Everyone knows the economy is not in the best of health, but uncertainty is fanning the flames of recession thanks to every news media outlet scooping doom and gloom on an already paranoid society.The...

Billboards across town promote the university as being "ahead of the curve." It is time to apply that attitude to the campus communications system.

Some universities are eliminating landlines in dormitories to cut costs. University officials have asked students, faculty and staff to find ways to tighten the belt. What better way to save money than to eliminate landlines in dorm rooms and campus apartments, where they have become negligible?

The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program has ranked the Dallas-Fort Worth area fifth in the nation of cities with the highest number of energy efficient commercial buildings in 2008.

Although no buildings on campus were classified as commercial buildings, the university strives to stay on the leading edge of energy efficiency, a physical plant official said.

George Bates, physical plant manager of electrical systems, said the university has saved a lot of money over the past 10 years by keeping up with new developments in energy efficiency.

The university Marching Band will receive national recognition after being selected as one of five college bands nationwide to have a prerecorded performance played at the College Band Directors National Association conference in Austin this week, a university official said.

Bobby Francis, director of bands at the university, said the band was among the five chosen this year, based on a performance of "We the People," which includes several American folk tunes.

For the second straight season the Frogs will be playing 12 straight weeks, but unlike last year, all games will be on Saturdays.

Also, the team will be alternating between home and road games every week this season.

Two times are yet to be set: the two road games on the East Coast against Virginia and Clemson.

All of the Mountain West Conference games will be televised on Versus, CBS College Sports or the Mtn. TV deals are still in the works for the two games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

ArtOrg, the student run organization that promotes its members' work and encourages them to enter local, national and international exhibitions, is hosting its first show this weekend, the organization's president said.

Simone Riford, a junior painting major and president of ArtOrg, said the goal of the ArtOrg exhibit this weekend is to support member's work as well as the organization itself.

"We want to promote artist involvement on campus and get people interested in the art community," Riford said.

So here we are just 10 days away from the first pitch in the 2009 baseball season.

Hopefully, you have done most of your drafts by now. There are some perks to picking your team late in spring training, like getting the most up-to-date injury news and finding out who has been optioned to the minor leagues.

But even those players who are going to spend some time in the minors are valuable as late round draft picks.

Mountain West proposal to benefit underrepresented conferences

The Mountain West Conference's attempts to pioneer a new format for crowning a college football champion should be applauded by all fans of the sport.

There is no question that the current system is flawed. One slipup on Saturday during the regular season can cost a worthy team a chance at playing on college sports' biggest stage at the National Championship game. The fact that no playoff system has been established as of yet is unacceptable.

The Neeley Fellows program is helping a local nonprofit organization recruit volunteers to increase support for those in Tarrant County with HIV and AIDS, a nonprofit official said.

Rick Isaminger, family health and education coordinator for Samaritan House, said the students are trying to get corporations involved with the organization in order to build a supportive partnership.

Aaron Siegel, events coordinator for Samaritan House, said the organization is home for people with HIV and AIDS in Tarrant County.