The Answerbook, a comprehensive collection of all things ACU, is now available on iTunes U for $8.99, replacing the traditional paper copy.
The Answerbook is the authority on ACU heritage and Optimist style, containing over 400 pages of about the university. This historical and journalistic style almanac has been published in book form for the past 20 years. The online copy is now available for students, faculty and alumni to access the information faster and more simply.
The Answerbook includes information about a variety of topics including names of presidents, professors, coaches, clubs and departments. Lists of homecoming queens and student honors among hundreds of other facts are compiled for the convenience of the university.
Dr. Charlie Marler, professor emeritus and senior faculty of journalism and mass communication, has enjoyed creating and editing the Answerbook over the years. Since enrolling at ACU in 1951, Marler has been absorbing informative tidbits about the university.
“I love it. It’s like a hobby to me,” Marler said. “It’s a grand experiment for us.”
The online presentation of the book has saved the department the time and money it would have taken to have the book printed. Readers benefited from the change as well, Marler said.
“We had to sell it for $15 in print form and now we are able to sell this one for $8.99 with no paper or printing cost involved,” Marler said.
The Answerbook serves a great purpose in the department of Journalism and Mass Communication. JMC students are able to refer to the book at anytime to check facts before turning in any written material. The online version of the book is one more way ACU is using technology to its advantage.
Jill Dougher, senior advertising and public relations major from Irving, was excited to hear that her backpack won’t be as heavy anymore.
“Since most of my work is done on the computer it will be nice to have access to the Answerbook instantly instead of having to carry around the thick hard copy wherever I go,” Dougher said.
Kari Hailey, senior social work major from Lockhart, was interested in the book for fun.
“I don’t really think it would be beneficial to my major because I don’t write papers that deal with only ACU. Although, I am kind of nerdy and would enjoy reading it,” Hailey said.
The Answerbook has been well known to some and covert to others. The JMC department took the step in modernizing the Answerbook to advertise it to others students besides its own.
Dr. Marler released the online version in hopes that more students, faculty and constituents of the university would become aware of the resource.
“The Answerbook is a best kept secret, unintentionally, and we hope it ceases to be a secret and it becomes well known,” Marler said.
