Student-athlete graduation rate above average
As staff, facilities improve, so will athletes’
grades, some say
By Chris Gibson
staff reporter
TCU’s student athlete graduation rate ranked above the national average in the latest Graduation Rates Report released Monday by the NCAA.
TCU’s rate is 62 percent compared to the national average of 58 percent. TCU’s overall student graduation rate is 63 percent, seven points higher than the national average for all college students at 56 percent.
The report, which is compiled each year by the NCAA, is mandated by federal law and lists the graduation rate for all student athletes. This year’s data reflects student athletes who entered as freshmen in 1993 and graduated from the same school within a six-year period.
Milton Overton, director of athletic academic services, said the current numbers are good, but there is room for improvement.
“We are fairly happy that our numbers (of student-athletes) mirror those of the university,” he said. “On an athletic standpoint we like to compare ourselves to our level of competition not only in our conference but around the nation. We are a university that is competitive on a national level and we expect the same from academics.
“The first thing we try to do is bring in athletes that are of TCU caliber,” he said. “Second, I think admission for any student should be looked at on a case by case basis. All students need to be evaluated on a lot of different levels, not just for their grades.”
To assist student-athletes, TCU has added the Athletic Academic Center in the new John Justin Athletic Center. The center boasts over 8,500 square feet of space, 18 computers and seven small and large study rooms.
Jack Hesselbrock, associate athletic director for internal relations, served as academic adviser from 1988-96 and said the new center is a far cry from facilities of past years.
“When this office started out (in 1982) it was just one person in what I would have called a broom closet,” he said. “What we have today is probably comparable to that of any other college in the nation.”
Hesselbrock added that despite recent upgrades to facilities, there is still room for improvement.
“The facility we have now is first class but we are still working on increasing the number of staff members and other things,” he said. “They don’t just deal with tutors and scheduling athletes’ classes, they are also dealing with eligibility requirements and other rules that apply just to athletes. It’s a tremendous load for three people.”
Overton said as the academic staff continues to grow and become more efficient, the improvement of student-athletes’ grades and overall life skills will continue to rise.
“One of the main things is having an athletic director (Eric Hyman) that is so concerned with academics,” he said. “You look at major universities across the country and they don’t have what we have here. We only hope to keep getting better.”
Chris Gibson
c.j.gibson@student.tcu.edu
Wood steps into new role in government
President says he is ready to listen, change
By Kristina Iodice
staff reporter
Even though both of his parents went to TCU, Brian Wood originally rejected the idea.
“Coming to college, I didn’t know what I wanted or what I didn’t want,” said Wood, a junior economics major. “The more I thought about (attending TCU) the more I liked this place.”
Wood, who was recently named the next Student Government Association president, said he never guessed he would be the student body president his junior year.
“I personally don’t view myself as some amazing leader,” he said. “I just view myself as someone who cares about students and what they want.”
Wood said he aims to use the SGA presidency as a servant’s position. He wants people to be happy with their college experience and feel like they have been a bigger part of the campus, he said.
“I don’t like being lauded and extolled,” he said. “I want to be an open ear and an open door.”
SGA Secretary Jason Cordova said Wood’s greatest strength is communicating with people on a personal level.
“He will bring a fresh outlook to student government and do a terrific job,” Cordova said.
Wood got involved with the House of Student Representatives and Programming Council his freshman year. He served on both the Dining Services Committee and the Elections and Regulations Committee his first semester, and helped in PC in the spring.
“Coming to college, I wanted to get involved and make the most of what I had here,” he said. “I wanted to seize the day and enjoy everything that college has to offer.”
Wood is from Southlake and is the oldest child with three siblings. He said he has a lot of leadership experience despite being uninvolved with SGA since his freshman year.
“My qualification comes from the fact that I understand people, I know the people on this campus and I’m willing to listen and fight for those students,” he said. “I don’t think I need to know all the inner workings of House and all the committees as student body president because (a vice president) is in that position, and I’m a fast learner.”
Wood taught leadership classes with the Chancellor’s Leadership Program and served as an orientation student assistant in the fall. He is currently a resident assistant for Milton Daniel Hall. He also served as the Homecoming chairman and the Up Till Dawn chairman for his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.
Kay Higgins, director of New Student Programs, said Wood has always been involved on campus. He is especially dedicated to getting to know the new students in the summer and during the year he works with students as an RA.
“Brian is a delightful, compassionate and genuine human being,” she said. “I think he will make an excellent president.”
Wood said he hopes to get people involved in House and in making decisions that affect the campus. The position of SGA president involves listening to students and ensuring that they get the changes they want, he said.
“I know it might appear that I don’t have time to listen to anybody, but I’m always open and always willing to listen,” Wood said. “I never want to give the impression that I don’t care about what someone has to say.”
Kristina Iodice
k.k.iodice@student.tcu.edu
Student exodus
Thanksgiving sees students going home, brings
reminders of safety
By Chris Gibson
staff reporter
The North breeze brought not only the onslaught of cool air to TCU, but also the image of the holidays as students prepared to leave for Thanksgiving this week.
With many universities across the country and state choosing to give students the week of Thanksgiving off, at TCU the official last day for scheduled classes is today.
Carrie Collier, a sophomore business management major, chose to miss classes today and Tuesday to get home to her family a day or two earlier.
“I’m from Ohio so I haven’t seen my family since I left for school,” she said. “I let all of my professors know I was going to miss class and besides, I saved $150 on my plane tickets.”
Political science professor Joanne Green said she will have class despite the annual low turn-out.
“The university is in session and I will be having class,” she said. “If students don’t want to have class on those days, then I would encourage them to lobby the school to get off earlier. I don’t have a specific attendance policy for my classes. Students are adults and they make their own decisions.”
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Hillary Morgan/ASSISTANT PHOTO
EDITOR
Kelly Thomas, a junior speech communications major, and Carrie Messenger, a senior speech communications major, pack a car in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday. |
Lori Lukins, a sophomore ballet major, said she would like to spend an extra day at home, but missing class would be too costly.
“I would most definitely prefer to spend an extra day at home with my family,” the Alabama native said. “But quite a few of my professors said the university’s policy is to count those absences (before a holiday) against you twice and that is just not worth it to me.”
Many TCU students, like Collier, will be flying home to see their relatives this week, but others will choose to drive.
The Texas Department of Transportation lists the day before Thanksgiving as the most heavily traveled day of the year.
According to national statistics reported by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, over 40 percent of the 578 traffic fatalities recorded over Thanksgiving weekend in 1999 were alcohol related.
Sparkle Greenhaw, assistant director of alcohol and drug education, said students who are traveling home for Thanksgiving need to practice safe driving habits.
“We want students to be aware of safety while they are driving,’’ she said. “That includes being well rested, not staying up all night before you travel and obviously not drinking and driving.”
Chris Gibson
c.j.gibson@student.tcu.edu