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...]
This year’s Homecoming theme ‘reAUnited’
From the lighting of the luminaries in the Valley to the busy bustle of the street fair, Homecoming and its festivities have been tradition at AU since the university’s days as Anderson College. The theme for Homecoming this year is “reAUnited.” Scott Tilley, executive director of alumni engagement and annual giving, says that Homecoming this year is about rekindling past relationships. “Alumni most importantly enjoy reconnecting with friends, faculty and staff,” he said. “It truly is a … [Read more...]
AU students participate in global climate strike
Last week, millions of individuals from hundreds of countries stood together for one united cause: the Global Climate Strike. Citizens from the United States, Scotland, Mexico, Canada and other countries gathered in protest of climate change in an effort to raise awareness about protecting the environment. All-in-all, more than six million protesters participated in this worldwide movement. Many AU students were proud to be part of this number. The students who brought … [Read more...]
AndersonU app raises student concerns about censorship
Last week, the AndersonU app erupted into a debate over a chapel speaker’s message. A post made by senior music business and Christian ministries major Boris Sitnikoff about the Tuesday morning chapel service received more than 100 comments before it disappeared. The disappearance of the post only seemed to further confuse and enrage students, leaving them wondering why it was taken down. Caitlynn Elkins is the digital storyteller at AU. She manages AU’s social media accounts and oversees … [Read more...]
Random room searches now to be conducted with ‘reasonable cause’
Along with many areas across campus, the student handbook received a few updates this summer. The most notable of these updates is a change of wording in the room search policy. AU’s updated room search policy reads, “The university reserves the right to inspect students’ rooms for damage or to enter to make repairs. The university also reserves the right to enter students’ rooms or conduct randomized room searches, given reasonable cause, to ensure adherence to university policies or to … [Read more...]
Chris Luekenga steps in as new dean of students
After serving as dean of students for more than four years, Dr. Chris Confer left AU last semester to serve as the vice president of student life at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. Over the summer, AU hired Chris Luekenga to take his place. Luekenga moved to Anderson from Colorado, where he was the associate vice president for student affairs at Western Colorado University for six years. Luekenga is an ordained Church of God minister with a master’s in pastoral ministry from … [Read more...]
Dean of Students to leave AU for South Carolina
Dr. Chris Confer has held the position of dean of students at AU for more than four years. In April, he announced his decision to step away from AU and begin the next chapter of his life at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina. At SWU, Confer will serve as vice president of student life rather than as the dean of students. He will be part of the president’s cabinet and will oversee athletics and police and security. Though Confer has had no previous … [Read more...]
Road work begins on College Drive
With the recent commotion on College Drive, students have seen construction workers, trucks, shovels, flaggers, piles of asphalt and a plethora of orange cones. The ruckus has left students confused. Joe Royer, executive director of facilities and property management, explained that the work being done is in preparation for more road construction in the future. “There is a street renovation project for College Drive between University Boulevard and Fifth Street slated to begin May 13 and … [Read more...]
Letter from the president
I recently convened a student forum on campus to hear directly from students about whatever issues were on your mind. Although we touched on a few other things, the majority of time was spent on LGBTQ+ matters. I was pleased that over the course of two and a half hours, we had a good discussion of where students are today, where the Church of God stands and how our AU policies inform LGBT issues. We also discussed where we might be going as a Christian community. I was disappointed … [Read more...]