PlummMeanGreen

Several months ago, I was sent a laminated card saying I was in UNT'S Eagle500 giving level group, but then as I look at the donor book that most of us received in the mail in the last 2 weeks, I observe that I am not listed in the $500 donor group listing of names. I very kindly wrote the Office of Development a letter as to why I was put in the wrong giving level. They kindy responded that the donors in the book were for all gifts given between Septemer 1, 2001 through August 31, 2002. It was after that time that I committed to the Eagle500 giving level with all $500 designated for UNT athletics. End of confusion on that and my thanks to the UNT Office of Development for such a timely response to my letter.

Sorry about your Denton experience but I loved living there as far as campus life and the folks on campus were concerned. I moved from the Houston area to Denton and found UNT to be a wonderful experience; especially, as a half decent musician (ask SUMG for confirmation on that) I was in music heaven (even though my major was not music). One moves to Denton knowing one is moving to a college town and should expect all that you get from a college town--nothing more/nothing less. I find college towns to be magnificent (but much smaller) microcosms of a large city to be honest. The best music in Dallas (many times) comes from Denton. Just ask around... If you think about it, Denton (and UNT) has been the destination of some very famous people if you start couting that list so it can't be that bad now can it? <>*<>Dallasite Don Henley of the Eagles said he loved Denton, had a good time there while a student and still makes "secret trips" up to campus from time to time. (I read that in an article about 2-3 years ago). Knowing that at UNT there are lots of "Norah Jones" looking type co-eds in large numbers (see her 5 X's Grammy nominated mug on the cover of the February TEXAS MONTHLY magazine); all these UNT co-eds adds much to the natural beauty of Denton, Texas; anyway, girls like her abound all over the UNT campus and Denton can beat Dallas in the girl dept. (per capita) any time of the year. UNT's "beauty queens" are all concentrated on about 800 acres instead of a spread out 50+ square miles of Dallas proper. I have to ask why do you want to move to "the plastic people capital of the world" anyway, and that is what Dallas is to me (and many others from what I read)? If its about a job, then that is a different story. You just have not found the Denton I was fortunate to discover for myself, that's all, BUT... ...different strokes for different folks. And BTW, "WHO AM I ?" Just go up above the circle star UNT logo of this threasd, then click "PlummMeanGreen" and you'll find my background.

JayDub, I 100% second that motion ! ! ! I believe it will now be Dr. Rafes who'll be in charge of such things that relate to campus facilities, maintainance, lighting, etc, etc, etc, and if that is the case, that is fantastic! Fred Pole had that responsibility but has now retired as I understand it. IMHO, Fred Pole did a great job and one only has to look around our alma mater's entire campus to see this. Heck! Can you think of a time we didn't have construction going on somewhere on our campus in recent years? Fred Pole worked along side those in charge of the campus master plan. AND BY THE WAY...I vote "FOR" ice in the cups at our football games!

JayDub, when UNT first opened the SuperPit in 1972, as I recall, the outside lighting that illuminated this grand facility was such that it looked very impressive from the interstates. Then during the Carter presidency (as recall) there was an energy crunch and universities across the land started conserving and cutting back on lighting was one of the first things on the list to conserve energy. It seems it was during this era that the exterior lighting of the SuperPit seemed to diminish. Now, I don't even know if the lighting we had in place back then is even functional now, but we do need it to be functional for security puposes. Those very tall mercury light poles across campus are unsightly and I hope will one day be removed. Anyone else remember how well the SuperPit was lighted when it first opened?

OR point those giant green flood light suckas' eye level right in the direction of the, hell, point them in the direction of the>>>>>THE GREENBELT! Whoops! That one slipped! Who made me say that? Could it be...S-A-T-A-N ?!?!

I was hoping that small theft would get un-noticed, IronMan4! Wonder how much "the neighbors" might charge UNT to watch "their" sunsets (on "our" 160 acres) on Game Day Saturdays?!?

How about in that new "greenbelt" area for all future tailgating?!?!

Myself, I would love to see a stadium club (like at Texas Stadium) on the upper west stadium with glass being most of its west wall and with a nice view of historic Pilot Knob hill in the distant west. Can you imagine the sunsets you could see from that vantage point? It would be a great place to have banquets, wedding receptions and even high schools could have their proms in that huge room as well. .

I read today there was a computer worm started in China that has many computers down all over the world. I understand that AOL has had no problems at all. I am on MSN.com myself.

This announcement was in a special tabloid insert in Friday's edition of the Weatherford Democrat newspaper featuring the opening of the new high school in Weatherford, Texas. Weatherford High School is moving into their ultra-modern new high school and their "2,000" seat auditorium has been named for UNT grad Jerry Durant (Jerry's Cheverlet of Weatherford fame) after the naming committee chose Mr. Durant among many as their honoree. The beautiful and spacious auditorium has an orchestra pit and a balcony PLUS it is has the largest seating of any similar venue in Parker County. Wonder how UNT's internationally famous and multi-Grammy nominated ONE O'CLOCK LAB BAND or THE UNT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (if you've never heard THAT group you should) would sound like in that new spacious auditorium named after our fellow UNT alum? Jerry Durant and Jim "Dallas Green" Fincher were frat brothers at UNT. Mr Durant is also a financial supporter of the Mean Green of The University of North Texas. Dr. Deborah Cron, the Weatherford ISD Superintendent is an alumnus of UNT as well. CONGRATS MEAN GREENER JERRY DURANT! (Check out his huge selection of autos/trucks next time you want to buy a new vehicle as it is just 15 minutes west of Fort Worth off Interstate 20). THE WEST O' PLEX IS TURNING MEEEAAAAAAANNNNNNN GREEN ! ! ! ! !

UNT has enough students who live on campus or within blocks of campus now to do what officials in the UNT athletic dept. want to see as far as student suport at both fooball and basketball games. PLUS we have 2 more new dorms that will be finished within a year (or close to it). <>*<>I really believe the new "soon to be finished" $31 million UNT Student Rec Center will be quite a magnet to many new students who will have even more things to do in Denton on weekends that football or basketball games are not played on campus (or when they are played on campus).

Actually, eagle60, I knew that Norah's father was the great Ravi Shankar but she appears to have another mix other than that of her dad's native country. No big deal here, but I was curious if anyone knew about her mother's nationality (who I think still lives in Dallas).

Our illustrious (and most strikingly beautiful) Norah now graces the February cover of TEXAS MONTHLY magazine; the article talks about her alma mater which is: THE University of North Texas... What is this beaut's racial mix? She is as pretty as they come but we know that UNT has many, many, many co-eds who are lookers now don't we?

I was more than impressed with the way Dr. Rafes presided at the Gateway Town Hall meeting that took place the night of the TCU BB game at the SuperPit. Many (IMHO) would have gotten Irish "red faced" mad at many of the comments that were thrown his direction that evening from a few of our good neighbors, but Dr. Rafes was calm, cool (headed) and collective about it all. He IS an asset to the University of North Texas. We are lucky to have him on our side!

Actually, I think they went "down to the river to pray" OR "their in the jailhouse now"; one or the other?!? I've worn out my CD of that movie soundtrack.

Yes, Rudy, according to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram she is an alum of UNT. In fact, I read later she was a jazz major in the UNT College of Music. She must have attended in the mid 1990's. BTW, her beautiful face is on the cover of this month's edition of TEXAS MUSIC magazine. She looks to be part Indian (India) and African American but I don't know for sure about that. No matter what her mix is, her mom and day produced a "beaut! She now lives in New York City.

Those TWU women and their alums will go down fighting to the bloody end to keep this from happening which is one BIG reason I do not see a merger between UNT and TWU. The closest that came to happening was in the mid 1980's when Larry Temple and his Select Committe on Higher Education made a study (and suggestion) that TSU and UH down in Houston merge and that TWU merge with UNT and neither had a snow ball's chance in hell after constituencies from both Texas Southern and Texas Women's bombard our state capitol with their presence and said "hell no, we won't go (with your idea of a merger)! Yes, a merger makes sense (cents), but no, it won't happen IMHO.

We have many who did not graduate who are considerred alums/just not graduates. Mean Joe Greene never actually graduated from UNT with a degree but is considerred one of our most well known alums. Maybe we should distinguish alums from grads, then?

It is my understanding that UNT will pursue a public law school for this region of Texas whether it purchases Texas Weslyans or not; I believe that is what Dr. Pohl has stated in recent months. Honestly, I would prefer a law school be on the Denton campus.

Denton based band Bowling for Soup has received the very prestegious nomination for Grammy in the Best Performance by a Pop Duo or Group classification. Their competition for the February 23'rd face-off in New York is stiff: Dave Matthews Band, N'Sync, No Doubt and Bon Jovi this according to Encore in todays Fort Worth Star Telegram. Bowling For Soup band singer Jaret Reddick says he doubts they will win but looks forward to going up for the awards ceremony. Other members of the band include bassist Erick Chandler, guitarists Chris Burney, and drummer Gary Wiseman. I don't know if any of these fellas have an affiliation with the UNT College of Music but if I were a bettting man I would bet they did. Any of you in the 'Nation know this band or the guys in the band? Good luck, Bowling For Soup!

In the opinion of some, she will get at least the Newcomer of the Year Grammy Award but newcomers have to pay more dues before they start piling on multi-Grammy Awards from what I have observed thru the years. Maybe the extraordinarily beautiful babe that North Texas Ex Norah Jones is will be the exception? Hey fellas, is it time we go back to UNT to get those post grad degrees?!?!? }:>) No wise cracks, one is never too old to get more education or are they? }:>( Anyone remember when UNT's One O'Clock Lab Band was the first ever collegieate group ever to receive a Grammy nomination in 1975? And then had several others after that? As GT(N)T first reported on his thread about Norah, she is the daughter of sitar phenom Ravi Shankar who taught the Beatles how to play this unique stringed instrument. Beatle fans will recall they first started using the sitar when they got into the psychedelic era of their music which I presume started with Sergent Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band? You go, Norah! You go, girl!

Was reading the same article today in the hometown paper, GT(N)T. Didn't know many on this board checked out the Star Telegram that much. UNT alum Norah Jones, GT(N)T, is the daughter of sitar legend Ravi Shankar, who as I recall tutored the Beatles in their early days and their own usage of the sitar in the 4 lads from England's earliest albums. North Texas Ex Norah Jones, simply a gorgeous honey that we are known to have a few at UNT) "only" received 5 Grammy nominations yesterday according to the article. A very good lady friend of mine has been carrying on with me for weeks about this new pianist/singer named Norah Jones so I bought her Ms. Jones CD for Christmas not knowing at the time I was helping out (in a very small way) a fellow UNT alum!

With UNT's enrollment growing from last year's (just over) 27,000 and then this Fall approaching 31,000 students and with the state of Texas formula for funding its public universities tied with a school's enrollment, UNT stands to gain (dramatically) in additional funding for all areas of our school (and that would include additional funds for new instructors and eventually our requests for more classroom space). Growth at a Texas public university does have its special kind of percs.

Jack, I don't think the TWU Law School because of it still being a rather young institution is so entrenched in the Fort Worth community that a move would cause that much noticeable concern among the FW business community. TWU's main campus (in the FW Polytechnic neighborhood) has been having financial and declining enrollment problems for years, even before there was a TWU Law School. I am still amazed that TCU has declined any interest in purchasing this private law school. I do not understand why they have no interest in it as money is of no concern for the TCU folks with their humongous financial endowment which was almost at $1 billion just a few years ago. (I think it has gone down in recent days because of certain investments that went bad but please don't quote me on that one--maybe TCU2002 will let us know on all of this on this board or Frog Fan Forum. My hope is that if UNT and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board agree on this purchase is that is will be moved to our Denton campus. We (of the FW area) already have part of the UNT System in Cowtown and I drive by its beautiful campus everyday en route to my post office 2 blocks away. GMG! Jack, I hope you and Jessica are doing well. Yalls regular attendance at UNT events is an inspiration to us all.

Just don't let football Coach Cable from Idaho know there is another SBC smack board! He could go ballistic!