Campus mixed on possible addition of law curriculum

By Melissa DeLoach
Senior Reporter

Chancellor Michael Ferrari denied a WFAA-TV report that he met with officials from Texas Wesleyan University late Wednesday night.
Despite Ferrari’s denial of Wednesday meeting, earlier discussions involving Texas Wesleyan University School of Law have evoked mixed opinions throughout the TCU community.

(full story)

Missing artifacts could bring high prices at shops
Police, FBI continue investigation

By Ram Luthra
Staff Reporter

The Peruvian, pre-Columbian pottery pieces, which were stolen from a basement storage room in the Mary Couts Burnett Library, could most likely be individually sold to local antique shops, said Jennifer Casler Price, a specialist in non-Western art and works at the Kimball Art Museum.

(full story)

Leftist group rallies to shut down SOA
Activists plan events to raise awareness against combat school

By Bethany McCormack
Staff Reporter

Crista Williams, a senior psychology major, will be living on water and fruit juice for the next six days, as part of an awareness campaign led by the School of the Americas Action Group.
The SOA Action Group, part of the Leftist Student Union, is dedicated to shutting down the School of the Americas. Williams said the group hopes the campaign, which started Wednesday and continues through Tuesday, will raise awareness about the school.

(full story)

Photo by Tim Cox - Skiff Staff

Margaret Birdlebough, a member of the Syracuse Peace Council, reads her poems about the closing of the School of Americas as part of a Nonviolent Action Training Session Thursday afternoon in the Student Center Lounge.

FrogNet applies new methods to online advising for business, education, science schools

By Alisha Brown
Staff Reporter

A new feature of FrogNet could eliminate the guessing game of enrollment for certain majors on campus.
An online advising transcript for majors in the M.J. Neeley School of Business, the School of Education and the College of Health and Human Sciences can tell students which courses they need to take next, registrar Pat Miller said.
The form can be found online under Academic Summary through FrogNet, Miller said. It tells a student where each completed course fits into his or her degree plan.
“I think this would be particularly helpful for students at this time who are trying to figure out their schedules,” he said.

(full story)

Award-winning alumnus to sign book

By Jennifer Koesling
Staff Reporter

Author and TCU alumnus David Alan Hall said his life has not been the same after he received a letter from a man who thanked him for rekindling his desire to read.
Hall said receiving that response after publishing his second novel The Paradise Vendor meant he was doing something right with his life, because his writing had affected someone’s views.
“Winning a Pulitzer would be great, but this is the next best thing,” Hall said. “Knowing that what I have written has had an effect on some person, keeps me going.”
Hall will be signing copies of his novel from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the TCU Bookstore.

(full story)

Up ‘til Dawn gives students chance to help cancer victims
Hands-on experience with patients make event stand apart from rest

By LaNasha Houze
Staff Reporter

More than 200 students will dance the night away to raise funds for the fight against cancer at the Up ‘til Dawn event Saturday.Up ‘til Dawn, a 24-hour fund raiser, will benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A total of 36 pre-registered teams will gather in the Student Center Ballroom at 6 p.m. to listen to patients’ stories and live local bands.
The event started last fall, when students campaigned for hospital donations through letters and company sponsorships.
Jennifer Wooton, associate director of the St. Jude’s Dallas office, said the contributions from Up ‘til Dawn will pave the way for the program to extend nationally.

(full story)

Young Alumni having trouble with participation
Graduates’ focus turning away from university

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Participating in the TCU Young Alumni contributes to networking, promotes continued ties to TCU and develops new friendships, but there are problems locating graduates and getting them involved, said Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Jeff Crane.
Crane, who also oversees the Dallas Young Alumni Chapter, said the biggest problem the organization faces is keeping up with graduates, because so many addresses are incorrect.

(full story)

Helping find a niche on campus
Religious organizations offer support to students of all beliefs

By Bethany McCormack
Staff Reporter

Despite many intentions to visit the TCU Wesley Foundation, it took Christine Matthes more than a semester to finally attend a meeting of the United Methodist student ministry organization. But soon after her initial visit, the campus activity became her second home, she said.
The Wesley Foundation is one of 22 religiously affiliated student organizations TCU offers among its total 140 groups, according to the TCU Factbook. From a second place to hang their hat to an outlet for spiritual expression, religious organizations frequently become a major part of many students’ lives.

(full story)

Quartet to perform works by Mozart

By Kelly Marino
Staff Reporter

The TCU School of Music is presenting the Faculty Quartet Concert’s evening of chamber music at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Pepsico Recital Hall.
Pianist John Owings, violinist Curt Thompson, violist Misha Galaganov and cellist Brinton Averil Smith will perform musical works from Mozart and Faure.

(full story)

The little things
Blame is shared for school violence

In the past decade, Americans have made great technological advancements in the areas of information and communication.
In the past decade, Americans have united innovative, emerging businesses across industry lines to promote national economic growth.
Individuals are quick to take responsibility for the accomplishments, but few have stepped up to be held accountable in the wake of another American trend.
In the past decade, Americans have become increasingly scared to send their children to school, fearing that violence could impede their child’s return home.

(full story)

Students must challenge SOA

By Tara Pope

As I stood in the rain with other people from TCU, I looked around. I saw nuns, monks, anarchists, vegetarians, students, veterans and many other groups.
What could unite such a diverse group of people?
On those rainy days in November, we were all gathered at the U.S. Army School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga., to protest the existence of the school. The School of the Americas (SOA), or School of Assassins, is a school funded by U.S. taxpayers to teach Latin American soldiers combat skills. The school has a long history of producing graduates which return to their countries only to commit horrific human rights abuses.

(full story)

Blame for gun violence remains unclear

By Jacque Petersell

I often weigh the pros and cons of going home to visit family and friends, but while doing so, one pro always comes to mind — Samantha.
During Spring Break, I got to spend a whole week with her. One night she and I were building castles with her younger sister’s building blocks. I turned my attention away for a few seconds before Samantha called my name.
“A gun. Pow pow!” she said.
Samantha, it seems, had been bitten by the violence bug. She had picked up society’s nonchalant attitude about guns.

(full story)

Prison system is too cushy an alternative

By Emily Ward

It’s not every day that the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a front-page story about somebody as disturbingly terrifying as Timothy McVeigh. In fact, I don’t see stories about people like him too often in most major newspapers around the nation.
But McVeigh seems to be the topic of choice lately with the new book “American Terrorist: Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing” and his execution coming up in May.

(full story)

Baseball team to face Rice in weekend series
Battle with Owls for respect, first place in WAC

By Brandon Ortiz
Skiff Staff

For senior pitcher Chris Bradshaw, the TCU baseball team’s series this weekend against Rice is more than just a battle for first place.
It is a test.
“It is a real big test for us,” he said. “Everyone is pumped. We have been doubted by everyone. We are going to prove we can play with them.”
The Horned Frogs (20-9, 11-2 Western Athletic Conference) will play game one of a three-game series against WAC leader Rice (25-6, 14-1 WAC) at 2:35 p.m. today at the TCU Diamond. Rice is ranked No. 2 in the nation by Baseball America and has won 11 straight WAC series.
Head baseball coach Lance Brown said he is not sure how the Horned Frogs would fair against the Owls.
“We haven’t been able to work out,” Brown said.
Players were more optimistic.
Sophomore first baseman Walter Olmstead said the Frogs can win the series if the team plays well.

(full story)

Turmoils & Tennis
Aburto finds happiness despite pressure, many sacrifices

By Natasha Terc
Skiff Staff

Born and raised in Xalapa, Mexico, Paty Aburto did normal girl things: ballet, piano and swimming lessons.
Now the No. 2 player on the TCU women’s tennis team, the freshman marketing major said she cannot imagine her life without tennis despite what she had to give up to get to TCU.
“I believe in destiny,” Aburto said. “And I know it was my destiny to play tennis at TCU.”
While in high school, Aburto never thought about attending TCU, and the university never thought about recruiting her. She had planned for two years to go to the University of Mississippi until poor test scores on the international entrance exam shattered her hopes.

(full story)

Jazzin' it up
TCU Jazz Festival marks 24 years of high school music competition

By Melissa Christensen
Skiff Staff

Whether you’re “In the Mood” to “Jump, Jive and Wail” or enjoy a “Moonlight Serenade,” TCU Jazz Studies Director Curt Wilson has an offer no jazz lover could resist.
About 500 high school students from 21 high schools will compete in the 24th annual TCU Jazz Festival Saturday in Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium and PepsiCo Recital Hall. The first ensembles start at 9 a.m.

(full story)

Slept through the ‘60s
Wilson treasures value of jazz music for decades

By Brandon Ortiz
Skiff Staff

Back when the Beatles were in, the Rolling Stones were all the rage and Bob Dylan was telling it like it was, Curt Wilson wasn’t listening.
He was sleeping.
“My wife says I slept through the ‘60s musically,” said Wilson, the director of jazz studies and professor of music. “I was not into the music that was popular then. At the time I was listening to jazz or classical music. That was the only kind of music I bought and certainly the only thing I listened to on the radio.”
While society’s taste in music has changed since then, Wilson’s hasn’t.

(full story)

With live recordings, “Road Toads” surpasses expectations

By Jack Bullion
Skiff Staff

I have to say, right off, that “Road Toads” by the TCU Jazz Ensemble had a lot to live up to in my mind — and in my stereo. I had to remove Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” to make room for it in my compact disc changer. That’s probably just what they need to hear, right? But to paraphrase the immortal words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, I keed, I keed.
“Road Toads” never missed a beat, instantly and effortlessly finding a welcome groove. The disc mixes studio sessions, a performance at Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium and two live recordings in Budapest, Hungary and Montreux, Switzerland (the opening introductions are performed in French, which is a nice touch).

(full story)

Area parents, educators search for answers

By Jaime Walker
Senior News Editor

When Wes Beck heard the news that another San Diego high school student was accused of opening fire on his classmates last week, he said he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. As the assistant principal of discipline at Stephenville High School, Beck makes his living by helping high school students cope with the pressures of being an adolescent. But he spends sleepless nights worrying about how he might handle a shooting at his school.
“This kind of thing scares me to death because I know these kinds of incidents can happen anywhere,” he said.

(full story)

Violence not an issue on campus, some students say

By Kelly Marino
Staff Reporter

After experiencing the inner-city atmosphere of R.L. Paschal Senior High School, Sarah Hoban, a freshman premajor, said TCU has allowed her to feel much safer while attending school.
“There was a lot of gang violence where I went to high school,” Hoban said. “I feel much safer at TCU because we have actual campus police and a lot of discipline.”
In the wake of two recent school shootings in California, the concern over school violence has resurfaced. Some TCU students, like Matt Turner, a freshman premajor, said they feel safe at TCU because of the size.

(full story)