TCU's retention rate for freshmen has risen from 81 percent in 2002 to 86 percent in 2007, according to the TCU Fact Book, and professors say it is because of better advising procedures, mentors and freshman programs.TCU has conducted research to see which students leave and why by calling those students for phone interviews.

"A lot of students call back, and the issues are generally related to something academic," said Mike Scott, director of scholarships and financial aid. "Like they didn't like their major or didn't feel like they fit in."

TCU student tailgaters may be partying too hard by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission standards. TCU student tailgates were the second-most cited place in Tarrant County by the TABC in 2007, TABC records show.

TABC officers have handed out 59 citations at TCU tailgates in the Brachman Hall parking lot. As a result, more TABC agents were present at recent home games for officer safety, said TABC Agent Tana Travis.

Travis has written 395 citations since 2004, third-most among TABC agents. She has written 29 citations at TCU tailgates, records show.

The Student Government Association overstepped its bounds.The Student House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday asking KTCU FM 88.7 "The Choice" to reinstate its jazz programming.

Fortunately, Jace Thompson, student body president, vetoed the resolution Wednesday.

Thompson recognized what those who voted for the bill should have - it's simply not SGA's place to police other organizations on campus, and allowing the bill to go through would set a dangerous precedent.

Sorry, Mitt Romney.A September report released by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life states that candidates who are viewed by the public as not highly religious seem to top the newest Gallup Polls for both the Democratic and Republican Parties.

The nationwide survey, based on telephone interviews from 3,002 adults in August, rated people's perceptions of candidates and their religiosity.

The Texas Tech men's basketball team's inconsistencies could have given TCU a win Tuesday night.Preventing it from happening, the Horned Frogs' foul troubles and 26 points from Tech guard Martin Zeno pushed the Red Raiders to a 71-58 win at the United Spirit Arena.

"Our guys did a pretty good job of hanging in there," Texas Tech coach Bob Knight said. "Didn't look all that when we were 13 points behind. But we came back, I thought, well."

The Red Raiders (5-2) showed their flaws in the first half, but kept the score close.

The men's basketball team hopes to maintain its perfect record as it hits the road for its first road game tonight against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.Last week, Neil Dougherty's club celebrated their fourth...

A new "super course" will consist of several experts from different disciplines providing a well-rounded understanding of a broad topic called "sustainability."The course takes a unique team-learning approach coupled with undergraduate research, said Keith Whitworth, professor of sociology.

Whitworth will utilize his new course model in "Sustainability is Sexy: Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability Across the Global Economy" this spring. The course is concerned with environmental stewardship, economic development and social justice issues, he said.

The final repairs to Samuelson Hall were completed over Thanksgiving break after a sprinkler head burst in late October and flooded parts of the building, said the hall director.Rachel Siron, the hall director of Samuelson and Carter halls, said repairs were made to damaged walls, baseboards were removed to allow water to dry out from inside the walls and the carpets were cleaned before most students moved back into their dorms Nov. 5.

Bob Dylan is almost too old to perform, Luciano Pavarotti just died, the six or seven major radio stations in every town are exactly the same and "artists" like Hannah Montana can sell out the Fort Worth Convention Center in a matter of minutes.Money and greed have taken their toll on the music business, and now there is more bad music than ever before.

So exactly where does this bad music come from?

Five multinational companies have monopolized the record industry.

Safety is always a concern for those who buy toys for children. But this Christmas, that's a real concern, more so than any other in recent memory.Bloomberg News reports that China produces 80 percent of the toys sold in the U.S. and that Mattel alone has recalled at least 21 million items this year because of fears about lead paint and other concerns.

Bloomberg also reports that it is big business, indeed, with $170 billion worth of goods imported from China in the first nine months of 2007 - and the United States is the biggest export market.