Issue 61, Volume 79 by The Cougar

OPINION

CALENDAR CHECK:

OPINION

Reviving the Third Ward Pt. 1

JANUARY

Overcoming obstacles in reshaping the University’s close neighbor can help current residents and attract future entrepreneurs.

Movies. Student Program Board is showing the comedy “This is the End” in the New UC Theater at 4 and 7 p.m.

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Issue 61, Volume 79

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CAMPUS

Admins plan springboard for student success Academic, Student Affairs work to enhance first-year experience at UH Natalie Harms Managing editor

Through a two-year program called Foundations of Excellence, the Department of Student Affairs and the Office of Academic Affairs are working together to assess the University’s first-year student experience and develop a strategic plan to recruit and retain new students. The program, developed by John Gardner at the Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, operates on the fact that a successful first year at UH creates a springboard for students to excel in their following years. “It’s just like building a house,” said Daniel Maxwell, co-chair of the initiative and associate vice president and chancellor of Student Affairs. “If you have a really good foundation, you can build a couple of floors and know it’s not going to go anywhere.” This year, the program is in its assessment year. Maxwell and cochair and Interim Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Success Teri Elkins Longacre are leading

a group of faculty, staff and students divided into nine dimension committees. Each committee focuses on an individual aspect of the first-year experience, and after months of research from surveys and analyzing current practices at UH, the committee forms a final report. The Steering Committee then develops a strategy with detailed plans to enhance the first-year experience. The Steering Committee meets regularly, but its real work comes in May, when it will connect all of the reports into one, Universitywide plan. Students from the Student Government Association and the Orientation Team program serve on some of the committees, Maxwell said, and SGA President Cedric Bandoh serves as a member of the Steering Committee. “My part of the Steering Committee is to be the voice of students as we tie together all the work that the dimension committees have done and all the data that has been developed and coming to that

long-term plan ... on how we are going to address all the issues that have been brought up by the different committees,” Bandoh said. Some of the other committees focus on aspects of first-year experience such as philosophy and transition, but one of Maxwell’s critical considerations is to keep in mind student diversity. “Being such a diverse campus, if I don’t take into consideration that they come with different experiences, and therefore are going to perceive UH differently, than I’m going to do an injustice if I say, ‘OK. Everyone has to walk this way, (and) you’ll be OK,’” he said. The program has earned success across the nation at more than 500 institutions, and UH has many schools to use as benchmarks. Longacre said the top priority of the program is to increase campus and academic involvement. “The big picture that comes out of this process is to increase student engagement and student SUCCESS continues on page 2

Foundations oF excellence

By the numBers have participated in 572 schools Foundations of Excellence

staff and students involved in 200 faculty, UH’s program, approximately

dimension committees

2684 responses to the campuswide surveys 2

year contract with the Gardner Institute

2013-14 is the year of assessment 2014-15 is the year of implementation All information is provided by UH | Infographic by Farah Hasnie

EMPLOYMENT

Downtrend in first-time educators an ‘anomaly’ Nora Olabi Assistant news editor

Though first-year teacher hiring rates in Texas sharply declined, University administrators have been given positive feedback from districts and graduates on the state of job prospects for those with a UH degree. First-year teacher hiring rates dropped by more than 40 percent in the last four years, according to the Houston Chronicle, but enrollment in the College of Education has been consistent. In Fall 2013, there were 2,487 students enrolled in the college,

according to UH. Communication director of the college, Jeylan Yassin, said the college has seen a “substantial upswing” in the recent hiring of its graduates. She attributed this to the college’s wellrounded, technologically in-tune curriculum. “Expectations for new teachers are high regardless of the hiring climate. This is why we ensure students are prepared using 21st-century methods, the latest research and intensive realworld training,” Yassin said. “Our student teachers and graduates benefit

from exceptional field experiences.” Though the statistics may point to a drastic downward trend in education, Associate Dean for UndergradPierson uate Studies and Teacher Education Melissa E. Pierson said she believes this isn’t a trend: It’s an anomaly. The data was collected in 2011, at a time when deep budget

cuts and layoffs were still shaking the Texas education system. As schools bounced back, hiring priority was given to those who were laid off, she said. Even with the harsh climate for first-year teachers, Pierson said that graduates from the University are often sought out by districts. “Now, districts are hiring hundreds of teachers; lots of our December graduates were hired,” Pierson said. “(The districts) tell us all the time that the UH applications are at the top of their stack. They definitely like to hire

our student teachers, and they’re happy with them.” Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Laveria Hutchison said that the integration of technology and curriculum adaptability is what sets graduates apart from the pack. “Giving them basic instruction tools that will teach all learners — not just accelerated learners, but all learners — I think that’s important,” Hutchinson said. EDUCATION continues on page 2

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NEWS East and Southeast Asian Contact Lens Wearers Needed for a Soft Contact Lens Study

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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.

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.

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SUCCESS

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learning,” Longacre said. “Ultimately, we want (to) better retain students, graduate more students and graduate them more quickly. But all of that starts with engagement with faculty and with their peers, participating in activities on campus, and through that, the actual learning process.” Bandoh, who said he is particularly passionate about enhancing the first-year experience, wants to make sure students are getting the advising they need. “I’d like to see our advising get better in some colleges,” Bandoh said. “Some colleges do it well, and some colleges can do it better.” One program that Bandoh hopes will be a part of the implementation phase is what he calls a “strong and robust intervention program” for freshman- and sophomore-level classes that are deemed high-failure-rate courses. “What the intervention program would do is, if you were in one of these classes after that first test or assignment, and you didn’t do as well as you’d like, there would be someone within the student

EDUCATION continued from page 1

“They can differentiate instruction to meet the learning needs of all kids: they know how to assess, reteach, use

support area who would intervene and help you find tutoring or whatever the case would be, before it is too late,” Bandoh said. Another initiative that enhances the first-year experience has already began in residence halls. Major-specific wings or floors in freshman-only residential halls create a hub of similar students to foster a positive learning environment. “Residential Life and Housing has started developing these residential learning communities for students who are all living in the same wing and might all be interested in a particular major,” Longacre said. “And so they can have activities in the residence halls that are led by faculty or staff members that are about a particular interest.” These learning communities, Bandoh said, will also encourage more students to live on campus and benefit from this program. “While you’re living on campus, you have that close-knit group that you can study with, right there in your residence hall, as your support group,” Bandoh said. “Most of us need that support structure, in terms of making us successful. I would have loved that.” news@thedailycougar.com

data to inform their practice, and I think that’s a way that we are different (from other universities).” The college is partnered with 34 school districts through the Houston Area Teacher Center, Yassin said. news@thedailycougar.com

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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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WELCOME, COUGARS ! Welcome to a spring semester of new opportunities and even greater potential for achievement on your chosen path. Whether this is your first semester or the continuation of your academic year, you will discover learning, living and recreational environments to support your success in the classroom and in life. I encourage you to explore our newly renovated and expanded University Center, designed to enhance your University of Houston experience. Check out the grand opening of the UC Theater and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore and attend the open houses for major campus organizations. For more information, please see uh.edu/thenewuc. And I invite you to join me at the ribbon-cutting celebration for the UC North addition at 10 a.m., Jan. 22. Another wonderful resource for our campus! The University of Houston is your partner as you take the next steps on your journey. Set your goals and reach as high as you can, and we will provide the opportunities and the tools to support you. Graduate and follow your dreams. Your hard work will pay off. Did you know our alumni earn substantially more during their careers than the national average? I hope you share my excitement for the coming semester and for the successful future we are building together. As always, don’t hesitate to email me at president@uh.edu with your concerns or suggestions. Remember to wear your Cougar Red on Fridays … and Go Coogs!

Renu Khator President

4 \\ Thursday, January 16, 2013

The Daily Cougar

OPINION

EDITOR James Wang EMAIL

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CITY

Third Ward Renaissance: A call for renewal Editor’s Note: This is part one of a three part series involving the renovation of the Third Ward which will run every Thursday in print from Jan. 16 to 30. It can also be found at the thedailycougar.com/opinion.

he Nook, one of UH’s newest campus additions, has satisfied the need of many UH students by providing a place that can facilitate both the rigorous needs of academia and the social needs of the everyday student. Its über-trendy warehouse structure, combined with its convenient on-campus location, has solidified The Cara Nook as one of UH’s signaSmith ture small businesses. “We’re bringing the best of Houston to this side of town. Not just to UH, but to East Downtown,” said Jacob McClain, general manager of The Nook. “We’re lucky enough to be able to have our start on a college campus.” The Nook also stimulates the city’s economy through exclusively purchasing its produce from Houston’s own local farmers’ markets, creating awareness throughout the entire UH community about the locally grown crops our city has to offer. “The majority of our coffee, including the Cougar Blend, comes locally,” McClain said. “A lot of it comes from Katz Coffee. The majority of our beers and wines are local, too. All of our produce comes from Houston’s farmers’ markets. We really want to try to keep the circulation in Houston as best we can.” It’s also created numerous jobs, suggesting that UH and Houston have more to gain than coffee and pastries from the newly launched lounge. Mention areas in need of an economic revival, and most Houstonians will immediately think of Houston’s historic Third Ward, which was originally founded as one of four original political segregation subdivisions and joined Houston’s ranks in 1841. “The ward system was abolished in 1916,” said Houston Community College history and political science professor and Houston Historical Tours President Keith Rosen. “Most people misuse the Third Ward terminology because, well, they’re ignorant, and they don’t know what they’re talking about,” Rosen said. “University of Houston has never existed within any ward. The ward system ended in 1916. University of Houston was founded in 1927.” Former Rice University lecturer and

THE DAILY COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD Channler K. Hill Natalie Harms WEB EDITOR Jenae Sitzes NEWS EDITOR Amanda Hilow 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

Businesses like The Nook will be critical to the Third Ward’s revival. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar architectural historian Stephen Fox once called the Third Ward the “elite neighborhood of late 19th-century Houston.” It’s 2013 now, and though the area houses much of Houston’s dynamic culture, its rich history has become aesthetically overshadowed by its crippling poverty. The history of the Third Ward is rich indeed, and many of Houston’s roots lie deep within the area. Elwyn C. Lee, vice president for community relations and institutional access, spoke with me on these roots and on residents of the Third Ward. “You could go up and down the block and see where numerous judges, elected officials, officers, so many officials (live or have lived) in the Third Ward,” Lee said. “There’s so many famous churches and organizations. … The meetings held that strategized how to deal with white power structure during the civil rights movement were actually held at the YMCA on Wheeler.” “There’s the famous Judge Jefferson, probably the most respected black judge that we’ve ever had. He was a federal district judge … and a man of immense respect. He grew up in the Third Ward, went to church in the Third Ward.” Lee is also a former resident of the Third Ward. The Third Ward Redevelopment Council, in which Lee takes an active role, has been working for years to design a plan to renovate — or, as many say, “gentrify” — Houston’s historic former Third Ward area, including building a recreation center, a community center, a city park and town homes. Any drive down the politically inspired subdivision will show you what’s motivating such plans.

The Third Ward’s dignity has all but disappeared from the area. Empty housing lots overgrown with wild vegetation litter the area, a once-thriving sector for the economic middle-class. Wood and aluminum shotgun shanties line the dilapidated, pothole-ridden streets. The word “gentrification,” which most believe refers to the forced displacement of people in the process of renovating a city, has been thrown around like a rag doll in conversations regarding the pros and cons of redistributing Houston’s population. However, as Rosen explained, the term itself is rooted in racist, derogatory undertones. “The only time you hear the word gentrification used is when you have a neighborhood that was once affluent that’s now become primarily Hispanic and AfricanAmerican and grown poorer. Gentrification is used to describe a neighborhood again becoming a primarily white, affluent neighborhood,” Rosen said. Gentrification has nothing to do with the economics and everything to do with race. It’s widely misused when discussing plans to renovate the area, and it implies a racial issue with Third Ward renovation plans that simply doesn’t exist. The fiscally decaying area is taking up land that could otherwise bolster the city’s economic growth. It’s a social pattern that begs the question of whether history should be preserved at the expense of a city’s overall progress. Quite frankly, there isn’t enough room in this column to touch every aspect of this multifaceted issue: imminent domain, personal property rights and the broad economics of the situation. Socially speaking, history, not

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.

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progress, should be sacrificed in the pursuit of a more sustainable community. History in itself is about making progress. If our city never progressed, Houston’s history would be limited to John and Augustus Allen’s landing on Buffalo Bayou in 1836 and not much else. It’s not heartlessly Machiavellian, and it’s not callous — in fact, it’s been proven to be the best solution for bolstering the city’s economy, something that benefits nearly every Houstonian in one way or another. The 2006 redevelopment of the Buffalo Bayou resulted in a more-than-fourfold increase in the area’s businesses, as the area’s retail sales increased from $10,467,000 to $57,281,000, according to the Houston Chronicle. The area’s number of businesses also leapt from 54 to 236. Of the park’s users polled by representatives of University of Texas at Arlington, who conducted the study, 99 percent said the area’s renovations improved their overall quality of life. The restoration and redevelopment of the Third Ward is something most Houstonians see as a universally beneficial solution. The tricky part, though, is catering to the needs of the Third Ward’s longtime residents. Many residents of the Third Ward have been calling the area home for generations, and concepts like “renovation” and “redevelopment” seem to suggest displacement for them. “Everybody’s for it until it comes after them,” Lee said. It’s a weighty task to take on. Redeveloping an area, no matter how wealthy or impoverished, almost always causes a gargantuan shift in the economics of the area. In the sense of redeveloping the Third Ward, catering to the needs of both the current residents and Houston’s wealthy young professionals seems near impossible. Throw in the maintenance of the area’s history, and it’s clear just how formidable a task it is to propose a change. Change, however, is at the heart of growth. To deny change is to deny growth, and to deny growth is to give Houston’s full potential a premature death. “With progress comes growth. Anytime you stop growing, you stagnate,” Rosen said. “If you think of a city as an organic object, with a birth, a growth and even a death, you have to maintain that growth. If you don’t, your city will die.” Senior staff columnist Cara Smith is a communications junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar. com

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.

Thursday, January 16, 2014 // 5

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SPORTS EDITOR

Christopher Shelton

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SWIMMING

Coach trades cubicle for poolside view Harrison Lee Senior staff writer

In his former life, while working in the sales world of an investment management firm in Silicon Valley, Calif., swimming head coach Rich Murphy discovered that his mind was giving him hints as to what he was probably supposed to be doing with his life. On top of his day job, Murphy served as a coach with an advancedage swim group in Palo Alto, Calif. “I found myself sometimes, during the day, writing workouts when I was supposed to be cold-calling,” he said. “I was looking forward more toward when my regular work day ended, and I could go coach afterwards. That was where I was deriving a lot of my enjoyment.” The four-year letter winner at the University of Notre Dame then drifted to Arizona State as a volunteer assistant, eventually becoming the head coach for the Sun Devils. He also had stops at Bowling Green University and Auburn before taking an associate head coach position at the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, leading them to a national championship and landing more than 20 of his swimmers Division I scholarships. From there, he landed in Houston. All these steps up the coaching ladder seemed natural to a man who is analytical. “On some level, I (would) always

think about what the (head) coach was thinking today and why are we’re doing what we’re doing,” Murphy said. “I would be lying if I didn’t say there were some times when I thought I had a better idea of what we could or should do. From that standpoint, even as far back as high school, I was always thinking, ‘Well, what if we did that?’ or ‘How about that?’ “ The realm of competitive collegiate swimming in the Lone Star State has been dominated by Texas and Texas A&M, but Murphy sees potential in his squad with its array of age and experience.

FOOTBALL

TRACK

Levine pegs former Texan to coach RBs The Daily Cougar News services Head football coach Tony Levine rounded out his coaching staff for the 2014 season Wednesday with the hiring of Dan Hammerschmidt as the program’s running backs coach. The 28-year coaching veteran joins the program after serving two seasons as an offensive assistant for the Houston Texans. With Hammerschmidt on staff, the Texans set a franchise record with 26 points per game in 2012, and seven offensive players earned Pro Bowl invites. sports@thedailycougar.com

After a stint in the corporate world, head swimming coach Rick Murphy found out that his passion was in coaching. Now, after getting the top job at UH, he believes he is on his way to building at a great program. | Courtesy of UH Athletics “I think Texas on the whole is a strong swimming state. There are other options within the state, and we think we compare favorably with most of those,” Murphy said. “I think through a combination of what we have, combined with our location in a major metro area as well as from a facilities standpoint, we’re very fortunate. It’s just a matter of growing and making the most of the resources we have.” The brand names of Texas and A&M, forever specters upon the sports landscape, were close in Murphy’s head as he considered taking

the UH job. “To be honest, I talked to the Texas head coach and assistant head coach prior to committing to come to Houston,” Murphy said. “I was curious in-state what our school’s reputation is. I want to build the UH swimming brand. I have a set of expectations in my mind for a handful of years down the line. I can see this program, swimming-specific, being in a different place than it is now.” While not the most well-known sport, the swimming and diving program has 24 student athletes, whom

Murphy classified as having a mix of senior leadership and what he calls “young eagerness.” He recognizes that a collegiate swimming career is a finite role in life, so pushing players to reach their academic potential is a goal, too, Murphy said. Like any other collegiate sport, the next step is always on the minds of just enough players to get the coaching staff to notice. In the case of swimming, the highest step is the Olympics, which proves to be a great motivator while being simultaneously distant. UH has produced 18 Olympians from the women’s swimming and diving team. “The Olympics are such a high level, and only a select few ever make it that far,” said assistant coach Keith Dawley. “But reaching goals and setting goals is something that drives athletes at all levels. Swimming is no different than any other sport. I think it’s fair to say that there are athletes here at Houston, not just on the swim team, that have that ability and have that desire. It’s just a matter of things falling into place.” Murphy’s work so far has played well with his swimmers. “He’s a great coach,” said sophomore Maggie McCord. “He’s taking the program in a good direction.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Younger Burrell looks to meet family standard Despite following famous footsteps, freshman sprinter hopes to create new legacy with Cougars Channler K. Hill Editor in chief

Leroy Burrell wears two hats besides the one that shields him from the sun — he serves as head coach of the 54 UH track and field athletes and as a father to the team’s newest recruit, his son Cameron. Cameron found his collegiate home at UH — where Leroy’s Olympic career began — after graduating from Ridge Point High school in June 2013. “It’s kind of cool that you get to keep it in the family. It’s just kind of a tradition,” Cameron said.

“I like it. I’m enjoying myself so far. I’m trying to be like my dad, kind of.” There is a secret code word that is shared among the Burrell’s that Leroy said is used to balance the times when he’s dad and the times w h e n h e’s coach. “I think it’s Burrell really important that we both maintain a balance with each other and balance my role with Cameron as his father and with the team. So far it’s been really good,” Leroy said. “He’s started off very well, and all the guys are getting along well, and things are going better than I expected.”

Leroy has left big shoes to fill for his son as a 10-time NCAA All-American who was known as the fastest man in the world in 1991 after setting a new record in the 100-meter dash that was formally held by Carl Lewis, who now serves as the team’s volunteer coach. Leroy was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January in recognition of the accolades he has earned throughout the years. But the idea of Cameron coming to UH was never something Leroy pushed on his son. He said he needed Cameron to choose what was best for him, his career, future and education, despite people expecting him to be just as successful as his father. “He’s his own man, and he has to chart his own course and be who he

wants to be. That’s my role primarily as a father to assist him in that process, so we’re off to a good start and we’ll continue to work on it,” Leroy said. “But I think there’s a lot of pressure because people think that. But I think in his mind and I know in my mind that I’m just most concerned about him being the best he can be.” Having his father as his coach is nothing new for the freshmen sprinter, who began the experience in high school and, as many suspected, is planning on following in his father’s footsteps. “(My dad) was able to do really good things throughout his professional career, and hopefully I can do some of those same things, like making some world records,” Cameron said. sports@thedailycougar.com

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ACROSS 39 Quite a 1 Biggest few round 40 Postrip in the sessive Find a home. Find a job. Find it here. the official student newspaper of the university of houston since 1934 world? adjective 6 Blossom 41 Unit of holder magnetic Travel Rentals Help Wanted Help Wanted Follow 10 Crave flux den14 Animal sity rentAl. 3 br. 2 bA. email THE DAILY COUGAR followed 42 Moments, carlosrrivera@hotmail.com by a for short lg 1 bDrM APt in nice neighborhood tickbird 43 Dinnernear Uh. like a small house. grad 15 “Les table student preferred. 713-743-2734. Misaccessory beAUtiFUl gArAge APt in University erables” 44 Islamic @thedailycougar oaks. 2 blocks from Uh. Furnished, novelist spiritual w/ internet. ideal for international Victor ___ leader students. $600+deposit+electricity. 16 Miscel47 Check 713-748-5064 laneous 48 Former Ni@thedailycougar mix caraguan 1 bDrM townhoMe. $580/month. aCrOss dOWN 40 Unweltitle 898 sq. ft. $199 total move in. call president 1 View from 1 In the17 Balance come 29 Ostrich 713-259-4996. a pew middle of point cousin plant? Daniel 5 More 2 “Medic” 41 Topples 31 Chinese 20 Palm tree 49 Yonder adorable or “meter” from perfume theMusicFest.com at steamboat thAnks for reading the Daily cougar! *stUDentPAYoUts.coM* PAiD damsel 10 “Goldberg lead-in variety stick power Variations” 3 Kill, as 42 Intangible survey takers needed in houston. 100 21a Bran32 Ship’s end 50 “It ___ composer dragon quality 33 Ancient percent Free to join! click on surveys. what you 14 French 4 He was source France 43 Mars’ 22 Coughs up think!” Sudan, a genius, Greek 34 “___ Montessori school in Museum today relatively counterBrecken23 Where ridge” 54 Place for district. looking for subs/Assts. Flex 15 Where speaking part younger babies 5 Sugar grapplers 44 Related to 35 Pre-Lenin hrs. call 713-520-0738 Please leave come from borrower’sgrappleRussian vision criminals message. 16 “Enquantity 46 Collect ruler 24 Outlaw 57 Beloved Bulletin Board Rentals Help Wanted Help chanted”Wanted 6 180-degree 49 Ohio tire 37 Trunk with person girl of film maneuverhunter’sa chest town Find a place to live 17 One place 7 Belief 51 Times in a 38 Shade reward 58 Appleand a job to pay Kurdish is 8 Actor Bana classic 39 Intimidatseed spoken 9 Stack25 of CarYuletide ing, as a the rent. GARAGE APT. FOR RENT. 5 min to holder 18 ___ War cordwoodnivorous carol task (Rome vs. cut to even 57 Stacked 43 Catalog campus. 1 bdrm. $575/mo. All bills THE DAILY COUGAR freshwater 59 Previously, Carthage) lengths cookie 44 Prayer previously paid with parking. Call 713-228-3899 classifieds Hiring 19 Mary Kay Catering 10 Skullcap fish book 58 Some rival with a29 Except selection rectangufor 60 QuickNow Hiring Staff for our or 713-306-9014. 20 Times to propeller, 45 Trig abbr. lar bars 30 They46 Mud brick footed downtown tunnel location. put up or essentially from 61 Proceed shut upflexible schedules, 11 Chipmunkdivide 47 Tia ___ the fridge Part-time, IT’S HARD TO FIND GOOD HELP We sell muffins, 23 Tease in a red Europe (coffee 59 Princess with a mostly night and weekends. these days, but not with The Daily cookies,coffees, etc. Flex24 Some cap liqueur) loved by game Pay starting hour. 12 Identical and Asia sanctions at $12 per 48 Australia’s Hercules ible hours M-F. No nights Cougar Classifieds. One ad can reach plan? 25 experience “Fiddler on being31 Dublin’s___ Rock 60 Whirring No necessary. It’s the Mini Virus Show by Jacob Logan the Roof” 13 Associates 49 Setting the sound of or weekends. $9/hr + tips. thousands! Call 713-743-5356. isle 62 Behaving Paid Training. setting (with), pace an Ethio32 Pond50 Swedish like a ruf28 Distribute slangily pian coin? www.jacksonandcompany.com (with 21 Bit of filly coatingcurrency 61 Fertilizer fian THANKS for reading The Daily Cougar! @713-225-1323 hr@jacksonandcompany.net “out”) feed 36 One way 52 Clouds (up) from bats 30 Beautiful 22 Time after 53 This is one, 62 Place to to attract and gracetime ironically DOWN pray ful girl 25 Centers ofattention 54 Groan’s 63 American 1 Mythical

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Thursday, January 16, 2014 // 7

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS

EDITOR

Monica Tso

arts@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

Exploring the pride The Cat’s Back featured about 75 organizations eager to inform students about open opportunities, food catered by Pink’s Pizza and a renovated game room with ping pong tables, bowling lanes and pool tables on Wednesday in the New University Center facilities. — Photos compiled by Emily S. Chambers

STUDENT LIFE

Cougars rave about new facilities BoJanay Posey Staff writer

The New University Center opened Monday, and students, faculty, staff and alumni are loving it. Keith Kowalka, assistant vice president of Student Affairs and Student Life, has played an instrumental role in the transformation since its start in 2006, when the master plan was created. With student leaders, including

the student government administrations, Kowalka and other faculty have answered students’ requests and have remade the 1967 UC into a state-of-the-art, brighter, more inviting facility. “This is the one building on campus that student government approves the fee of, and we want students to make it their home,” Kowalka said. “If you’re a workout person, you love the Rec. If you’re a researcher, you

like the library, but this is the one building on campus that everyone should come to and should feel comfortable and make it their home.” The food trucks will stay, but not at the UC. Aramark, the University’s food service, is looking to create another concrete pad at the grassy “U” between PGH, the old Science Building and Agnes Arnold Hall. Construction management student Austin

Schniers is excited about the food options. “Can’t beat Starbucks. Panda Express? Kim Son is out the window. I’m excited about Panda Express,” Schniers said. “Chick-fil-A is good for balance, of course.” But the UC isn’t finished this semester. When the New UC is completely finished in January 2015, Freshii will bring nutritional BUILDING continues on page 8

8\\ Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Daily Cougar

LIFE & ARTS

BUILDING continued from page 7

and energizing food, and Shasta Creamery will return, Kowalka said. Kowalka said they intend to reveal more improvements every few months until the final opening date. After Spring Break in March, there will be a 15-foot marquee in the front circle. By August, four more red, laminated bowling lanes will be added to the game room, along with projectors above the lanes to broadcast sports games. When the second floor of the New UC opens, the meeting rooms — named Space City, Heights, Midtown and others — will show Houston pride. Technology junior Kimberly Nguyen said the UC has definitely made a drastic improvement. “I personally was against the new construction for it, mainly because I don’t like the idea of how student fees are increasing and what not, but I definitely see the money being where it’s put,” Nguyen said. Pharmacy graduate student

Richard Ajumobi said he will slightly miss the statue of the cougar devouring other Texas university mascots, but is more excited to see change and modernization that answers what the students of today want. “A lot of the building was in the old-school wooden brass. Now, it’s a lot more lively, a lot more colorful. I like that they modernized it,” Ajumobi said. “It’s a good center to bring in new students, because they’ll be able to come here and see many different areas of interests, such as the game room, theater, food and to sit and talk.” Alumnus Adriann Hobbs said the New UC better accommodates our growing university and Tier One status. He feels that there will be more collaboration between the organizations and more fun student events. “It’s a large upgrade to what the previous one was. It allows a lot of students to actually have the opportunity to gain all their resources and gain all their needs in one central area,” Hobbs said. “It’s something that we have needed as an institution.” arts@thedailycougar.com

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

WORK ON CAMPUS. GET REAL EXPERIENCE.

UH finally feels like a real college campus! The UC is amazing! I can’t wait to enjoy this awesome new buildilng! @aj_reveron

The new UC is so beautiful! Now I have a reason to stop hiding out in my room #UH @kayysongs

NOW HIRING

+ GRAPHIC DESIGNERS + AD SALES REPRESENTATIVES APPLY ONLINE AT BIT.LY/APPLYCSM

The new UC at @UHouston is awesome. So excited to actually have stuff to do on campus @ CAndrewMadison

Just in case anyone missed it..the new UC at @UHouston is legit amazing. #GoCoogs @ sanahrahman

& SELECT THE POSITIONS YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR Alright Uh. You win this round. The new UC is pretty fantastic. @marceneaux90

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