Coogs Choose 2020

ISSUE 39 // April 2020

Le er from the editor

Hi everyone!

I hope during this time you all are taking care of yourselves. It can be difficult to adjust to a shift in classes and environment, as well as the global change and worry. It can be hard to manage all the different stresses that come as a result, and we hope that the situation gets better soon.

This edition was a compilation of the votes for all the best of Houston and campus. With everything going on, we still wanted to give students and staff who are still on campus something fresh to pick up and read.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out for any comments, questions, or feedback at cooglife@thedailycougar. com We are always looking to hear from our readers!

Please stay safe and healthy!

Love, Ambarina Zenab

Cougar Classifieds

BULLETIN

Head Lifeguards/Managers

Apply online at https://aquaticadvisors.net/ lifeguard

Aquatic Advisors, Inc. is looking for Head Guards to manage neighborhood swimming facilities. Ranging from 25 meter pools to Water Park style pools. We have positions available in the following areas: Humble, Spring, Memorial. and Sugar Land/

Required:

- Must be 18 years or older

- Must have previous experience lifeguarding

- Must have reliable transportation

Responsibilities:

- Open and Closing facility

- Managing facility staff

- Provide a safe environment for all patrons

- Provide a high level of customer service

Apply online at https://aquaticadvisors.net/ lifeguard

HELP WANTED

Hiring Entry Level Office Assistant at PsyMed Inc (7505 Fannin) for scanning and general office work. 10-20 hrs/week. Flexible schedule. $10 /hr + scanning bonus. Email resume to venette.westhoven@ psymedhealth.com or call 214-348-5557.

Best Live Music Venue House of Blues

This concert hall offers various shows at affordable prices. They have a full bar and plenty of space for you and friends to enjoy your favorite artist. The Houston venue is located on Caroline Street.

Best Driving Range Top Golf

The nearest location to campus is on Memorial Brook Boulevard, it is a bit of a drive but well worth it. After the commute, get in gear for some longrange target practice.

Best Karaoke St. Danes

Located on Elgin Street, it’s an excellent place to explore your inner musician with a night of drinks and karaoke.

Best Club Grooves

Want a night out? Grooves is definitely the move. Dance the night away with live entertainment and a couple of your best buds! They also have a full kitchen so not only will you leave with a good time but also a happy tummy!

Best LGBTQ Bar Blur

Enjoy the nightlife in style at this LGBT-friendly bar. All are welcome to dance the night away in good company, located on Pacific Street.

Best Bowling Alley Student Center Games Room

You don’t have to look far for the best Houston-area bowling alley, on the bottom floor of Student Center South. Enjoy a night out bowling with friends without having to trek far.

Food and Drink

Best Burger The Burger Joint

This restaurant boasts a variety of burgers, each made with entirely fresh ingredients, as well as a couple of vegetarian options. They have a frequently present food truck on campus with a limited menu. For students that crave the full menu, the nearest location to campus is on Montrose Boulevard.

Best Chicken Wings Pluckers

This Austin-based restaurant has a vast menu with several wing flavors and cocktails. The nearest location to campus is on Shepherd Drive.

Best Local Brew St. Arnolds

This brewery offers a variety of craft beers as well as scheduled tours of the facility. Located on Lyons Avenue, they have several featured events for patron’s enjoyment.

Best Ramen Jinya

Any student that is a fan of ramen can visit this restaurant for a fantastic meal. The location closest to campus is on Louisiana Street.

Best Bar/Pub Under

the Radar

No need to travel far for this bar, located on Truxillo Street. A great place to enjoy a few cocktails and good company.

=location nearest to campus is on South Wilcrest Drive.

Best Pizza

Pinks Pizza

With the nearest location being right here on campus, it is hard not to love this premium pizza parlor. Grab a slice on Calhoun Road.

Best BBQ Gatlin’s BBQ

As Texans, we love our BBQ. If you’re in the mood for some finger-lickin good bbq, head out to Gatlin’s BBQ to demolish some brisket and ribs!

Best Crawfish Swamp Shack

If you’re in the mood for some smacking crawfish, head over to Swamp Shack! Enjoy some live music while satisfying your cravings for the best crawfish in the Houston area.

Best Halal M&M Grill

With countless halal options in the Houston area, M&M grill is the closest one to campus! Whether you want to grab a kebab plate or a nice juicy burger in between those killer biology classes, M&M has you covered. There’s something for everyone, it won’t disappoint.

Best Pho Pho Saigon

On those rainy days (and trust me there’s alot), Pho hits the spot differently. Head over to your favorite place to slurp and munch on a warm, delicious bowl of pho! They have vegetarian options too!

Photo Courtesy of St. Arnolds

Photo Courtesy of Velvet Taco

Best Taco

Velvet Taco

This newand popular Dallas-based chain with its nearest location to campus on Westheimer Road has a large menu of different tacos with a variety of meats and vegetarian options. It’s a favorite of The Cougar’s editors.

Best Off-Campus Lunch

Les Givral’s

Getting off campus after a bad grade (or to celebrate a good test grade) is always the move! Les Givral’s is the place to be! They offer authentic vietnamese cuisine that include sandwiches, pho, and much much more! It definitely won’t break the bank either.

Best Tex-Mex

Uncle Julio’s

Sometimes, a big meal of tex mex is all we need to fix our souls! Uncle Julio offers the best plate of anything from tacos all the way to fajitas! Don’t forget to order their chocolate pinata, it’ll wash away all your worries.

Best Cupcakes

Crave Cupcakes

We all need a quick “pick me up” sometimes. Crave

cupcakes offer a variety of different cupcakes that are bound to catch your eye. They have seasonal cupcakes depending on the occasion. You can also create your own cupcake decor! It will definitely fulfil your sweet tooth.

Best Coffee Shop

The Nook

An always bustling coffee shop located on “The Strip,” has lots of cozy couches and seating for you to meet with friends while enjoying plenty of coffee options.

Best Margaritas

Lopez Mexican Restaurant

Margaritas are best served with Mexican food on the side. The location nearest to campus is on South Wilcrest Drive.

Besst Vegan

Lindiana’s Southern Vegan Kitchen

Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, Lindiana’s southern vegan kitchen has something for you! Besides the impeccable presentation, the cuisine is to die for! Great options for everyone to devour.

Best Record Music Store

Sigs Lagoon

This record store is located on Main Street. A great environment for students that are interested in the warm sound of analog music.

Best Smoke/Vape Shop

Vape

Lair

The perfect place to enhance the vape lifestyle. You can get recommendations and try samples of the latest and greatest products. The location on Westheimer Road is the most convenient in proximity to campus.

Third Planet Sci-Fi Superstore

If you’re in the market for vintage comics and/ or collectibles, Third Planet located right off of the highway is the place you need to be! It has a vast array of comic books, sci-fi, and fantasy books and it’s not too shabby for a college student’s budget!

Lifestyle

Best Bike Shop Planetary Cycling

This massive 9000 square-foot bike shop in southwest Houston has all you need to transition your commute from car to bicycle, or get gear for a trek through nature.

Best Resale Shop Buffalo Exchange

With its Houston location just off South Shepherd Drive, this hip resale shop has a wide selection of trendy clothing and accessories.

Photo courtesy of Sigs Lagoon

Best Tattoo Shop

Bold and Brave Tattoo

Tattoos are a popular means of selfexpression. This studio is located on El Camino Real, so you need not travel far from campus to express yourself.

Photo Courtesy of Bold and Brave

Best Place to Watch UH Away Games

Moody Dining Hall

A level 1 certified green restaurant right here on campus that offers a diverse array of dishes to enjoy while watching an intense sporting event.

Best Place to Exercise Campus Recreation

This is the place to go for your student fitness needs. The center offers a variety of activities such as wall climbing and group fitness classes.

Best Place to Work On-Campus Campus Recreation

The home of UH student fitness hosts job fairs throughout the year for a plethora of positions.

Students can work anything from lifeguards to desk assistants.

Best Place to Study MD Anderson Library

This one might be too obvious, right? Located in the heart of campus UH’s main library has eight floors of study spaces, computers and leisure reading areas for any of your needs. Students can check out private rooms for those critical study sessions.

Photo by Kathryn Lenihan

Best On-Campus Hangout The Nook

An always bustling coffee shop located on “The Strip,” has lots of cozy couches and seating for you to meet with friends while enjoying plenty of coffee options.

Photo by Kathryn Lenihan

Best Student Athlete

Fabian White Jr.

The junior forward took it up a notch this season averaging 9.3 points per game on an overall young team men’s basketball team. While the team’s season was cut short, White had an impactful year.

Best Student Organization

Anime Club

Any student interested in Japanese culture and animation can join this active group that meets twice a week. The club has a schedule on its Facebook that shows it watches together every semester.

Student Life

Best Sorority

Alpha Kappa Alpha

UH’s Epsilon Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority began in 1969 with just six women. Recently, soror Chelsea Lawson was named homecoming queen in November.

Best Fraternity

Alpha Sigma Phi

One of UH’s newest fraternities Alpha Sigma Phi was established in fall 2015. The national chapter began in 1845 and is one of the oldest fraternities in the nation.

Best Professor

Irene Guenther

Best Student Leader

Ailin Fei

Best Academic Adviser

Jeremy Dafoe HRM

Best TA

Rebecca Cardone, Political Science

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The University of Houston College of Technology inspires ingenuity and equips the future’s industry leaders with the applied knowledge and skills needed to be at the forefront of evolving technologies. Every bachelor’s and master’s degree program is designed to prepare students for dynamic, successful careers.

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CONNECT WITH US

Best On-Campus Residence Hall

Cougar Village

II

This freshman-only residence hall is almost identical to Cougar Village I, but edged it out for student’s favorite residence hall. The residence hall is located next to Moody Towers Dining Commons, making dining a short walk away.

Best Resident Adviser Justin A. CV2 2nd Floor

Photo by Lino Sandil

Photo Courtesy of The Icon

Best Off-Campus Apartment The Icon Student Apartments

Located just off campus near the softball field, this modern student apartment has modern amenities and runs specials throughout the year. The complex will add more beds in an expansion currently under construction.

The Cougar Cupboard: a university iniative to facilitate service and help to students in need

Busy schedules and extremely tight budgets are synonymous with college students—both of which can lead to food insecurity or the inability for students to have the resources needed for fueling their success in school.

To combat this, the University of Houston has teamed up with the Houston Food Bank’s Food for Change program to create the Cougar Cupboard, a food pantry aimed to help all undergrad and graduate students. “Food insecurity is associated with reduced academic performance and lower rates of degree completion,” said Richard Walker, UH vice president for student affairs and enrollment services in a written statement. “At UH, we believe sharp minds are powered by healthy bodies. We are committed to supporting not only the academic needs of our students, but even their most basic needs, including proper nutrition for those who are struggling.” Although no direct surveys have been taken from UH to have an accurate number of students suffering from food insecurity, other surveys have been conducted from other universities.

In the fall of 2018, nearly 86,000 students from 123

Story by Sofia Gonzalez

colleges and universities participated in the #RealCollege survey created by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. The survey looks at basic needs such as food security among college students, and they estimate 41% of four-year university students who responded to their survey are food insecure.

“Food insecurity is a large problem in higher education,” said Katherine Tong, Houston Food Bank’s economics partnership manager.

The Houston Food Bank partners with economic programs which are aimed at shortening the line at hunger relief charities by helping clients and families achieve financial stability. If an individual is participating in a job training, financial literacy or education program at one of Houston Food Bank’s economic partners, they are eligible for a food scholarship.

“The food is utilized to help the students by alleviating some of the stress around where food is going to come from and to decrease the amount of money that would’ve gone towards purchasing

food,” Tong said. “Now, that money can go towards paying tuition or paying for books and materials and all the expenses that come with pursuing a degree or pursuing education.”

Cougar Cupboard gives students the opportunity to take home 30 lbs. of free food every week. They provide produce, canned goods, dry goods, various snacks, tea, milk, desserts, frozen meats and household items, such as lightbulbs, diapers and paper towels for students. “This food pantry helps me take away my focus from finance and how I’m going to feed myself while studying,” said senior marketing major Leith McGuire. “It gives me the opportunity to access more nutritious foods. In the past, some weeks it may have only been ramen noodles, but with this pantry, I have access to all the nutritious foods that the city of Houston does.” In order to utilize the cupboard, students must first attend an orientation. They are held on Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m., or Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“During orientation we go over a quick PowerPoint, explaining what the pantry is and what the poundage limit is and other things like that,” said Cougar Cupboard’s student assistant Jessica Haney. “The students then fill out a few forms and we give them a card with their number on it, and they have to present it in order to use it.”

The Cougar Cupboard has already shown success, helping more than 250 students.

“It’s really great to see it coming together, with successful distributions and seeing students utilizing the Cougar Cupboard,” Tong said. “We’re also going to be introducing other services such as nutrition education. It’s really exciting for us to be able to support the UH community.”

The cupboard is open Mondays and Wednesdays 2-6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is located on the first floor of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in suite 1308.

Photos by Kathryn Lenihan

Native American identity in Houston: communities and their heritage

Story and photos by Katrina Martinez

There are an estimated 70,000 Native Americans who call Houston and its surrounding areas home, but there have been little to no services, centers or programs geared towards the needs of natives in the fourth largest city in the country.

To fill the void, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, which has about 400 of its 1,200 enrolled tribal members living around Houston, opened the new American Indian Center of Houston in late February. Their goal, to serve the underserved Native American population that lives in and around Houston. “They’ve been here,” said Nikki McDonald, the director of the new center and Tunica-Biloxi tribal member who has lived in the area for about 10 years. “They’ve asked for help. They haven’t been able to receive help. It’s almost kind of — I don’t want to say — a slap in the face, but there’s so many programs to help other communities, but I haven’t seen that program for

Native Americans yet.”

The center, which hopes to provide things like health services, mental health support, substance abuse rehabilitation, a fitness center, mentorship programs and community events in the future, was conceived after Tunica-Biloxi tribal councilmembers found Houston had such a large and underserved population of Native Americans.

“We started looking at what programs and services are available for Native Americans in the Houston area,” McDonald said. “There’s not really a whole lot. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America, and we have a population of 70,000 (natives). We have to do something about that.” McDonald hopes to grow the center into one like those in Dallas or Oklahoma, which both have large intertribal centers that have served natives for many years.

They have even partnered with the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, which is based out of Livingston, to provide more to the native community. The hope is to create a hub where all Native Americans can turn to for assistance and services, McDonald said.

Despite the size of the Native American population in southeast Texas, there are no native reservations and no subsequent services available, but this is nothing new to those who live here.

For instance, the closest office for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which aims to improve the quality of life, provide more economic opportunities and protect Native Americans, is in Anadarko, Oklahoma. That is about a 460-mile drive for Houston-area Native Americans.

Additionally, the Indian Health Service, whose mission is to “raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians,” does not have any facilities or area headquarters in the state of Texas. As an ethnicity according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Native Americans are most likely to lack

health insurance, to be diagnosed with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, second-most likely to suffer from mental health issues and the most likely to live in poverty. Yet these essential health and wellness programs are not universally available to Native Americans.

“We’re not from the res(ervation),” said Abuela M’api who is the Temachtiani, or guide, of the Houston Aztec Dance group. “We’re generationally here from Texas, and Texas has never had BIA here or Indian Health services.”

Cultural resurgence

While the American Indian Center of Houston works to improve the livelihoods of Native Americans, the Houston Aztec Dance group, or Calmecac Tonantzin Yolilitzyotl, aims to unite the native peoples and encourage a resurgence of native culture and traditions.

The Calmecac is a group of about 40 people who meet regularly, practice traditional Aztec dances and ceremonies and showcase their heritage throughout

the city of Houston.

Most recently on Feb. 22 the group had the First Wind Ceremony, or Primer Viento, which was to honor Cuauhtémoc, the last Mexica-Aztec tlatoani-leader. As part of the ceremony, they burned sap, sounded conch shells, played the drums and performed traditional dances in Buffalo Bayou Park as a group.

Houston Aztec Dance is inclusive in the sense that not only did they allow park-goers to spectate their ceremony, they also allowed them to take part at the end of the ceremony.

The group was started by Abuela M’api, who trained under elders in Mexico and brought the practices back to Houston to share with those who wanted to learn. She has even brought group members to schools to perform for and educate kids about Aztecan traditions. “I was basically being assimilated into American culture and not being told anything other than I was Mexican-American,” Abuela M’api said. “I was really disconnected from my roots in Mexico. I was disconnected from my indigenous lineage here in Texas, and we were just being raised Hispanic.”

Identifying as indigenous

For people like Abuela M’api, who was raised as a Mexican-American despite her indigenous lineage, it is common not to identify as Native American, which can make it difficult to get an accurate estimate of the native population.

For instance, by the U.S. Census standards, there are roughly about 11,000 Native Americans in the Houston area, according to Mark Fossett, the executive director of the Federal Statistical Research Data Center in College Station.

But McDonald’s estimate of 70,000 is a “more inclusive definition of Native American,” which is better in some cases but not how the Census operates, according to Fossett.

“Many, many people have significant claims to Native American ancestry and heritage,” Fossett said. “But only some of them will identify as Native American in the Census.”

Member of the Houston Aztec Dance group and 2005 UH alumnus Jason Colunga said he was never given

the opportunity to learn about his indigenous heritage. To protect him from the treatment they received when they were younger, Colunga said his parents chose not to teach him to speak Spanish or much about his indigenous heritage.

As a Latino, Colunga said he is Native American because his family is indigenous to North America and has found a way to celebrate that heritage by dancing in the Calmecac.

“Our people, they come from all over the Americas,” Colunga said. “There’s been such a disconnect and that’s something that we don’t get taught much in public schools, even some colleges really gloss over it.”

Colunga wishes UH would do more to educate students about Native American heritage and believes inter-tribal organizations would be a great start.

“I think having a group like (the Calmecac) on campus is a great way to unite people,” Colunga said. “Even

though it may be different tribes, we’re all a part of the same culture. No matter what part of the Americas, there’s a lot to be shared and learned throughout.”

The University has seen a near 50 percent loss of enrolled Native Americans in the last 10 years, which is not necessarily representative of the surrounding community. Fossett said despite the indigenous population being a small one in the Houston area, he doesn’t expect the number to change very much with the upcoming 2020 Census.

This means, although the number of Native Americans in the Houston area are expected to remain the same, UH is still losing significant amounts of Native American enrollment. Colunga feels this can be detrimental to those who hope to learn more about their heritage when they go to college.

“For those students that aren’t a part of (cultural groups), it’s something that stays lost,” Colunga said.

Replacing every tree would cost the University $16 million

Story by Michael Slaten | Photo from Pexels

On hot summer days, University students to stay cool are often seen zigzagging between one area of shade provided by a tree to another, as they trek across campus

to get to classes or rest on a bench.

THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE presents,

THE DEAN’S AWARD

“You’re not going to get shade in one spot forever,” said accounting sophomore Akayla Williams, who sat under a tree on a warm afternoon at the University. “It’s all about the scenery though.”

To promote service to the University of Houston by recognizing students for their outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life through service, leadership and spirit.

Online applications are available on the Campus Programs website at: WWW.UH.EDU/CSI/

CAMPUS-PROGRAMS/CLR/

For more information call: 832.842.6183

CRITERIA INCLUDE:

• Demonstrated significant service and/or leadership; ethusiasm

• Minimum 3.0 GPA; enrollment in at least 9 hours

• Junior or Senior classification at the University of Houston

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 10, 2020

Staying cool in the heat can be a valuable, if fleeting reason to have trees on campus, but their value to the University goes beyond that. Replacing every tree on campus would cost the University more than $16 million, according to the Campus Tree Inventory published by the Office of Sustainability. The office makes prudent efforts to ensure trees stay a part of campus scenery, because of their aesthetic and economic benefits.

The dollar value of trees comes from several factors. Trees on campus raise the value of real estate, clean the air, reduce stormwater runoff and lower the University’s electricity bill.

Sustainability Manager Michael Mendoza said the Office of Sustainability is always working with other campus departments to ensure that trees lost to construction, or major storm events, are replaced.

“Keeping green space at the front

of campus conversation, when we are talking about construction or development, is important,” Mendoza said.

The University replaces every caliper-inch, the diameter of a tree’s trunk measured six inches above the ground, of trees that had to be cut down due to construction.

Parking Garage 5 had 1,000 caliper-inches of trees lost to build it, Mendoza said. To make up for it, 250 trees will be planted elsewhere on campus.

The University is a designated Tree Campus USA institution by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation. To receive that designation, UH has to have a tree policy and plant at least one tree every year.

In celebration of Texas Arbor Day this November, the University will plant 200 trees around campus, with an additional 200 to be planted next spring.

Mitigating flooding

Part of the value trees bring to campus is that they mitigate flooding, Mendoza said. To combat campus flooding problems, the University is working on a stormwater management plan that will incorporate, grasses, trees and bioswales.

Bioswales are ditches alongside roads with plants in them that contain stormwater runoff.

Mendoza said while trees do catch rain on their leaves

and then absorb water into their roots, they aren’t as effective as bioswales and prairie grasses.

Major flooding events strike Houston almost yearly, posing a risk to campus trees unable to weather the storms.

Campus trees mitigates nearly 15 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually, according to the Campus Tree Inventory. Almost 80 percent of that is thanks to oak trees, which is the most common type of tree across campus.

“We tend to be losing trees at a faster rate than we have historically,” Mendoza said.

The Office of Sustainability tries to replace any trees lost to storms, but the budget to replace trees is based on what has been spent in the past as more trees are being lost on campus.

That, Mendoza said, makes it difficult to find the budget to replace every tree lost to storms.

Mendoza said it’s critical for the University to continue to learn how to balance creating a natural feel and a sense of place to a campus in an urban environment.

“I hope that as the campus continues to grow, we don’t continue to lose green space and lose trees,” Mendoza said.