Sept. 11, 2001, marked the end of thousands of lives. It also marked the beginning of a journey the U.S. embarked on to conquer terrorism. Despite continuous talks of troop withdrawal, the war is far from over, and public opinions continue to change. Six years later, members of the university reflect on the changes the country has gone through. Are we further protected from terrorism today?

Last year, on Sept. 11 and 12, the front pages of newspapers reflected and helped set the predominant tone today's date holds for many of us: grief. The New York Times emboldened "Grief" on its cover; "Grief Endure(s) Across Region" appeared on The Washington Post's; Americans were "United in Grief" according to top headlines from both the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Press of Atlantic City. From coast to coast citizens were united.

As a sea of burnt orange erupted following the touchdown off a fumble by the punt team, you could feel it. No, I am not talking about the mayhem caused by 80,000 Longhorns fans or the cannon being shot off after Texas seemingly put the game out of reach at 27-10. What I refer to is the collective cringe and gasp felt by players, coaches, students and everyone else associated with TCU football. Now, I was an unbiased spectator in the press box, but I could imagine that the second half felt like a swift kick to the groin after a French kiss for a first half.

You've probably heard by now: The attacks on Sept. 11 may be the result of a government conspiracy. And you shouldn't care.

It becomes clear after looking into the conspiracy theories about Sept. 11, there are many things concerning the attacks that can't be explained. It disappoints me to see so much effort being put into proving something that is essentially unexplainable.

And for what? Has anything been resolved from the creation of countless documentaries, Web sites and activist groups dedicated to exposing the "truth about Sept. 11?"

The Virginia Tech massacre has created an industry. The idea for a modern source of communication during emergencies has evolved into universities trying to better the warning systems, including TCU. Right...

For students who want a future in writing, a new major has been added in the AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences.Writing is available as a major for the Bachelor of Arts degree and as a minor for both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

There are only 60 to 70 universities in the nation that offer the major, said Brad Lucas, director of undergraduate studies in the English department. In Texas, the University of Texas at El Paso is one of the schools that has a program very similar to the one offered by TCU.

The federal government's efforts to prosecute members of a Richardson-based foundation that allegedly funds a Middle East terrorist group are misunderstood, said students who plan to attend the trial in Dallas today. The Muslim Student Association and Interfaith Council and Community are trying to raise awareness about the Holy Land Foundation, which was shut down by the U.S. government in December 2001, said the vice president of MSA.

You squint your eyes hard. Your fingers grip the steering wheel with predatory intensity. The tires slide smoothly on the pavement, expectant. Any second now.

You drive through the corridor, looking for an empty space. Suddenly, your eyes detect an anomaly in the landscape. Your pulse shoots up as you step on the gas pedal triumphantly.

But as you approach your heart sinks. There is no empty slot, but only a vehicle strategically hidden between two others. An expletive escapes your lips as you rejoin other students - competition cruising the lot.

The new TCU oncology center opened this year when it received a $1 million donation from the University of Texas Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Foundation in Fort Worth.Suzy Lockwood, director of the Center for Oncology Education and Research, said TCU was notified by the foundation last spring of the donation and the gift was funded Sept. 1. She said the gift will be dispersed over a five-year period.

Rights of accused not honored in sexual assault caseThe Bill of Rights grants all Americans the right to a speedy and public trial.

The case involving three former TCU athletes facing sexual assault charges has certainly been made public, yet has been anything but speedy.

Former athletes Lorenzo Labell Jones, 20, Shannon Behling, 20, and Virgil Allen Taylor, 19, were arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a freshman female student last October, according to court documents.