Issue 101, Volume 75 by The Cougar

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Did you miss some of the Gubernatorial profiles? Check them out online Thursday, February 25, 2010

Issue 101, Volume 75

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Prof hopes students change voting trends By Jared Luck THE DAILY COUGAR The March 2 preliminary gubernatorial race will place particular scrutiny on how Texans cast their ballots. According to Texas Politics, an online textbook maintained by the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, Texans are most likely to vote if they are white, a female who’s older than 40, or an affluent college graduate. In the 2000 presidential election, more than 80 percent of Texans with advanced degrees voted. Nearly 75 percent of those with family incomes of more than $75,000 also cast a

Group to focus on good diet, recycling By Matthew Keever THE DAILY COUGAR The Food Advisory Committee has taken a proactive stance in students’ eating habits and is awaiting their response. While focusing on meeting students’ dietary needs, the Committee has also pledged to make a positive impact on the Earth. “You’re going to see a totally new Moody Towers dining hall,” Dining Services program coordinator Jonas Chin said. “We’re going to have eight different concepts for this dining hall … we’re going to have 50 percent more seating and no more back kitchen. (Students are) going to know where their food is coming from.” Chin said the Committee has received positive feedback from students, though he hopes for more. He believes the University can make a positive impact on the environment while still meeting students’ needs. “I think everyone is very supportive,” Chin said. “Everyone is encouraged by it.” On Monday, during a busy dinnertime at the Moody Towers dinning hall, members of the Committee spoke to students about proposed and recent changes to their meal plans, options and cafeteria. “It’s a Benihana-style of doing things,” Chin said. “Let’s cook the food in front of you, and maybe you’ll even get a show.” Floor designs for a proposed see DINING, page 3

ballot. In contrast, people who didn’t graduate from high school voted at a rate of 32 percent. Those with family incomes of less than $25,000 voted at a rate of only 42 percent. Over the last 40 years, voter turnout in Texas has consistently remained around 20 percent lower for gubernatorial elections than presidential elections, according to figures available on the Web site of Texas Secretary of State Esperanaza “Hope” Andrade. Jennifer Clark, an assistant professor of political science at UH, said one explanation for low turnouts is the lack of competition in gubernatorial elections.

“Texas is generally a stronghold for the Republican Party, and gubernatorial elections are not highly competitive,” Clark said via e-mail. “That has an effect of depressing both conservative and liberal turnout.” According to a Rasmussen Reports poll published on Feb. 23, seven percent of Texas voters are still undecided about who they want as their next governor. Rasmussen also reported that male voters prefer the Republican candidates to Bill White — the favorite for the Democratic nomination — by more than 10 percent. Women support U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison over White, but White has an 18-point lead with

women over Republican Debra Medina. Texas Politics says Republican and Democratic voters possess differing views as to what is the biggest problem facing the state of Texas. A quarter of Texas Democrats believe high unemployment is the biggest problem, while a quarter of Republicans think immigration is the most urgent issue. Political corruption troubles Independents most. According to the Rasmussen poll, 63 percent of respondents said the state government needs to cut spending. Eighty percent believe President Barack Obama’s proposed freeze on spending will do little

or nothing to reduce the national deficit. If trends hold true, the number of UH students heading to the polls will be low. Clark hopes that trend will disappear soon. “Students should be involved and actively follow state politics — not just national politics — because the issues that directly affect them are not just federal,” Clark said. “The state budget has a significant effect on education. Although the budgetary process is often the class material that gets students the least excited, creating a state budget, in essence, is setting policy priorities.” news@thedailycougar.com

GUBERNATORIAL PROFILE

Governor vies to keep seat By Giselle Bueno THE DAILY COUGAR Incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry has been in office since 2000 and doesn’t plan on relinquishing his seat any time soon. If elected governor in the Nov. 2 election, Perry will serve his third four- year term as the states leader. In the upcoming March 2 primary for gubernatorial race, he will receive competition from fellow republican candidates Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Debra Medina. According to the latest polls from pollster.com, Perry leads all candidates with 40 percent of the early votes. If re-elected, Perry has a set of priorities that have been developing for the last nine years including, the economy, fiscal responsibility, helping small business and education. Perry’s campaign deputy secretary Catherine Frazier said Perry’s main focus during this term will be the economy. “Governor Perry’s priority is to keep Texas moving forward and maintain our state’s comparative COURTESY OF TEXANS FOR PERRY economic strength to the rest of the Gov. Rick Perry said his agenda, if elected for a third term, would focus on job creation and the state’s economy and education. nation,” Frazier said via e-mail. According to Perry’s campaign Web site, Texas has gained more than of opportunities. People move here Frazier said in order to uphold said Perry wants to expand the Uteach 630,000 new jobs over the last three that there is something special going fiscal responsibility Perry proposed Program, to include five or more years, and shows no sign of slowing on in Texas.” that the Texas constitution be universities, in order to recruit more down. Frazier said amended, to require two-thirds of the university students earning degrees in During a debate Perry will not over Legislature to approve tax increases science and math into teaching. Upcoming profiles earlier this year, tax entrepreneurs and to limit spending growth to the He is also looking to expand Friday: Republican Debra Medina Perry said one of his so they can rates of the population and inflation. the state’s Virtual School Network, main focuses will be succeed “by their “Such approaches to fiscal which allows high school students to to continue to create more jobs for own merits.” responsibility will empower Texas take courses online. Frazier said this Texans. “Because of conservative to weather the challenging global program bring backs students who “We have people without work in leadership, entrepreneurs know that economy and stand against the have dropped out. Texas and we have to work every day they can succeed on their own merits misguided and out of control Another way Perry wants to to make sure every Texans who wants in Texas without being over taxed, spending coming out of Washington,” improve education is make it a a job has a job,” he said. “The other over regulated or frivolously sued out she said. simple truth is that Texas is the land of existence,” she said. In regards to education, Frazier see PERRY, page 3

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

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TODAY Adventures in Darkness: 7-8:30 p.m. Cullen Performance Hall. The second 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. For more information, contact Amanda White at awhite@optometry.uh.edu.

FRIDAY Big Love: 8-10 p.m. Wortham Theater Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center. Big Love is a play by American playwright Charles L. Mee. Based on Aeschylus’ The Suppliants, it is about fifty brides who flee to a manor in Italy to avoid marrying their cousins. The play takes the plot of the original Greek play into modern times, including such details as the grooms ambushing the brides by helicopter. While the brides and grooms wait for their wedding day, the characters raise issues of gender politics, love and domestic violence. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors,

CO R R E C T I O N S J

$15 for UH faculty/staff/alumni and $20 for general public. For more information, contact the School of Theatre and Dance at 713-743-3003. 2010 School of Art Annual Student Exhibition: 10 a.m-5 p.m., The Art Museum of the University of Houston. It’s nice to see that the Blaffer still hosts an annual student exhibition. This year, the exhibition consists of over 90 works ranging from digital media to installation, prints, painting and photography to sculpture and video. The students’ studios will also be open for viewing throughout the Fine Arts Building during the opening. Book signing: 7:30-10 p.m., UC Houston Room (251). New York Times Best Selling Author Tariq Nasheed is having a Lecture and Book Signing. Television and radio personality Tariq Elite, who has appeared on shows for MTV, VH1, BET, The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien is coming to UH to lecture about dating, relationships, and the art of having game. The event is $50 at the door for the general public, and it’s free for all University of Houston.

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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

PERRY continued from page 1

requirement for all high school-age children to be enrolled in school in order to get and keep their driver’s license. “This will not only give local school districts another tool in their efforts to reduce dropouts, it will also give students an incentive to do the work that will prepare them to compete in the workforce,” Frazier said.

DINING continued from page 1

pizza oven, salad bar, Mongolian barbeque area and vegetarian station were presented to students. For all the cuisine shown, the Committee made a point to highlight protecting the environment. “It’s all about recycling and reducing our carbon footprint,” Director of Food Service for Residential Dining Ed Wigley said. “Last year alone, we used 90,000 Styrofoam containers … so you can imagine that amount of Styrofoam in a landfill. We can’t be successful without (students’) efforts. We ask you to help us.” Committee members told students that 90,000 Styrofoam containers are equivalent to about 130 Eiffel Towers, 18,000 Yao Mings, 450 football fields or 93 Empire State Buildings. Benefits of the proposed changes were stressed, but progress cannot be achieved without proper financial support. The costs will be, according to the Committee, a few more dollars

Frazier said Perry, if re-elected, will continue with the work he has been doing these past years. “Under Governor Perry’s leadership, we will stick to our principles and effectively answer these challenges,” she said. “Governor Perry will use his experience provide the transportation, electricity and water infrastructure Texas needs to meet the demands of its growing population and continue prospering.”

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Learn about Medical and Health-professional schools by attending...

The Health Professions Fair Monday, March 1st, 2010

news@thedailycougar.com

than what students are spending now. New meal plans will be available, while the Moody Towers has already made breakfast available at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The dining hall used to open at noon. The Committee is using the extended hours as a trial run for keeping the dining hall open for longer periods. Student reaction will determine whether the policy stays or reverts to the old hours. No matter what, the Committee said it will continue to push its agenda and seek positive responses from students. “If you don’t eat well, you’re not going to do well in school,” Chin said. The Committee hopes more students will log on to its Web site (uh.edu/dining) and provide feedback because without it, the group can’t cater to students’ needs. “For this to keep going, people need to participate,” Chin said of the recyclable containers. “Please help us help the world.” news@thedailycougar.com

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10am to 2pm Location:

UC World Affair Lounge (Underground level of UC) University of Houston (Main Campus- 4800 Calhoun Rd)

Mark your calendar now and save the day for your future career!!

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. Hundreds of students have taken advantage of and beneﬁted from this event, helping them prepare for a career in the health professions.

For more information: UScholars Pre-professional Advising University of Houston ShBoger@uh.edu

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

OPINION EDITOR Alan Dennis

E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com

COMING FRIDAY: Do celebrities owe the public an apology when they make mistakes?

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

IRS bomber far from a hero, but do Americans agree?

I JOHN PALAMIDY THE DAILY COUGAR

Free expression works both ways In recent months, there has been a small influx of religious advocates occupying the walkway benches around campus. At first glance, their demeanor does not Newton Liu differ from those who seek out students to complete surveys. But a brief conversation with them quickly reveals their true aim. It was that exact surveyor-like posture that led me to lend one of them a few minutes of my time. I was walking to my car one sunny Friday afternoon after my final class of the week; I was in no rush to get anywhere. Even if I was, it was a rush to get home and catch a nap after a long week. Two gentlemen approached me as I was strolling and asked if they could speak with me. I figured a few minutes of questions would be child’s play compared to the hours of reading and typing the average college student goes through every week, so I gladly devoted to them my full attention.

It’s important to note that, even as an atheist, I can respect and appreciate religions and creeds of any kind. I’m a strong believer of free speech, and it’s critical to have environments for people to voice their thoughts without repercussions. That being said, I didn’t have the slightest idea these gentlemen were about to preach to me about their faith. I was aware how my long weeks would deprive me of sleep and drain me of energy, but I never realized that my peripheral vision would be affected enough to make me miss the Bible sitting on the bench right in front of me. Unintentionally enough, when questioned about what one of the greatest issues society faces, my answer comprised of a single word: “religion.” Little did I know that this would spark an awkward moment, followed by a friendly 10-minute debate. But my sentiment wasn’t meant to attack or criticize the concept of religion as a whole, but to express a thought shared

by many historians: the clash of diverse religions has resulted in many wars and conflicts throughout history. Being rude was the least of my desires, and while these men may have been generous enough to agree that I wasn’t being vulgar, they felt obligated to preach to me about a set of beliefs that I’ve been all too familiar with and previously rejected. Free speech is a wonderful concept, but it’s also as wonderful as the concept of selective exposure to free speech. We can speak our minds and choose to listen to others with one ear; we can believe one idea and reject another. This is a fundamental aspect of the state of being we call freedom. People who wish to preach a particular creed to students on campus are exercising their freedom to the fullest. Those who wish to decline to listen to what anyone has to say aren’t doing any different. Newton Liu is a communication junior and may be contacted at opinion@thedailycougar.com

Internet tool proves useful resource Wikipedia has long been criticized as being an unreliable source of information and its usefulness as a reference is routinely questioned. But there is no denying that Wikipedia Gautami has changed the Bhatt way people use the Internet. Despite all of the criticism, Wikipedia remains one of the most popular sites on the Web. Google announced Feb. 17 that it would donate $2 million to support the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit entity that oversees Wikipedia. This marks the first time Google has given money to Wikipedia. Google has always pursued revolutionary technology that directly relates to the masses. Google co-founder Sergey Brin said Wikipedia is “one of the greatest triumphs of the Internet,” and that “this

vast repository of community generated content is an invaluable resource to anyone who is online” in a press release announcing the donation. Wikipedia has about 14 million articles published, edited by some 100,000 users in about 270 languages. The anonymity of authors and editors is one reason the Web site receives criticism, but Wikipedia officials have acknowledged that the Web site should not be used as a primary source of information for research. But there are a number of references listed at the bottom of each page that can be checked and referred when investigating the content’s validity. Wikipedia has truly changed the way people access resources online, making it easy for them to gain knowledge quickly and in a user-friendly fashion. Each page of the Web site does not follow any scientific methodology for display of information, but rather is to the point and apt. Using Wikipedia for

academic purposes is not recommended; research papers require a sound backing of genuine, authorized content. But using the Web site as a general reference tool is definitely encouraged. If an art student wanted to know something about Faraday’s Laws, where do you think he would go first? And how many times has someone ended up finding information on Wikipedia while searching for something that’s totally alien to them? Wikipedia provides a good idea of the issues or topics on its multitude of pages, and it also serves to develop a healthy understanding of new things. The long and short of it is that Wikipedia is a good source of information that can be used to obtain news and data on topics ranging from arts to anthropology. Gautami Bhatt is an engineering graduate student and may be contacted at opinion@ thedailycougar.com

n the aftermath of Joe Stack’s decision to take out his frustrations with the IRS by flying a plane into a building that housed a group of government employees in Austin, there has been a raging debate as to where Stack ranks with the American public. A survey of several Facebook groups conducted Wednesday shows varying degrees of contempt or sympathy towards Stack, with some calling him a hero and others labeling him a terrorist. Stack’s daughter, Samantha Bell, recently told ABC’s ... Being a Good Morning America that terrorist does while she views his actions not go hand- as “inappropriate,” she still him a hero. She went in-hand with considers on to explain that she doesn’t consider her father a hero for owning a killing IRS employee Vernon green card Hunter but rather “because now maybe people will listen.” Really? How many people are now listening to al-Qaida’s message because of its attacks? How many everyday Americans say to themselves, “I really understand Timothy McVeigh’s frustration and agree with his message. I’m glad he did what he did, or I may have never been exposed to such a spot-on way to look things.” Not many. It seems that some people are treating Stack’s actions as different from other acts of terror, be it because he’s a white American citizen or because in their eyes his suicide note/manifesto contains valid points. The media has played its part by going out of its way to avoid labeling Stack a terrorist. In our post9/11 society, the word terrorist has become so closely associated with acts of terror committed by nonU.S. citizens that it has lost its true meaning. One must wonder— if McVeigh had committed his act of terror after 2001, would the media not treat him as a terrorist? Probably not, just another lone, crazed American who was fed up. The bottom line is that being a terrorist does not go hand-in-hand with owning a green card or subscribing to a non-Christian religion. Stack had an issue with the U.S. government, much like the 9/11 terrorists did, and so putting their issues aside is a must when examining their actions. The dictionary is not subjective, and its readers should follow suit.

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

Thursday, February 25, 2010

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EDITORIAL CARTOON

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Teaching Opportunities in Pasadena ISD Plan to attend our Career Choice Seminar:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010 @ 10AM at the Beverly Hills/Challenger Location:

11111 Beamer Houston, TX 77089

HO YI LAU THE DAILY COUGAR

Gamers must use discretion Whether online with millions of other gamers around the globe or at home among family and friends, video games take people on a journey beyond their wildest Patrick Levy imaginations. However, as is the case with any other type of online media, sometimes the actions of certain players can pose a danger to others as well as themselves. Minors have been intimidated and even sexually solicited over online gaming networks on countless occasions. A Feb. 16 article in the National Post, a Canadian newspaper, was about a resident of Port Alberni, British Columbia who received some troubling information while playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The article reported that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a conversation started with one player who spoke about being a high school senior who was failing academically,â&#x20AC;? and that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the chat took a more ominous turn as the student detailed plans to take part in a shooting at his school the following day.â&#x20AC;? Not only did the troubled gamer make generalized threats, but the article also stated that he talked about some of the students he was targeting. The gamer on the other side of the conversation, however, did not take the threats lightly. Upon being

informed of the conversation, the article said, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began investigating the matter. The police notified the Microsoft Corporation of the chat, which had taken place on the XBox LIVE network. Microsoft then dispatched the information to the police in San Antonio, where the gamer who made the threats resides. The SAPD ultimately arrested the teen at John Marshall High School, and because the threat involved a school, the suspect has been charged with a felony. As a result, he could spend up to three years in prison. Law enforcement officials in both Canada and the U.S. acted commendably in following through on what was initially thought to be a legitimate threat to the safety of a group of students. Although it is undeniable that the gamer who made the threats acted irrationally and improperly, his life should not be subsequently ruined because of a thoughtless action. Even more troubling is the revelation that because Microsoft records voice chats, anything said online can be relayed to officials and taken out of context. The student did admit to making the statements, but to charge someone with a felony without definitive proof of a crime is dangerous. Many people say things they

Because your words matter. Have you been misquoted? Though The Daily Cougar strives for accuracy and fairness in its reporting, mistakes happen. Please report any errors you see in the paper to the editorial staff. Corrections will run on Page 2 as needed to amend the record. To report a correction, e-mail editor@thedailycougar.com or call (713) 743-5362.

simply do not mean or intend to follow through with, allowing adolescence to get the best of them. This case only goes to show that discretion is warranted and necessary when participating in anything online. Patrick Levy is a communication freshman and may be contacted at opinion@thedailycougar.com

The Pasadena ISD Teacher Certification Program is offering Career Choice Seminars for anyone interested in becoming a Texas certified teacher. Potential candidates must have a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree or above by May 2010 and must have an overall GPA of 2.5 on the 4.0 system in ALL semester hours attempted or a 2.7 GPA in the last 60 hours attempted. The application deadline for the 2010-2011 academic year is May 14, 2010 The seminars will provide an opportunity for potential candidates to learn about our program and the areas of certification offered.

For more information, please call:

(713) 740-0029

also, visit our website at: www.pasadenaisd.org/atcp

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

weekend

26FRIDAY

LIFE+ARTS

ON CAMPUS 10 p.m. at the Blaffer Gallery, the 2010 School of Art Annual Student Exhibition. For more information, e-mail Kveneman@uh.edu or visit blaffergallery.org 8 p.m. at the Wortham Theater, Big Love. Price of admission is $10 for students and seniors, $15 for UH faculty, staff and alumni, and $20 for the general public. For more information, log on to theatredance.uh.edu

AROUND TOWN At Warehouse Live, the doors open for Heartless Bastards at 8 p.m. For tickets and information, go to warehouselive.com 7 p.m. p. at the Museum of FFine Arts, Houston, The UCLA Festival of Preservation: The Brother from Another Planet. For more information, visit mfah.org

AT THE MOVIES Opening this Friday, Cop Out (R), with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. The Yellow Handkerchief, with William Hurt and Maria Bello, will also premiere. COURTESY OF HEARTLESS BASTARDS

The Heartless Bastards will perform Friday at Warehouse Live with special guests Jeff Boortz Band and Runaway Sun.

27SATURDAY Bastards ready to rock ON CAMPUS

Book signing in the UC Houston Room from 7:30 to 10 p.m. with Tariq Elite, a television and radio personality. This event is $50 for general public, but free for UH students with a valid I.D. For more information, e-mail infor@tarqelite.com At 7:30 in the Moores Opera House, Symphony Orchestra. ra. Tickets cost $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. For more information, log on to music.. uh.edu

AROUND TOWN Tegan and Sara will perform at Warehouse Live at 7 p.m. For tickets and information, go to warehouselive.com. Downtown at 10 a.m., the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade. For more information, visit hlsr. com.

28SUNDAY AROUND TOWN Atreyu will perform at Wired Live (formerly the Meridian) at 6 p.m. For tickets and information, log on to myonstageevents.com. Your You last chance to see comedian Bill Burr on stage at the d Houston Improv begins at H 10 p.m. For tickets and information, visit improv2.com

Compiled by Life & Arts staff

By Travis Hensley THE DAILY COUGAR Heartless Bastards are coming to Warehouse Live this Friday. With the powerful voice of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Erika Wennerstrom as the driving force behind the group, this is a great chance to see live music in Houston. “I just feel like we play our hearts out,” Wennerstrom said in a recent interview about writing and playing music. Heartless Bastards has amassed critical admiration in Rolling Stone magazine since its debut album, Stairs and Elevators, hit stores in 2005. Since then, they have undergone some pretty substantial changes. The new lineup moved to Austin, Texas from Dayton, Ohio, and released a second album, All This Time, and now a third, The Mountain. In the past year, they’ve played on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Austin City Limits. But Wennerstrom remains humble

about her music. When talking about the band’s performance on Austin City Limits, she said, “I love that show, and it was a complete honor to be on it ... I grew up watching it.” Despite the success of Stairs and Elevators and the notoriety of such a catchy name, Wennerstrom is still quite unassuming, adding that she’s not good at “selling herself.” “The first album I was really worried about,” Wennerstrom said. One of the most impressive characteristics about the Heartless Bastards is the personal nature of its songs. “I get a melody in my head and then I figure the rest out,” Wennerstrom said, explaining how she writes her music. “Sometimes I have an idea of what the song is about with a few words in place.” The power of Wennerstrom’s voice is backed by her strong guitar skills. “I taught myself to play the guitar with some people showing me chords along the way … but I mainly play bar chords,”

Wennerstrom said. To truly understand Heartless Bastards, one of the best things to watch is its performance on Austin City Limits. The show is still available in full length at http:// video.pbs.org. The band’s recent performances on late-night talk shows are also strong, but it only had enough time to play one song on Letterman and almost two on Kimmel’s show. On Kimmel’s show, the second song was essentially cut off because of the rolling credits. The only song Heartless Bastards played in full length was “Out At Sea” from their album The Mountain. Wennerstrom said she doesn’t want to ruin what other people get out of the band’s music by discussing the meanings behind its songs. “We all get different things from songs,” Wennerstrom said. “It is essential to have creativity in life.” arts@thedailycougar.com

COUGAR SUTRA

Bed turning, condoms, car sex I am astounded by advice for the bedroom. However, none of it seems to really apply to male college students. Most of the sex columns I read in men’s magazines Travis seem to be all about Hensley working sex into a busy work schedule. In women’s magazines, it seems to be all about “driving your man wild.” Meanwhile, all my friends seem to be a wealth of knowledge of all things sexual. Plus, because I have written a sex column for more than a semester now, everyone seems to believe that I have plethora of advice to give. I don’t. I know a few things, some of which will never be printed out of fear that my mother might read them. So in light of that, here is my advice for the college male.

Always make sure you know which direction the bed runs. Nothing ruins the mood like falling off the bed and taking her down with you. Women are delicate creatures who do not bounce when thrown to the floor. So before you roll over, move your hand to the area you wish to be in, and if you feel the edge of the bed, don’t roll over. You can only be so creative when you are in a car. I have had two cars that have had almost no back seat. When you do anything in a car, you have to be able to quickly get back into a seated position and pretend you are just listening to music in a second’s notice. In turn, there is a 35 percent rule. No one should have more than 35 percent of their body on the other person’s side of the car. Any more and it looks like you are having sex in your car.

But if you have thrown caution into the wind and decide to go for it while in your car, don’t lie when you get caught. Cops don’t believe that old story about how you are looking for a girl’s missing earring. Besides, any other explanation for being on top of someone in a dark abandoned part of the road is much worse than having sex. Sending a sexual text message or e-mail doesn’t turn her on; she just shows it to her friends. If you have to say something of a sexual nature to someone, call him or her on the phone. Only people who write sex columns should have a written record of their sex lives. As someone with a written record, it’s not as fun as you would think. Some people tease you in public, while others see SEX, page 7

LIFE & ARTS

The Daily Cougar

Thursday, February 25, 2010

■

basketBALL,

SEX continued from page 6

write bad things about you on the Internet. When it comes to safe sex, never use a condom that you didn’t buy, and never trust the pill by itself. Condoms have expiration dates, storage requirements and a whole bunch of other specifics that — if neglected — will void their effectiveness. So take the condom out of your back wallet and throw it away. One solution is to buy condoms and keep them in a cool space that’s hidden from other people in your house. When it comes to a special night away from home that you didn’t plan, there are two options. You can either leave to buy protection or practice self-control. If you are in a long-term relationship, buy some condoms and ask if you can “leave these here.” I stress the ask part because it’s rude to assume you can stash condoms throughout a girl’s residence. If you’re embarrassed about buying condoms, turn it into a game where you try to embarrass the clerk. Buy strange objects that should not go together with condoms. The strangest look I ever got was when I bought two large Red Bulls, burn ointment and condoms. I don’t know why this made me feel more at ease, but it did. If you are a college male, learn from my mistakes. These were all things that I failed to do at one point. If I hadn’t done them at the time, my life would be so much easier now.

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Daily Cougar

SPORTS EDITORS Phillipe Craig, Robert Higgs

COMING FRIDAY: See if the Cougars can build on their big win over Memphis when they take on SMU on Saturday

E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

Houston finally takes down Tigers

Talented freshman cut loose

By Phillipe Craig THE DAILY COUGAR Aubrey Coleman eyed the basket and streaked down the court, knowing a dunk would send the raucous crowd of 4,063 at Hofheinz Pavilion into a frenzy. Turns out a finger-roll layup works just as well. Coleman’s finesse finish after a perfectly timed steal gave the Cougars a 72-51 lead over Memphis with 8:29 remaining in the second half — an advantage they didn’t relinquish. When it was all said and done, UH came away with a hard-fought 92-75 win. The victory ended UH’s 11-game losing streak against Memphis, which dates back to Feb. 5, 2005, and its two-game losing streak against conference opponents. Coleman, who finished with a game-high 34 points on 11-of19 shooting, said his last-second hesitation and old-school bucket was not for style points. Instead, it was the result of a lingering thigh contusion suffered in the previous game against UAB. “My leg wouldn’t let me (dunk it),” Coleman said. “It said, ‘No, just lay it up.’ So that’s what I did.” While Coleman’s leg may have been tight, he and his teammates were anything but that at the beginning of Wednesday’s contest.

The Cougars (14-13, 6-7 Conference USA) used fluid movement and crisp passes to build a 15-4 lead six minutes into the game. The Tigers’ Doneal Mack tried to stop the bleeding with a 3-pointer, but UH immediately responded with a 10-2 run. The Cougars stretched their lead to 29-12 with 6:55 left before halftime, but Memphis (20-8, 10-3) stormed back with a 10-4 run to draw to 33-22 with 3:29 remaining. By halftime, UH held a 43-28 lead. Head coach Tom Penders said he was proud of how his team maintained a balance of loose play on offense and focus on defense. “Just before the game, I had a feeling in the locker room of how loose and yet focused they seemed to be,” Penders said. “We had a good combination of relaxation on offense, and we did a great job of (playing with) intensity on defense.” The Cougars needed that extra intensity, as Coleman wasn’t the only player nursing an injury. Penders discovered Tuesday he would be without reserve guard Zamal Nixon (mononucleosis) and possibly Maurice McNeil (fractured nose). McNeil did enough lobbying to crack the starting lineup, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds. Washington more than made up for McNeil’s limited minutes (16), finishing with a career-high 16 points and game-highs of nine rebounds

By Robert Higgs THE DAILY COUGAR

(games) and go into that tournament on a roll. That’s how I want them thinking, and that’s how I always think.” UH returns to the court when it travels to Dallas to take on SMU at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Heralded recruit A.J. Dugat’s brief tenure with the Cougars ended Wednesday evening when he and fellow teammate Ari Tatum were dismissed from the team by head football coach Kevin Sumlin for an undisclosed violation of team policy. He was heavily recruited coming out of Dayton High School and strongly considered committing to TCU before officially agreeing to play for the Cougars in February 2009. The talented wide receiver and kick returner accumulated numerous accolades in high school, including one first-team all-state selection in division 4A. He ended his senior season ranked as scout.com’s No. 17 wide receiver recruit of the 2009 class. He led the Cougars with 11 punt returns and averaged 12 yards per catch on 14 receptions, while seeing limited snaps at wide receiver. Tatum was ranked as a twostar recruit by rivals.com and redshirted his freshman year before making his collegiate debut against Northwestern State on Sept. 9, 2009. Further details on the cause of their dismissal were unavailable as of press time.

sports@thedailycougar.com

GREGORY BOHUSLAV THE DAILY COUGAR

Kendrick Washington’s near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds helped drive the Cougars to a dominating win over conference foe Memphis. and three blocks. In the second half, UH never let its lead sink below 12 points, cruising to a dominating victory that Penders hopes will propel the Cougars to a strong finish to the season. “I told the kids, ‘This is the last time we see .500,’” Penders said. “We’re going to win these last

SWIM RECAP

SWIM PROFILE

UH well setup for day two

Diving team gains Swedish connection

By Tristan Tippet THE DAILY COUGAR

Winning the 2008 Australian Open Diving Championships isn’t an ordinary feat, but freshman diver Julia Lonnegren is anything but ordinary. Born in Lund, Sweden, Lonnegren enjoyed a variety of sports at an early age before focusing solely on diving. “My whole family has always been involved in sports,” Lonnegren said. “They made me try a lot of sports when I was young. They’ve always been very supportive.” Despite being new to the U.S., she hopes diving will help her find a new home. But Lonnegren still maintains strong ties to her homeland. She said the one word that would completely describe her would have to be Swedish and joked that her friends have taken to calling her “meatball.” She said one of her happiest moments was when she learned she would be moving to Houston. “I was very, very happy when I heard that I was coming to UH,” she said. “I heard a lot about the diving

The Conference USA Championships began with a light day of racing, as the Cougars competed in only the 200-yard medley, where they placed third, and 800-yard freestyle relay, finishing fourth. UH concluded the day tied for third with 62 points, behind Rice at 68 points and SMU at 80. Head coach Mark Taylor said the team performed as he had hoped. “It’s just what I expected,” Taylor said. “We swam great.” In the 200-yard medley relay, the Cougars raced with a team consisting of Jessica Shamburger (backstroke), Beccy Hillis (breaststroke), Andrea Kells (butterfly) and Moira Fraser (freestyle). UH was in second place — behind SMU — for several laps, but eventually fell back and was surpassed by Rice to finish in third with a time of 1:42.68. “In our 200-yard medley relay we were third, so we got medaled,” Taylor said. “We were only four tenths of a second away from our

By Mariam Dashtabadi THE DAILY COUGAR

COUGAR FILE PHOTO

The Cougars got off to a solid start in the first day of the Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships. school record.” The Cougars also started off strong in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Swimming with Kim Eeson, Christine Salinas, Kimmy Ballo and Reka Kovacs, the Cougars were in second for several laps. But they faltered near the end and placed fourth. The Cougars finished with a 7:30.93 finals time. “Kim almost equaled the best time she’s ever done,” Taylor said. “Christine did good, Kimmy did good, and Reka did an outstanding job at the end of the relay; 7:30 is nine seconds faster than our best

in that event. That’s just where we thought we’d be in our first day out.” The two relays set UH up for Thursday’s events, which include the 500-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle and the Three-meter diving. Taylor said the team’s confidence will be high heading into Thursday’s events at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. “Our girls are pumped up because they saw how fast everybody was,” Taylor said. “They know they’re going to swim great tomorrow.” sports@thedailycougar.com

coach here. I had seen her at a lot of international competitions and heard so many good things about her, so I had an urge to contact her.” After talking to head diving coach Jane Figueiredo, Lonnegren knew Figueiredo and UH was the correct choice. Lonnegren, a kinesiology major, notices a big difference in the educational systems of Sweden and the U.S., but believes she is ready for the challenge. Although Lonnegren is undergoing an international transition, her performance as a Cougar diver has not suffered. On Feb. 2, Conference USA named her Swimmer of the Week. She attributes achievements such as these to her fears. “I always ask myself, ‘What is driving me?’ I’m a very scared diver, but I still enjoy being up on the tenmeter a lot,” she said. “I guess it’s the feeling when you come down in the water, like you actually made it from being so scared.” Lonnegren’s primary athletic focus at UH centers on reaching the NCAA Diving Championship, one of her long-held goals. sports@thedailycougar.com

SPORTS

The Daily Cougar

Thursday, February 25, 2010

■

SOFTBALL

UH seeking Cajun elation By Christopher Losee THE DAILY COUGAR After scoring a combined eight runs in the final three games of last weekend’s Marriot Invitational, head softball coach Kyla Holas and her players are shifting their focus to hitting as the LSU Tiger Invitational approaches. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re bringing our bats to the ballpark every single game,” Holas said. Holas believes her returning pitchers can make up for their inexperienced offense. “What should be our strength is

our pitching staff,” Holas said. “We are hoping that we can get a bit tougher at that position.” Tuesday’s doubleheader against Baylor was postponed due t weather, which Holas views as a missed opportunity for her players to gain valuable experience. “I think it was one of those things where we all would like time off,” Holas said. “It was a time for us to be able to get some good wins in.” The Cougars will face stiff competition this weekend, especially from No. 16 LSU and Jacksonville State. LSU is returning 13 letterwinners, and Jacksonville State was

43-16 last season. “LSU and Jacksonville State were both in super regionals last year,” Holas said. “Both of those teams will be tough for us this weekend.” Freshman Bailey Watts takes the mound at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Jacksonville State, while junior Amanda Crabtree will start against either LSU or Southern. Crabtree left Sunday’s 11-4 loss to Texas after she was hit by a line drive, but Holas said she should be 100 percent this weekend. “She’s good by now,” Holas said. sports@thedailycougar.com

DAILY COUGAR FILE PHOTO

The Cougars hope the bats of catcher Melissa Gregson and Co. can shake them out of their offensive slump at this weekend’s LSU Tiger Invitational.

TRACK

Cougars seek continued success By John Brannen THE DAILY COUGAR The UH men’s team returns to the track this weekend to defend its 2009 Conference USA Indoor Championship, while the women hope to improve on last year’s second-place finish. Burrell expects a close finish for the women’s team and hopes the men’s depth in the sprinting events will set them up for back-to-back conference championships. “We think it will be a three team race between us, Tulsa and Rice. UTEP is a bit of a wild card on the women’s side,” Burrell said. “The meet is going to swing on the

DAILY COUGAR FILE PHOTO

The women’s team takes to the track in this weekend’s Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships looking to improve upon last year’s second-place finish.

200(-meter dash) and the 400.” Burrell is confident in the men’s team, but knows UTEP and Tulsa are capable of contending if UH delivers a below-average performance in front of the home crowd at Yeoman Fieldhouse. “For the men’s team, we feel good about it,” Burrell said. “We are healthy. We have leaders in several events and some real depth in the jumps that I don’t think anyone can compete with. We just have to go out and perform at our capability; we’re the defending champions.” Burrell’s coaching staff made practicing jumps a priority. “It’s still a matter of trying to perfect a motion and become more

efficient. That takes a lot of time,” Burrell said. “What you’re trying to do … is establish good habits, and it’s not easy to do that.” Burrell and his teams have no tricks up their sleeves and plan to use the same formula that has made them so successful in the past. “At this point in the season the hay is in the barn so to speak,” Burrell said. Preliminary events, such as the 5000-meter final and distance medley relay final, will be held Friday. The hurdles and awards ceremony will be held Saturday. sports@thedailycougar.com

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