| Foster Hall reopens, other
renovations to follow Landscaping, details expected to be completed by early September By Matt Jones After seven months of extensive renovations and nearly $8.1 million in expenses, Foster Hall is fully open and occupied by students, said Roger Fisher, director of residential services. The coed residence hall, which closed in December and relocated nearly 200 students for the spring semester, opened its newly renovated doors to 194 residents on August 19. To offset construction costs, Fisher said the cost of living in Foster had to increase. Before renovations, a non-suite or standard double room cost $1,385 and a suite cost $1,595. Now, the prices are $1,680 and $1,945. “Cost increases are very typical when dealing with this size of renovation project,” Fisher said. “Once students are in the building, we seldom hear complaints about the cost. They are usually more happy about having a nicer place to live.” Fisher said there are several small items scheduled to be completed by Linbeck Construction Corps’ over the following weeks, but for housing purposes, the hall has passed safety inspections and is up to code. He said workers will focus on finishing exterior landscaping and cleaning up the construction site by early September. Renovations and structural changes have reduced the total room count by 12, Fisher said. Workers have replaced all the wiring, pipes and heating and cooling ducts in the hall. Smoke alarms and fire sprinklers have also been added to every room. Foster Hall Director Bevin Kurtz said students have been understanding about the construction workers who are still finishing small projects around the hall. “I thought that students would be disappointed that everything wasn’t finished, but they love the building,” Kurtz said. Kurtz said existing rooms are the same size and a laundry room has been added to every floor. In addition, there is a kitchen on the first and second floor. Kurtz said students chose to keep the same hardwood floors and columns in the lobby, and much of the old furniture is still being used. Aesthetic improvements included the installation of new lighting and fixtures, an expanded patio area and new furniture in rooms and lounges. Fisher said this is the first major renovation of Foster Hall since it opened in 1947. The hall, which is named for R. Houston Foster, is the second oldest residence hall on campus. Houston Foster was a 1904 TCU graduate and president of the board of trustees in 1940-41. Foster Hall is not the only hall to receive renovations, Fisher said. “We have spent $60 million over the past four years,” he said. “We knew that it was time to start reinvesting in the buildings.” Fisher said Waits Hall will be the next major renovation. Waits is scheduled to close in December 2000 and will be similar in design, but will not be a carbon copy of Foster Hall, he said. “We want each of our buildings to have its own unique features,” he said. “The new design will reflect many of the renovation changes, but allow each building to have its own personality.” Meghann Murtaugh, a sophomore radio-TV-film major and resident in Foster, said the renovations bring new life to the old building. “It’s beautiful,” Murtaugh said. “The conditions are much better than living in the hall last year.” Matt Jones Faculty, staff recognized for daily efforts By Kristina Iodice It took two years to write, but the TCU mission statement is ready for action. The mission statement, “To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community,” was the focus of the opening luncheon for faculty and staff held at Daniel Meyer Coliseum Tuesday. Twelve faculty and staff members were recognized for exemplifying the mission statement. They included individuals from the faculty, Physical Plant and Residential Services. Glen Hulme, mailing services manager, said he was surprised and honored to receive recognition. He said it was important to have one concise mission statement so that everyone can understand and apply it. “Students do realize the interaction on campus and how it molds and creates them,” Hulme said. One of the first tasks tackled by the chancellor in his inaugural year was to begin work on a mission statement that could be accepted by everyone on campus. “This is the year we’re making it happen,” Chancellor Michael Ferrari said. The 17 words that compose the mission statement were debated by a panel of 15 members for about a year. It took another year to finalize the statement. Ferrari said his intent was to create a new mission statement that could fit on a mug, and he believes they have succeeded. “We are Horned Frogs on a mission to make TCU a university with distinctive character,” he said. Student Government Association president Ben Jenkins said the mission statement is a driving force from the faculty and staff and should filter down to the students. “As of now, not many students are aware of the mission statement,” he said. “Students have a finite period of time to see it come to fruition.” Throughout the year, “Horned Frogs on a Mission” will honor those individuals who live out the mission statement in class and work around campus. “Everybody makes a difference at TCU, that is why we are so different,” Ferrari said. “If something is inconsistent with the mission statement, we will ask why.”
Kristina Iodice Students attend Democratic, Republican National conventions Participants work with party officials, receive class credit By Matt Jones The Republican and Democratic National Conventions have given 10 TCU students an up-close look at the American political system this summer. The program, sponsored by The Washington Center, provides academic seminars and internships to college students around the world. The Washington Center, an independent, non profit organization located in Washington, D.C., now organizes academic programs at both national political conventions. Eight students from TCU went to the Republican National Convention, which was held in Philadelphia July 23 through Aug. 4. Two students attended the Democratic National Convention, which was held in Los Angeles Aug. 6-18. While at the conventions, students worked closely with candidates, party officials, public officials, political consultants, members of the media and corporations. Sarah Brand, a senior English and French double major, said the program format is a combination of formal instruction, guest lectures, panel discussions, tours and fieldwork assignments. She said students receive three hours of credit for the two-week long seminar. Brand said during the first week of the seminar, students witness and participate in the setup of the convention. She said students watch as the podium is completed, the convention hall is decorated and delegates and public officials begin to pour into the city. As the weekend approaches, Brand said students are able to volunteer for convention-related assignments and attend receptions and rallies. “It was great,” said Brand, who attended the Republican Convention. “It is a tremendous opportunity to experience the conventions in person.” During the second week, she said the seminar focuses on the keynote address, party platform, campaign issues and strategies. Jessie Korth, a senior political science major who also went to the Republican Convention, said although it was a wonderful experience, she thought the convention lacked planning and organization. “It felt like they worked with you until the convention, and then basically throw you out on the hall floor to figure things out on our own,” Korth said. “It would have made me more comfortable if I would have had more help and guidance along the way.” Korth said she had to find her own field work, because her assigned organization wasn’t in need of her assistance. She said she found another placement opportunity working for Republican Mayors and Local Officials under the leadership of Omaha Mayor Hal Daub. Other students worked for news agencies, Internet businesses and
radio and Internet broadcast organizations. Tommy Thomason, chairman of the journalism department and adviser to students at the Republican National Convention, said the program was modeled after a similar one offered by the TCU political science department. Thomason said TCU was the first college to send students to the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas under the leadership of Gene Alpert, former chairman of the department. During the convention, Thomason said The Washington Center worked with Alpert to design a program at a national level. The Washington Center was founded in 1975 by current president Bill Burke. The center provides a service to students and universities by working with campus representatives to prearrange credit and fees to enable college students to come to Washington and receive academic credit for their internship. Since the program’s inception in 1984, more than 1,000 students have participated in these seminars. The center has also placed 25,000 students in internship opportunities in Washington, D.C. Matt Jones
Admissions dean to bring new focus Brown to determine institutional direction By Matt Jones The success of any admissions office is often measured by the first day of school, when a new set of students step onto campus. To Brown, who replaces Sandra Ware as dean of admissions for TCU, the admissions process involves more than making sure a certain number of students show up for class each semester. Brown said his primary focus is to determine TCU’s institutional goals. “Many schools have different approaches to admissions,” he said. “It is my job to decide what direction TCU is heading into and then make sure we can get there.” Prior to joining TCU, Brown spent the past seven years as dean of admissions at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. He was also associate dean of students and director of admissions at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business as well as a director of admissions at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. Brown said he took his first job in a university system following the completion of his undergraduate education. “I had a lot of student loans to pay off,” he said. “I had initially planned to go on to seminary, but the job seemed like a good opportunity. I haven’t left since then.” Brown said he enjoys working with students and would like to see an increase in the number of students who work in the admissions department. “With every year that goes by, you get farther removed from the students,” he said. “I don’t want to see that happen. I’m going to be involved in the life of this campus.” Chancellor Michael Ferrari said TCU is fortunate to have Brown. “I am sure that he is going to do an exceptional job,” he said. “He is one of the nation’s most respected admissions deans.” Carrie Zimmerman, associate dean of admissions at Marquette, said
Brown is missed by many people there. Although Brown is a Texas native, he said his move should not be
looked at as a simple homecoming. Brown grew up in Mineral Wells, 60 miles west of Fort Worth. He
has a wife, Lisa, and three children, Sarah, 16; Matthew, 10; and
Zachary, 8.
Brown earned a Master of Arts from the University
of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and psychology
from Concordia University in Illinois. He is a member of the American
Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Educators
for Social Responsibility, National Association for College Admissions
Counseling and an elected delegate to The College Board. Matt Jones |
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