By Victor Drabicky staff reporter Administrators at Indiana University and the University of Southern California have re-blocked use of the music trading site Napster.com following the heavy metal band Metallica's April 13 lawsuit against the universities and the Web site. A Metallica press release stated that copyright infringement is the key to this case. "Napster has devised and distributed software whose sole purpose is to permit Napster to profit by abetting and encouraging the pirating of the creative efforts of the world's most admired and successful musical acts," wrote Lars Ulrich, Metallica drummer, in the press release. "Facilitating that effort are the hypocritical universities and colleges who could easily block this insidious and ongoing thievery scheme." This lawsuit comes less than a month after university officials at schools like Indiana and USC began un-blocking Napster.com on their networks because congestion problems were corrected. TCU blocked access to Napster from the university network in February because of the same bandwidth limitations, not for copyright problems, and has not lifted the ban since. Eileen Richardson, interim chief executive officer of Napster, wrote in a press release that Napster is not trying to belittle the importance of anyone's artistic production. "We are very passionate about helping bands understand the value of what we offer," Richardson wrote. "Our hope is to be at the vanguard of creating a new business model that will satisfy all parties - the artist, the consumer and the intermediary parties that serve as a conduit between these two groups." In addition to issuing a statement regarding the Metallica lawsuit, the press release stated that Napster officials would sponsor a nationwide tour featuring bands in support of Napster. "We believe that the Internet and Napster should not be ignored by the music industry as tools to promote awareness for bands and market music," wrote Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit lead singer, in a statement released by Napster. Officials at USC and IU could not be reached for comment. But TCU Assistant Provost for Information Services David Edmondson said universities may be held liable for information exchanged on their network. "Many MP3 files are copyrighted," Edmondson said. "If TCU has knowledge that students are breaking the rules (by using these files) and does nothing to stop them, the school can be held liable." Edmondson said TCU's liability stems from the fact that the university provides the vehicle, its network, for students to trade possibly illegal files. "(TCU) would feel obligated to look into a problem on campus if someone made us aware of one," Edmondson said. "I have passed my concerns onto the university lawyers to see what they think. Until then, we will continue to look for a solution." Since Napster saturated TCU's bandwidth by more than 50 percent in February, TCU has been exploring new ways to fix the bandwidth problems associated with programs similar to Napster, Edmondson said. Edmondson said TCU's focus has been on implementing new hardware and software to allow for network shaping. "We are still working on a solution and have just put some new hardware in place that will allow us to control the amount of bandwidth programs like Napster will be allowed to use," Edmondson said. "We just need to make sure that the school's resources are being used the best way possible."
Victor Drabicky
By Kathryn Garcia staff reporter Although TCU has a daily newspaper and a student magazine, there is no literary outlet for TCU students, said Stephen McMinn, a junior English major. But Montage will now fulfill that need, he said. Montage, (www.montage.tcu.edu), a new online literary magazine, offers TCU students a place to display their poetry, fiction and nonfiction, said McMinn, who is also the Web master for the magazine. The publication is sponsored by the TCU English department and released its first issue Monday. The deadline for student submissions is mid-September, with plans for the magazine to publish again in early October. Daniel Worden, a senior English and philosophy major, said he would have liked to have been able to publish more for Montage than his one poem titled, "Shipping Orientation with Mike." "I've had other poems and stories published in other places the past four years because the only student medium for creative work (here) has been Image magazine, which is not a constant thing because now poems aren't allowed," he said. "Just having something students can publish in will inspire them. Publishing in a magazine for the university is a lot less difficult and intimidating than a national publication." Kristina Iodice, founding editor of Montage and a sophomore English and news-editorial journalism major, said the name was chosen because it means a collection of material juxtaposed together, which is the goal for the magazine. "Eventually, we hope to not only have poetry, nonfiction and fiction, but to include original artwork and photography," she said. "There's an immense amount of talent on campus and not a lot of ways to display it." Iodice said Montage will be different from many literary magazines which enforce restrictive rules about who can submit works. "In that way, Montage is unique," she said. "We're not just restricting it to English majors." McMinn said the idea for an online magazine was partly inspired by Robert Pinsky, 39th poet laureate of the United States, who was the keynote speaker at the Honors Convocation earlier this month. "What he discussed at the convocation gave us a boost," McMinn said. "We wanted to make sure TCU still had an outlet for poetry and fiction, and one of the things he was talking about was how we can't lose those things." Iodice said by placing Montage online, it provided an opportunity for it to be immediately accessible to millions of people, rather than just a few, as with print publications. "When it's posted on the Web, it can be viewed by people all over the world," she said. "You'll have people in Iowa plugging in 'literary magazines' and finding TCU's literary magazine." In the future, McMinn said, he would like to log onto Montage and see a variety of artists from different locations. "I hope to see it break out of the TCU bubble into the world at large and to open up the submissions to the community and other universities," he said. "Accepting publications from other sources will also help it become more prestigious and more competitive."
Kathryn Garcia
By Victor Drabicky staff reporter Two TCU students will head to San Francisco this summer and take a road trip across the country. But do not look for them at Fisherman's Wharf or PacBell Park. Do not expect them to take a traditional college road trip. Sophomores Danny Mogolov and David Eaton, members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, will ride their bicycles across America as part of the fraternity's national philanthropy event, PUSH America. The event benefits disabled children through the Journey of Hope Program. Mogolov, an economics major, said he did not mind putting aside a summer job to take the trip. "When I first thought about participating in the trip, I thought about not having any money from my summer job and not having an internship," Mogolov said. "Then I realized that not many other people get the opportunity to take part in an event like this." On June 1, Mogolov and Eaton will join 68 other riders in San Francisco to begin the 3,900-mile bicycle trip across America that will end in Washington, D.C.
"Sometimes the city mayor or a TV station is there, and we get to show people what we are doing," Eaton said. Mogolov said one of the biggest rewards is working with the children. "Sometimes the disabled children we work with will remember you from year to year," Mogolov said. "There have been riders that have done this more than one year, and you would be surprised at the amount of kids that remember them from the year before." Eaton said he has considered the trip since he first heard about it. "I had heard about the program my freshman year and had been inspired by the work people had already done," Eaton said. "I just really think this is the best way for me to help support a good cause and represent my fraternity chapter." John Powers, director of community and corporate events for PUSH America, said both Mogolov and Eaton had to go through a lengthy process in order to be chosen for the ride. "Each candidate must go through an interview process and an application process," Powers said. "Then, if chosen, each participant must pay for their own way to San Francisco, get their own bicycle and raise $4,000 in support of the program." Powers said each participant must have the money raised by June1. Eaton said he hasn't reached the $4,000 mark yet and still needs to get a bicycle. "I have written a bunch of letters to my family and friends asking for support, but I'm still short about $2,300," Eaton said. "If I don't get all $4,000, I won't be able to go on the trip." Mogolov said he was lucky and received some large donations. "I haven't quite got all $4,000 donated yet, but I did get lucky, and some small businesses donated some money," Mogolov said. "The biggest thing is that I got a bike donated to me. The average bikes used in the ride cost about $1,500, so it was a huge step getting one donated." In addition to fund-raising problems, both Mogolov and Eaton said the conditioning is difficult. "I have had two days where I rode more than 100 miles," Mogolov said. "Ideally, I want to ride to Waco and have someone bring me back." Eaton said he hasn't made as much progress with his training. "I have only biked about 50 miles so far," Eaton said. "We were told to have biked at least 500 miles before we went to California, so I have a lot of work to do." TCU students have already raised more than $1,000 for Mogolov and Eaton. Additional donations can be made directly to Mogolov or Eaton. Students, faculty or staff wishing to contribute can reach Eaton at 257-3653 and Mogolov at 257-2809.
Victor Drabicky
By Natascha Terc staff reporter TCU students can pick up breakfast, trash bags and give back to the community all at the same time Saturday, as the 4th Annual Berry Street Clean-up gets underway. About five or six students - all TERRA members - and any others who attend will join with community members for a little sweat and camaraderie in an event that encourages neighborhoods in south and west Fort Worth to join in a citywide cleanup, said Melissa Waelti, vice chairwoman for the Berry Street Initiative. "We want to bring neighborhoods together for a couple of hours and encourage them to help clean up," Waelti said. "The Berry Street Initiative tries to facilitate the event and show its appreciation to all the volunteers." The event will begin at 9 a.m. with doughnuts and coffee in Capps Park, located at 907 W. Berry St. Volunteers will have the option of cleaning their own neighborhoods or the area in and around Berry Street. After a few hours' work in the neighborhoods, volunteers can return to Capps Park for free hot dogs, sandwiches, drinks and live music, Waelti said. Waelti said she expects 200 people from the Fort Worth and TCU communities to attend the cleanup.Carol Henger, a sophomore environmental science major and TERRA president, said she and other TERRA members will participate in the cleanup. TERRA, an environmental activist group on campus, participated in Earth Day last Saturday at the Fort Worth Zoo, passing out fliers to promote awareness about pollution. "We wanted to do volunteering that was outside," Henger said. "When we heard about the Berry Street cleanup, we were ready to get involved. Helping people and the environment is fun because it's doing something that's not just for yourself." Each year, TCU students serve food, set up tables and help clean up on Berry Street, Waelti said. "When we first started, we facilitated neighborhood volunteers for Berry Street, but that actually drew away from participation in their own neighborhoods," Waelti said. "Now, we get groups that aren't from those neighborhoods to help on Berry Street, so no one is excluded. All you have to do is basically show up." Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the Berry Street cleanup is an effort that TCU supports wholeheartedly. "We encourage students to participate, although it is difficult this time of year because of the closeness of finals," Mills said. Mills said when the university can assist in the community, it tries to do so. "(TCU) thinks a clean and effective Berry Street is important to the future of the university," Mills said.
Natascha Terc
By Yonina Robinson staff reporter The M.J. Neeley School of Business adopted the High School of Finance and Communications at Polytechnic this semester. Through the partnership, high school students attended a series of four retreats with the theme, "Preparing for College." Polytechnic students interacted with and were advised by TCU students. Barbara Novero, guidance counselor at Polytechnic, said the program captured the students' attention. The retreats were held separately for the three grade levels at Polytechnic. Students were brought onto campus, and events took place in the business school computer labs and the Student Center. The program incorporated minorities and athletes as volunteers and panelists, Novero said. "The senior high school students really related to the athletes because the athletes told them they could play sports but to count on earning a living using their brain," Novero said. Kimberly See, coordinator of the Neeley Student Resource Center, said each retreat session consisted of activities to enhance students' awareness of selecting and applying to college and skills needed to increase their chances of acceptance and success in a college environment. "The Adopt-A-School program is an important chance for the high school students to go to college," See said. "And hopefully, they will consider TCU. Hopefully, the program will be able to reach some of the diversity goals set forth by (Chancellor Michael Ferrari)." See said one activity, the coat-of-arms, asked students to draw a shield, divide it into four quadrants and then describe their childhood, present day, college and future lives. The exercise required them to look at the different periods in their lives and see where they are and where they want to go, See said. Howard Mitchell, a sophomore at Polytechnic, said the coat-of-arms activity was helpful. "During the coat-of-arms, we had to think about our future," Mitchell said. "That helped us out a lot because most of us don't think that far ahead. TCU is my No. 1 choice of colleges now." Jeread Casillo, a sophomore at Polytechnic, said his parents were excited about the program because the retreats taught skills he needs for college. The program provided test-taking tips for the SAT and ACT, Casillo said.
Yonina Robinson
By Jill McNeal staff reporter Shirley Branham, a former TCU student, said she joined University Christian Church as a child in the 1940s and has watched it grow over the years. "The church is so alive right now," she said. "There is so much enthusiasm and deep spirituality, and that's what is most important. The new facilities will just be an outgrowth of this." On April 2, after three years of planning, the Rev. Scott Colglazier, senior minister at UCC, officially announced the beginning of a three-year campaign to raise $5.7 million for building projects that will take place over the next two years. UCC, located at 2720 S. University Drive, opened in 1873, the same year AddRan Male and Female College (which later became TCU) was founded. It has grown into the second-largest Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation in the nation, with a weekly worship attendance of 1,200. This summer, while renovations are made to the sanctuary, the congregation will worship on Sunday mornings in TCU's Ed Landreth Auditorium, Colglazier said.
Fester Prose, a junior religion major, has been a church member and youth sponsor at UCC for the past two years. "The new indoor area will be good for the college group to be able to do things without worrying about breaking anything," he said. "Right now, all the members of the group are TCU students." Matthew Rosine, associate minister for youth and a student at Brite Divinity School, said the improvements will help make UCC a more public church. "There will be larger and better space for meetings and conferences and for our children's and youth ministries," he said. "We're looking at adding lounges for students to study and hang out with friends, plus space for recreation and maybe a pool table." Rosine said the capital campaign will benefit both UCC and TCU. "I think of UCC as kind of the soul to the campus," he said. "I think the church has been the model for a spirit of open-mindedness that maintains both faith and intellectual reasoning." The UCC congregation will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum for a continental breakfast and Sunday morning worship, where three-year pledges for the expansion project will be made. Colglazier said all friends of UCC and TCU are welcome. Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr and TCU Board of Trustees Chairman John Roach will speak at the service. "This will be an important day in the life of the church," Colglazier said. "We wanted to share it with TCU, since we've been linked with them historically since day one." Colglazier said he hopes to announce the results of the pledge drive May 14. Prose said having the service on the TCU campus is a good idea for reasons other than just having more space. "I think it's important to recognize the relationship the church has had and does have with TCU," he said. "The visibility will give us the chance to reach out and involve more college students."
Jill McNeal |
Eaton said each rider will make stops in different cities
to interact with disabled children.
"The university has done so much to improve the campus,
it just makes sense for the church to keep up," he said. "We
want to be able to keep up the strong connections we have with the university
now, like the ones through our college ministry and music programs."| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |