When the AddRan department of humanities and social sciences began its search for a new dean last fall, the search committee wanted to find someone who would exemplify the TCU mission and its values, said the religion department chairman. The committee decided that person is Andrew Schoolmaster from Eastern Kentucky State University.

David Grant, chair of the religion department, said Schoolmaster received exceptional recommendations from everybody the committee talked to. He also said Schoolmaster was impressive as a leader and has a great sense of humor.

A friend of mine recently sent me the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" episode dissecting the 1951 short film "Spring Fever" that evidently was meant to teach the world the importance of springs. The plot goes something like this: A man doing the manly chore of fixing a couch gets so fed up with the springs that he wishes he never had to see another spring again. Insert the creepy cartoon "Coily the spring sprite" who grants the man his wish and then spends the next three minutes popping up whenever something the man owns doesn't work because it has no springs.

Responding to a globally increasing demand for energy, TCU is forming a multidisciplinary energy institute to prepare students for work in various facets of the energy industry.The institute, which plans to offer undergraduate and graduate coursework in the departments of geology, engineering, environmental science and in the Neeley School of Business, will focus on the exploration, extraction and transportation of carbon-based energy along with a study of new drilling technologies involved in the processes.

A lot of people on campus get lazy during this time of the semester.But, while students can be excused by having had months of weekly papers, quizzes, homework and jobs, TCU faculty have no excuse.

Professors are paid to be here, teach us, test us and grade those tests. It's not too much to ask a professor to return graded tests in the class following the test day. It's inexcusable when a professor takes more than a week to grade a test, unless that teacher is grading novel-sized essay exams.

The TCU community is participating in Global Days for Darfur to raise awareness about the genocide occurring in Darfur, a professor said. Global Days is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness and is all about education and action, said Cecil Van de Voorde, an assistant criminal justice professor.

"I want people to wake up, pay attention and start acting," said Van de Voorde, who is managing this week's events.

If you thought "Shaun of the Dead" was good way back in 2004, then "Hot Fuzz" is worth your time.Director and co-writer Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead") teamed up again with co-writer and actor Simon...

Students and faculty want to know why America is obsessed with celebrities. "Why is America obsessed with celebrities" is the question of the day and the title of today's Searchlight Symposium from 5 to 7 p.m. in Smith Hall 104.

Students will hear about celebrity obsession from guest speakers Richard Allen, a radio-TV-film professor, and Adam Schiffer, a political science assistant professor, and can participate in an open-question forum, said John Wood, founder of the biannual event that started in 2006.

The system in which required nursing clinical sign-ups are being conducted is making it difficult to register for classes and plan work schedules, nursing students said.The problem with signing up for...

Step into the 214,000 square-foot warehouse and gape at the rows and rows of guitars.Classical, acoustic, electric, vintage - there more types than the average music lover could ever name. Hear about 30 different guitar melodies simultaneously; all are live. Some come from professional guitarists playing on any of the five stages dispersed throughout the hall, but most are attendees of the world's largest guitar festival experimenting on their potentially new guitars at one of the 800 exhibitors' booths.