The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 34, Ed. 1 Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: 1 of 8
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Optimist
a product of theJMC/fl 0tW 0 fk
Friday, February 6, 2009 :: Vol. 97, No. 34 :: 1 section, 8 pages :: www.acuoptimist.com
Inside
This
Issue:
Pg.3
Summit contest seeks student art
P9‘5 Students strut stuff in honor of
P9'5 Cheap fames: Guitar trio to offer
to advertise fall event
Black History Month
cost-free concert on campus
Power dispute shakes Malagasy students’ home island
By Daniel Johnson-Kim
Editor in Chief
Hasina Raharinomenj ana-
hary’s first heard about con-
flict in her hometown of An-
tananarivo, Madagascar, on
Jan. 26, and immediately did
two things: called her family
members to make sure they
were safe and searched the
World Wide Web for the latest
update on the state of things
back home.
More than 100 people have
died on the world’s fourth-
largest island after anti-gov-
ernment protests led by Andry
Rajoelina, the former mayor of
the country’s capital city, began
in January.
A fellow Malagasy student
interrupted Raharinomenja-
nahary’s work morning, after
sending her an instant message
with a link to an online story
about the trouble.
When she could step away
from the office, she grabbed
a calling card, picked up a
phone and dialed her mother
and father more than 10,000
miles away that afternoon.
Her worries subsided when
her parents assured her they
were safe.
“The first time I heard
about it, I really wanted to
talk to them, and when I got
to talk to them, they said they
were fine," said the graduate
student from.
Raharinomenj anahary said
her parents were desperate
for news about the situation
because several television sta-
tions were not broadcasting.
“They were really surprised
that I knew more things about
what was happening there than
they did,” she said.
The unrest began when Ra-
joelina challenged the power
of President Marc Ravaloma-
nana and accused him of be-
ing a dictator, according to
the New York Times. President
Ravalomanana ordered the'
closing of a television station
owned by the mayor, who re-
sponded by holding rallies
to scold the government, the
Times reported.
On Jan. 26, a rally organized
by Rajoelina turned danger-
ous when rioters destroyed
stores, factories and a televi-
sion station belonging to the
president, news services re-
ported. The Madgascar armed
forces reported 76 people had
died during the riot and at
least 86 others were injured.
The U.S envoy reported that
more than 100 people have
died since the conflict began,
according to Reuters.
Rajoelina declared himself
the new leader of Madagascar
and will establish an interim
government by Saturday if the
president does not vacate his
See Madagascar page 4
Emily Smith :: File Photo
Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana stands at the podium during
the 2008 Commencement in May. The leader of the island nation whose
authority is being challenged by Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of
Antananarivo, Madagascar, has visited ACU’s campus twice.
No Paiidng Pass Required
Zak Zelnert:: chief photographer
Mike Wiggins, assistant professor of art and design, rides his skateboard across campus on
Wednesday. Weather permitting, Wiggins rides his skateboard to class nearly every day.
Professors trade
steering wheels
for outdoor rides
By Liz Spano
Student Reporter
Professors are finding new means of trans-
portation to get to class, and if the trend con-
tinues, the faculty parking lots may start to
look emptier.
By walking,
skateboard-
ing and rid-
ing bikes and
motorcycles,
ACU faculty
are learning
to enjoy the
benefits, like
exercise, enter-
tainment and less of an environmental impact,
that come with leaving their vehicles at home.
Jim Nichols, chair of the Department of Bi-
ology, said has ridden his bike to class for 37
years. The convenience of living close to cam-
pus makes it easy for Nichols to commute to
class, and he said he bought a second car only
when it came time for his daughter to drive.
“It’s fun, it’s easy and it’s good for me,” said
Nichols, who normally uses his car just once a
week to deliver Meals on Wheels. “I have saved
over my lifetime thousands of dollars.”
Mike Wiggins, assistant professor of art de-
sign, also does not drive to work, but Wiggins
prefers a skateboard over a bicycle.
“I think being outdoors is good for me psy-
chologically,” Wiggins said. “I found that when
I’m driving my car everywhere, I spend very
little time outside.”
Wiggins, who lives about a half mile from
campus, walked to class before realizing the
time he could save on four wheels.
“I’ve been riding a skateboard since I was
three,” he said. “It’s a nice form of transpor-
tation, and I’m surprised how breathless I am
when I get to school.”
See Rides page 4
A - optimist.
See why a handful of
ACU professors choose
fresh air over a car for
the campus commute
SA appoints new
election co-chair
By Keliine Linton
Chief Copy Editor
An inexperienced appoin-
tee and “fluff’ legislation did
not stop the Students’ Associ-
ation Congress from approv-
ing the co-chair for the Elec-
tions Committee and passing
one resolution.
Congress approved Blake
Penfield, senior political
science major from San
Antonio, as the elections
co-chair with a unanimous
voice vote.
' As co-chair for this
year’s Executive Officer
Elections, Penfield will
work with fellow co-chair
Sarah Pulis, vice president
of SA Congress, in running
the elections. Both will
oversee the voting process
and enforce the election
rules and procedures.
Pulis asked Penfield to fill
the co-chair role, although
he had no previous experi-
ence on the SA Congress.
“Blake was my first choice
because I had been impressed
with his comments in my po-
litical science classes,” she
said. “[While studying abroad
in Oxford together], I no-
ticed Blake had the opposite
opinion and would approach
things from a different angle
than I would.”
Penfield said he has worked
with the Elections Committee
since his freshman year, but
not in a leadership capacity.
*“1 mainly manned the
booths,” he said. “In my role
of the previous elections, I
didn’t get to see behind the
curtain too much.” .
Although he said he never
had an interest in being a Con-
gress member, he wanted to
fill the co-chair role because
it intrigued him and sounded
See SA page 4
Zak Zelnert :: chief photographer
Blake Penfield, senior political science major from San Antonio, an-
swers questions from Congress members about his qualifications and
policies as the new co-chair for the Elections Comnhitee.
STAR students invest $200K of university endowment
i By Liz Spano managed investment group, and selling stocks. It invested nancial management class can the market and research and finance, serve as advisers for
student Reporter STAR, said it still is ahead of $200,000 of ACU’s endowment participate in STAR to learn analyze stocks. the group.
its benchmark. money this year to buy stocks more and use their knowledge Dr. Terry Pope, associate Pope said although the stock
Despite what the Wall The Student Training and in companies. about finance. The 21 stu- dean and professor of finance; market has gone down this
Street Journal said is the Research Group is a student Students in the College of dents currently in STAR meet .Dr. Jack Griggs, professor year, the STAR group has been
stock market’s worst January organization that handles the Business Administration or for two hours once a week to of finance; and Dr. Jonathan
on record, ACU’s student- university’s money by buying those who have taken one fi- discuss their investments in Stewart, associate professor of See STAR page 4
Online Poll: "MCT
a. One foot after the other.
b. I drive.
c. On my bike.
d. I carpool with a roommate.
-facuoptimist.com
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 34, Ed. 1 Friday, February 6, 2009, newspaper, February 6, 2009; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth903963/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.