Tuesday, March 26, 2013 // Issue 94, 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
TECHNOLOGY
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
App educates on ozone levels Anthresia McWashington Contributing writer
English literature senior Brooke Lightfoot uses the new Ozone Map app on her smartphone to check the daily ozone safety. | Nichole Taylor/The Daily Cougar
Houstonians are now able to determine air quality levels around the city in real time, with the development of the new OzoneMap app. UH computer science students developed the app under a partnership between the University, Air Alliance Houston and the American Lung Association. Honors college and philosophy professor Dan Price said the app will assist people who may be concerned with air quality levels in taking precaution because it has a map of Houston that displays color coordinated index values to indicate the amount of ozone in the atmosphere. Price said although Houston’s air quality levels have improved over time, the app is beneficial for those who may be sensitive to air pollution, like children and the elderly. “Over the last twenty years the amount of air pollution in Houston has gotten significantly better,” Price said. “What we really should think about is what use this type of science
could be for people who have asthma or worries about heart disease and other things that are connected to health affects because of ozone exposure.” Computer science senior and developer of the android version of the app Ashik Khatri said the app will help people to know when the best times are to go outdoors. “It is important for people to be aware of ozone in the atmosphere since it is harmful to be outside during a time of high ozone activity,” Khatri said. He said if the app shows a red or purple cloud it is advisable to stay indoors until the ozone cloud clears. Because of UH’s proximity to chemical plants and major highways that emit air pollutants, the app is a key tool to keep members of the university community informed. “Since UH is close to Pearland, which is a polluted part of town due to a lot of chemical plants, it is important
Calhoun Lofts complains LIFE+ARTS
Students mingle with advocates SPORTS
TECH continues on page 3
SCIENCE
Program trains future educators Julie Heffler Staff writer
Starting this fall, potential health science educators can now get an expedited doctorate through the UH College of Education. The executive doctorate for health sciences is a two-year program that will require its participants to go through two years of schooling — fall, winter, spring and summer — along with online classes. The need for professional instruction on how to be a teacher is greatly needed in the Texas Medical Center, said Bernard Robin, program coordinator for the graduate programs for health science educators in the College of Education. This need was originally addressed in the early 2000s by a master’s program. “It turns out that there a lot of people working in the Texas Medical Center who find themselves with teaching responsibilities but no experience in how to be a good teacher,” Robin said. “They have to prepare lectures
and they have to decide on curriculum material. They have to do program evaluations. They have to learn how to become teachers, and they’ve never had any experience or any courses that help them with that. So, we decided to start offering a master’s degree that would be specifically tailored toward professionals who are in that position, who work in the Texas Medical Center and want to become better teachers in addition to becoming better nurses or better dentists or better doctors.” The new doctorate will be mostly face-to-face, while the master’s program will be switched to an online only program, Robin said. Many of these health educators don’t initially see themselves becoming teachers and therefore don’t train in that field, but more and more students are joining the advanced degrees in education due to the increased competition they perceive in the job market. EDUCATION continues on page 3
Cougars net ranking GET SOME DAILY
thedailycougar.com The Bauer Internal Audit Program was honored as the “Center for Internal Audit Excellence” and received $100,000 to create an endowment fund. | Courtesy of UH.edu
BAUER
Auditors take 3rd Manuella Libardi Contributing writer
The UH Bauer Internal Audit Program has become the third in the nation and sixth in the world to be recognized by the Global Institute of Internal Auditors as a Center of Excellence. The IIA, an organization with chapters around the world, represents internal auditors and encourages internal audit courses in educational institutions. It presented
the Department of Accountancy & Taxation at the C.T. Bauer College of Business with $100,000 to create an endowment to secure the program’s success. “Our vision is to further assist UH in attracting top students to meet the growing needs of the Internal Auditing profession in Houston by creating a scholarship endowment for their Internal BAUER continues on page 3
ONLINE POLL What is your favorite thing to do on Easter weekend?
TOMORROW Analysis of Cougars’ College Basketball Invitational loss.
COUNTDOWN
5
Day until Easter.
Get ready for the only day when putting bunny ears on your friend is OK.
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2 \\ Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Careers in...
UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON Center for Mexican American Studies 40TH Anniversary Speaker Series
PHOTOGRAPHY
Wednesday, Mar. 27, 1–3PM UH M.D. Anderson Library, Rockwell Pavilion
The following is a partial report of campus crime between March 18 and Sunday. All information is selected from the files of the UH Department of Public Safety. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UHDPS at (713) 743-3333. Criminal Mischief: At 12:48 p.m. March 18 at the Quadrangle, two students and a visitor were issued Harris County citations for alleged criminal mischief after starting a fire on a UH-owned picnic table. The two students also received Student Life referrals and the visitor received a criminal trespass warning. The case is cleared by arrest.
Jose Angel Gutierrez, Professor of Politcal Science, University of Texas Arlington
Chicano Paths to Power in the Last 50 years Analysis of five major strategies developed by Chicanos during the last 50 years; their paths to power. Power point demonstration and presentation of each strategy with explanation, description, and impact supplanted if available with book covers on the topic and data such as FBI documents obtained via FOIA requests. The last segment of the presentation will focus on the demographic browning of the United States utilizing population data, voting returns, Electoral College map, and projections of population into 2040.
For more information: Room 323, Agnes Arnold Hall Call 713-743-3136 Visit www.class.uh.edu/cmas
CRIME REPORT
Assault on Public Servant: At 12:17 p.m. Wednesday at the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library, a student was arrested for alleged assault on a public servant following an altercation. The case is cleared by arrest.
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WIN PRIZES. TALK SMACK. Track the March Madness Bracket Challenge! Follow your bracket and stay up-to-date with our competition at thedailycougar.com/bracketchallenge. The contestant with the most accurate bracket will win an autographed Rockets basketball!
Harassment: At 3:22 p.m. Wednesday at the Energy Research Park, a staff member reported receiving an offensive postcard from an anonymous source. The case is active. Evading Arrest: At 8:23 p.m. Wednesday at the Cougar Village 2 construction site, two visitors were arrested for allegedly evading arrest. Both were released to the Harris County Jail. The case is cleared by arrest. Criminal Mischief: At 9:26 p.m. Wednesday at the Stadium Parking Garage, a student reported online that someone damaged his unattended vehicle. The case is active. Traffic Offense: At 2:51 p.m. Friday in Lot 20A, a student reported a vehicle damaged his unattended vehicle and the striking driver failed
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Disorderly Conduct: At 12:43 a.m. Saturday at Lot 20A, a student was issued a citation for disorderly conduct when he was observed urinating in a public place. The case is cleared by arrest. Traffic Offense: At 4:06 a.m. Saturday at the Cullen Oaks parking lot, an unidentified vehicle struck and damaged a pole at the entrance of a parking lot. The case is inactive. Criminal Mischief: At 8:44 a.m. Saturday at the Law Residence Hall, a staff member reported a shattered window on an outer door. The case is inactive. Traffic Offense: At 1:32 p.m. Saturday in Lot 4A, a student reported her vehicle was struck and the striking driver did not leave the information required by law. The case is inactive. Assault: At 9:42 p.m. on Saturday in Lot 20C, an individual at Frontier Fiesta was struck in the face and the suspect assailant was issued a citation and escorted from the event. The case is cleared by arrest. Traffic Offense: At 1 p.m. on Sunday in Lot 2B, a visitor’s vehicle was struck and the striking driver did not leave the information required by state law. The case is inactive.
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to leave the information required by law. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and provided the required information. The case is cleared by exception.
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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer and online at thedailycougar. com. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents. SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015. NEWS TIPS Send tips and story ideas to the editors. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@ thedailycougar.com. A “Submit news” form is available at thedailycougar.com. COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of Student Publications.
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Closing editors Amanda Hilow, Joshua Mann
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013 // 3
The Daily Cougar
NEWS EDITOR
BAUER continued from page 1
Audit Program,” said Houston IIA President Larry Abston in a press release. The endowment will go toward scholarships as well as internal audit associations and programs, said Vice President of Students Relations for the Internal Audit Student Association Erin Neely. Supporting associations such as this one is key in getting students involved and interested in the internal audit profession, she said. “Participating in the (International Auditing Education Partnership) program identifies University of Houston as a forward thinking university that recognizes the importance of the internal audit profession as a career choice,” said Academic Relations Committee Chairman of the IIA Harold Silverman in a letter to Michael R.
EDUCATION continued from page 1
Robin said that a graduate of the master’s program called the department and told them she was hired at a prestigious hospital. “They told her when they hired her that one of the reasons she was attractive to them was because, in addition to all of her medical training, she also had a master’s degree in education, and they were very
TECH continued from page 1
for the UH community to be aware of the harm caused by ozone,” Khatri said. “If you have to walk around on campus then it’s a good idea to be aware and better prepared if the ozone activity is extremely high.” Representatives from UH, AAH and the ALA were available to answer questions about the app during a Houston Ozone Action Day event that was held Friday. Ilyas Uyanik, a doctorate student and developer of the iPhone app version of OzoneMap, said his decision to join the project was to assist in informing the community about the risks of ozone. “(Ozone) is really bad for our health, as we all know,” Uyanik said. “Since my research interest is in mobile computing and human interaction, I wanted to be a part of
Natalie Harms
news@thedailycougar.com
Newman, director of accounting programs at Bauer. The UH Bauer Internal Audit Program has the distinction of being the first IAEP program to be recognized as a Center program since the IIA academic relations program was reengineered in 2005, Silverman said in the same letter. “Our program is actually the first to be voted on by the IIA,” Newman said. “The other schools were grandfathered in.” Although auditing courses were offered sporadically in the 1980s, funded by the IAA, the program took off in 2003 in the hands of professors Jim Pratt, Michael Parks, Thomas Noland, Jim Stinson, Gerry Lobo and George Gamble. “The professors are really the stars within the program,” Newman said. “They are the ones that keep it going and improving everyday.” Current professors include Johnny Leavins, David Ahola, Richard Peters, Jim Garcia, Norman
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Comstock and Robert Barr. The demand for skill sets in the field boomed after the passage of the Sabanes-Oxley Act in 2002, a U.S. federal law that established new or improved standards for U.S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms. These new regulations increased the independence of outside auditors who review corporate financial statements and increased the role of boards of directors Newman said. Newman said that what the program is today is the result of the efforts of several leaders. “The IIA not only helps us financially but it also supports us by bringing in speakers, volunteers and giving advice, among other things,” Newman said. “They are a phenomenal group of people that has given a lot to our professors and students.” news@thedailycougar.com
FREE TAX ASSISTANCE!!
International Students and Scholars
FREE TAX ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE If You Are Required to File an Income Tax Return, (Form 1040NR or 1040NR EZ) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Volunteers Are Available to Assist You! This free service is available in the Bayou City Room (Room 202), University Center, 2nd Floor on the following Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm:
March 9, 16, 23, and 30; & April 6 and 13 (Saturdays only) You will need to go to the Bayou City Room to make an appointment. Bring the following: Your passport, Immigration Documents such as Forms I-20, or DS-2019; Any Forms W-2 and/or 1042-S; Forms 1099, if any; Records of all income and expenses. For additional information, please call the International Student And Scholar Services Office at (713) 743-5065. Don’t Forget to Make your Appointment with the Tax Volunteer on the Earliest Possible Saturday Among the Dates Listed Above
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focused on designing new programs and delivering new programs,” Robin said. “The education master’s degree was something that really helped her rise to the top of the applicant pool.” There are three different programs available for students, Robin said. There’s a certificate program for students considering the second and third programs, the online master’s and the doctorate. news@thedailycougar,com
this project to help society.” Uyanik will also assist in the expansion of the app’s capabilities, by adding social integration, data plotting and integrating other cities. The app is currently ranked 4.8 out of 5 in the App Store. Students should also introduce this app to friends and family, said Khatri. Educators and trainers should check the ozone levels before they take the students out for field trips or training activity. If someone they know has asthma, they can inform them about high levels of ozone possibly inciting asthma attacks. Uyanik and Khatri said that “OzoneMap” is already accessible for the public to use. The app is free and available to download for Apple and Android devices. To find it, just search “OzoneMap” in the iTunes store or Google Play store and click download. news@thedailycougar.com
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED
DO YOU HAVE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME?
Baylor College of Medicine is testing a treatment for adults 18-60 years of age. You must have 24 hr telephone access. COMPENSATION IS PROVIDED
CALL 713-798-0381
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4 \\ Tuesday, March 26, 2013
OPINION EDITOR
Aaron Manuel
opinion@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
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STUDENT HOUSING
Struggling to meet lofty expectations
The Sky Lounge, left, is one of the amenities students come to expect when moving in to the Calhoun Lofts, right. Recently, students have become frustrated with alleged curfews imposed by residential assistants and broken or closed amenities. | Left photo: Shaimaa Eissa/The Daily Cougar, right photo: UH Student Housing and Residential Life
T
he key selling point for a place to live is to make it look as wonderful as possible from the outside looking in. Calhoun Lofts, with it’s chic, contempoJacob rary architecture Patterson lures in students hoping to live on campus and live a little luxuriously. The prospective student is shown a small but attractive, modern apartment and is given a pamphlet on how wonderful the complex is for the “mature student.” There are plenty of amenities: a small gym, a luxurious Sky Lounge overlooking the city, a computer lab and a small movie theater on the ninth floor.
When you speak with the Lofts’ residents, like UH Law Center graduate student Alex Nelson, they tell a slightly different story. “The Lofts are priced and marketed to look like graduate housing with the assumption the price entails more autonomy than we are getting and nicer amenities,” he said, “but residential assistants can still enter your room without your consent or presence, and the amenities are rarely accessible and aren’t kept in good condition.” Several residents have voiced similar issues. The beautiful Sky Lounge is either inaccessible or off limits at certain times. The doors are either locked or the residential assistants will kick you out at a certain time, much
THE DAILY COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD Joshua Mann Amanda Hilow ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Samantha Wong NEWS EDITOR Natalie Harms SPORTS EDITOR Christopher Shelton LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Paulina Rojas CO-PHOTO EDITORS Nichole Taylor, Mahnoor Samana OPINION EDITOR Aaron Manuel ASSISTANT EDITORS Channler Hill, Kathleen Murrill, Jessica Portillo EDITOR IN CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
to Nelson’s chagrin. “We call it Curfew Lofts because you never know when an RA will kick you out of the Sky Lounge,” Nelson said. Curfews may discourage a professional student to take residence there, but there are other issues. “There are double doors that don’t work near the elevator,” said environmental science senior Joey Rodriguez. “They haven’t worked since I’ve been here, and nobody has fixed them.” That seems trivial, though. Every building has its issues. But when the issues spill over to the advertised amenities for long periods of time, people get frustrated. “The main machine in the
weight room was broken for a lot of last year,” Nelson said. The movie room was unavailable during most of 2012, and many students noticed, including broadcast graduate Adam Pruitt. “A lot of people pay for amenities that they don’t get,” he said. “People pay close to a thousand dollars. They could at least (keep the amenities working).” Calhoun Lofts is said to be the luxury apartment complex for more mature students, but if students aren’t able to use the amenities and access is limited to certain times of day for premium amenities, the mature student may as well look elsewhere. Despite these popular complaints, students had good things to say about the Lofts. “Despite (what I had said
earlier), there isn’t too much wrong with the Lofts,” Pruitt said. Through some of the windows, you can see a wonderful overlay of the city. “I like the higher ceilings, concrete floors and the ability to control the temperature. The views are also great,” Nelson said. If Calhoun Lofts wants to thrive and keep residents happy, students must be treated like the maturely and it should make sure all of the great the amenities are readily accessible. After all, some of the best advertising comes from happy residents who feel they are getting their money’s worth. Jacob Patterson is a management information systems senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.
including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.
and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed,
GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address
ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 // 5
The Daily Cougar
SPORTS EDITOR
Christopher Shelton
sports@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
thedailycougar.com/sports
BASEBALL
Winning streak creates national buzz Harrison Lee Staff writer
With 3-0 record in conference after a clean sweep of ECU and a 4-0 record against teams from the Big12, the Cougars have finally earned a ranked spot among the best baseball teams in the US. In five separate polls, UH is in the top 20 at no. 19 in the USA Today/ESPN poll and no. 20 according to Baseball America. The Cougars are 21-4, which is their best start in 25 years, and have reeled off 10 consecutive victories. The Pirates are the latest team to sail into Cougar Field, and first Conference USA team the Cougars have played so far. While a Sunday win against ECU at Cougar Field was a dramatic 5-4, ten inning affair, the contests on Friday and Saturday were less tension-filled, as the Cougars won 7-2 and 4-3. “Every win is good,” said head coach Todd Whitting. “There’s no bad wins. I want to win every possible game we can, whether it’s the one today or the one in two weeks.” With a pitching staff that has a team 3.11 ERA, the Cougars are tied
for first in C-USA with the University of Central Florida. Senior pitcher Austin Pruitt earned his fifth win of the season this weekend, and freshman Jake Lemoine got his fourth. Both righthanders have ERAs that are under 2.50, with Lemoine’s 1.53 against 29.1 innings pitched. Junior righthander Chase Wellbrock picked up his third save of the season over the weekend, while keeping his ERA at 3.93. Wellbrock said he is comfortable in any role. “It’s where the coaches decided to put me,” Wellbrock said. “I’ve gotta be ready at any moment whenever they call on me and I just gotta give it my all when I go out there.” At the plate the Cougars are hitting .296 as a team, with freshman infielder Kyle Kirk leading the way with a .347 average and used the weekend series to stretch his hitting streak to 10 games. Freshman infielder Josh Vidales’s RBI single against ECU on Sunday extended his streak of reaching base safely to 19 consecutive games. Vidales said the Cougars aren’t getting too satisfied. “Momentum wise, it’s always
Freshman infielder Kyle Kirk leads the Cougars in batting average at .347 and has a 10-game hitting streak. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
UH pitchers have a team ERA of 3.11, which ties it for first place in Conference USA. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar good to go into another game knowing you won the one before, but you really can’t,” Vidales said. “You can’t lack the energy or the attitude and the effort. You gotta go
into the next game like it’s a brand new day.” With one conference series down and a nine road games to be played before before the next home
series, the Cougars will take on the Lamar University at 6:30 p.m today in Beaumont. sports@thedailycougar.com
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6 \\ Tuesday, March 26, 2013
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COMICS
ACROSS 1 Touch 5 Commuter plane trips 9 Woman in a “Paint Your Wagon� song 14 Stand on hind legs 15 Jazzy Fitzgerald 16 One of the noble gases 17 Shrek or Fiona, e.g. 18 Breakfast dining area 19 Recurrently 20 Bowed tree 23 Little guy 24 Shortest month, in a way 25 “Get it while ___!� 28 Nosy Parker 30 Book of apostolic deeds 32 Worldwide workers’ assn. 33 Annual book of facts 36 Norwegian king 37 A pure disgrace 39 Narrative
writing 41 Everyday procedure 42 Certain piano piece 43 Party servers 44 Grind together 48 Yank in the Yucatan 50 Need a doctor’s care 52 “What am ___ think?� 53 What mourners shed 57 Muscleman’s quality 59 Zatopek of Olympic fame 60 Runaway GI 61 Designated PG-13, say 62 Covert transmitting device 63 Oscar winner for “Leaving Las Vegas� 64 Musical melodrama 65 Proofreader’s notation 66 Ogled
DOWN 1 Looks for prey, say 2 Crete’s sea 3 City on the Rio Grande 4 Get ready to perform surgery 5 Hair dye 6 “Method� conclusion 7 Farm tool 8 Pseudonym of H.H. Munro 9 Sings hallelujah to 10 Building blocks 11 Before long 12 “... or ___ thought� 13 ___ Arbor, Mich. 21 Express indirectly 22 Brittleshelled Chinese fruit (Var.) 26 Ending for “Motor� or “pay� 27 “Mazel ___!� (“Congratulations!�) 29 Rowboat necessity 30 “Black� cattle
Soft Contact Lens Wearers Needed The Ocular Surface Institute at the University of Houston College of Optometry is recruiting patients 18 to 69 years old to partcipate in a clinical research study evaluating the performance of soft contact lenses with 4FDA-approved contact lens care solutions. The study involves 11 visits over 9 months.
UH huh... by Roberto Torres-Torres
If eligible, you will receive a $30 Target gift card for each completed study visit (a total of $330).
want more?
Cougar Academy by Nancy Tyan
breed 31 Play mates? 34 “Snow White� judge, of sorts 35 “Author unknown� byline 36 Prophetic sign 37 Give a great deal of thought to 38 ___-Saxon 39 Unit of work 40 Average score on the links 43 Lake George locale 45 Ventilation shaft 46 Curly or Larry 47 Laughed out loud and then some 49 Comparatively fresh 50 Lit 51 Cay 54 Bastes or hems 55 Fail to mention 56 Track contest 57 Sis’ male sibling 58 Blame
Additional information about this study is available by calling Laura Cardenas at 713.743.2849 or email: tosl@optometry.uh.edu – Mention Study 104 The study was reviewed by UH 713.743.9004
Check out more Studentdrawn comics online... thedailycougar.com/comics
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013 // 7
The Daily Cougar
LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
Paulina Rojas
arts@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
thedailycougar.com/life-arts
EVENTS
Students get close to advocates Aisha Bouderbaden Staff writer
Mimosas and tequilas sparkled in the glasses of guests as they chatted, awaiting the beginning of the 13th annual Victory Fund Champagne Brunch Sunday. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund was founded by supporters and advocates for political equality which would be more inclusive of all of America’s voices, and each year the Champagne Brunch is held to fundraise for the cause and socialize. “It was inspiring to hear from the individuals on stage,” said political science senior Lance Reyna. “The Victory Fund is always so supportive and encouraging to
help reach the goal of equality for all. It motivates me to someday have a career in politics.” More than 700 guests attended, and Alex Martinez, one of the directors on the Victory Fund Board, sponsored three tables, one of which he donated to UH students. “I’ve been involved for too many years — it’s about building the pipeline for the future generation. Passing the torch. Students want to come to this event. I was a student once — I was very passionate when I was seventeen. I know there are students who are passionate,” Martinez said. Martinez reached out to the director of UH’s LGBT Resource Center, Lorraine Schroeder, to ask if students wanted to attend.
“I knew that she was the main person on campus,” he said. Chairs priced at $125 a seat were given to UH students so they could meet and network with LGBT politicians. “It was an amazing feeling to be able to tell her that I actually feel partly represented in Congress, now that there is an openly bisexual in the House,” said political science and liberal studies senior Yesenia Chavez after meeting Ariz. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema. Martinez said he was working to start an organization called Young Professionals for Victory, and he wanted it to be all about the youth. Mayor Annise Parker made an appearance, thanking Victory Fund
for backing her campaign, and to encourage attendees to donate. “The dollars you give to Victory Fund don’t just elect candidates, they change lives,” Parker said. Parker was not the only politician there — Mary Gonzales from the Texas House of Representatives, and Brian Sims from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were also present and said a few words. “I expect that the Victory Fund will find more candidates to support,” Gonzales said. “(Candidates who) represent LGBT Texans.” Gonzales and Sims praised the Victory Fund for supporting their campaigns and for being inclusive to the entire LGBT community. Sims joked about the number of letters being added to the
acronym. “My mother calls us the ABS community — All But Straight,” he said. The President and CEO of Victory Fund Chuck Wolfe accepted the praise, but acknowledged there is still work to be done. “Momentum is great, but it doesn’t close the gap of equality,” Wolfe said. “Momentum doesn’t help lesbians in Mississippi who are afraid to hold hands because they might get fired from their jobs. Momentum doesn’t cover our transgender brothers and sisters. Equality doesn’t come to those who wait — it comes to those who work for it.” arts@thedailycougar.com
TECHNOLOGY
Blogging is the name of the game Monica Tso Staff writer
Blogs are becoming powerful platforms for students in the professional world, but students are also turning to blogs as a channel through which they can express themselves freely and relieve stress. Lindita Camaj, an assistant communication professor at UH, believes that learning how to produce quality content in blogs provides students with a great advantage. “It isn’t surprising that most employers require their writers to have blogs and use other social media in their professions,” she said. “Blogging provides communicators with an easily accessible platform to get published and to acquire large audiences beyond their communities.” Having studied blogging and opinion writing, Camaj said blogs help emphasize personalities in media professionalism. “To be a fully rounded writer and communicator nowadays, you need to maintain an active presence in the web through the use of different platforms,” she said. “I would recommend students to invest in building a blog that can become something remarkable and profitable.” Research from the American Psychological Association indicated a strong correlation between a decrease in students’ social stress levels and blogging. The study also determined that students
In recent years, students have been flocking to websites like Tumblr and Blogger which provide cost-free services to those wishing to increase their online presense and stay in the loop. | Nichole Taylor/The Daily Cougar maintaining a public blog are improving their self-esteem and releasing emotional stress. Architecture sophomore Alvin Ng, began to blog about his own projects in school, personal photos, travel logs and news on his clothing brand after being inspired by several international blogs.
“Honestly, without blogs, I would probably win the award for most boring person at UH. Blogging defines who I am, from the foods I eat and the way I socialize to the clothes I wear,” Ng said. “It’s almost as influential as Pokémon is to a ’90s kid.” He said he enjoys documenting life events and sharing his
experiences with other people. “There really is no purpose to blogging other than tooting your own horn. We are a little egotistical after all,” Ng said. Accounting junior Heidi Bouzas maintains a blog to cope with traumatic fragments of her past and to share her daily encounters
and future goals. “I was in a bad place in my life, and I had questions for anyone who had experienced what I had, and I found many answers through blogs,” Bouzas said. “Now, blogging plays a large role in my life, especially when trying to promote my group video project.” Bouzas blogs about three times a week when she is unoccupied with schoolwork. “My life would probably be more frustrating without blogs,” she said. “Blogging helps people get out their emotions, which also in turn bring you closer to others going through the same situation” Advertising sophomore Vicky Lepham prefers to read blogs over newspapers and magazines because of the author’s personal connection. “From do-it-yourself blogs to horoscope and relationship blogs to fashion blogs to travel blogs and pop culture blogs, I feel as though I’ve expanded my knowledge,” she said. “I find out more about myself from reading blogs.” Lepham also browses various blogs as an outlet for stress multiple times a day. “Bloggers share their ideas, thoughts and opinions that may inspire my own thoughts about a certain topic,” she said. “There is always a blog that fits a person’s individual niche or specific interests.” arts@thedailycougar.com
The Daily Cougar
8 \\ Tuesday, March 26, 2013
SPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL
Late rally not enough to keep season alive Kevin Cook Staff writer
Despite a sluggish start to their second-round College Basketball Invitational matchup with George Mason — going scoreless in the first three minutes of play — the Cougars managed to fight their way to overtime before losing 88-84. After winning their first nonconference postseason game since 1998 Wednesday against in-state rival Texas, the UH traveled to Fairfax, Va., for its first matchup with the Patriots. George Mason, led by junior guard Sherrod Wright’s 29 points, proved too much for UH, despite strong efforts from sophomore guard Joseph Young and sophomore forward TaShawn Thomas.
Thomas performed well, notching his 16th double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 rebounds. He contributed three assists, two steals and a block. It would not be enough to stave off the Patriots’ blitz from behind the line. As a team, the Patriots connected on half of their 22 attempts from long range, led by Wright with four. George Mason freshman guard Patrick Holloway sunk three of his six attempts, showcasing NBA range by launching all three from well outside the college 3-point line. The Cougars were a different story, taking 17 shots from long distance and making only 4 of them
for just less than 24 percent on the night. Until 15 minutes had elapsed in the second half, Houston had hit only a single three. Then Young caught fire, hitting 3-pointers on three consecutive trips down the floor to bring Houston from down six 70-64 to within one, 74-73. Young turned around his slow start in the contest, eventually racking up 21 points on 16 shot attempts and converting four of his five shots from the charity stripe. Freshman center Valentine Izundu earned some meaningful minutes Monday and controlled the paint defensively when on the floor — including a block that led to a UH layup for its first lead of the game.
Izundu struggled from the line though, with three attempts and no makes. Young and Thomas did not get much help. Redshirt freshman Jherrod Stiggers, who has ignited the Cougar offense in several games this season with timely scoring, was 1-9 from the floor and did not make any of his five 3-point attempts. Senior forward Leon Gibson tallied as many personal fouls as points, two, despite passing to Thomas and freshman forward Danuel House. House was effective with 13 points on 3-6 shooting, but he missed three of his nine free throws. With the final margin at four points and the contest within one
or two points for much of the end of regulation and overtime, missed free throws could haunt the Cougars all offseason. UH made only 16 of its 24 attempts from the foul line for 67 percent, which left enough points on the table to be the deciding factor in the match. The Cougars are young, though, and with the exception of Gibson, the entire roster will return next season with high hopes. Conference USA Freshman of the Year House and first-team Conference USA honoree Thomas will attempt to help the Cougars build on their successes this season and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament in March. sports@thedailycougar.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Landry prepares for Phase II After strong college career at UH, guard takes on new challenges Andrew Valderas Staff writer
UH For Porsche Landry, the attributes that led to success on the court might benefit the redshirt senior guard when her playing days are finished. Although Landry’s illustrious UH career is finished, she has future aspirations that match her character. “I’d love to continue and keep playing, whether it’s the WNBA or overseas. I also have a plan B and other dreams if basketball doesn’t work out,” Landry said. “I actually want to be a firefighter. I’m real physical, and I like to stay active. I can’t stay behind a desk or anything like that.” “Firefighter or police officer — I’d love to do both. My uncle is a police officer, and I think he would serve as a good mentor,” she said. After she checked out of the Cougars’ loss in opening round of the Conference USA tournament with 51 seconds remaining, Landry embraced her head coach before heading toward the bench — similar to how she did after her final home game, but with one difference: Landry had played her final game for head coach Todd Buchanan as a Cougar on Wednesday. Buchanan said he was very thankful for what Landry has done for UH. “I told her I love her, and I’ll always be appreciative of what she has done for our basketball program,” he said. “She’s marked a legacy.” Landry said she enjoyed playing at UH.
Senior guard Porsche Landry was one of three players to average 16.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game this season. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar “Playing with this team means a lot to me. I really enjoy going out with these girls one last time. It is truly a blessing.” Landry made an immediate impact during her 2008-09 freshman campaign, as she started in 30 of 31 games to help lead the Cougars to a 20-11 record — UH’s first winning season since 2004-05. Landry and her teammates captured a C-USA championship in the 2010-11 season when they posted a 26-4 overall record and went undefeated (16-0) in conference play. The team clenched a spot in the NCAA Division I Tournament, but was defeated by West Virginia in the opening round. The Cougars struggled the following year (2011-12) when Landry
suffered a season-ending neck injury at Georgetown in just the third game of the season; UH finished with a 4-26 overall record. Landry has set records for the most starts (121) and assists in school history (483) and was one of three players to average 16.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game this season, nationally. “I wasn’t a scoring point guard until I started playing for coach Buchanan,” Landry said. “He started telling me to go. Once I learned that I could score too, it made the assists much easier to come by. I just had a complete game.” Landry is preparing for the next chapter. sports@thedailycougar.com
Nearing the midpoint The Cougars practiced in full pads for their seventh of 15 spring sessions. Their next practice on Wednesday is also open to the public. — Catherine Lara/The Daily Cougar