Construction will begin on the development of three science facilities on campus as a result of gifts totaling $30 million from three donors. As part of the development, Foster Science Building will be transformed to become the Robert R. Onstead Center for Science and Humanities. Chambers Hall will be torn down and a new facility, the ... [Read More…]
Surprise snow freezes school
The forecast predicted half an inch of snow, but students woke up and were surprised to find Abilene covered in over two inches of snow - enough to cancel classes and shutdown the university. Several students braved the single-digit windchill on Thursday and participated in snowball fights and sledding. The hills behind Smith Adams Hall were ... [Read More…]
Spring enrollment sees steady increase
The university's spring retention rate is slightly higher than last year's rate, an upward trend that has been evident in recent years. The total number of students reduced from 4,461 to 4,168. The 93.4 percent retention rate, compared to last year's 92.3 percent rate, is an upward trend that can be attributed to several factors, said Bart ... [Read More…]
Praying for the Super Bowl
On Sunday 111.5 million of us gathered together to witness miracles. We partook of the game day snacks. Some even tithed $2000 and made the pilgrimage to be there in person. And 33 percent of football fans prayed to God to help their team win, according to a poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute. This bothers me. The ... [Read More…]
Coming soon: Wildcat Cash
If everything goes as planned, students will be able to use Wildcat Cash off-campus by Monday. Wildcat Cash, essentially usable Bean Bucks off-campus, is waiting for a pending written agreement and the delivery of equipment before it is available for students, and they don't anticipate any delays, said Lisa Flores, assistant director of Business ... [Read More…]
Former McMurry student found dead in San Antonio
A former McMurry student was found dead in a San Antonio park on New Year's Eve. The body of 24-year-old Lauren Michelle Bump was found inside O.P. Schnabel Park with multiple stab wounds. Bump's death was ruled a homicide by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office according to San Antonio's news station KENS 5. 29-year-old Christian Ivan ... [Read More…]
It’s not just the millennials
If you were smart, you came up with a game plan before Christmas break. You knew it was inevitable you'd be asked questions like "so what are you planning on doing after college?" or "what graduate programs are you looking at?" or even "is there a special boy/girl in your life, yet?" Often, it can be difficult to think of something to talk ... [Read More…]
Mission Thanksgiving not over
Bob Strader is talking to me as he walks. "It's not full," Strader says. "We have a lot of great donations, but even though we've announced it in Chapel and the truck is sitting there in plain sight, people are like 'oh I didn't know that ended today.'" Strader, director of Ministry and Service, is coordinating the Season of Caring on campus ... [Read More…]
Board discusses employment policy
A majority of faculty members favor the university hiring Christian faculty outside of the Churches of Christ, according to a recent faculty survey conducted by the Faculty Senate at the request of the Board of Trustees. At the same time, an even larger majority said the board should conduct a comprehensive study of potential effects of changing ... [Read More…]
Why I need a demotivational speaker to set the standards
I'm pretty tired of people trying to motivate me. Now before I explain, I do believe we all need people who encourage us to create dreams and go after them, especially at this formative stage in our lives. But, if it isn't coming from someone I know wants the best for me, personally, it's empty. If you're getting paid to tell me how great I ... [Read More…]