LIFE+ARTS
HOLIDAY
Superstitions, traditions of lunar new year Students celebrate with red envelopes and family customs. SEE PAGE 7
UNIVERSITY
Re-examining Cullen Boulevard
Students have asked for repairs to the road for years, but some may be overlooking other options. SEE PAGE 4 FEBRUARY
CALENDAR CHECK: 14
St. Valentine’s Day. Be prepared to spend $50 on candy for the next week.
THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
S T U D E N T
N E W S PA P E R
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Monday, February 10, 2014
Issue 70, Volume 79
H O U S T O N
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
LAW
Alumni root for diversity in legal system Nancy Truong Contributing writer
John Cocharo, from Oakridge School in Arlington, has a long connection with Morgan and the contest. “I’ve come to this contest for several years now,” Cocharo said. “I just think it’s a well-run contest. I know Jeff, the professor who runs the contest, from his days at A&M. When he moved over here to the
The UH College Democrats recently hosted Sen. John Whitmire and candidate for the 113th Civil Court Steven Kirkland at the University Center North to discuss their campaigns and advocate a goal to mirror UH’s diverse population. “We have got to get more diversity into the courthouse,” Whitmire said. Whitmire and Kirkland attended UH for their law degrees before pursuing political careers. According to U H ’s I n s t i t u tional Research, 21.4 percent of UH students a re Hi s p a n i c , Whitmire 18 percent are Asian-American and 11.7 percent are interracial. Both candidates said they believe in a system that fights for diversity and hope to see equality for samesex couples, more assistance for middle- to low-class families and more minority representation among judges. “When you go to the courthouse and you’re a Spanish-speaking defendant with a judge speaking your language with your background, that has got to make a difference,” Whitmire said, who has been serving in the Texas House of Representatives for 10 years and represents the 15th Senatorial District. Kirkland began his political
MATH continues on page 3
LAW continues on page 3
Can’t bring down the House Sophomore Danuel House’s dunk late in the second half helped the Cougars pull away with a 88-74 victory against Temple to end their five-game losing skid and obtain a .500 record. House, one of three Cougars to score in double figures, earned 16 points for the team. For coverage of the game, see page 5. — COURTNEY GREGORY/THE DAILY COUGAR
NSM
Math competition brings local whizzes to campus Maryland Faz Contributing writer
The Department of Mathematics hosted its annual Mathematics Contest, which attracted hundreds of high school and middle school students from about 60 different schools to meet and compete. The competition, which is overseen by Jeff Morgan, a math professor and associate provost of
Education Innovation and Technology, received $10,000 and 30 to 40 volunteers to bring the competition to fruition. Sophomore Sara Mughal volunteered at the contest and said the competition could change people’s perceptions of the subject. “It’s a competition, so it creates an interest in math instead of the thought that it’s a boring subject,” Mughal said.
The students competed in eight exams: algebra I and II, geometry, pre-calculus, calculator usage, APlevel calculus, statistics and physics. Afterward, there was a “smackdown competition,” a Jeopardy!-style game that had students racing against each other to answer timed algebraic problems. All the participants were enthusiastic during the morning. Teacher