Dear TCU and SMU Communities,

Though TCU and SMU consider each other rivals, our institutions have many similarities. As medium-sized private institutions in the DFW Metroplex, both strive for academic excellence and are passionate about athletics. The two institutions have a deep-seated, local football rivalry culminating each year in the battle for the Iron Skillet. This exciting tradition can cause emotions to run high as the game approaches and on game day.

The Battle for the Iron Skillet resumes on Friday night in Dallas. The Mustangs are on the rise after snapping a 17-game losing streak against BCS opponents after beating Washington State 35-21 last weekend. The Horned Frogs are coming off a 45-10 rout of Baylor and are looking to extend their regular season win streak to 17. The last ranked team the Mustangs beat was TCU in 2005.

What to expect when the Horned Frogs are on Offense

It was often the case that any speakers who came to campus were received in high anticipation by the community but with very poor attendance. Tonight's speaker, best-selling author Amy Tan, spoke to a full audience tonight at Ed Landreth Auditorium.

It's good that a speaker as well known as Amy Tan, author of "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Bonesetter's Daughter," received such a large welcome from the university community. Amy Tan gave a provocative and insightful speech about her inspirations and her writing. It was a speech deserving a large audience.

By opening its digital archives on Friday, the Mary Couts Burnett Library introduced a priceless resource for anyone interested in the university's history.

The digital archives were compiled from the library's Special Collections Department and, according to June Koelker, dean of the library, it took months for staff members to scan each of the collection's 3,000 pictures onto computers.

Preservation, however, is an ongoing matter, as Koelker said the library was continually adding to the digital collection.

Amy Tan was met with both laughter and applause Tuesday evening when she told her audience how she became an author, though she wasn't sure why"I have no complete answers when someone asks me why I became a writer," Tan said. "I give them a different answer each time."

Dr. Peggy Watson, Dean of the John V. Roach Honors College, welcomed the audience and said that Tan was brought to campus as part of the Fogelson Honors Forum.

Dr. Victor Boschini, Chancellor of the university, introduced Tan by giving a brief overview of her life and works.

SOCCER

The TCU soccer team had a weekend of mixed results on the road after beating No. 18 Memphis 3-0 Friday night, then falling 1-0 to Ole Miss Sunday afternoon.

The Horned Frog's 3-0 win included nine shots on goal, forcing Memphis to save four shots, compared to TCU's one. The first half was scoreless.

At the 55-minute mark, freshman defender Kelly Johnson netted a goal from straight-on after a throw-in by junior midfielder Alex Mechalske. The goal was the first of Johnson's collegiate career.