Tuesday, April 2, 2013 // Issue 98, 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
OBITUARY
BAUER
Former coach, legend dies, 67
RED means let’s go Manuella Libardi Contributing writer
was how quickly he could change schools. “I knew my sexuality could possibly be an issue — I didn’t really think it would be since it’s 2013,” Sharp said. “I was expecting some attacks, maybe some debates, but I never would have thought it would go to the level it went to.” He was shocked to hear everything was protected under the First Amendment and could not be considered hate speech because proper words, like AIDS and homosexual, were used on the flier. He said Thomason told him if slang had been used, it could have been considered slander. He said he was basically told there was nothing they could do about it.
Potential million-dollar ideas are born every day from the simplest situations but because of lack of necessary knowledge and support, they might never leave UH students’ imaginations. It was with that in mind that clinical assistant professor Hesam Panahi at the C.T. Bauer College of Business created RED Labs, a new startup accelerator that seeks to transform entrepreneurial ideas into businesses. Panahi said students work on projects in their classes and at the end of the semester, these ideas are abandoned and turned into a waste of effort. He realized UH didn’t provide students who want to start a company with space and support. “We have entrepreneurship major, but what about the other 40,000 students?” he said. Accelerators are programs designed to support the development of entrepreneurial companies by providing different resources and services such as mentoring, training and events as well as networking for a three-month period, Panahi said. “The mentors are one of the biggest things of the program,” he said. “They can instruct students in ways that textbooks can’t because they are real people with real-world experience.” The program also helps students through sponsorship. The idea is for students to come in with a prototype for a product and develop from there through the resources provided. RED Labs’ designated space at Melcher Hall is open 24/7 and is equipped with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, flat screens, storage lockers and unlimited coffee and ramen noodles. The inaugural class is developing six potential businesses using innovative technologies and applications, and it consists of 12 students and one alumnus who work in teams. The only condition is that at least one of the team members is an actively enrolled UH student. One of these projects is an e-commerce platform being developed by supply chain management juniors
CANDIDATE continues on page 2
STARTUP continues on page 3
Christopher Shelton, Andrew Valderas Sports editor, staff writer
After a lengthy battle with cancer, legendary former UH football head coach Jack Pardee died Monday at 76. Pardee was diagnosed with terminal gall bladder cancer in November. Head coach Tony Levine said Pardee was a special person and coach for the University. “I just found out about that coming off the field a few minutes ago. It’s extremely sad news,” Levine said. “Again, when you talk about the University of Houston, coach Pardee is a name that comes right to the forefront of everybody’s mind. His family is very close and his extended family is very close to our program.” UH announced the Pardee Family has established the Jack Pardee Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Athletics Department, which
Former coach Jack Pardee led UH during the Run-And-Shoot era, during which, the Cougars set offensive records and quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman trophy in 1990. | 1990 Houstonian
will be awarded to a walk-on from the program each season. “He truly loved the time spent at the University of Houston and
wanted to find a way to help a deserving, hardworking, dedicated PARDEE continues on page 5
UH-DOWNTOWN
Student body VP candidate faces harassment for sexual orientation Stefani Crowe Staff writer
The UH-Downtown police department launched a criminal investigation last week into the circulation of fliers that targeted the sexual orientation and HIV-positive status of a potential candidate for student body vice president. Social work junior Kristopher Sharp, and his planned running mate, applied mathematics junior Isaac Valdez, meet the stipulations for running and are working to complete all the required paperwork but have not yet been approved. The front of the flier had the words “WANT AIDS?” above a picture of Sharp with a large X on it, and “Don’t support the Isaac and Kris homosexual agenda” at the bottom. On the back was medical information
from a physician visit, including his HIV status and prescribed medication, along with his home address and telephone number. Director of Media Relations Claire Caton said the university is seriously addressing the situation and trying to find the person responsible. “We’re taking this incident very seriously,” Caton said. “Of course, any time our students’ rights are violated, we take that very seriously.” When Dean of Students Tommy Thomason called Sharp into his office Tuesday morning, Sharp said he thought he wanted to talk to him about the election — the actual objective was to gather information for campus police to begin an internal criminal investigation. Sharp said the first thing he wondered about when he found out
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
Organizations help academics LIFE+ARTS
Coogs sunbathe safely SPORTS
Cougars score in series GET SOME DAILY
thedailycougar.com
ONLINE XTRA UH improv team wins first place in national comeptition.
TOMORROW Learn about the campus safety program.
COUNTDOWN
27
Day until the last day of class.
It’s not too much longer now. Just hang in there.