Basketball is back Young women’s team to lead ‘Cats this season
vol. 103, no. 24
Feature Page 5
1 SECTION, 6 PAGES
Friday november 14, 2014
New director of athletics selected
what’s INSIDE
daniel zepeda sports director
NEWS New student-run software company launches under Wildcat Ventures Page 3
SPORTS Men’s basketball hopes to repeat high-scoring win in home opener
President Phil Schubert announced Thursday morning in front of faculty and staff that Lee De León had been selected as the eighth director of athletics for ACU. De León will take over all duties and responsibilities on Dec. 1. “I feel so blessed and honored to serve as the director of athletics here,” De León said. “As soon as I set foot on campus, I knew
it was a special place. As a Christian university in my home state that recently joined the NCAA Division I ranks, it’s the perfect fit – spiritually, academically and athletically – for my family and me.” De León joins ACU after spending the past three and a half years as the associate director of athletics for the University of New Mexico. He earned his B.B.A. degree in marketing in 2004 from University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in sports management from Texas A&M in 2005 and
has worked for the University of Arizona, University of Houston and Louisiana State University. “I have devoted the last 10 years of my career to preparing to lead an athletics program, and I am humbled to have been selected by Dr. Schubert to have that opportunity at a university as prestigious as ACU,” De León said. “With the fifth most national team championships in NCAA history, it’s clear that ACU athletics has a rich tradition of excellence. The future is incredibly bright as we move
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forward in our second year at the Division I level and I can’t wait to help build upon the momentum.” After former athletic director Jared Mosley resigned in late August, Schubert began the search to find someone who could lead ACU into the new frontier of Div. I athletics as well as exhibit characteristics and morals that reflect on the ACU mission statement. “After an extensive national search, I believe we’ve found a leader whose commitment to faith influences all aspects of his life
and who he is,” Schubert said. “Lee also has broad experience in intercollegiate athletics and has been a part of several highly successful NCAA Division I programs. I believe that experience will give him great perspective as we continue to navigate our transition to Division I.” De León is married to his wife, Lacy, and has two sons, Landon (3) and Luke (one week). contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
As a Christian university in my home state that recently joined the NCAA Division I ranks, it’s the perfect fit”
OPINION Marissa Jones is becoming one with nature, and not in a good way
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NEWS ACU Theatre hosts auditions for 24hour musical Page 3
OPINION There are too many superhero stories and sequels at the box office these days
emily guajardo staff Photographer
Lee De León answers questions at press the press conference announcing his selection Thursday at 11:30. Page 4
SPORTS
Half-court shot could win year of tuition jonathan ward
‘Cats look to extend .500 or better streak against Lumberjacks Page 6
NEWS Condoleezza Rice to make a visit to Abilene
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what’s online
staff reporter The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) will have a basketball shootout for a year of free tuition at the fourth annual ACU Christmas Slam. All ACU students who attend Christmas Slam are eligible to be randomly selected for participation in the shoot-out at halftime. The participant must make all of the shots within 30 seconds to win the giveaway. Rudy Garza, president
allison brown VIDEO
Read more at acuoptimist.com
tion, considers CEO’s giveaway a fitting addition to the event’s charitable atmosphere. “Rudy approached me about teaming up for the event simply because Christmas Slam is an annual event geared toward giving back to the students and engaging our community, (as well as) building support and spirit for our athletic teams,” said Carter, junior political science major from Farmers Branch. Carter also said he hopes the giveaway, along with the giveaways that SA
is doing at the game, will draw students together to support our men’s basketball game and ultimately increase student involvement in athletic events. Garza also said this is CEO’s first year to participate in Christmas Slam. After engaging roughly 10 percent of ACU’s student population this semester, Garza looks forward to further extending CEO’s involvement in campus activities. “CEO’s massive growth this semester has been incredible, and all I can say is thank you to the stu-
dents who are interested in entrepreneurship. We hope to attract more students from all disciplines on campus because entrepreneurship is relevant to every field.” Christmas Slam is an ACU tradition facilitated by Students’ Association combining a basketball game with seasonal festivities. ACU Christmas Slam will take place at Dec. 4 in Moody Coliseum.
contact zepeda at djz11a@acu.edu
SA updated on construction progress managing editor
Victoria Sun selected as student speaker for spring TEDxACU event
of CEO, said the Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy is funding the tuition in accordance with the organization’s core mission. “The overall goal of the giveaway is simply to give back to students in a season of giving,” said Garza, junior marketing major from Corpus Christi. “As students, too often we focus only on the entrepreneurship aspect (of our club). This giveaway puts our focus on philanthropy in action.” Beau Carter, vice president of Students’ Associa-
Kevin Roberts, vice president of operations, shared a report of the progress of multiple university construction projects on campus at Wednesday’s Students’ Association meeting. Thirty-five of the 45 members were present at the session. The bottom floor of the Campus Center and Bennett Gymnasium are nearing completion and with that, a few departments will begin to shuffle around.
The elevator will be put in the bottom floor of the Campus Center early next week and the downstairs space is on track to be done by the beginning of December. Once complete, Student Life and Students’ Association will move into their new spaces downstairs, Roberts said. The Department of Psychology will then move from Chambers to the bottom floor of Mckenzie leaving Chambers vacant. Roberts said the Board of Trustees has approved construction to move forward on the Halbert-Walling lab facility which will occupy the space where
Chambers currently sits. After Christmas break, Walling Lecture Hall will be torn down and work will immediately begin on the exterior of Foster Science Building. Chambers is scheduled to be demolished in February. Once the new lab facility is complete, labs will be moved into the space and renovations will begin in the interior of Foster. Bennett Gymnasium was originally scheduled to be complete by the start of the fall semester, but due to some run-ins with the original structure of
Abilene Christian University
see SA page 3
erika bolado Staff Photographer
Scaffolding goes up outside of Bennett Gymnasium during construction.