One of the best lessons I learned in elementary school was from a seemingly silly class project on Valentine's Day. At the beginning of February, my first grade teacher had us all bring empty paper towel rolls and Kleenex boxes to school. Then there was a mass of creativity as we used the trash to design beautiful castles and space ships, using colorful tissue paper to give color to our cardboard turrets and rockets.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS:

Brite Worship Service

Tuesday, Feb. 15

11 a.m.

Description: A focus on Black History and the Black Church hosted by Rev. Victoria Burson Associate Pastor of Cathedral of Hope [U.C.C.] in Dallas, Texas

Location: Robert Carr Chapel

Free and open to the public

CommUNITY Conversations: Ghana

Wednesday, Feb. 16

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

The TCU track & field team had several strong individual performances at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. this weekend.

The Frogs remain at the top of the Mountain West Conference and in national rankings on the men and women's sides in both track and field events.

Head coach Darryl Anderson was pleased with the effort from his team as a whole after action concluded Saturday.

The TCU women's golf team has completed two rounds of action at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Junior Rachel Raastad's 74 led No. 30 TCU into a tie with Florida State for fourth place out of 18 teams after Sunday's opening round.

The Horned Frogs' 303 was 17 strokes behind leader and top-ranked Alabama. With a 2-under-par 286, the Crimson Tide had a 14-shot advantage over No. 5 Purdue and No. 25 Iowa State.

Raastad had two birdies and was tied for 13th individually after round one Sunday.

TUESDAY:

MENtality Luncheon Speaker Series featuring Khadevis Robinson, Olympian athlete

Tuesday, Feb. 15

12:30 p.m.

BLUU Ballroom

Khadevis Robinson, track & field star discusses the topic, "How do you define success?"

Lunch is provided free of charge.

RSVP at 817-257-7855

Music Faculty Recital Series

Tuesday, Feb. 15

7 p.m.

Jennifer Carr and Julie McCoy, voice

Keith Critcher and Eileen Downey, piano

PepsiCo Recital Hall

WEDNESDAY:

The Rangers' hectic offseason remained abuzz Thursday, when outfielder Josh Hamilton was able to avoid salary arbitration and agree to a two-year, $24 million contract with the Texas Rangers. It was immediately clear that Hamilton hoped that this deal will eventually lead to a future long-term contract that would keep the All-Star and 2010 American League MVP in Arlington for many years to come.

"I want to be here for a long time," Hamilton said at a news conference at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Thursday. "Hopefully, this will be just a drop in the bucket."

Student Body President Jackie Wheeler said she grew up with Nerf guns as a child and that she believes they should be on campus in spite of the university's implied ban against Nerf weapons.

She said that she and other facilitators used water guns at Frog Camp Challenge A and saw that play weapons similar to Nerf guns were "perfectly fine and fun."

"Bringing Nerf guns on campus [for activities similar to Frog Camp] could enhance campus life," Wheeler said.

People are sometimes defined as possessing either book smarts or street smarts 8212; in other words, common sense. On a college campus, it is apparent there are at least a few students who lack the latter of the two.

During Super Bowl week, when campus was shut down for four school days, a few students decided it would be a good idea to "kill" some time by purchasing Nerf guns. Elementary school children play with Nerf guns in their backyards before they get over girls having cooties.

Andrew Sword said he resigned from his position as a resident assistant in King and Wright Hall when complications arose with his hall director after his girlfriend was not able to move into the same building. He said he was transferred to a different hall and then quit because he felt like an outsider in a completely different environment.

"I had seen other RAs get away with it in the past, and I was being upfront and honest about it and just looking for some help." Sword said. "I felt like I was a valuable part of the team there and a valuable part of the staff."

Members of the TCU baseball team look out for one another like brothers 8212; just ask junior pitcher Kaleb Merck. Friday night was no exception.

Merck has had a rough year by nearly any pitcher's standards. In September, he suffered a season-ending injury to his pitching arm. On Sept. 24, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his arm and will not pitch this season.

Merck also recently found out his mother, Kathy Merck, had been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. She was first diagnosed in October 2000, and was cancer-free until early this year.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act, is a legislative proposal that provides conditional permanent residency to illegal immigrants who came to the...