After performing an original piece for his final audition, alumnus Tim Halperin took his place as one of the top 24 contestants on "American Idol" on Thursday night.

"American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez said that although she had been a fan of Halperin's since the beginning of his "Idol" journey, she thought he should continue to improve. All three judges encouraged him to begin showing his deeper message and identity as an artist.

In an attempt to make a greater impact on campus, organizers of this year's TCU V-Day Campaign coordinated events outdoors and geared more toward both sexes.

Katie Caruso, senior theater major and coordinator for the TCU V-Day Campaign, said this year she hoped to generate a greater impact on campus by offering events for a wider audience that focused on issues related to the topic of violence against women.

The never-ending cycle of the age-old abortion debate was pushed into one more circle of argumentation last Thursday when the Texas Senate passed a bill requiring women undergoing an abortion to get an ultrasound.

The measure, if passed, will force women to submit to an ultrasound and then "...to listen to an explanation of the images, except in cases of rape or incest or if there are fetal abnormalities," according to a Reuters article last Thursday.

Market Square is preparing more foods in-house instead of buying canned versions, and that is something everyone can cheer.

Homemade, fresh foods should taste better, be healthier and, as one student said, make "the BLUU seem less like a cafeteria."

The effort toward homemade, higher-quality food came from new Dining Services General Manager Stephen Miller, who was appointed in October and immediately saw room for improvement, Executive Chef Charlie Guajardo said.

For some students, Greek organizations provide a chance for friendship, volunteering, and leadership. For others, participation in the Greek system has given even more.

When Steve Jobs announced the iPad in January 2010, he joked about the following line he read in the Wall Street Journal: "Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it."

What many people didn't know was that the iPad would become the first successful entry in a decade-old tablet market, with Apple having sold at least 15 million iPads to date.

Student artists will have their artwork displayed at the new Café Brazil, which opened under the GrandMarc.

TCU's swimming and diving teams rewrote the TCU record books on the first day of action at the 2011 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Oklahoma City Community College Aquatics Center. The men's team is currently in fourth place overall, while BYU leads the pack. The women's team is holding at fifth place, while San Diego State is currently in first on the women's side.

"I was happy with the way we competed on the first day," TCU coach Richard Sybesma said. "It's always nice to get off to a good start and we were able to do that this evening."

While many students struggle to find jobs, seniors in the university's ROTC program know exactly what they'll be doing after graduation.

Ballet dancers do not usually have a 90-year-old pool beneath their feet.

Students at TCU can enjoy Union Grounds' selection of Starbucks coffee and treats, but what many appreciate most is that it is open into the late hours of the night when caffeine is often needed most. Cheryl Tucker has been working at the establishment for the past three years. She takes the night shift starting at around 6 p.m. until 2:15 or 3:15 a.m.

When does the general crowd come in during those times?

"Usually from about 8 to 10 and then I get another crowd about 12 to 1."

Do you ever encounter any intoxicated students?