Attendance at House meetings hits low point

By Jonathan Sampson
Staff Reporter

The House of Student Representatives would have been unable to conduct business Tuesday if one less person had attended the meeting.
Scott McCray, House parliamentarian, said with 39 of 65 voting members counting in, House attendance came to exactly 60 percent — the number required to carry on activities.
“I think it’s about time we get on the horn here this evening and see where people are,” he said during the meeting.
House Vice President Amy Render told representatives that their attendance in committees was also of concern.

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Financial aid focuses on merit
Need-base aid still second

By Carrie Woodall
Staff Reporter

TCU accepts students regardless of financial backgrounds, despite recent national reports about needy students having difficulty entering higher education, said Mike Scott, director of financial aid and student scholarships.
The federal government, states and colleges have shifted attention away from need-based aid to enhancing programs designed to make higher education more affordable to middle class students, according to a report released by the Congressional Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
Scott said on the national level this is true, but TCU has tried to reverse that trend.
“I think TCU has tried to keep a balance, but on a national level, more institutional aid is geared towards merit awards,” he said.

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On-campus thefts not covered
Students encouraged to buy their own property insurance

By Jillanne Johnson
Staff Reporter

In the past year, 22 thefts in on-campus residence halls have been reported, said Sgt. J.C. Drake of the TCU Police.
However, the university only insures university property, said Roger Fisher, director of residential services. Fisher said because that is the case, students living in residence halls should be sure they have insurance coverage for their personal belongings.
Fisher said about every two months, someone comes to his office about a theft.
“We are on a campus that is fairly safe, but unfortunately theft happens,” Fisher said.

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IEP still searching for permanent director

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

The Intensive English program is still looking for a permanent director after former director Kurk Gayle left to seek other professional opportunities last semester.
Director of International Education, Delia Pitts, has been acting as the interim director since Gayle’s departure. She said acting as the interim is not a problem because she’s always had the task of supervising the program. She said the IEP is always in search for replacements to fill positions, so they could deal with losing the director.
“It happens frequently that we have to fill temporary gaps,” Pitts said.
Pitts said there is a search committee to find applicants for all openings across the program.

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Making sacrifices
Some students choose helping others over fun during Spring Break

Bethany McCormack
Staff Reporter

While some students are skiing in Colorado and others are partying in South Padre Island, Mari Reynolds will be spending this Spring Break with drug addicts and the homeless on the streets of inner city Los Angeles.
Reynolds, a senior theater major, will be participating in a week-long mission trip with almost 50 other students through Chi Alpha, a campus Christian organization affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
Reynolds, the president of Chi Alpha, said this trip is an opportunity to step outside of herself and help others.
“We are so locked up in our TCU upper middle class existence that we don’t realize the privilege that we have, so, if even for a week, I want to go serve,” Reynolds said.

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Recipients, donors honored

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Students were given the opportunity to meet, mingle and show appreciation to their scholarship donors Wednesday night at TCU’s annual scholarship dinner in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.
Nancy Madsen, stewardship events coordinator, said the event gives students the chance to establish relationships with the donors who awarded them the scholarships.
“Most of the students who receive these scholarships are on some type of financial aid, but not all,” Madsen said.

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It’s your week
Make the most of this time away

Well kids, Spring Break is right around the corner. Actually, looking at the depleted student population, many students have opted to skip their remaining classes to add a few extra days to their week off.
Sure, we could take this time to tell you to be safe and watch out for the numerous hidden dangers that await Spring Breakers. Or we could stab your conscience and try to convince you that you should take this week to help the less fortunate instead of partying in South Padre.
But we’re not.
Instead, we encourage you to make the most of your time off.

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Paying for what you don’t get
Tuition changes are only beneficial to future university students

By Hemi Ahluwalia
Associate News Editor

Chancellor Michael Ferrari said it would be in the best interest of everyone at TCU to have flat-rate tuition because it would encourage them to graduate in four years instead of five or six.
Maybe that is a good idea, but what does it matter to the current TCU students who now have to pay $420 a semester hour? That is a 7.7 percent increase from this year’s rate.

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‘Popular’ kids reason for school violence
To keep children from getting into trouble, help them from becoming troubled

Last week, there were two school shootings and multiple arrests of teens threatening violence. Two teenagers were killed and 13 injured at the hands of a 15-year-old boy. The next day, a 13-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder by a 14-year-old girl.
Let the blame game begin: Whose fault is it?
The parents for not raising the children right and not being there for them? The gun owners for making weapons available? The educators for not teaching children right from wrong? The administrators for not providing a safe school environment? The media for reporting only bad news? The entertainment industry for marketing violent movies, music and video games to children?
Maybe. It could be any one of those.

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Letter to the Editor
Evolution remains a theory; the Bible, creation is a proven fact

Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to the column “Evolution theory belongs in the classroom” from the March 8 edition of the Skiff.

By definition, biology is the study of life. Contrary to what some people might believe, biology is not the study of evolution. Evolution is a theory, a theory that has never been proven correct, but many parts of the theory have been proven false (no part of creation or the Bible has been proven false). It is a theory that is constantly being changed. A theory that does not even have a base (no one knows what caused “the Big Bang”). Evolution is based on faith just as much as creation is. Evolutionists have no scientific fact that “the Big Bang” happened, they just believe — have faith — that it did.

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Women’s team prepares for first NCAA appearance
Frogs utilize the male practice squad to sharpen skills before facing Penn State

By Kelly Morris
Sports Editor

Practice was a little different for the women’s basketball team Wednesday.
Besides the lights going out at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum during the team’s shoot around, the team also practiced with the male practice squad.
Senior guard Jill Sutton said practicing with the men will be an advantage for their game against Penn State.
“We’ve been practicing with the guy’s team the last two days,” Sutton said. “They’ve been working extra to learn Penn State’s offense. We practiced against them right before we went up to the (Western Athletic Conference) Tournament, and we felt that it really helped us get our defense down. If you go against guys, and you can stop them, then you know you can stop the girls as well.”

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Cumulative Report Cards
Bench leads to late-season strength for basketball team

Skiff staff member Matt Stiver evaluates the performances of players and coaches of the 2000-2001 men’s basketball team (season averages in parentheses).

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Frogs disappointed despite two straight 20-win seasons

By Matt Stiver
Skiff Staff

TCU men’s basketball coach Billy Tubbs reclined in his chair slightly. Again his team won 20 games, and again rumors flew about his job status.
“I’m glad we’re at the point where we’re not happy with 20 wins,” Tubbs said. “I wasn’t happy, our staff wasn’t happy and I don’t think the players were happy.”
For the second consecutive year, the Frogs find themselves sitting home at tournament time despite posting 20 wins. TCU, 20-11, was plagued by inconsistency and the loss of two key players at midseason. Playing like champions at home, the Frogs could not make the types of plays that win games on the road.

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Swim teams set nine records
Women end season with 8-4 record; men close out at 5-5

By Sam Eaton
Skiff Staff

The TCU men’s and women’s swimming teams had swimmers set nine school records in their this season before moving into Conference USA next season.
Head coach Richard Sybesma said he was pleased with the Frogs’ performance.
The women’s team set seven records, including the 200- and 400-meter medley relays.
Freshman Jamie Robinson, who was on both relay teams, also broke two individual records. She set the TCU mark for the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. Her time of 1:03.43 in the 100-meter breaststroke also qualified her for the NCAA Championships.

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Reconstructing Berry

Story by Managing Editor Laura Head

The appearances of Berry Street and University Drive are as opposite as their paths. On University Drive from Interstate 30 south to its intersection with Berry Street, the rolling hills of the curving road are lined with old trees. But Berry Street, lined with fast food restaurants and parking lots, is a different picture.
Empty buildings dot both sides of the street. Those that formerly housed the Family Christian Bookstore, Video Update, Blockbuster Music, Berry Street Grill and the Back Porch restaurant now stand vacant as businesses go bankrupt or their owners look for more suitable locations.

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