The Optimist Print Edition 9.16.16

Page 1

WHAT'S INSIDE

NEWS

Over the past several years, the Hispanic student population has grown significantly. Page 3

FEATURE

OPINION

English professor Laura Carroll has battled cancer over the last year. Page 5

Are changes to Chapel fostering spiritual formation? Read what the Editorial Board has to say. Page 6

SPORTS

Football begins Southland Conference play this weekend against Houston Baptist. Pages 7

v

Friday, September 16, 2016 Vol. 105, Issue 05

A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912

WHAT A RUSH

LAUREN FRANCO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sophomores Colton Powell and Austin Browning compete in the Olympic Rush put on by the Men of Gamma Sigma Phi. Rushing for students sophomore and above began this week as rushees and club members prepare for the upcoming pledging season.

McNair research looks at Hispanic enrollment

110th Summit welcomes faith leaders

BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

Celebrating 110 years of spiritual growth, Summit conference, “Love God, Love your neighbor,” will feature key note speakers from the Abilene area and around the nation. In concurrence with the theme, Jonathan Storment, pastor at Highland Church of Christ, and David McQueen, pastor at Beltway Baptist church, will team-

While freshman Hispanic enrollment increased in 2016, research conducted by a junior McNair Scholar shows what affects the enrollment, retention and graduation rates for Hispanics in Texas colleges. Adam Andrade, junior political science and business management major from Fort Worth, participated in summer research for the McNair Scholars Program, a program that helps minority or first generation college students prepare for graduate school. Andrade used National Center for Education statistics to see what factors affect enrollment for Hispanics in Texas colleges and what measures could be taken to improve the Hispanic enrollment, retention and graduation rates. Hispanic students accounted for almost fifteen percent of the ACU student body in 2015. This year Hispanic enrollment included 759 students, 15.46 percent of the student body. Hispanic enrollment for the 2016 freshman class reached 18.6 percent. This number mirrors the U.S. population with Hispanics accounting for 16.7 percent of the total population. However, in the nation as a whole, less than half of Hispanics attend college. “Hispanics are trapped in SEE HISPANIC PAGE 3

BY EMILY GUAJARDO VISUALS MANAGING EDITOR

up to present a session titled “Love one another” at the last session in Moody Coliseum Wednesday at 11 a.m. Dr. David Wray, director of Summit, worked to develop several different features for this year’s sessions including the development of a mobile application students and guests can use to read speakers’ biographies and the schedule. Wray said he hopes the conference will bring new ideas to its attendee’s as well

as “strive to gain the attention of future generations.” He also said the Summit leadership team plans to use social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and iTunes. “One of the real strong principles of Summit is to have students, practitioners and congregational leaders come together for conversations,” Wray said. Summit will begin Sept. 18-21 in Moody Coliseum.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Landon Saunders, president of nonprofit Heartbeat Kelly Edminston, graduate student in the College of Biblical Studies Sara Barton, chaplain at Pepperdine University Jack Maxwell, creator of Jacob’s Dream and professor of art Tony Fernandez, representative for Hope of Life, a Herald of Truth ministry Eric Wilson, associate

chaplain at Pepperdine University Dr. Jeff Childers, professor of Bible Dr. Phillip LeMasters, priest at St. Luke’s Orthodox Christian Church Jim Reynolds, marriage and family counselor Jim Gash, director of the Global Justice Program and professor at Pepperdine University. EAG13A@ACU.EDU

SA passes fall budget with no discussion BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

The Students’ Association made no changes to the $103,000 budget Wednesday because it plans to use the appropriations fund to supplement funds allocated to student groups. In concordance with the SA constitution, SA distributed $46,440 to student groups, 45 percent of the total $103,200 budget. The budget no longer had $60,000 campus entertainment fund because that money was turned over to the Campus Activities Board. About 51 out of 59 student groups were represented at the meeting. Abraham Enriquez, executive vice president, said this year the executive cabinet emphasized groups would not receive funding if at least one representative from a group was not present at the meeting. Enriquez said he attributes the high turn-

out to student groups having better awareness about the function of SA. During the budget meeting, no motions were made to debate or amend the budget. SA executive president Abbey Moses attributed this to a new emphasis on the appropriations fund. Student groups can apply for various amounts of funding from the $5,000 appropriations fund throughout the semester. Applications for the fund opened in the SA office Sept. 15 and will close Nov. 22. The fund is not new to SA but this year the executive office chose to emphasize the fund as a supplement to funds already allocated to student groups. “A lot of the debate that we’d have in the past would be $50 from one group to another group,” said Moses. “This idea of moving very small amounts of money is much easier to

$51,000 Student groups met with SA Executive Treasurer and CFO to request funding for the fall semester. SA didn’t grant any funding for t-shirts or travel, and in order to be eligible for funds, a representative from the student group had to be present at the budget meeting.

$12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $0 REQUESTED

SEE BUDGET PAGE 4 WWW.ACUOP-

GRANTED


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