When Dr. Royce Money granted amnesty to students in various stages of Chapel probation, he made a decision that was truly in the best interest of the students.

Dr. Money responded to a unanimous recommendation made Thursday by the Chapel Task Force.

Many questions and complaints have been raised about this year’s often confusing chapel policy.

The current system of Chapel discipline has been one of the most unpopular and most discussed at ACU.

Questions also have been raised about the tactics used to catch violators and whether the tactics were fair to the student population in general.

Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life, called the system an “administrative nightmare” earlier in the year.

Dr. Money has remained silent, yet present, through the yearlong Chapel controversies, saying now that his task force has suggested that the system has failed.

Amnesty, a term designating a general pardon, usually is granted by the governor of the state or the president to a group of persons who have violated the law, often when the law has failed.

By granting amnesty, Dr. Money made the best decision a university president could have made at this juncture.

The voice of the students did reach the ear of their president.

The Chapel Task Force also has been listening to the students, and its recommendations to the president have thus far served the students well.

The Optimist applauds the job done by the task force this year as well as Dr. Money’s final decision and involvement in student life.

The Chapel system this year has failed. The remedy has been announced. And that remedy is good medicine indeed.