LIFE AND ARTS
EVENTS
CROSS COUNTRY
Designers flaunt styles
Course presented challenge for UH
NAACP hosted its eighth annual #FashionForwardFashionShow.
The Cougars reflect on their season-ending performance at the Region Championships.
SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 7 NOVEMBER
CALENDAR CHECK: 22
Football. The Cougars hope to claw at the Cincinnati Bearcats in their home game.
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
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Issue 50, Volume 81
O F
H O U S T O N
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
ADMINISTRATION
Interim officer aims to expand health programs Channler K. Hill Editor in chief
The dean of the College of Optometry wasn’t a well-known faculty member at the University. That is until his appointment to interim chief health officer. President and Chancellor Renu Khator appointed Earl Smith
III to serve a two-year term with the priority of initiating a new Health Science Center. “Enhancing our
already-outstanding health care programs remains one of my top priorities,” Khator said in a UH press release. “The development of our new Health Science Center is a crucial element of that commitment. Dean Smith brings the experience, enthusiasm and energy required
Smith
for this considerable challenge.” Smith’s interest in optometry was sparked after his older sister was dating an optometry student at the University when he was pursuing his first degree in mathematics. He said his sister told him to look more into the program. “I looked into optometry and I
thought it has a lot of optics, which fits the math background. Then I took a couple biology courses, and they were absolutely magical, I thought,” Smith said. He never looked back. Smith obtained four degrees from the OFFICER continues on page 3
ARCHITECTURE
Cougars collaborate in local play park Javi Salazar Staff writer
New turf helps make UH’s field of dreams The update of Cougar Field is underway. After UH received commitments of more than $2.2 million, which has allowed it to install a full artificial turf and update the clubhouse and facility, construction began on Nov. 13. Esteban Portillo/The Daily Cougar
As a part of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, the Community Design Resource Center underwent its third neighborhood design outreach project in collaboration with the Houston Department of Health and Human Services to develop an elementary school outdoor play area. With a $1,000 grant from the city’s DHHS, the CDRC’s Healthy Community Design effort worked handin-hand with the city’s Community Transformation Initiative to build the Play Zone, or “Zona de Juego,” at the DeZavala Park in Magnolia Park, directly across from DeZavala Elementary School. CDRC Director
Susan Rogers decided how to put the funds to good use. “This action project, the Zona de Juego, came out of meetings with the Civic Club and local residents,” Rogers said. Efforts in construction of the zone involved collaboration from the CDRC’s staff, the Pineview Place Civic Club, city officials and locals from the community. The painted timeline depicting the neighborhood’s history and games, like foursquare, hopscotch, connect the dots and ticktack-toe, extends 600 feet around the park. Rose Lee, a graduate student of architecture and CDRC staff member, joined hands with those involved in PLAY continues on page 3
HEALTH CENTER
Dental Office invites UH community to promote services Ryan Graham Contributing writer
Students, faculty, staff and alumni were able to receive free Invisalign assessments, register for a free teeth-whitening kit and tour the dental suite inside the University Health Center on Tuesday. Although the Dental Office
has been open since May 2011, the Health Center held an open house to raise more awareness on all services being offered, such as preventative and restorative care, emergencies, teeth-whitening and Invisalign. “I have a bridge and been having some problems with it. I need
some work done, so I decided to come here for a free assessment,” said biochemistry graduate student Subhani Bandara. The Dental Office prides itself in offering quality, comfort and above all, convenience. “The UH faculty and staff love the convenience of simply being
able to walk over to receive care,” said Dental Office Administrative Director Majeedah Pacha. “Many of our international students do not own cars, so it makes it easier for them to have a dental office on campus.” While some students were looking for help with bridges and
cavities, others were looking for cosmetic help. One of the popular services being offered is Invisalign, an alternative to traditional braces. “In the Houston market, Invisalign can easily cost $5,500,” said DENTAL continues on page 3