WEDNESDAY March 2, 2005
OPTIMIST THE
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 41 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Rough ride:
Love looks back on Lectureship:
Perfect weekend:
The men’s basketball team finished at 1-11 in Lone Star Conference South play. Page 8
Dr. Mark Love, director of Ministry Events, said attendance for the 87th Bible Lectureship was up this year with few speaker cancellations. Page 4
The softball team won all four of its games in this weekend’s tournament. Page 8
House considers cut to grant University receives more than $3 million of TEG funds annually By TIFFANY WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR
Maria Rojas isn’t sure if she would be able to attend ACU without the Tuition Equali-
zation Grant. She said she doesn’t want to have to find out. The Texas Legislature might decide later this month to cut TEG funding by 5 percent, which is why Rojas traveled to Austin nearly a month ago to thank state Sen. John Corona, R-Dallas, and state Rep. Rafael Anchia, DDallas for their support of the
grant. The TEG helps bridge the gap between the cost of public universities and more expensive, private universities. “The TEG is important for a lot of students. Sometimes it makes the difference between someone going to college or not,” said Rojas, sophomore business management major from Dallas.
Her Feb. 8 appointment was part of TEG Day, a time when students from independent universities all over the state of Texas lobby for funds. Rojas, who was chosen for the trip by Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university, was only able to speak to the See TEG Page 7
TEG facts The Texas Legislature has proposed that Tuition Equalization Grant funding be reduced in the state’s budget. ACU receives more than $3 million in TEG funds annually.
Leaders send students healthy reminder about choices
Campaigns make plans for spring break trips Students will travel to 35 different locations around country, world By RACHEL LAU PAGE EDITOR
dream about. With the help of ACU, he plans to achieve his goal this fall. Lee, associate professor of biology, is one of seven faculty members taking teacher renewal leave to pursue research interests for the semester and to take a break from teaching.
The 2005 Spring Break Campaigners are in their final days of preparation, and most are ready to take on the locations where they will spend the week serving various churches and organizations. About 515 students will travel to 35 locations, nine of which are international, said Rachel Klick, senior broadcast journalism major from Fort Worth and secretary of the Spring Break Campaign committee. Last year’s total number of participants was 500. Clay Rich, chair of the SBC committee, said a few issues still need to be resolved. “It’s looking good,” he said. “There are the small issues like campaigners not having enough money, but we see those every year.” However, the small issues have had a greater effect on individual campaigns as students struggle to raise money. Allen Min, sophomore molecular biochemistry major from Austin, is on the Dominican Republic campaign. He said many people on his team are short of the $1,200 needed for the trip. “Many of the international campaigns are expensive, and a lot of people are having problems getting the money,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get the rest of the money in the next four days.” Campaigns are also dealing with loss and replacement of leaders. Cortney Armstrong, junior integrated marketing communication major from Mesquite, was asked to co-lead the campaign to New Jersey for devotional purposes after the current leader stepped down. “I’ve only been with this team for about three-and-aRich half weeks,” Armstrong said. “We lost our focus because of all the leader confusion, but I think after the transition, we’re more focused.” The New Jersey campaigners will serve the community in soup kitchens and food banks, and they will live with the members of a local church. Klick said insufficient funds and loss of leaders is not unusual. “Every year, it’s just more relevant to the people it happens to,” she said. “Everything is going as planned.” Klick said leaders have been trained to deal with these losses and to recruit people for their campaigns. The SBC committee has been working to make things easier and more organized for future committees, she said. They have created a campaigner’s handbook on the Internet this year for future leaders and participants, outlining SBC expectations. They continue to use computer databases to link student information, especially financial information. Amy Watkins, senior elementary education major from Abilene and leader of the campaign to Salem, Ore., said the SBC committee has been helpful to all the teams and leaders. “They keep us on top of things, and they take care of all the finances,” she said. Watkins and her co-leader, Ben Lazcano, will lead 12 students to work with a newly
See FACULTY Page 7
See SBC Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Members of the Abilene Fire Department's Truck 5 conduct a mock vehicular rescue in which they used the Jaws of Life to free a victim, firefighter Tye Brooks, from the passenger side of the car Monday. The demonstration was sponsored by the University Counseling Center as part of Making Healthy Choices Week.
Tenure given to six faculty members Tenure gives more job security, chance to apply for sabbatical By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Officials recently announced that six faculty members have been granted tenure. Those six and two others also received promotions. When faculty members have tenure, they have permanent appointments to the university. Thus, instead of signing a contract each year, they have more job security, said Dr. Tim Sensing, who was promoted to associate professor of the Graduate School of Theology and received tenure. He has taught at the university for six-and-a-half years. “The tenure-promotion process is a long process, and it’s a relief to be done,” Sensing said. “They can only fire me now because of certain causes.” Dr. Ken Cukrowski, associate professor of Bible, missions and ministry, has taught for six years and said another benefit of tenure is the opportunity to apply for a sabbatical, which he said was his main motivation in applying for it. Dr. Junhui Bian, who was promoted to associate professor of biology and granted tenure,
said he loves the mission of the university, and he’s glad to know his work here is appreciated by his colleagues and the administration. Many newly tenured faculty members expressed their gratitude at being appreciated. “This is a really good feeling,” said Dr. Jeanene Reese, who was promoted to associate professor of Bible, missions and ministry and granted tenure. This is Reese’s 13th year at the university, and she said she wants to be a role model as a female faculty member in the department. Dr. Jason Holland, who was promoted to associate professor of mathematics and computer science and received tenure, said he applied for tenure because he and his wife decided they wanted to raise their son in Abilene. “It feels good to be acknowledged by my peers,” Holland said. He has taught at the university for about four years, but not sequentially. Dr. Rusty Towell was promoted to associate professor of physics and granted tenure. Dr. Patricia Hernández was promoted to professor of biology, and Dr. Scott Perkins was promoted to professor of psychology. E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
Teacher renewal leave Seven faculty members have been granted teacher renewal leave next semester, which allows them to take a break from teaching to pursue their research interests. • Dr. Tom Lee, associate professor of biology • Dr. Waymon Hinson, chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy • Dr. Bob McKelvain,
chair of the Psychology Department • Dr. Cynthia Roper, associate professor of communication • Al Haley, assistant professor of English
• Dr. Debbie Williams, assistant professor of English • Dr. Dickie Hill, professor of exercise science and health
Seven to take faculty leave next semester Professors will pursue research opportunities By MALLORY SHERWOOD FEATURES EDITOR
Dr. Tom Lee needs only to travel to Europe to have been on all seven continents, something most people only
Social club plans record-breaking event 60-hour softball game will raise money for Habitat for Humanity By DANIELLE LINTHICUM STAFF WRITER
Within a few months, the Abilene chapter of Habitat for Humanity will have enough money to build one house and remodel two more, thanks
to — of all things — a softball game. Gamma Sigma Phi is organizing a 60-hour softball game that will break a world record for the longest softball game ever recorded and will raise more than $68,000 if all goes as planned. “We’re really excited about this,” said Patrick Vincent, junior finance and English major from Arlington and
member of GSP. “It’s an awesome opportunity to help out a great cause and have a lot of fun while doing it.” Vincent, who is the chief organizer of the event—which was recently christened Insanity for Humanity, said 40 members of GSP will play the game, with 20 of them on the field at all times. The game will stretch from 7 p.m. April 14 to 7 a.m. April 17.
Each player is responsible for raising $650, and the rest of the club will solicit local businesses and alumni for support. Members also plan to offer advertising space and commercials during the game to raise additional funds, Vincent said. The club is hoping to attract people to come watch See GSP Page 7