By Jeri Petersen Senior Reporter Like a general, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William Koehler marshaled the troops Wednesday morning in a fund-raising effort to benefit senior nutrition and dietetics major Robbyn Kindle. Kindle, who needs a liver and small bowel transplant, will die within weeks without the operation. The University Committee to Support Robbyn Kindle was organized this week in response to Kindle's rapidly deteriorating condition. "This will be the shortest committee assignment you've ever had," Koehler said. "We have to raise $150,000 in 48 hours or school's out because (Kindle) has reached the critical point." Before the day's end, Kindle had a guarantee of funds for her transplant operation, with donations from students, faculty, staff, friends in the community and a Dallas businessman who pledged to cover whatever amount TCU didn't raise. Mark Bunting, CEO of SkyTV, contacted TCU officials as soon as he heard that Kindle was in need of funds. "I just want to get those stars off her name," he said. "I don't want her to be passed over for an organ because she doesn't have the money."
"This is an incredible tribute to the TCU community," Koehler said. "These gestures speak louder than anything we can say." From her hospital room in Baylor Medical Center in Grapevine, Kindle said she was still in shock hours after the good news. "Now we just have to sit and wait for an organ," she said. "I'll stay here unless I have to go into ICU. Then I'll go on up to Nebraska." Nutrition and dietetics instructor Evelyn Roberts, who has spearheaded campus fund raising, was with Kindle shortly after the good news came. "I just knew when we left Koehler's office this morning that we would have the money by the end of the day," she said. On campus, many students and committee members spent most of the day in intense fund-raising efforts. For the students' part, the House of Student Representatives Open House Wednesday was dedicated to collecting money for Kindle. Students came by the Reed-Sadler mall area to drop checks, bills and even pennies into the buckets labeled "Time is Precious" on one side and "Robbyn needs your help" on the other. Nikki Pellicciotti, a freshman pre-med major and House member, volunteered to collect money Wednesday. "I've known about Robbyn for a couple of months because my mother is a nurse, and she took care of Robbyn in the hospital," she said. "I asked people around here about her, but nobody knew anything until all the publicity started last week. Being in pre-med, I wanted to help right away." Pellicciotti said it's gratifying to see the university pulling together in this cause. "At times like this, we know that if any of us has a big crisis, our fellow students and administrators will be there for us," she said. Brian Melton, a graduate student in history, put a check in one of the buckets and said this is a chance to help someone in need. "Who am I if I can't spare a little to help someone?" he said. "It's a blessing and a privilege to do it." Just because Kindle has the money she needs for the operation itself doesn't mean her needs are satisfied. "We have a good faith obligation to honor our pledge and commitment to Robbyn and to Mr. Bunting," Koehler said. "We're not over the hill, and her expenses are certainly not over. You feel better if you keep going." Koehler said the administration's fund-raising efforts will continue through Friday. Bunting said he will add funds to the amount TCU collects through Friday to satisfy Kindle's obligation. Carlo Capua, administrative assistant for the House of Student Representatives, said the House plans to continue fund-raising efforts, too. "We raised $5,000 in the buckets today," Capua said. "We'll continue through Friday for sure. We'll have buckets in the Reed-Sadler mall area and in the House of Representatives office in the Student Center." Jason Kinney, special events chairman for Programming Council, said PC plans to incorporate fund raising into Super Frog's birthday celebration today and Friday. "We will have donation bins at Casino Night on Thursday and at activities on Friday," he said. "We have asked the band to announce the Robbyn Kindle cause when (it) plays." Casino Night will be from 7 to 10 p.m. today in the Student Center Lounge. Friday's activities begin at about 11:45 a.m. at Frog Fountain and will last about two hours.
Jeri Peterson
Mark Bunting, CEO of SkyTV, contacted TCU officials as soon as he heard that Robbyn Kindle, who needs a liver and small bowel transplant, was in need of funds. He pledged to cover whatever amount TCU didn't raise. Mark Bunting is a recognized television celebrity and seasoned investor within the Internet world. His career started in publishing in 1986 with the Wall Street Journal in Houston and Silicon Valley. In 1991, he founded his first company, PC House, which was an early pioneer in the direct marketing of PCs to the home computing market. After selling that company in 1993, he created SkyTV, which was the first enterprise to syndicate television programs on computing and the Internet to broadcast and cable television. In addition to being CEO of SkyTV, Bunting was the creator and host of programs airing on the Discovery Channel, Learning Channel, CNBC and others, and he became the most recognized television personality affiliated with technology. In addition, the company created out-of-home media businesses in the form of closed circuit in-store TV (retail) and in-flight (airline) video operations. The partners in these ventures included Tandy, United Airlines and US Airways. Bunting also launched an interactive design and services firm called WorldWideTV.com. This company produced, managed and hosted Web sites for clients such as 3-Com and Hewlett-Packard. This company was sold to the management team and subsequently became acquired by PopMail.com. SkyTV grew into a highly profitable, specialized media company that was sold to Ziff-Davis in the fall of 1998 for $72 million. The company was merged with a Ziff-Davis subsidiary, ZDTV. Bunting still runs this company today under the new ownership of Vulcan Ventures and Paul Allen. In addition to appearances on the speaking circuit, Bunting is a published author and is active as a board member on three Internet companies. Through his newly formed investment company - TechMedia Capital Inc. - he is an investor in early stage Internet ventures with a specialization in convergence and media rich content as well as e-tailing and ASP ventures. Mark is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Dallas and New York City with his wife Kelly and three children.
By Reagan Duplisea staff reporter When the William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center opens, it will provide an environment more conducive to faculty and student relations in the departments of engineering, computer science and mathematics, department heads said. Dick Rinewalt, chairman of the computer science department, said the current setup of the department inconveniences students and faculty. The laboratories are located in the northeast corner of the first floor of the Sid W. Richardson Building while faculty offices are in the southwest corner of the third floor. "If students have a question, they have to walk all the way up and try to find us," Rinewalt said. "The current floor plans for the technology center show the faculty offices are right across the hall from the labs." Justin Smith, a sophomore computer science major, said the faculty members are not all in one area in the building because they got what space was left over from the physics department. "If you're speaking to one professor, and he refers you to another, you can't just go next door," Smith said. Walt Williamson, chairman of the engineering department, said it is even more difficult for engineering professors to help their students because the labs are in Sid Richardson, but their offices are in the Bass Building. However, while the new technology center will make it more convenient for faculty and student relations, the new building may cause new problems, Williamson said. He said he expects the building to be a draw for new students to the engineering program. The amount of students could increase by as many as 150 students. "One of the things I most worry about is being able to maintain the small classes and opportunities for faculty and student interaction we have now," Williamson said. Williamson said having all department facilities in one place will also help faculty. "A lot of information gets traded when faculty work next door to each other," Williamson said. "It's a better working and intellectual environment." Williamson said faculty in his department have worked with the architect to establish requirements for offices, labs and teaching space. Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Dennis Alexander, who is helping the university raise funds for the technology center, said one of the reasons the new building will be built is to house technology. Winton-Scott Hall and Sid Richardson were built before computers were commonplace, Alexander said. Eric Fretz, a senior computer science major, said the walls of Sid Richardson are solid concrete and cannot accommodate wires. Poles have been drilled into the ceilings and floors have been raised to hold wires that the equipment requires, he said. "They raised the floor in the UNIX lab because wires were running all across the floor," Fretz said. "They use giant suction cups to raise the tiles and adjust the wires." Another problem the new building will alleviate is the amount of computers that are available, Rinewalt said. The computer science department has 26 computers for student use, but 41 computers have been proposed for the center. Fretz said students often have to wait to use the computers. "People get fed up and buy the software themselves - if they have a computer of their own," Fretz said. CodeWarrior, the basic computer science software, costs about $120 in the TCU Bookstore, Fretz said. Smith said he doesn't think crowding is as a big problem at TCU than it is at other universities. "Typically, the TCU population has a higher economic base, so more students have computers of their own," Smith said. "UTA has a three-story building that's nothing but computers, but it's crowded all the time." Alexander said the new technology center will allow the mathematics department to also implement new technology. "The math department has had a vision for years of incorporating instructional technology," Alexander said. "Winton-Scott can't accommodate that technology." Smith said he wishes he would be around when the technology center starts operating. "The inconveniences of the construction will be hitting when I'm a senior, and I'll never be able to take advantage of it," Smith said.
Reagan Duplisea
By Omar Villafranca staff reporter You reap what you sow. But in this case, TCU is reaping what Southern Methodist University sowed back in November. The Mustang Marching Band dropped ryegrass seeds on the field of Amon Carter Stadium during halftime of a 21-0 TCU victory on Nov. 26. The seeds have since grown into a large diamond shaped "M" (the trademark formation of the SMU marching band) and left the TCU community with some extra yardwork. The prank left students, such as Eric Dodson, a senior music education major and TCU Band member, grinning and shaking their heads. "I think it's clever as hell," Dodson said. "I wish we would have thought of it." SMU band member P.J. Winters, a senior music education major, shares the feelings of many of his crosstown rivals. Winters said pranks are good for rivalries and keep the competition fun. As for retaliation from Frog fans, Winters said SMU is expecting some payback. "You always expect something in return in a rivalry, but we're not waiting here going, 'Oh no!'," Winters said.
"I think it's funny," Imig said. "It's just good clean fun." B.J. Roberts, a sophomore business major and tight end on the TCU football team, said he noticed the patches of ryegrass growing but did not know what it was. Roberts said the prank was clever, but there will be consequences for SMU. "I think it was a heck of a prank, but it definitely is going to upset the football players," Roberts said. "Somebody is going to get them back." The "M" is most visible from the home stands. Ross Bailey, director of athletic training for the Frogs, said the view from the football offices is different. "It really looks like a big 'W' to us from our offices," Bailey said. "It looks like a 'W,' for 'win.'" From TCU special teams coach Mark Tommerdahl's office in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, the growth on the field represents something else. "It is just college athletics at its finest," Tommerdahl said. "I'm sure it will be taken care of." News of the prank was a surprise to even those suspected of having a hand in it. David Kehler, band director for the Mustang Marching Band, said he heard of the prank only recently while in San Antonio at a convention. Kehler said he heard of the growth when a Dallas news outlet tried to contact him. He said SMU students enjoy the rivalry with TCU and hopes that the recent prank did not go too far. "I'd hate to have anything that could create any tension with the situation," Kehler said.
Omar Villafranca
By Yonina Robinson staff reporter In 1965, while 4,000 National Guard troops were opening the road in Selma, Ala., to allow Martin Luther King Jr. and thousands of other protesters to reach Montgomery, several other black students were opening doors at TCU for other minority students. Mildred Sims was one of the first black students to enroll at TCU. "We were here at the times when changes were coming," said Sims, a 1969 TCU alumna. "The administration was trying to help us. (The class of 1969) was a real brave class because we stuck together. We didn't want to get a reputation where (black people) were admitted and left real quickly." The actual number of black students who enrolled with Sims is unknown because, at the time, TCU students were not required to list race when enrolling. Sims said she chose TCU over a historically black college or university because she didn't want her college experience to be purely social. "If you are the dominate race on any campus, then you don't have to assimilate," she said. Sims said she never experienced any racism or prejudice at TCU. "It wasn't racism," she said. "It was classism." Sims said if any black students left TCU, they did so because they had family or financial problems, not because of racism. However, she said she recalls a time when she and her roommate, Laverne Stratton, applied to be Sophomore Sponsors, girls who lived in the freshmen residence halls and served as mentors to the residents. Sims said the dean of women at the time pulled her and Stratton aside and said although they made it to the final selection round, she had to make an executive decision which would be in the best interest of TCU. She said she thought if Sims and Stratton were in an authority position to white girls, the girls' parents might protest. The former dean said the parents were not ready for black Sophomore Sponsors, but she knew in years to come they would be ready. "She took it upon herself to decide the parents would not be ready," Sims said. Jennifer Giddings Brooks, who was selected TCU's first black Homecoming queen in 1971, said she also remembers good times at TCU. "(TCU) had a good atmosphere compared with other schools during that time because I was at TCU during the tension of the Vietnam War," Brooks said. "In their own quiet way, the students wanted to speak out and make a statement. Electing me as Homecoming queen was making a statement." Brooks was also the first black person inducted into Mortar Board Honor Society. However, Sandra Savanna Thomas was the first black person initiated into Ampersand, which had the same criteria as Mortar Board. Now, 28 years after Brooks' reign as Homecoming queen, Marshawn Evans, a junior political science major and the reigning Homecoming queen, said she is appreciative to the blacks who paved the way for her. "In recognizing what others have done before you, it's good to use the past not as a hammock, but as a springboard," Evans said.
Yonina Robinson |
After hearing that the goal had been met,
Koehler said he was still reeling at the news.
Kelly Imig, a junior psychology major, said
acts of rivalry such as this are part of showing school spirit.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |