Last fall everyone took a political beating; this fall we took a beating from nature.Sure, we had Cindy Sheehan and some indictments to stir up the political stew a bit, but energy prices soon knocked those out of the news.

TCU football regained its rightful place as a Top 25 program.

And this semester, we seem to have made it through without a major sexual controversy. That may speak volumes about the lack of dating at TCU, which the Skiff has covered quite thoroughly.

All in all, 2005 is a bit of a mixed bag, but it has been fun.

Changing the schedule to cancel classes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one thing, but changing the weekly schedule to a four-day week will not happen, said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic AffairsNowell Donovan."There are too many scheduling issues," Donovan said. "There's not enough time in one week and not enough room for that to be possible."

For the 2006 spring semester, there are approximately 460 classes held Fridays that would have to be rescheduled and incorporated into 80-minute Monday and Wednesday classes.

When Jennifer Klein graduated from TCU in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in English, she fought with her parents about her future."My parents were determined I would go to graduate school right away," she said. "I told them I couldn't go when I really had no idea at all what I wanted to study."

Klein, like other TCU students, was unsure of what to do with her future.

Tracy Williams, associate director of TCU Abroad, said after college graduation is when most students first have to really think about what they want with their lives.

Money for books and college fees was awarded to three staff members who received the 2006 General Staff Award in early November.The award provides $45 per semester hour to Kathryn Schruba, Niki Thrasher and Maria Puente.

"This is such a wonderful benefit for staff who are returning to school at TCU but need a little help with fees and cost of books," said Hao Tran, chairwoman of the Staff Assembly. "Past recipients of the award have gone on to receive their degrees, and I like to think that the staff scholarship did its part in helping them reach their goals."

Texas Secretary of State and TCU alumnus Roger Williams spoke to students Tuesday about the realities of the business world.Williams, who is the chairman of the board of Roger Williams AutoMall, gave advice on how to get jobs and keep them. He said it is the responsibility of an individual to convince an employer to hire them.

"Life is retail," Williams said. "No one will sell yourself like you will."

Williams gave students tips on interviewing and respecting their elders in the workplace. He said it is important to be nice to everyone and network.

This weekend the women's basketball team will head west to face off against Southern California on Sunday, knowing it will be greeted by Associated Press No. 1 Duke at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on Tuesday.TCU played USC last season and fell 71-70 at home. Sophomore forward Lorie Butler-Rayford said the loss will serve as motivation Sunday.

"We lost to them by one point on the final shot, so that was a heartbreaker," Butler-Rayford said. "I know it's important to get back there this year."

Gordon England '75England is the acting Deputy Secretary of Defense by the U.S. Senate. England fills the No. 2 position in the Pentagon after serving two terms as Secretary of the Navy. He is only the second person to hold this position for two separate terms. He has also served as first Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.



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