Issuu

Election edition

Cast your SGA ballots today t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4

THE DAILY COUGAR thedailycougar.com

@thedailycougar

facebook.com/thedailycougar

Issue 104, Volume 76

Tuesday ®

March 1, 2011

Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

newsline Got news? E-mail news@thedailycougar.com or call 713-743-5314

CRIME

Sexual contact suspect turns himself in The suspect in a Thursday’s burglary and sexual contact incident has turned himself into the Houston Police Department. Astin Chavers Clark, 22, is accused of breaking into the room of a female student in Moody Towers and fondling her while she was asleep, according to a UH release. Clark is not affiliated with the University. The student says she was awakened at 4:55 a.m. to find Clark fondling her. She identified Clark as her attacker and a warrant was issued for his arrest last week.

Admin against budget cuts Speech in Austin; proposed efficiency plans Nick Ragan

THE DAILY COUGAR UH President Renu Khator took steps to minimize the impact of the massive reductions in state funding proposed in the Texas House and Senate by testifying before both the Texas House and Senate. In a bid to convince legislatures that higher education in Texas should be a top

priority, Khator argued the budget cuts would mean fewer students could earn degrees, and ultimately the Texas economy will end up suffering. “It’s not just about the University of Houston. It’s about the economy of Texas,” said Khator at a Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday. Despite the state deficit, which is estimated to be between $15 and $30 billion, Governor Rick Perry has refused to tap the $9.4 billion Rainy-Day fund. Khator doesn’t feel the same way, saying, “a lot of us feel that it is raining.”

The investigation is still ongoing, according to Lt. Bret Collier of the University of Houston Police Department. The UH police will question Clark later today about the incident. Anyone with information should call (713) 743-3333.

If UH were to pass onto students the budget reduction proposed in the House, tuition would have to be raised 20 percent, according to Khator. The University “can’t afford to raise J KHATOR tuition at that level,” but she stopped just short of saying that tuition costs won’t rise at all. “We have reached the capacity as to KHATOR continues on page 3

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

The Student Government Association will be holding the Campus Accessibility Tour from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the UH Center for Students with Disabilities.

Site informs students on Metro issues

The event offers participants the chance to see what the campus is like for disabled students and faculty.

Jorge Porras

— Louis Casiano/The Daily Cougar

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Tour offers chance to see what the campus is like for disabled

THE DAILY COUGAR

“The event will give faculty, staff and students the chance to navigate our campus in a wheelchair or with a blind cane stick,” said Jeff Syptak, the SGA chief of staff. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, contact Jeff Syptak at jrsyptak@uh.edu. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar

CORRECTIONS J

Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.

74 LO 46

today

Cattle farm exhibit debuts

tudents from the Community Learning Agricultural Sustainability Program, a UH Green Initiative, researched meat practices for a one-day display featuring a visual representation of a cattle farm. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar

To help students and faculty navigate the changes brought on by the construction of the new light rail system and to be better prepared, University Services has formed an informative blog. “The Southeast Light Rail blog up is a way to promote openness and communication with the University of Houston students, faculty, staff and community,” said Chris Ramsey, a member of the University Service team. The blog provides the UH community with easy access to updates on construction, information about the Southeast Light Rail and announcements from UH on safety awareness. “If anyone is seeking information on the Southeast BLOG continues on page 3

Sunny skies!

SAT SA

SUN SU N

MON MO

TUEE TU

75/49 75/ /49

76/59 76 6/59 9

76/62 76 6/62

72/46 72 2 /46 6

LEGISLATURE

Bill squeezes federal financial aid Daniel Renfrow

THE DAILY COUGAR

EVENTS Clay Walker The American country music artist is headlining tonight at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Reliant Stadium. The show begins at 6:45 p.m., and tickets are ranging from $15 to $300. Prices for parking start at $10. Ring Orders Representatives from Balfour will be taking orders at the Graduation fair in the UC Bookstore from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar

A resolution passed in the US House of Representatives that will make substantial cuts to the Federal Pell Grant Program — a program 9.4 million college students rely on to help them pay for their education. The bill, H.R.1, will cut the maximum award granted to students to $4,705 from $5,550. This amounts to an $845 cut to students receiving the maximum award. The bill will need to make its way through the Senate before becoming law. The average Pell Grant will drop by $785, according to higher education

advocate Rich Williams. He believes that hundreds of thousands of students will lose access to the grants entirely. “Due to the budget crisis, states have been slashing financial aid expenditures and it is causing the price of tuition to go up,” Williams said. “It is important that folks know the importance of college aid, because we are needing to make up for a shortage of 3 million college students by 2018. We are not going to get there if we keep cutting aid. “All of this is critical if we want to continue to have a strong work force as the economy recovers.” Chelsea Adams, a business freshman who pays out-of-state tuition, believes

that the resolution will directly affect her ability to stay at UH. “I am out of state. I need financial aid to stay here, and if I can’t get it I will have to go back home,” Adams said. “This bill will really hurt a lot of people.” Adams believes that if the bill is passed in the Senate it will make it difficult for freshmen enrolling in universities for the first time, and that many will have to decide not to go to college. Tessa Long, a double-major Chinese psychology freshman, said the bill would not immediately affect her ability to stay in college, but that it will eventually affect BILL continues on page 3

CRIME

Sound like you? These symptoms could be more than just PMS — they can also describe PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a clinical study of FDA-approved drugs ,YAZ and YASMIN, to determine if they are effective in relieving PMDD stress in women ages 13 to 20. Participants will complete a diary in addition to receiving medication in this study. Females between 13 and 20 experiencing these symptoms and comfortable with tampon use may be able to participate. Parental consent is required under age 18.

Call 713-798-7549

obgynresearch@bcm.edu

You’re not the only one pulling an all-nighter.

Join the crowd. www.thedailycougar.com/register

2 ■ Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Get news, opinion, arts, sports and comics 24/7. www.thedailycougar.com

The Daily Cougar

crime log

Have information on these or other incidents of crime on campus? Call 713-743-0600

The following is a partial report of campus crime between Saturday 2/19/11 and Thursday 2/24/11. All information is selected from the files of the UH Police Department. The information in bold indicates when the event was reported to UHPD and the event’s location. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UHPD at (713) 743-0600.

Aggravated Robbery: Feb. 24, Entrance 14 — A student reported that a man forced her into his car at gunpoint, drove her to an off campus location and took her money. The student was not harmed in the incident. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 5:44 p.m. 2/24/11. Disorderly Conduct: Feb. 24, Lot 15F — A student witnessed two employees urinating on a tree in a UH parking lot. The incident occurred on 9:05 a.m. 2/18/11. Burglary/ Sexual Contact: Feb. 24, Moody Towers — A student reported that a male intruder fondled her in her room while she slept. The complainant awoke during the incident and was later able to identify her attacker. An arrest warrant was issued. The incident occurred at 4:55 a.m. 2/24/11. Criminal Mischief: Feb. 23, Lot 16E — A student reported that someone damaged his unattended and secured vehicle while it was parked in lot 16 E. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 10:30 a.m. 2/21/11 and 12 p.m. 2/23/11. Theft: Feb. 23, Moody Towers — A student reported that someone stole his unattended and unsecured cell phone while his attention was diverted in the Moody Towers cafeteria. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 8:25 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. 2/21/11. Burglary: Feb. 23, Softball Complex — A staff member reported that someone entered the home team locker room area of the softball complex, forced entry into the equipment room and stole UH softball property. The facility was also

damaged. The incident occurred between 9 p.m. 2/22/11 and 8:58 a.m. 2/23/11. Criminal Mischief: Feb. 23, Lot 12A — A staff member reported that someone damaged her vehicle while it was parked in lot 12 A. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 8:40 p.m. 2/22/11 and 7:30 a.m. 2/23/11. Theft: Feb. 22, UH System at Cinco Ranch — A UH Cinco Ranch staff member reported that someone stole two vinyl banners used to advertise the School of Business from the side of a roadway. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 2/22/11. Theft: Feb. 21, M.D. Anderson Library — A student reported that someone stole her unattended and unsecured laptop computer from her backpack while she was using the restroom at M.D. Anderson Library. There are no suspects. Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: Feb. 20, Cougar Village — An underage visitor received a Harris County citation for Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor when he was found to be intoxicated and not of the legal age to drink alcoholic beverages. The visitor was released to a guardian. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: Feb. 19, Parking Garage 1 — A student reported that someone damaged the interior of her secured and unattended vehicle while it was parked in Parking Garage 1. There are no suspects.

For the complete report and to view past reports, go to www. uh.edu/police/home.html

Newsroom

(713) 743-5360 ■

Editor in Chief

Jack Wehman (713) 743-5362 editor@thedailycougar.com ■

Layout Editor

Christopher Losee closee@thedailycougar.com ■

Multimedia Editor

Newton Liu (713) 743-5361 photo@thedailycougar.com ■

News Editors

■

Buy your UH yearbook and you’ll be entered to win a FREE 16gb Apple iPad — surely the year’s hottest tech toy. More importantly, you’ll be investing in a keepsake you’ll cherish for a lifetime: your college memories encapsulated in the Houstonian Yearbook.

■

Opinion Editor

Andrew Taylor opinion@thedailycougar.com ■

Web Editor

Matthew Keever webeditor@thedailycougar.com

Advertising

(713) 743-5340 ads@thedailycougar.com ■

Classifieds

(713) 743-5356 classifieds@thedailycougar.com

Business Office Phone (713) 743-5350 Fax (713) 743-5384 ■ Mailing address ■ ■

Room 7, UC Satellite Student Publications University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015

ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://www. thedailycougar.com. The University seeks to provide equal educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status, or sexual orientation. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy of the Cougar is free; each additional copy is 25 cents. SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015. NEWS TIPS Direct news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@thedailycougar. com or fax (713) 743-5384. A “Submit news item” form is also available online at thedailycougar.com. COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the director of the Student Publications Department.

ISSUE STAFF

Learn more about the yearbook and our iPad giveaway @

Life & Arts Editor

Mary Baak (713) 743-5302 arts@thedailycougar.com

Jose Aguilar Cristi Guerra (713) 743-5314 news@thedailycougar.com

You heard right.

Sports Editors

John Brannen Joshua Siegel (713) 743-5303 sports@thedailycougar.com

■

Copy editing

Maria Toscano

■

Production

Nine Nguyen

■

Closing editor

Cristi Guerra

NEWS

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 ■ 3

meet the presidential candidates

Vote online at http://election.uh.edu. Check thedailycougar.com for election updates.

The Daily Cougar

GOGETS-VUONG PARTY

REDVOLUTION PARTY

COOGS FOR CHANGE

Jared Gogets

Michael Harding

Michael McHugh

Our platform is one that focuses on continuing the “culture of excellence” that Dr. Khator has established the past few years.

We are on the brink of change that will impact the university for years to come. It’s important to look at the issues that affect students most.

We’ll encourage students to feel good about being a Cougar, take pride in it and empower them to learn to expect excellence from the University in every department/organization, not mediocrity. The days of a mediocre UH are over for good!

Parking is one such issue that should be addressed. By working side by side with administrators to increase the amount of parking available and looking towards alternative methods of getting students to campus, we can improve the situation now and in to the future.

We are the most diverse ticket in UH history. Our mission is to make sure we preserve our recent Tier One Status and make UH the best University in Texas. We want to be number one in diversity.

The first and foremost challenge of ours, however, is taking on the budget crisis head on. We believe the most effective way to find solutions for the cuts is to educate as many students as we can about what’s happening and create a student-led solution team to work with the UH administration and Texas government. We would love to have your support. We realize what a great time it is to be at UH. Our administration has the potential to be a part of something significant and historic. We’re in it for the students. Thanks, GO COOGS!

KHATOR continued from page 1

what we can do in terms of tuition. We can’t afford to do that,” Khator said. Khator said members of the Board of Regents are “out in absolute full force.” Some regents had to leave a House Delegation meeting Tuesday because more attended than allowed for a quorum. “They’re making the rounds and I’m making the rounds,” Khator said. Higher education shouldn’t be cut more than other agencies, according

BLOG continued from page 1

Light Rail, this blog will be their first step towards getting that information,” Ramsey said. The blog also contains maps of the future light rail line and links to local businesses. Though Houston Metro also has a

BILL continued from page 1

everyone in the long run. “I’m pretty sure there is nothing that can be done about it,” Long said. “Education is always the one that gets the boot first.” The federal government should view college as an investment, and students who require financial aid will be able to eventually pay back the federal government through taxes after graduation, said engineering junior Daniel Camacho. “The bill is going to make it hard for people to go to college,” Camacho said. “It’s not going to be a good situation. “You have to cut down programs that make sense. I don’t think cutting education makes sense.” news@thedailycougar.com

Speak up whenever you want. Register with the Web site and comment on any article at thedailycougar.com

We should also look to safety. With the concern of our state legislature changing laws to allow for students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus, our administration must be prepared to implement policies and practices to ensure that safety is maintained. It is important to ensure students have better options in our dining facilities, education costs from tuition and books are controlled and reduced, and the ideal of providing excellent leadership is moved to the forefront. We are comprised of some of the best and brightest. We are here to provide the best voice for the students, while building better relationships with administrators to create a Tier One college experience. Please VOTE!

to Khator. Higher education institutions like UH are dealing with difficult perceptions because they have more sources of funding other than the state. “None of the University of Houston’s accomplishments over the past several years would have been possible without strong support from the state through the formulas, financial aid, and the Tier One funding programs, as well as public policy that values higher education,” Khator said. The administration has been looking into improving operational efficiencies to save money and keep as many services as possible,

according to Khator. A list of the cost-saving ideas being considering can be found on the University’s website. The suggestions, which were made anonymously by faculty, staff and students across campus, range from simple changes to increase the efficiency of the University, to the outright elimination of some programs or positions. UH has increased its annual fundraising income from $49 million three years ago to $100 million today. UH has also raised $63 million for undergrad programs and scholarships.

website for the Southeast rail, and it displays maps and a brief description of what to expect the rail system to look like, the light rail blog provides the UH community with more UH specific information. The blog gives the ability to communicate questions and comments about the light rail to the University. The UH University Service team invites all students and faculty to

check out the blog at www.uhlightrail. blogspot.com. According to officials at the Houston Metro, the estimated six miles worth of rails will not be completed until the year 2014. The light rail would be affordable and direct transportation to and from the University.

We also focus on tackling crime, as we have seen an explosive increase in the number of robberies and sexual assault cases in the last few weeks. I am an Eagle Scout and I live by the oath, “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my Country and to help other people at all times.” Because of our straining budget cuts, I have pledged to give up my nearly $7,000 salary if elected Student Body President. I really believe that we can make UH the greatest University in Texas. We just have to believe in ourselves and the promise of the future.

“Philanthropy is not just a passing PhAD, it’s a tradition”

s ent i, tud lumn ds s UH H a ien To: m: U nd fr a Fro nors do

news@thedailycougar.com

We must address the issue of parking right now. There are three passes for every parking space on campus, which means only one third of the students that spend big bucks on a parking pass are even guaranteed a space.

Philanthropy Awareness Day

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the UC Say thanks, and get free food! UH is an EEO/AA institution.

A top priority of ours includes elevating the entire Student Affairs division to the same top-tier level that our University just earned in the research area from Carnegie — no area of student affairs is too big or small to look at.

Our top priorities are to save our Tier One status and fight budget cuts, to fix parking, and to make sure we have adequate Internet across campus.

For more information: alumsupport@uh.edu

★★★★★★★★★

GENERAL ELECTION

Feb. 28 — March 3 7:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.

http://election.uh.edu

★★★★★★★★★ Runoff (if needed) March 7–10

$)&$, 065 6) &%6 4(" %0/µ5 -&5 :063 70*$& (0 6/)&"3% $)004& 8)0 3&13&4&/54 :06

4 ■ Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Daily Cougar

opinion THE DAILY COUGAR

EDITOR Andrew Taylor E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion

MORE SPACE TRAVEL PLEASE! Photo courtesy of NASA Apollo Archive

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITORS NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS LIFE & ARTS EDITOR OPINION EDITOR

Jack Wehman Newton Liu, Christopher Losee Jose Aguilar, Cristi Guerra John Brannen, Joshua Siegel Mary Baak Andrew Taylor

STAFF EDITORIAL

Do everyone a favor, report suspicious activity

ith two crimes last Thursday, the UH community was reminded again of the dangers that lurk on campus. Students and faculty are justified in having concerns about campus safety. With thousands of commuting vehicles, gadgets and people who live on campus, it is not new that UH is an attractive place for thieves or people who mean to do harm. Criminals who target the University tend to not have a preference on the time of day to do something illegal. Many are bold enough to prey on students or faculty in broad daylight. In the first of last week’s incidents, a man was sought in relation to a sexual assault after someone found a way into a student’s dorm room. The UH Department of Public Safety identified a suspect as a 22-year-old Astin Chavers Clark, and he has since been taken into custody after turning himself in. Later that day a female student had a pistol pulled on her, and was temporarily abducted when another suspect ordered her into his vehicle. The suspect robbed her and then dropped her off away from campus about an hour later. Neither of the two victims were injured, but these frightening occurrences should serve as a reminder to us that dangerous situations can quickly materialize while on campus. In a perfect world, a patrolling officer would always be nearby, and security cameras would be perfectly placed. UH employees and students must do their part to make this campus safer. We are not encouraging students and faculty to be vigilantes by any means, but they can certainly do their part to actively prevent crime. If you see something or someone suspicious, give UHPD a call. If anything, people can save the number in a cell phone: (713) 743-3333. Suppose you are leaving campus and you feel you avoided a potential confrontation with a criminal, and drive off on your merry way. That person could still be a threat to another member of our community. There is no shame in reporting shady activity, and really, what is the worst thing that could happen?

E D I TO R I A L P O L I C I E S STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing. ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements published in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole. GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be kept to less than 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies to material already printed in the Cougar, but rather should present independent points of view. Rebuttals should be sent as letters. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

Don’t plan on exploring Mars O n Monday, Eric Berger wrote a column in The Houston Chronicle concerning whether or not we should try and fly humans to Mars. The idea is novel; we would break the atmosphere and land humans on another planet. Andrew But according to Taylor some, the risks are not worth the reward. Berger wrote in his column that a trip to Mars under current conditions pertaining to our national budget and space technology would have to be a one-way trip. “In a budget-constrained world, given the challenges posed by radiation and launching with enough propellant to blast back off Mars once we get there,

it’s becoming increasingly obvious that if we’re going to go to Mars in the next half-century, it probably will be a one-way mission,” Berger said. There hasn’t been much in terms of interest from NASA regarding this one shot idea. Also, according to Berger’s column, the interest among college students is low as well. While visiting a UH journalism class he asked the students if they were interested in space flight. “In a class of 15 to 20 kids, not one raised his or her hand. They were excited about things like medical research and artificial intelligence,” Berger said. The lack of interest from NASA may be due to the difficulties of the mission and the fact that they’ll have to sell a space mission with no likely possibility of return. The lack of interest from students, though,

is probably due to the fact that human space travel and human space exploration is something that belongs to a past generation. Touching the soil of another celestial body was a revolution that will forever belong to the year 1969 when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Apollo 11’s landing was at least ten to fifteen years before any of the students in that journalism class were born. The current generation has yet to see a feat of that nature from NASA, and they’re likely not going to anytime soon; because of this, the current generation has nothing to be inspired by and very few heroes to watch make history. Andrew Taylor is an economics senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

US should play fair or not at all

ost people believe that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is too complicated to understand. After all, the two sides have been fighting for over 60 years. In actuality, the conflict is a simple — it revolves around three basic points of contention: the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Dana the protection of Palestinians who hold Israeli El Kurd citizenship and the occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza. International law upholds the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes (UN General Assembly Resolution 194), condemns the occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal (UN Security Council Resolution 242) and demands full citizenship and protection for Palestinian citizens of Israel (Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities). The American position on these three

points mirrors international law. Historically, presidents involved in the peace process have asked – albeit timidly – that the Israeli government adhere to these requirements, or at least start thinking about them. Unfortunately, Israel has refused to stop settling the occupied territories with its own towns and citizens, maintains an apartheid system against Palestinians within Israel and has never allowed a refugee to return to their homes or offered compensation. The degeneration of the latest round of peace talks can once again be blamed on Israeli intransigence on these points. The illegal settlements of the West Bank, in particular, violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, steal resources from Palestinian territory and make peace that much more unattainable. Their continued expansion under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a major source of concern for Palestinians and those involved in the negotiations. Although it makes perfect sense for the current administration to support a

UN resolution condemning these illegal settlements, President Barack Obama personally approved a US veto of said resolution last week. Whatever the reason for Obama’s hypocrisy, it sends a clear message to those involved in the conflict. Vetoing an acceptable, non-controversial resolution against Israeli settlements proves to the world that the US will never be a fair broker for peace. If our leaders are consistently too constrained by domestic influences to ensure fairness in the peace process, then we shouldn’t be involved at all. Let’s stop demanding the Palestinians bend over backwards to please the Israelis; let’s stop funding the Israeli war machine, and let’s allow only those affected by the conflict to make the rules. Palestinians and Israelis will come to a much more equitable and just solution if we keep our money, and our hypocrisy, out of it. Dana El Kurd is a political science and economics junior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 ■ 5

The Daily Cougar

sports overtime

EDITORS John Brannen, Joshua Siegel E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Cougars prep for Green Wave UH tries to fix repeated errors in final two games before C-USA tournament Cougar Sports Services

NEWTON LIU/THE DAILY COUGAR

BASEBALL

UTSA set to host UH The Cougars will make the trip down I-10 to San Antonio today for a one-game showdown against UTSA. The Roadrunners (4-5) are coming off a 10-7 loss to Oregon State yesterday. The game is slated for a 6 p.m. start at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio. After UTSA, the Cougars will return home for the Minute Maid Classic to play Big 12 foes Baylor and Texas A&M along with SEC opponent Kentucky. — Cougar Sports Services

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UH breaks into Top 25; Taylor recognized yet again Head coach Todd Buchanan’s return to UH continues to be fruitful as the Cougars earned the No. 25 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll Monday after mounting a 74-70 comeback win against Rice on Sunday. The Cougars (24-4, 16-0 Conference USA) are now ranked No. 25 in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Division I Coaches’ Poll. Their AP ranking is the team’s first since the 2004 season. Courtney Taylor picked up C-USA Player of the Week honors Monday for the fifth time this season with two strong performances against Marshall and Rice. Taylor was the driving force behind the Cougars victory against the Owls, scoring 17 second-half points on 7-of-8 shooting. She would finish the game with a season-high 24 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Taylor’s 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Thundering Herd was her 18th double-double of the season, good for fourth in the nation. Taylor has now earned C-USA Player of the Week 10 times, one shy of Chandi Jones’ school record of 11. The Cougars have an opportunity to become only the second team in C-USA history to make it through conference play undefeated when they close the regular season against Tulane at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion. — Cougar Sports Services

The season is winding down for the Cougars, and the rough patch they encountered in late January has lingered longer than they had hoped. UH (12-15, 4-10 Conference USA) has two games to right its ship before the C-USA Championship tournament on March 9 in El Paso. “We want to try to build as much momentum in these last few games as we can at Tulane and then at home against Rice,” head coach James Dickey said. “Then get ready to go to conference and then prepare to play one game, but just don’t look past that first game. “For us, we can’t look ahead at all. We just have to concentrate on that next game. You can’t think about who we might play.” After Saturday’s 68-55 loss to UAB, the Cougars have lost their last four contests. The last time UH won was on Feb. 12 when they handled Tulane 79-68 at home. The Green Wave (12-15, 2-10) are losers of 12 straight and will be just as hungry as the Cougars to get off the snide. Victory not a guarantee Tulane once held an eight-point lead the last time the teams met, so the Cougars will not be expecting a pushover win. Dickey said that the Green Wave’s jump-shooting ability and the homecourt advantage are causes for concern. “They shoot the three so well, they hit 14 on us here,” Dickey said. “Defending the 3-point shot and in the last game, they were really driving it. Any time you go on the road you have to defend, rebound and execute. “They’ll be at home, and I’m sure they’ll play with a lot of confidence there,” Dickey said. The Cougars are 13-12 against Tulane all-time, but are a dismal 2-10 in away

Crabtree’s performance was highlighted by no-hitting Louisiana-Monroe — her second of the season — and a shutout against Baylor. She threw 27 innings in her four starts, striking out 40 batters, while allowing only one earned run (0.33 ERA) and walking only five batters. She is currently the C-USA leader in ERA for pitchers who have thrown more than 20 innings, and is second in strikeouts with 86 in 52 innings pitched. — Cougar Sports Services

GAMETIME UH at Tulane When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Fogelman Arena, New Orleans, Louis. On the air: 790 AM KBME Live coverage: www.uhcougars.com

sports@thedailycougar.com

Assertive mentality drives tennis player Jesus Acevedo

SOFTBALL

For the second straight week, Amanda Crabtree earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors Monday after tallying another four wins for the No. 23 Cougars between February 21-28.

games this season. The last road victory for UH was Jan. 15 at SMU. The game tips off at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans. UH returns to town Saturday for a rematch with Rice (12-16, 4-10) at Hofheinz Pavilion.

PLAYER PROFILE

THE DAILY COUGAR

Senior pitcher grabs second consecutive C-USA accolade

Senior point guard Zamal Nixon and the Cougars are on the outside looking in in the Conference USA standings, but one win in their next two games will guarantee them not having the No. 12 seed in the C-USA tournament. | Aaron Cisneros/The Daily Cougar

When Joanna Kacprzyk is on the tennis court she is not the same person that roams the campus on a daily basis. On the court, Kacprzyk transforms from a student into an aggressive competitor who uses her temper to intimidate opponents. “On the court and off the court I have two personalities,” Kacprzyk said. “Sometimes people don’t really recognize me when they see me on the court. All I focus on is tennis at that point.” Over the course of Kacprzyk’s career she has learned to funnel her aggression into success on the court. “She’s been getting progressively better,” head coach John Severance said. “She’s smarter on the court, and a lot more disciplined. Frankly, she just knows what to do at the right times now.”

Severance has nicknamed Kacprzyk “the grinder” because it resembles her style of play. “She’s an aggressive baseline player, and for her to win, her best chance is to grind out her opponents,” Severance said. “Essentially that’s ball movement and discipline. She J Senior Joanna has to play clean Kacprzyk is a cornerstone to the tennis, which means very few unforced UH tennis team. errors.” Kacprzyk credits her father’s involvement in tennis as the reason why she first gravitated to the sport at the age of seven. “My dad is a tennis coach, so I was always around it,” she said. “I knew when I was young that it was something that I was

going to do.” She was not ready to give up on the sport she loved, so upon graduating high school in Poland, she sought a place where she could continue playing while receiving an education. It ultimately landed her at the John E. Hoff courts at UH. She said she is proud of how the tennis program has improved in the four years since she first arrived. “It’s good to see how not only coaches, but also how people in the athletics department have new ideas for development,” she said. Kacprzyk’s college tennis experience will come to a conclusion this spring, but her academic career will continue into the fall semester, as she finishes up her degree in sports administration with a minor in public relations. sports@thedailycougar.com

LIFE&ARTS

6 ■ Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Daily Cougar

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Women discuss toils of being black, deaf Ellen Goodacre

THE DAILY COUGAR

Setting your friends up with other friends sounds like a solid idea, but it’s quite the opposite. If and when things go south, it can become a very awkward situation for all parties involved. | Courtesy photos.com

COUGAR SUTRA

Friends shouldn’t let friends date Mary Baak

THE DAILY COUGAR There seems no shortage of couples who think they have all the answers to everything having to do with relationships. It’s almost like they assume that because their relationship is successful, they know how to create other successful relationships and pair people off perfectly — but this is not true. Actually, it couldn’t be farther from the truth; however, once you’re in a relationship, hanging

out with your single friends isn’t the same — I’m assuming this need for couple friends is the reason that people constantly try to set their friends up together. I mean, what could go wrong? They’re your friends already, so spending time with the new couple that you created shouldn’t be awkward. But here’s where the logic of matchmaking-couples fail. Just because two of your friends are vegetarian and like the same music doesn’t mean they’re perfect for each other. The dynamic

duo will find all the things that you two have in common, which makes the situation sound promising. But they’ll conveniently forget to mention the quirks they have that might be an immediate dealbreaker — things like how they have the personality of a box of rocks or have a terrible sense of humor. The matchmaking-couple neglects the idea of true compatibility in a rushed attempt to have MATCHMAKING continues on page 8

classifieds BULLETIN BOARD

HELP WANTED

The auditorium in the Graduate School of Social Work was almost filled to capacity on Saturday night, with only six or seven empty seats. Before the Untold Stories of a Black Deaf Woman program began, many of the audience members talked amongst themselves. Most, however, didn’t speak — instead, they signed back and forth. Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Dr. John Roberts opened the program with a few words about how meaningful the event was. “This program is groundbreaking,” Dr. Roberts said. “It’s giving voice to a group that is usually largely marginalized.” A group of five black, deaf women were seated on stage in a panel with professor Sharon Hill as the moderator. These women are living pioneers — including Dr. Shirley Allen, the first black deaf woman to earn a doctoral degree, and Mary van Manen, the first black deaf person in the state of Mississippi to graduate from college. Two of the five women, Dr. Allen and Michelle Martin, were born able to hear and became deaf. The program operated as a discussion between the six women on stage, with Hill asking questions

and the panel members answering or telling stories about their experiences. One panel member, Mary Perrodin, winner of Miss Black Deaf America in 1998, was born into a family of nine, where both her parents and all but one of her siblings were deaf. In contrast, Michelle Martin, who became totally deaf from meningitis at age 25, was the only deaf person in her family. As the discussion continued, the panel began to touch on subjects that the hearing population would almost never think these women would encounter. During the K-12 education portion of the discussion, Mary van Manen spoke about the absence of books or reading materials in deaf schools. As her story continued, she informed the audience that she pushed to acquire books for her all-black deaf school — they were hand-me-downs from white public schools with pages missing. Also, during the black interpreters’ portion of the discussion, all of the women touched on the subject of the shortage of black interpreters within the deaf community and about the differences in black deaf signing as opposed to traditional American Sign Language. They discussed the differences in black culture and how those differences also translate to black DEAF WOMEN continues on page 8

jobs, housing, services & more 713-743-5356 classifieds@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/classifieds

HELP WANTED

In the heart of downtown Houston

Egg Donors Needed. Ages 21-32. Earn $5,000+, High demand for Asians. Surrogate Mothers Needed.

Spectrum of Hope employment opportunity available for intelligent, dedicated, mature, committed, purposeful individuals who have the desire to change the lives of children & their families living with autism. Great experience for individuals with Psychology, Social Work, Education and Speech communication majors. Contact KJ Whitman at 281-894-1423 or spectrumofhope.com

Earn $25,000+, Ages 21-39.

(713) 771-9771 www.cooperinstitutearm.com email : ivf@cooperinstitutearm.com

RENTALS Looking for a NEW Apartment? Free Apt Locating Service! $500 REBATE! FREE MOVE! Classiﬁeds for Roommates & Sublets!

Call now to start your search today! 1-866-933-4878

ApartmentGURUS.Com Move in during

SPRING BREAK SAVE 2 WEEKS OF RENT

7ALK TO CAMPUS s &URNISHED BDRM APT W +ITCHEN s 2ECENTLY REMODELED s 5TILITIES CABLE WIRELESS INTERNET 0!)$ s MO s #LOSE TO %ASTWOOD 4RANSIT #ENTER

281-435-2851 Room for rent SW Area all bills paid Internet cable washer dryer. $450.00 713.545.6943

HELP WANTED

FULL TIME CARETAKER NEEDED Female needed to assist partially disabled wife during the day/early evening and weekends. Days off to be arranged. Must be able to assist with showering, dressing, driving to store, moving from wheelchair to seat etc. Galleria area apartment. Call Brian 713 298 8783

)JSJOH $BUFSJOH

Unit Marketing Director

8"*545"''

position open part-time, full time apply in person at Chick-ﬁl-A at Northwest Crossing FSU 13240 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77040

1BSU UJNF GMFYJCMF TDIFEVMFT NPTUMZ OJHIU BOE XFFLFOET 1BZ TUBSUJOH BU QFS IPVS /P FYQFSJFODF OFDFTTBSZ 1BJE 5SBJOJOH

5 )& . "(/ 0- * " is currently seeking individuals for the following positions:

Front Desk Agent Housekeeping Supervisor AM Restaurant Server All positions require proof of work eligibility upon hire date. Magnolia Houston performs criminal background checks and is a drug free workplace. Apply in person at 1100 Texas Avenue. HR hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 11am to 1pm. Email resume to sferoze@magnoliahotels.com or applications can also be filled out online. AA/EOE

Telephone 713-642-7698 *STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM* PAID survey takers needed in Houston. 100 percent FREE to join! Click on Surveys.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL in Museum district. Looking for Subs/Assts. Flex hrs. Excellent for child dev, Education or Psy majors! Call 713-520-0738

THE DAILY COUGAR CLASSIFIEDS. Like Craigslist, only less creepy.

Off campus? Online.

Find a place to live — and a job to pay the rent.

You saw it in the Cougar. Remember that.

Ó thedailycougar.com/

THE DAILY COUGAR classifieds

classifieds

THE DAILY COUGAR classifieds

COMICS & MORE

The Daily Cougar

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 ■ 7

comics

crossword

Robbie + Bobby by Jason Poland

ACROSS 1 Silly comedy 6 Carnegie or Evans 10 WWW addresses 14 Sky hunter 15 Now — — it! 16 Lowest high tide 17 Colossus 18 Violent disturbance (2 wds.) 20 Brawl 22 Was helpful 23 Scabbard fillers 26 AMA members 27 Grammywinning rapper 28 Hats 33 — hoping! 34 Type of therapy 35 Spiral molecule 36 Woeful cry 37 Nonchalant 38 — Hedin, Gobi explorer 39 Attack word 40 Palm off 41 Hindu god 42 Rita of old films 44 Opinionated 45 Stein filler 46 Upstart 47 Take advantage of 50 Granola kin 52 Tall flower 54 Incessantly (2 wds.) 58 Zenith 59 — of thumb 60 Dome home 61 Necklace part 62 Dolphin habitats 63 “Bye Bye Bye” band

Chili Fingers by Nam Nguyen

sudoku How to play Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Previous puzzle solved

DOWN 1 Driving hazard 2 Onassis nickname 3 Estuary 4 Restricts 5 Salad followers 6 DJ’s platters 7 Ottoman title 8 Tolstoy et al. 9 List shortener

18 20

22 26 28

45 48

10 Not so smart 11 Library slogan 12 Bathe 13 Went swiftly 19 Phi Beta — 21 Fortify 23 Go over again 24 Aviator Earhart 25 Software theft 26 Golf or tennis 28 Sneak in uninvited 29 Emcee 30 Recommend 31 Odd 32 “Kubla Khan” locale 34 Settled 37 Tiresome one 38 Packing material 40 Rash act 41 Steakhouse order 43 Lamented

44 Undergrad degs. 46 Lap dogs 47 Jezebel’s spouse 48 Sotto — 49 Mme. Gluck of opera 50 Wry face 51 Bruins 53 Thousands of secs. 55 England’s Isle of — 56 Miss Piggy’s refusal 57 Elmer, to Bugs

Previous puzzle solved G A T E S C A S E A B C S A DO B E EMU S L E ON T I MB E R L I N E T A R A S T S T A L E S S ON A R T H I S H A S S L E A L L I E D L I ON WE E D S HO L D S OU T L A V A J U N K S F R E T P I L L A G E S A T A R I A V E R R E E L I N R EMOR A T U R N A R E N A D I A N A F L A B A R S A U D I T T R A I L I S L E AME N E T U D E D E E T A B E T D E N S E

WWW.UH.EDU/RECREATION 7 1 3 - 7 4 3 - 7 5 2 9

Aquatics & Safety

Intramural Sports

Outdoor Adventure

Adult Swim Lessons

Sport Entry Deadline

Trip Schedule

March 2nd thru 30th M W March 2 11:15am-12:00pm T Th March 1 11:15am-12:00pm M W March 2 6:45pm-7:30pm T Th March 1 6:45pm-7:30pm Members: $40.00, Non-member: $55.00. All

Youth Swim Lessons March 2nd thru 30th

School Age – Level 1 M W March 2 4:00pm-4:45pm T Th March 1 4:00pm-4:45pm School Age – Level 2 M W March 2 5:00pm-5:45pm T Th March 1 5:00pm-5:45pm School Age – Level 3 M W March 2 5:45pm-6:30pm T Th March 1 5:45pm-6:30pm School Age – Level 4 M W March 2 5:45pm-6:30pm T Th March 1 5:45pm-6:30pm School Age – Level 5 M W March 2 5:45pm-6:30pm T Th March 1 5:45pm-6:30pm School Age – Level 6 M W March 2 5:45pm-6:30pm T Th March 1 5:45pm-6:30pm School Age: Member $40, Non-Member $55

Lifeguarding Training

April 23 and 30; May 7 and 14

Leisure Outdoor Pool scheduled to open April 1 713-743-7946

Dodgeball 3/7 3 Point /Dunk 3/7 SandVolleyball 3/21 Table Tennis 3/28 Paintball 3/28 4 on 4 Flag Football 4/4 Bench Press Competition 4/4 Tennis 4/4 Swim Meet 4/11 For additional information, please contact IM Sports at 713-743-8041 or visit the website www.uh.edu/recreation

Friday, March 4 – 6 Climbing and Bouldering at Enchanted Rock -$80/$90 (Mandatory Meeting 3/1 @ 5pm)

Join us for a weekend of climbing, bouldering, hiking, and caving in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Saturday, March 12 – 18 Spring Break National Parks Tour-$210/$230 (Mandatory Meeting 3/8 @ 5pm)

Spend spring break exploring Carlsbad Caverns, climbing Texas’s highest peak, sledding down the Monohans sand dunes, and swimming in Balmorhea.

Saturday, March 26 – 27 Huntsville Trail Bike Ride -- $50/$60 (Mandatory Meeting 3/22 @ 5pm) Hop on a bike and cruise around Huntsville state park for a weekend of cycling and relaxing by the lake.

Friday, April 1 - 3 Canoeing in the Guadalupe River -- $80/$90

(Mandatory Meeting 3/29 @ 5pm) Get outside with Outdoor Adventure as we paddle the scenic Guadalupe River.

Saturday, April 16 Farmer’s Market Bike Tour -- $10/$15 Explore Houston’s historic neighborhoods as we bike to several Farmer’s Markets, eat at a café & relax at Discovery Green.

Saturday, April 23 Beach Saturday in Surfside -- $25/$30 Take a break from the city as we travel to the local Gulf Coast to surf, kayak, play Frisbee, bocce ball & relax on the beach.

Friday, April 29 – May 1 Kayak and Hike Through the Big Thicket -$50/$60 (Mandatory Meeting 4/26 @ 5pm) Paddle down the cool water & take in Texas history, natural plant & wildlife, & camp on the riverbed’s gravel bar.

Tuesday, May 3 Lake Day-- $25/$35

Unwind & clear your mind before finals begin by spending a day at the lake, including activities such as: swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking, grilling, & relaxing.

Monday, May 16 – 21 Ozark Mountain Experience-- $200/$225 (Mandatory Meeting 5/10 @ 5pm) Unwind from finals with Outdoor Adventure as we head to Arkansas to explore the Ozarks. We will backpack, canoe the buffalo river, and climb in horseshoe canyon ranch.

For more information contact Caleb Wells at (713) 743-0808 or stop by CRWC Room 1007.

LIFE&ARTS

8 ■ Tuesday, March 1, 2011

MATCHMAKING continued from page 6

other paired-off companions. Aside from a misconception of compatibility, setting your friends up with other friends is always uncomfortable, whether you’re a single matchmaker or not.

The biggest problem with setting up two of your friends is that you’re willing yourself to constantly listen to both people talk about one another because there are two sides to every story. Besides the fact that this is incredibly annoying, because you have to hear everything twice, you’re also forced to choose sides

Coupons and specialss every Tuesday in The Daily Cougar!

FREE BONELESS WINGS FR

5 FREE

10 FREE

with any Wing purchase on your next visit to this Wingstop:

with purchase of any Family Pack on your next visit to this Wingstop:

8326 Broadway St., Broadway Belfort Center, Houston, TX 77061 (713) 847-9464

712 Gulfgate Center, Gulfgate Shopping Center, Houston, TX 77087 (713) 643-9464

One coupon per guest, per visit. Valid only on future visit. Coupons may not be combined. Valid at participating Wingstop Restaurants thru 03/31/11.

The Daily Cougar

in those conversations. Not only that, but you’re still responsible for trying to make things work between them, so you have to maintain a façade of it being a match made in heaven. If you’re a single matchmaker, you’re willing yourself to automatically become the third wheel in any social setting if things work out. On top of that, you’re obligated to be the third wheel when they hang out for the first few times — you know, so it isn’t so awkward and the pressure of the situation isn’t as high. While it’s cool to hang out with two friends at once, listening to people talk about how impressive (and thus more desirable) they can be incredibly annoying. Another mistake the matchmaking-couple makes often is in thinking that being in a successful relationship makes them the go-to relationship experts. However, this is a fallacy. Their situation is unique to them — this is the same reason that single people shouldn’t give advice. You shouldn’t evaluate someone else’s situation because the advice you have to offer is based off a relationship that those

people weren’t (and never will be) in. Since you (or you and your partner in matchmaking) were the brains behind the situation, you might get the blame when things go south between your two friends. Though it wasn’t your fault, you’re going to be the one that has to, once again, take sides in the matter. No matter how reluctant you are in doing so, you can’t add insult to injury to a friend that has just been dumped. The moral of the story is that it’s not your responsibility to build a relationship between two people — that’s for them to do. Finding that special someone is part of the idealist’s view of college, but it will never work out if you force it. This is a mistake that is made frequently because — for a reason unknown to me — people feel incomplete without a significant other. But to steal a line from Max Ehrmann’s “Desiderata,” “Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”

DEAF WOMEN

arts@thedailycougar.com

WIN PRIZES. TALK SMACK. Sign up to play the March Madness Bracket Challenge! Log on and fill out your bracket on March 14 and compete against your fellow students! Form groups and talk smack! The contestant with the most accurate bracket prediction will win an autographed Rockets basketball!

continued from page 6

deaf culture. Van Manen highlighted some of the differences in ASL and black deaf signing and encouraged interpreters to “learn black deaf signing and learn black deaf culture.” At the end of the program, Hill announced that the University has a new Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Sign Language Interpreting, the first four-year degree in ASL interpreting offered in Texas, which is now accepting applications. Both Hill and Mary van Manen, who taught ASL for 46 years, encouraged those getting degrees in ASL interpreting to pursue the highest degrees available in their fields and to practice often. Overall, the program was a window into the lives and experiences of a population that most people hardly ever think about and a testimonial about the struggles of women dealing not only with the toils of being black, but also those of being hearing impaired.

We ❤ lots & lots of TO TH : ED AIL YC OU

AI : TO HE D T

UG CO

: A TO E D TH ILY R GA

U CO

TODAY

OU YC : TO E DAIL TH TO: THE DAI LY

GAR TO: ILY COU THE DA TO: D ILY COUGAR THE DA

T THEOD: A

Don’t forget to follow Cougar sports at thedailycougar.com/sports

COU G

ILY COU G

Click on “Write a letter” at thedailycougar.com