WEDNESDAY September 15, 2004
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Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
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Student Congress members will be available in the Campus Center to talk to. Page 3
Abilene Christian University
By SARAH CARLSON COPY EDITOR
Contributions from faculty and staff members to the Centennial Campaign were due Friday, with Campaign officials expecting a good response. Brent Magner, director of
Students start work on Ethnos
development, said Friday was the first deadline for the Faculty-Staff Campaign, but faculty and staff members will have an opportunity to contribute in the spring as well. “We’re asking everyone to consider a special gift to the Centennial Campaign,” Magner said. Faculty and staff members have been asked to financially contribute to the university annually, with the donations
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Sing Song reaches ‘Off the Charts’:
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Three co-chairs were selected for Sing Song to work with Kendall Massey from now until the production in late February. Page 4
The Wildcats won their home opener Saturday against the Redmen. Page 10
Faculty, staff give to Centennial Officials say donations expected to be high after deadline last week
Vol. 93, No. 8 1 section, 10 pages
typically being due in the spring. However, because the Centennial Campaign was launched this spring, Magner said faculty and staff members were asked to consider the special Centennial Campaign contribution during the summer before deciding to participate. The university’s previous fund-raising campaign, “To Lead and to Serve,” raised $114 million, with an excess of $2 million coming from faculty
Pledging numbers increase
and staff members, Magner said. “There are several members of our faculty and staff that will give some pretty sacrificial amounts,” he said. The goal for the Centennial Campaign, “Called to Faith and Excellence,” is $150 million to be raised by December 2006. No monetary goal is set for the Faculty-Staff Campaign, See CENTENNIAL Page 5
Magner
Record number of students register to join social clubs By DEE TRAVIS
‘Deep in the heart of Texas’
ARTS EDITOR
Many students will soon be losing sleep and acting strange, even more than usual. It’s pledging season, and a record number of students are participating. Mike Spell, adviser of social clubs, said approximately 470 students are currently signed up to pledge a social club this fall, including 300 women. “That’s a slight increase in the number of ladies,” Spell said, “and a significant increase in the number of guys.” Club members say they are staying busy with preparations for the pending pledge class. “Club is keeping myself and the other officers very busy,” said Mark Perry, president of Galaxy, in an e-mail. “There’s been a lot of late nights, and we anticipate more as pledging approaches.” Perry, senior accounting major from San Antonio, also said that close to 65 prospective pledges came to the latest Galaxy rush. “I believe this is close to or slightly higher than the number we had last year at this time,” he said. Nicole Painter, senior marketing major from Bedford and president of Alpha Kai Omega, also said in an e-mail how busy this season is. “Club is keeping us all very busy in preparation for pledging and rushes,” Painter said, “but it will become much more hectic once bids go out. For about four weeks during pledging it gets pretty crazy.” She said the club has seen record numbers of students express interest in pledging. “We have had a higher turn-out of girls than in years past,” Painter said. “We are currently the third-largest women’s social club on campus and have only been around for four years.” Bid night is Sept. 24, and invitations go out Sept. 23. Spell said all potential pledges currently living off campus, including University Park Apartments, will receive their bids at the ticket windows in the Campus Center from 5-6 p.m. Those living in residence halls will have them hand-delivered by 6:15 p.m. As for induction rituals concerning “hazing,” Spell made ACU’s policy clear. “Hazing isn’t just discouraged,” Spell said, “it’s not even an available option. Anyone who is unclear about hazing should check out the Texas state laws.” Pledging may be a hectic time for everyone involved, but both Painter and Perry said it’s ultimately about fun and fellowship. “I admire and respect the way such diverse guys can come together into a really unified brotherhood in Galaxy,” Perry said. “I’ve found some strong friends the past couple of years that I might not have encountered had it not been for club activities.” Painter also said her favorite aspects of club are the relationships that are formed and the support, prayers and encouragement that received from other members. “They give you an opportunity to be involved with school events,” Painter said, “and they add so much to your college experience.”
Organizers say they hope culture show transcends stereotypes By JULIA REID ONLINE EDITOR
Work has already begun for the International Students Association culture show, “Ethnos: The Virus,” which is planned for November in Cullen Auditorium. Carlos Macias, senior architectural graphics major from Torreon, Mexico, and director of the culture show, said he is confident the show will be a memorable experience. “[It’s] more than a show,” he said. “[It’s] a revelation of what lies beyond our stereotypes.” Every year, ISA creates a show designed to highlight the different cultures represented on campus. The organization currently is in the process of auditioning acts for this year’s culture show. In addition to looking for acts to perform in the show, ISA is also looking for students to help with set construction and advertising as it prepares for the event. The culture show is scheduled for Nov 12-13, and Macias said he hopes for record attendance. “The more people we have, the more people we get to communicate to,” Macias said. He said the biggest goal of the culture show is to achieve unity among all students, not just international students. As well as creating unity, Macias said he wants students to know that the culture show might not be what they expect. “It will challenge your point of view, what you thought you were sure about,” Macias said. “It will open your eyes and your mind to different points of views, to different approaches.” EMILY CHASTAIN/Staff Photographer
E-mail Reid at: jer02d@acu.edu
Texas was a popular theme for participants of Saturday's West Texas Fair Parade, including this one, who rode through on his motorcycle. For more pictures of the events surrounding the fair and rodeo, see pages 6 and 7.
E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
Men adjust to McDonald life Hall director works to get students into community mindset By LORI BREDEMEYER MANAGING EDITOR
McDonald Hall has become a place of community and friendship — for men. Last spring, Dr. Mimi Barnard, director of Residence Life Education and Housing, announced the residence hall would be converted from a sophomore women’s hall to a male living and learning community for mostly Bible and business majors.
Freshmen in these departments were invited, after arriving at the university, to move with their roommate to McDonald, where the pair would have their own rooms but live near each other. Because of this, not all residents are Bible or business majors. Bob Booth, director of the hall, said he has been encouraged by the friendships being made between the men. “They are very communityoriented,” he said, “and I’m surprised that they’re as quiet as they are, based on that.” Booth said they do a lot of playing spades and sitting out and talking, and the hall went
on a group trip to a Rangers baseball game Sunday. “They’re getting along great,” Booth said. He said one good thing about studying in the hall is that “you can shut yourself off from community with one quick swing of the door. [On the] downside, you can shut yourself off from community with one quick swing of the door.” Booth said his staff has been attentive to this and tries to engage the residents as much as possible and invite them out of their rooms. See MCDONALD Page 5
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Mark Edwards (left) and Zach Snyder, both of Houston, Kate Smith of Cambridge, England, and Cason Dickson of Normal, Ill., all freshmen majors in the College of Biblical Studies, watch a movie Tuesday in the lobby of McDonald Hall, which was recently changed to a freshman men’s hall.