life/arts
Class is out, but basketball is still at it
Reporter back from Mecca
sports
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
THE DAILY COUGAR » Breaking news, blogs, discussion and more: thedailycougar.com
newsline Find more news items at newsline.thedailycougar.com
M.D. Anderson Memorial Library offers extended hours for exams As the end of the semester approaches, the University’s M.D. Anderson Library will extend its hours for the final examination period beginning Tuesday and concluding Dec. 16. Starting Tuesday, the library will be open 24 hours a day until Dec. 10, when it will close at 11:45 p.m. On Dec. 12, the 24-hour schedule will resume at noon and end at 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 16. Students will be required to show a UH identification card to gain entrance to the library after midnight during the 24-hour period. For more information about the schedule, visit http://weblogs.lib.uh.edu/ — Sara Nichols/The Daily Cougar
College of Technology to host children’s robotics tournament The UH College of Technology’s robotics outreach center, CORE, will host its daylong First Lego League robotics tournament at 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 1 at the UH Recreation and Wellness Center. The FLL tournament is an educational event for children ages 6-9 that encourages participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. According to CORE website, “FLL is a handson program designed to capture young children’s inherent curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them.” — Sara Nichols/The Daily Cougar
@thedailycougar
Issue 071, Volume 76
Friday ®
December 3, 2010
facebook.com/thedailycougar
UH predicts tight budget Officials to avoid layoffs during state mandated 10 percent budget cut Sara Nichols
THE DAILY COUGAR As the new year approaches, UH is preparing to address the state-mandated budget cuts for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which will be discussed in greater detail when the Texas Legislature meets in January. UH has been told to expect a 10 percent budget cut, but also that it could rise to as much as 20 percent. However, UH officials said the University is committed to ensuring economic efficiency, attaining flagship and
keeping its place as one of the top researchoriented universities in Texas. “The University is working hard to identify areas that reflect a duplication of services or programs,” Director of Media Relations Richard Bonnin said in an e-mail interview. “Strategic cuts in those situations will not adversely affect UH’s drive to flagship. It also will take the efforts of everyone to help us cope with these difficult economic times.” President Renu Khator started a website to generate cost-saving ideas from students, staff and faculty. Provost John Antel said the University is looking for fresh, new suggestions on how to deal in a time of economic stress. “Part of the review process involves
identifying actions with proven, quantifiable results that do not violate state rules or compromise the mission of UH,” Antel said. Antel also addressed the current lack of funding to the University from the state, and the increase in private funding makes the University function like a private university. “Over the past 30 years, our state funding has dropped from about 60 percent to only 26 percent, and we know that further reductions are coming,” Antel said. “With state funding at 60 percent, we looked and operated like a state agency. The reality is that if we are funded at 80 percent or BUDGET continues on page 8
Student repairs computers for needy Non-profit organization encourages help from community volunteers Danielle Upshaw
THE DAILY COUGAR
Got an item for Newsline? Let us know! E-mail newsline@thedailycougar.com
today
75 LO 57 HI
ON CAMPUS The Invincible Czars Austin rock band The Invincible Czars will be performing on campus this evening at the Blaffer Art Museum courtyard at 6 p.m. The band will present their version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The show is free!
AROUND TOWN H-Town Get Down In collaboration with Dance Houston, Warehouse Live will feature H-Town Get Town tonight at 8 p.m. This event will bring out Houston’s best dance crews and hip hop artists. Find more campus and local events or add your own at thedailycougar.com/calendar
CORRECTIONS J
Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
Recycle this paper: Share it with a friend!
A few months ago, Chris Peterson was working as a computer repair technician when he decided to utilize his skills to help out a local nonprofit. His decision has helped place over 1,000 computers in the hands of well-deserving children and adults in communities across Houston. Comp-U-Dopt is a non-profit organization that offers donated computers and technology education to children in underserved communities. “When people who can perform particular tasks are willing to give a few hours a week, it makes a great deal of difference,” Peterson said. “With so many students at UH studying to get out in the world, why not find a non-profit that matches your goals and give them a hand.” Peterson, an industrial design major, is working towards a second UH degree and volunteers for CompU-Dopt, that was founded in 2007 by international technology lawyer John Osha of Houston. “So far, simply being there to help with the problems they could not solve (has been the most rewarding part),” Peterson said. “There were, and are, many computers that are COMPUTERS continues on page 8
The Mock Trial Team displayed its winning plaques won on Oct. 21 at the UT-Dallas Invitational while showing off their UH pride. | Courtesy of Joe L. Mendoza
Debate team soars to Regionals Travis Masterson
THE DAILY COUGAR At its second competition this season, the UH Mock Trial Team beat more than 16 teams from across Texas, including three other teams from the Houston area, at the UT-Dallas Invitational. The team finished in sixth place at the Oct. 21 event with one lawyer a point shy of an Outstanding Attorney Award, and two witnesses each one point shy of an Outstanding Witness Award. Juan Villagomez, received eight out of eight points to win the team’s first Outstanding Witness Award of the season. “The entire team is ecstatic about our performance,” College of Technology junior and team captain Joe Mendoza said. “We spent several weeks preparing ahead of time and we were determined to place at this competition, especially since it represents a precursor to the regional competition; and these two awards make that hard work worth it.” The team celebrated Villagomez’s award,
and he said he credits his achievement to the teams overall effort. “It feels great to have won the award,” Villagomez said. “I wouldn’t have been able to win without the overall strong performance of the entire group.” A witness’s job in the competition is to produce strong testimony, while maintaining credibility. “The objective of a witness is to give testimony based on their affidavit,” Villagomez said. “It sounds easy enough, but the affidavits are written in a way that mixes the testimony with questionable facts and bad character evidence.” The team will compete at regionals sponsored by the American Mock Trial Association in February. “Based on our last two competitions, and having won three awards so far this season, the team is very dedicated and determined to bringing back a trophy from regionals,” Mendoza said. news@thedailycougar.com