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
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Issue 31, Volume 79
O F
H O U S T O N
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
CITY
Firm dreams of Third Ward improvements Olivia Schultze Staff writer
LAI Design Group, a landscape architectural firm, has created a $1.5 billion urban redevelopment plan that will encompass eight city blocks throughout the Third Ward area near UH. The Third Ward Redevelopment Council, in collaboration with the ULI Urban Innovation Grant Partners and LAI Design Group, reflected on past research about the Third Ward to incorporate it into their new plan. What developers are calling University Place will bring new facilities, such as a civic library, an H-E-B grocery store, a Hilton hotel and apartment complexes, along with shops, restaurants, offices and fitness and community facilities. Such a combination of residential and commercial facilities is anticipated to lead to fewer lease turnovers. “It will significantly improve the physical appearance of the neighborhood and boost its economic
The proposed University Place would bring new facilities to the UH and Texas Southern University communities, such as shops, restaurants, offices, apartments and a Hilton hotel, among others. | Courtesy of LAI Design Group stability,” according to the Third Ward Redevelopment Council. Such projects have received criticism in the past because of worry regarding possible “gentrification” of the Third Ward, but other UH faculty, staff and students say
that as long as the existing residents of the area are alright with the change, so are they. “I always invite improvements, but as long as (LAI Design Group) is not abusing or misusing the people that are there to get rid of
WARD continues on page 3
SCIENCE
VOTING
Grant fuels diesel emission research
SGA election controversies lead to reform
Ryan Graham Staff writerr
Nora Olabi Senior staff wrtier
Three bills were introduced into the Senate Wednesday that would reform campus election protocol and SGA members’ dress codes. In response to the election controversy during February elections earlier this year, Sens. James Lee and Guillermo Lopez of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences brought forth two separate bills. Lee presented the first election code reform, called the Election Reform and Accountability Act, which would amend election rules in campaigning, election implementing and concerns with voting turnout. Confusion about voting locations, candidate selections and social media presence were some of the highlights of Lee’s presentation. “We have changed our system of voting to on-campus in-person
them,” said computer information systems senior Sam Davis. “If they properly transition them somewhere, great — maintain emphasis on the fact that the humans come first.” The redevelopment of this area
will connect it to the downtown Main Street corridor. This “Transit Oriented Development” will be easily accessible through the newly constructed southeast light rail line as well as regional access from Interstate Highway 45 and U.S. Route 59 for the 70,000 commuters who visit the area daily. Additional profits are expected from the implementation of “green” building practices approved by the U.S. Green Building Council. “Green building practices or sustainable design can place additional dollars in your pocket (by) reducing the operating costs and maintenance,” said Kenneth Puncerelli, CEO of LAI Design Group. Energy Star appliances, compact florescent lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems will be used to achieve their goals. The planned initial phase will include work on a mixed-use
Three senators that represent the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences presented two bills Wednesday that addressed voting issues that appeared during the Spring elections. | Emily S. Chambers/The Daily Cougar voting, and it’s the safest, most convenient way for students who are here on campus who are able to vote. The problem was, last year, our polling locations weren’t well thought out, and on top of that, you had problems with technology,” Lee said. “The main thing we want to do
is increase accessibility for students and their involvement on campus. And the main way to do that, in order to properly do that and to implement this engagement, we have to make sure they’re able to properly cast their ballots.” REFORM continues on page 11
The Cullen College of Engineering has been awarded a $1.2 million grant by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy for research into diesel engines and their emissions. A team of professors at the college were awarded for their research of 15 years spent seeking a solution for the issue of pollution reduction. “As (an) engine gets more efficient, it operates at a lower temperature,” said chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Dan Luss. “The most efficient examples release exhaust at about 150 degrees. However, current catalytic converters are built to operate at 200 degrees at the lowest.” The catalytic converter is the part of an engine built to either remove harmful pollutants from engine exhaust or convert these
pollutants into a less harmful form. This means that new highefficiency diesel engines, when paired with catalytic converters currently in use, will pose a different threat to the environment. An environment like this produces larger amounts of nitrogen oxides, otherwise known as NOx gases. “NOx gases go into the atmosphere and react with hydrocarbons and sunlight to produce ozone. Ozone is a strong oxidant and can damage your lungs,” said chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Mike Harold. “When you hear about a bad air day in Houston, it’s usually because of unacceptable levels of ozone.” A series of regulations by the U.S. government known as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards call for a significant increase in overall vehicle fuel RESEARCH continues on page 11