The lectern at the front of Allison Nickel's freshman high school math class often stood empty. Nickel's teacher, Susan Boyd, was busy showing her students that math could be fun. Boyd's official teaching position seemed to be in the corner of the room - at her piano. It was there, at Abilene High School, where she often sat to teach algebra equations she set to the tune of well-known melodies. Nickel's favorite was the quadratic equation sung to "Pop Goes the Weasel."

While there are certainly some people that haven't even heard of the Avian flu - or as it is commonly called, bird flu - others have deemed the disease an imminent threat.The disease is a strain of influenza found in birds to which humans have not built up a natural immunity.

Even though the virus, at this time, has only passed from bird to human and not from human to human, many agencies around the world have been tracking the spread of the virus in hopes of containing it.

A TCU employee was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital as a result of injuries caused by a car accident Tuesday afternoon, Fort Worth Police said.The accident occurred at Rogers Avenue and West Berry Street at approximately 3:15 p.m., said Fort Worth Police Officer K. Hill, who arrived on the scene shortly after.

Hill said the accident involved two vehicles - a silver Toyota Camry and a gold Chrysler Sebring. The Chrysler failed to yield at a stop sign on Rogers Avenue and hit the Toyota, Hill said.

An additional $5,800 could be added to the average student debt if Congress passes a resolution that would be the largest budget cut in student aid history, according to studentaidaction.com.If passed, House Resolution 609 would cut $9 billion from federal student loans programs, which would increase interest rates from 6.8 percent to 8.25 percent. The resolution would also put a $6,000 cap on Pell Grants, which are need-based aid that doesn't need to be repaid, according to the United States Student Association.

The new justice on the Judicial Board of the Student Government Association said Wednesday that he will bring sound judgment in interpreting the Constitution, the Student Body Code and other documents.The vacant spot on the Judicial Board was filled Tuesday night when Taylor Allen, a sophomore entrepreneurial management major, was sworn in by Chief Justice Jared Heathman.

"It's always been something I've been interested in participating in," Allen said. "I felt I could be useful for SGA in the Judicial Board."

Bluegrass trio Nickel Creek will take the stage tonight at the Gypsy Tea Ballroom in Dallas in support of their new album, "Why Should The Fire Die?""Why Should The Fire Die?" was released in August to strong reviews. The album opened at No. 1 on both Billboard Magazine's Independent albums and the Internet sales charts.

Folk singer Martin Sexton will open for the group. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22.

If you are uncertain whom to vote for Student Government Association president, today is your chance to find out information about the five candidates in a presidential debate hosted by SGA President David Watson.The debate will be at noon today in the Brown-Lupton Student Center Lounge.

Watson said the debate would be similar to the 2004 U.S. presidential debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry.

Tucked away on Pulido Street next to the Mecca for sororities and fraternities, Brown Bag, Pulido's is a little Mexican joint that claims to have the best reasonably priced Mexican food in town. After hearing friends rave, especially about Pulido's breakfast, I had to check it out for myself.Just off West Vickery Boulevard, Pulido's appears to be one of those old-fashioned mom and pop restaurants you hear about from the '60s. The owner greets you at the door, and I noticed most people migrate to their usual tables as they catch up with their waiter.

The women's golf team had a strong final round Wednesday in the Las Vegas Founders Women's Collegiate Showdown but finished the three-day tournament 13th out of 16 teams."We had a rough start, but we played well and ended on a positive note," head coach Angie Ravaioli-Larkin said.

The Frogs improved each round but still finished 60 stokes behind champion UCLA.

Some of the players said they struggled the first day but felt they got back in the swing of things by the end of the tournament.