The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 26, Ed. 1, Friday, January 23, 1987 Page: 1 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Christian University Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Features
Computers becoming necessity
ODtimist
P-3
Sports
abilene christian university
vuiunie numoer zo many January &a lyuo
ASU rivalry resumes Saturday p. 6
Jteeves to return
" uill Mieve the most important
job at a university is teaching so I'm
going to do what I think is most im-
portant - teach. "
Perry Reeves
By LAURA SMITH
Managing Editor
Dr. Perry Reeves dean of the Col
or Natural and Applied
Eiences has resigned his position
to return to teaching chemistry
classes and doing research said Dr.
Hunter on
two House
panels
r BYRON HARRELL
Senior staff writer
Rep. Bob Hunter was named to the
Science and Technology committee
and the Committee on Elections as
state legislators were assigned to
House committees Wednesday dur-
ing the second week of the new
legislative session in Austin.
The Science and Technology
committee was formed by House
Speaker Gib Lewis during the 1985
session. Hunter one of nine com-
suttee members will begin next
Pfcek looking into the problems fac
ing icxas in areas 01 new
technology.
Cooperation between cities and
universities will be one of the con-
cerns of the new committee said
Hunter. The committee will also be
Encerned with bringing more
tomation and high technology to
Texas.
State-wide telecommunications
systems will be another chief con-
cern of the Science and Technology
committee.
"Telephone systems are of great
concern to the state because of re-
cent deregulation laws for the
phone companies" he said.
The Committee on Elections
which handles proposals for the ci-
ty county and state election codes
is comprised ol nine members.
lunter said a lot of bills will be
oposed to change how elections
re run and his committee will deal
with those proposals.
Hunter is the only West Texas
representative on both committees.
He said Speaker Lewis told him he
would be challenged by both com-
mittee assignments.
Next week the Legislature will
prepare for the State of the State
Address from Gov.-elect Bill Cle-
ments who is beginning is second
term in eight years.
directors
Meals on
The Board of Directors of Meals
on Wheels Plus Inc. elected three
new board members last month in-
cluding Dr. Robert D. Hunter
senior vice president of the univer-
sity. Neomia Banks a local real estate
em and Judge Samuel B. Matta
I serve as new members of the
board with Hunter. The three were
selected by a nominating commit-
tee said Betty L. Blazier executive
director ol Meals on wheels Hus.
"The board felt they could broad-
en the base of community involve-
ment into Meals on Wheels" said
Blazier of Hunter Banks and Mat-
ta. Hunter whose wife Shirley has
been taking meals to Meals on
Wheels recipients for several years
said his family has had a great in-
ttrest in the program.
B"We believe it's one of the very
Tuiest programs in the city" said
Hunter the newly elected repre-
sentative for the 79th Legislative
District.
Each new board member will
serve on a committee. Hunter will
; concentrate his efforts on helping to
raise funds for the program as a
member of the public relations
C.G. Gray vice president and dean
of Academic Affairs.
Reeves said he will remain in the
position through this academic year
and perhaps until August depen-
ding on when a replacement is
found.
Gray said Reeves asked to resign
last year but Dr. William J.Teague
president of the university asked
him to remain in his position for
another year.
Reeves said it was no imposition
for him to remain in office even
though "my first love is teaching."
sift- ' '" j 'mjELL-L$LiiiWKBnnci hb..HLV'uMHH.I.R ' jML-nmrrr
A step toward fitness
Robin Gombert freshman professional studies major from Boerne leads her friend Denise Dyke
freshman interior design major from Arcadia Calif. up the stairs in Moody Coliseum Wednesday
afternoon. It was Robin's second time to run the stairs and Deniso's second but both said they plan to
make the workout regular.
Wheels adds three
committee. Matta Justice of the
Peace for Precinct 1 Place 2 in
Taylor County will also serve as a
member of the public relations
committee.
"I want to serve on the public
relations committee because I will
be able to help the program and
make people aware of the great need
for Meals on Wheels. And that's
what I like to do" said Matta.
The new appointment for Matta
is his first involvement with Meals
on Wheels. "I've gone on the routes
delivering meals and it's amazing.
He said it was in the best interest
of the school that he stay another
year.
"I've spent six years doing this
job" Reeves said. "At the beginn-
ing I set some goals. Some I've ac-
complished some I haven't."
"I've taken this job as far as I
could go" he said. "I couldn't do
what I wanted so now I'm going to
give someone else a shot."
Even though most of Reeves' time
is occupied with his duties as dean
he teaches one or two chemistry
classes and does some research. He
This may be the only meal per day
they get Matta said.
Meals on Wheels will face a
challenging year said Blazier. The
opening of the new kitchen at 949
Mesquite will help serve nearly 600
people more than half the amount
now being served.
The greatest challenge will in-
volve operating costs for Meals on
Wheels. Like all state agencies the
Department of Human Services
which helps fund Meals on Wheels
will be under scrutiny for budget
cuts.
"We have been told if the
Department of Human Services
doesn't find adequate funding they
will have to reduce money for the
elderly and disabled adults" said
Blazier.
More than half of the Meals on
Wheels operating budget comes
from DHS funding. The other half
comes from community contribu-
tions she said. Some of the DHS
funds for care of the elderly and
disabled are protected funds and
can't be changed.
But Blazier is worried about those
funds not protected Therefore the
Board of Directors will engage in
fund raising activities this year
to first love
wants to return to the classroom
full-time he said.
The process to find a replacement
for Reeves already has begun said
Gray. A committee of five faculty
members has been selected and will
have its first meeting Monday.
Members of the committee are
Don Drennan associate professor of
business; Dr. Bo Green professor
of math; Dr. Jim Nichols professor
of Biology; Dr. Michael Sadler
associate professor of physics and
Dr. Robert Sturgeon professor of
psychology said Gray.
J Mart KegtfmfOptlmtot
LJb
li.Ui
At the Monday meeting the
committee will set guidelines and
elect a chairman. Gray said he asked
the committee to have at least two
and no more than four nominations
to him by March 16.
Gray said he will make a recom-
mendation to Teague by April
15and Teague will make the ap-
pointment. Gray said he hopes the appoint-
ment will be made in time for the
Board of Trustees' meeting in May
so the members can meet the new
dean.
Students fight
in Austin for
Texas grants
By BYRON HARRELL
Senior staff writer
A group of 13 ACU students atten-
ding state inaugural activities in
Austin discovered they have a dif-
ficult fight to preserve TEG funds
this year.
The group of Texas students led
by Cary Roberts traveled to the
state capitol Monday to 'participate
in the Inauguration of Gov.-elect
Bill Clements and Lt. Gov. Bill
Hobby. The trip planned to bring
about greater awareness of the need
for continued TEG funding was
"exciting but very realistic" con-
cerning the fate of the Texas
Equalization Grant said Roberts
freshman government major from
Abilene.
Although the trip was called a lob-
bying effort Roberts said he and his
group were in Austin mainly to
make contact with TEG supporters
and to introduce Austin to members
of the group who were unfamiliar
with the capital city.
Roberts met with Carol
McDonald president of Indepen-
dent Colleges and Universities of
Texas to gain insight and informa-
tion about the TEG.
"She told us that legislators need to
have a vision for the future of stu-
dents' lives" Roberts said.
"Freshmen may not be able to at-
tend the university of their choice
because of cuts in the program."
TEG has been hurt along with
other state-funded projects because
of state deficits and budget short-
falls. During an interview from
Austin McDonald said TEG had
been funded at half the amount the
program needed to fully operate.
Band raising cash
to buy uniforms
By CURTIS POWELL
Optimist staff
The Big Purple Marching Band
may have a new look this fall if
funds can be raised to buy new
uniforms said Gary Lewis assis-
tant director of bands. The band
is currently soliciting funds from
band alumni and a variety of
others sources said Lewis.
The band is wanting to pur-
chase 260 uniforms at an approx-
imate cost of $225 per uniform
said Lewis. "That number in-
cludes enough uniforms to outfit
the entire band and leaves room
for a 10 per-cent growth of the
band" said Lewis. The band has
been showing growth the last few
years said Lewis.
The uniform design that has
been chosen is a "West Point"
design said Lewis. "It is a
timeless design" he said. "And
that is important if we have to
keep these uniforms for 10 years
or more." The current uniforms
have been worn by the Big Pur
Perry Reeves
More than $31 million dollars is
needed to fully fund the TEG but
McDonald said she is pleased with
the progress her group is making.
The program is now funded at
about two-thirds of the amount
needed to fully operate the pro-
gram. One argument ICUT is using to
promote fully funding the TEG is
the dollar difference in funding
state colleges and universities and
funding the TEG.
McDonald said the state actually
funds universities not individual
students. The state of Texas pays
about $3700 for every state school
student by funding the college or
university. The state is paying only
$1200 per TEG recipient because
the state funds the student accor-
ding to the student's needs.
ICUT and Texas students will
continue lobbying efforts this year
during the legislative session.
McDonald said students can have
the most impact by writing to their
legislators and asking that TEG
funding be saved from this year's
budget cuts.
Students also are asked to have
their parents write to repre-
sentatives. "Legislators respond to
their constituents but they need to
know the needs of their constitu-
ents" said McDonald.
Campus TEG supporters are plan-
ning to write to state lawmakers in
the next few weeks said Roberts.
An ACU day is being planned for
March. Roberts said as many stu-
dents as possible will visit the state
capitol one day and lobby for the
TEG. Students will try to meet
every legislator and express their
needs for the TEG he said.
ple for approximately 14 years.
This year the band did not have
enough uniforms to outfit all of
the students in the Big Purple.
The uniform style was chosen
by a student committee in a two
year search for a new uniform
design. "We took the student
ideas and fine tuned them into
the style we've chosen" said
Lewis. The band will be keeping
the hats they have worn for the
past three years he said. "The
hats are very much in keeping
with the new style of uniform"
said Lewis.
"We're really excited about
getting the new uniforms" said
Kevin Dunn junior radioTV
major from Belle Mead N.J.
and a tuba player in the Big
Purple. "This is my last year to
be in the Big Purple so I hope
we get them for this fall.
"The Big Purple is a top notch
band and I think the new
uniforms will really make the
band look even better" said
Dunn.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 26, Ed. 1, Friday, January 23, 1987, newspaper, January 23, 1987; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101422/m1/1/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.