Following a severe drop earlier this decade, the TCU endowment has nearly recovered to its peak level of $1 billion.Although the endowment reached $1 billion in 2000, economic troubles in the stock markets and 9/11 led to a dramatic decline throughout the early part of this decade, assistant treasurer Dick Hoban said.

Despite the continuation of the war, the stock markets and, in turn, the endowment have experienced recovery, said Mauricio Rodriguez, chairman of the department of finance.

With the speakers blasting Lil' Jon's "Snap ya fingers," that's exactly what the performers did Saturday evening at the first annual Funkytown Stompdown step show competition.The show raised more than $1,700 in ticket sales, which will be donated to charities decided on by the Eta Psi chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the sorority members of Zeta Tau Alpha, the event's hosts, in the coming weeks.

Jerret Holmes, a senior Alpha Phi Alpha member, said he was pleased with the success of the event and the positive response of the people in attendance.

The Skiff has been criticized time and time again by the Student Government Association for a slanted, often biased portrayal of what SGA does. That is just the point. What do they do? With five positions in the executive branch, 10 in the legislative branch, another five on Programming Council and four on the Judicial Board, one wonders, what do all these people do and what purpose is served?

The TCU track and field team continues to push the season's medal count even higher.The Flyin' Frogs took home eight golds Feb. 4 after a dominant showing at the Wes Kittley Open at Texas Tech University and swept the medal stands in two different events.

Head coach Darryl Anderson said he was pleased with the squad's strong result.

"I thought it went fairly well," Anderson said. "When you come out of it with eight wins, it's always a plus."

The women's tennis team is looking to break new ground in 2006 and take head coach Dave Borelli where he's never been before during his tenure at TCU: a conference championship podium."My goal is to try and win a conference championship," Borelli said. "I haven't won one here yet."

Even a Mountain West Conference victory would not fully satisfy Borelli, who won seven national championships at the University of Southern California before coming to TCU in 2002.

"We'd also like to finish in the Top 16, the Sweet 16 ... and host a regional," Borelli said.

Like most TCU rosters, the baseball team's features the usual crop of kids from Texas and one from Oklahoma. And then there's Eric Marshall. In coming to TCU, Marshall, a freshman right-handed pitcher from Barrington, Ill., followed a long lineage down the path to Fort Worth.

His grandfather played football for TCU in the 1940s. His father went to TCU. His mother, uncle, aunt - all Horned Frogs.

With the season almost complete, resting and relaxing is the last thing the TCU swimming and diving team has on its mind. Senior Brent Norcross, who specializes in sprints and the backstroke, said this team does things a bit differently than the competition.

"We train and swim up until our conference meet at the end of the year," Norcross said. "That is something most others don't do."

The conference tournament is on Feb. 22 in Oklahoma City. Norcross said that is when all the hard work will pay off.

Ministers Week brings together students, thinkers and ordained ministers for the purpose of "continuing education, for worship and for renewing relationships," said Stanley Hagadone, director of continuing education at the Brite Divinity School.A joint venture of TCU, Brite and University Christian Church, Ministers Week, from Feb. 6 to Feb. 9, will include a series of sermons, lectures and worship services.

Hagadone said there is great student and alumni participation in Ministers Week.