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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Run-offs begin today through Thursday for presidential election
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Issue 108, Volume 76
Monday ®
March 7, 2011
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Flawless victory
The SGA will hold a run-off election beginning today until Thursday to determine the winner of several positions — including the presidential election between Michael McHugh and Michael Harding. Polls closed Thursday with 3,696 votes cast. Harding won the popular vote, earning 44 percent with 1638 votes total; McHugh earned 31 percent with 1129 votes, while Jared Gogets received 25 percent with 929 votes. Fifty-one percent is needed for an outright win. “I’ve had a great time this week,” Harding said. “My running mate Craig Premjee and I love talking to students and hearing what they think. I feel blessed that I have another opportunity with the run-offs.” Harding’s opponent McHugh was also hard at work, meeting with students from every college. “I woke up everyday at 6 a.m., ate my breakfast, then went to work,” McHugh said. “I talked to students one-on-one, letting them know what my ideas were about until midnight — and then did it all over again the next day.” A run-off for At-large Senator Seat 2 will occur between Brandon Balwant and Stephen Cronin, who participated in one of the closest races in recent years — being separated by less than one percent. These elections are the first since SGA revised its election code in order to clarify which campaign practices were allowed and which were prohibited. The rewording clarified a procedure allowing complaints to be filed. All official complaints filed are investigated and then ruled upon. The SGA elections committee has yet to release the documents, as most are still pending. The Daily Cougar will keep you updated as information is released.
With a win over Tulane, seniors Brittney Scott (left) and Lesslee Mason (right) put the finishing touches on an unblemished 16-0 mark in Conference USA, along with winning the regular-season conference championship. | Aaron Cisneros/The Daily Cougar
Cougars outlast Green Wave in OT to achieve perfect record in Conference USA
— David Gonzalez/The Daily Cougar
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CORRECTIONS !!
On Friday, we published an inappropriate comment that incorrectly quoted Michael McHugh. We apologize.
Joachim Clarke
THE DAILY COUGAR The Cougars saved the best for last. It took overtime, but UH (25-4, 16-0 Conference USA) pulled out a 90-84
victory Saturday over Tulane, clinching an undefeated 16-0 record in conference play. Jasmine Johnson’s 3-pointer with 1:50 remaining in regulation tied the score at 71, bringing the crowd of 1,106 to its feet. The Cougars traded baskets with the Green Wave, but never trailed by more than three points in the closing minutes. UH avoided a scare as Tulane guard Danielle Nunn’s half-court shot sailed
ALUMNI
today
71 LO 62 HI
Pretty nice!
TUE
WED
THU TH
FRII FR
THE DAILY COUGAR
68/48 68/ / 8
72/47 72/ /47
74/56 74/ /56 6
EVENTS Road Untraveled Concert Women’s Chorus The Moores School of Music is presenting chorale works by chorus members. The event will be from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $10, $5 for seniors and students. Tim McGraw The country singer will be headlining tonight’s show at RodeoHouston. The show begins at 6:45 p.m. Ticket prices are ranging from $30 to $300. Parking for the event starts at $10.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT
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UNDEFEATED continues on page 5
STUDENTS
Student dinner dates, Campaign against networking opportunity campus smoking Lauren Mathis
77/63 /
wide of the basket as the clock expired. With a one-point lead with 3:05 remaining in overtime, Brittney Scott hit a pivotal 3-pointer that pushed the UH advantage to four. Johnson sank four of six attempts free-throw attempts in the final minutes of the extra period. “Tulane came out to play just like Rice did last week,” Scott said. “They played us really well, but we have leaders on
UH’s Student Alumni Connection is inviting students to take part in the Dinner for 10 Cougars event. “Dinner for 10 Cougars is run by (SAC), and it is a program that helps create a connection between alumni and current UH students,” said Jamie Eubanks, director of Student Initiatives for the University of Houston Alumni Association. “ This program consists of alumni-hosted dinners, which enables students to meet successful alumni and fellow students in
a casual environment,” Eubanks said. Eubanks discussed how the program came to be. “It was one of the first programs that was implemented through SAC,” she said. “This program is usually in the spring semester, but we are going to try hosting dinners in the fall as well.” The program, which was created in 2001, has had its array of hosts. “The dinner hosts vary each year,” Eubanks said. “We usually ask all of our alumni groups to host,
Miguel Cortina
DINNER continues on page 3
SMOKING continues on page 3
THE DAILY COUGAR A UH student started an initiative to stop smoking on campus and collected survey data to gauge student opinions. Kristin Tang, a biology junior, created a movement for a smoke-free campus. Tang, who is co-president of the Collegiate Cancer Council, decided to get involved to educate students on improving their health. “This is us making a difference, educating people on their health,” Tang said. Tang collected over 2,000 student surveys where she asked if they would like a smoke-free campus or designated areas for smoking.