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University endowment showing growth

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief For the first time in its history, the university's endowment climbed above $200 million last week after a $4 million gift came through, said Jack Rich, executive vice president of the university. After a strong year for donations to the university and investment returns, Rich estimates the endowment will have ... [Read More…]

Covenant Service offers reflection on ACU’s past, future 100 years

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief Students, faculty, administrators and alumni gathered Sunday night to recommit to the mission of the university for the next century as it begins to celebrate its first 100 years. Sunday's Covenant Service allowed attendees to look back at the school's first 100 years of blessings and struggles, give thanks for ... [Read More…]

Theatre chooses ‘Seussical’ as musical: Community concerns about the casting of Aida bring about a late switch of the productions.

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief After days of uncertainty, the Theatre Department on Wednesday announced Seussical would replace Aida as this year's Homecoming Musical. The late change occurred after Adam Hester, chair of the Theatre Department, pulled Aida on Aug. 8 because of concerns in the community that a white actress was cast to play a ... [Read More…]

University operating with surplus: Administrators dedicate $4.5 million for a three-year plan toward increasing faculty salaries.

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief The university's operating budget saw about a $6 million positive swing last year to end the year with more than a $1 million surplus, said Phil Schubert, vice president of finance. Total net worth, which also takes into account investment earnings and gifts to the university, also climbed $18 million during ... [Read More…]

August downpour still leaves some in drought

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief Heavy rains during Aug-ust helped reverse a negative trend for Abilene lakes and reservoirs and made campus grass and plants greener, but they also slowed campus construction projects. Bob Nevill, director of Physical Resources, said the rains delayed the completion of Barret Hall until last week-just a day ... [Read More…]

Optimist staff will be honest and fair

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief Sometimes I think the people who say nothing happens in Abilene don't live in the same city I've called home for three years. In the past 10 months alone, we've had West Texas native Bill Burkett faxing forged documents about President Bush's National Guard service from an Abilene Kinko's, and former student and ... [Read More…]

Former student acknowledges past plagiarism: Townsel alleges U.N. ambassador nominee behaved ‘like madman’

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief A former ACU student who once was removed from the Optimist staff for plagiarism now stands at the center of a national controversy over allegations she made against the nominee for United Nations ambassador, John Bolton. Melody Townsel, now a Dallas public relations executive, sent a letter to members of the ... [Read More…]

‘Optimist’ knows its place: reporting the news

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief As a news reporter, I have always maintained that my job should be about relaying pertinent news to the readers, not becoming part of the news. Then Monday, this line appeared in a letter posted on a political blog, the Daily Kos: "I have just received a phone call from a Christian newspaper reporter." I was ... [Read More…]

Handy books could help students cope

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By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief This just in: Fundraising, in all its forms and uses, forevermore will be only one word. No more hyphens. No more splitting it into two words. Just fundraising. This is according to the 2005 edition of the Associated Press Stylebook released just one week ago. Journalists everywhere wait for each year's ... [Read More…]

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