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THE DAILY COUGAR
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Thomas needs to clean the glass for Cougars to win
Oscar nominations well-deserved
January 25, 2012 Issue 64, Volume 77
CRIME
Dorms burgled over winter break Taub, Settegast residents return to school to find possessions missing, police still investigating Joshua Mann
THE DAILY COUGAR Several students whose dorm rooms were broken into over winter break said they are wondering what will happen next. The burglars entered Quadrangle dorm rooms by removing the vents on the lower half of the doors, said history freshman James Wang whose television was taken in the burglaries.
“(I thought) everything would be safe if I left it here,” Wang said. “Take anything valuable, but if it’s big and you’re coming back, you might as well leave it here. Well they took the TV — so much for secure.” Students are encouraged not to leave valuables in their rooms over the break, according to a Residential Life and Housing press release. Campus police suspect that the students’ properties may have been stolen by the contractors who were hired by the University to put safety screws on the vents to keep the rooms from being entered that way, said Cassie Castro, whose Wii was stolen.
“Obviously, this is very concerning, and all of us take safety and security very seriously,” said Executive Director of Residential Life and Housing Don Yackley. Under normal circumstances, the halls are patrolled by security personnel at night, the release said. But this was not true during winter break. Campus police have not been keeping in contact with students according to Castro. “I don’t feel like anything is happening,” she said. “I haven’t heard (from the police) in a long while,” Castro said. Wang hasn’t heard from the police either.
(I thought) everything would be safe if I left it here. Take anything valuable, but if it’s big and you’re coming back, you might as well leave it here. Well they took the TV — so much for secure.” James Wang, on the dorm security measures taken during winter break. “I gave my statement to a police officer BREAK-IN continues on page 3
SENATE
Faculty Senate has first meeting Vice president, vice chancellor introduced Nicole Carter
THE DAILY COUGAR The first meeting of the 2012 school year for the Faculty Senate Committee brought about many staff changes, along with discussion about research, development and graduation and retention rates. UH President Renu Khator’s selection for the University vice president and vice chancellor, Eloise Dunn Stuhr, was introduced to the Faculty Senate at the meeting. Her experience with Tier One Universities like Vanderbilt and Penn State in the past may prove beneficial to the UH community. “We are looking to have a (fund-raising campaign) that exceeds 100 million dollars annually. I would like to see that number develop into billions in order to benefit the faculty and students at the university as much as possible,” said President Khator. SENATE continues on page 3
Newsflash: Drought over
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he students, faculty and staff who came to school without umbrellas had to craft them out of trash bags and textbooks in order to avoid Wednesday’s downpour. UH’s Department of Public Safety sent out an e-mail telling everyone to stay indoors until 11:45 a.m. because of a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service. UHDPS warned students to avoid Elgin Blvd at entrance 18, Wheeler St. at parking lot 4A, Elgin Blvd. at Spur 5, MLK Blvd. at Calhoun and entrance 17 at entrance 16 because of flooding. The storms let up at around 2 p.m., but not before some afternoon classes were canceled, and attendance was lower in those that weren’t. | Emily Chambers/The Daily Cougar