Midwest Tour

Understanding the trials and triumphs of being among 150 musicians as they shuffle across country is as important as learning the score when you're a budding professional performer, says Richard Gipson, director of the School of Music. So this spring, the Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorale embarked on an ambitious May tour. Traveling by bus, the 2,100-mile odyssey took them to Tulsa, Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis and the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, Ill. Stopping to perform at various churches along the way, the musicians' repertoire included selections from Bach, Shostakovich and Berloiz, among others. On the last day of the trip, they all enjoyed a rousing version of Take me out to the Ballgame as they enjoyed an afternoon game in Comiskey Park before winding up their tour with an evening performance of the Chicago Symphony. Gipson said he hopes to make travel a part of the curriculum."We believe no quality musical education is complete without performance touring," he said.

Politics and Principles

Fall 2004 kicks off with a campus-wide themed semester, Politics and Principles, designed to engage students in a semester of activities that will prompt discussions of politics and society and their underpinnings.
In addition to the following public lectures, students will find these ideas incorporated into curriculum and classroom activities.

ACLU lecture - Sept. 17
Susan McDougal, author of The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk, for a discussion on her experiences during Special Prosecutor Ken Starr's investigation of the Clintons' business dealings in Arkansas and the abuses of the system that she argues were inherent in the process. The lecture begins at 10 a.m. in the Woodson Room and is free and open to the public.

Gates Of Chai - Sept. 20
Thomas Cahill, historian and author of The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels will speak at the annual Gates of Chai Lectureship of Brite Divinity School at TCU. 8 p.m., Ed Landreth Auditorium. Tickets $15 - $35. Call 817-257-6646.

Fogelson Honors Forum - Oct. 6
Political insiders James Carville and Mary Matalin will speak on "All's Fair: Love, War and Running for President," 8 p.m. Ed Landreth Auditorium. Free, but seat reservations required. Call 817-257-6488.

Jim Wright Symposium - Oct. 15
12:15 p.m. David Boren, former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma and current president of the University of Oklahoma will discuss the nature of politics in our time, including questions of political ethics. This lecture is sponsored by the Martin DG Lecture in Values and Ethics.
7:30 p.m. Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill, will speak in the TCU Student Center Ballroom. For more information, call 817-257-7395.

TCU will hold a voter registration drive to encourage all members of the TCU community to actively participate in the electoral process.

It rained, it poured

The rain of June 28th didn't just fall on campus, it descended like a dam burst that dumped its contents off a ledge. The wall of water roared through low spots and caused more than $600,000 damage to six east campus buildings.

"Just before noon the water started rising in the building, so we all took off our shoes and rolled up our pants and set off on a dead run," recalls Jill Laster, associate vice chancellor for administrative services, whose office is in the Secrest-Wible Building on Merida Street. "We all stayed in the building and unplugged computers and got things off the floor, which minimized some of the damage."

Meanwhile, several cars parked on the street were filling with water or riding the current down the road. Eight were totaled, ironically including TCU's Safety Response truck.

The dumpster behind the building was carried down several blocks before slamming into the entrance to Brite's Leibrock Village, severely damaging the gate.

The building's basement, which houses mechanical equipment, flooded to the ceiling.

About 10 families housed in Leibrock Village and Graduate Student Housing were evacuated to the Pete Wright/Tom Brown complex for a month, and offices from other damaged buildings, which included the Institute of Behavioral Research, were moved to temporary quarters.
Repairs took a month. The night before the offices were scheduled to reopen, the skies in Fort Worth opened again.

Hollis Dyer, director of facilities maintenance who oversaw the repairs, woke in the middle of the night when the rains hit, and drove to campus.

"I was really worried the buildings would flood again," he said. But the worst of the storm was south of campus and Dyer "got a lot of paperwork done" in a dry building before the sun rose.

New dean for Neeley School

Daniel Short, former dean and current professor of accounting for the Richard T. Farmer School of Business Administration at Miami University, Ohio, is the new dean of the M.J. Neeley School of Business. Dr. Short will begin his duties in the fall. Well-known in higher education, Short served several years as dean of Kansas State University's College of Business Administration prior to his seven-year deanship at Miami University. He also held numerous high-level administrative posts at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. His scholarly publications include a co-authored textbook, Fundamentals of Financial Accounting, one of the most widely used financial accounting textbooks in the United States and Canada. Short received his Ph.D. and an MBA with a major in accounting from the University of Michigan, and his BS in business administration from Boston University.

Global game

In July, about 6,000 fans and curious on-lookers took in a game between the Dallas Mavericks Summer League Team and the Chinese National Team at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Chinese team, lead by 7-6 center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, used the game as an Olympic warm-up game. The Mavericks also benefited by showcasing recent draft picks Devin Harris and Pavel Podkolzine. The Mavericks full roster (Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and others) will return to Daniel-Meyer in October for a pre-season fan jam, featuring autographs and a scrimmage.

World class

Once again the critics raved as stars old and new shone on campus during the annual TCU/Cliburn Piano Institute. This monthlong celebration of piano performance has three faces: The Young Artists Program where young talent receives intensive training at a professional level; the Amateurs Program, which includes master classes as performers prepare for the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs presented by the Van Cliburn Foundation in early June; and the Teacher's Program where piano teachers can hone their skills and find inspiration. This year 24 young artists selected by audition from the major music conservatories of the world attended, with another 10 coming just to observe. There were also 35 piano teachers from across the country enrolled and 40 amateurs.

Chamber made

Fort Worth Star-Telegram critic Wayne Lee Gay has called it "One of the top 10 music events of the year." The seventh annual Mimir Chamber Music Festival continued its tradition of excellence and brought some of the most talented performing artists in the world to PepsiCo Recital Hall for a series of distinctive musical evenings. These artists from leading American symphony orchestras and music schools also provided coaching to students enrolled in this unique summer chamber music institute.

Featured artists included five noted violinists: Nathan Cole and Baird Dodge of the Chicago Symphony, Stephen Rose and Isabel Trautwein of the Cleveland Orchestra and Curt Thompson, festival director and TCU faculty member. Misha Galaganov of the TCU School of Music, and cellists Katie Schlaikjer, former member of the Avalon String Quartet, and Brant Taylor of the Chicago Symphony also performed. Pianists included Alessio Bax, a first prize winner in the Leeds International Piano Competition, Harold Martina of the TCU music faculty as well as Jose Feghali, gold medallist in the 1985 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and associate festival director.

Hanging out for space

Junior Erin Donovan displays the 6-foot cardboard airplane model she decorated for the Monnig Meteorite Museum as part of the DFW Airport's World of Wings Airplane Art Program. To celebrate the 2005 opening of a new terminal and transportation system at the airport, several hundred of the blank cardboard models, decorated by some 300 selected schools and organizations, will be hung at the airport and around the Metroplex in the months before the openings.

Class of 2008 sets records

1. Applications. As of August 9, 8,059 freshman applications were received. This number represents a 5.3 percent increase over 2003 and a 31.3 percent increase over 2002.

2. Entering freshmen. A record 1,620 freshmen are expected to enroll. By comparison, the number for 2003 was 1,596 and the number for 2002 was 1,451.

3. Selectivity. We also will experience a record here. For 2004, only 63.9 percent of freshman applicants were offered admission compared with 64.9 percent for 2003 and 71.4 percent for 2002.
(1999-2002 average was 73.7 percent).

4. Class rank. We probably have a new record here, too. The mean class rank of those freshmen (coming from schools that rank) this year is 20.18. In 2003 the number was 20.63; in 2002, 21.68).

5. Test scores. Another significant gain (and probable record). Mean SAT equivalent (SATE) of entering freshmen:
2004: 1175.31
2003: 1168.79
2002: 1144.43

Grab on to the past

The Center for Texas Studies at TCU and the Fort Worth Public Library continues the "Community History Workshop Series: Preserving Our Past" this fall. The hands-on public workshop are aimed at increasing the historical awareness of the community. The workshops are scheduled for 10:30-12:00 on the first Saturday of each month, September through December) and held in the Tandy Lecture Hall of the downtown Fort Worth Public Library. Call 817-257-6295 for information.

Sept. 4: Recycling the Past: Of Old Papers and Pictures and Other Stuff
Dr. Susan Ramirez, Penrose Chair of History, TCU

Oct. 9: Preserving Family History Collections: Or, How To Be Your Own Archivist, Tom Kellam, Archivist, Fort Worth Public Library

Nov. 6: Furniture Tells a Story: Finding, Identifying, and Preserving Material Culture, Lonn Taylor, Smithsonian Institution retired Nathan Campbell, Curator of Collections, McFaddin-Ward House, Beaumont

Dec. 4: Beginning Genealogy
Shirley Apley, Fort Worth Public Library.

A seat at Phi Beta Kappa

TCU is among those American universities with chapters of Phi Beta Kappa who have been invited to place a lasting symbol of that affiliation within the organization's new national headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The building, in the DuPont Circle neighborhood, houses several reception areas, two conference rooms, about a dozen offices and the editorial office of the The American Soldier. The intent is to furnish the renovated 1885 townhouse at 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W. with chairs bearing the seals and emblems of its member institutions to "symbolize the presence of the Society on campuses around the country." TCU will be represented with a black wood arm chair bearing a TCU seal in gold. Faculty advisors for the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at TCU are Ken Richardson, Steve Quinn, Kristin Klopfenstein, Jack Hill and Bob Frye.

Over there - Horned Frogs serving overseas

Following a call to find Frogs involved in the armed conflicts, we received the following names. If you know of other Frogs serving our country in this war against terrorism, let us know by calling 817-257-7807 or by e-mail at tcumagazine@tcu.edu.

1 Lt. Laura K. Walters is with Task Force Alcatraz located at the Abu Ghraib Prison Site deployed with the 67th Combat Support Hospital out of Germany and 848th Forward Surgical Team, a reserve unit out of Ohio. Laura is the head nurse of a 25 bed ICW (Intermediate Care Ward) which takes care of primarily EPW's (enemy prisoners of war and other security detainees or prisoners). Her team team of 40 built the hospital from scratch and live and work there with the prisoners, translators, and military police. They also take care of Coalition Forces as incidents occur.
Laura also writes that Rachel Steele Williams '00 is there, working at the 31st CSH in Camp Anaconda. Dena Putnam '01 and Robert Moore '01 where deployed to Kuwait last year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Karen Metscher Plante '89 is in Iraq as a U.S. Medical Service Corps officer working for the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I). Among other things, MNF-I conducts stability operations in support of the new Iraqi government, and works to restore essential services and economic development. Karen works in the MNF-I Surgeon's Office, as the Patient Administration/Policy/Plans officer. She assists with the development of the physical medical infrastructure within Iraq, and provides recommendations and support to the Iraqi Ministry of Health in the development of health policy.

Charlie Hornick '93, was deployed to Iraq in January. He is a captain on the staff of the Army's III Corps, based out of Fort Hood. His mother told the Houston Chronicle, which wrote a story about a mother's support group, that her son believes in what he is doing in Iraq, and that it's "worth every bit of sacrifice."

Maj. Glenn Moore '90 wrote to say thanks for all of the support being given to the TCU alumni fighting abroad in support of the war on Terrorism. He sent this picture of his wife and "beautiful son Justin" from his Change of Command ceremony in May.

Congregating for a Cure

Football games at TCU aren't just about football anymore. This year several special events have been planned to get spectators into the spirit, and into the fun.

Fiesta de las Frogs
Sept. 25, TCU vs USF
Meet champion boxer Paulie Ayala, enjoy live music with salsa dancing from Tropical Sound, games, face painting, magic and more.

Frog Family Homecoming
Oct. 23, TCU vs Houston
Enjoy 72 years of history during the vintage car show that will showcase one car from each year, beginning in 1932. A Most Valuable Football Player from the corresponding year will be featured with each car.
This is the first year Family Weekend and Homecoming have been combined. Festivities begin Thursday, Oct. 21 with Frog Follies. There's a golf tournament, a Jazz Jam, campus tours, Frog Festival and lots more. Call 817-257-7926 or 817-257-7927, or go to www.frogfamilyhomecoming.tcu.edu for a full schedule.

Western Heritage Day
Nov. 20, TCU vs Southern Miss
Get into the Guinness Book of World Records Nov. 20 when TCU will stage the largest, and longest, line dance in history, beating out the current record won by Hong Kong in 2002 when 12,168 boot-scooters danced to "Baby Likes to Rock it." Visitors will be taught some rudimentary steps before the big moment.

For game tickets, call 257-FROG,
or buy online at gofrogs.com.

In brief

Promotions
Bob Seal, university librarian since 1994, was named Dean of the Library on June 1. In recent years, Seal has served as chair of Staff Assembly, associate director of the SACS self-study project, chair of the Curriculum Outcome Committee and headed the inauguration committees for both Chancellor Michael R. Ferrari and Chancellor Victor J. Boschini.

Kudos

Swimming and diving head coach Richard Sybesma has been honored as the recipient of the third annual Conference USA Student Advisory Committee's (SAAC) Coaches Choice Award. The annual award goes to the coach in Conference USA who best exemplifies a commitment to creating a positive academic and athletic atmosphere while fostering the student-athlete's development and welfare.

The SAAC Coaches Choice Award is based on several criteria, including: 1) interaction and participation with athletic and campus community, 2) commitment to academics, 3) athletic achievements and improvements, and 4) motivation, innovation and creativity. Each school's SAAC nominates one coach from their institution for this award and all 15 SAAC representatives vote to determine the winner.

Sybesma is entering his 26th season as the head coach of TCU swimming and diving, elevating the club team that he inherited in 1978 into the conference champion that it is today. Last season he tallied his 300th career victory and led the Horned Frogs to the first ever same school sweep at the Conference USA Championships/Invitational. For his efforts, he was named the 2004 C-USA Coach of the Year.

TCU student journalists won the top news writing awards in Texas and Oklahoma in The Mark of Excellence college newspaper and magazine competition sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

Image magazine editor Brandon Ortiz won a first-place Mark of Excellence award for Magazine Non-Fiction Article for "Closing Time: What TCU Is (and Isn't) Doing to Crack Down on Off-Campus Parties," an investigative story that appeared in the December issue.

TCU Daily Skiff reporters Danny Gillham and Matt Potter won first place for a series of in-depth stories that chronicled and explored the controversy surrounding last fall's Student Government Association elections.

Image magazine staff won first place in the Mark Of Excellence competition for Best Student Magazine, and the Skiff won third place for Best All-Around Daily Newspaper.

Reporter Kristi Walker won third place in the Mark Of Excellence Spot News Reporting category for her coverage of the suspension of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, sports writer Carlos Alvarado won third place for Sports Column Writing, and Image photographer Simon Lopez won third place for photo.

Overall, the Skiff editorial staff won third place for its editorials

Becky Roach, assistant to the provost, received the Chancellor's Staff Award for Outstanding Service. This is the second year the recognition has been awarded. Provost Nowell Donovan said in nominating her: "For many years Becky has been the one truly irreplaceable person in Academic Affairs; her encyclopedic knowledge of procedure and process, her attention to necessary detail and her careful foresight make her unique. She resides at the core of Academic Affairs."

TCU Tomes

Haunted Inns of America
By Terry Smith '02 and Mark Jean
Crane Hill Publishers

Ghost hunters will find plenty to scream about in this travelers guide to haunted hotels. Fort Worth boasts two haunted Inns, Miss Molly's Hotel in the Stockyards and The Texas White House on 8th Ave., in the hospital district. More than 200 hotels, inns and bed and breakfast spots in the U.S. are listed. You'll find out about sightings and supernatural activity as well as information about the inn today, including history, accommodations, food and local entertainment
To order call 800-247-8850.

Confessions of the Vampire
By Kim Mathis Schwartz '82
Apage4You Book Publishing

First in a series of thrillers involving heroine Dr. Ashley Ravenstone, Confessions of the Vampire is set in the 1960s and takes readers through the end-of-the-world fight between good and evil that takes place in a small Texas town. Kim warns her readers, "Be sure to keep the light on!"

Adventures with a Texas Humanist
By James Ward Lee
TCU Press

In this new book from TCU Press, Jim Lee explores Texas life and letters and puts them in the wider context of cultural history, quoting everyone from the Bible to Shakespeare to T.S. Eliot. This landmark book is the first to bring together Lee's strengths as a literary and cultural critic, a folklorist, and a humorist. Call 817-257-7822 or write tcupress@tcu.edu to order.