By Jaime Walker staff reporter Robbyn Kindle is one step closer to the liver and small bowel transplant she needs to survive. Monday afternoon, Kindle and her parents boarded a Lifeguard Aeromed Inc. flight bound for Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where the operation must be performed. However, Kindle's doctor, Tim Ritter, said there is still a long road ahead. The decision to transport her was made over the weekend when her condition worsened, he said. "We kept her here (at Baylor Medical Center) as long as we could, but she needs to be there now," Ritter said. "We want Robbyn to be in Omaha as soon as organs are available." At 9 a.m. Monday hospital officials contacted Pat and Bill Scott of Lifeguard Aeromed Inc. who began making preparations to fly the TCU senior from Meecham Field to Eppley Field in Omaha, Neb. By 12:30 p.m., Kindle and her parents were in the air on their way to Nebraska to continue their battle for Kindle's life. "The trip went extremely well," said pilot Bill Scott. "Robbyn and her family seemed tired, but I think they were relieved to get this part out of the way." Pat Scott, co-owner of Lifeguard Aeromed, said Kindle was transported on a citation jet which is as fully equipped as a hospital. "Our jets are like flying ICUs," she said. "A paramedic and a nurse are also on board. We wouldn't have let anything happen to Robbyn." Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, William Koehler said TCU ordered the plane for Kindle as part of the university-wide support efforts a few weeks ago. "It is my understanding her condition is deteriorating quickly," he said. "Our pilot has been working with a couple of these flight companies so when we got word (she needed to leave) we acted." Ritter said there were a variety of reasons why it is better for Kindle to continue waiting for the transplant in Nebraska. "Robbyn was getting discouraged, and we hoped that this would give her some hope," he said. "Robbyn will also probably be moved up on the list because she is there. Now, she is at the top." Evelyn Roberts, an instructor in nutrition and dietetics who has grown close to Kindle and her family, said doctors have been encouraging Kindle to make the trip for several weeks. She was apprehensive because she did not want to leave her support system of family and friends. "She just wanted to wait because she was so familiar with the people (at Baylor Medical Center)," Roberts said. "It was a really big step, but she knew it was time to take it." Ritter said he remains hopeful about Kindle's chances for a transplant. But he is also realistic about the challenges she faces. "Robbyn has to live long enough for an organ to become available," he said. "Then she has to survive the surgery and the possible infection and other complications." Roberts said Kindle and her family understand how serious the situation has become, and they can get through it. "Robbyn is a fighter," she said. "The whole trip to Nebraska is a positive because it brings her closer to her goal." Kindle faces a long and arduous road, especially in the next few weeks, said Ritter. "Prayers are definitely in order," he said. "In Robbyn's case, I have no doubt she will feel them. She is so appreciative of everything the community has done to this point, but we can't give up."
Jaime Walker
By Tara Pope Copy Desk Chief The campus as a whole didn't do an adequate job of promoting Black History Month, said Cornell Thomas, Special Assistant to the Chancellor For Diversity and Community."It is a shame," Thomas said. "It is really sad. We don't even do a good job of accommodating difference at this point. But the good thing is, primarily because of the Chancellor and his leadership, that will definitely change." The question is not who is responsible but what the roles of the faculty, staff and students are in promoting Black History Month and raising awareness of diversity issues, several faculty and staff members said. "I think all of us, as human beings, should play active roles in acknowledging, challenging and erasing racism and bigotry in our society and in the world," said Joanne Green, assistant professor of political science. "It is not appropriate to examine who is primarily responsible to address these issues on campus - we all must address these issues in our lives. We all share the responsibility." Thomas said, the role of the administration is to support students verbally and financially in exploring diversity issues. "The way things are organized on this campus, students take the leadership in many of those areas," he said. "I think it is the administration's responsibility to make sure they have adequate funding for different things, but I also think that it is the students' responsibility to become a part of the organizational structure." Faculty also have a responsibility to read this information and take it to the classroom and talk about the issues, Thomas said. "Where does learning occur most often on this campus?" he said. "In the classroom, or it should. And so our professors need to step up and embrace these ideas and make sure that we're doing our job." Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the classroom is a place where issues can best be constructively addressed. "Almost all academic subjects can speak to the issues of racism and the benefits of a pluralistic society," Mills said. Chairman of the religion department Daryl Schmidt said he was not aware of any university directive about Black History Month. "As a new department chair, I am not aware of any instructions so I guess it was not university administration's initiative that the whole campus ought to be involved doing something in particular," Schmidt said. "The university is supportive, encourages units at various levels - instructors, students, programming, Campus Life." Schmidt said the classroom is one of the places diversity issues should be addressed, but he said it isn't only the professors' responsibility. "I guess faculty would tend to point the finger back to the campus," Schmidt said. "I mean isn't our Greek system almost entirely still segregated?" According to faculty members, some academic subjects are more open to discussion of diversity issues. Green said, in political science classes, the racial component is inherent in many of the arguments. Australia Tarver, associate professor of English, said she tries to discuss issues in diversity in an objective and nonaccusatory tone in her classes. "When students make uninformed comments - the objective is to keep the commentator from feeling alienated," Tarver said. "And if it is a particularly shy student, I am very careful because I don't want to silence a student. I am a firm believer in free speech. It is only in free speech that we get certain issues addressed." Director of Minority Affairs Darron Turner said while faculty certainly have a role in classroom discussions, students do too. "There are faculty who address these issues year-round, not just during Black History Month," Turner said. "Whether that is happening across the board - probably not at the level we would like to see it happening. "I don't think it is just the faculty's responsibility, even in the classroom. I think as students you have to engage yourselves in the conversation as well. Because it is part of the students' role also to help shape what they learn in the classroom." The Rev. John Butler, minister to the university, said there are several ways the university is confronting racism. The Chancellor's Diversity Council is taking seriously responses from a survey about attitudes toward diversity and developing action teams, Butler said. Chancellor Michael Ferrari said, "I have formed the Chancellor's Diversity Council as one means to try to raise the awareness of individuals across the university to issues and concerns that perpetuate insensitivity and prejudice of one form or another. Everyone at TCU can and should take ownership to this important goal."
Tara Pope
By Victor Drabicky and Reagan Duplisea staff reporters Students at four local high schools will receive scholarship funds in an effort to increase TCU's minority enrollment and provide opportunities for local students, officials announced Friday. Diamond Hill-Jarvis, Northside and O.D. Wyatt in Fort Worth and Sam Houston in Arlington have been designated to receive scholarships. Chancellor Michael Ferrari said the schools were chosen because they are minority-dominated. "The scholarship program is designed to provide increased opportunities to students in these schools which are highly populated with students of color," Ferrari said. "It's not a minority scholarship program. It's a scholarship program with selected schools that are highly minority." Brenda Gomez, president of the Organization of Latin American Students, said other schools may have benefited as well. "There are other schools that have minorities," Gomez said. "But I think these are the schools with the most need because they are low-income school districts." TCU's minority student enrollment is about 12.4 percent, according to the Fall 1999 Fact Book. The scholarship will be awarded to students from the four schools who apply to TCU and meet admissions requirements. The awards will be based on the needs of the students, and the amount will vary for each, Ferrari said. "Too often financial considerations prevent students from attending private universities," Ferrari said. The scholarships are being funded by private donations set up in an endowment and will not affect the financial aid amount available to other students. Norma Chambers, a counselor at Northside High School, said the funds will give students more opportunities. "I have filled out many recommendations for students wanting to attend TCU," Chambers said. "However, most of them were going to live off campus because they could not afford to live on campus, but the scholarships will let them live in the dorms." Chambers said since Northside is almost 99 percent minority, many students may benefit. "We should have about 45 students that will qualify for the scholarship based on test scores alone," Chambers said. Ferrari said the scholarship plan has been in the works for quite a while. "This is something that I have wanted to do since I got here," Ferrari said. "The admissions office and the Chancellor's Council on Diversity have been dedicating a lot of time in developing a better relationship with community schools and urban education." Chambers said she has been excited about the scholarship program ever since she first heard of it back in January. "The chancellor invited the principal and I along with representatives from other schools to a breakfast in January," Chambers said. "The program shows a lot of promise and may help students with their decision to go to TCU. "TCU will benefit because having more minority leaders will help to attract other minorities to the school."
Victor Drabicky Reagan Duplisea
By Priya Abraham staff reporter William D. Hall, an emeritus professor of missions, died early Monday morning at the age of 85. He had been suffering from heart problems. Hall became an associate professor of Missions and History of Religions at Brite Divinity School in 1956, where he taught until 1980. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's of science in education in 1936 and received a bachelor's of divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1941. Bruce Hall, son of William Hall, said his father was always concerned about accomplishing the next task. "He was very, very energized by politics and the concept of equal justice," he said.
"He was one of the more popular teachers at Brite," said Bruce Hall. William Hall and his wife, Mary Lu Hall, were missionaries in India from 1945 to 1952. James Duke, a professor of history of Christianity, said William Hall was always a friend to students. "He was a person who cared for the entire world and his next-door neighbor," said Duke. David Balch, a professor of New Testament, said William Hall was a determined advocate of immigrants and the poor in Fort Worth. "He was sort of an outsider who advocated for other outsiders," he said. After his retirement, William Hall was involved in a number of charities, including Bread for the World and South Side Area Ministries. William Hall is survived by his wife and three children. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the United Christian Church.
Priya Abraham
By Priya Abraham staff reporter M. Jack Suggs, emeritus dean and professor of the New Testament at Brite Divinity School, died Sunday night from liver cancer. Suggs served as dean of the school from 1977 to 1989. He first came to TCU as an assistant professor of the New Testament in 1952. "He had a deep commitment to students and excellence, and he modeled that for all of us," said Toni Craven, professor of Hebrew Bible and director of the Ph.D. program. "He was nicknamed 'The Bear' (by his students)."
"He's been one of the three most important people in my life," Craven said. "I think he was a much-appreciated colleague." Suggs was ordained a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1948 and graduated with a bachelor's of divinity from TCU the following year. He earned a doctorate from Duke University in 1954. Suggs became a TCU Distinguished Alumnus in 1973. David Balch, a professor of New Testament, said Suggs was an internationally renowned scholar of the Gospel of Matthew. "Brite is becoming a great school because of his actions and influences," he said. "Half the faculty came here when he was dean." Jim Bob Suggs, son of the former dean, said his father struggled between being an "old bear" to his students and desiring to minister to them. His father instilled principles in him that have lasted to the present, he said. "To the extent that I have discipline, to the extent that I have conviction, it is because of him," he said.
Priya Abraham
By Victor Drabicky staff reporter To raise money for the Leukemia Society, the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity is sponsoring a series of events throughout the week, including a dunk tank featuring TCU faculty and students. Zeta Tau Alpha president Lisette Gerch said her sorority is excited about participating in the competition over the next couple of days. "Greek Games is a fun time that brings the Greek community together," Gerch said. "We've been making signs and practicing our skits and songs for a while now. It's always fun to help out another organization, especially when the money goes toward a good cause." The Phi Kapp fraternity's community service event starts today and runs through Thursday night. Co-chairman for Greek Games Brian Kriz said the Phi Kapps are hoping to raise over $4,500 the next few days to benefit the Leukemia Society.
Kriz said he hopes new events this year will earn the extra money needed to break this year's goal. "We are setting up a dunk tank in front of The Main," Kriz said. "There are going to be members of each sorority in the tank for about 30 minutes a piece. We are really hoping to get Don Mills in there too." Kriz said most of the money will be raised by entrance fees and donations. "Each sorority has to pay a $75 entrance fee to participate," Kriz said. "The rest of the money will come from T-shirt sales and weekly events such as collection jars in The Main and Greek cafeterias." Greek Games is a week in which sororities compete in a variety of events in order to earn points. Kriz said the sorority with the most points at the end of the week will be rewarded by the Phi Kapp fraternity. "The sorority with the most points at the end of the week wins a trophy," Kriz said. "We (Phi Kapps) will probably take their entire chapter out to dinner too." Kriz said there are three main ways sororities can earn points. "The sororities with the best banners and skits get a large amount of points, and the sorority with the most money in the penny jars in The Main and the Greek get points too," Kriz said. Kriz said although Greek Games is only open to sororities, he would not rule out future participation from other campus organizations. "I wouldn't mind seeing more organizations involved in Greek Games in the future," Kriz said. "I think the motivation of competition could be enough to drive people to get involved." But Phi Kapp president Nathan Brown said getting other organizations involved could be difficult. "Traditionally, Greek Games is only open to sororities," Brown said. "I think one reason why is because it would be very difficult to get other groups to compete. Other fraternities have their own philanthropy projects and other groups have their own fund-raisers, so it would be a lot to ask of them to participate in our event as well as their own."
Victor Drabicky |
His father also thrived on teaching, he said.
Craven said Suggs' most distinguished contributions were
introducing female faculty to the Brite Divinity School and building its
endowment and student scholarship funds.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |