By Rusty Simmons staff reporter Two males were arrested in connection with the theft of a Jeep on campus after eluding Fort Worth and TCU police officers for 5 1/2 hours Wednesday morning. The chase, leading from the freshman parking lot to a shed behind a house on Boyd Avenue one block north of the lot, started when the two suspects, one 16 and the other 17, were seen by the midnight dispatcher, Archie Evans, at the back end of a bronze Jeep in the freshman parking lot at 2:58 a.m. When four TCU police officers arrived at the lot, the suspects ran. Police officers noticed that the side plastic curtain of the Jeep was cut out, and the radio was hanging from the dash by wires, the officers said. The suspects jumped the pipe fencing around the freshman lot and unsuccessfully tried to get into a white car, driven by a third suspect, that was turning from West Cantey Street onto Boyd. The suspects ran in between two houses on Boyd and escaped the pursuit of Sgt. Mike Hanvey in the backyards. One of the suspects lost his shoes and coat during the chase, Sgt. John Pacheco said. The suspect driving was chased by Officer Walter McKinney to the Albertson's parking lot, where he got out of the car and was able to get away. The Fort Worth Police Department crime scene search was called in to get fingerprints from the Jeep and any blood samples from the scene. Pacheco said the FWPD also added a helicopter and its midnight shift of officers to the search for the suspects. TCU Police Detective Kelly Ham said about 8:30 a.m., a woman living on Boyd called the FWPD about two males looking around her neighbors' shed. The FWPD called TCU police for assistance, but the FWPD showed up first at the residence and found the two males sleeping in the shed. Pacheco said one of the suspects had cuts on his hands, and the other suspect was wearing no shoes or socks. The case is now completely in the FWPD's hands, but the midnight crew from TCU did a great job, Pacheco said. "(The midnight crew) busted the burglary before it happened and helped lead to catching the suspects," he said. Pacheco said if the two suspects in FWPD hands are identified as being at the scene of the crime, they will be charged. The car will also be traced to locate the third suspect involved in the incident, he said. FWPD Officer Jamie Johnson said detectives interviewed the two suspects Wednesday, and a decision on whether they will be charged will be made today.
Rusty Simmons
By Jill McNeal staff reporter Junior radio-TV-film major Stacy Stuart said she never would have guessed that a three-minute soap opera scene would take more than 30 minutes to film. Students produce, write, direct and act in "Studio 13," TCU's newest weekly soap opera. Shooting will begin on the third episode today, with the first episode premiering at noon Wednesday in Moudy Building South, Room164. "First, there's a camera rehearsal, then we do three or four takes of each scene," said Stuart, who wrote dialogue for "Studio 13" in a class last semester and has a major on-screen part in the production taking place this semester. "It depends not only on the actors, but on the camera work and whether or not we have technical difficulties." Last semester, the Writing for Soap Operas class wrote the show's 10 episodes, each about 30 minutes. This semester, the Television Production III class is producing the soap opera with actors and actresses from the On-Camera Acting class. The Post-production class will edit each episode, and the Electronic Media Research class will conduct audience surveys. Richard Allen, the RTVF associate professor who teaches the TV3 class, said the plot of "Studio 13" centers around a Hollywood crowd in its early 20s working together to produce a show called "Carson's River," a takeoff on the "Dawson's Creek" theme. "We're trying to model 'Studio 13' after a real network soap opera," he said. "Studio 13" is the third project of its kind that the RTVF department has attempted. In 1995, the seven episode soap opera, "Close to Home," was produced. "We had at least 100 people at the premier," Allen said. "I know some TCU staff members who came every week just to see if their favorite characters got together. We tried a sitcom a few years later, but the element of humor made it harder for the students working on the show. We came back to a soap, where there's no expected response from the audience." Cecile White, a sophomore radio-TV-film major who is not involved with the production of "Studio 13," said she is eager to see how the first episode turns out. "This is something produced by our own students on our own campus, and it doesn't happen every year," she said. "For the students involved, it's a really good thing to slap on your résumé. You were there doing everything, getting hands-on experience. It's better than an internship because how the show turns out is ultimately your responsibility." Allen said he is hoping to educate the soap opera's audience as well as its producers. "The most important thing RTVF students are learning is how to put something together that involves teamwork and putting the project first," he said. "I have graduates that were part of this and now have jobs in L.A. because they already know how to handle the pressure. With a student production, we are also able to teach the show's audience to take notice of production mechanisms that they may take for granted when they watch network television." The plot of "Studio 13" will move along faster than most daytime network soaps since the program will be shown only once a week, Allen said. "Every week will be a Friday episode," he said. Each episode will build suspense and end as a cliffhanger, Allen said. TCU is the only university he knows of that attempts this sort of project within the confines of an academic course, Allen said. "I know of some schools who have tried something like this, but only on an extracurricular basis," he said. "When I go to conferences and show my colleagues what the students have produced, they are always very impressed." Stuart said she has enjoyed seeing the project grow from idea into reality. "Even with hours and hours of production work, it is still a lot of fun being able to develop a character over an extended period of time," she said. "Hopefully, I will still say the same thing in a month or so." Allen said "Studio 13" has all the elements needed to grab the college population's interest. "There's intrigue, attraction and the kinds of situations that face people in their first job out of college," he said. "Students will definitely be able to relate to the characters and their problems." As for the steamy soap opera love scenes, Allen said "Studio 13" is more about romance than sex. "No one gets naked," he said. "I can't promise we won't have people in bed, but it won't be gratuitous. The show is sexy, but not sleazy."
Jill McNeal
By Kathryn Garcia staff reporter The university community has pulled together to help raise money for Robbyn Kindle's surgery, and today the TCU Bookstore will join that fight, said Llisa Lewis, general manager of the bookstore. Ten percent of all the bookstore's sales today will go to Kindle, a senior nutrition and dietetics major, who is in need of a liver and small bowel transplant. Lewis, a ranch management graduate, said her goal is to raise between $1,500 and $1,600. She said the fund raiser has been received with enthusiasm. "We want to do all we can to give to the university and Kindle," Lewis said. "Any step forward is one step closer to the goal. Don the white ribbons and come and shop to help further that mark." The bookstore will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Kindle has liver disease and needs $300,000 for an organ transplant, within the next two to four months. She is currently waiting for organs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. TCU students, staff, faculty and members of the Dallas/Fort Worth community have raised several thousand dollars to date. SGA President Ben Jenkins said they have raised about $15,000 to $16,000, and students are still dropping off money every day. Executive Assistant to the Provost Donna Johnson said about $95,000 has been raised, of which $21,000 has been sent to the Nebraska Medical Center. Kelli Visosky, a freshman fashion promotion major, said she is excited about the bookstore fund raiser and plans to contribute by sending home some items. "I'm coming today to buy my parents some T-shirts," Visosky said. "I hope they're not mad, but it's for a good cause."Mike Silvey, a junior biology major, said he put off the purchase of medical textbooks until today. "We're actually reaching out and helping a fellow student," Silvey said. "This university has done so much. It shows the university cares more about the students than other things." David Carlisle, a TCU alumnus and member of the Fort Worth community, plans to support Kindle's cause with the purchase of clothes for his toddler. "(The fund raiser) shows that TCU is still small enough to care about the students," he said. "It's like a family of several thousand." Richard McReynolds, a senior music composition major and a bookstore employee, said he is proud the bookstore is contributing to the cause. "(Employees of the bookstore) are always looking for ways to help others," he said. "We offer book signings for the local authors so they can boost their sales, but this is by far the most beneficial and giving thing the bookstore has done."
Kathryn Garcia
By Jill McNeal staff reporter It's 6:30 a.m., and junior Fahad Khan wakes in the darkness to pray. From under some clothing piled in a chair, he takes out his woven prayer mat and lays it, facing northeast toward Mecca, on the floor of his residence hall room. Following the Qur'an, the Muslim religious text, he does not eat pork or drink alcohol. He prays five times a day and goes to mosque on Friday afternoons. "Honestly, it's really hard here," said Khan, a neuroscience major. "It's much easier at home, where everything is geared toward being a better Muslim and a better person." He begins by standing at the bottom end of the mat, reciting passages from the Qur'an in Arabic. He ends by kneeling and asking God for help, safety and forgiveness. The entire ritual takes five to 10 minutes. "When I'm at school, I tend to do the things my friends are doing," he said. "Sometimes I go downtown to eat or see a movie with my friends when I know I should have been home to pray." While he and his friends can talk about faith differences on a level of mutual respect, Khan said he did have one bad experience his freshman year.
Nathan D. Keller, a junior speech communication major and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, said he believes Christians have to be tolerant of people of other faiths, while still being blunt and speaking the truth. "There is a spiritual and a non-spiritual level to all interactions between people," Keller said. "I think you have to meet people where you have commonalties and always be looking for chances to share your faith." When he first came to TCU, Khan said he was worried the university would be too Christian for him. "I've really found it to be very liberal," he said. "Christianity doesn't devour the campus." Vince Scott, also a junior neuroscience major and Khan's roommate, has known Khan since their freshman year at TCU. "We've been friends for so long, we don't even look at ourselves as different anymore," Scott said. "We have the same goals, the same major. We both want to go to medical school. Even though I don't associate myself with any faith, I am very interested in learning about different religions." Khan said he thinks he looks at life a little differently than most TCU students. "From the Islamic teachings I grew up with, I wonder how people can yell and cuss and treat their parents badly," he said. "The Qur'an says the gates of Heaven are at the feet of your mother. That's the kind of respect a mother deserves. She gave you life. Also, I would never let my grandmother live in a nursing home. It is tradition for the elderly to live with their families because we have so much respect for the older generations." Khan said after growing up and living with his parents in Bedford and Colleyville, moving on campus was eye-opening. "I'm used to all the drinking now," he said. "I only get irritated when the refrigerator gets filled with alcohol, and there's no room for food." Khan said religion and school conflict most during the observance of the Islamic Holy month Ramadan, when he must fast every day from dawn until dusk. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon, with the 29- to 30-day fasting period occurring at a different time each year. "Last year, Ramadan started during dead days and continued through finals," he said. "I would get up and eat a big breakfast before morning prayer and then not eat again until after the sun went down. The purpose is to make you humble and realize there are people in the world who can't have three or four meals a day like we can. It makes you happy and thankful for what God has given you. It is a very holy month." Khan said he is used to being in the religious minority. "I wish there were more than just 10 or 12 Muslims on campus," he said. "But then again, I wish the campus (were) more diverse altogether. It's not just living on this campus. It's living in this country."
Jill McNeal
By Omar Villafranca staff reporter A possible settlement in the F. Howard and Mary D. Walsh Center for Performing Arts lawsuit may be reached soon, an attorney for Thomas S. Byrne Inc. said. Stephen Harrison, an attorney with Harrison, Steck, Hoover and Drake, P.L., the firm representing Byrne Inc., said the litigation between his client and TCU might be over, and a settlement could be reached within the month. The lawsuit was filed by Byrne Inc. on June 18, 1999, in the 17th District Court of Tarrant County. In the lawsuit, TCU is said to owe Byrne Inc. $584,807 for additional work done. The lawsuit states TCU has refused to pay, and Byrne Inc. is suing for that amount. "The problem was related to designs that caused a cost increase, which caused a change in the work," Harrison said. "Byrne had not been compensated." Harrison said there were mechanical and architectural problems in the plans. The architectural firm, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Association of New York City, and the engineering firm, Freese and Nichols Inc., were added to the case, Harrison said. He also said a settlement was not guaranteed. Vick Anderson, the attorney representing Freese and Nichols, said he has not had any official notice that would include his clients in the case. "Freese and Nichols Inc. has not been served with any papers concerning the lawsuit, "Anderson said. "(The other parties involved in the lawsuit) talked about it, but so far, we haven't been served with any papers." Rick Sorenson, an attorney representing TCU, said the proceedings are progressing, but a settlement still has not been reached. "I consider (the proceedings) to be promising," Sorenson said. "There is a good chance for progression. If we don't reach a settlement, the litigation will pick up." Forrest Newlin, chairman of TCU's theater department, said the Hayes Theatre in the Walsh Center was poorly built. He said he first discovered the problem right before the theatre's first show. "The problem is that the stage is irregular shaped, which is fine," he said. "The thing is that the balcony has to follow the same lines (as the stage), and it doesn't follow the lines. If it did, you could see the acting." Newlin said the south and east ends of the balcony do not have a direct view of the stage. The audience members in the rows and seats on the south and east side of the Hayes Theatre have to lean over the balcony to see the action below. Because of the obstructed viewing, the theater, which holds 238 seats, has only 200 seats that have clear viewing, Newlin said. "I would sue them to redo the theater because you can't see the stage from the balcony," Newlin said.
Omar Villafranca |
"This guy confronted me one day in the (residence hall)
bathroom," he said. "He was a hard-core, die-hard Christian,
and I respected his faith. He thought I was on the wrong path and that
he needed to show me the right way. His point was that I needed to accept
Jesus Christ or I would go to hell. He had positioned himself between me
and the door, and he wouldn't let me get around him. Finally, one of my
friends came looking for me and hit him in the back with the door."| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |