College doesn't just have to be about exams and essays. Unbeknownst to many studious college students, TCU offers some fun, alternative classes to lighten up their college experiences. Students should...

France recently joined the ranks of European countries weighing in on the effort to curb the rising percentage of obesity among children - currently at about 20 percent worldwide and growing by about 400,000 children each year, according to the World Health Organization.Food advertisements in France will now accompany cautions about eating too much sugar and fat, notes encouraging consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables and notes advising consumers to avoid snacking and to participate in physical activities.

In the wake of the New York attorney general's intent to file a lawsuit against one of TCU's preferred lenders, the university stands firm in defending its financial aid practices.In a March 22 letter to Education Finance Partners from the New York attorney general, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he intends to file suit against EFP for engaging in "unlawful and deceptive acts and practices."

TCU and EFP have a revenue-sharing relationship, meaning EFP pays TCU a small percentage of the profit it receives when a student begins to pay back a loan.

A TCU student has a dream. And, with the help of ABC and its viewers, he's hoping it comes true. Russ Jowell, 22, will appear tonight on the special preview of ABC's new show, "The Great American Dream Vote", at 9 p.m. as one of eight contestants vying for the chance to have their dream realized.

The senior radio-TV-film major from Sugar Land said he came across the show's casting call months ago by chance.

In an open discussion Thursday, administrators told members of the TCU-area community that a gas lease with Four Sevens Resources Co. was far from finalized and would have to satisfy "stringent" requirements before drilling would be allowed to commence.The meeting, which filled a conference room in the Tucker Technology Center, was a chance for interested students, faculty, staff and TCU-area neighbors to express concerns and ask questions about the pending lease.

After performing for a Texas audience in February, the wind symphony will perform for a national audience next week.Bobby Francis, director of bands, said the wind symphony was chosen as one of the top bands in the nation to perform at the College Band Directors National Association's national conference, which occurs every other year. The symphony will play in an evening performance March 29 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"I don't see the purpose of SGA." "SGA is just wasting my money." "I didn't even know we had a student government." These are just a few of the reactions we hear mentioned about the Student Government Association. When I first heard these responses, I was shocked. Most students seem either apathetic about SGA or hold a negative opinion of it.

Chelsea Smith, a freshman English major, said that she really doesn't know much about SGA.

"Basically, my only involvement with Student Government is when it says 'SGA Presents...' on the menu in The Main," she says.

This year has been a record-setting year in admissions, not just for the number of applications received, but also for the number of applications received from minorities.Ray Brown, dean of undergraduate admissions, said 32.9 percent of the applications submitted this year were from minorities. That is up from 29.3 percent in 2006 and 23.9 percent in 2005.

Brown said an increase like this is extraordinary.

On Friday, a 21-year-old TCU student, who is also the owner of a thriving real estate business, will have slightly more than eight minutes to promote his idea for a new business while riding in a limousine.Entrepreneurial management senior Adam Blake left Thursday for Indiana to compete in the Nascent 500 Business Challenge to win $10,000.

The Nascent 500 is a competition for undergraduate entrepreneurs to pitch their original business ideas to a panel of judges at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Flying Frogs begin the outdoor season hosting the inaugural Horned Frog Invitational at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Lowden Track and Field Complex.It's the first of two home meets TCU will have this year, the most in school history.

Competing at the meet will be the UTA Mavericks, the UNT Mean Green Eagles, the Illinois Fighting Illini and the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers.

Head coach Darryl Anderson said the team has to focus on competing with itself, not just the other schools.