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
THE DAILY COUGAR
®
GET SOME DAILY
thedailycougar.com
95 LO 74 Monday HI
Johnson latest weapon to benefit from explosive Cougar offense
September 26, 2011
Hostel living comes to Houston
Issue 20, Volume 77
UNIVERSITY
UH to foster strong city partnership Councilwoman Noriega advocates
more community involvement at campus faculty senate meeting Jennifer Postel
THE DAILY COUGAR Houston Councilwoman At-Large Melissa Noriega emphasized the importance of universities and their role in improving the community at the UH faculty senate meeting last Wednesday. Noriega — a graduate of UH and representative of Houston’s East End — spoke
to the faculty senators at the most recent fall assembly and stressed the importance of a partnership between Houston and the University. “Today I would like to talk to you about universities and how they are made up of innovators and idea folks, faculty members like yourselves and how they can work with municipal governments, cities, like me, and how they can work together to make our world of great urban areas better places to live,” Noriega said to the faculty senators. Councilwoman Noriega addressed the economic impact and long-term contributions local universities can have on a city.
She described the successful partnerships between other cities and schools such as Arizona State University — which recently moved 12 colleges to downtown Phoenix as part of revitalization efforts — and Morgan State University and Baltimore which have begun to provide assistance to the Morgan MILE, a program that aims to support minority males in achieving academic success. “These sorts of involvements require leadership and institutional commitment,” Noriega said. “They go beyond the projects based on the energetic expertise of individual faculty
members and far beyond the day-to-day problems like zoning, parking, excessive drinking or noise.” Local universities are economic institutions that, according to Noriega, play a role in community, economic and real estate development as well as employment. Their importance suggests that all parties involved should search their strengths to contribute to the need of a greater community involvement. The next step in improving this important partnership between UH and the city NORIEGA continues on page 3
CAMPUS
CITY
UH theatre kicks off season with award-winning play
Book challenges capital punishment sentences
UH’s School of Theatre and Dance will be opening its 2011-2012 season this week with Lanford Wilson’s 1973 award-winning dark comedy “The Hot l Baltimore.” The play — which focuses on The Hotel Baltimore, its pending demolition and its residents — takes place during one of America’s most transitional and dramatic times. Opening night will take place this Friday at 8 p.m. in the Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre. Tickets are $20, $15 for UH faculty and staff and $10 for students. To purchase tickets call 713-743-2929. This play contains brief nudity and is intended for mature audiences. — Jennifer Postel
Panel discussion describes release of innocent death row inmate after 14 years Edgar Veliz
THE DAILY COUGAR
EVENT
Former NASA astronaut visits UH for book signing, lecture Former Astronaut and UH alumnus Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., will hold a lecture and book signing this Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion in the M.D. Anderson Library. Dr. Harris, a NASA researcher who has completed two shuttle missions, will be speaking about his new book “Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration,” which tells of his remarkable life from physician to astronaut. Books will be available for purchase and the book signing will begin at the end of the lecture. This event is free and open to the public. Those who wish to attend must RSVP with the Office of Special Events at 713-743-8962. — Jennifer Postel
Cougars scare off Panthers
F
ollowing his touchdown in the third quarter, running back Charles Sims was greeted by center Chris Thompson for a celebratory lift in the end zone. It was one of eight scores for the Cougars in what was easily the most comfortable win so far this season. UH recorded its first shutout since 1999, defeating the Georgia State Panthers 56-0 Saturday at Robertson Stadium. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
As a response to the debate on capital punishment in US politics, former Mexican Consul General of Houston Ricardo Ampudia advocated for the eradication of the procedure in his latest book, “Black, Brown and Invisible: Minorities on Death Row,” at a panel discussion last Thursday at the University of St. Thomas. Ampudia’s opening statement revolved around the case of Ricardo Aldape, who spent 14 years on death row for the death of a Houston police officer. According to Scott Atlas, a panelist and former member of the Vinson & Elkins firm, Aldape was the first Mexican national released from death row. “Aldape was innocent,” Ampudia said. “He was a victim of irrationality, xenophobia and a legal system that wanted to find a scapegoat.” Four months after Aldape was released from the Texas prison system he returned to Mexico, where he died in a car accident on his way home. Ampudia remembers when he heard the news and afterwards devoted four years to writing this book. “Ricardo Aldape’s case was a part of my life,” Ampudia said. “As part
of my consulate duties I had to pick up the case and interview him more than 15 times, examine the facts and plan a strategy. All of this made me have a very close relationship with him. My duty was to support and defend my fellow citizen.” At the time, the death penalty was still practiced in Mexico, so Ampudia was no stranger to the concept. Yet, as a government official this proved to be one of his most daunting tasks. “My work was to protect and advise Mexican nationals who have different kinds of problems in this country,” Ampudia said. “Dealing with the topic of death penalty was a daunting task. I remember the look in the eyes of my Mexican compatriots as they were about to lose their lives at the hands of our northern neighbors.” During his tenure as the Mexican consul general, Ampudia had nine cases of Mexican nationals on death row. Aldape’s case was unique to Ampudia, who described how he handled the case. “I examined this phenomenon from a different position,” Ampudia said. “I tried to make him feel through my words and my actions that he was not alone in a strange land and that his own nation did not abandon him.” This case was compared to the case of Anthony Graves, who was also released from death row. Nicole Casarez, a panelist and professor at the University of St. Thomas, shared DEATH ROW continues on page 3