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THE DAILY COUGAR thedailycougar.com
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MVP collects and packages donations for millitary personnel MVP will be collecting personal letters of encouragement and nonperishable snacks, drinks, toiletries and face towels to donate to our military men and women. Donations should be dropped off in the MVP office located in the UC Underground. “I have some brothers in the armed forces and that’s what really inspired me,”said MVP volunteer coordinator Jeremy Rollings. “I wanted to do something to give back to them and in talking to them I realized care packages and letters would help lift the spirit of the troops.” The letters and care packages will be packaged from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 22 in the UC Underground. If you are interested, please show your support and gratitude by contacting Jeremy Rollings and the MVP staff in the MVP office. — Jasmine Umenyi/The Daily Cougar
STAFF
Michael Lawrence was appointed as the interim vice chancellor and interim vice president for student affairs by President Renu Khator. Lawrence has been a student affairs administrator for more than three decades. He served five years in his last position as vice president for student development at Nazareth College in N.Y. before retiring. Other positions in his resume include his tenure as both assistant dean of life and director of housing and residence life at Southern Methodist University and the dean of students at Keuka College in Keuka Park, N.Y. Lawrence will serve until a replacement is found. A search for the position is beginning immediately and is expected to take no longer than six months. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
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It’s a partly cloudy party up in this week.
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March 21, 2011 Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.
Taylor’s passing shocks UH Service is tomorrow for nineyear head swimming coach John Brannen
THE DAILY COUGAR Tragedy struck the UH community with the sudden passing of head swimming coach Mark Taylor. He suffered an apparent heart attack in Austin on Friday while he was attending the NCAA Championships to support the two UH divers at the meet. “He cared about everyone around him so much,” senior swimmer Andrea Kells said. “He would do anything for his swimmers
and the people he worked with. “He was a good person and a good role model to have as a swimmer and as a friend. In his nine seasons at UH, Taylor, 50, led the Cougars to seven top-30 finishes at the NCAA meet, with the most recent being a 17th! Head swimming coach Mark Taylor place finish in 2009 His .511 winning had just completed percentage makes him his ninth season. the winningest swim coach in program history. He ranked second among UH coaches in dual-meets with 45
wins. He was awarded the Conference USA coach of the year in 2009, after he helped guide UH to a second place finish at the conference meet. Upon graduating from high school, Taylor’s career aspiration was to one day coach swimming. He graduated from Arizona State in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation management. Taylor continued his education, earning a master’s degree in physical education from the University in December of 2010. Between 1994-1998 he worked as an TAYLOR continues on page 7
THU
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Housing upgrades increase prices Summer renovations in two dormitories Edgar Veliz
THE DAILY COUGAR
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Interim Vice President for Student Affairs name, Lawrence
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Issue 113, Volume 76
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EVENTS A.I. Lack Series A.I. Lack Series Recital Hear and Now SOLI Chamber Ensemble. Works by Gardner, Heuser and Messaien. Presented in collaboration with the Tenneco Lecture Series. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in Dudley Recital Hall. Free Admission. Warehouse Live Concert today at 7 p.m. with Of Mice and Men headlining. Other artists include Woe Is Me and I Set My Friends On Fire. Tickets are $15.
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As part of UH’s goal to reach the status of a residential campus and Tier One, renovations at the Moody Towers are scheduled to commence at the end of the semester. The proposed $3 million budget will provide new movable furniture, paint, flooring, window treatment and micro-fridges in every room. The renovations are scheduled to take three months starting on May 15. “We have a specific window of opportunity,” said Javier Hidalgo, associate director of operation at Residential Life and Housing. “This window is critical to get the most bang for your buck.” Residents should also expect changes in the lounges and bathrooms. The bathrooms will include new lighting fixtures, stalls and sink counters. Hidalgo said the concerns students raised to him at numerous forums were addressed, such as elevator repairs and the aesthetics of the rooms. “The nature of the buildings lend themselves to certain things and not MOODY continues on page 10
The paintball team was invited to a Florida tournament in April and needs donations to travel to represent UH for the first time. | Courtesy Steven Schade
CLUB SPORTS
First-time team needs funds Paintball group looks for sponsors for April competition Lauren Mathis
THE DAILY COUGAR Students of the First Year University of Houston Cougar Paintball Club are trying to raise funds for an April tournament. The National Collegiate Paintball Association tournament starts April 15 in Lakeland, Florida. “The Cougar Paintball Club was founded in the fall of 2010,” said Steven Schade, program coordinator for sports club. “It’s the fifteenth sports club at UH.” Hotel and restaurant management junior Anthony Galvan is both founder and captain for the club. He looks forward to the upcoming competition. “On average, 50 college teams attend nationals,” Galvan said. “It is an NCPA
Nationals Tournament, which means all the teams are composed of full time students in their particular school team. Colleges such as TCU, Georgia Tech, Baylor, UNT, University of Texas and Texas A&M are among the few attending.” Galvan has high hopes for the UH team’s success. “I’m excited about the tournament,” Galvan said. “It’s the NCPA Nationals; most of the colleges that have a team participate in this tournament. We have a good team and we know that we can go to nationals and strongly represent UH.” Galvan’s confidence about the tournament is due to a recent regional game. “We participated in our first regional NCPA tournament against colleges such as Texas A&M, Sam Houston University, Baylor University and UNT,” Galvan said. “We placed first among all the teams in attendance and also received an invitation to attend the NCPA PAINTBALL continues on page 3