By Jaime Walker staff reporter The Center for Academic Services sponsored its fifth annual Major/Minor Fair Wednesday to help students find answers to some of those questions that cause sleepless nights and registration stress. Held in the Student Center lobby, the fair was complete with balloons, music, videos and laughter. Despite the energetic atmosphere, however, the fair was designed to offer students the opportunity to explore all of the academic options that TCU has to offer. Students interested in learning more about various departments and majors were encouraged to peruse information at the tables. They could talk to faculty members and question students who are majors in those departments. "The event is set up to be fun, but it also can be an invaluable resource to our students," said Donna Jackson, premajor adviser in charge of the fair. Claire Sanders, an assistant professor of history, said students were drawn to this year's fair because of its "social, carnival-like atmosphere." "The fair is just really fun," she said. "Students stop and talk and get their questions answered and just get to know us." Each year, those departments that participate in the fair are encouraged to decorate their displays and find unique ways to attract students' interest. Some departments brought posters and videos to make their area appealing. The nursing department, however, decided to make students aware of the variety of job opportunities in that field by handing out fortune cookies that read, "Your future is in nursing." Melissa Austin-Weeks, assistant to the dean for Harris College of Nursing, dressed in a gypsy costume to hand out information with the specialized cookies. "There have been a lot of great reactions to our approach," she said. "Even people that have no interest in nursing have been able to find some connection to that statement." The nursing school went on to win this year's Congeniality Award for Most Academic Spirit. "They won because they were really creative, but it was a hard decision," Jackson said. Andy Haskett, a professor of radio-TV-film, said the fair can act as a springboard for students to begin focusing on the areas they find interesting. "The whole fair is a great opportunity for people to explore TCU and discover where they fit," he said. Liz Spering, a sophomore pre-health major, said she left the fair feeling it was a beneficial experience. "I am glad that I came because it gave me a chance to better understand what it takes to be a success in this major," she said. Patricia Paulus, an assistant professor of biology, said students gain valuable perspectives at the fair. "Each professor can offer a student something different to think about," she said. Katrina Palmer, a junior nursing student answering questions at the fair, agreed that students learn from the various points of view offered at the fair. "Sometimes it helps to hear from someone who is taking the classes that you are thinking about," she said. Jackson said the Major/Minor Fair served more than 300 students this year. "I feel that the fair was successful, and I hope that students enjoyed the opportunity to have access to all of the information it provided," she said.
Jaime Walker
By Steven Baker staff reporter Kevin Prigel might seem like the average college student when he hangs out with his roommates and watches "The Waterboy." But when the senior finance and accounting major receives a business call, he transforms from a goofy college student to a professional businessman. Prigel, 20, began the World Wide Web site StreetAdvisor.com, which has drawn $2.3 million from Fort Worth investors. Prigel originally launched the Web site on Nov. 2, 1998. The site relaunched on Sept. 22, and there are currently 12 employees available to offer analysis of individual stocks to individual investors as an alternative to the traditional broker. Prigel, chief executive officer and president of StreetAdvisor.com, has hired analysts with Wall Street stock experience who do their own research and report the findings on the Internet site. Currently, access to the site is free, but Prigel will eventually charge $10 to $20 a month. He said he also hopes to have 20 analysts reporting on the Web site. "We are getting down to the facts," he said. "We can summarize a point in three sentences that an institution may take half a page to do because the institutional people want every detail down to numbers, projections and everything. The individual doesn't want to be bogged down by that glut of information." With businesses moving to the Internet to do their trading, there is a void, and people cannot get analysis and research information on stocks, Prigel said. "We are not just reporting news; we are looking at the news and its impact," he said. Andy Zacharias, chief financial officer for StreetAdvisor.com, said people respect Prigel's intelligence, vision and his ability to see and capitalize on the way technology and finance are changing the way business is done. "This is an opportunity to participate in a venture that is trying
to revolutionize the finance industry," he said. Prigel grew up in Leawood, Kan. His father bought a speech synthesizer for a Texas Instruments-994A computer when Prigel was 4. Shortly thereafter, he learned how to program the computer so that it would repeat back to him what he typed on the keyboard. Prigel said when he was younger, his father sparked his interest in technology analysis and investing. "Both my parents have encouraged me all the way, doing pretty much everything for me that they can and giving me the resources to learn," he said. During high school, Prigel took freshman- and sophomore-level college courses in math, English, computer science and economics. When he graduated, he chose TCU over Harvard University and transferred 69 credit hours from high school. Prigel will graduate from TCU in December after five semesters at the university. Working more than 100 hours a week is difficult, but the pressure really doesn't bother him, he said. "When it comes to running a business, you have to be ready to accept failure and drop ideas," he said. "It can be a lot of fun, but at the same time, it can be one of the most stressful jobs you can think of." Prigel said he soon plans to visit six states with national press outlets to meet with different media editors to discuss his company. Dustin Griffith, a junior theater-TV major, said Prigel is funny and a normal college student, but he is also dedicated and driven to making his business a success. "Whenever he is not doing homework, he is writing reports," he said. "He is still a student. He's just like everyone else, but he has more important things to do. He hires people, and I'm just worried about my history homework."
Steven Baker
By Steven Baker staff reporter Hillel was a first-century Jewish sage who encouraged his people to love one another as a community and learn about their heritage. This same message is now being brought to TCU by some different messengers in the form of the Hillel Jewish Student Organization. Aaron Goldfarb, president of Hillel at TCU and a senior music education major, said people need to know that being Jewish is a way of life. "I missed not having many Jewish friends while I was here at TCU," he said. "I want to give somebody a chance to be in a group where they can go and be a Jew and not worry about it." Hillel is an international Jewish campus organization that has affiliates on more than 400 campuses. Students participating in Hillel are encouraged to form their own organization that is consistent with their beliefs on campus.
Billy Ann Bergmann, a sophomore accounting major, said Hillel will promote community and a better feeling among all organizations and religions at TCU. "Hillel is giving us a chance to start friendships and grow as Jews," she said. "And if for nothing else to have a ride to temple on Friday nights." Jackie Sabel, vice president of Hillel and a junior social work major, said Hillel could influence more students to come to TCU. "Community and family are important because you don't want your culture and religion to die," she said. "You can learn more through having a group where you belong and keeping this bond no matter what." Richard Allen, an associate professor of radio-TV-film, said if the students who have already participated in Hillel continue to be interested in the success of the organization, other students will follow and it will be successful. "If you have enough of an identity to put yourself down as Jewish and you're at a place called Texas Christian University, where the students do a wonderful job of integrating their religion in everyday life, why hide your Jewishness?" he said. "Why not make that a part of your experience here at TCU, too?" Hillel became an official student organization Oct. 14. Since mid-September, Goldfarb, Allen and The Rev. John Butler, university minister, have been working with local Jewish organizations and Hillel to bring this opportunity to TCU. Hillel will not recognize TCU as an official Hillel organization, however, until Goldfarb, Allen and Butler can put together an advisory board of three to five citizens from Fort Worth. Goldfarb said most of the bureaucratic decisions have been made and all he needs is for students to come out to the meetings. Anyone who wants to learn about Judaism can come, he said. "A big part of being Jewish is that we take care of our own, but we also take care of Fort Worth," he said. "The point of the organization is to get input from the students. They need to say, 'let's do this.'"
Steven Baker
By Matt Stiver staff reporter One of them is often seen on the TCU campus. Only it is a person inside of a costume. The Texas horned lizard - or horned "frog" as it is known at TCU - once seen everywhere, was classified as an endangered species in 1967. Both its habitat and its numbers have continued to dwindle since. Now Texas drivers have the opportunity to lend a Texas icon a helping hand. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Service is issuing a special-edition Texas license plate with the image of a horned lizard. The special plates will cost $25, $20 of which will help the Wildlife Service protect the horned lizard and other endangered species. Matt Dozier, an informational specialist at the Parks department, said the idea of featuring the horned lizard presented itself. "The idea actually came from employees that work at the Parks department," Dozier said. "It was a new way to fund a conservation project. We had a survey last year at our Wildlife Expo. (The horned lizard) was by far the No. 1 choice. We thought it would be a really good symbol for the need for habitat conservation and endangered species research." Dozier said the money from the plate sales, which is expected to be $100,000 the first year, would be dispensed on a case-by-case basis. "It's probably going to be a big pool of money, and people will submit a project proposal - sort of like a grant request - that will be reviewed by a committee here at Texas Parks and Wildlife," Dozier said. "That's not set in stone yet, but that is the way I understand it." On the TCU campus, reactions vary. Garry Stephens, a sophomore finance major, said he would purchase the plate. "I think it goes to help a good cause," Stephens said. "It isn't that much money. People should do what we can." However, Jennifer Willy, a freshman English major, said there are other ways to contribute money. "I mean, we are the 'Horned Frogs,' but there are many better ways I can think of to spend $25," Willy said. "I would rather donate to a shelter or soup kitchen." The horned lizard became endangered because of human development and a lack of food. According to the Parks department Web site, the lizard basks in the sun to raise its body temperature. When cars approach, it does not move. The rapid spread of fire ants ran off other harvester ants, which deprived the lizard of a main source of food. Human development and destruction have also destroyed its natural habitat. Dozier said although the Parks department's publicity launch is not for another two weeks, orders for the plates are increasing. "We've received about 350 applications so far," Dozier said. "We hope to sell 5,000 within a year, and it should go up from there. At this point, we don't have a reason why it won't be successful." Horned lizard license plates can be ordered by calling Texas Parks and Wildlife at (800) 792-1112.
Matt Stiver |
"Everyone
that joins this firm is on the same page and working hard toward the same
goal."
At the three meetings of Hillel at TCU so far, 15 of the
30 students who have indicated to the university that they are Jewish have
attended. The group's next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student
Center.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |