By Justin Roche Skiff staff Beneath the blazing sun, a few dozen lightly dressed observers gathered on the thick, lush grass in front of a dormant Frog Fountain and awaited the beginning of the competition. Programming Council brought in several live bands Saturday for its annual Battle of the Bands. Saturday's temperate weather was reason enough to venture outdoors, and the live music simply made the offer more enticing. Few were in attendance when the competition began. Most people were friends or acquaintances of the beginning band. But as towering black speakers bellowed out the lead guitarist's first strum and his lengthy fingers furiously ran across the vibrating strings, a call went out to the area. Heads turned, paths were redirected and from all areas of campus came people who had found what to do with the precious commodity called time. The music had lured them, and as the rhythmic sounds blared through the bright blue sky, a larger crowd sat on the carpet-like grass and reveled in leisurely freedom. Those in attendance had substituted the blue jeans and long-sleeved shirts they had worn a week earlier for bright colored tank tops, flowery Hawaiian shirts, and sandals. Applause and enthusiastic cheers erupted after the first band had finished submitting its evidence for the competition's award. A light breeze blew as a group began bumping a ball over the volleyball net set up nearby. The large group of people began splitting off into smaller factions, thankful for this environment in which to reconnect with friends after a hard week of studies. It was a beautiful day in which to leaf through a favorite book and feel the sun's rays penetrate the skin; an event in which enjoyment was the only responsibility.
A growing crowd
While the man operating the sound board pushed and slid buttons to find the perfect balance for the next band's sound levels, the friendly chatter and laughter from the crowd of almost 300 overtook the music being belted out by the latest contestant. As more people noticed the large gathering and heard the sounds of Saturday, whatever was on their agenda seemed to become less important as they came and caught a Frisbee as it spun through the air or kicked off their sandals to immerse their bare feet into the cool, thick grass.
Communion of people
Room on the inactive fountain had become sparse and red plastic cups were scattered around the area. The Battle of the Bands was in full swing, but its nature was finally clear. This was a gathering, not a event; a communion, not a competition. People had come for the music, but the reason they stayed was the freedom and the fellowship. On this sunny day, there were no restraints from your day timer; you could pocket your planner. This was a day to celebrate the liberty of leisure: no duties, no schedules, only food, folks and fun. As evidence of their enjoyment, people bared their white teeth in smiles that had been waiting to escape on a day like this. The attitude of the assembly was possibly best summed up by one dark-haired girl's reply to a friend asking if she was enjoying the music. "Some of the bands aren't really my favorite kinds," she said before lifting her red plastic cup to her mouth and emptying the last few drops of soda. "Then why are you here?" asked her friend, whose wrinkled brow and cocked head indicated a lack of understanding. "Well, live music is live music," explained the girl with a light-hearted laugh. "Besides, this is fun. What else would I rather be doing?"
And the band played on...
The evidence of a gathering was strewn all over: discarded red cups, pizza-stained paper plates and imprints in the grass where people had placed their colorful beach towels and soaked up the sun's rays, the music in the air and the social interactions. A battle of music may have taken place, but the victory went to the people who caught up on a week's worth of information with friends while getting a tan, by those who got to kick off their shoes and spiral a football to each other and by those who had walked by wondering what the day had in store and ended up receiving a free meal, free entertainment and a freedom from responsibility. In the end, only one band, Hi-Fi Drowning, was declared the winner, pocketing $750 for its victory. But on this limitless blue-skied day filled with laughter and so many smiles, hundreds of people considered themselves triumphant.
Justin Roche
By Matt Jones Design/Features Editor Over 275 members of the TCU community will roll up their sleeves Saturday and hit the streets and neighborhoods of Fort Worth for TCU LEAPS, the official community service day. The event, sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, TCU Leadership Center, and University Ministries, will provide community service opportunities for students, faculty and staff in conjunction with approximately 20 nonprofit organizations and local outreach centers.
Kenny Oubre, a junior economics major and student director for TCU LEAPS, said the day will offer various types of service-related opportunities for any member of the TCU community. Oubre also said the event is prepared to provide service opportunities for up to 500 students, faculty and staff. "We wanted this to be an all-campus event," Oubre said. "Whether it's landscaping or working in a homeless shelter, we tried to pick a variety of projects so that everyone had something they could do." Oubre said participants can choose work projects from four areas of service: direct contact, cleaning or repair, construction and clerical work. Direct contact offers participants work opportunities in nursing homes and homeless shelters. Another project on the direct contact list is involves working at the All Church Home for Children. The cleaning projects include area neighborhoods throughout Fort Worth and neighboring areas. Construction participants will work at various sites including a Habitat for Humanity home. Participants will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of Frog Fountain for a pre-service orientation. Participants will be divided into work teams and prepare for the event. Chancellor Ferrari will give a brief motivational talk about service, and then workers will be transported to various sites by buses and vans. Each work team will have a team leader that will explain project tasks and give further instructions. Teams will work from 12:30 to 4 p.m., including a time at the end for teams to process and reflect at each service site. Oubre said the event is designed to introduce more students to community service and service learning opportunities and make them aware that they are members of the Fort Worth community
"I want students to realize that they can apply a lot of what we learn to our own lives," he said. "It is something they can learn from and enrich their lives." Marcy Paul, program coordinator for the Women's Resource Center, said the event will follow the Women's Symposium which will be held on campus Wednesday and Thursday. Paul said the symposium will focus on the idea of community and discuss what it means to be part of a community. The theme of the symposium is "Women in Community." Paul said she hopes students will find service opportunities that can be continued throughout the year. "While in college, many forget that there are people outside the walls of the university," she said. "We tend to forget about the larger community." Penny Woodcock, program coordinator for the TCU Leadership Center, said the participants will walk away having fostered new relationships and fellowship with others. Woodcock said the event reflects TCU's consistent level of altruism on campus. She also said the event is designed to broaden horizons and reintroduce the idea of service. Mandy Mahan, a team leader for TCU Leaps, said she benefits from service-related events. "Service is one of the best educational tools possible," she said. "You get to work with different people while learning to help others."
Matt Jones |
Numbers increased as another band took the stage and began
to tune its instruments, but heaping stacks of cardboard pizza boxes touting
a free meal grasped everyone's attention. Nine folding tables arranged
in a large "U" and draped with white tablecloths offered free
slices of pizza, refreshments and CDs to anyone hungry, thirsty or wanting
to continue the free musical entertainment.
The bands played on, saturating the air with thrashing guitar
chords and pounding drum beats, hoping to be crowned the champion. But
the real winners were the masses assembled around the fountain and in front
of the elevated stage. Their prize was a day, a slice of time in which
to simply enjoy one's self.
An informational fair will be held from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Student Center Lounge. Some of the participating
agencies will publicize their programs and discuss service opportunities
in Fort Worth.
As members, Oubre said students have a responsibility
to serve that community.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |