Wednesday, July 17, 2013 // Issue 119, 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
S I N C E
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STATE
Local clinic meets abortion bill’s standards Nam-My Le Staff writer
On Friday, the Texas Legislature passed a controversial bill that puts stricter regulations on abortion clinics and could force
most abortion clinics in the state to shut down. House Bill 2 prohibits abortions at or after 20 weeks, unless the life of the mother is in danger, and requires that abortion facilities
meet the minimum standards for ambulatory surgical centers. HB 2 also requires doctors to have the ability to admit a patient at a hospital no farther than 30 miles from the abortion clinic and
allows only doctors to administer abortion-inducing drugs. Out of 42 clinics in Texas, the Planned Parenthood clinic near UH, known as Prevention Park, is one of the six that are currently
in compliant under the law and will continue performing abortions. The rest of the clinics have until September 2014 to upgrade CLINIC continues on page 3
CAMPUS
FACULTY
Small fire displaces residents
Rehearing filed in case against UH
Natalie Harms
Editor in chief
Channler K. Hill
Managing editor
Students evacuated the Calhoun Lofts Tuesday evening when flames and smoke were seen by residents coming from an apartment. “Calhoun Lofts was evacuated after a fire started earlier (Tuesday) evening in a room on the third floor of the building,” said Richard Bonnin, interim associate vice president and vice chancellor of marketing and communication, shortly after the fire. “Po l i c e a n d f i re f i g h t e r s responded. Flames are no longer visible, the situation is now under control and there are no injuries.” The Houston Fire Department extinguished the fire and an investigation is underway. “A cardboard box placed on
— something she said could take an hour and a half.
A rehearing was filed at the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday in an attempt to reverse its initial decision of siding with UH on a Texas Whistleblower case. The University of Houston v. Stephen Barth has been a decadelong court battle, which had its most recent decision delivered on June 14, when the Texas Supreme Court ruled that university policies are not equal to state laws when it comes to reported violations to be protected by the Texas Whistleblower Act. “ T h e Un i v e r s i t y s t r o n g l y believes the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Stephen Barth’s lawsuit in its entirety was appropriate and is consistent with the Texas Supreme Court’s previous
news@thedailycougar.com
COURT continues on page 3
The Daily Cougar counted seven fire trucks, five rescue vehicles and two ambulances at one point during the evacuation. Residents on the first three floors were displaced for more than two hours. | Stefani Crowe/The Daily Cougar top of a stove is thought to be the source of the fire,” said Director of Media Relations Shawn Lindsey. Residential Life Coordinator
Jamica Johnson said to residents in an email at 8:21 p.m. that they would be displaced from the fire until HFD gives the all clear
MARKETING
UH athletics takes steps to build its national brand Christopher Shelton Sports editor
A glance to the left before passing Griggs Road on Interstate 45 now offers a 48-foot-wide visual of a UH marketing technique. On July 2, following the Cougars official entrance into the American Athletic Conference, two billboards went up, promoting the importance of the move from Conference USA. The two 14-by-48 foot structures stand as pillars of the Athletic Department’s plan to improve its brand locally, regionally and nationally. UH began taking steps three years ago to achieve its goals, first by switching licensors. The Cougars moved from The Collegiate
Licensing Company to Licensing Resource Group with objectives to increase the program’s presence in retail, have more brand exposure and to create a new logo, which they unveiled on April 1. For years, students, fans and alumni have noted that athletic apparel from other universities across Texas was more widely available in Houston than UH gear — a reality LRG and UH looked to change with a hands-on approach. “One of the things we did is becoming very active in reaching out to retail buyers — putting it in front of them and explaining the demand,” BRAND continues on page 5
Three years ago when UH switched licensing partners one of the goals was an increased retail presence, now, more than 200 stores sell UH gear. | Aisha Bouderdaben/The Daily Cougar