By Alan Melson and Carey Hix staff reporters Texas' new lower blood-alcohol limit, which went into effect Wednesday, may result in more work for police, but staff of local drinking establishments said it will not change much for their employees or patrons. Michael Bigley, manager of the recently opened Fat Harry's Daiquiri Bar and Tavern on University Drive, said his employees already keep a close eye on how much their patrons drink. "Our policies are strict anyway, so I don't see any reason (why) they will change," he said. "We have been working closely with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission since we are a new establishment, so we carefully follow their guidelines." Dave Mitchell, owner of the University Pub, also said the change would not make much of a difference in the way his employees handle patrons. "Our job has always been to make sure people have fun, but also get home safely," Mitchell said. "All of my employees are TCU students, so we know many of our patrons already, and I am sure that (the employees) would act responsibly to ensure a person's safety." Mitchell said the only difference in sales he could predict would be that patrons will spend slightly less time at the bar. "It will probably also remind people to be more careful," he said. The law, which designates the level at which a person is considered too drunk to drive, dropped the legal blood-alcohol limit from .10 percent to .08 percent. The legislation was one of 924 new state laws that were enacted by the 76th session of the Texas Legislature. Fort Worth Police Officer W.T. Robinson, based at the Berry Street storefront, said officers will not change their tactics, but the new law may result in more arrests. "It will not affect our tactics for identifying or evaluating DWIs," Robinson said. "But now when someone is pulled over, they can have consumed less alcohol for us to take them to jail." Robinson said DWI laws have gradually become more strict over the years. "The laws have toughened, and there have been more convictions as a result," Robinson said. "Hopefully, this will send a message to people that drinking and driving will not be tolerated." At The Cellar on Berry Street - where flourescent letters lining one wall spell, "Don't Drink and Drive, Let Us Call You A Cab" - staff and patrons alike said they felt little would change as a result of the new law. Andi Crook, a bartender, said most of her patrons are TCU students who look after themselves. "Students are going to party and drink anyways, but I'm glad the new level is lower," Crook said. "I don't want to lose friends or relatives to a drunk driver." Jon Proctor, a junior marketing major at Texas Tech, said he drinks responsibly and will not change his habits. "I don't think the law will make much difference in people's drinking habits," Proctor said. "I think it is just another way for the state to make money. It will probably hurt the bars more than anyone else." Tyson Feaster, an MBA student, said he thinks the number of drunk drivers will decrease in time as people become more aware of the new law. "I think there might be more busts early on, and then when people realize how easily it could happen to them, I think they'll wise up and make the decision not to do it, that it's not worth it," Feaster said. "But then you'll always have the people who don't think about it until it happens to them." Mitchell said most local establishments have always been good about keeping an eye on their patrons. "We're in a dangerous business, and we want our folks to get home safely," Mitchell said. "We don't just kick people out at 2:15 a.m. Instead, we call taxis or find drivers to get people home. This is no different. The TABC is always making rules, and we abide by them."
By Omar Villafranca STAFF REPORTER Mary Couts Burnett Library was awarded a six-figure grant from the state to improve electric library resources and Internet access. The Texas Telecommunications and Infrastructure Fund awarded the TCU library a grant worth $423,469. Victor Baeza, instruction librarian, said the money will be used to purchase new technology ranging from computers to projectors. Some of the money will be used to speed up computer access by improving the wiring. "The new wiring will provide faster and greater access to everyone not on campus," Baeza said. "It will also improve access for students on campus." Laptop ports will be installed in the periodical section and various other parts of the library, allowing students to plug in their portable computers and get online with the TCU network. The library will also purchase 50 new computers. Ten of the new computers will be laptops with Digital Video Disk capabilities and wireless network cards. This will allow students to access the TCU network without having to be plugged into ports. The other 40 computers will be placed in the lobby, periodical and reference areas and will be connected to the TCU network. Baeza said the library will be purchasing two new projectors to help instructors teach classes. The projectors will cost approximately $7,500 each, but will aid professors with their teaching capabilities. Kerry Bouchard, the assistant university librarian for automated systems, said TCU's networks would also be getting a boost. "The network will go from a 10-megabyte to a 100-megabyte capacity system," Bouchard said. "This will speed up the network considerably." The purchase of the hardware and software for the library has not yet taken place. A stipulation of the grant states that TCU can only purchase the materials from a list of manufacturers the state provides. James Lutz, an assistant librarian for administrative services, said setting up the new equipment will not take long. "The items have not been purchased yet," Lutz said. "We're looking at different bids from the companies we can buy from. Once we get the equipment, we'll be able to set it up quickly." Since the TCU Library is an official government depository, there are plans to update the holdings. Brenda Barnes, the government information librarian at TCU, said the government is putting much of its information on DVD. "The Census Bureau is going to issue some information on DVD, but we haven't received any of it yet," Barnes said. "Since we didn't have DVD capabilities before, getting the equipment will keep us current with what we will be getting from the government."
By Steven Baker staff reporter
The program could begin as soon as October and will offer such courses as music, business or science. Downey, now associate provost and executive director of the TCUglobalcenter at Alliance, said it is different from a satellite campus because programs will not be created until constituents are contacted. "A satellite campus, in most respects, is taking what you do and simply moving it to a new site," he said. "Instead of having programs that we go and market, we will be identifying constituents in that area who we wish to serve. Then, in a partnership with them, we will jointly design programs." The TCUglobalcenter will be located on the first floor of Heritage Commons at 13600 Heritage Parkway, on the southeast portion of the airport. Hillwood Properties includes this building along with others at Alliance, the Circle T Ranch and a 2,500-acre development by Interstate 35W, according to the Hillwood Internet site. David Pelletier, a Hillwood spokesman, said more than 14,000 employees work in the Alliance area. "This program will benefit everyone and further their education," he said. Businesses and possible constituents in that area include Nokia, American Airlines and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Downey said the programs needed by the constituents at Alliance are a work in progress. Some of the programs offered at the TCUglobalcenter could be taken to the business' sites or even offered on the Internet, he said. Chancellor Michael R. Ferrari said there was some idea at the outset of what the constituents of Alliance might need. "From the beginning we talked about having an executive MBA program there and perhaps even a night-time traditional MBA program," he said. "I think those are still pretty likely." The TCUglobalcenter will not have a standing faculty but will have five full-time employees including Downey. "Some of the faculty will be outsourced from the TCU faculty, other universities or individuals that are not even at universities, if that is what the constituents want," Downey said. Ferrari said that even though the program is not finished, business leaders from Alliance will have strong input on the early stages of development because they came to TCU first. "The key players and partners in it really understand the strengths of TCU," he said.
By Jaime Walker Skiff staff While most TCU students spent the summer working or relaxing at some terrific travel destination, three engineering students got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was almost out of this world. Roberto Hernandez, Isaac Varner and Ryan Coles took a ride on one of the world's most unique roller-coasters. They got to spend a week conducting experiments on NASA's KC-135 aircraft, the most sophisticated way to simulate weightlessness on Earth. "Six Flags is not what it used to be," said Hernandez, a senior electrical engineering major. "There is no way to describe it." Varner, a senior mechanical engineering major, said the experience was too unbelievable for words. "No matter what I say, there is no way that I can express what a thrill it was," Varner said.
For the flight team from TCU, the weightless environment allowed them to test a hand-built apparatus that is designed to help scientists measure the viscosity of different liquids. They used two syringes full of glycerol and a high speed camera to determine the time it takes for the liquid to merge from two drops into one drop. Andre Mazzoleni, an associate professor of engineering, initially approached Varner, Coles and Hernandez to see if they would be interested in participating in the project. He said that his work with the three students in Spacecraft Design showed him that they would be great representatives. "I knew that these guys would be ideal and they didn't disappoint me," Mazzoleni said. When the team arrived at the space center, they went through astronaut debriefings, microgravity training and safety lectures before they could fly. The specially designed KC-135 creates a microgravity environment by soaring to 33,000 feet and then diving to 24,000 feet in 25 seconds. Coles said the group would not have been able to participate in the project - which is sponsored each year by the Texas Space Grant Consortium and the Johnson Space Center - if they did not have the help of Mike Murdock and David Yale. Yale and Murdock, research machinists for TCU, worked about 200 hours to help the team build what they needed for the experiment. Coles said that because the team only gets two real opportunities in the weightless environment, it was critical that every part of the apparatus function properly. "Because this group was working under such unique conditions, we had to use materials that would withstand the 2G difference and that was a challenge," Murdock said. The group said they believe that without the creative solutions Yale and Murdock supplied, their experiment may not have been a success. "They came up with design and material ideas that we had never thought about," Coles said. Hernandez said that because the group did not find out that they had been selected to participate until well into the spring, they were pressed to get everything finished on time. "We could take something to them in the morning and they could have it turned around by the afternoon," he said.Now almost a month after their experience, the group is still thrilled about their summer. "I have been fascinated by astronauts and space since I was little, so this was a dream of mine," Varner said. Coles said he shares his partner's sentiment. "It was unlike anything that I have ever done before," he said.
By Jessica Schambach staff reporter On-campus residents are forming a student-led council to better represent their needs and desires. Council members will be elected this week for the Residence Hall Association, which will provide an outlet for students to express their opinions regarding on-campus living. Russell Elleven, associate director for residence life, said the RHA will help to serve the residents better because it gives them a direct voice to the housing administration. "Our hope is that the programming that is generated by hall councils is directly related to what students want to see in the residence halls," Elleven said. "While it's governmental in structure, it's primarily a programmatic body." The RHA will meet twice a month, beginning Sept. 14, to discuss housing issues. Foster Hall Director Dottie Cruz will advise the RHA, and resident assistants will advise the individual hall councils. Elleven said the council is needed not only because it is a form of expression for residents, but also because it provides additional leadership opportunities for students. Often, people who are involved in residence hall associations become the next generation of resident assistants, he said. "It can serve as an educational tool as to how to work within a structure," Elleven said. He said if residents want something to be changed, they would confront their hall council who would in turn consult the RHA, the direct link to the housing administration. "It allows students to be leaders and have a say about what's going on in their hall," said Amanda Musterman, a senior religion and sociology major and a Waits Hall resident assistant. "I think it's a great thing to say that you've been a part of an organization you helped to form." The RHA has also been given the responsibility by residential services to oversee homecoming events, the holiday lighting and Siblings Weekend. All other event participation will be decided by the council. Individual hall councils and the RHA will have separate budgets. "It comes through their student fees, just like RA programming does," Elleven said. The RHA will attend a regional and national conference in February and May. "They'll learn what other institutions are doing and can use that experience to come back and better benefit the TCU students," Elleven said. The RHA will work with the Texas Residence Hall Association, the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. "This isn't something that TCU has just thought up," Elleven said. "It is something that is very widespread and we want to tap into it." But residents must participate to keep the RHA up and running, he said. Cruz said student response has been better than expected. "It looks like we're going to have an excellent turnout," Cruz said. Shannon O'Brien, a sophomore elementary education major and a Waits Hall resident, said she is still considering participating on the council. "I think that's a great thing to get the input of the students who are going to be living there," she said. "Why should anyone else choose for us?" Residential Services will then re-evaluate the program in three years, Elleven said. |
Kirk Downey, former dean of M. J. Neeley School of Business,
and future business constituents will create the TCUglobalcenter at Alliance
Airport to provide educational programs in the area that are different
from a traditional satellite campus.
The TCU team took part in the 1999 Reduced Gravity Student
Flight Opportunities Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center for
two weeks in August. TCU joined 32 other teams from across the nation who
each tested their experiments.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |