Reach out and reconnect
Retreat traces school’s roots
By Emily Turner
Staff Reporter

Students who attended the University Leadership Retreat last weekend say they learned a lot about school traditions and history while also connecting with the school’s past in Granbury and Thorp Springs, where the university was founded.

Administrators and leaders say this is the first time they remember the annual retreat being off-campus and outside of Fort Worth. Student Government Association officials said they wanted to bring students the closest they could to the university’s history and origins while emphasizing the theme of the retreat, which was community building, said SGA president Chelsea Hudson.

Jessica Campbell, a junior radio-TV-film major and Waits Hall representative, said she was unaware that Fort Worth was not the founding place of TCU.

“I have learned a lot this weekend and have de-stressed, which is always a good thing,” Campbell said.

Before arriving in Granbury, 71 students unloaded from the buses in Thorp Springs to explore the remains of the original TCU school buildings. A memorial stone at the site explained that J.A. Clark and his two sons, Addison and Randolph began a private school in Thorp Springs in 1873 under the name of Addran Male and Female Academy, according to the TCU Web site.

The college moved to Waco in 1896 and was re-established in Fort Worth in 1910, by now under the name of Texas Christian University.

Katie Cosgrove, a freshman business major, said attending the retreat helped her recognize the importance of the past and develop a more positive attitude toward TCU.

“I think it is amazing to learn about the history of TCU,” Cosgrove said. “It is good to learn from past leaders so we can see what has already been tried and done and also what has been ignored.”

Students had the opportunity to listen to an address at the Granbury City Hall from Mayor David Southern regarding the importance of giving back to one’s community. Southern also expressed his desire to keep Granbury and TCU’s connection strong.

“It is so important to keep relations with TCU because this is where its roots are,” Southern said. “TCU is important to all of us, we all root for the Frogs.”

The mayor presented Hudson with a key to the city following his address. He said the key tradition dates back to the medieval times and represents acceptance.

“It is a token that represents that we are pleased to have you in our city and welcome you back any time,” Southern said.

The city of Granbury kept eateries and ice cream parlors open after hours so students could enjoy their time in Granbury.

To show their appreciation, Hudson said students were required to bring one pair of children’s shoes to donate to Mission Granbury, an organization that assists women and children in abusive situations.

“It is really good that SGA planned to donate the shoes,” Campbell said. “That way we weren’t just taking something away, but giving something back to Granbury.”

Students used the weekend to meet in small groups and discuss both personal and university goals. SGA also hosted a motivational speaker during the day on Sunday and gave students the chance to hang out around Lake Granbury.

Kathy Katona, a junior religion major and retreat chairwoman, said she wanted students to relax and learn at the same time.

“Our goal was for people to come away and feel like it was a retreat while learning something,” Katona said. “I wanted students to be able to sit back, relax and live it up.”

All students were welcome on the retreat at a cost of $25 while SGA students paid $15 to attend. SGA paid for most of the expenses, which came to a total of $12,000, Hudson said.

Students stayed at the Lodge of Granbury and ended the retreat with a dinner cruise on the lake before returning to campus around 8 p.m.

Emily Turner