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Issue 51, Volume 77
Cougars carve across campus
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture will be hosting its 3rd annual UH Green Building Expo from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the architecture building. The expo will be presenting the work of various teams and their projects dedicated toward the green initiatives and maintaining technological components that help rather than harm the environment. The inventions presented at the event have the potential to be sold on the market. This event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event or about UH Green Building Components, visit www.UHGBC. org. — Bryan Dupont-Gray
Skateboarding grows in popularity among students Lindsey Falcon, Imelda Vera and Deisy Enriquez
THE DAILY COUGAR
JOB HUNT
ISSSO to help international students find employment Jonathan Tran does a kickflip in front of the E. Cullen building. | Paul Crespo/The Daily Cougar
While some students struggle to make it to their next class amid the chaos of slow-walking groups, a few Cougars have found a more efficient solution — skateboarding. According to some skateboarding commuters, the form of transportation is popular at UH because students can take their skateboards everywhere, and skating is easier than having a bike that needs to be secured to racks before heading into class or to hang out with friends. “It’s easier to transport than a bike,� mechanical engineering
HONORS COLLEGE
Speaker tackles ‘Islamophobia’ Zahra Ahmed
THE DAILY COUGAR The UH Center for Immigration Research, in conjunction with the Department of Sociology, hosted a talk on Tuesday in the Honors College Common Room at the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library featuring Dr. Chantal Saint-Blancat, associate professor of sociology
Theatre and dance school to take Scrooge to court The UH School of Theatre and Dance will be kicking off the Christmas season with “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge�, a satirical spinoff of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.� The play will be held at the Jose Quintero Theatre. It will be showing at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 and Dec 2, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 20 and Dec. 3. Prices range from $20 for general admission to $15 for UH faculty and $10 for seniors citizens and students. For more information visit www. theatredance.uh.edu. — Bryan Dupont-Gray
November 17, 2011
TRANSPORTATION
College of Architecture hosts annual Green Building Expo
THEATRE
69 LO 46 Thursday HI
GERALD D. HINES
As part of the International Education Week, the International Student and Scholar Services Office will host an employment seminar from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday at Melcher Hall, Room 180. Directors and counselors from various student services offices will discuss employment options, the job hunt and practical training. Counselors from ISSSO will be available to specifically cater to the needs of international students. The seminar will also allow a question and answer portion. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact ISSSO at 713743-5065. — Zahra Ahmed
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Chantal Saint-Blancat studied different cultural communities in Europe for more than 20 years. | Yulia Kutsenkova/The Daily Cougar
at the University of Padua in Italy. Saint-Blancat said that there has been a growth of Muslim communities in Europe, which has a population of 16.7 million people. Muslims make up about 6.5 percent of Italy’s national population. This expansion, however, is not always welcome. She said because of previous terrorist attacks, a sense of “Islamophobia� is growing in the European society.� “Muslims are expected to organize in the community, but Italians prefer them when they are invisible,� Saint-Blancat said. “They are often seen as a threat to democracy. “Muslims in the European Public Space: The Italian Case� focused on Blancat’s study of the social, cultural, and religious aspects and changes in gender identity and family structure within the Muslim community, specifically in Italy. She also focused on how Muslim immigrants develop ties at the local level and manage to carve out a place for themselves in European regions. Since the expansion of the Muslim community, more
mosques have been built on public space. Her analysis showed the importance of economic factors concerning citizenship and identity. Muslim immigrants, because of the ongoing Arab Spring, come to Europe with low socioeconomic backgrounds. But, she said, there has been a gradual emergence of a young middle-class elite. “The European Muslim is from a young, fertile population,� SaintBlancat said. “The younger Muslim population, born from immigrants, knows how to be a part of the society.� Blancat has degrees from the University of Paris and the University of Padua. She received a doctorate in sociology and social research at the University of Trento in Italy. At the University of Padua, she serves as associate professor and vice director of the doctorate program in sociology. Her work deals with national, ethnolinguistic and religious socio-cultural changes among minority groups. news@thedaiycougar.com
freshman Anthony Byrd said. “It’s way smaller, and you can bring it into class.� Byrd, who lives on campus, said even though he does walk a lot and started skateboarding for fun, there are days he relies on it for transportation. “I skateboard whenever I want to get to class fast or something,� Byrd said. “Today I was kind of late, so I had to make up for lost time.� Some students, like media relations junior Athena Armylagos, who has been skating for almost thirteen years, prefers a longboard, a skateboard variant designed for cruising that is likened to a SKATEBOARD continues on page 3
CYCLING
Student cyclists struggle Bikers, pedestrians clash on campus routes to class Nicole Carter, Karishma Sakrouja, Brian Jensen and Saniya Maya
THE DAILY COUGAR With bicycle safety and theft a constant worry for many riders, many UH students are speaking up about their experiences riding to and from class. Bicycles are a healthy and efficient way to get around UH’s huge campus. Industrial design major Aaron McEuen lives on campus and finds riding a bike to class much better than walking, even though he says pedestrians can be hostile. “I’ve almost hit a couple people who were walking and texting. I’ve BiCYCLE continues on page 3
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NEWS
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Daily Cougar
How would you feel if student fees were raised by $45 a semester to pay for the construction and maintenance of athletic facilities?
“I’m an international student and my tuition is already higher than everyone else, so no, I’m not happy that it’s going up even by a dollar. I’m in support of the school team. I’m really happy and proud of them, that the Cougars are getting new spirit and we’re enthusiastic about it. But raising tuition for that? No, I’m not for that, sorry.” Ogochukwu Nwachukwu Psychology Senior
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It will benefit all students and make us get more of a national eye on our campus. If it will help sporting and athletics, I think it will help generate more publicity for the school, and once they have more money they can fund better things. I don’t feel like $50 is much more.” Josh Olson Advertising Junior
“My tuition is not paid by me, it’s paid by the state because I’m a veteran... But in principle I’d still be against it, just because I think the cost of tuition is pretty high already, and given the current status of most people’s personal economics, it’s not a really good time to squeeze the students any more than is necessary.” John Shuler History Sophomore
“I like it. I feel like building a new stadium and just improving the grounds here... $50, I guess that can be a lot for some people, but I feel like it’s a good overall goal for the campus because I feel like that’s gonna bring in more people, it’s gonna bring in more coverage, publicity. I think it’s good.” John Clancy CIS Junior
What do you think? Let us know by commenting at thedailycougar.com. Compiled by Julian Jimenez
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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://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 Send 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.
NEWS
The Daily Cougar
Thursday, November 17, 2011
3
BICYCLE continued from page 1
even been spit on,” McEuen said. “No one here likes cyclists.” He also said students on campus would benefit from covered parking for bikes. “My baby cost me $1500; I don’t want it exposed to the elements,” McEuen said. There are many students that own vehicles but choose to ride their bikes to and from campus. UH student Joshua Jones lives in the quads and rides wherever he goes. He said that though he owns three cars, he still chooses to ride his bike to save money. Sheed Itaman, another UH student, said he lives about a mile away from campus and rides a bike, which saves him around $40 each semester on parking. Though many bike riders avoid the parking woes most drivers must deal with on a daily basis, many cyclists still have trouble getting around. According to the UH research results from Robert Browand, director of transporation
SKATEBOARD continued from page 1
surfboard on wheels. “With a bike, I feel like I would get everywhere way too fast and be like ‘now what?’ With a board, I have time to cruise around,” Armylagos said. “I just like the way it feels when you’re skating. You’re just floating almost, especially on nice days.”
Monique Saleh rides her bicycle in front of the E. Cullen building. | Paul Crespo/The Daily Cougar at UH, Houston is not a bikefriendly city, and adding more bike racks and lanes could make campus more bike friendly. On the greenUH website, a bike research proposal concerning biking on campus states that the University may soon implement centralized bike hubs, or covered storage spaces for bikes. The idea
is currently is in the proposal stage. “By offering more convenience and safety as well as a low cost, students will be encouraged to utilize their bikes to, from and around campus,” the document states.
While most students may be more at home by opting to walk to their classes, Armylagos is much more comfortable with her board. “On days when I forget my board and (am) walking to class, I think, ‘How do people do this, anyway?’ I don’t blame the people with scooters,” she said. Some students, however, are more interested in performing tricks and maneuvers than getting to class.
“At the moment, I skateboard to commute, but I want to learn stunts,” pre-pharmacy freshman Jonathan Young said. “Skateboarding is challenging for me, but it’s very fun. I like these challenges because they occupy my time, and make me feel good when I master (them). Walking takes a lot of time. I like how fast the skateboard can be used.”
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Daily Cougar
OPINION THE DAILY COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITOR LIFE
& ARTS EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR CHIEF COPY EDITOR
Jack Wehman John Brannen Taylor McGilvray, Julian Jimenez Joshua Siegel Mary Baak Daniel Renfrow Natasha Faircloth
STAFF EDITORIAL
Football greatness in sight for UH
S
aturday’s matchup between the No. 11-ranked Cougars and the SMU Mustangs is one of the highest anticipated football games in recent history.
Part of the hype is that UH will welcome ESPN and its cameras to campus for College GameDay on Friday and Saturday. It is hard to believe that a decade ago the Cougars had an 0-11 season. This inaugural GameDay visit marks how far the UH Athletics Department has come in a short time. Senior quarterback Case Keenum has led the Cougars to the top of Conference USA as well as the national rankings — and for the first time in school history, a Bowl Championship Series is a legitimate possibility. GameDay starts on Friday when ESPN starts taking live hits from campus. On Saturday at 4 a.m., Cullen Circle opens to the public, and at 6 a.m. fans will be screened for entrance into the 300-person GameDay pit. Signs are not allowed in the pit, but are encouraged everywhere else. This is what the Athletics Department has been working for since that dismal season in 2001. The Cougars have gone from the bottom of the barrel to a top 10 powerhouse, and now the University is deservingly receiving national attention. It is imperative that every student at GameDay showcases exactly what UH is made of. Wear red and be loud, but do not forget how hard it has been to get here. Fans have to show sportsmanship — you can still be a classy fan while representing Cougar Nation. Keep that in mind at the game, too; SMU needs to be shown what it means to play at Robertson Stadium against a great team, but being rude is not part of that. Let Patrick Edwards and Sammy Brown make SMU look like fools — it is not a fan’s job to be offensive. If the Cougars continue on this streak of success, the BCS will be the icing on the best season in program history. But that won’t be possible if UH doesn’t handle SMU on Saturday. The ride could get even more exciting, but no opponent can be overlooked.
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.
EDITOR Daniel Renfrow E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/opinion
SeeingRED
L
ast Friday I was walking around campus showing a close friend of mine this great place we call the University of Houston. What better day to give a friend a tour, what with it being Cougar Red Friday and the day after our 73-17 rout of Tulane. On that lazy Friday afternoon, however, I began to notice an annoying little trend that instantly made me ashamed, not for myself or my friend, but for my school. James Burnt orange. Wang Maroon. Purple and gold. It became difficult for me to describe UH when right next to Cougar Village a group of students were playing football while half of them wore the wrong college’s colors. It was hard to show off that famous Cougar Pride when, in a stroke of absolutely terrible timing, there were more people on campus wearing the colors of other universities. It reminded me of College Pride Day back during homecoming week in high school where you would wear the gear of whatever university you were so hopeful in getting into. The biggest difference between then and now, and to me the greatest problem, is that while you were not specifically associated with any college back in high school, by attending the University of Houston, you are in fact not a Longhorn, Aggie, Red Raider or Tiger. You are a Cougar, and by wearing another university’s apparel you are not only saying that this school is not worth
wearing the appropriate color for on the appropriate day, you are saying that UH itself isn’t nearly as important as these other schools. Let’s get a few things straight first. As much as it pains me to say it, I will begrudgingly acknowledge that UT, A&M, Tech and LSU are all-in-all fine universities and I have several friends attending each. This is not to stake a case that UH is superior in any way to these universities; it is to establish that this blatant disregard for the University itself makes UH look inferior to anyone looking at our university. What kind of Tier One institution is worth being proud of if we have to constantly remind and berate our peers to come to games, cheer on our teams, and yes, wear red on a Cougar Red Friday? I understand there are logistical issues: lack of time to attend games, lack of money to spend on red clothing (although coming to any number of the free student events throughout the year will have to net you at least one red T-shirt), and of course laundry. There’s absolutely nothing I can say that could force anyone to wear red. That would be insane and defeat the purpose of pride. Pride empowers the student body to support their campus and theirs alone. As a Tier One institution, UH has plenty to be proud of. We’re just as good as A&M and UT now, so why is it that our students can’t be a bit more like those universities when it comes to showing school pride? I’ve never heard of any self-respecting Aggie wearing a UT shirt on campus and likewise never heard of any proud Longhorn throwing on an Aggie
What kind of Tier One institution is worth being proud of if we have to constantly remind and berate our peers to come to games, cheer on our teams, and yes, wear red on a Cougar Red Friday? jacket before heading off to class. By attending the University of Houston, you are voluntarily entering a campus that is not UT, A&M, Texas Tech, LSU, or anything other than UH. You acknowledge that you are in one way or another, and for better or worse, a part of the Houston Cougar community. Unless you had your heart absolutely set on some other college that you couldn’t get into and had stocked up solely on their gear before you got the bad news — to which I offer the go-to break-up consolation phrase, “You were too good for them anyway” — there shouldn’t be any reason that you absolutely need to wear your Texas Tech sweatpants to class on a Cougar Red Friday. Remember, it’s not Cougar Burnt Orange Friday. It’s not Cougar Maroon Friday. It’s Cougar Red Friday, and if you decide not to wear red, don’t insult your campus by wearing the colors of another university. So on Friday’s, always remember that the preferred color will always be red. James Wang is a history freshman and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.
Houston becoming cartel playground
W
hen students think about the current conditions in Mexico, it is usually parallel to the images found in news stories: Brutal executions of “outspoken” Mexican journalists, mass graves plighting the Monterrey countryside, or countless batches of packaged narcotics acquired by U.S. border control agents. But all is well if one takes notice of spring break travel advisories, right? Jennifer Unfortunately, Pearson Houston happens to be a breeding ground for Mexican drug cartels, which have been more than successful in establishing narcotic rings within the Harris county area. Although the dangers of Mexico’s drug cartels appear to remain outside the Texas border, it is only a matter of time before innocent bystanders here in Houston get caught in the crossfire. Attempts to eradicate or weaken the supremacy of drug cartels in Mexico have been futile. Mexican journalists are reluctant to cover news stories linked to them in fear of swift execution. Thus, the lack of proper coverage from formal newscasts allows drug lords to proceed with their operations without consequence. Many local police forces in Mexico have either succumbed to the power of local crime syndicates or have been “paid off” to turn a blind eye to criminal activity. More recently, drug cartels have even tracked down and
decapitated Internet users posting coverage or criticism online that defaces their authority. According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico is now listed as the second most dangerous country for journalists. Houston has been a hub for drug and human trafficking in connection with Mexican and South American crime organizations for decades. We currently have one of the largest deposits of Los Zetas membership in the nation, a fact commonly
accepted by Houston police forces. “We’ve had drugs being produced from South and Central America and Mexico. We have had those drugs in our community,” Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia explains. “In my opinion, that crossover happened a long time ago.” To the dismay of local law enforcement, Mexican drug cartels have taken advantage PEARSON continues on page 5
DAVID DELGADO
OPINION
The Daily Cougar
Thursday, November 17, 2011
5
GOP presidential candidates have become seasonal flavors
A
s the Republican Party gears up to step into the ring and take on the President in what should be a knock-down, drag-out election, they must first select their candidate. And, who might this champion be? Who is this bastion of conservative values? Who is this titan of the right wing? Aaron Well, it’s Manuel impossible to say — it changes from month to month. From the beginning of the year until around April, Republican presidential hopefuls were reluctant to throw their names into the hat in fear of the dirt their potential opponents would sling at them. Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, was one of the first to declare his intention to run. He was considered one of the front-runners, along with Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. However, in these populist times it did not take long for the former speaker’s opponents to leak dirt to the media. It started in May
2011 with leaked information personality to the race. He does it seemed like he was going to about a revolving $250,000 charge not back down and he is always be the candidate to beat come account at Tiffany’s. Then a month on the attack, that is, if you can primary season. Then two things later, Gingrich upset the populists get him to focus. Perry’s fall from happened that have taken nearly again by taking off on a two-week grace was primarily caused by his all of the steam out of the Cain Mediterranean cruise with his wife. poor performances at the debates; campaign: the critical rejection During the trip his senior staff his recent performance in a debate of his 9-9-9 flat tax proposal and resigned en masse, and it seemed on economics is the stuff of debate his sexual harassment allegations. then that his Cain quickly The electorate has developed the candidates into campaign was went from dead in the almost seasonal flavors while giving plenty of cannon being the favorwater. ite in the race to fodder to the Democrats and the Obama Campaign.� having to share Rep. Michele Bachmann the spotlight (R-Minn.) took with Romney the reins from Gingrich in July. A legend — quite possibly the worst and another guy. Tea Party candidate, Bachmann’s gaffe since Nixon drowned in his That guy happens to be Gingstrong Christian values, fiscal own sweat. These poor debates rich — the same Gingrich whose conservatism and tough talk led have allowed yet another candicampaign was pronounced dead her to an August victory in the date in as a front-runner. Oops. at the scene months ago has seen Ames Straw Poll in Iowa over Rep. Herman Cain, former CEO of a strong push. This is due to GingRon Paul (R-TX). However, due to Godfather Pizza, started out as rich’s solid performances at recent reports of her husband’s strong another fringe candidate akin debates and the total ineptitude anti-gay rhetoric and Gov. Rick to Paul or former Utah Gov. Jon of the candidates who have taken Perry’s entrance into the race, her Huntsman. He was promoted to his spot. stay at the top was short-lived. front-runner status when he won Gingrich has risen to third in Perry became the next frontthe Presidential 5 straw poll in the most recent Gallup polls while runner around late August and Florida on Sept. 24. A charismatic Cain finds himself deadlocked has enjoyed the second-most speaker and “the business candiwith Romney. amount of time as a front-runner. date,� Cain seemed like he had a Throughout the campaign Perry brought a feisty, animated ton of momentum going forward; season Romney has remained
in the top 3 of the polls, despite his religion being called a cult and his health care reform in Massachusetts being compared to Obamacare. The electorate has developed the candidates into almost seasonal flavors while giving plenty of cannon fodder to the Democrats and the Obama Campaign. The Democrats did the same thing in the last election; however, the difference being that field had three very strong candidates in the debates, and they remained consistent until primary season, when it was whittled down to two. That is not likely to happen in the Republican race, which could have as many as six candidates with a realistic shot to gain the nomination at the start of primary season. If this keeps up, Obama may be holding up a newspaper around this time next year with the headline, “Obama beats Paul.� Aaron Manuel is a broadcast journalism senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
PEARSON continued from page 4
of street-level gangs in Houston by implementing them into local operations. As a result, it has been difficult to track down and identify drug activities rooted to Mexican cartels, most notably the Zetas cartel. The Houston area alone has almost 10,000 documented gang members, and the estimated correlations between them and the Zetas is beyond police forces. “Our street-level gang members are being exploited, manipulated, and strategically utilized to enhance the cartel operations on this end of the border, so those are obviously concerns for us,� County Sheriff Garcia says. With the immense success of advancing their networks across Texas, Mexican cartels are now profiting off of the recruitment of cheap labor, namely young adults or even children to assist in the local distribution of narcotics or other assignments. Earlier this year, Houston mourned the loss of a Sugar Landarea teen named Elisabeth Mandala, who was brutally beaten to death in Mexico on what was later discovered to be a botched trip linked to the smuggling of illegal immigrants to the US. Other reports confirm that children as young as 12 have assisted in the transportation of marijuana. Less likely to be suspected by cops, they are coined by cartels as “the expendable,� and are typically lured in through a small amount of money. It appears that despite the growing threat flourishing within our city’s border, the Houston Police Department has yet to actually address the obvious issue at hand. True, the task of eliminating or curtailing these criminal syndicates is easier said than done, but it’s best to take a jab at it before it gets worse — which it will. From brothels disguised as cafes or massage parlors, to kids hired as drug couriers, Houston is becoming a playground for Mexican cartels. Jennifer Pearson is a print journalism senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Daily Cougar
EDITOR Joshua Siegel E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports
FOOTBALL
Coming full circle It would be fitting for the Cougars to win this weekend. This season marks the tenth anniversary of the Cougars’ winless Joshua 0-11 season in Siegel 2001. Much has changed since then. The administration. The coaches. The attitude of the University. No single individual has caused the change. It has been the work of many people involved, beginning with the hiring of former Athletics Director Dave Maggard and head coach Art Briles, and furthered by current Athletics Director Mack Rhoades, Senior Associate Athletics Director Darren Dunn, head coach Kevin Sumlin and President Renu Khator among many, many others. Maggard and Briles got the ball rolling, changing the culture of an Athletics Department that was floundering. The fall of 2001 was not the brightest point on the UH campus, particularly for athletics. “It was a gloomy fall,” UH alumnus Keenan Singleton said. “We had a bad football team, a bad basketball team. The world was changing.” Singleton was a walk-on for the 2001 Cougars, but left the team before the season to focus on being the sports editor for the Daily Cougar. “Most of the campus wasn’t even aware that we were enthralled in an 0-11 season,” Singleton said. “I don’t think people even cared. It’s not like now when sellouts are the norm.” The Cougars averaged 19,457 fans for home games that season, a number inflated by strong turnouts for the season-opener against Rice and a near sellout the next week
In his first season as head coach of the Cougars, Kevin Sumlin led UH to its first bowl win since 1980 with a 34-28 win over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. Sumlin is 33-16 as head coach of the Cougars. | Briana Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar against Texas. Attendance bottomed out with UH’s last home game against UAB that only drew 11,647. There were even rumblings that many faculty members wanted to see the athletics program scrapped altogether. “Crowds were dwindling,” UH alumna Ali Brayton said. “The football program was going down the toilet. There was a lot of fear at the alumni level. “At that moment there was a lot
of thought and fear that we weren’t going to have a football program. That makes it so sweeter to have these times right now.” Brayton, who has been a seasonticket holder with her husband Pete since graduating in 1989, attended all 11 of the Cougars’ losses in 2001. “The stands were pretty empty,” Brayton said. “There was a lot of apathy about the program and we fired one coach and went from bad to worse.”
The Cougars closed that season with a devastating 35-7 loss at Georgia. “Even though they weren’t a good team, I never got the feeling that the team gave up on itself,” Singleton said. “I never got the feeling that they thought it was a winless team until that week against Georgia.” Maggard and Briles were both hired in 2002. In his first season at helm, Briles led UH to a 7-4 record and its first bowl appearance in
seven years. Between 2003-07, the Cougars went 34-28 under Briles, reaching four bowl games in his five years. Sumlin and Khator both came to the University in 2008, and Rhoades replaced Maggard before the 2009 season. Maggard and Briles began the uphill climb, but Rhoades and Sumlin gave the program that last push that it needed to get over that hill and continue toward greatness. In Sumlin’s first season in 2008, he brought UH its first bowl win since 1980. Rhoades and Sumlin have created an attitude of winning both on and off the field since coming on board. “I think it takes a lot of people being on board with the same vision,” Rhoades said. “I think what I’m most proud about is the culture of the program. I think we have a coaching staff — coach Sumlin, his assistant coaches, our administrative staff — that really focused in on the culture that we have both on and off the field.” This past academic year, the Cougars posted their highest GPA in program history. “That’s the culture that we’re trying to create throughout the entire athletics department,” he said. Rhoades has also used an aggressive and effective strategy to market the Cougars to alumni and the city of Houston. “Ten years ago, tailgating wasn’t anything like it was now,” Singleton said. “Student apathy on campus was alarming.” Dating to last season, the Cougars have sold out eight of their last 12 games at Robertson Stadium. FOOTBALL continues on page 7
FOOTBALL
Cougars pony up for potent SMU offense John Brannen
THE DAILY COUGAR Regardless of how complicated the BCS formula is, the solution for UH is easy: One win at a time. The Cougars need to win three more games before the dreams of a big bowl game can become a reality. The SMU Mustangs (6-4, 4-2 Conference USA) are the latest obstacle standing in the way. “It’s a place all teams want to be,” senior quarterback Case Keenum said. “You don’t want to have to count on any other games, any other teams, or any other committees to decide where you want to play. As far as our mindset, it hasn’t changed a whole lot. “We can treat it like a playoff like we have every week, because college football is like a playoff
every week. It doesn’t matter what’s happened or what’s going to happen. All that matters is this week.” SMU had a strong start to the season, but back-to-back losses to Southern Miss. and Tulsa derailed the Mustangs’ hopes to win the C-USA West Division. Though the Mustangs may be out of C-USA contention, they still boast plenty of talent. Senior running back Zach Line leads the conference in rushing with 1,224 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior quarterback J.J. McDermott is the second-leading passer in C-USA behind Keenum. “Here is a team that has had some quality wins and beat TCU,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Zach Line is a heck of a player at 230 pounds and has rushed for over 100 yards in eight of 10
games. They have good skill on the outside. By starts, they have the most experienced offensive line. (Head coach) June Jones knows what he is doing, they are going to have a plan offensively. “They have done some things across the board. They are a good football team and have shown that this year. They are confident and are going to play well.” The Mustangs were limited to a total of 10 points in their losses to the Golden Eagles and Golden Hurricane. But Sumlin and the Cougars are not doubting SMU’s ability to play spoiler on Saturday. “They are another competitive Conference USA team,” Keenum said. “They always come out and play really well. They are very wellcoached, and I have a lot of respect SMU continues on page 7
This week the Cougars will be tasked with stopping SMU running back Zach Line, Conference USA’s top rusher. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar
SPORTS
The Daily Cougar
SMU continued from page 6
for them and for coach Jones and what they do. Especially with teams like this that we get to play a lot, we know a lot of stuff that they do and they know a lot of stuff that we do. It
FOOTBALL continued from page 6
The Cougars gained national attention in 2009 for their upsets of Oklahoma State and Texas Tech and the super-human play of Case Keenum, rising as high as No. 12 in the polls. But losses later in the year pushed them out of the spotlight. The 2010 season was supposed to be the Cougars’ big rebound year with Keenum back at the helm, but those plans went out the window when Keenum tore his ACL in the Cougars’ 31-13 loss to UCLA, and the Cougars finished the season 5-7. “I think attitude is everything,” Rhoades said. “How you handle adversity and how you handle upsand-downs. I think it’s extremely powerful. “I think coach Sumlin and the way that he and his staff handled last year, they coached every bit as well last year as they’re coaching this year. I thought this football program grew from that adversity.” When Keenum was given a sixth year of eligibility, it made his injury a blessing in disguise. This year’s Cougar team has a much higher ceiling than last year’s squad, with stronger defense and even more weapons on offense — talking about you, Charles Sims. Getting off to the best start in program history at 10-0 has helped get Keenum the national attention that he deserves for having one
makes it competitive and fun. “They rush really well, they have a good defensive line, their linebackers are solid, and in the back end they are sound. It should be a good game. I’m excited to play another good opponent and it should be a fun senior day.” The last time UH (10-0, 6-0)
of the all-time great seasons and careers in college football. The season is far from over, though. The toughest part of the season is still yet to come. With all of the attention that the Cougars have received, teams will definitely be gunning for them now more than ever. SMU is not a matchup to sneeze at, and a loss next week at Tulsa would destroy any chance of receiving a BCS bowl. Either way, this season has done wonders for giving the University a national identity. If the Cougars continue winning and take home the Conference USA championship, they will find themselves in uncharted territory for the program with a potential BCS bowl invitation. Ten years ago, suggesting that the Cougars would have a Heisman trophy candidate and welcome ESPN’s College GameDay to campus would have a been a great joke for the water cooler. Now it’s a reality. “I’m a big believer that in order to be great, you have to do things that you’ve never done before,” Rhoades said. “That would certainly be the case for this program and it would be really something to build on and grow on. And it would mean so much to our University, to our fanbase, the national exposure and certainly to our student athletes.” sports@thedailycougar.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Recap Houston Texas Tech
16 39
42 49
58 88
Top performances UH — Landry: 20 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast UH — Button: 14 pts, 4 reb, 2 3PM TT —Mallard: 16 pts, 13 reb, 4 blk TT — Brown: 21 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast TT — Morris: 16 pts, 6 reb, 4 stl Attendance: 807
Joseph Lefler/The Daily Cougar
ONLINE
Preview Check out Ricardo Rivera’s preview of this weekend’s volleyball action at www. thedailycougar.com.
Catherine Lara/The Daily Cougar
lost to SMU was in 2005, and the Cougars have won the last five matchups. Sumlin is yet to lose to the Mustangs the three times he has coached against them. “They have lost four games,” Sumlin said. “You look at the league and every week there is a surprising score. A lot of teams in this league
Thursday, November 17, 2011
are capable of beating anybody. They have some good players and are well coached. You have to come to play every week. They are not going to be intimidated coming in here at all.” The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Robertson Stadium, in what could potentially be the
last home game of the season. UH must beat Tulsa on Nov. 25 in order to host the C-USA Championship game on Dec. 3. It will be televised on Fox Sports Network and will be broadcast on 790 AM. sports@thedailycougar.com
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Daily Cougar
EDITOR Mary Baak E-MAIL arts@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/arts
MUSIC
British legend kicks off North American tour
Former frontman of The Smiths hits the stage close to home
Jose Aguilar
THE DAILY COUGAR British crooner Morrissey sauntered onto the stage to the deafening screams of a sold-out San Antonio crowd on Monday night, took hold of the microphone and said, “Just lookie here — you don’t mess with San Antone.” And with those words, and his band launching into The Smiths’ classic, “I Want The One I Can’t Have”, sent the already frenzied crowd into a tizzy — the Mozzer’s fall tour of North America kicked off. The San Antonio crowd, which hadn’t been graced by Steven Patrick Morrissey’s presence in almost 19 years, never stopped showing their appreciation for the former Smiths frontman, who was in top form vocally and physically, as he went through 17 songs and one encore in the regal Majestic Theatre. San Antonio was originally scheduled to be his second stop on the tour, but visa problems for longtime guitarist Boz Boorer postponed the Nov. 10 opening date in Chicago. His choice of songs was similar to concerts he performed during a European tour earlier this year. He took a cross-section of his vast solo catalogue — including the seldom-performed “Ouija Board, Ouija Board” and “Maladjusted” — and threw in a few unreleased tracks like “Scandinavia” and “People are the Same Everywhere”, along with four Smiths songs. Standing out among the Smiths tunes was his late-in-the-show performance of “I Know It’s Over”, with the crowd shouting along to the lines, “It’s so easy to laugh. It’s so easy to hate. It takes strength to be gentle and kind.” Adding to the moment of hearing such a poignant song was his quick segue into his solo classic, “Everyday is Like Sunday”, that the adoring crowd continued to sing to. Morrissey provided a public service announcement on behalf of animals everywhere when before the vegetarian opus “Meat is Murder”, he stated, “The title of this next song…I will never stop insisting that…” Words such as “Turkey and Chicken” were flashed upon the backdrop, which had been graced by a photo still of an Italian actor, and footage of meats and food processing plants followed. A little message to Americans in the lead-up to national turkey day for sure. For his encore, Moz chose to send off his fans with The Smiths’ “Still Ill”. The crowd, which had already provided one stage invasion, went mad. All in all, roughly one dozen fans made their way up on stage to hug their idol, with varying different degrees of success. The response from security, which in some instances resulted in fans being pinned to the stage floor, doomed the encore, but what a way to finish the show. Plus, at least this show made it further than the last time the Mozzer paid a visit to San Antonio in 1992 — there wasn’t even an encore. A remark by Morrissey during the show best summed up everyone’s sentiments on Monday night: “I must say I am fat with happiness.” Morrissey’s final Texas date is on Thursday in Dallas. No Houston dates have been scheduled at this time. arts@thedailycougar.com
RELIGION
Celebrating holiday diversity Season brings traditions celebrated in cultures worldwide Alana MousaviDin
THE DAILY COUGAR Our campus is a beautiful blend of culture, heritage, race and religion. Everyone is an individual yet the same, and we are all blended together on campus. The holidays are knocking on the door, so take a momentary pause for a season filled with varying holiday cultures from around the world; all under our noses. Holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa are the most prominent in the US. Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by Jews worldwide. This is an eight-day event filled with beautifully lit menorahs, delicious foods, family and friends, games, music and small gifts for children. Humbling prayers are read every night to keep the memory of the miracle of the lamp that burned for eight days with only enough oil for one. Hanukkah 2011 will begin at sunset on Dec. 20 and end at sunset on Dec. 28. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in the Christian religion; however it has gained popularity among non-Christians as well. Christmas is always recognized on Dec. 25. This holiday, much like Hanukkah, is filled with family, friends, food, gifts, music and, in place of the menorah, there is usually a tree decked with lights
In Jewish culture, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration known as the “Festival of Lights.” One candle on the menorah is lit each night in celebration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The event occurs from Dec. 20 and Dec. 28 each year. | Wikimedia Commons and ornaments. Oh, and we can’t forget the stockings filled by Santa. Kwanzaa is a holiday created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966. It is a seven-day celebration honoring African-American heritage and culture. This holiday is also filled with activities like those of Christmas and Hanukkah, including candle lighting. It is wrapped up by an
amazing feast and gift giving. An interview with Malachi Crawford, assistant director of African American studies at UH revealed that Kwanzaa is not just celebrated in the US, but worldwide. When asked why African Americans celebrate the holiday and what it means to HOLIDAYS continues on page 9
AROUND TOWN
Heights beekeeping a sweet plan Organization invites Houstonians to keep beehives, help women in need Jorge Porras
THE DAILY COUGAR At this moment, help is coming to impoverished families across Northern Pakistan, allowing the women and men of these families to provide a sustainable
income and send their children to a good school in hope of a brighter future. All of this is possible because of honey. The Hashoo Foundation’s beekeeping project, Plan Bee, provides people living in Gilgit, Hunza-Negar, Ghizer, Chitral and Kalash Valley with the tools and knowledge of how to maintain and harvest their own honey that can be sold through the foundation on the Pakistani market. Plan Bee was originally established to remedy the imbalance of male dominance in communities in Pakistan.
Female beekeepers selling their honey door-to-door had to sell their product at 35 percent less than the men selling the same quality and variety. Plan Bee, sets up several bee hives for each woman and provides the beekeeping equipment and classes. All that is asked in return is that the mothers send their children to schools free of extremist and fundamentalist influences. The foundation is hoping to help BEEKEEPING continues on page 9
HEALTH CHECK
Holiday treats not as bad as you think Alana MousaviDin
THE DAILY COUGAR The holidays are almost here, candy is everywhere and the best of them all — dark chocolate — is actually nutritionally beneficial. This decadent treat is low in sugar, closer to its natural form, and hosts a bevy of benefits. It is also rich in antioxidants like polyphenols (also found in red wine and green tea) which help protect against heart disease. For those keeping their heart health in mind and blood pressure in check, forget the daily low-dose of aspirin, dark chocolate does the same thing as aspirin when consumed regularly. Don’t take this as a free-for-all at the
candy counter though. As with everything else you ingest, moderation is key. Half an ounce is all it takes to reap the benefits of the sweet simplicity that is dark chocolate. However, there are down sides too like sugar, fat, cream and flavorings — additives which make it taste good. In terms of other psychological and physiological benefits, chocolate contains theobromine, a close relative of caffeine and a mild mood enhancer. It also contains Phenethylamine, which triggers the pleasurable endorphins to release and increase the potency of dopamine — a chemical associated with sexual arousal and pleasure. It contains anadamides which produce a sensation of elation and exhilaration, and boosts serotonin levels which are notably low in women who experience PMS and
in people dealing with depression. Entire classes of anti-depressants have been created to do the same thing at a higher level. When business major Jason Dickinson was in junior high, he said that a Holocaust survivor visited his school and told of the day he was released from Auschwitz. He told students that he remembered one of the soldiers helping them gave him a Snicker’s bar and that it tasted like heaven. That story stuck with Dickinson and he still enjoys a Snicker’s bar every now and then, but said “chocolate is better all by itself.” In the end, chocolate is good, good for you and good for everyone around you — both inside and out. arts@thedailycougar.com
LIFE+ARTS
The Daily Cougar
HOLIDAYS continued from page 8
them, Crawford said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kwanzaa is a basis for centering who we are as a peopleâ&#x20AC;Śit is important because for seven days out of the year we are focused on coming together and celebrating family, community and the traditions that are essential to making us a coherent ethnic group.â&#x20AC;? Kwanzaa is celebrated every year
BEEKEEPING continued from page 8
create a new generation of entrepreneurs, a generation who have seen the success of their parents and have unbiased opinions. As of this year, the foundation has more than 600 female beekeepers managing more than 1,700 hives and more than 1,000 children enrolled in school. A beekeeper with three hives can produce 54 kilograms, which can be sold for up to $216; this money is now being used to improve the quality of life for these women and their families. This year Hashoo invites
Thursday, November 17, 2011
from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. When people take a moment to step back, learn even a little about other religions, beliefs and celebrations, it becomes easy to see that we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that different after all. Everyone wants the same things during the holidays â&#x20AC;&#x201D; good food, traditions, something to believe in, and family and friends to be with. arts@thedailycougar.com
Houstonians to the Plan Bee Art Exhibit fund raiser at Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant in the River Oaks area where artwork from various female artists from around the world will be on display and for sale. Each hive costs $106, which will be the base price of each piece of art â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the foundation wants to raise enough money to provide at least 100 women with 300 hives. Along with the donations of art, Chef David CordĂşa will be preparing a menu of honey-based Pakistani cuisine to provide a taste of the honey harvested by the Pakistani women of Plan Bee to all attendees. arts@thedailycougar.com
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Delta Zeta sorority presents:
The Daily Cougar
Gong Show Story by Julie Heffler
Photos by Catherine Lara
Showing some philanthropic finesse, the Delta Zeta sorority hosted their 25th annual Gong Show on Wednesday in the Houston Room at the University Center. The talent show was held to raise funds for The Center for Hearing and Speech, an organization that gives aid and teaching to children with hearing and speech impediments. The theme this year, Cougars Got Talent, modeled the television program Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent, showing acts from different fraternities and sororities.
The sisters of Kappa Delta Phi and the brothers of Gamma Beta took home the first place medal with a synchronized step dance routine.
Cassie Cooper, co-chair of the Gong Show, said she was excited about the show, hoping to top the record-breaking donation raised last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our 25th annual Gong Show. Last year was the most we raised, which I think was $5,000, and so we are hoping to raise more than that this year,â&#x20AC;? Cooper said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(The donors) have a half page, quarter page or full page (of messages in the program) depending on their donation. We will also have a slide running with all of our sponsors. We also have a raffle, a silent auction and T-shirt sales.â&#x20AC;? Sophomore Kayly Scott went to support her fellow sorority sisters at Phi Mu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The show was really good. I was so impressed with all the dances. Everyone did a really great job,â&#x20AC;? Scott said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(The cause) is really great. DZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philanthropy is hearing and speech and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really awesome that they do that.â&#x20AC;? Gamma Beta won first place among the panel of judges; Chi Omega came in a close second with Sigma Phi Epsilon sliding into third. With their colorful routine, Sigma Chi took the Turtle Award, an honor given to the act that showcased the most Delta Zeta appreciation. Lastly, the coveted Spirit Award went to the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
The Kappa Sigma fraternity showcased its basketball prowess. The brothers comprised one of 13 acts in the Gong Show, and was one of nine fraternities present.
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COMICS & MORE
The Daily Cougar
Thursday, November 17, 2011
comics
crossword
Blundergrads by Phil Flickinger
ACROSS 1 Big name in fairy tales 6 Place a curse on 9 Light green plums 14 Comaneci of gymnastics 15 Rarebit ingredient 16 Undermine, as confidence 17 Ecstasy opposite 18 Picked-up item 19 Bone china brand 20 Good thing to hear 23 Short swim 24 History chapter 25 Gets off the fence 27 Kind of irony 32 Anguished cry 33 “... ___ reasonable facsimile” 34 Approved by the courts 36 Acclivity 39 Big name on Fifth Avenue 41 Roberts of “Everybody Loves Raymond” 43 Adjective for Death Valley 44 Go over like ___ balloon 46 Bartender’s supply 48 X, on some dials 49 A soup base 51 Neighbor of Chevy Chase 53 Deposition answerer 56 “Dr. No” author Fleming 57 ___ for victory 58 Delaying strategy 64 Run ___ of the law 66 Undergo decay 67 Kitchen gadget for preparing potatoes 68 Amount wagered 69 Teamwork spoiler 70 Prefix with “face” or “national” 71 Went “tap tap tap” on a keyboard 72 Family head 73 Sparrows’ homes
That Monkey Tune by Michael A. Kandalaft
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
DOWN 1 Nibble like a beaver 2 Fires and angry people may do it 3 Admiration recipient 4 Food processor, at times 5 Like some city races 6 Detest 7 Flamboyant style 8 Small three-masted vessel
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9 Painters’ plasterlike preparations 10 A father of Dada 11 Gracious winners, e.g. 12 Murphy of Hollywood 13 Gets through the cracks 21 More than checked? 22 Question before “because I said so” 26 Container for a spicy stew 27 The Cubs’“Slammin’ Sammy” 28 Kind of thermometer 29 Half-baked bathroom item? 30 “Have ___ a deal for you!” 31 Chocolate alternative 35 Script segment 37 ___ Piper of Hamelin 38 “Giant” author’s first name 40 Pen name of H.H. Munro 42 Play a set with the band 45 Talked like a stereotypical Texan 47 Feeling of vexation
50 Santa ___, Calif. 52 It turns over before it runs 53 Seaman’s “Stop!” 54 Count of stars on a U.S. flag 55 Out of energy 59 “For here or ___?”
61 62 63 65
60 “Put ___ my tab” “America’s Got Talent” segments Swimming competition Makes a miscalculation Strings at a luau, for short
Previous puzzle solved
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