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THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM Issue 94, Volume 75
WEATHER » HI
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Forecast, Page 2
Check out this semester’s entire lineup of comics and online exclusives Tuesday, February 16, 2010
thedailycougar.com
University to reduce state funding Administrators look for ways to save money, ask deans for help
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By Jose Aguilar THE DAILY COUGAR A draft published to the UH Budget Office Web site Friday listed the top nine priorities in budget cuts the University submitted to the Texas Legislative Budget Board on Monday. The recommendations are in response to a letter sent last month by Gov. Rick Perry asking for a 5-percent reduction in state appropriations for the 2010-11 biennium.
The draft shows fiscal year 2010 cuts would total more than $4 million, while the recommended total for FY 2011 would surpass $11 million. The top five priorities deal mainly with the running of the University. The budget calls for communication allowances to J Perry be reduced by 95 percent and travel and business expenses by 10 percent, as well as an implementation of equipment and energy savings.
“The priority order reflects our desire to implement institutional cost savings first,” Executive Vice Chancellor Carl Carlucci said in an e-mail. “We are protecting our academic programs, and reductions in instructional faculty are not a part of our plan.” These top five priorities combined will equal $6.03 million of the $15.29 million in cuts currently proposed in the draft. The remaining $9.26 million will come from the next four priorities, which will affect academics. The draft calls for overtime and additional compensation to be reduced by up to 65 percent. Support
goals.” A reduction in staff positions is also proposed in the draft, through a combination of a hiring freeze, elimination of vacancies, retirements and layoffs. A mandated one-day furlough for all faculty and staff for FY 2010 is also proposed. “Some of these plans would be painful,” Carlucci said. “But the UH community has offered many suggestions that we can implement to help avoid the worst of these.” A Feb. 3 memo from Carlucci and Provost John Antel states that the total amount UH would need to cut see CUTS, page 3
Organization tries to promote culture
Group hosts students, alumni
By Ben Mauldin THE DAILY COUGAR
By Michael Baerga THE DAILY COUGAR The Student Alumni Connection is having its annual event “Dinner for 10 Cougars,” a program that aids students in making connections with UH alumni professionals who are now in the work force. Students will have the opportunity to meet former students alongside their peers and get a firsthand perspective on the current workforce in various fields. “The annual program has been running for more than 25 years,” Student Alumni Connection President Raj Thaker said. “I like this program because it’s nice to know about various studies in our diverse university and get a real outlook on getting jobs that students might not find out in class alone. We have representatives from business to
for research assistants, which mainly came in the form of paid tuition, would be shifted from the University to external grants or indirect cost recovery from the federal government. The draft states that “doing so would mean less (federal money) to devote to other elements J Carlucci of the research enterprise (e.g., lab renovations, equipment purchases), which would impede UH’s progress toward achievement of its tier one research
COURTESY OF RUBEN VASQUEZ
Each year, the Student Alumni Connection hosts “Dinner for 10 Cougars,” where students have the opportunity to dine with alumni and network. chemistry and architecture.” In this program a student is placed with an alumni volunteer who takes the participants to dinner, talks about their employment experience and provides advice for current Cougars. The program runs from Monday through March 5. Participants will select a day where they will have a meal at an alumni-chosen restaurant or home of an alumni host. This program presents an
opportunity for students to gain more wisdom about their fields and establish relationships with potential employers and co-workers. “I like the fact that students get to create avenues for themselves and even establish friendships, possibly mentors that they can look up to in their scholastic as well as their professional careers,” Thaker said. see DINNER, page 3
The Indian Students Association at UH is a non-profit student organization that’s sole purpose is to provide a medium for students to experience Indian culture. “Our organization is not just for Indian students but for anyone who wants to learn about the culture. We want to educate students about India and the diverse culture that it has to offer,” ISA President Nehal Verma said. In the 1970s and 1980s, ISA was a robust and active program with numerous events and activities, but for the last decade or so the program fell by the wayside. Then, about two years ago, ISA was “rebooted” and brought back to campus. Although it could be considered a new organization, ISA is fully on its feet and growing fast. According to the ISA Web site, its mission is “to provide a platform to all students to share, experience and spread the profound joy of our
rich Indian Cultural Heritage, with pride and dignity.” Membership can be attained by completing the membership form and paying a $10 annual fee. Members get free T-shirts and access to monthly socials. “Not only do I get to learn more about the culture, but I also love the activities,” ISA Secretary Janoo Shah said. ISA holds many events throughout the year, from bake sales and blood drives to banquets. The organization also volunteers with a senior citizen society in Houston as well as sponsoring education for underprivileged children in India. Some members said that volunteering is one of their favorite things to do with the organization. “I love how it gives me a chance to interact with other Indians as well as to give back to the community,” Shah said. ISA will host Nasha, which will be held at 7 p.m. April 2 at the Cullen Performance Hall. It will feature see ISA, page 8
Judge returns weeks after surgery By Robert Garcia THE DAILY COUGAR For UH Law School alumna Holly Williamson, 2009 was a memorable year, marked by a professional milestone and a lifealtering challenge. Williamson was sworn in as Harris County Precinct 8 Place 1 justice of the peace in January 2009 after being elected in November 2008. Less than
a year later, Williamson would have to tackle a greater challenge after doctors discovered a fist-sized tumor on her brain. Williamson said the symptoms of her tumor where minimal, and she almost dismissed them entirely. She said she then began to experience slight headaches, which were uncommon for her. “I thought it was associated with my heart beat or maybe high blood
pressure,” she said. She said she mentioned the symptoms to her husband, Dr. Danny Williamson, a chiropractor, to see if there was anything he could do about the light headaches. She also mentioned that the headaches where accompanied by a whooshing sound in her ears, and he became concerned. see JUDGE, page 3
COURTESY OF DANA PHILIBERT
Six weeks after surgery to remove a fist-sized tumor on her brain, UH alumna Holly Williamson returned to the judge’s bench.