Making an Impact Student awarded with highly esteemed scholarship
vol. 100, no. 48
wednesday, april 4, 2012
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
Features page 5
weather
Tornadoes touch down in DFW area staff report
PROJECT RUNWAY
Saturday’s In the Red Fashion Show raised funds for the Red Thread Movement through fashion photo by Chelsea patillo
Alfredo Desiati, sophomore management major from Boulder City, Nev. struts the runway in clothing from Dillards.
A series of tornadoes ripped through the Dallas/Fort Worth area Tuesday afternoon, leaving a wind damage and debris in their wake. The Storm Prediction Center received 12 reports of tornadoes in the Dallas/Fort Worth area Tuesday. CNN meteorologists predict two or three tornadoes touched down multiple times in the area and they were EF-1 or EF-2 at their strongest. The storms did heavy damage in Kennedale, Arlington and southern Dallas County. Lancaster has declared a State of Disaster. Farron Salley, senior journalism major from Lake Como, called to check on her mom, an elementary school principal in the east Fort Worth area, during the tornadoes Tuesday afternoon. “She told me they couldn’t even get the teachers aware of what was going on before the sirens started going off,” Salley said. Salley said it made her nervous when she went online and saw footage and pictures of the tornadoes and that doesn’t really ease any of the tension. “That made me more nervous for my mom and for her safety. I called my mom, and my roommate said that she called all her family in Dallas when the storms eased,” Salley said. “Now I know that everything is O.K. they got a lot of hail and wind.” The Dallas/Fort Worth area is expected to be clear with temperatures in the low 80s Wednesday. contact optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
accident
Student hurt in wreck facing brain surgery hannah barnes editor in chief Justin Gibson, sophomore social major from Gatesville, may be facing brain surgery after an accident Friday that left him with severe injuries. According to the Abilene Police Department accident report, Gibson’s Honda Metropolitian collided with a Dodge Neon driven by Amanda Clemson, senior marketing major from Goliad, at about 2:40 p.m. Friday at the intersection of E.N. 10th St. and Pine St. Clemson
turned left against an unprotected green light and hit Gibson, who had the right of way, according to the police report. Gibson was thrown from his scooter and landed in the intersection. Clemson said she did see Gibson in the intersection. “I didn’t see him at all,” Clemson said. “It came out of nowhere.” Gibson was immediately transported to Hendrick Medical Center, where doctors performed a CT scan and found bleeding in his brain. He was then airlifted to Parkland Health and
Hospital System in Dallas. Gibson remains in critical condition, and doctors may perform surgery Wednesday depending on whether his blood pressure and other vitals stabilize. Gibson’s girlfriend, Melissa Mason, junior psychology major from New York City, rushed from to Dallas Abilene to be with Gibson. “The doctors needed to do brain surgery right away because blood was clotting on the right side of his brain,” Mason said. “They removed half of his skull; there is bruising on his
brain that is now dead brain tissue. That’s not going to come back.” Gibson’s mother and stepfather are with him at the hospital. Mason said Gibson’s father who lives out of state was hospitalized because the stress of his son’s accident. Mason said the recovery will take a long time. “People think he’ll be OK, but no – he’s not really going to be.” Gibson’s doctors are concerned that he will lose his speech, including his ability to read and hear, she said. “Until the swelling goes
down, they’re not going to have any idea whether he will be able to speak or not,” Mason said. Every hour, Gibson’s doctors perform a response test, from which they’ve found his right side to be less responsive than his left. Now, Mason and Gibson’s family must wait for the swelling in his brain to decrease and pray for positive results. “We’re trying to keep faith and stay hopeful and be strong for him,” Mason said. “I’m just praying like he would be praying, with the faith he has.”
Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for student life, arrived at Hendrick before Gibson’s family. “We tried to understand it,” Thompson said. “We wanted to make sure someone was there to be with him, his friends and his family.” Clemson said it is difficult to think something like this could happen. “I pray for him everyday,” Clemson said. “I hope that he has a speedy recovery.” contact BARNES at HAB07A@acu.edu
research
Annual research festival names winners Monday fourth year, the number of presentations has increased online managing editor by nearly 50 percent compared to last year’s festival. Dr. Greg Powell, ACU The Fourth Annual Undergraduate Research Festival Director of Undergraduate took place Monday in the Research, predicts that a Hunter Welcome Center. two-day festival may be in The festival, supported by the works for next year to the McNair Scholars Pro- accommodate participants gram, had over 100 student and spectators. “We filled almost all of presenters this year, and for the first time had sev- the available time slots and eral presenters from other may have to move to a twoAbilene colleges. In only it’s day festival in 2013,” Powell
Leigh Foith
said. “ I was pleasantly surprised by the large audience for many of the poster and oral presentations; attendance was excellent.” Before presenting their topic in its entirety, students submitted abstracts of their presentations to the Undergraduate Research Festivals Proposal Committee, made up of seven faculty members. These faculty members selected students based on how well
the abstract described the purpose of their research and the manner in which the project was designed. After students were selected, they conducted their research with the assistance of a faculty mentor. Students had the option of submitting a paper or a poster presentation. Papers were given orally in various conference centers to faculty, staff and fellow students. Poster presentations were
given in a group setting, where teachers and friends could stop by the festival to observe and peruse the student’s research. Spencer Goudeau, senior English major from Colorado Springs, Colo., saw the festival as a unique opportunity to present his work and receive recognition in the industry. “To present anything at a research festival is impressive on resumes and in
job interviews, but it also prepares students for their chosen industry and for graduate school,” Goudeau said. “More students should take advantage of [this opportunity] to diversify their skill sets.” The list of winners can be found at www.acuoptimist.com. contact foith at lmf08a@acu.edu
inside sports
opinion
video
news
Sophomore pitcher completes weekend against West Texas A&M
CORE changes are headed in the right direction, but may not be enough
SpringFest provides students with music and entertainment
Interim dean, assistant provost positions to be filled by fall semester
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Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
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