Issue 78, Volume 75 by The Cougar

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The track and field teams take their act to New Mexico Monday, January 25, 2010

Issue 78, Volume 75

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Sumlin, Khator receive extensions Board approves contract extensions, delays raise for president

By Sarah Raslan THE DAILY COUGAR The UH System Board of Regents unanimously approved contract extensions for Chancellor and UH President Renu Khator and head football coach Kevin Sumlin at a special session Friday.

Khator received a two-year extension that keeps her at UH through 2013. Her base salary will remain $425,000. Sumlin, who is 18-9 in two seasons at UH, was awarded a new six-year deal that retains his services through 2015. The contract, which was announced last Monday, includes $6.8 million in guaranteed compensation. “Retention is very important,” Board of Regents Chairman Welcome Wilson Sr. said. “The

coach has been successful in the two years that he has been here, and we want to make sure we are able to retain him.” J Wilson Sr. Wilson said that the last two football seasons were impressive and that the Board came to the conclusion that Sumlin “deserved a substantial adjustment in

compensation.” Sumlin, who made $700,000 in 2009, is now the third-highest paid coach in Conference USA behind Southern Methodist’s June Jones ($2 million) and Central Florida’s George O’Leary ($1.15 million). “He is a good coach, a great person, and we are delighted that we can extend his contract,” Khator said. Wilson added that Sumlin’s method of emphasizing academic progress is part of the UH tradition.

“The University of Houston is better than average in terms of the graduation rate and the grades of our athletes,” Wilson said. “We have a tradition to be proud of, and it’s only going to get bigger and better under Sumlin.” Wilson had similar praise for Khator. “After she had been here one year, the Board of Regents was extremely pleased with her see REGENTS, page 3

Greeks begin recruitment Fraternities and sororities will promote friendship, charity J

By Josh Malone THE DAILY COUGAR

VOLTAIRE ARCHELUS THE DAILY COUGAR

Help for Haiti

he UH chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held their “food off my plate” relief drive Tuesday, accepting food and canned goods for Haiti on Tuesday in front of the University Center. Business sophomore Gino Collins, bottom right, contributed as one of many cash donators. As of Monday, the death toll from the Haiti earthquake, which registered 7.0 on the Richter scale, had risen to more than 150,000, according to a Haitian government minister.

With the start of the spring semester, fraternities and sororities across UH are recruiting prospective members with promises of camaraderie, selfimprovement and a lot of fun. But not every student is convinced. “I’ve thought about joining, but it’s not for me,” accounting senior Nathan Lovell said. “I don’t think I can spare the time with class, and if it’s just partying all the time, then I don’t think I’m missing much.” Matthew Marett, a member of UH’s Sigma Chi chapter, is aware of the criticism but contends that these are stereotypes that misrepresent Greek life. “Pop culture has painted fraternities as slackers and partiers with movies like Animal House, but it’s a perception that overshadows all the good work we do,” Marett said. “Because being in a fraternity naturally builds confidence, others will see us as cocky or overzealous. It’s not true at all.” Marett is an active recruiter for the Interfraternity Council, one of four Greek councils that together house more than 35 fraternities and sororities at UH. Many of these groups will be scouring the UH campus through this week attempting to attract as many new pledges as possible. Marett said the objective of all these organizations is friendship, responsibility and charity. “Fraternities are for people

looking for a deeper experience in education,” he said. “It’s for creating strong bonds and relationships, and for the support structure that gives you someone to turn to for any problem. It’s about being a better citizen and for gaining a respect for your fellow human.” Fraternities and sororities at UH encompass many different cultures and faiths. Alpha Psi Lambda and Omega Psi Phi are well-known fraternities for serving the Hispanic and African-American communities, respectively, while Sigma Pi prides itself on being the most culturally diverse on campus. The IFC requires at least 200 hours of community service from each of its chapters, and nearly every fraternity has a primary charity or cause for philanthropy. Delta Epsilon Psi members are required to complete at least 20 hours of community service. Sigma Chi’s UH chapter recently donated $1,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals. According to Marett, it’s the largest sum any UH organization has donated to the charity. However, for a university with only 12 percent of students living on campus, some students are uninterested in remaining on campus after classes to participate in extracurricular activities because it can result in a longer commute. Kathy Adolfsson, a management information systems junior, said she hasn’t joined a sorority because it takes her an hour to get home, and she would not be able to stay longer than she has to for see FRATERNITY, page 10

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Monday, January 25, 2010

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TODAY Interview Workshop: 1-2:30 p.m., Student Service Center 1, first floor. Interview skills are the most important job search skills you can learn. In this workshop, you will learn how to prepare for the next interview. Campus, behavioral, and second round interviews will be discussed. For more information, call 713-743-5100 and visit www.career.uh.edu Campus Recruitment Workshop: 5:45-7 p.m., Student Service Center 1, first floor. Completion of a Campus Recruitment Workshop is required to participate in campus recruitment or on-campus interviews. Learn how to identify which employers are interviewing for full time, career level and internship positions and how to request those interviews. Attendance at a CRW the semester before you wish to interview is recommended, as there are rolling deadlines beginning early in the fall and spring semesters. For more information, call 713-7435100 and visit www.career.uh.edu

CO R R E C T I O N S J

Guest recital: 7:30-9 p.m., Fine Arts Building, Dudley Recital Hall. Brent Phillips will play the trombone. This event is free to the public. For more information, visit the Moores School of Music’s Web site at http://www. music.uh.edu

TUESDAY Campus Recruitment Workshop: 5-6:30 p.m., Student Service Center 1, first floor. Completion of a Campus Recruitment Workshop is required to participate in campus recruitment or on-campus interviews. Learn how to identify which employers are interviewing for full time, career level and internship positions and how to request those interviews. Attendance at a CRW the semester before you wish to interview is recommended, as there are rolling deadlines beginning early in the fall and spring semesters. For more information, call 713-7435100 and visit www.career.uh.edu

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ABOUT 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.

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NEWS

The Daily Cougar

Monday, January 25, 2010

Cards still in circulation for scholarship Professor encourages student participation in collecting, trading

By Darlene Campos THE DAILY COUGAR Last semester, a new program began on campus called Cougar Trading Cards. Cougar Cards are a way to encourage students to attend and promote the various events going on around the campus. When a student attends a Cougar Card event, one or more Cougar Cards are given out. Once a certain amount of cards are collected, the student can redeem them for a prize. Prizes include anything from material items to scholarships towards their education right

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REGENTS continued from page 1

here at UH. Cougar Cards contain a photo on the front and descriptive information on the back. The cards include alumni, students, faculty members, regents members, and athletic coaches. According to instructional chemistry professor and director of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising Simon Bott, there are many different rewards to be reached. Bott said there are 55 different cards and when a student collects 15 cards, they get a poster. When they collect 25, they get a T-shirt. Once they have 40 cards, they are entered into a weekly drawing for prizes. “Prizes have included UH apparel, signed memorabilia and certificates for a UH Class ring. Once a student collects

all 55 cards, they win a $1000 scholarship,” Bott said. In the fall semester, one student collected all 55 Cougar Cards and won the $1,000 scholarship. The number of scholarship winners has now grown. “We have now had five scholarship winners. There are a lot more scholarships to be won,” Bott said. Ways to collect the Cougar Cards vary. For example, students can get cards through athletic events, concerts, plays, workshops, and student groups. Students can also get cards for going to advising or tutoring at Learning Support Services and the Center for Academic Ssupport and Assessment. Some faculty members have given them out to student for earning A’s on tests.

Bott encourages students to start collecting the cards. “The program is continuing this semester with the same set of cards so it’s not too late to start collecting cards now,” Bott said. All scholarships won by students will be subject to all regulations of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Scholarships won by students will be applied for either the Spring or Fall 2010 semesters. In order to collect their prizes, students either must turn in their collected cards temporarily or have their cards punched, according to the Cougar Card web site. The complete list of Cougar Cards events and information is located at www.uh.edu/ tradingcards.

performance. She had electrified the campus,” Wilson said. “She is known throughout the world in academic circles. She is considered a superstar. The Board of Regents considers her a superstar. “She has really made a great contribution to the University of Houston.” Wilson said that Khator requested that she not receive a raise until pay increases are granted to the rest of the faculty. Wilson, however, said that Khator deserves a raise. “I personally feel that a significant salary increase is overdue, but — at her request — we are not considering a raise at this time,” Wilson said in a release.

news@thedailycougar.com

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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

OPINION EDITOR Alan Dennis

E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com

COMING TUESDAY: What was Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting legacy?

ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion

THE DAILY COUGAR

EDITORIAL CARTOON

EDITORIAL BOARD Ronnie Turner, Editor in Chief Matthew Keever, Managing editor Patricia Estrada, News editor Hiba Adi, News editor Phillipe Craig, Sports editor Robert Higgs, Sports editor Travis Hensley, Life & Arts editor Jarrod Klawinsky, Life & Arts editor Alan Dennis, Opinion editor

STAFF EDITORIAL

Court judgment places responsibility in our hands

RICHARD HITE JR. THE DAILY COUGAR

GUEST COMMENTARY

MLK would be proud of change in society On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. made famous the words “I have a dream” in his speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for civil rights. King saw 1963 as a beginning, but Linda in the year 2010 we Reed still count many accomplishments as new beginnings. For example, the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the first U.S. president of African ancestry gives us all a fresh start. African-American historian and scholar John Hope Franklin called the election of Obama to the presidency the most historically significant American election of all time. However, we must be reminded that Obama’s election could not have occurred without the political doors that were opened by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Along with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act brought to the political table numerous African-American leaders, resulting in the creation of the Congressional Black Caucus — AfricanAmerican leaders in numerous states

who have given a voice to the working class, women and the poor of diverse persuasions. If King could see America under Obama’s leadership, he would probably attribute such a feat to the activism of the leaders before and of his time. He would understand that their sacrifices to the movement have not been in vain, and he would not be surprised by Obama’s election, because King understood the hope of the future when he said, “One day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.” King would be pleased that Obama’s worldview is leading us in the direction of peace despite the steady aggression of terrorists. He certainly would be pleased that another African-American had received the Nobel Peace Prize. I believe that if King could see us now, he would be happy about the success of African-American college graduates. He would seek out UH, which has one of the most culturally diverse student bodies in the U.S., to ask why is it that so many other college campuses do not

seem to achieve a similarly diverse student population. King would be pleased that a Hispanic woman, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, now serves on the Supreme Court. He would remind us that he was serious when he dreamed that Americans “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by (the) content of their character.” King would be most pleased that an African-American made such an accomplishment possible. However, King would probably not be pleased by the high number of AfricanAmericans who are incarcerated. The fact that a greater number of African-American males are imprisoned than are attending college would bring him despair. King would also be discouraged by the high number of African-American males who are unemployed during this economic recession. King had two daughters and a wife whom he dearly loved, and he would be pleased that Coretta Scott King kept his see MLK, page 5

Bomber shows security not so secure An attempted terrorist attack aboard a U.S.-bound flight on Christmas Day resulted in heightened airport security and severe restrictions on airline passengers around the country. Patrick Officials at the U.S. Embassy Levy in Nigeria were warned in November that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect behind the attempted airplane bombing, “had become radicalized, broken ties with (his) family, and might be in Yemen,” according to the New York Daily News. Subsequently, Abdulmutallab was placed on the U.S. government’s Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment list — a database containing information on more than 500,000 potential terrorists — but not on the Transportation Security Administration’s “No-Fly” list. Had Abdulmutallab’s name been on

the No-Fly list, he would have been barred from boarding the plane. Furthermore, if Abdulmutallab had been placed on the TSA’s “Selectee” list, he would also have been subjected to a body search, which would have likely turned up the explosives sewn into his underpants. Another major error came in how Abdulmutallab’s visa was processed. Visa processing is handled by the State Department and is enforced by the Department of Homeland Security. A CNN article reported that Abdulmutallab had obtained a regular visitor’s visa with a two-year expiration from the U.S. Embassy in London in June 2008. The visa process is the first set of security guidelines to be adhered to by foreign nationals, followed by airport security. Next comes port-of-entry screening, which comes after planes land and is,

admittedly, far too late. Ultimately, passengers with no affiliation to the TSA subdued Abdulmutallab upon realizing what he was attempting to do. Despite the glaring security holes, what came next was much more troubling. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, in an interview with ABC News, said, “Once the incident occurred, the system worked like clockwork.” Napolitano went on to say, “The traveling public is very, very safe.” Rather than acknowledge a monumental failure, Napolitano shrugged off the facts and made dangerously erroneous statements. According to Napolitano, the U.S. government never had “information that would put (Abdulmutallab) on a No-Fly see SECURITY, page 5

he Supreme Court sent shockwaves throughout the political world with Thursday’s landmark decision to strike down laws that regulate the amount of money that corporations can donate to individuals’ campaigns. Thursday’s ruling, which declared that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 violated free speech rights, also gave corporations free reign to spend as much as they want to endorse or contest candidates for president and Congress. Therefore, expect a larger-than-usual influx of corporate cash to flow into campaigns during the next several months as members of the House and Senate prepare for what many anticipate to be hotly contested midterm elections. That also means there will be an increase in the number of annoying political advertisements shown on television. People will probably have a harder time sorting the truth from misrepresentation. Many people have already voiced their frustration over the Supreme Court’s ruling through blogs and message boards. Many others have shown support for the decision. But perhaps this ruling will prove to be beneficial in the long run. It might help motivate people to actually learn about candidates and their platforms before heading to the polls, and it may force candidates to campaign harder since they will have less control over the messages that are conveyed. The general electorate doesn’t spend enough time studying the candidates and the issues leading up to the day of the election, often relying on word-ofmouth when it comes to making their decisions. Some people simply vote for the candidate they like the most. Candidates do as much as they can to make themselves likable to the public, even if it means playing more to the crowd instead of taking a strong stance on the issues. Some of them simply play on people’s ignorance. This might become harder to do if people were motivated to become informed about the issues. The increase in corporate spending in campaigns will give people all kinds of messages to sort through. One can only hope that people will do more of their own research instead of relying on advertisements as their primary source for information.

E D I TO R I A L P O L I C Y 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) 7435384. 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.

OPINION

The Daily Cougar

Monday, January 25, 2010

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MLK continued from page 4

dream alive until her death in 2006. On womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues, he would be disappointed that American women have not yet achieved equal pay. Perhaps he would wonder why there are such a large number of households in some of our communities that are headed by women, especially since their pay rate is disproportionate to that of men. As a person concerned for all Americans, King, if he could see us now, would not like it that approximately 50 percent of African-American youth cannot find employment, even during the summer months when they are not in school. If King could see us now, he would find more things to be excited and pleased about than disappointed in. Ultimately, since he was a man of very strong faith, King would still see so much hope in the progress that the U.S. has made in its stride to be a democracy for its entire people. His faith and hope would push for greater things to come, because there is always room for improvement. As the words to the old negro spiritual â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Are Climbing Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladderâ&#x20AC;? hinted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every round goes higher, higher.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153; THOSE WHO PROFESS TO FAVOR FREEDOM, AND YET DEPRECIATE AGITATION, ARE MEN WHO WANT RAIN

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FREDERICK DOUGLASS AMERICAN ABOLITIONIST, AUTHOR, ORATOR (1817-1895)

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This thought about free speech is brought to you by

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Send letters to the editor to letters@thedailycougar.com Send guest columns to opinion@thedailycougar.com

Hey, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening? Check the Campus Calendar at thedailycougar.com

Linda Reed is an associate professor of American history and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

SECURITY

Me s s ag e t o t h e C a m p u s C o m m u n i t y

continued from page 4

list.â&#x20AC;? That statement could not be more inaccurate. The government had ample information to place Abdulmutallab on a watch list â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a warning issued by his own father, his connections within Yemen and his influence from various radical groups. Some believe Napolitano was referring to the way in which different government agencies worked together in the wake of the incident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the comment is being taken out of context,â&#x20AC;? Napolitano said in a different interview with NBC News. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m saying is, once the incident occurred, moving forward, we were immediately able to notify the 128 flights in the air of protective measures to take, immediately able to notify law enforcement on the ground.â&#x20AC;? Napolitano is mistaken. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Department of Homeland Securityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job to spread information following a terrorist attack, but also to prevent attacks before they happen. Napolitano tried to take credit even though the government failed to do its job, and it rightly caused controversy. The only reason the â&#x20AC;&#x153;system workedâ&#x20AC;? is because the explosive material failed to explode. Time, money and manpower need to be more efficiently allocated in order to correct troubled data systems and international lines of communication, so that innocent bystanders arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forced to commit unnecessary acts of heroism to prevent terrorism. Patrick Levy is a communication freshman and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

N JANUARY 12, a 7.0 earthquake hit Haitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city, Port-Au-Prince, causing massive devastation and a humanitarian crisis. Thousands have lost their lives and many more are at risk. Millions of dollars have been donated

from around the world while Government agencies and non-proďŹ ts are continuing to respond. The consensus among government leaders and experts is that the best way to show our concern is to give money to established organizations working in Haiti such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Americares, CARE, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and many more that are rated at www.charitynavigator.org. Ways to donate money eďŹ&#x192;ciently include: 1. Text â&#x20AC;&#x153;Haitiâ&#x20AC;? to 9099 to donate $10 to the International Response Fund. 2. Text â&#x20AC;&#x153;UNICEFâ&#x20AC;? to 20222 to donate $10 to this United Nations organization. 3. Text â&#x20AC;&#x153;GIVESâ&#x20AC;? to 24357 to donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 4. Text â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quakeâ&#x20AC;? to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund. Student governments at several colleges have established the College Haiti Earthquake Fundraising Challenge to encourage campuses to compete in raising money for Partners in Health (PIH), a well known non-proďŹ t that has been active in Haiti for 20 years. PIH is organizing medical personnel volunteers and gathering supplies for the Haiti relief eďŹ&#x20AC;ort. The UH Student Government Association has joined this eďŹ&#x20AC;ort and encourages students, faculty and staďŹ&#x20AC; to contribute to this eďŹ&#x20AC;ort by accessing the UH fundraising page at: http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/UHSGA.

Elwyn C. Lee, Vice President for Student AďŹ&#x20AC;airs

Kenneth Fomunung President, Student Government Association

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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

SPORTS EDITOR Phillipe Craig

E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com

COMING TUESDAY: Follow one Cougar’s road from the sideline to the court ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Cougars fall apart against Memphis UH falls to sixth place in Conference USA after losing second straight

By Matt Miller THE DAILY COUGAR For 20 minutes Saturday, Aubrey Coleman kept the Cougars close to the lead by wreaking havoc on the Memphis Tigers’ defense. The senior guard shined in front of the national audience on ESPN2. He made difficult shots, drove to the basket, drew fouls and nailed his free throws. In the second half, Coleman stepped up his game and made trickier shots. However, his teammates were unable to keep pace. Despite receiving 32 points from Coleman, UH fell to Memphis 92-77 on Saturday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. In a slow-moving, physical game that featured 46 fouls, the Cougars (10-9, 3-3 Conference USA) were essentially a one-man show. Meanwhile, Memphis (14-5, 4-1) gave a total team effort as five players scored in double figures as the Tigers shot 61.2 percent. UH head coach Tom Penders said that despite the loss, he was proud of his team’s effort. “They were hitting on all cylinders and these things happen, especially when you’re on the road,” Penders said. “We were hustling, getting to loose balls, so it wasn’t like we were embarrassed.” Guards Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon led the way

for the Tigers, combining for 40 points and 13 rebounds. Coleman scored 18 points in the first half to carry the Cougars to a 39-39 tie at the break. He was even better in a second half when the Tigers were pulling away, as he made four of his first five shot attempts. Memphis made sure to clamp down on Coleman’s sidekick, as UH’s second-leading scorer Kelvin Lewis (17 points per game entering Saturday) scored only five points on 2-of-9 shooting. Kendrick Washington’s performance was one of few positives for the Cougars, who now sit in sixth place in the C-USA standings. The freshman forward contributed 11 points (5-of-5 shooting) and four rebounds off the bench. His aggressive play in the paint, combined with Maurice McNeil’s 11 rebounds, allowed UH to hold its own in the rebounding battle. “They played hard,” Penders said. “I thought Kendrick played a really strong game. For a freshman I thought it was a really strong performance.” The Cougars missed five of their first six shots in the second half, allowing the Tigers to take control of the contest for good. Memphis, meanwhile, shot 5-of-7 in the first five minutes of the second half to stretch its lead to 54-41. The Tigers scored six points off four UH turnovers during their 15-2 burst. “We had two or three turnovers to start the second half, and they turned them into buckets,” Penders said. “When you’re on the

JUSTIN FLORES THE DAILY COUGAR

UH guard Kelvin Lewis was unable to provide his usual scoring punch, finishing with five points in Saturday’s 92-77 loss at Memphis road against a really good team, its hard to recover from that.” “They got it going and we could never get back in it. Unforced turnovers really hurt us.” Memphis quelled any chances of a comeback by feasting on a worn-down UH defense, which allowed the Tigers to connect on eight of their next 13 shots. Much like previous losses to Memphis, the Cougars hung with the Tigers in the first half. After both teams traded jumpers to begin the contest,

Witherspoon helped Memphis gain an early advantage. The Tigers went on a 9-1 run, fueled by six points from Witherspoon, to take an 11-3 lead with 17:35 left in the first half. A Coleman slam on a fast-break assist from point guard Desmond Wade cut the Cougars’ deficit to 23-20 with 7:24 remaining before halftime. Memphis pushed its lead to 30-23 at the 5:56 mark, but UH countered with an 11-1 run to capture a 34-31 lead with 2:24 left

in the first. UH will receive a break from its usual Wednesday game this week before resuming C-USA play against Marshall on Saturday. The Thundering Herd (15-4, 4-1), which lost to UAB 61-59 on Saturday, and the Cougars will tip off at 5 p.m. inside Hofheinz Pavilion. Additional reporting provided by Phillipe Craig sports@thedailycougar.com

SWIMMING RECAP

UH starts 2010 season with losses By Keith Cordero Jr. THE DAILY COUGAR

DAILY COUGAR FILE PHOTO

The Cougars jumped back in the pool this weekend but fell in both duals.

The Cougars got back in the pool this weekend after nearly a month away from competition but found little success in their return. UH dropped dual meets to Conference USA rival SMU 136-98 on Saturday and 141-101 at North Texas on Friday. The Cougars were still able to record four individual victories and a relay win despite the loss to the Mustangs, who beat Rice on Thursday. Sophomore Kimberley Eeson jump-started the Cougars with a win in the first individual event of the afternoon, finishing in 10 minutes, 27.92 seconds in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Sophomore Rachel Holcomb came in third with an 11:23.74 finish. Eeson followed up her win with a second-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle, clocking in at

5:07.06, while freshman Christine Salinas was fourth in 5:18.64. The Cougars second win came in the 200-yard breaststroke, where sophomore Beccy Hillis turned in a performance of 2:18.65. Sophomore Natalie Newcomb finished fourth in 2:28.54, and freshman Holli Pisarski was sixth (2:35.97). Senior and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Anastasia Pozdniakova won the 1-meter diving event with 352.88 points. Sophomore Lacey Truelove finished in fourth (276.60 points), freshman Julia Lonnegren was fifth (273.67), and sophomore Jessalyn Almond was sixth (241.73). Pozdniakova, arguably one of the best divers in school history, capped the afternoon with 375.98 points in the 3-meter event for the win. Lonnegren followed in fourth place (286.35), Truelove was fifth (271.88) and Almond slotted sixth (258.00). The final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, also went to the

Cougars. Eeson, junior Andrea Kells, freshman Kimmy Ballo and sophomore Haley Weathers combined for a 3:41.00 time. At the dual against North Texas (8-4) on Friday, UH managed five event wins but lost their first meet of 2010. Pozdniakova continued her dominance on the board, taking first place in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 314.70 and a 397.65 score in the 3-meter event for her second win. The Cougars took the top four spots in both diving events. Truelove took second in the 1-meter (266.10), Lonnegren was third (256.80) and Almond was fourth (254.77). Truelove finished second in the 3-meter event with 311.62 points, Almond was third (295.97), and Lonnegren was fourth (264.60). Lonnegren was a spring see SWIMMING, page 12

SPORTS

The Daily Cougar

Monday, January 25, 2010

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CONVENIENT TRUTHS

Rusty Spurs don’t look to figure into wild West shootout At the halfway point of the NBA season, several intriguing storylines have emerged from the league. Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas made headlines Alan Dennis when he gave teammate Javaris Crittenton a choice of three unlicensed handguns to shoot Arenas with after the two got into a heated altercation over a gambling debt. Allen Iverson, who at one point this season was retired, will make

his 11th consecutive start in the AllStar Game despite only playing in 21 games this year and averaging a meager 14.3 points per game. Yes, you read that correctly. But the story that no one seems to be talking about is happening right here in the Lone Star State. Anyone who has been watching the San Antonio Spurs play this season has witnessed a depressing sight: the Spurs’ dynasty has come to an end. Although San Antonio ended the weekend at 5th place in the Western

Conference, it’s clear to see when watching them play that the team has lost a step or two from years past and struggles to compete against the elite teams in the league. On Wednesday, the Spurs hosted the Utah Jazz who, like San Antonio, are a perennial playoff contender. The Jazz made the Spurs look like a college team; they played faster and more efficiently, and although the Jazz won 105-98, the game was never as close as the final score indicated. Tim Duncan finished with 14

points on 5-15 shooting and fouled out of the game — the first time that has happened this year. Then on Friday, the Spurs dropped another game to the visiting Rockets, 116-109. As had happened against the Jazz, the Spurs were outplayed by a younger, quicker team. The Spurs have arguably been the best team in the NBA over the past decade, and Duncan has been the driving force on a team that has won four NBA titles since 1999. Anyone who has devoutly

followed Duncan throughout his career has seen that, like the rest of us, he’s just getting old. Duncan can’t jump the way he used to, doesn’t finish strong at the rim anymore and has to rely too much on his basketball savvy to beat more athletic players. While no team other than the Los Angeles Lakers has asserted itself as a true title contender (the Celtics have no bench, the Cavaliers have no coach and the cowardly Nuggets see TRUTHS, page 12

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UH holds off UAB in closing minutes By Tristan Tippet THE DAILY COUGAR Just like their last game against Marshall, the Cougars let another double-digit lead slip away. Unlike last time, however, the Cougars were able to hold off UAB (10-7, 4-1 Conference USA) to come away with a 63-62 victory in the nationally-televised game Sunday in Birmingham, Ala. The Cougars (9-9, 3-2) stormed to a 44-26 lead midway through the second half before the Blazers rallied with a run of their own. Both teams played solid defense in the first half and the score remained close. With 2:22 remaining before the break, the Cougars trailed 26-23. Forward Courtney Taylor pump-faked at the three-point line,

connected on a 10-foot runner, drew a blocking foul and converted the free throw to tie the game. That play sparked the Cougars’ offense, and they ended the first half with a 31-26 lead. The break only helped UH, as it exploded to a 21-0 run and led 44-26 with 16:12 remaining the second half. Naturally, the Cougars relaxed a little bit, and UAB’s gradual comeback started. The Blazers responded with a 31-13 run of their own to tie the game at 57 with 5:26 remaining. Curl said the key to UAB’s run was the plays of its stars, including guard Jala Harris (26 points). “Well, they had two great players who just couldn’t miss,” see BASKETBALL, page 12

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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

LIFE+ARTS EDITORS

Travis Hensley, Jarrod Klawinsky

E-MAIL

COMING WEDNESDAY: Wilson Chang shares his thoughts on Burgers and Blues

arts@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/life_arts

ALICE AT THE ALLEY By Will Dees THE DAILY COUGAR It’s a wonderful time for Wonderland. Tim Burton’s film will be released this year, and Marilyn Manson plans to release a horror film based on the life and works of Lewis Carroll. The Alley Theatre leads the way with the world premiere of the new musical, Wonderland, loosely based on Carroll’s children’s stories “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass.” Alice Cornwinkle (Janet Decal) is a modern-day author who is about to be presented the Lewis Carroll ‘Alice in Wonderland’ award and it is the worst day of her life. Her marriage is dissolving and when her daughter, Chloe (Julie Brooks), accidentally overhears her parents discussing divorce, she runs away from home. Alice falls into a strange dream, going down the elevator shaft — no rabbit holes here — to search for her daughter in the fantastical wonderland. The set-up is a little confusing, but what follows is unabashed fun. Alice meets a variety of characters in Wonderland. She is welcomed to the dream world by a chorus line of dancing Alices, some of whom are men, their look inspired by the classic 1951 Disney film. The show is filled with an array of characters who give a twist to Wonderland’s familiar cast, from a hepcat caterpillar (Tommar Wilson) and a Carlos Santana-inspired “El Gato” (Jose Llana) with a Cheshire grin, to an oblivious Queen of Hearts (Karen Mason) and her sinister minister, the Mad Hatter (Nikki Snelson). A

COURTESY OF MICHAL DANIEL

In Wonderland, Alice (Janet Dacal), the Caterpillar (Tommar Wilson) and company sing “Advice From a Caterpillar” in the first act. perpetually anxious White Rabbit (Edward Staudenmayer) and an obnoxiously good-looking White Knight (Darren Ritchie) round out the cast. The story itself has a variety of problems. The play can’t seem to decide if the events take place in a world separate from our own, or if Wonderland is actually a dream where danger is illusory and the events are all metaphorical. Act I tends towards the former, as Alice searches for her daughter. In Act II, however, Alice seems to realize that the search is really for her own inner child — a child that sees the wonder in the world. Alice has moments, generally during musical numbers, where she appears to entirely forget

the possible dangers facing her missing daughter. So the story and characters fall down at times. Wonderland’s saving graces are the visuals, costumes, and musical numbers. Through a combination of lighting and projection, the play’s visual effects expand the world of Wonderland beyond simple sets and basic choreography. The costumes are creative and unusual, and they add a graphic quality to the look of the show. The musical numbers make the show enjoyable, even when the narrative logic proves difficult to follow. The caterpillar sings a jazzy song, while El Gato performs a spicy dance piece in the style of Carlos Santana or Ricky Martin.

The White Knight and his fellow knights perform a few 1990’s-style boy band pop songs, with complimentary visual effects of hearts, rainbows and pink ponies. The Queen of Hearts, completely unaware of the machinations going on around her, quickly becomes an audience favorite, singing her favorite phrase, “off with their heads!” The Mad Hatter, based on the pop-rock singer Pink, exchanges simple madness for psychotic mania with a few songs of her own. Also included is the nightmarish Jabberwock (Tad Wilson), who, with eyes of flame, sings an 1980’s Bon Jovi rock anthem about how he’s been misunderstood — people think he’s a monster, just because he

likes to eat people. Alice defeats the Jabberwock, not with a vorpal sword, but with the realization that her fears cannot defeat her if she doesn’t let them. Most of the cast have appeared in Broadway shows and do the best with the story given them. Wonderland has, at its heart, a good message about finding the wonder and magic that exists in the world today. However, it suffers from unsuccessfully trying to imitate the distinctive absurd humor of Lewis Carroll. Still, it is an immensely enjoyable experience. Wonderland will continue at the Alley Theatre through Feb. 14. arts@thedailycougar.com

OUT AND ABOUT

Another round of same-sex marriage hearings Earlier this month, the trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger began in full swing within a San Francisco courtroom. Presided over by Judge Thad Vaughn Walker, Sweigart the case will decide the constitutionality of California’s infamous Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin back in 2008. Given the case’s high profile and the potentially far-reaching implications of its outcome, it should come as no surprise that public interest is high. Without objection from the prosecution, Judge Walker petitioned a higher court within California for the allowance of TV cameras within

the courtroom and permission to put the transmissions on YouTube. Before a decision could be handed down, however, the U.S. Supreme Court took an unusually proactive stance and reviewed the request itself. In a hurried 5-4 decision, the high court sided with the defendants of the case who claimed that allowing cameras to be present would do “irreparable harm” to Proposition 8 supporters who would testify during the proceedings, and subject them to “harassment for their views” said Andy Pugno, general counsel for the defendants, at ProtectMarriage.com. While the Supreme Court’s ruling puts only a temporary hold on footage of the proceedings, the fact

that it intervened at all has parts of the LGBT community flustered. Opponents of Proposition 8, who have taken to calling their campaign against the law “No H8”, are worried that any decision made on the trial by the liberal Judge Walker will be scrutinized by the conservative dominated Supreme Court when the case inevitably reaches them. Despite the Supreme Court’s intervention, many still feel confident about the trial for several reasons. Firstly, the ruling hamstrings the defense’s argument for a mistrial in a case that is rapidly coming apart at the seams as the prosecution summons a legion of expert witnesses and recorded documents that continue to undercut their opponents’ every

effort. Prior to the gag order on televised coverage, a number of the defense’s witnesses threatened to withdraw their testimonies if video coverage was allowed and, despite the ban, they have withdrawn anyway. Secondly, Justice Kennedy, who was part of the majority in this ruling, has a history of overturning predatory laws that persecute the LGBT community, such as in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) which overthrew sodomy laws, and Romer v. Evans (1996), which overthrew a Colorado amendment that repealed housing and employment protection for gays and lesbians. For the short term however, the ruling does put a damper on marriage equality by stifling what

could bring the question to the forefront of American awareness. Within Houston alone, many are unaware that the trial is even going on. “Proposition 8 from California is going to court? When does that start?” said Bill Hasbot, a Galleriaarea gay man, when asked about his thoughts on the trial. Even more unsettling than simple ignorance is the anger that ferments in the vacuum of information. Each day, news sources publish varying accounts of court proceedings that fuel speculative outrage on both sides of the aisle. Regardless of the trial’s outcome, this is not an issue that will be going away any time soon. arts@thedailycougar.com

LIFE & ARTS

The Daily Cougar

Monday, January 25, 2010

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Facebook tops Google’s most-searched category By Travis Hensley THE DAILY COUGAR The popular social networking site Facebook was the No. 1 search conducted last week on Google, according to Google Insight. The first Web site listed when searching for Facebook is the link for the home page. Other than the actual Facebook home page, the most helpful listing of the search results is “Facebook lite.” “Facebook lite” is a site operated by Facebook that shows a simpler page similar to the older version of the Web site. Other interesting results include the Wikipedia page about Facebook. There is a brief history of the site’s creation along with interesting facts about the reception of social networking in general.

The least useful results of the Facebook search are any of the reviews about Facebook. These range from an undying love for the site to severe hatred of it. arts@thedailycougar.com

Googley goodness Here are the top five Google searches that were performed last week in the U.S.: 1. Facebook 2. “You” 3. Lyrics 4. YouTube 5. Yahoo Source: Googletrends.com

DAVID SHIH THE DAILY COUGAR

A recycing bin outside of the U.C. Satellite is filled with students’ Styrofoam waste.

Foam replaced by to-go containers By Zoa Khan THE DAILY COUGAR

“ THOSE WHO PROFESS TO FAVOR FREEDOM, AND YET DEPRECIATE AGITATION, ARE MEN WHO WANT RAIN WITHOUT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.” FREDERICK DOUGLASS AMERICAN ABOLITIONIST, AUTHOR, ORATOR (1817-1895)

This thought about free speech is brought to you by

THE DAILY COUGAR

Send letters to the editor to letters@thedailycougar.com Send guest columns to opinion@thedailycougar.com

Each semester, the UH main campus disposes of about 90 thousand Styrofoam containers, according to UH Dining Services. As part of the commitment to protect the environment and go green, UH Dining Services are offering reusable ‘to go’ food containers in all the UH dining halls. “Through our Green Thread environmental stewardship platform, we are continuing to look for ways to reduce our environmental impact,” UH Dining Services Resident District Manager Tony Urso said. “The reusable togo container program is another initiative in our ongoing plan to strive toward zero waste and support the sustainability goals of the University of Houston.” When a patron requests a to-go container, UH Dining will give out a reusable food container. After use, the patron would clean the container and return it to any of the six C-store locations or dining halls on campus. Aramark, the contractor with

UH Dining has started similar reusable container programs at Baylor University, University of Florida, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Peace College and Salem College, according to a recent Aramark press release. “Student feedback from the pilot program was very positive,” Senior Vice President Aramark Higher Education, Michael Leone said. “Everyone on campus immediately understood the reduction in landfill waste when compared with a traditional, disposable container. Our program also commits to recycling these reusable products at the end of their useful life.” Styrofoam is not exactly a friend to mother earth. It’s a styrene petroleum-based plastic infused with 95 to 97 percent air. The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer identified styrene as a carcinogen. The Environmental Protection Agency announced in a 1986 report that polystyrene, which goes into making of Styrofoam, is the 5th largest source of hazardous waste. Styrofoam, and other types of plastic

particles are often found in wild animals as undigested materials in their gastrointestinal systems. Wild animals are also exposed to Styrofoam in the leakage from landfills into the underground water systems. “By 1986, styrene was found in 100 percent of all samples of human fat tissue taken as part of an EPA Human Tissue Survey,” Green Home’s Jennifer Quintana wrote on their Web site. “Researchers found that Styrofoam cups lose weight when in use, meaning that styrene is oozing into the foods and drinks we consume. It then ends up stored in our fatty tissue, where it can build up to levels that can cause fatigue, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, blood abnormalities and even carcinogenic effects.” Styrofoam is so toxic that Taiwan, Portland, OR, and Orange County, CA ban the distribution and usage of Styrofoam products. UH Dining Services is taking initiatives to help further the effort to protect the environment by switching to reusable containers. arts@thedailycougar.com

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Monday, January 25, 2010

NEWS

The Daily Cougar

WILL

FACEBOOK BE AROUND

YEARS?

COURTESY OF MATT MARETT

As the recruitment process begins, many fraternities and sororities will be hosting parties and special events to attract potential pledges to their organization.

FRATERNITY continued from page 1

Probably not. Then again, by that time maybe it will have evolved into a chip we embed into our brains. Hey, it could happen. Either way, let’s make a small investment in our cherished memories. No computer required.

extra activities. “It does look like fun, and a lot of my friends have had a good experience with it. But when I have to drive almost an hour to get back home, most times I don’t want to stay any longer than I have to,” Adolfsson said.

Buy a Houstonian. Remember the times of your life.

Marett said he understands the concerns, but still thinks the experience of joining is worth it. “You’d have a more complete college life,” Marett said. “You’ll be donating your time to improving our campus, and that’s worth it to us. We have the strongest school pride. We love UH almost too much.” news@thedailycougar.com

Hey, what’s happening? www.uh.edu/houstonian

Check the Campus Calendar at thedailycougar.com

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COMICS & MORE

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COUGAR COMICS

Find more daily strips at thedailycougar.com/comics

ACROSS

Robbie and Bobby by Jason Poland

1 5 8 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 25 26 30 32 33 36 37 38 40 42 43 44 45 48 49 50 52 57

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

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58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

Portico Exclude Nature’s bandage Squander Foundation Vacuum part Watch feature Reindeer herder Is, in Madrid Marvels Peter, for one EEC currency Online letters Soph. and jr. Played loud Embroidery thread Exclaimed over Lens type River in England Faculty honchos West Coast st. In agreement (hyph.) Well-known Night crawlers Bldg. custodians Sault — Marie Polynesian plants LAX hours Chocolate treats Poor pairing Defiant reply (2 wds.) Humid Quebec school Neck and neck Mythical warmonger Succeed (2 wds.) Crime novelist — Buchanan Fabric meas. Catamount

DOWN 1 Did the backstroke 2 Anklebones 3 Glacial ridges 4 Razor brand 5 Sheep calls 6 Rattlesnake kin 7 Scoldings 8 — Wooley of 1950s pop 9 Huxtable player

5 13

16 19

37 41

44 48

52 58

20 22 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 37 39 41 42 44 45 46

47 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 59

60 63 66 ©

In a ferment Plays the drum Moderated Salad-dressing cheese Arith. term Too Skirt style (hyph.) Fancy scarf Strong emotion Captain’s shout Take up again Conflicts Ice-cream utensil Is rife with “Laugh-In” name Knowing look “Teacher’s Pet” star (2 wds.) Mdse. Carryall Eggnog topper Slow leak sound Go rollerblading Not bold

10 11 13 14

43 46

23 26

German city Dice spots Type of cracker Fr. ladies “Rent- — - —” (1988 flick) Meat substitute Quahog Zeus’ spouse Grandson of Benjamin, in the Bible

2009 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE INC.

Previous puzzle solved A L I B I

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2010 schedule 6D§UD LNUDC 8e[ n\Ëi\ efk ^f`e^ Xepn_\i\% The Daily Cougar and Houstonian yearbook, in continuous publication since 1934, have relocated to new oﬃces in the UC Satellite. We may have moved, but our mission never changes. You can count on Student Publications to deliver an awardwinning daily student newspaper and

CHESS

represent

Campus WINNERS and RUNNER-UPS will be awarded TROPHIES, T-SHIRTS and the OPPORTUNITY to represent the University of Houston at the ACUI Region 12 Recreation Tournament (part of the ACUI Region 12ʼs Tournament Weekend including Games Tournaments and Poetry Slam). This yearsʼ ACUI Region 12 Tournament Weekend will be hosted by The University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, TX), the weekend of February 19-20, 2010. Some regional champions (billiards & table tennis) may advance to international competition to be held at a site and date to be announced later in the semester. For additional information and registration, drop by the UC or the UC Satellite Games Rooms or phone the UC Games Room office at (713) 743-5321. Open to ALL UH STUDENTS currently enrolled in a minimum of three semester hours and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

yearbook day in and day out, year after year.

Championʼs Meeting Friday, February 12th 3:00 PM UC Atlantic Room

Partially funded by SFAC and your UC Fee.

(0*+ Æ )''0

XBOX MADDEN FOOTBALL ‘10

Individuals/Open Division Only February 2nd (Tuesday), 6:30 PM Chiliʼs Too No Entry Fee (Limited to 64 Entries) Menʼs & Womenʼs 9-ball February 2nd (Tuesday), 6:30 PM UC Games Room Entry Fee: $3.00

BILLIARDS

TABLE TENNIS

XBOX GUITAR HERO

DOMINOES

BILLIARDS

Campus winners and runner-ups are requested to attend a meeting where Regional Tournament information will be shared and campus awards distributed.

Individuals/Open Division Only January 26 th (Tuesday), 6:30 PM UC Bayou City Room No Entry Fee

SPADES

Menʼs & Womenʼs Singles February 3 rd (Wednesday), 6:30 PM UC Cougar Den Entry Fee: $3.00 Individuals/Open Division Only February 4 th (Thursday), 6:30 PM Chiliʼs Too No Entry Fee Individuals/Open Division Only February 9th (Tuesday), 4:00 PM UC Satellite Games Room No Entry Fee 2nd Chance 9-Ball Tournament February 10 th (Wednesday), 6:30 PM UC Games Room Entry Fee: $3.00 2 Person Team February 11th (Thursday), 4:00 PM UC Satellite Games Room y Fee No Entry Championʼs Meeting February 12th (Friday), 3:00 PM UC Atlantic Room

Return completed form with payment to the UC Games Room (lower level University Center). Phone 713/743-5321 Copies of event rules/format available at the UC and UC Satellite Games Room Service Counters.

years

Looking back. Leading forward.

TODAY’S CROSSWORD

At the Hotdog Stand by Mishele Lamshing

TODAY’S SUDOKU

Monday, January 25, 2010

Name

Phone

Hours enrolled for Spring 2010

Event

(A separate entry form must be completed for each event entered. Entry fee must accompany this form or the entry will not be accepted. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED.)

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Monday, January 25, 2010

SPORTS

The Daily Cougar

SWIMMING continued from page 6

semester addition to the team, making her season debut against the Mean Green. Freshman Reka Kovacs also turned in wins for UH. She won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:06.67. Kovacs tacked on a second win with a 59.13 finish

TRUTHS continued from page 7

have no heart), the Spurs have been lacking the quality play necessary to make a championship run. The wild West may be wide open for the first time in over a decade, but the Spurs are going to need to jump into the rejuvenation machine in order to have a shot at reaching the finals.

BASKETBALL continued from page 7

Curl said. “We made our run when they were missing shots and when we stopped making our run, they started making a run, and we couldn’t slow them down. But we did enough to win.” The teams alternated leads as the game winded down. After Erica Simpson’s layup gave the Blazers a 62-59 lead, Taylor (16 points) nailed a jumper with two minutes remaining. Both teams were scoreless until 25 seconds to go when UH guard Porsche Landry dribbled the ball to

in the 100-yard backstroke, and Ballo was second in 59.62. A tough stretch awaits the Cougars in the coming weeks. UH kicks it off with home duals against Rice, LSU and Tulane on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s events begin at 5 p.m. and will continue at 11 a.m Saturday at the CRWC Natatorium. sports@thedailycougar.com

At this point, Duncan’s status as the greatest power forward in the history of the league is secure; nothing will change that. It would be nice to see Duncan ride off into the sunset with championship No. 5, a la David Robinson, but Spurs fans need to realize that their team’s great run is probably over. Happy trails, San Antonio. sports@thedailycougar.com

the top of the key and drove to the basket for a left-handed layup. Curl, who called a timeout prior to the play, said he felt it was the right play to run. “I just felt like that that was the best common-sense play we could run. Luckily, it paid off,” Curl said. The Blazers called a timeout to run a play of their own. UAB gave the ball to Harris, who was guarded by Brittany Mason. Curl said Mason stepped up on the critical possession. The Cougars return to action when they face Tulsa (4-15, 0-6) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hofheinz Pavilion. sports@thedailycougar.com