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Cougars burn through Blazers 5613 in Birmingham showdown SEMINAR
Astronaut to discuss future of NASA The College of Natural Science and Mathematics is hosting a lecture titled, “Living and Working in Space” at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the Science and Engineering Classroom Building room 100. Shannon Walker, the first native Houstonian astronaut, will discuss preparing and living on the space station, her five month mission doing scientific research aboard the International Space Station and the future of NASA. She will also present the college a poster flown in space paying tribute to her father, who was the founding dean of the college and a professor of physics. For more information, please contact Kathy Major at 713-743-4023 or at ksmajor@uh.edu. — Saniya Maya
EXHIBIT
Mars rover exhibition receives grant to help inspire students The Mars Rover Model Celebration and Exhibition was given a $414,000 grant from the NASA Education and Public Outreach in Earth and Space Science Program. The program gives elementary and middle school students a chance to build model rovers to perform different tasks on Mars. Edgar Bering, a UH physics professor and coordinator of the event, says that the exhibition allows for science education to reach students outside of classroom and textbook mediums. The competition is also expected to spark a new generation of aspiring scientists and engineers. For more information, visit http://www.marsrover.com. — Bryan Dupont-Gray
MOORES
University hosts choral invitational High school choirs are participating in the 21st annual Choral Invitational at 7 p.m. at the Moores School of Music Concert Hall. The choirs will individually perform three or more pieces, and the concert will also feature the Moores School Concert Choral. Participating choirs include Pearland High School, Klein High School, Cypress Creek High School and North Shore High School. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. — Karishma Sakrouja
November 7, 2011
Quilt festival travels through Houston
Issue 44, Volume 77
ADMINISTRATION
Student Affairs reorganized VPSA Walker calls for shift in office staff positions to reach Tier One Taylor McGilvray
THE DAILY COUGAR Vice Chancellor/Vice President for Student Affairs J. Richard Walker announced the reorganization of the Division of Student Affairs in an email to all full-time employees of the division after business hours on Friday. “As we work together to create a Tier One Division of Student Affairs, it is important the organizational structure of the division be appropriately aligned to provide outstanding programs
and services to encourage student engagement and learning in support of student success,” Walker said. “As a result, we have made some changes in our divisional leadership structure and realigned units/departments and functional areas of responsibility.” Among the changes is the creation of an associate vice chancellor/associate vice president for student affairs position that would oversee multiple programs including the University Career Services, Student Success Initiatives and Strategic Planning. The position has not yet been filled. The new organization will also add an assistant vice president for student affairs — health and wellness position, that will oversee the Counseling and Psychological Services, the UH
Health Center, Campus Recreation and UH Wellness. The assistant vice president for student affairs — student life position, which was formerly assistant vice president for student development will report directly to Walker. This position previously reported to associate vice chancellor/associate vice president for student development. Student media will also be moved under this position. Other changes include a reorganization of responsibilities and title changes. When contacted Sunday afternoon, Walker was unavailable to comment. news@thedailycougar.com
ORGANIZATIONS
Cougars celebrate festival of lights UH’s second annual Diwali helps usher in a new year Pedro Pinto
THE DAILY COUGAR The Hindu Students Association celebrated its second Diwali festival with traditional Indian food, clothing and decorations on Friday at the World Affairs Lounge in the University Center Underground. “It’s a festival of lights, celebrated in India and throughout the world by Hindu populations,” said Kevin Mezquita, a business and premedicine sophomore and secretary of HSA. “A gathering of family and friends celebrating the new year in the Indian calendar.” Diwali, which translates to row of lamps, is a five day celebration marking Lord Rama’s defeat of Ravana, a Sri Lankan demon king, and Lord Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, the demon king of ignorance. “We wanted to bring the cultural experience of India to college students,” said Supriya Aggarwal, an accounting honors junior and president of HSA. “It’s a celebration of conquering evil.” DIWALI continues on page 8
Senior quarterback Case Keenum became the NCAA all-time leading passer Saturday, connecting on a 26-yard pass to Justin Johnson to break the record. Keenum passed for two touchdowns and ran in two more. | Picture courtesy of UH Athletics
FOOTBALL
Keenum makes history in UH victory QB takes NCAA all-time passing mark; Cougars dominate UAB after half Through two quarters, UAB did not resemble a one-win team. But the Cougars could only be contained John for so long. Brannen The Cougars won 56-13, but the Blazers gave all they had. UAB took the lead in the first quarter, but was down 21-10 at halftime. In the words of Blazers head coach Neil Callaway, things eventually got out of hand and UH (9-0, 5-0 Conference USA)
finished the game with five unanswered touchdowns. Quarterback Case Keenum threw five incomplete passes, completed 39 and finished with 407 passing yards and four scores — two rushing and two throwing. For the third straight week he broke an NCAA record, passing Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang as the all-time leader in passing yards. It was nine games in the making, but Keenum won’t have to answer any more questions about the prospect of breaking individual records. COUGARS continues on page 5
An all-time great Case Keenum passed former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang for the most all-time passing yards in the NCAA. It the third major alltime record Keenum ! ! Case Keenum has broken this season. ! ! All-time passing yards: 17,212, broken Saturday v. UAB ! ! All-time touchdown passes: 141, broken Oct. 27 v. Rice ! ! All-time total offense: 18,101, broken Oct. 22 v. Marshall