LIFE + ARTS
ATHLETICS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Wheelchair rugby tournament brings international competition.
After 50 years serving UH, many students are oblivious to what SGA’s mark on the University.
Athletes roll into action SEE PAGE 7
Association not making mark SEE PAGE 4
CALENDAR CHECK:
FEBRUARY
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Study Abroad Fair. Learn about opportunities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rockwell.
THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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Monday, February 3, 2014
Issue 67, Volume 79
H O U S T O N
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
BRIEFS
Social Work dean leaves position The Daily Cougar News Services
Coming back to home field MLB veterans were among the alumni selected to face off against the 2014 Cougars for the annual Fan Appreciation Day and Alumni Game at the renovated Cougar Field. Head coach Todd Whitting was excited about noted improvements in his team’s performance in preparation for the 2014 season. Read the full story at thedailycougar.com/sports. Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
SPEAKER
Man’s best friend fosters trust in others Trishna Buch Contributing writer
Visiting speaker Michael Hingson, who was invited to the University Wednesday by the Council of Ethnic Organizations, proved that one doesn’t have to be able-bodied — or even human — to help those in need. Hingson, along with his guide dog Roselle, led a group of co-workers out of the World Trade Center during 9/11. Hingson used the events of the 9/11 attacks as a basis for the two overall messages “it is possible to put your faith in other human beings” and “the world is changing, and we have to change with it.” Hingson said that individuals had a preconceived notion of the blind
I was too busy encouraging Roselle to think about what was happening. Michael Hingson, visiting speaker and emphasized the importance of trusting others as, ultimately, what helped him and his co-workers reach the first floor from the 78th of Tower One of the World Trade Center. But overall, Hingson’s speech was not about humans trusting one another, nor was it about 9/11; it was about the trust between his guide dog, Roselle, and him. When the tower started tipping and his colleagues were panicking, he stayed calm because Roselle was calm. He trusted her to lead him out of the building to safety. After seeing
how sure he was of himself, his coworkers trusted him to get them out of the building. When asked what thoughts were running through his head while the events were unfolding, he said, “I was too busy encouraging Roselle to think about what was happening.” Hingson did not talk about how he helped those people to safety himself; he said it was the mere fact that everyone worked together that allowed them to exit the building to safety. “I really liked the speech he gave,” said broadcast journalism junior
Christina Caballero. “I thought it was cool how he didn’t talk about himself helping everybody. He put it perspective for the audience. Everybody trusted each other and put their own thoughts aside to work together and get to their ultimate goal — to live.” Hingson said the biggest handicap of being blind was a lack of information. He said that Hingson if he had been given accurate information of what was going on while trying to leave the SPEAKER continues on page 3
Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work Ira C. Colby will step down after a 15-year tenure. “Let me unabashedly say that the (Graduate College of Social Work) is a vibrant learning community Colby whose work weaves its way through our local neighborhoods to nations around the world,” Colby posted on the GCSW Facebook page. “The College’s many accomplishments are due in large part to a convergence of three critical pieces: an excellent faculty and staff who share a passion and commitment to all facets that frame a quality graduate education, a University that recognizes the importance of and significantly supports professional social work education and, lastly, a broader community of alumni and friends who day in and day out work to strengthen our communities for all people.” Colby plans to vacate the position at the end of the spring semester, according to the GCSW Facebook page. A search committee will be created by Provost Paula Short to replace Colby. Mobile app guides students around campus Students who ride the University shuttle system can use the newly developed phone application to help them navigate routes. The official UH application BRIEFS continues on page 3