances. Dressed in customary multicolored Mexican dresses and ponchos, the young boys and girls of St. Vincent’s put on a performance that had the audience cheering and clapping along to the rhythm. Maria Sanchez, a dancer from the senior group, said the dances and bright outfits represented culture from different regions of Mexico. “The pee-wees dressed
for the state of Michoacán, the juniors represented the Yucatán region and the seniors dressed for the state of Jalisco,” Sanchez said. They performed to classic regional songs such as “Jarabe Tapatio,” “Guadalajara” and “La Negra,” to name a few. A live mariachi band, Mariachi Real de Abilene de Jose Chavez, got the audience dancing with classics like “La Bamba” and “Stand by Me.” Piñatas came next. Children waited in a long line to take a swing at the giant orange star hanging in the courtyard while Hispanos Unidos officers sang the traditional
piñata song, “Dale dale dale,” until a boy named Isaiah finally busted it open. The college students’ piñata only lasted a couple minutes. The night ended with audience dancing. DJ TAZ loosened up the crowd with classics like The Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, and The Electric Slide before unleashing an energetic mix of salsa, bachata, cumbia and merengue music for those who were willing to try more cultural dances. Itzel Garcia De Alba, public relations officer for Hissee features page 5
Phased retirement now offered to faculty managing editor
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to remember. Entra a la Plaza, hosted by student organization Hispanos Unidos, drew a crowd of more than 500 throughout a night full of entertainment. The evening was a blend of music, dancing, food and fun that gave the Abilene community a chance to experience authentic Hispanic culture. Catered by ARAMARK, the fiesta featured a buffet of chicken, beef and cheese enchiladas, refried beans, rice and sopapillas, accompanied by rows of cinnamon milk called horchata, three varieties of agua fresca, iced
Eligible faculty members have until Dec. 1 to decide whether they’ll take advantage of the university’s phased retirement plan. The plan allows tenured faculty members at least 55 years of age to apply for a one, two or three year phased retirement period. If approved, the faculty member’s workload is reduced by 50 percent and their pay is adjusted accordingly. Dr. Susan Lewis, vice provost, has been involved
the developing of this retirement plan. The university began offering the plan last fall, with applications due last December. Interested faculty had to make a relatively quick decision to apply, Lewis said. Three faculty members applied last year and received approval for phased retirement. This year, eligible faculty members have more time to consider their options as they approach retirement. Thus far, the plan has been well received by faculty members. It was designed to offer flexibility to
faculty members who have many years of experience as they approach retirement. With reduced workload, faculty have increased time to work on scholarly projects. Lewis noted in an email that faculty members approved for phased retirement also still receive healthcare and insurance benefits. “Everyone on the phased retirement plan is eligible for benefits, merit raises and retains his or her tenure until fully retired,” Lewis said. Another benefit of this type of retirement plan is
the amount of time departments have to plan for a faculty member’s retirement. “Phased retirement gives the department advanced notice to begin planning how it will address the retirement of a particular faculty member,” Lewis said. “It’s really a win-win.” Additionally, Lewis said the plan could potentially save the university some money. “The phased retirement plan has the potential to save ACU some salary dollars, but another real benefit for both the retiree and the
university is that it gives us more lead time than traditional retirement does,” Lewis said. Dr. Wendell Willis, professor of Bible, has taught at ACU for 20 years. Willis is one of the faculty members approved last fall for the phased retirement plan. “I thought I would just stop after a certain year but this was an attractive option for several reasons,” Willis said. Willis said he found this option appealing because his retirement wouldn’t be see faculty page 3
$1,000 given to Swing Cats’ Fall Stomp Jazz Ensemble. Those who attend are encouraged to dress up in their best attire or vintage clothing. The ACU Swing Cats’ anThe event has been free nual Fall Stomp is benefit- in the past with donations ing from an anonymous encouraged, said Dr. B. $1,000 donation. Cole Bennett, Swing Cats In its fifth year, Fall sponsor. Stomp is the result of a “There are those who partnership between the enjoy Fall Stomp so much dance group and the ACU that they make small doJazz Ensemble. The event nations on the spot, but we will include dance les- don’t bill it as a fundraiser,” sons, social dancing and a said Bennett, chair of the performance by the ACU Department of Language
Sarah Stephens
student reporter
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People from all over Abilene as well as neighboring cities come out to spend an evening with us” elisa wyrick senior english major from the woodlands
and Literature. Bennett said the Swing Cats appreciate the generosity of the $1000 donation because it financed the event’s venue, the Elks
Abilene Christian University
Club Ballroom. In the past, the event has taken place other locations, but the group has enjoyed the Elks Club Ballroom most over the past couple of years, he said. Swing Cats co-president Elisa Wyrick, senior English major from The Woodlands, said she doesn’t get to experience live music often, so she takes advantage of it every chance she gets. She anticipates a big turnout for the event, Swing
Cats’ biggest of the year. “Apart from the band, what makes Fall Stomp really amazing is that it’s free for everyone, and we always have a really large crowd,” Wyrick said. “People from all over Abilene as well as neighboring cities come out to spend an evening with us. It’s a great source of community.” contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu