In today's fashion-forward, weight-conscious market, there are countless diets available. But before South Beach was discovered and before Atkins put pen to paper, there was the vegetarian diet.Like any diet, there was a time when being a vegetarian was seen and used to get attention and a way for people to form their identities. Today, vegetarianism has evolved into an environmentally aware habit, and I think it's safe to say, the "tree-hugging" perception has been put to rest.

There are essentially two ways to cut meat out of your diet: as a vegetarian and as a vegan.

With a 25-10 win over the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, the Frogs have moved up in the national polls and in the Mountain West Conference standings.TCU (6-2 overall and 2-2 conference) is now ranked No. 31 in the nation, receiving seven votes in the USA Today poll and two in the AP poll. The BYU Cougars (7-2, 5-0) are ranked No. 27 in the USA Today poll and No. 25 in the AP poll. After the win, the Frogs moved ahead of the San Diego State Aztecs (1-7, 1-3) for sixth place in the Mountain West Conference.

What is there to say about the latest animated movie to hit the silver screen? There are rats, jokes that are three years old and not a whole lot of laughs in between.Despite game efforts from A-listers Hugh Jackman ("The Prestige" and "X-Men") and Kate Winslet ("Little Children" and "Titanic"), the end result is the same as you would expect from less-talented actors.

Jackman voices Roddy, a coddled pet rat who finds himself flushed down the toilet of his plush bachelor pad by an obnoxious sewer rat named Sid (Shane Richie, "Shoreditch").

Student volunteering should be required. How many times this semester have you or one of your friends done something for either someone in the community or someone in need?

It's in TCU's mission statement: "To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community." What better way to follow through with this campus mission than to implement a way students can help their community?

Election Day. On this magical date once every couple of years, the halls of local middle schools are turned into the heart of the American political system. When you drop your ballot in the box, you can rest assured that you've done your civic duty, and you are now an upstanding citizen - minus the tax evasion and littering and whatnot.As much fun as voting is, I'd have to say my favorite part about election season is the attack advertisements. Seriously, nothing glues me to the television like two people taking pot shots at each other, especially if they're politicians.

The sidewalk adjacent to the Mary Couts Burnett Library is bare once again after two students moved out of the car parked there as part of last week's Chevrolet Aveo Challenge.Chris Qualls, a junior communications major, and Cohlby Youtsey, a senior middle school education major, placed third in Chevrolet's Aveo Challenge, where they were required to live in a 2007 Chevy Aveo from 10 a.m. Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 at 11 p.m. central time.

Turn on the TV or take a look at a newspaper this week and all you'll see is election, election, election. From bumper stickers on cars, to signs stuck in lawns, even "Facebook" has a section for "campaign issues" this fall, the upcoming midterm elections seem to be everywhere.

Everywhere that is, except TCU.

"I didn't even know there was an election on Tuesday," said senior nutrition major Jennifer Gitchell. "What are we voting for?"

In one month, Paxton Motheral will become the first student to receive a bachelor's degree from TCU's ranch management program.Motheral first enrolled at TCU as a finance major and planned to receive certification from the ranch management program because his family is involved in the ranching industry.

TCU began offering a degree in ranch management in 2004, but before applying for the degree, students must first complete TCU's university core curriculum requirements, said Kerry Cornelius, director of the ranch management program.

There is room for improvement for the H20 Frogs following their first two meets against Mountain West Conference opponents, said head coach Richard Sybesma.Thursday, the women faced the Colorado State Rams, and Saturday, both the men's and women's teams took on the BYU Cougars.

The H20 Frogs lost by 12 points to the Rams on Wednesday, while the men's and women's teams lost by a combined total of 134 to the Cougars on Saturday.

Elections in Texas, for the most part, are one-sided, but thanks to this year's gubernatorial race, this may no longer hold true. Among the candidates we've been dealt, Democratic candidate Chris Bell stands out from the crowd. For the younger voting population in Texas, Bell's policies are the most sound and hold the most promise for a positive change in the state.

Bell keeps the young voters in mind, focusing on policies that will have a lasting impact on them.

With two conference matches remaining, the Horned Frogs will try to recover from their weekend losses before the Mountain West Conference Championships.Friday night, the Frogs flirted with a possible upset against the No. 9 Utah Utes, but they fell short after a four-game match in front of a school record of more than 850 fans.

Led by freshman outside hitter Lauren Otto, the Frogs started to mount a comeback Friday against the Utes, but it was too little too late

"We needed to finish what we had in game three," head coach Prentice Lewis said.