Issue 53, Volume 79

SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

REVIEW

Defending her last serve

Play puts Cougars in holiday spirit

Defensive specialist Meredith Ware expects an emotional evening when she plays her last game on Senior Night.

As the semester comes to an end, assistant professor directs family-friendly feature that is charming and entertaining.

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 5 NOVEMBER

CALENDAR CHECK: 28

Thanksgiving. Whether you’re ready to binge eat or shop ‘til you drop, the day is near.

THE DAILY COUGAR

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Issue 53, Volume 79

O F

H O U S T O N

S I N C E

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STUDENT FEES

ARAB STUDIES

Committee recommends increase Director molds in student fees in annual report emissaries The Daily Cougar News Services The Student Fees Advisory Committee released their recommendations as to how the funds acquired through student fees should be allocated to campus organizations.

Among the fund distribution to organizations such as Athletics and the Student Government Association was the additional recommendation that the student service fee be increased by $10.

Student fees are currently $250 per student enrolled in six credit hours or more and $234 per student enrolled in five or fewer hours. Though SFAC expressed an understanding that “this fee increase furthers the financial burden placed on students,” the committee members wrote that it was “necessary to sustain and improve the level of programming and resources available on campus,” according to SFAC’s FY15 Final Report.

The recommendation was made in part due to the University’s increasing shift to a more traditional, residential style of campus, requiring a greater focus on student organizations. “Given the positively correlated

relationship between student engagement and retention and graduation rates,” the report said, “we believe that the decisions of this committee support the University’s continued focus on student success.”

SFAC approved many requested budgets and applauded some organizations for the improvements they have made in the past year and for the services they provide to students.

It did not, however, approve the Band Program/Spirit Squad’s request for AV equipment, and it made further recommendations as to how several student organizations could improve to further justify receiving money through student fees.

The recommendations must be taken to Vice Chancellor and President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Richard Walker, President and Chancellor Renu Khator and the Board of Regents for further approval.

The Daily Cougar is a fee-funded organization and is included in the report. news@thedailycougar.com

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW The Student Fees Advisory Committee made its yearly budget recommendations for 34 fee-funded organizations on Monday. The 17-page report is available online at uh.edu/sfac, but here are some highlights:

1 3

5

IMMIGRANT continues on page 3

PEACE continues on page 3

In anticipation of the new stadium, SFAC created a $100,000 reserve for student activities that will be a part of the opening The SFAC recommendations are now sent to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, Richard Walker, and President Renu Khator for approval

All information from uh.edu/sfac | Graphic by Natalie Harms

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate resolution supports in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students Diana Nguyen Contributing writer

In a move to support immigrant students on campus, the Student Government Association enacted a resolution last Wednesday reaffirming support of in-state tuition for undocumented students.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Sen. Guillermo Lopez and marketing junior Karla

Quetzalli Perez, chairperson of the Mexican American Student Studies Organization, reaffirmed support of in-state tuition for undocumented students and called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would help students and their families.

Lopez and Perez said they were motivated by recent controversy about a UT student planning a

“Catch an Illegal Immigrant” event on the school’s campus. The two created the resolution in hopes of making sure UH’s undocumented students feel welcome here on campus.

With SGA supporting Texas Senate Bill 1528, which helps certain unauthorized immigrants enroll in Texas public colleges and pay in-state tuition, students like

Assistant news editor

Perez could be able to succeed in their studies knowing they have support.

“As an undocumented Cougar, the support from SGA and others at UH has given me the strength to be a strong advocate for other undocumented immigrants while motivating me to excel in my

Organizations lacked the proper benchmarking data in their presentations Fund allocation was based on the organizations’ alignment with the six strategic initiatives of the Division of Student Affairs

4

Nora Olabi In a post-9/11 and Arab Spring age, the turbulence of the Middle East has been magnified by the media, and the image of men in turbans wielding guns is not far from the commonly held stereotype.

Director of Arab Studies Emran El-Badawi has aimed to counter these images by fostering intellectuals and reaching out to students across cultures and faiths to find common ground.

Since his appointment in 2011, he has revamped t h e A r a b i c El-Badawi language program, established a new Arab Studies minor and worked to unveil the Middle Eastern Studies major through the World Cultures and Literature Department.

“There’s a great deal of misinformation about the Arab world and about the Islamic world, in general, so we work hard to counter that with robust academic nuance and intelligent conversation,” Badawi said.

“The most important thing — and I try to emphasize this in all of my courses — a student that completes the Arab Studies minor should be one step closer to being a world citizen, a citizen of the globalized world. Therefore, he or she should be an ambassador for peace. They should be able to use the tools that they learned, the research, the methodologies, the readings, the appreciation of the

SFAC is recommending a $10 increase to the existing Student Service Fee

2

of peace

The Daily Cougar

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CRIME REPORT

LOOKING FOR A STUDENT LEADER POSITION ON CAMPUS? University of Houston Ambassadors are premier student leaders that work within the Office of Admissions. Ambassadors are responsible for welcoming prospective students and guests to the University of Houston, as well as providing quality customer service to current students seeking assistance in the Welcome Center. The Ambassador program is a unique opportunity for student leaders to engage in on-campus employment while gaining transferable skills which enhance individual personal and professional goals.

To apply, please download the application now at www.uh.edu/ambassadors Applications for the 2013-2014 school year are due Wednesday, November 27.

Please contact vco@central.uh.edu for questions.

The following is a partial report of campus crime between Nov. 18 and Thursday. All information is selected from the files of the UH Department of Public Safety. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UH DPS at (713) 742-3333.

Graffiti: A staff member reported graffiti on three trash bins. The incident occurred between 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 and 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Calhoun Lofts and was reported Nov. 18. The case is active, pending new information.

Burglary of a Building or Habitation: A student reported her prescription medication was taken from her room. The incident occurred between 11 a.m. Nov. 17 and 9 a.m. Nov. 18 at Cougar Village 1. The case is active, pending new information.

Burglary of a Building or Habitation: An individual reported his cell phone and computer software were stolen from his unsecured and unattended room. The incident occurred between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at Calhoun Lofts.

The case is active, pending new information.

Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: A student reported his unattended and secured vehicle burglarized by unknown individuals. The incident occurred between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in Lot 8A. The case is active, pending new information.

Disorderly Conduct: A student reported finding a racial slur written on the door of her room. After an investigation, both suitemates involved were issued Student Life and Residential Life referrals. The incident occurred between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in Cougar Village II. The case is cleared by referral.

Theft: A student reported that someone stole his unattended and secured vehicle. The incident occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday in Lot 20A. The case is active, pending new information.

Possession of Marijuana: Police officers investigating the smell of marijuana at Cougar Village 1 found a student with active arrest warrants in possession of marijuana.

The student was arrested and transported to Harris County Jail. The incident occurred between 3:15 and 3:31 p.m. Nov. 18 at Cougar Village.

The case is cleared by arrest.

Possession of Marijuana: A student was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to Harris County Jail. The student also received Student Life and Residential Life referrals. The incident occurred between 12:23 and 3 a.m.

Thursday in Cougar Village. The case is cleared by arrest.

Criminal Mischief: A staff member reported a mirror had been damaged and ceiling tiles had been removed. The incident occurred between 10:45 a.m. and 1:08 p.m. Nov. 19 at Calhoun Lofts.

The case is active, pending new information.

Criminal Mischief: A student reported her driver’s side door handle broken off her unattended vehicle. The incident occurred between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Thursday at 3900 Holman Court.

The case is active, pending new information.

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PEACE

continued from page 1

‘other’ in order to spread peace and goodwill among mankind.”

The Arab Studies program has taken a new direction since Badawi was brought into the University community and ushered into the position in 2011. Academic adviser of Hispanic studies Debra Frazier, who has worked with Badawi, has seen the program change hands and grow under Badawi’s leadership.

“He’s so psyched up about it.

He’s doing everything,” Frazier said.

“There’s just been so much that he’s been working with, from the minor and now with this emphasis on the major — he just has the tools to go forward with it where the tools weren’t necessarily there before, to go forward.”

Badawi also works as a tenuretrack assistant professor and teaches upper-level language courses, comparative religious studies and cultural studies.

Some of the classes he has taught include “Arabic Literature in Translation,” “Modernity and Rationalism in Islamic Thought” and “Modern Middle East,” which are open to students of all academic backgrounds.

IMMIGRANT continued from page 1

studies, since I now feel no limitations,” Perez said.

“This bill will have a positive impact in the lives of many undocumented students at UH who may be afraid to come out of the shadows or who feel disillusioned about their lack of legal status. It will provide the peer support that many of us seek and show the University’s solidarity with its undocumented students during this uncertain time for many of us.”

Lopez, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs, said he supports SGA for passing the resolution.

“I am proud that the University

Adrian Castillo, a political science and world cultures and literature double-major, is currently taking Badawi’s Modernity and Rationalism course, which covers a broad range of modern Islamic scholarship.

He said he felt as though an understanding of the region is

important to creating peace for the future.

“Because the Middle East is such a turbulent region right now, that for us to better understand them, we have to understand their foundation — they come from one of the oldest civilizations in the world,” Castillo said. “My hope

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is that the University of Houston can expand the program into a major and, hopefully, a graduate program, because this city is so diverse. While the Middle East is far away, it has its connections here.”

Castillo has been a student of Badawi for several semesters and

Director of the Arab Studies Emran El-Badawi has worked to rebuild the department after his appointment in 2011.

He works closely with students to broaden their horizons and hopes to take Arab Studies to the next level by offering a major, rather than only a minor, in the future. Above, left, he is seen accepting an award at the Modern and Classical Languages award ceremony Spring 2013. | Courtesy of Emran El-Badawi

of Houston Student Government Association (and the University’s) 40,000 students passed the resolution, reaffirming its support for SB 1528, in-state tuition for undocumented students and also calls on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform that helps our students and their families,” Lopez said.

“At this time when DREAMers, (immigrants who are members of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors program) throughout the state are under attack due to publicity stunts from fringe organizations at a different university, it is important that we send a message that we are inclusive and we stand with our undocumented Cougars.”

Literature senior Christina

Nguyen said she feels sympathetic for the undocumented immigrants and wonders where the documented international students stand in this.

“As highly sympathetic as I am, I find it fundamentally strange that our government is allowing undocumented immigrants to cut in line when I know too many international documented students who portray every positive American attribute and have been waiting for 10 years to finally receive their green card,” Nguyen said. “I’ve already witnessed some who have separated from their families and sent back to their home country.”

With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program leaving out many undocumented youth and immigrants who arrived

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after June 15, 2007, or who do not meet the age requirement of being between 15 and 31 years old on June 15, 2012, it leaves individuals vulnerable to deportation.

Fine arts alumnus Eduardo Portillo was one of the many immigrant students who almost experienced this firsthand. Portillo and his family, originally from El Salvador, had waited five years before they were able to legally move to America.

“This is a great step forward, but of course it is not enough,” Portillo said. “Family is definitely the natural and fundamental group unit of society, and if our local and governments can’t see the big picture, the future of the country is on the hands of these families as well as any other family living here for generation.

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enjoys his teaching methods. He hopes to put his newfound knowledge into a renewed frame of the Middle East.

“His classes just skim the top of what is a very complex area of study, yet they’re so informative. His classes have given me so much,” Castillo said. “A testament to that is being around those Islamic scholars, know what they’re talking about and understand what they’re saying. It’s a testament to how well he teaches.”

Much of Badawi’s work has revolved around interfaith and cross-cultural interaction within an Arab and Islamic context. He is currently working on two research projects about contemporary Arab intellectual history and classical Islamic law in the context of Syriac Christian tradition. Badawi received his doctorate with honors in Early Islamic History in the Department of Near Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago in 2011.

Badawi will offer two courses in the Spring 2014 semester: “Qur’an as Literature” and “Women and Gender in Arabic Literature.”

“The UH community is extraordinary. It’s been a good run, and I’m very happy with the way things have turned out,” Badawi said. news@thedailycougar.com

“The biggest problem is that a lot of businesses push for cheaper labor, and they have taken advantage of illegal immigration in this sense.”

Perez said he hopes that with the resolution passed, UH will be a welcoming place for students of all backgrounds.

“On a larger scale, the University of Houston will continue to demonstrate that it is welcoming of a diverse student population, regardless of a student’s lack of legal status,” Perez said.

“It opens the door for an educated conversation between UH DREAMers and students who have legal status to better understand each other.” news@thedailycougar.com

Get your speech on.

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OPINION EDITOR James Wang EMAIL

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ECONOMY

Houston celebrates holidays, job creation

‘

Tis the holiday season; time to stuff our faces with enough food to feed a small third-world country and wear so many layers of clothing one would believe we’ve never functioned in weather cooler than 50 degrees before.

With the end of this semester in sight, there are so many things to think about besides Kelly what Christmas presents we Schafler need to purchase.

Students of every classification are beginning to stake claim on sections of the library in preparation for finals; upperclassmen are beginning to fester over applying for summer internships and registering for graduation.

For the seniors approaching graduation: I

So forget the Christmas lists intended for Santa.

It’s time to ask for the thing that we all desperately need, but are afraid we won’t receive: guaranteed employment after graduation.”

Kelly Schafler, touching on a sentiment most of us can relate to: the uncertainty of our post-graduation job market

commend you.

After graduation, the real world is going to be staring us in the face, so we better have something more to say to it than “You’re a lot scarier than I believed you would be.”

So forget the Christmas lists intended for Santa.

It’s time to ask for the thing that we all desperately need, but are afraid we won’t receive: guaranteed employment after graduation.

Thinking of what job one may land after graduation is terrifying — especially when you hear of all the people who end up with jobs completely outside of their degree field.

According to the Washington Post, only 27 percent of college graduates are able to get a job related to their major; however, the chance of finding a job in your degree increases if you move to a big city.

Big cities are known to have more job opportunities and openings for many different skill sets.

Luckily, UH is located in the fourth-largest city in the nation, which hopefully means we won’t have to travel too far to find our dream job. In addition, Forbes just named Houston one of the top four cities for middle-class job creation and economic strength.

According to an article on yourhoustonnews.com, Houston’s high economic standing can be credited to its business-friendly David Delgado/ The Daily Cougar

JOB CREATION continues on page 8

GUEST COLUMN

Consumers should think twice about Black Friday Andrea Pizzolo Guest columnist

Shopping on Black Friday can be frightening, with massive crowds, midnight start times and long — well, really long checkout lines.

Before leaving Thanksgiving dinner unfinished and rushing in to a store, keep in mind that the time you spend and the quality of the products you buy could cost you a great deal.

Do your research Research and prudence are your best friends. Advertisements and low prices are tempting, but don’t allow yourself to be enticed by the deals some companies offer.

Look for real deals. Last year, Target

THE DAILY COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD Channler K. Hill Natalie Harms WEB EDITOR Jenae Sitzes NEWS EDITOR Laura Gillespie SPORTS EDITOR Christopher Shelton LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Paulina Rojas PHOTO EDITOR Fernando Castaldi OPINION EDITOR James Wang ASSISTANT EDITORS Jessica Crawford, Nora Olabi, Justin Tijerina, Monica Tso, Andrew Valderas EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

offered the 32-inch Apex (SM3288M LCD) television for $147, and K-Mart had a 24-inch Seiki 1080p HDTV for $88.

Yes, they are cheap, but you should consider the quality of the brands and their durability.

These are not well-known brands, and there are no reviews online because the TVs offered for low prices are usually new models made just for a Black Friday release.

Take, for example, Wal-Mart; they sold the Orion 24-inch 720p LCD TV (SLED2478w) for the inexpensive amount of $78. That seems like a good deal, but you should consider that this TV was made for Black Friday and was only sold that day.

A product that is not good enough to be

sold year-round might not be a good deal after all. More companies are doing this now.

These “derivative products” are made by the same manufacturer and look almost like the standard model, but they are not the same.

In 2009, Consumer Reports magazine investigated derivative products and found that they are generally manufactured with inexpensive components and lack the best features of the standard models.

The magazine said companies like Samsung and Sony have made derivative TVs in the previous years, and HP’s printers and laptops sold on Black Friday are derivatives as well.

You can tell whether products are derivative electronics because the model

STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major.

Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must

A product that is not good enough to be sold yearround might not be a good deal after all.”

Andrea Pizzolo, regarding the quality of the products sold on Black Friday

numbers are slightly different from those of the current models that companies offer.

You can also do an online search for the model number. If the distribution is limited to a single retailer, it was likely made FRIDAY continues on page 5

be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 7435384. All submissions are subject to editing.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 // 5

The Daily Cougar

SPORTS EDITOR

Christopher Shelton

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FOOTBALL

Less-heralded unit key to turnaround Andrew Valderas Assistant sports editor

With the ability to force as many turnovers as the Cougars have — 36 this season, topping the nation — the big boys up front have had plenty do with that.

Although they may not get the most notoriety or praise, the Cougars’ defensive line has helped turn around one of the country’s worst defenses a year ago — 118th in the nation — into one of the most tenacious.

“In my six seasons here, I think it’s the best defensive line we had, and the most consistent as well,” said head coach Tony Levine.

“I’ve seen improvement in these young men transferring from what I see on the practice field into the game.”

The Cougars have allowed only a little more than 149 rushing yards per game, the fewest since 2007.

They have traditionally never been a defense that will hold teams down to 14 points or less than 250 yards, as they are more of a under-sized group with finesse that has used its speed to compensate against opponents of larger size.

The Cougars’ top five tacklers have the shortest average height in the American Athletic Conference at 5’ 11”, but that hasn’t stopped them from creating an impact.

Against Louisville on Nov. 16, the defensive line held Louisville’s offense, which scores more than 35

With an improved defensive line, the Cougars have been able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks without blitzing. | Justin Tijerina/ The Daily Cougar points per game, in check, which included four sacks on Heisman candidate Teddy Bridgewater.

“Our coaches have been saying we’ve done a real good job of dominating the line of scrimmage and just making our presence felt,” said junior defensive tackle Jeremiah Farley.

“We might not statistically have the best games whether it comes to sacks or tackles for losses, but against bigger opponents, whatever their main goal is, we’ve done a really good job of shutting it

down.”

Farley played in only five games last season, but even though he doesn’t start now in 2013, he has served as valuable asset to the nineman rotation, as he is third on the team in sacks, with three.

“I’ve become more of a student to the game. I try to tweak how I play toward which will benefit me more in the game and just how I take on blocks and the presence with the rest of the defensive linemen. We’ve gone better at running to the ball on every play and people not loafing

around.”

Levine said one of the biggest improvements he has seen from his defensive line has been the ability to apply pressure with a four-man rush — not blitzing. Doing that reduces the stress on the linebacker and secondary, allowing sophomore safeties Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald to lead the team in interceptions, with four each.

Stewart said the coaches’ preaching to play until the whistle has helped shape the defense into one of the most opportunistic.

“(The defensive coaches) tell us that every single play, every single person, all 11 players need to get to the ball; somebody holding and somebody stripping the ball,” Stewart said.

“We pride ourselves on turnovers and helping the offense out. It’s just all 11 players to the ball, and we hustle every single play. We do this every day in practice and during walkthroughs, so we are used to it now.” sports@thedailycougar.com

VOLLEYBALL

A tear-jerking finale UH’s lone senior expects emotional game when she takes court for last time Harrison Lee Staff writer

After nearly four years of routine and habit, Meredith Ware has already predicted one thing about her last game at UH: She’s certain she is going to cry.

The defensive specialist, who will be the only honoree on the team’s Senior Night on Wednesday, is already talking about the game with a hint of pre-emptive nostalgia.

“It’s very weird knowing that after

this Wednesday, I’ll be finished,” Ware said. “It’s definitely going to be very weird being the only senior, but it’ll be fine knowing my team will be standing behind me.”

The Wednesday match is against SMU (21-9, 13-4), the second-place team in the American Athletic Conference behind Louisville, while UH (18-14, 10-7) is fourth in the American. The Mustangs have only lost once since last playing the Cougars on Oct. 25.

“We had a really strong game against UCF this past weekend,” Ware said. “We played very well together, and everything that we’ve been working on all season just came together. I think we’re going to be able to use that going into the game against SMU. We

want prove to ourselves that we can beat that team.”

The grudge-match angle of the last match is enough of an element to make for plenty of overriding drama, but even the freshmen recognize the importance of the night to the team’s lone senior.

“It’s not unspoken; we definitely want to win for Meredith,” said freshman outside hitter Sarita Mikals.

“Through the last three games, you could just tell how bad she wants us to win, so we want this game for her.”

Head coach Kaddie Platt, a veteran of several of senior nights, said she sees the night as something of an early reminder for her other upperclassmen.

Senior defensive specialist Meredith Ware (left) will join her teammates on the volleyball court for the final time. | Esteban Portillo/The Daily Cougar “They understand the importance of the game to Meredith,” Platt said.

“We have a lot of juniors, so a majority of them are going into their last season. I think the upperclassmen definitely take it to heart and want to give (Ware) a win.”

Thoughts on the ceremony itself are already bouncing through Ware’s head.

“It’s going to be very surreal knowing that it’s all over. There are going to be tears,” Ware said.

“It’s been a very emotional season just knowing it’s my last, so just standing on the court knowing that I’ve accomplished so much these past four years will make it all worth it.” sports@thedailycougar.com

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24 Whodunit helper 25 Full, round coif 26 Evangelist Billy 29 Prudish person 33 Apply thoroughly, as lotion 34 Monitor’s beat 35 Chowder type 36 Oil pricing grp.

37 Some Greek

vowels 38 It’s abuzz with activity 39 Like lightcolored coffee 40 Cinematic showdown time 41 Mars explorer 42 Fall or spring period 44 Fine table linen 45 Not one 46 252-gallon measures 47 Common fundraiser 50 Some gobblers 51 Little green man 54 It’s seen among the reeds 55 Political patronage 58 Extremely dry, as land 59 Creative starting point 60 Sir Michael, the actor 61 Tireless carrier 62 Thumb one’s nose at 63 Work with the hands

DOWN 1 Boss on a shield 2 Sicced a lawyer on 3 Like Goodwill goods 4 NBA official 5 Arrange beforehand 6 Fix a half hitch 7 Piece in the paper 8 Chinchilla’s coat 9 Carryable amounts 10 Thick side whiskers 11 Came down and settled 12 Popular shopping locale 13 Pre-deal chip 18 Calla lily, e.g.

23 Infuriation 24 Nothing much, to farmers?

25 “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” singer Sherman 26 Increases 27 Indian coin 28 Nautical direction

Check out more Studentdrawn comics online... thedailycougar.com/comics

Telly by Tiffany Valle

Puzzle answers online: www.thedailycougar.com/puzzles

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29 See 16-Across 30 Martini feature 31 Frugal one 32 Sort of board 34 Mumbo jumbo 37 Courageous 41 Try to clean out the house?

43 Famous mule of song 44 Ready for the dentist’s drill 46 Sweet white wine 47 “Friends” paleontologist 48 First Genesis victim 49 Fairway warning 50 Unclean, like nonkosher food 51 Canal for 43-Down 52 Legendary Horne 53 Skipped town 56 Tribute with stanzas 57 Legged it

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 // 7

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Paulina Rojas

EMAIL

arts@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

REVIEW

Fresh faces in holiday play Christmas-themed feature produced by associate professor puts Cougars in spirit as semester ends, season commences Amanda Hilow Staff writer

A stolen yo-yo returned, a ham given to others from a welfare basket, a doll gently held in a child’s arms — small tokens symbolizing the true meaning of Christmas.

Actors of the School of Theatre and Dance’s latest production, Boone, direc“The Best tor of “The Christmas Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Pageant Ever” took the stage this weekend with a heartwarming rendition of a famous holiday program with a twist.

When six of the worst-behaved children in the neighborhood decide it is time to contribute to the renowned Christmas pageant — a strict tradition in the town — the director is thrown several new obstacles that leave some thinking it might be best to just cancel the event.

The Herdman children, who originally try to cause chaos for their classmates, find harmony and learn to balance their mischievous ways with acts of love.

Based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 book, the play was truly intended for family audiences.

Even the youngest toddler in the audience remained quiet and engrossed throughout the production, and adults struggled to stifle laughter at some slightly inappropriate gestures by Imogene Herdman.

The School of Theatre and Dance decked the halls for its recent production, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” from Nov. 22 to 24. Directed by theater professor Carolyn Boone, the play ended with requests for donations in spirit of the holidays. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar The production was directed by associate theater professor Carolyn Houston Boone, and the cast presented several fresh faces. For once, theater senior Domonique Champion was not in the play.

The production failed to replace him with an equal. Of the three

girls who spoke in the introduction, only one successfully delivered her lines with believable enthusiasm and appropriate volume. The angel choir’s dialogue was also drowned out.

The acting wasn’t a complete failure. The Herdmans, Imogene

in particular, wowed the audience with believable character development, and snot-nosed Elmer presented both an endearing lisp and humorous forgetfulness in a way that made this minor character more memorable than some of the major characters.

When the curtain went down and the lights came on at the end of this short play, actors greeted their standing ovation with a kind request for food bank donations to give to the less fortunate. arts@thedailycougar.com

The Daily Cougar

8 \\ Tuesday, November 26, 2013

OPINION

FRIDAY continued from page 4

only for that company to offer as a Black Friday deal.

Consider the products you are buying. Toys are usually cheaper two weeks before Christmas, so it’s better to wait if you can. In fact, according to a study done

by ShopAdvisor, the day with the lowest percentage of products on sale was Black Friday.

JOB CREATION continued from page 4

environment.

However, Houston is not the only Texas city that has a high economic status. The state’s economy is reported to be seeing a growth in industries involving technical and mechanical mediums.

According to the article, Gov. Rick Perry credits Texas’ thriving economy on low taxes.

“We keep taxes low, maintain fair and predictable regulations and protect our citizens from frivolous lawsuits,” Perry said.

“These free-market principles have created an environment that allows hard-working Texans to prosper.”

Time is money After doing your research and determining what is really worth

buying on Black Friday, you should consider whether the savings will be worth the additional costs.

Count the value of your time.

Consider the time you spend in line to enter the store and the time you spend in the endless checkout lines. But more importantly, consider the time lost with your family.

Every minute you spend at a line waiting for the store to open could be a minute spent with

your loved ones.

Decide what’s more important, the time-consuming shopping or the time you could dedicate to your family on Thanksgiving Day. Consider the cold weather, the endless lines, sleep deprivation and the time you will miss from being with your loved ones and figure out whether the deal you found is still really worth it.

In the end, you will decide if the hassle is worth it. But it is

Largely because of the many resources within the city, Houston provides opportunities that range from medically driven to artistically driven jobs.

For each major and dream job, there will be different places students wish to go.

This decision may be based on location, the specific desired company or other contributing factors.

Corporate communications junior Emelda Burton wants a job that offers good money.

“I want a job that helps pay my student loans,” Burton said. “I also want a job where I can utilize my skills that I’m going to acquire here.”

Burton said her dream job would involve marketing for a major oil and gas corporation,

such as ExxonMobil or Halliburton. Statistically speaking, Houston is a good location for getting a job in this field.

“I’m going to try (to find a job here) first, but if at first you don’t succeed, look elsewhere,” she said.

Electrical engineering freshman Sebastian Aguirre also has his eyes set on the thriving oil industry. Although he recognizes the job opportunities available here in Houston, he said he would also look into options elsewhere.

If he had to choose between Houston and somewhere else, he would pick somewhere else.

“I would want to go visit other places that aren’t humid,” Aguirre said.

It seems that when it comes to job opportunities, students

Big cities are known to have more job opportunities and openings for many different skill sets. Luckily, UH is located in the fourth biggest city in the nation, which hopefully means we won’t have to travel too far to find our dream job.”

Quality is more important that the quantity you spend. If you don’t get a product that lasts, you are losing money.

It’s crucial that you do your research before heading to a line.

Remember, retailers are clever, and they are looking for the best ways to make you spend money and make a profit out of this day.

fundamental that you research and consider the quality of the products that are being sold on Black Friday and the time that you will lose with your family.

Remember, time is more valuable than money. Finish your turkey, enjoy your Thanksgiving and then decide whether Black Friday is really worth it.

Columnist Andrea Pizzolo is a print journalism senior and may be reached at andreapizzolo@gmail.com

Kelly Schafler, discussing how Houston’s explosive job market will aide future UH graduates in their post-graduate job search will, if necessary, leave the to get a job offer in their field, though Cougars are aware of the opportunities available in our own backyard.

Graduate school is another way that students are planning to keep up with the competitive nature of their fields.

Other students want to see more of the world and are hoping their job will take them there.

Cougars seem to be well aware of the probable steps they will need to take to land a job in their career field of choice after graduation.

Step aside, Santa. Cougars are determined to find a job for themselves for Christmas.

Senior staff columnist Kelly Schafler is a print journalism junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

This ad could use some serious help.

In other words, the Center for Student Media is

Sell your stuff.

Call 713-743-5356 to get started. classifieds@thedailycougar.com

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NOW HIRING

Graphic designer job roles (the short): Create graphics and ads for print and online, design magazine and newspaper pages.

Students of all majors should apply at bit.ly/17FoAI5 and select “Student Graphic Designer.”