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Spears still has it
Award Beall rings for QB and RB
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VC/VP for student affairs search continues with open forums UH is continuing to hold open forums for candidates for the position of vice chancellor/vice president for student affairs. The position, which is being filled during the search by Mike Lawrence, looks over student development including the dean of students office, campus recreation, and the university center; student services including student publications; counseling and psychological services; and the health center and residential life and housing. “The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate strong leadership, organizational and business skills, as well as ability to communicate and advocate effectively with students, faculty, and community leaders in a multicultural and academic environment,” according to the job listing.
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Status lures in students Naheeda Sayeeduddin
THE DAILY COUGAR For Shafaq Moosa, choosing the right college to attend was not a difficult task. The incoming business freshman, who is one of thousands that applied to UH, said the University was one of many that accepted her application. Moosa selected UH over the other schools because of the University’s Tier One recognition. “It makes me feel better (to know that UH is Tier One) because I know I am going to a really good school,” Moosa said. UH is seeing a record-breaking number of freshman applicants for the Fall 2011
semester. Jeff Fuller, director of student recruitment in the Office of Admissions, attributes the increase in enrollment to the school’s distinction as a Tier One institution. “We think that definitely the Tier One status and recognition by Princeton Review as one of the best universities in the United States are two key factors that have led us to have the numbers that we have,” Fuller said. The number of completed freshman applications for the Fall 2011 semester stands at 14,546, which is an increase from last fall’s record number of 12,656. Though the deadline for fall admission has ended, the Office of Admissions is still
working on getting a total for the number of completed applications for this year, which will happen later on in the week, Fuller said. He said he expects roughly 40 percent of the number of applicants to register for fall classes, based on trends from 2008 to 2010. Moosa has already attended orientation and registered for the fall semester. “I’m excited to finally get out of high school and to start my education to get a degree,” she said. The number of transfer student applicants is also on the rise, although the
KUHF selected for NPR project
The lecture will be given by Lisa Pope Westerman, the design director of hospitality and retail studios at Gensler-Houston and will discuss the new demand for public spaces that incorporate multiple functions as companies are trying to focus on the satisfaction of their employees. She will also describe how this affects the design of interior spaces.
A petition for budget reform to increase the transparency and accountability of public universities in Texas has been drafted on the FreedomWorks website. The petition calls for the end of tenure for professors, the separation of research and teaching budgets, the disclosure of salaries, number of students taught and research dollars brought in of tenured professors, and that researchers keep 90 percent of the money their research generates. The writers of the petition claim “these reforms will elevate the quality of higher education in Texas and ensure that universities prioritize the needs of students, parents, and taxpayers over entrenched, overpaid academics.” Students can sign the petition at http://tinyurl.com/3t7enb2.
CORRECTIONS !!
Jason Poland was not attributed for his cartoon “Robbie and Bobbie” in last week’s issue.
ENROLLMENT continues on page 3
CAMPUS
The Hines College of Architecture is continuing its summer lecture series with “Criss Cross: Our Areas of Expertise Colliding,” on Tuesday in the architecture theater room 150.
BUDGET
Issue 152, Volume 76
CAMPUS
Lecture discusses the future of design, functionality of spaces
Petition calls for budget reform, transparency of professors
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Read. Recycle. Repeat daily.
ARCHITECTURE
Tickets are $20 for the individual lecture and $160 for the entire series.
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July 20, 2011
The committee in charge of the search is headed by Dona Cornell, vice chancellor/vice president of legal affairs at UH and UHS, and includes nine other members from the UH community.
Students interested in attending should contact Linda Silva at 713-743-2400 for reservations.
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SUMMER EDITION
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UH radio station to focus on environment, energy Joshua Mann
THE DAILY COUGAR
Professor Preethi Gunaratne, right, coauthored a study in the scientific journal Nature about her work with microRNA and ovarian cancer. | Courtesy of Thomas Campbell
Gunaratne said that ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to properly treat, with the survival rate dependant on how developed the cancer is when diagnosed. “Through pioneering efforts of a number of scientists in the last decade we have come to understand that a single microRNA can potentially bind, capture and silence hundreds of genes,” Gunaratne said. “Therefore, microRNAs can be considered strong alternatives or complements to many of the small molecule inhibitors that are currently being developed to silence disease gene networks.” It has been shown that microRNAs are responsible for 60 percent of the protein coding genes within the human body. The genetic sequencing of the cancer was investigated by The Cancer Genome Atlas network, which discovered how normal ovarian cells change into chemotherapy-resistant malignant tumors. They concluded that ovarian cancer is constructed of multiple mutations
Houston and Austin’s public radio stations are teaming up to improve coverage of the environmental and energy scene in Texas. KUHF Houston and KUT Austin have been awarded participation in NPR’s latest project, StateImpact, which encourages participating stations to focus on the ways in which “governmental decisions affect citizens in such areas as education, healthcare, business, the environment and jobs,” KUHF said in a press release. “Each of the different states chose a subject as it relates to local government and policy. Texas chose energy and the environment,” KUHF Station Manager and C.O.O. Debra Fraser said. “The idea is that we take that information, and it’s shared on a national level by all the states that are participating. Hopefully (the other participating stations) will find ways that the information is applicable in other states.” KUHF and KUT will be hiring two reporters and a blogger to write about energy and the environment full time, Fraser said. “We’re really glad we’re going to get
CANCER continues on page 3
RADIO continues on page 3
RESEARCH
Genetic trash could be treasure Study finds agent to prevent ovarian cancer development Darlene Campos
THE DAILY COUGAR A UH professor has led research efforts to determine the effect of the genetic molecules, microRNAs, on ovarian cancer. Preethi Gunaratne, assistant professor of biology and biochemistry, has found through her research that microRNAs, once considered to be genetic waste, have the ability to prevent ovarian cancer development. “Our ultimate goal is to understand the role of microRNAs in regulating gene networks on a genome-wide scale that allow stem cells and normal tissue to assume tight control over cell proliferation and growth,” Gunaratne said. “And then establish a paradigm for incorporating microRNAs into diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases like cancer.”
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1. Chemistry prof boosts attendance, encourages student participation 2. A miniskirt is not consent 3. Jessie and the Toy Boys ‘Own the Night’ 4. Clayton State dean wants to focus on campus input to shape student affairs 5. UH should consider improving services
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“Geert, Good points. While Dana writes her fantasy editorials, disconnected from any reality, the real Islam shows us its ugly reality. For instance in the newly independent state of Southern Sudan we see the Muslims from the north are already carpet bombing villages and continuing their genocide of the native black people. Begs the question: When will Dana write about this reality?”
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The grand marshal gave his councel to whoever sought it.
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Only one of the people who work in the lab is a vetinarian.
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He claimed he knows a star athalete who will sign with the school.
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He felt bad due to the unhygenic accomodations.
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He looks like he can pitch real good.
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Travelling acrost the U.S., it’s vastness effected her.
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10. Joe told his wife Alice he likes his mistress better than her. 11. The hero was presented with an historic award by the Congressman. 12. This is different than and hopefully more preferrable over that.
Re: Young performers rock the Buddy Holly story
“Hmmm.. I’m sure age does not matter to have a connection with his world. I love The Beatles and i’m also 19. Just becasue I was born in 1992 does not mean I cannot
truly appreciate the art that they had created with their music. I appreciate it more actually, becasue it’s our (the kids born in 1992) job to pass down this magnificant art they created in order to keep their legacy alive.” — user “Haleigh” Re: Voters ignored; red light cameras running again
“Here’s an idea. Stop running red lights.” — user “Mike Wazowski” Re: Young performers rock the Buddy Holly story
“Saw the show Friday and Saturday night. Stephan, Christina, and the entire cast are doing wonderfully! The directors have also done a fabulous job and I can’t wait for tomorrow night so I can see it again!” — user “Sabyn” Re: Chemistry prof boosts attendance, encourages student participation
“I love UH football. I hope every game fill sup this year and that carries over into other sports, like volleyball, basketball, and baseball. Eat ‘em up!” — user “GlenW”
13. Its easy to see the difference between she and I. 14. We must try and keep up with the Jones. 15. What kind of a woman could like those kind of men.
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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://www. thedailycougar.com. The University seeks to provide equal educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status, or sexual orientation. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy of the Cougar is free; each additional copy is 25 cents. SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015. NEWS TIPS Direct news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@thedailycougar. com or fax (713) 743-5384. A “Submit news item” form is also available online at thedailycougar.com. COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the director of the Student Publications Department.
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NEWS
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RADIO continued from page 1
to have someone committed to covering energy and the environment. We covered it before, but we were never able to really dedicate resources to it like we’re going to be able to now,” Fraser said. KUHF said it will be sharing information with Austin. “(Stories) that the reporter in Houston does will be available to Austin,” Fraser said, “The two reporters will also contribute and participate with the blogger.” NPR awarded the chance to participate in StaleImpact based on proposals sent in from public radio stations all over the United States. “They had so many great applications that they decided that they’re going to expand the program pretty quickly,” Fraser said. NPR intends to invite additional radio stations to join the project this fall, with future plans of expanding to all 50 states, said the press release. The project is actually statewide, Fraser said, and has been endorsed by the NPR stations in Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso, among others. “We’ll be sharing these stories and all of this information with the whole state,” Fraser said. “Without a doubt, the energy industry is key to Houston’s economy and development in the 21st century,” said John Proffitt, C.E.O. and general manager of Houston Public Radio. “And the stories and inventive minds that have made Houston the energy capital of the world are central to this important endeavor.” news@thedailycougar.com
Professor preaches balanced view of minorities Ryan Rockett
THE DAILY COUGAR William A. Lawson vividly remembers a Houston environment far different than its inhabitants are now accustomed to. He recalls an early 1960s era when schools were segregated, and as the director of the Baptist Student Union at Texas Southern University, he watched as his students were arrested for organizing student sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. Amid this turbulent time in race relations, Lawson raised money to free his students, helped galvanize support to desegregate schools, and helped form the African-American Studies program at the University of Houston. Forty years later, Lawson has returned to UH to teach a graduate course focusing on discrimination in a different kind of institution.
CANCER continued from page 1
in one gene, which causes the regular cells to develop into a cancerous form, according to a press release. “The precise cause of ovarian cancer is unknown,” said Gunaratne. “Increased risk factors include a family history of ovarian cancer and age. Women who have had at least one pregnancy are at lower risk. Keeping in good health also establishes a strong immune system that is able to remove cancerous cells through
“In Texas, there is an overwhelming overpopulation of minority males (in jail),” Lawson said. “I think the Texas justice system reflects the old Texas pre-Civil Rights segregation pattern.” Lawson now teaches the Over Representation of Minority Males in the Criminal Justice System summer course in the UH Graduate College of Social Work. Now a retired pastor from the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, which he founded, Lawson was invited in 2007 by Dean Ira Colby to teach at the school. “Since I’m not a professor, I felt that one of the best ways to talk about the criminal justice system was first to look at what causes our present problem,” Lawson said. Lawson encourages his students to take a balanced look at all factors that contribute to the increasing number of minorities in jail, focusing on actual crime statistics as well as societal and
immune surveillance.” The study also reported that the cancer takes the lives of around 14,000 women each year in the United States. “Children’s cancers and women’s cancers are typically underfunded,” Gunaratne said. “We have a strong commitment to rapidly translating the latest advances in cancer genomics to identify novel biomarkers for early detection and develop preclinical data for testing novel therapeutic strategies for cancers in women and children.” news@thedailycougar.com
racial factors. “If you start with racism, then you’ve probably started wrong,” Lawson said. “You almost certainly have to start with actual crime. Poverty and a broken criminal justice system are sort of twins.” To present his class with real world situations, Lawson brings in guest speakers to share their experiences. Guests during this summer’s course included authority figures such as the Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos, Police Chief Charles McClelland, and Judge Belinda Hill. Lawson also brought in Cornelius Dupree, who was falsely imprisoned for 30 years in Houston and freed last year through DNA evidence. “He’s got a sweet disposition for a guy who’s been unjustly imprisoned that long,” Lawson said regarding Dupree. “He isn’t blaming the system; he simply recognizes that it’s a
ENROLLMENT continued from page 1
numbers reflect an insignificant increase from last year. The number of Fall 2011 transfers stands at 5556 — a slight increase from last year’s 5544 applicants. Fuller said the final number of transfer applicants won’t be known until after the final mandatory transfer student orientation in August. The Office of Admissions is working closely with other departments on campus, including the housing
broken system. This is what the class is about.” Lawson has received much praise and many awards for his work in the Houston area throughout the years. His organization, the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity, has established a public middle school for boys and constructed 50 apartment units for seniors in Third Ward. However, when asked about his induction into the Houston Hall of Fame, the pastor, teacher and leader can hardly remember it. “We have never gone too much for trophies and awards and things of that sort,” Lawson said. “We are far better off when we learn that some kid has finished our middle school, finished high school and has been inducted into West Point. That means a lot more to us than those various awards.” news@thedailycougar.com
department, to build a strategy that will accommodate the growing number of incoming students. The office is also working on recruiting students from across the state. “Texas is unique in the fact that we are one of half a dozen states in the nation to have a growing population of high school students,” he said. “And so we are definitely taking full advantage of that and that is why the university has dedicated full-time presence in areas outside of Houston.” news@thedailycougar.com
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opinion THE DAILY COUGAR
EDITOR Daniel Renfrow E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/opinion
YOUR TURN: COLLEGE OR CAREER? by Karesha Brown
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITOR LIFE
& ARTS EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
Jack Wehman John Brannen Taylor McGilvray, Julian Jimenez Joshua Siegel Mary Baak Daniel Renfrow
STAFF EDITORIAL
Lawmakers should focus on work, not elections
T
exas politicians don’t seem to be very concerned with Texas politics. Conservatives have been waiting with baited breath for Gov. Rick Perry to announce whether or not he’s going to run for the presidency, and today Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst officially announced his campaign for the US Senate. And, although Perry continues to say he doesn’t have plans to run for president in 2012, he has spent most of his time in 2011 outside the state on a nationwide book tour.
The only question is, with the state’s top lawmakers working on their own political aspirations, how much work is being done in Austin? This year, Texas had its fair share of problems — a giant deficit, redistricting and higher education funding were just a few of the problems faced by the legislature. And, while most lawmakers were working hard to fix them, Perry was elsewhere. The problem with public office is the amount of time needed to reach it. Politicians have to worry so much about pandering to their supporters and getting enough money to stay in power that they often neglect the office they hold at the moment. But where was Perry this legislative session? This session, Perry used the time he should have spent serving the Texas people in promoting himself. It is no secret that the Texas governorship is a weak position. This partially explains why governor-goodhair has stayed in power for so long. Perry is officially given few powers by the Texas Constitution, which means he has less of a chance to mess things up. However, the few powers that come with the Texas Governor position does not mean that Perry has few responsibilities here and that does not give him an excuse to spend his time promoting himself in other states, holding unofficial and polarizing prayer rallies, and practicing his sharp shooting while he jogs.
E D I TO R I A L P O L I C I E S STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing. ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements published in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole. GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be kept to less than 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies to material already printed in the Cougar, but rather should present independent points of view. Rebuttals should be sent as letters. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
Four-year universities not for everyone; students should consider their options
I
s a college degree worth the price? It depends. Certain majors reap higher salaries than others, but most college graduates find themselves, no matter what they major in, making on average almost $20,000 more per year than high school grads. If this is the case for a graduate, loans should Rachel not be too problematic, Farhi provided he or she can make sacrifices and good financial decisions. But why do people really go to college? The majority of presidents of four-year universities think it is for intellectual development and maturation — the old Greek way of brainwashing the young into virtuous citizens. Presidents of vocational, for-profit and two-year community schools think of a degree as job training. The problem with both of these views
is that the student, his or her family and plans for the future are left out of the decision. Students and their parents should get real about when, where and why they should invest in a degree. Teens are horded into universities without a clear understanding of how much money they are about to spend and what it will get them in the long run. Having a degree brings social capital. Every parent wants to experience the pride of their child’s college graduation, but great amounts of time and money should not be spent on something purely for an ego stroke or to meet arbitrary expectations. Furthermore, our snobbish attitude toward two-year colleges and certificates is unfair. So is looking down upon people who never have the opportunity, or who take time off. My friend’s parents took out huge loans so that she could enter a four-year
College is worth the price for some people, and not worth it for others. A step toward improving our higher education system could be improving how people make decisions and set realistic goals.” college straight out of high school. She chose a random Liberal Arts major, took much too long to complete it, and could not get a job afterwards. A few years later, she entered into a two year nursing program; now she has a stable job and loves her work. Had she simply taken a few years off instead of rushing to an expensive state university, her peers FARHI continues on page 8
UH arts endowment vital to Third Ward Some politicians undervalue the impact of art, want to cut similar programs
T
he University of Houston has just received a prestigious “Our Town” grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the Third Ward Arts Initiative. According to the NEA’s website, this grant, one of 51 around the country, is provided for “creative place-making projects that contribute Emily toward the livability of Brooks communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core.” The first goal of the Third Ward Arts Initiative is the “Park at Palm Center,” a new park near Griggs Road and Loop 610 that will feature an educational laboratory and a new-media playground.
Programs like the Third Ward Arts Initiative are vital to communities not only for their obvious revitalization benefits, but also because they create jobs and provide resources to the local economy. Houston is already home to many influential museums, galleries and public installations. If the Third Ward Arts Initiative and other Third Ward revitalization projects succeed in fashioning the area into an arts and cultural center, we can expect to see a significant increase in economic activity. Despite these social and economic benefits, grants like this will continue to be fewer and farther between. The NEA has been criticized since its inception in 1965 for being frivolous and elitist, but it is neither. The organization was founded to support artistic talent and creativity in our country by awarding grants and
fellowships, as well as participating in research and international partnerships. The NEA no longer gives grants to individual artists, but instead focuses grant money on projects like the Our Town initiatives and arts education for youths. In budget negotiations earlier this year the NEA’s budget was cut 13 percent, and may be cut further in ongoing negotiations. Cuts to cultural programs like the NEA are largely symbolic. Currently, the NEA accounts for 0.005 percent of the total federal budget, and cuts to the arts are dwarfed by increases in military spending and revenue cuts each year. The NEA is too small to have significant impact on the federal budget, but it has a huge impact on our nation. Certainly, a great deal of modern art is funded BROOKS continues on page 8
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Daily Cougar
sports overtime
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EDITORS Joshua Siegel E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE www.thedailycougar.com/sports
NCAA BASKETBALL
Donor’s death raises questions UH booster, AAU team co-founder commits suicide at Friendswood home Joshua Siegel
THE DAILY COUGAR FILE PHOTO/THE DAILY COUGAR
FOOTBALL
Keenum, running back recognized The 2011 season is more than 40 days away, but senior quarterback Case Keenum is already under consideration as one of the nation’s best players. He claimed a place on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List on Monday. Three days prior, Keenum earned a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award watch list. The Walter Camp Award is voted upon by the 120 head football coaches and sports information directors from each school. The O’Brien Award is given to the best quarterback in the country. Keenum was one of three finalists for the award in 2009. Senior Bryce Beall is in the company of the nation’s best running backs, being named to the Doak Walker Award watch list. He is 829 yards away from surpassing Ketric Sanford as the all-time UH leading rusher. — Cougar Sports Services
David Salinas was an unknown to the public and casual sports fan before Sunday night, but his suicide has opened a potential can of worms for several college coaches and the NCAA. Salinas, 60, co-founded the Ameteur Athletic Union team Houston Select and was also an investment adviser with an interesting list of clients. As first reported by CBSSports. com, among those who invested with Salinas were former Arizona coach Lute Olson, Baylor coach Scott Drew, formerKentucky and current Texas Tech coach Billy Gillispie and former Utah coach and current Gonzaga assistant Ray Giacoletti. CBS also reported Salinas was under investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Tuesday, Sports Illustrated learned the list of coaches who invested with Salinas is even longer. Former UH head basketball coach Pat Foster along with former head football coaches Art Briles and Bill Yeoman are among the many who gave Salinas money.
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
Between 1992 and 2002, eight players from Houston Select played for UH. Former head basketball coach Tom Penders told Dan Wolken from TheDaily. com on Tuesday that he was approached by Salinas in 2004 and intimated that he could offer greater “access to prospects” in exchange for a large sum of money. Penders declined. “This is a tragic situation for many people,” UH athletics director Mack Rhoades said in a statement. “David Salinas was a season ticket holder and donor to the University of Houston athletics program and cared about UH very much. Our prayers go out to all those affected by the recent developments. “We are continuing to monitor how this situation affects our department and its people.” The University’s athletics department wouldn’t comment on the amount Salinas contributed, but the Houston Chronicle reported that he made 35 separate donations totaling $202,069. Alvin Brooks III, an assistant coach at Sam Houston State and son of UH assistant Alvin Brooks Sr. played for Houston Select before starting his collegiate career at Idaho State in 2000. “He didn’t press us on playing for a certain school,” Brooks said. “If you look, we all played at different places.” One of the players that Brooks played with on Houston Select, Louis Truscott,
played for Danny Nee at Nebraska. He is the current head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. CBSSports.com reported that Nee had investments with Salinas. He denied any connection between his financial and basketball relationships with Salinas. “He was a close friend for 25 years,” Nee said. “I had personal dealings with him. I just feel bad for his family. “He helped coaches manage their money and he did it really well.” According to documents reviewed by SI, Salinas lost over $7.8 million for Olson, Drew, Gillispie and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. “I can’t remember the last time that I spoke to him,” Nee said. “I don’t think anything he did with Houston Select had anything to do with his business.” Truscott finished his career at UH after two seasons at Nebraska. In addition to Truscott, Nebraska recruited Houston Select alums Alonzo Edwards and Rodney Williams.Three former UH players were charter members of Houston Select — Truscott, Charles Fordjour and Bill Braxton. The other five former UH players who played for Houston Select are Moses Malone Jr., Alton Ford, Andy Ikeafor, Bernard Allen and Gary Robinson. sports@thedailycougar.com
Talking smack and sports
Given today’s landscape of professional sports, how relevant is baseball? Joachim Clarke: The game goes on
Lance Jaramillo: Baseball is a visual sedative
John Brannen: They’re fat and it takes too long
Judge Siegel: Why the hatred for America’s pastime?
As long as Americans have afternoons in which they have nothing to do, America’s national pastime will be around to ease the boredom.
The only thing that can put me to sleep quicker than baseball is someone trying to defend it.
Lance, is there enough for me to join in on the baseball bashing party?
Technology is the future and baseball is a distant last behind women’s lacrosse and billiards when it comes to being on the cutting edge and finding new ways to involve the customer.
Major league baseball is definitely a snooze-fest. If you ever need to take a nap, just turn up the volume of a baseball game.
Joey, I’m glad that you acknowledge the strengths of baseball; it is a great sport to multi-task to. With our society’s habit of doing six different tasks at once, one might think that lazy-paced baseball would allow viewers to surf the web and multi-task while not missing any of the action. Unfortunately, I cannot crown you the winner because Lance does a much better job of pointing out where baseball’s flaws are.
Baseball is not a spectator sport with amazing feats and continuous action like basketball or football. The beauty of baseball is the fact that one can observe a sporting event without the need to actually pay attention to it. There is so much time spent changing batters, switching innings or calling to the bullpen that you really only need to pay attention to about 15 seconds of each minute. Baseball is one of the most watched sports in the United States and there are huge profits to be made. Because of this, owners are willing to spend money like the recession never happened. A sport where hundreds of millions of dollars are being thrown around on a yearly basis will always generate national interest. Certain factors could affect the sport’s popularity. For example, if baseball stadiums decided to stop serving beer, hot dogs and peanuts attendance would drop dramatically. Or another lockout could alienate fans all over again. Barring that, owners do not need to start worrying about where their next paychecks are coming from.
TALK BACK
Baseball has lost a whole generation when it comes to growing the sport thanks to 9 p.m. World Series games and the lack a single Youtube clip of in-game action. Want to teach a kid how to shoot a jumper? Show him Ray Allen splashing threes against LA in the Finals last year. Want to teach a kid how to throw a football? Show him Tom Brady carving up teams from the past year. Want to teach your kid how to swing a bat? Good luck finding a clip of Albert Pujols that isn’t from a fans phone, 80 rows back with Chris Berman shouting awful nicknames in the background. In an age where we know too much about people, we don’t know a single thing about baseball players. Forget what college they went to, I can tell you LeBron drove a Hummer to St. Vincent St. Mary’s and Kobe went to the prom with Brandy. Meanwhile, the most I know about a baseball player is that A-Rod probably got hummers from a Vincent or Mary at his prom.
Minus the 2002 All-Star Game, there is no such thing as a tie in baseball — but there should be. There is no time limit in baseball, and extra innings can last an eternity. Most people are turning off the TV once a game reaches 15 innings. My biggest beef with baseball is the lack of athleticism. Look at Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon or Astros outfielder Carlos Lee. Those guys are on the same fitness level as Rick Ross. Hitters possess phenomenal eye-hand coordination and pitchers show a great deal of technique, but they couldn’t run correctly to save their lives. Aside from Michael Bourn, I would bet money I could beat every player on the Astros in the 100-meter dash. Consider that an open challenge, ‘Stros. However, one must give props to the college game. NCAA baseball is a much more fast-paced and entertaining product. The experience of watching a game at Cougar Field trumps the ambience of Minute Maid Park. Prices are cheaper, plus UH wins more often than the Astros.
What do you think? Post comments at thedailycougar.com/sports
Baseball has indeed lost the affection of the casual fan in small and mid-markets. Its policy against allowing game footage on Youtube might hurt it the most. As Lance implies, baseball has failed miserably to adapt and embrace new technology and as a result could really hurt itself in the future. John, it’s obvious that you think baseball is boring, but you didn’t answer how relevant it is. Verdict Joey, nice try being the good guy, and John way to piggy back on Lance’s negativity, but I’m going to have to give this one to 1560 AM intern Mr. Lance Jaramillo. Take it away Lance. Facetime So when does football season start?
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
LIFE&ARTS
REVIEW
The Daily Cougar
RECAP
Harry Potter franchise Spears, Minaj dazzle Houston meets appropriate end Mary Baak
THE DAILY COUGAR
Alex Pechacek
THE DAILY COUGAR The Harry Potter movie series comes to a close with the latest installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.� The acclaimed film series has moved a generation, and has proven to be a pop culture pillar. The final chapter is unrelentingly dark, with few chances for laughter. What started as a charming and kid-centric story has matured along with its audience. Dark blue and grey hues penetrate the film, which along with wild special effects make for an enthralling mystique. Harry’s mysterious link to Voldemort is explained to be permanent. Because he is forever linked with Voldemort, tension builds and the two powers inevitably collide in multiple showdowns in true finale fashion.
This movie is intrinsically linked with its predecessors — standout moments for unexpected heroes are so remarkable because of the circumstances and history that have formed them. Close friendships among the original Hogwarts crew prove themselves in these trying times and Harry is leaned upon as the leader he has been built to be. The perils, the joy and the victory which Harry Potter films have been chock-full of have provided a generation with wholesome and unyielding cinematic fun. Hollywood executives would have a difficult time writing a script like this, which is why they didn’t. Part of what has preserved the Harry Potter film series is the fact that it has been thought up by J.K. Rowling, who has been true to the art, and created a timeless masterpiece. arts@thedailycougar.com
Much to the delight of pop music lovers, Britney Spears took the stage last Wednesday night at Toyota Center after two highenergy performances by Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nicki Minaj. Spears is known for the eccentric costumes that accompany her over-the-top shows. The crowd followed her lead, channeling every character from the “Hit Me Baby One More Time� schoolgirl to the “Circus� ringmaster. Before Spears took the stage, Jessie and the Toy Boys were the opening act. The crowd wasn’t quite as enthusiastic for this performer as they were for the pop princesses, but the super-pop sound of Malakouti was appropriate given the audience’s taste. A blonde-wigged Minaj took fans by storm with the heavy bass lines of her tracks moving straight through their bodies. She performed her hits,
including “Moment4Life,� “Did It On Em,� “Monster� and “Super Bass,� to name a few. Tensions were high when the final countdown to Britney began. She started off with “Hold it Against Me,� followed by “3.� Dancers in white trench coats and the infamous Britney fedora accompanied Britney in a slinky dance routine. Also on the setlist were “If U Seek Amy,� “Gimme More,� and “Boys,� all in different, glittery costumes. The backup dancers did most of the work in keeping the energy up, however, while Britney sat and sang on stage props. Her range of motion has certainly declined since her early years, but we figure that all those years of being Britney Spears can take a toll on one’s body. The show ended with what seemed like a glitter and confettifilled parade. Minaj joined Spears on stage to perform “Till The World Ends.� This was a fitting ending to a
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Skimpy outfits and all, singer Britney Spears did not disappoint in her Femme Fatal Tour performance at the Toyota Center. | Newton Liu/The Daily Cougar
HELP WANTED Home health company part-time delivery driver Work schedule: Mon.-Fri. 3pm-8pm Compensation: $10.00/per hour and mileage Requirments: Reliable transportation, clean driving record, liability insurance, pass mandatory drug screen Further inquiry: jgee@hchcs.com We are seeking a full-time or part-time International Assistant Buyer in the 610 Loop & Richmond area, with strong organization, verbal, and written communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. The position is good for Supply Chain majors, please send resumes to gekko@gekko-inc.com
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crossword
Must be Something in the Water by Brandon Alexander
Robbie + Bobby name by Jason Poland
sudoku How to play
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Previous puzzle solved
ACROSS 1 Air France hub 5 Totally dark 10 Tamper with dice 14 Wing tip 15 Female relative 16 Lazing about 17 Let fly 18 Polar bear perches 19 Brunch or lunch 20 Feminist Bloomer 22 Piece of cutlery 24 Magazine execs 25 Nave neighbor 26 Obsolete 30 Thumbs through 35 Mao - -tung 36 Help-wanted abbr. 37 Borden bovine 38 Calcifies 41 Visible part of the ear 43 Heron 44 Prince Valiant’s son 45 Class 46 Contact 47 Fine points 50 Decides 53 Baton Rouge campus 54 Gander (hyph.) 58 Go up against 62 Nashville landmark 63 Bulrushes 66 Anon’s companion 67 German industrial region 68 Chopin opus 69 Ding-a- (airhead) 70 Raines or Fitzgerald 71 Make coleslaw 72 Chances DOWN 1 Labor Dept. div. 2 Baba au 3 Old wives’ tales 4 Bellowed 5 Detach 6 Less than one
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Tolstoy’s name Freeze over (2 wds.) Pop quizzes Sketch Works by Keats Asian range Hollow Ms. Lupino Conger catcher Stock ending Significant Meter reading - incognita Aurora, to Plato Yale athlete Character code Yves’ daughter Tries to find Yr. ender Social mores Jackie’s second Open Ques. response Mind reader’s
49 51 52 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 64 65
gift Mississippi town Dijon daddies Some canines Misplace Silica mineral Not written Actress Sedgwick Livy contemporary Cell-phone button Joule fractions KLM destination JFK preceder
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Previous puzzle solved
8
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
OPINION
The Daily Cougar
IN FOCUS: US DEBT
BROOKS
FARHI may have looked down upon her, but she would have saved herself time, saved her parents money, and may have found her calling faster while working and helping support herself. A student’s major is the determining factor for career options. It would only make sense, then, for a student to enter a four-year institution knowing what field he or she wants to work in. It might be a better idea to take two years off and hold a few diverse jobs instead of enrolling just for Mom and Dad. Many students enroll at 18 (or earlier), having worked only at Hollister or Target, and have never thought about building a career. In that case, college becomes an expensive continuation of high school; the student might change majors multiple times, or take extraneous classes for lack of advising, and graduate in five or six years with more debt but nothing more to show for it.
House passes debt bill; It won’t become law
continued from page 4
continued from page 4
College is worth the price for some people and not worth it for others. A step toward improving our higher education system could be improving how people make decisions and set realistic goals. Parents should engage in a dialogue with high school students, not tell them “you must go” or “you can’t go.” A mandatory personal finances class during high school would also help young people make better decisions, avoid loan traps and manage their finances efficiently. So would stressing the importance of college and career counselors, and reducing the stigma on public and community colleges. A Lexus might look shiny on the way to work, but a Corolla can get you to the same place and use less fuel.
privately. In fact, only 1 percent of artistic support in the US each year is provided by the NEA. The private sector supports art and art patronage for the wealthy; the NEA provides programs to beautify dilapidated areas and provide arts programs to children and underserved communities who otherwise would have little or no exposure to the arts at all. The arts are a vital part of all our lives. The NEA creates jobs, funds projects like our own Third Ward Initiative, supports youth education programs and promotes arts projects for underserved populations. And, the NEA has provided funding for public projects such as the iconic Vietnam Memorial. The arts are invaluable to our culture and should not be the victim of federal budget cuts.
Rachel Farhi is an English literature and political science senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.
Emily Brooks is an economics senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
You deserve a factual look at . . .
Are the Palestinians Ready for Peace? Why Arab intransigence makes peace most unlikely. Just as all the presidents since Harry Truman before him, President Obama is spending much time, effort, and political capital trying to bring about peace between Israel and the so-called Palestinians. If history is any guide, he will be as unsuccessful in this endeavor, just as every one of his predecessors.
What are the facts?
a word was heard about forming a Palestinian state in the area. After the 1967 Six-Day War, in which the Many attempts at peace. In order to understand Israelis trounced the combined armies of Egypt, the unlikelihood of peace in the Middle East, it is Syria, and Jordan, Jordan's occupation of the “West necessary to trace the history of peace-making Bank” ended and so did Egypt's occupation of Gaza. attempts between Israel and the Palestinians. At that time, Israel offered the hand of friendship to Virtually all of them resulted in complete failure. the Arabs, which was rudely rejected when the Arabs Here is a list of only the most important of such issued the Three No's of Khartoum: No Peace, No events. Negotiation, and No The enmity of the Arabs of Israel. against the Jews in their “If the Arabs had accepted the 1947 Recognition Another important midst and the violence partition plan and had not invaded opportunity that would have against them predates the radically changed the history the nascent Jewish state ...they creation of the Jewish state. There were some peace could be celebrating their country’s of the Middle East was missed. proposals during the British 63rd anniversary of peace...” Never-ending efforts at Mandate (prior to 1948), but peace. In 1993 and 1995 they were in vain and deserve Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords with the little mention in this narrative. Notable was the Peel aim of creating a Palestinian state within five years. Commission proposal in 1937, in which the creation Israel agreed to withdraw from parts of the West of an Arab state was suggested, but the Arabs rejected Bank and Gaza. Israel turned over most of its it. administration of the territories to the Palestinian The most important proposal in the history of Authority (PA). But, the Palestinians violated their peace making was the 1947 U.N. Resolution to create commitments, thus scuttling the agreement. a large Arab state with the Jews receiving two In 2000, Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered to disjointed pieces, consisting mostly of much of the withdraw from 97% of the West Bank and 100% of coastline and the Negev Desert. Jerusalem was to be Gaza. That proposal also guaranteed Palestinian internationalized. The Jews accepted the plan. The refugees the right to return to the Palestinian state Arabs totally rejected it. Instead, they invaded the and offered reparations from $30 billion of nascent Jewish state with the armies of five Arab international funds that would be collected to nations, in hopes to “drive the Jews into the sea” (one compensate them. Arafat rejected the deal. of their favorite imageries). Of course, that isn't the In 2003, Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon way it turned out. Instead, about 650,000 Arabs fled agreed to negotiate with the Palestinians according the area, mostly under the goading of their leaders. to the “road map” formulated by the United States, Remarkably, their descendants, even today, are called Russia, the European Union, and the U.N. The “refugees,” supported by the United Nations, which Palestinians never fulfilled their obligation to means mostly by the United States. normalized relations with Israel and to arrive at a Every year for the last 60+ years, the Arabs comprehensive peace. Another missed opportunity! memorialize the “Nakba” (catastrophe) of the In 2005, Israel unilaterally decided to evacuate creation of the State of Israel. But, of course, without every soldier and citizen from Gaza. The “reward” for the war that they imposed on Israel, there would be Israel's evacuation was for the Palestinians to launch no “Nakba.” Just as Israel, the Arabs would now be rockets into Israel from Gaza at an almost daily rate. able to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of their There were further attempts in 2007 by Prime Palestinian state. Minister Ehud Olmert and in 2010 by Prime Minister From 1948 to 1967, Jordan occupied the “West “Bibi” Netanyahu, but all have ended in failure. Bank.” During the nineteen years of their tenure, not The above chronology is only a partial one, giving only the most important highlights. There have been negotiations, conferences, plans, and meetings almost uninterruptedly. All of them have foundered. The “allor-nothing” mentality of the Arabs, their unwillingness to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and the Arabs' expressed desire to destroy the hated Jews, have kept peace from flowering. What a shame! If the Arabs had accepted the 1947 partition plan and had not invaded the nascent Jewish state with the armies of five Arab countries, they would not now have the need today to commemorate their “Nakba.” They could be celebrating their country’s 63rd anniversary, their enduring peace with Israel, and could be part of the tremendous prosperity that Israel has brought to that region of the world. This message has been published and paid for by
Facts and Logic About the Middle East P.O. Box 590359 ! San Francisco, CA 94159
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Ceiling collapse T
he US House of Representatives passed what has been called the “Cut, Cap and Balance” bill yesterday evening. The Tea Party catering bill allows the federal government to increase the US borrowing cap by David $2.4 trillion, but Haydon only after Congress sends a balanced budget amendment to the states and makes immediate spending cuts. Will this bill become law? Long story short — it will not. Republicans with their dogma of “no more taxes” are keeping their Tea Party supporters satisfied by refusing to cooperate in any manner whatsoever. The Democrats are not far behind, but this is not a game of rock paper scissors. The two sides cannot simply blame the other while in front of the camera, bicker in the House and the Senate and somehow expect someone to crumple and fold. How the public is not outraged is a mystery. The nation is on the brink of bankruptcy, and a handful of bureaucrats are pretending to be idealistic at the risk of throwing the nation into disarray. The debt ceiling is no longer a debate; it is a game of chicken. If there is no compromise, then the US defaults. Neither party wants this to occur, but coming to a compromise is apparently an even worse scenario. Raising the debt ceiling with no strings attached is out of the question for Republicans, as is raising taxes. Democrats refuse to cut spending to government programs. However, it is not as though these things never happen.
The US debt ceiling increases constantly, most recently in February 2010. But people would not suspect that with the recent attention to the issue. Those who informed themselves with five-second sound bites likely assume that this is an unprecedented event and that the best course of action is to not raise the legal limit of borrowing power. However, the only unprecedented action would be the defaulting of America’s debt, which can and will occur unless the debt ceiling is raised. The default can be alternatively avoided by cutting funding to government programs or by raising taxes, neither of which is preferable. What most people might be asking is, how did we get here? Simply put, countries borrow money from one another all the time, accumulating debt and eventually paying it back. Presidents and their term may catch the flak, but you can justify it only so far. True, the Bush administration increased the debt by over $4 trillion thanks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Obama stimulus package and overall effect of the recession did little to keep the national debt from increasing another $4 trillion dollars. However, it is up to the members of the legislative branch to come up with a solution, and blaming the current or former executive branch is not going to solve the problem. Where are cuts really needed? Both in defense (war) programs, and social services. Two areas that the Republicans and Democrats respectively do not want to touch. David Haydon is a political science senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
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