Issue 58, Volume 79 by The Cougar

THE DAILY COUGAR

T H E

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Monday, January 13, 2014

Issue 58, Volume 79

H O U S T O N

Khator earns additional title

UH president, chancellor finds financial responsibility on the board of governors at Dallas Federal Reserve Laura Gillespie Assistant news editor

KHATOR continues on page 2

UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator was recently named to the Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council. She also serves on the boards of the American Council on Education, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Texas Medical Center Policy Council and the Business Higher Education Forum, among her other responsibilities. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

BOARD OF REGENTS

Admin cherry-picked for Secretary of State Nora Olabi

Assistant news editor

UC receives makeover See Page 10 and 11 for a photo essay of the University Center’s newest amenities, which opened this month as a part of Phase 1 of the UC Transformation Project. Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

Vice Chair of the UH System Board of Regents Nandita Berry was hand-selected by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as the first Indian-American Texas secretary of state, as of Jan. 7. From her hometown of Hyderabad in the Indian state Andhra Pradesh to the steps of the Texas State Capitol, Berry’s journey is described by the governor as a reflection of the American dream. “Nandita Berry personifies what is possible through hard work and dedication in the state of Texas,” Perry said in a statement. “Arriving from India at the age of 21 with nothing but $200 to her name, she worked diligently to earn her law degree

and has since become one of the most accomplished attorneys in the state. Her work ethic, intelligence and wide array of experiences will serve her capably in her new duties as secretary of state, and I look forward to working with her to keep Texas the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.” Berry’s journey started at UH, where she graduated from the Law Center and, in 2005, joined the ranks of the firm Locke Lord, LLP. She was appointed by Perry to the Board of Regents in 2009 and later became vice chair. But the opportunity for growth didn’t stop there. Now as Texas secretary of BERRY continues on page 2

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

ADMINISTRATION

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas — a branch that covers Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico — recently announced that President and Chancellor Renu Khator has been appointed as its 2014 deputy chair. “Each Federal Reserve Bank has a nine-member board, and every year the Fed’s board of governors appoints three of the local directors and designates a chair and a deputy chair,” according to the official release with the Fed. Khator has served on the board since 2011, and will now be deputy chair under J.C. Penney Company Inc. Chief Executive Officer Myron E. Ullman III.

S I N C E

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Fairwell to daily printed edition Welcome back, Coogs. Writing this letter is bittersweet for me. This will be the last semester you’ll see The Daily Cougar — daily in print. Journalism has changed with the advancement of technology, and in Fall 2014, we’ll be daily online and weekly in print, which makes me the last editor in chief before our new era surfaces. But this change is for the better. We see you walking around campus, and if you’re not reading our print paper, you’re reading something on your smartphone or tablet. Having a greater presence online will keep us connected to you and more easily accessible on those devices. We want to provide you with news at every hour, and print just isn’t fast enough anymore. Our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are growing rapidly; it’s about time for you to “like” or “follow” us, if you haven’t already done so. It’s time to mark thedailycougar.com as one of your favorite web pages. Join us. We don’t want you to be left behind. In the meantime, though, embrace the final days of this amazing daily print publication. Smell the newspaper, read the stories and check out the photos and all the hard work that your peers do every day for you. Remember that our tradition dates back to 1934 and visit us during our open house on Jan. 27. We thank you for your support and loyalty.

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NEWS

KHATOR continued from page 1

“The opportunity to now take on additional responsibility in my new position as deputy chair is very exciting,” Khator said in an email. “At the University of Houston, it is our policy to encourage faculty and staff members to reach out and play active roles in public service whenever possible. So, in this respect, my work on the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board is another example of our commitment at UH to such community participation.” The members of each Board of Governors of the 12 national Federal Reserve Bank branches are chosen by a national Board

BERRY

continued from page 1

LAST The University of Houston and the College of Liberal arts and Social Sciences welcomes any undergraduate student interested in Latin America to the program and minor in Latin American Studies (LAST). This 18-hr minor is interdiisciplinary and focuses on the histories, cultures, economics and politics of this broad region. For more information or to register in the LAST 3300, a distance education course required for the minor, contact Professor Susan Kellogg History Department, skellogg@uh.edu or check the program website, www.class.uh.edu/last.

state, her duties include being the state’s chief elections officer, the governor’s liaison on border and Mexican affairs and Texas’ chief protocol officer for state and international matters, according to the Office of the Governor. “I am truly humbled to follow in the footsteps of Stephen F. Austin, Texas’ first secretary of state,” Berry said in a statement. “Like him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless opportunities to be found across our great state. Every day, I see Austin’s pioneering spirit alive in Texas, and this great honor proves, once again, Texas is the land of opportunity, both in the private sector and public service.” Chair of the Board of Regents

of Governors, who are in turn appointed by the President of the United States. “The Federal Reserve district boards of directors are made up of members who provide a wide variety of experiences and different insights into economic conditions,” Khator said. “In my own case, my scholarly background in political science and public administration allows me to provide that particular perspective with respect to monetary policy. In addition, serving as president of a major state university has given me invaluable first-hand knowledge about the interaction of public, private and government interests.” news@thedailycougar.com

Jarvis V. Hollingsworth, who is also a Law Center graduate, said he believes that Berry’s appointment is a testament to the wealth of bright minds and future leaders that UH churns out. “Appointments such as this one shine a spotlight on the deep talent pool created from graduates and others throughout the UH System, as many people with UH ties serve in leadership and volunteer positions around the world, across the country, statewide and right here in Houston,” Hollingsworth said. Berry resigned from her post on the Board of Regents before her term ended, which would have been Aug. 31, 2015. She also resigned from her position as senior counsel at Locke Lord, LLP, according to the the firm’s site. news@thedailycougar.com

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Student Publications (713) 743-5350 stupub@uh.edu www.uh.edu/sp Room 7, UC Satellite Student Publications University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015

Issue staff Copy editing

Damian Morales, Samantha Wong

Copy chief David Bryant

Closing editors

Natalie Harms, Channler K. Hill, Jenae Sitzes

ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer and online at thedailycougar. com. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents. SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015. NEWS TIPS Send tips and story ideas to the editors. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@ thedailycougar.com. A “Submit news” form is available at thedailycougar.com. COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of Student Publications. The Daily Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. studentpress.org/acp

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The Daily Cougar

OPINION

EDITOR James Wang EMAIL

opinion@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/opinion

ACADEMICS

UH, unaffected by decreased admission trend

ood news has just come out for prospective college students: this year will see the smallest group of incoming freshmen in years, which has improved admission odds to a great deal of good schools. In fact, the incoming class is so small, that in a survey of 381 colleges, 76 percent reported that they were at least moderately concerned about meeting their enrollment goals for new students. Excluded, of course, are the Ivy Katie League and other exclusive colleges, Wian whose standards are expected to remain as stringent as ever as hopefuls continue to clamor for acceptance. The unusually small class is because of a population dip resulting in a low number of high school seniors, 3.5 percent lower in California alone. This is compounded by the fact that, according to the Los Angeles Times, “Latinos comprise a rising portion of high school graduates, but enroll in college at relatively low rates.” Less competition, while great news for the already-

stressed high school senior, may end in detrimental desperation for colleges struggling to meet enrollment quotas. Public schools in need of funding could see difficulty making ends meet. Judging by a similar slump in students, which took place in the late ’80s and early ’90s, struggling colleges may soon be forced to discount tuition in a bid for the best of the small pool of students. However, during the last dip, this lost revenue was made up for by an increased bid for international students — who made up almost 10 percent of the UH population last semester — as they rarely qualify for financial aid. Right on cue, John Nelson, an analyst of higher education, claims that there has already been a marketing uptick overseas in light of the current enrollment situation. As a larger university, UH shouldn’t sustain much damage in the wake of the slump. According to Jeff Fuller, director of student recruitment in the UH admissions office, UH “is not experiencing a drop in freshman applications. In fact, our numbers for Fall 2014 are slightly higher than last year’s numbers at this David Delgado/ The Daily Cougar

ADMISSIONS continues on page 6

FINANCE

Mounting student debt calls for greater care

David Delgado/ The Daily Cougar

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

MANAGING EDITOR

t’s the start of the new semester. UH students rush into the bookstore between classes, only to find the line has reached an unmentionable length; new students walk along with their phones held closely to their faces as they study their class schedules they haven’t memorized yet. Kelly With all the Schafler stress of the start of the new semester, some students cannot help but look forward to the end of their last semester at UH. For those who are now in their last semester of classes before graduation, congratulations. The world is your smelly oyster. For those who are far from graduation and are losing their sanity, remember one thing: crippling debt awaits you after college. Debt is the sometimes-forgotten but constantly looming figure that

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. 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

breathes down our necks. Unfortunately, this money-grubbing mouth breather typically stalks students for years after graduation. Although students do not have to begin paying back loans until six months after college graduation, the interest on these loans is enough to make a desperate student briefly consider selling a kidney. One might believe knowing that other students suffer through this same ordeal would make it seem more manageable, but it doesn’t. Students know that they can count on paying back their loan for 10 years after graduation. Therefore, it is no surprise that in 2013, bizjournals.com reported that student loan debt totaled almost $1 trillion, greatly surpassing auto loan debt of $783 billion and credit card debt of $679 billion. The rise in student debt can be attributed to a number of factors that include the high unemployment rate, reduced job

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

opportunities and the great rise in tuition costs. As for the rise in tuition rates, if more schools would implement tuition freezes, this would help reduce loan debt. In addition, most students also struggle after college because of lack of planning. Naive young adults expect to step out into the world and immediately be awarded with a job in their field with a five- to six-figure salary. According to The Washington Post, only 27 percent of college graduates are able to get a job pertaining to their major after graduation, while 62 percent of students are able to get a job within their degree. To further add salt to the wound, this percentage is even lower for students who pursue a degree in liberal arts — such as myself. The stressed reader may now be wondering DEBT continues on page 23

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.

Monday, January 13, 2014 // 5

The Daily Cougar

WHAT SHOULD YOU MAJOR IN? MAJORS ART Art* Art History Studio Art - Graphic Communications - Painting - Photography/Digital Media - Sculpture COMMUNICATION Advertising Corporate Communication Health Communication Integrated Communication Interpersonal Communication* Journalism* - Broadcast - Print Media Media Production Media Studies Public Relations COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS American Sign Language Interpreting Communication Sciences & Disorders COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES Anthropology Liberal Studies ECONOMICS ENGLISH Creative Writing* Literature* HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Human Nutrition and Foods Kinesiology - Exercise Science - Fitness and Sports - Sports Administration HISPANIC STUDIES Spanish*

713.743.4001

MINORS HISTORY* MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Chinese French* Italian Studies* World Cultures and Literatures -Ancient Studies -Francophone Cultures Studies -German Studies -Global Cinema Studies -Middle Eastern Studies -Studies in Global Modernity MUSIC Applied Music -Brass -Keyboard -Percussion -Strings -Voice -Woodwinds Composition Marketing Teacher Certification Theory Religion PHILOSOPHY POLITICAL SCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY THEATRE & DANCE Dance* Theatre - Acting - Playwriting and Dramaturgy - Production - Stage Management - Theater Education

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP ART Art History Studio Art COMMUNICATION Advertising Corporate Communication Film Studies Health Communication Interpersonal Communication Journalism Media Production Media Studies Public Relations COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES Anthropology Global and International Studies India Studies Religious Studies ECONOMICS ENGLISH HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Human Nutrition and Foods Kinesiology HISPANIC STUDIES Spanish Spanish for Business Professionals HISTORY American Cultures History Latin American Studies HONORS COLLEGE Creative Work Medicine and Society Phronesis, Politics, and Ethics

WWW.UH.EDU/CLASS

INTERDISCIPLINARY ART MILITARY SCIENCE (ARMY ROTC) MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Arab Studies Chinese Studies Classical Studies French French for Business Professionals German German Area Studies Greek Italian Studies Jewish Studies Latin World Cultures and Literatures MUSIC Music Literature/History Music Theory NAVAL SCIENCE (NAVY ROTC) PHILOSOPHY POLITICAL SCIENCE Law, Value, and Policy National Security Studies Quantitative Social Science PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY THEATRE & DANCE Dance WOMEN’S, GENDER & SEXUALITY STUDIES Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Women’s Studies * Teacher Certification Available. Please Consult the Department Advisor for More Information.

AGNES ARNOLD HALL, ROOM 320

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East and Southeast Asian Contact Lens Wearers Needed for a Soft Contact Lens Study You are being asked to participate in this study because you are self-reported as Asian and currently wears soft spherical contact lenses. Researchers at The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston College of Optometry want to compare 2 FDA-approved soft contact lenses. Minimum Eligibility Requirements: • Males and females between 18 and 70 years old with self-reported Asian ethnicity • Currently wearing soft spherical contact lenses everyday • Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding a baby To determine if you are eligible for the study, you will have an initial visit at the College of Optometry. You also will undergo a number of commonly performed clinical eye tests. There are 3 visits total for the study. Visit 1 and visit 2 last approximately 2 hours, and visit 3 lasts about 1 hour. You will be compensated for the completed study visit with a $60.00 Target gift card for Visit 1 and Visit 2, and a $30.00 Target gift card for Visit 3. Total compensation amount for the study will be $150.00. For more information about this study, please contact us at (713)-743-2809. Email: TOSI@optometry. uh.edu (Please mention study 113) This project has been reviewed by the University of Houston Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (713) 743-9204.

The Daily Cougar

OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL

New UC opens doors for newspaper

ith the reopening of the New University Center, students already have plenty of expectations for the renovated facility. It provides a new place to hang out with friends, new entertainment options on campus and, of course, a new place to eat. But for the staff of The Daily Cougar, it will mean a greater sense of obligation to the people we dedicate ourselves to: you, the readers of our paper. This semester, the Cougar has joined its sister organizations Student Video Network and Coog Radio on the second floor of the UC North in the Center for Student Media. The move grants the editors and writers of this paper a greater view of the campus and lets us

EDITORIAL continues on page 8

ADMISSIONS continued from page 4

time.” Great news for the school also means that these new students won’t be afforded any of the breaks afforded to applicants of some of the struggling schools, like tuition discounts and easier application standards. “(UH)is committed to continuing our path toward enrolling a talented and diverse set of freshmen every year,” Fuller said. “The University raised standards in Fall 2012 and again for the class that will be entering in Fall 2014.” Marc Harding, director of admissions at Iowa State, asserts that an ethnically diverse population is the key to a steady and growing enrollment. Just like the melting pot that is the city of Houston, UH has diversity in spades. Perhaps it’s exactly that strong foundation of quality and tolerance that keeps applicants flocking to UH while other colleges are begging students to apply. On the flip side, though many other colleges may be struggling, students seeking first-rate educations from them, but who may

have financial or familial hurdles to overcome, are getting a reprieve. In an effort to reach untapped sources, many colleges have translated their websites and brochures into Spanish. As a result of such changes, the University of Pennsylvania saw its applications from Hispanic students rise by 30 percent last year. Colleges are also beginning to work harder to prevent students from dropping out as a result of the dearth of applicants, in a renewed effort to retain those that they have. By offering tutoring, mentoring and counseling, many universities ease the transition into college life, making for happier, better-adjusted and more successful pupils. UH has the distinct advantage of existing in one of the most major metropolitan areas in the largest state in the country — it will take more than a small dip in the population to negatively affect enrollment in any significant way. “UH has been able to increase the quality of the freshman class while also achieving our enrollment targets, and we are on track to continue this for Fall 2014,” Fuller said. Opinion columnist Katie Wian is an English junior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com

University Eye Institute Over 61% of the United States population need some sort of vision correction. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms. Visit the University Eye Institute _ the clear choice for eye care To schedule or request an appointment, please call 713.743.2020 or visit www.uei.uh.edu 4901 Calhoun, (at the corner of Calhoun and Wheeler) Open to the public • Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free patient parking Calhoun Road, entrance 2A Back to School DC_Ad2014.indd 1

1/9/14 2:34 PM

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The Daily Cougar

LSS WORKSHOPS SPRING 2014 LOCATION: N112 Cougar Village I (Building 563)

REGISTER: “Workshop Signup” at www.las.uh.edu/lss On-line registration is necessary to obtain a spot. Problems registering? Call Laura Heidel 713.743.5439 or Jason Yu 713.743.1223

WEEK 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 10 10 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 15 15

TOPIC

Goal Setting Time Management Transfer Student Success College Level Reading Overcoming Procrastination Improving Concentration Note Taking Succeeding at a Large University Reading for STEM majors Writing Research Papers Improving Your Memory Learning Beyond Memorizing Reducing Test Anxiety Test Preparation Overcoming Procrastination Increasing Motivation Time Management Test Preparation Giving Professional Presentations Studying for Natural Science Courses Time Management Ending the Semester Successfully Improving Your Memory Improving Concentration Improving Your Memory Coping with Finals Reducing Test Anxiety Time Management Overcoming Procrastination Coping with Finals

TIME #1

Wed., 1/15 at 3 p.m. Wed., 1/22 at 4 p.m. Tue., 1/21 at 4 p.m. Mon., 1/27 at 4 p.m. Tue., 1/28 at 11 a.m. Mon., 2/3 at 3 p.m. Tue., 2/4 at 1 p.m. Mon., 2/10 at 2 p.m. Tue., 2/11 at 1 p.m. Mon., 2/17 at 4 p.m. Wed., 2/19 at 1 p.m. Tue., 2/25 at 1 p.m. Wed., 2/26 at 3 p.m. Tue., 3/4 at 3 p.m. Wed., 3/5 at 2 p.m. Mon., 3/17 at 3 p.m. Wed., 3/19 at 2 p.m. Tue., 3/25 at 3 p.m. Wed., 3/26 at 3 p.m. Mon., 3/24 at 4 p.m. Mon., 3/31 at 3 p.m. Tue., 4/1 at 1 p.m. Tue., 4/1 at 3 p.m. Mon., 4/7 at 3 p.m. Wed., 4/9 at 1 p.m. Thu., 4/10 at 10 a.m. Tue., 4/15 at 3 p.m. Wed., 4/16 at 3 p.m. Mon., 4/21 at 2 p.m. Tue., 4/22 at 4 p.m.

TIME #2

Fri., 1/17 at 10 a.m. Thu., 1/23 at 4 p.m. Thu., 1/23 at 2 p.m. Thu., 1/30 at 4 p.m. Wed., 1/29 at 2 p.m. Thu., 2/6 at 1 p.m. Wed., 2/5 at 4 p.m. Thu., 2/13 at 10 a.m. Fri., 2/14 at 10 a.m. Tue., 2/18 at 11 a.m. Thu., 2/20 at 3 p.m. Fri., 2/28 at 10 a.m. Thu., 2/27 at 3 p.m. Thu., 3/6 at 4 p.m. Fri., 3/7 at 11 a.m. Tue., 3/18 at 4 p.m. Thu., 3/20 at 3 p.m. Wed., 3/26 at 1 p.m. Fri., 3/28 at 11 a.m. Thu., 3/27 at 3 p.m. Thu., 4/3 at 10 a.m. Thu., 4/3 at 3 p.m. Wed., 4/2 at 3 p.m. Tue., 4/8 at 4 p.m. Thu., 4/10 at 4 p.m. Fri., 4/11 at 11 a.m. Thu., 4/17 at 1 p.m. Thu., 4/17 at 4 p.m. Wed., 4/23 at 3 p.m. Thu., 4/24 at 3 p.m.

**Workshops will be added when necessary throughout the semester. Please visit the “Workshops Signup” link on the LSS website www.las.uh.edu/lss for the most up to date information.

SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER WORKSHOP SERIES ADD: Time Management Part 1 Tues., 1/28 at 4 p.m. ADD: Time Management Part 2 Tues., 2/4 at 4 p.m. ADD: Concentration Part 1 Tues., 2/11 at 4 p.m. ADD: Concentration Part 2 Tues., 2/18 at 4 p.m. ADD: Study Skills for your particular classes Tues., 2/25 at 4 p.m. ADD: Organizing your academic/home materials Tues., 3/4 at 4 p.m. To register or for more information please contact Laura Heidel, Ph.D. at 713-743-5439 or lheidel@uh.edu

FREE TUTORING

Room N109 Cougar Village I (Building #563) Schedule available at

www.las.uh.edu

Mon–Thurs Fri Sat Sun

9am–9pm 9am–6pm 1pm–5pm 1pm–7pm

All Students Welcome!

To view Graduate Student Workshops schedule, visit www.las.uh.edu/lss

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OPINION

Someone will know the answer. You. Take $300 off a MCAT classroom courses and $200 off GRE, GMAT or LSAT classroom course. To enroll, call 713-360-3169 ext. 5713 or visit princetonreview.com today!

MCAT | LSAT | GMAT | GRE ®

Private Tutoring, Small Group Instruction, Classroom and Online Courses. *Discount applicable only to classroom courses in the Houston area. Applies to new purchases only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Test names are the trademarks of their respective owners, who are not affiliated with The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.

EDITORIAL continued from page 6

be located in the heart of campus activity, as opposed to our old location — tucked into the back offices of the UC Satellite behind the Burger Studio. This move isn’t purely cosmetic. It is symbolic on two parts. From the inside out, it unites the three organizations that make up

The glass windows will let you look at us every day and see the hard work being put into making an awesome product that we hope to see in the hands of every student on campus. It is because of you, the reader, that we do all of this. ” The Daily Cougar Editorial Board, on the committment the move to the new Center for Student Media in the UC North gives to The Daily Cougar

CSM, an organization dedicated to bringing information and entertainment to the people of this campus. By being closer to the students, the move to the New UC will help us in our mission of serving you. But from the outside in, the glass surrounding the CSM suite will serve as a reminder to ourselves that we are accountable to our readership. It is the media’s job to be honest and open to audiences. The glass windows will let you look at us every day and see the hard work being put into making an awesome product that we hope to see in the hands of every student on campus. It is because of you, the reader, that we do all of this. Since 1934, you have supported us in our mission to bring new and exciting information to readers throughout the UH System. Every paper picked up from any of the 80 racks around campus and every “like,” tweet, share or follow we get on our social media channels support us and our mission to you. Going into the new semester, we will need your support more than ever before.We want to hear from you. We want to see more comments from you on our website and receive more letters to the

editor. This is your paper. This is your First Amendment in action, your input and your fellow students putting together their thoughts and ideas in a way presentable to you. It’s your chance to get your organization out on the front page, and it’s your chance to get published. Write us a letter, make a guest contribution or send us an application and even become a staff writer. From the entire staff of the Cougar, we wish you good luck in another great semester.

CONNECT Reach out to us The Daily Cougar welcomes any and all input from the campus community. Readers are encouraged to contact us and contribute in various ways such as:  Letters to the Editor  Guest Columns  Applying to be a writer at thedailycougar.com/apply Any contributions, questions, comments and concerns may be directed to opinion@thedaily cougar.com or to (713) 743-5304.

Welcome back Coogs! Need help finding a job? Writing your résumé? Planning your career? Connect with UCS!

We can help!

√

Résumé Critiques

ng a job? Writing your resume? Planning your career? √ Job Postingsafter graduation, ices for UH Alumni during the rst semester JobScan (18,000+ jobs posted annually), career √ Career Fairs andcounseling, Workshops ed resources, workshops, and mock interviews.

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On-Campus Interviews

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Help Choosing Your Major Vocational Assessments Career Counseling Internship Program

106 Student Service Center | www.career.uh.edu (713)743–5100 | ucs@uh.edu

Monday, January 13, 2014 // 9

The Daily Cougar

UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER Welcomes All Students For Spring 2014

General Medicine Clinic: Services include treatments for both short-term and long-term medical problems and injuries. You will be cared for by board-certified physicians, who are assisted by registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and certified medical assistants. For most efficient use of your time, contact 713.743.5156 to make an appointment to be seen by a physician. Walkin care is available if there is an urgent concern. Nursing Care: Immunizations, required vaccine titers, ear wax cleaning or other inquiries. Contact the nurse’s station at 713.743.5156

Women’s Clinic: Performs well woman exams and evaluations for gynecological complaints and provides contraception options as well as STD testing and treatment. Contact 713.743.5131 Men’s Clinic: Diagnoses, treats, and counsels

on issues affecting men’s health. Contact 713.743-5156

Attendant Care Services: Care and lifestyle

assistance program to meet the needs of physically challenged students. For more information contact 713.748.8603

Orthopedic Clinic: Diagnoses and treats

musculoskeletal conditions including sports injuries and disease of the bone and muscle. Contact 713.743.5156

Psychiatric Clinic: Board certified psychiatrists

evaluations, treatment plans, and ongoing medication manaagement. Contact 713.743.5149

Pharmacy: Provides prescription and over

the counter items at very low costs. For more information contact 713.743.5125

UH Student Health Insurance: Information,

online waiver criteria and rates. Deadline to add or drop insurance is the Official Reporting Day of each fall and spring semester. Contact 713.743.5151

Dental Clinic: Preventive dentistry, restorative, and limited major dental procedures. Call 713.22.SMILE (713.227.6453)

Entrance #6, off Wheeler, Bldg #525 on Campus Map

www.uh.edu/healthcenter

Fall and Spring Hours M, T, Th, F 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Wed. 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Summer Hours

M, T, Th, F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Wed. 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

ALL VISITS AND INQUIRIES ARE CONFIDENTIAL For After Hours Emergency, Call UH Police - 713.743.3333 24- Hour Student Emergency Care Hot line

1.866.315.8756

(Services provided through American Health and Holding, INC. which is not affiliated with the UH Health Center)

Also, like us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/uhhealthcenter Students who desire to quit smoking may consult a physician at the UH Health Center. There is no insurance requirement.

Call 713.743.5151 for more information.

10 \\ Monday, January 13, 2014

The Daily Cougar

MAPPING OUT THE NEW UNIVERSITY CENTER After semesters of waiting, students can finally enjoy the newest features of the UC. Completed amenities of Phase 1 of the transformation will prove to be the nucleus of the student body.

After a year of anticipation, and Phase 1 of the renovated UC is open for students enjoy. An open concept with plenty of natural lighting is the hallmark of its design aesthetic. Paired with the word cloud, the new center is a symbol of community and represents the diverse student body. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar Laura Gillespie Assistant news editor

After more than seven years of planning and a year and a half of construction, the New University Center is open for business. From the design process down to the funding, the New UC was primarily a student-fueled project, replacing the original building, which was torn down in 2012 because of its poor physical condition as well as a need for a larger space to accommodate a student population that has nearly doubled since the building opened in 1967. Since 2007, members from the Student Government Association and other students have been strong advocates for the project, said Keith Kowalka, assistant vice president for Student Affairs. “So when we … went to a construction company and looked at chair options or carpet options or wall color options … students were at the table when the staff and the administration drew it together. So it was a really student-centered project. Students really had a hand in every nook and cranny, from the chairs to the floors to the fixtures to the lighting to the roof fabric of the building.” In May 2011, a $135 UC fee was approved by SGA for the fall and spring semesters of that year in order to pay for the $80-million building. A $67.50 fee was added to the summer semester, and the rest of the funding came through food and bookstore contracts. “I think this is the best student union building in the country — definitely a Tier One facility for our students,” said SGA President Cedric Bandoh. “It really brings that living room

feel back to the campus, because with the UC under construction and with the way the old UC used to be, you probably didn’t have that place on campus to just go and hang out, but now you do; now it’s back with the opening of Phase 1.” The New UC now serves as an effective hub for student involvement, from grabbing lunch to attending a meeting or concert. The Daily Cougar, Student Video Network and Coog Radio came together in the fall to form the Center for Student Media, united under one space for better visibility and communication among the organizations and UH students. Coog Radio, previously an online-only radio station, now plays for students at the lounge spaces outside CSM. SGA also has new senate chambers with an electronic voting system and a larger floor space for students to sit in on meetings. “We’re just excited to have a chamber option for the campus, because even though it’s the SGA senate chamber, actually any group can reserve it through the Event Services Office when we’re not using it, which is most of the time,” Bandoh said. Various fee-funded student organizations — such as the Veterans’ Services Office, LGBT Resource Center, International Student and Scholar Services Office, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Center for Student Involvement and the Women’s Resource Center — moved to the New UC, where they are now housed in larger offices with more room for meetings and events. Other student organizations

have moved to a carrel space where they can host meetings, work and meet with other student organizations. “We absolutely love (the new space),” said Sara Malani, assistant director of the Metropolitan Volunteer Program. “We have so much more space to work than we did in our old offices, where we had to share with (Student Program Board) and (the Council of Ethnic Organizations.) That was great for collaborating — they were right there — but it’s great to have enough space and to have enough room for our entire board to work, so I think it’ll allow us to get a lot more work done and to get more done effectively.” Dining Services presented a new food court with Chik-fil-A Express, Panda Express, McDonald’s and Starbucks, presenting more food options for students on campus. The New UC also boasts a 3,000 square foot theater, ballrooms, meeting areas and a new graphic design studio called Creation Station. The UC Games Room, originally slated to open next year, will open early with new bowling lanes and red-felted pool tables. During the course of the month, various UC services will be holding open houses, such as Barnes and Noble on Jan. 28 and the Games Room on Jan. 30. Phase 2 — consisting of the opening of the UH and Houston history site, the Legacy Lounge and new food options such as Freshii, Cougar Bite and Shasta’s — is starting and will be completed in January 2015. news@thedailycougar.com

The Games Room was given a new look and added features that complement its classic arcade. | Fernando Castadi/The Daily Cougar

NEW UC OPENING EVENTS January marks the completion of Phase 1 of the University Center Transformation Project. In celebration of the first new additions to the UC since 1970, the University is hosting to showcase the center’s newest features. JANUARY 22 UC North Ribbon Cutting 10 a.m. in the UC North Collaborative Lounge JANUARY 27 UC North Open House 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout UC North JANUARY 28 Barnes and Noble @ UH Open House 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the UH Bookstore (first floor) Barnes and Noble @ UH Ribbon Cutting 2:30 p.m. at the UH Bookstore (first floor) JANUARY 29 UC Dining Services Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the New UC Food Court UC Dining Services Open House 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. in the New UC Food Court World Trade Center Dedication Ceremony 1pm at the World Trade Center Monument and Reflection Garden JANUARY 30 UC Theater Opening Events Noon to 10 p.m. at the UC Theater Aaron Parazette Art Opening—”Remembering Next Summer” 2 p.m. outside the UC Theater Games Room Open House 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the UC Games Room

Monday, January 13, 2014 // 11

The Daily Cougar

The new food court includes McDonald’s, Panda Express and Cougar Xpress as vendors. The UC Games Room features a bowling alley, which opened earlier than originally expected. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

Additions to the UC include an indoor theater, ballrooms, meeting rooms and a two-story Barnes & Noble. The bookstore has an indoor staircase that leads to its ground level extension. Students can find and buy their class textbooks on the lower level of the renovated and relocated store. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

Artist protests declined mural extension Laura Gillespie Assistant news editor

The billiard hall was added during the Games Room renovations, making it the second on campus. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

A local artist is criticizing the System-wide Art Acquisition Committee and UC Policy Board after his request to paint a mural entitled “En los Manos de Dios” in the New UC was declined. Mario Gonzales, one of the artists of the 1973 mural “La Marcha por la Humanidad,” which was housed in the old UC Cougar Den, approached SWAAC, wanting to expand his original mural with “En los Manos de Dios.” In December, Gonzales was contacted by SWAAC and was told that the original mural “La Marcha por la Humanidad” would be preserved with “no new additions,” according to his December SWAAC presentation. “Following Mr. Gonzales’ presentation, the Committee recommended that an art conservator be hired to stabilize, clean and restore the piece as needed due to the

An artist of “La Marcha por la Humanidad” wants to expand the mural in the UH bookstore. | Courtesy of UH.edu recent construction,” according to the official meeting minutes for December’s SWAAC meeting. “Art scholars on the Committee believe this action will maintain and preserve the mural’s historical significance and ensure generations of students can see the mural as it was created by students in the 1970s.” Gonzales, however, said he should be allowed to create the mural addition.

“I feel betrayed, betrayed by the same people who voted me off my mural 40 years ago and by SWAAC, who conveniently took their side in prohibiting me to finish my mural,” Gonzales said. “La Marcha por la Humanidad” was moved to the bookstore in the New UC in January without the addition. news@thedailycougar.com

12 \\ Monday, January 13, 2013

The Daily Cougar

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

LONG ROAD AHEAD

WITH SEVERAL TEAMS IN THE AMERICAN VYING FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS, IT COULD BE TOUGH FOR UH TO CLIMB THE CONFERENCE CHARTS Senior guard Tione Womack has earned an increased role after injuries in the backcourt. | CAITLIN HILTON/THE DAILY COUGAR

By Jordan Lewis

TOP TIER

CONTENDERS LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Louisville scores like an NBA team, and senior guard Russ Smith leads the

Cincinnati, led by senior guard Sean Kilpatrick and senior forward

Cardinals with 17.7 points per game, but with the loss of star guard Peyton

Justin Jackson, is on a roll. The Bearcats are no scoring machine, but

Siva, the defending champions will look to their depth to remain in na-

their defensive toughness and rebounding could make them a potential

tional title talks. With the breakout of big man Montrezl Harrell along with

scare for top tier schools. However, a great defense can only get you so

senior sharpshooter Luke Hancock, it will be tough to beat this squad.

far if you only have two players who can score consistently.

MEMPHIS TIGERS

SMU MUSTANGS

The Tigers’ experienced backcourt and versatility at every position

Head coach Larry Brown’s second campaign has been nothing like

could easily make them a candidate to upset Louisville and win the

the first. The Mustangs’ smart brand of basketball has helped them

conference. Memphis can score and rebound with the best of them.

compete, led by sophomore guard Nic Moore. SMU has players with

Senior guard Joe Jackson and sophomore forward Shaq Goodwin have

talent, but how Brown can get them to mesh together down the stretch

led this team. Its freshman class is maturing fast and contributing.

of conference play is a question mark.

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES

HOUSTON COUGARS

The Huskies have one of the best backcourts in the nation, with guards

Despite being plagued by injuries and losing four starters, the Cougars

Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun. Connecticut’s front-

shocked No. 15 Connecticut and nearly defeated Cincinnati. Forward

court is what could be a game changer. Junior forward DeAndre Daniels

TaShawn Thomas has dominated in his junior year campaign, leading

is averaging 12.9 points and 1.3 blocks per game. If its offensive struggles

his team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. Sophomores Jherrod

are just a road bump then the Huskies could be strong contenders.

Stiggers and Danrad Knowles have become go-to guys for the team.

PRETENDERS CENTRAL FLORIDA KNIGHTS The Knights have four players who average double figures in scoring, including the 6’6 first-team All-Conference USA senior guard Isaiah Sykes, who stuffed the stat sheet last season and is leading the Knights again in points, rebounds and assists this season. This ball club could surprise with their toughness and their ability to score the ball at various positions.

TEMPLE OWLS Head coach Fran Dunphy has to create a defense-first mindset for Temple to earn a seventh straight NCAA tournament bid. It’s unlikely the Owls will surprise despite having a great coach in Dunphy, but they will compete for 40 minutes.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS After a heinous offseason, Rutgers has begun to rebuild, led by former Scarlet Knight Eddie Jordan as head coach. Junior forwards Myles Mack and Kadeem Jack lead the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game and 14.1 points, respectively. Rutgers is still recovering but has nice pieces in place for the future.

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS Senior forward Victor Rudd and junior guard Corey Allen Jr. give USF a nice duo, but the team just doesn’t have enough scoring options to compete for the conference title. The Bulls score 69.0 points per game, which is a step up from last season, but the Bulls’ offensive struggles remain.

Senior guard Brandon Morris’ improved range has allowed him to shoot over 40 percent from 3-point range. | CAITLIN HILTON/THE DAILY COUGAR

The Daily Cougar

Monday, January 13, 2013 // 13

14 \\ Monday, January 13, 2013

The Daily Cougar

FOOTBALL REPORT CARD

GRADING THE COUGARS UH SHOWS MANY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, ROOM FOR GROWTH Freshman QB O’Korn shows promise in performance taking command of Air Raid

OFFENSE THE GOOD:

UH presented a balanced attack. Freshman quarterback John O’ Korn did a good job of getting the ball to his playmakers and sophomore running backs Ryan Jackson and Kenneth Farrow showcased lighting and thunder, both rushing for more than 500 yards.

Andrew Valderas Assistant sports editor

The UH players sported a new slogan on T-shirts and wristbands all season. It was set to represent what needed to be accomplished. The lettering read, “Something 2 Prove.” And they had every right to, as they were determined to put aside the 2012 season that displayed nothing short of utter disappointment. The start of the season presented several changes: four new assistant coaches; new conference; new uniforms; no traditional home stadium and a three-man quarterback competition that included a young man out of Florida who was barely old enough to purchase lottery tickets — John O’Korn. Although David Piland was announced the starter, he and O’Korn shared playing time in the team’s win against Southern and Temple. O’Korn lead in the second half after Piland was knocked out of the game with a concussion, which forced him to end his football career. O’Korn finished the game and aided the Cougars to a 2-0 start and was then handed the keys to an offense that had averaged more than 40 points per game in its last five seasons. The 2012 offense crashed and ranked last in the country with a mere 24:48 time of possession and converting only 41 percent of third downs, its lowest since 2005. The Cougars have been ranked in the top 10 for touchdowns in three of the last five seasons. Well, O’Korn didn’t exactly wield the offense to four of the last six in that stat line, but he did lead the team to a winning record and the program’s sixth bowl appearance in the past eight seasons. Not bad for an 18-year-old. Buying in? My gut tells me that they are a team on the rise that had a strong 7-1 start, but my head keeps reminding me to pump my brakes, and realize that the Cougars didn’t finish the season strong, losing four of their last five games, including a 41-24 defeat to Vanderbilt in the

DEFENSE Freshman quarterback John O’Korn guided his team to an 8-5 record and a bowl berth, after the team’s lack-luster 2012 outing. | Caitlin Hilton/The Daily Cougar BBVA Compass Bowl. Heart: Be fair, Andrew, it’s a young team. O’ Korn still finished the year by leading all true freshmen in touchdown passes (26). He was one of many contributors who helped drastically turn this team around from what it was a year ago. O’Korn is going to be the face of the program as long as he’s sporting Cougar red, as were his predecessors, UH legends Case Keenum and Kevin Kolb. He’s only going to get better. The team should get better too. “Going into this season, our motto was ‘Something 2 Prove.’ I think we’ve proved a lot, as coach preached, not just by our entire body of work and not just in the game,” O’Korn said. “Those who are close to the program know that we haven’t even reached our full potential yet.” Once next season comes around, one of the areas O’Korn has to improve in if he wants to take his team to the next level is consistency, primarily against stiffer competition, and finish drives with the game on the line. He had plenty of opportunities this season to complete that, but was unable to follow through. Not quite there, yet O’Korn threw an interception on the first play of the final drive against BYU. He was unable to cash-in for the game-winning touchdown on four attempts from inside the Central Florida 10-yard line. The offense kept moving

backwards and turned it over on downs on its final possession in a 20-13 loss against Louisville. The Cougars’ conference opponents whom they beat finished with an 18-43 record, compared to the ones they were unable to beat, 33-6. Gut: He responded well after a three-interception performance in a loss. He threw for five touchdowns and no interceptions the following weekend in a blowout win at Rutgers homecoming, which hosted a crowd of more than 52,000. Also, Rutgers had won four of its last five entering that game. “After the Rutgers game, I realized that I had an opportunity to do some good things here, and that was, really, what I feel was my coming-out party,” O’Korn said. “As an offense, I felt we really started to click around that time.” Head: He still has to play better against top-notch opponents, too. Not just against ones that finished with either a losing or subpar record. Head coach Tony Levine has said to everyone that one of the two things he assures is that his quarterback has always shown great poise when adversity presents itself. O’Korn did encounter a number of inevitable freshman mistakes, and he’s not perfect. However, the second thing that Levine continues to say about his young quarterback is that you only need to tell him once after he makes a mistake, as he will hardly make the same one twice. sports@thedailycougar.com

THE GOOD:

The backbone for the Cougars this past season, leading the nation in turnover margin, turnovers forced and stalled offenses, was the defense. They gave up yards, but really tightened up in the redzone, not allowing as many touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS THE GOOD:

Senior punter Richie Leone had often placed opponents deep in their own territory, forcing them to drive the distance on offense. Freshman B.J. Singleton tied for second in the country with three kicks blocked, including the one that changed the trajectory in the team’s win against UTSA.

GRADE:

B+

THE BAD:

The Cougars had several points scored, but not enough against stiffer competition when it mattered most. On three occasions against good teams, the offense was shutout in a half — Central Florida, Louisville and Vanderbilt. The Cougars lost all three. The offense needs to get better at closing drives with the game on the line.

GRADE:

A-

THE BAD:

A weakness is the defense’s size. It’s listed as the smallest team in the conference and needs to get better on the defensive line. UH can’t count on turnovers to be the bail-out every season. The team needs to develop new starting cornerbacks, now that Zachary McMillian and Thomas Bates have graduated.

GRADE:

A-

THE BAD:

With Leone leaving, the Cougars will not only have to find a new punter, but will also need to develop sophomore Kyle Bullard, who took on kicking duties in the middle of the season, going 6-8 on his attempts.

OVERALL Grade:

A-

EVALUATION:

The Cougars started with a 7-1 record but lost four of its last five. Collectively, they were a team that shined on all three phases of the football; whether it was winning the game with points, stopping opponents on the final drive or a blocked filed goals that played a deciding factor.

Monday, January 13, 2013 // 15

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16 \\ Monday, January 13, 2014

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Monica Tso

arts@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

BLAFFER

New creative artwork hits campus Diana Nguyen Staff writer

To kick off the new semester, the Blaffer Art Museum is presenting an exciting line-up of innovative and promising art exhibitions, opening at 7 p.m. Friday. The exhibitions opening this month are Anton Ginzburg’s “Terra Corpus,” “Antena” by Jen Hofer and John Pleucker and “Tears and Politics” by Phil Collins and Christian Jankowki. Blaffer is also anticipating galleries to open Feb. 5, including “Slanted, Otherwise” by Anna Elise Johnson and “Window into Houston” by J. Hill. For his American museum debut, Russian artist Anton Ginzburg will present “At the Back of the North Wind” and “Walking the Sea,” parts one and two of a trilogy of works in film, photography, sculpture and paintings developed around historical and cultural conceptions of mythical or legendary landscapes. John Harvey, the director of the Center for Creative Work and assistant professor at The Honors College, looks forward to Ginzburg’s exhibition with profound enthusiasm. “My semester opens with Dante’s ‘Inferno’ at The Honors College, which means I’m elated, transfigured and zealous to begin,” Harvey said. “I’m fascinated and obsessed with Anton Ginzburg’s ‘At the Back of a North Wind,’ which offers not a fantasy but a glimpse into the mixture of fact and fiction that makes

The Blaffer Art Museum is excited to welcome galleries presented by renown artists. Opening on Jan. 17, Anton Ginzburg’s “Terra Corpus” exhibition will introduce an innovative twist to social justice and cultures. | Courtesy of Anton Ginzberg our world.” “Antena” is a language, justice and experimentation collaborative founded in 2010 by Hofer and Pleucker, both of whom are writers, artists, literary translators, bookmakers and activist interpreters. It will encourage viewers to explore how critical views on language can help us re-imagine and re-articulate the worlds we live in. Antena’s work revolves around the intersections of social justice,

critical views on language, crosscultural artistic production, reading, writing, bookmaking and the visual arts. It combines literary and visual arts with artists locally, nationally and internationally, from countries such as as Chile, Guatemala and Mexico. Visitors are invited to join a public potluck and a writing workshop for Antena’s opening reception on Jan. 18. “Tears and Politics” is based

on one of the most popular Latin American telenovelas. The exhibit consists of two episodes, “Soy mi Madre” and “Crying for the March of Humanity,” and they engage the idea of exploiting the world market through the articulation and preservation of cultural difference. It serves as a powerful tool of selfrepresentation and re-signification of the continent’s colonial legacy. Visitors have the chance to view Blaffer’s exhibitions “Slant,

Otherwise” and “Window into Houston” and, with the Houston Arts Alliance, Jo Ann Fleischhauer’s “What Time Is It?” In “Slantwise, Otherwise,” Johnson introduces images of four international and influential public figures: Deng Xiaoping, Margaret Thatcher, Vladimir Lenin and Ronald Reagan. The photographs are mounted on Plexiglas panels to fit each window frame. The black stripes create an optical effect and visually connects the individual images to bring a sense of movement. Located downtown, “Window into Houston” highlights recent developments in Houston’s artistic landscape. It reaches out to a broad and diverse audience to engage them in a dialogue about contemporary art made in Houston. Multimedia artist Hill will install a live performance, installation, sculpture, sound and video. Hill’s collaboration with a young circus performer adds to the element of surprise, creating the space to come alive. As a newcomer to Blaffer’s events, Hill’s imaginative approach has caught print journalism senior Timothy Payne’s attention. “One event that caught my eye was the ‘Window into Houston’ with the artist J. Hill. From what I understand, Hill will convert a street in Houston into a circus. (It) sounds fun,” Payne said. arts@thedailycougar.com

TRAVEL

Cougars celebrate holidays with traditions BoJanay Posey Staff writer

This holiday break, Cougars were jetting from desert sands to country plains, from Calhoun Road to Houston clubs and parties, from their homes to a call to go on tour. Recent graduate Erika Aguirre took a spontaneous 10-day road trip to her hometown. The road to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, wraps around the side of a mountain. Aguirre has sworn on several occasions she will not endure the drive again, though she has been back at least 10 times. Creeping up the side of the mountain without a boundary to prevent cars from tumbling down, Aguirre said she gets sick. Her ears pop, and she feels nauseated. The same goes

for the drive down the mountain. But it’s all worth it. “Of course, I want to go. I can’t wait to go again, but I’m not driving there,” she said. “It was really refreshing to see everybody—all my cousins, all my aunts— and how much their lives had changed for the better and also the city.” In recent years, Ciudad Juárez has been plagued with crime and cartel corruption. Aguirre said the desert city has made a transformation. The upper and middle classes live in gated communities; construction dominates the city. The plaza is now a place for family entertainment and booming businesses on wheels, when just three years ago, she remembers that people wouldn’t freely go there. Although the city is changing,

some traditions, such as eating menudo and tamales for New Year’s, have not changed. “(At midnight), our thing is to drink wine and eat 12 grapes. When I was younger, we would bury money into the ground. … All that is really just for prosperity,” Aguirre said. Family traditions took other Cougars to the countryside. Electric power engineering junior Blandon Blanton went to Athens, a forestry country town in east Texas for a family Christmas party where his cousin hosted an ugly sweater contest. “My cousin had a really cool one. She looked like a Christmas tree,” Blanton said. “It even lit up. I think VACATION continues on page 20

Recent graduate Erika Aguirre took a 10-day trip to Mexico to spend time celebrating holiday traditions with family. | Courtesy of Erika Aguirre

Monday, January 13, 2014 // 17

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS

After a successful fall semester, the Moores Opera House presents two unique operas, “The Consul” and “The Barber of Seville,” that will offer drama and comedy to students. | Courtesy of Moores Opera Center

MOORES

Musical talents to shine in operas Diana Nguyen Staff writer

Presented by the Moores Opera Center, audiences can expect great productions of two upcoming and contrasting operas, “The Consul” and “The Barber of Seville.” “The Consul” is a musical drama that discusses totalitarianism and bureaucracy with a libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. “The Barber of Seville” is a comedic o p e ra w i t h Ross music by Gioachino Rossini and a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. Although the two may be different in genres and settings, both operas are classics to begin Moores’ winter repertoire. Menotti’s “The Consul” premiered on Broadway in 1950, during the Cold War. The opera is a threeact piece set in a European country with an oppressive regime. The plot focuses on a young freedom fighter who runs from government agents and leaves his wife, mother and sick infant son. His wife tries to obtain a Visa and faces obstacles at the consul’s office while he attempts to return home. The opera is directed by opera veteran and doctoral student Lynda McKnight and Kalamazoo Symphony’s music director and guest conductor Raymond Harvey. Moores Music Director Buck Ross said he believes strongly in the piece. “It’s only one of the three operas we have performed more than twice,” Ross said. “It’s a terrific opera and a great work for our singers.” Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”

premiered in 1816 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. The opera consists of two acts and is based on the French comedy “Le Barbier de Seville.” The story revolves around a young count, eager for the love of the beautiful Rosina. When the count realizes Rosina is guarded by the ward of old Dr. Bartolo, the young count, accompanied by his former servant Figaro, undergoes various disguises to win her affection. “‘The Barber of Seville’ has become part of our culture. Even those who are not familiar with the opera itself know ‘Figaro,’” Ross said. “It offers one astonishingly good piece of music after another. Just when you think it’s reached its high point, something else comes along that tops it.” Ross will conduct the opera with Jake Sustaita as the assistant conductor. Music business major Alauna Wilson said she looks forward to seeing the opera. “The storyline reminds me a bit of Romeo and Juliet with a mix of the “Some Like it Hot” humor, due to the disguises,” Wilson said. “It’s a love story yet a comedy. I plan on being ready to laugh.” The operas will be performed from Jan. 23 to 27 at the Moores Opera House. arts@thedailycougar.com

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LIFE & ARTS FOOD

Cozy up with coffee in new café for summer & fall 2014 Sara Samora Staff writer

Ordering a basic drink at UH’s new coffeehouse may bring surprises to the first-time visitor’s taste buds. The Nook Café opened on Nov. 29 and is filled with art created by students. The architecture was designed by Infill Design’s Ian Rosenberg, and the establishment is owned by alumnus Derek Shaw and Sam Wijnberg. The baristas brew Cougar Blend and other coffees roasted by Katz Coffee, founded and owned by alumnus

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Avi Katz. “This whole place was built by UH alumni,” Shaw said. “It’s for Coogs, by Coogs.” The café will also feature local artists, and Shaw plans to have open-mic nights, poetry slams and more. The laid-back environment welcomes studious customers with couches and desks. Chalkboard walls are available for customers to write on, whether it be drawings of expression or math formulas for a test review. Shaw has been trying to give back to the University ever since he

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Having opened on Nov. 29, the Nook Café has offered students a new place to study or relax with specially-brewed coffee. | Sara Samora/The Daily Cougar

graduated and 10 percent of sales of Cougar Blend and any blend of drip coffee will go to UH. “We were hammered with customers during finals week, which was tricky for my staff because they were still trying to get their feet wet,” Shaw said. “It was particularly heavy at night. Crowds celebrated the last final by getting drinks and having cake; it was great.” Barista and public relations senior Deondria Taylor said the most popular drinks are the lattes. Shaw added that the eggnog latte was a common order because it was seasonal. The Nook Café has its own way of brewing coffee, with its steampunk, and it’s what keeps bringing students back. The steampunk machine not only brews the coffee, but also cleanses the grounds, which removes acidity and other elements found in drip coffee. Using this method, cream and sugar are not needed. “If someone were to come into the café and ask for recommendations, it would be the steampunked

DRINK continues on page 19

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Monday, January 13, 2014 // 19

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS

Designed by architecture alumni, the Nook Café was opened by alumnus, Derek Shaw and Sam Wijnberg for UH students. | Sara Samora/The Daily Cougar

DRINK

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Guatemala or Kenyan,” Shaw said. “It is clean, and it’s the only time I drink it black.” Texas Pecan and Cougar Blend are some of the coffees always in stock. Other blends will be on rotation. The French Riviera Bakery provides croissants, and other breakfast pastries are made by Anabel Trudeau of Take the Cake. She created a specialty cake for UH called “Shasta’s Pride,” a three-layer cake covered in cheesecake icing. The café also has options for vegetarians and vegans. Sinfull Bakery’s “Everything Granola Bar” is a great snack filled with an assortment of organic berries and nuts. Students can look forward to the café’s app, which is still in

development. Shaw said it will help the morning crowd. “With the app, you can order before you actually drive in on campus, and you can just grab it,” Shaw said. “You put in your order and the time you’ll be picking it up. You need that quick grab-and-go, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” Working at the coffeehouse has turned Taylor and Martinez into coffee lovers. “It’s just not the same,” Taylor said. “I know a little bit more about ... what comes in a drink and what it’s supposed to taste like versus what’s bad.” Martinez said her palate has become more refined. The owners received an allotment for their patio, which they plan to improve, but it will not be completed until the summer. arts@thedailycougar.com

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LIFE & ARTS

VACATION continued from page 16

Having started by rapping on air for Coog Radio, finance junior Siddiq Smith spent his holidays mixing songs for DJ gigs. | Courtesy of Siddiq Smith

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she had a battery pack or something on it.” He said his family meets for almost every holiday. They’ll meet in different cities, including Dallas, Athens and Mobile, Ala., depending on the family member who is hosting. For Blanton, a holiday equals some traveling time, and he looks forward to it every year. “I always have a good time with the folks,” he said. “It’s mostly just good times and catching up with the family.” While some students went out of town, others have retired from traveling. Biochemistry senior Brenda Zaldivar stayed in town to work, but in previous years, she has ventured to San Antonio and Austin to visit family. Last year, they went to San Antonio, where her brother received a ticket for jaywalking at the River Walk. While the crowd walked alongside it, he walked across. “I thought that was pretty funny,” Zaldivar said. “I told him there was a cop, but it was too late. Then, every time after that, I reminded him of it for fun.” This year, her family held their celebrations on Christmas Eve, and they ate her family’s traditional dishes, tamales and Salvadorian sandwiches. On Christmas Day, however, she had something like an Indian Christmas when a friend invited her over. “It was different, because I usually just sleep the whole day on Christmas or go to stores that are open,” Zaldivar said. “I got to spend it this time with friends and got a different view of what other families do during these festivities.” She feasted on Indian dishes like a spicy Indian tomato soup, chicken, a salad made of bell peppers, squash, mushrooms, and spaghetti with pineapple sauce and shrimp. Finance junior Siddiq Smith also spent his winter holidays in Houston, but at a turn table, mixing for his DJ jobs. He appeared on KTRU, Rice’s radio station. He said it all started by rapping on air for Coog Radio. “I’ve been on the radio since like May 2013,” Smith said. “I did an interview, and they played some songs of mine, so I asked around about any other stations I could go to, and my friend said KTRU.” At his most recent show on Jan. 4, he was approached about going on tour with Laythrow, a rapper. “They brought me in, and I did some stuff over the air. Then I told them that me and (my brother) DJ also. A month later, they brought me and him in to mix, and we killed it, so they kept bringing us in to play, and then they have us play at shows,” Smith said. arts@thedailycougar.com

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ACROSS 1 Additional thought preceder 5 Guernsey’s grazing areas 9 Having a sharp taste 14 Whopper teller 15 Unwanted aquarium organism 16 ___ apso (dog breed) 17 Pinnacle 18 Cow’s hurdle, in rhyme 19 It may be tucked by a doctor 20 Wisher’s object 23 Mauna ___ (Hawaii’s highest point) 24 Get droopy 25 Potential ring accepter 29 Actress Potts 31 Islamic leader, one way 33 “Who ___ Seen The Wind?”

34 Kansas, e.g. 36 Casual wear 39 Big Dipper, for one 42 Nurture 43 Scots trills 44 Refined petroleum 45 Red cheese 47 Aromatic compound 51 Qualification 54 Your financial advisor advises it 56 “How ___ you?” 57 Larger than large 60 Even a bit 63 Hit 64 An amount of medicine 65 Mischievous one 66 Ireland, affectionately 67 Writing on the wall 68 Sound from the nest 69 Model cars, e.g. 70 After everybody else

DOWN 1 Nome’s home 2 Mossy growth 3 Certain islander 4 A favorite with milk 5 Female monster 6 Stretch out 7 Overly eager 8 Grandchild of Japanese immigrants 9 Site for some rites 10 Grouch 11 Farm butter? 12 Skeptic or cynic follower 13 “Our ___ Will Come” 21 Fly from Africa 22 Deposit on teeth 26 “Birthplace of Aviation” 27 Loft locale 28 Quick or slow attachment 30 Does not exist 32 Peach ___ 35 Like a

37 38 39 40

41 42 46

49 50 52 53 55 58 59 60 61 62

body in Newton’s first law Water source Vent sound Rope fiber City where “The Scream” was stolen Inspirational celebrity Dandy dresser English county known for sheep Port on Commencement Bay Shakes an Etch A Sketch Show mercy Worth Land in a lake, e.g. Lassos Hodgepodge or mishmash Worshipped carving Garfunkel or Carney AAA specialty Birthday number

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OPINION

CLASSIFIEDS

DEBT

continued from page 4

whether he should simply cut his losses now. Maybe it’s time to ditch school, drop all responsibilities and escape to the wilderness to live off roots, berries and such things that do not gain interest or require taxes. Maybe after avoiding multiple debt collectors, a life-changing epiphany will manifest into a clever and controversial New York Times bestselling novel. Finally, after becoming a millionaire and paying off all college loans with interest, it’s time to travel the world and have many adventures. Unfortunately, now is not the time to fly off the handle. Now is the time for preparation. There are a few options to help the college graduate avoid the piles of debt that shortly follow the walk across the stage. Personal financial planning professor John Lopez believes there are ways for students to greatly reduce their loan debts. These options include being mindful of money, as well as actively searching for alternatives to loans. “Students don’t really think about other alternatives to student debt. Alternatives can be

scholarships, grants, part-time jobs and internship opportunities,” Lopez said. “A lot of these scholarships go unclaimed because they might require an essay, some additional work or the student really would have to go look for it. Unfortunately, students don’t really want to take that initiative.” Lopez also suggested that a great deal of financial debt can be reduced simply by accepting only as much money as is necessary to attend college. While this may sound somewhat obvious, students are often approved for large amounts of loans from various financial services. Instead of accepting only the amount needed to pay for tuition, room and board and books, students often accept the full amount of the loan offered. Ultimately, students end up spending this extra money on unnecessary purchases because they do not have to produce the money themselves. To prepare for the impending payments, students need to create a budget. If one is unsure of how to manage money and create a budget plan, the C. T. Bauer College of Business offers a class that is available to all students — Introduction to Personal Finance — to teach students

to properly handle finances. Bauer also has an online version that can be found at the school’s website. Hotel and restaurant management junior Diontrice Gill is no stranger to budgeting. While she has taken out two loans in the past, she is currently paying for college out of pocket by working two jobs. “I think it’s worth the sacrifice now to be able to have my degree later in life,” she said. “It is possible (to graduate without debt) if you don’t mind working hard to achieve it. If you only want to attend college to receive refunds, you may find that you are digging a big debt hole for yourself.” In the end, paying for college debt after graduation does not have to be something to fret about. With proper planning and hard work, the debt waiting for you can be greatly reduced. Personally, I might still have to sell an organ to pay for college, because I didn’t start being financially frugal until last semester. However, at least I would be able to sleep soundly at night with the hope that a freshman reads this article and becomes more conscientious. Senior staff columnist Kelly Schafler is a print journalism junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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