Last week the Students’ Association, President Phil Schubert and several of his associates attended their monthly luncheon in the Bean.

Several student leaders on campus selected by SA were there to voice concerns about the next few years at ACU.

There were two common topics of discussion: ACU’s upcoming switch to Division I  and the lack of diversity among professors because of ACU’s policy to only hire professors who are members of the Church of Christ. While ACU students continue to diversify ACU professors is not matching this growth.

SA’s purpose during these meetings is to facilitate communication between Dr. Schubert and the student body. At the first luncheon, SA asked student leaders to come, but in the future, any student can show up.

Dylan Benac, executive vice president of SA, encourages a variety of students to attend.

“The first time we had a small number, but this last week we had anywhere between fifteen and twenty students,” said Benac, junior political science major from Boerne. “We had students from every class, a variety of students from international students to transfer students. It was just people who wanted to come.”

President Schubert cannot answer every question a student proposes, so he asks a few of his associates from the Board of Trustees to answer questions as best they can.

The luncheons are informal to encourage open discussion. There is a question-and-answer section where students can ask anything they want. Even upperclassmen with no meal plan can eat.

“You just sit there and talk about life. I personally sat down and spoke with (Dr. Allison Garrett) about law school. It was really fun to see the personal side of our administration that not a lot of students get to see at all,” said Benac.

Benac believes the luncheons will help build the relationship with SA and the ACU student body in the long term.

Tommy Evans, junior business marketing major from Columbus, Ohio, plans to attend the next luncheon.

“I think asking questions is important, but I do believe students should have a close relationship with President Schubert. It gives us, the students, the ability to take the microphone per say and voice our opinions to the man who ultimately decides what happens on campus,” said Evans.

Students can send an email to Rebecca Dial to save a spot at the next lunch with the president on Nov. 7.