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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student body presidential candidates debate today The Student Government Association will be holding a presidential debate among candidates running in the 2011 student government elections at 12:30 p.m. today in the University Center Houston Room. The candidates for the election are Jared Gogets, Michael Harding and Michael McHugh. The student election will begin on Monday, Feb. 28. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs David Small will be moderating the debate. The event is free and open to the public. Students wishing to learn more about the candidates can go to http://thedailycougar.com/2011/2/22/sga-presidential-debate-tomorrow/ to post questions. The best questions posted on the page will be asked to the candidates.
Issue 100, Volume 76
Wednesday ®
February 23, 2011
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Cheap degrees, less quality Governor’s address raises student concerns for tuition and quality of education Jourdan Vian
THE DAILY COUGAR In his State of the State address earlier this month, Gov. Rick Perry proposed a plan for a tuition freeze and a challenge for universities to offer students a lowercosting education.
“Today, I’m challenging our institutions of higher education to develop bachelor’s degrees that cost no more than $10,000, including textbooks,” Perry said in his State of the State address. Perry suggested online classes, new teaching techniques and higher efficiency within universities as methods to bring the cost of a college degree down. Students at UH, while thrilled at the idea of a cheaper education, are dubious of his plan. The goal is good, according to Hanny Abouekde, a sociology junior, but he
doesn’t think online classes are the answer. They are good in theory, he said, but Blackboard doesn’t always work. Amanda Cottrell, a finance junior, agrees. “Whenever it works, its good,” Cottrell said. “You don’t learn as much in online classes.” Perry’s call for the renewal of a fouryear tuition freeze, which would lock in tuition rates at or below the freshmen TUITION continues on page 3
STUDENT SERVICES
Volunteers assist filing
— Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
BLAFFER GALLERY
Free discussion today in Blaffer Gallery focuses on exhibition The Blaffer Gallery and the UH Mitchell Center will be hosting a roundtable discussion for the new Okay Mountain exhibition 6:30 p.m. today at the Blaffer Gallery.
Out-of-state students make free appointments for tax guidance
Moderated by Blaffer director and chief curator Claudia Schmuckli, the event will include Okay Mountain artists Sterling Allen and Nathan Green.
Elize Najm
THE DAILY COUGAR
The discussion is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a wine-and-cheese reception. The Blaffer Art Gallery hours will be extended to accommodate the event. For more information, call (713) 743-9521. —Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
CORRECTIONS !!
Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
today
74 LO 64 HI
Morning showers followed by a cloudy afternoon.
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MON MO
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75/54 75 5 /54
77/52 77/ /52 2
76/63 76 6/63
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EVENTS Free Instructor-Led, Hands-On Computer Training Computer classes are being offered to students, alumni, faculty and staff. A class about creating Podcasts will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in room 110-6 of the Social Work Building. Lucero, Robert Ellis & The Boys The band Lucero is showcasing their skills at Fitzgerald’s. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $15.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT
thedailycougar.com/calendar
60th Anniversary of EAA
L
ast night the Engineering Alumni Association celebrated its 60th anniversary at the UH Hilton. About 200 engineering alumni, students, sponsors, faculty and staff participated in the event, which included a game of “Engineering Jeopardy.” | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
Beginning this Saturday, international students can attend a free tax filling session provided by the Houston chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. The sessions will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 26, March 19, March 26, April 2 and April 9 in the University Center Bayou Room 202. “To date we have 32 volunteers, with the majority being accounting students from the University of Houston. Others are CPA’s who coordinate the site and review each [tax] return prepared,” said Judith Butcher, CPE Director for the Houston CPA Society. Houston-based tax and bankruptcy attorney and CPA, E. Rhett Buck, will lead accounting students and volunteer CPA’s in this year’s effort. Buck has been the Site Manager for this organization, which has helped over 230 students with their taxes. “The volunteers are typically half CPA’s and half students. The CPA’s come from various Houston firms,” Buck said. Tax filing has changed this year and tax preparers are being faced with new rules, including identification if the preparer is not the one being taxed. Taxpayers now have until April 18 to file. TAXES continues on page 3
CAMPUS
Legislation steps up insurance options Misti Mynhier
THE DAILY COUGAR The Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, released a new rule in the Affordable Care Act this past week,
ensuring that all students will have more freedom and control over their health care decisions through more consumer protections. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, college students will have more control over their health care,” said Kathleen
Sebelius, secretary of health and human services. The proposed rules for the Affordable Care Act make it clear that all students who purchase health care through their INSURANCE continues on page 3