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Check out this semester’s lineup of comics and online exclusives Tuesday, T d M March h 9, 2010
Issue 109, Volume 75
thedailycougar.com
SGA veteran eyes top spot Reyes offers $500 scholarships as part of his agenda
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By Patricia Estrada THE DAILY COUGAR Improving communication between the student body and the Student Government Association is the main issue on the agenda for presidential and vice-presidential candidates Carlos Reyes and Matt Davis. Reyes, SGA’s director of finance, said a lack of communication with the student body is SGA’s biggest problem right now and something that needs urgent fixing. “The main thing is (to) build communication,” said Reyes, who has served two years in SGA. “I want students to know that there
is someone they can go to when they need help. Students are not going to care about the SGA if the president is not working for them.” Reyes said if elected, he would continue to go out and talk to students. “One of the big things you see when election comes around, is a lot of the candidates going to the different organizations and ask for their support, but once they get in SGA, they never go back to these organizations and ask how they are doing,” Reyes said. “If elected, we want to continue communication with these organizations.” Davis said it is important for the senate not only say to students “My door is always open,” especially since a lot of the time their doors aren’t open. “SGA is the voice of the students, and if we are serving students,
as student leaders, we need to keep the students informed as it happens, and not wait until the last second,” Davis said. “No student should find out that their tuition is going to be raised one morning from the provost, when SGA knew about it days before.” Both Reyes and Davis said they would not require senators to hold monthly town halls because these are not effective. Instead they want to see the senators attend meetings of other organizations. “It is easier for one or three people to change their schedule to attend a meeting, than to expect a large number of people to change theirs to attend one of our town halls,” Davis said. “We cannot expect students to conform to our schedule; we should conform to see SGA, page 12
PATRICIA ESTRADA THE DAILY COUGAR
Student Government Association presidential candidate Carlos Reyes (front row, second from right) and running mate Matt Davis (front row, center) said communication with the student body is key to leadership.
Feedback sought for official Metro plan
UH proposal persuades writer to move
By Neal Dasgupta THE DAILY COUGAR
For Tiphanie Yanique, who studied and taught creative writing as a Master’s of Fine Art candidate at UH from 2003-2005, last week represented both the culmination of a life-long ambition and an important first step on her journey as a young author. With the March 2 release of her first book, a collection of short stories titled How to Escape from a Leper Colony, Yanique has made good on a desire born in
Metro has approved plans to construct rail lines that will connect the UH campus to surrounding areas. UH President Renu Khator and the Student Government Association will comment on any possible alternatives and concerns that the UH community may have. “Metro has presented its plans for the rails and the SGA is giving feedback as to what will be most beneficial to the UH community,” SGA President Kenneth Fomunung said. “It’s Metro’s expertise. The UH community is just offering its input.” Metro has also provided a forum where UH students and faculty can voice their concerns and opinions. “Metro set up a public forum where they gave a presentation on each of the rail lines,” Fomunung said. “They also plan to set up a Web site where the UH community can post questions too.” Khator will serve as the spokesperson for UH during the discussions with Metro about the rail lines. “President Khator will be directly involved and have the final say on all negotiations between the UH see METRO, page 12
Caribbean native awarded scholarship, starts organization J
By Robert Higgs THE DAILY COUGAR
childhood to bring Caribbean literature to both the world and her fellow Virgin Islanders. “Being from the Virgin Islands in particular, I grew up not even knowing there was such a thing as Caribbean literature, which seems impossible because the Caribbean has impacted global literature tremendously,” Yanique said. “I think this is particularly because we’re an American territory, and we don’t necessarily have as much access to what is going on creatively in the region. “I thought how ridiculous it is that we live in this place that’s amazing and beautiful, but people come here to lay on our beaches and drink margaritas and don’t know anything about the
intellectual and cultural stuff that is happening on the island.” Her passion for her native culture extends to wider plains than simply her writing. After completing her undergraduate degree at Tufts University, Yanique was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. This scholarship sends promising and accomplished young scholars abroad with the mission to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries,” according to its Web site. There was no doubt in her mind as to how she would use the opportunity. “I went back and taught in my
high school for two years, which was the ‘give back’ thing I wanted to do. I wanted to teach Caribbean literature,” Yanique said. “While I was there, I also started a creative writing organization called Rock Lounge, which continues without me now, which is really exciting.” After completing her time off, Yanique knew she wanted to continue her scholarship. Loving literature and writing equally, she initially was unsure if she wanted to pursue an MFA in creative writing, which would act as a terminal degree, allowing her to teach at the college level, or pursue a doctorates degree in literature and write on the side. see WRITER, page 3
Professor shares her passion for poetry Connolly names UH one of the top creative writing departments J
By Sara Nichols THE DAILY COUGAR Throughout her childhood in the United Kingdom, English professor Sally Connolly distinctively remembers taking books from her dad’s study to feed her hunger for literature. Today, Connolly’s books are scattered all over her loft, complimenting the windows covered in scribbled poetry and the clear view of downtown.
There’s a large stack of papers that need to be graded sitting on her table, but Connolly is used to it — she teaches poetry at UH. “I absolutely adore teaching poetry,” Connolly said. “I get to read, write and talk about what I love every day, and it never feels like work.” Connolly taught at Wake Forest University and University College London before moving to Houston in July 2008 and starting at UH that fall. Connolly teaches modern, contemporary and structures of poetry to undergraduates in the Department of English. “It is very unusual as an academic to get a job doing exactly
what you want,” Connolly said. “UH didn’t have a contemporary poetry specialist before me. UH also has one of the top J Connolly creative writing departments in the country, so I get to teach some of the best poets of tomorrow.” Connolly is Irish by descent, but grew up in St. Albans, a town north of London known for having more pubs per head than anywhere else in England. “The schools I attended in the U.K. were quite unorthodox at
times,” Connolly said. “We didn’t study math or science — we studied dinosaurs, deportment and needlework. I just sat in a corner and read. I didn’t get a proper education until I was about 14.” Regardless, Connolly’s desire to pursue literature led her to UCL, where she received doctorates in modern and contemporary poetry. Connolly set her sights on teaching while she was an undergraduate at UCL. “I had just the most amazingly enthusiastic and dynamic professors and it made me want see PROFESSOR, page 3
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TODAY Fairy Godmother Project: 8-5 p.m., McElhinney Hall Room 333. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Women’s Resource Center have teamed up with a local outreach organization, the Fairy Godmother Project, to collect prom dresses for local disadvantaged students. It’s a donation event, asking for unused dresses. For more information, contact Jennifer Palton at 713-743-1019. Resume workshop: Noon-1:30 p.m., Student Service Center 1, First Floor. The purpose of a resume is to get you the job interview. The large majority of job candidates are screened out at the resume stage of the search. This workshop will help you prepare a resume that will increase you chances of generating job interviews. Interview workshop: 3-4:30 p.m., Student Service Center 1, First Floor. Interview skills are the most important job search skills you can learn. In this workshop, you will learn how to prepare for the next interview. Campus,
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behavioral and second-round interviews will be discussed.
WEDNESDAY Job search and networking workshop: 3-4:30 p.m., Student Service Center 1, First Floor. Think your degree guarantees you a job? Think again. Finding a job is a job. A multifaceted job search strategy is key. This workshop will give you step-by-step instructions on how to network and effectively use the Internet in your job search as well as an overview of the best strategies in looking for on-campus, part-time, temporary, internship or degree-level positions. For more information, call 713-743-5100.
THURSDAY Inaugural Kappalympics: 7:30-10 p.m., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity House. The Kappalympics are a Greek Olympics that all the Greek council organizations are encouraged to participate in. The event is open to the public and participating organizations members held by the Eta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc.
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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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PROFESSOR continued from page 1
to do the same thing,” she said. “I used to look forward to lectures.” Connolly speaks highly of her time in school and adds, with a slight grin, that she recommends staying in school as long as possible. “It was absolute bliss,” Connolly said. “I was living in central London and working at the Times Literary Supplement. I just had the most fun.” Connolly said her proudest academic moment came when she won a Kennedy Memorial Trust Scholarship to study as a visiting fellow at Harvard University in 2005. “It was, without a doubt, the most exciting thing to ever happen to me,” Connolly said. She is currently working towards publishing a book about elegies for poets, as well as a biography about the poet Thom
WRITER continued from page 1
Her path to UH was the result of both a shot in the dark on her part, and the enthusiasm UH showed in wooing her. “I did it in a weird way,” Yanique said while laughing. “I basically went to the Web sites that list ‘best of’ schools and applied to the top five creative writing programs. And then the one that gave me the most money, I went to.” Yanique said UH was very generous with the aid package. “But the other reason was that they had a tradition where the professor who champions you in the admissions process is the professor who calls you to give you your acceptance,” Yanique said. “So I just got a phone call from Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni saying, ‘I want you to come be my student at Houston.’ And that’s kind of irresistible. If the person you want to work with calls you and says they want to work with you, that’s kind of amazing.” Today as an assistant professor of English at Drew University in New Jersey, Yanique is preparing to begin a whirlwind book tour with 19 readings scheduled in North America for the next three months, including an April 18 reading at Brazos Bookstore in Houston. “I’m all over the world. Well, not the whole world, but definitely North America and the Virgin Islands I really hit hard,” Yanique said. “I’m going to be really busy, but I’m also excited. I’ll need to remember to take my vitamins.” news@thedailycougar.com
Covering UH’s quest for greatness since 1934.
Gunn. Connolly said that her favorite part about teaching is when students point out aspects of a poem that never occurred to her. She also appreciates that a number of her students are first generation college students like she was. “They have unique demands on their time, which makes what they accomplish all the more impressive,” Connolly said. Connolly said she suggests that students expose themselves to as much poetry as possible so they can learn what they like, and she recommends starting with fun poets like Billy Collins or Seamus Heaney. Connolly also said she urges students to utilize the resources provided by UH. “Doing well at university isn’t all about being clever, but learning how to study,” Connolly said. “Get a plan and stick to it. It’s about finding a methodology and applying it.” Connolly loves that teaching brought her to Houston, but it
took a while for her to get used to driving everywhere and the scorching summer sun. “I’m so pale (that) I’m actually blue,” Connolly said. “I’ve spent a fortune on sun block.” Although her Irish complexion is sensitive to the sun, Connolly enjoys strolling around Montrose and seeking out new spots to eat such as Feast, Reef and Dolce Vita. “Houston is such a foodie town,” Connolly said. “I’m very greedy so mostly what I do is eat in my free time. I spend the rest of my time walking my dog to burn off those calories.” Connolly said she would like to dispel two commonly held assumptions about the British. The first is that British food is better than Americans think. “And contrary to what Austin Powers would have you believe, British teeth are not that bad,” Connolly said. “Sign up for my classes and see.” news@thedailycougar.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Daily Cougar
OPINION EDITOR Alan Dennis
E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com
COMING WEDNESDAY: Do the Oscars receive more attention than they deserve?
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
Tackling obesity crucial to nation’s long-term health
H
MISHELE LAMSHING THE DAILY COUGAR
Tuition increases necessary evil Americans across the country are feeling the effects of a troubled economy. Jobs are constantly being cut in many industries, hours being drastically reduced and many schools are being Patrick Levy forced to make cuts in spending. The University Of California Board Of Regents raised tuition rates Nov. 19 by a rigorous 32 percent. Consequently, a massive protest by the UC Davis student body ensued. Students began occupying various areas on the campus, preventing buildings from being closed at scheduled times, and taking over classroom buildings, staying as long as they wanted to. Budget woes aren’t isolated to California, though. UH approved a 3.95 percent tuition increase for its main campus Feb. 16, adding about $138 to the average undergraduate student’s tuition bill. Students who are furious about the
slight tuition increase handed out flyers at the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library last week that proclaimed, “Education should be free!” It is important for protesters and angry students to recognize the fact that a quality education at an institute such as UH can never be free. The flyer also stated that “(UH) prides itself on being ‘the most diverse university in the country,’ yet threatens working class students and people of color with these hikes and cuts.” Those same students must also acknowledge that the University isn’t the only party at fault here. Gov. Rick Perry and several legislators instructed state-funded universities and colleges to revise their budgets in order to produce a 5 percent reduction in spending. In addition, the Texas Education Agency recently proposed budget cuts of more than $135 million for the fiscal years 2010-11.
While it is understandable that students are upset, their anger is being improperly channeled. It is true that the University could reduce spending in non-essential areas, but students need to acknowledge that with less state funding, the University has no choice but to do less, and in some instances, raise tuition. If UH were to continue on its previous path, there would be an outcry alleging that the University was living beyond its means. Instead of only choosing to evaluate one side of the problem, students need to write and call their state legislators and remind them that the cuts they ask the University to make have the potential to cause unpleasant results. We need to remind them that we, as future graduates, determine the course of our state, and ultimately, the entire nation. Patrick Levy is a communication freshman and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar. com
Students need to use good judgment As kids, we all longed for the day when we would leave for college and be able to make our own decisions. For most of us, adulthood has come with a plethora of fantastic perks and Liz Price an equal amount of unnerving responsibilities. The ability to take off on a spontaneous road trip at 2 a.m. on a Thursday is pretty amazing, but having to pay for the car accident you got into while rushing back to class the next Monday is not. As exciting as being out from under the control of one’s parents is, it’s an undeniable fact that many college students struggle with their newfound freedom. The idea of balancing checkbooks, schoolwork and yourself as you walk from a frat party back to your dorm room can be a bit daunting. According to a poll conducted March 18, 2008 by The Associated Press and
mtvU “most students in U.S. colleges are just plain stressed out, from everyday worries about grades and relationships to darker thoughts of suicide.” As a full-time employee and student, I can relate to the overwhelming feelings most students feel. In the midst of their stress, many students turn to outside vices. The problems come when they work so hard to fulfill all of their obligations that they become too reckless when it comes to other activities. According to the poll, 40 percent of college students are binge drinkers; 68 percent of sexually active college students have engaged in unprotected sex, and nearly half of them have never been tested for STDs. But it doesn’t stop there; statistics show that 33 percent of students engage in illegal drug use of some kind, be it recreational use of marijuana or the abuse of harder drugs. Everyone at UH is an adult and has
the right to make their own choices, but being unnecessarily reckless only adds to the sheer amount of stress students already have. On top of regular responsibilities, many are faced with STDs, DUIs and unplanned pregnancies because they don’t fail to see the consequences of their actions beforehand. Some students choose to stay away from these things altogether, but abstinence is not for everyone. When students choose to engage in these activities, it’s extremely important to make sure they are done responsibly. Those who choose to drink can take simple precautions to protect themselves. Make sure you have a designated driver, don’t leave your drink unattended and go out with friends you trust. If you choose to have sex, there are plenty of ways to protect yourself see PRICE, page 5
ealth care has been in the headlines consistently since President Barack Obama took office in January 2009. Americans need and want insurance to secure their health lives, but what if you could cut the cost of your doctor visits by improving your health naturally? Obesity-related issues such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure affects millions of American everyday and solving this matter can not only save you money, but can also add years to the U.S. life expectancy rate. Americans spend an overwhelming $150 billion a year to treat these obesity related conditions. Granted not all health problems arise from obesity, but the staggering number is serious enough for a need to implement some serious policies. The Texas Health Institute reported in 2006 that one in six children in the U.S. were obese, roughly 16 percent of the population at the time. In Texas, the number of obese people more than doubled to 27 percent in 2005 from 12 percent in 1990. The Texas Department of State Health Services predicts the number of obese adult Texans will rise to 20 million by 2040. First lady Michelle Obama has made a strong effort to promote her strong passion on a related topic, childhood obesity. Her remarks at a meeting of the National Governors Association on Feb. 20 stressed how important solving childhood obesity is for the future of America. Michelle Obama, who established the “Let’s Move” campaign to tackle this matter, made a valid point during her speech by mentioning that this phenomenon is new. How did we get here? Lack of physical activity is one, but the No. 1 reason is fast food. Eric Schlosser wrote in his New York Times bestseller, Fast Food Nation, that Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food in 1970, but spent more than $110 billion in 2000. Finding the times to prepare a healthy, homecooked meal every day can be very difficult for the average individual, especially during a tough economic times. But doing so can help people save money. If there’s nothing you can do about not being able to afford healthcare, than at least there’s something you can do to improve your health.
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
Domestic terrorism a growing concern The nation was scarred on Sept. 11 when two airplanes were crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Memories of the fatal incident Karen are far from Ramirez being distant. For many, this event marked the beginning of a major downfall for the country, affecting many facets of society including airport security. Since the attacks, there have been numerous threats made against the government, mostly coming from those perceived to be terrorists. There have also been several unsuccessful attempts, which is cause for alarm. With the nation having experienced such a traumatic event, it is a shock to discover that some American citizens want to mimic the behavior that has caused so much pain to the country. On Feb. 18, Joseph Stack crashed a small plane into an IRS building in Austin where nearly 200 employees worked. Federal officials said that it appeared as though Stack’s actions were the result of a grudge against the IRS. Investigators ultimately found a note Stack had written stating his motives and intentions on his personal Web site before his death confirming as much. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said that the incident was not linked to terrorism
and that the investigation of the situation and the pilot’s history would be ongoing. The note Stack left made it clear he was not happy with the way things were going with the IRS and that he intended to try and damage the IRS the only way he knew how — by flying his plane into the organization’s Austin building. This was his way of getting revenge from an organization he felt did not treat him justly. Had it not been for the Sept. 11 attacks, Stack might have carried out his plan in a different way. Another incident similar to this one recently surfaced which has many Houstonians concerned. Real estate appraiser Sean Donnelly of Detroit was arrested Friday for threatening to fly a plane into a Chase Bank in Houston. Donnelly was speaking to a customer service representative, grew impatient and made that threat over the phone. Donnelly claimed he was unaware of the representative’s location. It has become clear that people who seek attention have found a manner to do so that terrifies people. What began as an act committed by terrorists is now being done by average Joes trying to seek revenge against their own country.
PRICE
in the University’s free counseling. Ten free sessions are offered, and after that, payments are based on a student’s income. We only have this one life to live, let’s not ruin it before we have the chance to really start it.
continued from page 4
for free. Plenty of clinics in the Montrose area offer free birth control, and the clinic here at the University offers discounted STD testing throughout the year. Students who are feeling overwhelmed can also seek solace
We â?¤ lots & lots of TO: THE DAI LY
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Karen Ramirez is a psychology junior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com
Liz Price is a communication junior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
www.thedailycougar.com Stay in touch. INTERESTED IN BEING A
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DON’T BELIEVE A LIE LIE: ISRAEL IS AN APARTHEID STATE
FACT: The Arab-Israeli conflict cannot be explained with slogans. Israel extends equal rights to all of its citizens and is the only country in the Middle East to do so. Israel has a policy of affirmative action and offers equality for Jews, Arab, Christians, Muslims, blacks and women. Arabs serve on Israel’s Supreme Court and in Israel’s parliament. The Palestinians have two governments, Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank. These governments are responsible for the Palestinian people. Unfortunately, Hamas and the PA do not share Israel’s vision of a multicultural, free society. The lie of the Apartheid Paradigm is applied to Israel solely to undermine Israel’s right to exist.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Daily Cougar
SPORTS EDITORS Phillipe Craig, Robert Higgs
COMING WEDNESDAY: See how the UH women’s basketball team fared in the second round of the Conference USA tournament
E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Coogs dreaming of March Madness By Maurice Bobb THE DAILY COUGAR UH head coach Joe Curl has done all he can to make sure his players are prepared and motivated for tonight’s Conference USA tournament opener against UTEP at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. But thanks to the C-USA awards committee, one player will have more motivation than any other player in the tournament. Junior forward Courtney Taylor was named C-USA Player of the Year on Monday, a testament of her dedication to leadership, toughness, rebounding and all-around consistent play. Curl hopes the award will give Courtney a boost in the selection process for First Team AllConference and All-Defensive teams. “I’m very, very proud of Courtney, and I’m not surprised at all that she was selected for the award,” Curl said. “She’s a great kid and a great player. We talked about how I’m hoping this award will give her more confidence, since she was selected as the best player in the conference.” Not surprisingly, it was Taylor’s 39th career double-double that helped the No. 2 seed Cougars end the regular season on a high note with Thursday’s 81-58 win over intown rival Rice. Taylor, who averages 15.4 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds per game, finished with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for UH (1613, 10-6 C-USA). Brittney Scott shouldered most of the offensive load, racking up a game-high 24 points, and Roxanna Button continued to provide instant offense off the bench, finishing with 17 points.
Opal Taskila had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Owls (13-16, 7-9), who entered the tourney as the No. 7 seed but lost to No. 10 seed UTEP, 62-61, on Monday. Against Rice, the Cougars jumped out front almost immediately after the opening tip and raced out to a 50-23 lead over Rice to close out the half. The difference in the opening half came down to field-goal percentage. While UH shot a respectable 48.5 percent from the field, Rice only managed to connect on 25.8 percent of its shots, which allowed the Cougars to get their second highest total for an opening half this season. The Owls tried to make a move after the break on the strong post play of Taskila, but they were never able to get any closer than 23 points. After resting with a first round bye, Curl is ready to get his team in on the postseason action and bring home a C-USA title. “I think we’re well rested, maybe too well rested,” Curl said. “The fact that we’ve beaten them recently doesn’t mean anything in tournament play. Everyone takes their game up a notch. But we’re ready to play, and I think we have a legitimate shot at winning the tournament.” C-USA Tourney first-round results UTEP 62, Rice 61 — Guard Jareica Hughes exploded for 25 points and four assists to lead the 10th-seeded Miners to an upset of the No. 7 seed Owls. Hughes, an All C-USA selection, shot 9-of-17 from the field and hit 6 of 8 free throws. Anete Steinberga and Briana Green each added 10 points for UTEP (16-15).
DAVID SHIH THE DAILY COUGAR
After enjoying a bye in the first round of the Conference USA tournament, Brittney Scott and the Cougars will face UTEP at 8:30 p.m. today in Tulsa, Okla. Rice ended its season with a 1317 record. UTEP will face No. 2 seed UH in the second round at 8:30 p.m. today. UAB 52, Tulsa 45 — Forward Tamika Dukes had 18 points and 10 rebounds to help the sixth-seeded Blazers come from behind against No. 11 seed and tournament host Tulsa. Tulsa (12-16) was led by seniors Larrissa Williams and Teka Brooks, who scored 11 points apiece in the
final game. UAB (15-14) advances to face No. 3 seed SMU at 6 p.m. today. ECU 102, Southern Miss 64 — Five East Carolina players scored in double figures to lead the fifthseeded Pirates to a rout of the 12thseeded Golden Eagles. Freshman Shala Hodges led East Carolina (21-9) with 17 points. Pauline Love recorded gamehighs of 32 points and 11 rebounds for Southern Miss (9-21). East Carolina moves on to face
fourth-seeded Memphis at 2:30 p.m. today. UCF 59, Marshall 57 (OT) — Chelsie Wiley scored 19 points, four of them coming on crucial free throws in overtime, to lift the eighth-seeded Knights (11-15) past the ninth-seeded Thundering Herd. Mystee Dale scored a gamehigh 21 points for Marshall (14-16). The Knights will challenge topseeded Tulane at noon today. sports@thedailycougar.com
PLAYER PROFILE
Taylor dominates with grace By Joachim Clarke THE DAILY COUGAR
YULIA KUTSENKOVA THE DAILY COUGAR
UH forward Courtney Taylor was named Conference USA Player of the Year on Monday after averaging 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in the regular season.
Despite being arguably the most dominant player for the Cougars this year, Courtney Taylor never imagined she would be regarded among the all-time greats of UH women’s basketball. The 6-0 junior forward continues to set the bar for career double-doubles, as she recorded her 39th against Rice on Thursday. Taylor took sole possession of the record previously held by Sancho Lyttle, a former UH Cougar and WNBA All-Star, on Feb.7 against Memphis. “It’s an honor and a reward,” Taylor said. “It’s something to be proud of, but right now there are more important things to focus on.” Growing up, Taylor was surrounded by basketball. She said that most members of her family
played the sport. Her father Johnny Taylor played for Stephen F. Austin in the 1980’s. A Crockett, Texas native, Taylor played for Crockett High School, and over the course of her high school career was showered with awards, including All-Regional and All-District honors, along with a McDonald’s High School AllAmerican nomination. Taylor said her decision to attend UH was based largely on the quality of the coaching staff and the proximity to her hometown. Now that she is a Cougar, Taylor expresses a great deal of respect for her teammates. She said that although the team has had its struggles, they have only served to strengthen their camaraderie. “We’ve had hard but great times,” Taylor said. “Our record may not show it, but we’ve come far since the beginning of the season.”
The Cougars (16-13, 10-6 C-USA) are the No. 2 seed entering the GMC Sierra Conference USA Women’s Basketball Championships, held this year in Tulsa, Okla. The tournament begins Monday, March 8. On the court, Taylor never ceases to impress with her stellar performances every game. According to statistics posted on ncaa.com, Taylor finished the regular season with averages of 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. This is the second straight season in which she has averaged a double-double. When it comes to her future in basketball, Courtney says that she would love to play in the WNBA, but has not yet made up her mind. “I’m passionate about basketball,” Taylor said, with a smile. “But I need a vacation.” sports@thedailycougar.com
SPORTS
The Daily Cougar
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
By Keith Cordero Jr. THE DAILY COUGAR The Cougars are coming off a 14th place finish this weekend at the Border Olympics, with a team score of 917, and don’t get much rest as they hit the links once again Monday in the 25th annual Louisiana Classics. The Cougars are in fifth place after the first day of the tournament, helped by back-toback rounds of 74 for junior Jackie Lindsey. “We did quite well. We work on endurance a lot, and I was very pleased with our guys’
performance today. We started off a little shaky, but we came back and had a great second round, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow,” head coach Jonathan Dismuke said. Houston is playing at Oakbourne Country Club, a 7,141yard, par-72 course, against a very competitive field, including No. 13 Illinois, LSU, SMU, Memphis, Kansas, Colorado, Texas State, UAB, UALR, New Orleans, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana and host school Louisiana. “We just try to do our own deal and take care of our business. We try not to focus on stuff we don’t
have control over, like the teams we’re playing against,” Dismuke said. The two-day tournament consisted of 54 holes played yesterday, with the final 18 holes to be played today. Both days began with 8 a.m. tee-times. The Cougars will send out juniors Lindsey, Clark Mitzner and Matt Eschenburg, senior Beau Davis and sophomore Eric Adler after the short turnaround. Lindsey placed 41st at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas. Lindsey and Eschenburg have been ironmen for the Cougars, competing in every tournament
THE PEOPLE’S GAME
US heads into Cup with limp Last week was an excellent chance for teams and their fans to see where they sit in the World Cup food chain. All the big players were in attendance, Gordon playing matches that Furneaux would normally be seen in the semi-finals. Spain showed why they’re FIFA’s topranked team by beating France 2-0, while Argentina took revenge on Germany for their loss in the 2006 quarter-finals. The United States also played against a top-ranking team when it faced off against the Netherlands on Wednesday. American soccer has once again shown its place in the world. After winning seven of eight matches in qualifying, the U.S. has lost recently to Slovakia, Denmark and Honduras. Its 2-1 loss to the Netherlands marks another European defeat and begs the question as to whether Bob Bradley’s boys can win outside of CONCACAF. While the Netherlands looked comfortable and kept most of the possession in the first half, they were unable to score until the 40th minute when Jonathan Bornstein was forced to take down Wesley Sneijder in the penalty area after losing his marking. Surprisingly, Dirk Kuyt then easily beat fellow Premier League player Tim Howard. Netherlands scored again in the 73rd minute on a deflected shot by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The U.S. was unable to create any chances until late in the game, when captain Carlos Bocanegra beat the offside trap with a header off a free kick from DaMarcus Beasley. The 88th minute goal was too little too late though, as the U.S. left Europe with another loss. Problems continue for the team, as Stuart Holden broke his leg on a hard challenge by Nigel De Jong. The Houston native recently moved to Bolton, where he was playing his best soccer and helping the team move out of relegation. This was the last match before Bob Bradley was to make his final choice for the eleven who would start in South Africa. Holden, who is reported to
COURTESY OF HOUSTON DYNAMO
The United States men’s team might be without midfielder Stuart Holden, who broke his leg in a friendly against the Netherlands last week, when it travels to South Africa for the World Cup in June. miss six weeks, joins injured players Clint Dempsey, Oguchi Onyewu, Ricardo Clark and others who will be left off the list. It is still uncertain whether he will be fit to play in the World Cup. The U.S. has only two more international friendlies scheduled before they play England in their first cup match. The first should hold significant importance for the team, as they will be playing against the Czech Republic. The two countries last played in the opener of the 2006 World Cup, where the Czech Republic humiliated the United States 3-0. The game gets more intriguing, as the Czech Republic failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. They finished third behind Slovakia, who has already defeated the U.S. this year, and Slovenia who is in group C with the U.S. The U.S. needs to look at this game as a way of justifying their place at the World Cup. A win against the Czech Republic would build confidence for their last friendly against Turkey, who also did not qualify. With 2006 still fresh in their minds, a strong
showing in these last two matches is crucial if the U.S. is to improve from their recent losses against foreign clubs. If not, we might see another disappointing early exit from South Africa. sports@thedailycougar.com
this season. “We evaluated some of the mistakes we were making. We didn’t play the par five’s very well, we didn’t play the par four’s very well, and we had a really, really poor driving tournament,” Dismuke said. “These guys have been playing golf a long time, and it’s just very subtle tweaks here and there needed to get them going right.” After the Louisiana Classics tournament, the Cougars will travel back to Louisiana to compete in the Squire Creek Intercollegiate in Ruston on March 15 and 16. sports@thedailycougar.com
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UH succeeds with quick turnaround
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Daily Cougar
LIFE+ARTS EDITOR
Travis Hensley
COMING WEDNESDAY: Out and About explores latest GLBT issue
arts@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/life_arts
ENTERTAINMENT
T H E AC A D E M Y AWA R D S
Granny’s hip beats appear in nightclubs Ruth Flowers, a 69-year-old British grandmother, has put down her teacup and begun rustling up good beats for the late night party arenas in Paris nightclubs and Michelle the Cannes Film Reed Festival. Flowers, who has become famous for her unique dark glasses, white hair, green bomber jackets and leopard print outfits, decided to master the disco decks after attending a birthday party for her grandson. “It started really when my grandson had a birthday party … and they always have a little disco, don’t they, after the party,” Flowers said in a CBS News video. “I went along quite late and the gentleman on the door said, ‘I don’t think you want to go in there, madam,’ and I said, ‘I would rather like to think that I do.’ In a Mar. 5 Reuters article, Flowers said she was trained a trained singer who knew mostly about church songs, German liedar and classic pop. “I had no idea at the time of electro music,” she said in the article. But it seems the unusual sensationalism of the disc jockey world has swept her off her feet and into the world of late-night electro beats and ecstasy candy. French producer Aurelian Simon said he took Flowers’ ambition to become a 69-year-old disc jockey as a joke. But after four years of toying with the machines, Flowers has developed her own styles. “Its a little glammy, a bit over the top,” Flowers said, “I mean, if I appeared in a cardigan, a sweater and brogue shoes it wouldn’t be quite the same.” Let’s thank the Heavens that Mr. Rodgers didn’t decide to become a disc jockey. Flower’s charming smile and over-the-top turntable dances, which include random punches into the air to the beat of the music, is more than enough for us. For now, Flowers is working on a single that she hopes to release this spring. NPH feeling blue In other wacky news, How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris will be smurfing it up in Sony’s upcoming Smurfs: The Movie. Deadline.com is reporting that the blue people of Smurf land will come to life on screen with a mixture of live action and animation, ripping off the blue world that is Avatar. However, the smurfs were all smurfing in the forest long before James Cameron’s blue-skinned humanoids were praying to the Tree of Souls. As long as Harris stays away from the smurfberries, audiences might find themselves enamored with his smurfian charm. arts@thedailycougar.com
SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT
The Hurt Locker beat out the blockbuster hit Avatar and nine other films to take home the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Locker explodes War flick dismantles competition, blows over highest grossing movie in history By Jeff Jost THE DAILY COUGAR The best picture category this year was both surprising and predictable. The biggest surprise came June 24 when the academy announced that there would be 10 best picture nominees instead of the customary five. This has not been done since 1943 when Casablanca won. This change in number of nominees allowed a large amount of more mainstream and genre films to enter the race, drastically changing the overall composition of candidates. There were of course the critically acclaimed intellectual films; Up in the Air, Precious and The Hurt Locker. But there was also room for space alien refugees, Nazi killing bastards, an inspirational football story and even an animated film. This was yet another astounding new development, since an animated film hasn’t
been nominated for best picture since Beauty and The Beast in 1991. But even with Up! in the mix, most experts ignored the hustle and bustle over 10 nominees as they speculated on the only two candidates anyone was talking about, Avatar and The Hurt Locker. The David and Goliath story of this year’s awards, unsurprisingly, ended up being the biggest victors of the night. Avatar, the biggest blockbuster of the year and highest grossing film of all time versus the massive critical acclaim of this year’s low budget war thriller The Hurt Locker. Adding on to this competition was the wellknown fact that Avatar director James Cameron and The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow were previously married. This of course added a seething tension on top of everything else. Most experts saw The Hurt Locker as an obvious lock for the award following its sweep of almost all other award shows this year,
but there was always the ominous looming presence of Avatar’s massive overwhelming popularity, technical prowess and record breaking profits, right on the horizon. And then the night came. Both films were nominated for nine awards. As the night grinded on both The Hurt Locker and Avatar got their share of awards, as the night wound down to its biggest awards The Hurt Locker led by only one award. Then came the final two Oscars of the night; Best Director and Best Film. There was a lot of lip service given to the fact that if Bigelow won Best Director she would be the first women to receive the award so there was even a possibility of The Hurt Locker’s success being a groundbreaking new development in the award show. And then Bigelow won Best Director. see PICTURE, page 9
Best actress wins deserving title By Michelle Reed THE DAILY COUGAR Beneath the glow the stars bestowed upon the tastefully dressed 82nd Academy Awards Sunday, Sandra Bullock had the last laugh. Bullock was awarded an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, a suburban mother who takes in a homeless teenager and future NFL first draft pick, Michael Oher, in The Blindside. Bullock accepted her award with class, pure humility and managed to throw in a few jokes on the side. Bullock looked stunned and absolutely baffled that she had won the award, hesitantly walking over
to fellow nominee Meryl Streep and whispering something to her. The comedian we are used to seeing came out when Bullock reached the stage and said, “Did I really earn this, or did I just wear you all down?” Bullock showed her emotional vulnerability when talking about the importance of motherhood and her praise for Tuohy and the family that she represented in The Blindside. Showing a moment of humbleness, Bullock congratulated fellow nominees on their accomplishments. Bullock jokingly told An Education actress Carey Mulligan see ACTRESS, page 9
WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Actress Sandra Bullock received her first Oscar for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side.
LIFE & ARTS
The Daily Cougar
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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Best actor takes role to ‘Heart’ By Ryan Popham THE DAILY COUGAR Jeff Bridges, son of actor Lloyd Bridges, has been in movies and television since 1951 when he was just an infant at a train station in The Company She Keeps. He will always be remembered as “The Dude” in the Coen Brothers’ 1998 comedy The Big Lebowski. Now, he has another role that is just as memorable. Bridges was nominated four times for an Academy Award until he finally won for his most realistic and moving performance as “Bad Blake” in Crazy Heart. Some of his other films include a 1976 remake of King Kong, TRON, The Vanishing, Arlington Road, Seabiscuit, Tideland, Iron Man and The Men Who Stare at Goats. These films and his performances in them go to show that he will never fail to be a great actor. His first Oscar nomination came in 1971 at the age of 22 for The Last Picture Show, which opened opportunities for more roles and inevitably led to his second Oscar nomination three years later. Alongside Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, it was then evident that he was an A-list actor. A decade passed until Bridges received his third Oscar nod, this
ACTRESS continued from page 8
that her grace and beauty and talent makes her sick. She pronounced Precious star Gabourey Sidibe as “exquisite” and told Helen Mirren from The Last Station that she feels as if they were family. Bullock also gave a shout-out to the lip-lock she shared with Streep at the Critic’s Choice Awards on Jan. 15 when they tied for best actress, calling Streep her “lover.” “And Meryl, you know what I think of you, and you are such a good kisser,” Bullock said. Earlier, Bullock had joked to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush on the red carpet that if Meryl Streep were to beat her out for the win, she might accidentally trip her.
PICTURE continued from page 8
A surprised and nervous Bigelow walked onto the stage and, through heavy breaths, thanked various people in the production and made a passionate dedication to the brave men and women in our military. Just as quickly as Bigelow made it past the curtains to back stage, Tom Hanks briskly walked up to the podium and, very obviously pressing through to finish in time, opened the letter and read the name inside. This prompted Bigelow to immediately return to the stage from the curtain she had just disappeared behind and stager forward awestruck to receive her Best Picture award. Most of the speech made was from The Hurt Locker writer Mark Boal and
time going from best actor in a supporting role to best actor in a leading role in John Carpenter’s Starman. The fourth nomination Bridges earned was for the 2000 thriller The Contender, which found Bridges back in the supporting actor position. Bridges finally won a muchearned Oscar. In Sunday’s 82nd Annual Academy Awards, he ran up against Morgan Freeman for Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, Colin Firth for A Single Man, George Clooney for Up in the Air and Jeremy Renner for the Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker. Bridges won it as best actor in a leading role at 60 years old. Crazy Heart is a magnificent film that chronicles the tough times has-been guitar player Bad Blake has with alcoholism and relationships. He continues to tour bowling alleys and bars to play for old, dedicated fans accompanied by young, struggling musicians. Colin Farrell plays Tommy Sweet, his successful student, who has passed him by in fame and fortune, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, in another Oscar nominated role, plays as his love interest with powerful emotion. After winning the Oscar, he told People Magazine at the Governor’s Ball, “This could be a dream; I might wake up. Maybe not. Not for
“If I should trip her by accident, it’s an accident,” she said. “Things happen in long dresses and high heels.” Streep scolded E! News correspondent Ryan Seacrest for exuding too much excitement when interviewing Bullock on the red carpet. “You were cheerleading a little, but that’s all right,” she said. Aside from the playful rivalry between the two actresses, Bullock managed to make her acceptance speech meaningful and unforgettable. Bullock’s portrayal of Tuohy hasn’t gone unnoticed this past award season, raking in two wins for best actress at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actor Guild Awards. Forest Whitaker, Bullock’s director for the 1998 film Hope Floats, also adorned
producer Greg Shapiro, while an obviously surprised Bigelow could only bring herself to make yet another dedication to men and women in uniform, adding hazmat, firefighters and police to the list. So, the academy had made its decision. No matter how technically proficient and massively successful, you can’t win a best picture award for retelling Dances With Wolves using blue cat people. Bigelow and company left with six of the biggest awards of the night while Avatar only received three technical awards, none of which received by Cameron himself. Leaving James Cameron with no other choice but to run home where he could dry his tears with hundred dollar bills courtesy of Avatar’s over $2 billion gross. arts@thedailycougar.com
FOCUS FEATURES
Jeff Bridges received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bad Blake in Crazy Heart. awhile anyway.” He has finally earned his first Academy Award after being nominated on and off for nearly four decades. In a backstage interview, he was asked what the ride had been like from sitting on his bed and getting acting tips from his father to now winning an Oscar. Bridges’ response was simple. “Well, you know, ups and downs,” he said. “What does the Dude say? Strikes and gutters, man. “That’s about it.” arts@thedailycougar.com
praise for Bullock. “The breadth and depth of her heart and what she allows us to share is that intangible … quality that you can never miss in a Sandra Bullock performance,” Whitaker said. Despite the rumors of an Oscar upset this year, with many saying that Bullock didn’t have a chance against Streep’s cumulative 16 Oscar nominations over the years, Bullock’s gracious approval of the other nominees allowed us to remember that despite several dubitable performances in the past, she was last year’s best actress and can only grow from this achievement. arts@thedailycougar.com
Teaching Opportunities in Pasadena ISD Plan to attend our Career Choice Seminar:
TUESDAY, MARCH 9 2010 @ 7PM at the Beverly Hills/Challenger Location:
11111 Beamer Houston, TX 77089
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 bachelor’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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SPORTS
The Daily Cougar
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Coleman, Taylor rewarded again
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This season, Taylor leads Houston in rebounding, steals and field goal percentage, while ranking second in points and blocks. Her 39 career double-doubles rank first on the Cougars’ all-time list.
Cougar Sports Services
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Monday’s announcement that Aubrey Coleman was named to the All-Conference USA first team gives the standout UH guard his second consecutive selection to the team. This season, Coleman racked up nine of his 12 career 30-point scoring performances on his was to leading the nation with 26 points per game. In only two seasons with the Cougars, Coleman has moved up the school’s all-time scoring chart to occupy 15th place with 1,400 points. Coleman is second in the nation with 2.7 steals per game. If he can regain the top spot he held for much of the season, he would become the first player in Division I history to lead the nation in both categories.
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More accolades for Taylor Courtney Taylor followed up a week in which she was named to the All C-USA first team and the All-Defensive team by being named the league’s Player of the Year on Monday. She is the fifth Cougar to earn the award and the first since Chandi Jones, who won the award three consecutive times from 2002-04.
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Exceptional play on the diamond After a stellar showing at last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Houston College Classic, where the Cougars went 3-0 and recorded the first backto-back shutouts in tournament history, three UH players were named to the All-Tournament Team. Junior shortstop Brian Kelso was selected after batting .400 for the tournament and accounting for the Cougarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lone run in Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1-0 win over Texas. Freshman catcher M.P. Cokinos made the team by tying a Houston College Classic single-game record with five RBIs in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15-8 win over Texas Tech in the Cougarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tournament finale. Sophomore pitcher Michael Goodnight earned his spot on the All-Tournament team after tossing a gem against Texas. He went seven innings and gave up just two hits while striking out nine batters.
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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
GIVE A GIFT
YOUR FUTURE TO
SELF
You may not want a yearbook today or even next year. But someday,
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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TODAY’S CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Primitive weapon 5 Syrup source 10 Canvasback 14 Biology topic 15 Mountain nymph 16 Oil exporter 17 Scent 18 — Dame (Paris landmark) 19 As well as 20 Stationed 22 Lumber cutter (2 wds.) 24 Nasty laugh 25 Several 26 Most conventional 30 Sled runner 35 Mongkut portrayer 36 Choler 37 Revs the engine 38 Kidnapers’ demands 41 Overpass 43 Sir — Newton 44 Free electron 45 — kwon do 46 Ticket info 47 Warm fabrics 50 — spumante 53 Islet 54 Olive stuffer 58 Photogs’ targets 62 Grasping 63 Emcee’s remarks 66 Almond-shaped 67 Arroyo 68 Tributary 69 “Nautilus” skipper 70 Fit of pique 71 Bring to a boil 72 Burger side DOWN 1 Hoofbeat 2 Chic beach resort 3 Pilots’ sightings 4 Wide lace collar 5 “Small World” composer 6 Galleon cargo 7 Soak, as flax 8 Noted recluse 9 Concert hall 10 Cameron — of films 11 Browser
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bookmarks 12 Hombre’s home 13 Have down pat 21 Auricle 23 Striped animal 25 Fr. holy woman 26 Aram nowadays 27 Seeming 28 Radius companions 29 Next year’s alums 31 Fictional collie 32 Kind of angle 33 Window sticker 34 — Park, Colo. 39 Gal of song 40 Canoe anagram 41 TV knob 42 Of the same mind (2 wds.) 44 Not — — can help it! 48 Glasgow turndown 49 Hose
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Blends Quinine water Ferret feet Pavlov’s name Calf-length Prevent errata Mr. Knievel Crimson Tide, to fans 61 Gradual 64 Rural elec. provider 65 Family mem.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
NEWS
SGA continued from page 1
theirs, he said. Reyes said one of the things he has noticed with SGA is that people are always quick to say, “Come to my office.” He wants senators to be proactive and look for the issue and see how they can help students, instead of waiting to see who reaches out to them. “People have things to do and problems of their own,” he said. “So I would say to the senators to go out and look for the problems and not wait for them to come to you.” Reyes and Davis said that when deciding what issues they wanted to include in their agenda. They came to the conclusion that it had to be realistic, and they could not campaign promise students to solve things they knew they couldn’t. For this reason they said, they are not promising students they will work on tuition increases or parking problems. “I want to be realistic with the students about the fact that you can’t really fix tuition and parking
METRO continued from page 1
community and Metro,” Fomunung said. “Once construction begins, Metro officials will monitor the entire project with the approval of President Khator.” Metro’s rail lines will connect some of Houston’s most populated areas to the campus. The Southeast Corridor will be
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in one year,” Reyes said. “I don’t want to give false hope to the students. I want to tackle realistic problems, with realistic solutions.” Davis said it is important that they use their time wisely if elected, since they would only have a year to tackle issues. “We want J Reyes to work on things that we can truly change and viably see these changes happening within a year,” he said. “But if we have the opportunity to address certain issues like tuition and parking that traditionally SGA doesn’t have control over, we will take those opportunities as far as we can. If we do have the opportunity to work with state legislature over budget, over tuition, we will definitely do that, 100 percent, but we are not going to utilize our time in the most efficient manner by promising unattainable things that we can’t change.” They also said they aren’t worried with how many bills they
pass in the senate or how much legislation their names are on. Instead, they want to work on SGA taking action on issues the students care about. “Students want SGA to take action,” Reyes said. “We want to focus on representation, not legislation, and the senators actually doing something for the students, not just writing bills and legislation that will just be archived in the SGA Web site. We want more action from the senate.” Reyes and Davis said they are not just talking about being proactive; they are acting on it as well. Reyes has been in contact with officials in the city of Houston to find a way to rebuild Cullen Boulevard, as he said it is a big concern for the student population. “I want that to be only the beginning,” Reyes said. “I want to be able to offer students something that is tangible that they can see SGA is doing for them.” He said there hasn’t been much response from city officials, but he is not giving up. “If I have to drive their car down
Cullen, so they can see how awful the street is, then I will,” Reyes said. “See how they like it then when their cars are all messed up. The candidates have also gotten in contact with local businesses to provide scholarships to students, these $500 scholarships, will be offered at sporting events and are designed to give any student an opportunity to get one, and as a way to help students out with the recent tuition hike. “With the tuition hike, Carlos and I have found creative ways to combat what the state is doing with tuition,” Davis said. “With our $500 scholarships, that is one way Carlos and I have been able J Davis to find a way to give back. We may not be able to fix every students tuition problem, but we are giving every student the opportunity to help offset those tuition increase.” They are also hoping these will increase school spirit. In regards to some special
privileges some administrators have requested SGA leaders receive, such as a reserved parking lot, Reyes and Davis said they did not need this to fulfill their duties as leaders of the senate, if elected. “I am no different than any other student,” Davis said. “If no other student is getting a special parking spot or a loft, why should I? I do just fine where I am at now.” Reyes agreed with Davis. Both candidates said they wanted to run to make a difference on campus and to give back to students. “It is not about playing government,” Davis said. “I just want to give back. I have been fortunate enough to be able to get a lot of experiences away from being at UH.” Davis also said their coalition, Truth for Coogs, is the only coalition that has gone out and surveyed the students on what their biggest concern is. “If they are not going out there and asking you what your concerns are, how are they supposed to represent you?” Davis said.
a six-mile line with 10 stations that include a stop at Calhoun Road and Wheeler Street. The second line will be the University Corridor, which will consist of an 11-mile route from the Hillcroft Transit Center to the campus of Texas Southern University. The rail will include 19 stops. The Metro light rail system at UH is strongly supported by the SGA, presuming that it will ease
traffic for commuters. “The UH community can use rails to and from the Galleria and Downtown areas,” Fomunung said. “The rails provide a great alternative to students without their own private transportation. Anything that will make commuting to campus easier for students and faculty is something that the UH community welcomes.” Some concerns the plans have raised are for setting up stations
that will not provide direct access to the main areas of the UH campus, particularly the station at Scott and Cleburne Street. The designated areas are not the most heavily populated on campus. In addition, the tail of this route would block parking areas and could create problems for students living on campus such as in apartments at Cullen Oaks and Cambridge Oaks. The problems that will occur
during the construction of the rail lines include safety issues and increased traffic. Safety is a primary concern for students with disabilities. All Metro projects must satisfy all the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Athletic Department has also expressed concern that the rail lines will cut into athletic fields.
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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