It's a little piece of plastic, no bigger than a folded dollar bill, but it carries a spending limit of potentially unlimited funds. It's the American consumer's dearest friend: the credit card.In 2004, there were 1.3 billion cards issued in the United States, and, in 2005, consumer debt reached $2.2 trillion, according to CreditCards.com. It seems that credit cards have taken over as the dominant form of payment and a convenient way to take out a seemingly harmless loan every time consumers shop.

The University Council voted Tuesday to double the amount of time students have to elect to take a class with pass/no credit grading.The decision will move the pass/no credit deadline to the eighth Wednesday of the fall and spring semesters. The current deadline is four weeks into the semester.

The resolution, passed by the University Council, was written by Mickey Ley, an AddRan representative for the House of Student Representatives. The resolution was approved by the house unanimously in November.

After receiving lab results from a sexual assault evidence kit, Fort Worth police are looking for suspects in a reported sexual assault that occurred Feb. 25 in the GrandMarc.Fort Worth police Sgt. Jim Thomson said a student contacted the Fort Worth police Feb. 26 to report a sexual assault in her residence in the GrandMarc at Westberry Place.

Fort Worth police received a tip about a potential suspect, Thomson said, and detectives were speaking with potential witnesses and following leads Monday.

The Fraternity and Sorority Life program lost its second staff member in two months to a better job opportunity, leaving two staff members to oversee about 500 Worth Hills residents, said the assistant dean of campus life. Former IFC adviser Jonathan Elder took another job as coordinator for Greek life at Stephen F. Austin State University on Feb. 16, said James Parker, assistant dean of campus life. Former Panhellenic adviser Stephanie Williams resigned Jan. 1 for a job as coordinator of risk management for Gonzaga University in Florence, Italy, Parker said.

The board of trustees executive committee signed a letter of intent Friday to appoint Four Sevens Resources Co., Ltd. the university's natural gas operator.The university will not sign a lease until all...

People like to have nice things, such as valuable clothes, sparkling jewelry, prized cars or an overall quality appearance.If one is frugal or clever, quality, designer or seemingly expensive items can be found at outlets or other stores for half of the price. There are others, however, who do shop around for deals, but if given the right circumstances and opportunities, certainly won't deny themselves the chance to have the real or expensive thing. Such spending habits on items aren't always wise and have the air of being flighty or impulsive.

When students voted in the November 2005 Student Government Association elections to increase the student fee $4, they didn't know the increase would lock nearly one-fourth of SGA's annual budget into a single fund, an SGA adviser.Dedicating $76,500 to one fund is still causing budgeting headaches today, said Larry Markley, SGA adviser.

The money is locked into the Student Activities Funding Board, which, before the vote, was originally meant to receive $50,000 a year, former SGA treasurer Brian Andrew said.

SGA's total annual budget is $315,000, Markley said.

Before the team hit the field Friday, fans had the opportunity to take part in a bit of Horned Frog history Thursday during the team's annual "Night of Champions" weight-lifting competition, as they witnessed a record-setting performance in squat. Sophomore center Blake Schlueter's 870 lb. squat lift brought fans to their feet in amazement and had teammates looking on in disbelief.

Instead of the regular eight-week period it usually takes for players to reach their maximum lifting potential, the players had to do it in six weeks, head coach Gary Patterson said.

The freedom of the press is in danger, and this time it's the most free country in the world that's threatening it.On Sunday, Afghan journalists working for the Associated Press were taking pictures and videos of a suicide attack on a U.S. Marine convoy in Afghanistan when U.S. soldiers started firing on civilians, reportedly killing 16.

This event, like the bombing, warranted coverage, and the journalists continued covering the event.

But what the U.S. soldiers did next is horrifying.