Wednesday, July 3, 2013 // Issue 117, Volume 78
WEEKLY SUMMER EDITION
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
NATION
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
Lawsuit sparks new rules on intern pay Manuella Libardi Staff writer
With constant changes in the economy, it seems that more students every day are willing to take unpaid internships to get their foot in the door of the real work world. This transitional path could be in jeopardy, however, as a federal judge in New York recently ruled that Fox Searchlight Pictures
violated minimum wage laws in the lawsuit filed by two interns who worked on production of the 2010 movie “Black Swan.” “The United States Department of Labor has set out six criteria to be considered in determining whether trainees or interns at forprofit businesses are, as a matter of law, employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (and therefore subject to the statute’s
minimum wage and overtime pay obligations),” said UH Law Center professor Ronald Turner. The criteria that the internship must meet is similar to training that would be provided in an educational environment; the experience is a must for the benefit of the intern. The intern does not replaceregular employees and works under the close supervision of
the existing staff and the employer providing the training derives no immediate advantage from the intern’s activities. The employer’s operations may be impeded on occasion, therefore the intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship. Lastly, the employer and the intern understand that the intern
Guest writer urges bus use LIFE+ARTS
INTERNS continues on page 3
HONORS COLLEGE
Teachers go back to class
O-Team guides new students SPORTS
Katherine Morris Staff writer
Each summer, a handful of Houston’s English teachers become the students for a series of seminars at the Honors College. On June 28, teachers returned to college for the two-week Common Ground program, an event that has been held every year for more than two decades and aims to further expand their knowledge of the field. “Common Ground is unique TEACHERS continues on page 3
American brings obstacles Though the program is normally closed to Houston-area teachers, the Common Ground holds lunchtime readings by local poets and writers that is open to the entire UH community. | Courtesy of Mallory Chesser
ADMINISTRATION
Khator shares on past semester’s success Channler K. Hill Editor in chief
Even in the midst of the first month of the summer, President Renu Khator is still busy preparing the University for the fall semester. Two of her most anxiously-waited projects — Cougar Vill a g e I I a n d Khator Cougar Place — will open
in August, bringing UH a total of 8,000 on-campus residents. “It’s wonderful to have more and more students living here, bringing an even stronger sense of community to campus. Besides the energy and excitement that this brings, students who live on campus perform better academically,” Khator said. Spring 2013 consisted of numerous achievements that Khator could not simply note one as the biggest accomplishment, such as the groundbreaking construction of the new football stadium, the
Board of Regents approval to begin planning four-year fixed tuition rates and naming Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar as the head of the UH Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Center. The long provost search was also weighing down Khator’s plate. She said she was relieved after the process concluded when the University hired Paula Short, who served the semester as interim provost. “As you know, student success is my top priority here at UH. (Short) is also recognized as an
authority on how a University’s culture contributes to academic quality,” Khator said. “She was very effective serving on an interim basis, especially in reorganizing the Office of Academic Affairs, and I’m confident she will continue to excel.” President of the Student Government Association Cedric Bandoh has seen on Khator’s Twitter feed that she has been doing some traveling and spending time with her family. KHATOR continues on page 3
GET SOME DAILY
thedailycougar.com
ONLINE POLL Have you ever had an internship in college that paid you?
ONLINE XTRA Those over 30 aren’t just coming back to school, they’re driving
COUNTDOWN
1
Day until Fourth of July
Heat up the grill and spend time with family on the day of American independence.