How could "Talking With" be accepted as an appropriate production by the university's theatre department? I found myself sobbing on Saturday afternoon while exiting the play during Claire Parker's monologue "Twirler" after she said twice, "Baton twirlers are like the niggers at a white university." Parker's character said the lack of respect a baton twirler receives is equal to the amount a black person doesn't receive.

The bill that would expand concealed handgun-carry laws to Texas college campuses was revised last week by the House Public Safety Committee to allow private colleges to override the legislation and establish rules to continue campus gun bans, said state Rep. Lon Burnam, a Democrat from Fort Worth.

Under the revision, the university would be able to make its own choice on banning guns on campus. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Don Mills said if the bill passes as written, the board of trustees would most likely vote to make the decision for the university.

Although I am certainly both, I would say I am an American before I would say I am a Texan.

I am a part of a union and thus I believe in working to solve a national crisis rather than "running away" from it.

After reading the statements of Gov. Rick Perry and some of my fellow Texans, I must say I feel rather confused. Secede? These are chants from either frustrated extremists or ignorant protesters.

It's amazing how history repeats itself, even when the history only happened last year.

President Barack Obama, in his infinite wisdom, made a budget in which we would no longer have subsidized loans made by private banks but by direct government lending instead.

The most infuriating thing is that we already tried this.

People complain about how banks gave loans to people that didn't need them and blame the banks for the economic mess. How is the government doing the same thing any different?

The women's tennis team left the indoor courts Friday with a little better idea of what it will need to work on before this week's Mountain West Conference Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., after a 4-1 loss to a No. 5-ranked Baylor squad.

The Horned Frogs, ranked No. 28, were on a six-match winning streak before suffering the loss.

The team got off to a good start when it claimed the doubles point but was unable to win any of the singles matches that followed. The team closed the season with a 7-1 record in the MWCand a 13-10 record overall.

Charge it. That's often a term you'd expect to hear at the mall, but what about at the Office of Financial Services?

As studies show an increase in the number of college students using credit cards to pay for college expenses, the university has seen the opposite, following the implementation of a 2.75 percent convenience fee last summer, said Brad Davis, business systems analyst for Financial Services.

Only one starter from the Frogs' 2008 defensive line will be returning for the upcoming season. But if you had to pick one player to return to the D-line in 2009, it would certainly have to be consensus All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes.

Hughes, a 6-foot-3-inch, 257-pound senior from Sugar Land, racked up a nation-leading 15 sacks last season to go along with a total of six forced fumbles, also the best in the nation. A relative unknown until his breakout 2008 season, Hughes started just one game during his first two years with the Frogs.

The TCU Facebook Fan Page, "TCU - Texas Christian University," is quickly becoming an active online tribute to the university.

Launched April 2, it has accumulated close to 2,000 fans. The page, which is updated several times daily, runs updates on everything from sports scores to photos of new buildings and videos of speeches given on campus.

What sets this site apart from others is that this site is run by the university rather than students.

It is difficult to believe that among the 21st century conflicts that our generation faces - such as the mad dash for alternative energy - that piracy would still be a problem.

But when a nation such as Somalia exists practically without a government, anything is possible. On Sunday, Navy Seals saved Capt. Richard Phillips from Somali pirates after President Barack Obama authorized lethal force if Phillips looked to be in imminent danger. It was an order that was praised by many and criticized by few.

The women's tennis team will close out the regular season at home Friday when they take on No. 5 Baylor.

The Horned Frogs (13-9, 7-1 Mountain West Conference) will bring a six-match winning streak into the match.

"They're one of the best teams in the country," said head coach Jefferson Hammond. "They're loaded from top to bottom. We're going to have to play our very best tennis to beat them. It's possible, we're capable and we just have to come out and really play."

I don't need to remind anyone who goes to the university how much college can cost.Many university graduates who now have jobs are still paying off student loans and there is no end in sight for them -...