Issue 01, Volume 78 (Opinion)

The Daily Cougar

OPINION

UH blurs lines Light rail will further urbanize campus p.2

Harsh grades add value UH degrees are worth more with tougher classes, but only if people pay attention p.3

EDITOR Lucas Sepulveda EMAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/opinion

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2 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012

Metro rail blurs line between city and campus Nick Bell Staff columnist

C

onstruction of the Southeast Line of the Metro light rail along UH property sparked a dispute between the University and the Metropolitan Transit Authority that was recently settled.

The placement of the rail in close proximity to UH properties was a major part in the disagreement, which shed light on a big problem the University will face while trying to beef up their Tier One credentials: real estate.

Once the rail is completed, scheduled for 2014, it will undoubtedly give way to a completely new form of transportation for students, commuters and residents. The problem with this ambitious project is that the construction is taking place on a sliver of land, which will cause an increase in traffic flow along the area.

Although UH has vastly expanded the quality and sheer size of their on-campus facilities, nothing but a bottleneck effect can come as a result of the rail’s location, even after the construction clears.

On one hand, the line gives students access to a variety of nightlife and social scenery in the city while also providing commuters with an alternative way to get to classes. On the other, urbanization brings an array of problems regarding safety and public image.

There’s no question that UH is a very urban campus, but it has maintained a fairly spruced-up look. The rail has already changed the scenery of once less-utilized areas of

David Delgado // The Daily Cougar campus for commuters.

The elephant in the room is that the Third Ward has going through a rapid gentrification period for the past couple of years.

Several businesses and houses have already been torn down in the surrounding neighborhood because of the Southeast line.

So while the rail is drawing a line between what is UH and residual Third Ward zoning, they’re making UH its own urban center for population flow and losing the small amount of surrounding land they had in the first place.

The rail is opening a Pandora’s box that will give UH’s public-representative staff headaches in the years to come.

The introduction of the Southeast Line will allow people who are not UH students, to access buildings such as the residence halls and the childcare center. UH’s access was never exclusive, but its parking and ease of access was highly regulated.

After 2014, UH will no longer have any semblance of a neighborhood environment, which judging by the businesses that were

weeded out and those that consequentially took their place, seemed to be the city’s plan the entire time.

UH must decide if it wants to be a metropolitan campus or not, because the once-seamless transition between campus and the tree-filled neighborhoods outside is starting to disappear.

Nick Bell is a media production senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.Writer’s Name Title or Position // The Daily Couga

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*** Students with Privite or MACORI insurance receive special discounts

Monday, August 27, 2012 // 3

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Kathleen Kennedy // The Daily Cougar

UH sticks to tough grading Jacob Patterson Staff columnist

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hile attending a university, you’re going to come across the viewpoint, “I pay tuition, so I deserve a better grade.” Unfortunately, the University of Houston is no different.

This mindset frustrates students and teachers who believe that those with good grades should earn them through aptitude and hard work. It may be hard to believe some students would even entertain the idea that grades should come easy as a result of tuition, but Bauer Professor Michael Parks says such ideas exist.

Parks has personally dealt

with angry students using the inane argument and he says that school should be a meritocracy, not a democracy — grades should be earned by merit and not by what the student wants. After all, employers and graduate schools don’t want students who buy good grades; they want students who earn them. A university is an institution of education, not a shopping center.

Recent trends show that universities may be giving students higher grades as time goes on.

Richard Schiming of Minnesota State University said in an article that the reasons vary from pressure to retain students, to driving up teacher evaluations, to faculty

24th 27 -31 4 August

PATTERSON continues on page 11

TOP 16 GradeInflation.com’s Sweet 16 of Tough Graders Toughest schools by region: Midwest Purdue University University of Houston Southern Polytechnic State Florida International University South Virginia Commonwealth University Hampden-Sydney College Roanoke College Auburn University West Reed College CSU-Fullerton Harvey Mudd College Simon Fraser University East Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Princeton University Boston University MIT

LAST The University of Houston and the College of Liberal arts and Social Sciences welcomes any undergraduate student interested in Latin America to the program and minor in Latin American Studies (LAST).

This 18-hr minor is interdiisciplinary and focuses on the histories, cultures, economics and politics of this broad region.

For more information or to register in the LAST 3300, a distance education course required for the minor, contact Professor Susan Kellogg (History Department, skellog@uh.edu) or check the program website, www.class.uh.edu/last.

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Catholic Newman Campus Ministry

WELCOME WEEK 2012 (Aug. 27th – Sept. 7th) COME AND SEE! Open H O House att th the C Catholic th li N Newman C Center, t Aug. 27th – Sept. 7th 9 AM – 5 PM during Welcome Week.

Free Ice Cream Sundaes from 1 PM – 5 PM Free Lunch on Wednesdays after the daily Mass @ 12:30 PM Catholic Student Organization First Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 13th @ 7 PM at the Catholic Newman Center

Kathleen Kennedy // The Daily Cougar

Bayou Awakening Retreat for students Sept. 14th – 16th at Camp Kappe, Plantersville, TX (for Young Adults 18 – 25, get application online at www.archgh.org/youngacm/awakening.htm) Mass Schedule: Monday – Thursday @ Noon at the Catholic Newman Center Sunday @ 10:45 AM at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center (next to Quad Dorms) Sunday @ 6 PM at the Catholic Newman Center (across from the Recreation Center) Reconciliation Service: Before or after all the scheduled masses or by appointment with Fr. Joseph Lam Nguyen.

Athletics: A threat to academics Bryan Washington Staff columnist

A

t a glance, the obvious benefits of a nationally recognized sports program, from countrywide exposure to the perks of playing a household name, outweigh the negatives.

Fortunately, for most universities, a glance is all potential students care to give.

They simply go with what they know. An impressive football program makes $50,000 tuition seem worthwhile. The burden prospective students face when choosing between an ESPN darling and just any old campus is relatively pleasant from UH’s perspective — a win-win scenario.

But in the same way that a great athletics reputation

maintains a positive relationship with a student’s enthusiasm, the opposite does also. Just look at ticket sales after a bad season.

You don’t need a master’s in English to catch the symbolism in a set of empty stands. Worse yet, any offenses committed by a university’s sports program, come with a stigma that’s just WASHINGTON continues on page 5

For more info. call: (713) 748-2529 or visit our website: www.uhcatholic.org

&DUHHU 6XFFHVV 6HULHV )DOO ; Tuesday, September 11th: EĞƚǁŽƌŬ >ŝŬĞ Ă WƌŽ͊, 3-6PM | MDA Library, Rockwell Pavilion ; Wednesday, October 3rd:

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; Wednesday, October 24 : ^ŽĐŝŽůŽŐLJ ĂƌĞĞƌ WĂŶĞů, 1-3PM | Student Service Center 1, Room 156

hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĂƌĞĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ 106 Student Service Center 1 www.career.uh.edu

(713) 743-5100 | ucs@uh.edu

3OHDVH YLVLW WKH 8&6 ZHEVLWH IRU GHWDLOV

Monday, August 27, 2012 // 5

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Israel can’t depend on US Matt Story Staff columnist

O

ver the past couple weeks, a war of words has been escalating between Iran and Israel. Iran is resolved to progress with its nuclear program, and Israel is 100 percent committed to preventing a nuclear-armed Tehran.

Israel believes that economic sanctions are not enough to discourage the Iranians from discontinuing their nuclear ambitions, Iran claims their actions are purely for civilian purposes and Israel seems to have begun preparations to use military options to curb the perceived threat Iran poses.

The Iranian hard-line government has repeatedly stated that Israel does not have the right to exist, but in reality, these threats are a little more than rhetoric. The true root of the problem lies in the

WASHINGTON continued from page 4

about impossible for any of the academic departments to shake.

You could draft a textbook of examples. The Pennsylvania State University, despite being less than lauded as of late, has kept a top-notch technical education program for the past couple of years. But regardless of its academic accolades, its program will take a hit in exposure for the next couple of years, and for reasons that have nothing to do with educational standards.

No matter what its organization turns into, who graduates, or who speaks on campus, their replacements will enter warily, if at all, recoiling from earlier events.

No single entity should hold that much weight for a collective, but a university’s sports program does.

Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t matter if a school is academically competitive or a hidden opportunity for new students, because any energy taken for endorsing its strengths, accolades, or accomplishments ends up being redirected back to the school’s lacking sports program. It’s sad, but true.

Should everyone be wary about this? Yes, absolutely. But more than that, people need to be aware that no matter how successful UH’s athletic endeavors are or aren’t, the repercussions will be felt all across the board.

Sports culture is valuable, but in many cases it distracts from what truly is important to a school’s reputation and the futures of its students.

Bryan Washington is a sociology and creative writing junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

fact that Iran feels threatened.

Israel has nuclear weapons; it also has the means to deploy them against any regional foe, such as Iran. Consequently, the Iranians won’t feel truly secure until they have one themselves. Not necessarily to deploy, but to deter from what they feel is a hostile western society. It is the same type of posturing and saber-rattling seen during the Cold War. Neither side wants a war, but both sides wish to be the top dog.

It’s the same reason the world didn’t end during the cold war: No one was willing to make the first move. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that the Israelis do not fire the first shot. Not only would a war between these two nations be immensely destructive, but there is also a good chance the US could be dragged into such a conflict.

This is all very reminiscent of the situation in Korea, when the North

developed nuclear capabilities.

Here was a militaristic government with an irrational, almost primal hate for its neighbor, one that felt it was under imminent threat from the West, yet even the North Koreans were unwilling to use their weapon and open Pandora’s box.

Israel is a sovereign nation, and they must ultimately decide whether to use their armed forces.

If they resort to military means though, they must prepare to fight a large-scale war on their own.

They can’t just rely on the US to bail them out if things get dicey.

Simply put, the US is in no place to fight another war. After all, we can hardly handle our own problems. George Washington once said America must “avoid entangling foreign alliances;” this is exactly what he was talking about.

Matt Story is a kinesiology senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

& The University Center is under construction but...

we are still here and open!

Room 279A University Center, Second Floor WRC: 832-842-6191 www.uh.edu/wrc LGBTRC: 713-743-5463 www.uh.edu/lgbtrc

Save the Date: Open House, Monday, September 10, 10am -2pm

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6 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012

WELCOME! On behalf on the University of Houston Police Department, I would like to welcome each of you to the University of Houston in this new academic year, and to congratulate you on your decision to join the UH family. Please take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Police Department’s website (www.uh.edu/police). It provides information about our department, crime on campus, services we provide the campus community and a wealth of other useful safety and security tips and information.

The University of Houston Police Department strives to enable students, faculty, staff and visitors to be safe while pursuing their oncampus endeavors. Every UHPD employee uses three principles to help ensure that the UH campus is a protected, user-friendly venue:

UÊ*À ÌiÊ> `Ê«ÀiÃiÀÛiÊ>ÊÃ>viÊV> «ÕÃÊi Û À i Ì UÊ `i Ì vÞÊ> `Ê « i i ÌÊivwV i V ià UÊ*À Û `iÊ}Ài>ÌÊVÕÃÌ iÀÊÃiÀÛ Vi These principles, in practice, help to make the UH campus a great place to study, work, or visit. Be smart. Be safe.

Ceaser Moore, Jr.

Chief of Police University of Houston Police Department

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The Police Department, in concert with the UH Fire Marshal’s Office, compiles and distributes the Annual Security Report no later than October 1st , covering the crime statistics over previous three years. The Annual Security Report is available on our website at www.uh.edu/police. A printed copy may be requested by emailing us at police@uh.edu or by telephone at 713-743-3333.

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Ê/, In the spirit of our academic environment, we believe that the first step in staying safe and preventing crime is to be armed with information. The Police Department employs subject matter experts in several safety and security related fields, and we are dedicated to passing on valuable information that you can use for personal safety. UHPD has online train-

ing in areas such as active shooter response, workplace violence and intimate partner violence. We also have comprehensive information online about subjects as diverse as hate crimes, sexual assault and harassment. You play the most important role in your own personal safety, and we will do everything we can to ensure you are prepared.

, Ê*, 6 / " ÊÊ *," , UHPD offers a variety of crime prevention programs to our community members, including: UÊ*iÀÃ > Ê->viÌÞÊ Ü>Ài iÃÃ UÊ"«iÀ>Ì Ê

UÊ,ià `i Ì > Ê> `Ê"vwViÊ-iVÕÀ ÌÞ UÊ-iÝÕ> Ê ÃÃ>Õ ÌÊ Ü>Ài iÃà UÊ Ì ÀÊ6i V iÊ/ ivÌÊ*ÀiÛi Ì UÊ iÜÊ-ÌÕ`i ÌÊ> `Ê « ÞiiÊ Orientation UÊ Õ ÌÞÊ > }ÕiÃÊ> `Ê Discussions

HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Emergency

911 UHPD 24-Hour Direct Line

713-743-3333 Parking Enforcement

713-743-5849 UHPD Lost and Found

713-743-0620 Crime Stoppers

800-252-TIPS www.uh.edu/police

Monday, August 27, 2012 // 7

The Daily Cougar

10

THINGS YOU

NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMPUS SAFETY & SECURITY

1

ÜÊ ÜÊÌ ÊV Ì>VÌÊÌ iÊ1 ÛiÀÃ ÌÞÊ vÊ ÕÃÌ Ê* ViÊ i«>ÀÌ i Ì°Ê

"ÕÀÊ« ÞÃ V> Ê>``ÀiÃÃ\

3869 Wheeler St., Houston, TX 77204-6191 "ÕÀÊÌi i« iÊ Õ LiÀÃ\

Emergencies: 911 24-Hour direct line: (713) 743.3333

2Ê 3

½ÌÊ i>ÛiÊÞ ÕÀÊ«iÀà > Ê«À «iÀÌÞÊÕ >ÌÌi `i`tÊ Do not leave personal property lying out in the open. Keep an eye on your personal property and valuables at all times. iÊÃÕÀiÊÞ ÕÊV> Ê `i Ì vÞÊÞ ÕÀÊ«À «iÀÌÞÊ vÊ ÌÊ ÃÊ ÃÌÊ ÀÊ ÃÌ i °ÊMake note of the manufacturer, model and serial numbers of

all electronic equipment you bring to campus. If any of your electronic equipment is lost or stolen and later recovered, you must be able to positively prove that the recovered property is yours, not simply that you are missing a similar piece of property.

4

* >ViÊ `i Ì vÞ }Ê >À ÃÊ Ê> ÊÌiÝÌL ð Textbooks are

valuable items that can be sold if they are stolen or lost. Pick a number that is easy to remember and print your name and driver’s license number on that page of every text book you purchase. This will allow you to quickly and positively identify a textbook turned into Lost and Found, or sold to a bookstore as yours.

5

Ê ÌÊ i>ÛiÊÛ> Õ>L iÊ«À «iÀÌÞÊ Ê« > ÊÛ iÜÊ ÊÞ ÕÀÊ Ûi V i° Either take your property with you, or secure it in your trunk.

6

iÊ ÃÕÀiÊ Ì Ê V Ê Þ ÕÀÊ ` ÀÊ Ü i Ê Þ ÕÊ i>ÛiÊ Þ ÕÀÊÊ Ûi V i°ÊWhen you return to your locked vehicle get in the habit of

7

iÊ>Ü>ÀiÊ vÊÞ ÕÀÊÃÕÀÀ Õ ` }ðÊThink ahead and ask your-

making a quick look under your car as you approach and check the floorboard behind the front seats before you unlock your vehicle. If you see anyone under or inside your vehicle, keep walking and notify UHPD immediately.

selfÊ “Will the area I parked in and walked through to get to my class during the day look the same when I get out of class at night?” If not, try to park where it will be light after dark. Always be cautious if you plan to travel in remote campus locations, especially at night. Go with your instincts. If something about the situation makes you feel uncomfortable, take another route.

8

à `iÀÊÕà }ÊÌ iÊ1 * Ê-iVÕÀ ÌÞÊ ÃV ÀÌÊ-iÀÛ Vi° If you feel uncomfortable walking from one campus location to another, you can call 713-743-3333 to request an escort. A member of our team will be happy to escort you to your destination.

9

V>ÌiÊÌ iÊ iÀ}i VÞÉ v À >Ì Ê > Ê ÝiÃÊÜ iÀiÊ Þ ÕÊ À > ÞÊÌÀ>Ûi ÊÜ i Ê ÊV> «ÕðÊThese devices give

Þ ÕÊ i` >ÌiÊV Ì>VÌÊÜ Ì Ê>Ê1 * Ê Õ V>Ì Ê"vwViÀÊÜ ÊV> Ê` ë>ÌV Ê assistance or provide directions if you are lost.

10

i «Ê1ÃÊ i «Ê9 Õ°Ê Ãà ÃÌÊ Ê > Ì> }ÊV> «ÕÃÊ Ã>viÌÞÊ LÞÊ Ài« ÀÌ }Ê ÃÕë V ÕÃÊ «i « iÊ ÀÊ Ã ÌÕ>Ì ÃÊÌ Ê1 * Ê by using one of the Emergency/Information Call Boxes,

or by calling UHPD at 713-743-3333. Never be worried that your concerns are unwarranted. We are here to help.

You don’t want to make your vehicle a target.

Crime prevention is important to the campus community and you can help by reporting any crime or suspected crime to the University Police immediately. By doing so, you may be preventing someone else from becoming a victim of a more serious crime. Police officers assigned to your beat and patrol area will be glad to give demonstrations and talks to interested campus groups. Call our crime prevention number, 713-743-0417, for additional information.

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8 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012

The house always wins, but everyone else loses U.S. Attorney’s Office does investigation on Las Vegas Sands for bribery and laundering Nick Bell Staff columnist

T

Callie Parrish // The Daily Cougar

Too many must take debt Brian Washington Staff columnist

L

ess than a decade ago, finding several thousand dollars for a decent degree at an average university wasn’t uncommon, if not implied, among even the most modest of family incomes.

There weren’t any hoops to jump through. The routine was that the money thrown in that direction would reciprocate itself in the long run, exponentially outgrowing whatever amount came from the bank to cover it at the time. A loan here and there wasn’t exactly a rarity, but it certainly wasn’t the sort of thing you’d mold your retirement around. If you had to get one, you got one, and you’d pay it off later.

Nowadays, things aren’t so convenient. The new norm is not only the sort of loan that exceeds the amount of money required to attend the university

in question. It’s one that requires its borrowers to graduate with a good enough degree, acquire a good enough job, and pay it off in the long run. And that’s a pretty unpredictable possibility.

This means financing college is becoming less of an effort designated solely to the student.

Struggling students are finding it harder to zip through their four years on the fly, and in lieu of a co-sign, the mere notion of a student acquiring the documentation that’ll enable them to qualify for the big loan — assuming that they’re even in the eligible tax bracket — is an inconceivable one. Meaning said co-sign is exactly what they’ll try to get, which means the parents have to pay for college all over again.

It puts the mountain of money on an extra set of shoulders.

There was a point at which a parent might make it their obligation

to put their child through school, regardless of the obstacles before them, but those incidents are becoming scarcer.

How many of us are attending this university, not because we wanted to, but because it’s the cheapest item on the shelf? In the best-case scenario, the answer is “not many,” but even one person is too many.

Every decision that students make, from high-school graduation to tomorrow’s grocery list, are effects of the high costs of modern-day universities. There’s no more leeway, and it seems to only be getting worse.

The fact that high tuition and student debt is the new normal is ridiculous, and it’s time we fix it before things get more dangerous.

Bryan Washington is a sociology and creative writing sophomore and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

Campaigns cost too much Matt Story Staff columnist

T

he United States Supreme Court made an unprecedented ruling in the case of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission in 2010, which allowed unlimited political campaign spending from corporations and unions.

This exacerbated a problem with American politics that has been steadily growing since the 1970s.

Campaign spending, particularly during an election year, has risen over the past four decades.

Within the past four years, the sums of money thrown into the presidential fray have reached exorbitant levels.

The current election cycle has only just begun to heat up and already there has been a total of $600 million donated to the various presidential candidates.

With no incumbent president in the running during the 2008 elections, there were many more

prospective candidates aiming for the highest office. By the end of the race, the candidates had raised and spent a combined total of more than $1.6 billion.

It doesn’t matter which politician or party you relate to, even an average person can see how much money is being wasted on what has essentially become a popularity contest, especially considering the fact that this country is in the midst of a

he U.S. Attorney’s Office is investigating Las Vegas Sands Corporation and its connections with money laundering and bribery transactions.

The head of Sands Corporation, Sheldon Adelson, is a major Republican campaign contributor and has vowed that he will give $100 million to candidates during election season, sending some of that money to the Romney Super PAC. Romney shouldn’t be criticized for accepting money from Adelson any more than other candidates who receive money from Super PACs and undisclosed sources. This is not a move by “the left” to discredit Romney before this year’s elections, either.

The casino has already been questioned about high-rolling customers spending extravagant sums of money, such as Ye Gon, who was indicted for shipping pharmaceutical products to Mexico for methamphetamine manufacture and using Sands’ accounts to exchange money.

Although the investigation will most likely not produce any proof by the end of this year’s presidential elections, the U.S. Attorney’s Office shouldn’t put off global criminal allegations for fear of the political pundits’ backlash.

Adelson has been a huge proprietor for Macau, China — the only region that permits such business — and has worked closely with regulators and politicians to secure his casino’s place.

Granted, the gambling business in Las Vegas has always been associated with vast amounts of untraceable money that attracts illicit activities, but the growing social consciousness has shifted towards financial transparency since the

market collapsed.

There has been a push for casinos to act more like banks in that they should know more about where their customers’ money comes from.

In a highly publicized move, Paul Ryan visited Adelson days after he announced he would be the presumptive vicepresidential candidate, which can only be expected to garner attention from the media and liberal groups.

The relationship between Ryan and Adelson will definitely come under question should the investigation prove the allegations against Adelson and Sands Corp.

Politics aside, the idea that we have a financial institution allegedly laundering money through an already exploitative business for the same people who have exploited this country’s drug problem for years is disgusting.

If Adelson truly believes in Israeli relations and legal profit through relaxed regulations, that’s fine.

However, it seems as though he’s trying to gain influence behind the Republican pro-business platform many white-collar criminals claim to support as a façade for ulterior motives.

It’s hard to say what the outcome of this probe will produce, but the subject of the investigation should give legislators a hint towards regulation.

Not everything stays in Vegas, especially if it’s funneled through Mexican currency exchange firms.

US citizens bear the brunt of every facet involved in this scenario, and more legislation needs to be provided to curtail ill-gotten gains in Vegas; that should be political consensus at this point, not a partisan issue.

Nick Bell is a media production senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

STORY continues on page 9

David Delgado // The Daily Cougar

Monday, August 27, 2012 // 9

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Another run would be no fun Neither party should support a Perry campaign for governor in 2014 Nick Bell Staff columnist

I

t has been about eight months since Gov. Rick Perry backed out of the running for the 2012 Republican Party nomination for president.

Any politician that runs for office, in today’s split-second society, is bound for a rocky road filled with faux pas.

Perry has had arguably some of the worst of all the frontrunners, barring maybe Herman Cain.

Perry has been a master at fundraising since he took office as governor in 2000. After quickly raising the cash for his failed presidential run, he continues to raise millions through his own political committee.

Republicans, and obviously Democrats, should cringe at the hint that Perry might try for governor in 2014.

Democrats should oppose because of blatant platform disagreements, and Republicans should because the last two Texas

STORY continued from page 8

financial crises, a war overseas, an aging infrastructure and a decaying education system.

Everyone knows that these problems will need financial capital to fix, but the underlying question is always, “Where to get the money?”

No one wants to pay more taxes, yet many of the same people throw money at politicians as if they were topless dancers.

Over the last decade, the naïve mentality that all we need is the right politician to come to the rescue and save us has evolved.This is all a microcosm of the fierce partisanship that has defined American politics.

Unfortunately, it seems that most people today would prefer to spend their time and energy blaming others, as opposed to

Republican governors’ appearances have brands in the state’s political arena.

The exchange of a “can-do” bravado to get into office, instead of candidates with true probusiness policies, has created an unfavorable image of Texas political culture.

The economy in the state of Texas is largely autonomous, so it seems as if most anyone with a smirk and the right financial backing can kick their cowboy boots around Austin’s capitol building.

Perry is already the longestserving governor in the state’s history, and the time has come for a change of appearances on the Republican Party’s behalf. The idea that Texans are broad-picture people when it comes to politics doesn’t go over well with the other 49 states, nor should it in Texas.

Regardless of political affiliation, no one should welcome the idea that Perry might seek another term as the state governor.

It doesn’t matter which politician or party you relate to, (anyone) can see how much money is being wasted on what has essentially become a popularity contest.” making efforts to fix the problem.

Even if a mere 50-cent donation out of every dollar spent politically was given the Red Cross, the Texas Children’s Hospital, or even a local school district, we would all benefit, and we might just reduce some of the problems that we can only hope Washington will fix for us.

Matt Story is a kinesiology senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

Your perfect

Whether Americans like to admit it or not, politicians have to play politics. There is no candidate out there that doesn’t have to pull strings, that is why we choose them in the first place.

A certain degree of being a scapegoat comes with the job description of a politician and only increases with importance.

Republicans and Democrats alike cannot afford to let a “personality politician” prevail if we want to be taken seriously.

Although Perry is a well-known name among Texans, Attorney General Greg Abbott might try to run for governor and has raised campaign money as well.

There are plenty of respectable Republican politicians in Texas, but the ones who have been in the spotlight in the past decade have made Texans out to look like a caricature instead of a representation.

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Nick Bell is a media production senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

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10 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012 The Daily Cougar

COMICS

Evil Genius by Kevin Aquino

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham

Robbie and Bobby by Jason Poland

Monday, August 27, 2012 // 11

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PATTERSON continued from page 3

attitudes and mission changes.

There is a graph that a former Duke professor created showing the rise in GPA of different schools through time, located at www. gradeinflation.com. With a median change of about .14 per decade, UH has increased grades at a rate lower than the average university, making it on the site’s Sweet 16 of Tough Graders.

Locally, grades at the University of Texas have increased at .6 points over a span of about 20 years.

Nationally, top schools like Duke, Dartmouth, and Harvard have increased around an entire letter grade for more than 45 years.

It appears that UH doesn’t bend to the pressures as much as other universities. This could be good, as some could see that a student excelling at a consistently challenging school would carry some weight behind it. However, when you think about the competition that UH faces from prestigious schools that curve their grades, the refusal to budge might harm new alumni seeking job opportunities.

Comparing prestigious schools reporting increasingly higher grades to up-and-coming schools like UH staying relatively steady; some might jump to the conclusion that students at universities with grade inflation are harder workers and better job candidates than UH graduates.

UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator considers this a reflection of the overall quality of education available at UH and points out that Houston is the only Texas school that made the “16 Tough Graders” list.

Although some employers may not know much about the trends in grade inflation and may take the person with a higher GPA between two equally qualified candidates from different schools, the issue has started to get some attention from publications such as Texas Insider and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The University could receive a boost in reputation as the problem of inflated grades becomes more widely known —the more people who start to recognize its tougher grading consistency, the better chance UH has to climb the national rankings.

Jacob Patterson is a business senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar. com.

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12 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012

UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER Welcomes All Students For Fall 2012

Walk-in Clinic: Visits for general medical concerns, lab work, and specialist referral.

713-743-5151

Nursing Care: Immunizations and blood

pressure monitoring. Contact the nurse’s station at 713-743-5156

Women’s Clinic: Well woman exams,

evaluation for gynecological complaints, contraception, STD’s and treatment. By appointment only. Contact 713-743-5156

Men’s Clinic: Service to diagnose, treat,

counsel on issues affecting men’s health. By appointment only. Contact 713-743-5156

Attendant Care Services: Care and lifestyle

assistance program for needs of physically challenged students living on campus. For more information, contact 713-748-8603

Orthopedic Clinic: Diagnose and treat

musculoskeletal conditions including sports injuries and disease of the bone and muscle. By appointment only. Contact 713-743-5156

Psychiatric Clinic: Board certified

psychiatrists to provide evaluations, treatment plans and ongoing medication management.

By appointment only. Contact 713-743-5149

Pharmacy: Provides prescription and over

the counter items at very low cost. For more information contact 713-743-5125 UH Student Health Insurance: Information, online waiver criteria and rates. Deadline to add or drop insurance for Fall 2012 is 5:00 p.m.

September 12, 2012. Contact 713-743-5137

The Dermatology Clinic is staffed by a board certified dermatologist available to diagnose and treat disorders of the skin, hair and nails. By appointment only. 713-743-5156 Dental Clinic Preventive dentistry, restorative, limited major dental procedures. By appointment only. 713-22-SMILE. (713-227-6453)

Entrance # 6, off Wheeler, Bldg # 525 on Campus Map

r www.uh.edu/admin/hc

Fall and Spring Hours M, T, Th, F 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Summer Hours M, T, Th, F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Hours are Subject to Change For After Hours Emergency, Call

UH Police - 713/743-3333 Web Address:

www.uh.edu/admin/hc The University of Houston Health Center is a comprehensive health care facility available to all currently enrolled students.

Faculty and staff are eligible for walk in clinic.

“All visits and inquiries are confidential�

24- Hour Student Emergency Care Hot line

1-866-315-8756 (Services provided through American Health and Holding, INC. which is not affiliated with the University of Houston Health Center)

Health Center will be offering

FREE CONFIDENTIAL AND ANONYMOUS HIV TESTING on the following dates:

World AIDs Day - November 30, 2012 National HIV Testing Day - June 27, 2013