Thursday, April 25, 2013 // Issue 112, 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
ADMINISTRATION
O F
H O U S T O N
Renu Khator stays humble Sexual assault
The Daily Cougar: You were instrumental to UH becoming a Tier-One-recognized university; what goals do you have for the next five years? Renu Khator: First of all,
getting to Tier One was a team effort. It took all of us to focus and create the synergy required to accomplish the task. As for the next five years, our goal remains the same: to be nationally competitive in everything we do, from student success to research productivity to athletics. We will grow our Health Science Center, strengthen the Energy Research Park, enhance our arts connections, but above all, be relevant to the community. TDC: Is there anything you would have done differently in the five years you have spent in Houston?
The International Student and Scholar Services Office provides UH’s almost 4,000 non-immigrant international students with the tools to begin their American education and take it back to their country of origin. International students who come to the University with a temporary visa are greeted on their arrival with
a check-in process. “They have to check in with us, and the reason is because our office is in charge of the responsibility of ensuring that the student is on an appropriate visa for study,” said Anita Gaines, director of ISSSO. “There are some types of visas that don’t permit study. Or there may be cases when the international student may have a concern or problem before getting here that
Managing editor
ISSSO continues on page 15
ASSAULT continues on page 3
International students get help Staff writers
Amanda Hilow
we need to see.” During check-in, the entire staff meets each student individually, who then walks through stations that provide information about everything from how to get housing and pay bills to obtaining a driver’s license. The office has trained peer advisors, both American and international, who help with the
ACADEMICS
Erika Forero, Tara Gonzales
sees one arrest According to a study by the National Institute of Justice, one out of every five women experience an attempted or completed sexual assault while in college. Most of the attacks happen when the woman is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol. A student reported that she was sexually assaulted in her Cougar Village room by Keon Mark Whitehead, 19, while she was drunk April 13. According to the criminal complaint filed against Whitehead, the student said she could only vaguely remember what happened, but she recalled Whitehead, an acquaintance of her and her roommate, standing beside her bed after she had been drinking for several hours. She then said her legs had fallen off of the bed and she remembered Whitehead picking them up, and according to the complaint, Whitehead confirmed — via telephone the next day — that the two of them had sexual intercourse and that he did not use a condom. According to the complaint,
KHATOR continues on page 13
TOP TEN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN FALL 2012 TURKEY
87
STUDENTS
IRAN
78
CHINA
821
STUDENTS
INDIA
SAUDI ARABIA
MEXICO
99
VENEZUELA
96
STUDENTS
STUDENTS
NIGERIA
140
92
STUDENTS
663 STUDENTS
S. KOREA
ONLINE XTRA
STUDENTS
UH students help in the design of Houston high school.
136 VIETNAM
320 STUDENTS
STUDENTS
COUNTDOWN
GREATEST INCREASE FROM 2011-12 IRAN VIETNAM CHINA
49 254 686
78 320 821
Here we are at last: the end of another school year. But for some students, it’s more than that; it’s the end of an era. I’m graduating, and this marks the end of my education and the start of my life as a postgraduate Joshua Mann Editor in chief citizen. I can say with confidence that nothing has had a greater impact on my college education than my decision to step into The Daily Cougar’s newsroom and fill out an application. Getting involved on campus has done more than just devour my free time; it’s given me a chance to be a part of something I feel matters, something beyond the endless classwork, papers and exams. The Cougar has ravenously consumed my time at UH, but it’s also made my time mean something. It’s given me a sense of ownership over the campus and a sense of responsibility toward my readers. In a week, I’ll be handing my office and title off to Channler K. Hill, who I’m sure will be a fantastic editor. I’ve got the run of the paper for one more night of production, and I’d like to use it to offer this last piece of advice to those of you returning for another school year. It’s advice you’ve probably heard before, but maybe you need to hear it again. Get involved. It doesn’t have to be at the Cougar — although I’d recommend it. Just find a group doing something you’re passionate about, and give yourself a chance to be a part of something bigger. You won’t regret it. editor@thedailycougar.com
STUDENTS
CUBA
1 9 3 4
EDITOR’S NOTE
CRIME
To celebrate President Renu Khator’s five-year anniversary at UH, The Daily Cougar got a chance to interview her while she is away in San Francisco. Among University-related topics, the Cougar and Khator discussed her most defining learning moment from a student, favorite dishes, style secrets and blog.
S I N C E
59.2 %
Grpahic by Andres Garcia
26 % 19.7 %
Annual Enrollment Report, Fall 2012 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Information gathered from:
4
Days until the last day of class.
Stave off the excessive drinking for just a little bit longer. Summer is coming.