The nearly 300-year history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade is one of the most shameful episodes in Western history. Yet it has taken centuries for those responsible for this operation to acknowledge and apologize for their roles.Recently, London Mayor Ken Livingstone tearfully apologized for the role London played in the slave trade. Both former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and Livingstone have admitted how deeply sorrowed they are about this aspect of their country's history at events prior to Livingstone's recent remarks, but without official apologies.

Fantasy football is all about sure bets and calculated risks, but no one expected the big three running backs of this year's draft to become risks on game-day rosters.LaDainian Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson are all struggling so far this season, even though LT is still finding ways to rack up points by playing quarterback and wide receiver.

Though Jackson apologizes to teammates, and Johnson takes a random day off, make sure to stick it out with these guys and not to take any cheap deals from owners looking to buy low.

We've seen him on television nearly every Sunday since 1987. His five o'clock shadow, beer belly and catchphrase "D'oh" have turned him into an animated celebrity.Homer Jay Simpson has become the TV dad that, despite his downfalls, zany schemes and shortcomings, has shown a love for his family that is missed by some modern animated TV parents.

Of course, animated fathers such as Peter Griffin of Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy," Stan Smith of "American Dad" (also by MacFarlane) and Hank Hill of Mike Judge's "King of the Hill," also face family situations.

In today's world of travel, cultural pluralism is everywhere. The world is truly a small place. The number of different ethnic groups present in countries and communities today is amazing compared to 50 years ago - take TCU for example. America is the least nativistic country in the world. A poll in 2000 indicated that 10.4 percent of the U.S. population is foreign-born. So it's not a surprise TCU has more than 7,000 students enrolled and just more than a quarter are international students.

As the deans of the business and communication schools step down, a search committee is being formed to fill their positions.Daniel Short, dean of the M.J. Neeley School of Business, has decided to step down from his position by the end of the 2008 academic year.

Short said he believes he has done a good job as dean for four years and now he wants to give someone else an opportunity do a better job.

"I will miss being a dean," he said. "It is the greatest job in the world to work with other deans and alumni."

As the volleyball team prepares for its home match tonight against conference foe Wyoming, the team will look to extend one of the best starts in the program's history.Head coach Prentice Lewis has helped lead the squad to a 13-2 start, highlighted by three tournament championships. Although the team is off to a strong start, the Horned Frogs are still trying to secure the first conference victory of the season. The team stands at 0-1 in Mountain West Conference play, losing to Colorado State in a 3-0 sweep.

Recruiting and competition restrictions placed on the track and field program two years ago will come to an end Saturday as the team's probation period ends.The team was put on probation for a series of NCAA violations, which centered on monetary and academic help given to track members and recruits.

Former head coach Monte Stratton, who was head coach during the team's violations, instructed three former assistant coaches to assist prospects with entrance essays.

The equestrian team will look to build off its inaugural season when it starts up its second season this weekend against a trio of nationally ranked opponents. The team is looking at a busy weekend with a Friday match against the Auburn Tigers and Sunday matches against the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs.

South Carolina, the defending varsity equestrian national champions, beat the Horned Frogs 5-3 in the first round of the western tournament, knocking them out of that event.

This year's Homecoming week will be without the annual group talent show Frog Follies because of students' busy schedules, the homecoming director said.Homecoming director Blake Billings said the reason Frog Follies was not scheduled during Homecoming was because of the lack of time student groups have to prepare for the event. Billings said, since Homecoming falls early in the year, it would just make things more difficult.