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Cougars hope to rain on another homecoming parade
A ghoulish good time
t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4
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Issue 048, Volume 76
Thursday ®
October 28, 2010
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GUBERNATORIAL RACE
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University hosts third annual UH Green Day University Services is sponsoring the third annual UH Green Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Butler Plaza in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. The event will be packed with activities, games, booths, campus eco-tours and a traditional weather balloon launch. Students can also take part in service projects that will take place during the event. The purpose of UH Green Day is to showcase and promote sustainable programs and services that students can find at the University. “We encourage everybody to come out and learn about what you can do on campus, as well as off campus, to be more green,” University Services Marketing Manager Maria Honey said.
Candidates focus on economy Anam Ghias
THE DAILY COUGAR The colors red and blue are dominating the landscape as the Texas gubernatorial elections between Rick Perry and Bill White approach. Governor Rick Perry is running for his third term this election season. He was initially sworn in as the state’s 47th governor on Dec. 21, 2000. He was then re-elected on Nov. 7, 2006. Democratic contender White served the
Houston community as mayor from 2004 until 2010. He also worked under President Bill Clinton between 1993 and 1995 as US Deputy Secretary of Energy. “They have both been politically involved for a long time, but they are either wealthy themselves or represent the people of wealth,” History professor Robert Buzzanco said. “Either way, average Texans will still struggle for jobs, wages, health care, etc. Having said that, White clearly represents a more ‘enlightened’ capitalism and understands that people who have wages, other income and benefits can become better
consumers.” Perry has refused to debate White, claiming most voters of today aren’t concerned with debates. “It’s a tough race this election season,” management information systems senior Mohammad Shariff said. The issues Perry is concentrating on include economic development, increased enrollment in colleges, increased access to healthcare, promotion of pro-life agendas, strict punishment for convicts and ELECTIONS continues on page 3
Fraternity mourns loss
For more information and a detailed schedule, visit www.uh.edu/af/greenUH. — Naheeda Sayeeduddin/The Daily Cougar
Rec Center hosts Halloween event
Student and brother dies over the past weekend in Dallas
The UH Campus Recreation is hosting The Haunted Penthouse today from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
Joshua Siegel
THE DAILY COUGAR
This event is free to all UH students who bring one canned food donation, and the first 100 victims will receive a free t-shirt. Safety waivers must be signed before entry. Tennis shoes and sneakers are required. For more information, visit http://www.uhrecreation.com. Got an item for Newsline? Let us know! E-mail newsline@thedailycougar.com
today
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ON CAMPUS
The Haunted Penthouse Come experience the most frightening building on campus today! The Haunted Penthouse will be open at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center from 3 to 6 p.m. Free T-shirts will be handed out, if you manage to survive the horrors.
AROUND TOWN
Sublime with Rome and The Dirty Heads Sublime with Rome is a collaboration between Sublime’s Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and Rome Ramirez. Ska punk band The Dirty Heads will be joining them at the House of Blues tonight at 8 p.m. Find more campus and local events or add your own at thedailycougar.com/calendar
Crane for a cause
T
he Collegiate Cancer Council will be at the UC-Satellite every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in an effort to create 2000 cranes, which are known for good luck, for two undecided cancer patients. The group is also raising money and doesn’t plan to stop crafting until they reach their goal. | Kendra Berglund/The Daily Cougar
FRATERNITY continues on page 7
Regents take action to reach flagship Charne Graham
THE DAILY COUGAR
CORRECTIONS !!
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UH and the Sigma Chi fraternity lost a valued member of its community with the passing of John Michael Byrd this past weekend. An influential brother of Sigma Chi, Byrd, 25, exuded positivity and brought a warmth and magnetism that would take over any room that he walked into. “The phrase ‘lived life to the fullest’ was created for this guy,” UH graduate and Sigma Chi brother John Phillips said. “I know he would say that he had no regrets in his life at all. He just had this passion for life and friendship, and whatever he chose to surround himself with… Such a unique guy. “I’ve really never met a guy like that who could care and give so much. It didn’t even register with him because that’s just how he did it.” Byrd was held in high esteem for the way he handled unnecessary dramatic situations sometimes associated with Greek life. “In Greek life, in a fraternity with all the machismo, he was just unflappable and just outside of that petty stuff. He didn’t want to deal with it and he didn’t want you to deal with it,” Phillips said. “He ignored prejudices and biases that would normally creep up on someone 22 or 23-years-old in a college setting.” Byrd, a communications major, graduated from Klein Forest High School in 2004 and was excited about earning
Welcome W. Wilson Sr. has dedicated his position as Board of Regents Chairman to the campaign of UH’s drive to flagship status. Wilson was appointed in 2006 and he has held this title for three terms, which will end in August 2011.
In his last year on the board, UH President Renu Khator has appointed Wilson to chair UH’s “Drive to Tier One.” The Houston community is also a major factor in the University’s pathway to becoming a flagship university. “We should reach our objective in the next five to seven years,” Wilson said. The state of Texas currently only has two flagship schools, Texas A&M University and
University of Texas at Austin. If UH does reach its goal, more doors will be opened for students and more money will be funded towards research and certain programs. According to a UH news release, The National Research Council reports that UH has ranked higher than any other FLAGSHIP continues on page 7