Three hundred dollars, $700, $1,200.

Nope, not buying a laptop.

Just the cost of textbooks for a semester.

Each semester the prices for textbooks seem to increase, with students having to shell out extra hundreds of dollars on top of increasing tuition rates.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, textbook prices increased by 186 percent between December 1985 and December 2004, nearly tripling in price.

I saw a recent advertisement that said, "TCU: Ahead of the Curve. One in Three Study Abroad."I was astounded. A third of our student body studies abroad?But then I stepped back and considered it - we're...

Fort Worth took a step in the right direction with the expansion of its smoking ban, which went into effect Jan. 1.

The ban outlaws smoking in most public places, including restaurants, restaurant bars, office buildings, bingo parlors, bowling alleys and within 20 feet of a primary entrance or exit of any of those facilities, according to the City of Fort Worth Web site.

The swimming and diving teams returned from a trip to Utah that pitted them against Mountain West Conference opponents Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.Both the men's and women's teams...

The presence of the Barnett Shale in the freshmen parking lot has taken some getting used to for students, but it has largely been considered a plus because of the positive impact it has on the local economy.

With the possible addition of an energy technology and management minor - emphasizing preparation for the petroleum industry - the Barnett Shale could take a new level of importance for students.

The minor could provide an upper hand for students interested in entering the petroleum profession, which now has a strong local and global presence.

The female body is the focus of a new course in the political science department.

Politics of the Body examines the image of the female gender and body in society and culture.

Each week, a different faculty member is scheduled to present a topic on the female gender in his or her area of expertise, according to the course syllabus. Students will hear speakers from TCU's seven colleges and the Brite Divinity School. In addition to a textbook, the faculty member will prepare packets that include articles and essays.

The men's basketball team opened up its 2007-2008 home conference schedule Saturday with an 83-56 win against the Wyoming Cowboys.

Wyoming entered Saturday's game averaging 73.6 points per game, ranking fourth in the Mountain West Conference, but the Horned Frogs' defense kept the Cowboys from hitting that mark.