In the 2003-2004 academic year, nearly 8,000 loans-- - totaling more than $50 million- - were taken out by TCU students, according to a report from the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp., a nonprofit agency that coordinates transactions between schools and banks in Texas.The report states that the average loan each student takes out for the year was more than $11,000.

The number of students borrowing money to pay for school, and the amount they are borrowing, has more than doubled in the last 10 years, according to a new report from the American Council on Education.

Calling all creatures: TCU is holding its first Blessing of the Animals ceremony at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.Students, faculty, staff and the Fort Worth community are encouraged to bring their pets or pictures of their pets to be blessed individually, said Ann Smith, TCU Ministries Intern for Worship, Spiritual Life & Pastoral Care.

The Blessing of the Animals is in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century monk and patron saint of animals, and will be held outside of Robert Carr Chapel.

When resident assistants from campus residence halls gathered Wednesday night in Milton Daniel Hall, a collection of donations for hurricane victims punctuated the standard fare of awards and announcements.Barbara Hawkins, the associate director of residential life, said the RA all-hall is basically for RAs on campus to get together, make announcements and give out individual awards.

More than 50 students filled the Brown-Lupton Student Center Lounge Thursday to hear concerns TCU's NAACP chapter has with diversity on campus.The forum was a follow-up to last year's April meeting during which the chapter began its campaign for diversity awareness.

"The NAACP at TCU has collaborated the Chancellor (Victor) Boschini and we are at the point of implementation and action," said Allison Robinson, vice president of the chapter. "We need student participation from all organizations in the TCU community."

The TCU men's and women's cross country teams will compete this weekend in the North Texas Invitational in Denton."This is one of the smaller meets we will compete in this year," Senior Katrina Zielinski said.

Cross country head coach Patrick Cunniff said this weekend's meet will be very interesting.

"I have not received a final list of the number of schools who will be competing this weekend," Cunniff said. "The level of competition will be determined by the schools that actually compete."

The Horned Frog soccer team will host Sam Houston State and Boise State over the weekend at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium.The game against Sam Houston State, originally to be played last Sunday, was rescheduled...

University newspaper: place where all students can express opinionsYesterday's diversity forum organized by the TCU chapter of the NAACP was a valuable dialogue between students and the administration....

Grab your safari hat and enjoy a weekend in the jungle for this year's Family Weekend.Family Weekend, which starts today, brings together students and their parents for a weekend of music, dancing, barbecue and football. Programming Council is in charge of the event.

"I think that having parents weekend really brings everyone together at TCU," said Jayne Hermann, a sophomore fashion merchandising major. "It is a great way to meet new people and share the TCU experience with your parents."

In the three years that have passed since Green River Ordinance recorded its first EP, "Breaking the Surface," the band has matured into one that combines probing lyrics with infectious melodies. The result of this growth is their debut full-length album, "The Beauty of Letting Go."Originally intending to release a four-song demo CD, the band members changed their minds when they found themselves unhappy with the initial product.