Facebook addicts, rejoice! There may be a new way to get you to peel your eyes from that hypnotizing blue and white screen: God. College students nationwide are sacrificing their participation on one of the Internet's most popular social networking sites in the name of Lent, and TCU students haven't been left out of the trend.

Lent, a Christian holiday that lasts from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 21, to Easter Sunday, is a 40-day period that mimics the time Jesus spent in the wilderness resisting temptation.

Following last week's board of trustees meeting, an increase of $9.4 million will be allotted for TCU employee compensation during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The $9.4 million is part of the $315 million budget approval that was passed during the meeting. The money came from tuition and fees, $1.1 billion endowment and various auxiliary donations.Moreover, a portion of that money would go toward the addition of 16 new faculty members on campus. This addition of faculty will continue keeping the student-faculty ratio down so as to maintain having decent student-faculty relations.

Under pressure from the New York attorney general, TCU plans to end its revenue sharing partnership with Education Finance Partners, a university administrator said Wednesday. Mike Scott, director of scholarships and financial aid, said he stands by the integrity of the revenue sharing program but understands the potential for abuse, and therefore, is willing to end the program at Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's request.

On March 21, 405 students woke up ready to face the day only to find out they would also have to face a lawsuit from the Recording Industry Association of America.The recording industry sent 400 prelitigation...

When students register for classes this spring, they will be able to sign up for a new language course.Next fall, TCU is offering the beginning Chinese language course in addition to the Chinese civilization and culture class that is currently offered.

Ziwo Lama, the instructor for the civilization and culture class, has been hired to teach the beginning language course as well. This is Lama's first semester teaching at TCU. He previously taught at Brookhaven College in Dallas and is working on his doctorate in linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington.

"He who has the money has the power!" screams Chris Pratt, a former high school hockey star handicapped in a tragic car accident. The film "The Lookout" plays out the story of his unlikely alliance with a crack team of determined bank robbers when his promising career on ice is suddenly cut short. The former athlete goes to work as a janitor in a local bank, but cleaning floors soon gives way to criminal enterprise when he is recruited to help clean out the very bank that employs him.

The Student Government Association didn't pass the budget for the first time in years last week.SGA is trying to reduce the amount of student money going to the Activities Funding Board.

The AFB provides funding for student organizations all over campus, and last year, AFB received about $76,000 in student money.

SGA is trying to steer about $16,500 of that $76,000 budget to Programming Council next year, though.

Critics of AFB's current budget say the organizations record-keeping practices are lax.

Think of a typical Will Ferrell movie, complete with a straight male-figure skating duo, and you have "Blades of Glory." I found the movie hilarious, but, when it was over, I did not leave wanting more. It is another one of those stupid humor, quotable films, complete with child prodigies, drunken skaters and death-defying tricks on the ice. Chazz Michael Michaels, played by Ferrell ("Anchorman"), and Jimmy MacElroy, played by Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite"), are banned from figure skating after an all-out brawl at the awards presentation of the world championships.

On Kings of Leon's new album, "Because of the Times," the band takes lots of risks and stretches their sound into a new universe.The band's first album, "Youth and Young Manhood," released in 2003, sounded like a band of kids playing in your living room.

On "Aha Shake Heartbreak," released in 2005, the band's sound was a little more refined. Singer/guitarist Caleb Folowill's lyrics and hound-dog singing voice made fans out of girls everywhere, and it was one of the best party-rock records ever.

There you are, sitting in your favorite theater with a group of friends. As the previews begin to grace the screen, you get a feeling that you've seen these movies before. D‚j… vu? Nope.

You really have seen all of these movies once, maybe even twice. As previews for this summer's anticipated blockbusters begin rolling into theaters, one has to ask, "Where has all of the originality gone?"