Tuesday, January 15, 2013 // Issue 59, Volume 78
THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
S T U D E N T
N E W S PA P E R
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
O F
H O U S T O N
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
ROBERTSON
Out with the old, in with the new Stadium features direct view of Houston skyline Christopher Shelton Sports editor
One of UH’s goals in building the new 40,000-seat stadium was to better connect the team with the city. The orientation of the stadium was an unlikely solution. Robertson Stadium had a northto-south orientation that did not highlight the Houston skyline, while the new stadium is oriented from east to west. According to uh.edu, the new facility will give television audiences a clear view of the skyline while improving shading. “This is an exciting time for the University of Houston and the city of Houston,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades. “We believe the stadium will serve as a focal point of college football for the nation’s fourth largest city.” UH will play its first game in the
Campus crime on the rise LIFE+ARTS
The Cougars played their first game in Robertson Stadium on Sept. 21, 1946 against Southwestern Louisiana. They are set to play their first game in the new, unnamed stadium on Aug. 30, 2014. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
new stadium on Aug. 30, 2014 with an as yet unnamed opponent. The stadium will be constructed where Robertson stood. It will be possible to expand the stadium to a capacity of 60,000, though expansion
will depend on demand, Rhoades said. New synthetic turf on the field will allow UH to host high school games, intramural events and band practices.
UH has not yet decided on a name for the $105 million stadium. Out of 120 Football Bowl
ADMINISTRATION
Technology professor passes
Faculty to face financial cuts
Julie Heffler Staff writer
Michael Lucas Gibson, a former graduate professor for the College of Technology and chair for Information and Logistics Technology Department, died Jan. 5. The College of Technology hired Gibson in 2002, teaching graduatelevel courses in project management, database management and information systems. He was a strong advocate for accreditation for UH programs, said Fred Lewal- Gibson len, associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Technology. “He had wanted us to take a leadership role as far as the nation was PROFESSOR continues on page 2
Staff writer
The faculty senate has been at work during the winter break to elect new members for leadership positions, such as president-elect, secretary, the members-at-large for the Executive Committee, the members of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics and the members of the Faculty Governance Committee. “The faculty senate basically is a forum that provides an official space for communication between the faculty and the administration of the University. It’s a way to ensure that the faculty are informed and involved in the important decisions that happen on campus,” said María Elena Soliño, associate professor of Spanish literature and film and new president-elect. The senate is made up of faculty members elected from every college and the library to represent their constituency to the administration. “For example if a professor changes the prerequisite for a course, before it goes to the course catalog, we look at it to see if it’s OK.”
Soliño will serve as presidentelect until Jan. 23, 2014 when she will become the president of the faculty senate, a position now being held by Steven Wallace, director of the School of Theatre and Dance. At the start of her presidential term, Wallace will become the most recent past president and a continued member of the leadership committee. Soliño’s win comes pleasantly to the soon-to-be-president Wallace, he said. “As the incoming president, you are an active part of this election. You have discussions with individuals that you think are in-line with your thinking and someone you feel like you could work with. Maria was one of those,” Wallace said. “She represents a lot of really, really strong women on campus and in the Senate. Frankly, I’d like to see more women involved, a much more diverse population in the Senate. She sort of leads that in many ways, so I’m excited about her being presidentelect.” This year will be particularly demanding because of expected
SPORTS
STADIUM continues on page 3
OBITUARY
Julie Heffler
Alumnus puts out poetry
budget cuts from the Texas legislature, said Miranda Bennett, head of liaison services for collection and research support for the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library and secretary for the faculty senate. “I think we’ll deal with uncertainty around the budget and what kind of money may come to the University from the State of Texas. That’s always an issue of great interest and (it’s) always very challenging, of course,” Bennett said. “Just staying on top of all the things as the University of Houston evolves this quickly.” Only 20 percent of UH’s funding comes from Texas, Wallace said. Its focus needs to be in part on the 20 percent but with major attention on where the other 80 percent will come — fees, donations, the private sector and tuition. “A lot of focus, I think this year, will be, at least in the early months up until May, on what’s going on in the legislature,” Wallace said. “There will be really, really high severe cuts that affect education in SENATE continues on page 3
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TOMORROW Read a review of Ricardo Bates’ collection of poetry
COUNTDOWN
104
Days until the last day of classes.
One day down...