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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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Students invited to traveling filmmaking seminar today New York Film Academy Road Show, fresh from South by Southwest, is making a stop at UH beginning at 6 p.m. today in the University Center’s Mediterranean Room. The film industry’s top teaching professionals and the latest digital equipment will be featured as part of the show. Using the latest technology and equipment, the NYFA Road team conducts free workshops in which elements of filmmaking, including special effects, storytelling and editing, are taught to participants.
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Issue 117, Volume 76
Friday ®
March 25, 2011
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Veterans receive assistance, info Gilbert Requena
THE DAILY COUGAR Student-veterans at UH received a host of information, ranging from ways to start a small business to the various options available when buying land or a home at an event on Tuesday. The “Entrepreneurship, Education and the 21st Century Veteran” seminar was organized by technology senior Stephen Cremona, a veteran and a work-study counselor with UH’s Veterans Service Office. “We have presenters come out, and they
can actually give you the current facts as opposed to going to a website,” Cremona said. “They give you good advice. They give you knowledge.” Neil Polansky, from the City of Houston One Stop Business Center, discussed entrepreneurship and what it takes to open a small business. He said that some people do not realize the effort and knowledge needed to open a business, such as permits, rules and regulations and the evaluation of the marketplace and competition. “There’s no excuse for people going into
a business without being educated,” Polansky said. “We’re here to provide information to help you make an informed decision for yourself.” Dan Monson, a mortgage banker with Sente Mortgage, spoke about eligibility requirements and ways to save money when purchasing a house with the VA home loan. He also discussed what to look for when picking an area to buy a home, such as area schools, home values and neighbors. Mike McReaken of the Texas Veterans Land VETERANS continues on page 3
Visit www.nyfa.edu/roadshow/ for more information.
Students box up support
Barbecue plate sale to benefit local children and community The UH Hispanic Business Student Association is selling barbecue plates on Saturday to raise money to remodel a local tutoring center. A percentage of the food sales at the barbecue will go towards repairs for the Barrio Student Tutoring Center, as well as to the children who receive tutoring.
Jasmine Umenyi
THE DAILY COUGAR
For four days a week, HBSA members travel to the center to tutor children for free. “HBSA has been tutoring at the Barrio Center for 15 years,” said Berenice Velaquez, vice president of HBSA. Plates at the barbecue will cost $7 and will contain brisket, sausage, beans, rice and bread. The Barrio Center is located on 5115 Harrisburg Blvd. For more information, contact Louis Vogtman at fundraising@ hbsa-bauer.com. — Darlene Campos/The Daily Cougar
CORRECTIONS J
Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
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Rappin’ about restrictions
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allas rappers Krucial and Mohammed Al-Farrah took the stage at UH’s Lynn Eusan park on Tuesday and performed songs in English and Arabic as a part of International Israeli Apartheid Week. Read the full story on page 3. | Brianna
Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar
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EVENTS A.I. Lack Series The Moores School of Music is presenting an organ class instructed by Dr. Pamela Decker from the University of Arizona. The free event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Organ Recital Hall.
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Taking it to the streets for Libyan people Edgar Veliz
Frontier Fiesta Today marks the second day of the threeday cook off at the Robertson Stadium Parking Lot. Entry is free. Fiesta City opens at 5 p.m. and closes at midnight.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar
Volunteers made care packages and wrote letters to US troops who are currently overseas during an event on Tuesday hosted by UH’s Metroplitan Volunteer Program. “This is the first time the event has been held, but I would like to do it at least once a semester,” said Jeremy Rollings, biology senior and event coordinator. There were countless food items and toiletries donated by students at UH, and much more donated by MVP itself. “Half of the care packages are going to a unit out in Alaska and the other half is going overseas,” Rollings said. “All the letters written will be going to the unit in Alaska as well. My brother is stationed there.” Rollings knows first hand how tough it can be for families to send things, especially overseas. “I wanted to give back, especially to those troops that really don’t have family,” Rollings said. “It’s not about whether they can afford the stuff on their own because they probably could, it’s about giving back and showing we care and appreciate the work that they do.” Overall, the outcome of volunteers and packaging was a great success, with 26 boxes and 112 letters collected and packaged, according to MVP. “It’s important to show our appreciation, to show how grateful we are,” said Angelica Waller, communications junior. MVP will give students another opportunity to help pack care packages and write letters for troops on March 31. For more information, visit www.uh.edu/mvp/mvp.
THE DAILY COUGAR The turmoil and ongoing battle for control over Libya hit home for a group of UH students, and it has driven them to take action. Yasmeen Esaklul, a junior double majoring in communication sciences and disorders and liberal studies, has taken action into her own
hands by organizing protests every Sunday at the intersection of Westheimer and Post Oak in support of liberating Libya from Muammar Gaddafi. “We saw what was happening in Libya and we really wanted to protest. We were waiting on someone in the community to put it together — there is a very large Libyan community here,” Esaklul said. “We thought that the men would put something together
but they didn’t, so the three of us decided that we would.” Esaklul, along with UH student Hadeel Bunkheila and Nadeen Mustafa, a University of St. Thomas student, set up Libyans for Liberty, a Facebook group which serves as the source for all the latest news and updates on events and protests. LIBYA continues on page 3