From the transformation of college radio to Texas wildfires and the penalty of an early spring, TCU and its faculty and alumni are in the news.
TCU Opera’s ‘Into the Woods’ Sells Out in Days, Showcasing Program's Rapid Growth
Feb. 27, 2024
BNN Breaking
TCU Opera’s production of “Into the Woods” has become a rapid sell-out, demonstrating the burgeoning
interest and growth within the program. With tickets for the scheduled performances
from March 1-3 selling out quickly, additional shows were added to accommodate the
high demand, yet the expansion was not enough to satisfy all interested spectators.
This incident has highlighted the program’s increasing popularity under the leadership
of Corey Trahan, who has overseen a 30% rise in enrollment since last year.
Tuning In to Change: How KTCU’s Evolution Mirrors the Digital Transformation of College
Radio
Feb. 23, 2024
BNN Breaking
Once limited to a modest broadcast of just five hours a day, KTCU has not only expanded its airtime to a relentless 24/7 cycle but has also dramatically
broadened its reach across the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth area. This remarkable journey
from a small, campus-bound entity to a digital powerhouse encapsulates a broader narrative
of resilience and adaptation within the college radio sector. At the helm of this
evolution stands co-manager Janice McCall, a figure who has witnessed firsthand the station's metamorphosis over her 21-year
tenure. As KTCU celebrates its 60-year legacy, its journey from a small college radio
station to a digital broadcasting leader mirrors the broader shifts in the radio industry
and media consumption.
U.S. Navy Band making a stop at the TCU School of Music on national tour
Feb. 21, 2024
Fort Worth Report
The TCU School of Music will host the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters at the inspiring Van Cliburn Concert Hall
at TCU. The free and family-friendly concert will feature a variety of music for the
community to enjoy. The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters ensemble performs a variety of
music ranging from traditional choral music, including sea chanteys and patriotic
fare, to opera, Broadway and contemporary music. The Sea Chanters chorus is frequently
found at the center of high-profile national events. At home in Washington, D.C.,
the group performs for the president, vice president and numerous congressional, military
and foreign dignitaries.
Q&A: What’s next for TCU’s Brite Divinity? New president wants everyone to have a
place at the table
Feb. 20, 2024
Fort Worth Report
Beginning March 4, Rev. Stephen Cady becomes the third permanent president in Brite Divinity School’s 109-year history. Until 20 years ago, Brite functioned as a part of TCU and had a
dean but no president, according to the school. “I am doing my best to sit down with
every staff member, every faculty member, every trustee member and as many students
as possible to just hear how they got here, why they stay and what they’re hoping
for. So that together we can find a path forward,” Cady said.
FACULTY
Massive wildfires in Texas panhandle pose threat to cattle industry
Feb. 29, 2024
KPRC-TV (Houston, TX)
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned over a million acres in the Texas Panhandle,
the largest recorded fire in Texas history. Some of that land is home to cattle. The
cattle industry is the bread and butter for many in the Panhandle. “The Texas Panhandle
right now houses greater than 80% of Texas’ beef cattle population” said Matthew Garcia, director of Ranch Management at TCU. Although the Panhandle is great for the cattle
industry, wildfires of this magnitude pose a threat to the supply. Garcia says cattle
supply is already at a 70-year low across the country. “So right now, we don’t know
the number of cattle we’re actually losing in these fires. It could be tens of thousands
which further impacts our inventory,” he said.
Bringing War Home Symposium: stories of women on the warfront
Feb. 26, 2024
The Utah Statesman
The women’s liberation movement arose alongside the Vietnam War in the late 1960s,
taking inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war sentiment. Protests
and new ideas regarding feminism would characterize this era of change. Kara Dixon Vuic is the LCpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt Professor of War, Conflict, and Society in 20th-Century
America at TCU. “This is the era of women marching in the streets for equal rights,”
Vuic said. “You have women doing all kinds of things and going to war in Vietnam,
doing important things there.”
Summer in February: Warmer days mean earlier start to spring allergies
Feb. 26, 2024
KXAS-TV (Fort Worth, TX)
Record warmth in February comes with a trade-off. According to the Asthma and Allergy
Foundation of America, DFW is one of the most challenging places to live if you suffer
from seasonal allergies. Tree pollen is the biggest agitator this week, fueled by
warm winds. “It plays a huge factor. The wind here transmits most of the pollen and
dust,” said Dr. Nikhil Bhayani, associate professor with the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. Doctors encourage
people to start taking their allergy medication and avoid being outside on the windiest
days, but Bhayani said you should still enjoy the outdoors when you can. “Don’t let
the pollen stop you,” Bhayani said.
How artificial intelligence could be beneficial amid nationwide teacher shortage
Feb. 26, 2024
KPRC-TV (Houston, TX)
The National Education Association says nine in 10 public schools struggled to hire
teachers at the start of the school year. Teachers have high burnout levels, with
more than half of educators thinking about leaving the profession altogether. A.I.
expert and instructor of marketing Elijah Clark, has this to say: “The main issue is that teachers are just overburdened with the
amount of work they have to produce. Not only that, you also have their parents now
wanting to be more involved with their child‘s curriculum.” Regarding A.I. and how
A.I. can be helpful in creating what's known as personalized learning, Clark said,
“Students could get instant feedback (from A.I.) where the student can get the lesson
and review done right there with the computer system, versus having to wait for the
test to be submitted and graded, then returned, then set up a private meeting with
that teacher.”
Pape to serve as keynote speaker for Bethany Oreon E. Scott Lectures
Feb. 23, 2024
Weirton Daily Times
The Rev. Lance Pape, professor of preaching at Brite Divinity School, will serve as the keynote speaker
for Bethany College’s 2024 Oreon E. Scott Lectures, scheduled for April 8-9 at the
First Christian Church in Washington, Pennsylvania. Ordained and having served congregations
in Texas, Alabama and New York, Pape embodies a dedication to theological scholarship
and pastoral ministry.
It was wild: Fort Worth physician tests her leadership skills in gorilla C-section
Feb. 22, 2024
Fort Worth Report
Dr. Jamie Erwin feels all of her patients are special. But even she admits the baby she helped deliver
Jan. 5 of this year will stand out. Erwin, who is an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, was called by the Fort Worth Zoo to help with the
birth of a baby gorilla via emergency cesarean section after life-threatening complications
endangered the health of the mother, Sekani. “It was an unforgettable highlight of
my life and my career, just one of the coolest days ever,” said the 42-year-old Erwin,
a Fort Worth native. “It was really just this beautiful team effort of veterinarians
coming together with medical doctors for this very special delivery,” Erwin said.
Was Arlington cop aggressive in deadly shooting of armed driver? Here’s what experts
say
Feb. 21, 2024
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
While the Arlington Police Department is conducting internal affairs and criminal
investigations of a shooting in which an officer killed an armed driver, two law enforcement
experts who reviewed video of the incident say the shooting appeared to be justified.
Johnny Nhan, a professor in TCU’s Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, analyzed the bodycam footage. The Arlington
officer had a few reasons that justified him to act aggressively and fire his gun,
according to Nhan, who is also a reserve officer with the Fort Worth Police Department.
“His initial non-disclosure of the gun when asked meant he was not to be trusted,”
Nhan said, “…more generally, the officer had probable cause to pull him over, has
the authority to have him get out of his car, and had reason to believe he was not
going to comply and instead was going to act aggressively, possibly shooting.”
Putin is Stronger Than Ever-Why?
Feb. 21, 2024
Newsweek
Vladimir Putin has faced setbacks during his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now,
two years into the war, circumstances appear to be turning in his favor, and his grip
on power shows no sign of waning. “Domestically, Vladimir Putin is stronger than before,” Ralph Carter, political science professor, told Newsweek. “He’s rallied public opinion behind his leadership, calling Western sanctions an
attack that he's neutralized. He’s also neutralized domestic opposition, with the
deaths of Alexei Navalny, his most prominent critic, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader
of The Wagner Group. The message to Russians—if it can happen to them, it can happen
to you.”
They're conservatives and even lifelong Republicans - is there a place for them in
the Texas GOP?
Feb. 21, 2024
KERA News (Dallas, TX)
The Texas Republican Party has a strong grip on power at every level of elected office
in Texas. But it’s still dealing with internal turmoil. Many current Texas House members
who’ve long identified as conservatives have been called RINOs – Republicans in Name
Only. That includes Jeff Leach, who co-authored the bill that became the state’s constitutional
carry law. Leach has faced backlash for voting to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. Jim Riddlesperger, political science professor, said Republicans who don’t feel loyal to those figures
but still have conservative values feel the tension. “It makes for people feeling
uncomfortable in their political party home,” Riddlesperger said.
Doctor and medical school student training for Cowtown Marathon
Feb. 21, 2024
KXAS-TV (Fort Worth, TX)
The relationship between Assistant Professor Dr. Jamie Erwin and student Carter Clatterbuck at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU is more like a marathon...figuratively and
literally. The women first met when Clatterbuck was an undergrad at TCU. Now she’s
a third-year med student. That’s where the figurative marathon comes in. “We actually
ran into each other again at the Cowtown Trailblazer running group,” Erwin said. The
women ran in February’s Cowtown Marathon together. “We were both athletes growing
up. We’ve talked about that and how we transitioned to be distance runners as adults,”
Clatterbuck said.
Self-perceived affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions associated with voice
use in people with Parkinson's disease: a pilot study
Feb. 20, 2024
National Institutes of Health
This study, authored in part by Zoë Thijs, Yan Zhang and Dean Christopher Watts from the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, aimed to compare the affective, behavioral and cognitive reactions related to vocal
function in people with Parkinson's (PWPD) disease (and healthy controls using the
Behavior Assessment Battery - Voice (BAB-Voice). The BAB-Voice proved a tool with
a good internal consistency that measured different psychosocial reactions in PWPD
versus controls. PWPD exhibited significantly more negative emotions and voice problems
in specific speech situations, more coping behaviors and a more negative speech-related
attitude. The specificity of information obtained from the BAB-Voice may aid in improving
the treatment planning of voice disorders in PWPD.
New research dispels the ‘crypto bro’ stereotype
Feb. 15, 2024
PsyPost
In a new study that sheds light on the often-misunderstood world of cryptocurrency
ownership in the United States, researchers have unveiled a complex portrait that
challenges the stereotypes surrounding the typical “crypto bro.” The research provides
evidence that cryptocurrency owners are not just a homogenous group of young, tech-savvy
males, but a diverse cohort that spans various demographics and political orientations.
“I started paying attention to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in 2018, after a friend
recommended that I read Saifedean Ammous’ book ‘The Bitcoin Standard’,” explained
lead author Grant Ferguson, a senior instructor and director of outreach and public service internships. “At
the time, I didn’t realize that there was a strong worldview behind the creation and
initial adoption of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin in particular, and it has psychological,
economic and political aspects.”
Rent Control Doesn’t Solve Housing Shortages
Feb. 14, 2024
Forbes
An increasing number of states and municipalities have implemented some form of rent
control in an attempt to rein in the steadily increasing cost of rental housing across
their communities. These rarely have the intended effect of increasing the supply
of housing for low-income residents, however. In 2019 Oregon enacted statewide versions
of rent control that capped the annual allowable rent increase. A study Ike Brannon
recently wrote with Zack Hawley (TCU associate professor of economics) and Andrew Hanson of the University of Illinois
found that the rent control legislation currently being considered would reduce housing
supply and housing quality in Washington State, which would in turn reduce tax revenue.
STUDENTS
Homeless find human bond playing bingo in the park with Fort Worth TCU students
Feb. 26, 2024
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A gathering between TCU students and unhoused residents provides a meal and an uplifting
sense of community and human connection. “They have access to local housing communities
and job resources, but one of the things they feel like they do not have access to
is relationships with people in stable situations,” said Kate Marshall, the student group leader. “As a senior, I have been involved with ‘Bingo in the
Park’ for three years, and I can truly say the butterfly effect is real,” Marshall
said. “Not only has it impacted my life, and those that come, but it has introduced
the topic of homelessness further into TCU’s community, creating opportunity for discussion,
initiative and change.”
Electrotoads Unite: TCU’s New EDM Club Hits the Right Notes with Inclusivity and Education
Feb. 21, 2024
BNN Breaking
Imagine a place where the pulsating rhythms of electronic dance music (EDM) serve
as the heartbeat of a newfound community. This semester witnesses the birth of such
a gathering spot, dubbed the TCU Electrotoads. Founded by Emma Dickey, this club isn’t just about dropping beats; it’s a mission to weave the threads of
peace, love, unity and respect into the fabric of campus life. With plans to collaborate
with campus organizations like the Black Student Association and the Gender Resources
Office, the Electrotoads aim to spotlight contributions from marginalized groups within
the EDM community.
Running for a Cause: How TCU and Fort Worth Rally Behind 'Team Wes' at the Cowtown
Marathon
Feb. 21, 2024
BNN Breaking
When Dawson and Graham Smith lined up at the start of the 46th annual Cowtown Marathon, they ran for something
far greater than the finish line. It’s about honoring their brother, Wes Smith, whose absence is felt deeply within the TCU and Fort Worth communities after he
was killed in 2023. The brothers, alongside supporters, rally to keep Wes’s memory
alive through the Wes Smith Endowment Fund. This initiative seeks to transform grief
into an opportunity, providing future TCU students with scholarships, much like Wes
and Graham had experienced.
Cracking the Code: Scientists Use DNA to Examine Differences between Hatchery and
Wild Chinook Salmon in Southeast Alaska
Feb. 15, 2024
fisheries.noaa.gov
A new genetic study shows hatchery salmon’s adaptation to their environment can lead
to potentially adaptive genetic differences between hatchery and wild salmon populations
in only a few generations. The collaborative research was conducted by scientists
from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and TCU. “We
don't know if domestication selection acts consistently across hatcheries, or if responses
of salmon are unique to each facility. The purpose of our study was to determine if
levels of domestication selection varied among hatcheries and if there were any commonalities
across the populations,” said lead author and TCU student Natasha Howe.
ALUMNI
How TCU’s first Black student-athlete broke barriers
Feb. 29, 2024
NBC-5
A decision decades ago put a teenager in Fort Worth on a journey he never could have
imagined: three degrees, a building named in his honor – and a permanent remembrance
of the impact he made when he broke barriers at TCU. James Cash ’69 and his signature hook shot are immortalized in the statue in front of the TCU basketball
arena. “We are walking up to a statue of a very young, and much slimmer than today,
James Cash. That was my number,” said Cash. Cash grew up in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. And in 1965, he was making
history. He was the first Black student-athlete at TCU and the first Black basketball
player in the Southwest Conference.
Homeless coalition leader takes holistic approach to combat housing insecurity
Feb. 29, 2024
Fort Worth Report
Some say there are two types of social workers: those who want to help the people
in the system and those who want to change the system people are in. Lauren King ’03, executive director of the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, considers herself the
latter. “I think looking back even to high school, looking at all the different volunteer
opportunities that I (had) after my freshman year in college — I went and worked in
Appalachia and helped rebuild houses there — it’s like I keep coming back to housing
regardless of how I got into it.” Housing has played an important role in King’s career.
She started out working for SafeHaven of Tarrant County and Catholic Charities in
programs and fundraising and also helped develop TCU’s Master of Social Work program.
Elizabeth MacLeod Walls named next president of Washington
Feb. 27, 2024
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A new president is slated to take the helm of Washington & Jefferson College. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls ’01 Ph.D., will take over as president of the private liberal arts college this June following
the retirement of the current president. She was selected by the board of trustees
to be the college’s 14th president for her experience in higher education leadership
and advocacy, according to a news release. “Washington & Jefferson's stellar academic
reputation and commitment to innovating within a liberal arts context positions the
college to become a leader among independent colleges seeking to adapt to an ever-changing
landscape,” MacLeod Walls said in a statement.
Cincinnati Opera Launches The Black Opera Project, A First-of-its-Kind, $5-Million
Initiative
Feb. 21, 2024
BroadwayWorld.com
Cincinnati Opera has announced the launch of The Black Opera Project, a groundbreaking,
three-opera commissioning initiative that engages Black creators to develop new works
celebrating Black stories. The first new work to be featured as part of The Black
Opera Project is Lalovavi from a first-time opera creator, award-winning composer Kevin Day ’19.
TCU’s first Black cheerleader recalls breaking barriers
Feb. 21, 2024
Fort Worth Report
As Ronald Hurdle ’71, recalls it, he made a casual remark one day about joining the cheerleading team at TCU.
That remark set Hurdle, now a semi-retired attorney from Dallas, on a journey that
would see him becoming, in 1969, the first Black cheerleader not only at TCU but in
the Southwest Conference. “It was that casual when I said it,” Hurdle, 75, recalled.
“I knew I’d gone to the games and I’d seen the cheerleaders while out there, and I
thought they were having a good time.”
Q&A: Liz Cardenas, McMinnville Short Film Festival keynote speaker, on loving movies,
the effects of streaming and staying busy
Feb. 20, 2024
Oregon Arts Watch
The 13th annual McMinnville Short Film Festival kicks off three days of screenings,
workshops and socials. Of course, many filmmakers will be in attendance, including Liz Cardenas ’13. Her Oscar-qualifying short Burros was screened at last year’s festival, but she wasn’t able to attend that year. With
a B.S. in broadcast journalism, her first career was journalism, and she worked as
a reporter for the Dallas Morning News, until she gravitated to filmmaking. “I love movies, always have. So, an appreciation
and respect for the art form and a desire to tell stories that connect people, spread
empathy, are uplifting or make people not feel so alone, are informative or even simply
entertain, is why I’m a filmmaker,” Cardenas said.
Pioneering local TV host Bobbie Wygant dies at 97
Feb. 19, 2024
Fort Worth Report
Longtime local reporter and television host Bobbie Wygant died at the age of 97. Longtime
newsman Bob Schieffer ’59, former anchor of “Face the Nation” and the namesake of TCU’s Bob Schieffer College
of Communication, said Wygant had a big impact on his career. “I went out there and
had the interview and they hired me, and I became the anchor,” he said. “I didn’t
start at the bottom, I started at the top, which was kind of unbelievable. Bobbie
was absolutely the reason that that happened.” Schieffer also praised Wygant’s journalistic
skills. “She was a very good interviewer,” he said. “She had all the right instincts.
She asked all the right questions, and she was very fair.”
Could Fort Worth become the next Hollywood? City sees recent boom as location for
films, TV
Feb. 14, 2024
WFAA-TV (Dallas, TX)
Cowtown is ready for its close-up. Thanks to a mix of factors that include efforts
from the Fort Worth Film Commission, state tax incentives and a favorable business
climate, the city has seen a slew of recent high-profile film and television productions
call Fort Worth home. “It’s really cool to see Fort Worth kind of tapping into the
rich history here in new and engaging ways through media,” said Red Sanders ’04, owner of Backlot Studios and Fort Worth-based Red Productions. Sanders is a TCU
graduate and his business has called Fort Worth home for more than 20 years.
ATHLETICS
Q&A with Jeremiah Donati: TCU AD discusses realignment, NIL and the future of college
athletics
Feb. 28, 2024
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Every week there seems to be a new development that threatens to alter the fabric
of college athletics. It can be a lot for fans to follow and for administrators like TCU
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati, it can bring a lot of sleepless nights as he thinks about the future of college
sports. One particular case, House v. NCAA, is viewed by Donati as the next potential
landmine. “Right now there’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty around it,” Donati
said of the lawsuit. “The numbers in damages, there are a lot of implications with
it. It’s a little daunting thinking about adding that type of massive expense to your
budget. It seems like that’s going to be the cost of doing business going forward
and the cost of staying in the game.”
TCU assistant coaches open up about diversity issues and opportunities in college
football
Feb. 27, 2024
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Each coaching cycle offers a chance to see how much the industry continues to progress
in its diversity, especially with Black assistants. Every step of progress is followed
by a reminder that there is still so much work to be done. Black assistants Anthony Jones and JaMarkus McFarland took different paths to Fort Worth. Before Jones was a running backs coach, he played
football at Chattanooga, graduating in 2007. “I started thinking about coaching when
the NFL didn’t call,” Jones said with a laugh. McFarland said, “I always told myself
I wouldn’t be a coach.”
TCU’s Football Team Goes Into Spring Training With Renewed Purpose
Feb. 20, 2024
Fort Worth Magazine
The Horned Frogs may have not gone as far as they wanted to last season, however,
this has only added to the team’s desire to get back to the heights they achieved
over a season ago. “Every year you've got to prove yourself and go out and get better
and I'm thankful for the last half of the season, the opportunity I had to play because
I feel like it really helped me and I feel like I have some experience now going into
the offseason,” said quarterback Josh Hoover.
There is no playbook for the hard reality that TCU’s Jamie Dixon navigates daily
Feb. 16, 2024
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Cancer took Jamie Dixon’s dad, but watching his mother try to live any life with Parkinson’s disease may
actually be worse. Both his mother in-law and father-in-law are struggling, too, and
Dixon has traveling games throughout the week. Easily lost, forgotten and minimized
in following a team is that the people who play and coach the games have lives that
don’t stop and don’t look that much different than anyone else. In Dixon’s case, he
is navigating a fact of life that too often is a little-discussed reality that can
be a shadow stressor on families that can last for years: Caring for aging parents.
“There are no good answers,” the men’s basketball coach said in an interview this
week in his office. “This is hard ... The guilt is just ... there is huge guilt.”