OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY December 3, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 28 1 section, 12 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
West Texas wonderland:
The road to replacement:
Back to the basics:
Abilene offers several Christmas-themed activities during December. Pages 6-7
The Department of English is seeking a substitute for Dr. Jonathan Wade, who is moving to North Carolina after this semester. Page 3
The young team will work on turnovers, consistency before conference play. Page 12
SA clearly defines administrative officer roles Officers can now receive paycheck instead of scholarship By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Students’ Association twice voted to amend its bylaws and approved guidelines for a student leadership scholarship Wednesday in one of
Congress’ most productive meetings of the semester. After executive officers prepared members for a potentially marathon meeting, Congress — in near unanimous agreement on most of the measures — bypassed lengthy debate and moved quickly to votes. The need to amend SA’s bylaws arose when executive treasurer Tyler Cosgrove
sought to appoint Rep. Keith Robinson, Mabee Business Building, as chief financial officer — one of the administrative officer positions — after Jeremy Gudgel resigned earlier this semester. However, SA’s constitution and bylaws prohibit members of Congress from seeking more than one office in the same academic year, even if
they resign their first position. “According to our bylaws and constitution, Congress cannot appoint Keith as the chief financial officer,” said Elizabeth Alvarez, chief development officer. Alvarez said amending the bylaws to specifically lay out the job descriptions for each administrative officer, something that was never done
when Congress created those positions two years ago, could allow Robinson to resign his position as representative and be appointed as CFO. Freshman Sen. Brandon Smith presented the amendment to the bylaws, laying out the positions of administrative officers that would allow current members of Congress to resign and fill an open position. Most of these rules were
‘What child is this’
written when the positions were created two years ago, but Congress ran out of time before adding them to the bylaws. This year’s administrative officers have been operating under these rules already. An amendment to the bylaws takes a two-thirds vote of SA, and Congress surpassed that mark by two with a 37-1 vote. See SA Page 4
Campus Center to receive upgrade Hilton, Living rooms to have $40,000 renovation this month By EMILY CHASTAIN STUDENT REPORTER
scoring system will spread vocals across all three shows while shifting more focus to quality of costumes and presentation. “More people used to come on Saturday night thinking they would see the best show, but it’s not going to necessarily be a better show anymore,” Massey said. Groups will also be judged according to crowd reacMassey tion. “The entertainment value of a group should definitely be considered,” Massey said. Massey said another change
This year, students will not be the only ones getting new things for Christmas. The Campus Center is scheduled to receive a bit of a facelift over the holiday break. Remodeling and improvements to the Campus Center will occur in the Hilton Room and in the Living Room, said Joel Swedlund, Campus Center manager. Plans for the remodeling include replacing the carpet and drapes in both Swedlund rooms, changing the doors and removing the paneling in the Hilton Room, adding additional lights in both rooms and putting new features in the Living Room. Swedlund said the last time basic improvements, like replacing the carpet and drapes, happened was either in 1993 or 1994. “It’s been about 11 or 12 years since the last remodel, and those rooms get constant use,” Swedlund said. “There’s a lot of wear and tear over time.” Kevin Watson, associate vice president for administrative services, said in an e-mail that the other major changes are the first since the building’s construction in the 1960s. In addition to creating a new partition for storing tables and chairs in the Living Room, an art gallery will also appear. Swedlund said a railing will be added around the room with space on the wall as a location for art students to display their work.
See SING SONG Page 4
See CENTER Page 4
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Students in the Abilene Christian School’s elementary choir perform a Christmas song during Chapel on Wednesday in Moody Coliseum. Seniors from Abilene Christian High School led singing during the annual Chapel during the first week of December.
Director selects Sing Song production staff Massey says vocals will be judged every night of competition By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
Twenty students have been selected for the production staff for Sing Song 2005, and several changes are in store for the February show, including the addition of Hispanos Unidos and International Students Association to the mixed voices category. Only 20 students applied for production staff, so all were able to receive positions, said Kendall Massey, director of student productions. “It’s a really good group this year,” Massey said. “Everyone who interviewed for a position
is qualified to do something.” pated in Sing Song before, I “The title of the category Massey said the 2005 pro- feel blessed to have received that classes compete in has duction staff is bigger than last this opportunity to play such a always been mixed voices,” year’s because he noticed areas vital role,” Smith said. Massey said. “When I was in last year’s show that needed Massey said one big change here, the Big Purple competed improvements. He said the to the 2005 show will be the in mixed voices every year and show will run smoother when addition of acts by Hispanos usually won.” responsibility Massey is spread said the big“Changes in the scoring will force groups among more gest change to people. Sing Song will to sing equally well all three shows.” “The more be a revamppeople involing of the Kendall Massey, director of student productions ved, the betscoring syster,” Massey tem. said. “I guess you could say Unidos, a student organization “Changes in the scoring that I’m in favor of big govern- that hopes to foster apprecia- will force groups to sing equalment.” tion of Hispanic culture, and ly well all three shows; the acts Lauren Smith, junior hu- the International Students will be better from top to botman communication major Association. tom, and every group will from Kerrville, said in an eThese groups will compete have a shot to win,” Massey mail that she’s excited about in the same category as the said. working as downstage manag- classes, and Massey said a catIn the past, vocals have er on production staff. egory solely for class competi- only been judged on Saturday “Because I have not partici- tion never existed. night, but Massey said the new
Grant goes to reading clinic $100,000 will go toward buying new equipment, software By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $100,000 grant to ACU’s Reading Clinic Nov. 20 as part of a spending bill approved by Congress. The university’s Department of Education worked with the Office of Development to secure the grant, said Dr. Pat Simpson, director
of the Reading Clinic and professor of English. “It’s been in the works for more than one year,” Simpson said. “We put our heads together and thought of all positives we bring to the community and looked at our very specific needs.” Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said in an e-mail that they asked for the funding to enhance the clinic with new equipment and software. “This will help us better prepare our ACU students preparing to be teachers, as well as serve the community
by assisting K-12 students who have difficulties reading,” Durrington said. Simpson said the current assessment tools will be enhanced, which will help prepare students to teach special education and reading. “We’ll broaden our repertoire of assessment tools,” she said, adding that new technology will be included. “We will use it to do what we do now even better.” The summer Reading Clinic has existed at ACU for about 30 years, Durrington See CLINIC Page 4
Final Exam Schedule (Dec. 6-10) Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8-10 a.m.
ENGL 103, 106, 107, 111/112 ACCT 210/211
1:30 p.m. TR
8 a.m. MWF
COMS 111
10 a.m.-noon
8 a.m. TR
CHEM 133/134 MATH 120/130
Noon MWF
10 a.m. MWF
Noon-2 p.m.
3 p.m. TR
HIST 221/222
9 a.m. MWF
Noon TR
2-4 p.m.
1 p.m. MWF
9:30 p.m. TR
2 p.m. MWF
4-6 p.m.
3 p.m. MWF
4 p.m. MWF
4:30 p.m. TR
Exam Time
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Monday
6/6:30 p.m. M
6/6:30 p.m. T
6/6:30 p.m. R