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HEALTH
Center to hold free cholesterol screenings on campus The UH Health Center is giving free cholesterol screenings today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We are motivated by our inherent desire to keep our university community healthy,” health center director Floyd Robinson said. “We also want folks to know their cholesterol level. We provide [free] screening for public outreach.”The center is located across from the A. D. Bruce Religion Center. Students and faculty are required to bring a photo ID and fasting before the screening is advised but optional. “If one overloads with food, it could contribute to a false reading,” Robinson said. Results will be released Tuesday, Feb. 22. For more information, call 713-743-5151. Also visit the center’s website: http://www. uh.edu/admin/hc/ — Tess Livingston/The Daily Cougar
TOPIC
Game room holding sweepstakes The University Center Game Room is now holding the Games Room Mania sweepstakes, from Feb. 14 to May 1. Prizes include a cruise from galvestoncruises.com, a 42 inch LCD TV, a flip camera and a number of additional prizes set to be announced in the coming weeks. To participate, visit the game rooms located at either the University Center or the UC Satellite and play a game of bowling, billiards or table tennis for a single entry into the prize drawing. An additional entry can be earned for each paid bowling game and each half hour of play in billiards or table tennis. The drawing for the prizes will be on May 7. Contestants cannot win more than one prize. Visit www. uh.edu/uc for more information. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
CORRECTIONS Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
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February 18, 2011 Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.
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EVENTS Ross M. Lence Master Teacher Dinner The Honors College is hosting the Ross M. Lence Master Dinner. This year’s Lence Master Teacher is Professor Michael Zuckert, who will discussing “Slavery at the Constitutional Convention.” The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in room 212 of the MD Anderson Library. Plates cost $50. Piano Works From 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Moores School of Music is presenting piano works.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar
Petition to fight cuts started Association hosts Provost to discuss budget cuts; David Gonzalez
THE DAILY COUGAR Vice President of Administration and Finance Carl Carlucci spoke at Wednesday night’s Student Government Association meeting about upcoming budget cuts, giving a brief summary of what to expect for fiscal year 2012-2013. Carlucci explained that the budget cuts would greatly affect the amount of financial aid being supplied to the students within the University of Houston system. “We are going to see about $100 million
cut from the whole University of Houston system, 65 million of which will be cut here,” Carlucci said. “That only leaves enough aid to cover current students. There will be no aid available for the new (students).” SGA President Prince Wilson has established an online petition, Texans Against Higher Education Budget Cuts, which has gone viral on Facebook. In one day, the website has received over 3,000 electronic signatures. The petition calls for support in fighting cuts to higher education, stating “Student tuition will rise drastically, important courses will be eliminated, student services will be reduced and many more significant factors of our education will be either completely removed or will face funding
reduction.” SGA officials hope they can raise enough awareness on the topic to garner support and head into the State capitol with the signed petitions during spring break. Carlucci urged SGA to take a trip to Austin to educate state representatives on the matter and get involved in the discussion. “It is important to let your state representatives know that you vote,” Carlucci said. “There are a number of alums that should respond to your efforts.” SGA will hold its next meeting Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Cougar Den. Sign the petition at www.gopetition. com/petition/43058.html news@thedailycougar.com
STUDENTS
BAUER BREAKFAST
Changing the world ‘oneshirt’ at a time
Coffee, Cuts & Football
Reesha Brown
In a breakfast sponsored by the Bauer College Alumni Association on Thursday, UH football coach Kevin Sumlin said that the football season has begun for him and his team and he’s ready to start the new season. Early Thursday morning was the first practice for the team this year. Sumlin said he looks forward for the upcoming season after a not-so-good season last year. “I probably celebrated New Year’s Eve more than anybody. I’m so happy that it’s a new year that you can’t believe it,” Sumlin said. For the upcoming season, the team will have its games televised on Fox Sports. Sumlin was happy with the new deal because of the way Fox Sports, and especially Fox Sports Houston, has treated the Cougars lately. All games scheduled for this season will all be on Saturdays. Sumlin also said that the NCAA made a great decision on letting quarterback Case Keenum play again. “Case Keenum is everything that is right about college football,” Sumlin said. “He’s everything that is right about the University of Houston.” Keenum, who is now in graduate school, is recovering from a knee injury that prevented him from playing for most of last season. At the event, Welcome Wilson, a member of the UH Board of Regents, spoke about the way Tier One has impacted the University and the goals that the University still has to achieve.
THE DAILY COUGAR More than 100 universities and colleges from 35 states, including UH, will mobilize thousands of student volunteers to make a difference during SustainU’s “oneShirt National Collegiate Clothing Drive,” to be held Feb. 21 and 23. During the two-day event, volunteers will distribute door hangers in and around UH asking people to leave out clothes for donations. The donations will be picked up, weighed and stored at UH and later shipped to several Goodwill locations around Houston to benefit back-to-work programs. Donating will not only help the underprivileged, it can also serve as a good volunteering opportunity for students, Kate Gaviola, UH Student Government Association director of external affairs, said. “As a student, I receive at least one new shirt per month from university events, programs and organizations,” Gaviola said. “Not only does donating free up space in students closets, it also teaches students to reach out to their community, therefore creating a wellrounded student.” This will be the first time UH will join SustainU, an American clothing company based in West Virginia that CONTEST continues on page 3
Coach Sumlin praises the return of Keenum and a new year while Regent Wilson maintains Tier One support Miguel Cortina
THE DAILY COUGAR
“I’m so happy that it’s a new year that you can’t believe it,” football coach Kevin Sumlin said on Thursday. | Tap Nguyen/The Daily Cougar The Carnegie Foundation is only one of three agencies that rank universities; the other two are the Center for Measuring University Performance and the Association of American Universities. The objective is to be ranked Tier One by all three, Wilson said, who also chairs UH’s ‘Tier One Initiative.” Focus is now on the other two agencies and factors that help in receiving recognition from those agencies, such as having “Tier BREAKFAST continues on page 3
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Re: Cop beatings prove that riots are needed “It was a pretty clear and flagrant abuse of police authority. There was no need for the excessive violence on their part. None of it. The video shows that the punk was fleeing, he was no danger whatsoever to the officers and it’s pretty clear they had no problems arresting him. Frustration does not justify or warrant beating him up in such a fashion after he was already detained. Assuming he would commit another crime after getting out is a moot point, anyone can commit a crime at any time, by your logic everyone deserves to be beaten down by cops at any point in their lives because they could potentially kill someone.”
— user “Zed” Re: Student messes means more moronic work “The auditoriums are messy. It is very common for me to see people finish their food only to toss it on the ground. What might make it worse is that they usually kick it away from them thus spreading their mess. Honestly, these students should be sent somewhere else. UH has a beautiful campus and it should not be ruined by these types of people.”
Re: UH representatives aid children in obesity fight “Not only were we retiring, but we were moving to Nashville, TN. Since we resigned from our jobs, we knew we would have to buy health insurance and dental insurance in Tennessee. We purchased a PPO family plan, for just my husband and me, through Wise Health Insurance. We paid for the family plan ourselves, initially, the cost was a little less than $400 a month for both of us. Our co-pay was very reasonable at $25 each per office visit.”
— user “Jesse Heck” Re: Staff Editorial: Republicans favor budget cuts to public radio, TV “The real budget killer is and will always be entitlement programs. However I agree that we should cut our foreign aid as well as funding to the joke we call a UN.”
— user “Mac” Re: Cop beatings prove that riots are needed “Clearly he is a punk who put the public and police officers lives in danger by running, and clearly they exercised police brutality which is awful and should be punished appropriately.”
— user “smokemonsta” Re: Media blamed for misconceptions “Gallop charges more than 30,000 dollars for the data, but it is reasonable to assume that a significant fraction of respondents thought 9/11 was merely “justified,” and some maintained neutrality on the question. I don’t believe all respondents marked 1 or 5.”
— user “Dan Graur”
— user “Student”
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NEWS
The Daily Cougar
Friday, February 18, 2011
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BOARD OF REGENTS
Discussion begins on effects of budget cuts on UH system Cuts to financial aid seen as greatest threat Nick Ragan
THE DAILY COUGAR
Football coach Kevin Sumlin holds up his Cougar paw along with attendees of the Bauer Alumni Breakfast on Thursday. | Tap Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
BREAKFAST continued from page 1
One faculty, a Tier One student body, a nicely recognized library, and so forth,” Wilson said. Wilson also talked about the budget crisis that the University is facing. According to him, UH has been asked to cut $80 million from its budget. More than 100 people have been laid-off at the UH system and about
CONTEST continued from page 1
promotes recycling and eco-friendly practices through the textile industry, to provide for those in need. “With the ongoing Tier One effort, this is a great opportunity for students to show that we care about the community,” Gaviola said. “Our community is our backbone. Without the Houston community’s support, we would not be the University of Houston. This is our chance to give back to our community and make sure that we are relevant to Houston.” SustainU is already impressed with UH’s efforts to assist in the drive. “This year is the first year that it expanded to more than 100 universities,” Anne Bowling, SustainU’s public relations official, said. “We’ve really been blown away by responses from the campus. Everyone has so much clothing that they don’t wear that others could use and I think that’s why the response is so high.”
THE DA
200 more people will be fired, Wilson said. “I’d like to say that we are going to get up and do it. We are going to work to see that we are not going to get cut more than any other agency in the state, but we are part of this state team, and we are going to see the cuts made,” he said. Wilson also urged the alumni to contact their legislators to prevent more budget cuts to the University. news@thedailycougar.com
Pride Patrol, Alpha Phi Omega and others have confirmed that they plan to volunteer for the charity event. Chester Uzoma, a supply chains management senior who is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, is also considering participating. “We donated a village in Ghana, so we’re all about donating,” Uzoma said. “We (Alpha Phi Alpha) would be willing to donate if it’s for a good cause.” Participating organizations and others will be eligible to win a surprise along with bragging rights, nationwide recognition from news stations and a gift from SGA. The winner will be determined by the weight of the clothes not by the amount brought in. Winners will be announced Feb. 24. Contact Gaviola by sending an e-mail to uhclothingdrive@gmail. com. For information on the competition, please visit sustainuclothing. com/oneshirt. news@thedailycougar.com
TO: T GAR HE D A
ILY COU
UH faces its greatest challenge from the budget cuts proposed by the Texas legislature according to several speakers at a Board of Regents meeting Wednesday. Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations Grover Campbell said the UH System has likely seen the worst-case scenario in the House Appropriations bill. For the system, cuts in funding would constitute a $100 million reduction in general revenue over the next two years. “I never thought we’d have a chance to use that dollar amount associated with our system,” Campbell said. The House bill, along with its
companion in the Senate, would also almost completely eliminate the Texas grants, a state-run financial aid program. Faculty Senate President Monica McHenry said the potential elimination of the Texas Grant program is the single greatest threat to UH’s commitment to student success. The program provides the only means of tuition for many firstgeneration college students, and allows for a well-rounded university, McHenry said. Campbell said there are a number of things standing in the way of UH getting the state funding it needs. Discussions in Austin about how to appropriate funds are taking place during legislative and congressional redistricting, a task taken up only once every ten years but which makes bipartisanship much more difficult. Combine that with increases in
demand for public services caused by a rise in population, and a state deficit that is estimated to be between $15 and $30 billion, and you get what Campbell called a “perfect storm” of a budgetary crisis. Provost John Antel said UH is currently at about 25 percent state funding, but in the next decade that number will likely drop below ten percent. Despite this, UH will take up Governor Rick Perry’s recent challenge of offering a four-year degree that costs only $10,000 for students, including textbooks. Antel said the University is focusing on increasing revenue and reducing costs in response to the budgetary crisis. “This is the beginning of the discussion. It’s a complex issue; there isn’t any one way to solve this,” Antel said. “We have to look at all our systems one at a time.” news@thedailycougar.com
BOARD OF REGENTS
Battle of the bulge taken south of the border by prof
Fulbright scholarship received by professor to do research in Mexico Karisha Lucero
THE DAILY COUGAR Obesity is a disease that affects the United States, but it also has risen in Mexico, and a UH professor recently named as a Fulbright Scholar is helping to combat the disease in both countries. Rebecca Lee, an assistant professor of nutrition and director of UH’s Texas Obesity Research Center, will soon take her expertise to Guadalajara, Mexico, to assist in further discovery of this disease. “I’m extremely pleased to receive this honor and hope that during this period of study my colleagues and I are able to make strides in this critical, growing global issue,” Lee said in a UH news release.
Lee and researchers from the University of Guadalajara’s Instituto de Ciencias Aplicada a la Actividad Fisica y al Deporte (Institue of Applied Sciences, Physical Activity and Sports) hope to develop procedures that health care practitioners and researchers can use to educate communities, and to train others in the battle both in Mexico and here in the US. Research conducted during Lee’s time in Mexico will also aim to document and define obesity in a better fashion and determine possible environmental factors that contribute to a population’s obesity problem. “Recent data suggest that the problem of obesity has emerged in Mexico, particularly among youth,” Lee said in the release. While the US has the highest obesity rate worldwide, studies have cited Mexico as having the second highest, Lee said. With obesity making such a
common name for itself in today’s era, not only researchers are concerned about the epidemic, but students as well. “It’s crazy how bad the disease has gotten,” accounting freshman Amy Smith said. “I think the biggest deal is that people are unaware of just how dangerous it is. And, since obesity is a household term, no one puts any thought into it.” Lee is the director of UH’s Texas Obesity Research Center and has conducted numerous studies on factors that lead to obesity. She is, according to the release, “hopeful her research and research methods can be used to develop strategies to prevent and reverse the emerging obesity epidemic in Jalisco.” Lee, following her nine month stay in Guadalajara, will present the findings to both University officials and public officials. news@thedailycougar.com
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The Daily Cougar
opinion THE DAILY COUGAR
EDITOR Andrew Taylor E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion
TICKETS AND TOWING by Albert Sosa
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITORS NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS LIFE
& ARTS EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
Jack Wehman Newton Liu, Christopher Losee Jose Aguilar, Cristi Guerra John Brannen, Joshua Siegel Mary Baak Andrew Taylor
STAFF EDITORIAL
Budget shortfall means debt collection
I
f you’re one of the people who has an outstanding fine in the city of Houston, get ready to pay up. City officials are gearing up to collect on the almost $1 billion in uncollected parking tickets, building code violations and utility bills. The city established a debt collection unit on Wednesday that will be able to file lawsuits to collect on fees and fines. With a $54 million dollar shortfall projected for the city’s budget, the debts couldn’t be collected at a better time. Mayor Annise Parker said that credit and collection agencies are going to be contacted, and that lawsuits will be coming for those who still refuse payment. “We cannot afford to leave any money out on the table, so we’re going to go out and collect it,” Parker said in an article in the Houston Chronicle. These fees are the key to running an efficient city right now. There’s a massive deficit in the city government — something drastic has to be done to close the gap. Unpaid bills add up; it’s not free to live in this city, unfortunately, but some people seem to be trying their hardest to do just that. Sure, the government can trim budget items here and there — what organization can’t say the same? But when deficits go into the millions, and there are billions in unpaid fines, what other choice does the city have? People need to realize that there is some level of personal responsibility at stake in everything they do. This program isn’t designed to try and collect fees from people who can’t pay; it’s specifically targeting those who refuse to pay. Without these fees and fines, the city has to find money in other (and more nefarious) ways — increased traffic tickets and taxes. So if you get a sternly-worded letter in the next few months telling you to finally take care of all those unpaid parking tickets or utility bills, pay attention — you could just find yourself in court if you don’t comply.
E D I TO R I A L P O L I C I E S 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) 743-5384. 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.
Perry proves problematic for Texas
I
n an article published Wednesday in — especially pregnant teens. also hates taking federal funding, which the New York Times, writer Gail Collins The bill that Perry recently introduced is perfectly aligned with his demented astutely pointed out that it might be and also put on emergency status would beliefs and Reagan-inspired rhetoric; you time for Gov. Rick Perry to honor his require all women to have a sonogram can read all about this in his new book. words. before being able to receive an abortion. The state Legislature doesn’t provide a “Perry used to be famous for his This puts Texas in a very safe spot as very optimistic picture either. As Collins flirtation with talk of far as leading the nation in birth rates pointed out, the Legislature is looking to secession. Maybe we and teen pregnancies. cut about $4.8 billion over the next two should encourage him But it gets worse; Texas is almost dead years from the schools. to revisit it,” Collins said. last in education. In Texas, “High school Perry and the Legislature seem to be Collins wrote about dropouts cost Texas $9.6 billion,” accordon the same page, but this will be devasthe incredibly poor track ing to the united ways of Texas.org. Texas tating to Texas in the future. Andrew that Texas is on, and she ranks “47 out of 50 states, in terms of To no surprise, Gov. Perry is ready to Taylor may be right that as a English literacy levels,” according to the make things worse. state, we are the weakest link in the long US Department of Education. He is “refusing $830 million in federal run if we don’t fix our ways. Teen pregnancies don’t usually have aid to education because the Democratic Texas is in very big trouble — and a positive effect on education once members of Congress from Texas — there is absolutely no sign that we have they derail a student’s academic career. ticked off because Perry used $3.2 billion anyone in power that is willing to find Furthermore, teen women who do take in stimulus dollars for schools to plug solutions that work. Instead, we have a responsibility for raising their children other holes in his budget — put in special governor who is more focused language requiron creating a name for himself ing that this time The behavior of Gov. Perry and many Republicans in the state and a state congress that is Texas actually use almost completely Republican the money for the Legislature are not only reprehensible but will almost surely to controlled. kids,” Collins wrote. cause Texas considerable amounts of trouble in the future. So how much trouble is Texas The behavior in? Well for one, population of Gov. Perry and growth in our great state is extremely often find themselves in need of help, many Republicans in the state Legishigh. Among the states with the three with or without getting a high school lature are not only reprehensible but highest teen birth rates, “states like Misdiploma. almost surely to cause Texas considerable sissippi, Texas and Oklahoma recording The programs that help these women amounts of trouble in the future. teenage birth rates of more than 60 per and children are necessary, but adeThe solutions that have been prothousand,” according the examiner.com. quately funding these programs becomes posed by Perry and many Republicans in The rate of teen births in Texas is almost impossible when teen pregnancy rates the Legislature are good for their party double the national average. are among the nations highest. ideology, and votes but very bad for Texas To make matters worse, Texas is What does the Texas leadership plan and its budget. extremely biased when it comes to to do about these huge problems? Well contraceptives, sexual education, Gov. Rick Perry surely doesn’t want to Andrew Taylor is an economics senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com. and options for pregnant women raise taxes, something he should do. He
COMMENTS FROM THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM Give us your two cents — it might show up here In response to: Invest in the future, don’t cut funding to higher ed “What would happen should we face a disasters for example hurricanes. Let us not forget that the season is coming right around the corner. The purpose of the fund is not to shore up the budget for your bills but to be there when you have a major one time issue pop up. Sadly education funding is not a one time deal.
This is a problem that needs to be dealt with an eye to the future not to simply put a bandaid on it.” —Mac
In response to: Cop beatings prove riots are necessary “Wow, you think people need to riot because some punk got beat up by a bunch of cops? The gangster-wannabe
they beat up was not Mother Theresa, that punk was a burglar and a thug and his behind should be locked up in jail... Its obvious that HPD is frustrated. A punk like him will go to trial, serve his sentence which will most likely be a slap on the wrist, and will come back out on the streets to do what he does best--rob and this time, maybe kill someone.” —Fred Duncan
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Daily Cougar
sports overtime
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EDITORS John Brannen, Joshua Siegel E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UH continues march to title Cougars roll Hurricane for twelfth straight win, two achieve double-doubles Cougar Sports Services
FILE PHOTO/THE DAILY COUGAR
SOFTBALL
Cougars set to host trio of Louisiana squads The season resumes this weekend for UH (3-1) who will take on LSU twice, Nicholls State and Southern today through Sunday. The Cougars will battle the Colonels tonight at 5 p.m. at Cougar Softball Field. UH will play a doubleheader Saturday against No. 18-ranked LSU at 1 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. matchup against Southern. UH will have a rematch against the Tigers (7-0) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. — Cougar Sports Services
TENNIS
UH swinging for another perfect weekend After sweeping all three opponents last weekend, the Cougars will head to the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex in Natchitoches, Louis. for two matches. UH (6-2) will take to the court at 12 p.m. today to face Louisiana-Monroe. The Warhawks (5-1) are riding a fourmatch win streak after besting Alcorn State 6-1 on Tuesday. The Cougars will take on the host school, - Northwestern State - at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Demons are 3-0, and won their last match against Central Arkansas 7-0 last Sunday. The Cougars are beginning a challenging portion of the season with seven consecutive away matches in Kansas, Indiana and Ohio respectively. UH will not play another home match at John E. Hoff Courts until March 21, when Arkansas-Little Rock comes to town. — Cougar Sports Services
BASEBALL
Matchups with Rice to receive TV coverage The Silver Glove Series will receive extensive coverage this season, with Comcast Sports Southwest (Ch. 129) televising all five games. Rice will host the first game on March 23 at Reckling Park. The Cougars will return to Reckling six days later for the second game in the series. From May 6-8 UH will host Rice at Cougar Field. The first two meetings at Rice will count as non-conference games, but the three-game series at UH will count under both team’s Conference USA record. The Owls have a 91-66 all-time series lead, however UH is 50-26 when they place Rice at home. The Cougars will open up their 65th season of play today at 6:30 p.m. for a three-game series against UT-Arlington. The last time the two teams squared off in 2007 UH beat the Mavericks 8-3. UH is 38-26 in season openers. — Cougar Sports Services
The Cougars moved another win closer to locking up the top spot in Conference USA with a 72-56 victory over Tulsa on Thursday. Strong defense powered the Cougars (21-4, 12-0 C-USA) to easy baskets in the first half as they forced the Golden Hurricane (5-15, 1-11) to shoot 8-of-31 from the field, and not allowing any Tulsa players to reach double figures. The rigors of conference play have not affected UH as they have cruised to victories by at least 12 in their last four games. The frontcourt tandem of Courtney Taylor and Lesslee Mason also overwhelmed Tulsa as each achieved double-doubles. Mason led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in only 22 minutes. Taylor reached her 16th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards. Taylor also blocked three shots. Together they shot 9-of-17 from the field and 12-of14 from the line. The Cougars advantage on the scoreboard allowed them to get 11 players into the game. Porsche Landry was an efficient 4-of-6 from the field for nine points. She also grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists.
Courtney Taylor and Lesslee Mason continued their dominance of opposing C-USA frontcourts as each notched a double-double on Thursday. For Taylor, it was the 56th of her career with 12 points and 12 rebounds. | Aaron Cisneros/The Daily Cougar Despite holding a sizable lead for the entirety of the game, the Cougars never lost focus, connecting on 20-of-23 free throws. With the victory the Cougars are guaranteed at least a share of the regular-season C-USA title. The Cougars next victory will clinch them the top seed in the C-USA postseason tournament as both Rice (16-10,
8-4) and UCF (15-10, 8-4) trail them by four games. The Cougars will take on UTEP (13-11, 5-7) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion. A victory will give UH sole possession of the conference title. sports@thedailycougar.com
SOCCER
UH tries to pick up where it left off Edgar Veliz
THE DAILY COUGAR The Cougars look to build on recent victories over Texas A&M at the Presidents Day Invitational Challenge Cup this weekend in Tomball, the first competitive tournament of the spring season. Head coach Susan Bush wants to continue building on the best season in UH history. In 2010 the Cougars finished with a record of 12-5-4, and were 8-1 in home games. The Cougars finished third in Conference USA.
“Our goal for the spring is to continue our winning attitude,” Bush said. “Our program needs to approach every competition with the intent to get a result, spring or fall.” The 7v7 scrimmages two weeks ago against A&M focused on adapting to the speed of play and developing game fitness. With three seniors graduating in 2010, the lineup is a concern for Bush. “The spring is always a bit different than the fall season because you are not carrying a full roster,” Bush said. “Depth will be an issue when we play multiple games in one day.”
Last season the offense outscored opponents in the second half 25-8. The offensive unit will be on of the aspects Bush will keep an eye on. “The team will focus on generating attacking plays and finding a rhythm,” Bush said. “We want to adopt a winning habit and to collectively improve.” The first game will be against Baylor at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Burroughs Park. The second match will be against North Texas at 3:00 p.m. sports@thedailycougar.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Cougars seeking team effort against Miners Joachim Clarke
THE DAILY COUGAR After dropping the second of a twogame homestand to SMU, the Cougars will have a shot at redemption as they embark on a two-game road trip to take on the top two teams in Conference USA. Saturday, UH stops in El Paso for a date with UTEP. In their second meeting of the season, the Cougars (12-12, 4-7 C-USA) will be looking to avenge a 57-52 home loss to the Miners on Jan. 22. “They came to our house and got a win, so it would definitely be sweet revenge if we could get a win on their home court,” Nixon said.
“That’s the type of mindset we want to have going down to El Paso.” Nixon averages 9.1 points and leads the team with 4.8 assists per game. His backcourt counterpart and Adam Brown - who leads the Cougars with 13.6 points per game - was optimistic about the Cougars’ chances Saturday. “It’s not a case of whether we can compete with them,” Brown said. “I think our talent level is up there with all the teams in the conference. We just have to go in with the right mindset. We have to go in and make sure we swing first.” UTEP (19-6, 7-3 C-USA) has enjoyed success in conference play, but is coming off a 64-51 road loss to Southern Miss. on Wednesday. The sting of the Cougars’ loss to UTEP
has not completely worn off. Since the defeat, the Cougars have lost six of seven contests and have dropped to the ninth spot in C-USA. With five games remaining in the regular season schedule, every game is now a must-win. Head Coach James Dickey said that the Cougars’ approach should not be any different from any other C-USA opponent “Every game has been tough for us,” Dickey said. “Our guys know how talented UTEP is, so we’ll have to go there and play with a lot of passion and energy.” The game will tip off at 8:05 p.m. Saturday at the Don Haskins Center. It will be televised on CBS College Sports. sports@thedailycougar.com
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LIFE&ARTS
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Daily Cougar
BOX OFFICE
‘I am Number Four’ should be No. 1
playlist Âť
Louis Casiano
T
here are few things worse than hearing songs by musicians that don’t have a lick of talent in the first place. Here’s a list of terrible songs that shouldn’t have been produced in the first place. Sisters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson both made it on the list, which is enough proof that making bad music runs in the family. As for Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, well, suffice it to say that making terrible everything — choices, TV shows, music, etc. — is a family trait, too. — Mary Baak
THE DAILY COUGAR Director D.J. Caruso and Michael Bay have teamed up with DreamWorks in the new sci-fi thriller “I Am Number Four.� The film opens in theatres everywhere today, and will surely delight the sci-fi crowd and thrill anyone who just wants to see aliens go at each other with no regard for time and place. Caruso (“Eagle Eye,� “Disturbed�) does a decent job in putting a novel on screen in its truest form. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes, “I am Number Four� is a mix of high school love and “Transformers.� The film stars 20-year-old English actor Alex Pettyfer as “Number 4� (John Smith), one of nine infant aliens who fled their home planet of “Lorien� after the “Mogadorians,� another race of aliens invaded and destroyed all life on the planet. Now on Earth, the Mogadorians are searching for and killing all nine one by one in sequence of the numbers each infant is assigned. After the first three are killed, John (number four) becomes the next target. Timothy Olyphant (“Live Free or Die Hard,� “A Man Apart�) plays John’s protector and guardian “Henri,� who’s a whiz with computers and is trying to remain off the radar. John and Henri live as father and son while John
Alex Pettyfer’s character, John, is on the run from ruthless enemies in the new suspense thriller, “I am Number Four.� | Courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures poses as a high school student in Paradise, Ohio. Diana Argon, star of the Fox television show “Glee� plays Sarah Hart, a naive schoolgirl with a jealous ex-boyfriend (Jake Abel) and a passion for photography. Kevin Durand (“Legion,� “X-Mens Origins: Wolverine�) plays the role of the bloodthirsty commander of the Mogadorians. Pettyfer plays a hero com ing into his own as an alien running from death, and just realizing his true potential. Throughout the film, John’s innocence slowly disappears as he grows into “adulthood,� learning about love and the value of life, human and alien. Olyphant’s role as the caretaker Henri is a nice change from the
shady characters that he’s come to be identified with. He gives a great performance for the first half of the film until he dies in a basement brawl that makes you wonder why Caruso didn’t just abstain from following the novel to the tee. His presence is felt throughout the film, and could have benefited from keeping him alive. At times, the love scenes are a bit clichÊ, with Pettyfar and Argon’s characters staring into each other’s eyes and holding hands, but it provides a somewhat decent subplot if nothing else. The dialogue is nothing to brag about, and since the target audience are teens, so no one should
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FOUR continues on page 8
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COMICS & MORE
Friday, February 18, 2011
comics
crossword
LIMBO by Paolo Aninag
ACROSS 1 Green parrot 4 Sales pitch 9 Summery 13 Taiga denizen 14 Sri — 15 Country’s Fricke 16 Grew quickly 18 Rust or patina 19 Light incense to 20 Attendant 22 “Fire and Ice” singer 25 Spinnaker or jib 26 Flu symptom 28 White-faced 32 Rock concert souvenir 35 Floor models 37 Summa cum — 38 Tacks on 40 Subway patron 42 Tread 43 Without 45 Kind of wave 47 Channel-surf 48 Position 50 Basilica parts 52 Hay unit 54 Snuggled 58 Glamorous 62 Polished and urbane 63 Roger who played 007 64 Real 67 Spiral-horned antelope 68 Emulate Crosby 69 SFO info 70 — Club (retail chain) 71 Melodies 72 Starfish arm
The Fishbowl by Thomas Hernandez
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
DOWN 1 Shish — 2 Dodge 3 Rubber city 4 Rained ice 5 Kung — chicken 6 Traveler’s refuge 7 Just scrapes by 8 Puts cargo aboard 9 Jawbones 10 — — for keeps
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11 Resort near Venice 12 Forest ruminant 15 Fun-loving 17 — Zeppelin 21 Break-dance music 23 Maintain 24 Pay by mail 27 “The Thinker” sculptor 29 Kwan feat 30 Hunch 31 “Ed Wood” star 32 Woolen caps 33 Revise 34 Millay or Ferber 36 Car for four or more 39 Beach hazards 41 All-night party 44 Terror-stricken 46 Diminishes 49 Ivy Leaguer 51 Leave
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flabbergasted Pass legislation Down the road A Peron Dental woe City in Iowa “Whatever — Wants” Good farm soil Meditation guide Freight weight Weed whacker
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LIFE&ARTS
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Daily Cougar
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FOUR continued from page 6
Spring fashion preview & DJ
FEBRUARY 20, 2011 7:30-9:30 p.m.
expect Shakespeare. The film’s producer Michael Bay (“Transformers,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”) brings the same intensity from the Transformer series into “I Am Number Four.” Since both alien races possess superhuman powers like blocking fire and lumen (ability to produce light from the hand), Bay creates the best-choreographed fight scenes since his first Transformers film in 2007. The last half-hour introduces “Number 6,” (Teresa Palmer) a female alien from Lorien who is looking to unite the other eight aliens into a cohesive unit. The film was made with the hopes of attracting the teenage fans of the “Twilight” saga films and TV shows like “Vampire Diaries.” HarperCollins, the publisher of the “I Am number Four” book series, plans to release six more installments in the future. Caruso’s vision seems poised to become the next supernatural film series everyone will soon be talking about. In a season where most movies have been mediocre, “I Am Number Four” seems like the adrenaline fix that moviegoers have been waiting for. arts@thedailycougar.com
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