(ACU) A Capella Chorus: Begun in 1932 by the late Dr. Leonard Burford, the A Capella Chorus is dedicated to the study and performance of the finest choral literature of all musical eras. A Capella meets four hours each week. They also take one extended tour and give four majors concerts each year. Auditions are held each spring and are open to all students. Remaining vacancies are filled in a general choral audition during fall registration for transfer students, incoming freshmen, and students changing their majors to music. Auditions consist of a brief warm-up, sight-reading, and singing of an easy, familiar song.
______________________________________________________________________
ACU for the International Rescue Committee: ACU for the IRC serves resettled refugees in Abilene by working with the local IRC office to do service projects, cultural events, and mentoring/English teaching. ACU for the IRC holds donation drives each semester and hosts Thanksgiving and Easter events for refugee families. The organization also maintains a presence in the ACU Social Justice Network.
______________________________________________________________________
Big Purple: The Big Purple is a dynamic and exciting ensemble comprised of both music and nonmusic majors. The Big Purple is one of the largest co-ed organizations on the ACU
campus. The band is a vital part of the ACU Opening Assembly each year, performs at all
home football games, and often, away games throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The Big
Purple also presents exhibition performances at invitational and UIL marching contests.
______________________________________________________________________
(ACU) Cheerleading: The purpose of ACU Cheerleading is to promote school spirit and encourage the ACU athletic teams. The team cheers at all home football, volleyball, and basketball games, and also travels to some out of town football games and play-off games.
______________________________________________________________________
Chinese Christian Fellowship: The Chinese Christian Fellowship aims to promote unity and service in the Chinese Christian community at ACU by gathering together to pray, worship, and communicate in the native language. The organization also provides opportunities for students to serve the community and welcomes incoming Chinese students.
______________________________________________________________________
College Democrats: The ACU College Democrats is an organization dedicated to providing the students of ACU with the opportunity to voice their convictions and participate in the political process of our country. We are committed to promoting our profound belief that all
Americans are equal and deserve the same rights and opportunities that are unique to our
American ideology. As Christians and as Democrats, we place our moral beliefs at the
center of all that we do and welcome all students who share our desire to serve.
Essence of Ebony: The purpose of Essence of Ebony is to foster greater understanding of the African-American community on campus among students, faculty, and staff. Past events have included hosting events during the Black History Month in February, small group
chapels, spring formals, and sponsoring various speakers for chapel presentations.
______________________________________________________________________
Fair Trade ACU: Fair Trade ACU promotes economic justice through educating consumers about the impact of their daily purchases and educating people about how they can participate in the global movement to address poverty in the Global South.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): The ACU FCA chapter aspires to unify athletes for Christ through a variety of activities such as worship sessions, retreats, and adopting a family for Christmas.
________________________________________________________________________________
Film Fest: Film Fest is devoted to promoting personal expression through the medium of film by the ACU student body and faculty. The organization is determined to provide invaluable
exposure to some of the top organizations and individuals in the film and mass-media
world. Film Fest hosts an annual short-film contest which premieres at the Paramount
Theater downtown.
Freshman Action Council (FAC): FAC is the core of freshman involvement. The organization consists of over thirty freshmen who divide into several sub-committees to serve, create, and run various activities for the freshman class. Sub-committee activities typically include planning and running class socials, devotionals, encouragement days, and service projects. FAC is an excellent avenue for freshmen to meet other freshmen and to explore student involvement. Freshmen can apply for membership at the beginning of the fall semester.
______________________________________________________________________
Graduate Students' Association:
______________________________________________________________________
Habitat for Humanity (ACU Chapter): The Habitat for Humanity service group works alongside the local charter to help raise money to build a house for an underprivileged family in Abilene. Each year the ACU chapter coordinates volunteers to build an ACU Habitat for Humanity house.
Hispanos Unidos: Hispanos Unidos is an organization that promotes the Hispanic culture on campus and in Abilene. The organization partners with Communities In Schools (CIS) and hosts the annual spring event, Entra La Plaza.
______________________________________________________________________
International Justice Mission: The International Justice Mission seeks to free people forced in slave labor or child prostitution by enforcing and changing laws throughout the world. The IJM student group serves a two-fold purpose. First, it acts as a fundraiser to the national organization in Washington D.C., and second, it aims at increasing student awareness of the assault on the innocent. Typical activities include participation in Social Justice Week, small-group chapels, and prayer-focused devotionals.
______________________________________________________________________
International Students' Association: The ISA is an inclusive organization welcoming all students from any ethnicity, background, or race. Previous years'’ activities have included Thursday small-group chapel, coffee hours, welcome and farewell parties, intramural sports teams, a spring banquet, the ISA Food Festival, and a trip to Six-Flags.
______________________________________________________________________
Milonga Latin Dance: Milonga Latin Dance educates students and the greater community in the history, culture, and performance of various styles of Latin Dance. The organization plans to work with Communities In Schools (CIS) to provide after-school ballroom dancing classes for underprivileged children and to host a Latin Dance workshop in Abilene. The
organization also visits various Salsa and Tango congresses around the country and in Texas.
______________________________________________________________________
(ACU) Outdoor Club: The mission of the ACU Outdoor Club is to promote outdoor knowledge, ethics, and service. We are a group of students interested in exploring and understanding God'’s creation and the role of humans within it. The Outdoor Club participates in several service projects including the Abilene State Park Clean-Up, takes weekend
climbing/camping trips, participates in intramural flag football and soccer, and hosts the
Red Dirt Adventure Challenge.
______________________________________________________________________
Peer Health Education: The Peer Health Education Program equips ACU students to be peer educators. These trained peer educators teach fellow students the importance of making healthy choices about alcohol and substance abuse, sexual issues, eating disorders, body image, violence, stress management, spirituality, and personal relationships. The multi-faceted program encourages college students to make healthy lifestyle decisions so that they can live fully as Christian servants and leaders.
Poverty Link: Poverty Link mobilizes students to restore dignity to economically-broken communities through sustainable local and international efforts. The group works in partnership with the Abilene IRC office, Hope Haven, and Love and Care Ministries and participates in the 30 Hour Famine for hunger awareness.
Seekers of the Word: Seekers of the Word is an intense, God-focused acting group that travels across the region to perform various dramatic and humorous skits for youth groups in order to illuminate the various struggles, lessons, and choices that are common to every young man and woman. Annual auditions are held in the fall.
_______________________________________________________________________
Send Me Lord (SML): Send Me Lord (SML) aims to unite the ACU campus by touching the community through service to help change the world. The organization will meet twice a month in the Administration Building. Additionally, SML will participate in Thanksgiving outreach in McAllen, TX.
______________________________________________________________________
Service Action Leadership Team (SALT): The Service Action Leadership Team is a volunteer student organization. The 50-plus members serve on 11 committees to work toward their team mission: to instill and nurture hearts for service within the ACU family. The team organizes events and projects throughout the school year including Service Saturdays, Thanksgiving meals for needy families, MLK Day service projects, Into the Streets (with Hardin Simmons and McMurry students), and ACU for Abilene (a spring service day with ACU faculty, staff, and families.) Students can apply for SALT membership during the first two weeks of the fall semester.
SHADES: Shades is a stepping team that performs at both on-campus and off-campus events. The group’'s purpose is to vividly and creatively represent all elements of step, a form of movement that derives its roots from Africa as a form of story-telling. Shades also produces the annual Shades Show each spring.
The Shinnery Review: The Shinnery Review is a student-run literary magazine at ACU. Since the 1930s the publication has appeared once a year as a journal containing poems, short, stories, creative nonfiction, photos, and artwork by undergrads and graduate students. The highlight of the year is the Black Tulip in April, a poetry-reading and jazz party where the magazine makes its debut. The Shinnery Review is open to any ACU student who wishes to work organizing sales and planning events. Weekly meetings occur throughout the school year.
______________________________________________________________________
Spiritual Life Core: The SLC seeks to contribute to the spiritual formation of ACU students by encouraging and challenging them to grow in their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ. The SLC hosts weekly Chapels each Thursday, organizes campus Bible studies, prayer gatherings, coffee houses where spiritual issues are discussed, and various other activities that seek to challenge participants to grow in their faith in Jesus.
______________________________________________________________________
Spring Break Campaigns: Each year the Spring Break Campaigns committee organizes over thirty campaigns involving over five hundred students and student leaders. These campaigns travel all over the United States and the world to various churches and service sites to serve and share God'’s love with others during Spring Break.
______________________________________________________________________
Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB): The Student African American Brotherhood is a dynamic organization established specifically to assist participants to excel academically, socially, culturally, professionally, and in the community. SAAB is comprised of male students who strive for academic excellence and make a commitment to plan and implement programs that benefit their communities at large. SAAB participates in ACU for Abilene, Spring Break Campaigns, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and regional conferences in Kansas, California, and Illinois.
Student Ambassadors: The mission of Student Ambassadors is, “to glorify God, honor Abilene Christian University, and inspire others as we invite prospective students to join our calling to Change the World.” Participants have the opportunity to host prospective students during their visits to ACU on Purple Fridays.
Student Peace Alliance: The Student Peace Alliance is a national organization devoted to promoting peace on all levels, with a focus on local initiative as well as the promotion of the formation of a National Department of Peace and Non-Violence. The ACU chapter of SPA participates in service initiatives including Service Saturdays.
_______________________________________________________________________
Students' Association: The ACU Students' Association (or SA as it is commonly known) is comprised of all full-time undergraduate students. The organizing body of SA is called Congress, and it operates out of an office in the lower level of the Campus Center. SA serves to advocate for the interests of the student body and to bring forth proposals which would enhance the life of the student body.
(ACU) Swing Cats: The mission of ACU Swing Cats is to promote and sustain interest in pre-1950 U.S. social swing dance culture, including music, dress, and period-accurate dance styles. Our main dance goals will focus on East Coast swing, Lindy Hop, and Charleston. Admission is open to any enrolled ACU student.
______________________________________________________________________
Treadaway Kids: Treadaway Kids organizes student volunteers to pair up with underprivileged children in the Abilene community to share Christ’'s love with them. Each week the children are brought to the Treadaway Kids location where they play games. Children are split into class groups and the volunteers teach Bible lessons and tell stories.
______________________________________________________________________
(ACU) Ultimate: The ACU Ultimate Frisbee team provides students with the opportunity to play competitive ultimate frisbee against other universities from around the country while fostering a Christian community within the team. The team attends approximately 6-8 tournaments per year on weekends and hosts several get-togethers including a Halloween party and end-of-the-year party.
Virtual Planes Users Group: This organization promotes student interest in digital entertainment and game development. VPUG establishes a network of students to promote enthusiasm for these media and to assist participants in attaining careers in associated fields. The organization participates in game tournaments, raffles, and bake sales and attends the Austin Game Developers Conference.
Virtuous African Heritage Sisterhood: The women of VAHS seek to embody the character of virtuosity through service, leadership, achievement, sisterhood, and spirituality. The organization participates in service projects throughout the year and co-hosts an annual formal with the men of SAAB. ______________________________________________________________________
Weekend Campaigns: Every semester the Weekend Campaign Committee organizes three to four weekend campaigns that travel to various sites within a 6-8 hour driving radius of Abilene to serve and share Christ’s love with others. Weekend campaigns are comparable to mini-Spring break campaigns.
______________________________________________________________________
Wildcat Hockey: The Wildcat Hockey Team represents ACU in the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League as a club sport. The team meets for weekly practices in Cal Young Park and competes in tournaments in Denton, Houston, Ft. Worth, Arlington, and Plano.
______________________________________________________________________
Wildcat Kids: Wildcat Kids matches ACU students with children in the Abilene community who have few positive role models in their lives. ACU students (working in pairs) commit to mentoring a specific child for one year by attending activities that occur approximately every three weeks during the semester. The mission of Wildcat Kids is to show Christ to children in the city through actions and words.
______________________________________________________________________
World Wide Witness: World Wide Witness prepares ACU students for summer internships in cross-cultural contexts at over 30 sites on all continents. Interns develop their spirituality and practical ministry skills by interacting with experienced mentors, building relationships with nationals, and participating in cross-cultural ministry. The specific opportunities for service depend on the student’s particular gifts and internship site; opportunities include youth or campus ministry, language study, outreach through sports or camps, teaching
English through Let’s Start Talking, and others. Students of all fields of study are
welcome to apply; they do not have to be Bible or Missions majors. For an even richer
experience, WorldWide Witness also gives students the chance to serve as apprentices for
up to two years after they graduate.
Young Republicans: The ACU Young Republicans' aim is to promote student interest in current government and politics. The organization’s goals include inviting political leaders to speak on campus, increasing voter-awareness, and fostering a greater understanding as to the current topics, position, and interests among our country’s leaders. Former Texas Representative Bob Hunter, who was the first sponsor, has been instrumental in establishing contacts between the group and political leaders, and the organization is an excellent venue for those preparing for a career in public service.
