Students, faculty, staff and members of the community of Anderson gathered on Monday morning to celebrate the 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on campus. The day began at “The Gathering” in Miller Chapel where director of the Cultural Resource Center Mike Thigpen introduced the theme and the importance of the day. In the chapel, attendees watched a video of King’s last speech on April 3, 1968 before he was killed the next day on April 4. His last speech … [Read more...]
Search for campus pastor continues
Since Tamara Shelton’s resignation in mid-November, AU has been without a campus pastor. Although the search for a new campus pastor began months ago, it remains ongoing. According to Chris Luekenga, dean of students, the process of searching started in November. “The work began with a review of the position: a minor rewrite of the job description to better reflect the current need and posting of the position,” he said. “We will begin to review applications the week of Jan. 20 and design … [Read more...]
Marketplace gets new face
Upon returning to campus this semester, students may have been pleasantly surprised to find several updates to the Marketplace. According to Blake Milakis, director of dining services, the updates to the campus dining area range from visual to practical. “We did a lot of updates,” he said. “There’s a graphic package that updated the stations we have inside of the Marketplace and added different graphics on the windows. We got all new display tables, a bunch of smallwear and some new … [Read more...]
AU’s MBA program ranks third
While many universities offer MBA degrees, AU’s online program has proven to stand out from the rest, claiming the title of “Third Best Online MBA Program in Indiana.” With a wide range of courses and program options, AU competed and won against other online programs at colleges like Purdue University, Indiana University and University of Indianapolis. AU’s MBA program was created around 30 years ago and was considered quite innovative. While other universities offered MBA … [Read more...]
Jeeninga Museum reopens
On Nov. 15, the reopening ceremony of AU’s Jeeninga Museum of Near Eastern and Biblical Archeology will be hosted in its new home, York Performance Hall. This campus museum of ancient artifact collections was established by Dr. Gustav Jeeninga in the 1960s. According to Dr. David Murphy, professor of history and current director of the museum, it closed its doors last semester to begin the process of relocation. “The museum has been located in the basement of the School of Theology since … [Read more...]
Students’ vehicles vandalized
Brenna Taulbee, junior music business major, drove to classes on Tuesday like any other day. When she parked, she realized her tire was flat. “I just thought it was my own doing, as if I ran over something and didn’t notice it,” said Taulbee. “In the middle of one of my classes on that Tuesday, I got an email from the security office saying that my vehicle had been vandalized and that I needed to go to the security office as soon as I could to file a report.” The rear driver’s side tire … [Read more...]
Anxiety workshop returns
A workshop regarding everyday stress and anxiety was one of the many multiple chapel options offered to students this past Thursday, Nov. 7. With Counseling Services holding the workshop, students had the opportunity to learn from two of the full-time licensed counselors on campus. The workshop, which was held in Decker 230, was led by counselors Brian Daugherty and Angela Janutolo. Students in attendance were given a 36-page packet meant to help guide the 50-minute session. … [Read more...]
Faculty layoffs result of declining enrollment
In an attempt to alleviate some of AU’s financial burdens, the cabinet and the board of trustees have made the decision to lay off five faculty members and seven or eight staff members. In addition to the layoffs, departments are being asked to underspend their budgets by 20%. President John Pistole explained that the university operates like a small business. Because AU’s income and expenses fluctuate on an annual basis, the university’s budget changes every year. “There are no set … [Read more...]
Water main bursts causing complications
On the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 1, water was discovered seeping through various sections of the sidewalk just outside of Olt Student Center. After providing water to the Haven and MP for more than 50 years, a water main in the Valley had burst. According to Joe Royer, executive director of facilities and property management, AU was quick to action. “Our Physical Plant employees did some preliminary work to remove the appropriate sections of sidewalk,” he said. “Due to the depth of the … [Read more...]
SGA discusses event plans
This semester, SGA has worked to improve the student body experience and bring student concerns to the forefront of the campus discussion. By holding forums, putting on events and sending out surveys, SGA leaders hope to encourage student involvement on campus. According to SGA Chief of Staff Mikki Moore, SGA has put an emphasis on encouraging the student body to be environmentally friendly. “The green focus is huge,” she said. “We’re trying to take everything green.” Moore … [Read more...]