The Vol. 95, No. 8
IN THIS ISSUE CAMPUS
Film premiere
The documentary about the orphaned children that hide to survive in Africa will be shown Monday evening in Cullen, page 8B
Lectureship Schedule
Classes, keynote speakers and other events taking place this week can be found on pages 6-7B
FEATURE
Sleepless night
Pledges from men’s and women’s social clubs participated in all night events Friday, page 4-5A
SPORTS
OPTIMIST SUNDAY
2 section, 16 pages
September 17, 2006
www.acuoptimist.com
Keynote speakers to tackle book of John n The first fall Lectureship will begin Sunday night with keynote speaker Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, speaking from John 9. By JEREMY POND Student Reporter
The university’s 89th Annual Bible Lectureship will begin Sunday night with a keynote address by Dr. Jack Reese.
Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, will speak from John 9, a chapter he calls “pivotal.” “In the spring we focused on the Reese first eight chapters of John,” Reese
said. “Chapter nine serves as a hinge chapter; it helps us recap where we’ve been and anticipate what we’re going to be talking about the rest of the week.” Reese said having Lectureship in the fall rather than in the spring would open up some previously unavailable opportunities. “In the past, students have had so many other things go-
ing on with Sing Song and the like,” he said. “By having Lectureship set apart from any other university event, we can engage the entire campus like never before.” Don McLaughlin, pulpit minister at North Atlanta Church of Christ in Georgia, and theme lecture speaker for Tuesday night, said his involvement stems from a desire to see people connect.
“I have a real interest in helping people come together in true community, regardless of where they come from,” he said. McLaughlin will speak from John 17 with the theme “That You May Be Completely One.” “I see an incredible awakening when people realize that they can live with and See
KEYNOTE page 8A
Students, faculty to work on Habitat house n The Lectureship Office and Students’ Association are working together to make the Habitat for Humanity project possible for students, guests and faculty. By SHELBI WATTEN and TIFFANY GAUNTT Student Reporter
Local legend
Wildcat football star Danieal Manning describes playing in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, page 1B
ONLINE
Backyard bash
Smith and Adams residence halls held the Backyard Bash for students last weekend with a cookout, music and a giant slip ‘n slide. View it at: www.acuoptimist.com
SPEED READ Tenured faculty
In the Sept. 15 issue, we were unable to provide the list of names of the professors who received tenure this year. These eight professors received tenure and were promoted to assistant professor:
This year’s Lectureship participants should pack not only their Bibles and notepads, but also a hammer and nails. During the week of Lectureship, ACU and Habitat for Humanity will partner to construct the frame of a home that will give an Abilene family a place to live. Volunteers consisting of faculty, students, surrounding church members and Lectureship participants will assemble the walls of the house on Edward’s parking lot. “We’re trying to move the perception of lectureship away from a ‘talking head’ event through a variety of activities,” said Mark Love, director of ministry events and Lectureship. “It was also a way to blend groups that don’t typically get blended.” This is not the first time ACU and Habitat have partnered for such an event. Slade Sullivan, ACU’s general counsel, still remembers the success of a similar project done on campus more than 20 years ago. Sullivan said building the home is rewarding because participants See
HABITAT page 8A
RACHEL Lau STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Squigs from Sigma Theta Chi dress up for one of their Bid Night activities Friday night on the Old Intramural Fields behind Edwards Residence Hall.
Pledges enjoy, survive Bid Night n More than 200 students began the pledging process Friday night with Bid Night, a club tradition where members initiate new members into the club with all-night activities to test endurance, trust. By MALLORY SCHLABACH Editor in Chief
After nearly 15 hours of pledging activities, Andrew Voiles was thrilled it was over. At 8:30 a.m. he had finished the last exercise and said he thought only of a hot shower and his bed. “I was proud that I made it through all of the activities and succeeded,” said Voiles, Gamma Sigma Phi Sibling and sophomore undeclared major from Leakey. Voiles was one of more than 200 students that are going through the pledging process during the next four weeks. Alpha Kai Omega president Miranda Griffith said Bid Night went smoothly. “We tried a few new things this year but everything went really well,” said
n Christian songwriter and artist Michael Card was asked to perform at Lectureship because he had written a book on the Gospel of John. By COURTNEE HEMBREE Student Reporter
MEGAN LOWE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Willis Hogan, sophomore physical education major from Sundown, slides down the slip ‘n slide at the Backyard Bash on Sept. 9. View video of the bash online at www.acuoptimist.com.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
RACHEL LAU STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A Gamma Sigma Phi Sibling holds a watermelon during the club’s first activity Friday on the Beauchamp Amphitheatre stairs. serious most of the time.” Squigs finished Bid Night at 6:30 See
BID NIGHT page 8A
Card to perform Sunday concert
Wet ‘n wild fun
n Fred Aquino, Graduate
School of Theology n Laura Baker, Brown Library n Geoff Broderick, Art and Design Department n Mark Hamilton, Graduate School of Theology n Don Pope, Management Sciences n Bill Rankin, English Department n Lynette Sharp Penya, Communication Department n Scott Stovall, Accounting and Finance
Griffith, senior math education major from Mesquite. She said she thinks the club’s serious devotional was a favorite among the pledges. “I know it was a favorite of mine when I pledged,” Griffith said. “It is a time when all the pledges and members sit together and really reflect and think of God and what he’s done for us. It’s neat.” Delta Theta has 17 pledge members this year. “The night actually was flawless,” said Lindsey Jessup, senior human communications major from Bakersfield, Calif., and DT president. She said the night was successful for both club members and the Biddies. For Squig Kylie Jennings from Sigma Theta Chi, Bid Night was as intense as she expected. “I didn’t expect to do the activities that we did,” she said, “but they were intense. I had a hard time trying not to laugh because they wanted us to be
Michael Card, renowned contemporary Christian musician and songwriter, will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday in Cullen Auditorium. Doors will open at 1 p.m. Card hosted a song writing workshop Saturday, and the university invited 50 people from across the country to attend.
“We chose Michael because not only is he a great songwriter, but he’s written a book on the Gospel of John, which is the theme of Lectureship and the focus of the workshop. His people are the ones that suggested we get him to do a concert while he’s here,” said Mark Love, director of ministry events. Tickets for the concert went on sale Wednesday in the Campus Center during lunch. Lower seats were $25 and upper seats were $20, but those who waited until Friday to purchase tickets re-
Abilene Christian University
ceived a special price of $15 and $10, said Kate Miller, ministry events coordinator. Students can buy tickets at the door for the discounted price if they bring their student ID cards. The concert, “Lament and Praise,” will showcase Card’s music; many of his songs are based on the book of John. The song writing workshop will also focus on writing praise music from the Gospel of John. Michael Card doesn’t bother to sugar coat his music, which people will See
CONCERT page 8A
Serving the ACU community since 1912