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UH celebrates Earth Day today Students are invited to come celebrate another year of being green at UH’s Earth Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Butler Plaza. “People should come out and celebrate Earth Day, an event that initiated a world-wide sustainability movement,” said Billy Garner, marketing coordinator for University Services. “Also, see how UH has become one of the leaders in sustainability among the nation’s universities.” Events planned include a weather balloon launch, recycled games and prizes, Recycle Man and free giveaways. Green Mountain Energy will also be there to announce the Green Mountain Energy Solar, a large solar array system the company is donating to UH.
Taylor McGilvray
Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.
THE DAILY COUGAR Students, professors and members of the community discussed issues such as immigration, voter turnout and corporate funding in elections at SPEAK OUT, a rally to increase student awareness and participation in government. The event was held Tuesday in the University Center Satellite. Brendan Laws, a sociology junior, spoke to students about the importance of immigration to our economy and
recognizing immigrants’ rights. “We have an economy that is dependent on migrant labor,” Laws said. “(As an immigrant), not only do you have to worry about paying rent and surviving, you have to worry about speaking up for your rights.” Laws stressed that increasing security at the borders will not decrease immigration. “The only way to stop immigration is to improve conditions in other countries … in the past 10 years as security has gone up, so has immigration because desperate times call for desperate measures,” Laws
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Engineering team tops all US schools
UH is hosting the “Love Makes a Family” exhibit until May 4 on the third floor of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. The exhibit, which is aimed at fighting homophobia, was created by the Family Diversity Project, an organization that advocates the equal and fair treatment of marginalized demographics and their families.
Cougars narrowly miss first overall, place second to team from Mexico
“Love Makes a Family” uses images of LGBT parents and is combined with text from interviews with their family members to show visitors a different perspective of what it means to have a family.
Misti Mynhier
THE DAILY COUGAR A UH undergraduate team placed first among US teams and second overall in the regional Chem-E Car Competition, advancing to the national competition. The competition took place the last weekend of March at Texas A&M University. The UH Cullen College of Engineering team came in second to Mexico’s Tech de Monterey who took first place honors. The team is now preparing for nationals at the 2011 American Institute for Chemical Engineers National Student Conference, Oct. 14, in Minneapolis. “This is a top honor for UH, students and the
For information about the exhibit, visit www.lmfct.org. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
CORRECTIONS Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear in this space as needed.
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said. Another issue discussed was the lack of participation in government by young people. “It’s important for this university community that’s comprised of young people to get involved in not only the next election, but the grassroot issues,” said Lorenzo Cano, associate director for the Center for Mexican American studies. Cano stressed the importance of young people getting together to make their voices heard.
AWARDS
Exhibit informs visitors on lives of LGBT parents and families
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UH ‘speaks out’ at event
— Taylor McGilvray/The Daily Cougar
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Students are encouraged to come out, have fun and learn ways to continue to make UH a leader in the sustainability movement.
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EVENTS Earth Day Carnival To celebrate Earth Day, the University is having a carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.at Butler Plaza outside of M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. Curren$y The upcoming New Orleans-based rapper is headlining at Warehouse Live tonight at 9 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $20.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar
Honoring women of the world
U
H’s Council of Ethnic Organizations held its Women of the World banquet Tuesday inside the University Center’s Houston Room. The Nigerian and Vietnamese student associations, Sigma Lambda Gamma and Soka Peace performed for guests. Dr. Elizabeth Gregory, director of the Women’s Studies Program, spoke at the event. Dinner and desert were also served. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
STUDENTS
Former Cougar offers new book-selling option Darlene Campos
THE DAILY COUGAR A UH alumna kept in mind her difficult experiences of trying to resell textbooks during her time as a student when she created a website where students could go to buy or sell textbooks. Emely Galvez, 22, founded the online service Houston Book Exchange in November 2010, just a month before she graduated from UH. The website, www.houstonbookexchange.com, allows college students to sell their textbooks straight to other TEXTBOOKS continues on page 3