OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY August 27, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 3 1 section, 10 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Barefoot opens:
Students intern in multicultural office:
Football preview:
The Theatre Department’s production of Barefoot in the Park opened Thursday. Page 7
Seven students are working in the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment with different cultural affinity groups. Page 4
See a position-by-position breakdown of the team, whose first game is Sept. 4. Page 10
New residence hall approved Construction could begin next month; done by August 2005 By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Board of Trustees approved plans for a $6 million residence hall Saturday, and construction could begin by mid-September. Jack Rich, executive vice
president, said the project’s budget is still being finalized, and officials are looking to see if the hall can be ready for students next August. If it cannot be ready, the project could be delayed. Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, said construction could begin by the middle of September, and Rich said it would have to begin by the end of September to be done by next year.
The hall, which will be built on the student parking lot across from Brown Library, will house 176 students. Although it will be one connected structure, the hall will be comprised of four self-contained pods — students would have to go outside to get from one pod to another. Each floor of the three-story hall will have a separate common living area for residents, Watson said.
Because of the structure, the new hall could adapt every year, and each pod could house a different gender or classification of students, depending on the needs. Although the new hall will be built on a student parking lot, Watson and Rich said they believe there will be enough parking. “We know we’ll hear some See HOUSING Page 7
TITTLE LUTHER PARTNERSHIP/Courtesy photo
A site plan (above) and front elevation (below) show the details for the proposed residence hall across Campus Court from Brown Library.
Magazine scores Texas universities Some administrators say review was unfair, not very thorough BY LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer
Students from Madagascar sing in the Sowell Rotunda of the Biblical Studies Building at a reception for them Aug. 4—their first full day at ACU.
‘Act of God’ brings Malagasy students University welcomes 22 from Madagascar earlier this month By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
When Tiana Andriamanana arrived in Texas for the first time, she not only was overwhelmed by the heat and confused by the accents, but she noticed something about Americans. “They eat a lot of food — too much for us,” Andriamanana said. “I ordered a hamburger, and it was too large to eat.” Andriamanana is one of 22 students from the Republic of Madagascar, an island nation off the coast of Africa, attending ACU this fall on a special scholarship. Almost 100 faculty members and students welcomed
the students at a reception in Sowell Rotunda in the Biblical Studies Building on Aug. 4. Dressed in matching ACUpurple polo shirts, the students wound their way up the stairs to an echoing applause from the crowd. Dr. John Tyson, vice president for development, welcomed the crowd and described the arrival of the Malagasy students, as people from Madagascar are called, as a journey. “What a powerful testimony to the influence of 98 years here at this university,” he said.
Students recruited Tyson took part in both the first and second U.S.-Madagascar Business Council trade missions in November and April, respectively, as the only representative of higher edu-
Departments, offices begin trading spaces Offices, classrooms fill holes left by LEC, Music Department By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
At the dawn of a new semester, students aren’t the only ones adjusting to new homes. Several changes have been made to the campus, including closing the Learning Enhancement Center. Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost, said in an e-mail that students will still receive tutor-
ing, just not in the LEC. Instead, VanRheenen said, the academic departments will hire tutors, and they will work in spaces provided by the departments. “This approach will closely link tutors to the needs of the department as defined by the faculty who are teaching the courses,” VanRheenen said. VanRheenen also said that although the LEC has moved out, the space beneath the library is still being used by the University Writing Center and See BUILDINGS Page 7
cation. He met with Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana, whom he described as a successful Christian businessman who wants to help bring his country out of poverty. The ambassador to the United States from Madagascar, Rajaonarivony Narisou, visited the campus in March in order to assess the university for the president. A plan was developed to send Malagasy students to ACU on a four-year, fully paid scholarship funded by the government of Madagascar, called the Madagascar Presidential Scholars Program. Advertisements for the scholarship appeared in May on national radio, television and newspaper ads in Madagascar. Tyson said only students who finished their high
EYAKEM GULILAT/Staff Photographer
A Malagasy student speaks to a faculty member at a welcoming reception Aug. 4.
Jack Rich, executive vice president, said Texas Monthly got one thing right in its review of ACU: The university prides itself on its Christian values. The magazine published its 2004 Guide to Texas Colleges and Universities, in which it reviewed 59 of the 130 schools in Texas from a student’s point of view. Reporters spent time at each school talking to students and spending time on campus, and Rich said that portrayed ACU in a slightly altered light. “I think in general that Texas Monthly didn’t do a very thorough job of looking at the schools in the way that they approached it,” he said. “I think it was unfair to many schools, and there were a lot of things they could have said that would have been very positive that they missed the opportunity.” The article said the campus is “full of supernice students who are having a darn great time,” and “there is much fun to be had, even if it is wholesome fun.” It also joked about how students will enjoy the school “as long as you don’t mind keeping the door open and both feet on the floor.” “I thought they were poking a little fun,” Rich said, “and I thought that was OK in the context of saying that we take our Christianity seriously.” The article also cited several of the best and worst aspects of ACU, such as the best tradition, Sing Song, and the worst on-campus food, the Bean. Dr. Jonathan Wade, assistant professor of English, was credited with teaching one of the best classes. “It was an honor; it did make me feel good about it,” said Wade, whose humanities class was recognized. “I do my best to make it something we can all enjoy and learn.” The review mentioned two departments, also. Journalism and Mass Communication was acknowledged as one of few accredited programs in the state, and the Physics Department was mentioned for allowing its students the opportunity to work in national nuclear laboratories. Dr. Donald Isenhower, department chair, said undergraduate physics students at ACU have been doing research for more than 30 years. “The students do work which has been very important,” he said. “It gives them a lot of expeSee REVIEW Page 7
See STUDENTS Page 7
Building shuffle • Learning Enhancement Center: After the LEC closed, a classroom, computer lab, writing center, seminar room and TRIO offices now occupy this space underneath the Brown Library.
Plans for water park on hold Dispute over finances, land ownership stall construction of park By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR
• Office of Career and Academic Development: This office moved to the newly renovated lower level of McKinzie Hall. • Burford Music Center: What used to house the Music Department until the Williams Performing Arts Center opened, will soon be occupied by the education department.
Hopes for a water park near campus are being put on hold until the business partners settle a dispute. Charlie Wolfe and Chris Young have been working to build a smaller version of Hurricane Harbor near campus between East North 10th and Interstate 20, just west of Loop 322, Wolfe said. Had the disagreement not occurred, Wolfe said they looked at hav-
ing it completed in April 2005. “The whole thing is up in the air,” he said. “It’s all on hold.” Wolfe is suing Young to gain the title to the land he purchased for the park. “One partner has control of the land and didn’t pay for it,” Wolfe said. Young said settling out of court hasn’t worked, but they do not have a court date as of yet. He said he could not discuss details of the case or his reaction to possible outcomes of the case under advice of his attorney. Wolfe said the clash was over a “significant” difference in the percentage of the com-
pany each thought a stockholder should have. He estimated the park should take eight to nine months to build after gaining ownership of the land. The park could bring numerous employment opportunities to students in particular, he said. The park will be similar to NRH2O in Richland Hills and will have different attractions added every couple of years, Wolfe said. “There is a need to have something like that in Abilene,” he said. E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu