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October 19, 2011 Issue 34, Volume 77
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
SGA alters UH non-discrimination text Rewording of statement protects freedom of “gender identity and expression” Joshua Mann
THE DAILY COUGAR The Student Government Association passed a bill Wednesday asking the Board of Regents to change the text in the UH nondiscrimination statement to include people of all “gender identity and expression.” More than 30 students appeared at the meeting to show their support for the bill, and several spoke in front of the student senate. “This resolution, before anything else, is
about protecting students,” said James Lee, a political science student. “We have an obligation to protect our fellow students, and transgender students are here for the same reason we all are: to learn and become successful, productive individuals in society.” Brett Kennedy, a biomedical engineering freshman, pointed out that while UH is considered one of the most diverse campuses, it is behind the curve when it comes to protecting transgender students. “If you look at the University of Texas in Austin and Texas A&M, they both have gender expression non-discrimination acts in their student discrimination policy,” Kennedy said. “We are failing in supporting our LGBT community.” Senators expressed their gratitude to the
many students who stayed for more than an hour after the student speeches to see the results of the vote. “As you can see from the number of students still sitting here, this is an issue that is important to our students,” College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Senator Lee Arnold said. “It’s important that we protect the students who need it ... This piece of legislation will do that. The students in the back of this room are the priority, let’s make them be that priority and make sure their voices are heard.” A similar resolution was passed by the senate in 2008, but changes to the nondiscrimination policy never happened. “Yes, we have passed this before and
Students compete in ad campaign for US health
Students to strut their stuff for chance to win Spirit Cup
As part of the homecoming festivities, students will compete in dance numbers, video production, skits, music acts and step shows at 7 p.m. today in the University Center Houston Room. All Strut Your Stuff shows must pertain to the homecoming theme, 1927 Red #HC11, and show school spirit. Participants can partner with other organizations, represent their own organization or have a solo performance in the show. Groups can post a short commercial on Facebook or YouTube for extra points towards their overall score. The winner of Strut Your Stuff will get 100 points towards their final score for the Spirit Cup, the grand prize for the homecoming celebrations, which will be awarded at the end of the week. — Jessica Kirkland
Edgar Veliz
THE DAILY COUGAR
TECHNOLOGY
The College of Technology celebrates its 70th birthday and invites all of the UH community to its open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday. The event will have displays by technology student organizations and capstone projects, tours of the buildings and labs, viewing of the new Pacesetters Wall of Honor and refreshments. To RSVP, call 713-743-8166 or for more information contact emgreen2@uh.edu. — Karishma Sakrouja
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ORGANIZATIONS
HOMECOMING
College to host 70th birthday open house
unfortunately things back then were a lot different from how they are now,” said Michael McHugh, the bill’s author and a former SGA senator. “But we are now taking this to the Board of Regents, something we have never done before. We need SGA behind us on this issue.” For some SGA members, progress will be measured by tangible results. “Even though it was a verbal promise, we were promised that all students would be protected from bullying, harassment and discrimination,” said SGA Graduate Senator-at-large Melanie Pang. “But on that same token, it’s time we said, ‘Show it to me in writing.’”
Cougars learn traditions
S
tudents gathered Tuesday at Lynn Eusan Park to celebrate “Go Coogs Day,” an event hosted by the Student Alumni Connection and Homecoming Board aimed at teaching the UH community about its traditions. Visitors were treated to live music and spirit-building activities. | Yulia Kutsenkova/The Daily Cougar »Video: Coverage online at thedailycougar.com/tags/gocoogs
UH was selected as one of four schools to compete in an advertising campaign project for the United States Public Health Service. The University was chosen for the competition from a pool of 50 schools and will run against the University of California Los Angeles, New York University and the University of Pittsburgh. “I’m excited,” Account Director Kimberly Guel said. “There wasn’t that much advertisement for USPHS, and it is giving us an opportunity to do much more. We also have much more to work with. We were paving a new way for recruitment and advertisement for USHPS.” Instructional Professor Larry Kelley is leading the students and said he looks forward to challenging them. “The beauty of this particular curriculum is that every application process is real,” Kelley said. “They have a real client and real money to spend. They do real work, and it will be out in the market place.” The campaign is currently in the briefing stage. The team presented its plan to its client Tuesday and will have to wait for approval to implement it. “We’re focused and treating this as a real job,” Media and Public Relations Director Joseph Jass said. “Everyone at Cougar Concepts takes
this seriously. We don’t think of this as a class — but as a job. We are getting paid to do this and execute this. So we want to do the best job possible. We are jumping in. We aren’t just tapping our toes in the water. We’re soaked.” Participating students said they are working to surpass the set of challenges and expectations Kelley has set for them. “He (Kelley’s) has asked for our commitment, and he made it clear that we are not just representing ourselves; we are representing the communications school and the University of Houston,” Guel said. “Our name is on it so it needs to be the best product we can produce. ” The students involved will benefit from the experience and will also have a good addition to their resumes. “In the end we will produce a plans book and we will be able to use this when we are looking for other jobs or internships,” Account Director Wenkin Siu said. “We will be able to say we did this and I did this.” The competition will be graded based on results and creativity, and will conclude with a video chronicling every step of the competition. “I’m going to go back and look at where I can improve,” Jass said. “Whether it be timeline or execution and use this as another step to starting a prosperous career.” news@thedailycougar.com