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Changes influence student voting UH no longer poll site due to costly endeavors
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By Jessica Traylor THE DAILY COUGAR The March 2 Texas statewide primary is fast approaching. Whether UH students will vote in large numbers remains an issue. UH has provided shuttle buses
to transport students to voting centers and served as a polling site in the past to help promote voting among the student body, but that’s not the case for this election. “(We usually do them) more for national elections because it’s costing more, and they have a certain budget for that,” Associate Dean of Students Kamran Riaz said.
He said that Department of Upcoming profiles UH was not asked Political Science. to be a polling site Regardless of Wednesday: Democrat Bill White for this election. the changes, some Thursday: Republican Rick Perry “As far as I students are still Friday: Republican Debra Medina know, they are passionate about not doing this for voting. the primary. I assume because it “It’s important because other is a costly endeavor. They only do people in other countries are this for the general elections,” said blowing each other up to be able Christina Hughes, a lecturer in the to (vote) and we’re not doing it,”
GUBERNATORIAL PROFILE
Senator pushes agenda By Joshua Malone THE DAILY COUGAR Republican U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison does not hesitate to reveal a list of what she considers failures in Rick Perry’s tenure as governor. “Rick Perry raised billions in taxes on Texas businesses, tried to mandate HPV vaccines for young girls and increased the size of the state budget by more than 80 percent,” said Hutchison, who will oppose Perry and Debra Medina in the March 2 gubernatorial primary. Perry hasn’t remained in office for 10 years without a long list of supporters, but Hutchison isn’t one of them. “The current governor will be remembered less for what he did for the average Texan, and more for what he tried to do,” Hutchison said. Perry said in a televised debate Jan. 30 in Dallas that Hutchison chose to “continue Roe v. Wade,” the landmark Supreme Court decision that allowed women the right to terminate their pregnancy. Hutchison did affirm her support for Roe v. Wade in 2003, according to Vote Smart. She also voted in 2007 to increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, another contentious issue for pro-life advocates. Hutchison defended her conservative record by citing positive ratings from prolife groups, the National Rifle Association and her efforts to quadruple the number of Border Patrol agents. Hutchison stressed her plans for cooperation and to “reach out to legislatures,” but stopped shy of describing herself as a more moderate option. “I am proud of my conservative record, and my conservative credentials take a back seat to no
biology major Stephen Stocker said. Stocker plans to vote in the upcoming governor election. He didn’t know about the related services that were offered by the campus in the past because he transferred this semester, but he believes the campus should do see VOTING, page 3
Activist gives lecture at UH Ex-Black Panther Party member shares story with students J
By Paulette Ehmer THE DAILY COUGAR
office. Hutchison, never having received less than 60 percent of the vote in her previous re-election campaigns, had remained fairly unchallenged. Now, she finds herself in unfamiliar territory against Perry. UH political science professor Richard Murray said, despite being a moderate candidate more likely to work across party lines, Hutchison has been put on the defensive as being a “country club Republican” who’s out of touch with the conservative base.
Former political prisoner and Black Panther Ashanti Alston drew in a diverse crowd Wednesday at the University Center. Alston was only 16 years old when he joined the militant group, and for him, it was a life-changing decision. During the prime of the Civil Rights Movement, Alston watched unforgettable images on his television as a young boy. He became enraged and motivated to provoke change. It was then that he found comfort and empowerment within the Black Panther Party. “I learned to not fear my enemies,” Alston said. Also a member of the Black Liberation Army, Alston spent many years engaging in what he calls “guerrilla warfare.” Though Alston spent more than a decade in prison for armed bank robbery, he does not hesitate to say that he has never committed a crime. “I was captured for banks appropriation; it is not a robbery, not a crime. We were guerrillas trying to fund our revolution,” Alston said. Alston said the BLA was at war, and the police were their frontline oppressors. All that he and his fellow members desired was freedom. “We knew we had to be daring
see SENATOR, page 3
see PANTHER, page 3
UNITED STATES SENATE
A Republican candidate in the Texas gubernatorial primary, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison could face a runoff with Gov. Rick Perry in the March 2 election if no candidate achieves more than 50 percent of the vote. one,” Hutchison said. Among her goals as governor, Hutchison mentioned strengthening Texas’ borders, reforming in-state transportation planning and protecting private property rights through eminent domain reform. But Hutchison said education was a primary reason she chose to run. “My main priorities as governor will include increasing educational opportunities for young Texans through improved public education and greater availability of affordable higher education,” Hutchison said. “I have outlined a comprehensive
plan to tackle the dropout problem head on.” Hutchison’s goals aren’t lost on newspaper editorial boards either. Hutchison swept the endorsements from Texas’ four largest metropolitan newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle. She also has the endorsements of former Vice President Dick Cheney and former President George H. W. Bush. A senator since 1993, Hutchison is Texas’ first and only female senator and according to the U.S. Senate’s Web site, the most senior female Republican currently in
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Daily Cougar
Learn about Medical and Health-professional schools by attending...
The Health Professions Fair
CAMPUS BEAT FORECAST
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
56Ëš33Ëš
59Ëš48Ëš
53Ëš43Ëš
10am to 2pm Location:
Mark your calendar now and save the day for your future career!!
UC World Affair Lounge (Underground level of UC) University of Houston (Main Campus- 4800 Calhoun Rd)
Who should attend? The University of Houston is host to the Annual Health Professions Fair for students interested in medical careers: Medical doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, Optometrist, Physical Therapist, etc.. More than 40 professional medical schools from across the U.S. participate in this event, providing participants with the most up-to-date information about their program requirements.
For more information: UScholars Pre-professional Advising University of Houston ShBoger@uh.edu
Hundreds of students have taken advantage of and beneďŹ ted from this event, helping them prepare for a career in the health professions.
CALENDAR
Âť Send event information to calendar@thedailycougar.com
TODAY
WEDNESDAY
Nutrition workshop: 12:30-1 p.m., Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Room 1038. These workshops are offered through UH Wellness, a department of Learning and Assessment Services in the Division of Student Affairs. The mission of UH Wellness, a campus-wide education and prevention program, is to promote healthy choices and create a healthier, safer learning environment across all dimensions of wellness, including social, spiritual, intellectual, occupational, physical and emotional wellness. These workshops promote various dimensions of wellness and are offered to support student development, to increase retention and to provide students with skills-building opportunities throughout the semester. For more information, log on to www.hhp. uh.edu/nutrition/
Outdoor Movie Festival: 6 p.m., UC North Patio. The Student Video Network will continue its Outdoor Movie Festival and will watch In Bruges featuring Colin Farrell, for its Independent Movie Category. On Thursday, Pan’s Labyrinth will be shown. The Student Video Network hopes to make this a recurring activity on-campus. For more information, log on to http://www. uh.edu/svn/
CO R R E C T I O N S J
INTERESTED IN BEING A
THURSDAY Adventures in Darkness: 7-8:30 p.m., Cullen Performance Hall. Adventures in Darkness, the 2nd annual Delta Gamma Richard D. Shirk Family Lectureship in Health Care Values and Ethics will feature Tom Sullivan, a blind entertainer, athlete and actor as well as a best-selling author and a much sought-after motivational speaker and TV producer.
Âť Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com
The Daily Cougar mistakenly referred to Texas gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina as a Democrat in an info box on the front page of Monday’s edition. Medina is a Republican.
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NEWS
The Daily Cougar
VOTING continued from page 1
more to promote awareness and help students get to polling sites. “We have a big problem with getting people our age to go vote,” Stocker said. Students are sometimes unaware of upcoming voting opportunities. “We really don’t know about it, they don’t boast it up,” kinesiology
PANTHER continued from page 1
and take risk because we were at war,” Alston said. “You cannot wait for justice, where justice does not exist.” As an anarchist, Alston said he believes no form of government is tolerable. He believes that one does not need an all-powerful authority, but that society should be governed solely by face-toface relationships, having faith in oneself, as well as, their fellow human beings. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can vote in change,”
SENATOR continued from page 1
“A lot of social conservatives and Second Amendment proponents just don’t see her as being passionate about their issues. They don’t fully trust her,” said Murray, director of the UH Center Survey Research Institute. “He’s targeted
junior Mark Woods said about the upcoming election. Woods said that he would be more likely to go and vote if the school offered transportation. In some areas of UH, professors are trying to encourage students to vote by raising awareness about elections. “We try to get together with some professors to talk to students about applying,” said Jamie Naugle, chief election commissioner of the
Student Government Association. As students, there are plenty of reasons that it’s difficult to vote. “It’s hard finding the time. I’d want to make a good decision and research it but I don’t have the time,” social work graduate student Rochelle Williams said. Hughes said the students can always drop by the UH Center for Public Policy and register to vote.
Alston said. Although President Barack Obama is seen as the first black president, Alston said he is not impressed. “Obama ran as an American to promote America, so he is not a friend,” Alston said. Though times have significantly changed since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Alston said that the war is not over. He solicited the crowd at the event to continue the fight and to go underground and organize. Alston remained optimistic that true change can really come if this generation will step up to the challenge.
“You can contribute to stop the madness, it ain’t gonna happen without some people getting hurt,” Alston said. Students for a Democratic Society hosted the event as part of its agenda to raise awareness and promote human rights. Students of all ethnicities, religions and beliefs were in attendance. Elizabeth Brignac, an English major and member of SDS, said she is a staunch activist for social justice. “It was amazing to hear his story, and extremely inspiring,” Brignac said.
her on issues like abortion, where she has some vulnerability, and it’s gotten her into the kind of race that she hoped to avoid. She’s a better candidate running in the center, but that doesn’t work very well in a Texas primary.” A runoff election will occur if none of the candidates achieve at least 50 percent of the vote, something Murray described as a
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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possibility. But he said Hutchison first needs a shift in her campaign strategy. “Hutchison hasn’t articulated a compelling message about why we should get rid of (Perry) and put herself in the job. It’s not going to be easy for her to make up this difference,” Murray said.
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©2010 The Culinary Institute of America
WWW.UH.EDU/RECREATION 7 1 3 - 7 4 3 - P L A Y
Aquatics & Safety
Intramural Sports
Youth Swim Lessons
Spring 2010 Entry Deadlines:
Session 2: March 29 - April 22 Classes offered M/W or T/Th between 4:15pm-7:00pm CRWC Members: $60/session Non-Members: $70/session
Adult Swim Lessons Session 4: March 29 - April 8 Session 5: April 12 - April 22 Classes offered M/W or T/Th between 5:15pm-8:00pm CRWC Members: $25/session Non-Members: $30/session For specific times/levels, visit our Web site at www.uh.edu/recreation
SCUBA: Open Water Certification Session 2: March 22 - April 21 Classes offered M/W or T/Th between 6:30pm-9:00pm CRWC Members: $250/session Non-Members: $275/session
Masters Swim Team
Who: Adults 18+ (all skill levels!) Where: Natatorium When: Tuesdays -Thursdays 6:00am-7:15am Cost: Students $35/month, Members $40/ month, Non-Members $45/month + $150 annual joining fee
713-743-9509
3 Point/Dunk Contest Monday, March 1st League Dodgeball Monday, March 8th League Softball Monday, March 22nd League Sand Volleyball Monday, March 29th 4 on 4 Flag Football Monday, March 29th Wii Bowling Tournament Monday , April 12th Swim Meet Monday, April 12th All entries must be turned in by 6:00pm. Please call IM Sports office for more information
at 713-743-8041
Anti-Gravity
F R E E FEBRUARY FINAL DAY OF CLIMBING WALL COMPETITION!
February 25th, ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT DOOR PRIZES Prizes awarded Thursday! GREAT PRIZES for those who place! Award Ceremony Feb. 25th, 9pm - 11pm
713-743-9512
Outdoor Adventure Outing Calendar of Events
UH Faculty and Staff
Free Fit Fridays
Farmer's Market Bike Tour Sat., February 27th
at the Campus Recreation Center Our university was issued a challenge from Governor Rick Perry to join other state agency and participate in the Governor's Challenge in support of GetFitTexas! and Texas Round-Up.
Click on http://www.uh.edu/cougarroundup/ for details to participate.
Spring Break in New Mexico March 12 - March 20 713-743-0808
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Daily Cougar
OPINION EDITOR Alan Dennis
E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com
COMING WEDNESDAY: What does Barack Obama have to do to leave a positive 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 Alan Dennis, Opinion editor Jarrod Klawinsky, Special projects editor
STAFF EDITORIAL
Houston’s music scene full of potential
CHENLONG HE THE DAILY COUGAR
IRS attack should instill patriotism More than eight years after Sept. 11, Americans still remember what happened that day; they remember watching the planes hit the Twin Towers and the feeling of dread and confusion that Liz Price followed. Many people, however, have forgotten the overwhelming patriotism that resulted in the months following the attacks. Americans came together with an overwhelming respect and appreciation for their country, regardless of social differences. On Thursday, people all over Texas were shocked when a small private plane was crashed into an Internal Revenue Service office in Austin. Joseph Stack, a 53-year-old software engineer who had apparently become fed up with the government, set fire to his house and proceeded to crash his plane into the building. Stack and one IRS employee died in the crash. In a note Stack posted on his Web site
before his death, he said, “I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at ‘big brother’ while he strips my carcass.” While investigators have not yet associated Stack with any terrorist group, his actions of committing murder and damaging a government building served to terrify the country. The U.S. is in the midst of a war and a major economic crisis; many people disagree with the actions and decisions of their public leaders, and as this is a free country, they have the right to do so. But when someone decides to turn their disagreement and disgust into an act of hatred, they are obviously taking things too far. People don’t have to support the war to support the troops, nor must they support President Barack Obama’s leadership to support America. It’s possible to not agree with something on a personal level and still be openminded enough to know when something is right for the country. When Stack decided to rebel against the
government, his misplaced anger brought an end to his own life and the life of an innocent man, and terrified the entire nation. Stack had the opportunity to openly and peacefully protest certain government policies he disagreed with, but instead felt the most appropriate way to deal with his anger was through domestic terror. While there are probably not many people in the world overcome with enough anger and fervor to commit murder, voices of opposition need to take into consideration the best way to convey their differing views to the world. Whether someone agrees with everything the government does should not cloud their overall perception of this great nation. I will be the first to admit that I disagree with many of the president’s politics, but I love this country regardless, and I will always be proud to be an American. Liz Price is a communication junior and may be contacted at opinion@thedailycougar.com
Google faces bind over censorship Google announced in January that it would cease censorship of search results in China. After the announcement was made, officials in the Chinese government claimed that Google was legally to censor results Michael Padon bound within the country as per Chinese law. “Foreign companies in China should respect the laws and regulations, respect the public interest of Chinese people and China’s culture and customs and shoulder due social responsibilities,” Ma Zhaoxu, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference. “There is no exception for Google.” From a legal standpoint, the Chinese government is right; it has laws in place, however objectionable they are, and it believes Google should abide by those laws. Since these complaints were made public, more countries have become vocal about what restrictions they want Web sites
to implement in their respective nations. Australia, which is currently in the hotly debated process of implementing a national Internet service provider-based filtering initiative, wants to partially censor Google subsidiary, YouTube. Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, the man pushing the filtering initiative, wants Google to do the filtering for the government. “What we’re saying is, well, in Australia, these are our laws, and we’d like you to apply our laws,” Conroy said in an interview on Australian television show Hungry Beast. A clip of Pakistan President Asif Zardari telling a group of people to shut up at a political rally was recently posted on YouTube. Not long after the clip surfaced, the Pakistani government blocked YouTube entirely for a short period of time until it was able to block only the specific clips. It is unknown at this time if the blocking was the work of Google or the government.
Media around the world has been controlled and influenced by governments for centuries. Sometimes censorship is done with the best of intentions, but other times, the only purpose is to protect whatever government is implementing the policy. In the modern world, information is international, which makes it harder to control. Google is in a prime position to shape the Internet into something above any country’s laws. The real issue is whether the Internet should be seen as a road that runs through different countries, thus abiding by each nation’s separate laws, or as something international and above reproach. Google has shown through its actions that it is against censoring the Internet, and rightfully so; people have a right to be informed of what’s going on in the world. Michael Padon is an engineering sophomore and may be contacted at opinion@thedailycougar.com
Houston’s music scene is in its fledgling state, which, contrary to popular opinion, isn’t a bad place to be. Sure, it would be nice if our city’s musical landscape stretched further than the likes of 94.5 The Buzz — which only plays local music on Sunday nights — and was more akin to Austin’s, but it’s not. Still, there are a lot of good bands out there in Houston; they’re just figuring out how to market themselves. Houston is, from what we can Houston is, tell, seen by youngsters as a bit from what of a boring town; a workaholic’s we can tell, dream, where there’s plenty of work to do and little fun to be seen by had. But that’s just not true, especially if you’re into music. youngsters The Last Place You Look, Fat as a bit of a Tony, VerseCity, Deep Ella and, boring town of course, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall and Bun B are just a few of many local musicians that show a lot of promise (and happen to put on fantastic live performances). The latter three happen to also be former and current UH students. On Wednesday, a few local music writers met to discuss their “work” over drinks. In attendance were writers for Free Press Houston, 29-95, the Houston Chronicle, Space City Rock, Houston Calling, the Houston Press, Houstonist.com and Houston Music Examiner. And all the journalists said the same thing: give us more. Many local artists spend their time practicing (which is, of course, necessary) but focus so much on playing music that they overlook an essential relationship with the press. We feel the same way. In the age of the Internet, it’s easy to get your music up on MySpace, Music1up, Facebook and the like, but until someone else starts writing about your music and puts your name out there, you’ll most likely continue to play smaller gigs. The Daily Cougar has a Life & Arts section and, since we try to keep most of our coverage pertinent to our neighborhood (which, by the way, is all of Houston), we suggest that any UH students who are in bands contact us immediately. We want to help you make Houston easier on the ears.
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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Daily Cougar
SPORTS EDITORS Phillipe Craig, Robert Higgs
ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports
THE PEOPLE’S GAME
GOLF
Cougars playing to a tee
Dynamo fans call for new stadium The area is viewed as superior to the second proposed location at South Rice and Westpark Toll Road, where residents are in strong opposition to adding new infrastructure to an already overcrowded area. Nordstrom added his opinion to the throng in support of the original site. “They know what this means for their neighborhood and their community, and they know what it means to transform these six empty lots into a vibrant cultural center for the East End,” Nordstrom said. If the stadium is built at this location, it will not only bring in money for the community but for the city of Houston. The Dynamo will provide $60 million from its own budget to build a stadium they will not own. “It’s a stadium that is still going to be owned by the city; the Dynamo will be lease holders. So it’s going to be basically the Dynamo spending private money to directly benefit the city of Houston,” Nordstrom said. While the problems of the funding and the site of the stadium have been resolved, the fans are still waiting for ground to be broken. “This has been an even longer wait for the Dynamo,” UH student and Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance member Katy Umana said. “The Dynamo relocated from San Jose to Houston because they
Fighting Words
Talking smack and sports
At issue: What NBA team came out of the trade deadline as the biggest winner?
J
» Keith Cordero Jr.: T-Mac’s got life in him yet The NBA trade deadline provided for a ton of excitement, and the winner without a doubt is the New York Knicks. Acquiring Tra Tracy McGrady, who w by the way dropped in 26 points in his Knicks’ debut, in aaddition to Sergio Rodriguez and Eddie Ro House were some big deals. The Knicks were able to dump the contracts of Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries and acquire talent and an expiring deal with McGrady. Whether T-Mac stays or goes this offseason, he is a Knick for now, and with David Lee, Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari all scoring, the addition of T-Mac gives the Knicks a nice lineup. I like what the Rockets and Cavaliers did as well. Kevin Martin
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Read how the McGrady trade will be addition by subtraction
E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com
The Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance the their second of three planned rallies this weekend to raise support to build a new stadium for Houston’s MLS club. More Gordon than 100 fans Furneaux showed up to the stadium’s proposed location to remind Harris County representatives of their promise to build the club a new home. For Eric Nordstrom, founder of the Dynamo Supporters Alliance, it is time to end the waiting. “The city committed to this project a long time ago, and it’s literally been the inaction of the commissioner’s court and, specifically, El Franco Lee and Silvia Garcia to put this issue on the agenda,” Nordstrom said. “All we ask to happen is that this issue be put on the agenda and once and for all have a full and open hearing.” The rally was held at the East End of downtown, at the intersection of Rusk and Dowling, where the gathered fans hope the new stadium will be built. “The residents have been on board for this since Day 1. Eighteen or 19 months ago, I think it was November of 2008, the Dynamo were out here with the East End Chamber of Commerce speaking in favor of the downtown stadium project,” Nordstrom said.
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and Antawn Jamison, respectively, should help out in big starting roles with their new teams. The Kings landing talented forward Carl Landry is also huge. Landy will team up with rookie sensation Tyreke Evans. The Knicks are the big winners; T-Mac is still a star.
» Jason Ovalle: It’s about winning now Whoa Keith, hold on a second … T-Mac, a star? I think he definitely still h has something le left in the tank, b but calling a 30-year-old player just coming off microfracture knee kn surgery a star is a little bit of a reach. The Kings, Rockets and Cavs all improved this year and for the future, but in the NBA it is all about winning. Yes, that’s right, winning. It is about right now and
Cougar Sports Services
success. “As great as the atmosphere is in Robertson, the facilities are outdated and not at the standard necessary for a professional soccer team, especially a successful one. The team’s stadium should be their home,” Umana said. The Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance has been struggling to get a stadium built for years now, but they remain optimistic that it will happen soon. They invite any and all Dynamo fans to come support the cause at the third rally, which will be held at the same location March 20. “Hopefully it will be a celebration,” Nordstrom said.
The Cougars got back on the links Monday at the J.L. Lewis Intercollegiate in New Braunfels, Texas, hoping to better their seventh place finish last week at the Rice Intercollegiate. The two-day tourney featured 36 holes, with 18 being played today on the par-71, 6,928-yard course at The Bandit Golf Club. The Cougars who competed are senior Jackie Lindsey, juniors Matt Eschenburg and Clark Mitzner and freshmen Joseph Reynolds and Jordan Rumora. Lindsey led the team with a first round score of 1-over 72. He was followed closely by Mitzner, with a 2-over 73. The team was rounded out by Eschenburg’s 76, Reynolds’ 77 and Rumora’s 79, which included three double bogeys and four birdies. The Mean Green of North Texas led after the first round with a team score of 290, followed by Houston at 298. Second-round scores were not available at presstime. This is the third consecutive tournament the Cougars have played in Texas to start off the spring season.
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KATY UMAÑA THE DAILY COUGAR
Dynamo fans gathered Monday for the second of three rallies designed to raise public support for a new, dedicated stadium for the MLS club. couldn’t secure a soccer-specific stadium deal. Now, they face similar hurdles with city and county officials. We’re here to inform people why this deal is good for our city and county,” Umana said. It’s safe to say that many Dynamo fans came out to the rally because they had witnessed the magic that can happen when the team plays at Robertson Stadium. The team has won two MLS cup championships at UH’s stadium, where they played games that Houstonians will remember for years to come. Fans gathered Saturday not to forget the seasons played at Robertson, but to ensure that the Dynamo get a new home that will help them build on their past
getting an NBA championship. The only elite team that did that was the Cavaliers. They already had the best record in the NBA, and finally managed to get a piece to compliment the best player in the league, LeBron James. Yes, I am talking about Antawn Jamison. He is averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game. He is also a good 3-point shooter and can space the floor if they play Orlando again in the Eastern Conference finals — something the Cavs had problems with last year when trying to guard Rashard Lewis. So Cavs won hands down, and Jamison will help LeBron get his first NBA ring this year.
It’s your turn turn. Write to us about what you think think. Leading the league with a 43-14 record, this season seems like a rerun of last season for the Cavs, who were leading the conference, but lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals. Jamison, an All-Star in 2005 and 2008, adds to a dominating offense that already has the ability to win a seven game series against teams such as the Boston Celtics or Orlando Magic. The goal of every franchise is to win a championship; Jamison will take the Cavs to that level.
» Chris Losse: Jamison is the » Judge Higgs: Will there be Cavs’ missing piece
enough shots to go around?
I agree with Jason. T-Mac is a falling star. It was a great move for the New York Knicks, who desperately needed a face to represent the franchise. With more $30 million left to spend, it is possible that by the end of the summer there could be two more all-stars joining McGrady in New York. The biggest move coming out of the trade deadline was made by the Cavaliers, in acquiring Antawn Jamison via a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. Jamison is known for possessing the particular skills the Cavs need most in their drive to win the Eastern Conference.
I have to jump on the bandwagon and throw a little ridicule your way, Keith. Six years ago when he was traded to the Rockets in his prime, T-Mac was supposed to be the key that would vault Houston into championshipcontender territory. In those six years, the much-ballyhooed trade netted the Rockets four first-round playoff exits, and the one year they actually made it out of the first round, they did so with McGrady watching from the bench. And if T-Mac couldn’t find the motivation to play hard, when healthy, for a scrappy, overachieving team like the Rockets, how long do you think
he’ll keep his head on straight for a losing team like the Knicks? The duet of Jason and Chris hit it closer to the mark. Initially it may seem like adding a 20-point per ggame scorer in JJamison to a lineup he headed by offensivem minded players like LeBron and Shaq could spread the touches too th thinly and create che chemistry problems of offense. But Jamison is known as an unassuming workhorse of a player, and the chance to compete for a championship should give him all the motivation he needs to fit in with his new team. If the question is what team has the chance to benefit more this season, the answer has to be the Cavs.
Verdict Jason got there first, so his argument wins.
Facetime Don’t sleep on Jared Jeffries; he can play. And let’s please see more of Chase Budinger.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
LIFE & ARTS
The Daily Cougar
Futuristic tales boost following
CALLING ALL
COUGARS!
ruling us; possibilities are infinite. One of the current popular titles is Suzanne Collins’ The Since the success and Hunger Games, which is set in popularity of best sellers turned future North America ruled by a blockbuster motion pictures such tyrannical government that uses as Twilight and Harry Potter, reality television as a morbid young adult fiction books have punishment for past rebellions, become more popular than ever. sending one teenage girl and one Now, after the supernatural boy from each district to fight for vampire/magician wave wears survival in a televised spectacle. out, we welcome a newly The book has been on the New discovered passion for end-ofYork Times best-seller list for 74 the-world scenarios. As the world weeks, along with the sequel, faces terrorism, wars and swine Catching Fire, which has been in flu and prepares to aboard the the list since it was first released believed-to-be apocalyptic year in September. The third and final 2012, it seems teens have found book to the series, Mockingjay, catharsis in futuristic is set to release on chaos. Aug. 24. The rights It is not a new With so many post- for The Hunger concept; apocalyptic Games movie have apocalyptic titles tales have been already been sold to around for ages. But Lionsgate and the published, the even the reluctant movie is currently dystopian young reader is finding in production. adult reader will be a new hobby with With so many these action-packed, post-apocalyptic quite busy. sci-fi sub-genres. titles published, the The difference and dystopian young much of its appeal adult reader will be is that some of these things quite busy. Furthermore, between could actually happen. We never this year and the next, the young know what the future holds for adult book industry will publish a us. Could be weather disasters, vast amount of dystopian fiction. running out of basic resources, This new wave will keep genetic manipulations, a zombie growing and has come to stay. invasion or, more commonly, totalitarian leaders suddenly arts@thedailycougar.com
By Sabrina Horande THE DAILY COUGAR
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Help abolish red light cameras in Houston. $8/hr. Kubosh Law Office. Contact: Janikka Bratton 713-222-0990.
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Dim Sum by Ho Yi Lau
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TODAY’S SUDOKU How to play Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Previous puzzle solved
London district Thick carpet Result of action Aboard ship Wave maker Last box to check Poorly planned (hyph.) 19 Nutritious grain 20 Mamie’s man 21 Tpks. 22 Home finisher 23 Makeshift solution (hyph.) 25 Nile sun god 26 PC button 27 Cross at risk 30 — and drabs 33 Pitches 34 Mdse. bill 36 Brewer’s oven 37 Kind of tea 38 Ooze 39 Audit ace 40 Luster 41 Goes for the gold? 42 A start 44 Hang loosely 45 Free electrons 46 Dupe 50 — Dame, Ind. 52 “Happy Days” cool guy 53 Zoologists’ mouths 54 Marina sight 55 Like backpackers 57 Ms. Lauder 58 Forest ruminant 59 Uris of “Topaz” 60 Berry patch hazard 61 Actress — Martinelli 62 Peon of yore
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Delhi title Port near Kyoto “Iliad” beauty Big galoot Inactive Walked along Citrus coolers High-school equiv.
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41 Passover bread 43 One of two 44 Dee or Bullock 46 Pigeons’ homes 47 Minute openings 48 Pyromaniac’s work 49 Mr. Newton 50 Poet Ogden — 51 Eight, to Livy 52 Furnace need 54 Still 55 Lyric poem 56 Pamplona cry
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9 Defers to 10 Minerva, in Greece 11 Carla, on “Cheers” 12 Beowulf’s drink 13 — Nouveau 18 Orchestra section 22 Arrange, as hair 24 Mortgage or car loan 25 Baseball’s Hank — 27 Feinted 28 Legal claim 29 Tot’s perch 30 Sawbones 31 Enthralled 32 Aoki of golf 33 Foot parts 35 FDR had three 37 Get on the horn 38 Once-powdered items 40 Cut off
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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LIFE & ARTS
The Daily Cougar
Tarantino to make a spaghetti southern By Ryan Popham THE DAILY COUGAR Master of the ultraviolent Quentin Tarantino has shocked film audiences around the world since 1992 with accomplishments such as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 – 2. His most recent masterwork, Inglorious Bastards, is nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Tarantino with nominations for best director and screenplay. During a Feb. 11 interview with Tarantino, Larry King called it his favorite film of the year and that Tarantino “had his vote” for best director. Tarantino responded with
his expectation that Kathryn Bigelow would win for The Hurt Locker. Over the last 18 years, Tarantino has produced “the cinema of cool” with his electric dialogue and unpredictable storytelling with a touch of amusing never-ending violence. Along with the announced Kill Bill: Vol. 3 to hit theaters in 2014 and having produced Robert Rodriguez’s Machete scheduled for April 16, Tarantino has also mentioned the idea of a future Western project. Rather than actually having it in the West, he plans on having the story occur in south Texas during the slavery era, a subject that many people are afraid to deal with. He
Teaching Opportunities in Pasadena ISD
mentioned to The New York Daily News that it’s going to be an exciting adventure rather than “a ponderous history lesson of slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad.” He’s going to call this film a “Southern.” This will most definitely be a huge hit for Tarantino fans and fans of the Western genre. Not only for the combination of those two, but Tarantino also has a passionate love for film and for the spaghetti western genre in particular, as his favorite film of all time is Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Tarantino loves to pay homage to this fantastic film by using the epic soundtrack for scenes in his own movies to create a sense of contempt, suspicion or tension for upcoming atrocities. Other than his love for the Western genre, he also has some acting experience in acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike’s 2007 film, Sukiyaki Western Django,
where he amusingly played the only white man named “Piringo” in an alternative Japanese universe of 19th-century Nevada. It is unclear whether Tarantino is writing his upcoming “Southern” now or if it’s just in the idea stage, but more information will surface in time. With all the elements to Tarantino’s repertoire in the respect of the Western genre, it is almost certain he will make the “Southern” a new genre in and of itself that, with a few films, could possibly be referenced as much as the spaghetti western or the Western. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards has a promising selection of nine Best Picture nominees other then Inglorious Bastards. These are the most nominations since 1943, when Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca was nominated for eight Academy Awards. arts@thedailycougar.com
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS &REE 4AX !SSISTANCE IS !VAILABLE If You Are Required to File an Income Tax Return, (Form 1040NR or 1040NR EZ) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)* Volunteers are Available to Assist You! Bayou City Room (Room 202), February 27, 2010, March 20, 2010 University Center, 2nd Floor, March 27, 2010, April 3, 2010 and April 10, 2010 Saturdays Only, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm: Bring the following: Your passport, Immigration Documents such as Forms I-20, or DS-2019; any Forms W-2 and/or 1042-S; Forms 1099, if any; records of all income and expenses. For additional information, please call the International Student and Scholar Services Office at (713)743-5065. *Houston Asset Building Coalition (HABC) is now responsible for all phases of the VITA Program.
OUT AND ABOUT
GLBT leaders on ice It’s not what you say, but how you say it. According to Chandler Burr, a writer for The New York Times, this is the principle behind what is killing the gay rights Thad movement inside and out. Sweigart According to Burr, the efficacy and inefficacy of opponents to the GLBT movement lay not within each side’s base argument, but in the angle in which they approached swing voters. For example, in the campaign for Proposition 8, proponents discovered that touting the sanctity of marriage didn’t mobilize anyone that wasn’t already on their side. When they realized this, they switched the message to being about children having homosexuality forced upon them in school. This tactic won in California and achieved the same results in Maine. After defeats in several liberal bastions, it has become abundantly clear that the tactic of empathetic appeal isn’t working. The secret, Burr said, is convincing voters that being gay isn’t a lifestyle, but an inborn trait. Researchers at Georgia State University did a study in 2007 that indicated an 80 percent correlation between the beliefs that men and women are born gay and lesbian and support for gay marriage rights. According to a similar survey among 100 random UH students, 63 percent of students who believed that homosexuality is a choice didn’t think that gays should marry, while 100 percent of those who thought it wasn’t a choice believed that they should have equal marriage rights. Forty-six percent thought being gay wasn’t a choice, and 41 percent thought it was a choice. Thirteen percent didn’t have an opinion, and those are the people that count. Obviously, due to the limited nature of this survey, these statistics should be taken with a grain of salt, but they are strikingly similar to larger-scale polls taken elsewhere in the country. Depending on which way the “no opinions” swing, gay marriage could be won or lost. With numbers in it’s favor and conventional wisdom failing political leaders, more and more people are becoming frustrated with GLBT leaders ignoring their own silver bullet. Some blame it on the liberal mantra that denies our biology has a controlling effect over our innate behaviors. They don’t view homosexuality as a choice, but they still look at it as a lifestyle. Whatever activists believe, there is a growing dissatisfaction with civil rights initiatives by the “black tie” liberals directing the movement, as shown by the recent upsurge in small-scale acts of civil disobedience. From the group that chained itself in front of a marriage registration office the Friday before Valentine’s Day, to the gay man and lesbian woman who received a marriage license to mock the absurdity of current marriage laws, disenfranchised citizens are becoming less and less tolerant of being told to wait for their equal protection under the law. arts@thedailycougar.com