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Wednesday, April 15, 2009 :: Vol. 97, No. 49 :: 1 section, 10 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com
Inside This Issue:
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University selects ‘Who’s, Who’ of Abilene Christian University
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Pg. 6: Moms in the Classroom: Full-time students care for children
Groups unite to serve Abilene community
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Weekend sweep secures ACU spot on top of LSC South
Lack of access for disabled prompts review of campus By Michael Freeman Managing Editor
Bryan Evans could not attend his English class last semester. The classroom door was unlocked, but that did not
matter because the building doors were out of his reach. Evans, freshman youth and family ministries major from Angleton, was born with spine bifida, a spinal cord defect, and because of this
‘Blue Like’ author to speak at Summit
he must use a wheelchair. He said some buildings on campus are difficult to enter. The Zona Luce Building does not have an elevator, and Chambers Hall does not have elevators or a wheelchair ramp.
“Chambers is completely inaccessible,” Evans said. “I cannot find a way to get into it at all. I had an English class last semester, and they had to switch me out of Chambers and put me in
a different building because it’s inaccessible.” Evans was able to take his English class last semester, but it was not in Chambers Hall. Moving students to different buildings is nothing new for the
Student Reporter
By Michael Freeman Managing Editor
Todd Lollar’s cerebral palsy and speech impediment did not keep him from earning his bachelor and master’s degrees. It did not keep him from continuing to search for a job after experiencing five years of discrimination from multiple businesses. And it did not keep him from delivering his message of encouragement and determination to students Monday night in Moody Coliseum. Lollar (’00), a collegiate minister at the University of North Texas, spoke for about 40 minutes as part of the Alpha Scholars Program’s Disability Awareness Week this week. Sitting in his wheelchair, he shared his life story with a few hundred students. “I encourage you to know your story,” Lollar told his audience. “Your story is just as powerful as mine. Know what God has done with your own faith, and it will help you share the Gospel with people who are lost.” Lollar was born with cerebral palsy and nearly died shortly after his birth. His mother prayed he would become a minister if God allowed him to live — which is exactly what happened. “God is very purposeful and sovereign,” Lollar said. Lollar studied business management at University of Oklahoma and graduated with
:: Dr. Charles Mattis, dean of the First Year Program
”
program. The book is about how the Gospel of Jesus explains the human personality. “This visit will provide the opportunity for students at our campus to be exposed to one of the leading authors of our time,” said Dr. Charles Mattis, dean of the First Year Program. Miller’s book is the follow-up to Blue Like Jazz, a collection of essays reflecting Miller’s non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality. Miller also teamed up with Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson to write the screenplay for the film version of Blue Like Jazz, which will be shot in Portland, Ore. Miller will be on a book tour for his next publication, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, during his Abilene stop at ACU See
Author page 4
Access page 4
Alumnus shares story of faith, perseverance
Students at our campus [will] be exposed to one of the leading authors of our time.
The Students’ Association Congress is planning ahead this year to welcome Donald Miller, New York Times’ best-selling author, next semester during Summit. SA gave more than $2,000 to bring Miller to Miller campus, and some are calling the event the “SA Wednesday” of Summit. “We are very excited about this fall,” said Dr. Brady Bryce, director of Ministry Events. “We try hard to bring the speakers the ACU community really want to hear from and we are definitely thankful to have him on our campus due to generous oncampus sponsorships.” Miller will visit campus Sept. 23, where he will meet with faculty in the Adams Center of Teaching and Learning, followed by a speech in Moody Coliseum. He also will meet with the public for a reading from his newest book, Million Miles in a Thousand Years, in the McCaleb Conference Room before departing from Abilene. Miller’s book, Searching for God Knows What, was chosen as the book for the 2009 Freshman Common Reading
See
Wheels of Wisdom
“
By Lezlee Gutierrez
English and psychology departments, both of which reside in Chambers Hall. Students and professors who use wheelchairs, motorized scooters or
See
Jozie Sands :: staff photographer Todd Lollar (’00) speaks about living with cerebral palsy and how he found God at a Chapel forum in Moody Coliseum on Monday. Lollar’s visit is part of Disabilities Awareness Week at ACU.
Wisdom page 4
See a video of Todd Lollar’s message he delivered at a Chapel forum Monday.
Rocketboys return to play ACU show JMC Network shines By Tanner Anderson Page Designer
After a one-month hiatus, The Rocketboys landed in Abilene once again to perform at their alma mater and showcase some new songs. The stage was set outside of the Hunter Welcome Center as prospective and current students walked around with multi-colored lips courtesy of Cajun Cones, and people found their desired listening locations. The Rocketboys’, who changed their band name from Homer Hiccolm and The Rocketboys, arrival was not entirely nostalgia driven. Jenni Williams, Admissions Events Coordinator, helped prepare a Big Splash Event, which is used
Zak Zeinert :: chief photographer Lead guitarist Daniel Wheeler (’06) plays during The Rocketboys’ concert on campus in front of the Hunter Welcome Center on Monday.
to showcase the campus to high school students. Williams said Big Splash Events are held in areas out-
side of Abilene as well. She said they have been to Houston and San Antonio, and they usually take prospective
students to sporting events for the evening. Jake Gonzalez, senior at Cooper High School, attended the event with Gilbert Mcoy, senior from Abilene high school. “I like it,” Mcoy said. “It spices up my night and gives us something to do instead of playing guitar, work or Facebook.” The event was free to both current and prospective students, except for the snow cones; prospective students snacked for free, while current students paid the regular prices. “We just wanted to do something unique for ACU,” Williams said. “This is something that we thought both See
Rocketboys page 4
at TIPA competition By Sondra Rodriguez Page 2 Editor
Students from ACU’s JMC Network won 51 awards at the 100th Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) in Dallas on Saturday. Awards were given for media including newspaper, radio and television, and ACU competed against University of Texas-Austin, University of North Texas and Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Texas Christian universities. TIPA was founded in 1909 at Baylor University and is the oldest collegiate press association, according to www. TexasIPA.org. The competi-
ACU WEATHER 30%
tion recognizes work in the field of mass communication that exemplifies student press leadership and excellence from two and four-year institutions. TIPA also awards $4,000 per year in scholarships to students from these universities, based on student staff nominations. The Optimist won first in overall excellence; KACU-FM won first in overall newscast and the JMC st-udent media won third place in the newspaper and television sweepstakes. Overall, the JMC Network was awarded 14 firstplace awards, eight second See
Online Poll :
Thursday
Friday
High: 75 Low: 57
High: 71 Low: 51
High: 76 Low: 49
Videos :: Podcasts :: Slideshows Department of Journalism and Mass Communication ::
Abilene Christian University
What is your favorite band that was formed at ACU?
a. The Rocketboys b. Swing the Lead c. The Rockin’ Extensions d. All of them are lame.
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Wednesday
Awards page 5
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