By Jared Fields, Managing Editor
A phenomenon no ACU student can prepare for has the campus on its knees.
It is greater than Sing Song preparations, more important than class attendance and possibly more vital to our spiritual health than prayer.
The most pressing issue here has to do with who is in charge.
Right now, no one seems to be.
We have no dean of Campus Life. The former director of Judicial Affairs, Mike Spell, is gone and Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Spiritual Formation, Mr. Chapel and controller of the school, is time zones away in Oxford for the semester.
Without a director of Judicial Affairs the duties are being split between two people. A new one would be greatly appreciated by those picking up the slack. Two people cannot fully handle the task of discipline issues that arise on campus. The average student does not expect to face judicial affairs, but without one the threat of something small like Chapel probation seems much less intimidating.
Chapel is running smoothly so far this semester in the absence of Dean Barnard. His transition to the dean of Spiritual Formation has allowed him to remain in charge of Chapel.
However, Chapel is not the same with Dr. Barnard gone. He adds the constant presence in Chapel for those who love and hate the daily routine.
For the lovers, or Wayniacs, he is the spiritual leader on stage who is an example for everyone. The dissenters view Dr. Barnard negatively as he embidies all they hate about Chapel.
Whether you love or hate him, he unifies the student body as something constant everyone can love or love to hate. But regardless of your personal view, he is gone right now and the lack of a Chapel presence furthers the feeling of no leadership.
While in the departments of these people effects are felt, most others don’t notice a change around campus life. The normal student doesn’t notice how we are without a dean of Campus Life. I am not even sure what a dean of Campus Life will do once a new one is found. I am sure that somewhere the effects of being without one are being felt, but outside of that circumstance, little is known.
So how should ACU fix this problem in the lack of leadership as perceived by students? There doesn’t need to be anything else done. Judicial Affairs will hire someone, the Waynester will return and Campus Life may or may not hire a new dean.
All this means for students is we need to be patient. Everything will work itself out and go back to the way it was. Or the way it is right now. No one will know.
