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April 10, 2012 Issue 102, Volume 77
UH to increase parking spaces by 4,000 About $46 million is being used to alleviate student parking woes SPECIAL REPORT
Max Gardner
THE DAILY COUGAR
There is construction underway all across the University’s campus. | Emily Chambers/The Daily Cougar
ORGANIZATIONS
Amateur theater group sells baked goods for funding A bake sale will be held to raise money for Club Theatre from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Honors College Commons on the second floor of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. Club Theatre will sell home cooked muffins, cupcakes and cookies, along with other treats, said member Sarah Dyer. The bake sale proceeds will go towards funding the lighting and sound for future productions, as well as improvements to the organization’s stage and other equipment. “This is the only time that Club Theatre does any fundraising, so we appreciate it when people come out,” said leader of the club, Lindsay Slavin, “because we offer them free theatre.” Club Theatre is an Honors College organization that puts on student-written, directed and acted short plays once a semester. The next club theatre shows will be April 26, 27 and 28 in Taft Street Coffee House at 2115 Taft Street. — Cougar News Services
CORRECTIONS Report errors to editor@thedailycougar.com. Corrections will appear here as necessary.
At a combined estimated cost of $46 million, the stadium and Lot 1A parking garages will increase the number of parking spaces available to students. Student parking will increase by 19 percent with about 3,000 new parking spaces generated dedicated solely to students, said Director of Parking and Transportation Bob Browand. There will be 4,000 new spaces added to the overall inventory. About 2,300 of those spots will be from the stadium parking garage, while around 1,700 of them will come from the Lot 1A garage. The spaces in the estimated $26 million stadium parking garage will be available for the 2012-2013 student parking registration. There will also be a retail section in the new garage that will open in the fall semester. “There’s going to be three things — a
Construction Every Tuesday, The Daily Cougar will discuss the University’s current and future construction plans and how they will affect the student body. April 3: Construction overview Today: Parking and construction April 17: Residence and dining halls April 24: Building Renovations Track this series at thedailycougar.com/tags/construction convenience store, a Taco Cabana and a spirit store,” said Principal Project Manager John Posch. “(The spirit store will) have (UH spirit items) and, at some times during the year, textbooks as PARKING continues on page 3
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
Arguments presented at Supreme Court hearing Bethany Redd
THE DAILY COUGAR The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the health-care initiative known as the Affordable Care Act from March 26 to 28 and is expected to make a decision in June. The law, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in early 2010, aims to extend health insurance coverage to Americans through both the expansion of state Medicaid programs and the “individual mandate” provision, which would compel people to buy medical insurance or face a penalty. “Congress has the authority to regulate activity that substantially affects interstate commerce, and Congress has chosen to regulate the interstate market in health insurance,” said law professor Leslie Griffin. “If the mandate is a necessary means to Congress’s goals in health insurance regulation, it is constitutional.” The case has woven its way through the lower courts and has involved more than two dozen lawsuits and appeals on its two-
At the oral argument, we were reminded that young people often don’t get insurance because they don’t realize they need it for themselves. But they may need it if a sudden illness or accident befalls them. And they may need it for their loved ones.” Leslie Griffin, on the importance of paying attention to the case year journey to the Supreme Court. In Florida, a district judge ruled the individual mandate unconstitutional, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed the case and found the Affordable Care Act could stand without the mandate. Twenty-six states are now involved in the health care suit. The Affordable Care Act prevents health insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums to people with pre-existing HEALTH CARE continues on page 3
Clowning for a cause
M
u Delta Pre-Health Association hosted a pie toss to raise money for March of Dimes and their upcoming banquet. Students could pie the organization’s members and faculty. | Catherine Lara/The Daily Cougar