TCU advertising and public relations students will soon have the opportunity to gain real world experience while contributing to Fort Worth's nonprofit organizations, said the director for the Schieffer School of Journalism.The journalism school's newest internship program, Real World Integrated Marketing Communications, was created with the goal of giving advertising/public relations students professional experience in a teaching environment, wrote Tommy Thomason, director of the Schieffer School of Journalism, in a overview of the program.

As Bob Dylan would say, "The times, they are a-changin'" for KTCU, a new station manager has signed on. Russell Scott, a 23-year veteran of commercial radio, began his work as station manager at KTCU 88.7 FM "The Choice" in mid-June.

Richard Allen, chairman of the radio-TV-film department, said Scott was the first person who came to mind when he was considering who the most qualified person for the position would be.

"He has the combination of the right attitude and the right experience," Allen said.

Due to the change in parking lots and the construction blocking streets on campus, numerous students and community members are receiving parking tickets.According to the TCU Police Department, about 400 parking tickets have been written on campus since Aug. 16.

TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said money from parking tickets goes back to the university, not to the police department, and that many of the tickets will be dismissed.

Although several hundred tickets have been issued, McGee said the number isn't unusual for the beginning of school.

In my four-plus years of college, I have heard a number of people make the argument that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. Their arguments generally go something like, "If 18 is the legal age to go to war for your country and to vote for your elected leaders, then why shouldn't you be able to drink a beer if you want to? I mean, after all, you are technically an adult at 18, so why shouldn't you be entitled to all of the same privileges and freedoms as a 21-year-old?" While these may be valid arguments, I think there is more to consider when it comes to the topic of alcohol.

Drained. Aching. Weak. Nauseated.Sixteen-year-old Abraham Cherrix of Chincoteague, Va. is no stranger to struggle. But struggle shouldn't be necessary to obtain the right to make decisions about one's own physical health and well-being.

Abraham endured several bouts of chemotherapy last fall after being diagnosed with cancer of the lymph system, or Hodgkin's disease. The treatments left him exhausted and frail, his 5'11" body dropping from 156 pounds to a meager 122. Chemo took so much out of him that his father sometimes had to carry him.

Former students and co-workers remember Kenneth Lawrence, former chairman of the religion department and TCU professor emeritus, as a good friend. Lawrence died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Aug. 15."Dr. Lawrence...

Divisions in the Episcopal Church regarding the inclusion of female leadership and gay and lesbian clergy are beginning to hit home in Fort Worth.The new presiding bishop-elect of the United States, Katharine Jefferts Schori, aside from being female, is a strong supporter of gay and lesbian ordination and the blessing of same-sex couples in active relationships.

Jack Iker, bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth , is seeking alternative leadership after Schori's election in June.

TCU made history in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce when it became the first academic institution to win the Spirit of Enterprise Award in the 30 years of the award's existence.The Spirit of Enterprise...

Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Richard Belding on the television show "Saved by the Bell," has a message to spread: "Follow your dreams."Haskins, an actor since college, brought his one-man comedy show to about 350 students in the Student Center Ballroom Tuesday evening.

After the "Saved by the Bell" theme song played, Haskins took the stage to loud cheers from the audience.

"Take advantage of being here, don't just go to school," Haskins said.

"Snakes on a Plane," in a word, was ridiculous. Just as I fully expected, every snake attack, death and line of expletive-littered dialogue was laughable.Somehow though, the audience at my showing got the wrong impression from previews.

"I'm hoping it will be scary," 18-year-old Vanessa Recendiz said before the film began.

"If not, I want a refund."

Stacy Dickerson, 40, said the same thing.

"I want lots of scary stuff."

I recently noticed a disturbing trend among the college-age crowd. This trend is that, due to the proliferation of Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace, the national pastime of flirting as we know it, has become a drastically under performed sport. So much so, in fact, I would say it is becoming less like the Super Bowl and more like Backgammon."This is preposterous!" you might say. Well, let's review flirting as it once was. A guy goes with his buddies to a party and meets a few more of his friends who, in turn, introduce him to their friends. But alas, no sparks fly.