Thursday, February 14, 2013 // Issue 76, 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
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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
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UNIVERSITY CENTER
Police investigating UC power outage Natalie Harms News editor
The University Center’s power outage may not be a fluke as originally suspected. “An investigation into the cause of the power outage at the University Center, which is undergoing an $80 million transformation, has determined that an entrance gate lock was cut over the weekend,” said Richard Bonnin, the executive director of media relations for UH, “and the construction site was entered by unknown individuals.” “During the incident, a large amount of copper wire was removed from the University Center construction site, causing a power outage that officials are working diligently
to repair,” Bonnin said. The amount of wire missing from the site has not yet been disclosed, but copper wiring is commonly stolen because of its high resale value, police said. The UH crime log reports that on Sunday at the UC, a “contractor reported the theft of copper wiring from a construction site.” The crime is estimated to have occurred between late Saturday night and Sunday morning. “The incident is being investigated as a theft. No additional information is available at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation,” Bonnin said.
Online dating not for everyone LIFE+ARTS
The University has been without power since Sunday, but it should reopen sometime next week. | Nichole Taylor/The Daily Cougar
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CAMPUS
ENGINEERING
More students working for it Playing
musical chairs
Darlene Campos Staff writer
As tuition rises, so does the number of college students with jobs. “Many of our students need to work in order to pay for their educational expenses, and this is something our employers say they like about our students,” said Jaime Belinne, assistant dean of C.T. Bauer College of Business. “It is definitely difficult to balance work and school, but employers recognize the time management and prioritization skills that students develop by doing this.” According to a 2011 U.S. Census Bureau report, more than 70 percent of the nearly 20 million undergraduates in the nation worked. From that finding, 20 percent worked more than 35 hours a week. And although having a job can be fitting preparation for postgraduation life, it can be a hassle when trying to earn good grades. “According to my surveys of Bauer students, 55 to 70 percent are working at least 20 hours per week,” Belinne said. “We have also found that most of the students have two or more years of work experience, and the average age of our undergraduates is around 22.” Belinne provided a survey from The National Association of Colleges and Employers outlining the topic of working while in college. Since 2011, more than 70 percent
OPINION
Valentines day special SPORTS
Change of department heads makes UH more scientifically competitive Julie Heffler Staff writer
In the end, working during college may provide more than just a paycheck — it can provide a better career. “In the more than 20 years I’ve worked in recruiting and career services, I’ve yet to find an employer who would prefer a student with a 4.0 and no work experience to a student with a 3.5 and relevant work or volunteer experience,” Belinne said. “A relevant job or volunteer opportunity can be just as helpful if you are being given the chance to learn new skills relevant to your field. But in the end, any hands-on experience at all, even if it isn’t relevant, is better than no experience.”
The chemical engineering department chair is being promoted to special assistant to the president/ chancellor for UH Energy and will be replaced by a former department chair. R a m a n a n Krishnamoorti Krishnamoorti’s new position is a part of a larger effort spearheaded by UH’s administration to make the University more competitive in the field of energy development. “What we’re hoping to do with this position is to coalesce and find a unique way to present UH’s position in terms of educational programs (...) and aligning that with what the industry needs across the country and globally,” he said.
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CHAIR continues on page 12
UH students often search for jobs and stay on top of their financial aid to ensure they have enough funds for school. | Nichole Taylor/The Daily Cougar of employers who participated in the survey prefer to hire candidates with relevant experience. This year, almost 60 percent of employers reported to prefer candidates with internship or co-op experience. Hotel and restaurant management senior Una Hadzimahmutovic works two part time jobs. Though it can be difficult to have a busy schedule, Hadzimahmutovic has learned how to manage it. “Work and school piles up, but I keep an organized schedule of when everything needs to get done and I stick to it,” Hadzimahmutovic said. “I have to work for a class that’s required for my major, but since my jobs are related to my field, I now know what to expect after I graduate.”
In-depth look at baseball team GET SOME DAILY
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NEXT WEEK Read a review of the baseball team’s opening weekend.
ONLINE XTRA Basketball team gets back to winning ways.
COUNTDOWN
0
Days until Valentine’s Day.
In case you don’t have one, we’ll be your Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day.