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Issue 24, Volume 77
HONORS COLLEGE
Speaker tells crowd to shoot for the stars Astronaut’s lecture describes how position earned at NASA was attained through perseverance Love Patel
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Astronaut Bernard A. Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from UH in 1978. | Paul Crespo/The Daily Cougar
The first African-American to walk in space said that only through unwavering persistence was he able to accomplish his goal of becoming an astronaut in his “Infinite Possibilities” lecture Thursday at the M.D. Anderson Library. Bernard A. Harris Jr., a UH alumnus, spoke to approximately 150 students, faculty and guests about his career as an astronaut and the years that followed in promotion of his book “Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration,” in the
LAW CENTER
event hosted by the Honors College. “It’s not just a straight path to outer space, there are a lot of peaks and valleys... a lot of challenges,” Harris said. “It doesn’t matter how you persevere through those challenges, but how you use them as stepping stones to reach higher.” Harris was rejected after applying to the astronaut corps in 1987. “I could’ve stopped there, but I figured out this is what I really wanted,” he said. Three years later he was one of 23 people to be selected out of the 6,000 that applied to join NASA’s 13th class of astronauts. After two missions and 18 days in space, Harris decided to take on a new mission. He stressed the importance of investing in young people and making sure they are educated in math and science. He established the Harris Foundation in 1998,
a non-profit organization that supports math and science education and crime prevention programs for America’s youth. Exxon Mobil Corp. sponsors the Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp held across 25 colleges and universities including UH. The camp is free and provides an opportunity for middle school students to boost their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “I tell my story to them because I want to show them and teach them and demonstrate to them that it doesn’t matter how you start life; it doesn’t matter what adversities or challenges that you deal with, it is how you deal with them and how you use them as stepping stones, as hurdles to reach higher and higher,” Harris said. ASTRONAUT continues on page 2
CAMPUS
Meeting focuses on consumer law rights Deisy Enriquez
THE DAILY COUGAR The People’s Law School, hosted by the UH Center for Consumer Law, held one of its biannual sessions on Saturday, drawing in over 500 people eager to learn about different laws regarding everything from bankruptcy to health insurance to immigration. Associate Dean of the Law Center Richard Alderman started The People’s Law School over 25 years ago to educate people about the laws and their rights. Since then, over 50,000 people have attended the classes. “I didn’t think that law was just for lawyers,” said Alderman. “I thought it was really important that people be able to help themselves.” Alderman, who began teaching consumer law at UH in 1973, realized that many people had misconceptions about the law, and as a result were either being taken advantage of, or assuming they were entitled to something when they really weren’t. In order to clear up common misunderstandings of the law and reach out to the public, Alderman started a newspaper column called “Know Your Rights” in 1979, which is the same name he has continued
to use for books and television appearances since. “This is something that once you know your rights, from that point on you can protect yourself,” Alderman said. “Whether it’s dealing with a bank, a landlord, car dealer, or even neighbors — if you don’t know your rights, you screw up.” There are fourteen available classes, free to anyone who registers online, that are taught by lawyers, judges, and law professors who volunteer for the event. Representatives from the Houston Bar Association and Texas Consumer Complaint Center were also available to provide information and answer questions for attendants. “To be honest, it’s all about money. This is not an academic endeavor,” Alderman said. “This is all about making sure that when you are in the marketplace ... you get what you’re entitled to.” Since the recession in 2008, interest in financial classes such as credit and debt collection, bankruptcy, and employment has increased because people have lost jobs and taken on large amounts of debt that they were unable to pay. People from all classes and socioeconomic levels are facing the same struggles. LAW continues on page 2
Students surrounded and cheered for contestants as they stuffed their faces during the tamale eating contest. The event also featured a mariachi band, a buffet of traditional Latin cuisine and a piñata. | Johnny Peña/The Daily Cougar
Cougars celebrate Hispanic heritage Julian Jimenez
THE DAILY COUGAR Students crowded the UC Arbor for food, music and games Thursday as part of the 4th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The event was created as a joint effort between the fraternity Lambda Theta Phi and the sorority Lambda Theta Alpha, with additional funding provided by the Activities Funding Board. Abigail Guevara, a communications junior and the president of Lambda Theta Alpha, said that the
celebration was an important way to promote Latin cultural awareness. “(It’s) a way of empowering not only Latinos but everyone in the community,” Guevara said. “Our event focuses on our heritage so we understand more about our traditions, and as Latinos we can be proud to know that there’s so much rich history for us to learn about.” Ezekiel Escareno, a construction management senior, helped organize the event as a member of Lambda Theta Phi. He explained the efforts of everyone involved was a result of a passion for their culture.
“We all got together to show diversity,” Escareno said. “This is our way to celebrate Hispanic heritage.” Construction management junior Santos Tovar serves as president of Lambda Theta Phi. He said the celebration is one of the largest annual events for the two organizations, and that it teaches visitors a great deal about his heritage. “We’re celebrating Hispanic culture and the Latino background that describes where they come from,” Tovar said. “We have tons of cultural HERITAGE continues on page 2