WHAT'S INSIDE
NEWS
Professor Rachel Riley invites Abilene to her home for a craft fair: the Front Porch Market Page 2
OPINION
Safe to say this semester has been a little crazy. Head to page 4 to read what the Editorial Board has learned.
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Friday, December 2, 2016 Vol. 105, Issue 15
FEATURE
SPORTS
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What’s it like to actually be responsible for a classroom? Educaiton majors share student teaching experiences.
After what could’ve been a career-ending injury, kicker Nick Grau bounced back.
A student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
DEAR SANTA,
COME QUICKLY.
ERIKA BOLADO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Thousands of Abilene residents flocked to the streets of downtown Tuesday to celebrate the annual City Sidewalks light parade. It’s a bright beginning for the Christmas season. Above, dancers from the Abilene ballet company give a holiday wave.
SA to collect household items for refugees BY HALEY REMENAR ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
The Students’ Association will collect donations for refugees in the Abilene area until Dec. 9. Boxes wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper will be in the Campus Center and the SA office to hold donations including hygiene
items, clothes and household goods. SA passed a bill two weeks ago to fund $500 for the drive which will provide flyers, other communication and extra items not donated by students. Representatives for the College of Arts and Sciences, Jenna Salzman and Lauren Wasson, organized the drive. They heard a
speaker from the International Rescue Committee during Cultural Awareness Week who said many people donate toys but the refugees don’t need toys as much as household goods. “Sometimes toys can be kind of expensive,” said Salzman, freshman political science major from Fort Worth. “We may not
be able to pay for a twenty-dollar toy, but surely we can donate toothpaste. This is something we can tangibly do as a community that can make a difference.” Wasson, freshman political science major from Denton, wrote the bill which funded the project. Both students will take the donations to the Interna-
tional Rescue Committee Dec. 9. Both used and new items will be accepted. Donations can include bedding, small household appliances, cleaning supplies, dishes, cooking items, infant items and personal hygiene items.
gap year, bloomed to offer more long term missions to students. With gap year, students can spend anywhere from six months to two years in different parts of the world. This coming January, seven students will be leaving to a variety of countries. Green recognized that SEE WITNESS PAGE 3
SEE LIFE PAGE 2
HRR13B@ACU.EDU
World Wide Witness founder Green to work with international missions nonprofit
The university will say goodbye to Gary Green after 15 years of missional guidance as he transitions to work with Barnabas International. The Associate Director of Missions and Adjunct Professor of Old Testament started his journey in
Abilene after his family moved from church planting in Venezuela. Green Green was coached by a former missionary, who directed him to spend more time on campus as a way to connect and use his history in Venezuela more fully.
Because the university didn’t have a short term mission internship program, Green worked alongside peers to create World Wide Witness in 2001. In the summer of 2002, World Wide Witness launched their first mission with 35 students participating. After almost 15 years, the program will have seen over 800 students reach
more than 60 different countries. Many of these students returned from their missions with a desire to spend longer terms overseas, said Green. Because of the success, the program being awarded the only short term missions program in the Church of Christ to receive the certification of standard of excellence, a new program, known as
BY ADRIENNE BARRICK STUDENT REPORTER
ACU For Life, a pro-life group on campus, has grown considerably in attendance this semester. The group meets bi-weekly on Thursdays in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, growing from 3 members last year to 25-30 regular members this fall semester. At their most recent meeting, they reached a total of 92 attendees, and see growth still in their future. ACU For Life is student run, and advised by Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the political science department and professor. “The group really caught fire due to persistence from the members,” Coates said. Gabriela Ramos-Ma-
Missions advocate to leave university BY LAUREN FRANCO STUDENT REPORTER
Pro-life group sees record attendance
Classmates remember fellow social work student OBITUARY Casey Ellis BY ALLISON BROWN EDITOR IN CHIEF
Casey Ellis, a senior social work major from Bethel, Connecticut, died Nov. 23. She was 21 years old. Casey was riding her bicycle home from work when she was struck by a car while crossing the intersection of
Ambler and Judge Ely Boulevard. Casey was born June 8, 1995, in Danbury, Connecticut. She lived her whole life in Bethel. Friends and family described Casey as someone who cared deeply for people. “She was born to work with special needs people; it was her calling,” said Casey’s
mother, Susan Myers. Casey was committed to her calling through studying social work. She spent the fall semester interning at the State Supported Living Center in Abilene. Classmate Hannah Sims, senior social work major from Abilene, said Casey’s passion for helping others shone through the way she worked with others. “She cared deeply for in-
dividuals with developmental disabilities, and spoke about each of her clients with a great deal of dignity and respect,” Sims said. “I was constantly blown away by how much she cared for the people she worked with. That’s just who Casey was.” “Casey was the definition of poise and grace. Her actions exemplified the kind and caring nature of God’s love towards us. Her spirit was
W W W. A C U O P T I M I S T. C O M
accepting and loving to everyone,” said classmate Taylor Crumpton, senior social work major from Oakland, Calif. Students, faculty and staff, along with Casey’s family, honored her life at a memorial service on Wednesday. Casey was preceded in death by her father Daniel Ellis. She is survived by her mother Susan Myers, Robert Myers, brother Evan Ellis, four loving grandparents,
Charles, Linda, Robert and Ellen, along with her cat Arlo, many family members and countless friends and neighbors. Another memorial service will be held in Danbury, near Casey’s hometown, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Christ the Shepherd Presbyterian Church. AKB12B@ACU.EDU