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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 Issue 134, Volume 76
THE DAILY COUGAR thedailycougar.com
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April 19, 2011 Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.
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newsline Got news? E-mail news@thedailycougar.com or call 713-743-5314
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Rally raises awareness and participation in government SPEAK OUT, a rally to increase students’ awareness and participation in government, will be held from 11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. today in the U.C. Satellite. “For many years people have been very passive and decisions are made for them, having very disastrous consequences,” said Fred Schiff, associate professor in the school of communications. “Ordinary people have to get active if they want any say in which way the country, state and university goes.” Students are encouraged to come and participate in the rally to discuss issues that are important to them and find out how young people can collectively make a difference.
FCC approves KTRU sale Rice station will continue to reach local scene through Internet, iPhone and Droid Lauren Mathis and Ashley Evans
THE DAILY COUGAR UH prepares for its new radio addition of the KTRU station after the recent news of the FCC’s approval of its License Transfer from Rice University. “The FCC issued its Consent to the
License Transfer on April 15,” said Richard Bonnin, executive director of media relations. With this recent consent by the FCC, Bonnin explained what the next move would be for both Rice and UH. “The next step will be for Rice and UH to set a closing date for the transaction, which should occur sometime in the next 10 days,” Bonnin said. Bonnin mentions what will happen after the transfer. “As I understand it, after the transfer KTRU will continue to broadcast on KPFT
Opportunity to assist faculty in research project available Juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA have an opportunity to get $1,000 by assisting a faculty member in a part-time research project.
Friday’s event provides faculty with effective teaching methods
The Provost’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship provides this scholarship for the Fall semester. Competitive applications generally include strong student academic records, research proposals with realistic goals, and an informative faculty letter of recommendation.
Julian Jimenez
THE DAILY COUGAR
The deadline for the application is Wednesday, April 27th. For further information, please contact Stuart Long at long@ uh.edu or Karen Weber at kweber@uh.edu, or at (713) 743-3367. — Tap Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
CORRECTIONS Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
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Teaching improved
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HD Channel 2 and online at KTRU.org,” Bonnin said. The addition of the second radio station as KUHA 91.7 will also provide changes to UH’s other station, 88.7 KUHF. “The contractual close of the purchase is still pending,” Bonnin said. “Upon completion, the university’s plan is for a new fulltime classical music station to debut on KUHA 91.7 FM, while KUHF 88.7 FM will offer full-time news and information.” Some of the people at KTRU, such as
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— Taylor McGilvray/The Daily Cougar
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unday night began a 72-hour Prayer Tent, where religious organizations will be joining together through Wednesday outside the M.D. Anderson Library. See Page 10 for full story. | Newton Liu/The Daily Cougar
A number of the University’s professors and teaching assistants gained some valuable tools as they learned to reshape their teaching methods at the UH Effective Teaching Practices showcase Friday at the UC Houston Room. The initiative brings together keynote speakers, organizes teaching table sessions and presents teaching strategy workshops led by instructors respected in the field for their contributions to education. Veronique Tran, director of Learning Through Discovery and one of the organizers, said the event’s main purpose was to give faculty a valuable opportunity to learn effective teaching methods. “It really benefits the students,”Tran said. “The instructors that come share an informal discussion with others. It’s like the faculty is going back to school.” Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Faculty Development and Instructional Support and UH Learning through Discovery, this is the second year SHOWCASE continues on page 3
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EVENTS IT Training An instructor-led computer class is introducing web design to students, faculty and alumni from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in room 110L of the Social Work Building. Register online at http://www.uh.edu/ittraining. Now This, a World Premier, By Scott Kaiser The School of Theatre & Dance is premiering the show tonight from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Jose Quintero Theatre. Tickets cost $20, $15 for faculty, staff and alumni and $10 for students.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar
Robots visit campus; green efforts practiced Miguel Cortina
THE DAILY COUGAR The Alumni Center was transformed into an exhibit hall as nearly 960 elementary and middle school students participated in Ecobot, a challenge to build functioning robots.
The robots were built ahead of time and were brought by students to perform a series of environmental tasks, such as getting a magnet from underneath a mine, pulling down a car from a small podium and putting beans in a small box. ECOBOT continues on page 3
Teams built robots to use in Saturday’s competition. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar